CBSE Class 10 English Term 1 Sample Paper Set D

Sample Paper Class 10

See below CBSE Class 10 English Term 1 Sample Paper Set D with solutions. We have provided CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English as per the latest paper pattern issued by CBSE for the current academic year. All sample papers provided by our Class 10 English teachers are with answers. You can see the sample paper given below and use them for more practice for Class 10 English examination.

CBSE Sample Paper for Class 10 English Term 1 Set D

READING SECTION

I. Read the passage given below:

I. In the book “Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets (1179-1781)”, the author Samuel Johnson made the first use of the word Metaphysical Poetry. He used the term Metaphysical poets to define a loose group of the poets of 17th century. The group was not formal and most of the poets put in this category did not know or read each other’s writings. This group’s most prominent poets include John Donne, Andrew Marvell, Abraham Cowley, George Herbert, Henry Vaughan, Thomas Traherne, Richard Crashaw, etc. He noted in his writing that all of these poets had the same style of wit and conceit in their poetry.

II. Metaphysical poetry is a genre of poetry that deals with deep and profound subjects like spirituality, religion, etc. It asks questions that science cannot answer. It takes one beyond the physical world and gives new perspectives through its imagery, wit and paradox.

III. Metaphysical poetry talks about deep things. It talks about soul, love, religion, reality etc. You can never be sure about what is coming your way while reading a metaphysical poem. There can be unusual philosophies and comparisons that will make you think and ponder.

IV. The most important characteristics of metaphysical poetry is “undissociated sensibility” (the combination of feeling and thoughts).

V. Even though it talks about serious stuff, it talks about it in a humorous way. The tone is sometimes light. It can be harsh sometimes too. The purpose is to present a new idea and make the reader think.

VI. Another characteristic of such poetry is that it is unclear. Because it provides such complicated themes, the idea of metaphysical poems is somewhat not definite. It depends on the perception and experiences of the reader.

VII. The unusual comparison of things in poetry is one of its unique and most interesting characteristics. All the metaphysical have ability for unusual witty comparison, juxtaposition, and imagery. These unusual comparisons are metaphysical conceits. As Donne in Twicknam Garden uses expression “spider love” that is contrary to the expectations of the readers. In the same poem, Donne also compares lovers’ tears to wine of love that is unusual use of juxtaposition.Conceit compares very dissimilar things. For example bright smoke, calling lovers as two points of compass, taking soul as dew drop, etc.

VIII. The metaphysical poetry is brain-sprung, not heart-felt. It is intellectual and witty.

IX. According to Grierson, the two chief characteristics of metaphysical poetry are paradoxical ratiocination and passionate feelings.

X. Another feature of the metaphysical poetry is its fantastic lyrics style. As A. C. Word said: “The metaphysical style is a combination of two elements, the fantastic form and style, and the incongruous in matter manner”. The versification of the metaphysical poetry is also coarse and jerky like its diction. The main intention of the metaphysicals was to startle the readers. They deliberately avoided conventional poetic style to bring something new to the readers. (486 words)

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of the ten questions by choosing the correct option.

Question 1. Select the option that suggests someone who is not a Metaphysical Poet.
(a) Ben Johnson
(b) Abraham Cowley
(c) George Herbert
(d) Richard Crashaw

Answer

A

Question 2. According to Grierson, what are the two chief characteristics of metaphysical poetry?
(a) Passion and reason
(b) Intelligence and wit
(c) Romanticism and passion
(d) Paradoxical ratiocination and passionate feelings

Answer

D

Question 3. Select the name of the literary personality who first used the term Metaphysical Poetry.
(a) Samuel Johnson
(b) Ben Johnson
(c) Oliver Goldsmith
(d) John Greene

Answer

A

Question 4. The unusual comparison used in Metaphysical Poetry is termed as:
(a) Metaphysical comparison
(b) Metaphysical antonyms
(c) Metaphysical contrast
(d) Metaphysical conceits

Answer

D

Question 5. The versification of Metaphysical Poetry is _______ and ________.
(a) coarse, jerky
(b) smooth, balanced
(c) rough, neglected
(d) coarse, balanced

Answer

A

Question 6. Select the meaning of the phrase ‘undissociated sensibility’.
(a) Assimilation of feelings and thoughts
(b) Separation of feelings and thoughts
(c) Unconsolidated spiritual thoughts
(d) Unorganized thoughts and feelings

Answer

A

Question 7. Why the Metaphysical Poets are termed as loose group of poets of the 17th century?
(a) The group was not official and did not have a name.
(b) It was a secret group.
(c) The members lived in different parts of the world.
(d) It was not a formal group of poets and the members were unknown and unfamiliar to each other and their writings.

Answer

D

Question 8. The poetry written by the Metaphysical Poets was part of
(a) 18th century literature
(b) 17th century literature
(c) 21st century literature
(d) 20th century literature

Answer

B

Question 9. Metaphysical poetry deals with…. Select the correct option.
(a) Science and physics
(b) Love and romance
(c) Spirituality and religion
(d) History and humanity

Answer

C

Question 10. What is the meaning of the term conceits?
(a) An ingenious or fanciful comparison or metaphor
(b) Simile between two objects
(c) Paradox between two objects, events and the like
(d) Irony of fate

Answer

A

II. Read the passage below.

I. The density of population is expressed as the number of persons per square kilometer.

II. The average density of population in India is 382 persons/ square km. (Census 2011)

III. Areas of Extremely Low Density:
• Areas having 100 persons per sq km and less than that at Included in this class.
• They include Arunachal Pradesh (17), Mizoram (52), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (46), and Sikkim (86). Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram are located in remote and inaccessible parts of northeast India.
• Sikkim is also a mountainous area with a low density of population. Andaman and Nicobar Islands is situated far away from the Indian mainland. The hot and humid climate of these islands is injurious to health and very little economic development has taken place here.

IV. Areas of Low Density:
 Areas having a population density of 101 to 250 persons per sq km are included in this class.
• These states are Nagaland (119), Manipur (122), Himachal Pradesh (123), Jammu and Kashmir (124), Meghalaya (132),Chhattisgarh (189), Uttarakhand (1891), Rajasthan (201), and Madhya Pradesh (236). Meghalaya, Manipur, and Nagaland are hilly, forested, and dissected areas of northeast India.
• These areas suffer from almost the same problems as those of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, although to a lesser extent. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are parts of the north-western Himalayan region and have very little level land to support high population density.
• Jammu and Kashmir have
• Vast areas devoid of population. Only some parts of the Jammu region and Kashmir valley are thickly populated. Large stretches of Leh (Ladakh) and Kargil have a population density of less than ten persons per sq km.
• Most of Rajasthan is a sandy desert lacking in water resources and does not support high population density. Western parts of the state is having even less than 50 persons per sq km whereas eastern and northeastern parts of this state have sufficient resources and have a comparatively high density of population.
• Madhya Pradesh is a part of the Deccan Plateau and is having rugged topography of hard rocks. It is largely inhabited by the tribal people. As such, the population density in this state also is low

V. Areas of Moderate Density
• This class includes those areas which are having 251 to 500 persons per sq km.
• Odisha (269), Gujarat (308), Andhra Pradesh including Telangana (308), Karnataka (319), Tripura (350), Maharashtra (345), Goa (394), Assam (397), and Jharkhand (414) are included in this category.
• These areas are wide apart from one another and there are different reasons for moderate density of population in different areas. For example. Assam has tea estates whereas Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Karnataka, and Jharkhand have agricultural and mineral resources.
• Maharashtra is a highly urbanized and industrialized state. The neighboring state of Gujarat also has urban and industrial growth.
• Among North Eastern states Tripura has sufficient level land which supports moderate population density.

VI. Areas of High Density:
• These are areas having a population density of 501 to 1000 per sq km. States and union territories included in this category are Punjab (550), Tamil Nadu (555), Haryana (573), Dadra & Nagar Haven (698), Uttar Pradesh (828), and Kerala (859).
• Punjab and Haryana have highly developed agriculture.
• Similarly, Tamil Nadu’s population is based on agriculture and industries. The coastal plain of Kerala is also very fertile.
However, Kerala has started showing a decline in the growth rate of the population.
• Uttar Pradesh is located in the fertile Ganga Plain and supports high population density.

VII. Areas of Very High Density:
• Areas having more than 1000 persons per sq km are termed as areas of very high population density.
• West Bengal (1029), Bihar (1102), Lakshadweep (2013), Daman & Diu (2169) Pondicherry (2548). Chandigarh (9252) and Delhi (11,297) have a very high density of population due to different factors operating in different areas.
• Like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar is located in the fertile plain of Ganga and supports a very high population density.
• It seems that measures to control for population growth have not given the desired results and Bihar has now surpassed West Bengal as the state with the highest density of population among the major states.
• West Bengal is located in the Ganga delta which is one of the most fertile areas of the world, producing 3-4 crops of rice in a year.
• In addition, India’s biggest industrial cluster is located in the Hugli basin.
• Among the union territories, Delhi has experienced one of the fastest population growths as a result of which its population density has increased considerably. People migrate to Delhi in large numbers in search of livelihood, and better amenities of life.

CBSE Class 10 English Term 1 Sample Paper Set D

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct option.

Question 11. Select the option that suggests the state having the highest population density.
(a) West Bengal
(b) Gujarat
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Chandigarh

Answer

D

Question 12. Select the option that shows the union territory having the highest population density.
(a) Pondicherry
(b) Daman and Diu
(c) Andaman and Nicobar
(d) Delhi

Answer

D

Question 13. Select the correct option that gives the range of population density of Lakshadweep (refer to Fig.1).
(a) 101-250
(b) 1001 and above
(c) 501-1000
(d) 251-500

Answer

C

For the Visually Impaired Candidates Select the correct option.
(a) Population density of West Bengal is more than Bihar.
(b) The density of population is expressed as the number of persons per square hectare.
(c) Areas having 100 persons per sq. km. and less than that can be included in areas of low density class.
(d) The density of population of Uttarakhand is more than that of Madhya Pradesh.

Answer

D

Question 14. Select the correct set of cause and effect.
(a) Cause: Kargil is a dry and cold area with lack of basic amenities.
Effect: Kargil has high density of population.
(b) Cause: Most of Rajasthan is a sandy desert lacking in water resources.
Effect: Rajasthan has high density of population.
(c) Cause: Punjab and Haryana have highly developed argicultural amenities.
Effect: The states have high density of population.
(d) Cause: Uttar Pradesh is located in the fertile plains of Ganga.
Effect: Uttar Pradesh cannot sustain high density of population.

Answer

C

Question 15. Select the option that suggests the average density of population in India.
(a) 823 persons per sq. km.
(b) 328 persons per sq. km.
(c) 382 persons per sq. km.
(d) 392 persons per sq. km.

Answer

B

Question 16. Select the option that suggests the population density of Karnataka.
(a) 320
(b) 319
(c) 322
(d) 324

Answer

B

Question 17. Select the correct option.
(a) Maharashtra is neither an urbanized nor industrial state.
(b) Maharashtra is a highly urbanized and industrial state.
(c) Maharashtra is a highly urbanized state but not industrialized.
(d) Maharashtra is a backward and poor state.

Answer

A

Question 18. Select the correct option.
(a) West Bengal has both agricultural and industrial facilities to support population.
(b) West Bengal has neither agricultural nor industrial facilities to support population.
(c) West Bengal has only agricultural facility to support population.
(d) West Bengal has only industrial facilities to support population.

Answer

A

WRITING

III. Answer any four out of the five questions given, with reference to the context below.Riya, a resident of Andheri East, Mumbai, wants to sell a 2BHK apartment. For this, she needs to put an advertisement in the classified columns of ‘The Telegraph’.

Question 19. Select a suitable heading for the letter –
(a) Flat for sale
(b) Buyers wanted
(c) Sale of apartment
(d) For Sale

Answer

A

Question 20. Select the option that lists the informative points to be included in the advertisement.
(1) Exact location of the apartment    (2) Amenities provided
(3) Price (or if its negotiable)             (4) Number of members in the owner’s family
(5) Closeness to the sea-side
(a) All of the above except (5)
(b) All of the above
(c) None of the above
(d) (1), (2) and (3)

Answer

D

Question 21. Should the contact number of the seller be given in the advertisement? Select the correct option.
(a) No, it’s irrelevant.
(b) Yes, as the buyer would need to contact the seller for further discussion.
(c) The seller may or may not provide the contact number.
(d) No, the seller should not provide, as there could be breach of privacy.

Answer

B

Question 22. Select the correct statement.
(a) A picture of the apartment must be provided.
(b) The seller has to provide his personal details in the advertisement.
(c) The advertisement should be directed to one particular buyer.
(d) Information about availability of basic necessities nearby should be provided.

Answer

D

Question 23. Select the correct statement.
(a) The exact price of the apartment must and should be mentioned in the advertisement.
(b) The seller may or may not put the exact price on the advertisement.
(c) The price of the apartment becomes non-negotiable when put for sale.
(d) The buyer alone should decide the price which he/she wants to pay.

Answer

B

IV. Answer any six of the seven questions given, with reference to the context below.

Karan, a student of New Alipore Multipurpose School, Kolkata, wants to write a letter to the Editor of The Telegraph
newspaper, expressing his grievances regarding excessive traffic congestion near the school.

Question 24. Select the most appropriate opening line for the letter.
(a) I want to tell the concerned authority…
(b) The letter should find itself at the hands of the concerned authority…
(c) Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I wish to bring to the notice of the concerned authorities…
(d) Greetings and good morning, please listen to my appeal…

Answer

C

Question 25. Select an appropriate subject for letter.
(a) Please stop traffic congestion
(b) Road should be closed
(c) Appeal to make roads near school, congestion free.
(d) Block roads during school hours

Answer

C

Question 26. Select the option that lists the probable problems faced due to traffic congestion near school.
(1) Risk of road accidents
(2) teacher inaudible due to excessive noise
(3) Difficulty in concentrating
(4) Problems during eating
(5) Occurring of chaos during entry and exit to and from school.
(a) All of the above
(b) All except (5)
(c) (1), (2), (3) and (5)
(d) (2) and (4)

Answer

C

Question 27. Select the most appropriate suggestion for the letter.
(a) Hiring more traffic police to control the traffic, installing more sign boards stating strict adherence to low speed and sound.
(b) Closure of roads during school hours.
(c) Transfer of school location.
(d) Closure of school premises.

Answer

A

Question 28. Select the option that suggests the most suitable tone of the letter.
(a) In formal
(b) Friendly
(c) Formal and appealing
(d) Descriptive

Answer

C

Question 29. Select the most appropriate opening line of the conclusion.
(a) I would like to tell the concerned authority…
(b) The authority must take steps to…
(c) Hence, through the column of your esteemed daily, I would like to appeal to the concerned authority of the city…
(d) In the conclusion I would like to say, you must take immediate action…

Answer

C

Question 30. Select the option that must be included in the letter.
(a) Name the concerned authority.
(b) Grade of the student who is writing.
(c) Proper location of the occurrence of congestion.
(d) Name of the student’s class-teacher.

Answer

C

LITERATURE

V. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

The presidents of the New York Central and the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroads will swear on a stack of timetables that there are only two. But I say there are three, because I’ve been on the third level of the Grand Central Station. Yes, I’ve taken the obvious step: I talked to a psychiatrist friend of mine, among others. I told him about the third level at Grand Central Station, and he said it was a waking dream wish fulfillment. He said I was unhappy. That made my wife kind of mad, but he explained that he meant the modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and all the rest of it, and that I just want to escape. Well, who doesn’t? Everybody I know wants to escape, but they don’t wander down into any third level at Grand Central Station.
But that’s the reason, he said, and my friends all agreed. Everything points to it, they claimed. My stamp collecting, for example; that’s a ‘temporary refuge from reality.’ Well, maybe, but my grandfather didn’t need any refuge from reality; things were pretty nice and peaceful in his day, from all I hear, and he started my collection.

Question 31. Select the option that lists the correct statements.
(1) In present times the people are tired and exhausted by the general way of living and sometimes want an escape from the reality.
(2) Most people of the time are happy-go-lucky kind of people, content with the way of living.
(3) Insecurity, fear and worry have overshadowed the feelings of happiness and joy in the modern day world.
(4) Most people have a habit of collecting stamps.
(a) All of the above
(b) (1) and (3)
(c) (2), (3) and (4)
(d) (1) and (4)

Answer

B

Question 32. “Well, maybe, but my grandfather didn’t need any refuge from reality; things were pretty nice and peaceful in his day,…”-
Select the option that suggests the most appropriate explanation for the statement.
(a) The people at the time of narrator’s grandfather were uneducated.
(b) There was no sorrow or sadness at the time of the narrator’s grandfather.
(c) There was already an alternate reality that existed at the time of narrator’s grandfather.
(d) The time of narrator’s grandfather did not witness much hustle and competitive attitude, their outlook on life was more optimistic, thus they did not have to seek escape mechanism to cope with the reality.

Answer

D

Question 33. What outlook of life and society could be observed in the author through the passage?
(a) Optimistic
(b) Pessimistic
(c) Neutral
(d) Realistic

Answer

B

Question 34. What collection was started by his grandfather ?
(a) coin collection
(b) hat collection
(c) newspaper collection
(d) stamp collection

Answer

D

Question 35. What did the psychiatrist friend of the narrator tell him, when he said “…about the third level at Grand Central Station”?
Select the most appropriate answer from the list of options.
(a) That the narrator has sleep walking problem
(b) That the narrator was suffering from chronic depression
(c) That it was a waking dream wish fulfillment
(d) That it was just a dream

Answer

C

VI. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

I struck at the water as I went down, expending my strength as one in a nightmare fights an irresistible force. I had lost all my breath. My lungs ached, my head throbbed. I was getting dizzy. But I remembered the strategy – I would spring from the bottom of the pool and come like a cork to the surface. I would lie flat on the water, strike out with my arms, and thrash with my legs. Then I would get to the edge of the pool and be safe. I went down, down, endlessly. I opened my eyes. Nothing but water with a yellow glow – dark water that one could not see through. And then sheer, stark terror seized me, terror that knows no understanding, terror that knows no control, terror that no one can understand who has not experienced it. I was shrieking under water. I was paralysed under water – stiff, rigid with fear. Even the screams in my throat were frozen. Only my heart, and the pounding in my head, said that I was still alive.

Question 36. “I was getting dizzy. But I remembered the strategy…” What was the strategy?
(a) The strategy was to start swimming
(b) It was not to panic in difficult situations
(c) To spring up from the bottom of the pool and to come to the surface like a cork
(d) The strategy was to shout out for help

Answer

C

Question 37. What happened when sheer terror seized the narrator?
(a) He did not lose courage and tried to swim
(b) Becoming paralyzed with fear he choked and thus he could not even scream
(c) He lost hope and started to drown
(d) He started shivering with fear

Answer

B

Question 38. What was the indication that he was alive after he had gone deep into the water?
(a) Pumping of his heart and pounding of his head
(b) Shivering and feeling of cold
(c) Choked throat
(d) Will to live

Answer

A

Question 39. When would the narrator feel safe?
(a) When someone would come to save him
(b) When he would reach his home
(c) When he would learn swimming
(d) When he would reach the edge of the pool

Answer

D

Question 40. When did the lungs of the narrator start to ache?
(a) When he could not swim
(b) When he struck at the bottom of the pool
(c) When no one came to save him
(d) When he tried and could not save himself

Answer

D

VIII. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

Driving from my parent’s home to Cochin……..
her face ashen like that of a corpse and realised with pain
that she was as old as she looked ……….
I looked again at her, wan, pale
as a late winter’s moon and felt that old
familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,
but all I said was, see you soon, Amma,
all I did was smile and smile and smile……

Question 41. What is the significance of the title ‘My Mother at Sixty Six’?
(a) Poet’s fear of losing her old mother
(b) Poet’s fear of moving fast
(c) Poet’s inability to express her feelings
(d) Aging of parent

Answer

D

Question 42. What is the main idea of the poem?
(a) Painful old age
(b) health concerns of a parent
(c) carelessness of a daughter
(d) lack of strength

Answer

A

Question 43. What is the familiar ache?
(a) her childhood fear of losing her mother
(b) her mother’s weak health
(c) her duties
(d) her helplessness

Answer

A

Question 44. What does ‘ashen face ‘ signify?
(a) colour of face
(b) face with traces of ash
(c) pale and colourless face of poet’s mother
(d) an aging face

Answer

C

Question 45. What does the poet’s smile signify in the poem?
(a) assuring mother of her responsibility
(b) assurance to mother and putting a brave front
(c) she has to do her duty first
(d) she is a loving daughter

Answer

B

VIII. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

In the afternoon the second thing happened. Hana working hard on unaccustomed labour, saw a messenger come to the door in official uniform.Her hands went weak and she could not draw her breath.The servants must have told already.She ran to Sadao, gasping, unable to utter a word.

Question 46. “Hana working hard on unaccustomed labour….” Why is it unaccustomed labour ?
(a) She is use to simple work.
(b) She had servants to do all the work.
(c) She had to do all the work as servants had left.
(d) She was a working woman.

Answer

C

Question 47. Who is the messenger ?
(a) Official sepoy
(b) a government errand boy
(c) The old general’s man
(d) A postman

Answer

A

Question 48. ‘The servants must have told already.’ Who are they ?
(a) The servant,the maid & gardener
(b) Edla, old gardener & the cook
(c) Old cook, gardener & the house servant
(d) The cook,Yumi & old gardener

Answer

D

Question 49. ‘Her hands went weak and she could not draw her breath.’ Why ?
(a) She felt that Sadao was being summoned for imprisonment.
(b) She was sure the servants had informed about the presence of the man..
(c) She felt the General had got wind about the presence of the man..
(d) She was unwell.

Answer

A

Question 50. What was the message given by the messenger ?
(a) That the war was getting intense.
(b) That soldiers required medical attention.
(c) That Sadao had to leave with the troops.
(d) That the general was in pain.

Answer

D

IX. Attempt the following:

Question 51. What conflicting ideas disturb Sadao after he brought home the wounded soldier in the story ‘The Enemy’?
(a) duty of a doctor and loyalty towards nation
(b) his wife’s health and general’s health
(c) patient’s health and servants
(d) servants’ behavior and his children

Answer

A

Question 52. What does the Third level signify in the story ‘The Third Level’?
(a) human tendency to escape from the harsh realities of the present to past happy times
(b) A third way on Grand Central station
(c) A third gate on Grand Central Station
(d) The third floor of Grand Central

Answer

A

Question 53. What does Sam’s letter to Charley depict in the story ‘The Third Level’?
(a) A blend
(b) an acceptance to visit
(c) a proof of his fantasy
(d) a blend of reality with fantasy

Answer

D

Question 54. What kind of poem is ‘A Elementary School Classroom in a Slum’?
(a) sonnet
(b) ballad
(c) allegory
(d) a blank verse

Answer

C

Question 55. What does Dr. Sadao recall towards the end of the story ‘The Enemy’?
(a) five American faces which had a lion’s share in his
(b) which had a lion’s share in his life
(c) his first landlady, who was full of prejudice, yet saved his life when he was suffering from influenza.
(d) All of these

Answer

D

Question 56. Initially, why was the writer not frightened when he was thrown into the pool in the story ‘Deep Water’?
(a) He felt he would be able to come up like a cork
(b) Because he felt it was not risky
(c) Because he thought that the lifeguard would come to his rescue
(d) Because of confidence

Answer

A

Question 57. Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water in the story ‘Deep Water’?
(a) because he wanted to swim in the waters of the Cascade
(b) because his friend had challenged him
(c) because he had a bet on it
(d) because he wanted to enjoy water sports

Answer

A

Question 58. Little has moved with time, it seems in ……..
(a) Seemapuri
(b) Yorkshire
(c) Firozabad
(d) in slums

Answer

A

Question 59. How were the parents responsible for their children’s lack of interest in studies in the story ‘Last Lesson’?
(a) for not sending them to school
(b) sending them to M Hamel
(c) farms and mills
(d) watering plants

Answer

A

Question 60. What bad news used to come from the Bulletin Board?
(a) Lost battles
(b) The draft
(c) Orders of commanding officers
(d) All of these

Answer

D