General Instructions:
- The Question Paper contains THREE sections:
- SECTION A: Reading Skills (20 Marks)
- SECTION B: Grammar and Creative Writing Skills (20 Marks)
- SECTION C: Literature Textbook and Supplementary Reading Text (40 Marks)
- Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
- Adhere strictly to the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.
(1) In an age dominated by high-speed digital keyboards and automated voice transcription, the tactile discipline of handwriting has experienced an unexpected scientific vindication. For centuries, physical script was considered merely a recording medium. However, modern neuro-imaging investigations have revealed that handwriting constitutes a profound cognitive catalyst that activates intricate neural pathways inaccessible through typing.
(2) Cognitive neuroscientists observe that typing on a uniform mechanical keyboard involves simple repetitive finger strikes that generate minimal sensory differentiation. In contrast, putting pen to paper demands complex fine-motor orchestration. The writer’s hand must calculate stroke pressure, spatial orientation, and fluid character geometry in real time. This dynamic sensory-motor feedback simultaneously engages the brain’s visual, motor, and memory centers, establishing robust neural traces that significantly enhance conceptual retention and semantic synthesis.
(3) The educational implications of this neural divergence are substantial. Studies comparing lecture note-taking methods show that students typing on laptops tend to transcribe speech verbatim without engaging in critical filtering. Conversely, because handwriting is physically slower, handwritten note-takers are compelled to process information instantaneously—summarizing concepts, analyzing thematic connections, and extracting core ideas. This active cognitive triage transforms passive listeners into critical learners.
(4) Reclaiming handwriting in contemporary pedagogy is not a sentimental rejection of digital technology; it is a calculated cognitive strategy. While digital tools excel at information retrieval and collaborative drafting, physical journaling and handwritten outlining provide the mental friction necessary for deep reflection, emotional regulation, and original creative ideation.
(i) What major finding regarding handwriting has modern neuro-imaging revealed, according to paragraph 1? [1]
(ii) Complete the sentence appropriately: [1]
Unlike the uniform keystrokes of a computer, writing by hand requires the writer to coordinate ______________________.
(iii) Explain why students taking handwritten notes demonstrate superior conceptual understanding compared to laptop typists based on paragraph 3. (Answer in about 40 words) [2]
(iv) Select the option that conveys the closest meaning of the word ‘verbatim’ as used in paragraph 3: [1]
(v) What does the author mean by the phrase “cognitive triage” in paragraph 3? [1]
(vi) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE: [1]
The author advocates for the complete abolishment of digital technology in educational settings.
(vii) List two mental benefits of physical handwriting and journaling mentioned in paragraph 4. [2]
(viii) Choose the most suitable title for the passage: [1]
(1) A 2026 international cryospheric expedition evaluated microplastic deposition across 35 remote high-altitude glaciers and pristine alpine snowpacks in the Himalayas, the Alps, and the Andes. The investigation tracked airborne particulate transport, polymer composition, and regional ice-albedo degradation over two consecutive snowmelt seasons.
(2) The empirical chemical analyses revealed that microplastic concentrations in high-altitude snow averaged 48 particles per litre of melted snow, transported over thousands of kilometers via high-altitude atmospheric jet streams. The predominant polymers identified were synthetic clothing microfibers (polyester and nylon, accounting for 62%) and tire-wear micro-particles (24%). These dark-hued microscopic particles lowered glacial surface albedo (solar reflectivity) by 6.4%, accelerating solar thermal absorption and increasing localized glacier melt rates by 18%.
(3) Environmental glaciologists emphasized that alpine glaciers serve as primary freshwater reservoirs for downstream agricultural river basins supporting over two billion people. When contaminated snow melts rapidly, synthetic microfibers enter downstream freshwater irrigation canals and municipal drinking networks without being filtered by standard municipal gravel screens. The study concluded that mitigating alpine cryospheric degradation requires global source reductions in fast-fashion synthetic textiles and strict international emissions controls.
(i) What was the average concentration of microplastic particles per litre of melted snow documented in the study? [1]
(ii) Name the predominant polymer category responsible for 62% of high-altitude plastic particulate deposition. [1]
(iii) How do dark microplastic particles accelerate glacial melting? (Answer in 20–30 words) [2]
(iv) Discuss the downstream ecological and human health risks associated with accelerated glacier melt containing synthetic microfibers. [2]
(v) Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option: [1]
The term ‘albedo’ as used in paragraph 2 refers to ________.
(a) the chemical density of snow crystals
(b) the fraction of solar radiation reflected by a surface
(c) the depth of glacial crevasses
(d) the rate of cloud precipitation
(vi) Identify the three major mountain ranges where the 2026 cryospheric study was conducted. [1]
(vii) State one major reason standard municipal gravel screens fail to safeguard downstream water networks from microplastics. [1]
(viii) Select the word from paragraph 1 that means ‘in its original condition; completely clean and unpolluted’: [1]
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct verb form:
The consortium of marine geologists ________ (has discovered / have discovered / are discovering) an active thermal vent along the central oceanic ridge.
(ii) Read the conversation between a glaciologist and a journalist. Report the glaciologist’s statement correctly:
Journalist: How fast are the regional ice shelves retreating?
Glaciologist: We measured an unprecedented five-meter reduction along the coastal margins this year.
The journalist asked how fast the regional ice shelves were retreating. The glaciologist replied that ______________________.
(iii) Select the correct modal verb to complete the workplace safety protocol:
Chemical laboratory personnel ________ (must / may / might) wear protective respirators while handling volatile organic solvents.
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for this notice board announcement:
“A extensive collection of digitized historical manuscripts are accessible in the university library.”
| Option No. | Error | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | A | An |
| (b) | are | is |
| (c) | accessible | accessing |
| (d) | in | at |
(v) Fill in the blank with the correct form of the word in brackets:
By the time the alpine rescue team arrived at the plateau, the mountaineers ________ (already construct) a snow trench for shelter.
(vi) Fill in the blank with the appropriate determiner:
There was ________ (much / many / few / several) admiration for the young engineer’s low-cost water filtration design.
(vii) Report the conversation between a forest officer and a botanist:
Officer: Did you find the endangered terrestrial orchid in the western valley?
Botanist: Yes, I documented four blooming specimens near the stream yesterday.
The officer enquired if the botanist had found the endangered terrestrial orchid in the western valley. The botanist affirmed and stated that ______________________.
(viii) Identify the error in the sentence from a renewable energy bulletin and supply the correction:
“The innovative design of floating solar arrays enhance overall power output while conserving water.”
Use the format: Error | Correction
(ix) Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb:
The panel of judicial adjudicators ________ (has announced / have announced / are announcing) its final decree on environmental conservation zones.
(x) Fill in the blank with the correct modal verb:
Tourists ________ (need not / must not / cannot) carry physical ticket printouts if they display the verified mobile barcode at the entry gate.
(xi) Complete the afforestation slogan using the correct verb form:
Nurture local saplings today, and the biosphere ________ (flourishes / flourished / flourishing) with vibrant wildlife tomorrow.
(xii) Identify the error and supply the correction for this university hostel notice:
“Every residents in the hostel are requested to switch off all electrical appliances before leaving their rooms.”
Use the format: Error | Correction
(A) You are Siddhant/Shruti, residing at 64, Shanti Nagar, Bhopal. The public library in your locality suffers from acute neglect—broken reading tables, inadequate digital cataloging, poor lighting, and a shortage of contemporary scientific periodicals. Write a formal letter in 100–120 words to the Chief Librarian / Municipal Education Officer, drawing attention to these deficiencies and requesting immediate infrastructure upgrades, digital inventory management, and the procurement of updated academic books.
(B) You are Manan/Mehak, Secretary of the Astronomical and Space Science Club at St. Jude’s Public School, Chandigarh. Write a formal letter of inquiry in 100–120 words to the Sales Director of M/s Stellar Horizons Scientific Instruments, New Delhi, inquiring about the cost, technical specifications, warranty terms, and delivery timeline for eight motorized reflecting telescopes and high-resolution solar projection lenses for your school observatory.
(A) The horizontal bar graph below illustrates the daily municipal freshwater consumption breakdown across various domestic activities in an urban township (Bathroom & Bathing: 42%, Kitchen & Food Prep: 22%, Laundry & Utensil Washing: 20%, Garden Irrigation & Car Washes: 16%). Write an analytical paragraph in 100–120 words evaluating the data, analyzing sectors with high consumption, and proposing domestic water conservation measures.
(B) A survey of 500 secondary school students evaluated their preferred extracurricular pathways for personal development (Sports & Athletics: 38%, Fine Arts & Music: 28%, Coding & Robotics: 22%, Community Volunteering: 12%). Write an analytical paragraph in 100–120 words summarizing the trends, comparing physical activity with technical and creative pursuits, and drawing a balanced conclusion.
(A) “‘Never mind,’ she said, ‘I can get on by myself. You don’t have to help me.’ The conductor was a jolly sort, fond of joking. ‘Oh, please don’t be angry with me, my fine madam,’ he said. ‘Here, have a seat right up that way in front. Everybody move aside please—make way for madam!’ It was the slack time of day, and there were only six or seven passengers on the bus. They were all looking at Valli and laughing with the conductor. Valli was overcome with shyness. Avoiding everyone’s eyes, she walked quickly to an empty seat and sat down.” (Madam Rides the Bus)
(i) Why did the conductor humorously address eight-year-old Valli as ‘madam’? [1]
(ii) How did Valli react when the passengers and conductor began laughing at her assertive behavior? [2]
(iii) Complete the sentence: The phrase ‘slack time of day’ implies that the bus was travelling during hours when there was ________ passenger traffic. [1]
(iv) Select the character trait demonstrated by Valli when she refused the conductor’s offer of physical help: [1]
(B) “LOMOV: I shall try to be brief. You must know, honoured Natalya Stepanovna, that I have long, since my childhood, in fact, had the privilege of knowing your family. My late aunt and her husband, from whom, as you know, I inherited my land, always had the greatest respect for your father and your late mother. The Lomovs and the Chubukovs have always had the most friendly, and I might almost say the most affectionate, regard for each other…” (The Proposal)
(i) What was Lomov’s underlying objective in recalling his family’s long-standing ancestral friendship with the Chubukovs? [1]
(ii) How does Lomov’s formal, anxious preamble contrast with the sudden argument that follows shortly after? [2]
(iii) Complete the sentence: Lomov inherited his landed estate from his late aunt and her ________. [1]
(iv) Identify the dramatic role played by Lomov’s nervous palpitations throughout the play: [1]
(A)
“If ever you should go by chance
To jungles in the east;
And if there should to you advance
A large and tawny beast,
If he roars at you as you’re dyin’
You’ll know it is the Asian Lion.
Or if some time when roaming round,
A noble wild beast greets you,
With black stripes on a yellow ground,
Just notice if he eats you.
This simple rule may help you learn
The Bengal Tiger to discern.” (How to Tell Wild Animals)
(i) How does the poet use dark humor to identify the Asian Lion and the Bengal Tiger? [2]
(ii) What visual feature distinguishes the Bengal Tiger in the extract? [1]
(iii) Identify the poetic device used in the line ‘A noble wild beast greets you’. [1]
(iv) Complete the sentence: The poet’s tone throughout the poem is predominantly light-hearted and ________. [1]
(B)
“(I am an orphan, roaming the street.
I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet.
The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet.)
Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda!
Remember your acne, Amanda!
Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you, Amanda!” (Amanda!)
(i) Contrast Amanda’s inner daydream of being an orphan with the reality of the adult voice reprimanding her. [2]
(ii) Why does Amanda imagine herself making patterns in soft dust with bare feet? [1]
(iii) Identify the figure of speech in ‘The silence is golden’. [1]
(iv) Fill in the blank: The adult speaker’s constant nagging focuses heavily on hygiene, posture, and physical ________. [1]
(i) What was the single ray of hope that sustained Lencho and his family after the hailstorm devastated their cornfield? (A Letter to God)
(ii) Why does Nelson Mandela state that “courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it”? (Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
(iii) What terrifying optical illusion startled the narrator of the old Dakota aircraft inside the storm clouds over Paris? (Two Stories about Flying: The Black Aeroplane)
(iv) How does Carl Sandburg compare the movement of fog over the harbour to that of a cat in ‘Fog’?
(v) Why did Kisa Gotami fail to obtain a single mustard seed from the households in Benares, and what did this teach her? (The Sermon at Benares)
(i) What physical ailments was Tricki suffering from when Mrs. Pumphrey brought him to Dr. Herriot’s surgery? (A Triumph of Surgery)
(ii) How did Hari Singh’s brief experience of learning to write full sentences with Anil influence his decision at the railway station? (The Thief’s Story)
(iii) What bizarre incident occurred at the village inn when Mrs. Hall entered the eccentric scientist Griffin’s unoccupied room? (Footprints without Feet)
(A) True freedom requires breaking through the barriers of self-doubt, social conditioning, and unreasoned fear. Compare and contrast how the young seagull in His First Flight and Nelson Mandela in Long Walk to Freedom navigate their personal struggles to attain emancipation and leadership.
(B) The yearning for independent exploration and autonomy often clashes with the rigid boundaries imposed by adult authority. Analyze how eight-year-old Valli in Madam Rides the Bus and Amanda in the poem Amanda! assert their individuality through contrasting methods of practical action and mental escapism.
(A) Genuine human reformation is born out of unconditional trust, forgiveness, and moral education rather than punitive measures. Discuss how Anil’s quiet empathy rehabilitated Hari Singh in The Thief’s Story, contrasting it with the calculated betrayal suffered by Horace Danby in A Question of Trust.
(B) Education and empathetic mentorship can dismantle deep-seated social neglect and transform a marginalized individual into a voice of self-respect. Elaborate on this statement with reference to how Sulekha’s teacher in Bholi empowered her to reject an unjust marriage and claim her dignity.
- Format: Sender’s address, Date, Receiver’s designation & address, Subject, Salutation, Body paragraphs, Complimentary close, Sender’s signature/name. [1 Mark]
- Content: Clear statement of purpose/grievance, factual supporting details, actionable requests/terms. [2 Marks]
- Organization & Coherence: Logical progression, formal register, concise flow. [1 Mark]
- Accuracy: Proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and appropriate vocabulary. [1 Mark]
- Introductory Sentence: Paraphrasing the prompt and introducing the dataset trend. [1 Mark]
- Analytical Body: Comparing statistical proportions, highlighting high and low percentages, noting contrasts. [2 Marks]
- Concluding Synthesis: Drawing inferences and summarizing the broader implications. [1 Mark]
- Language & Accuracy: Appropriate linking phrases, precise reporting words, correct syntax. [1 Mark]
(ii) Overcome with shyness, she avoided looking into their eyes, walked quickly to an empty seat, and sat down. [2 Marks]
(iii) low / sparse / light. [1 Mark]
(iv) (b) Fierce independence and self-respect [1 Mark]
OR
6. (B) (i) He wanted to build rapport and create a cordial atmosphere before proposing marriage to Natalya. [1 Mark]
(ii) The formal, polite introduction falls apart into shouting when a dispute over Oxen Meadows arises. [2 Marks]
(iii) husband. [1 Mark]
(iv) (b) A comic device highlighting his anxiety and physical awkwardness [1 Mark]
(ii) Black stripes on a yellow ground. [1 Mark]
(iii) (a) Irony / Oxymoron [1 Mark]
(iv) humorous / playful. [1 Mark]
OR
7. (B) (i) Amanda imagines peaceful, silent freedom with no adults around, while in reality she is subjected to continuous nagging about posture and hygiene. [2 Marks]
(ii) To convey the sensory pleasure of unhindered, peaceful solitude and freedom from rules. [1 Mark]
(iii) (a) Metaphor [1 Mark]
(iv) appearance / habits. [1 Mark]
- (i) Lencho and his family placed their single hope in the help of God, firmly believing that no one dies of hunger when God sees everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience. [3 Marks]
- (ii) Mandela explains that courage does not mean being fearless; rather, a brave person is someone who experiences fear but overcomes it to fight for justice and human dignity. [3 Marks]
- (iii) Flying through thick black clouds without functioning instruments, the pilot saw another black aeroplane with no lights on its wings, whose pilot waved and guided him through the storm to a safe runway. [3 Marks]
- (iv) Sandburg describes the fog arriving quietly on ‘little cat feet’, sitting in silent contemplation overlooking the city and harbour, and then stealthily moving on, capturing its quiet, gentle nature. [3 Marks]
- (v) She could not find a single home where someone had not died. This helped her realize that grief is universal, death comes to all living things, and peace comes from accepting mortality rather than through endless sorrow. [3 Marks]
- (i) Tricki was listless, bloated like a sausage with a leg at each corner, had bloodshot rheumy eyes, and suffered from bouts of vomiting caused by excessive treats and lack of exercise. [3 Marks]
- (ii) Hari Singh realized that stolen money could buy temporary comforts, but learning to read and write would earn him respect, dignity, and a secure future as an honest citizen. [3 Marks]
- (iii) Mrs. Hall found Griffin’s room empty, but suddenly the bedclothes leapt up, the bedroom chair sprang into the air, charged at her legs, and pushed her and her husband out of the room before locking the door. [3 Marks]
- (A) Overcoming Fear (Young Seagull & Mandela): Both texts show that true freedom is earned by conquering fear. The young seagull was paralyzed by self-doubt and fear of falling over the sea, but hunger forced him to take the plunge, discovering his wings could keep him aloft. Similarly, Nelson Mandela felt personal fear under an oppressive regime, but his yearning for the collective liberation of his people transformed him into a bold leader who endured decades of imprisonment. Both figures prove that courage is not the absence of fear, but the resolve to push through it. [6 Marks]
- (B) Autonomy & Control (Valli & Amanda): Valli and Amanda illustrate two ways young people respond to adult boundaries. While Amanda retreats into imaginative daydreams (mermaid, orphan, Rapunzel) to escape constant household instructions, Valli takes proactive steps in the real world. She saves her coins, calculates bus schedules, resists buying treats, and conducts herself with poise among adults. While Amanda’s response is passive withdrawal, Valli’s is active, organized, and adventurous. [6 Marks]
- (A) Reformation Through Trust (The Thief’s Story vs. A Question of Trust): Anil’s unconditional trust awakens Hari Singh’s conscience. When Hari steals the money and runs away, guilt and the desire to become an educated, respected man bring him back to Anil. In contrast, Horace Danby places his trust in a fellow thief posing as the mistress of the house, who tricks him into opening the safe and leaves him to be arrested. Anil’s genuine trust inspires moral reform, while misplaced trust in a dishonest person leads to betrayal and ruin. [6 Marks]
- (B) Transformative Mentorship in Bholi: Bholi endured years of neglect and low self-esteem due to her stammer and smallpox scars. Her village schoolteacher provided patient encouragement, helping her find her voice and self-worth. When a greedy suitor demanded dowry at her wedding, the educated and confident Sulekha refused the marriage, choosing a life of dignity, self-respect, and service as a teacher in her village. [6 Marks]