Page 128 NODIA Sample Paper 14 CBSE X English

Sample Paper 14
Class X Exam 2023-24
English Language and Literature (184)
Time Allowed : 3 Hrs. Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:
1. The Question Paper contains THREE sections READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and LITERATURE.
2. Attempt question based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION A - READING SKILLS 20

Reading Comprehension Through Unseen Passages

1. Read the following text. 10

1. Corruption, terrorism, communal-ism, greed for power and wealth and the list of ailments that affect
modern society continues. More than half the population of India is below the age group of 25 and the
future of the country will only be bright if youngsters are equipped to deal with these ailments.
2. A child is a storehouse of potential and it is essential to nurture and develop these attributes from a very
young age. Since they spend much of their time in school, the curriculum in school should be such that
it enables children to understand, care and practise ethical values like respect, justice and civic sense.
Education should aim to develop a sense of rights and duties as well as moral values like honesty,
responsibility and respect for others.
3. Moral education should be directed towards enhancing a child’s ability to critically analyse situations,
make decisions, empathise with people and work in cooperation towards a common goal.
4. As a means of direct instruction to students, schools are very influential in the character development of
a child and the methods of education affect the development of morally upright citizens who can bring
about a much-needed change in the country.
5. The youth of today have to face many problems like drug abuse, violent behaviour and family issues.
If they are not taught morals, they would fail to differentiate between good and bad values. Hence, they
would be incapable of dealing with different types of issues. A sound moral base would help a child
make the right decisions, especially in an era where the youth is increasingly coming under the negative
influence of the media.
6. Schools in India have introduced moral education as part of their curriculum because they realise that
morally sound citizens are the need of the hour. Since most children look up to their teachers as role
models, it is most appropriate that they be the facilitators of moral values.
7. Thus, schools should focus more on the personality development of children since it is one of the most
important responsibilities of a school. Schools should take the initiative to mould children into better
human beings so that they can make the world a better place to live in.

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Page 129 NODIA Sample Paper 14 CBSE X English

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i. Select the option that conveys the message, “Morally sound citizens are the need of the hour.” 1
(a) Moral citizens can only be possible by giving moral education to the mass population.
(b) Better human beings can make the world a better place to live in.
(c) Developing moral qualities is the only way to solve these social issues.
(d) Government should take major decisions about spreading moral education.

ii. Why is it important to inculcate moral values since childhood? Answer in about 40 words. 2

iii. Complete the sentence appropriately. 1

According to the given passage, schools are integral in the _____ of a child.

iv. The passage includes some words that are similar in meaning to each other. From the sets (a)-(e) below,
identify two sets of synonyms. 1
(a) Youth and youngsters
(b) Affect and equipped
(c) Nurture and develop
(d) Corruption and terrorism
(e) Behaviour and values

v. Complete the sentence appropriately. 1

According to the passage, moral education helps children in _____, decision making, cooperation and
_____.

vi. Which moral values are important for children to learn? 2

vii. What kind of problems are being faced by today’s youth? 1

(a) Influence of social media.
(b) Violent behaviour and peer pressure.
(c) Drug abuse and family issues.
(d) All of the above

viii. State a solution to the given problem. 1

Incapable of differentiating between good and bad, children would be unable to deal with everyday
issues.
2. Read the following text. 10
1. Through the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), the countries of the world have resolved to achieve
universal access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030. The aim is
to ensure the consumption of safe drinking water and practice safe sanitation and hygiene, resulting in
lower exposure to a contaminated environment, resulting in lower morbidity and mortality, especially
amongst children.


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Page 130 NODIA Sample Paper 14 CBSE X English

2. The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched by the Government of India on 2nd October, 2014 to achieve
the vision of ‘Swachh Bharat’ by 2nd October, 2019. The Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin-SBM (G)
endeavours to accelerate rural sanitation coverage, reduce open defecation and improve the management
of solid and liquid wastes in rural areas. The implementation of SBM (G) is the responsibility of the
Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS). The MDWS, while issuing guidelines for Open
Defecation Free (ODF) verification stressed on “safe technology option which aimed at no contamination
of surface soil, groundwater or surface water; excreta management inaccessible to flies or animals; no
human handling of fresh excreta and freedom from odour and unsightly condition”. Over the past 4
years, over 92 million new households have received access to household toilets and by the end of the
SBM (G) programme, all 16.5 million rural households will have such access. However, the issue is of
usage and thus, the goal is to create ODF communities and villages, with no one defecating in the open.
3. The status of ODF villages published on the website of MDWS indicates that as of 01.04.2019, over
99% of rural HHs in India have toilet access. The declared ODF villages at all India levels accounted for
556,824 spreading over 247,723 Gram Panchayats, 6,031 Blocks and 616 Districts.
4. UNICEF in India accords high priority to the provision of safe sanitation and water services to people
in rural areas and has over the past many years aided through catalytic technical support to MDWS,
the Government of India and 15 state governments in the implementation of the various sanitation
programmes and since 2014, specifically to the SBM (G). With the progress of the SBM (G) and the
declaration of ODF communities, there is an emerging question on whether the campaign to eliminate
open defecation and create ODF communities is resulting in a decrease in faecal contamination in the
environment.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
i. Complete the following analogy appropriately. 1
There will be a decrease in faecal contamination in the environment because _____.

ii. Fill the blank with appropriate word. 1

The passage provides data that proves that over 99% of rural households have access to _____.

iii. Describe the purpose of the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission (G). Answer in about 40 words. 2

iv. According to the passage, who is responsible for the progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission? 1

v. Suggest a suitable title for the passage. 1

vi. Select the option that the given sentence refers to “Over the past 4 years, over 92 million new households
have received access to household toilets.” 1
(a) There is an increase in the usage of toilets among rural households.
(b) There is an increase in the construction of community-shared toilets.
(c) There is an increase in the building of toilets inside households.
(d) There is an increase in access to toilets but are not being used by the villagers.

vii. Which international organisation is helping in providing sanitation and how? (Answer in about 40
words) 2

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Page 131 NODIA Sample Paper 14 CBSE X English

viii. Why is the government successful in providing access to toilets to over 99% of rural households? 1
(a) Government is giving false data.
(b) Villagers also want to have access to toilets to minimize the negative impact of open defecation.
(c) Villagers are cooperative.
(d) Rural households have become educated .

SECTION B - GRAMMAR & WRITING SKILLS 20

GRAMMAR 10

3. Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed. 1 # 10 = 10

i. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the sentence. 1
A school of fish _____ spotted in the lake.
(a) are
(b) have
(c) has
(d) was

ii. Meenu : Will you attend Pamela’s birthday party? 1

Mayank : My father will not give me permission.
Meenu : But why?
Mayank : He wants me to prepare for tomorrow’s test.
Meenu asked Mayank if he would attend Pamela’s birthday party, to which Mayank replied that _____.

iii. Select the correct option to fill in the blank. 1

You _____ use mobile phones inside the aircraft.
(a) had to
(b) can
(c) could
(d) mustn’t

iv. Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line. 1
An entire household was in the control of my mother-in-law.
Option No. Error Correction
(a) An The
(b) The An
(c) was is
(d) of with

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Page 132 NODIA Sample Paper 14 CBSE X English

v. Complete the notice by filling in the blank with the correct option: 1
I knew that Ramesh _____ Jaipur before, so I asked him to recommend a good hotel.
(a) had visited
(b) has been visiting
(c) visited
(d) been visiting

vi. Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket. 1
The servants _____ (quarrel) for half an hour when we arrived home.

vii. Report the dialogue between a soldier and a boy, by completing the narration. 1
Boy : Sir, you are a war veteran , how does it feel to receive the adulation?
Soldier : Son, it is very difficult question. We kill our enemies to keep our nation safe. But it is just
humans killing humans.
In response to the question the boy has asked, the soldier says that _____

viii. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the correction. 1
Discipline in life ensure peace and harmony which in turn, offers the impetus for a nation’s progress.
Use the given format for your response.
Error Correction

ix. Transform the following direct speech into reported speech : 1

I said to him, “Will you teach me?”

x. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the correction. 1
You can pay attention in the class.

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

xi. Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between a father and a son. 1
Father : Why do you keep breaking a new toy, Son?
Son : If I keep it, will you buy me a new one?
Father asked Son the reason for breaking a new toy every time to which Son asked good humouredly
that if he kept it safe _____ .
(a) will you buy me a new one.
(b) if she would buy me a new one.
(c) then would she buy a new one for him or not
(d) if she would herself buy a new one


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Page 133 NODIA Sample Paper 14 CBSE X English

xii. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the correction. 1
We have the little money right now; we should go out for dinner another day.

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

WRITING 10
Note : All details presented in the questions are imaginary and created for assessment purpose.

4. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5

A. Write a formal letter to the commissioner of police in about 100-120 words, to employ extra constables
at the beat box close to the locality to check on crimes.

O
B. Write a formal letter to the editor of a newspaper in about 100-120 words, highlighting the need to learn
English communication for basic necessities.

5. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5

A. The chart shows the division of household tasks by gender in Great Britain. Write an analytical paragraph
describing the chart given in 100-120 words.

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Page 134 NODIA Sample Paper 14 CBSE X English

O
B. Read the following excerpt from an article that appeared in the magazine section of a local daily:
The World Health Organization defines mental health as a “state of well-being whereby individuals
recognize their abilities, are able to cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully,
and make a contribution to their communities.”
Write a paragraph to analyse the given argument.
You could think about what alternative explanations might weaken the given conclusion and include
rationale/evidence that would strengthen/counter the given argument.

SECTION C - LITERATURE 40
6. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 5
A. “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’ what
does ‘pushed their way’ mean? 1

ii. Why did Rajvir have to convince Pranjol with an Indian legend about the origin of tea too? Answer in
about 40 words. 2

iii. State TRUE or FALSE. 1

Below are given some sentences (a)-(d) with the word ‘legend.’ Only (b) has expressed the same meaning
as in the passage?
(a) The football superstar, Messi is a living sports legend of our times.
(b) The Legend of Rama also has an animated version very popular even in Japan.
(c) The arrogance of some world politicians cum dictators is legendary.
(d) That the cantonment is haunted is merely an urban legend.

iv. Which word in the extract is similar in meaning to a ‘short loud repeated sound’? 1

O
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)

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Page 135 NODIA Sample Paper 14 CBSE X English

i. Why did she need the jewels? 1

(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. 2

iii. Read the following descriptions (a)-(c) and identify which one correctly corresponds to the extract. 1
(a) A debate is a formal discussion on a particular topic, usually with two or more people presenting
different viewpoints and arguments.
(b) A soliloquy is a speech given by a character alone on stage, which reveals their innermost thoughts
and feelings to the audience.
(c) A dialogue is a conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or film.

iv. What did Matilda’s husband suggest her? 1

7. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 5
A. The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
(Dust of Snow)

i. Complete the sentence appropriately. 1

The poet was out on the cold snowy day when the dust of snow fell on him and _____.

ii. The poetic device used in the line ‘And saved some part’ is Alliteration. 1
What effect does the poet wish to create?
(a) Emphasis
(b) Comparison
(c) Humour
(d) Personification

iii. Of the many symbols the hemlock tree represents, state the one that Frost drew upon, in all likelihood,
for this poem. 1

iv. Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines. 2

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Page 136 NODIA Sample Paper 14 CBSE X English

O
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. In what way does the description of the tiger in this poem challenges traditional ideas of what a tiger
should be? 1
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. 2
iii. Select the option that describes the tiger in the following lines. 1
‘On pads of velvet quiet, In his quiet rage.’
1. nervous
2. scared
3. distraught
4. light-footed
5. majestic
6. indignant
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 3, 4 and 6
(d) 1, 5 and 6
iv. Identify the type of imagery used in the lines of the poem. 1

8. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 40-50 words. 4 # 3 = 12
i. What does the author think of the wealth of the country? 3
(Nelson Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom)

ii. While alone on the ledge, how did the little seagull try to draw the attention of his family? 3
(Two Stories About Flying)

iii. Why was Anne’s entire class anxious and nervous? 3

(From the Diary of Anne Frank)

iv. How does everyone celebrate Custard getting rid of the pirate? 3
(The Tale of Custard the Dragon)

v. Kisa compared human life to an inanimate object. What is it and why does she do so ? 3
(The Sermon at Benares)

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Page 137 NODIA Sample Paper 14 CBSE X English

9. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words. 2#3 = 6
i. Why did the thief smile without any effort towards the end of the story? 3
(The Thief ’s Story)

ii. “Horace Danby was good and respectable-but not completely honest”. Why do you think this description
is apt for Horace? 3
(A Question of Trust)

iii. Why was “the strange scientist strongly suspected of having had a hand” in the burglary at the clergyman’s
home ? 3
(Footprints Without Feet)

10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. 1#6 = 6
A. Describe Lencho’s qualities in light of his faith in God. Was Lencho’s reaction towards post office
employees’ justified?
(A Letter to God)

O
B. 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)

11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. 1#6 = 6
A. “Too much of anything is good for nothing.” Justify it with regard to “A Triumph of Surgery”.

O
B. 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)

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