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CBSE Class 10 English Question Paper 2021 (Term-I) with Solutions
Time allowed: 2 hours
Maximum marks: 40
General Instructions:
Read the instructions very carefully and strictly follow them:
- This question paper contains 60 questions out of which 50 questions are to be attempted.
- This question paper consists of three Sections – Section A, Section B and Section C.
- Section A – Reading contains 18 questions. Attempt any 14 questions from Q. No. 1 to 18.
-
Section B – Writing & Grammar-contains 12 questions. Attempt any 10 questions from Q.
No. 19 to 30. - Section C – Literature contains 30 questions. Attempt any 26 questions from Q. No. 31 to 60.
- First 14 questions in Section A, 10 questions in Section B and 26 questions in Section C will be evaluated.
- All questions carry equal marks.
- There is no negative marking.
Section A (Reading)
I. Read the passage given below and answer the questions/complete the statements that follow by choosing the most appropriate options from the given ones: (any eight)
In most societies that have any glimmering of civilization, a person accused of wrong doing is given at least a nominal chance of proving his innocence. The Romans had a highly sophisticated/comprehensive system of courts and the members of their legal profession were well educated but the Saxons who followed them to rule Britain used rougher methods.
From about the sixth century A.D. to the eleventh the majority of the trials were in the form of cruel physical torture (carrying a piece of red hot iron, stepping barefoot and blindfold across a floor covered with red hot coals or sometimes by a gentler method of oath – swearing. The accused was ordered to bring to the Saxon authorities, a police officer or a priest could be persuaded to swear on oath or still a number of persons who would say that the accused was of good character and thus innocent. The number of persons who swore depended on the crime. A noble/a landlord or a priest counted for up to half a dozen ordinary peasants. As almost everyone lived in small villages, where almost everyone knew everyone else, and very few would risk telling a lie on oath (the people were mostly religious), the truth was generally told. If the accused could not produce enough oath helpers, he was found guilty and punished.
In the eleventh century the Normans introduced trial by battle in certain cases. The accused and the accuser fought with special weapons until one was dead or surrendered. It was believed that God would know the guilty and give the innocent the power to win. The whole idea became ridiculous when both the parties were allowed to hire champions who would fight on their behalf. It seemed likely whoever could pay the more for a stronger professional fighter stood a good chance of winning and judged innocent. This may sound unfair to us but there is a parallel with a wealthy person today who can hire a costly and brilliant barrister to defend him.
In the early middle ages when England was a land of small villages remote from each other, crime tended to be basic and direct: beating up, theft, sex and murder being the main offences. But as towns and manufacturing and commerce grew, the possibilities for cheating and fraud soared. The whole organisation of society became more complex and opened the door to a world of more sophisticated wickedness. With no regular police force, spies and informers were offered rewards when they brought in criminals.
1. England (or Britain) turn by turn came under the rule of:
(a) Saxons; Romans; Normans
(b) Normans; Saxons; Romans
(c) Romans; Saxons; Normans
(d) Normans; Romans; Saxons
Answer:
(c) Romans; Saxons; Normans
2. The article describes:
(a) the development of the system of justice in England.
(b) Civilized societies and justice.
(c) Justice vs. Civilisation.
(d) Rule of Justice in England.
Answer:
(a) the development of the system of justice in England.
3. Study the following statements:
(A) Romans were proud of their judicial system.
(B) There is not much difference between the Norman and modern system of justice.
(a) (A) is right and (B) is wrong.
(b) (B) is right and (A) is wrong.
(c) Both (A) and (B) are right.
(d) Both (A) and (B) are wrong.
Answer:
(c) Both (A) and (B) are right.
4. Match the following:
A. Romans – (i) A priest to swear for the accused
B. Saxons – (ii) Highly paid lawyers can win a case
C. Modern – (iii) Educated judges and lawyers
D. Normans – (iv) The winner in a battle declared innocent
(a) A – (iv); B – (ii); C – (i); D – (iii)
(b) A – (iii); B – (i); C – (ii); D – (iv)
(c) A – (i); B – (iii); C – (iv); D – (ii)
(d) A – (ii); B- (i); C – (iii); D – (iv)
Answer:
(b) A – (iii); B – (i); C – (ii); D – (iv)
5. Study the following statements:
(A) In a trial by battle, money played a main role.
(B) God helped the innocent win the battle.
(a) (A) is right and (B) is wrong.
(b) (B) is right and (A) is wrong.
(c) Both (A) and (B) are right and (A) was the conclusion.
(d) Both (A) and (B) are right and (A) was not the conclusion.
Answer:
(a) (A) is right and (B) is wrong.
6. Study the following statements:
(A) Saxon system of trial was nobler than that of the Romans.
(B) Saxon system had two aspects – rough and noble.
(C) The rich Saxons could hire champions to argue their case.
(D) Even an innocent person would be held guilty if enough people did not swear for him.
Which of the following options represents true statements:
(a) (A) and (B) are both right.
(b) (B) and (C) are both wrong.
(c) (C) and (A) are both right.
(d) (B) and (D) are both right.
Answer:
(d) (B) and (D) are both right.
7. Study the following statements:
(A) Earlier England comprised small villages each with a small population.
(B) Crimes like cheating and fraud were rare.
(a) (A) is an assertion and (B) is the response.
(b) (B) is an assertion and (A) is the response.
(c) Both (A) and (B) are unrelated assertions.
(d) Both (A) and (B) are responses to some other assertions.
Answer:
(a) (A) is an assertion and (B) is the response.
8. Which of the following statements are true?
The rich have always enjoyed an advantage in the judicial system because
(A) they were physically strong, so would win the trial by fighting.
(B) they could hire the strongest champion.
(C) they can hire the best lawyers.
(D) they could persuade the priest to swear on their behalf.
(a) (A) and (B)
(b) (B) and (C)
(c) (C) and (A)
(d) (B) and (D)
Answer:
(b) (B) and (C)
9. Which of the following statements are NOT true?
(A) In the quest for justice the guilty often went unpunished.
(B) For seven hundred years from the sixth century trial was mostly rough.
(C) Swearing value of a priest was equal to a dozen ordinary peasants.
(D) Use of champions in a trial by battle finds an equivalent in the modern times.
(a) (A) and (C)
(b) (B) and (C)
(c) (C) and (D)
(d) (A) and (B)
Answer:
(b) (B) and (C)
10. ‘any glimmering of civilisation’
‘Glimmering’ in the above expression has been used as a metaphor. Glimmering stands for —
(a) a slight suggestion
(b) a great hope
(c) some fear
(d) a little confidence
Answer:
(b) a great hope
II. Read the passage given below and answer the questions/complete the statements that follow by choosing the most appropriate options out of the given ones: (any six)
Around 194 millions birds and 29 million mammals are thought to be killed each year on European roads, according to a new study that has ranked the most vulnerable species. The research has found that the species killed most often were not necessarily the endangered species. This means action to preserve wildlife when new roads are built risks being targeted at the wrong species based on current methods. Road densities in Europe are among the world’s highest, with 50% of the continent within 1.5 km of a paved road or railway. Roads are therefore a significant threat to wildlife, and evidence shows deaths on them could even cause some species to disappear completely.
Despite this, the long-term protection of species is not currently considered when assessing the impact of new roads on wildlife, meaning we risk giving support to only the endangered species, doing nothing to help those most at risk. A better understanding of which species are most vulnerable to roads is therefore important if we are to take a more effective action of protection.
A research team based in Lisbon calculated road-kill rates for 423 bird species and 212 mammal species. They found that small animals with high population densities and which mature at an early age were most likely to be killed on roads. Nocturnal mammals and birds with a diet of plants and seeds were also shown to have higher death rates.
The study also used the road-kill surveys to rank the bird and mammal species whose long-term survival was most threatened by road-kill. The hazel grouse and ground squirrel were found to be the most at risk of local extinction. Both are common in Europe but are classified as species of Least Concern Red list of Threatened Species.
The most vulnerable animals classified as threatened by IUCN were the red-knobbed coot, Balcan mole and Podolian mole. The study revealed that road-kill hotspots were not the areas with the highest population of endangered species. For example, house sparrows had a high road-kill rate (2.7 per km/year) but were ranked 420th of 423 bird species for vulnerability. Conversely, the hazel grouse had a low predicted road kill-rate (0.2 per km/ yr) but was most vulnerable of all birds studied.
11. Study the following statements:
(A) Roads are killers for animals.
(B) Both birds and mammals are killed on roads.
(C) Species most killed are necessarily the endangered ones.
(a) (A) is correct and (B) is false.
(b) (B) is correct and (C) is false.
(c) (A) and (B) both are correct.
(d) (C) is correct and (A) is false.
Answer:
(c) (A) and (B) both are correct.
12. Study the following statements:
(A) Roads have covered 50% of land in Europe.
(B) Road traffic causes a great risk to wild life.
(C) Some species can survive all kinds of traffic on roads.
(a) (A) is correct and (B) is false.
(b) (B) is correct and (C) is false.
(c) (C) is correct and (A) is false.
(d) (A) and (B) both are false.
Answer:
(b) (B) is correct and (C) is false.
13. Which of the following statements is correct according to the passage?
(a) While planning roads we should see which species to protect.
(b) We are doing a lot to protect those most at risk.
(c) 50% of Europe is covered only with roads.
(d) Small animals even with low population density are most at risk.
Answer:
(a) While planning roads we should see which species to protect.
14. Which of the following statements is correct according to the passage?
(a) More mammals than birds are killed on the roads.
(b) Small animals generally keep away from roads.
(c) Number of road-kills depends upon the population density of small animals.
(d) Animals that come out only at night are saved.
Answer:
(c) Number of road-kills depends upon the population density of small animals.
15. (A) The surveys ranked the road-kill rate of birds and mammals.
(B) The finding puts grouse and squirrel at great risk.
(a) (A) is an assertion and (B) is the response.
(b) (B) is an assertion and (A) is the response.
(c) Both (A) and (B) are false.
(d) Both (A) and (B) are unrelated to each other.
Answer:
(a) (A) is an assertion and (B) is the response.
16. Hazel grouse and ground squirrel are classified as species of least concern.
The statement is:
(a) a logical conclusion
(b) a piece of good news
(c) ironical
(d) a pleasant surprise
Answer:
(c) ironical
17. The title of the study should be:
(a) A Birds and Mammals survey
(b) Road-kills
(c) Road density in Europe
(d) Need for conservation
Answer:
(b) Road-kills
18. The purpose of the study is:
(a) how to prevent road-kills.
(b) to see who is more at risk on the roads,
(c) how to plan better roads.
(d) to estimate the number of road accident victims.
Answer:
(b) to see who is more at risk on the roads,
Section B (Grammar and Writing)
Grammar
III. Complete the following statements by filling in the blanks with the help of given options: (any five)
19. I don’t see why you ……………… borrow his cycle. You have one of your own.
(a) Should
(b) Could
(c) May
(d) Might
Answer:
(a) Should
20. My family ………………. in Chennai for five years now.
(a) has lived
(b) has been living
(c) had lived
(d) lived
Answer:
(b) has been living
21. …………. the lefter arrive in your absence, would you like me to forward it to you?
(a) If
(b) Could
(c) Should
(d) Might
Answer:
(c) Should
22. If he came late he …………. be punished.
(a) will
(b) shall
(c) should
(d) would
Answer:
(d) would
23. By the time we reach the school the bell ………………
(a) will be ringing
(b) will have rung
(c) would have been ringing
(d) would have rung
Answer:
(b) will have rung
24. Three months ago I ……………. a student of this school.
(a) was
(b) had been
(c) have been
(d) could be
Answer:
(a) was
Writing
IV. You are Arun. Near the gate of your colony there is a motor mechanic’s workshop. Many cars are parked outside on the pavement and even beyond. Repair work goes on. The surroundings have become filthy; pedestrians are put to trouble. Arun decides to write a letter of complaint, of course, for wider audience/readership. (any five)
25. The letter will be addressed to:
(a) The Sanitary Inspector
(b) The Municipal Commissioner
(c) State Minister of Health
(d) Editor of a local newspaper
Answer:
(d) Editor of a local newspaper
26. Subject of the letter should be:
(a) Problems caused to pedestrians
(b) Inconvenience caused by the next door workshop
(c) Insanitary conditions at the colony gate
(d) A health hazard
Answer:
(c) Insanitary conditions at the colony gate
27. Arun decides to write this letter as:
(a) he has a personal problem with the owner of the workshop.
(b) a matter of social concern
(c) he intends to contest the next municipal election.
(d) he is very health conscious.
Answer:
(b) a matter of social concern
28. He will arrange the contents of the letter in this way:
A. noisy surroundings
B. action requested C. garbage littered
D. public inconvenience
E. the health hazard
F. location of the workshop
(a) B, A, C, E, D, F
(b) F, D, A, C, E, B
(c) A, C, E, B, D, F
(d) F, C, E, D, A, B
Answer:
(b) F, D, A, C, E, B
29. What kind of action would Arun suggest?
(a) Fine to be imposed on the workshop
(b) Notice on lack of cleanliness to be issued
(c) Workshop to be shifted
(d) Periodic visits of the Health Inspector
Answer:
(c) Workshop to be shifted
30. The correct closing of the letter should be:
(a) Your’s faithfully
(b) Yours faithfully
(c) Yours truly
(d) Your’s truly
Answer:
(c) Yours truly
Section C (Literature)
This section has sub-sections – V, VI, VII, VIII and IX. There are a total of 30 questions in this section. Attempt any 26 questions from the sub-sections V to IX.
V. Read the extract given below and attempt the question complete the statements that follow:
For the first twenty-four hours Mijbil was neither hostile nor friendly; he was simply aloof and indifferent, choosing to sleep on the floor as far from my bed as possible. The second night Mijbil came on to my bed in the small hours and remained asleep in the crook of my knees until the servant brought tea in the morning, and during the day he began to lose his apathy and take a keen, much too keen, interest in his surroundings. I made a body-belt for him and took him on a lead to the bathroom, where for half an hour he went wild with joy in the water, plunging and rolling in it, shooting up and down the length of the bathtub underwater, and making enough slosh and splash for a hippo.
31. “Mijbil was neither hostile nor friendly; he was simply aloof and indifferent…” From the actions of the given set of friends, choose the person who’s behaviour is likely to resemble Mijbil’s.
(a) Akanksha rudely tells her best friend to stop calling.
(b) Piyush was amicable since the day he walked into his new classroom.
(c) Rishabh became nasty as soon as he started earning money.
(d) Urvashi was distant for a while after losing her grandmother.
Answer:
(d) Urvashi was distant for a while after losing her grandmother.
32. Select the option which puts the following events in correct order.
1. Maxwell planned to take Mijbil to the bathroom.
2. Mijbil slept at a significant distance from Maxwell’s bed.
3. Mijbil immensely enjoyed playing in water.
4. Mijbil slept in much closer vicinity of the author as opposed to the previous night.
(a) 1, 3, 4, 2
(b) 3, 1, 2, 4
(c) 2, 4, 1, 3
(d) 4, 3, 1, 2
Answer:
(c) 2, 4,1, 3
33. The words “slosh and splash” are examples of the onomatopoeic words that go together phonetically-resembling the sound that they describe. Choose the option that DOES NOT fit the given description.
(a) hip hop
(b) bow wow
(c) tick tock
(d) pitter patter
Answer:
(a) hip hop
34. Choose the option that correctly describes a body-belt in the given context as explained by the four people given below.
(a) A body-belt is a device especially made for swimmers and scuba divers, which helps them breathe under W’ater.
(b) Body-belts basically resemble the waist belts and keep our body upright, in a standing position.
(c) Body-belts are used for restraining while doing certain activities, in order to prevent hurt.
(d) A body-belt is an accessory used by body builders for weight training as a measure against muscle and bone injuries.
Answer:
(c) Body-belts are used for restraining while doing certain activities, in order to prevent hurt.
35. Select the option that best describes the final action of the otter, based on the given passage.
(a) Option 1
(b) Option 2
(c) Option 3
(d) Option 4
Answer:
(b) Option 2
VI. Read the extract given below and answer the questions/complete the statements that follow:
The moment the letter fell into the mailbox the postmaster went to open it. It said: “God: of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the rest, since I need it very
much. But don’t send it to me through the mail because the post office employees are a bunch of crooks, Lencho.”
36. Lencho wrote the second letter as he was:
A. unhappy
B. curious
C. hopeful
D. thoughtful
E. confident
(a) A, C and E
(b) A, B and C
(c) B, E and A
(d) C, D and E
Answer:
(a) A, C and E
37. The postmaster opened the letter expecting it to:
(A) be full of thanks to God
(B) show his happiness
(C) be full of anguish for getting less money
(D) be accusing God of being miserly
(a) (C) and (D)
(b) (A) and (B)
(c) (A) and (D)
(d) (D) and (B)
Answer:
(b) (A) and (B)
38. On reading the letter the postmaster was:
(a) surprised
(b) dismayed
(c) pleased
(d) puzzled
Answer:
(b) dismayed
39. ‘the post office employees are a bunch of crooks’ The statement is:
(a) thoughtful
(b) sad
(c) dismissive
(d) ironic
Answer:
(d) ironic
40. Find the suitable word from the extract to complete the following:
sanctioned : approved :: demanded : ……………. .
(a) fell
(b) reached
(c) went
(d) asked
Answer:
(d) asked
VII. Read the extract given below and answer the questions/complete the statements that follow:
He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorizing the village!
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
41. Study the following statements:
(A) The villagers don’t feel happy that the tiger is caged.
(B) We feel sad that the tiger is caged.
(C) The tiger is happy that he doesn’t have to hunt for his food.
(a) (A) is right and (B) is wrong.
(b) (B) is right and (A) is wrong.
(c) (C) is right and (A) is wrong.
(d) (A) is wrong and (C) is right.
Answer:
(b) (B) is right and (A) is wrong.
42. We should protect the tigers as:
(a) they are majestic to look at.
(b) they attract visitors to the zoo.
(c) they are ferocious.
(d) they are part of our environment.
Answer:
(d) they are part of our environment.
43. The tiger terrorizes the villagers as:
(a) by killing their cattle.
(b) as he does not like to be hunted.
(c) as they have cleared his habitat.
(d) as he has got tired of being in the forest.
Answer:
(a) by killing their cattle.
44. ‘A tiger in the zoo ignoring visitors’ is an example of:
(a) Metaphor
(b) Simile
(c) Irony
(d) Personification
Answer:
(c) Irony
45. The tiger is reacting to his imprisonment in the zoo by:
(a) quietly walking in the cage
(b) showing his anger openly
(c) stalking in the cage
(d) ignoring visitors
Answer:
(d) ignoring visitors
VIII. Read the extract given below and answer the questions/complete the statements that follow:
He escaped easily enough from the boys who followed his footprints in London. But his adventures were by no means over. He had chosen a bad time of the year to wander about London without clothes. It was mid-winter. The air was bitterly cold and he could not do without clothes. Instead of walking about the streets, he decided to slip into a big London store for warmth.
46. The greatest problem for the invisible man was that:
(a) being invisible he could do nothing.
(b) he could not buy clothes to wear.
(c) he was hungry but could not buy food.
(d) without clothes he was feeling cold.
Answer:
(d) without clothes he was feeling cold.
47. He could escape from the boys as:
(a) the boys were careless.
(b) the boys too felt cold in the winter night.
(c) the invisible man was cleverer than the boys.
(d) he went along a street where there was no mud.
Answer:
(d) he went along a street where there was no mud.
48. (A) It was stupid on his part to come out on a winter night.
(B) He was not completely stupid, though.
(a) (A) is right and (B) is wrong.
(b) (B) is right and (A) is wrong.
(c) Both (A) and (B) are right.
(d) Both (A) and (B) are wrong.
Answer:
(c) Both (A) and (B) are right.
49. After getting rid of the boys the invisible man felt:
(a) relieved
(b) partly relieved
(c) anguished
(d) comfortable
Answer:
(b) partly relieved
50. The phrase ‘slip into’ means the same as:
(a) fall into
(b) enter quietly
(c) enter boldly
(d) move out
Answer:
(b) enter quietly
IX. Attempt the following:
51. Has given my heart
A change of mood
What is the poet’s mood now?
(a) Appreciative of nature
(b) Thoughtful
(c) Happy
(d) Cool
Answer:
(c) Happy
52. ‘Paper has more patience than people’
Which of the following is not true?
(a) One can write anything on paper.
(b) People have good ears for listening.
(c) One can write one’s diary even at night.
(d) One may express one’s anger on paper.
Answer:
(b) People have good ears for listening.
53. In life, every man has
twin obligations
. (Nelson Mandela)
The ‘twin obligations’ are:
(a) first to his
community
and the second to his
country.
(b) first to his
family
and the second to his
country
.
(c) first to his
country
and the second to his
parents
.
(d) first to his
community
and the second to his
family
.
Answer:
(b) first to his family and the second to his country.
54. He had in fact seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour it.’ (His First Flight)
How did ‘he’ feel?
A. Angry
B. Greedy
C. Jealous
D. Hungry
(a) A and B
(b) B and C
(c) C and D
(d) D and A
Answer:
(c) C and D
55. Mr. Keesing was annoyed with Anne as:
(a) she was weak in maths.
(b) she had not done her home work.
(c) she was a naughty girl.
(d) she was very talkative.
Answer:
(d) she was very talkative.
56. The loss of a possession should make one feel:
(a) angry
(b) responsible
(c) sad
(d) careless
Answer:
(b) responsible
57. The Black Aeroplane is a/an ………… story.
(a) ghost
(b) adventure
(c) mystery
(d) true
Answer:
(c) mystery
58. For Tricky’s present condition:
(A) Both Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricky are to blame.
(B) Only Tricky is to blame.
(a) (A) is right and (B) is wrong.
(b) (B) is right and (A) is wrong.
(c) Both (A) and (B) are right.
(d) Both (A) and (B) are wrong.
Answer:
(d) Both (A) and (B) are wrong.
59. It was quite pleasant working for Anil as:
(a) he was quite rich.
(b) he never complained.
(c) he was a very simple person.
(d) he could be easily fooled.
Answer:
(b) he never complained.
60. Griffin became a homeless wanderer because he:
(a) was an eccentric scientist.
(b) was very greedy.
(c) had to go without clothes.
(d) had set fire to his landlord’s house.
Answer:
(d) had set fire to his landlord’s house.