Please see below Class 10 English Sample Paper Term 2 Set B with solutions. We have provided Class 10 English Sample Papers with solutions designed by English teachers for Class 10 based on the latest examination pattern issued by CBSE. We have provided the following sample paper for Term 2 Class 10 English with answers. You will be able to understand the type of questions which can come in the upcoming exams.

CBSE Sample Paper for Class 10 English Term 2 Set B

Section A
Reading

1. Read the passage given below :
(1) Music is perhaps the most popular and widely practised form of fine arts, transcending all kinds of  cultural and linguistic barriers. Any form of fine art is difficult to master and almost impossible to perfect and music is no exception.
(2) Nature, it is learnt, has blessed almost two-thirds of the human race with musical ability of some sort. Music has the power to bring out the deepest emotions. In fact, it is a magic medicine and many seek refuge in it when they are depressed or stressed. It is this intimacy that makes us listen to music or even hum or sing sometimes. This singing, or realistically speaking, expressing one’s emotion musically sometimes takes a serious turn.
(3) The desire to sing before an audience is innocent and beautiful and indeed it is perfectly alright to have such a genuine desire. But it is also important to understand that singing is an intricateart — a highly refined one at that, which requires systematic, prolonged and strict training, to be acceptable. This is an aspect we forget in our keen desire to reach the stage and perform. It is almost like preparing a formal meal for some specially invited guests, without even having learnt and trained in the basics of cooking.
(4) These days almost everyone sings and it does not stop here. Most of us want to become professional singers. Result: a complete disregard for and ignorance of the training part, as the need is never felt to go through one and the urge to get to the stage and perform overcomes even a little desire to learn, if any. If at all, somewhere along the way one feels the need to gain some knowledge and training, it leads to hurried shortcuts and half-hearted attempts, best described as ‘Crash Courses’.
(5) It is observed that those who have attained the so called partial success, suddenly feel that they lack the required knowledge and are not learned enough. But it is too late by then. It should be understood here that the stage or a performance brings in a different mind-set within the artist. It is always recommended and rightly said that while on stage, cover the mistakes and weaknesses if any, and get along. But the contrary is true when it comes to acquiring knowledge and during the learning process. While under training, the student is expected to make mistakes but then rectify those mistakes under the supervision and guidance of the teacher. Therefore, it is good to make mistakes and then be corrected during the process of learning as this subsequently makes one flawless and educated. This is a different mind-set. And these two mind-set discussed above, (those of a performer and that of a student) cannot coexist. 
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the six given below:

(i) What happens when most of us want to become a professional singer?
Ans. Such desires result in a complete disregard for and ignorance of the training part.

(ii) What should one do when on stage?
Ans. When on stage, one should cover the mistakes and weaknesses if any and get along.

(iii) Which two mind-sets are discussed in the last line of the above passage?
Ans. One mind-set is that of a performer, who is recommended to cover the mistakes. Second is of a student, who is expected to make mistakes and then rectify them under proper supervision.

(iv) How can we say that music is a magic medicine?
Ans. Indeed, Music is a magic medicine as it can make one cry or bring smile on one’s face.

(v) What is best described as Crash Course?
Ans. Hurried short cuts and half hearted attempts at learning something are described as crash courses.

(vi) ‘Transcending’ in Paragraph 1 means ______________.
Ans. Rise above.

2. Read the following excerpt from a case study on being punctual:
(1) Keep your watch accurate. For some people, moving up the time on their watch will help them get up earlier. For others, they will remember that the time on the watch is wrong and will disregard it altogether. It may be helpful to set your watch just two minutes ahead instead of five or ten. 
(2) Keep a clock, phone, computer or anything that displays time in each room of your house. One of the easiest ways to run late is simply by not realising that the time is passing as quickly as it is.
(3) Set all your clocks and watches to the same time. Don’t be an optimist. Things usually take longer than what you’d expect, even without major delays. If you have a dinner appointment at 7:30 p.m., don’t think you can work till 7 p.m., then take a bath, dress and reach on time. Realistically, calculate the time you will take at each step and then add 10 minutes more to allow for unexpected delays, or you cannot get to your job done in time.
(4) Wake up when you are supposed to wake up. Don’t hit the snooze button, keep on lying in bed, and watch TV at the very start of your day. May be you can try even setting your clock 10 minutes earlier than you need. If you have difficulty with this, move your alarm clock to somewhere away from your bed; that way, you will have to get up to turn it off. Commit yourself to being 15 minutes early for everything. If you have to reach your place of work at 8:00, don’t even tell yourself this. Just tell yourself (and everyone else who listens — but don’t annoy them or make them think that they are late or early!) “I have to be at work at 7:45.” If you do this, you will be on time even with little unforeseen delays. You will be on time even with a traffic jam.   

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

(i) What should one do to be punctual?
Ans. To be punctual one needs to get up at the right time.

(ii) How can one reach a dinner appointment on time?
Ans. One needs to, realistically, calculate the time he/she will take at each step and then add 10 minutes more to allow for unexpected delays.

(iii) Give atleast two time management tips?
Ans. Prioritize your work/set time limit/plan ahead.

(iv) It is a good habit to _____________ and ____________.
Ans. Reach your work place on time and calculate the time before starting any work.

(v) Pick the word from Paragraph-1 which means ‘correct in all details’?
Ans. Accurate.

(vi) How does setting all clock and watches at the same time help?
Ans. Setting all the clocks and watches at the same time helps in saving unexpected delays.

Section B
Writing and Grammar

3. Attempt ANY ONE from (i) and (ii).
(i) Your school has decided to take part in half marathon organised by an NGO in New Delhi. Write a letter in 150-200 words to the Area Manager of the NGO requesting permission to participate in the half marathon on 28 April starting from National Stadium. Request the NGO to provide your school with 200 T-shirts for boys and girls aged 15-17 years. You are School Captain, Manish Mehta, Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Saket.
(ii) A survey was conducted by a school to discuss the role that Information Technology/Computers play in the growth and development of children. The data is given below in the form of a pie chart. Analyze the data in 100-120 words. 

Ans. (i) Sarvodaya Vidhyalaya 
Saket
April 18, 20××
The Area Manager
XYZ NGO
Karol Bagh
New Delhi
Subject : Permission to Participate in the upcoming Half-Marathon
Sir,
It is a matter of great pleasure that authorities of our school have decided to take part in the halfmarathon organised by your reputed NGO. As the noble purpose of this marathon is to create awareness for ‘Clean City, Green City’, it will be our honour if you grant us permission to be a part of and support this noble cause.
Further I’d make a request to provide us 200 T-shirts for the boys and girls of our school, who are aged 15-17 years. I hope, we’ll receive the above mentioned consignment, along with the permission letter within this week so that the students may reach the National Stadium on April 28, at 5:30 a.m. sharp to join the marathon. We shall be highly obliged.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Manish Mehta
(School Captain)
(ii)

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY V/S CHILDREN

A survey was conducted by XYZ school to discuss the role played by Computers and Information Technology in the growth and development of children. Only a margin 8% of the people opined that computers enhance creativity thus showing that they were not in favour of it. As many as 10% people believed that computers cause eye strain due to long sitting hours of children in front of it where as 12% people were of the opinion that children get access to so many sites that are inappropriate for their age. In fact 30% people, believed that Information Technology increases knowledge and helps in the growth and development of a child as compared to 25% people who were of the view that computers attract a child towards itself which results in the reduction of their outdoor activities. Very few people (15%) had the opinion that it helps academically. Hence, we can sum up that 53% of the people were in favour of computer usage by children where there were still 47% who did not favour it.

4. The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a blank has been given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer-sheet against the correct blank number. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied.

Most trees has a single woody stem called       
a trunk who supports a mass of branches       
carrying leaves. Trees clean an air                     
by removing tiny airborne particles.
Ans. Error   Correction 
    (a) has    have
    (b) who   which
    (c) an      the

5. Read the comic strip and complete the passage given below. 

Two friends Sumit and Rahul were going home after school. Taking a bite at his bar of chocolate, Sumit said (a) _______ to go to Harvard. Rahul was duly impressed to hear this and said (b) ________. In his typical style Sumit replied that his father would have to work hard.
Ans. (a) When he grew up, he wanted
(b) that he would have to study really hard

Section C
Literature 

6. Answer ANY SIX Questions in 30-40 words. 

(i) How can death be considered an equalizer? (The Sermon at Benares)
Ans. Death is omnipotent, inevitable and looming. It is often referred to a ‘equalizer’ because it is equal to all for all kind of people. It has to come when it will come. So we shouldn’t fear it.

(ii) A misanthrope is a person who dislikes humankind. Do you think the poet, Walt Whitman, is a misanthrope? Provide a rationale to support your response.
Ans. Walt Whitman perfectly suits to be a misanthrope because he loves animals and feels that human  beings are losing that essence of good values in the rapid process of civilization. He hates them and worries for them.

(iii) Richard’s mother was his companion and spent a lot of time with him. A parent should try to be a companion to a child. Justify.
Ans. Yes, Richard’s mother was his true friend who helped him in all steps of life to become the world’s greatest scientist. It is necessary to be a friend to a child than be parents. As a friend, we can understand his problems that he is facing in a better way because we have also gone through all this in our teenage years.

(iv) “The Lomovs and the Chubukovs have always had the most friendly, and I might almost say the most affectionate, regard for each other.” How would you evaluate Lomov and Chubukov ’s  relationship as neighbours?
Ans. Lomov and Chubukov are neighbours. They had good relations in the past. Both the families had respect and affection for each other. They have a controversy on the issue of ownership of the Oxen meadows. They also have a difference of opinion on the superiority of the breed of their dogs. Lomov wants to resolve the issue and visits Chubukov with a proposal which is accepted by Chubukov and both Lomov and Natalya got married.

(v) The poem The Tale of Custard, The Dragon is a light-hearted ballad with a powerful message. If the poem was written in any other style, do you think it would have created the same effect on readers? Justify your response with reasons.
Ans. Generally, ballads are tales of adventures and heroism. In the poem, the poet does present the encounter of Custard, the dragon and the pirate in a typical spirit of a ballad . Hence, no other style would have created the same effect on readers other than a ballad.

(vi) How did you feel when you read about Bholi being ignored and ill-treated by her parents as a child?
Ans. It really feels sad that a simpleton like Bholi who was so good at heart was ill-treated by her parents. Bholi was a gem of a person who deserved much better treatment from her loved ones. All she needed was love and care.

(vii) The poet has an exaggerated and idealized perception of animal life. Do you agree? Why/Why not?
Ans. I don’t think that the poet has an exaggerated and idealized perception of animal life because all the points mentioned by him in the poem are true about animals. He has not fabricated any of it. For example– The animals never sweat and whine about their condition. That is so true and real.

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

(i) Why was Matilda Loisel always unhappy?
Ans. Matilda Loisel was very pretty. She considered herself to be born for a luxurious life but the reality differed from her dreams. In reality, she was married to a petty clerk and had to lead a very simple life. Her fantasy and over ambitiousness made her unhappy. Matilda’s desire to belong to the rich and affluent section of society was responsible for her downfall. If she had accepted her condition with a smile and without any complaints, she would not have to live ten long years of her life in such object poverty.

(ii) Which qualities of animals has the poet lost and now wants to regain? Answer with reference to the poem, ‘Animals’.
Ans. The poet Walt Whitman in his poem ‘Animals’ compares animals to human beings and differentiates between them on the basis of their characteristics. According to the poet’s perception, animals are ranked much higher than humans. Animals do not complain about their situation and are much happier than humans. Animals live in natural surroundings and they accept nature. Human beings on the other hand, do not accept nature i.e., they complain about it and try to change it, thereby leading an unhappy life. According to the poet, animals possess many qualities which humans don’t. Some of these are calmness, lack of greed and the ability to stay happy and contented among others. Animals never weep for their sins, they never sweat and whine about their condition. They do not make anybody sick discussing their duty to God. Above all, human beings suffer from the mania of possessing things which animals do not. These are the qualities of animals which the poet feels he as a human has lost and wishes to regain.

(iii) The will to win, for the right reason, was a quality that Richard had. Do you think this quality alone can help us accomplish great feats? Why/ Why not?
Ans. Yes, the will to achieve the impossible is a unique feature in only those individual who like to do something different for the society. Richard Ebright was a bright student in his school days, who always wanted to reach heights in his chosen field. Though many people through his journey of life helped him to achieve this extraordinary feat; but it was his own strong will and determination to sail through this hard journey all alone by himself. Not even once, did he lose his hope in himself and his spirits were always alive to achieve recognition and awards in his very own way.