CBSE Board Class 10 Sample Paper
Class X Exam 2022-23
English-Language and Literature (184)
Time Allowed : 3 Hrs. Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:
1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading.
2. The Question Paper contains THREE sections READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and LITERATURE.
3. Attempt question based on specific instructions for each part.
SECTION A- READING SKILLS
I. Read the passage given below.
1. If you are addicted to coffee, and doctors warn you to quit the habit, don’t worry and just keep relishing the beverage, because it’s not that bad after all! In fact, according to a new study, the steaming cup of Java can beat fruits and vegetables as the primary source of antioxidants. Some studies state that coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in American diet and both caffeinated and decaf versions appear to provide similar antioxidant levels.
2. Antioxidants in general have been linked to a number of potential health benefits, including protection against heart diseases and cancer. But Sandra Vinson, a dietitian, said that their benefits ultimately depend on how they are absorbed and utilised in the body. The research says that coffee outranks popular antioxidant sources like tea,milk,chocolate and cranberries. Of all the food and beverages studies, dates actually have the most antioxidants based solely on serving size, but since dates are not consumed anywhere near the level of coffee, the drink comes as the top source of antioxidants, Vinson said.
3. Besides keeping you alert and awake, coffee has been linked to an increasing number of potential health benefits, including protection against liver and colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease according to some recently published studies.
4. The researchers, however, advise that one should consume coffee in moderation, because it can make you jittery and cause stomach pains.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
i. Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option. _____ have the most antioxidants among all the food and beverages.
(a) Dates
(b) Cranberries
(c) Tea and milk
(d) Coffee
ii. What do doctors advise us about the habit of drinking coffee?
iii. According to dietitian Sandra Vinson, the benefits of coffee ultimately depend on:
(a) how it is relished
(b) how they are absorbed and utilised in the body
(c) how they are served and consumed
(d) whether it keeps us alert and awake
iv. State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE:
Coffee outranks popular antioxidant sources like tea, milk, chocolate and cranberries.
v. What is the correct order of the information given below?
I. Antioxidants are linked to a number of health benefits
II. One should consume coffee in moderation
III. Decaf versions of coffee provide antioxidants levels
IV. Dates have the most antioxidants based solely on serving size
(a) III, I, IV, II (b) III, IV, I, II
(c) III, I, II, IV (d) II, I, IV, III
vi. Coffee provides a large number of health benefits including protection against:
(a) liver and colon cancer
(b) type 2 diabetes
(c) Parkinson’s disease
(d) All of the above
vii. Substitute the word ‘jittery’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the following sentence from paragraph 4:
One should consume coffee in moderation, because it an make you jittery and cause…
viii. List any 2 benefits of antioxidants.
1. __________
2. __________
ix. What do researchers warn us about the excessive use of coffee?
x. Besides keeping us alert and awake, coffee provides us protection against:
I. liver and colon cancer
II. stomach ache
III. type 2 diabetes
IV. lung diseases
(a) I and II (b) II and III
(c) I and IV (d) I and III
II. Read the passage given below. 10
1. In the year ended December 2016, 3.5 million overseas visitors arrived in New Zealand. But how many visitors are in New Zealand on any given day of the year ? The question has practical importance. Visitors to New Zealand create demand for goods and services, including transportation, accommodation, and tourist activities. They also have an impact on local infrastructure. Knowing how many visitors are in New Zealand on any given day might be important for civil defence or flu pandemic planning.
2. The following data explores the seasonal fluctuations of visitors to New Zealand and New Zealand residents travelling overseas. This is based on short-term trips – those travelling for less than 12 months.
• In 2016, the number of overseas visitors in New Zealand ranged from 112,000 on 31 August to 354,000 on 29 December.
• In contrast, in 2016 the number of New Zealand residents temporarily overseas ranged from 72,000 on 1 March to 235,000 on 29 December.
• In both cases, the late December peak reflects an upsurge in travelers visiting friends and family, as well as an upsurge in those visiting for holidays.
3. There are strong seasonal patterns in visitor numbers (see figure below). In recent years the number of visitors in New Zealand peaked in the week of 27 December to 2 January. The peak day was 29 December in 2011-13 and 2016, and 28 December in 2014 and 2015.
4. At that peak in 2016, the number of overseas visitors in New Zealand was 354,000. This compares with a peak of 191,000 in 2000. Since 2000, the number of visitors in New Zealand has increased across every day of the year, but more during the summer months
(December to March).
5. The number of visitors in New Zealand tends to be at its lowest in late August, early September, and midJune. On 31 August 2016, there were an estimated 112,000 overseas visitors in New Zealand. This is 242,000 less than the peak reached on 29 December.
6. The seasonality of visitor numbers presents challenges to the tourism sector. These challenges include :
• Managing the peak summer influx of visitors
• Marketing New Zealand as a destination at other times of the year, in order to spread visitor numbers throughout the year.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
i. Which of the following is not a demand that is created in New Zealand because of the visitors coming to the country?
(a) health
(b) accommodation
(c) transport
(d) goods
ii. State 1 reason for the following sentence: It is good to have an understanding of how many visitors are in New Zealand on any given day.
iii. On 29 December 2016, how many residents of New Zealand were temporarily overseas?
iv. List any 2 challenges faced by the tourism sector because of the seasonality of the number of visitors.
1. __________
2. __________
v. The number of overseas visitors increases in New Zealand at a certain time of the year. This time is usually :
(a) from mid-June to late September.
(b) from December to March.
(c) during the late August.
(d) during the early September
vi. The peak day of the number of overseas visitors in New Zealand in the year 2015 was:
(a) 28 December
(b) 31 December
(c) 30 December
(d) 29 December
vii. Complete the following analogy correctly with a word from paragraph 5:
house : roof :: mountain : _____
(Clue : Just like the roof is a top of a house, similarly top of a mountain is…)
viii. The peak of overseas visitors and the temporary leaving of residents in the country in the late December reflects :
I. an upsurge of people getting temporarily stuck because of bad weather.
II. an upsurge in travellers visiting friends and family.
III. an upsurge in travelers just passing through the country to go to some other destination.
IV an upsurge of people visiting for holidays.
(a) I and II
(b) I and III
(c) II and III
(d) II and IV
ix. State whether the following sentence is TRUE or FALSE: The number of visitors in New Zealand tends to be at its lowest only in late August.
x. The number of visitors in New Zealand on 31 August is _____ less than the visitors on the peak day in the year 2016.
(a) 354,000
(b) 235,000
(c) 242,000
(d) 191,000
SECTION B- GRAMMAR
Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
i. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the sentence.
My mother _____ my clothes at this time.
(a) is washing
(b) was washing
(c) has washing
(d) will be washing
ii. Read the conversation between Anamika and Ronak.
Complete the narration correctly.
Anamika : Can you teach me how to swim?
Ronak : Yes, I will. Come to my swimming club tomorrow. Anamika asked Ronak if he could teach her how to swim. Ronak replied that he would. He also asked Anamika _____.
iii. Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the
given line.
However honest he _____, I do not trust him.
(a) is
(b) may be
(c) might be
(d) could be
iv. Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line: A little political thinkers think that liberty and equality can’t go together.
| Option No. | Error | Correction |
| (a) | A little | Some |
| (b) | think | thinks |
| (c) | can’t | couldn’t |
| (d) | that | those |
v. Complete the given sentence, by filling in the blank with the correct option:
Many researchers _____ how small business owners can be successful beyond the initial few years in business.
(a) have studied
(b) has studied
(c) had studied
(d) is studied
vi. Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket.
Age and experience _____ (bring) wisdom to man.
vii. Report the dialogue between a teacher and children, by completing the sentence:
Teacher : Children, let us all pledge to save trees.
Children : Yes, mam, we all pledge to save our trees as the trees are the lungs of the city.
The teacher asked all the children to pledge to save trees. The children replied affirmatively saying that _____ as the trees are the lungs of the city.
viii. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the correction. A teacher can tell you that learning English is not an easy job. Use the given format for your response.
| Error | Correction |
ix. Transform the following direct speech into reported speech: He said, “Ravi, why are you sounding so depressed today ?”
x. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the sentence. The news I heard just now is so strange that you _____ not believe it.
(a) will
(b) could
(c) might
(d) None of these
xi. Anil recently attended an interview for the selection of a computer programmer. Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between Interviewer and Anil. Interviewer : So, why do you want to be a computer programmer?
Anil : Well, I have always been interested in computers.
At the interview, he was asked why he wanted to be a computer programmer. To this question he replied that he wanted to change his job because _____.
(a) he had always be interested in computers
(b) he had always been interested in computers
(c) he has always been interested in computers
(d) he have always been interested in computers
xii. Identify the error in the given description about sachin tendulkar and supply the correction. Sachin Tendulkar is the best cricketer in India. He has played for many than twenty years for the Country. Use the given format for your response.
| Error | Correction |
SECTION B- CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS
All the names and addresses used in the questions are fictitious. Resemblance, if any, is purely coincidental.
1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
A. Owing to the MCD employees’ strike, the roads in your area are Littered with garbage. The place not only is stinking but also has become a health hazard. As Mini/Manish of 112, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi, write a letter in 100-120 words to the editor of a local newspaper informing the concerned authorities of the unhygienic conditions and requesting them to take appropriate and necessary actions in the matter.
Or
B. You are Nikhil/Nisha staying at 53, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. Last week you bought a new laptop from ‘M/S Clear Vision’ of Hyderabad, with a warranty of 2 years. You worked on the laptop all week and finished writing a Long assignment that is due shortly. However this week, the laptop doesn’t even switch on. Write a letter to the dealer complaining about the problem and requesting him to get the defect rectified.
2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
A. On the basis of the given line graph, write an analytical paragraph in about 100-120 words describing the given information.
The Number of Girls per 100 Boys in Elementary and Lower-Secondary Education in India Selected Between 2000 and 2014
Or
B. On the basis of the given bar graph, by analyzing and carefully understanding the data, write an analytical paragraph in not more than 120 words.
SECTION C- LITERATURE
V. Reference to the Context.
1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.
1.A The jingling thud of his bamboo woke us up from sleep and we ran to meet and greet him. Why was it so? Was it for the love of the loaf? Not at all. The loaves were bought by some Paskine or Bastin, the maid-servant of the house! What we longed for were those bread bangles which we choose carefully. Sometimes it was sweet bread of special make.
(Glimpses of India)
i. What was special about those bread bangles sometimes?
(a) The sweet bread of special make
(b) The fresh morning breads
(c) The maid servant of the house bought the loaves of bread
(d) Both (a) and (b)
ii. Whose bamboo is being discussed here?
(a) The baker (b) Paskine
(c) Bastin (d) The watchman
iii. What made the narrator and his friends wake up in the morning?
iv. What would happen after the author woke up on hearing the baker’s jingling sound?
(a) Pick up the bread bangles from the basket
(b) Ran to meet and greet him
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) To meet their friend, companion and guide
v. State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE:
In the olden days baker in Goa was known as pader
Or
1.B He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank into it He screamed with fright and attempted to rise again flapping his wings. But he was tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise, exhausted by the strange exercise. His feet sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he sank no further. He was floating on it and around him his family was screaming praising him and their beaks were offering him scraps of dog fish. (Two Stories About Flying)
i. How did the seagull feel when his belly touched the green sea?
ii. Why was he so scared to dive?
(a) because it was his last flight
(b) because he was sick
(c) because he had no legs
(d) because it was his first flight
iii. An antonym for the word ‘scrap’ is:
(a) whole (b) piece
(c) chunk (d) bits
iv. Complete the following analogy correctly with a word from extract:
abandon : reclaim :: abate : _____
(Clue : Just like to abandon is an antonym of to reclaim, similarly to abate is an antonym of to…)
v. Why did his family praise him?
(a) because he successfully made his first flight
(b) because he caught a fish
(c) because he grabbed his own food
(d) none of thaw
2. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.
2.A The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued. (Dust of Snow)
i. Of the many symbols the hemlock tree represents, choose the one that Frost drew upon in all likelihood, for this poem.
(a) Symbol of longevity
(b) Symbol of togetherness
(c) Symbol of healing
(d) Symbol of protection
ii. Choose the option that lists the possible feelings of the poet prior to the experience shared in the poem.
1. reassured
2. disappointed
3. curious
4. demotivated
5. thankful
6. disheartened
7. impulsive
(a) 1, 3 & 7
(b) 2, 4 & 6
(c) 5 & 7
(d) 1 & 3
iii. Identify the option that does not use the word ‘rue’ correctly.
(a) The film was a disaster and he rued his decision to act in it.
(b) I am sure she rued the day she listened to a fortune-teller.
(c) It wasn’t long before I rued my disobedience and my deceit.
(d) Others finally rue the one who is dishonest and heartless.
iv. Synecdoche is a poetic device that uses a part to represent the whole. E.g. That’s a great set of wheels!
(Set of wheels has been used for car.)
Give an example of synecdoche from the extract.
v. State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE:
Generally, hemlock tree and crow are used for negative references but the poet used them beautifully to portray that inauspicious things can bring joy and happiness too.
Or
2.B Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him.
No one mourned for his pirate victim.
Ink and Blink in glee did gyrate.
Around the dragon that ate the pirate. (The Tale of Custard the Dragon)
i. Whom does ‘him’ refer to in the stanza?
(a) Belinda (b) Custard
(c) Mustard (d) Pirate
ii. Why did Belinda embrace him?
(a) Out of helplessness (b) Out of gratitude
(c) Out of fear (d) Out of shock
iii. Why were Ink and Blink happy?
iv. Complete the following analogy correctly with a word
from extract:
charity : malice :: gloom : _____
(Clue : Just like charity is an antonym for malice, similarly gloom is an antonym for…)
v. Which figure of speech/literary device has been used here?
(a) Personification (b) Enjambment
(c) Alliteration (d) All of these
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.
i. How did Valli develop a longing for the bus ride?
(Madam Rides the Bus)
ii. What did the Buddha preach to the people?
(The Sermon at Benares)
iii. How can you differentiate between a hyena and a
crocodile ?
(How to Tell Wild Animals)
iv. Describe the havoc created by Mijbil on the airplane
when it came out of the box.
(Mijbil the Otter)
v. What do you think would be enough to destroy the
world ? Can Fire and Ice contribute to it?
(Fire and Ice)
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each.
i. What did Griffin, the scientist, do to escape after setting the fire to his landlord’s house?
(Footprints Without Feet)
ii. Did Ebright have other interests besides science? Mention them.
(The Making of a Scientist)
iii. For what unusual reasons was Bholi sent to school?
(Bholi)
VIII. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words.
i. “So, in order not to shake the writer’s faith in God, the postmaster came up with an idea to answer the letter”. What does this statement tell us about the postmaster? Was his idea successful ? How did the receiver react?
(A Letter to God)
Or
ii. The poet’s views about beauty are not justified. Anne’s arguments are correct. Express your views in support of Anne.
(For Anne Gregory)
IX. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120
i. What kind of person is Matilda’s husband? Support your answer giving examples from the text. (The Necklace)
Or
ii. Herriot enjoyed the lavish meal during Tricki’s stay but still, he felt compelled to inform Mrs. Pumphrey about the recovery of Tricky. Why did he not keep Tricki for a longer time? Did he feel concerned for Mrs. Pumphrey?
(A Triumph of Surgery)