Literature Section Papers

i. Hari, who was now fifteen, became a thief at a very young age. ii
(a) embarrasses
iii. He means that Anil was too gullible and trusting for his own good. Hari describes him as ‘kind and simple enough’ for his purpose which was to rob him after winning his confidence with sweet talk.
iv. laid-back B. At twelve, he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures and years later he returned home to marry a princess. They had a son and lived for ten years as befitted royalty. At about the age of twenty-five, the prince here to fore shielded from the sufferings of the world, while going out on hunting, chanced upon a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These sights so moved him that he at once became a beggar and went out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed. (The Sermon at Benares)
i. What was the unintended effect of the sights Buddha saw?
(A) He felt dejected and sorrowful
(B) He renounced royalty
(C) He decided to become an ascetic
(D) He decided to consult a pandit
ii. At what age did the prince return home to marry a princess?
iii. What did the sights Gautama witnessed at the age of twenty-five years drive him to? Answer in about 40 words.
iv. Why was Prince Siddhartha sent away at the age of twelve?

i. Personification
ii. The tiger could walk only a few steps because he was locked in a very small cage. He was in a quiet rage as his freedom has been curtailed. He suppressed his anger and frustration because he was powerless in captivity. The poet uses an oxymoron ‘quiet rage’ to captures this mood.
iii.
(A) keep the prey unsuspecting of the predator’s footsteps
iv. The poet uses visual imagery when he describes the tiger in his vivid stripes, lurking in shadow, stalking enraged in captivity, sliding in the long grass, and walking on velvet pads. Auditory imagery is used to describe the silence of the tiger. B. Belinda giggled till she shook the house, And Blink said Weeck! which is giggling for a mouse, Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age, When Custard cried for a nice safe cage. Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound, And Mustard growled, and they all looked around. (The Tale of Custard, the Dragon)
i. In what way does the dragon’s desperate wish to remain in a cage challenge the traditional behaviour of dragons?
ii. What is the significance of the use of the words ‘giggled’ and ‘weeck’ to describe laughter in the poem and to what effect is this word choice used by the poet? Answer in about 40 words.

It rained heavily and continuously, which later converted into a hailstorm. No leaves remained on the trees and the cornfield was completely damaged. Even the leaves of corn did not remain intact. The hailstorm had destroyed everything. The night was a sorrowful one for Lencho.
ii. How did Anne Frank’s friends behave just before the declaration of the exam results? (From the Diary of Anne Frank)

Mme Loisel was greatly admired by everyone at the ball. She looked the prettiest amongst all the women. All the guests wanted to be near her. She felt on top of the world at the ball. The loss of the necklace spoiled the pleasure and made her depressed.
ii. Is Max menacing or vulnerable? Comment with reference to “The Midnight Visitor”.

The storm clouds were huge. They looked like black mountains standing in front of the narrator across the sky. In spite of knowing that he could Page 10 Sample Paper 01 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL not fly up and over them the narrator took the risk of flying straight into the storm. It was not at all safe. He could not see anything outside the aeroplane. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. The compass and the radio were dead. He was lost in the storm. The desire to land safely was so strong that he imagined that there was another plane and his pilot was guiding him. His will to reach England was so strong that he guided himself. According to the lady in the Central Room, there was no other plane flying that night. When he wanted to thank the pilot, the lady in the Control Room told him that his was the only plane on the radar that night. So there had actually been no one to help him except his own will. If I, had been in a similar situation, in spite of the will and determination of taking risks, I would not have taken such a rash decision. I would have gone back to the nearest airport, which would have been the safest decision.
ii. “The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.” If you had to use the message of the above quote from Nelson Mandela (Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom) to portray the liberation of women and what it signifies (The Trees), what would you include in it? Also, evaluate what we can take from the notion.

Horace Danby was about fifty years old, unmarried and lived with his housekeeper. He was considered a good and respectable citizen. However, he was not completely honest. He had a keen fondness for rare and expensive books. So, he needed a great deal of money to buy his desired books. He started committing thefts to meet his expenses. Horace Danby robbed just one safe every year. Moreover, he stole only from those who had a lot of money. He was a very good planner, who planned his robbery in a very systematic manner. He never thought of hurting anybody. Therefore, he did not carry any weapon. He feared prison. Therefore, he was submissive, rather than aggressive because of which the lady outwitted him.
ii. What was the impact of the book ‘The Travels of Monarch X’ on Richard Ebright? (The Making of a Scientist)

i. Omega bowed low before Think-Tank as a mark of respect and recognition of supremacy.
ii.
(c) reassures
iii. Think-Tank was proud of his intelligence and might. He always try to prove himself as the most intelligent Martian. It is clear from his self-praise and boastful habits. He acts high and mighty and order people around.
iv. Simplicity. B. On the day of the inauguration, I was overwhelmed with a sense of history. In the first decade of the twentieth century, a few years after the bitter Anglo-Boer war and before my own birth, the white skinned peoples of South Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of racial domination against the dark-skinned peoples of their own land. The structure they created formed the basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane, societies the world has ever known. (Nelson Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom)
i. The system of racial domination against the dark-skinned people was called as _____.
(a) the policy of apartheid
(b) racial discrimination
(c) inhumane system
(d) harshest system
ii. Why did the speaker call that structure ‘one of the harshest and the most inhumane’? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with ONE WORD only. Mandela is filled with _____ in the given extract. Page 8 Sample Paper 02 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL
iv. With what sense was the speaker overwhelmed during the inauguration?

i. scared
ii.
(c) Forests in Asian countries
iii. The poet says that the Asian Lion is a large beast. He is brown-wish yellow in colour and is found in the forests of the eastern countries of the world. Its roar is very loud and terrifying.
iv. The poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’ is ahumorous poem. It depicts the ways to identify different dangerous animals which may not be practical but when read the approaches evoke fun and laughter. B. The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbour and city on silent haunches and then moves on. (Fog)
i. Highlight any two characteristics of fog from its description in the poem.
ii. How does the poet compare fog to a cat? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Why do you think fog is a free verse poem?
(a) It has only six lines.
(b) It has no regular rhyme scheme.
(c) It is divided in two paragraphs.
(d) Both
(a) and
(b)
iv. Comment, in detail, on the significance of the closing phrase of the poem- ‘moves on’.

The postmaster was a kind, generous, helpful and God fearing man. When he received the letter written to God asking for 100 pesos he felt sympathetic towards Lencho. Hence, he decided to help Lencho. He gave a part of his salary and asked the other employees to help. He signed the letter ‘God’ in order to preserve the man’s faith in God.
ii. What special characteristic of Mijbil did Maxwell learn after he took him to the bathroom? (Mijbil the Otter)

At the surgery, the household dogs surged around Dr. Herriot to see Tricki. Tricki looked down at the noisy pack with dull eyes and when put down, lay motionless on the carpet. The other dogs sniffed around for a few seconds and then deciding he was an uninteresting object and ignored him.
ii. Henry unintentionally saved Ausable’s life. Briefly comment. (The Midnight Visitor)

Valli was a young girl of 8 years who still displayed mature and responsible behaviour in the story. She was bold enough to fulfil her desire of riding a bus without her parents help in any way. I think Anne Frank had the same characteristics. Even after being punished thrice for talking in class, she did not get depressed and accepted the punishment intelligently. Her answers impressed her teacher and he praised her writings in front of other students. I feel Nelson Mandela, too, was a man of strong determination and willpower. He also sacrificed material possessions for fulfilling his desire of getting freedom from apartheid in South Africa. For this, he had to spend a large part of his life in prison away from his family. These three characters portrayed similar attributes in their respective lessons. Page 10 Sample Paper 02 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL
ii. Explain the phrase “the forest that was empty all these days”. After reading the poem “The Trees”, for whom do you think are the forests needed? Imagine you are a tree in a forest, what values would you like the humans to learn from the tree?

Diary Entry 11.04.20XX Today I felt very much satisfied as I got success in changing Bholi to Sulekha. As her name signifies Bholi was really a simple girl. I cannot forgot her first entry in my class. A frightened, confused and a simple girl was her first appearance. She used to stammer while speaking. But my two words of affection filled her with confidence. She left stammering and became a confident, determined girl. She was determined to learn everything silently. In her family, nobody noticed the changes that took place in her personality, and got her engaged to a fifty years old lame man with two children. She kept the honour of her parents and agreed to this marriage. But she could not stand with the demand of dowry. She threw away her garland in the fire and asked her father to take back the money. She raised her voice against dowry. She asked the ladies of the village why girls should be treated like dumb cow. This was the change I always wanted to see in her personality. Today, I feel I have completed my masterpiece without any error. Today she signified her real name Sulekha.
ii. Give a character-sketch of Hari Singh. (The Thief ’s Story)

i.
(b) contentment
ii. The significance of not a single cloud in the sky is that the sky is clear.
iii. The pilot was flying Darkota aeroplane.
iv. When the pilot called the Paris Control the first time he was happy that he would reach England on time for a big English breakfast. He thought that everything was going well and it was an easy flight. B. “It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion, when I discovered as a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to hunger for it. At first as a student I wanted freedom only for myself the transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read what I pleased and go where I chose. Later; as a young man in Johannesburg, I yearned for the basic and honourable freedoms of achieving my potential, of earning my keep, of marrying and having a family-the freedom not to be obstructed in a lawful life.” (Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
i. The speaker’s attitude towards his freedom when he was in his boyhood can be summed up as _____.
(a) being self- centered
(b) being naive
(c) being foolish
(d) being indifferent to others
ii. How does Nelson Mandela understand the concept of “transitory freedoms”? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. In the statement, ‘I discovered as a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to hunger for it,’ what was Mandela hungering after?
iv. If ‘Point of View’ is the narration of a story that can be told from a first, second, or third person’s point of view, the given extract is told _____.

i. all three words (clutter, clank and tangling) are examples of onomatopoeia, a figure of speech that portrays the sound made by certain actions or objects.
ii.
(a) To emphasise the boldness of Custard
iii. In the given extract, the word ‘irons’ refers to iron chains holding the prisoners captive.
iv. The poet has made the comparison in order to show that Custard was very careful while he planned to attack the pirate. He walked as slow as a warm so that the pirate word not suspect anything. B. 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. In what way does the language used in this line challenges the traditional ideas of how poetry should be written? “I will do no good to roar with pain, He’ll only lep and lep again.”
ii. What is the significance of humour while describing the wild beasts in the poem and how does this contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Complete the sentence with the appropriate option. The contextual meaning of the word ‘peppered’ in the stanza _____.
(a) refers to the spots of the leopard
(b) refers to the camouflage of the leopard
(c) means that the leopard has spotted you
(d) means that you have spotted the leopard
iv. Why does roaring with pain will not do any good?

Yes, Natalya is in love. This is clear by the way she behaves when she gets to know that Lomov came to propose to her. She starts weeping and asks her father to call Lomov so that she could confess and express her love for him. NODIA APP Sample Paper 04 Solutions Page 9
ii. Why does the poet say that ‘Money is external’? (The Ball Poem)

Ebright was inclined towards collecting butterflies, rocks, fossils and coins. He began as early as when he was in kindergarten. His mother of course was a driving force and remained his sole reason for his success.
ii. The best way to defend is to offend, but the same thing is not seen by Noodle. How does he manage to do that? (The Book That Saved the Earth)

Humans today aren’t chased by predators, we are chased by uncertainty about the health of our loved ones, whether we’ll have a job next week or next year, whether our company will go bankrupt-worries that provoke the same neurological and physical responses. Stress is a response to a threat in a situation. Anxiety is a reaction to the stress. Buddha must have preached renunciation. Our basic decency and sense of humour lies in what we do and how we do. According to Buddha, the basic view is that people are fundamentally good and healthy. It’s as if everyone who has ever been born has the same birth right, which is enormous potential of warm heart and clear mind. The ground of renunciation is realising that we already have exactly what we need, that what we have already is good. Every moment of time has enormous energy in it, and we could connect with that. Page 10 Sample Paper 04 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL
ii. “Not enough can be said to show how important a baker can be for a village”. How were the services of the baker required on various occasions? (Glimpses of India)

The passion of Horace Danby was collecting rare and expensive books. To satisfy this passion, he needed money and arranged it by robbing one safe every year and then secretly bought the books through an agent. Though he was an honourable person but not an honest one indeed. He loved collecting rare and expensive books, he robbed a safe every year to finance the purchase of these books through an agent. Thus, he was not completely honest. By stealing other people’s valuables, he may have become successful but he is actually a criminal. It cannot be justified that a person steals things and readers reflect their soft corner for his wrong doings. He may be efficient in conducting his crimes so that he is successful, but we still cannot appreciate his work. Ultimately, we need to think of the person who has been robbed. Who would show their empathy to him?
ii. Bholi and Matilda, both are distinct characters, wherein one gave importance to self-instinct and the other gave importance to her beauty. Assume they both meet each other at Bholi’s wedding and had a conversation over the greed of Bishamber. Write this conversation as per your understanding of ‘Bholi’ and The Necklace’. You may begin like this: Matilda : Are you fine now? Bholi : Ya! much relieved. (Bholi)

i.
(c) Descriptive, focusing on scenery and atmosphere
ii. The residential unit for members of the British colonial community.
iii. The given line means that it rains very heavily during monsoons. So, only a very few people visit Coorg during this time.
iv. The weather of Coorg is pleasant for the tourists during the months from September to March. At this time, the smell of coffee is spread all around making it the best time to visit Coorg. B. “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..... (The Proposal) Page 8 Sample Paper 05 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL
i. Why did the peasants treat the land as their own?
(a) They used the land for forty years.
(b) They got accustomed to using the land.
(c) Both
(a) and
(b) (d) None of the above
ii. Who is the speaker of the above lines? What light do these lines throw on the speaker’s character? What reaction did his words get? Answer in about 40 words.
ii. How long did the peasants get accustomed to using the meadows?
iv. Why did his aunt’s grandmother give the meadows?

i. the pirate was gobbled up by Custard.
ii. On seeing the pirate, Belinda’s pets ‘trickle down,’ or ‘mousehole’ themselves proving their cowardice. This is in contrast to their description at the beginning when they were chasing lions and showing off ‘their rage.’ It makes the situation ironical. The reader easily deduces it as the poet refrains from commenting on it.
iii.
(b) 2, 1, 4, 3 iv The poet has made great use of figurative language. Similes like snorting like an engine, like irons in a dungeon and, like a robin at a worm aptly describe the tension and the impending attack on the pirate. Words like snorting, clashed, clanked and, jangled are onomatopoeic and help making the circumstance dramatic. B. What is the boy now, who has lost his ball, What, what is he to do? I saw it go Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then Merrily over-there it is in the water! (The Ball Poem) NODIA APP Sample Paper 05 Solutions Page 9
i. In what way does the language used in this poem challenge traditional ideas of what poetry should be?
ii. What is the significance of the use of no punctuation after the words ‘What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,’ and the use of a dash in ‘Meetly over-there it is in the water!’ in the poem and how does this contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Complete the sentence with the appropriate option. The poet seems to have indicated the merry bouncing of the ball to _____.
(a) create a sense of rhythm in these lines.
(b) support the happiness of the experience of playing.
(c) contrast with the dejected feeling of the boy.
(d) indicate the cheerful mood of the boy.
iv. Identify the use and purpose of repetitive sounds used in the given lines of the poem.

Amanda’s mother is indeed a nagging mother. She is all about instructions and finding faults. No doubt it is her responsibility to instil good values into her daughter, but not at the cost of her child’s happiness. One should know how to strike a balance between maintaining responsibilities and taking good care.
ii. How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essay? (From the Diary of Anne Frank)

Mr. Loisel was bored at the ball. It seemed that he did not enjoy the evening as he had been half asleep in one the little salons since midnight, with three other gentlemen whose wives were enjoying themselves very much.
ii. How does Think-Tank interpret the library found by his crew on earth? Why does he ask Omega to eat a book? (The Book that Saved the Earth)

She was a good observer of things. Her favourite past time was standing in the front doorway of her house. She used to watch from there what was happening in the street outside. There were no playmates of her own age in the neighbourhood. Standing at the door was as enjoyable for her as any of the games children played. Valli was mature, clever and practical beyond her years. Saving sixty paise was not an easy job for a girl of her age. She saved every coin that came her way. She was determined to resist any temptation that came in her way. She sacrificed buying peppermints, toys, balloons and having a joy ride on a merry-go-round to save her money. Valli was full of excitement and enthusiasm. She enjoyed the landscape looking outside the window. The canal, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains and green fields gave her tremendous pleasure. The sight of a young cow running towards the bus at full speed enthused her. The more the driver honked, the more frightened the animal became and came just in front of the bus. Valli enjoyed the fun and laughed till tears came into her eyes. Valli was a very sensitive girl. She was shocked to see the same cow lying on the roadside smeared with blood. Her horrible and frightening look dampened her enthusiasm. She stopped looking outside. Valli didn’t like being called a ‘madam’ or a ‘child’. She dared the conductor to mind his own business. Valli was a self-respecting girl. She didn’t accept a free cold-drink offered by the bus-conductor. She was a great planner and planned things after knowing all the necessary details about them.
ii. ‘Departure is painful’. So is the departure of the trees painful for the poetess. What will happen after their departure? (The Trees)

Dr. James Herriot, no doubt, was a competent veterinary surgeon. He was really worried about Tricki. He understood that the real fault of the NODIA APP Sample Paper 05 Solutions Page 11 dog was his greed for food. He never refused food. The dog had become hugely fat and listless. Dr. Herriot also suggested to cut down sweets to him. He advised Mrs. Pumphrey that Tricki must be hospitalised for a fortnight under his observation. Dr. James Herriot was practical and pragmatic. He didn’t give any medical treatment to the dog. The dog was not given food but lots of water. His method worked. Tricki’s recovery was surprisingly rapid. Tricki was transformed into a flexible and hard-muscled dog. He was not only out of danger but also soon handed over to his mistress. The grateful mistress thanked Dr. Herriot and called his feat ‘a triumph of surgery!’ Dr. James was clever enough to enjoy the best of both worlds. He was tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest. It was a happy period for Dr. Herriot and his friends. He enjoyed eggs for breakfast and wine and brandy for lunch.
ii. Love, human sympathy and education can transform even a thief. How could Anil bring such a change in Hari Singh? (The Thief ’s Story)

i. The flowers made Horace Danby’s nose itch because of hay fever.
ii.
(B) embarrasses
iii. The lady advised Horace that he could find a cure for hay fever by trying to find which plant he was allergic to. She was not interested in his allergy or its cure; she was rather making fun of him.
iv. concealed or covered. B. “Now we’re really going to get some water, woman.” The woman who was preparing supper, replied, “Yes, God willing”. The older boys were working in the field, while the smaller ones were playing near the house until the woman called to them all, “Come for dinner”. It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the north- east, huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body, and when he returned, he exclaimed, “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.” (A Letter to God)
i. “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.” In which of the following examples has the same figure of speech been used to describe raindrops in the above lines?
(A) She looked as fresh as morning dew.
(B) Waves heaved heavily. Page 8 Sample Paper 06 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL
(C) Glow worms are tiny lights floating around in the forest.
(D) Break, break, break On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
ii. How does Lencho’s mood progress along with the progress of the rain? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘coins’ in the line “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins” indicates that Lencho viewed the rain as a symbol of _____ (wealth/destruction).
iv. In the statement, ‘The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body’ use one word to replace the underlined part of the sentence.

i. jealousy
ii. Through the poem ‘Fire and Ice’, the poet wants to convey that the world will come to an end either by fire or by ice. Fire, here stands for desire and greed and ice here stands for hatred and rigidity.
iii.
(A) Sarcastic
iv. Robert Frost cautions the common man and says that he should not forget the bitter reality that everything in this world is transitory and death is inevitable. So man should avoid being too desirous or too indifferent. B. All night the roots work to disengage themselves from the cracks in the veranda floor. The leaves strain toward the glass small twigs stiff with exertion long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof like newly discharged patients half-dazed, moving to the clinic doors. (The Trees)
i. In what way does the language used in this extract challenge traditional ideas of what poetry should be?
ii. What is the significance of the use of the word ‘roots’ and ‘disengage’ to describe the social change in the poem and how does this word choice contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. The leaves strain through the glass, small twigs are stiff with exertion and long-cramped boughs are shuffling under the roof- all indicate the presence of these poetic devices:
(A) metaphors and imagery.
(B) enjambment and allusion.
(C) allusion and alliteration.
(D) personification and imagery.
iv. Complete the following suitably. The words ‘in the veranda floor’ clearly suggest that the change is taking place _____ and _____.

Anyone who wears half pants which reaches just below the knees invites the comment that he is dressed like a pader because it was the baker who used to dress like that in the author’s childhood days.
ii. Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’? (A Letter to God)

Loisel had eighteen thousand francs. He borrowed eighteen thousand francs more from different money lenders. He bought a chaplet of diamonds exactly like Mme Forestier’s necklace. Mme Loisel replaced Mme Forestier’s necklace without telling her anything.
ii. How was Ebright as a student in the school? (The Making of a Scientist)

Amanda : I hate every one at home. How can they pester a child so much. Anne : Amanda, How can you even think like that. Parents are the most precious thing in this world. Amanda : You parents are good, they love you that is why you say so. You are not in my situation. My mother is very interfering. She keeps on instructing me all the time. Anne : Amanda, You have seen the best times so you can afford to say so. I have been through the times when children were forcefully separated from their parents and they could never meet each other. They had lead a life of an orphan. Amanda : So, what is wrong in it. I often dream of being an orphan. I think it would be much better if there is no one around to instruct you for every thing. Anne : (Sighs) Amanda, who will look into your daily needs and requirements? Who will provide you food and shelter? Have you ever realized? Give it a thought. They love you and want the best for you.
ii. “The message conveyed in the chapter The Sermon at Benaras, People must understand that thinking about bound situations will increase one’s stress and lead to sorrow was diligently followed by the pilot in The Black Aeroplane as he religiously followed the plane and did not raise a question on its presence. If you had to use the message with reference to both the chapters how will you elaborate it? Also, how it is relevant to both.

It is said that even thieves have ethics. We may give it the name of professional ethics even. Horace was cheated by one of his own types. No doubt that he was a thief but he was a thief with ethics. He stole once a year and that as per his need. He did not appear to be greedy and that was the reason that he never got caught. He was meticulous in his preparations and did not leave anything to chance. In this case he was caught on the wrong foot and was cheated. He will never be able to believe any one. He would be further cautious about it. For the first time he let his guards loose and he was trapped. He was chivalrous enough to believe a lady and take her on her face value. This came out to be is undoing which will make him suffer through out his life.
ii. Curiosity and motivation are the basic foundation for becoming a successful scientist. These qualities have brought the best out of Ebright. Comment. (The Making of a Scientist)

i. Bholi’s hair was matted because it was never oiled or combed.
ii.
(a) surprises
iii. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school because the day she was going to school she was forced by her parents to dress nicely. She was bathed and her hair was oiled. She was even given a clean dress to wear. The special way in which everyone treated her made her feel that she was going to a better place.
iv. Hopeful and elated B. He wrote “To God’ on the envelope, put the letter inside, and still troubled, went to town. At the post office, he placed a stamp on the letter and dropped it into the mailbox. One of the employees, who was a postman and also helped at the post office, went to his boss laughing heartily and showed him the letter to God. Never in his career as a postman had he known that address. The postmaster-a fat, amiable fellow-also broke out laughing, but almost immediately he turned serious and, tapping the letter on his desk, commented, “What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter. Starting up a correspondence with God!” (A Letter to God)
i. The author says, “He wrote, ‘To God’ on the envelope, put the letter inside, and still troubled, went to town.” Why was the man troubled?
(A) He had no money for an envelope and astamp.
(B) He needed a hundred pesos to rebuild his life.
(C) He needed seventy pesos to buy corn seeds.
(D) He knew God wouldn’t bother to reply.
ii. What do the words, “What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter. Starting up a correspondence with God!” reveal about the postmaster? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘faith’ in the line “What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter” indicates that the postmaster admired Lencho’s _____ (belief/ignorance).
iv. How would you describe the postmaster based on your understanding of the passage.

i. beauty
ii.
(A) Unconditional love
iii. The speaker of the above lines heard that only God can love everyone for their inner beauty.
iv. The poetic device used in the line ‘And not your yellow hair’ is alliteration as ‘y’ sound is repeated in ‘your’ and ‘yellow’. It makes the text in the extract striking and memorable. B..... 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. The figure of speech used by Adrienne Rich in ‘.... Winds rush to meet them’ is _____.
ii. Why does the moon look like a broken mirror?
iii. Who is the wind rushing to meet?
(A) the birds and the insects
(B) the trees
(C) the poet
(D) the sun and the moon.
iv. Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines in 40 words.

When Maxwell returned from a hurried meal, he noticed that there was complete silence from the box. But from its airholes and chinks around the lid, blood had trickled and dried. He immediately tore open the box and found that Mij had torn the lining of the box to small pieces and injured himself in the process.
ii. How did Anne finally stop Mr. Keesing from punishing her? (From the Diary of Anne Frank)

The two boys followed the footprints which appeared on the muddy ground. But they could not see anyone. It was Griffin. He had become invisible and was walking over the mud. They followed because it was all strange and unusual for them.
ii. What did Ebright do for his eighth-grade project? (The Making of a Scientist)

Thinking of joining his family for break fast in England, the narrator was flying in his old Dakota aeroplane over France. He was in a happy mood because he was going back to England to join his family. When Paris was about 150 kilometers behind, he observed the huge stormy clouds in front of him. Deciding to take risk, he flew his plane straight into the storm. He lost his way amidst the black clouds and his radio and compass also stopped functioning. Then, a black aeroplane at once appeared and his pilot waved to the narrator to follow him. After following him, the narrator landed safely on the airport where he failed to find the pilot of the black aeroplane anywhere. Moreover, the women in the Control Centre also informed him that no other plane was flying that night and his was the only plane she could see on the radar. I think it was some mysterious or supernatural power that had guided him. Or it could be the hallucination of his mind.
ii. Discuss how extreme behaviour can hasten the end of the world with respect to the poem ‘Fire and Ice’. (Fire and Ice)

It is absolutely true that appearances can be deceptive at times. Ausable, the protagonist in the story, ‘The Midnight Visitor,’ had the appearance of a fat and sloppy man; his accent was also weird. Fowler reached his hotel room to meet him considering him a spy. Fowler was disappointed. However, inside the room he found Max with pistol in his hand who had come to get some secret information from him. He dealt with Max very smartly and cleverly and got rid of him. In this way, he proved that appearances can be deceptive. Ausable who looked fat and sloppy actually was a smart and master spy.
ii. “If you ask for too much, you lose even that which you have.” Elaborate this with reference to the character of Matilda Loisel in “The Necklace”.

i. Ausable dropped a hint for Max that the balcony could be used for escaping in an emergency.
ii.
(A) reassures
iii. Max was armed. Ausable, sensing the danger, fabricated a story about the non-existent balcony. When there was a knock at the door, Ausable again fooled Max saying that it was the police. Max jumped out the window hoping to land on that non-existent balcony and died.
iv. a report regarding some new missiles. B. “But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable as any of the elaborate games other children played. Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences. The most fascinating of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming back. The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers was a source of unending joy for Valli” (Madam Rides the Bus)
i. The author says that ‘Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences.’ Which of the options given below confirms this statement? Valli had a habit of _____.
(A) passing time as she had no friends
(B) observing people and everyday happenings
(C) eavesdropping on neighbours and visitors
(D) looking for an opportunity to hop into a bus
ii. Why was ‘The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers was a source of unending joy for Valli?’ Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘fascinating’ in the line “The most fascinating of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town” indicates that Valli found the bus _____ (captivating/frightening).
iv. What does Valli’s interest in a ‘new set of passengers’ as a source of unending joy show about her?

i.
(A) assist in keeping the prey unsuspecting of the predator’s sound.
ii. grass
iii. In these lines, the poet is filled with sorrow for the caged tiger. He feels that a tiger should be free in his natural habitat. He should be hiding in the shadows and quietly moving through the long grass near the water hole. He should be waiting for a fat and healthy deer to pass, in the hopes of getting a heavy meal. The poet wants to convey that the actual life of a tiger is in a jungle and not in a cage.
iv. plump B. If when you’re walking round your yard You meet a creature there, Who hugs you very, very hard, Be sure it is a Bear, If you have any doubts, I guess He’ll give you just one more caress. (How to Tell Wild Animals)
i. How a bear can be recognised by you?
(A) By its skin colour
(B) By its roar
(C) By its body size
(D) By its tight hug
ii. How will you judge the poet’s style of writing in the given extract?
iii. How does the poet describe the bear in the extract?
iv. Would you agree that the poet has an in-depth knowledge of the wild? Support the statement in context of the poem from which the given lines are taken. Answer in about 40 words.

Lomov considered Squeezer a bad hunter. To him squeezer was an overshot. Its lower jaw was shorter than the upper jaw. It was too old to hunt. Its market price was low too as well.
ii. How did the seagull express his excitement when he saw his mother bringing food for him? (Two Stories About Flying)

Mrs Pumphrey loved Tricki very much and could not be strict with him regarding his diet and exercise. Therefore, he could not be cured at home.
ii. What are Hari Singh’s reactions to the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change over time? (The Thief ’s Story)

Anne : I detest the world when they treat people differently on basis of their caste and creed. Mandela : I also faced the same discrimination in my country where we were not treated as humans even. Anne : It is not the fault of the person if he is born differently and all cannot be the same. Then why to go against God’ s wish. Mandela : I could not stand this injustice and decided to fight against it for people of my country. I even feel sorry for children like you who had to suffer for none of their fault Anne :You are right, we suffered immensely and we did not even understand what was our fault. I was separated from my family, never to see them again. Mandela : Yes, God undoubtedly will see to it. We will get justice and world will be a better place. Our struggle will bear fruits and our people will live in liberty.
ii. The message of the poem ‘The Trees’ is that freedom and equality should be for all the living organisms in the world. If you had to use the message of the given quote based on ‘The Trees’ to understand the state of the Tiger in the Zoo, how will you elaborate it? Also, how it is relevant to both.

Horace was a thief but he had his own ethics and ideals. He robbed rich people and that too once a year. His purpose to rob was to purchase some expensive books. Sadly other robbers do not follow professional ethics, Horace gets cheated by another thief as he trust her and believes in whatever she said. Horace realised that there was no honour among thieves. Though he was a meticulous person and worked as per his plan yet he was cheated and for the first time sent to prison for the crime that he never committed. He should have been more careful. It would have been better for him if he did not let his guards down. He was a thief no doubt but was a gullible person as he believed the lady in red too soon too much.
ii. The ultimate message that one can get from ‘The Midnight Visitor’ is that in any situation we should not panic instead we should take a step and face the situation with our presence of mind.

i. ‘I’ (Hari Singh) was not an educated person, so he could not understand what Anil wrote. He was surprised to know that writing for magazines could be a profession and that people paid Anil for writing in magazines.
ii.
(C) amuses
iii. freelancer B. I finished my poem, and it was beautiful! It was about a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings who were bitten to death by the father because they quacked too much. Luckily, Mr: Keesing took the joke the right way. He read the poem to the class, adding his own comments, and to several other classes as well. (From the Diary of Anne Frank)
i. Anne Frank says that ‘Mr. Keesing took the joke the right way.’ What does she mean by this?
(A) Anne had turned the tables on her teacher.
(B) The teacher was already tired of her constant jokes in class.
(C) Anne Frank had a nasty sense of humour.
(D) Students are not supposed to crack jokes on their teachers.
ii. What had transpired between Mr. Keesing and Anne Frank for her to feel relieved on seeing his response to her poem? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘joke’ in the line “Luckily, Mr. Keesing took the joke the right way” indicates that Mr. Keesing reacted _____ (positively/negatively).
iv. What does this extract tell us about Mr. Keesing as a teacher? Mention two qualities.

i. pistol
ii. On seeing the pirate, Belinda’s pets ‘flee,’ trickle down,’ or ‘mousehole’ themselves proving their cowardice. The reader easily deduces it; the poet refrains from comment. This is in contrast to their description at the beginning when they were chasing lions and showing off ‘their rage. ‘it makes the situation ironic.
iii.
(C) Custard was ready to attack the pirate.
iv. The poet has made great use of figurative language. Similes like snorting like an engine, like irons in a dungeon and, like a robin at a worm aptly describe the tension and the impending attack on the pirate. Words like snorting, clashed, clanked and, jangled are onomatopoeic and help making the circumstance dramatic. B. Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favour fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. (Fire and Ice)
i. How can ‘Ice’ bring an end to the world? Answer in about 40 words.
ii. What figure of speech is used in the first line of the extract?
iii. _____ can correctly replace the underlined phrase in the give line from the extract? I hold with those who favour fire.
iv. Pick the option that is NOT TRUE about the poet according to the extract. The poet
(A) is inclined to believe that the world would most likely end with fire.
(B) has heard divided opinions about the way the world would end in all likelihood.
(C) preaches love and kindness to combat the spread of hate among all.
(D) declares the power of ice to be as destructive as that of fire.

For an hour, the hailstones rained on the house, the garden, the hillside, and on Lencho’s cornfield soon. The field turned white, as if covered with salt. Not even a leaf remained on the trees and the corn crop of Lencho was totally destroyed as the flowers were gone from the plants.
ii. Young seagull tried to fly but he could not. Why was he afraid to fly? (Two Stories About Flying)

Ausable was a very intelligent spy agent. When he found Max waiting for him in his room, he immediately thought of the plan. He told Max that there is a balcony from where people enter in his room that Max must have also entered from there. Max got convinced about the story and hence when someone knocked at the door, he ran towards the balcony to hide and died.
ii. Griffin’s brilliance as a man of science fades before his darker traits. Comment. (Footprints Without Feet)

The Buddha communicates the truth of life that death is common to all. The life of mortals, i.e. human beings, is troubled, brief and combined with pain and untold sufferings. Nobody can escape death. So, those who are born, will certainly die one day. Hence, we should not grieve on death. Kisa Gotami learns the lesson that death is the ultimate truth of life. She could not find any house where no one had ever died. She now realized that death comes to all. No one can escape death. The lights of the city flicker and resemble the fate of men. If a common man realizes that death is common to all, he will not weep on death and never grieve on sorrows. He can get peace of mind by drawing out the arrow of lamentation from his heart. He who has overcome sorrows will be free from sorrows and be blessed.
ii. “Difficulties do come in our lives, but they are not there to stay forever.” Comment on this statement with reference to the poem ‘Fog’ by Carl Sandburg.

Surely, this statement is true in the case of Richard Ebright because he always kept himself busy in constructive experiments since his early childhood. Richard had a habit of asking questions about new things and his mother answered all his questions in the most satisfying manner. This question and answer round turned into a habit in Richard and he kept on probing things. His scientific bent of mind led him to carry on experiments after experiment and reach a purposeful conclusion. Although to reach his goal he was helped by many people in his journey, especially his mother whose contribution is commendable. He had patiently waited for almost a year to study butterflies’ migration. This shows that he never stopped midway and finally became a great scientist.
ii. Give a brief character sketch of Mrs. Pumphrey. What values are reflected through her character? (A Triumph of Surgery)

i. shock and anger
ii. Natalya had been overly critical of Lomov’s claims and had mocked him unsparingly without displaying even basic civil behaviour to her neighbour. But the moment she learned about the marriage proposal, she took a U-turn and took her father to task.
iii.
(C) shocks
iv. An actor while modulating his voice to enact this extract should pay attention to his pitch and pauses. B. “Tell me another!” scoffed Pranjol. “We have an Indian legend too. Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic, cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditations. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk, banished sleep.” “Tea was first drunk in China,” Rajvir added, “as far back as 2700 B.C.! In fact, words such as tea, chai and chini are from the Chinese. Tea came to Europe only in the sixteenth century and was drunk more as medicine than as beverage.” (Glimpses of India)
i. What is the main idea of this extract?
(A) Tea as a popular beverage in Europe and how it spread.
(B) Origin of tea in India and why it became popular in Europe.
(C) Importance of India in popularising tea and influencing Europe.
(D) Indian legend on tea and how it travelled from China to Europe.
ii. Why do you think Pranjol ‘scoffed’? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. When did tea come to Europe? Page 8 Sample Paper 10 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL
iv. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘banished’ in the line “The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk, banished sleep.” indicates that the tea leaves _____ (eliminated/encouraged) sleep.

i.
(A) An observer
ii. This means that he is learning to be resilient in the face of difficulties.
iii. According to the poet, we mostly learn about loss from our experiences.
iv. According to the extract, the boy learns that loss is the unavoidable truth of life and material objects can be replaced. Also, life continues despite losses. B. “Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears, And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs, Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage, But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.” (The Tale of Custard the Dragon)
i. In what way does the use of conjunctions ‘and’ and ‘but’ in this extract signify?
ii. What is the significance of Custard crying ‘for a nice, safe cage’? How does this contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem?
iii. Choose the most appropriate option. What does the extract demonstrate about other pets of Belinda?
(A) The entire lot was as brave as could be.
(B) They all had flamboyant personalities.
(C) Ink, Blink, and Mustard pretended to be brave.
(D) They were known for being fearful.
iv. Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines in 40 words.

Yes, it’s absolutely true. This saying teaches us that even the longest and the most difficult ventures have a starting point; something which begins with first step. The story of his first flight is a very good example of this saying because at the early stages the young seagull was afraid of flying. But once he tried and got succeeded, he started flying with great happiness and enthusiasm. Hence, every great journey starts with a single step.
ii. The poem ‘Fire and Ice’ uses the metaphor of the end of the world to characterise this destruction. Do you agree? Support your answer with reasons. (Fire and Ice)

Yes, it is true to a large extent because Griffin was irresponsible and irrational by his behaviour and disturbed everyone wherever he went. His existence and influence was destructive. His anger and temperament didn’t help him. He had to face atrocities of weather and society, and became ruthless to his behaviour. He scared people. His lawlessness harmed himself and everyone around him.
ii. The writer has given ample chance to the readers to ridicule the character Max in the chapter ‘The Midnight Visitor’. Substantiate your answer with examples from the text. (Footprints without Feet)

Matilda : I don’t know how to tell you this but I met Mme Forestier today and she told me that her necklace was a real diamond. M Loisel : What! I just can’t believe my ears. That huge debt was for nothing! Matilda : I don’t know but I am feeling discouraged and highly downcast. I don’t even know whether to cry out loud or curse myself. M Loisel : No, there is nothing to hold you responsible for all such things. I am equally responsible for your misery because I didn’t check the necklace on my own. Had I checked, our life today, would have been different. Matilda : No, you should not blame yourself. It was I who resisted to go to the ball without an appropriate jewel. I should have understood that one should learn to live with his means. I regret that I forgot a person who spends more than his income soon falls into trouble. This was the trouble that I deliberately invited.
ii. Valli’s visit to the town has been disclosed and mother gives her a scolding. Develop a conversation between Valli and her mother emphasising how important it is to follow the instructions given by the elders. (Madam Rides the Bus)

Mrs Hall was responsible for her disgrace to some extent. She should have asked his guest to produce his identity. But she just ignored. Consequently, she had to become a part of such a brouhaha. Griffin came to Iping and it was a slack time of the year. When Even Mrs Hall did not expect a guest in the winter season, as it was bitterly cold. She compromised with standard operational etiquette. It was vitally important for her to find the whereabouts of the strange and spooky man who appeared to be covered in bandages. It is distinctly clear from the story that Mrs Hall was only concerned about the payment that she received from the stranger. She should have confirmed the profession of Griffin and if she smelt anything dubious, she could have outrightly rejected his request of stay in the hotel. Therefore, we can say that she was solely responsible for her disgrace.
ii. Horace might not have ended up in prison repenting at the way he was deceived but by cursing the lady in red. Examine the statement ‘A Question of Trust’ giving reasons for the same. (A Question of Trust)

i.
(B) frustrates
ii. Hari is feeling very doubtful for his action of stealing from Anil.
iii. I should go back to Anil for the sake of learning to read and write.
iv. Hari Singh had made a study of men’s faces when they had lost their goods. As per his observation, the greedy man showed fear; the rich man showed anger; and the poor man showed acceptance. B. “Marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the ‘bol’ just as a party or a feast loses its charm without bread. Not enough can be said to show how important a baker can be for a village. The lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter’s engagement. Cakes and ‘bor are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. Thus, the presence of the baker in the village is absolutely essential.” (Glimpses of India)
i. Breads are a very important part of the culture of the people in Goa. Which of the given options does not corroborate the statement?
(A) Bols are central to marriage celebrations and festivals.
(B) Festivals especially Christmas are incomplete without cakes.
(C) Every house has their own furnace in Goa.
(D) Special sandwiches are made on a daughter’s engagement. Page 8 Sample Paper 11 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL
ii. What makes the marriage gifts meaningless? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘essential’ in the line “the presence of the baker in the village is absolutely essential” indicates that the baker’s role in the village was _____ (indispensable/optional).
iv. What is the traditional name of bakers in Goa and what made them different from other people in appearance?

i. mood
ii.
(A) Emphasis
iii. The symbol of healing is one that Frost drew upon, in all likelihood, for this poem.
iv. The poet, Robert Frost, uses simple, everyday language to evoke strong emotions. Initially sorrowful, symbolized by the crow, his mood changes to hopeful, symbolized by the snow-covered tree. This reveals deeper meanings in seemingly straightforward lines. B. What is the boy now, who has lost his ball, What, what is he to do? I saw it go Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then Merrily over-there it is in the water! (The Ball Poem)
i. In what way does the language used in this poem challenge traditional ideas of what poetry should be?
ii. What is the significance of the use of no punctuation after the words ‘What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,’ and the use of a dash in ‘Meetly over-there it is in the water!’ in the poem and how does this contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Complete the sentence with the appropriate option. The poet seems to have indicated the merry bouncing of the ball to _____.
(A) create a sense of rhythm in these lines.
(B) support the happiness of the experience of playing.
(C) contrast with the dejected feeling of the boy.
(D) indicate the cheerful mood of the boy.
iv. Identify the use and purpose of repetitive sounds used in the given lines of the poem.

The speaker termed it as ‘an easy flight’ because everything was going well. The sky was clear. The weather was fine. There wasn’t any hindrance in his flight. No, his prediction did not come true.
ii. Why does Chubukov call back Lomov even after driving him out of his house? (The Proposal)

Bholi’s school teacher is the artist in the story, who with her kindness and caring support and encouragement converts Bholi into a confident, bold and self-respecting girl.
ii. What made the thief come back to Anil? (The Thief ’s Story)

Lencho : My faith in God will help me come out of this situation. Mandela : Faith has to complete and unwavering. My faith in humanity and justice of supreme power has let me take this extreme step. Lencho : I have no doubt, even humans ‘perspective changes with his blessing. It was God’s will that my fields were destroyed and it will be God’s grace that they will be redeemed. Mandela : I do agree with it. Everything happens as per God’s wish. It is God’s wish that we are born in a particular state and He will give us strength to face it and fight it. Lencho : Child like innocence and immense faith can transform every situation. Mandela : (Smiles) May truth and justice prevail. By God’s will all will be fine and Sun will dawn on us.
ii. A teacher can influence a student’s character to grow and evolve in every way. Explain it with reference to Bholi’ and ‘Diary of Anne Frank’. If you had to use the message with reference to both the chapters Bholi’ and ‘Diary of Anne Frank’ how will you elaborate it? Also, how it is relevant to both.

Matilda’s character in the chapter ‘The Necklace’ gives its reader a lesson of life. Usually people run after momentary pleasure without realising the importance of long term satisfaction. At times one who runs after false pride and vanity forgets how it may undo their future. It happens the same in the case of Matilda. She wanted to leave an impression on the gathering so that the people may remember her for her beauty and riches. She hardly knew that this momentary pride would ruin her future forever. It was insult added to injury when she came to know that the necklace that wasted her precious ten years was fake, Her false pride proved to be her undoing.
ii. Concern and love for children can compel parents to take impulsive decisions that may not be good for them. Explain with reference to ‘The Proposal’.

i. She called the vet at least a dozen times a day for details of Tricki’s recovery.
ii.
(C) excites
iii. The word ‘convalescing’ had a magical effect on the incorrigible Mrs. Pumphrey. She was happy and hopeful to have Tricki back home soon. In her enthusiasm, she began to bring fresh eggs two dozen at a time to build up Tricki’s strength. Later, she sent in bottles of wine too to nourish her pet.
iv. dodged B. “Now we’re really going to get some water, woman.” The woman who was preparing supper, replied, “Yes, God willing”. The older boys were working in the field, while the smaller ones were playing near the house until the woman called to them all, “Come for dinner”. It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the north-east, huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body, and when he returned, he exclaimed, “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.” (A Letter to God)
i. “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.” In which of the following examples has the same figure of speech been used to describe raindrops in the above lines?
(A) She looked as fresh as morning dew.
(B) Waves heaved heavily.
(C) Glow worms are tiny lights floating around in the forest.
(D) Break, break, break On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
ii. How does Lencho’s mood progress along with the progress of the rain? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘pleasure’ in the line “The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body” indicates that Lencho enjoyed the rain _____ (deliberately/ immensely).
iv. In the statement, ‘The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body’ use one word to replace the underlined part of the sentence.

i. Metaphor.
ii. Robert Frost wishes to convey that sometimes ordinary moments or simple actions have a larger significance. They have the power to change the NODIA APP Sample Paper 12 Solutions Page 9 mood and sometimes perspective of a person. The shaking off the snowflakes by a crow inspires the poet to shed his bitterness and do something useful.
iii.
(B) Has given my heart, A change of mood
iv. The poet has used the ‘crow’ and ‘hemlock tree’ as symbols to show emotions like dejection, gloom, and depression because he was bitter about life. Although these are ordinarily considered inauspicious, they change the poet’s mood and uplift his spirits. B. All night the roots work to disengage themselves from the cracks in the veranda floor. The leaves strain toward the glass small twigs stiff with exertion long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof like newly discharged patients half-dazed, moving to the clinic doors. (The Trees)
i. What do roots work upon all night?
ii. What does the poet mean by ‘clinic doors’? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Complete the sentence with the appropriate option. The small things are stiff because _____.
(A) they are made by nature this way
(B) they are of raid of the owner
(C) they are straining to break the glass
(D) they are relaxing
iv. What does the poet compare larger branches to?

The crow changes the mood of the poet by shaking the dust of snow from the Hemlock tree by which the poet gets relaxed and was later thankful.
ii. ‘God helps the ones who help themselves’. Substantiate this with reference to the chapter ‘Black Aeroplane’. (Two Stories About Flying)

Horace was undoubtedly a good and respectful fellow but not completely honest. This description is apt for Horace. His intention was noble but even then, he cannot be spared by the critics. It may look good in others’ eyes but cannot be pardoned at all, as a crime is always a crime. And guilty has to be punished.
ii. Richard’s project on the purpose of the twelve tiny gold spots on a monarch pupa was highly valuable in two ways. List the two ways. (The Making of a Scientist)

I, Marriane Jones, was the air hostess in the flight to Paris in which Mij, the otter was also present with his master Maxwell. Luckily the seat booked for Maxwell was on the extreme front. He rang for me and handed over to me a parcel of fish for otter to keep in a cool place. Maxwell took me in his confidence. I made him to allow me to have to otter on the knee. And then Mij was out of the box in a flash and disappeared at a very high speed. Otter ran down the aircraft. There were squawks and shrieks and a woman stood up on her seat screaming ‘a rat, a rat’. Maxwell tried to catch but his face got covered with curry. I offered him my help to get him the animal at his seat. Soon the otter Mij bounded on his knee of its own and began to nuzzle his face and neck during the flight.
ii. Though the play revolves around three people, Russian society emerges as an important character through the ongoings of the play and the thoughts and interactions of its characters. Imagine yourself to be a historian who has been invited to speak about nineteenth century upper class Russian society. Based on your reading of the play, how might you decide it? Support your evaluation with instances from the text. (The Proposal)

Anil was an easy-going and careless man. He spent whatever he earned by writing for magazines. He was a simple and kind-hearted person. He was trusting and generous. He agreed to feed Hari NODIA APP Sample Paper 12 Solutions Page 11 Singh when he said that he could cook. However, he did not turn him out of his house when he proved a hopeless cook. Rather he decided to teach him both to cook and to read and write. Though he knew that Hari Singh made money from daily purchases yet he did not mind it. Rather he trusted Hari Singh fully. He gave him every opportunity to mend or reform himself. Anil was a noble-minded person. He chose not to expose Hari Singh’s attempted theft. He turned a thief into a respectable person.
ii. Sense of insecurity and not understanding the true value can result to destruction. What was the cause of Matilda’s ruin? How could she have avoided it? (Footprints without Feet)

i. The flowers made Horace Danby’s nose itch because of hay fever.
ii.
(A) embarrasses
iii. The lady advised Horace that he could find a cure for hay fever by trying to find which plant he was allergic to. She was not interested in his allergy or its cure; she was rather making fun of him.
iv. concealed or covered. B. Our elders are often heard reminiscing nostalgically about those good old Portuguese days, the Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread. Those eaters of loaves might have vanished, but the makers are still there. We still have amongst us the mixers, the moulders and those who bake the loaves. Those age-old, time-tested furnaces still exist. The fire in the furnaces has not yet been extinguished. The thud and jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo, heralding his arrival in the morning, can still be heard in some places. Maybe the father is not alive, but the son still carries on the family profession. These bakers are, even today, known as pader in Goa. What are elders often heard reminiscing nostalgically? (Glimpses of India)
i. The narrator says that the furnaces were ‘time-tested’ because
(A) they had been thoroughly tested each time before being used.
(B) they had proved the test of time and were working well.
(C) they had been tested by modern-day experts.
(D) they had the power to withstand inexperienced usage.
ii. What does the “fire in the furnaces has not yet been extinguished” imply?
iii. In the line “Those eaters of loaves might have vanished, but the makers are still there”, What is the tone of narrator and why? Answer in about 40 words.
iv. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘nostalgically’ in the line “Our elders are often heard reminiscing nostalgically about those good old Portuguese days” indicates that the elders remembered the past _____ (fondly/ critically).

i. money is meant to be spent
ii.
(A) emphasis
iii. The ‘responsibility’ referred here is how to stand up or bear the loss through self-understanding and trying to console oneself on his our as the boy who lost his ball was trying to do.
iv. The poet says that ‘Money is external’ to make the boy understand about his responsibility and that the loss is immaterial. By the phrase, the poet means that every loss cannot be replaced by money. Money cannot buy the memories associated with a thing and cannot replace the things that we Hove, for example the boy’s lost ball. NODIA APP Sample Paper 13 Solutions Page 9 B. The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbour and city on silent haunches and then moves on. (Fog)
i. The fog arrives and departs _____.
(A) by announcing its arrival
(B) silently
(C) loudly
(D) Both
(A) and
(C)
ii. Which image does the poet give to the fog? What are the similarities between that image and fog? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Identify the figure of speech is prominent in the poem ‘Fog’.
iv. What is fog doing?

The postmaster was captivated to see the firm faith of Lencho in God and he did not want his belief to be shaken. He asked the other employees of the post office and his friends to give something for an act of charity. He was so determined to provide him aid that he himself contributed a part of his salary.
ii. What arguments did Anne give in her essay titled ‘A Chatterbox’? (From the Diary of Anne Frank)

It was difficult to rob Anil because he was the most trusting person Hari Singh had ever met. According to Hari Singh, it’s easy to rob a greedy man because he can afford to be robbed but it’s difficult to rob a careless man because he doesn’t even notice that he’s been robbed and that takes all the pleasure out of the work. Page 10 Sample Paper 13 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL
ii. What lesson did Ebright learn when in the seventh grade he entered a country science fair? (The Making of a Scientist)

Yes, I think this statement is true in the case of Mijbil, the otter. Maxwell took Mijbil on a lead to the bathroom and Mij just went wild with joy while in water. Mij was plunging and rolling in water. He was even shooting up and down the length of the bathtub underwater and was making too much slosh and splash. This, Maxwell learnt, is a characteristic of otters. According to them, every drop of water must be extended and spread about the place. It was further proved when two days later, Mij escaped from Maxwell’s bedroom as Maxwell entered it. Maxwell followed Mijbil who had gone to the bathroom and was fumbling at the chromium taps with his paws. Maxwell watched with surprise when Mij, turned the tap, which ultimately achieved full flow. This shows that when an otter is in the water, water must be kept on the move and made to do things because, according to the otter, otherwise it is wasted.
ii. Imagine Anne Gregory grows up to be amotivational speaker. As Anne Gregory, write a short speech on the importance of loving oneself. You may begin this way: Dear friends The importance of believing in oneself can never be overstated. It becomes most important, therefore, to love oneself. I learnt this, as a young teen, the day a poet pointed out that (continue)..... (For Anne Gregory)

Griffin was a man without conscience. It is true he was not a law abiding citizen of his country. He broke one law after another and made himself an undesirable person. He did not hesitate robbing the vicar at Iping for money he needed. He should have left a religious priest. When he was short of money he continued his experiments, without any thoughts of the consequences, he robbed his own father, who committed suicide because the money was not his. He attended his father’s funeral without feeling sorry for his own act; instead he blamed his father for being a sentimental fool. NODIA APP Sample Paper 13 Solutions Page 11 He experimented on a cat, with no concern for the poor creature’s cries of pain. He threw it out and never tried to find whether it was alive or dead. He burnt down the house at Great Portland Street when the landlord and his sons found about his experiments and were horrified. He was only worried about covering his trail. After becoming invisible he committed one brutal act after another, not because they were necessary for his survival, but simply because he enjoyed doing them. The way he looted the owner of a small costume shop, and left him helpless after striking him on his head, spoke volumes about his inhumanity. He terrorized Marvel when he was on the run, fought with the policemen. His plan to spread reign of terror among people using his powers of invisibility really shocked Dr. Kemp. He even tried to kill him for betraying him. In his final run from the people hunting him, he killed an old man with a rod because he bumped into him. Before his death, he had sunk to the lowest depth a man could go and was truly a monster in human form. All the bad and immoral things that Griffin did could have been avoided if he had abided by the law of his country.
ii. Attempt character sketch of Great and Mighty Think-Tank. (The Book that Saved the Earth)

i. It is the day of Bholi’s wedding to Bishambher. No, the wedding doesn’t take place. As soon as Bishambher saw Bholi’s face, he threatened to not marry her if not given a dowry of 5000. Ramlal pleads to him and arranges the money but seeing all this, Bholi refuses to marry.
ii. Ramlal had never dreamt that his fourth daughter would have such a grand wedding.
iii.
(B) excites
iv. Magnificent appearance B. “Now we’re really going to get some water, woman.” The woman who was preparing supper, replied, “Yes, God willing”. The older boys were working in the field, while the smaller ones were playing near the house until the woman called to them all, “Come for dinner”. It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the north- east, huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body, and when he returned, he exclaimed, “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.” (A Letter to God)
i. “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.” In which of the following examples has the same figure of speech been used to describe raindrops in the above lines?
(A) She looked as fresh as morning dew.
(B) Waves heaved heavily.
(C) Glow worms are tiny lights floating around in the forest.
(D) Break, break, break On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
ii. How does Lencho’s mood progress along with the progress of the? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘pleasure’ in the line “The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body” indicates that Lencho found the rain _____ (delightful/dreadful).
iv. In the statement, ‘The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body’ use one word to replace the underlined part of the sentence.

i. metaphor
ii. Frost is pessimistic and hopeless about the politicians’ hunger for destruction.
iii.
(B) It is an irrefutable belief.
iv. The poet has used figurative language with fire as a symbol of war and violence and ice as a symbol of hatred and cold-bloodedness. The word ‘desire’ denotes the power-hungry heads of governments and militaries. Frost thinks that war will destroy the world. B. He should be lurking in shadow, Sliding through long grass Near the water hole Where plump deer pass. (A Tiger In the Zoo)
i. According to the extract, the poet wishes for the tiger to be ‘sliding’ through the foliage as this would
(A) assist in keeping the prey unsuspecting of the predator’s sound.
(B) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator before it rushes in.
(C) help the predator pounce on the prey comfortably without getting tired.
(D) support the predator’s vision as it eyes its prey.
ii. What would the tiger do in the forest? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Complete the following suitably. ‘Shadow’ here, refers to the shadow of _____.
iv. It is clear that metaphor is the poetic device used for ‘pads of velvet’. Give evidence.

Mandela thanks the international leaders for attending the ceremony in which a Black was being honoured to receive the highest seat of the country.
ii. Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. How? (From the Diary of Anne Frank)

When Griffin wears the clothes, he becomes visible. He slipped into a big London store for warmth. He fitted himself out with warm clothes, with shoes, an overcoat and a wide brimmed hat and became visible.
ii. Why did Ebright lose interest in tagging butterflies? (The Making of a Scientist)

Carl : Hi, Carolyn, I really appreciated the poem How to tell Wild Animals composed by you. Carolyn : Same here, I think it is mutual admiration (laughs). Carl : We both were at our respective abodes but our handling of the subject appears to be the same. Carolyn : You have brought out the signature traits of the cat in least words. Carl : My personal favourite in the poem is Hyena’s laugh. In fact this animal really appears to be laughing though it is just the opposite. Carolyn : While going through the poem ‘Fog” I for the first time realized the close similarity between a cat and the way fog behaves. Carl : We have proved that our imagination can travel to unimagined territories. Let us meet more often to discuss our work and critically analyse it.
ii. “How to tell Wild Animals” and “The Tale of Custard Dragon” both the poems deal with ferocious animals with a different perspective. Humour necessarily does not come from funny situations. Humour can be seen when there is none.

Fowler was apparently disturbed when he came face to face with the secret agent, the detective Ausable. He had a very different image in his mind regarding a detective. His detective had to be straight out of a crime thriller but Ausable was nowhere close to it. He was an ordinary looking person who did not appear to be gun trotting personality. Fowler was in for a lesson of his life and understand that all that glitters is not gold. The characters in the novels or the movies are no where close to reality. Ausable was a person with quick wit who used his unassuming demeanour for his benefit. He let Max believe him effortlessly and For Fowler’s amazement he got rid of his arch-rival effortlessly without flashing his pistol.
ii. “Intentions always do not justify actions,”. Analyze this quote with reference to “The Question of Trust”.

i. Mr. Weiherer considered Richard to be a hard worker because he put in three or four hours at night doing debate research besides doing all his research with butterflies and his other interests.
ii.
(A) impresses
iii. Mr. Weiherer caved Richard a true winner because he wasn’t intereasted in winning for winning’s sake or winning to get a prize. Rather, he wanted to give his best.
iv. Richard was trying to win because he wanted to do the best job he could. B. That evening, after I’d finished the rest of my homework, the note about the essay caught my eye. I began thinking about the subject while chewing the tip of my fountain pen. Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces between the words, but the trick was to come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking. (From The Diary of Anne Frank)
i. According to the passage and the story, Anne was
(A) thinking about what to write in the essay
(B) angry with Mr Keesing
(C) too tired to write the essay
(D) unable to write the essay
ii. What does she (Anne Frank) write in her essay? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘convincing’ in the line “the trick was to come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking” indicates that Anne wanted her arguments to be _____ (persuasive/vague).
iv. What is integral to writing her essay according to Anne? Page 8 Sample Paper 15 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL

i. upset and grief stricken
ii. ‘Symbolism’ has been used by the usage of the word ‘ball’.
iii.
(A) Loss of his ball
iv. It is no doubt that a ball is an easily available and inexpensive item but the ball that the boy has lost is valuable to him. His memories of his younger days are associated with it because he had been playing with it for a long time. It was not an ordinary but a special ball for him. B. He should be lurking in shadow, Sliding through long grass Near the water hole Where plump deer pass. (A Tiger In the Zoo)
i. According to the extract, the poet wishes for the tiger to be ‘sliding’ through the foliage as this would
(A) assist in keeping the prey unsuspecting of the predator’s sound.
(B) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator before it rushes in.
(C) help the predator pounce on the prey comfortably without getting tired.
(D) support the predator’s vision as it eyes its prey.
ii. What would the tiger do in the forest? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. ‘Shadow’ here, refers to the shadow of _____.
iv. It is clear that metaphor is the poetic device used for ‘pads of velvet’. Give evidence.

The poet was in a bad mood. He considered that his day was ruined. But the crow shook off the dust of snow on him. His mood changed and the rest of the day was saved for him.
ii. What is the greatest wealth of a country according to Nelson Mandela? (Nelson Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom)

Bholi’s teacher played an important role in changing the course of her life. She was polite and friendly which touched her heart. She encouraged her every time and was affectionate towards her. The teacher transformed her into a confident person who could read, write and speak clearly. This gave her the required confidence. Moreover, the teacher’s appreciation and encouragement helped her overcome her low morale.
ii. What did Griffin, the scientist, do to escape after setting the fire to his landlord’s house? (Footprints Without Feet)

Pranjol invited his friend Rajvir to spend some days with him in his hometown Assam. On reaching there, Rajvir was stunned to see the beauty of tea plantations. It was an entirely new experience for him while for Pranjol, these were a common sight so he showed least interest in Rajvir’s excitement. I think it is not appropriate on Pranjol’s part to react thus. No doubt his indifference was natural but it might dampen Rajvir’s spirit. Sometimes we have to act according to the wishes of the person opposite us, especially when the person is very close to us. A true friend is one who understands the feelings of his friend and tries to make him happier. Although Pranjol and Rajvir were very close yet one should always try to strengthen the bond of friendship.
ii. Humour is the best medicine for every ailment in life. Is the poem humorous? Give reasons for your answer. (How to Tell Wild Animals) Page 10 Sample Paper 15 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL

Ausable didn’t have the slightest idea that there would be someone in his room. When he entered the room, he blinked his eyes a few times. He got a shock to find Max in his room. Ausable was not handsome, attractive and smart. But being a good spy he did not panic. With his intelligence and presence of mind he was able to find the solution. He collected the facts and planned very fast. He convinced Max that there was a balcony outside the window. He also told that there was police knocking at the door though he knew that it was the waiter knocking. He gave Max no time to think. He did not use strength but mind to overcome the danger. So, it is true to say that nothing was planned. It was by taking the advantage of the situation things were worked out.
ii. Read the following quote. “We are too involved in materialistic things, and they don’t satisfy us. The loving relationships we have, the universe around us, we take these things for granted.” Mitch Albom Matilda was never satisfied with her life and desired more. The given quote reflects her character. Justify. (The Necklace)

i. The significance of not a single cloud in the sky is that the sky is clear.
ii. The pilot was flying Darkota aeroplane.
iii. When the pilot called the Paris Control the first time he was happy that he would reach England on time for a big English breakfast. He thought that everything was going well and it was an easy flight.
iv.
(B) comforts B. Poor Kisa Gotami now went from house to house, and the people pitied her and said, “Here is mustard-seed; take it!” But when she asked, “Did a son or daughter, a father or mother, die in your family?” they answered her, ‘Alas! the living are few, but the dead are many. Do not remind us of our deepest grief”. And there was no house but some beloved one had died in it. (The Sermon at Benares)
i. Kisa Gotami’s joy was short-lived because _____.
(A) she was not assured any help by her neighbours
(B) no physician could revive her son
(C) she could not get mustard seed from each house
(D) she realised that death could not be averted
ii. In sending Kisa Gotami from house to house, what was Buddha trying to teach her. Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘grief’ in the line “Do not remind us of our deepest grief” indicates that the people were filled with _____ (sorrow/joy).
iv. Is it correct to say that had Buddha been alive today, he could have become either a counsellor or a psychologist? Why?

i. freedom
ii.
(C) The tiger is unhappy and controlling his anger
iii. The tiger shows his presence by baring teeth and claws, and by growling.
iv. The tiger expresses his rage quietly because there is nothing he can do from behind the bars of his cage. He is helpless as his strength now lies inside the cage. He is no longer free as he was in the jungle. B. “Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household, And little mouse Blink strategically mouse-holed. 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 onomatopoeic words in the extract?
ii. What does the poet want to convey through these lines? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Select the appropriate option that supports the idea in the extract.
(A) You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.
(B) Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is strong.
(C) Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends.
(D) Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you.
iv. Complete the following suitably. The extract mentions ‘irons’ in dungeons. According to the extract, ‘irons’ refers to _____.

Yes, it emphasises that the physical appearance is changeable and hence, it should be unimportant. The poet conveys this through a conversation between Anne and another speaker. Through Anne’s reply, the poet makes clear his preference for internal beauty to physical appearance.
ii. What do the roots do all night? (The Trees)

The Loisels begin to live a life of crippling poverty. They dismissed their servant and had to shift to a cheaper and smaller apartment. She did all the household works and shipping by herself. She fetched water, washed the floor, utensils, dirty clothes by herself.
ii. Scientists contribute to make the world a better place. Griffin is an antithesis to this statement. Justify. (Footprints Without Feet)

Anne : Hey, how are you here? Valli : Just an adventure to town. Anne : Did you inform your parents about your so-called adventure? Valli : No, not of course. I perceive I wouldn’t have been allowed to explore the town on my own. My parents would have made false promises to take me to the town around. So, I thought of taking the opportunity on my own. You tell, what are you doing here? Anne : I just dropped in for shopping. I live in the close vicinity to the town. In fact, I have come with my siblings. They are all there in the supermarket. And to your surprise, I have informed my uncle what we are doing and where we are off to. So, there is nothing to get inhibited.
ii. “Mandela mentions that every man has twin obligations. The first is to his family, parents, wife and children; the second obligation is to his people, his community and his country.” How is the first obligation well performed by mother seagull in the story The First Flight’.

Horace Danby was a successful businessman. He was a respectable citizen, but had a habit that led him to do robberies. Danby loved rare, expensive books and to get them, he used to rob a safe every year. Every year, he planned carefully just to get what he wanted. Danby adopted wrong ways to fulfil his wishes and hence, later got trapped in a plot by a thief like him. People should imbibe good values. They should learn that hard work is the only key to success. One should work hard to fulfil their desires. I think such people should imbibe the values of honesty, responsibility, hard work, dedication and self-confidence, in order to reform themselves.
ii. With reference to The Midnight Visitor’, do you think presence of mind should be developed and to what advantage? Elaborate highlighting the characteristics of Ausable.

i.
(A) reassures
ii. The author saw the runway and landed his aeroplane safely but the black plane is nowhere to be seen in the sky. It has disappeared as mysteriously as it had appeared. When he asks about the Black aeroplane at the control room, he is informed there that there was no other plane in the sky except his flight that night.
iii. simile
iv. The director would be required to rely on CGI or visual effects to bring out the dramatic effect of this moment. B. NATALYA : No you’re simply joking, or making fun of me. What a surprise! We’ve had the land for nearly three hundred years, and then we’re suddenly told that it isn’t ours! Ivan Vassilevitch, I can hardly believe my own ears. These Meadows aren’t worth much to me. They only come to five dessiatins, and are worth perhaps 300 roubles, but I can’t stand unfairness. Say what you will, I can’t stand unfairness. LOMOV : Hear me out, I implore you! The peasants of your father’s grandfather, as I have already had the honour of explaining to you, used to make bricks for my aunt’s grandmother, wishing to make them a pleasant... (The Proposal)
i. Which of the facts given below is the most accurate explanation to complete the statement: Natalya told Lomov that he was simply joking or making fun of her because _____.
(A) Chabukovs’ land extended to Burnt Marsh which included Oxen Meadows.
(B) he claimed that Oxen Meadows was his ancestral property.
(C) he declared that his land extended to Burnt Marsh.
(D) Oxen Meadows had belonged to Natalya’s mother for generations.
ii. Why were the Meadows not worth fighting or arguing over between the neighbours? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘unfairness’ in the line “Say what you will, I can’t stand unfairness.” indicates that Natalya felt _____ (wronged/grateful).
iv. On the basis of your understanding of the extract, which common character traits are exhibited by both Natalya and Lomov?

i. Enjambment.
ii. Adrienne Rich describes the confinement and the escape of the trees to their new environment. They have been forced to abandon the forest. She uses extended metaphors in the poem. Trees are women who are in need of healing or having been healed, are now ready for their true purpose, and will renew the empty forest soon.
iii.
(A) the emancipation of women from their confinement.
iv. The poet has personified the sun by using ‘bury its feet’ for it. she makes good use of kinaesthetic imagery by giving us a visual description throughout the stanza. B. “Never shall a young man, Thrown into despair By those great honey-coloured Ramparts at your my; Love you for yourself alone And not your yellow hair.” (For Anne Gregory)
i. Complete the following suitably. Contextual meaning of the word ‘rampart’ is _____.
ii. Why does Anne want to change the colour of her hair? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Choose the phrase that best represents, ‘love you for yourself alone’.
(A) one-sided love
(B) mutual love
(C) unconditional love
(D) blind love
iv. What does the poet suggest about the young man’s love in “For Anne Gregory”?

Yes, it’s true in the case of the young seagull. Life is full of trials and tribulations which can be overcome by a human being through his own efforts. Simply with the crutches of excuse and procrastination, no one can reach their destination. NODIA APP Sample Paper 17 Solutions Page 9
ii. Discuss what Frost wants to convey through the poem ‘Fire and Ice’.

It is evident from the story that Mrs Pumphrey’s overindulgence did not let Tricky lead a healthy lifestyle. The doctor knew that Tricki was not ill but just overweight and restless due to his mistress. He did not require any medical treatment and recovered quite well at the end. It can be called a real-life episode for the people who take excessive care of their children and hence, spoil their habits.
ii. Fowler was disappointed to see Ausable. Validate the statement. (The Midnight Visitor)

You : Hi Rajvir! Hope you had a comfortable stay in Assam. Rajvir : Well, how did you know I was off to Assam. You : Pranjol is my neighbour who lives next door of my house. Rajvir : Oh... are you Jatin? You : Yeah... Page 10 Sample Paper 17 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL Rajvir : Well, Pranjol discussed a lot about you that you own acres and acres of land in Assam. You : Not exactly, but yes, a small piece of land that I inherited from my father. That is right next to his father’s property. But I had wonderful harvest this time. I would love if you visit sometime in a good season. Rajvir : Yeah... sure.
ii. One should understand that human beings are mortal and no one can escape death. Revelations made by Lord Buddha teach us so. Share two key opinions from what you learnt from the lesson The Sermon at Benares’. (The Sermon at Benares)

Hari Singh’s transformation was not a deliberate act to some extent. He was in fact about to board the train, but in the meantime, his inner conscience held him back. He thought that Anil would feel sad not for loss of money but for the loss of trust he had reposed in him. Moreover, he did not want to lose the chance of learning. His inner self was transformed. His heart changed because he preferred to be an educated man and decided to return back and placed the money back to its place. So, the sudden change we spotted in Hari Singh who realised that stealing was completely different to getting educated. The change in him was ideally due to the prospect of getting education and live in the society with integrity and high regards.
ii. Hari Singh (A Thief’s Story) and the lady (A Question of Trust) in red were alike. Validate the statement by giving valid reasons.

i. C. N. and Jacques staking their entire holiday savings on their bet implies that they both think that the other one will pass.
ii. Anne is being brutally honest. Many students in the class doubted if they would be promoted to the next class. They remained anxious and would discuss this all day. They would make bets on who would be promoted. CN and Jacques had even staked their entire holiday saving on the bet.
iii.
(C) frightens
iv. fear or nervousness. B. She was not convinced. ‘No’, she replied, “there is nothing more humiliating than to have a shabby air in the midst of rich women.” Then her husband cried out, “How stupid we are! Go and find your friend Madame Forestier and ask her to lend you her jewels.” She uttered a cry of joy. ‘It is true!’ she said. “I had not thought of that.” (The Necklace)
i. Why did she need the jewels?
(A) To go to a party of rich people
(B) For a photoshoot
(C) To get a replica made
(D) For wearing them at home
ii. What did Matilda’s husband suggest her?
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘joy’ in the line “She uttered a cry of joy.” indicates that the woman felt _____ (elated/disappointed).
iv. What kind of a person is Mme Loisel and why is she always unhappy? Answer in about 40 words. Page 8 Sample Paper 18 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL

i. concerned
ii. The use of metaphor impacts the extract by an imagination and by helping the writer convey more emotions.
iii. Amanda is imagining being an orphan to live a life of freedom. She is constantly scolded by her mother. So, she escapes into her own world of imagination wherein she lives a peaceful life, all alone.
iv.
(A) The worth of silence B. He stalks in his vivid stripes The few steps of his cage On pads of velvet quiet In his quiet rage He should be lurking in shadow Sliding through long grass Near the water hole where plump deer pass. (A Tiger in the Zoo)
i. Complete the following suitably. The poetic device used in the first line of the given extract is personification because the poet _____.
ii. What is the significance of the use of the phrase “quiet rage” to describe the mood of the tiger in the poem and how does this word choice contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Complete the sentence with the appropriate option. According to the extract, the poet wishes for the tiger to be ‘sliding’ through the foliage as this would _____.
(A) keep the prey unsuspecting of the predator’s footsteps
(B) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator before it rushes in
(C) help the predator pounce on the prey comfortably without getting tired
(D) support the predator’s vision as it eyes its prey
iv. Where should the tiger be lurking according to the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo”?

The woman in the control room was surprised when the narrator said that he wanted to show NODIA APP Sample Paper 18 Solutions Page 9 his gratitude to the pilot of the other aeroplane who saved his life because there was no other aeroplane visible in the radar, the narrator’s was the only one.
ii. When did the baker collect his bill usually? Where was his account recorded? (Glimpses of India)

The narrator was shocked at Tricki’s appearance because he had become very fat, like a bloted sausage with a leg at each corner. His eyes looked bloodshot and rheumy, stared straight ahead and his tongue lolled from his jaws. He needed immediate attention.
ii. Who was Griffin? What did he want to prove through his repeated experiments? (Footprints without Feet)

Lencho was a poor farmer who completely depended on the harvest of his fields to survive and fulfil the basic needs of his family. He used to work day and night and was really optimistic and desired to have a good harvest. Unfortunately, his hope for a good harvest turned into despair when an unpredicted hailstorm destroyed his crops. He became worried about his family’s survival. But, he was sure that God would certainly help him in that difficult situation. Lencho was a virtuous and innocent devotee of God. Due to his firm faith in God, he urged Him to send a hundred pesos. He reacted angrily towards the help offered by the post office employees. His firm faith in God made him angry when he found only seventy pesos in the envelope instead of a hundred pesos as demanded. He believed that God could not make such a mistake of sending him less money. Page 10 Sample Paper 18 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL So, he suspected that the post office employees had stolen his money.
ii. Who was the real hero? How did he save the other animals? Was he proud of his bravery? Justify your answer with instances from the poem. (The Tale of Custard the Dragon)

Ausable knew that Fowler was pretty disappointed on seeing him. Fowler had been told that he was to meet a secret agent, a spy, dealing in espionage and danger. He had wished to meet Ausable because Fowler was a young and romantic writer who imagined a secret agent to be associated with mysterious figures in the night, the crack of pistols and drugs in the wine. Instead, Fowler had to spend a dull evening in a French music hall with a sloppy fat man who, instead of having messages slipped into his hand by dark-eyed beauties, got only an ordinary telephone call making an appointment in his room. Though Ausable’s appearance did not match that of a secret agent and he did not really fit the description of one, he was indeed a very intelligent and smart agent. Ausable understood Fowler’s disillusionment and told him to take cheer because he would presently see an important paper for which several people had risked their lives and that could well affect the course of history.
ii. Bholi has multiple handicaps. She is a girl. She has pock-marks, she stammers. How can we change the social attitudes towards the differently abled? (Bholi)

i. Mrs. Hall felt that the room was haunted by spirits because she had witnessed strange things like a chair mysteriously pushing her out of the room had happened there.
ii.
(D) enrages
iii. The village constable was sent for because the neighbours felt that Griffin had stolen the clergyman’s money. Moreover, they also believed that he was involved in some kind of witch craft.
iv. He threw off bandages, whiskers, spectacles and even nose. B. The following Sunday Lencho came a bit earlier than usual to ask if there was a letter for him. It was the postman himself who handed the letter to him while the postmaster, experiencing the contentment of a man who has performed a good deed, looked on from his office. Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence - but he became angry when he counted the money. God could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested. (A Letter to God)
i. According to the extract, what was the belief of Lencho?
(A) God couldn’t make a mistake in sending the money.
(B) God couldn’t deny what he had requested.
(C) Money was stolen.
(D) Both
(A) and
(B)
ii. Why did Lencho go a bit early to the post office the following Sunday?
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘confidence’ in the line “Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence” indicates that Lencho was _____ (sure/doubtful) about receiving the money.
iv. How much money did Lencho receive?

i. sad
ii. The ‘dust of snow’ means the fine particles of snow.
iii. It is true that the crow and the hemlock tree are considered negative images and symbols of bad omen. However, in the poem, they are shown in a positive light. They are shown to bring about a positive change in the poet who was in sorrow and despair
iv.
(C) Sets a gloomy atmosphere B. I heard an old religious man But yesternight declare That he had found a text to prove That only God, my dear, Could love you for yourself alone And not your yellow hair. (For Anne Gregory)
i. The above stanza strongly defies the idea of _____.
(A) internal qualities
(B) external beauty
(C) spiritual self
(D) divinity
ii. What does the poet mean by the word ‘yesternight’, in the extract?
iii. What wisdom was imparted to the poet and by whom it was imparted? Answer in about 40 words.
iv. Complete the following suitably. The religious man found it in a religious text that _____.

In South Africa or in any nation there are two obligations for a person. One is at the personal level towards his family. Another obligation is towards the society. Apart from striving for personal goals a person should also work hard to contribute something to the society.
ii. What does Anne write in the diary about herself and her sister? (From the Diary of Anne Frank)

Hari Singh thought Anil’s job was queer because he did not have a fixed source of income. At times he had to borrow; and at times he would lend. He often waited for his cheque. It appeared he wrote for a magazine. As soon as the cheque arrived, he would celebrate by spending it lavishly.
ii. Why did Horace Danby feel sure of his success in that year’s robbery? (A Question of Trust)

It is true that one is known by one’s roots. So, in the context, the fiercely independent people of Coorg are possibly of Greek or Arabic origin. The Coorgis have their roots in their places of origin, that is, Greece and Arabia. So, their blood or culture is apparent in their martial traditions. They are more than willing to recount numerous tales of valour related to their sons and fathers. The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army. Although Coorgis are thousands of miles away from their places of origin - Greece and Arabia, they are virtually recognized for their values and traits. They have a tradition of hospitality. They are brave, fierce, independent and daredevil. This quality makes them unique.
ii. If the Buddha were to summarise the life lessons of ‘The Ball poem’ what would that sermon be? Think and create this address for people of your age.

There is no doubt in it that to accept the limitations of our life or not to accept it, is a pertinent question related to our happiness or unhappiness. However, most of the people become unhappy and suffer because of not accepting the limitation of life. In the context of the story, Matilda Loisel suffered in her life because she did not accept her limitation of life. Although she was born in a poor family yet she dreamt to enjoy all the delicacies and luxuries like the rich people. She did not understand her limitations. She was not conscious of her capacity, reality and condition. So, she suffered because of her greed for high lifestyle and not accepting her limitations and condition.
ii. Give a brief character sketch of Fowler? What are the values reflected in his character? (The Midnight Visitor)

i. She was overwhelmed by everything in school: the pictures, the students, and the teacher.
ii.
(C) fascinates
iii. The teacher was polite and kind to Bholi who had never been treated like this by anyone. She recognized Bholi’s low confidence and told her that with practice she could become a learned person who could speak without stammering. This filled little Bholi with hope and led to a change in the course of her life.
iv. fruit garden or plantation. 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.
ii. Which word in the passage means the same as ‘cordial’?
(A) Friendly
(B) Hurting
(C) Ignorant
(D) Distant
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.
iv. The kitchen referred to is located in _____.

i.
(A) It is to emphasise on the might and boldness of Custard.
ii. The given lines show that the animal, that was considered by all to be a coward, was actually braver than them. While the rest of Belinda’s pets cower in fear at the sight of the pirate, it is Custard the cowardly dragon that attacks him and saves everyone. This shows that the poet wants to convey that whether someone is truly brave or not can only be discovered in the face of real danger
iii. Custard jumped in front of the pirate to fight with him. He then swallowed the pirate whole.
iv. simile 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) NODIA APP Sample Paper 20 Solutions Page 9
i. Complete the following suitably. In the line, ‘Listen. The glass is breaking’ the poet is addressing the readers to _____.
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.
iii. Which of the following is the correct match between the poetic devices and their definitions? 1. The moon is broken like a mirror
(a) personification 2. The glass is breaking
(b) enjambment 3. The moon is broken like a mirror, its pieces, flash now in the crown of the tallest oak.
(c) metaphor 4. The trees are stumbling forward
(d) simile
(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)
iv. What happens to the moon in the poem “The Trees”?

Through the poem ‘Dust of Snow’ the poet wants to convey that sometimes in life even the simple moments convey a message of larger significance. They change the mood and life of a person many times.
ii. What was the young seagull’s experience during his first flight? (Two Stories About Flying)

Hari Singh decided to come back to Anil because he felt that when Anil would come to know about the theft, he would feel sad, not for the loss of money but for the loss of trust. He did not want to lose his trust. Page 10 Sample Paper 20 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL
ii. Why did Griffin not get a suitable house to live in? (Footprints without Feet)

Kisa : It is difficult to hold your self and impossible to accept losing a loved one. The Boy : Yes! True, I learnt to accept the pain at a young age. There are things where we cannot do anything. Kisa : I ran from one corner to the other and then when I met Buddha I got to know that it was meant to be and I have to bar with fortitude. The Boy : We tend to lament even for materialistic things, then your loss was immense. I think it has to be taught to always of us as soon as possible. Kisa : It can never be easy. Time is the only healer. The Boy : (Sighs) May be you are right.. We learn to agree with our destiny when we learn to be emotionally strong.
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.

If Hari Singh would not have thought twice that day, he would have remained an ignoble thief forever. He was inspired by his master and wanted to lead a respectful life like him. His master had decided to teach him to read and write and that made all the difference. If one wants to a big man then only education can help us. Education gets us respect and dignity that is more important than accumulation of money and wealth. Hari Singh realised this and that is why he decided to put the money back that he had stolen and get educated. His decision let him think about his future and not the present.
ii. The story ‘The Midnight Visitor’ highlights the theme that wisdom is more powerful than other weapons. Comment with reference to it.

i.
(B) reassures
ii. The author saw the runway and landed his aeroplane safely but the black plane is nowhere to be seen in the sky. It has disappeared as mysteriously as it had appeared. When he asks about the Black aeroplane at the control room, he is informed there that there was no other plane in the sky except his flight that night.
iii. scared
iv. The director would be required to rely on CGI or visual effects to bring out the dramatic effect of this moment. Page 8 Sample Paper 21 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL B. “We have an Indian legend too. Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic, cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditations. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk banished sleep.” “Tea was first drunk in China,” Rajvir added, “as far back as 2700 B.C.! In fact, words such as tea, ‘chaff’ and ‘chini’ are from Chinese. Tea came to Europe only in the sixteenth century and was drunk more as medicine than as a beverage.” The train clattered into Mariani Junction. The boys collected their luggage and pushed their way to the crowded platform. (Glimpses of India)
i. In the statement, ‘The boys collected their luggage and pushed their way to the crowded platform’ the meaning of ‘pushed their way’ means _____.
(A) to remove physical obstacles
(B) to ward away rules and restrictions
(C) to shove someone
(D) to make way for yourself
ii. Why did Rajvir have to convince Pranjol with an Indian legend about the origin of tea too? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘banished’ in the line “The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk banished sleep.” indicates that the tea leaves _____ (eliminated/increased) sleep.
iv. Which word in the extract is similar in meaning to a ‘short loud repeated sound’?

i. assonance
ii. Custard, the cowardly dragon gobbling up the pirate who was threatening Belinda and her pets the reason for this sudden show of affection. The words that indicate this change in the mood and behaviour in the extract are ‘embraced’, ‘licked’ and gyrate.’
iii.
(B) He snorted like an engine.
iv. Ink and Blink gyrated in glee around the dragon. B. “The way a crow shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree.” (Dust of Snow)
i. What did the crow shake down from the hemlock tree?
ii. What is the significance of an uncommon bird like a crow and a poisonous tree in the poem? What do they reflect about the poet and his overall mood and tone of the poem? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Of the many symbols the Hemlock tree represents, the one that Frost drew upon in all likelihood, for this poem is
(A) longevity
(B) togetherness
(C) healing
(D) protection
iv. Complete the following suitably. Frost has used the contrast between the fortitude displayed by the crow and the poet’s own spell of indulging in self-pity to show that _____. NODIA APP Sample Paper 21 Solutions Page 9

Seeing Lomov in an evening dress at his house, Chubukov at first thought that Lomov had come to borrow some money from him. In his mind Chubukov had decided not to lend him any money, but still he talked quite politely to him
ii. How did Valli manage to leave her house? (Madam Rides the Bus)

When Ausable saw Max holding a pistol aimed at him, he made up a story that there was a balcony through which it was the second time in a month that an intruder had entered his room. When there was a knock at the door and Max feared that he would be caught by the police, he jumped down on the balcony and met his end.
ii. ‘If the theory proves correct, it will be a big step towards understanding the processes of life.’ What is the theory and who proposed it? (The Making of a Scientist)

Nelson Mandela believed that in life, every man had twin obligations. These were obligations to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children, and his obligation to his people, his community and his country. He said that in a civil and humane society, each man was able to fulfil these obligations. But, in South Africa, previously, it was impossible for a dark-skinned man to fulfil both of these obligations. Because a man of colour who attempted to live as a human being in South Africa was punished and isolated. I fully agree with Nelson Mandela because in any country where people are being oppressed, anyone who wishes to fulfil his duty to his people is bound to be prevented from fulfilling his obligations as a son, as a brother, as a father and as a husband. To serve the cause of his people Nelson Mandela had to spend thirty years in prison like many Indian freedom fighters who struggled for the sake of the freedom of their beloved country.
ii. How does Amanda tackle the nagging nature of her parents? Explain with examples from the poem ‘Amanda!’. What values does it portray about Amanda?

Mrs. Pumphrey was a very loving and caring mistress of Tricki. She looked after her pet Tricki with great love and pampered him a lot. But due to her immense love and affectionate nature, she did not realize that too much indulgence was proving harmful for him. When Tricki was listless and seemed to have no energy, the first thought that came to her mind was that it must be due to malnutrition. Like a caring mother, she started giving him a little extra food between the meals to build him up. Out of sheer love and concern, she gave him some malt, cod liver oil and bowl of Horlicks. She couldn’t even cut out on sweets because he appeared to be so weak and moreover, she found it very difficult to keep Tricki on a very strict diet. She wasn’t wise but she was very loving. She almost swooned when Mr. Herriot suggested that Tricki should be hospitalised. She even wailed when Tricki was being taken away by Mr. Herriot while her entire staff carried all of Tricki’s favourite things to the car. She, with a despairing cry and tears in her eyes, threw an armful of the little coats through the window of the moving car when Tricki was being taken away. Later, Mrs. Pumphrey called up a dozen times a day for the latest bulletins on Tricki’s health. On being told that Tricki was convalescing, she sent fresh eggs, wine and brandy for him. She loved Tricki so much that when he got well, she thanked Mr. Herriot by saying that- ‘This is triumph of surgery.’ NODIA APP Sample Paper 21 Solutions Page 11
ii. “A lawless scientist is a curse to the society.” Discuss with reference to the story ‘Footprints without Feet’.

i. removed
ii. Pranjol was unaware of both the Chinese and Indian legends related to the discovery of tea. Probably, like any young man, he had a scientific temperament and so readily didn’t believe popular legends. Hence he scoffed at the idea. So, Rajvir had to narrate both legends to convince him
iii.
(A) impresses
iv. clattered B. She was not convinced. ‘No’, she replied, “there is nothing more humiliating than to have a shabby air in the midst of rich women.” Then her husband cried out, “How stupid we are! Go and find your friend Madame Forestier and ask her to lend you her jewels.” She uttered a cry of joy. ‘It is true!’ she said. “I had not thought of that.” (The Necklace)
i. Why did she need the jewels?
(A) To go to a party of rich people
(B) For a photoshoot
(C) To get a replica made
(D) For wearing them at home
ii. What kind of a person is Mme Loisel and why is she always unhappy? Answer in 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘humiliating’ in the line “there is nothing more humiliating than to have a shabby air in the midst of rich women” indicates that the woman felt _____ (embarrassed/proud) about her appearance.
iv. What did Matilda’s husband suggest her?

i. snow
ii.
(A) Emphasis
iii. The symbol of healing is one that Frost drew upon, in all likelihood, for this poem.
iv. Robert Frost’s simple language in “Dust of Snow” evokes powerful emotions. His mood shifts from despair to hope, symbolized by a crow and snow-covered tree. The poem’s simplicity hides deeper meaning, revealing the power of nature to transform. B. “He stalks in his vivid stripes The few steps of his cage. On pads of velvet quiet, In his quiet rage. He should be lurking in shadow, Sliding through long grass Near the water hole Where plump deer pass. (A Tiger in the Zoo)
i. Complete the following suitably. In the poem, the majestic, free-willed tiger is caged as opposed to _____.
ii. What is the significance of the use of the word “shadow” in the poem and how does this word choice contribute to the overall mood and tone of the given extract? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Select the option that describes the tiger in the following lines. ‘On pads of velvet quiet, In his quiet rage.’ 1. nervous 2. scared 3. distraught 4. light-footed 5. indignant
(A) 1 and 2
(B) 2, 3 and 4
(C) 3, 4 and 5
(D) 1, 2 and 3
iv. Identify the type of imagery used in the lines of the poem.

The author thinks of the country’s wealth in its physical terms as he is of the opinion that the country is rich in minerals and gems, all these lay beneath the soil. However, the real wealth is the people of the country. They are finer and truer than the real diamonds and the real wealth of the country. NODIA APP Sample Paper 22 Solutions Page 9
ii. While alone on the ledge, how did the little seagull try to draw the attention of his family? (Two Stories About Flying)

The thief was under the tension that Anil would be very angry and upset with him for stealing the money. But Anil did not express any anger and said that he would pay him regularly. This changed the thief.
ii. “Horace Danby was good and respectable-but not completely honest”. Why do you think this description is apt for Horace? (A Question of Trust)

Lencho was a poor farmer and firmly believed that God.sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere. When his crop was ruined due to heavy rainfall and hailstones, he was scared to imagine how his family would survive. He believed that only God could take him out of his problem. Nowadays, people find it intellectually impossible to make the affirmation which is necessary for a firm belief in God. The refusal to believe in God is really unfortunate. The other fact is that it is hard to find people who are willing to help anyone without any self-interest. Lencho’s reaction towards the post office employees was not right or justified. But it was simply because of his innocence as he could not believe that God had made such a mistake. As per him, none but only the post office employees had stolen the money.
ii. How is the lost ball, the metaphor of the lost childhood of the boy? Why doesn’t the poet want to ‘intrude on’ the boy by offering him money to buy another ball? (The Ball Poem) Page 10 Sample Paper 22 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL

Mrs. Pumphrey is a wealthy but foolishly indulgent woman who pampers her dog Tricki by overfeeding him. She wrongly relates Tricki’s listlessness to malnutrition and serves him cream cakes, chocolates and cod liver oil. She also doesn’t follow the doctor’s advice of cutting down on his food and making him exercise as she can’t be strict with him. Thus, she and Tricki’s greed for food become the cause of Tricki’s misery. Mrs. Pumphrey is excessively fond of her little dog and pampers him a lot. On learning about Tricki’s convalescing news, she starts bringing dozens of eggs to build up his strength. She also brings wine and brandy for Tricki to enrich his blood and build his constitution. Albeit caring, she is ignorant about the consequences of her actions which leads to Tricki’s miserable health. Thus, the saying “Too much of anything is good for nothing” holds true in her case.
ii. Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time corrects his mistakes. What does this say about the character of Noodle? (The Book That Saved the Earth)

i. nervous
ii. Anne is being brutally honest. Many students in the class doubted if they would be promoted to the next class. They remained anxious and would discuss this all day. They would make bets on who would be promoted. CN and Jacques had even staked their entire holiday saving on the bet.
iii.
(B) frightens
iv. fear or nervousness. B. She was not convinced. ‘No’, she replied, “there is nothing more humiliating than to have a shabby air in the midst of rich women.” Then her husband cried out, “How stupid we are! Go and find your friend Madame Forestier and ask her to lend you her jewels.” She uttered a cry of joy. ‘It is true!’ she said. “I had not thought of that.” (The Necklace)
i. Why did she need the jewels?
(A) To go to a party of rich people
(B) For a photoshoot
(C) To get a replica made
(D) For wearing them at home
ii. What did Matilda’s husband suggest her?
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘humiliating’ in the line “there is nothing more humiliating than to have a shabby air in the midst of rich women” indicates that the woman felt _____ (ashamed/confident) about her appearance.
iv. What kind of a person is Mme Loisel and why is she always unhappy? Answer in about 40 words.

i. pirate
ii. On seeing the pirate, Belinda’s pets ‘trickle down,’ or ‘mousehole’ themselves proving their cowardice. This is in contrast to their description at the beginning when they were chasing lions and showing off ‘their rage.’ It makes the situation ironical. The reader easily deduces it as the poet refrains from commenting on it.
iii.
(A) (a)-2, (b)-1, (c)-4, (d)-3
iv. Custard snorted like an engine, clashed his tail, and attacked the pirate like a robin at a worm. B. In a world of possessions. People will take Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy. And no one buys a ball back. Money is external. He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes, The epistemology of loss, how to stand up Knowing what every man must one day know And most know many days, how to stand up (The Ball Poem)
i. Complete the following suitably. Money can bring just external happiness by buying us possessions but it cannot make the boy recover from his unhappiness _____.
ii. What is the significance of the use of symbolism by the poet to describe loss, responsibility, and survival in the given extract and how does it contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Complete the sentence with the appropriate option. If one were to choose an option that best fits the essence of the given extract, it would be _____.
(A) Responsibility is self-taught.
(B) Out of sight, out of mind
(C) Time once lost, is forever.
(D) Better safe, than sorry.
iv. What does the boy realize about possessions?

As the pilot (author) entered the storm, his plane started jumping and twisting. He could not see anything outside the plane as it was black. When he looked at compass and other instruments they all had stopped to function due to storm.
ii. What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child? (Madam Rides the Bus)

The necklace that Loisel and Matilda was going to buy to replace the necklace, was valued at forty thousand francs. However, they could get it for thirty-six thousand francs. So, for them, it was a difficult task because they possessed only eighteen thousand francs. So, they borrowed money from the money lenders with high interest to buy the necklace.
ii. How was Tricki treated in the first two days of his visit to the surgery? (A Triumph of Surgery)

Coorgi : Hello, good morning! Are you from Assam, I am from Coorg. Assamese : Good morning! Yes I am from Assam, the state known for its tea plantation. Coorgi : Oh yes, I know about it. Coorg is also known for coffee plantation along with our cultural background. We are not only warriors we plant world class coffee as well. Assamese : We are world famed for our tea gardens, to an extent that it has become the part of our culture. People from far and wide visit our state to enjoy the scenic beauty and the sprawling tea gardens. Coorgi : Yes, that is true that India is known for its production of tea but coffee plantation is also gaining momentum and we have selected class who prefer coffee to tea. Assamese : There is no end to this discussion. I think both the states contributes equally to the country and are well known for their scenic beauty and plantations. We are both pride of the nation and have our share of dedicated consumers.
ii. “The message conveyed in the chapter ‘Mijbil The Otter’, We should be good, and polite to our pets so that they will feel good and comfortable to live, was not followed by Belinda in the case of her pet Custard, The Dragon. If you had to use the message with reference to both the chapters how will you elaborate it? Also, how it is relevant to both.

This goes perfect in the case of Bholi. Bholi was not treated well by her family members. She was considered a simpleton and weak in her brain. She is dim witted and ugly looking. No one cared for her well being. Just to get rid of her she is sent to school and that becomes a boon in disguise of her. She gets educated and there is a total transformation in her persona. She is an epitome of confidence and even stops stuttering. She gets the courage to speak for herself and look into her own interest. She no longer is a Thole, she is Sulekha and is adored by her teachers who gave her strength. Beauty and money may give you a sense of pride for a while but education uplifts and elevates you forever. An educated person is respected by one and all.
ii. ‘Misunderstanding of Cultural differences between various races can cause confusion and conflict.’ Comment, based on the chapter ‘The Book that Saved the Earth’.

i. Indian legend on tea and how it travelled from China to Europe.
ii. Pranjol scoffed because he was amused and tickled at what Rajvir shared about tea. He did not believe or found it hard to believe the story Page 8 Sample Paper 24 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL shared by Rajvir. The legend of Bodhi-dharma cutting off his, eyelids and tea plants growing from them is quite extra ordinary and may seem far-fetched to some people.
iii. mocked
iv.
(D) amuses B. “He knows that I am lost”, I thought ‘He’s trying to help me.” He turned his aeroplane slowly to the north, in front of my Dakota, so that it would be easier for me to follow him. I was very happy to go behind the strange aeroplane like an obedient child. After half an hour the strange black aeroplane was still there in front of me in the clouds. Now, there was only enough fuel in the old Dakota’s last tank to fly for five or ten minutes more. I was starting to feel frightened again. But then he started to go down and I followed through the storm. (Two Stories about Flying—Black Aeroplane)
i. Which of the following options perfectly justifies this statement. “He knows that I am lost”, Ithought ‘He’s trying to help me.”
(A) It’s true because the stranger-pilot knew how to negotiate the storm quite well.
(B) It’s false because the stranger-pilot was out to trick the author.
(C) Definitely true because the stranger pilot had been sent by God to help the author.
(D) It was probably the author’s subconscious that was trying to find a way out.
ii. The author says, “But then he started to go down and I followed through the storm.” What happened after this? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘frightened’ in the line “I was starting to feel frightened again” indicates that the narrator felt _____ (afraid/confident) about the situation.
iv. If this extract were to be filmed, what would be required to bring out the dramatic effect of this moment?

i. enjambment
ii. The poet was in a depressed and sorrowful mood. The moment the crow shook the hemlock tree and a dust of snow fell on him, he felt unburdened and relieved.
iii. From the context and the depressed mood of the poem, we can make out that the poet was sad. He was taking a walk or was just standing near the hemlock tree regretting something before the dust of snow fell on him.
iv.
(A) 2 and 3 NODIA APP Sample Paper 24 Solutions Page 9 B. 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.
ii. Mention what the poet wants to convey through these lines. Answer in about 40 words.
iii. What does Custard do to the pirate?
iv. Complete the following suitably. Custard’s comparison to an engine shows aliterary device of _____.

Valli used to watch the bus from her house. As she watched a tiny wish crept into her head and that was of riding on the bus. This wish gradually became an overwhelming desire.
ii. What did the Buddha preach to the people? (The Sermon at Benares)

Griffin, the scientist, removed his clothes, became invisible and got away without being seen. He became a homeless wanderer without clothes, without money and he was quite invisible, until he happened to step into mud and left footprints behind. Page 10 Sample Paper 24 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL
ii. Did Ebright have other interests besides science? Mention them. (The Making of a Scientist)

When the postmaster saw the letter addressed to God, he broke out laughing, but almost immediately he turned serious. He was amazed at the faith of the writer and wished that he too could have the faith of the man who wrote the letter. This shows that he was an appreciative and amiable person. He was kind, therefore in order not to shake the writer’s faith, he decided to answer the letter. He was empathetic also. But, when he read the letter he realised that only goodwill wouldn’t do. He would need money too. Still, he did not give up the idea of replying to the letter. He was determined and trustworthy and thus stuck on his resolution. He asked for money from his employees and he even himself gave part of his salary. Several friends of his were obliged to give something for an act of charity. The postmaster was generous too. In the end, he sent 70 pesos to Lencho but he did not reveal his identity. He did not want to break Lencho’s trust, hence signed the letter as God. This shows how selfless he was.
ii. The poet’s views about beauty are not justified. Anne’s arguments are correct. Express your views in support of Anne. (For Anne Gregory)

Matilda’s husband is a petty clerk. He works in the office of Board of Education. He is a very humble person. He loves and cares for his wife very much. He tries to make his wife always happy despite his poor economic condition. So, his behaviour shows that he is a caring husband. In the story, when Matilda was vexed not to have a jewel to attend the ball, Mr Loisel suggested, ‘You can wear some natural flowers that look very chic.’ He is also very economical, but he always faces problems to fulfil his wife’s wishes. Moreover, he is a duty-conscious and disciplined man. When they returned home wearily after Matilda’s loss of necklace, he remembered that he would have to be at the office by ten o’clock. All these show that he was a responsible and disciplined husband. NODIA APP Sample Paper 24 Solutions Page 11
ii. Herriot enjoyed the lavish meal during Tricki’s stay but still, he felt compelled to inform Mrs. Pumphrey about the recovery of Tricky. Why did he not keep Tricki for a longer time? Did he feel concerned for Mrs. Pumphrey? (A Triumph of Surgery)

i.
(D) amuses
ii. Flumped.
iii. threatening
iv. Max was described as slender, little less than tall with crafty features that suggested slightly the crafty, pointed countenance of a fox. There was about him-aside from the gun-nothing especially menacing. B. Our entire class is quaking in its boots. The reason, of course, is the forthcoming meeting in which the teachers decide who’ll move up to the next form and who’ll be kept back. Half the class is making bets. G.N. and I laugh ourselves silly at the two boys behind us, C.N. and Jacques, who have staked their entire holiday savings on their bet. From morning to night, it’s “You’re going to pass”, “No, I’m not”, “Yes, you are”, “No, I’m not”. Even G.’s pleading glances and my angry outbursts can’t calm them down. If you ask me, there are so many dummies that about a quarter of the class should be kept back, but teachers are the most unpredictable creatures on earth. (From the Diary of Anne Frank)
i. C.N and Jacques staking their entire holiday savings on their bet implies that _____.
(A) they are quite confident of not moving up the next form.
(B) they are quite confident of just scraping through.
(C) they are quite confident of passing with flying colours.
(D) they both think that the other one will pass.
ii. Anne says that there were so many dummies in the class that about a quarter of them shouldn’t be promoted. Is she being rude or brutally honest? Evaluate in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘quaking’ in the line “Our entire class is quaking in its boots.” indicates that the class was feeling _____ (nervous/excited) about the forthcoming meeting.
iv. Which emotion is portrayed in the expression ‘quaking in their boots’?

i.
(A) assist in keeping the prey unsuspecting of the predator’s sound.
ii. grass
iii. In these lines, the poet is filled with sorrow for the caged tiger. He feels that a tiger should be free in his natural habitat. He should be hiding in the shadows and quietly moving through the long grass near the water hole. He should be waiting for a fat and healthy deer to pass, in the hopes of getting a heavy meal. The poet wants to convey that the actual life of a tiger is in a jungle and not in a cage.
iv. plump. B. There is a languid, emerald Sea where the sole inhabitant is me-a mermaid, drifting blissfully. (Amanda!)
i. What kind of atmosphere is created through these lines? Select the correct option: 1. Tranquility 2. Isolation 3. Joy 4. Fantasy 5. Longing
(A) 1 and 4
(B) 2 and 5
(C) 1, 2, and 4
(D) 3 and 5
ii. Complete the following suitably. The word ‘languid’ implies that the sea _____.
iii. Why is the extract given in paranthesis?
iv. What does Amanda want to be a mermaid? Answer in about 40 words.

The ideal Mandela set out for the future of South Africa and his speech was to liberate the people of South Africa from continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discriminations.
ii. What did Frederick Forsyth think when he called Paris Control? (Two Stories About Flying)

Tricki was not eating anything for the past few days. He had refused even his favourite dishes and had bouts of vomiting. Moreover, he was spending his time lying on a rug, panting. He was not going for walks. All these symptoms, forced Mrs. Pumphrey to visit the doctor.
ii. How did Ebright’s mother encourage his interest in learning? (The Making of a Scientist)

Lencho was a hardworking farmer. He was completely dependent upon the crops of his fields. His annual crop was completely destroyed due to heavy rains and hailstorm. In the entire village, there was no one to help him during the times of financial crisis. He had firm belief in God and hence wrote a letter requesting Him to send 100 pesos so that he could sow his fields again till the next crop. This act did not prove that he lacked courage to resolve his problem, but shows that he did not have any option left for himself. He had a firm belief in God. He was an ox of a man but lacked money to stand again.
ii. Being impressed by Custard’s feat, the young seagull’s sister wrote a letter to Custard seeking advice on addressing the situation with her young brother. Write Custard’s response to this letter. Base the advice from his experiences. You may begin like this: Dear Ms Seagull, Thank you for seeking me out. I am humbled. Based on my limited experiences I feel... (The Tale of Custard the Dragon)

Obviously the young lady who pretended to be the member of the family was real culprit. She innocently asked Horace to open the safe as she would need the jewels to wear in the party that day. Horace found himself trapped in a tricky situation and could not make out how to escape. He readily opened the safe; unwittingly leaving his fingerprints. He was arrested and nobody believed that the lady of house asked him to open the safe. It seems the young lady outwitted experienced Horace. She cheated and deceived Horace scrupulously.
ii. Read the following quote. “We are too involved in materialistic things, and they don’t satisfy us. The loving relationships we have, the universe around us, we take these things for granted.” – Mitch Albom Matilda was never satisfied with her life and desired more. The given quote reflects her character. Justify. (The necklace)

i. It can be said that Griffin was a brilliant scientist because he carried on various experiments to prove that human body could become invisible.
ii.
(B) complicates
iii. He was wandering on the streets because he had set fire to his landlord’s house.
iv. anger B. Coorg, or Kodagu, the smallest district of Karnataka, is home to evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee plantations. Evergreen rainforests cover thirty per cent of this district. During the monsoons, it pours enough to keep many visitors away. The season of joy commences from September and continues till March. The weather is perfect, with some showers thrown in for good measure. The air breathes of invigorating coffee. Coffee estates and colonial bungalows stand tucked under tree canopies in prime corners. (Glimpses of India)
i. What do you understand by the term colonial bungalow?
(A) The bungalows built in a colony.
(B) A large detached house with more than one storey.
(C) The residential unit for members of the British colonial community.
(D) A low house having only one storey.
ii. What can be inferred from the given line? “During the monsoons, it pours enough to keep many visitors away”
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘invigorating’ in the line “The air breathes of invigorating coffee” indicates that the air was _____ (refreshing/stifling) in Coorg.
iv. Which is the best time to visit Coorg? Answer in about 40 words.

i. daydreaming
ii.
(C) Amanda follows the instructions
iii. The speaker’s worry about acne shows that importance is given to physical beauty.
iv. The speaker asks Amanda not to eat chocolate. It is because Amanda had acne already. Eating chocolate may cause more pimples. So, Amanda is forbidden to eat chocolate. B. It sits looking over harbour and city on silent haunches and then moves on. (Fog)
i. Complete the following suitably. In the given extract, the poet uses the poetic device, enjambment in which one line runs onto another without_____.
ii. What is the significance of the use of the word “silent” to describe the fog in the poem and how does this word choice contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem?
iii. The poet has used the poetic device ‘transferred epithet’ in the third line. What does the poet wish to emphasize?
(A) The sneaky movement of the fog and those of a cat.
(B) The purring of the fog and the cat.
(C) The fluffiness of the fog and a cat’s fur.
(D) The playfulness of the fog and a cat.
iv. What does the fog observe from its vantage point?

Lencho wanted help from God. He decided to write the letter to Him. It was the postmaster and his employees who collected the money and helped him.
ii. Why does the poet use the image of a ‘hemlock tree’? (Dust of Snow)

Tricki refused to eat his favourite dishes, lied on the rug, panting and vomiting. Mrs Pumphery was worried about his condition so she called the doctor.
ii. Why were the two boys surprised to see imprints of a pair of bare feet? (Footprints without Feet)

Baker : Your attire and your appearance tell me that you belong to Coorg. I think I am not mistaken Coorgi : Oh! I am so glad that you could recognize me instantaneously. I could also Identify you Baker : I am a proud baker from Goa. Any celebration in Goa is not complete without us. We are an integral part of the common household Coorgi : As you are an integral part of the Goan household we are integral part of the Indian Army. We are known for our bravery and valor. We have inherited it from our ancestors Baker : Yes, I have heard a lot about the stories and history of bravery. Our Indian Army is proud of your contribution. You are right, your roots go back to Alexander, the great He undoubtedly was very brave.
ii. “Human beings, without God’s strength, can’t look beyond outward appearances and physical beauty.” If you had to use the message of the given quote based on Tor Anne Gregory’ to understand the inner strength of Valli, as she made efforts to fulfil her wish despite her age in ‘Madam Rides the Bus’, how will you elaborate it? Also, how it would have been difficult for Valli not to consider her age as an impediment. (For Anne Gregory)

Matilda from the chapter ‘The Necklace’ is aperfect example of vanity i.e. false pride. She invites troubles and difficulties for herself and for her husband due to her sense of pride. Her husband is a simple person but he has to suffer along with. Matilda is forever dissatisfied with her economic status and feels that she is not meant to lead a life that she has been subjected to. Her vanity ofcourse was fragile and momentary happiness and gaiety at the ball came down crashing once she hits the harsh ground of reality. She staked her future and was compelled to lead a life of despair sufferance. Had she been a bit sensible she would have saved herself from the ignominy and shame that she faced.
ii. “Beauty is much more than being skin deep”. Analyze this quote with reference to ‘Bholi’.

i. The speaker, Think Tank, the epitome of self-importance is overreacting and exaggerating as usual.
ii.
(A) frightens
iii. Think Tank is a self-obsessed Martian who takes a phrase from a book of nursery rhymes as a clue of the earthlings’ plan to attack and colonise Mars. Nothing could be further from the truth. The irony is that the Martians have such plans because they consider the earthlings to be less intelligent owing to their small heads.
iv. attack B. The creature that emerged from this sack on to the spacious tiled floor of the Consulate bedroom, resembled most of all a very small medievally-conceived, dragon. From the head to the tip of the tail he was coated with symmetrical pointed scales of mud armour, between whose tips was visible soft velvet fur like that of a chocolate-brown mole. He shook himself and I half expected a cloud of dust, but in fact, it was not for another month that I managed to remove the last of the mud and see the otter, as it were, in his true colours. (Mijbil the Otter)
i. Pick the option that classifies
(F) Fact from
(O) opinion. 1. I think the otter was caked with mud, initially. 2. I feel he was a fine pet for the author. 3. Oh come on, his fur was like that of a mole. 4. Let’s not forget the otter needed to be cleaned for a month.
(A) F 1 and 3, O 2 and 4
(B) F 2 and 3, O 1 and 4
(C) F 1 and 4, O 2 and 3
(D) F 1 and 2, O 3 and 4
ii. What do these words reveal about the author’s personality? Answer in about 40 words. ‘But in fact, it was not for another month that I managed to remove the last of the mud and see the otter, as it were, in his true colours.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘resembled’ in the line “The creature that emerged from this sack... resembled most of all a very small medievally-conceived, dragon.” indicates that the creature looked _____ (similar/different) to a dragon.
iv. What is the meaning of the word armour in, ‘From the head to the tip of the tail he was coated with symmetrical pointed scales of mud armour’? Page 8 Sample Paper 27 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL

i. ‘staring’
ii. In ‘The Ball Poem’ Berryman explores themes of loss, growing up, coming of age, and transformation.
iii.
(D) he was very attached to the lost ball and was very upset about losing it.
iv. In these lines, the ball is a symbol of childhood and the most precious memories associated with it, which if lost, can’t be brought back. It has also been used as a symbol of material possessions. B. (There is a languid, emerald sea, where the sole inhabitant is me-a mermaid, drifting blissfully.) (Amanda!)
i. Complete the sentence with the appropriate option. “There is a languid, emerald sea, where the sole inhabitant is me” The poet has used _____ poetic device in the given lines.
(A) Assonance
(B) Personification
(C) Enjambment
(D) Synecdoche
ii. Comment on the imagery that the poet creates in these lines in about 40 words.
iii. Complete the following suitably. Amanda wants to be away from the noisy and disturbing atmosphere and hence wishes to be _____.
iv. Why is this stanza given within brackets in the poem?

The most unpleasant thing for Valli that made her sad on her first journey by bus was the sight of the dead cow, lying on the roadside. It affected her terribly. She could not imagine what had been a lovable, beautiful creature just a little while ago, had now suddenly lost charm and life. The NODIA APP Sample Paper 27 Solutions Page 9 little madam was overcome with sadness. The memory of the dead cow haunted her, dampening her enthusiasm. So, Valli no longer wanted to look out the window.
ii. Explain the symbols used in the poem “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost.

Horace was a good and honest citizen. He made locks and was successful enough at his business. He was good and respectable but not completely honest. Danby’s habits were not typical of a thief. He was fond of books. He used to steal only once in a year so he was never stealing more than his needs. Act of theft is still a crime no matter how good a thief behaves, so Danby can’t be termed as completely honest. He is not a regular offender like other thieves so he can’t be categorized as a typical thief.
ii. Why was the entire staff of Mrs. Pumphrey at work while Tricki was being taken to the hospital? (A Triumph of Surgery)

Mandela : I could feel the change in weather of South Africa’s political environment when our voice became united against apartheid. Sandburg : And I could sense the literal change in weather with the arrival of fog. Some things have a way of announcing their coming. Mandela : Announce, it did indeed! The call of democracy’s coming was the voice of all those protestors and black people who were victims of subjugation. Sandburg : I see that revolution as a turning tide of events. But the fog differed in that it came silently and went away just like that! Mandela : Then I pray that democracy never leaves us like the fog that comes and goes. This change against racial discrimination is permanent. Sandburg : It shall be. And this hard-earned right isn’t anything like a cat either. A cat, much like a fog cannot be predicted how long will it stay. Mandela : We the people know that our abolishment of apartheid is here to stay in South Africa, and it is going to be a benchmark for other nations. Sandburg : It most definitely will be! And the coming generations shall be inspired from it.
ii. “I was very happy to go behind the strange aeroplane like an obedient child.” Analysing the message of newfound hope in the given quote by the pilot (The Black Aeroplane), how can we say the feeling was mutual regarding the poet’s upliftment of the mood (Dust of Snow)? Also, evaluate how both situations were similar or different.

Matilda was a pretty and young lady. She was born in the family of clerks and was married to a clerk. Having been born in a poor family she had no dowry, no hopes, no means of becoming known, loved or married by some rich man of dignity. She always suffered from poverty both at the homes of her husband and parents. She was a short-tempered but tactful lady. She convinced her poor husband to buy her a party dress simply by rejecting the invitation to the ball. She was of showy nature and loved only delicacies and luxuries. She borrowed a necklace only to be noticed by the spectators. She repented when the necklace was lost. She suffered poverty for ten years after replacing the false necklace with a genuine necklace. She ever remained in distress. She was not a considerate and contented character.
ii. “A good education can change anyone. A good teacher can change everything.” Discuss this with reference to Bholi.

i. They were all dumb and clueless about earth and earthlings despite claiming to be more intelligent and visiting seven galaxies.
ii.
(C) confuses
iii. Think-Tank thought that books were actually sandwiches-the staple diet of Earthlings. Oop also wondered how could Earthlings swallow those sandwiches without water because they were as dry as Martian dust. No wonder they found this ‘diet’ strange.
iv. restaurant B. On the day of the inauguration, I was overwhelmed with a sense of history. In the first decade of the twentieth century, a few years after the bitter Anglo-Boer war and before my own birth, the white skinned peoples of South Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of racial domination against the dark-skinned peoples of their own land. The structure they created formed the basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane, societies the world has ever known. (Nelson Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom)
i. The system of racial domination against the dark-skinned people was called as _____.
(A) the policy of apartheid
(B) racial discrimination
(C) inhumane system
(D) harshest system
ii. Why did the speaker call that structure ‘one of the harshest and the most inhumane’? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with ONE WORD only. Mandela is filled with _____ in the given extract.
iv. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘overwhelmed’ in the line “I was overwhelmed with a sense of history” indicates that Mandela felt _____ (deeply moved/ indifferent) about the significance of the event.

i. changed his sad mood.
ii. The ‘dust of snow’ means the fine particles of snow
iii. It is true that the crow and the hemlock tree are considered negative images and symbols of bad omen. However, in the poem, they are shown in a positive light. They are shown to bring about a positive change in the poet who was in sorrow and despair.
iv.
(C) Sets a gloomy atmosphere B. Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favour fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice (Fire and Ice)
i. Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire? Answer in about 40 words.
ii. What kind of atmosphere is created through these lines? Select the correct option: 1. Ominous 2. Detached 3. Passionate 4. Philosophical 5. Hopeful
(A) 1 and 4
(B) 2 and 5
(C) 3 and 5
(D) 1 and 3
iii. Complete the following suitably. Tone of the poet’s tone in the lines- ‘To say that for destruction ice/Is also great’ is _____.
iv. What message does the poet want to convey through this poem?

The ball was valuable for the boy is obvious from the way he reacts after losing it, he was under shock, remained fixed, trembled with grief staring at the place where the ball had fallen. All this shows that he loved the ball and it was valuable for him.
ii. What would the tiger have been doing if he were in the jungle? (A Tiger in the Zoo)

The viceroy butterflies taste good, whereas the monarch butterflies do not taste good. Naturally, the birds do not eat the monarch butterflies. So in order to protect themselves from the birds, they copy the monarchs and mislead the birds.
ii. What was Tricki’s only fault? (A Triumph of Surgery)

Lencho : Humans on earth are not to be trusted. They cheated me. Pilot : I have different opinion, a pilot of a black aeroplane saved me. He had no vested interest. Lencho : I asked God to help me with some money as my fields were destroyed. But I did not receive complete amount. People at the post office robbed me of the money. Pilot : You got the money sent by God. How do you know that God had sent you that money. Lencho : Yes, you heard it right. I have unflinching faith in God. Why will he send me lesser amount than what I had asked. These men have cheated. Pilot : I do not believe, why will they do so. May be they are the ones who gave you the money that you received.
ii. “Every creature on this Earth is identified with their distinct trait and if they are kept away from it they tend to languish...’. If you had to use the message of the given quote based on A Tiger in the Zoo to understand the state of the Otter, as it enjoys being close to water (Mijbil, the Otter), how will you elaborate it? Also, how it is agonizing for the Tiger in the cage to accept its condition.

Anil is a person good at heart. He did not have sufficient income yet he hired Hari Singh. He felt sorry for him and thought of providing him with at least food and shelter. When he realises that Hari Singh does not know how to cook even what he claimed he knew, he still keeps him. The story reaches the climax When Anil does not say anything to him despite knowing the fact that Page 10 Sample Paper 28 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL he had stolen the money. He knew all still he pardoned all. It was quite generous for Anil to not even utter a word about it. On the other hand he gave him some money to have a nice time. He pardoned Hari as he came back on his own realising his mistake. Anil comes out to be a real human as he pardons Hari despite knowing all.
ii. “There is no greater evil than the pampering of some one.” Analyze this quote with reference to ‘The Triumph of Surgery’.

i. frantic
ii.
(C) frightens
iii. The violent conduct of the chair convinced the Halls about the furniture being haunted and that the stranger had somehow caused spirits to enter into their furniture. Even the neighbours believed that the trouble was caused by witchcraft.
iv. getting panic attacks. B. “It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion, when I discovered as a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to hunger for it. At first as a student I wanted freedom only for myself the transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read what I pleased and go where I chose. Later; as a young man in Johannesburg, I yearned for the basic and honourable freedoms of achieving my potential, of earning my keep, of marrying and having a family-the freedom not to be obstructed in a lawful life.” (Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) Page 8 Sample Paper 29 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL
i. The speaker’s attitude towards his freedom when he was in his boyhood can be summed up as _____.
(A) being self- centered
(B) being naive
(C) being foolish
(D) being indifferent to others
ii. How does Nelson Mandela understand the concept of “transitory freedoms”? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘illusion’ in the line “my boyhood freedom was an illusion” indicates that Mandela realized his childhood freedom was _____ (real/false).
iv. If ‘Point of View’ is the narration of a story that can be told from a first, second, or third person’s point of view, the given extract is told _____.

i. nagging
ii. Amanda longs for tranquillity and a break from this constant scolding by imagining herself in a distant tower all alone like Rapunzel.
iii.
(D) Amanda would never let her hair down.
iv. The poet uses parenthesis to give us additional details about Amanda’s reaction to constant nagging. She compares herself to Rapunzel (allusion); assonance in ‘please look at me when I’m speaking,’ consonance in ‘life in a tower is tranquil’ and repetition of Amanda’ make the language highly impassioned and effective. B. An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down All his young days into the harbour where His ball went. I would not intrude on him; A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now He senses first responsibility In a world of possessions. (The Ball Poem)
i. Identify the symbolism used in the given lines of the poem.
ii. What is the significance of the use of the words ‘All his young days into the harbour’ to describe the loss of the ball in the poem and how does this word choice contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Complete the following suitably. ‘I’ will not intrude on the boy because ‘I’ wants him _____.
iv. What kind of atmosphere is created through these lines? Select the correct option: 1. Nostalgia 2. Melancholy 3. Indifference 4. Introspection 5. Hopeful
(A) 1 and 4
(B) 2 and 4
(C) 3 and 5
(D) 1 and 5 NODIA APP Sample Paper 29 Solutions Page 9

Lencho compared the raindrops to new coins. He does it so because it would help him in getting good harvest. He could make more money by selling his crop.
ii. What excited Rajvir? Why did Pranjol not share his excitement? (Glimpses of India)

One day Ebright’s mother gave him a book “The Travels of Monarch-X”. This book was about migration of butterflies to central America. It opened the world of science for him.
ii. What happened at the ball? Was Matilda’s dream fulfilled? (The Necklace)

Student 1 : I am totally impressed by the role of baby gull’s parents in His First Flight. Student 2 : I find The Black Aeroplane more inspiring. He displayed sheer courage and the black Page 10 Sample Paper 29 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL aeroplane appears to be his voice of conscious. He conquers his fear. Student 1 : Baby gull is too young to take this plunge. His parents assisted him to take this step and he finally wins over his fear. Student 2 : Yes, whatever the situation one needs to conquer the fear within then only we can progress in life. Strength always comes from within. Student 1 : If baby gull’s parents had not assisted him he would never have been able to get over his fear of flying and would have crippled with fear for life. Student 2 : Yes, I totally agree with you,foundation has to be laid in the childhood itself.
ii. “The message conveyed in the chapter Letter to God deals with unflinching faith in one and all. Lencho has faltering faith that leads to anger and discontentment, On the other hand the pilot of the Black Aeroplane has undeniable faith in that unknown pilot and he is saved from the crisis. If you had to use the message with reference to both the chapters how will you elaborate it? Also, how it is relevant to both.

Anil Singh dealt with the situation very impressively. First of all, he hires Hari Singh despite the fact that he could not afford to hire any. Hari Singh vouched that he is a good cook but later on he did not prove to be even an ordinary one. Hari Singh was a self-proclaimed thief. He accepts that Anil is a good man but he is a thief and won’t transform. But love and sympathy displayed by his employer changes his thought process and he transforms for good. Anil Singh trusts him to the extent that he tells him about the payment received and Hari Singh knows where it is kept. As the story ends it leaves the reader with a feeling of respect for Anil who treats Hari Singh with love and sympathy and it leads to a change of heart.
ii. Contentment in one’s life is very important to lead a peaceful life. We should be happy with what we have and should not crave for what we don’t have. This statement is perfect in the case of Matilda. What lesson does it convey? (The Necklace)

i. God couldn’t make mistake in sending the money.
ii. Lencho went a bit early to the post office the following Sunday because he was sure god would have replied to his letter and sent him the needed money in the letter. He had unshakable faith in God. As he had expected, he was handed a letter by the postman.
iii.
(B) frustrates
iv. certain B. She was not convinced. ‘No’, she replied, “there is nothing more humiliating than to have a shabby air in the midst of rich women.” Then her husband cried out, “How stupid we are! Go and find your friend Madame Forestier and ask her to lend you her jewels.” She uttered a cry of joy. ‘It is true!’ she said. “I had not thought of that.” (The Necklace)
i. Why did she need the jewels?
(A) To go to a party of rich people
(B) For a photoshoot
(C) To get a replica made
(D) For wearing them at home
ii. What did Matilda’s husband suggest her?
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘humiliating’ in the line “there is nothing more humiliating than to have a shabby air in the midst of rich women” indicates that the woman felt _____ (embarrassed/proud) about her appearance.
iv. What kind of a person is Mme Loisel and why is she always unhappy? Answer in about 40 words.

i. The trees are stumbling forward because they have grown too big and can’t be contained.
ii.
(C) Stumble
iii. simile
iv. The poet listens to the sounds coming from the leaves and lichens on the trees. These sounds will not be present on the next day as the trees will have moved out into the forest in the night. The poet can hear the glass breaking. As the glass breaks, the trees hurry to go outside NODIA APP Sample Paper 30 Solutions Page 9 B. But I can get a hair-dye And set such colour there, Brown, or black, or carrot, That young men in despair May love me for myself alone And not my yellow hair. (For Anne Gregory)
i. What is the objective of the poet in using conjunction ‘but’ in the given extract?
ii. What is the significance of the argument “But I can get a hair-dye/ And set such colour there, Brown, or black, or carrot”? What effect will it have on the young men? Answer in about 40 words.
iii. Complete the following suitably. Anne Gregory despite her young age seems to have clarity of thought because she wants _____.
iv. What kind of atmosphere is created through these lines? Select the correct option: 1. Defiant 2. Sarcastic 3. Humorous 4. Resigned 5. Hopeful
(A) 1 and 3
(B) 2 and 4
(C) 1 and 5
(D) 3 and 5

Grief over the death of a loved one is the main theme of this sermon. There is no use of lamentation over death. One does not get peace of mind unless one overcomes the sorrows.
ii. Why was Pranjol not excited on seeing the tea garden? (Glimpses of India)

The cause of Matilda’s ruin was her constant discontentment with her circumstances. It was her sense of frustration which made her and her husband borrow the necklace for the party which was subsequently lost. Page 10 Sample Paper 30 Solutions CBSE 10th English LL
ii. Why did Bholi’s parents think her a dumb cow? (Bholi)

Amanda : You are so fortunate that you can do whatever you want to. Valli : Oh? I think, I love to be adventurous and love to take risks. Though I have to keep it a secret from my mother. Amanda : My mother is very nagging she always keep on finding faults with me. I can never make her happy. Valli : My mother might also scold me if she comes to know about my bus-ride but that is for my good. How can I dislike her for that! You need to understand the intention of your mother. She thinks good of you. Amanda : You will never understand my plight as you are not in my situation. How I wish if we could exchange our places, then only you would realise.
ii. “For most gulls it was not flying that mattered, but eating. For this gull, it was not eating that mattered but flight’. If you had to use the message of the given quote based on His First Flight to understand the motto of Mandela’s life it signifies his struggle for his men’s freedom, how will you elaborate it? Also, how it would have been tough for Mandela not to think only about his interests. (Two Stories About Flying)

Science is a good slave but a bad master. It has been proved ample times. If scientific innovations are harnessed well then, they can be utilised for the benefit of mankind otherwise they can create a havoc. Science in hands of a person like Griffin makes him devilish and fiendish. Instead of using this invention for the benefit of humankind he uses it for his petty interests. He indulged in crimes and became violent when caught. Any virtue can become a vice if used in meaner ways. We see examples in our daily lives. Invention of nuclear power was for the benefit of mankind but human mind used it for destruction of humans. It all depends on the usage of the powers that are obtained by humans. Footprints without feet is an apt example of this principle. NODIA APP Sample Paper 30 Solutions Page 11
ii. “Scientists work to discover answers often times for years and with numerous failures.” Analyze this quote with reference to ‘Making of AScientist’.