Roll No.

----------------- Please check that this question paper

contains 11 questions and 10 printed
pages.

D.A.V. INSTITUTIONS, CHHATTISGARH

SAMPLE PAPER- III 2023-24
CLASS – X
SUBJECT- ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE (184)
Time: 3 Hours M.M.-80
_________________________________________________________________________

General Instructions:
1. 15 minutes prior reading allotted for question paper reading.
2. The question paper consists of three sections-
Section – A: Reading
Section - B: Grammar & Writing
Section - C: Literature.
3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

Section A: Reading Skills- (20 Marks)

1. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. (10)

1. I know poverty and misery and I quite appreciate by personal experience what it is to be poor, what
it is to have no clothes, what it is to have no books, what it is to struggle through life and what it is
to walk through the streets without an umbrella, without conveyance along miles on dusty roads. I
have been through it all and I can understand the difficulties that most of you graduates have to face
today. I am speaking from a long experience of 60 years. Please do not imagine that all the 60 years
are milk and roses. To be able to accomplish something, I want to tell you that you have to go
through such experiences.

2. I admit success in life is not always to be intelligent and strong and it is to some extent a bit of a
gamble, but those who get their minds right and those know their job sooner or later, will sooner
perhaps than later make their way in life. But they should not be disappointed if they do not, they
have to face up to life and take it as they find it.

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3. What I say is that the great things in life are not great things in life. What I love is to enjoy the
common things of life. I am happy that I am still able to sleep at night provided I have three miles
walk in the evening. I am still able to enjoy a good lunch or and a good dinner. I am still able to
look at the blue sky and like it. I still like to walk in the open fields and like the smell of the Ragi or
the Jowar.

4. We think that happiness consists of going to pictures and seeing thrilling films and technicolor
dramas. Not at all, the great things in life are the God-given things which cost nothing. What you
need is the desire to appreciate them. If you have your minds and hearts open, you have around you,
things which give you joy. There is the butterfly jumping about in flourishing clouds on sides. Look
at the wonderful things that God has given for our enjoyment.

5. We have to love nature and appreciate nature and appreciate the wonderful gifts of nature’s
marvelous ingenuity, resourcefulness and infinite variety. It is the same thing that has inspired me
all of my life.

Answer the following questions based on the passage above.

(i) How had C.V. Raman’s childhood been difficult? (1)

(a) He had lived life as a poor (b) He had access to books only.

(c) He had to run on the streets (d) He never drank milk as child.

(ii) What is the greatest lesson being taught by C.V. Raman’s speech? Answer in about 40 words. (2)

(iii) Life has been termed a gamble because -----------------. (1)

(iv) Which of the following word from the passage is an antonym of the ‘Uniformity’? (1)

(a) Variety (b) Accomplish (c) Ingenuity (d) Appreciate

(v) According to the author the great things in life are ------------------------. (1)

(vi) What are the qualities from the passage that the author wants us to imbibe? Answer in about

40 words. (2)

(vii) The writer says, “What I say is that great things in life are not really great things in life” (1)

State the tone with which the writer says so.

(i) Factual (b) Disdain (c) Humorous (d) Lively

(viii) What does the speaker love in life? (1)

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2. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. (10)

1. Access to primary education is a basic right of every child. An effective primary education can build a
solid foundation and open avenues for future success. With its profound implications on both the
individual and society, primary education plays a crucial role in reducing extreme poverty and
promoting social changes. The Sustainable Development Agenda acknowledge the importance of
primary education in Goal 4 which stipulates that by 2030, the world should ensure inclusive and
equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, including a target on
universal access to primary education. Though there are varying standards, primary education is
typically designed for children 6 to 11 years of age.

2. Significant progress has been made toward achieving universal primary education. Globally, the
adjusted net attendance rate reached 87 percent in 2019 and about four out of five children attending
primary education completed it. Additionally, over the past two decades the number of out- of -school
children was reduced by over 40 per cent. However, there is still a long way to go: 58 million children
of primary school age remain out of school, with the majority of them coming from marginalized
groups. In addition, recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey(MICS) results show that many children
do not have foundational reading and numeracy skills, highlighting the massive challenge to achieving
inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

3. Globally, a lower proportion of children from the poorest families attend primary education compared
with their wealthier peers. While almost all children from the top wealth quintile attend primary
education, only 75 per cent of children from the bottom wealth quintile do.

4. Across different regions, household wealth impacts primary school completion rates differently. West
and Central Africa has the largest gap of 58 percentage points in primary school completion rates
between the richest and poorest quintiles. In contrast, in East Asia and the Pacific and Latin America
and the Caribbean, children from the top and bottom wealth quintiles complete primary school at more
similar rates with a gap of just 13 percentage points.

5. In the past 20 years, the number of out-of-school children of primary education age fell by more than 40
per cent from 99 million in 2000 to 58 million in 2019. However, 54 per cent of these out-of-school
children were girls. Despite this tremendous progress, the world must accelerate the pace at which the
number of out-of-school children is reduced, as the total has remained stagnant since 2007.

Answer the following questions based on the passage above.

(i) Complete the following sentence appropriately. (1)

---------------------------- have the highest rates of primary education completion in the rich
quintile.
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 (ii) Fill in the blanks with the appropriate option from those given in brackets, base on your
understanding the passage. (1)

There was a decline of ------------- (from 99 million in 2000 to 58 million in 2019/ from
99 million in 2000 to 68 million in 2019) in the number of out-of-school children of
primary education age is seen in the past two decades.

(iii) How is primary education critical to both and individual and a society? (2)

(iv) State one target related to primary education. (1)

(v) How much decline in the number of out-of-school children of primary education age is seen
in the past two decades? (1)

(vi) Which word can substitute the word ‘Foundational’ in the following sentence from
paragraph 2. (1)

In addition, recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) results show that many
children do not have foundational reading and numeracy skills, highlighting the massive
challenge to achieving inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

(a) Primary (b) essential (c) required (d) Fundamental

(vii) How does the Sustainable Development Goals give importance to primary education? (2)

(viii) In 2019, about four out of five children attending primary education completed it
suggests that (1)

(a) less than 80% children completed primary education.

(b) almost 100% children completed primary education.

(c) more than 80% children completed primary education.

(d) about 100% children completed primary education.

Section B: Grammar & Writing Skills- (10+10 = 20 Marks)

Grammar
3. Attempt any ten out of the following questions as directed. (10)

(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the following sentence.

Shadow puppets ------------------ in China.

(a) are originating (b) Originate

(c) originated (d) will have originated

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 (ii) Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the correction in the sentence.

Today, we are living in a society where information is everything and different forms of
media has become the strapping tool of communication and connectivity.

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

(iii) Mayank has seen a drama which he was narrating to his friend. Report the statement from the
drama.

The mother said to her son, “Change your shoes.”

(iv) Complete the sentence keeping the meaning of the statement intact.

The boss said to him, “Please tell me what the old man said today.”

The boss requested him

(a) to tell him what the old man had said today.

(b) to tell him what the old man said that day.

(c) to tell him what the old man said today.

(d) to tell him what the old man had said that day.

(v) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line.

You --------------------- have a university degree to take part in this competition.

(need/mustn’t/needn’t)

(vi) Identify the error in the given sentence.

All works of creative writing have aesthetics appeal

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

(vii) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line”

I can speak Arabic fluently when I was child and we lived in Morocco.

Option Error Correction

(a) can could
(b) was Were
(c) lived live
(d) in at

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 (viii) Complete the given sentence by filling in the blank with the correct option.

The plane ----------------- in two hours.

(a) will have taken off (b) will be took off

(c) will take off (d) will be taking off

(ix) Complete the narration of the dialogue between Gautami and Simran.

Gautami: Wow! Your new dress is very beautiful.

Simran: Thank you. My mother gifted it to me on my last birthday.

Gautami exclaimed cheerfully and told Simran --------------------------.

(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option.

------------------- students succeeded in passing than last year.

(a) Few (b) Fewer (c) Little (d) Much

(xi) Complete the line from a song, by filling in the blanks with the correct option.

“Like the horn you played in Catholic school

The city ----------------- open its mouth and cry out. Don’t worry ‘bout nothing.

(a) can (b) would (c) will (d) must

(xii) Identify the error in the given sentence.

Science and technology and their fallouts do not complete human culture.

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

Writing Skills
4. (A) You have recently seen your brother struggle with choosing the right course for his career. To
help him you did some research and found that many other students are facing the same
problem. Write a letter to the Editor emphasizing in about 100-120- words on the need of
educational counselors for guidance in matter of choosing a career in each school. (5)

Clues:

 Modern and competitive time

 Make a very difficult choice
 Students are misguided

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  No valid mechanism to access the suitability of candidates for a particular
stream
 Peer or parental pressure
 Regret their decisions
 A special post of educational counselor

OR

(B) You have lost your original certificates of Class X and XII. You want to get their duplicates
issued but you do not know the procedure. Write a letter to the Chairman, CBSE, PreetVihar
enquiring about the fee to be deposited, mode of payment, time taken by the Board for issuing
duplicate certificates and any other formalities. You are Tarun/Taruna, 7/9, Kunj Apartments,
Raipur.

5. (A) Given below is table showing the sales record of a shop: (5)

Note: Figures are in thousands

Indian Film Music Indian Classic Music Western Music

Months
Records Cassettes Records Cassettes Records Cassettes
January 180 150 20 05 30 10
February 200 150 15 10 40 10
March 190 170 40 10 50 15

Write an analytical paragraph interpreting the above data in about 120 words.

(B) The bar graph given below gives the percentage of social media users by age in India in 2020.
Write an analytical paragraph describing the information in 100-120 words. .

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 SECTION C: LITERATURE 40 MARKS

6. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow. (5)

A. The village constable was secretly sent for. Instead of waiting for the constable, Mrs. Hall went
to the scientist, who had somehow mysteriously appeared from his empty bedroom. “I want to
know what you have been doing to my chair upstairs,” she demanded. “And I want to know
how it is you came out of an empty room and how you entered a locked room.” The scientist
was always quick-tempered; now he became furious. “You don’t understand who or what I am
!” he shouted. “Very well- I’ll show you.”

(i) Why did Mrs. Hall feel that the room was haunted by spirits? (1)

(ii) The neighbours thought the trouble was caused by ‘witchcraft’? (1)

(iii) Why was the village constable secretly sent for? Answer in about 40 words. (2)

(iv) What did the scientist do on becoming furious? (1)

(a) He threw off bandage, whiskers, spectacles and even nose.

(b) He started throwing objects at everyone present in the inn.

(c) He started hitting everyone in the inn.

(d) He ran out of the inn.

OR

(B) The moon coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear sky above me.
There was not a cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone high up above the sleeping
countryside.

(i) What is the significance of not a single cloud in the sky? (1)

(ii) The pilot was flying a (1)

(a) black aeroplane (b) Dakota aeroplane

(c) Lockhead areoplane (d) F-71 bomber aeroplane

(iii) How did the pilot feel after calling the Paris Control first time? Answer in about 40
words. (2)

(iv) Read the following description (a) –(c) and identify which one correctly corresponds to
the extract. (1)

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 (a) A debate is formal discussion on a particular topic usually with two or more people
presenting different viewpoints and arguments.

(b) A description is the pattern of narrative development that aims to make vivid a place,
object, character, or group.

(c ) An aside is a brief comment or remark made by a character directly to the audience,

which is not intended to be heard by other characters on stage.

7. A. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow. (5)

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favour fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough to hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

(i) How can ‘Ice’ bring an end to the world? Answer in about 40 words. (2)

(ii) What figure of speech is used in the first line of the extract? (1)

(iii) ------------ can correctly replace the underlined phrase in the given line from the extract?(1)

I hold with those who favour fire.

(iv) Pick the option that is NOT TRUE about the poet according to the extract. The poet (1)

(a) is inclined to believe that the world would most likely end with fire.

(b) has heard divided opinions about the way the world would end in all likelihood.

(c) preaches love and kindness to combat the spread of hate among all.

(d) declares the power of ice to be destructive as that of fire.

OR

(B) There is a languid, emerald sea

Where the sole inhabitant is me-

A mermaid, drifting Blissfully.

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 (i) The colour of the sea is - (1)

(a) blue (b) yellow (c) red None of these

(ii) The poetic device used in line 2 and 3 of the extract is -------------------. (1)

(iii) What is an emerald ? (1)

(iv) Why does Amanda want to be a mermaid? Answer in about 40 words. (2)

8. Answer any four of the following questions in about 40-50 words each. (12)

(i) What does Anne Frank tell about her family in her diary?

(ii) What did the Buddha do after he had attained enlightenment? Why?

(iii) Write the message given by the poet of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’.

(iv) Certain qualities like bravery and courage are situational and spontaneous. Express your
views regarding this statement with reference to the poem ‘The Tale of Custard the
Dragon’.

(v) What does courage mean to Nelson Mandela?

9. Answer any two of the following questions in about 40-50 words each. (6)

(i) What was Loisel’s reaction to his wife’s desire for a new dress?

(ii) “But there was one thing I could do –collect things.” What collection did Ebright make?
When did he start making the collection?

(iii) What was Tricki’s ailment? How did it worry Mrs. Pumphrey?

10. Answer any one of the following questions in about 40-50 words each. (6)

A. Do you agree that the story ‘The Black Aeroplane is mysterious story?

B. ‘The Tale of the Custard Dragon’ highlights the fact that ‘Appearances can be deceptive’.
Based on the poem, write a speech on this topic in about 100-120 words.

11. Answer any one of the following questions in about 40-50 words each. (6)

A. “ Bholi is child different from others. This difference makes her an object of neglect and
laughter.” Elaborate.

B. What would have happened to Matilda if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost
her necklace?

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