English Medium Class 10 - CBSE Important Questions

Read the passage given below :

Globalization

Globalization is the way to open businesses, improve technological growth, economy, etc, at the international level for all countries. It is the way in which manufacturers and producers of the products or goods sell their products globally without any restriction. It provides huge profits to the businessmen as they get 1ow cost labor in poor countries easily. It provides a big opportunity for companies to„ deal with the worldwide market. 

Globalization helps to consider the whole world 'as a single market. Traders are extending their areas of business by treating the world as a global village. Earlier till the 1990s, there was a restriction on importing certain products that were already manufactured in India like agricultural products, engineering goods, food items, and toiletries. However, during the 1990s there was pressure from. the rich countries on the poor and developing countries to allow them to spread their businesses by opening their markets. In India, the globalization and liberalization process was started in 1991. 

After many years, globalization brought about a major revolution in the Indian market when multinational brands came to India and started delivering a wide range of quality products at cheap prices. Prices of good quality products came down because of the cutthroat competition in the market. 

Globalization and liberalization of the businesses in India have flooded the market with quality foreign products but have affected the local Indian industries adversely to a great extent resulting in job loss to poor and uneducated workers. Globalization has been a bonanza for the consumers, however, a loss to the small-scale Indian producers. 

Globalization has had some very positive effects on the Indian consumer in all sectors of society. It has affected the Indian students and education sector to a great extent by making study books and a lot of information available over the internet. The collaboration of foreign universities with Indian universities has brought about a huge change in the field of education.

Globalization of trade in the agricultural sector has brought varieties of quality seeds that have disease resistati8e; property. However, it is not good for the poor Indian farmers because the seeds and agricultural technologies are costly.

It has brought about a huge revolution in the employment sector by the spread of businesses like cottage, handloom, carpet, artisan carving, ceramic, jewelry, and glassware, etc

(a) What is globalization?

(b) Write any two advantages of globalization.

(c) What was the pressure from the rich countries in the 1990s?

(d) What is the effect of multinational brands entering the Indian market?

(e) How are the prices of quality products affected due to globalization?

(f) How have foreign products affected the local industry adversely?

(g) What has been the impact of globalization on Indian students?

(h) Why has globalization had a negative effect on the poor Indian farmer?

(i) How has the cottage industry benefited from globalization?

Read the passage given below :

Success

Everybody wants to succeed in life. For some, success means achieving whatever they desire or dream. For many, it is the name, fame, and social position. Whatever be the meaning of success, it is a success that makes a man popular. 

All great men have been successful. They are remembered for their great achievements. But it is certain that success comes to those who are sincere, hardworking, loyal, and committed to their goals. 

Success has been man's greatest motivation. It is very important for all. Success has a  great effect on life. It brings pleasure and pride. It gives a sense of fulfillment. It means all-around development. Everybody hopes to be successful in life. But success smiles on those who have a proper approach, planning, vision, and stamina. A proper and timely application of all these things is bound to bear fruit. One cannot be successful without cultivating these certain basic things in life. It is very difficult to set out on a journey without knowing one's goals and purposes. The clarity of the objective is a must to succeed in life. A focused approach with proper planning is certain to bring success. Indecision and insincerity are big obstacles on the path to success. 

One should have the capability, capacity, and resources to turn one's dreams into reality. Mere desire cannot bring you success. The desire should be weighed against factors like capability and resources. This is the basic requirement of success. The next important thing is the eagerness, seriousness, and the urge to be successful. It is the driving force that decides success. It is the first step on the ladder of success. 

One needs to pursue one's goals with all one's sincerity and passion. One should always be in high spirits. Lack of such spirit leads to an inferiority complex which is a big obstruction on the path to success. Time is also a deciding factor. Only the punctual and committed have succeeded in life. The lives of great men are examples of this. They had all these qualities in plenty which helped them rise to the peak of success. 

Hard labor is one of the basic requirements of success. There is no substitute for hard labor. It alone can take one to the peak of success. Every success has a ratio of five percent inspiration and ninety-five percent perspiration. It is patience, persistence, and perseverance which play a decisive role in achieving success. Failures are the pillars of success as they are our stepping-stones and we must get up and start again and be motivated.

2.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words each: 

(a) To whom does success come certainly? 

(b) What are the basic things in life we need to achieve success? 

(c) What did great men have in plenty to rise to the peak of success? Give any two examples

(d) What is the one basic requirement of success? 

(e) Explain: "Failures are pillars of success." 

2.2 On the basis of your reading of the passage, fill in any two of the following blanks with appropriate words/phrase :

(a) ________________ plays a decisive role in achieving success. 

(b) Goals have to be pursued with ________________  and ________________ 

(c) Ratio of success is  ________________  inspiration. 

2.3 Find out the words from the passage that mean the same as the following : 

(a) endurance (para 2) 

(b) obstruction (para 4) 

(c) motivation (para 5)

Answer the following in 200-250 words :
Describe the relationship between Anne and Margot?

Answer the following in 200-250 words :
What are Helen's opinions about examinations?

Answer the following in 200-250 words :
Describe Ms. Sullivan's teaching methods?

Read the following passage.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

(i) How does the setting contribute to the overall mood and atmosphere of the story?    (1)

1. 1. It creates a sense of nostalgia.
   2. It provides a sense of false security.
   3. It adds to the suspense in the story.
   4. It presents a contrast with the real world.

(ii) List two ways, how the disappointment that Drishti and her friends felt after their ghost hunt is analogous to the feeling of waking up from a dream. Answer in 30 -40 words.    (2)

(iii) What is the main flaw in Drishti's approach to investigating the haunted hotel?   (1)

1. She was too focused on finding evidence of the paranormal.
2. She was too skeptical and refused to believe in the possibility of ghosts.
3. She relied too heavily on other people's accounts of the supernatural.
4. She didn't take enough precautions to ensure her safety.

(iv) After which paragraph of the story, would the following paragraph most likely be placed?   (1)
They commenced walking through the hotel, Drishti’s torchlight barely illuminating the darkness around her. Suddenly, they heard a loud creaking noise behind them. Drishti whipped around, pointing her flashlight in the direction of the noise. Nothing. Shaken, they all quickened their pace.

(v) Briefly explain (in 30-40 words) any two elements that classify the story as scary  (2)

(vi) Substitute the underlined word in the following sentence with a word/ phrase from paragraphs 4- 6, that means the same.     (1)

The sound of the footsteps outside the door left her petrified and the rasping breathing added to her horror.

(vii) What is the most significant lesson that Drishti learns from her experience in the haunted hotel?   (1)

1. The importance of avoiding risk-taking.
2. The need to be more sceptical of the supernatural.
3. The value of evaluating your weaknesses
4. The power of imagination to create suspense.

(viii) Complete the following appropriately.   (1)

Based on the use of the word "dilapidated" to describe the hotel in Paragraph 2, we can infer that its condition was ______.

(ix) Complete the sentence appropriately.   (1)

If the title, The Hotel Haunting is given to this passage, it would be an inappropriate title, as compared to The Unsettling Encounter at the Abandoned Hotel because ______.

(x) State whether the given assertion is TRUE or FALSE.   (1)

The reason Drishti and her friends visited the abandoned hotel was to prove the existence of ghosts.

Read the following table displaying the details of five House Captains.

Answer the following questions, based on the table above.

(i) Identify the person who is likely to ask many "why" questions, and support your choice with one reason.    (2)

(ii) Which house captain is most likely to struggle the most with handling stress during the school's annual inter-house sports tournament?   (1)

1. Rohit
2. Sanya
3. Rajat
4. Ananya

(iii) Give two justifications for Sanya being the best fit to lead a school-wide initiative to promote mental health and well-being among students.   (2)

(iv) Select the correct option to fill the blank and complete the analogy.   (1)

______ : paint brush :: Rajat : tabla

1. Rohit
2. Sanya
3. Aryan
4. Ananya

(v) Based on the personal qualities of the House Captains, why is Rajat the most likely to be a collaborative worker?   (1)

(vi) Complete the given sentence with the appropriate reason, with reference to the information in the table.   (1)

We can infer that Aryan’s overall performance may be negatively impacted by his weakness in time management because ______.

(vii) Explain briefly why situation (b), from the three situations given below, showcases Ananya's motto, "Lead by example"?   (1)

1. During a group project, Ananya assigns each team member specific tasks and sets a high standard for the project's quality. She tells them to actively participate in the project and take it to fruition.
2. During a house debate competition, Ananya notices that a few of her house members are struggling to articulate their arguments effectively. Ananya takes the time to listen to their concerns and provides constructive feedback and support.
3. During a fundraising event, Ananya volunteers to be in charge of organizing and coordinating the event but she frequently delegates tasks to others and attends to her school assignment while her team completes the task successfully.

(viii) Select the option that correctly matches the House Captains (a) -(c), to the trophies (i)-(v).     (1)

(i)	(ii)	(iii)	(iv)	(v)

1. (a) - (ii) , (b) - (i) , (c) - (iii)
2. (a) - (i) , (b) - (v) , (c) - (iv)
3. (a) - (v) , (b) - (iii) , (c) - (ii)
4. (a) - (iii) , (b) - (iv) , (c) - (i)

Answer the following question in 30-40 words:

Why is Mrs. Pumphrey responsible for Tricki’s condition?

Explain why the poet personally holds the conviction that the world will primarily end in fire?

(Fire and Ice)

Dr. Herriot knew his patients as well as their owners really well. Discuss.

(A Triumph of Surgery)

Read the given extract and answer the following questions.

i. Fill the blank with one word.    (1)

When the speaker says that ice could also bring about the end of the world, he refers to _______ as the means for destruction.

ii. What does the speaker’s alignment with those who favour ice suggest?    (1)

iii. Which of the following best describes the speaker's attitude towards destruction caused by ice?

1. Indifferent
2. Fearful
3. Dismissive
4. Respectful

iv. Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines.    (2)

Explain how the description of the devastation caused by the hailstorm reflects the sadness within Lencho, in A Letter to God.

Refer to the given lines, from the text -

Not a leaf remained on the trees. The corn was totally destroyed. The flowers were gone from the plants. Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness.

The story, A Triumph of Surgery is a powerful example of the importance of saying “no”. Explain.

Answer of the following question in 40–50 words:

“We are often over-indulgent towards people we care about.” Explain with reference to the story “A Triumph of Surgery”.

Answer of the following question in 100–120 words:

Grief or sadness is an emotion natural to all types of loss or significant change. You have been asked to present an analysis of the approaches of Lencho and Kisa Gotami in dealing with their respective losses. Write this presentation draft including your insights, and comparing the approaches of both.

You may begin like this: One acknowledges that Lencho had unwavering faith in God whereas Kisa Gotami in her grief, believed that her son ______ however ______. 

(Reference – A Letter to God and The Sermon at Benares).

Attempt the following question in 100-150 words:

Why was Nelson Mandela overwhelmed with a sense of history? How did he succeed in ending the apartheid regime in South Africa?

Read the following passage and do the activities. 

A1. Complete the given boxes with who said to whom:    (2)

A2. Complete the cluster diagram mentioning the characteristics of the main character of the passage:  (2)

A3. Choose the correct meanings of the following words from the given options:  (2)

1. Flattery -
   1. insincere praise
   2. appreciation
   3. creating false impression
   4. unfaithful behaviour
2. Appealing -
   1. good conduct
   2. attractive
   3. charming
   4. beautiful

A4. Do as directed:   (2)

1. I took a new name every month.
   [Frame 'Wh' question to get the underlined part as an answer.]
2. I was an experienced hand.
   [Underline the determiners from the given sentence.]

A5. Why do you think Hari Singh gave his most appealing smile?   (2)

Fiction writers prefer creating grey characters rather than black and white. Analyse this in detail, with reference to both the characters of The Thief’s Story.

How does Leslie Norris use vivid imagery and metaphorical language in A Tiger in the Zoo, to effectively depict the confinement and oppression, experienced by the captive tiger?

A character arc is the transformation or development of a character throughout a story and refers to the changes a character undergoes as a result of their experiences, challenges, and interactions with other characters.

In the light of the above information, trace the character arc of the thief in Ruskin Bond’s The Thief’s Story, in about 120 words.