Class X – English Sample Paper – 5

Sample paper 5

English language and literature (184)

Class-X Exam 2025-26

Time allowed: 3 hrs.                                                                                             Maximum marks: 80

General instructions:

Read the instructions carefully and follow them:

1. This question paper comprises 11 questions. All questions are compulsory.

2 The Question Paper contains THREE sections

Section A: Reading Skills

Section B: Grammar and Creative Writing Skills

Section C: Literature Textbook

3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION A – READING SKILLS                                                                20

1. Read the following text.                                                                                                              10

1. Read the following text. 10

1. The fascinating process of adaptation in the natural world allows living organisms to thrive in diverse and often challenging environments. This remarkable ability, shaped by evolution over millions of years, enables species to develop unique characteristics, behaviors, and physiological traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success. Understanding adaptation offers profound insights into the interconnectedness and resilience of life on Earth.

2. A key mechanism driving adaptation is natural selection. Organisms possessing traits that are better suited to their specific environment are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass those advantageous traits to their offspring. For instance, the long neck of a giraffe allows it to reach leaves on tall trees, giving it an advantage over shorter competitors in the same habitat. This gradual process leads to species becoming highly specialized for their niches.

3. Animals exhibit a wide array of behavioral adaptations to cope with their surroundings. Desert animals, such as fennec foxes, are nocturnal to avoid the intense daytime heat. Birds migrate thousands of miles to find warmer climates and abundant food sources. Many species, like chameleons, employ camouflage to blend into their environment, protecting themselves from predators or ambushing prey. These actions are crucial for survival.

4. Plants also showcase incredible adaptations to diverse conditions. Cacti, for example, have thick, waxy stems that store water and spines instead of leaves to minimize water loss in arid regions. Some aquatic plants develop specialized air pockets to float on water, allowing their leaves to absorb sunlight. Others, like carnivorous plants, adapt to nutrient-poor soils by trapping and digesting insects for sustenance.

5. Moreover, physiological adaptations involve internal body processes that help organisms survive. Animals living in cold climates, like polar bears, have thick layers of blubber for insulation and specialized fur that provides warmth. Deep-sea fish develop unique enzymes that function under immense pressure and in extremely cold temperatures. These internal changes allow them to withstand otherwise uninhabitable conditions.

6. Ultimately, the study of adaptation underscores the incredible diversity and ingenuity of life. It highlights how species constantly evolve in response to environmental pressures, showcasing nature’s persistent drive for survival. Recognizing these adaptations deepens our appreciation for biodiversity and emphasizes the importance of preserving natural habitats, ensuring that life’s intricate dance of survival continues for future generations.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i. Why does the fascinating process of adaptation allow living organisms to ‘thrive’ in diverse environments in paragraph 1?                                                                                    1

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ii. According to paragraph 1, adaptation enables species to develop all of the following EXCEPT: 1

(A) unique characteristics

(B) enhanced survival

(C) reduced reproductive success

(D) physiological traits

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iii. Complete the following by selecting the correct option from those given in the brackets. 1

The long neck of a giraffe is an example of a trait that enhances its ______ (survival/speed). (Paragraph 2)

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v. Complete the analogy by selecting one of the two correct options (A), (B)                   1

fennec foxes : nocturnal :: ______ : ______ (Paragraph 3)

(A) chameleons: camouflage

(B) birds: hibernation

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vi. What are the remarkable behavioral adaptations that animals exhibit to cope with their surroundings, as explained in paragraph 3?                                                                           2

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vii. What are the main ideas of paragraph 4 and paragraph 5?                                              1

(i) All plants need lots of water to survive.

(ii) Plants show incredible adaptations to diverse conditions.

(iii) Deep-sea fish cannot function under immense pressure.

(iv) Physiological adaptations involve internal body processes.

(v) Polar bears have no unique adaptations for cold.

Select the correct option.

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viii. How does the study of adaptation deepen our appreciation for biodiversity and emphasize habitat preservation? (Paragraph 6)                                                                   2

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2. Read the following text.                                                                                                    10

1. Mental health awareness has grown significantly in recent years, with more individuals seeking help for conditions such as anxiety and depression. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 8 people worldwide lived with a mental health disorder in 2021, representing about 970 million people. This is a sharp increase from 792 million in 2017.

2. The COVID-19 pandemic further worsened global mental health, with rates of anxiety and depression increasing by 25% during its peak in 2020. Factors such as social isolation, job insecurity, and fear of illness contributed to this rise. Young people, particularly those aged 15 to 29, experienced a 30% increase in anxiety-related conditions during this period.

3. Many countries are working to improve mental health services by increasing funding, promoting mental health education, and integrating mental health care into primary healthcare systems. Telemedicine has emerged as a key tool, with usage increasing by 45% between 2020 and 2022, providing remote mental health support for individuals who cannot access in-person care.

4. Despite progress, mental health services remain underfunded globally. WHO estimates that low-income countries allocate less than 2% of their national health budgets to mental health, compared to 5% in middle-income countries and 8% in high-income countries. This leaves millions of individuals, particularly in low-income regions, without adequate care.

5. Experts stress that addressing mental health is crucial for overall well-being, economic productivity, and reducing the global burden of disease. Poor mental health is estimated to cost the global economy $1 trillion annually due to lost productivity and increased healthcare costs.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i. What does the use of the phrase “sharp increase” by the writer, in paragraph 1, suggest about the rise in mental health disorders?                                                                              1

(A) The writer is downplaying the growth of mental health issues.

(B) The writer highlights a significant and rapid rise in mental health disorders.

(C) The writer is showing indifference to mental health issues.

(D) The writer believes mental health disorders have not changed significantly.

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ii. Select the option that is true for the assertion and reason given below :                                     1

Assertion : The COVID-19 pandemic worsened global mental health.

Reason : During the pandemic, anxiety and depression rates increased by 25%, driven

by factors such as social isolation and job insecurity.

(A) Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

(B) Both the assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.

(C) The assertion is true, but the reason is false.

(D) The assertion is false, but the reason is true.

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iii. Identify the percentage increase in anxiety-related conditions among young people (aged

15 to 29) during the COVID-19 pandemic, as mentioned in the passage.                                    1

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iv. According to the passage, what are two primary reasons for the rise in mental health challenges during the pandemic?                                                                                           1

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v. Read the given prompt and select the correct option in the brackets to fill in the blank:                                                                                                                                      1

Global mental health conditions saw a steep rise, with the number of people affected increasing by nearly 200 million between 2017 and 2021. The total number of people living with mental health disorders in 2021 was _____ (792 million / 970 million / 1.2 billion).

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vi. What are some of the strategies mentioned in the passage that countries are using to improve mental health services?                                                                                            1

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vii. Complete the sentence suitably.                                                                                       1

Telemedicine has become a critical tool in mental health care, with its usage increasing by _____.

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viii. Complete the following with a suitable reason :                                                             1

Experts emphasize the importance of addressing mental health because _____.

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ix. In the context of paragraph 5, why is addressing mental health critical for global wellbeing and economic productivity?                                                                                                   2

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SECTION B – WRITING SKILLS & GRAMMAR 20

GRAMMAR  10

3. Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed.

i. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the sentence. A bank _____ various kinds of loans to its account holders so that they _____ set up a business, buy property or a vehicle.

(A) will offer, will

(B) offers, can

(C) should offer, must

(D) will be offering, should

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ii. Read the conversation between a judge and a lawyer. Complete the sentence by reporting the dialogue.

“Call the accused,” said the judge.

“My client is hospitalised for hypertension,” his lawyer informed the judge.

As soon as, the judge commanded _____ the accused, his lawyer informed him that his client _____ for hypertension.

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iii. Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a health magazine on mental health. Even highways have lines, which provide safety and if we go over one side, we’ll go into the ditch and if we cross over the line in the middle, we _____ get killed.

(A) should

(B) must

(C) could

(D) need not

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iv. Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line, from an article on philosophy.

‘These sights of disease, misery and death quite moved him that he at once became a beggar and went out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed.’

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v. Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option.

But I _____ myself, traveling, doing speaking engagements and so on—I simply got exhausted and I could do it no more.

(A) was being pushed

(B) am pushing

(C) had pushed

(D) kept pushing

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vi. Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given portion of a letter sent to the maintenance office of a gated campus.

Subject: Flaunting of safety rules

There is no checking of visitors at the main entrance gate of our society. Thus, vendors and messengers _____ (wander) and have free access to the doorsteps of the residents.

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vii. Report the dialogue between two friends- Venu and Kanan by completing the sentence.

Venu : How will standing in my rice field help you win a Nobel?

Kanan : I’ve heard that the people who have won Nobel prizes were all out ‘standing’ in various fields.

Venu asked his friend Kanan how would standing in his rice field get him a Nobel.

Kanan replied that _____ that the people who _____ Nobel prizes had been all out ‘standing’ in various fields.

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viii. Identify the error in the given sentence, from an article on environment and supply the correction.

This has been resulting in environmental degradation, over spilling of landfills and more dangerously, a thoroughly careless mind-set in us.

Use the given format for your response.

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ix. Read the following lines and report the question asked by a surprised Shelley.

‘Bunny told Shelley that he was planning to participate in a swimming competition for beginners.’

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x. Read the sentence on a government campaign. Identify the error and supply the correction.

Many people have expressed their views on Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan and how, if implemented sincerely at all levels, it ought produce a great change in the society.

Use the given format for your response.

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xi. Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between a doctor and a patient.

Doctor : You should take this medicine every day.

Patient : Should I take it before dinner or after dinner?

When the doctor advised the patient that _____ medicine every day , the patient further asked him _____ before or after dinner.

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xii. Identify the error on a message found in a fortune cookie and supply the correction, for the following.

You will gain the admiration of your pears.

Use the given format for your response.

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WRITING 10

Note : All details presented in the questions in writing section are imaginary and created for assessment purpose.

4A. You have lost your original certificate of class X. You want to get the duplicate issued but you do not know the procedure. Write a letter to the Chairman, CBSE, Preet Vihar enquiring about the fee to be deposited, mode of payment, time taken by the board to issue duplicate certificate and any other formalities. You are Kavya/Kavish, 76/B, Karma Apartments, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. (120 words)

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4B. You are Pragya/ Prathmik, of 24/7, Mall road, Shimla. Write a letter in about 120 words to the Editor of The Daily News expressing your views on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and how, if implemented sincerely at all levels, it can produce a great change in the society.

Ans.

24/7, Mall Road,

Shimla

Himachal Pradesh

7 August 20xx

The Editor

The Daily News

Shimla

Sir/Madam,

Subject: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to highlight the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by our respected Prime Minister. It is a great initiative and needs to be implemented at all levels to bring about a big change. Cleanliness is Godliness. Gandhiji also stressed upon the need to maintain good sanitary conditions everywhere. Indian people need to understand the importance of keeping not only their personal spaces but also the public places clean. Garbage and dust lead to pollution and result in many diseases. Clean surroundings will have pure air. If everyone works for this vision it also creates a feeling of brotherhood. It would also give pride for one’s city and country. I hope you give my views some space in your highly read paper to create an impact. Regards

Yours faithfully Pragya

RWA Member,

Mall Road

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5A. Given below is an info graphic related to the cultural and leisure activities that boys and girls engage in. Look at the pie charts and extract information to write an analytical essay in about 120 words. Interpret, analyse and explain the information.

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OR

5B. We have the data for waste disposal from two years 1960 and 2011. You have to read and interpret the graphical data of the pie charts and write an analytical paragraph in about 120 words. Compare, contrast, understand and explain the given information in your own words.

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SECTION C – LITERATURE TEXTBOOK 40

6. Read the given extracts and answer ANY ONE of the two questions given below           5

A. The lady teacher who was in the class was saying something to the girls but Bholi could understand nothing. She looked at the pictures on the wall. The colours fascinated herthe horse was brown just like the horse on which the Tehsildar had come to visit their village; the goat was black like the goat of their neighbour; the parrot was green like the parrots she had seen in the mango orchard; and the cow was just like their Lakshmi. And suddenly Bholi noticed that the teacher was standing by her side, smiling at her

(Bholi)

i. State any one inference about Bholi from the given context.

The lady teacher who was in the class was saying something to the girls but Bholi could understand nothing.

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ii. What effect do the pictures on the wall, as described in the lines below, have on Bholi?

The colours fascinated her—the horse was brown just like the horse on which the Tehsildar had come to visit their village.

Choose the most suitable option.

(A) frightens

(B) saddens

(C) fascinates

(D) confuses

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iii. And suddenly Bholi noticed that the teacher was standing by her side, smiling at her’ this changed something in Bholi. Elaborate in about 40 words, with reference to the extract.

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iv. Which word or phrase would correctly substitute ‘orchard’ as given in the extract?

The parrot was green like the parrots she had seen in the mango orchard.

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B. A small dog was lying in the kitchen. It stirred, made a noise, and moved its tail in a friendly way. ‘All right, Sherry,” Horace said as he passed. All you had to do to keep dogs quiet was to call them by their right names, and show them love.

(A Question of Trust)

i. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket.

The word ‘friendly’ in the line “It stirred, made a noise, and moved its tail in a friendly way” indicates that the dog was _____ (affectionate/aggressive) towards Horace.

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ii. Which word in the passage means the same as ‘cordial’?

(A) Friendly

(B) Hurting

(C) Ignorant

(D) Distant

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iii. Whom did Horace Danby see in the kitchen? How did they greet each there? What tact did Horace apply there? Answer in about 40 words.

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iv. The kitchen referred to is located in _____.

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7. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.           5

A. But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,

Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,

With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm

He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm.

(The Tale of Custard the Dragon)

i. What is the poet’s purpose of using the onomatopoeic words given in the extract?

(A) It is to emphasise on the might and boldness of Custard.

(B) It is to introduce the character Custard to the readers.

(C) It is to impress upon the readers that Custard was ready.

(D) It is to make Custard bold enough to face the situation.

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ii. Mention what the poet wants to convey through these lines. Answer in about 40 words.

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iii. What does Custard do to the pirate?

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iv. Fill the blank with one word.

Custard’s comparison to an engine shows a literary device of _____.

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B. My head is full of whispers

which tomorrow will be silent.

Listen. The glass is breaking.

The trees are stumbling forward

into the night. Winds rush to meet them.

The moon is broken like a mirror,

its pieces flash now in the crown

of the tallest oak

(The Trees)

i. Complete the following suitably.

In the line, ‘Listen. The glass is breaking’ the poet is addressing the readers to _____.

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ii. What is the significance of the use of the words ‘whispers’ and ‘glass’ in the poem and how does this word choice contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem? Answer in about 40 words.

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iii. Which of the following is the correct match between the poetic devices and their definitions?

(A) 1-(D), 2-(C), 3-(B), 4-(A)

(B) 1-(B), 2-(C), 3-(D), 4-(A)

(C) 1-(D), 2-(B), 3-(C), 4-(A)

(D) 1-(A), 2-(B), 3-(C), 4-(D)

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iv. What happens to the moon in the poem “The Trees”?

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8. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 40-50 words. 4 x 3 = 12

i. What does the poet want to convey through the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?

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ii. What was the young seagull’s experience during his first flight?

(Two Stories About Flying)

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iii. How does Rajvir describe the tea-garden at Dhekiabari?

(Glimpses of India)

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iv. Why does Amanda wish to be an orphan?

(Amanda!)

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v. What justification did Lomov give to Natalya and Chubukov to prove that he is the

rightful owner of Meadows?

(The Proposal)

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9. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words. 2 x 3 = 6

i. Why did Hari Singh decide to come back to Anil?

(The Thief’s Story)

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ii. Why did Griffin not get a suitable house to live in?

(Footprints without Feet)

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iii. Which project did Ebright submit in his eighth grade? Why did he win?

(The Making of a Scientist)

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10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words.      6

i. Life is about losses and wins. A man is the one who learns to take them in a stride and stand up brave in the face of every situation. Summarise this quote with reference to ‘The Ball Poem’ and the chapter ‘Sermon at Benaras’. Prepare a set of dialogues between the boy and Kisa to elaborate the point. You may begin like this :

Kisa : It is difficult to hold your self and impossible to accept losing a loved one.

The Boy : Yes! True , _____.

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ii. Whenever we want to achieve something, difficulties always come in our way. Justify these using examples from Valli’s desire to go to the city alone and accomplishing it at a young age of eight and the young boy from the poem ‘The Ball Poem’.

If you had to use the message with reference to both the chapters ‘Madam rides the Bus’ and ‘The Ball Poem’ how will you elaborate it? Also, how it is relevant to both.

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11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words.      6

i. “But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man was something else.” Hari Singh finally accepted the importance of education and honest living. How it can be explained in the case of ‘The Thief’s Story’.

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ii. The story ‘The Midnight Visitor’ highlights the theme that wisdom is more powerful than other weapons. Comment with reference to it.

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