CBSE Class 10 Previous Question Paper (2015) >English with Solution
CBSE Class 10 English Previous Year Question Paper 2015: All Set Previous Year Question Paper PDF Class 10 Social Science2015 with Solution (also name as Marking Scheme) Download from here.
(1) Read the passage given below:
Kausani is Situated at height of 6,075 feet in the central Himalayas. It is an unusually attractive little town. It covers just about 5.2 sq. Kms. It lies to the north of Almora in Uttarakhand’s picturesque Kumaon region.
Kausani provides the 300-Km wide breathtaking view of the Himalayas. It is the most striking aspect of this place. Snow-capped peaks are spread in a stately row. They stare at you in silvery white majesty. The most famous peak on view is Nanda Devi, the second highest mountain in India.It is situated at a height of 25,645 feet and 36 miles away as the crow flies. The other famous peaks on view are Choukhamba (23,420 feet) and Trishul (22,360 feet). Then there are also Nikanth, Nandaghunti, Nandaghat and Nandakot. On a clear day, the blue of the sky makes a splendid background to these peaks. At sunrise and at sunset, when the colour of the sky changes to a golden orange, the scene gets etched in your memory.
When Gandhi visited this place in 1929, its scenic beauty held him spellbound. He named it the ‘Switzerland of India’. He prolonged his two-day stay to fourteen days, making time to write a book, ‘Anashakti yoga’. The place where he was staying was originally a guest house of a tea estate. It was renamed ‘Anashakti Ashram’ after the book.
Kausani is the birthplace of Sumitranandan Pant, India’s poet laureate. Its natural surroundings inspired many of his poems. Its tea gardens mingle with dense pine forests and fruit orchards. The area is also host to many fairs and religious ceremonies. If Uttarakhand is the abode of gods, Kausani is God’s own backyard. There is no traffic, no one is in a hurry. If serenity could be put on a canvas, the picture would resemble Kausani.
On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the following question:
(a) Where is Kausani situated?
Ans: at a height of 6075 feet in the Central Himalayas
(b) What is the striking aspect of Kausani?
Ans: 300-km. wide breathtaking view of the Himalayas
(c) Which is the most famous peak on view from Kausani?
Ans: Nanda Devi, the second highest peak in India
(d) How did Kausani influence Sumitranandan Pant?
Ans: its natural surroundings inspired him to write many of his poems
(e) When does the view of peaks become so memorable?
Ans: on a clear day , the blue of the sky makes a splendid background to the peaks (Nilkanth, Nandaghunti, Nandaghat and Nandakot) at sunrise and at sunset, when the colour changes to a golden orange, the scene gets etched in one’s memory
(f) How can we say that Gandhiji was greatly charmed by the natural beauty of Kaushani?
Ans: when Gandhiji visited the place in 1929, its scenic beauty held him spell bound/ he named it the Switzerland of India/ prolonged his two-day stay to fourteen days
(g) What makes Kausani a calm and quiet place?
Ans: no traffic, no one in a hurry
(h) Why is Kausani’s guest house of the tea estate known as ‘Anashakti Ashram’?
Ans: the place where Gandhiji wrote a book, ‘Anashakti Yoga’ a guest house was renamed ‘Anashakti Ashram ‘after the book.
(2) Read the passage given below:
(1) I rested for a moment at the door of Anand Bhawan, on Market Road, where coffee- drinkers and tiffin-eaters sat still at their tables, uttering low moans on seeing me. I wanted assure them, “Don’t mind me, you hugging the cash box – you are a coward, afraid even to breathe. Go on, count the cash, if that is your pleasure. I just want to watch, that’s all. If my tail trails down to the street, if I am blocking your threshold, it is because, I ,m told, I,m eleven feet tip to tail. I can’t help it. I’m not out to kill – I’m too full. I found a green pasture full of food on my way. I won’t attack until I feel hungry again. Tigers attack only when they feel hungry, unlike human beings who slaughter one another without purpose or hunger.”
(2) To the great delight of children, schools were being hurriedly closed. Children of all ages and sizes were running helter-skelter, screaming joyously, ”No school, no school. Tiger, tiger !” They were shouting and laughing and even enjoying being scared. They seemed to welcome me. I felt like joining them. So I bounded away from the restaurant door. I walked along with them, at which they cried, “The tiger is coming to eat us; let us get back to school!”
(3) I followed them through their school gate while they ran up and shut themselves in the school hall securely. I climbed up the steps of the schools, saw an open door at the far end of a Veranda, and walked in. It happened to be the headmaster’s room. I noticed a very dignified man jumping on the table and heaving himself up into an attic. I walked in and flung myself on the cool floor, having a special liking for cool stone floors.
(4) As I drowsed, I was aware of cautions steps and hushed voices all around. I was in no mood to bother about anything. All I wanted was a little moment of sleep; the daylight was very bright.
On the basis of your reading of the above passage answer the following questions:
(a) How did the diners at Anand Bhawan react on seeing the tiger?
Ans: all the coffee drinkers and tiffin- eaters stopped eating and drinking; wailed and uttered low moans
(b) When do tigers attack? In this context, how are human beings different from tigers?
Ans: when they are hungry, but human beings kill or exploit one another to show off their pride, power and false prestige
(c) Why were children happy and even enjoying being scared?
Ans: the school closed, screaming with joy of having ‘no school’
seemed to welcome the tiger
(d) What was the tiger’s opinion about the man at the cash counter? What did the tiger assure him?
Ans: the tiger thought man to be coward, afraid even to breathe and assured him to count the cash as he just wanted to watch
(e) Identify the word which means the same as ‘hugging’.(para1)
(i) counting
(ii) hiding
(iii) rubbing
(iv) holding tightly in the arms
Ans: Holding tightly in the arms
(f) Identify the word which means the same as ‘delight’ (para 2)
(i) pleasure
(ii) fear
(iii) sorrow
(iv) nervousness
Ans: Pleasure
(g) Identify the word which means the same as ‘dignified’ (para 3)
(i) tall
(ii) honourable
(iii) terrified
(iv) tried
Ans: honourable
(h) Identify the word which means the same as ‘heaving up’(para 3)
(i) hiding
(ii) running away
(iii) climbing
(iv) raising
Ans: raising
Section B
(Writing and Grammer)
(3) The recent increase in crimes against people of the Northeast, especially in the cities, has highlighted the growing problem faced by the community. Fear of violence continues to worry them. Write a letter in 100 – 120 words to the Editor of the times of India expression your concern over the recent death of a young student resulting from a racial comment against people from Northeast. Suggest what steps the government should take to solve this problem. You are Anchal/Aryan, resident of A-12, East of Kailash, N. Delhi.
Hints: racial comments, attacks – rude behaviour, hurt feelings of our own fellow citizens – disharmony – dents the image of our country – steps to solve this problem.
Ans: LETTER
Objective: – To use an appropriate style and format to write a formal/an informal letter. Note: No marks are to be awarded if only the format is given. Credit should be given for the candidate’s creativity in presenting his/her own ideas.
Format
(i) Sender’s address
(ii) Date
(iii) Receiver’s address
(iv) Subject/Heading
(v) Salutation
(vi) Complementary close
Content
Expression
– Coherence and relevance of ideas and style
– Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spellings
(Value points are suggested in the Question paper itself)
OR
One of the key messages of the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech was ‘Clean India’. The Government has taken an initiative for cleaning the rivers especially ‘The Ganges’. The Government has also urged the people of India to realise the dream of ‘Clean India’. Write an article in 100 – 200 words mentioning the measure people can take for a cleaner and greener India.
ARTICLE
Format
Title and writer’s name
Content
Expression
– Coherence and relevance of ideas and style
– Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spellings
Suggested Value Points: Title – Clean India-A Dream of Every Indian or any other suitable title
By ABC
- Need for cleanliness
- Role of each Indian –from home to surroundings, workplaces and schools etc
- Rivers –a lifeline, control pollution of rivers
- Some Do’s and Don’ts
- Waste Management
(4) Complete the story in 150- 200 words which starts like this:
“It was a quiet, cold and dark night light it usually is in winter when all retire to bed early. Suddenly at the dead of night, a shriek jerked the people in the building out of their beds. It was distinctly the voice of….”
Ans: Objective: – to plan, organize and present ideas coherently in a story using the child’s imagination and creativity based on the given inputs.
Format
Title (writer’s name
Creative Content
Expression
– Coherence and relevance of ideas and style
– Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spellings
(The outline is given in the question paper. Students to write a story using the given situation / trigger)
Or
You have been preparing for the National Talent Search Examination for the last one year and have got a very good rank. Write your story in 150 – 200 words using the following cues.
Humble family background – ambition to be something – scholarship, a means to that – preparation – help from the teachers – use of library – examination – result.
(5) Read the passage given below and fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate words from the given options.
Today a good (a)…………. varieties of tea brands are available in the market. Green tea is popular (b)……. China and the Far East. In Japan, the tea ceremony is a traditional way of greeting guests, (c)…….. is a social occasion.
(a) (i) very
(ii) many
(iii) much
(iv) more
Ans: (ii) many
(b) (i) on
(ii) at
(iii) in
(iv) for
Ans: (iii) in
(c) (i) and
(ii) it
(iii) both
(iv) this
Ans: (i) and
(6) The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a blank has been given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer- sheet against the correct blank number as given in the example. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied.
Most trees has a single woody stem called e.g.
A trunk who supports a mass of branches (a) ——– ——-
Carrying leaves. Trees clean an air (b) ——— ———
To removing tiny airborne particles. The (c) ——– ——-
Leaves of trees give in oxygen (d) ——- ——-
Ans:
Error | Correction |
(a) who | Which / that |
(b) an | the |
(c) to | by |
(d) in | Out / us |
(7) Rearrange the following words and phrases into meaningful sentences. One has been done for you as an example.
Beach Vacations / was / an attraction / coconut water / during
Example – Long ago coconut water was an attraction during beach vacations.
(a) these days / of trade / Delhi / for / has become / but / a centre / tender coconuts /
Ans: But Delhi has become a centre of trade for tender coconuts these days.
(b) its demands / value / due to / has increased / of the fruit / the food
Ans: Its demand has increased due to the food value of the fruit.
(c) has been fuelled / by growing awareness / the demand / health benefits / coconut water, s / of /
Ans: The demand has been fuelled by growing awareness of coconut water’s health benefits.
Section – C
(Literrature / Text Books and Long Reading Texts)
(8) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“Don’t you want to have a look at the sights, now that you’ re here?
“All by myself? Oh, I’d be much too afraid.”
Greatly amused by the Girl’s way of speaking, the conductor said, “But you weren’t afraid to come in the bus.”
“Nothing to be afraid of about that, “she answered.
(a) Who is the ‘girl’ mentioned in the passage ?
Ans: -Valli
(b) Why didn’t she get off the bus when she reached her destination ?
Ans: – afraid of getting down alone
(c) Write the meaning of the word “amused”.
Ans: – cause to laugh at / smiled / delighted / laughed
Or
So I rejoiced one day when they sent me out forty miles in the country, to a town called New Mullion, to serve summons on a man called Oliver Lutkins.
(a) Who is ‘T’?
Ans: – the young lawyer/ the author –Sinclair Lewis
(b) Why was ‘I’ sent to New Mullion?
Ans: – to serve summons
(c) What does the word, ‘rejoiced’ mean?
Ans: – felt happiness
(9) Answer the following questions 30 – 40 words each.
(a) Why was Kisa Gotami sad? What did she do in her hour of grief?
Ans: – lost her only son,-
-carried her dead son to all her neighbors asking for medicine to save her son
(b) What special characteristic of Mijbil did Maxwell learn after he took him to the bathroom ?
Ans: – went wild with joy in water, plunging and rolling in it / splashed water – water must be kept on the move
(c) For what unusual reasons was Bholi sent to school?
Ans: – as she had ugly face, lack of sense and little chance of her getting married
(d) Do you think M. Loisel had an enjoyable at the bell? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans: – No.
– he was quite bored with the ball, as he had been half asleep in one of the little salons since midnight with three other gentlemen whose wives were enjoying themselves very much.
(10) Answer the following 80 – 100 words.
“Never mind.” She said , “I can get on by myself.” “You don’t have to help me ,” said Valli to the conductor. She shows extraordinary courage in making the bus journey all alone. Taking inspiration from Valli’s character, write how ability and courage to take risk are essential to fulfil one’s dream.
Ans: – set a goal,/ having the courage, confidence and ability to take risk leads one to success-
– Valli had set the target- to have a joy-ride to an unknown destination and realized her dream-
– One example from the life experience of some great man who had set the goal and taken risk to achieve the goal.
Or
“Put the fear out of your heart and you will be able to speak anyone else.” These words of encouragement from the teacher highlight that change of social attitude encouragement can help a child like Bholi to become confident and face the world bravely. Talking help from the lesson, ’Bholi’ write how the social attitude towards Bholi made her an introvert. What should be done4 to help such children to face the world bravely?
Ans: Love, care and sympathetic treatment to the mentally/physically challenged children can work wonders and if they are shown neglect and indifference they tend to become introvert and shy like Bholi. Kind words , love and sympathetic pat help them to regain confidence , enable them to compete with others , ultimately help them become socially acceptable. Such children need social /parental attention and encouragement so that they come out of their complex. Example of Bholi’s teacher in transforming Bholi into a bold and confident person to face the world bravely.
(11) Answer the following in 120 – 150 words.
What happened when the Nazis found Anne and her family hiding in the Secret Amexe ? Give a brief description of Amne and her family after the arrest.
Ans: The Nazis arrested the eight people hiding in the Annexe as well as two of their helpers- Kugler and Kleimen
Or
Anne wrote, ‘One day we’re laughing at the comical side of hiding, and the next day we’re frightened and the fear, tension and despair can be read on our faces.’
Give two examples of each – laughter and fear from the diary entries of May 1944.
Ans: ( ii ) – The family spent four days locked in a cell in Amsterdam and on September 1, 1944, they were transferred, without a trial, to the transit camp –Westerbork Camp for the Jews – considered punishable prisoners. –
On September 3, 1944, the eight prisoners joined 1000 others. – After the arrest;- – Kleiman, because of his poor health, was released on Sept. 18, 1944, and he remained in Amsterdam until his death in 1959.
– Kuglar managed to escape his imprisonment on March 28, 1945- when he and his fellow prisoners were being sent to Germany. – Elizabeth ( Bep )
– died in Amsterdam – Van Daan was gassed to death in Auschwitz –Nov. 1944.
– Dussel died in the Concentration Camp on December 1944.
– Edith Frank died in AUSCHISITY Camp on Jan.6, 1945 from hunger and exhaustion.
– Margot and Anne Frank- died in the Concentration Camp as a result of epidemic that broke out in 1944-45. – Otto Frank- the only survivor in May 1945
Or
Ans:
The two shades of life in the hiding place:- On one side, there was bad news – Mr. Van’s arrest for hiding two Jews in his house. His arrest means no more potatoes for them. Then the awful food, the Jewish question, the tension, the miserable atmosphere. Windows could not be opened, unbearable heat, butter melting, not a cool spot anywhere, drying out the bread, the milk getting sour. On the other hand – the news of Bep’s engagement, Mr. Kugler’s birthday and the stories about cabarets, movies and concerts Thus, if one day they laughed at the comical side of hiding, the next day they were frightened.
How, did Mr. Keith contribute to the intellectual enrichment of Helen?
Or
Ans: Mr. Keith’s contribution to the intellectual enrichment of Helen:- –
-Helen had no aptitude for mathematics but Mr. Keith helped her understand the subject
– Helen continued her studies under the tutor Mr. Merton Keith of Cambridge
– gave her individual attention, proved more beneficial, it sharpened her faculty of reasoning and trained her to seek conclusions calmly and logically. She got on faster and did better
– was able to take the final examination for Radcliffe College
Or
Why did Helen not like examinations ?
Ans: Helen’s dislike for the examination:-
– examinations –the chief bugbears , harass students
– test rote learning without understanding
– cause stress, test memory
– out of fear, students fail to recollect the facts and memory fails