Tutorial Examination 2026

Subject : English Language Maximum Marks : 80

Class : X Time allowed : Two Hours

Answers to this paper must be written on the paper provided separately.

You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes.
This time is to be spent in reading the question paper.
The time given at the head of this paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.

Attempt all five questions

The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in the brackets. [ ]
You are advised to spend not more than 30 minutes in answering Question 1 and 20 minutes in
answering Question 2.

Question 1
(Do not spend more than 30 minutes on this question.)
Write a composition (300-350 words) on any of the following: [20]

(i) Write an original short story entitled “A good neighbour is a priceless treasure.”
(ii) Recently you have undertaken an adventurous journey. Narrate who accompanied you, how
your entire experience was and what you learnt from this adventure.
(iii) ‘Competition paves the way for progress.’
Express your views either for or against this statement.
(iv) Imagine you are standing in the crowd in a mall, eagerly waiting for the arrival of popular film
stars, who are coming to promote their film. Describe the scene, atmosphere and your own
reaction to it.
(v) Study the picture given below. Write a story or a description or an account of what it suggests to
you. Tour composition may be about the subject of the picture or you may take suggestions from
it; there must be a clear connection between the picture and your composition.
Question 2 [10]

(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.)

Select any one of the following:

(i) Your uncle has promised to give you a gift of ₹ 1000. Write a letter thanking him for the offer and
telling him how you plan to spend the money and why you wish to spend it in this way.

(ii) Break-time (recess) at your school is only for twenty minutes. Write a letter to your Principal
requesting for an extension in the break-time from twenty minutes to half an hour. Give reasons
for your request and explain in which way an extended break would benefit you as a student.

Question 3

(i) Your school is organising a Science Festival on the eve of its Foundation Day. Write a notice
informing the students about the event and asking them to enlist their names for patricipating in the
same. [5]

(ii) Write an e-mail to a renowned scientist requesting him/her to be the Guest of Honour at the
inauguaration of the Science Festival. [5]

Question 4
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

I felt that I was alone and that my room seemed to me to be more empty than ever before. I was
surrounded by a sensation of infinite and overwhelming solitude. I sat down, but then a kind of
nervous impatience agitated my legs so that I got up and began to walk about again. I was feverish,
for my hands, which I had clasped behind me, almost seemed to tremble. Then suddenly a cold
shiver ran down my back and I thought the damp air might have penetrated into my room. So I lit
the fire for the first time that year. But soon I felt that I could not possibly remain quiet. So I got up
again and decided to go out to seek a friend to bear me company. I could not find anyone and
returned home.

When I go out I always double-lock the door of my room. Now I found it merely closed, which
surprised me. I went in and found my fire still burning so that it lighted up the room a little. In the
act of taking of a candle, I noticed somebody sitting on my armchair by the fire, warming his feet,
with his neck towards me. I thought very naturally that some friends or the other had come to see
me. No doubt the Porter, whom I had told when I went out, had lent him his own key. In a moment, I
remembered all the circumstances of my return, how the street door had been opened immediately
and that my own door was only latched and not locked.

I could see nothing of my friend but his head. He had evidently gone to sleep while waiting for me,
so I went up to him to rouse him. I saw him quite clearly, his right arm was hanging down and his
legs were crossed, while his head, which was somewhat inclined to the left of the armchair, seemed
to indicate that he was asleep. “Who can it be?” I asked myself. I could not see clearly as the room
was rather dark, so I put out my hand to touch him on the shoulder and it came in contact with the
back of the chair. There was nobody there ; the seat was empty.
I at once jumped up with fright. For a moment, I drew back as if some terrible danger had suddenly
appeared in my way; then i turned round again and looked at the armchair. I remained standing
upright panting with fear, so upset that I could not collect my thoughts and was ready to drop.

I lay quietly on my back. Then an irresistible desire seized me to look around the room and I turned
onto my side. My fire was nearly out, and the few glowing embers threw a faint light onto the floor
by the chair, where I fancied, I saw the man sitting again. I quickly struck a match, but I had been
mistaken, for there was nothing there. Since that time, I have been afraid of being alone at night.

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options
provided: [2]

1. solitude (line 2)
(a) idleness
(b) gloom
(c) despair
(d) loneliness

2. agitated (line 3)
(a) relaxed
(b) troubled
(c) dragged
(d) scratched

(ii) Which word in the passage is the opposite of ‘courage’ ? [1]

(a) impatience
(b) danger
(c) fright
(d) desire

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(a) What did the narrator experience as described in the first paragraph? [2]
(b) Why did the narrator light a fire? Why did he go out of his room? [2]
(c) Mention at least one unusual thing that the narrator noticed when he returned home. [1]
(d) What happened when the narrator touched the man on the chair? [2]
(e) Briefly describe the man in the narrator’s room. [2]

(iv) In not more than 50 words, summarise the incidents which led the narrator to be afraid of being
alone at night. [8]
Question 5
(i) Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in the brackets. Do
not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank
space. [4]

Example :
(0) We had been ______(travel) to a remote village in Nagaland, but we could not make much
progress in the heavy rain.
Answer: travelling

We managed____ (1) (cross) a river with great difficulty. One day we could see smoke ___ (2)
(emerge) from some huts and we knew that a village was nearby. However, there was another river
___ (3) (flow) in front of us. We could cross it by using a rope bridge we ___ (4) (bring) with us.
Finally, we reached the village. We wondered how we could talk to the village chief. None of us
could speak the local language. Soon, we saw a ___ (5) (dignify) smiling man coming towards us. “Do
you speak English?” I asked him. “Of course,” the man ___ (6) (reply). “I ___ (7) (educate) at St.
Xavier’s Collegiate in Kolkata. I ___ (8) (be) the chief Naga. Welcome to my village!”

(ii) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

(a) After 20 minutes the team was leading ___ two goals.
(b) All must adhere ___ the rules and regulations.
(c) We must find the way to bear ___ the impending loss.
(d) A true guide stands ___ us in every ups and downs.
(e) Such conduct is ___ the ethics of this noble profession.
(f) The players were entrusted ____ the guidance of the coach.
(g) The new initiative did not come ___ to the expectation.
(h) As a merchant, he deals ___ rice.

(iii) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence wothout using and, but or so.
Choose the correct option.

1. He does several things. None of them succeeds.

(a) None of the things he did succeeds.
(b) None of the things he do succeeds.
(c) Nothing he does succeeds.
(d) None of the several things he does succeeds.

2. The contract was signed. All were satisfied.

(a) The contract having been signed all were satisfied.
(b) The contract having been signed all are satisfied.
(c) All were satisfied with the contract to be signed.
(d) The contract was signed for all to be satisfied.
3. He is a clever man. He won’t believe that silly story.
(a) He is a clever man to believe that story.
(b) He is too a clever man to believe that silly story.
(c) He would believe that silly story, being a clever man.
(d) He is such a clever man to believe that silly story.

4. It is not a very costly camera. However, it is useful.

(a) Though this camera is not very costly, it is useful.
(b) Though this camera is very costly, yet it is useful.
(c) Though this camera is not very costly, it is not useful.
(d) As this camera is not very costly, it is useful.

(iv) Choose the correct option to rewrite the following according to the instruction given after each
sentence. [8]

1. It would be sensible to call the police, before doing anything else.

(Begin with: We had….)
(a) We had sensibly called the police before doing anything else.
(b) We had to sensibly call the police before doing anything else.
(c) We had better call the police before doing anything else.
(d) We were to better call the police before doing anything else.

2. His suggestion was received well by the members.

(Use: went down)
(a) His suggestion was went down well with the members.
(b) His suggestion was went down well by the members.
(c) His suggestion went down well with the members.
(d) His suggestion went down well of the members.

3. You may speak as loudly as you can but she won’t hear you.
(Begin with: No matter how….)
(a) No matter how loudly you speak, she won’t hear you.
(b) No matter how loudly you spoke, she won’t hear you.
(c) No matter how loud you speak, she won’t hear you.
(d) No matter how loud you spoke, she won’t hear you.

4. My grandfather says, “My generation used to walk to school.”

(End with: ……….. to school.)
(a) My grandfather said that his generation would walk to school.
(b) My grandfather said that his generation walked to school.
(c) My grandfather says that his generation had walked to school.
(d) My grandfather says that his generation used to work to school.

5. He had only just arrived at the station when there was a terrible explosion.
 (Begin with: Hardly……)
(a) Hardly had he arrived at the station when there was a terrible explosion.
(b) Hardly he arrived at the station when there was a terrible explosion.
(c) Hardly he had arrived at the station than there was a terrible explosion.
(d) Hardly had he arrived at the station before there was a terrible explosion.

6. Joe was so foolish that he believed the old man.

(Use: rather)
(a) Joe was rather foolish to believe the old man.
(b) Joe was rather foolish to believed the old man.
(c) Joe is rather foolish to believe the old man.
(d) Joe is rather foolish believing the old man.

7. Failing to make prompt payment, the goods must be returned.

(Use: either……or.)
(a) Either you do prompt payment or return the goods.
(b) Either you make prompt payment or goods should be returned.
(c) Either you do prompt payment or goods must be returned.
(d) Either you make prompt payment or goods must be returned.

8. Everyone likes to be appreciated.

(Begin with: Who…… )
(a) Who likes to be appreciated?
(b) Who does not like to be appreciated?
(c) Who does not likes to be appreciated?
(d) Who did not like to be appreciated?