CBSE Class 10 English Previous Question Paper 2018 Solution
ENGLISH
(Language and Literature)
Section A
1.) Read the passage given below :
(1) Tourists to Jammu and Kashmir have another attraction – a floating post office on the Dal Lake in Srinagar, the first in the country. ‘Floating Post Office, Dal Lake’ – claimed to be the only one such post office in the world – is built on an intricately carved maroon houseboat, fastened on the western edge of the Dal Lake.
(2) This post office lets you avail of all the regular postal services available in the country while being afloat. The seal used on everything posted from Floating Post Office is unique – along with the date and address, it bears the design of a boatman rowing a shikara on the Dal Lake. The special feature of this post office is that letters posted from here carry a special design which has the picturesque scenery of Dal Lake and Srinagar city. These pictures reach wherever these letters are posted to and hence promote Kashmir as a tourist destination across the world.
(3) This is actually a heritage post office that has existed since British times. It was called Nehru Park Post Office before 2011. But then the chief postmaster John Samuel renamed it as ‘Floating Post Office’.
(4) The post office’s houseboat has two small rooms – one serves as the office and the other a small museum that traces the philatelic history of the state postal department. It has a shop that sells postage stamps and other products.
(5) But for the locals, Floating Post office is more than an object of fascination. 1-2 crore is deposited per month in Floating Post Office by communities living in and around the Dal Lake. The lake has several islets that are home to more than 50,000 people.
(6) The greatest fear is the recurrence of 2014 like floods in which the houseboat had gone for a toss uncontrollably pushed by the flood. Rescue teams had to anchor it using special mechanism in a nearby highland. Then it was brought back on the Dal after the water receded. The biggest boon is that at no time of the year do you need a fan in this post-office !
1.1) Attempt any eight of the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read :
(i) What is the location of the Floating Post Office in Srinagar ?
Ans: (i) Dal Lake / Dal Lake in Srinagar / Houseboat on the western edge of Dal Lake;
(ii) What is special about the seal used in the post office ?
Ans: (ii) It bears the design of a boatman rowing a shikara on the Dal Lake it carries date and address
(iii) How is the post office helpful in promoting tourism ?
Ans: Pictures on stamps attract tourists/ Pictures on stamps promote Kashmir/ tourism.
(iv) Who renamed the post office as ‘Floating Post Office’ ?
Ans: John Samuel
(v) What are the two rooms of the post office used for ?
Ans: One as office, the other a museum that traces the philatelic history of the state postal department / shop that sells postage stamps and other products
(vi) How is the post office beneficial to the locals ?
Ans: Helps them deposit / save money/ helps them as a bank.
(vii) What is the greatest fear that the post office has ?
Ans: Floods / recurrence of floods
(viii) How is the post office a big boon to the people ?
Ans: No fan at any time of the year needed / tourist attraction / source of income
(ix) Find the word from the passage which means the same as ‘attraction’. (para 5)
Ans: Fascination
2.) Read the passage given below.
(1) It is an indisputable fact that the world has gone too far with the innovation of new technologies such as mobile phones, the internet and so on, due to which people are able to tour the cosmos virtually sitting at one place using their smart devices or other technological gadgets. Though mobile internet access is oftentimes hurried and short, it can still provide common internet features like alerts, weather data, emails, search engines, instant messages, and game and music downloading.
(2) Due to the easy access of smart phones, communication has been very effective and instant. People are able to convey their message all around the globe to their loved ones without spending hefty sums of money. Adults are always fond of such gadgets and they always welcome and adopt such new technology readily. Further, young people have been able to broaden their minds and improve their skills by doing research on the Internet. For instance, they use smart phones to look up any new word they come across. As we know that most of the universities have online teaching provision and smart phones assist the students to complete their assignments on time.
(3) The mobile phone has been a lifesaver for a lot of people in case of an emergency. Likewise, use of smart phones can be of vital importance in preventing crimes in the society by providing information to the security forces in time.
(4) Nonetheless, for the young the use of mobile phone can be like an addiction and they can misuse it. Young people are also prone to getting involved in undesirable activities on the Internet. This might have adverse effect on their academic performance. Therefore, young people should always be monitored and made aware of its bad outcomes.
(5) Also a major contributor to its popularity is the availability of prepaid or pay as you go services from a phone shop or an online store. This allows subscribers to load text or airtime credits to their handsets by the use of their credit cards, debit cards or by buying a prepaid card from the network they subscribe to. This plan also doesn’t commit a particular customer to a contract. If prepaid card is not that appealing to you, then you can opt to subscribe using the pay by month plan.
2.1) On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words each :
(i) How are smart phones helpful in communication ?
Ans: communication has become effective / instant message all around the globe without spending hefty sums
(ii) What are the benefits of mobile phones for the young generation ?
Ans: — able to broaden their minds and improve their skills by doing research on the internet
— help in online learning,
— help look up new word they come across
— help complete assignments on time
— provide online teaching
(iii) How can mobile phones be considered ‘lifesavers’ ?
Ans: Can help in any emergency prevent crimes by providing information to security
(iv) Mention any two demerits of mobile phones.
Ans: Adverse impacts / affects academic performance can lead to addiction / waste of time/ misuse. get involved in undesirable activities
(v) How is a prepaid card useful to mobile phone users ?
Ans: Allows subscribers to load text / airtime credits to their handsets it doesn’t commit a particular customer to a contract one can opt to subscribe using the pay by monthly plan
2.2) On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer any four of the following :
(i) In para 1, synonym of ‘innovation’ is ________.
(i) production
(ii) sincerity
(iii) invention
(iv) prevention
Ans: (iii) invention
(ii) Mobile internet can provide access to :
(i) telegram
(ii) emails
(iii) schools
(iv) university
Ans: (ii) emails
(iii) Grown-ups should _________ the use of new technology by the young people.
(i) reject
(ii) criticize
(iii) monitor
(iv) accept
Ans: (iii) monitor
(iv) Meaning of the word ‘adverse’ in para 4 is :
(i) positive
(ii) negative
(iii) admirable
(iv) unguided
Ans: (ii) negative
(v) According to the passage, one can opt for __________ plan if prepaid plan doesn’t suit.
(i) yearly
(ii) weekly
(iii) monthly
(iv) daily
Ans: (iii) monthly
Section B
(Writing Skills and Grammar)
3.) You are Prabhu Kumar/Parvati of I7E, Ravi Dass Road, Kochi. Write a letter in 100-120 words to the editor of a newspaper about the nuisance caused by loudspeakers in the city during examination days drawing attention of the concerned authorities to the problem.
Ans: 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 – 1 mark
Sender’s address
Date
iii.) Receiver’s address
Subject/Heading
Salutation
Closing
Content – 4 Marks
Expression: 3 Marks (coherence, relevance of ideas (1½ mark)
(Accuracy, appropriate words and correct spellings (1½ mark)
Nuisance caused by loud speakers (suggested value points given) — exam round the corner, preparing for examinations
— disturbance to students preparing for examination these days
— distraction , use of loud speakers at religious places/rallies/public gatherings on any special occasion
— nuisance even for common man/patients
— a noise pollution
– – enforcement of law / laws prohibiting loud speakers not followed
or
You are Pratibha/Rahul of Class X. Write an article in 100-120 words on ‘Ill effects on students of too much of television’. You can use the following clues :
– Increasing addiction
– A great variety of programmes
– Easy availability
– Neglect of studies
– Drop in academic performance
– Result – poor physical and mental health
Ans: Article
Format 1 Mark (Title 1/2 Marks & Name of the writer 1/2 Mark)
Content – 4 Marks (any other relevant point besides the hints given)
Expression: 3 Marks (coherence, relevance of ideas) (1½ mark) (Accuracy, appropriate words and spellings) (1½ mark
4.) Write a story in 150-200 words with the help of the following outline :
Tortoise and hare – good friends – tortoise – known for his slow speed – hare has fast speed – makes fun of tortoise – challenges him – referee selected – race starts – hare overconfident – takes a nap – tortoise wins.
Ans: Title & Moral – 1 mark Content – 4 marks Expression 5 marks (coherence, relevance of ideas) (2½ marks) (Accuracy, appropriate words and correct spellings (2½ marks) Suggested value points:(Hints given in the question )
or
Title & Moral – 1 mark
Content – 4 marks
Expression 5 marks (coherence relevance of ideas) (2½ marks)
(Accuracy, appropriate words and correct spelling) (2½ marks) Suggested value points: (The beginning of the story is given in the question )
Complete the story in 150-200 words which begins as the following :
There was a joint family of six members including grandparents. It was the 75th birthday of the grandmother and the family planned to celebrate … … …
5.) Fill in any four of the blanks in the paragraph given below with the help of options that follow :
The modern student (a) the importance (b) physical exercise. He spends one to
two hours in open air (c) he takes part in different sports. However, care should
(d) not to overstrain (e) body.
(a) (i) understood
(ii) understand
(iii) have understand
(iv) understands
Ans: (iv) understands
(b) (i) of
(ii) by
(iii) from
(iv) with
Ans: (i) of
(c) (i) how
(ii) which
(iii) where
(iv) why
Ans: (iii) where
(d) (i) be taken
(ii) took
(iii) takes
(iv) has taken
Ans: (i) be taken
(e) (i) a
(ii) an
(iii) the
(iv) some
Ans: (iii) the
6.) The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Write the error as well as the correction as shown in the example. Do any four.
In the prisoner’s room a candle is e.g. is was
burning dimly. A prisoner himself (a) _______ _______
sat by the table. Only him back, (b) _______ _______
the hair by his head, and his (c) _______ _______
hands are visible from outside (d) _______ _______
through any window. (e) _______ _______
Ans:
Error |
Correction |
a) A |
the |
b) him |
his |
c) by |
on |
d) are |
were |
f) any |
The/a |
7.) Rearrange the following words/phrases to form meaningful sentences. Do any four.
(i) work and play / things / different / parents see / as two
Ans: Parents see work and play as two different things.
(ii) is a / of time / they / waste / think / that playing
Ans: They think that playing is a waste of time.
(iii) important / games / studies / are as / as
Ans: Games are as important as studies / Studies are as important as games.
(iv) a student / to both / proper / should / attention / pay
Ans: A student should pay proper attention to both.
(v) can / life / only / succeed / he / in / then
Ans: Only then he can succeed in life / He can succeed in life only then.
Section C
(Literature : Textbooks and Long Reading Text)
8.) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow : 1 ´ 4 = 4
“But, please, Stephen Stepanovitch, how can they be yours ? Do be a reasonable man ! My aunt’s grandmother gave the Meadows for the temporary and free use of your grandfather’s peasants. The peasants used the land for forty years and got accustomed to it as if it was their own, when it happened that ……..
(a) Who is the speaker of the above lines ?
Ans: Lomov
(b) Why did his aunt’s grandmother give the meadows ?
Ans: -in return for making bricks for her / for temporary and free use
(c) Why did the peasants treat the land as their own ?
Ans: -used it for forty years and got accustomed to it as their own
(d) What light do these lines throw on the speaker’s character ?
Ans: -logical / rational / polite / any other relevant adjective
or
Belinda tickled him, she ticked him unmerciful, Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him Percival, They all sat laughing in the little red wagon At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon.
(a) Who was tickled by Belinda ?
Ans: Custard, the dragon
(b) Why did she tickle ‘him’ ?
Ans: To tease/ make fun of him
(c) Who are Ink, Blink and Mustard ?
Ans: Ink- black kitten, Blink- the little grey mouse, Mustard- a little yellow dog / they are Belinda’s pets
(d) Why did they all laugh at ‘him’ ?
Ans: because he was a coward
9.) Answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words each :
(a) What excited Rajvir ? Why did Pranjol not share his excitement ?
Ans: Rajvir was excited to look at the beautiful scenery and wide range of green tea gardens. Pranjol was born and brought up in Assam, not excited / nothing new for him
(b) ‘He senses first responsibility’ – What responsibility is referred to here ? (The Ball Poem)
Ans: The responsibility of taking care of his things in this world of possessions and cope up with the loss.
(c) What was Horace Danby’s hobby ? How did he manage to fulfill it ?
Ans: He is fond of collecting rare and expensive books, managed it by breaking open a safe every year
(d) Why did Matilda (Mme Loisel) leave the ball in a hurry ? What does it show about her character ?
Ans: no one notices her shabby shawl It shows her false pride / vanity
(e) In which queer way did Anil make a living ? (The Thief’s Story)
Ans: — wrote for magazines, made money by fits and starts
10.) Answer the following question in 100-120 words :
In life, people who easily trust others are sometimes made to look foolish. One should not be too trusting. Describe how Oliver Lutkins made a fool of the young lawyer.
Objective: To test local and global comprehension, themes and ideas in the text.
Marking: Content: 4 marks
Fluency: 2 marks
Grammatical Accuracy 2 marks
Ans: — Lutkins impressed the lawyer with his friendly manner; led the lawyer to think that the people of the town were trustworthy.
— claimed to know most of the places where Lutkins could be found P a g e | 8
— befooled the lawyer
— charged high price for the hack and food — alerted Fritz, friends and mother not to reveal his identity to the lawyer –
– even went to the railway station to see him off — on his second visit the lawyer learnt that the hack driver himself was Lutkins
— no one should be too trusting
OR
What lesson on death and suffering did the Buddha teach Gotami in the chapter, ‘The Sermon at Benaras’ ?
Ans: -that life of mortals is troubled, brief, combined with pain
-death is common to all
-like ripe fruits, earthen vessels human lives will break/ decay (death) one day
-neither father nor kinsmen can save anyone
-weeping and grieving will never bring back the dead alive
-one should accept death
11) Answer the following question in 200-250 words :
Describe the importance of diary in Anne Frank’s life.
Ans: Marking: Content 5 marks
Coherence and relevance of ideas and style -(2½ marks)
Grammatical accuracy and correct spelling – (2½ marks)
Importance of diary in Anne Frank’s life (Any 5 points)
-it is a gift given by her father / diary was friend, guide and philosopher
-great source of comfort and support
-important in her confinement and isolation
-astounding record of her sufferings, anxieties, courage, depiction of adolescence,
– a friend in whom she can confide and share her agony
-source of solace
-diary has more patience than people do
-a proof of her strength against the atrocities inflicted on Jews
-to record holocaust and brutal persecution of women and children
-she wanted to live even after her death through her writing
OR
What problems do Margot and Anne face with regard to the way their parents treat them ?
Ans: Problems Margot and Anne face
— restricted atmosphere of the annexe- over protective parents
— Anne became tired of her parents’ critical approach
— she wanted to be independent
— rebuked by mother and sister, had ‘bust ups’ with her mother
— Anne was a daddy’s girl – father tried to check her rebellious spirit but in vain
— could not confide in her mother, accused parents of deserting – no emotional support.
— mother’s sarcasm and quick temper had been the source of Anne’s anger and depression
— whereas Margot obliged to parents and received care, support and privilege from both
— they did not talk about their personal feelings with their parents because they thought that they would not understand
— wanted their parents to acknowledge their maturity and independence of spirit liked to be treated as adults
— expected a cordial approach and understanding from them
OR
Helen Keller’s determination to study and compete with the normal children helps her to enter Radcliffe College. What does this show about her personality ?
Ans: elen Keller’s determination
— Helen was determined to study in Radcliffe college
— did not get into Harvard, girls not allowed
— joined Mr. Gilman’s school, tried her best to be on a par with other normal children
— advised to work hard, take extra time to finish course
– Miss Sullivan and Helen disapproved; withdrew from school
— completed preparation with Miss Sullivan’s help
– tutored by Mr. Keith
– qualified to join Radcliffe college
— dedication, perseverance and endurance made her achieve the impossible
— wanted to be treated as normal, did not want compassion or sympathy
— overcame all with strong determination
OR
Describe how Miss Sullivan succeeds in helping Helen Keller achieve her aim in life.
Ans: Sullivan’s help in making Helen Keller achieve her aim in life
– Sullivan worked far beyond expectations
– Extremely patient and tolerant with Helen
– Handled her with sensitivity but firmly
– Encouraged her to explore
– helped Helen to study and learn like normal children
– Patiently taught her words and then concepts- Helen narrates how Sullivan took pains and used all techniques to teach the first abstract idea ‘love’
– Sullivan spelled words on her hands during lectures
– accompanied Helen everywhere
– Constant inspiration and tireless advocate for Helen.
– for Anne everything best in her life belonged to Sullivan