CBSE English X Sample Paper 3 Page 1

Sample Paper 3
Class X Exam 2023-24
English-Language and Literature (184)
Time Allowed : 3 Hrs. Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:
1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading.
2. The Question Paper contains THREE sections READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and LITERATURE.
3. Attempt question based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION A- READING SKILLS 20 very important : in fact, a short drizzle can activate the
dry deposit without washing it away, and in this case
the pH of rain droplets is of secondary importance;
I. Read the passage given below. 10 on the other hand, showers supply abundant water
1. The problem of the conservation of historical which favours dissolution of the stone and removal of
monuments (statues, columns, ancient buildings) the solute, resulting in a thinning of the original rock.
requires an accurate study of the many environmental Another important factor is the dynamic regime (i.e.
agents which bring about the deterioration process laminar or turbulent) of the water flowing over the
and affect the actual rate of deterioration. Among the surface of the monument.
most active causes of weathering, we can cite : (i) the 5. In zones where the surface of marble or calcareous
weakening of the outer layer of the art work, which monuments is only wetted, but protected from run-
is caused by complex microphysical effects and is in off, black crusts (characterized by crystals of gypsum
particular due to wetting of the outer layer of the and calcite with carbonaceous particles embedded in
artwork (a comparison between the effects of rainwater the crusts) are formed. Zones subjected to heavy run-
and condensation is made); (ii) the chemico-physical off are also subjected to a thinning of the rock and
action of pollutants captured in both the dry and wet small authentic calcite crystals form that are white in
phase. appearance.
2. The destructive processes depend on many factors : 6. In the case of relatively unpolluted towns, where
the past history of the monument, the capture and marble and limestone sulphation is not the main cause
nature of the pollutants, and the frequency of some of the deterioration process, biological deterioration
microclimatic conditions, particularly those supplying mechanisms are often very important, due to the
the water necessary for chemical reactions. To this activity of epilithic and endolithic microflora and
end studies of diurnal and seasonal variations on the microfauna.
monument of both the heat wave and the fluxes of
moisture and energy are very important. 7. The case of particularly precious mortars, e.g.
murals or frescoes, is discussed in order to clarify the
3. Some of these processes have been shown with thermodynamic method proposed for the analysis of
microclimatic studies and microphysical investigation experimental campaigns. Finally actions are described
associated with mineralogic and chemical analyses that act on the causes and not only on the effects.
of samples of weathered material. Mathematical
models in some cases (especially for solar radiation Based on your understanding of the passage, answer
and temperature) permit physical simulation, the questions given below.
reconstruction of past data and extrapolation into the
future observation of many monuments from different i. List any two factors on which the destructive processes
epochs; situated at various sites, gives examples of the of historical monuments depend.
fundamental processes that are often associated with, 1. __________
or masked by, other effects. 2. __________
4. The main weathering processes are due to the ii. The problem of the conservation of historical
combined action of rainwater and atmospheric monuments requires :
pollutants (particularly the carbonaceous particles
(a) an understanding of the deterioration process.
due to combustion) deposited on the surface of the
monument. The way in which the surface is wetted is
Page 2 Sample Paper 3 CBSE English X

(b) an accurate study of the many environmental ix. State whether the following statement is TRUE or
agents. FALSE:
(c) an accurate assumption of effects of rainwater. When talking about weathering processes, the way in
(d) an understanding of the effects caused by the which the surface is wetted is very important.
chemico-physical action of pollutants. x. Substitue the word ‘weathering’ with ONE WORD
iii. The main weathering processes of the monument similar in meaning, in the following sentence from
are caused due to the deposition of _____ on the paragraph 4:
surface of the monument. The main weathering processes are due to the combined
action of rainwater and atmospheric pollutants...
(a) gypsum and calcite with carbonaceous particles
(b) the heat wave and the fluxes of moisture and
energy II. Read the passage given below. 10
(c) pollutants which weaken the art work 1. The ocean is one of the most unexplored parts of our
(d) the combined action of rainwater and atmospheric planet, with a magnitude of undiscovered species and
pollutants mysteries. It turns out from the studies conducted over
the last few decades, this magnificent environment is
iv. What favours the dissolution of the stone and removal under serious threat from human intervention, with
of the solute, resulting in a thinning of the original plastics set to outnumber fish by 2050.
rock? 2. Marine life, as we know it, is suffering irreparable
damage from the chemical pollution of the waters and
v. To understand the destructive process of a monument
the millions of tons of mismanaged waste dumped in
it is very important to study the :
the oceans each year. The result is a planetary crisis
(a) moisture deposited on the monument yearly. with over 100 million marine animal’s lives get lost
(b) understand the variations of heat affecting the every year, and the decay of the ocean’s ecosystem.
monument.
(c) diurnal and seasonal variations on the monument. Shocking Ocean Pollution Statistics:
(d) fluxes of energy experienced by the monument. • 100 melon marine animals die each year from plastic
waste alone.
vi. Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option. • 100000 marine animal die from getting entangled in
Zones that experience _____ are also subjected plastic yearly - this is just the creatures we find.
to a thinning of the rock and small authentic calcite • 1 in 3 marine mammal species get found entangled in
crystals form that are white in appearance on the litter, 12-14000 tons of plastic are ingested by North
Pacific fish yearly.
monument.
• In the past 10 years, we’ve made more plastic than
(a) extreme air pollution the last century. By 2050, the pollution of fish will be
(b) acid rainfall outnumbered by our dumped plastic.
(c) harsh winds • The largest trash site on the planet is the Great
(d) heavy run-off Pacific Garbage Patch, twice the surface area of Texas,
it outnumbers sea life there 6 to 1.
vii. Which of the following will be the most appropriate • Chine is ranked #1 for mismanaged waste and
title of the passage ? plastics. However, the US is in the top 20 with a more
significant waste per person contributions.
(a) Deterioration Process of Historical Monuments
• 300 Million tons of plastic gets created yearly, and this
(b) Monuments and their Deteriorations weighs the same as the entire human population, and
(c) The Legacy of Monuments 50% is single-use only.
(d) The Science of Deterioration • There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waster
estimated to be in our oceans. 269000 tons float, 4
viii. Complete the following analogy correctly with a billion microfibers per km2 dwell below the surface.
word/phrase from paragraph 2: • 70% of our debris sinks into the ocean’s ecosystem,
tree : sap :: hydrant : _____ 15% floats and 15% lands on our beaches.
(Clue : Just like a tree is a source of sap, similarly a • In terms of plastic, 8.3 million tons are discarded
hydrant is a source of...) in the sea yearly. Of which, 236000 are ingestible
microplastics that marine creatures mistake for food.
CBSE English X Sample Paper 3 Page 3

• Plastics take 500-1000 years to degrade; currently (b) garbage

79% is send to lands or the oceans, while only 9% is (c) plastics
recycled, and 12% gets incinerated. (d) human waste
• 1950-1998 over 100 nuclear blast tests occurred in our
oceans. iii. The largest trash site on the planet, the Great Pacific
• 500 marine locations are now recorded as dead zones Garbage Patch, is twice the size of which city?
globally, currently the size of the United Kingdom’s (a) Arizona
surface (245000 km2)
(b) Florida
• 80% of global marine pollution comes from agriculture
runoff, untreated sewage, discharge of nutrients and (c) Colorado
pesticides. (d) Texas
• 90% of the worldwide ocean debris comes from 10
rivers alone. iv. Which country is ranked number one for mismanaged
waste and plastics?
3. Almost 1,000 species of marine animals get impacted v. Which of the following is not a place from where 80%
by ocean pollution, and we now have over 500 of global marine pollution comes?
locations recorded as dead zones where marine life
(a) agriculture run-off
cannot exist. How did this happen, what is causing
the most damage, find out everything above in the (b) untreated sewage
marine pollution statistics round-up. (c) discharge of nutrients and pesticide
4. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a floating island (d) factory waste disposal
of debris, accumulated in the North Pacific Ocean by
vi. State whether the following statement is TRUE or
an extensive system of currents called gyres. It is built
FALSE:
up from two other waste patches, the western garbage
patch near Japan and the eastern garbage patch near 700 marine locations are now recorded as dead zones
America’s west coast near California and Hawaii. globally.
5. The North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone vii. Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option:
links the east and western garbage patches, acting as An extensive system of currents in the North Pacific
a highway for waste to move from one to the other. Ocean is called _____.
Because of this, a small item of debris dropped near
(a) debris
California can travel across to Japan, then eventually
get sucked up by these swirling garbage patch vortexes. (b) vortex
(c) convergence
6. The great pacific garbage patch size is quite shocking.
These patches of trash are said to be twice the (d) gyres
size of Texas and float on the surface but do drop
viii. Substitute the word ‘irreparable’ with ONE WORD
several meters into the ocean in places, which makes
similar in meaning, in the following sentence from
the correct size challenging to measure. The world’s
paragraph 2:
largest garbage site is mainly made up of microplastics
Marine life, as we know it, is suffering irreparable
creating a vast cloud, with newer items of debris that
haven’t broken down as much floating around like damage from the chemical pollution of the waters...
chunks in a soup. The great pacific garbage patch ix. Choose an option that is an antonym of the word
effects on marine life are extremely significant. ‘unexplored’ ?
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer (a) known
the questions given below. (b) undiscovered
(c) irrelevant
i. Infer one reason for the following, based on information
in paragraph 5: (d) unimportant
A small item of debris dropped near California can x. Based on your understanding of the text, list 2 reasons
travel across to Japan. for the following:
ii. According to the passage, what is set to outnumber Marine life is suffering from irreparable damage.
the fish in the ocean by the year 2050? 1. __________
2. __________
(a) pollution
Page 4 Sample Paper 3 CBSE English X

III. SECTION B- GRAMMAR 10 vi. Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word
in the bracket.
Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions. 10 Many a student _____ (try) hard to pass his
entrance exam.
i. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to
complete the sentence. vii. Report the dialogue between Gardener and Dev, by
The bridge is being _____ at the moment so it completing the sentence :
can’t be used. Gardener: Did you water the plant today?
Dev: No, but I will, today.
(a) repaired
Gardener: Then tomorrow I will get a sapling of
(b) repairing
sunflower.
(c) repair
(d) repairs The Gardener asked Dev if he had watered the plant
that day. Dev replied negatively but said he would
ii. Read the conversation between Raman and Anitha. that day. Then the gardener said that _____
Complete the sentence by reporting Anitha’s reply
correctly. viii. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the
Raman : What’s the matter, Anitha? correction.
Anitha : Oh, nothing. You cannot help me. I only Diwali, well known as the festival of lights, is a festival
want that blue umbrella. that is celebrate in almost all parts of India.

Raman asked Anitha what the matter was. She Use the given format for your response.
replied that it was nothing and he could not help her
as _____ Error Correction

iii. Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the
given line.
ix. Transform the following direct speech into reported
_____ I suggest a slight change in your plan ? speech:
(a) May The beggar said to the old man, “Can you tell me the
(b) Would way to the nearest temple?”
(c) Must
x. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option.
(d) Will
You have a large number of shirts. You _____ buy
iv. Select the option that identifies the error and supplies any more.
the correction for the following line: (a) need not
The people of India show remarkable unity at the (b) can not
time of Kargil Conflict. (c) would not
Option No. Error Correction (d) should not

(a) time times xi. Rohit and Rajat are discussing their plans for the
(b) conflict conflicts weekend. Complete the dialogue below by choosing
the correct option.
(c) show showed Rohit : How do you like the idea of going to the zoo?
(d) The A Rajat : That sounds good, But I _____ my parent’s
permission.
v. Complete the given sentence, by filling in the blank (a) needs to take
with the correct option : (b) need not to take
When I was a child, I _____ to school everyday
(c) needs not to take
instead of going by cycle.
(d) need to take
(a) walked
(b) have been walking xii. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the
(c) had walked correction.
At the age of seventeen, Galileo know that he had
(d) have walked
CBSE English X Sample Paper 3 Page 5

discovered an important law- a law of a pendulum. Or

Use the given format for your response. B. Study the concept chart from a recent study by WHO
that has described some positive effects of quitting
Error Correction smoking.

IV. SECTION B- CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS 10

All the names and addresses used in the questions are
fictitious. Resemblance, if any, is purely coincidental.

1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5

A. Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper highlighting
the problem of traffic jam near Chinpumi Temple
Crossing and suggesting some remedy for it.

Or
B. You are Neelam/Rakesh, Store Incharge Diksha
Stores, 32/54, Rajeev Nagar, Delhi. Your school
requires school bags and accessories in bulk for the
commencement of the new session. Write a letter of
inquiry to the Sales Manager, Sky Bags Industries
Ltd. 15/3, Ravi Nagar, Delhi enquiring about the
details of goods manufactured.

2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5

A. The two maps below show an island, before and after
the construction of some tourist facilities. Write an
analytical paragraph in 100-120 words by selecting and Write an analytical paragraph in 100-120 words,
reporting the main features, and making comparisons analysing the given information.
where relevant.

SECTION C- LITERATURE 40

V. Reference to the Context 10

1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. 5

1.A “Paper has more patience than people’ I thought of

this saying on one of those days when I was feeling a
little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin
in my hands, bored and listless, wondering whether
to stay in or go out. I finally stayed where I was,
brooding: Yes, paper does have more patience, and
since I’m not planning to let anyone else read this
stiff-backed notebook grandly referred to as a ‘diary’,
unless I should ever find a real friend, it probably
won’t make a bit of difference.”
(From the Diary of Anne Frank)
Page 6 Sample Paper 3 CBSE English X

i. ‘Paper has more patience than people.’ What does wrote for magazines - a queer way to make a living!
this imply? (The Thief ’s Story)

ii. Pick out the emoticon which clearly brings out the i. Complete the following with a phrase from extract:
meaning of ‘listless’ as used in the extract?
Opinion Reason
_______ Anil received money
intermittently.

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) ii. The information in the extract suggests that Anil
could be a
(a) Option (i)
(a) salaried professional
(b) Option (ii)
(b) freelancer
(c) Option (iii)
(c) business man
(d) Option (iv)
(d) volunteer
iii. Infer one reason for the following, based on information
in extract: iii. Complete the following analogy correctly with a
word/phrase from extract:
Anne doesn’t plan to let anyone else read her diary.
lose : find :: lend : _____
iv. If the diary were a ‘real friend’, what qualities would (Clue : Just like lose is antonym of find, similarly lend
Anne expect it to have? is antonym of...)
Pick the option that lists these correctly.
1. optimistic iv. The reference to making a little money ‘this way’
refers to a way that is viewed by most people as
2. good listener
3. confidant (a) sensible
4. energetic (b) inappropriate
5. non-judgemental (c) charitable
6. outgoing (d) Aggressive
7. ambitious
v. Based on your understanding of Anil in the extract,
(a) 1 and 4
choose the option that synchronises with his thinking.
(b) 5, 6 and 7
(a) So what if I don’t have much money? Giving it to
(c) 2, 3 and 5 that person is important as they could do with a
(d) 3 and 7 helping hand.
v. Pick out the sentence that brings out the meaning of (b) I better learn how to protect my money. I think
‘brooding’ as used in the extract? I’m being looted.
(a) The mysterious house on the hill is still brooding (c) I earn money with such tremendous effort. Where
above the village. does it all go?
(b) The people at the stock market always keep (d) When I become rich, I can begin to help friends
brooding about the gains. then. Right now, I will spend only on myself.
(c) He was brooding over the matter and took a long
time to decide. 2. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. 5
(d) Suspense and drama were brooding at the site of
2.A Some say the world will end in fire
the investigation.
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
Or
I hold with those who favour fire.
1.B I think he knew I made a little money this way but he (Fire and Ice)
did not seem to mind. Anil made money by fits and
i. Which literary device has been used in ‘I hold with
starts. He would borrow one week, lend the next. He
those who favour fire’ ?
kept worrying about his next cheque, but as soon as
(a) Simile
it arrived, he would go out and celebrate. It seems he
CBSE English X Sample Paper 3 Page 7

(b) Assonance (d) He wore make up

(c) Alliteration
v. Fill in the blank with ONE WORD only.
(d) Enjambment
All other pets were _____ to the dragon.
ii. How many predictions does the poet make for the
ending of the world? VI Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50
words each. 4 # 3 = 12
iii. What does ‘Fire’ symbolise according to the poet?
(a) Desire i. What was the effect of hailstones on Lencho’s crop ?
(b) Avarice (A Letter to God)
(c) Greed ii. Young seagull tried to fly but he could not. Why was
(d) All of these he afraid to fly ?
(Two Stories About Flying)
iv. State whether the following statement is TRUE or
FALSE: iii. Why should the tiger snarl around houses at the edge
People think that the world is a beautiful place to of the forest ?
live in. (A Tiger in the Zoo)
v. What is the poet’s opinion about the world? iv. What makes Chubukov misunderstand the purpose of
(a) The poet feels that a man should fulfil all his Lomov’s visit?
desires. (The Proposal)
(b) He think that we should control our growing
v. “Money is external”. What does the poet mean by
desires.
this expression taken from ‘The Ball Poem’ ?
(c) He feels that we should live life to the full.
(d) He says that one should live the life of an ascatic.
VII Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50
Or words each. 2#3 = 6

2.B Belinda tickled him, she ticked him unmerciful, i. How did Ausable befool Max about the balcony?
Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him (The Midnight Visitor)
Percival, ii. Griffin’s brilliance as a man of science fades before his
They all sat laughing in the little red wagon darker traits. Comment.
At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon. (Footprints Without Feet)
(The Tale of Custard the Dragon)
iii. What does Noodle tell Think-Tank about the books?
i. Who was tickled by Belinda?
(The Book that Saved the Earth)
ii. Why did she tickle ‘him’ ?
(a) To make him happy VIII Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120
(b) To bite him words. 6
(c) To make fun of him
i. Gotami comes to Buddha praying to him to revive
(d) To mistreat him her dead son. Buddha asks her to bring a handful of
mustard seeds from a house where no one has lost a
iii. Who are Ink, Blink and Mustard?
child, husband, parent or friend. Through this simple
(a) Belinda’s friend act, Buddha communicates the most profound truth of
(b) Belinda’s pet life, not only to Gotami but also to the whole mankind.
(c) Belinda’s neighbour What is the truth that Buddha communicates? What
(d) None of these lesson does Gotami learn? What changes would
take place in a common man’s life if that truth is
iv. Why did they all laugh at ‘him’ ? understood?
(a) He was a coward (The Sermon at Benares)
(b) He was childish
(c) He was too ugly
Page 8 Sample Paper 3 CBSE English X

Or
ii. “Difficulties do come in our lives, but they are not
there to stay forever.” Comment on this statement
with reference to the poem ‘Fog’ by Carl Sandburg.

IX Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120

words. 6
i. Albert Einstein said, ‘The important thing is to never
stop questioning.’ Richard was a genius who proved
this quote true. Justify.
(The Making of a Scientist)

Or
ii. Give a brief character sketch of Mrs. Pumphrey. What
values are reflected through her character ?
(A Triumph of Surgery)

