CBSE Class 10 English Sample Paper 2017 Set A

SECTION A : READING (Reading)

1. Read the passage given below and complete the sentences that follow : 

Hibernation is one of the main adaptations that allow certain northern animals to survive long, cold winters. Hibernation is like a very deep sleep that allows animals to save their energy when there is little or no food available. The body functions of true hibernators go through several changes while they are hibernating. Body temperature drops, and the heart rate slows down. For example, a hibernating Woodchuck's body temperature drops by more than 30 degrees Celsius, and its heart rate slows from 80 to 4 beats per minute! Other true hibernators include the jumping mouse, little brown bat, Eastern Chipmunk, and several ground squirrels. Other animals, such as the Skunk and Raccoon, are not considered true hibernators, as they wake up in the winter to feed, and their body functions do not change as much. Since they only sleep for a little bit at a time, the term dormancy or 'light sleeping' is used to describe their behavior. The largest animals to hibernate are bears. Their heart rate may slow down from a usual 40-50 beats per minute to 8-12 beats per minute, but their body temperature changes very little, so they are able to wake up quickly. Hibernating animals have a special substance in the blood called hibernation inducement trigger, or HIT. This substance becomes active in the fall, when the days become cooler and shorter. When HIT becomes active, the animals start preparing for winter. Some animals store food so that they can eat when they wake up, and some animals eat a lot in late summer and fall to add excess fat to their bodies. This fat keeps them warmer and acts as a source of energy while they are sleeping. Some animals also shift to the places where they will sleep (dens). They add leaves and grasses to keep themselves warm.

(a) Animals hibernate to _

(b) The Skunk and Raccoon are not true hibernators as _

(c) Bears are able to wake up quickly because their much.

(d) Animals eat a lot before hibernating because they _

(e) Animals start preparing for hibernation when warmth.

(f) The largest animals to hibernate are __.

g) The animals add and to keep themselves warm.

(h) The word from the passage which means 'a thing that persuades or leads someone to do something' is

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

Our opportunities are great but let me warn you that when power outstrips ability, we will fall on evil days. We should develop competency and ability which would help us utilize the opportunities which are now open to us. From tomorrow morning - from midnight today - we cannot throw the blame on the Britishers. We have to assume the responsibility ourselves for what we do. A free India will be judged by the way in which it will serve the interests of the common man in the matters of food, clothing , shelter and social activities. Unless we root out corruption in high places and root out every trace of nepotism, love of power, profiteering and black marketing which have spoiled the good name of this country in recent times, we will not be able to raise the standards of efficiency in administration as well as in the production and distribution of the necessary goods of life. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru referred to the great contribution which this country will make to the promotion of world peace and the welfare of mankind. The chakra, the Asokan wheel, which is there in the flag embodies for us a great idea so dear to. Asoka, the greatest of our emperors. Look at the words of H.G.Wells about him 'Highnesses, Magnificence’s, Excellences, Serenities, Majesties. Among them all, he shines alone a star, Asoka the greatest of all monarchs.' He cut into rock his message for the healing of discords. If there are differences, the way in which you can solve them is by promoting concord. Concord is the only way by which we can get rid of differences. There is no other method which is open to us. We are lucky in having for our leader, one who is a world citizen, who is essentially a humanist, who possesses a buoyant optimism and robust good sense in spite of the perversity of things and the hostility of human affairs. We believe that if India gains freedom, that freedom will be used not merely for the well-being of India but for Vishva Kalyana, world peace, the welfare of mankind.

Extract from a speech btj Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

(a) When do we fall on evil days?

(b) How will a free India be judged?

(c) What did Pandit Nehru refer to?

(d) What will India use its freedom for?

(e) What is meant by the word "to go much faster'? (para 5)

(i) profiteering          (ii) nepotism

(iii) outstrip              (iv) raise

(f) Which word in the passage means 'favoritism'? (para 1)

(i) consideration          (ii) shelters promoting

(iii) nepotism              (iv) concern

(g) Find the word opposite in meaning to 'production'? (para 1)

(i) consumption           (ii) distribution

(iii) excess                   (iv) service

(h) Find the word from the passage opposite inmeaning to, 'war'? (para 2)

(i) welfare                    (ii) peace

(iii) healing                  (iv) monarch

SECTION B : WRITING AND GRAMMAR 

3. Many mainstream "masala" movies use incorrect English to entertain and earn. This affects to spread awareness of the same. Write a letter in 100 120 words to the editor of a national daily, providing inputs on the pros and cons of it. You are Arun/ Aarti, 112Bank Street Agra.

4. Write the story in about 150-200 words beginning with the following line and give it a  suitable title. 'As soon as I tasted the food in the dhaba, I was reminded of a delicaet;that was cooked m; my grandma, many years back. Her death had taken with it the secret of that one special ingredient in the dish, of which only she was aware of .....This tasted so much like ......

5. Read the paragraph given below. Fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate words/phrases from the given options.

The FBI field office is a four-storey brick fortress (a) the southern shore of Lake Pontchartrain. We stop at the heavy iron gate

(b) show an armed guard our credentials. Once inside, we hurry (c) to the vestibule where a woman awaits us.

6. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the error and  the correction inyour answer sheet against the correct blank number. The first one has been done as an example.

Error Correction

There was a roundabout in full swing. Men, woman and e.g. woman women

children shrieked and crying                                            (a)

with dizzy laughter. The child watched him intently            (b)

going round, a pink blush of a smiles                                (c)

in his face and a desire to be part of the joyful people.       (d)

7. Rearrange the following words/phrases to make meaningful sentences. 

(a) invention/perhaps/man's greatest /wheel/is/the

(b) long distances/ difficult/it was/ travel/earlier I to

(c) to travel/therefore/very adventurous/ only/ dared/people

SECTION C: LITERATURE

Read one of the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:-

8 "Don't buy" warned Luigi,our cautious driver. 

You will ........................

(a) What was being sold and by whom?

(b) Why did the driver dissuade the narrator from buying anything?

(c) What does word, 'cautiotis' mean here?

OR

Now I am a lake. A woman bends over me,

Searching my reaches for what she really is.

Then she turns to those liars, the candles or the moon.

I see her back,and reflect it faithfully.

She rewards me with tears and an agitation of hands.

(a) What is common between the mirror and a lake?

(b) Why are candles and the moon called liars ?

(c) What is meant by 'searching my reaches'?

Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each.

9a Describe how the monuments and statues brave the ravages of time. 

9b How does Louisa Mebbin exploit the incident of killing the tiger to her greatest advantage ? 

9c Why was Ali leading a life of cheerless existence ? 

9d How do all members of the family react when they see grandfather alive ?

Answer one of the following questions in about 80-100 words:

10 'Materialism makes for shaky relationships'. Do you agree with the statement? Explain with reference to the play, 'The Dear Departed', highlighting the values required by the two sisters.

OR

People these days adopt various ways to assert their importance. How does this prove to be correct in the case of the frog ? What values should people imbibe to be more humane intheir ways?

Answer one of the following questions in about 150-200 words:...

11 Apart from her father, why couldn't Anne have comfortable relationship with any one? 

OR

Anne describes herself as a 11little bundle of contradictions". Comment 

OR

How did Ms. Sullivan introduced her student to the pleasures of nature ? Explain. 

OR

Comment on the controversy related to the 'Frost King'. What does it indicate about the character of Helen ?

Please click the link below to download CBSE Class 10 English Sample Paper 2017 Set A