SECTION A – READING [5 Marks]
Q.1. Read the passage and answer the questions below:
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. It affects every
part of the planet, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains. Plastic takes hundreds of
years to decompose, and most of it ends up in landfills or the sea. Marine animals often mistake
it for food and die after consuming it. Humans, too, are affected as microplastics have now
entered the food chain.
To combat plastic pollution, many countries are banning single-use plastics and encouraging
recycling. However, recycling alone is not the solution. People must reduce their plastic
consumption and switch to sustainable alternatives like cloth bags, glass containers, and
biodegradable packaging. Education and awareness can also play a vital role in solving this
problem.
Answer the following:
i) What is the main environmental issue discussed in the passage?
ii) How are marine animals affected by plastic?
iii) What are some alternatives to plastic suggested in the passage?
iv) Mention one limitation of recycling according to the passage.
v) Suggest a suitable title for the passage.
SECTION B – GRAMMAR [5 Marks]
Q.2. Fill in the blanks or correct the following:
Choose the correct option:
He has been playing the guitar ______ he was ten.
a) for
b) by
c) since
d) from
Identify the error and correct it:
The girl with her friends are going to the museum.
Error: ______ | Correction: ______
Choose the correct modal:
You ______ submit the form before 4 p.m.
a) can
b) must
c) might
d) could
Convert into indirect speech:
Mother said to me, “Finish your homework before going out.”
Ans: _______________________________________
Choose the correct passive form:
They will finish the project by Friday.
a) The project will be finished by Friday.
b) The project is finishing by Friday.
c) The project has been finished by Friday.
d) The project had been finished by Friday.
SECTION C – WRITING [10 Marks]
Q.3. (4 Marks)
Analytical Paragraph
Q.4. (4 Marks)
Letter Writing
You are Riya/Ravi of 78, Ashok Nagar, Agra. Write a letter to the Editor of The Times Express
expressing concern about the excessive use of mobile phones by teenagers and how it is
affecting their social life and studies.
SECTION D – LITERATURE [22 Marks]
Q.5. (4 Marks)
Read the extract and answer the questions:
“He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.”
i. Who is ‘he’ in the poem?
a) A zookeeper
b) The poet
c) A tiger
d) A child
ii. What is meant by ‘the last voice at night’?
a) A lullaby
b) The cry of birds
c) Sound of guards
d) Sirens from vehicles
iii. What literary device is used in “brilliant eyes at the brilliant stars”?
a) Simile
b) Metaphor
c) Alliteration
d) Irony
iv. What is the mood of the tiger in this stanza?
a) Cheerful
b) Hopeful
c) Restless
d) Peaceful
v. What theme is reflected in this stanza?
a) Power of dreams
b) Freedom and confinement
c) War and peace
d) Love for nature
Q.6. (6 Marks)
Answer any two in 40–50 words each:
How did the thief plan to win Anil’s trust in “The Thief’s Story”?
What kind of damage did the hailstorm cause to Lencho’s crops?
What made Ausable different from other secret agents?
What does the poem “Fire and Ice” convey about human emotions?
Q.7. (6 Marks)
Answer any one in 100–120 words:
"A simple moment can change the course of a day." How does the poem “Dust of Snow” reflect
this idea?
Hari Singh was a thief but not a hardened criminal. Justify the statement with reference to “The
Thief’s Story.”
Q.8. (6 Marks)
Answer any one in 100–120 words:
Suppose you are Nelson Mandela. Write a diary entry on the day of your swearing-in ceremony,
expressing your thoughts and emotions.
Imagine Lencho writes another letter to God after receiving the money. Write the letter sharing
his feelings and reflections.
