Prepare well for your CBSE Board Exams using the Class 10 English Communicative (Code 101) Previous Year Question Paper 2025 with Solution. The paper is of the new CBSE pattern and covers crucial areas such as Reading, Writing, Grammar, and Literature. Practicing previous year papers assists students in understanding question patterns, handling time well, and enhancing answer writing. Download the PDF of Class 10 English Comm 101 Question Paper 2025 and augment your preparation by solving real board-level questions. Perfect for revision and self-assessment, this resource is a must-have for all students who want to achieve high marks in English.
Series HF1EG
Question Paper Code 1 Set 4
ENGLISH (COMMUNICATIVE)
(Session 2024-25)
Time allowed : 3 hours
Maximum Marks : 80
General Instructions: Read the instructions very carefully and strictly follow them:
(i) This question paper is divided into four sections – A, B, C and D.
Section – A : Reading Skills
Section – B : Writing Skills
Section – C : Grammar
Section – D : Literature Textbook
(ii) There are 10 questions in the question paper. All questions are compulsory.
(iii) Answers should be brief and to the point.
(iv) You may attempt any section at a time.
(v) All questions of that particular section must be attempted in the correct order.
(vi) Instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary.
SECTION – A (READING SKILLS) (22 marks)
Read the following passage carefully:
(1) India, often celebrated as a land of diversity, is a unique blend of various cultures, languages, religions, and traditions. Known for its rich historical heritage, India stands as a testament to the coexistence of a multitude of identities harmoniously under one nation.
(2) The Indian subcontinent is home to a multitude of languages. The Constitution of India recognizes 22 official languages, with Hindi being the most widely spoken. Besides, there are over a thousand dialects spoken across the country. This linguistic diversity is reflective of India’s cultural richness and its people’s adaptability and acceptance of varied means of expression.
(3) Religion plays a central role in the lives of many Indians, contributing significantly to the country’s cultural diversity. India is the birthplace of major religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, and also harbours significant populations of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and other communities. Religious festivals like Diwali, Eid, Christmas, and Vesak are celebrated with great enthusiasm, showcasing this unity in diversity.
(4) The Indian cuisine is another example of regional diversity turning into a national treasure. From the fiery dishes of the south to the rich curries of the north, and from the sweets of Gujarat to the street food of Mumbai, each region contributes to the subcontinent’s eclectic palate. This culinary variety not only highlights India’s diverse geography but also brings people together through a shared love for food.
(5) Cultural practices vary widely across regions. Traditional dance forms like Bharatanatyam from Tamil Nadu, Kathak from North India, and Odissi from Odisha, along with classical music forms like Carnatic and Hindustani, illustrate the rich tapestry of regional art forms that together represent India’s cultural unity.
(6) The principle of unity in diversity is perhaps best reflected in the Indian democratic system, where people from diverse backgrounds come together to participate in the world’s largest democracy. The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms to all its citizens, ensuring equality and justice by transcending regional and cultural barriers.
(7) Challenges to this unity arise, such as regional conflicts and cultural misunderstandings, but the overarching narrative of mutual coexistence persists. India’s ability to embrace diversity as a strength rather than a hindrance sets it apart globally as a symbol of unity.
Answer the following questions based on the above passage:
(i) The celebration of various festivals in India demonstrates:
(a) expertise
(b) skills
(c) regionalism
(d) diversity
(ii) What role does language play in Indian diversity?
(a) It is a unique blend of various religions
(b) It stands as a testament to South-east Asia
(c) It reflects India’s cultural richness
(d) It ensures justice for all
(iii) Complete the following suitably.
India stands as a testament to the coexistence of a multitude of identities harmoniously because _____.
Ans: of unity in diversity OR
of a unique blend of various cultures, languages, religions and traditions OR
of rich historical heritage
(iv) Rectify the given false statement.
The linguistic diversity is reflective of the people’s intolerance of varied means of expression.
Ans: The linguistic diversity is reflective of the people’s tolerance/ acceptance/ adaptability of varied means of expression.
(v) List any one classical music form mentioned in the passage.
Ans: Carnatic music/ Hindustani
(vi) What does the Indian Constitution guarantee to all its citizens?
Ans: Fundamental rights and freedoms OR
ensuring equality and justice.
(vii) How is Indian cuisine an example of regional diversity?
Ans: From the fiery dishes of the south to the rich curries of the north/ from the sweets of Gujarat to the street food of Mumbai
(viii) Explain in about 30 — 40 words, how the various Indian art forms represent cultural unity.
Ans: Traditional dance forms like Bharatanatyam from Tamil Nadu/ Kathak from North India/ Odissi from Odisha
(ix) What is the overarching narrative of India’s existence as per the passage?
Ans: In spite of regional conflicts and cultural misunderstandings mutual coexistence persists.
India’s ability to embrace diversity as a strength rather than a hindrance.
2. Read the following passage carefully:
Why do people travel ?
(1) There are many reasons for travel. Most tourist trips can be placed under the following categories.
(2) Leisure tourism trips make up 42% of travel. The main purpose is relaxation, rest and enjoyment. Most holidays are taken in family groups, couples or with groups of friends. Sometimes, people may choose to go on holiday by themselves to be on their own, or perhaps to meet new friends. Short breaks of less than one week are also becoming increasingly popular as second holidays. People choose to spend 2 or 3 nights away from home on a short break over a weekend or mid-week to relax and destress. These holiday choices are driven by what memorable experiences we hope to create and what we class as our definition of spending quality time together.
(3) Health and fitness tourism, such as a cycling tour, trekking, or a walking holiday (5%), is growing in popularity amongst the youth today. Also, sports tourism (3%) wherein sports tours are taken as a spectator, such as a visit to a major sporting event like the Olympics or a World Cup in another city or country.
(4) Health tourism (10%) implies going to a different country to have an operation or medical treatment not available or too expensive in the country where the person usually lives. This is making India a popular destination because of the excellent medical facilities it has to offer.
(5) Educational tourism (3%) covers school and college visits and foreign language exchanges linked directly to study experiences and are short visits made by high school students as they prepare for further studies.
(6) Spiritual tourism (2%) is where people travel both inbound and outbound to places of worship according to their beliefs.
(7) Business tourism (35%) — Many people have to travel in the course of their business life apart from making a regular journey to and from where they normally work. It may involve driving to a meeting or flying to another country for conferences or corporate events. Business tourism is very important to the travel and tourism industry as it takes place all through the year and some travel and tourism businesses, such as budget hotel chains, rely heavily on income from business travellers.
Answer the following questions based on the above passage :
(i) Complete with a suitable reason.
People go on holidays together to _____.
Ans: spend quality time together OR
to create memorable experiences OR
To relax and destress OR
To rest and enjoy
(ii) Fill in the blank with an appropriate word/phrase.
The phrase ‘driven by’ in paragraph (2) suggests that the choice of holiday destination _____ people’s experiences.
Ans: is motivated by/depends on/fuelled by/ inspired by
(iii) Short holidays of 2 — 3 days are becoming popular :
(a) because people have limited holidays.
(b) because people have increased their holiday budgets.
(c) to take a break from the stress of daily life.
(d) to visit historical places.
(iv) Why do tourists travel abroad for sports tourism?
I. It is more economical.
II. To watch family members play.
III. To be spectators at world events.
IV. It doubles up for both sports and leisure.
V. To train for sporting events.
Select the correct option :
(a) Only I
(b) II and V
(c) II, III and IV
(d) Only III
(v) Why is India a popular destination for health tourism?
Ans: for its excellent health facilities / medical treatment not available in their own countries /medical treatment too expensive in their own countries.
(vi) Which is the most popular form of tourism and why?
Ans: Leisure tourism
friends/families travel together/visit different places/away from stresses of life/create memorable memories/have fun/spend quality time together
(vii) Explain why business tourism is important for the travel industry.
Ans: It takes place all through the year
Budget hotel chains, rely heavily on income from business travellers.
(viii) According to the above statistics, which form of tourism is the least popular at the present moment?
Ans: Spiritual
SECTION – B (WRITING SKILLS) (22 marks)
3. You are Rishabh/Rishita, Class Prefect of Class IX A. Write an email, in 50 words, to the Principal of your school, requesting him/her to provide an interactive board in your classroom.
Include valid reasons for your request.
You may copy the given template to write your email.
| From : | |
| To : | |
| Cc : | abc@xyzschool.com |
| Date : | April 16, 2025, 03:45 PM |
| Subject : |
4. Write a factual description, in not more than 100 words, of a working model of ‘Save Your Earth’ that you have prepared for your school’s Earth Day Exhibition.
5. (a) The National Bravery Awards are given to honour those children who have demonstrated selfless courage in the face of all odds. These awards serve as inspiration to other children and motivate them to follow in their footsteps. Similarly, the government should institute National Environment Crusader Awards for children who dedicate themselves to spreading awareness about saving the environment. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily, in 120 words, expressing your views on the above. Use you own ideas along with ideas from the unit Environment, to write the letter.
OR
(b) ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ has been India’s stand since times immemorial. However, you feel, to attract tourists, only tourism promotional drives do not suffice. It is important to sensitize those in the tourism industry to conduct themselves with propriety as hosts, and they must treat the tourists with respect, ensure their safety and support them during their visit. As Herbu R., write a letter to the Tourism Department expressing your concerns. Use your own ideas along with the ideas from the unit : Travel and Tourism, to write the letter in not more than 120 words.
6. (a) ‘Laugh out loud and feel happy and fit inside out’ for laughter is the best medicine. With stress mushrooming all around and among all ages, Laughter Yoga seems a great alternative way to physical and mental health. Use cues given below along with your own ideas and those you may have gathered from the unit : Health and Medicine, to write an article for your school magazine in about 150 words describing benefits of Laughter Yoga.
- e Improves Cardiovascular health
- Boosts Immune System → production of antibodies → activation of immune cells
- Reduces stress
- No special equipment required
- Cost effective
OR
(b) To meet the employment needs, the youth today are venturing into startups. As Veena/Veer of Class X A, write an article in about 150 words, for your school magazine discussing the merits of startups as a boon to self-reliance.
Use the cues given below along with your ideas and those you may have gathered from the unit : Education, to write the article.
- From job seeker to job creator
- Economic growth
- Self-reliance
- Decision-making freedom
- Flexible working conditions
SECTION-C (GRAMMAR) (10 marks)
7. Complete the tasks from (a) — (c), as directed.
(a) Fill in the blanks (i) — (iii) with the appropriate option from those in the brackets.
Prerna and Sushil _____ (has/have/had) spent years together. On growing up they _____ (had got/have got/got) separated and went their own ways. Sushil _____ (becomes/became/had become) a well-known sports personality while Prerna pursued her artistic passion.
(b) In the following paragraph, one word has been omitted in each line. In your answer sheet, remember to write the missing word along with the word that comes before and after it as shown below. The first one has been done as an example.
| No. | Text | Word before | Omission | Word after |
| e.g. | A particular mineral that will formed from a certain combination of elements. | will | be | formed |
| i. | This depends the physical | depends | on / upon | the |
| ii. | and chemical conditions under the material forms. | under | which | the |
| iii. | This results a wide range of colours, | results | in | a |
| iv. | hardness, crystal forms, lustre density that a particular mineral possesses. | lustre | and | density |
(c) Do as directed.
(i) Rearrange the following jumbled words/phrases in the given dialogue to create a meaningful sentence.
The King summoned his ministers who were whispering to each other and said to them:
The King: What are you whispering about?
Minister 1: ‘Your highness, we were talking about the new education policy in the country.
Minister 2: education experience / a more dynamic / for a holistic / the NEP is / and wholesome / pave the way / approach / which will
Ans: The NEP is a more dynamic approach which will pave the way for a holistic and wholesome education experience. OR
The NEP is a more dynamic and wholesome approach which will pave the way for a holistic education experience.
(ii) Report the dialogues to complete the paragraph that follows.
The King summoned his ministers who were whispering to each other and said to them:
The King : How will the new policy benefit college students?
Minister 2 : The policy will provide for an interdisciplinary education that has flexible study plans.
The King asked Minister 2 how would the new education policy benefit college students?
Minister 2 told the king that the new education policy would provide for an interdisciplinary education that has/ that would have/along with flexible study plans.
SECTION-D (LITERATURE TEXTBOOK) (26 marks)
Note: Some questions may have varying answers. For value points where the solution is not provided, please refer to the official answer key / marking scheme using the link given below.
8. Read the following excerpts and answer the questions briefly, for any two excerpts, of the given three, (a), (b), (c).
(a) I am important to her. She comes and goes.
Each morning it is her face that replaces the darkness.
In me she has drowned a young girl, and in me an old woman
Rises toward her day after day, like a terrible fish.
(Mirror)
(i) Why is the mirror important for her?
(ii) With what hope does the woman keep coming back to the mirror every day?
(iii) Which young girl has been drowned? Where and how?
(iv) Name the literary device in ‘like a terrible fish’.
(b) ‘……. that now, forgetting his sport, he would become lost in the admiration of the green cornfield. He reflected deeply, and came to the conclusion that the whole universe was built up through love and that the grief of separation was inescapable.’
(The Letter)
(i) Why has Ali forgotten his sport?
Ans: Daughter got married and no news of her whereabouts /understood the pain of separation from the dear ones / has now become preoccupied with the hope of receiving a letter from his daughter.
(ii) What do the above lines tell you about Ali’s attitude towards nature?
Ans: Has started appreciating tranquility of nature through the green cornfield; admiration/ love for nature
(iii) What did his deep reflection of life make him realise?
Ans: Has started appreciating tranquility of nature through the green cornfield; admiration/ love for nature
(iv) What does the writer mean by ‘grief of separation’?
Ans: Has started appreciating tranquility of nature through the green cornfield; admiration/ love for nature
(c) DECIUS BRUTUS:
And know it now: the senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
If you shall send them word you will not come,
Their minds may change.
CAESAR:
How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!
I am ashamed I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.
(i) How does Decius Brutus persuade Caesar?
Ans: Senate intends to crown him that day
if he doesn’t go, the Senate might change their decision
(ii) What did Calpurnia’s fears make her do?
Ans: requested/pleaded Caesar not to go to the Senate.
(iii) What do the above lines tell you about Caesar’s character?
Ans: ambitious nature/ vulnerability to flattery /pride/ arrogance/ vanity /stubbornness/greed for power
(iv) Why does Caesar say that he was ashamed of himself?
Ans: given in to his wife’s fears /swayed by Calpurnia’s request or fear/ let fear influence his decisions
9. Answer any five of the following questions in 30 — 40 words each :
(i) Despite such a tender age, what made the two boys — Nicola and Jacopo work so hard ? (Two Gentlemen of Verona)
(ii) ‘The vanity of human glory and power is transient.’ Elucidate with reference to the poem ‘Ozymandias’.
(iii) What does Ouija board in ‘A Shady Plot’ symbolize?
(iv) How, according to you, did Sebastian’s normal life get revived? Give an argument in support of your answer. (Virtually True)
(v) Why and how, according to Shakespeare, is the pen mightier than the monuments or even the mighty kings?
(Not Marble, nor the Gilded Monuments)
(vi) Why, according to you, did Patol Babu long to act ? Cite reasons from the story. (Patol Babu, Film Star)
10. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 150 words:
(a) From the poems ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ and ‘The Snake’, discuss how the characters, the albatross and the snake view human attitude and perspective towards creatures.
OR
(b) Both, the poem “The Frog And The Nightingale’ and the story ‘Mrs. Packtetide’s Tiger, reflect themes of exploitation of others in pursuit of personal benefit. How, according to you, do each of these literary works manipulate situations to attain their personal desires and with what consequences?