Practice Questions

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

CLASS-X

Section A: READING SKILLS

20
Marks

I Read the passage given below. 10

History in general remains an endeavour to search for the truth about the past in a
contemporary light. The search is done by examining the treasure trove of a documented
past. This also holds true for the history of food. Cookbooks have always played an
instrumental role in researching the history of any community. The roots of recording the
1
history of food are nearly as old as the history of writing itself. In the East, Meng Shen of
T’ang dynasty recorded the origin and usage of every food consumed in the court. In India,
mythology mentions that the oldest and first ever book on cookery is Pakadarpanam (The
Mirror of Culinary Skills), written by King Nala.

Cookbooks are a guiding light that can take one on a journey of understanding traditions
and culture. Scholars in the past also believed that cookbooks are a source of information
2
not only to understand social or gender-specific roles but also material factors such as trade
and network.

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 So what could be considered a cookbook in our modern society? It has been noted recently
that there is a surge in the number of infotainment and documentary programs about food.
Recipes are no longer just about cookbooks. In fact, a new breed of Indian culinary experts
3
are cooking their way to celebrity status. And they are achieving this via social media. As
they demystify Indian cuisine and offer stepby-step guidance to creating mouthwatering
Indian dishes, these talented men and

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 women are inspiring a lot of Indians to pick up their ladles and try out various recipes in their
own kitchens.

The social media chefs are here to stay. No longer does an amateur home chef have to
struggle with trying to understand what exactly the recipe instruction means when it says
4
things like, “the batter should be of pouring consistency”. Now one can see the chef
demonstrate on video what exactly 'pouring consistency' ought to be like.

A lot of people used these recipes that were easily available on social media to get through
the COVID-19 pandemic. Cooking, which was considered a necessity at the beginning of the
COVID-19 lockdown days, turned into a recreational activity over time. It also functioned as
5 a tool to improve people’s psychological well-being. This gave them a goal-oriented
behaviour to engage in, while also being a way to connect with others by sharing recipes or
posting pictures of their creations on social media.
Thus, documenting recipes online is the modern version of authoring a cookbook.

Glossary:
contemporary - occurring in the present

1 x 10
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given
below.

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 i 1
The search is done by examining the treasure trove of a documented
past. This also holds true for the history of food. (Paragraph 1)
Why would the author refer to cookbooks as a 'treasure trove'?

A. because they contain recipes for rich foods

B. because writing them requires a lot of time and money
C. because they hold a wealth of information about the past
D. because writing recipes is considered a rewarding experience

ii 1
Refer to the following from Paragraph 1:
Meng Shen: records of food consumed in court
King Nala: Pakadarpanam, the oldest book on cookery (Paragraph 1) Which of
the options display the MOST LIKELY the reason the first cookbooks were from
royal households?

A. The royalty was involved in the planning of all their meals.

B. The royalty wanted ordinary folk to know how to eat like kings.
C. The royalty had to be ready to serve special food to foreign visitors. D.
The royalty had the resources to create complex dishes and document them.

iii 1
Cookbooks are a guiding light... (Paragraph 2)
Which of these options uses the same literary device as the line above?

A. This cake is the heaven of taste!

B. These grapes are as sweet as candy.
C. These biscuits are delicious. They're the best!
D. This recipe was so interesting. It jumped right off the page.

iv 1
The author says "cookbooks are a source of information to understand gender-
specific roles." (Paragraph 2)
State one of the ways how cookbooks could reveal information on gender-
specific roles.

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 v 1
Provide one example of how cookbooks can be a source of information about
trade and network.

vi Complete the following with a phrase from paragraph 3. 1

Phrase Meaning

gradually progress from one stage to the

__________ next

vii 1
The social media chefs are here to stay. (Paragraph 4) Which of
these best describes the tone in the above line?
A. curious
B. hopeful
C. confident
D. argumentative

viii 1
Based on the passage, state any two reasons why more Indians are exploring
the art of cooking.
1. __________
2. __________

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ix 1
In the passage, which of these is NOT suggested as a reason for people posting
on social media about the food they cooked?

A. to share that they have completed a task

B. to maintain a record of all that they have cooked
C. to explain the steps they used for making the dish
D. to create a sense of competition among their followers

x Write an appropriate title for this passage. 1

II Read the passage given below. 10

Playing videogames provides entertainment and many social and psychological rewards.
However, videogame addiction also needs to be considered. Researchers have noted that
the number of hours spent playing videogames is not necessarily a core indicator of
1
addiction. Instead, several factors such as how fun or challenging a game is, or being able to
play with friends are also important determinants to understanding whether a game is
addictive or just engaging.

A study investigated the reasons for smartphone game addiction. This was done by
analysing the reviews of games. Reviews were collected from games across different
2 categories in an app store. A total of 25,200 reviews were collected containing references
to the game being addictive. These reviews were analysed and the number of times different
factors were mentioned for terming a game as addictive was recorded.

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 Table 1: Frequency of factors associated with smartphone gaming addiction, as seen in the
reviews of the games.
Types of Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3
Games
'Challenging' 'Friends' 'Fun'

Action 456 256 110

3 Board 420 697 120

Card 417 512 190

Word 812 23 123

(Note: This table displays only a small portion of data from the original study which analysed 9
factors across 14 types of games.)

It was seen that 22.37% of the total reviews in the study that described a game as 'addictive',
also described it as 'challenging'. This was the most common factor associated with
addictive games, out of all the 9 factors. This was followed by 15.7% of the reviews
mentioning the factor of ' friends'. Although it is a cliché, the ubiquity of the internet has
4
made the world a global village. Friends can now play and interact as a group, build virtual
relationships within the game, and attain social recognition from others, without even
meeting in person. All of these factors can be highly engaging to players, and for some, these
could become addictive.

i 1
Based on the passage, state any two reasons why we need to study
videogames. 1. __________
2. __________

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ii 1
Layla spends two hours a day playing games on her phone.
According to the passage, is this information sufficient to say she is addicted to
videogames? Why/ why not? Answer in one sentence.

iii 1
Complete the following analogy correctly with a word from paragraph 1:
flourishes: grows: __________: factors

iv 1
Based on paragraph 1, it can be said that the level of __________ and
__________ in a videogame determine how addictive it can be.

Which of these can go in the blanks to complete the sentence correctly?

1. variety
2. violence
3. difficulty
4. popularity
5. enjoyment

A. 1&4
B. 2&3
C. 3&5
D. 4&5

v 1
The study mentioned in the passage used game reviews to understand what
makes a game addictive. State one reason why game reviews were analysed for
the purpose of the study.

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vi 1

Based on the table in the passage, which type of game does the given graph
represent?

A. Action
B. Board
C. Card
D. Word

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vii 1
A developer of a crossword puzzle app is seeking advice to make
improvements to the app. Based on the data provided, which of these ideas is
BEST to recommend to the developer?

A. Make the puzzles tougher to solve.

B. Allow players to team up or compete with other players.
C. Create more levels in the game for players to win prizes.
D. Change the colour and design to make it look more appealing.

viii 1
Write a word from paragraph 4 that means the SAME as the underlined word
in the sentence below.

It is the universal appeal of smartphones that made videogames very popular.

ix 1
Read the sentence given below.

Why is everyone playing on their phones?

In which of these places in the passage can the sentence be used?

A. at the beginning of paragraph 1
B. at the end of paragraph 1
C. at the beginning of paragraph 2
D. at the end of paragraph 4

x 1
Which of these is BEST suited as a title for the passage?
A. Smartphones Boost Addiction
B. Challenge Your Mind with Games
C. A New Way to Game with Friends
D. Understanding Addiction to Games

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III SECTION B - GRAMMAR

Answer all the given questions.

i 1
Read the conversation between a mother and her son. Complete the
sentence by reporting the mother's reply correctly.

Son: Mom, how do I become an artist?

Mother: You will need to learn more about the art you like and practice it every
day.

A son asked his mother how he could become an artist. She told him
__________.

ii 1
Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete this advertisement.

Are you looking for more books to read? Due to popular demand, we
__________ back our 'Buy One Get One Free' offer next weekend!

A. brings
B. brought
C. will bring
D. were bringing

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iii 1
Identify the error in the given newspaper headline and supply the correction.

Athletics Star Helps State Stays Ahead of Competition

Use the given format for your response.

error correction

iv 1
Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a doorway
sign.

Caution! You __________ not enter.

Only employees are allowed beyond this point.

A. need
B. must
C. could

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 D. might

v 1
Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the
given portion of a diary entry:

Dear Diary,

Today I saw the most beautiful sunrise over the ocean. I wish I could
__________ (painting) it to truly capture and preserve the beauty I witnessed.

vi 1
Select the option that identifies the error in a museum plaque and supplies
the correction for the same.

These building, inaugurated on 29 March 1954, was a former residence of a

Maharaja.

Option no. Error Correction

A. These This
B. building buildings
C. on at
D. of by

vii 1

Fill in the blank with the correct option to complete the sentence below.

You must have got good news. I could __________ you celebrating!

A. hear
B. hears
C. heard
D. hearing

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viii 1
Read the conversation between a lawyer and his client. Complete the
sentence by reporting the lawyer's reply correctly.

Client: I am worried, this is a very complicated case.

Lawyer: Don't worry, I have never lost a case in my life.

The client was worried as it was a very complicated case, but his lawyer told
him __________.

ix 1
Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the text message
below.

Let's meet another day since neither Kavi nor Samantha __________ free
today as they have tennis practice.

A. were
B. are
C. be
D. is

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x 1

Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between
Ayan and his mechanic, Vir.

Ayan: By when do you think you can fix my car?

Vir: Probably by tomorrow. I don't think your car has any major issues.

Ayan asked his mechanic Vir when he thought he could fix his car. Vir replied
that he could probably fix the car by __________ as it had no major issues.

A. that day B.
one day
C. tomorrow
D. the next day

xi 1
Identify the error in the advertisement given below and supply the correction
for the same.

Use the given format for your response.

error correction

Looking to Buy a Guitar?

The brand new guitar is for sale. It comes with a wooden, velvet-lined guitar
case.
If interested, contact me at 99889xxxxx for more details.

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 xii 1
Rishi asked Ali the question given below. Report Rishi's question.

Could you give me some advice on how I could be a better school captain?

IV SECTION C - CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS 10

All the names and addresses used in the questions are fictitious. Resemblance, if any, is purely coincidental.

1. Attempt both A and B given below. 5

A
You are Rakesh Mehta, Secretary of Rainbow Apartments, Marathalli,
Bangalore. A major pipeline supplying water to your apartment complex burst
recently. Repairs are expected to be time consuming and the available water is
insufficient to meet the requirements of residents and

staff within the premises. Write a letter to the Area Development Officer,
Marathalli Area, Bangalore, in not more than 120 words, requesting him to
complete the repair work at the earliest, drawing attention to the difficulties
faced by the people and the challenges of procuring water from outside.

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B
You are Polly Chawla, a resident of Worli Park, Mumbai. You recently saw a
documentary about the youth of the nation titled,

'A Country in Good Hands'.

Write a letter of appreciation to the Editor of The Youth Times, in not more
than 120 words, drawing her attention to the good that the youngsters around
you are doing. Suggest ways in which they can further contribute to the
betterment of society.

2. Attempt both A and B given below. 5

A
Read the following excerpt from an article in a fashion magazine:

'Colorism' is the term describing the preference for lighter skin. Several of
the world’s biggest advertising firms have come under severe criticism for
selling beauty products that promise whiter skin. What is worse is the
manner in which these fairness products are being promoted - the parallel
drawn between being fair and being successful; the perfect fair heroine
showcased in movies; celebrity endorsements of fairness products; and
matrimonial advertisements where everyone seeks a fair bride. This type of
advertising has created an inferiority complex among darker skinned women
as seen in the rising sales of fairness cosmetics. This form of biased
advertising has come under harsh criticism. Are we as a society encouraging
and supporting 'colorism'?

Write a paragraph in 100-120 words to analyse the given argument.

You could think about what alternative explanations might weaken the given
conclusion and include rationale / evidence that would strengthen / counter
the given argument.

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 OR

B
The monthly expenditure of a family is represented in the pie chart shown
below.

Write a paragraph in about 100-120 words, analysing the information in the pie
chart to support your stand on how the family is using the money wisely.

SECTION C - LITERATURE 40

V Reference to the Context 10

1 Attempt the two extracts given. 5

1.A
Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money, such was his
confidence - but he became angry when he counted the money. God

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 could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had
requested.
Immediately, Lencho went up to the window to ask for paper and ink. On the
public writing table, he started to write, with much wrinkling of his brow, caused
by the effort he had to make to express his ideas. When he finished, he went to
the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then affixed to the envelope
with a blow of his fist. The moment the letter fell into the mailbox the
postmaster went to open it. It said, "God, Of the money that I asked for, only
seventy pesos reached me. Send me the rest, since I need it very much. But
don't send it to me through the mail because the post office employees are a
bunch of crooks. Lencho."
(A Letter to God)

i 1
Why was Lencho not surprised when he received the money?
A. because he knew the post office employees were kind
B. because he knew his hard work would pay off
C. because he had been lucky in the past
D. because he had faith in a higher power

ii 1
How did the postmaster MOST LIKELY feel when he read Lencho's second
letter?

iii 1
Fill in the blank with ONE WORD only.

The postmaster rushed to open Lencho's second letter. This tells us that the
postmaster was ________ to know the contents of the letter.

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iv 1
Why did Lencho wrinkle his brow when writing the letter?

A. He was not able to put his thoughts into words.

B. He was not sure that God would respond again.
C. He was not comfortable writing in front of the others.
D. He was not able to calculate how many pesos were missing.

v 1
Which of these uses the word 'stamp' with the same meaning as used in line 5
of the extract?

A. Simon could stamp and crush dry twigs with his boots if he had to.
B. Simon has an impressive stamp collection he liked to boast of.
C. Simon happily gave his stamp of approval on the new recipe.
D. Simon bears the stamp of a retired naval officer with pride.

OR

1.B
The arrival of a stranger at an inn in winter was in any case an unusual event. A
stranger of such uncommon appearance set all tongues wagging. Mrs Hall, the
landlord’s wife, made every effort to be friendly.
But Griffin had no desire to talk, and told her, “My reason for coming to Iping is
a desire for solitude. I do not wish to be disturbed in my work. Besides, an
accident has affected my face.”

Satisfied that her guest was an eccentric scientist, and in view of the fact that
he had paid her in advance, Mrs Hall was prepared to excuse his strange habits
and irritable temper. But the stolen money did not last long, and presently
Griffin had to admit that he had no more ready cash. He pretended, however,
that he was expecting a cheque to arrive at any moment.
(Footprints without Feet)

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i 1
In which of these does 'ready' have the same meaning as used in the extract?

A. Griffin didn't believe that he was ready to speak before the audience.
B. The landlord usually got the rooms ready before any guests arrived.
C. Mrs. Hall said there was a ready supply of food at the hotel.
D. The stranger was getting ready to take on new challenges.

ii 1
Complete the analogy by selecting a suitable word from the text.

arrival: exit:: ___________: company

iii 1
Which of these is true about the inn?

A. Its location was remote.

B. Its customers were mainly locals.
C. It was a popular tourist destination.
D. It required rent to be paid in advance.

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iv 1
Why did the people start talking about the stranger's arrival?

1. because he was mostly quiet

2. because he was mean to people
3. because he was enjoying the snow
4. because he paid the inn charges in cash
5. because he was dressed in a strange manner

Select the correct option.

A. only 1 & 5
B. only 2 & 3
C. only 3, 4 and 5
D. only 4

v 1
Mrs Hall was prepared to ignore Griffin's rudeness and weird behaviour.

State two reasons why this was so.

(i) __________
(ii) __________

2. Attempt the two extracts given. 5

2.A
Or if some time when roaming round, A
noble wild beast greets you,
With black stripes on a yellow ground, Just
notice if he eats you.
This simple rule may help you learn The
Bengal Tiger to discern.

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 If strolling forth, a beast you view,
Whose hide with spots is peppered, As
soon as he has lept on you, You’ll know
it is the Leopard.
’Twill do no good to roar with pain, He’ll
only lep and lep again.
(How to Tell Wild Animals)

i 1
Complete the sentence appropriately.

The word 'discern' in line 6 of the extract means the same as

__________. (Clue: explain contextual meaning here)

ii 1

Identify the option that explains the poetic device used.

With black stripes on a yellow ground...

...Whose hide with spots is peppered

A. a word formed from a sound

B. a word or phrase repeated at intervals
C. a word or expression used in place of an unpleasant one D. a word or
phrase that creates a mental image through vivid description

iii 1
State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE:

The extract tells us the similarities between tigers and leopards.

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iv 1
Select the appropriate option to complete the sentence.

The tone of the poet when telling how to identify a wild animal is both scary
and __________.

A. funny

B. exciting
C. shocking
D. sorrowful

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 v 1
Identify the option that has the same rhyme scheme as these 4 lines.

Or if some time when roaming round,

A noble wild beast greets you,
With black stripes on a yellow ground, Just
notice if he eats you.

A. The sky is very sunny.

The children are funny.
Under the tree we sit, But
just for a bit.

B. I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster, some realms I owned,
two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.
—Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture

C. The people along the sand

All turn and look one way.
They turn their back on the land.
They look at the sea all day.

D. Others abide our question. Thou art free.

We ask and ask—Thou smilest and art still,
Out-topping knowledge. For the loftiest hill,
Who to the stars uncrowns his majesty,

OR

2.B
(I am Rapunzel, I have not a care; life in a
tower is tranquil and rare;

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 I’ll certainly never let down my bright hair!)

Stop that sulking at once, Amanda!

You’re always so moody, Amanda!
Anyone would think that I nagged at you, Amanda!
(Amanda!)

i 1

Which of these reflects the speaker’s tone in the second stanza of the extract?

1. critical
2. worried
3. concerned
4. sympathetic
5. commanding

A. 1, 5
B. 2, 3
C. 2, 4
D. 4, 5

ii Why has line 6 of the extract been referred to as ironical? 1

iii 1
Identify the reason Amanda says she will never let down her hair.

A. She has very short hair.

B. She likes her hair a lot.
C. She wishes to be left alone.
D. She awaits her Prince Charming.

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iv 1
Complete the analogy with a word from the extract.

life: death:: grinning: __________

v 1
Select the sentence in which the word ‘bright’ is used in a similar manner as
line 3 of the extract.

A. Sekhar is a very bright child.

B. Rama looked bright and chirpy today.
C. Bobby's shirt was so bright and cheerful.
D. Hemant has such bright prospects for the future.

VI Answer the following questions in about 40-50 words each. 4*3=12

i 3
Explain the given statement with reference to Nelson Mandela's dreams.
“A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.”
(Nelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom)

ii 3
Give two reasons to support the opinion that Anne's diary is interesting to
readers.

(From the Diary of Anne Frank)

iii 3
What does 'Fog' tell us about the speaker's relationship with nature? Support
your answer with an example from the text.

iv 3
How do we know that bakers were an integral part of Goan society?
(A Baker from Goa)

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 v 3
Explain why the author describes Coorg as 'a piece of heaven that must have
drifted from the kingdom of god'?
(Coorg)

VII Answer the following questions in about 40-50 words each. 2*3=6

i 3
How did Matilda's belief that she was 'an error of destiny' result in a lifetime of
sorrow for her?
(The Necklace)

ii 3
The Tehsildar was an agent of change in Bholi's life. Justify.
(Bholi)

iii 3
Based on 'The Book That Saved the Earth', state how jumping to conclusions
had an unintended consequence for the Martians.

VIII Answer the following questions in about 100-120 words. 1*6=6

i 6
Compare and contrast what Anne from the poem 'Anne Gregory' would look
for in a life partner as compared to Natalya from 'The Proposal'.
Justify your answer with one example from each of the texts.

ii 6
Explain how the setting of a story or a poem can enhance its plot with
reference to 'Dust of Snow' and 'Tea from Assam'.

IX Answer the following questions in about 100-120 words. 1*6=6

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i 6
Based on 'A Triumph of Surgery', state how Mrs. Pumphrey did more harm
than good to Tricki.

ii 6
Describe the twist in the plot in 'The Midnight Visitor'. Analyse how Fowler's
opinion of Ausable must have undergone a change after the plot twist.

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