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 interactions, the lost art of deep reading is facing an unprecedented crisis. Deep reading—the cognitive habit of immersing oneself in sustained, complex prose—is distinct from superficial browsing. While scanning digital feeds trains our neural circuits to gather immediate fragments of information, sustained reading cultivates empathy, critical reflection, and analytical thinking.
(2) Neuroscientists have observed that reading text on paper engages tactile sensory feedback that anchors spatial memory. When we turn physical pages, our brains construct a cognitive map of the text, associating ideas with their physical location in the book. In contrast, screen scrolling produces a fragmented, ephemeral experience that cognitive psychologists describe as the “shallow reading syndrome.”
(3) The consequences of this cognitive shift extend far beyond classroom grades. A society that ceases to read deeply risks losing its capacity for nuance. Complex societal challenges—climate change, economic inequality, ethical governance—cannot be understood or solved through bite-sized social media headlines. They demand sustained focus, logical reasoning, and the patience to understand opposing viewpoints.
(4) Reclaiming this lost habit does not require abandoning digital technology; rather, it demands intentionality. Allocating thirty minutes of distraction-free reading each day can rebuild degraded attention spans. Cultivating an appetite for literature allows readers to experience diverse human realities, transforming passive information consumers into thoughtful, empathetic citizens.
(i) What primary distinction does the author draw between ‘deep reading’ and ‘digital browsing’? [1]
(ii) Complete the sentence appropriately: [1]
According to neuroscientists, reading physical books aids spatial memory because ______________________.
(iii) Based on paragraph 3, explain how deep reading helps in tackling complex societal challenges. (Answer in about 40 words) [2]
(iv) Select the option that conveys the opposite of the word ‘ephemeral’ as used in paragraph 2: [1]
(v) What is meant by the phrase “shallow reading syndrome”? [1]
(vi) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE: [1]
The author advocates for the complete elimination of digital devices to regain our attention span.
(vii) List two long-term cognitive benefits of daily distraction-free reading mentioned in paragraph 4. [2]
(viii) Choose the most suitable title for the passage: [1]
(1) The global shift towards renewable energy has accelerated remarkably over the past decade. A 2025 international survey on municipal solid waste management and clean energy production in 50 emerging cities revealed that cities integrating waste-to-energy (WtE) models reduced landfill usage by 62% while generating substantial localized electricity.
(2) The data indicated that organic waste constituted 54% of municipal refuse, followed by recyclable plastics (22%), paper and cardboard (14%), and electronic/hazardous waste (10%). Cities that implemented source-segregation policies achieved an 85% efficiency rate in recycling facilities, whereas cities with mixed collection systems saw efficiency drop below 38% due to contamination.
(3) Furthermore, public awareness campaigns played a decisive role. In municipalities where citizen engagement programs were conducted monthly, household segregation compliance reached 78%, compared to only 29% in municipalities relying solely on municipal penalties. The findings emphasize that technological investments in renewable energy infrastructure must be paired with sustained grassroots education to create resilient, zero-waste urban ecosystems.
(i) What was the observed reduction in landfill usage among cities adopting waste-to-energy models? [1]
(ii) Identify the category of municipal refuse that forms the largest proportion according to the survey. [1]
(iii) Why does the recycling efficiency drop below 38% in cities with mixed waste collection systems? (Answer in 20–30 words) [2]
(iv) Compare the impact of public awareness campaigns versus legal penalties on household waste segregation compliance. [2]
(v) Complete the sentence by selecting the correct option: [1]
The central theme of the passage highlights that sustainable urban waste management requires ________.
(a) only advanced incinerators
(b) a synergy of modern technology and civic education
(c) higher fines on defaulting residents
(d) complete privatization of waste handling
(vi) What percentage of municipal refuse is made up of recyclable plastics, paper, and cardboard combined? [1]
(vii) State one consequence of failing to segregate municipal waste at the household source. [1]
(viii) Substitute the word ‘resilient’ in paragraph 3 with one suitable synonym from the choices below: [1]
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the sentence:
The research team ________ (has published / have published / are publishing) their findings in the latest international medical journal.
(ii) Read the conversation between a librarian and a student. Complete the sentence by reporting the student’s reply correctly:
Librarian: Why haven’t you returned the reference book yet?
Student: I needed it to prepare for my science symposium tomorrow.
The librarian asked the student why he had not returned the reference book yet, to which the student replied that ______________________.
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line from a travel brochure:
Visitors ________ (must / ought / may) carry valid photo identification while entering the national wildlife reserve.
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following notice:
“Each of the participants are requested to register at the front desk before 9:00 AM.”
| Option No. | Error | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Each | Every |
| (b) | are | is |
| (c) | register | registered |
| (d) | before | at |
(v) Complete the given narrative by filling in the blank with the correct form of the word in brackets:
By the time the rescue team arrived at the avalanche site, the local mountaineers ________ (already clear) the primary pathway.
(vi) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the slogan on water conservation:
Save water today, or you ________ (will / should / might) have none left for tomorrow.
(vii) Report the dialogue between a teacher and a student by completing the sentence:
Teacher: Have you completed the assignment on environmental sustainability?
Student: Yes ma’am, I submitted it online yesterday.
The teacher enquired if the student had completed the assignment on environmental sustainability. The student affirmed and stated that ______________________.
(viii) Identify the error in the given sentence from a sports report and supply the correction:
“Neither the coach nor the team members was disheartened by the unexpected defeat.”
Use the given format for your response: Error | Correction
(ix) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option:
There isn’t ________ (many / much / few / several) petrol left in the tank; we must refuel at the next station.
(x) Fill in the blank with the correct modal verb:
Citizens ________ (shall / should / can) follow traffic guidelines to ensure safety for pedestrians.
(xi) Complete the line from a classic poem by choosing the correct form of the verb:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I ________ (have / had / has) promises to keep.
(xii) Identify the error and supply the correction for this advertisement header:
“Experience our newly renovated suites that offers breathtaking panoramic sea views.”
Use the format: Error | Correction
(A) You are Aarav/Ananya, residing at 45-B, Sector 14, Rohini, New Delhi. You notice that the public park in your neighbourhood has fallen into extreme disrepair, with broken benches, unpruned shrubs, and overflowing garbage bins causing health hazards. Write a formal letter in 100–120 words to the Municipal Commissioner, highlighting the grievances and requesting immediate restoration and regular maintenance.
(B) You are Rohan/Riya, the Sports Captain of St. Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Jaipur. Write a formal letter of order in 100–120 words to M/s Pioneer Sports Equipment Co., New Delhi, placing an order for cricket kits, footballs, badminton racquets, and table tennis nets for the upcoming annual sports meet. Enquire about school discounts and state terms of payment and delivery timeline.
(A) The bar graph below displays data regarding the preferred leisure activities among urban teenagers aged 13–18 over a five-year period (Screen Gaming: 45%, Social Media: 30%, Outdoor Sports: 15%, Reading & Hobbies: 10%). Write an analytical paragraph in 100–120 words summarizing the trends, comparing the lifestyle choices, and drawing meaningful conclusions.
(B) A recent survey on commuter preferences in a metropolitan city revealed that 55% of office workers prefer the rapid metro rail system due to punctuality and comfort, 25% use app-based shared cabs, 15% rely on personal motor vehicles, and only 5% use non-motorized transport (bicycles/walking). Write an analytical paragraph in 100–120 words evaluating the data and discussing the environmental and economic implications of this transit pattern.
(A) “The paper has more patience than people.’ I thought of this saying on one of those days when I was feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin in my hands, bored and listless, wondering whether to stay in or go out. I finally stayed where I was, brooding: Yes, paper does have more patience, and since I’m not planning to let anyone else read this stiff-backed notebook grandly referred to as a ‘diary’, unless I should ever find a real friend, it probably won’t make a bit of difference.” (From the Diary of Anne Frank)
(i) What state of mind was Anne in when she remembered the saying about paper having more patience? [1]
(ii) Why did Anne decide to write in a diary rather than confide in people around her? [2]
(iii) Fill in the blank with ONE word:
Anne’s statement that she would share her diary only with a ‘real friend’ reflects her deep yearning for genuine ________. [1]
(iv) Select the option that correctly describes the tone of the speaker in this extract: [1]
(B) “LOMOV: But you can see for yourself, honoured Natalya Stepanovna, that Oxen Meadows are mine! It’s true they were once the subject of dispute, but now everybody knows that they are mine. There’s nothing to argue about. You see my aunt’s grandmother gave the free use of these Meadows in perpetuity to the peasants of your father’s grandfather…” (The Proposal)
(i) What is the core subject of the immediate quarrel between Lomov and Natalya? [1]
(ii) How does Lomov attempt to legitimize his claim over Oxen Meadows? [2]
(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately:
The argument over Oxen Meadows reveals that the characters in the play prioritize property and pride over ________. [1]
(iv) What dramatic irony lies behind Lomov’s visit to Chubukov’s house? [1]
(A)
“He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.” (A Tiger in the Zoo)
(i) Contrast the tiger’s current confinement with his natural habitat as depicted in the extract. [2]
(ii) What poetic device is used in the phrase ‘pads of velvet quiet’? [1]
(iii) Why does the poet describe the tiger’s rage as ‘quiet’? [1]
(iv) Why should the tiger wait near the water hole in the wild? [1]
(B)
“The trees inside are moving out into the forest,
the forest that was empty all these days
where no bird could sit
no insect hide
no sun bury its feet in shadow
the forest that was empty all these nights
will be full of trees by morning.” (The Trees)
(i) What does the movement of trees from the house into the forest symbolize? [2]
(ii) Why was the forest empty ‘all these days’? [1]
(iii) Identify the figure of speech in ‘sun bury its feet in shadow’. [1]
(iv) Complete the sentence: The departure of the trees signifies nature’s rebellion against ________. [1]
(i) How did the unexpected hailstorm shatter Lencho’s hopes, and what was his singular conviction that followed? (A Letter to God)
(ii) Why does Nelson Mandela describe the policy of apartheid as a “deep and lasting wound” on his country and its people? (Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
(iii) What psychological barrier prevented the young seagull from taking his maiden flight, and how did his mother trigger his instinct? (Two Stories about Flying: His First Flight)
(iv) How does Robert Frost demonstrate that nature possesses immense restorative and healing powers in ‘Dust of Snow’?
(v) What profound truth about mortality and grief did Gautama Buddha impart to Kisa Gotami through the mustard seed task? (The Sermon at Benares)
(i) Why was Dr. Herriot tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest at his surgery? (A Triumph of Surgery)
(ii) How does Ausable outwit the armed intruder Max without using physical force or weapons? (The Midnight Visitor)
(iii) What transformative role did the village schoolteacher play in moulding Bholi from a timid, stammering girl into a confident woman? (Bholi)
(A) Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. Analyze this statement with close reference to the contrasting struggles experienced by the young seagull in His First Flight and Nelson Mandela in Long Walk to Freedom.
(B) Valli in Madam Rides the Bus and Amanda in the poem Amanda! are both young girls who desire independence, yet their experiences and responses to their environment are remarkably distinct. Compare and contrast their attitudes towards autonomy and adult control.
(A) In The Thief’s Story, Hari Singh remarks that it is easy to rob a greedy man, but difficult to rob a careless man like Anil. Discuss how Anil’s unconditional trust, empathy, and education reformed a habitual thief into an honest individual.
(B) Matilda Loisel’s relentless pursuit of false vanity and social prestige became the root cause of her decade-long ruin and suffering. Elaborate on the central theme of The Necklace and discuss the moral lesson it offers regarding contentment and self-acceptance.