PSM PUBLIC SCHOOL

Pre -Board Examination (2025-26)

Class X

Subject – Science

Set B

Instructions:

(i) This question paper consists of 39 questions in 3 sections. Section A is Biology,

Section B is Chemistry and Section C is Physics.
(ii) All questions are compulsory. However, an internal choice is provided in some
questions. A student is expected to attempt only one of these questions.
(iii) Section-A has Q1 to Q9 carrying 1 mark each, Q10 to Q12 carrying 2 marks each,
Q13 to Q14 carrying 3 marks, Q15 carrying Case Study Question of 4 marks and
Q16 carrying 5 marks.
(iv) Section-B has Q17 to Q24 carrying 1 mark each, Q25 carrying 2 marks, Q26 to
Q27 carrying 3 marks each, Q28 carrying Case Study Question of 4 marks and
Q29 carrying 5 marks.
(v) Section-C has Q30 to Q32 carrying 1 mark each, Q33 to Q34 carrying 2 marks
each, Q35 to Q37 carrying 3 marks each, Q38 carrying Case Study Question of 4
marks and Q39 carrying 5 marks.

SECTION-A (Biology)
1. The stomach plays a crucial role in digestion by secreting hydrochloric acid (HCl). What is
the primary function of HCl in the stomach?

2. The axon of many neurons is covered by an insulating fatty layer. What is this layer called
and what is its main function?

3. Regeneration is a method of asexual reproduction where an organism can regrow into a

complete individual from a fragmented body part. This ability is most prominently seen in
which of the following organisms?

4. Which hormone is secreted by testis ?

5. In nature, feeding relationships are complex and interconnected, rather than simple
linear chains. What term describes this network of multiple interconnected food chains in
an ecosystem?

6. Write the function of stomata .

7. The diaphragm is a large muscle situated below the lungs. What is its role during the
process of inhalation (breathing in)?

8. Assertion (A): Veins have valves within them, but arteries do not.
Reason (R): Blood in veins flows under low pressure and against gravity, so valves are
needed to prevent backflow.

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

(b) Both A and R are true, and R is not the correct explanation of A.

(c) A is true but R is false.

(d) A is false but R is true.

9. Assertion (A): Damage to the Earth's ozone layer is a significant environmental concern.
Reason (R): A depleted ozone layer allows less harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation to reach
the Earth's surface.

10. A student sets up an experiment by covering a part of a leaf of a destarched potted plant
with a strip of black paper. After exposing the plant to sunlight for a few hours, the covered
part of the leaf tests negative for iodine, while the uncovered part tests positive. What can
be concluded from this experiment?

11. Student to attempt either option A or B.

● A. How is the structure of the small intestine adapted for the efficient absorption of
digested food? Mention any two structural features.

OR

● B. What are the final, simplest products formed after the complete digestion of (i)
carbohydrates, (ii) proteins, and (iii) fats?

12. Differentiate between biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes, giving one example
of each. Which of the two poses a more serious threat to the environment and why?

13. Draw a neat diagram of a neuron and label the following parts: (i) Dendrite (ii) Axon (iii)
Cell Body (iv) Nucleus

14. Differentiate between reflex and involuntary action.

15. (a) What does happen when egg is not fertilized?

16. Attempt either option A or B

(A). (i) Define budding and provide an example of a unicellular organism that
reproduces this way. (ii) How does regeneration in Planaria differ from the
 regeneration of a lizard's tail? (iii) State one major advantage of sexual reproduction
over asexual reproduction.

OR

B. (i) What are Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)? (ii) Name one STD caused by a
bacterium and one caused by a virus. (iii) Suggest two practices that can help in preventing
the transmission of such diseases.

SECTION-B (Chemistry)
17. In the reaction: 2AgNO3(aq) + Cu(s) → Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 2Ag(s). The oxidizing agent is:

18. Which of the following acids is naturally present in tomatoes?

19. Which is the most abundant metal found in the Earth's crust?

20. Red cabbage extract is a natural acid-base indicator. What colour does it exhibit in a
basic solution like soap water?

21. What change will occur to the pH of 1 litre of pure water (pH=7) when a few drops of
concentrated hydrochloric acid are added?

22. When Plaster of Paris is mixed with the correct amount of water, it sets into a hard solid
mass. This hard solid is chemically:

23. The process of respiration in living organisms is considered an exothermic reaction

because:

24. Assertion (A): The complete combustion of hydrocarbons like methane produces carbon
dioxide and water.
Reason (R): The incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons, in a limited supply of air, can
produce carbon monoxide.

25. Answer the following based on exceptions to the general properties of elements:
(a) Name a metal that is a poor conductor of heat.
(b) Name a non-metal that has a very high melting point, comparable to that of strong
metals.

26. Attempt either option A or B.

● (A) Moderately reactive metals like Zinc are often found as sulphide ores. The extraction
involves converting the ore to an oxide and then reducing it. (i) What is the chemical
formula of zinc blende, the sulphide ore of zinc? (ii) Name the process used to convert
zinc blende into zinc oxide and write its balanced chemical equation. (iii) Name the
substance commonly used to reduce zinc oxide to zinc metal.
OR

● (B) Alloying is a very important process for creating materials with desired properties.
(i) What is meant by the term 'alloying'? (ii) Name the main constituents of stainless
steel. (iii) State one key property of stainless steel that makes it suitable for
manufacturing surgical instruments.

27. A student takes about 5 mL of distilled water in a beaker. She carefully adds a few pellets
of solid sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to it and stirs the solution with a glass rod. (a) If the
student touches the outside of the beaker, what change in temperature will she observe? (b)
What does this observation indicate about the nature of the dissolution process of NaOH in
water? (c) Based on your conclusion in part (B), what safety precaution should be followed
while preparing a dilute solution of a strong acid like sulphuric acid?

28. A student is given three unlabelled, colourless solutions: A (distilled water), B (an acid),
and C (a base). She is provided only with a strip of red litmus paper. (a) Describe the
procedure she would use to identify solution C (the base). (b) After identifying solution C,
how can she use it and the original red litmus paper to identify solution B (the acid)? (c)
How will she finally identify solution A (distilled water)?

OR

The pH of a solution indicates its hydrogen ion concentration. Two acidic solutions, P and Q,
have pH values of 4 and 1, respectively. (a) Which of the two solutions, P or Q, is more
acidic? (b) The hydrogen ion concentration in the more acidic solution is how many times
greater than in the less acidic solution? (c) What would be the nature of a solution that has a
pH of 14? What does this pH value indicate about its ion concentrations?

29. Attempt either option A or B.

● (A) Ethanoic acid (CH3COOH) is a carboxylic acid that shows several important
chemical reactions. (a) Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction of
ethanoic acid with: (i) Sodium metal (ii) A solution of Sodium Hydroxide (iii) Solid
Sodium Carbonate. (b) Why is pure ethanoic acid often called 'glacial acetic acid'? (c)
What is the common name for a 5-8% aqueous solution of ethanoic acid.

OR

● (B) The unique nature of the carbon atom allows it to form a vast number of
compounds. (a) State two characteristic properties of carbon that are responsible for
the large number of organic compounds we see around us. (b) What are covalent
bonds? (c) Explain why covalent compounds generally have low melting and boiling
points. (d) Draw the electron dot structure for a molecule of carbon dioxide (CO2). (e)
Explain why carbon dioxide gas is effective in extinguishing most types of fires.
SECTION-C (Physics)
30. A student makes the following statements about the image formed by a concave mirror:
I. A concave mirror can form a real, inverted image.
II. A concave mirror can form a virtual, erect, and magnified image.
III. The image formed by a concave mirror is always real and inverted.
Choose from the following the correct option that lists the correct statements.

31. Which of the following phenomena is responsible for the formation of a rainbow in the
sky?

32. Assertion (A): The focal length of a concave mirror is considered to be negative.
Reason (R): According to the New Cartesian Sign Convention, the focal length of a concave
mirror lies to the left of the mirror and distances in this direction are taken as negative.

33. A concave mirror of focal length 15 cm is used to obtain an erect image. A. Explain the
condition under which a concave mirror forms an erect and magnified image. B. State the
range of object distances for which this condition is satisfied. C. Draw the ray diagram for
this case.

34. Attempt either option A or B

A) An electric iron consumes energy at a rate of 840 W when heating is at the maximum rate
and 360 W when the heating is at the minimum. The voltage is 220 V. What are the current
and the resistance in each case ?

(B) Two lamps, one rated 100 W at 220 V, and the other 60 W at 220 V, are connected In
parallel to electric mains supply. What current is drawn from the line if the supply volltage
is 220 V?

35. A child is able to read his book comfortably but is unable to read the matter written on
the blackboard at certain distance. (a) Name the defect of vision he is suffering from. (b)
With the help of labelled ray diagram show: (i) The above mentioned defect of vision. (ii)
Correction of the above mentioned defect using a suitable lens.

36. In a household electric circuit different appliances are connected in parallel to one
another. Give two advantages of such connections. Two bulbs rated 100 W, 200 V and 25 W,
200 V are connected in parallel to a 200 V supply. What will be the current drawn from the
supply line?

37. A coil of insulated copper wire is connected to a galvanometer. What would happen if a
bar magnet is: (i) Pushed into the coil? (ii) Withdrawn from inside the coil? (iii) Held
stationary inside the coil?

38. A simple viewer uses a concave lens to obtain a wide field of view. When an object is
placed in front of a concave lens, the outgoing rays diverge as if they originate from a point
on the same side of the lens. The image formed is always virtual, erect and diminished. Such
lenses are also useful where reduction of image size is needed before further imaging.
A. Which lens is used in this viewer and what type of image does it form?
B. Can a single concave lens project a real image on a screen? Give a reason.
Attempt either subpart C or D.
C. For a concave lens of focal length f = -15 cm, an object is placed at u = -30 cm. Find the
image distance.
OR
D. For the same lens, calculate its power in dioptres and state the sign.

39. Attempt either option A or B

A. (i) With the help of an activity, explain the method of inducing electric current in a coil
with a moving magnet. State the rule used to find the direction of electric current thus
generated in the coil. (ii) Two circular coils-1 and coil-2 are kept close to each other as
shown in the diagram. Coil-1 is connected to a battery and key and coil-2 with a
galvanometer. State your observation in the galvanometer: (a) When key K closed; (b)
When key K is opened; Give reason for your observations.

OR

B. (i) For the combination of resistors shown in the figure, find the equivalent resistance
between M and N. (ii) State Joule's law of heating. (iii) Why we need a 5A fuse for an electric
iron which consumes 1 kW power at 220 V? (iv) Why is it impracticable to connect an
electric bulb and an electric heater in series?