CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature Sample Paper 2015 Set F

SECTION – A

(Reading)

1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 

It was very hot in the court-room. Everybody was feeling sleepy. After a tiring morning, the clerks were anxious to get off to lunch. Even the judge seemed relieved when the last case came up before the court. A short middle-aged man with grey hair and small blue eyes was now standing before him. The man had a foolish expression on his face and he kept looking stupidly as if he was trying hard to understand what was going on. The man was accused of breaking into the house and stealing a cheap watch. The witness who was called did not give a very clear account of what had happened. He claimed to have seen the man outside the house one night, but on being questioned further, he confessed that he was not sure whether this was the man. The judge considered the matter for sometime and said that as there was no real proof, the man could not be found guilty of any crime. He said that the case was dismissed and then he rose to go. Meanwhile the accused looked very puzzled and said suddenly, “Excuse me, Sir, but do I have to give the watch back or not?” (200 words)

1.1. Answer the following questions briefly

(a) Why did the judge feel relieved when the last case came up? 

(b) What did the last person facing the judge look like? 

(c) What was the charge against the man? 

(d) Did the judge find the man guilty? Why/ why not? 

(e) Was the man facing trial guilty or innocent? Give a reason for your answer. 

1.2. Find words/ phrases from the passage which mean the same as the following. 

i. comforted; felt pleased that something unpleasant has ended …….

ii. admitted something that one felt embarrassed about………………..

iii. the person charged with a criminal case……………….

2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow : 

A mask is a ‘false face’. It can have several functions. First, it is used to hide the identity of the person wearing it. Criminals often wear it for this reason. Masks may also be worn for having fun. At one time, masked balls were very popular in Europe. People who attended these dances wore masks and only removed them at the end of the night. Another function is to change the wearer into another person or being. This is based on the old belief in some cultures that the person wearing the mask can change into the character of the mask as there are spirits in all living and non-living matter and these are contained within a mask made of such matter. Masks are also important in many different kinds of dance and theater. The audience recognizes the characters played by the actor by identifying the masks they wear. (149 words)

2.1. Answer the following questions briefly

(a) Why does the author call a mask ‘a false face’? 

(b) Why do criminals wear masks?

(c) What was the use of masks in masked balls? 

(d) For how long did people attending masked balls keep their masks on?

(e) What is the ancient belief associated with masks? 

(f) How can masks be useful to stage actors?

Please refer to attached file for CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature Sample Paper 2015 Set F