Please refer to Sample Paper Class 10 English Term 2 Set B with solutions provided below. We have provided CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English as per the latest paper pattern and examination guidelines for Standard 10 English issued by CBSE for the current academic year. The below provided Sample Guess paper will help you to practice and understand what type of questions can be expected in the Class 10 English exam.

CBSE Sample Paper Class 10 English for Term 2 Set B

Section A
Reading

1. Read the passage given below:
(1) Have you ever failed at something so miserably that the thought of attempting to do it again was the last thing you ever wanted to do?
(2) If your answer is yes, then you are “not a robot.” Unlike robots, we human beings have feelings, emotions, and dreams. We are all meant to grow and stretch despite our circumstances and our limitations. Flourishing and trying to make our dreams come true is great when life is going our way. But what happens when it is not? What happens when you fail despite all of your hard work? Do you stay down and accept the defeat or do you get up again and again until you are satisfied? If you have a tendency to persevere and keep going then you have what the experts call, grit.
(3) Falling down or failing is one of the most agonizing, embarrassing and scariest human experiences. But it is also one of the most educational, empowering and essential parts of living a successful and  fulfilling life. Did you know that perseverance (grit) is one of the seven qualities that have been described as the keys to personal success and betterment in society? The other six are: curiosity, gratitude, optimism, self-control, social intelligence and zest. Thomas Edison is a model for grit for trying 1,000 plus times to invent the light bulb. If you are reading this with the lights on in your room, you know well that he succeeded. When asked why he kept going despite his hundreds of failures, he merely stated that they were not failures. They were hundreds of ways not to create a light bulb. This statement not only revealed his grit but also his optimism for looking at the bright side.
(4) Grit can be learnt to help you become more successful. One of the techniques that help is mindfulness. Mindfulness is a practice that helps the individual stay in the moment by bringing awareness of his or her experience without judgement. This practice has been used to quiet the noise of their fears and doubts. Through the simple practice of mindfulness, individuals will have the ability to stop the self-sabotaging downward spiral of hopelessness, despair and frustration.
(5) What did you do to overcome the negative and self-sabotaging feelings of failure? Reflect on what you did, and try to use those same powerful resources to help you today.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the six given below:

(i) How are humans different from robots?
Ans. Humans have feelings and emotions whereas robots don’t.

(ii) What is perceived as grit?
Ans. To persevere and keep going is perceived as gift.

(iii) Which are the seven qualities described as the keys to personal success?
Ans. Perseverance (grit), curiosity, gratitude, optimism, self control, social intelligence and zest.

(iv) What is mindfulness according to the passage?
Ans. It is a practice that helps the individual to stay in the moment by bringing awareness of his or her  experience without judgement.

(v) How does mindfulness help an ‘individual’?
Ans. Mindfulness helps an individual from going down the line of despair.

(vi) In what ways can grit be developed?
Ans. Grit can be developed by not accepting defeat and making efforts to overcome limitations as  Thomas Edison did.

2. Read the following excerpt from a case study titled ‘Namami Ganga Programme’:
For millions of people in India, river Ganga is the most sacred river. It is considered as mother and  goddess. It is also a lifeline to millions of Indians who live on the banks of its course and depend on it for their daily needs. River Ganga is the third largest river in the world by the amount of water that flows  through it. It is the longest river in India. The river water of Ganga is used for irrigation, transportation and fishing. The Gangetic plain formed by river Ganga is one of the most fertile lands on earth. This is why almost 10% of the world population lives here and earns its livelihood. The Ganga, in India is the most worshipped body of water. The irony here is that in spite of being the most worshipped river, it is also the dirtiest one. It carries metals thrown out by tanneries, waste produced by industries and urban waste from different cities. All this has made river Ganga the fifth most polluted river in the world. Another major reason that adds to the Ganga river pollution is the coal based power plants on its banks which burn tons of coal every year and produce a lot of fly ash. This ash mixed with domestic waste water is released into the river. This bad situation calls for an urgent need to make efforts to reduce pollution and revive river Ganga. To achieve these objectives, the Government of India has started a programme named “Namami Ganga Programme”. The main pillars of this programme are sewage treatment, river surface cleaning, afforestation, river front development and public awareness. The importance of the success of “Namami Ganga Programme” can be seen through the following lines: “ If Ganga dies, India dies. If Ganga thrives, India thrives. No Ganga, No India”.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the six given below.

(i) What is the importance of river Ganga?
Ans. Ganga is considered as mother and goddess. Ganga the most sacred river is considered as a lifeline  to millions of Indians.

(ii) What are the uses of the river water of Ganga?
Ans. The Ganga water is used for irrigation, transportation and fishing.

(iii) Why does almost 10% of world population live here?
Ans. The Gangetic plain formed by river Ganga is one of the most fertile lands on earth. As a result, almost 10% of the world population lives here.

(iv) List the pollutants that make river Ganga very dirty.
Ans. The effluents from industries, urban waste from cities and metals discharged from tanneries make Ganga very dirty.

(v) ‘Namami Ganga Programme’ is about ______________.
Ans. the urgent need to make efforts to reduce pollution and revive river Ganga.

(vi) Which state spent the least amount on cleaning Ganga in 2017-18 as compared to other states?
Ans. Bihar spent the least amount i.e., ` 183.6 crore on cleaning Ganga in the year 2017-18.

Section B
Writing and Grammar

3. Attempt ANY ONE from (i) and (ii).
(i) Write a letter to the Manager, Hotel Solitaire, Agra, to find out the rates for conducting the wedding reception of your sister on their lawns, enquiring specifically about the catering cost per head service and decoration charges and advance to be paid. You are Nakul/Nivedita of Agra. 
(ii) The Look at the data given below which shows the changes that have occurred between 2005 to 2020 in a city regarding the women education. Write a paragraph in about 120 words to record the changes by interpreting this data.

Ans. (i) 32, Grand Road,
Agra
15 November, 20XX
The Manager,
Hotel Solitaire,
Agra
Subject: Enquiry regarding expenses for Wedding Reception.
Sir
Kindly let me know whether the lawns of your hotel would be available on the evening of 7th January to hold the wedding reception of my sister. In case space is available please enlighten me regarding the following:
1. Catering Cost per head (Menu no. 3)
2. Service charges
3. Decoration charges
4. Advance amount to be paid
Please send me a point –wise, specific reply at the address given above.
Looking forward to an early reply.
Yours sincerely
Nivedita
(ii)

Women Education

Educating women can play an important role in the development of the country. A survey was conducted in a city to find out the changes that have occurred between 2005 to 2020 regarding the women education. It was found that there was a rise in the number of girl’s school. Earlier, in 2005 there were only 10 schools. A slight increase was seen in the number which rose to 15 in 2020. Not much growth was recorded in the number of women colleges which rose from three in 2005 to four in 2020. However, a significant growth was recorded in the number of students in school which increased from 10,000 in 1995 to 16,000 in 2020. There was a sharp increase of 4000 students in colleges also. The percentage of literacy rate increased steadily from 30 to 55 in these years. There were no Distance Education Centres at the beginning of the period. However, three such centres were found by the end of 2020. We can conclude by saying that an overall increasing trend was seen in the women education.

4. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line against which a blank is given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer-sheet against the correct blank number. The first one has been done for you. 

Anne is in need of the true friend with
who she can share her joys and
sorrow. She has loving parent and about
thirty people whom she can call friend.
Ans. Error Correction
(a) who whom
(b) parent parents
(c) friend friends

5. Read the given conversation below and complete the passage that follow:

Even as Monu was about to go out to play, his grandmother asked him (a) ________ . Gently kicking his ball, a happy looking Monu replied his best friend was Shashank. This surprised the grandmother for she thought that Shamu had been his best friend. She asked (b) ________. With a grin on his face, Monu replied that if he beat him, he didn’t beat him back.
Ans. (a) who his best friend was
(b) why he liked Shashank so much

Section C
Literature

6. Answer ANY SIX questions in 30-40 words each.

(i) Do you think being enlightened placed a far greater responsibility on the Buddha than being king would have? Justify your stance.
Ans. Yes, I do think that being enlightened placed a far greater responsibility on the Buddha. If he would have been just a king, then he would have to just serve his kingdom and people. By being enlightened he had to serve for the whole humanity, which is much greater work than being a king.

(ii) What are the essential qualities of becoming a scientist according to Ebright’s teacher ?
Ans. According to Ebright’s teacher, the essential qualities of becoming a scientist are to have a first rate mind, and have a lot of curiosity. Along with that, the person should have the zeal to excel for the sake of doing the best job.

(iii) Does Whitman believe that animals and humans are essentially similar? Provide one reason to support your opinion.
Ans. According to the poet, animals and humans are not at all similar. He finds that humans lack many virtues that animals have. The animals are calm and contented, whereas the men are not.

(iv) What did the Buddha want to explain to Kisa Gotami?
Ans. The Buddha wanted to explain to Kisa Gotami that man cannot get peace of mind by grieving. On the contrary, his pain will be greater and his body will suffer. He will make himself sick and pale. A man who overcomes all sorrows will be free from sorrow and will be blessed.

(v) What attitude did the lawyer have to the country life? How did his experience at New Mullion change it?
Ans. The lawyer was under the impression that away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the people in the country led a pleasant, simple, honest, helpful and peaceful life. But his experience in New Mullion with the smart hack driver, who himself was Oliver Lutkins—who humiliated and befooled him with his clever tricks and quick thinking, made the lawyer change his overview towards the country life.

(vi) When Natalya comes to meet Lomov, she quotes her father’s words – “and papa said, “Go; there’s a merchant come for his goods.” What do you think Chubukov meant?
Ans. Lomov arrived in a formal evening dress. On seeing him, Chubukov thinks that he has come to  borrow money but Lomov tells him that he had come to ask for Natalya’s hand in marriage, he might have felt it as a proposal to an increase Lomov wealth after the marriage.

(vii) Would you call Amanda a disrespectful child? Provide one reason to justify your opinion.
Ans. Amanda was not listening to the speaker. Rather, she was engulfed in her own imagination. Hence, she is regarded as a disrespectful child.

7. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 120 words each. 

(i) Valli was sensitive, but at the same time she was fearless and quite determined. Think of another  character from your textbook, First Flight, who displayed similar character traits. Compare and contrast the lives of Valli and the other character. 
Ans. A character who has similar characteristics, of fearlessness and determination like that of valli, would be Anne frank. In the lesson, she was brave enough to speak and prove herself to her teacher so candidly. Even though she was extremely talkative, it never affected her academics. She was a committed student, daughter, sister and more importantly, a true being. As a young girl of 13 years, she had to go through several difficulties during the World War Era. Her family had to live in secrecy, their lives were under great threat when the Nazis caught hold of them and they were sent into separate concentration camps.
Anne’s life was secluded like that of Valli’s. Both of them had limitless ideologies of being adventurous. It is also astonishing to notice such great heights of maturity and responsibility in children of such tender ages. Lastly, both Anne and Valli had clear goal set which inspires the readers to dream and strive for them to come true.

(ii) Do you think Lutkins was right in befooling the lawyer and earning money by using unfair means? What precautions should be taken to avoid a situation like the one in which the lawyer was placed?
Ans. No, it is not right on Lutkins part in befooling the lawyer and earning money by using unfair means. Because it is said “Honesty is the Best Policy”. But this was not applicable on Lutkins’ part. He was very cunning and daring. He was not scared to befool the employee of law. And playing with law is never a good thing. Oliver Lutkins had taken undue advantage of the lawyer’s gullibility and taking him around the village, chasing himself. He charged him two dollars an hour for that work. He not only charged him money for the ‘service’, but also subjected him to immense ridicule by his mother and village folk. Such dishonest and unethical behaviour of Lutkins can never be endorsed.
We, the readers, should remember that deceptive people are all around us. We should first judge a person thoroughly and then only trust strangers. We should be beware of such people who are always on the prowl to grab an opportunity to cheat and not be trusted by strangers.

(iii) Matilda goes home after meeting Madam Forestier after ten years and shares the fact with M  Loisel that the necklace was a false one. Write the dialogue between Matilda and M Loisel. Matilda: I don’t know how to tell you this but I met Madam Forestier today and she told me that her necklace was a mere imitation.
M Loisel: What! I can’t believe my ears. That huge debt was for nothing!
Matilda: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
M Loisel: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Ans. Matilda : I don’t know how to tell you this but I met Madam Forestier today and she told me that her necklace was false one.
M. Loisel : What! I can’t believe my ears. That huge debt was for nothing!
Matilda : Yes, M. Loisel it is really surprising that we had to go through so much. I don’t know what God had in store for us.
M. Loisel : Shocking it is really! Unbelievable. She told you all this herself.
Matilda : Madam Forestier was shocked, even she could believe that we had to go through so much just for the sake of this false necklace.
M. Loisel : Now what do you think we should do?
Matilda : Well! We can ask her to give back the real diamond necklace to us. So, that we can repay our debts.
M. Loisel : What if she refuses?
Matilda : Well! Madam Forestier is a friend of mine. She will never refuse. I am sure. Let me just speak to her.
M. Loisel : Do what you feel like.