Name of the Student____________ Class & Section ____________ APS ASC/PB2/X/
ENGLISH /SET 1/2025-26
PB EXAMINATION (XYZ School)
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (184)
SET 1
CLASS X Max Marks: 80
TIME: 3 HOURS
General Instructions:
Read the following instructions very carefully and follow them.
i. This question paper has 13 questions. All questions are compulsory.
ii. This question paper contains three sections: Section A: Reading Skills, Section B:
Grammar and Creative Writing Skills, and Section C: Literature.
iii. Attempt all questions based on specific instructions for each part. Write the correct
question number and part thereof in your answer sheet.
iv. Separate instructions are given with each question/part, wherever necessary.
v. Adhere to the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.
SECTION A: READING SKILLS
1 Read the following passage carefully. 10
(1) Saffron is a spice that’s long been revered across the globe, captivating hearts and
palates with its deep-red hue and complex flavour. It is one of the most prized spices
that you can find on this planet. Just like gold is among the most valuable metals in
the world, saffron means the same in the world of spices. Also known as ‘kesar’ in
Hindi, it has a rich history and is often called an ancient spice. Saffron is being used
since ages in various foods made for the royals and the elite as it contains medicinal
properties.
(2) Originating from the delicate stigma of the saffron crocus flower, it transforms the
ordinary into the extraordinary, infusing dishes with a subtle, earthy sweetness that
adds a special taste to the palate. Saffron has a strong exotic aroma and a unique
flavour and is used to colour and flavour many Mediterranean and Asian dishes,
particularly rice, fish and English, Scandinavian, and Balkan breads.
(3) Saffron forms the backbone of several iconic dishes from around the world, such as
the Spanish rice, seafood dish Paella, the French stew Bouillabaisse, Italian rice dish
Risotto Milanese, the Indian ice cream Kesar Kulfi, Pakistani rice dish Biryani, and
baked Iranian rice Tachin. Saffron’s rich red colour is attributed to crocin; its bitter
taste, to picrocrocin; and its distinctive aroma, to safranal.
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(4) Saffron is cultivated chiefly in Iran but is also grown in Spain, France, Italy, and parts
of India. A labour-intensive crop, the three stigmas are handpicked from each flower,
spread on trays, and dried over charcoal fires for use as a food flavouring and
colouring agent.
(5) Most historians speculate it was first domesticated in Iran, but south-western Greek
islands remain strong contenders. Traders, conquerors, and world explorers
introduced it to China, India and the Middle East. From there, it travelled to
Mediterranean Europe.
(6) The high retail value of saffron is maintained in world markets because of labour-
intensive harvesting methods, which require some 444,000 hand-picked saffron
stigmas per kilogram — equivalently, 150,000 crocus flowers per kilogram. Forty
hours of labour are needed to pick 150,000 flowers. Almost all saffron grows in a belt
from Spain in the west to India in the east. Iran is responsible for around 88% of
global production. Afghanistan comes second, and Spain is the third largest producer,
while the United Arab Emirates, Greece, the Indian subcontinent and Morocco are
among minor producers.
(7) Given its high price, adulteration is quite common, unfortunately. Adulterants like
beetroot or pomegranate are used to enhance red colour; silk fibres, oil, or wax are
used to add bulk, and powdered saffron can be adulterated with turmeric and paprika.
Answer the following questions, based on the given passage above:
(i) What is the tone of the writer in the given lines? Rationalise your response in about 2
40 words.
‘‘Saffron is being used since ages in various foods made for the royals and the elite
as it contains medicinal properties.’’ Paragraph (1)
(ii) Which of the following statements best describes the comparison made in the 1
sentence?
‘‘Just like gold is among the most valuable metals in the world, saffron means the
same in the world of spices.’’
(A) Gold and saffron have similar physical properties.
(B) Gold and saffron have equal monetary value.
(C) Saffron is considered the most valuable spice, similar to how gold is valued
among metals.
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Name of the Student____________ Class & Section ____________ APS ASC/PB2/X/
ENGLISH /SET 1/2025-26
(D) Gold and saffron are both rare commodities in the global market.
(iii) List any two points why saffron is revered across the globe. Paragraphs (2) and (3) 2
(iv) Fill in the blank from the given options: 1
In the phrase ‘backbone of several iconic dishes’, the word ‘iconic’ refers to
___________.
(A) delicately cooked (B) widely recognized
(C) peculiar and rare (D) strange and infamous
(v) Complete the sentence appropriately: 1
Saffron has a labour-intensive cultivation process which involves ____________.
(vi) State whether the following statement is True or False: 1
According to historians, saffron was first used in the kitchens in Iran.
(vii) Which of the following statements best describes the reason for saffron’s high retail 1
value?
(A) Due to its magical or mystical properties.
(B) Because it can only be grown in specific regions.
(C) Due to its labour-intensive cultivation process and its relatively low yield per plant.
(D) Because traders, conquerors, and world explorers hoard it.
(viii Support the writer’s view with evidence from the text that saffron is often adulterated. 1
)
2. Read the following passage carefully. 10
(1) India is a country of many languages. The constitution recognises 22 languages
officially, but over 121 unique languages have been identified in the country.
(2) To preserve and encourage the literary function of language, the government
introduced 'classical languages' in 2004. According to the Ministry of Culture, a
classical language is one that is at least 1,500 years old and has ancient, valuable
literature recorded in it. Further, such a language is original and not derived from
another language. Based on 4 of 13 these guidelines, six languages have been
classified as classical languages: Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and
Odia.
(3) The following graph shows the percentage of Indian people whose mother tongue is a
classical language. This is as per data collected by the census of 2011. The census
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was not conducted in 2021 due to the pandemic.
(4) According to the graph, around 6.7% of the Indian population are native speakers of
Telugu, whereas Sanskrit has been identified as a mother tongue by only 0.002% of
the population, which is around 24,821 people. Malayalam has the second lowest
number of native speakers, making up about 2.9% of Indians.
(5) The 2011 census data also noted that a majority of the native speakers reside in the
area that their mother tongue originated from. For example, 93% of Kannada
speakers live in Karnataka. Similarly, 93% of Malayalam speakers live in Kerala.
(6) Balancing preservation of culture and inclusivity is a delicate equation for a
heterogeneous country like India. With growing awareness, concepts like 'classical
languages' may help us achieve harmony.
Glossary: census - a survey that is conducted every ten years to collect information
about the population of the country
Source (Edited): 'Explainer: What are classical languages of India?'
-[Link]
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above:
(i) Which of these pieces of information can be confirmed by reading the passage? 1
(I) the number of people in India who speak Tamil
(II) where the majority of native Sanskrit speakers live
(III) the reason Malayalam is considered a classical language
(IV) when the idea of classical languages was introduced in India
(A) Only (I) (B) Only (IV) (C) Only (I) and (II) (D) Only (III) and (IV)
(ii) Fill in the blanks with the appropriate option from those given in brackets. Based on 1
the passage, the __________ (functional/historical) value of a language is of utmost
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Name of the Student____________ Class & Section ____________ APS ASC/PB2/X/
ENGLISH /SET 1/2025-26
importance while________ (preserving/categorising) it as a classical language.
(iii) Imagine that a committee was formed to ensure that classical languages have more 2
native speakers by the time the next census is conducted. In 40 words, answer the
following questions to help the committee achieve its objective.
(1) Which classical language needs its attention most urgently and why?
(2) Which classical language would be THIRD on its priority?
(iv) State an example from the passage that shows that India is a 'heterogeneous 1
country'. Answer in one sentence.
(v) Why has the writer stated the following line in the passage? Give a reason. 1
The census was not conducted in 2021 due to the pandemic.
(vi) Complete the sentence based on information from the passage. 1
If Tamil originated from Tamil Nadu, we can infer that __________ of the native Tamil
speakers would be living in Tamil Nadu.
(vii) Which of these hypothetical situations would help India achieve harmony? Justify 2
your answer in about 40 words.
(a) if the majority of Indians who speak a classical language are settled abroad
(b) if more languages from remote and tribal areas of India are identified as classical
languages
(c) if the percentage of Indians who are native Telugu speakers increases to more
than 10 percent
(viii Which of these sentences uses 'delicate' in the same way as paragraph (6) does? 1
)
(A) She looked beautiful in the dress with the delicate floral pattern.
(B) He was frequently admitted to the hospital due to his delicate health.
(C) This discussion will require careful consideration as it is a delicate matter.
(D) Please handle these delicate items carefully during transportation as they break
easily.
SECTION B (20
Marks)
GRAMMAR & CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS
3 Attempt ANY TEN. 10
(i) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the brackets, for the given 1
portion of a letter.
‘Thank you for _________ (consider) my application. I look forward to working in your
organization.
(ii) Read the given sentence. Identify the error and supply the correction in the sentence. 1
Ninety-seven percent of the Earth’s water is salty ocean water and another two
percent is trapping in the Earth’s ice caps and glaciers.
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Name of the Student____________ Class & Section ____________ APS ASC/PB2/X/
ENGLISH /SET 1/2025-26
Error Correction
(iii) Yukti and Sanjay had a conversation about going to a restaurant. Report Yukti’s 1
question.
‘‘Does this restaurant serve good South Indian food ?’’
(iv) Read the dialogue between Amit and his sister Ananya, regarding her travel to the 1
railway station. 1
Amit: Are you sure you can manage to go to the railway station on your own?
Ananya: Oh yes! I have already booked a cab.
Select the correct option to report the above dialogue.
Amit asked Ananya ______________ to go to the railway station on her own. Ananya
replied in the affirmative and said that she had already booked a cab.
(A) if she is sure she can manage (B) if she was sure she could manage
(C) if she surely can manage (D) if she was sure to managing
(v) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the sentence taken from a 1
book about ‘Birds’.
Each year, thousands of birds __________ (migrate/immigrate/emigrate) southwards
to avoid the harsh winter, embarking on an incredible journey that spans thousands of
miles.
(vi) Identify and correct the error in the given line taken from an agency’s advertisement. 1
Tell us much about your project and we’ll select suitable candidates for you to hire.
Use the given format for your response.
Error Correction
(vii) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following 1
line taken from an article about growing obesity.
Obesity in teenage children is a major concern between parents today.
Optio Error Correction
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Name of the Student____________ Class & Section ____________ APS ASC/PB2/X/
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n No.
(A) teenage teenagers
(B) Concern Concerns
(C) between Among
(D) today now
(viii Complete the given narrative with the correct option to fill in the blank. 1
)
Yesterday, Tanu walked to the park and __________ a breezy evening.
(A) to enjoying (B) will enjoy (C) enjoyed (D) did enjoyed
(ix) Report the dialogue between two friends by completing the sentence. 1
Bhawna : I finished the project yesterday.
Sohail : That’s great ! Are you going to present it tomorrow ?
Bhawna told Sohail that ____________. Sohail responded that it was great and
asked if she were going to present it the next day.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the notice on a school 1
notice board.
We are pleased to announce that our Annual Sports Day _________ on 30th April,
2025 at the school playground from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(A) is held (B) will be held C) had been held (D) to be held
(xi) Complete the slogan on ‘‘Save Earth’’, by filling in the blank with the correct option. 1
Let’s join hands, cultivate conservation, and _________ a greener tomorrow for
generations to come.
(A) ensuring (B) ensure (C) ensures (D) ensured
(xii) Identify the error and supply the correction for the following note in an air purifier’s 1
instruction manual.
The plug should fit upto the outlet. If it doesn’t fit, do not force it in.
Use the given format for your response.
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Error Correction
4 Attempt ANY ONE of the two, (A) or (B), in about 120 words. 5
A As Kaveri Mahajan, of 543, Narmada Apartments, Jeev Nagar, you feel that during
the monsoon season all the rain water goes down the drain without being utilized.
Write a letter to the RWA of your society, in about 120 words, suggesting measures
to save and preserve rain water emphasizing the importance of saving every drop of
water.
B You are Risha Khan / Zuhaan Khan, the sports captain of Highrise Public School,
New Line, Rai Nagar. You believe that games and sports are an integral part of a
student’s life. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily, in about 120 words,
sharing your views on the importance of physical education and suggesting the need
to establish a sports university, academies and stadiums so that students can pursue
and focus on their favourite sport.
5 Attempt ANY ONE of the two, (A) or (B), in about 120 words. 5
A In the past few years, the teaching-learning process has taken a leap and gone
beyond the four walls of the classroom. Today, it has become possible to learn not
just by sitting in a physical classroom, but from anywhere. Given below is a chart
depicting the differences between E-learning and Classroom learning. Write an
analytical paragraph in about 120 words, assessing the benefits and drawbacks of
both, by selecting features that support your analysis.
E-learning Classroom learning
● accessible anytime ● same place, same time
anywhere ● caters to the needs of the
● at your own pace class
● no travel costs, saves ● transportation cost and
time time
consuming
B A survey was conducted to find out the main reasons for land degradation in the
world. The pie chart below shows the main reasons why agricultural land becomes
less productive. On the basis of the pie chart, evaluate the causes of worldwide land
degradation and write an analytical paragraph based on it, in 120 words.
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Name of the Student____________ Class & Section ____________ APS ASC/PB2/X/
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SECTION C (40
(LITERATURE) Marks)
6 Read the following extracts and solve ANY ONE of the given two, (A) or (B). 5
A Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only
because I’ve never written anything before, but also because it seems to me that later
on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old
schoolgirl. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I feel like writing, and I have an even greater
need to get all kinds of things off my chest. ‘Paper has more patience than people.’ I
thought of this saying on one of those days when I was feeling a little depressed and
was sitting at home with my chin in my hands, bored and listless, wondering whether
to stay in or go out. I finally stayed where I was, brooding: Yes, paper does have
more patience and since I’m not planning to let anyone else read this stiff-backed
notebook grandly referred to as a ‘diary’ unless I should ever find a real friend, it
probably won’t make a bit of difference.
(i) Why did Anne Frank finally decide to write in her diary? Answer in about 40 words. 2
(ii) What word best describes Anne? 1
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(A) rebellious (B) reflective (C) flighty (D) considerate
(iii) Anne agrees with the saying ‘Paper has more patience than people.’ What does this 1
show us about her attitude towards people?
(iv) If the diary were ‘a real friend’, which one of the following qualities would Anne expect 1
it to have?
(A) impatience (B) good listener (C) confident (D) energetic
B The expected call came within a few days. Mrs. Pumphrey was distraught. Tricki
would eat nothing. Refused even his favourite dishes; and besides he had bouts of
vomiting. He spent all his time lying on a rug, panting. Didn’t want to go for walks, did
not want to do anything.
I had made my plans in advance. The only way was to get Tricki out of the house for
a period. I suggested that he be hospitalised for about a fortnight to be kept under
observation.
(i) Which of the following is not a reason why Mr. Herriot thinks Tricki needs to be taken 1
out of the house for a period?
(A) He wanted to keep Tricki away from Mrs. Pumphrey.
(B) He wanted to keep Tricki under observation.
(C) He wanted to do an experiment on Tricki.
(D) He wanted to improve Tricki health.
(ii) What was the main reason for Mrs. Pumphrey to be distraught? Answer in about 40 2
words.
(iii) State True or False: 1
When Mr. Herriot says, “I have my made plans in advance.” - what he actually means
is, he had already seen this trauma coming for Tricki.
(iv) Which of the following best describes Mrs. Pumphrey? 1
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(A) unkind and inconsiderate (B) impractical but compassionate
(C) anxious and ambitious (D) fearful but confident
7 Read the following extracts and solve ANY ONE of the given two, (A) or (B). 5
A ‘‘I heard an old religious man
But yesternight declare
That he had found a text to prove
That only God, my dear,
Could love you for yourself alone
And not your yellow hair.’’
(i) Complete the sentence appropriately: 1
The speaker addresses the person he is speaking to as ‘‘my dear’’ because
___________.
(ii) The poet mentions ‘‘yellow hair’’. What is its significance in the context of the 2
statement? Answer in about 40 words.
(iii) Fill in the blank with the correct word from the brackets. 1
The poet suggests that God’s love in comparison to that of a human being is
____________ (selfish/selfless).
(iv) As per the above extract, what attributes does God not love a person for? Select the 1
correct option.
1. Wealth 2. Physical appearance 3. Intelligence
4. Inner qualities 5. Youth
(A) 1 and 4 (B) 3, 4, and 5 (C) 2 and 4 (D) Only 4
B Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda!
Remember your acne, Amanda!
Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you,
Amanda!
(I am Rapunzel, I have not a care;
life in a tower is tranquil and rare;)
(i) What is the central idea of the poem as reflected in the lines above? Answer in about 2
40 words.
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(ii) Complete the sentence with the appropriate option. 1
“Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you, Amanda!” tells that the
mother’s attitude is __________.
(A) loving (B) relaxed (C) authoritative (D) thoughtful
(iii) Identify any one poetic device used in the above extract. 1
(iv) For what reason does Amanda imagine herself to be Rapunzel? 1
8 Answer any FOUR of the following five questions in 40 -50 words each. 12
A Mandela in his speech says, ‘‘The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting 3
wound in my country and my people.’’ Explain the significance of the word ‘‘wound’’
as used by Mandela. (Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom)
B Natalya is obstinate and argumentative. Give two examples from the story 3
highlighting her nature. (The Proposal)
C Flying is a natural act in birds. Then why was the young seagull ‘exhausted by the 3
strange exercise’? Justify the given statement with reference to the baby seagull’s
fear.
D Coorg is known as ‘the land of rolling hills’. Describe its picturesque beauty and 3
biodiversity. (Glimpses of India)
E Is W B Yeats challenging or conforming the traditional notions of beauty and love in 3
the poem “For Anne Gregory”?
9 Answer any two of the following three questions in 40 -50 words each. 6
A Today reading books is on the decline because of the prevalence of electronic media. 3
Contrarily, earth is saved by a ‘Book’ in the chapter ‘‘The Book That Saved the
Earth’’. Elaborate.
B While asking for the job, Hari Singh displays his ‘most appealing smile’. This smile is 3
crucial to the story and makes a few more appearances. Explain why and how this
‘smile’ is a calculated one. (A Thief’s Story)
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C One should never judge a book by its cover. Explain with reference to Ausable and 3
how he outwits Max with his presence of mind. (The Midnight Visitor)
10 Answer any ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. 6
What challenges do Siddhartha in ‘The Sermon at Benares’ and Valliammai in
‘Madam Rides the Bus’ face? How do their journeys reflect on the themes of human
experience and self-realisation?
OR
Explain the phrase “the forest that was empty all these days”. After reading the poem
“The Trees”, for whom do you think are the forests needed? Imagine you are a tree in
a forest, what values would you like the humans to learn from the tree?
11 Answer any ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words. 6
The chapter ‘Bholi’ enables the readers to question values and customs prevailing in
society. With reference to the text, discuss the above statement.
OR
Matilda’s character embodies the journey of change or progression throughout the
story, encapsulating the transformations she endured as a consequence of her
experiences, trials, and engagements with other characters. In the light of the above
information, trace the transformation seen in Matilda’s character in the story.
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