CBSE Class 10 English LL Set 3 features a balanced paper with a mix of comprehension passages, grammar MCQs, and writing skills tasks (letter writing, analytical paragraphs). The solution PDF for Set 3 helps students cross-check answers and revise key literary themes.
Series 2FEHG
Question Paper Code 2/2/1 Set 1
ENGLISH (LANGUAGE & LITERATURE) – SET 3
(Session 2024-25)
Time allowed : 3 hours
Maximum Marks : 80
General Instructions :Read the instructions very carefully and strictly follow them:
1. This question paper comprises 11 questions. All questions are compulsory.
2. The question paper contains THREE sections-
Section – A : Reading Skills
Section – B : Grammar and Creative Writing Skills
Section – C : Literature Text Book
3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
SECTION – A
READING SKILLS (20 Marks)
Read the following passage carefully:
(1) Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus Cinnamomum. Cinnamon is made by cutting the stems of cinnamon trees. The inner bark is then extracted and the woody parts removed. When it dries, it forms strips that curl into rolls, called cinnamon sticks. These sticks can be ground to form cinnamon powder. The spice, consisting of the dried inner bark, is brown in colour and has a delicately fragrant aroma and a warm sweet flavour. The distinct aroma and flavour of cinnamon derive from its essential oil and principal component, cinnamaldehyde, as well as numerous other constituents including eugenol.
(2) There are two main types of cinnamon: Cassia and Ceylon. The two have different nutritional profiles. Ceylon cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka. Some people call it “true cinnamon.” Cassia cinnamon, on the other hand, originates from southern China. Cassia is cheaper than Ceylon cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon has a robust, rich, somewhat bitter flavour while Ceylon is sweeter and lighter in flavor.
(3) Cinnamon was once more valuable than gold. In Egypt it was sought for embalming and religious practices. In medieval Europe it was used for religious rites and as a flavouring agent. Later it was the most profitable spice in the Dutch East India Company trade.
(4) Cinnamon is widely used as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakfast cereals, snack foods, bagels, teas, hot chocolate and traditional foods.
(5) Cinnamon is a spice that has been prized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. In recent years, modern science has started to confirm many of the potential health benefits associated with cinnamon. Cinnamon has antimicrobial and antifungal properties, which is why it’s often found in dental-hygiene products and is sold as cinnamon supplements. It is also a good source of antioxidants, substances that inhibit the effect of free radicals (reactive atoms that can damage cells). Due to its anti-inflammatory nature, cinnamon is currently being researched for its potential to fight Alzheimer’s disease and decrease symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and colon cancer.
(6) Studies also suggest that cinnamon has anti-diabetic properties, and may offer protection from cancer and cardiovascular disease, among other conditions. However, more evidence is needed to confirm cinnamon’s benefits. In the short term, consuming moderate amounts of cinnamon as a spice or as a supplement seems to be safe for most people. However, cinnamon contains coumarin. This is a natural flavouring, but it also plays a role in creating warfarin, the common blood-thinning drug. Consuming too much coumarin can lead to liver damage and affect coagulation.
Answer the following questions, based on the above passage:
(i) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The characteristic aroma and flavour of cinnamon originate from its essential oil, primarily composed of _______. Paragraph (1)
Ans: Cinnamaldehyde, supplemented by a variety of other constituents like eugenol
(ii) Based on the reading of the passage, examine, in about 40 words, how cinnamon derived from the trees is made fit to be used as a spice. Paragraph (1)
Ans: (i) derived from the inner bark of cinnamon trees. (ii) woody parts removed and dried to form strips that curl into rollscinnamon sticks: ground to form cinnamon powder.
(iii) Mention one point of difference between Ceylon cinnamon and Cassia cinnamon. Paragraph (2)
Ans: Ceylon cinnamon – from Sri Lanka- called true Cinnamon”. Cassia cinnamon – from Southern China.
(iv) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The author says that cinnamon was once more valuable than gold because ______. Paragraph (3)
Ans: used for embalming and religious practices.
(v) What is the tone of the writer in the given lines from paragraph (5)? Rationalize your response in about 40 words.
“Cinnamon is a spice that has been prized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years.’’
Ans: Informative: facts and information about cinnamon
Appreciative: positive facts/ historical significance/ health benefits
(vi) The writer’s use of the phrases ‘modern science has started to confirm’ in paragraph (5) and ‘more evidence is needed to confirm’ in paragraph (6) suggests that the benefits of cinnamon are: 1. proven 2. scientific 3. uncertain 4. controversial 5. harmful
Select the correct option:
(A) 1 and 3
(B) 2 and 4
(C) only 3
(D) only 5
(vii) Which of the following statements about cinnamon and its health benefits is true?
(A) Modern science has evidence to prove that cinnamon has many anti-diabetic properties, and it offers complete protection from cancer and cardiovascular disease.
(B) Cinnamon lacks antimicrobial and antifungal properties, making it unsuitable for dental hygiene products.
(C) Antioxidants found in cinnamon have no effect on free radicals in the body.
(D) Cinnamon’s anti-inflammatory properties are being researched for its potential benefits in Alzheimer’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome and colon cancer.
(viii) Which of the following statements best describes the author’s attitude toward cinnamon and its uses?
(A) Finds cinnamon to be a prized condiment which can be used in almost all food items.
(B) Believes that cinnamon should be used by everyone, everyday.
(C) Recognizes that cinnamon has many useful properties, including health benefits.
(D) Believes that cinnamon should only be used as a medicinal supplement.
2. Read the following passage carefully:
(1) When planning vacations, Indians typically prioritize domestic destinations, as shown by Ministry of Tourism data indicating 1.7 billion domestic tourist visits within India compared to 21 million international departures in 2022. Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka stand out as the top states for domestic tourism. Reasons for domestic tourism are many, some travel because it suits their budget while others love to explore the historical, cultural diversity. The government today is focussing on tourist-friendly infrastructure which is making travel more convenient for the domestic traveller.
(2) In terms of outbound tourism, a significant proportion of Indian travellers, totalling 5.9 million, visited the United Arab Emirates in 2022, comprising 28 percent of total outbound tourist travel. Other Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait also rank among the top destinations, with 2.4 million, 880,000, and 830,000 Indian visitors, respectively. Additionally, countries like the United States and the United Kingdom attract a considerable number of Indian tourists because these countries offer a mix of traditional and contemporary experiences along with enjoying unique cuisines and diverse landscapes.
(3) The popularity of Gulf States and the U.S. may be influenced by migration trends. The current issue of the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) World Migration Report highlights significant migration flows from India to the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. For instance, the Emirates hosted approximately 3.6 million Indian migrants as of August 2023. Only via two corridors have more people transferred from one country to another as of 2020 according to the IOM: Mexico to the United States with around 11 million and Syria to Turkey with approximately 4 million. These migration corridors rank among the top ten globally.
Answer the following questions, based on the above passage:
(i) What does the use of the phrase ‘prioritise domestic destinations’ by the writer, in paragraph (1) imply?
(A) Indian tourists prefer places in the country itself.
(B) Indian tourists like to stay at home.
(C) Indian tourists mainly travel on low budgets.
(D) Indian tourists love to hitch-hike and trek.
(ii) Fill in the blanks with the appropriate option from those given in brackets, based on your understanding of paragraph (2).
The statement that, World Migration Report highlights significant migration flows from India to the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, is a/an ______ (fact/opinion) because it is a/an _______ (subjective judgement/objective detail).
(iii) Draw a comparative analysis of domestic tourists travelling within India with domestic tourists travelling outside India in 2022. Answer in about 40 words.
Ans: (i) 1.7 billion domestic tourists visited within India in 2022, 21 million international departures in 2022.
(ii) historical – cultural diversity offer mix of traditional and contemporary experiences
(iv) Complete the following with a suitable reason.
Gulf states rank as popular destinations for Indians ______.
Ans: because of migration trends
(v) Select the option that is true for the Assertion and Reason given below:
Assertion: Indians prioritize Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh for domestic tourism.
Reason: These states are full of historical monuments.
(A) Both the Assertion and Reason are true and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(B) Both the Assertion and Reason are true but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(C) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(D) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.
(vi) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The fourthmost visited outbound destination for Indians to the Gulf is ______.
Ans: Kuwait
(vii) Mention any two reasons for domestic tourism becoming popular.
Ans: (i) offers familiarity and comfort. (ii) more affordable than international travel
(viii) What is the writer’s view about the tourism industry in the west? Write any two points.
Ans: (i) unique cuisines (ii) diverse landscapes
(ix) Identify the word in paragraph (3) that indicates the ‘preference’ of people travelling to the Gulf.
Ans: trends/ popularity
SECTION – B
GRAMMAR AND CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS (20 Marks)
GRAMMAR
3. Complete any ten of the following twelve tasks, as directed.
(i) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the brackets, for the given portion of a letter.
I believe that with your support and ______ (cooperate), we can find a mutually agreeable solution that meets the expectations of all stakeholders involved.
Ans: co-operation
(ii) Read the given sentence from an electric cooker’s instruction manual. Identify the error and supply the correction in the sentence.
For avoid damaging the appliance, do not immerse the electric cooker in water or any other liquid.
Use the given format for your response.
| error | correction |
| For | To |
(iii) Amit and Pallavi had a conversation about the inauguration of Pallavi’s event. Report Amit’s question.
Did you manage to get any sponsors for the inauguration event scheduled for the next month?
Ans: Amit inquired/asked Pallavi whether/if she had managed to get/secure any sponsors for the inauguration event scheduled for the next/following month.
(iv) Read the dialogue between Bharti and her mother, Geeta, regarding Geeta’s birthday plans.
Bharti: Do you want to go to a hill station on your birthday?
Geeta: No, I want to stay at home and call my friends over.
Select the correct option to report the above dialogue.
Bharti asked Geeta if she wanted to go to a hill station on her birthday. Geeta replied in the negative and said that _______.
(A) she wanted to stay home and call her friends for celebrating.
(B) I wanted to stay home and call my friends to celebrate.
(C) she wanted to stay at home and call her friends over.
(D) she wants to stay home by calling her friends to celebrate.
(v) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the line of a notice placed on the notice board of a company.
Please be informed that there will be a staff meeting in the conference room on Friday, 7th June, at 10:00 a.m. It is _______ for all to attend. (mandatory/obligatory/indispensable)
(vi) Identify the error and supply correction for the given sentence from a preface of a book.
Writing this book have been a journey of exploration and discovery.
Use the given format for your response
| error | correction |
| have | has |
(vii) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the opening line, from an analytical paragraph.
The advent of social media has revolutionized communication by connected people across the globe in unprecedented ways.
| Option No. | Error | Correction |
| (A) | has | have |
| (B) | communication | communicating |
| (C) | connected | connecting |
| (D) | in | for |
(viii) Complete the given entry in a personal diary, by filling the blank with the correct option.
Today was a rollercoaster of emotions. It started off with a sense of excitement and anticipation as I ______ on a new project at work.
(A) embarking
(B) embark
(C) embarked
(D) have embarked
(ix) Report the dialogue between a salesman and his customer, by completing the sentence. 1
Salesman: I have a wide range of sportswear.
Customer: Please show me something in cotton fabric, which is suitable for summers.
The salesman stated ______. The customer requested the salesman to show something in cotton fabric which would be suitable for summers.
Ans: that he had a wide range of sportswear.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete an announcement on a flight.
In thirty minutes, our flight attendants ______ meal service.
(A) will began
(B) will begin
(C) should begin
(D) can begin
(xi) Complete the line from a ‘Save the Environment’ song, by filling the blank with the correct option.
Pollution, pollution, its time to take a stand,
for the health of our planet, we’ve got to lend a hand,
Reduce, reuse, recycle, that’s the key,
______ our world for you and me.
(A) for preserve
(B) to preserve
(C) to preserved
(D) for preserved
(xii) Identify the error and supply the correction for the following instruction put up for safe use of elevators.
Please refrain by standing near the door as it could lead to an accident.
Use the given format for your response.
| error | correction |
| by | from |
WRITING
Note: All details presented in the questions in writing section are imaginary and created for assessment purpose.
4. Attempt any one from (a) and (b) given below:
(a) As Sakshi/Saksham Bedi of 864, Solar Apartments, Lajpat Street, Dipak Nagar, you feel that the lack of proper street lighting in several areas of your neighbourhood is a threat to safety. Residents, especially those who work late shifts or return home after dark, feel vulnerable due to poorly lit streets. Write a letter to the District Magistrate of your city area, in about 120 words, stating the problem and requesting him to take necessary action for installation of streetlights in those areas.
OR
(b) You are Dharti Pradhan/Balal Goyal, the head girl/boy of Pinnacle School, Ustahpuri. You live in a culturally rich city with many historical monuments. You have observed that visitors have etched graffiti on these monuments and littered the area around. You are extremely disturbed at this irresponsible behaviour of the visitors. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily, in about 120 words, suggesting measures to stop such vandalism and creating awareness about the importance of these monuments.
5. Attempt any one from (a) and (b) given below:
(a) Natural food, typically refers to food that has not been processed or preserved in any significant way before it is consumed, while ultra-processed food refers to food items that have been altered from their natural state through various methods. Given below is a table that differentiates between natural and processed foods. Study the description given and write an analytical paragraph in about 120 words, drawing a comparison between the two :
| Natural Food | Processed Food |
| > High fibre > Healthy nutrients > Healthy fats > Low sodium > Regulates blood sugar, blood pressure and provides healthy nutrients | > High sugar > Unhealthy nutrients > Unhealthy fats > High sodium > Tasty, ready to eat and addictive |
OR
(b) Social Media has a lasting impact on our thought process and influences our thinking in both positive and negative ways. With the help of the given cues and using your own ideas, write an analytical paragraph on “The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers’’ in about 120 words.
| POSITIVE: > connects peers > creative expression > access information > community building NEGATIVE: > impacts self-esteem > cyber bullying > privacy intrusion > distraction and addiction |
SECTION-C
LITERATURE TEXT BOOK (40 Marks)
6. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (a) or (b):
(a) He felt certain that his wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night. Even when each of his brothers and his little sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran to the brink, flapped their wings, and flew away, he failed to muster up courage to take that plunge which appeared to him so desperate. His father and mother had come around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away. But for the life of him he could not move.
(Two Stories about Flying – His First Flight)
i) State any one inference about the parents of the baby seagull from the given statement.
“His father and mother had come around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away.”
Ans: Parental Concern: parents calling the bird shrilly / upbraiding tones
(ii) Where did the little seagull sleep at night?
Ans: In a hole/under the ledge
(iii) Which factors contributed to the young seagull’s reluctance to fly despite the encouragement and threats from his parents? Elaborate in about 40 words, with reference to the extract.
Ans: deep seated fear that his wings will not support him
fear of heights
witnessing his siblings confidently take flight despite their shorter wings
shrill calls and upbraiding from his parents threatening consequences if he doesn’t fly
(iv) Which phrase or word would correctly substitute ‘muster up’ in the given sentence from the extract?
He failed to ‘muster up’ courage to take that plunge which appeared to him so desperate.
(A) review
(B) resolve
(C) distribute
(D) gather
OR
(b) Tricki was tottering along in his little tweed coat…. He struggled on, drooping in his harness. I thought it wouldn’t be long before I heard from Mrs. Pumphrey. The expected call came within a few days. Mrs. Pumphrey was distraught. Tricki would eat nothing. Refused even his favourite dishes; and besides, he had bouts of vomiting. He spent all his time lying on a rug, panting. Didn’t want to go for walks, didn’t want to do anything. I had made my plans in advance. The only way was to get Tricki out of the house for a period. I suggested that he be hospitalized for about a fortnight to be kept under observation. The poor lady almost swooned. She was sure he would pine and die if he did not see her every day. But I took a firm line. Tricki was very ill and this was the only way to save him.
(A Triumph of Surgery)
(i) Why had the author made his plans in advance?
(A) Mrs. Pumphrey was worried that Tricki would pine and die without her.
(B) The author was aware of the severity of Tricki’s medical condition.
(C) The author knew about Mrs. Pumphrey’s financial condition.
(D) The author had planned his own vacation.
(ii) The author firmly proposed the need to remove Tricki from the house for a specified period. Elaborate the reason for doing so in about 40 words.
Ans: Tricky’s declining health – symptoms like refusal to eat, vomiting, lethargy, lack of interest in activities
provide professional medical attention and observation
(iii) Fill in the blank with the correct word from the brackets.
The word ‘swooned’ in the following sentence indicates almost ______ (tripped/fainted).
(iv) “Mrs. Pumphrey was distraught.” What does this suggest about her character? Mention any one reason.
Ans: suggests she cares deeply, emotionally invested in Tricky’s well-being
indicates compassion/ attachment
7. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (a) or (b):
(a) 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. (Fire and Ice)
(i) The speaker offers evidence to support his preference for one theory over the other. Mention the evidence.
Ans: Speaker offers the evidence of his own experience with desire for his preference for fire
(ii) What is the prediction of the poet about how the world will come to an end ? Answer in about 40 words.
Ans: views desire as a powerful force – can lead to destructive consequences
sees desire as something intense and potentially destructive, can engulf and consume
(iii) “Fire” and “Ice” are used in the poem as ______.
(A) similes
(B) metaphors
(C) repetition
(D) oxymorons
(iv) Comment on the overall mood of the extract.
Ans: speaker reflects on the contrasting theories about the end of the world.
OR
(b) 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) How does the comparison between the boughs and newly discharged patients contribute to the theme or message of the poem? Answer in about 40 words.
Ans: implies previous constraint
reinforces the theme of transition
evokes a sense of movement
creates a sense of uncertainty/instability
(ii) Complete the sentence with the appropriate option.
The imagery and descriptions in the poem create a mood of _______.
(A) satisfaction and elation
(B) transition and uncertainty
(C) confusion and chaos
(D) pessimism and certainty
(iii) Fill in the blank with one word.
The stiff movement of the twigs in the above extract suggests the ______.
Ans: pain/struggle/ trauma/confinement (any one)
(iv) Why does the poet describe the bough as ‘shuffling’?
Ans: Boughs are:
half-dazed
disoriented
desperate to move out
wanting to break the barriers
uncertain indicating as if still adjusting to their surroundings (any one value point)
8. Answer any four of the following five questions in 40 – 50 words each:
(i) The transition from the apartheid system in South Africa to a new era of equality reflects broader historical trends in the struggle for human rights and social justice. Elaborate. (Nelson Mandela – Long Walk to Freedom)
(ii) How does “The Ball Poem” by John Berryman explore the theme of loss and its profound impact on an individual’s emotional state and perception of the world? (The Ball Poem)
(iii) How does the description of the baker’s lifestyle in the past evoke a sense of nostalgia? (Glimpses of India – A Baker from Goa)
(iv) What role does each of Belinda’s pets play in the narrative? Select any two of her pets. (The Tale of Custard the Dragon)
(v) Valli found joy and fascination in the simple act of watching the bus pass through her village. What does this reveal about her perspective on life and her surroundings? (Madam Rides the Bus)
9. Answer any two of the following three questions in 40 – 50 words each:
(i) How did Ausable get rid of Max? (The Midnight Visitor)
(ii) Why does Mme Loisel hastily depart from the ball when her husband places a modest wrap on her shoulders? (The Necklace)
(iii) “In time you will be more learned than anyone else in the village. Then no one will ever be able to laugh at you.’’ What effect did her teacher’s words have on Bholi ? Elaborate. (Bholi)
10. Answer any one of the following two questions in 100 – 120 words:
(a) Analyse and evaluate the role of faith in ‘A Letter to God’ and ‘The Sermon at Benares’.
OR
(b) Explore the contrasting images of the tiger in ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ and the tiger in ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’.
11. Answer any one of the following two questions in 100 – 120 words:
Anil’s acceptance and forgiveness of the thief demonstrates empathy and generosity. Elaborate. (The Thief’s Story)
OR
Trace the transformation of Richard Ebright from a young man with potential to a respected and accomplished scientist. (The Making of a Scientist)
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