Section A: Reading (10 Marks)
1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:
We are lucky to have so many kinds of mountains, hill ranges and highlands. Apart from the fact that hills and mountains are visually exciting, they make the land productive in a way we seldom consciously realize.
What, for instance, do the Himalayas do for us, apart from giving visual glamour to our northern borders and giving us status as possessors of the highest peaks in the world? Well, quite simply, they keep the cold dry Siberian winds out of the country, and keep the warm moist monsoon winds inside it.
What, else, apart from our climate and rainfall do we owe to the Himalayas? Well, we owe to them all those giant rivers which meander over the wide area of flat land below the Himalayas, and give it life and fertility.
As snow and ice pile on each other in the higher of these mountains, the bottom layer continuously melts, and this melted snow is the source of those permanent rivers which water the North Indian plains. As against these Himalayan rivers, most other are seasonal.
The vegetation found on the Himalayas consists of different types of trees, shrubs and grasses, arranged in horizontal bands at different heights in the same order in which they occur at various latitudes. Fruits such as most of the apples and pears appearing in the Indian markets can only be grown in the Himalayas. The conifer trees are a rich source of timber.
Answer: (c) because they make the land productive.
Answer: (c) they are fed by melting snow and ice.
Answer: (b) cold Siberian winds
Answer: (c) Conifer trees
2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:
The Great Wall of China is one of the most iconic structures in human history, stretching over 21,000 kilometers across northern China. Built over several centuries, its primary purpose was to protect Chinese territories from invasions, particularly from nomadic tribes in the north. Construction began in the 7th century BC, but the most well-preserved sections were built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
The wall is made from various materials, including stone, brick, tamped earth, and wood, depending on the region's resources. Watchtowers were strategically placed for surveillance, communication, and defense, with soldiers stationed to guard vulnerable points.
Contrary to the popular myth, the wall is not visible from space without aid, but it remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of Chinese resilience.
Over the centuries, the wall also served as a means of controlling trade along the Silk Road and regulating immigration and emigration. Today, it attracts millions of tourists annually, standing as a reminder of China's rich history and engineering skill.
Answer: (b) to protect from northern invasions
Answer: (b) It is visible from space without aid.
Answer: (a) controlled trade and regulated migration
Answer: (b) Chinese resilience and engineering skill
3. Read the following passage carefully. Make notes and supply a suitable title.
Chameleons can make their skin colour change, but not because they decide to. The colour changes to help the chameleon avoid its enemies. It is a form of camouflage, a disguise that lets it blend in with its surroundings. The change is actually determined by environmental factors, such as light and temperature. Bright sunlight causes the skin to darken. On cool nights, the colour fades to a creamy colour. The colour also changes when chameleons are excited, angry or afraid. The colour change is rapid and increases when the chameleon is handled, injured, or approached by another chameleon.
There are many types of chameleons. Almost half of them are found on the African island of Madagascar. The others mostly occur in the Sahara Desert, with few in Western Asia and Southern Europe. Chameleons live in trees, where they usually eat insects. Very large chameleons may even use their sticky tongues to catch birds.
Title: Chameleons: Nature's Masters of Disguise
Notes:
1. Mechanism of Color Change
1.1 Not voluntary, determined by env. factors
1.2 Factors influencing change:
1.2.1 Light & Temperature
1.2.2 Bright sunlight -> Dark skin
1.2.3 Cool nights -> Creamy color
1.3 Emotional factors: Excited, angry, afraid
2. Purpose of Change
2.1 Avoid enemies (Camouflage)
2.2 Blend with surroundings
3. Habitat & Diet
3.1 Found in: Madagascar, Sahara, W. Asia, S. Europe
3.2 Arboreal (Live in trees)
3.3 Food: Insects, sometimes birds (using sticky tongues)
Section B: Writing
To,
The Principal,
Govt. Sandipani H.S. School,
Sehore (M.P.)
Subject: Application for full fee concession.
Respected Sir/Madam,
I beg to state that I am a student of class 10th in your school. My father is a poor farmer/labourer. His monthly income is very low and he has to support a large family. He is unable to pay my school fees.
I have always been a bright student and scored good marks in previous classes. I want to continue my studies.
Kindly grant me full fee concession so that I can continue my education without burden.
Thanking you,
Yours obediently,
Aman / Amita
Class: 10th
Date: 25/02/2026
12, Nehru Nagar,
Bhopal (M.P.)
Date: 25/02/2026
Dear Rahul,
I am fine here and hope you are also sailing in the same boat. I am very happy to inform you that the marriage ceremony of my elder sister is going to be held on 15th March 2026.
I cordially invite you to attend the wedding. Please come at least two days before the function to help me with the arrangements. We will have a lot of fun together.
Please convey my regards to your parents and love to younger ones.
Yours truly,
Deepansh
Value of Games and Sports
1. Introduction: It is a well-known saying that "Health is Wealth". Games and sports are the best way to maintain good health. They are an essential part of education.
2. Physical Benefits: Games keep our body fit, active, and healthy. They improve our digestion and blood circulation. They make our muscles strong and keep diseases away.
3. Mental Benefits: A healthy body has a healthy mind. Sports refresh our mind and reduce stress. They teach us concentration, patience, and quick decision-making.
4. Character Building: Games teach us discipline and obedience. Every player has to follow the rules of the game and the captain. It develops team spirit, cooperation, and leadership qualities.
5. Conclusion: Games are necessary for the all-round development of a student. They teach us how to handle victory and defeat equally. Therefore, every student must play games daily.
Importance of English
English is an international language. It is spoken and understood in almost every country of the world. In India, it acts as a link language connecting people from different states who speak different native languages. In today's modern world of science and technology, English is very important. Most of the books on medicine, engineering, and computers are written in English. It is the language of the internet and global business. Good knowledge of English is essential for getting good jobs in multinational companies. It helps us to travel globally and understand different cultures. Therefore, learning English is necessary for our career growth and to keep pace with the modern world.
The picture depicts a lively scene of a playground during a heavy rain. It is a rainy day. Despite the downpour, children are extremely happy and energetic. Some children are playing football in the rain, splashing water and enjoying themselves. Others are running around holding colourful umbrellas to protect themselves. There is a goal post visible in the background. The ground is wet and there are puddles of water. The picture captures the pure joy and innocence of childhood where rain is not a hindrance but a source of fun and excitement.
Section C: Grammar
Unless they take a taxi, they will not reach the station on time.
Does Ravi do his homework regularly?
Harish is too tired to walk anymore.
She did not live in Shivpuri.
The door is being painted by her.
Lencho, who was a peasant, wrote a letter to God.
It is easy to find error in others.
Section D: Textbooks
(c) The postmaster could collect only 70 pesos for an act of charity.
(b) to enjoy the freedom that an orphan has
10 (A) Read the following extract from the prose and answer the questions given below:
The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. Monthly accounts used to be recorded on some wall in pencil. Baking was indeed a profitable profession in the old days. The baker and his family never starved. He, his family and his servants always looked happy and prosperous. Their plump physique was an open testimony to this. Even today any person with a jackfruit like physical appearance is easily compared to baker.
False (They never starved)
10 (B) Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions:
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbour and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
Textbook Questions (Short)
The rain changed into a hailstorm. Large hailstones fell for an hour. Lencho's corn fields were totally destroyed by the hail.
Mandela mentioned two obligations: one to his family (parents, wife, children) and the second to his people, his community, and his country.
He was very hungry. The sight of food (fish) in his mother's beak maddened him and compelled him to dive at the fish, leading to his first flight.
Mr. Keesing was annoyed with Anne because she talked too much in the class and disturbed the discipline.
The monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall in pencil.
The otter was of a race previously unknown to science, so it was christened 'Maxwell's Otter' (Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli) by zoologists.
According to Buddha, one can attain peace of mind by giving up lamentation, complaint, and grief over death and accepting the truth of mortality.
Lomov went to the house of Chubukov to propose to his daughter, Natalya, for marriage.
The 'crow' and 'hemlock' represent sorrow, depression, and bad omens. But the poet uses them to show how they changed his mood for the better.
The house will become empty and silent. The glass will break, and the winds will rush in as the trees stumble out into the night to the forest.
Custard cried for a nice safe cage because he was a coward and wanted to feel secure and protected from any danger.
Dr. Harriot was worried because Tricky had become hugely fat, like a bloated sausage with a leg at each corner, and his eyes were bloodshot and rheumy.
Anil gave him food, a place to sleep on the balcony, and promised to teach him how to cook, write his name, and add numbers.
Ausable was different because he was very fat and sloppy. He lived in a small room on the top floor of a gloomy hotel, unlike the dashing image of a secret agent.
The postmaster was a generous man. He was moved by Lencho's deep faith in God. He didn't want to shake Lencho's faith. So, he decided to answer the letter. He collected money from his employees and friends and gave part of his salary. He signed the letter 'God' so that Lencho would believe that God had answered his prayer and sent the money directly.
Valli planned her bus ride carefully. She listened to the conversations between her neighbors and regular bus users. She asked discreet questions to get details. She found out the fare was 30 paise one way and the trip took 45 minutes. To save money, she thriftily saved every coin, resisting the temptation of buying peppermints, toys, and riding the merry-go-round at the village fair. She finally collected 60 paise for the trip.
Amanda is a young school-going girl who feels controlled and instructed by her mother constantly. Her state of mind is escapist. She finds her reality suffocating because of constant nagging about her posture, homework, and room cleaning. To escape this, she drifts into an imaginary world where she imagines herself as a Mermaid drifting blissfully in a green sea, an Orphan roaming freely in streets making patterns with dust, or Rapunzel living alone in a tower. She yearns for freedom and silence.
The central idea of 'The Ball Poem' is that loss is an integral part of life. Through the loss of a boy's ball, the poet conveys that we all lose things we love in this world of possessions. Money can buy new things, but it cannot replace the memories attached to the lost ones. The poem teaches us the 'epistemology of loss' - how to stand up and move on after experiencing loss, as this is a necessary part of growing up and becoming responsible.
Griffin, the invisible man, first became visible after he slipped into a big London store for warmth. He broke open boxes and fitted himself with warm clothes. He wore shoes, an overcoat, and a wide-brimmed hat. When he slept on a pile of quilts, he was fully visible. Later, he escaped to Drury Lane, where he wore bandages round his forehead, dark glasses, a false nose, whiskers, and a hat to make his face visible to others.
After losing the necklace, Matilda's life changed drastically. To pay back the huge debt of 36,000 francs, she and her husband sent away the maid, changed their lodgings, and rented an attic. Matilda did all the heavy household chores herself, washing dishes, linen, and clothes. She dressed like a common woman and haggled with shopkeepers to save every sou. This life of extreme hardship continued for ten years until they paid off all debts, leaving her looking old and hard.
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