CBSE Class 10 English Previous Question Paper 2019 Solution
SECTION-A
1) Reading the following passage carefully.
1) Few guessed that this quiet, parentless girl growing up in New York City would one day become the First Lady of the United States. Even fewer thought she would become an author and lecture and a woman much admired and loved by people throughout the world.
2) Born Anna Eleanor Roosevelt in 1884 to wealthy, but troubled parents who both died while she was young, Roosevelt was cared for by her grandmother and sent to school in England. In 1905, she and her distant cousin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She and her husband had six children. Although they were wealthy, her life was not easy and she suffered several personal tragedies. Her second son died when he was a baby. In 1921, her strong athletic husband was stricken with polio, which left him physically disabled for life.
3) Eleanor Roosevelt was a remarkable woman who had great intelligence and tremendous strength of character. She never let things get her down. She nursed her husband back to good health and encouraged him to remain in politics. She then helped him to become Governor of New York, and in 1933, President of the United States.
4) While her husband was president, she took a great interest in all the affairs of the country. She became her husband’s legs and eyes; she visited prisons and hospitals; she went down into mines, up scaffoldings and into factories. Roosevelt was tireless and daring. During the depression she travelled all over the country bringing goodwill, reassurance and help to people without food and jobs. During world war II she visited American soldiers in camps all over the world. The United States had never known a First Lady like her.
5) Roosevelt also kept in touch with the American people through a daily newspaper column called ‘My Day’. She broadcast on the radio and delivered lectures, all first for a First Lady.
1.1) On the basis of your understanding of the above passage answer the following questions:
(a) How was Eleanor Roosevelt’s personality in contrast to what she became?
Ans: a quiet and parentless girl grew up in New York city ; she became the first lady of the United States, visited prisons, hospitals, mines, factories, soldiers at war.
(b) Apart from being the First Lady what else did she have to her credit?
Ans: visited prisons and hospitals ; went down into mines, up scaffoldings and into factories; wrote in a daily newspaper column called ‘My day’; broadcast on radio; delivered lectures.
(c) What challenges did she face in her personal life but remained unfazed?
Ans: her parents died when she was young ; her second son died when he was a baby; strong athletic husband was stricken with polio which left him physically disabled for life.
(d) Eleanor was a strong woman who helped her husband become the president of America. How?
Ans: she nursed him back to good health, encouraged him to remain in politics; helped him become the Governor of New York and then the President of the United States.
(e) What does the statement: ‘she became her husband’s legs and eye’ mean?
Ans: visited prisons, hospitals etc.; interacted with people and brought feedback to her husband about the state of affairs; shared his responsibilities of looking after people.
(f) What was her special contribution during the depression?
Ans: travelled all over the country bringing goodwill, reassurance and help to people without food and jobs.
(g) How did she motivate soldiers during World War II?
Ans: travelled all over the country bringing goodwill, reassurance and help to people without food and jobs.
(h) What did she do for the first time for a First Lady?
Ans: kept in touch with the American people through a daily newspaper column called ‘My Day’ ; broadcast on the radio, and delivered lectures.
(i) What side of her personality is reflected in this passage?
Ans: a remarkable woman with great intelligence and tremendous strength of character.
2) Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow.
1) Overpowering prey is a challenge for creatures that do not have limbs. Some species like Russell’s viper inject poison. Some others opt for an alternative non-chemical method- rat snakes, for instance, catch and push their prey against the ground, while pythons use their muscle power to crush their prey to death. But snakes can’t be neatly divided into poisonous and non-poisonous categories.
2) Even species listed as non-poisonous aren’t completely free of poison. The common Sand Boa, for instance, produces secretions particularly poisonous to birds. So the species doesn’t take any chance- it crushes its prey and injects poison as an extra step.
3) Do vipers need poison powerful enough to kill hundreds of rats with just one drop? After all, they eat only one or two at a time.
4) While hunting animals try their worst to kill most efficiently, their prey use any trick to avoid becoming a meal, such as developing immunity to poison. For instance, Californian ground squirrels are resistant to Northern Pacific rattlesnake poison.
5) Competition with prey is not the only thing driving snakes to evolve more and more deadly poison. Snakes also struggle to avoid becoming prey themselves.
6) Some snake killers have partial immunity to poison. Famously, mongooses are highly resistant to cobra poison, and with their speed and agility, kill snakes fearlessly. It would be the death of cobras as a species if they didn’t evolve a more deadly poison to stop mongooses.
7) Poison has another important role. It’s an extreme meat softener; specific enzymes break up the insides of the prey. Normally, a reptile depends on the sun’s warm rays to aid digestion.
8) But I wonder if we cannot use venom in our favour. In remote parts of India, local hospitality often involves leather-tough meat. I chew and chew until my jaws ache. If I spit it out or refuse, our hosts would be offended, I swallow like a python stuffing a deer down its throat and hope I don’t choke. If only I had poison.
2.1) Read the questions given below and answer any four in 30-40 words each.
(a) Russell viper and rat snake have different methods to attack prey. How?
Ans: Russell’s viper injects poison/venom whereas rat snakes grab and push their prey against the ground.
(b) How does Sand Boa kill its prey?
Ans: Sand Boa produces secretions particularly toxic to birds; crushes its prey and then injects poison as an extra step.
(c) There is a constant tussle between the hunting animal and its prey? why?
Ans: while hunting animals try their worst to kill most efficiently ; their prey use any trick to avoid becoming a meal , such as developing immunity to poison/venom ; hunters and prey keep evolving themselves.
(d) What makes mongoose a snake predator?
Ans: mongooses highly resistant to cobra poison; with their speed and agility, kill snakes fearlessly.
(e) What difficulty does the writer face when he is entertained in the remote parts of India?
Ans: served with leather tough meat that is difficult to chew ; unable to chew or spit out as hosts might get offended.
2.2) On the basis of your reading of the above passage fill in any two of the following blanks.
i) Overpowering — is a challenge for creatures that do not have limbs.
a) a killer b) humans c) a python d) prey
Ans: d) prey
ii) Poison— meat.
a) enhances taste of b) hardness c) softns d) breaks down
Ans: c) softns
iii) Californian squirrels are — rattlesnake poison.
a) afraid of b) helpless against c) resistant to d) indifferent to
Ans: c) resistant to
2.3) Find words from the passage which mean the same as (any two)
a) Another (para I )
Ans: Alternative
b) Liquid substances released from glands (para 2)
Ans: Secretions
c) Particular (para 7)
Ans: Specific
SECTION B
(Writing and Grammar – 30 Marks)
3) You are Tanvi/Shirish of safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi. You are extremely disturbed about the attacks on old people living alone. Write a letter in 100-120 words to the Editor, ‘The New Indian News’ making people sensitive to the problem. Make suggestions to the people living alone and the authorities to ensure that such attacks do not take place.
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
i.) sender’s address
ii.) date
iii.) receiver’s address
iv.) subject/Heading
v.) salutation
vi.) closing
Content – 4 Marks
Expression: 3 Marks (coherence, relevance of ideas (1½ mark) (Accuracy, appropriate words and correct spellings (1½ mark)
Value points :
- old people live alone
- vulnerable to attack
- increase in number of attacks on the elderly
- live in joint families
- active Resident Welfare Associations
- install alarms and cameras at home and locality
- police verification of domestic help
- law and order to be tightened
- senior citizens to have contact with area SHO
- regular police patrolling in the area
or
You are Ravi/Raveena, Sports Secretary of your school. Write an article in 100-120 words on the topic, ‘Importance of Outdoor Games in the life of a teenager.’
Ans: Format = 1 Mark
Title– ½ mark &name of the writer – ½ mark
Content = 4 Marks (any other relevant point besides the hints given)
Expression = 3 Marks –
coherence and relevance of ideas and style –1½ mark – grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spellings – 1½ mark
Value points:
- develop mind and body
- relieve stress
- enhance physical fitness/exercise
- give pleasure
- inculcate spirit of sportsmanship, team spirit, and discipline
4) Write a story in 150-200 words with the help of the following outline. Give it a suitable title also.
Bunya was a foolish boy, who was an attention seeker. He was a woodcutter and would go deep into the jungle to cut trees. One day he wanted to do an act of mischief . He shouted at the top of his voice, ”There’s a tiger, tiger, there’s a tiger … …”
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: (The beginning of the story is given in the question)
or
On sunaday I was watching TV. Suddenly I heard people shouting outside…
Ans: 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)
5) Fill in any four of the following blanks choosing the most appropriate options from the ones given below. Write the answers in your answer-sheet against the correct blank numbers.
Delhi (a)—- the capital of India. People from all parts (b) — the country and world come to visit Delhi. There (c)—- many historical buildings here. Last year I, (d) — Delhi. I also watched (e) —- Commonwealth Games 2010.
(a) (i) was (ii) is (iii) are (iv) being
Ans: (ii) is
(b) (i) of (ii) from (iii) for (iv) at
Ans: (i) of
(c) (i) being (ii) are (iii) been (iv) were
Ans: (ii) are
(d) (i) visit (ii) visiting (iii) visited (iv) will visit
Ans: (iii) visited
(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 along with its correction in the space provided. Do any four.
Sachin Tendulkar is a best
cricketer in India. He has play for
more than 20 years on the country.
He retired from the games
last year. He is known for
his skill in batting or fielding.
(a)….. …….
-> play played
(b)….. …….
-> on for
(c) ….. ……..
->games game
(d) ……. …….
->know known
(e) ……. …….
-> or and
7) Rearrange any four of the following words/ phrases to make meaningful sentences.
1) that life began/ centuries ago/ scientists think/ twenty million / on earth / about
Ans: Scientists think that life began on earth about twenty million centuries ago./ Scientists think that life began about twenty million centuries ago on earth.
2) endless process / the plants and animals/ of evolution/ are the products/ of an
Ans: The plants and animals are the products of an endless process of evolution.
3) are/ their/ animals/ products of/ all the /environment
Ans: All the animals are products of their environment.
4) lose/ habitat/ human/ due to / their/ the animals/ encroachment
Ans: The animals lose their habitat due to human encroachment.
5) the/ habitat/ regrowth/ rate of/ is/ very slow/of
Ans: The animals lose their habitat due to human encroachment. 5. The rate of regrowth of habitat is very slow.
SECTION –C
(Literature-30 Marks)
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
When I casually mentioned this to a friend, he casually replied that I had better get one in the Tigris marshes, for there they were as common as mosquitoes, and were often tamed by the Arabs. We were going to Basra to the Consulate- General to collect and answer our mail from Europe. At the Consulate- General we found that my friend’s mail had arrived but that mine had not.
Questions:
(a) What was ‘they’?
Ans: otters.
(b) Where could the author get ‘one’?
Ans: Tigris marshes.
(c) Find the exact word from the extract which means ‘domesticated.’
Ans: tamed.
(d) What did the author find at the Consulate- General?
Ans: found that his mail/letter had not arrived/reached while his friend’s mail had arrived.
or
(There is a languid, emerald sea, where the sole inhabitant is me-
a mermaid drifting blissfully.)
Questions:
(a) Who does ‘me’ stand for?
Ans: Amanda.
(b) How does ‘me’ feel?
Ans: She feels withdrawn/lonely
(c) Who is ‘me’ compared to?
Ans: a mermaid
(d) Which word in the extract means opposite of ‘sorrowfully’?
Ans: Blissfully.
9) Answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words each.
i) How did Kisa Gotami realize that life and death is a normal process?
Ans: found no house where some beloved had not died ; understood death is common to all ;she was being selfish in her grief
ii) Why did Maddie write a note to Peggy and then tore it ?
Ans: to stop making fun of Wanda; tore it because she thought it could annoy Peggy ; she would make fun of her instead.
iii) How can you say that Horace Danby was good and respectable but not completely honest?
Ans: had flourishing business of locks; lived a happy life; had two helpers; earned well; was respectable but used to rob a safe every year for sustenance ; proves he was not completely honest.
iv) What difficulty do the crew of the space probe face on the Earth?
Ans: space probe lands in a public library; crew shocked because the place looked very strange as they had no idea of books; think the library to be some kind of storage barn.
v) What was he most fascinating thing thatValli saw on the street?
Ans: watching the bus travel between her village and the nearest town; sight of the bus filled each time with new set of passengers source of unending joy for Valli.
10)Attempt the following question in 100-120 words:
Bholi is a child different from others. This difference makes her an object of neglect and laughter. Elaborate.
Ans:
- society does not tolerate differences very easily.
- slow for her age ; stammers when speaks.
- small pox leaves her all covered with pock-marks — suffers a lot.
- parents do not even bathe her — ignored and neglected.
- taken as a burden
- people laughed at her.
- children imitate her when she speaks.
- hence remains silent most of the time – has no confidence or self esteem.
- society must accept those who are different — treat them with the same love and respect as others
or
The poet in the poem, ‘For Anne Gregory’ conveys that we should give importance. Elaborate with reference to the poem.
Ans:
- poet tries to show inner beauty is real beauty
- physical appearance changeable – hence, unimportant.
- first speaker tells Anne – young men love her for her beautiful yellow hair and may never love her for what she really is.
- Anne says her hair-colour can be changed into black, brown or carrot,
- implies external beauty is all superficial and men should not love her for that.
- through Anne’s reply, the poet makes clear his preference for internal beauty to physical appearance
11) Answer the following question in 200-250 words:
How did Kitty help Annie overcome her loneliness?
Ans:
- shy, introvert girl – never expressed herself freely
- made diary her medium of expression– mentioned her loneliness.
- expressed her feelings, revealed her inner self through Kitty, her diary.
- contained her innermost feelings, beliefs, moods and observation on
- people who lived around.
- Anne poured heart out in the diary; found comfort and solace with it in
- the saddest moments.
or
What is the main theme of ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’?
Ans:
- tenacity of the human soul
- to continue to grow and even thrive in the worst of circumstances.
- evolves into a mature person in that attic room.
- selfless
- caring and helping
- sacrifice of one human being for another
or
‘The best and most beautiful things in the world can’t be seen or even touched. They must be left with the heart.” Justify the famous quote of Helen Keller.
Ans:
- feeling towards what we experience in life more important than what we actually see or touch.
- Helen Keller lost her sight and hearing at a very tender age to an illness.
- with all the adversities surrounding her, fought back with courage and love of people who surrounded her and supported her throughout.
- feelings of love, courage, hope, satisfaction, happiness, desire, pain, ambition, etc., make a person what they are.
- Helen learns the beauty of love not by seeing or touching but by feeling it.
- her life itself stands testimony to the statement ‘The best and most beautiful things in the world can’t be seen or even touched’.
or
Helen had a great love for animals and birds. Write about this aspect of her character.
Ans:
- Helen- great lover of nature.
- surprised at what mother earth had in store for everyone.
- birds and animals a source of interest for her.
- felt love for guinea-fowl’s eggs /a canary /horseshoe crab
- Miss Sullivan taught her how to take care of her new pet
CBSE Class 10 Previous Question Paper 2019 Solution
- English (Set No 2/1/2)
- English (Set No 2/1/3)
- English (Set No 2/2/1)
- English (Set No 2/2/2)
- English (Set No 2/2/3)
- English (Set No 2/3/1)
- English (Set No 2/3/2)
- English (Set No 2/3/3)
- English (Set No 2/4/1)
- English (Set No 2/4/2)
- English (Set No 2/4/3)
- English (Set No 2/5/1)
- English (Set No 2/5/2)
- English (Set No 2/5/3)