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 recent years, the concept of artificial intelligence (AI) literacy has moved from the fringes of computer science into the heart of mainstream education. It is no longer sufficient for students to merely be consumers of digital interfaces; they must understand the algorithmic logic, ethical implications, and societal transformations wrought by intelligent machines.
(2) At its core, AI literacy is not about training every child to become a software engineer. Instead, it involves cultivating a critical mindset that asks fundamental questions: How was this dataset trained? What biases might exist in these predictive models? How does an automated recommendation system shape human behaviour and public opinion? When learners understand that algorithms are designed by humans with specific assumptions, they transition from passive recipients of automated decisions to critical evaluators of digital truth.
(3) The ethical dimension of AI is particularly urgent. From facial recognition technologies in public spaces to automated grading in classrooms, algorithmic tools increasingly influence human lives. Without foundational knowledge, young citizens are ill-equipped to participate in democratic debates concerning privacy rights, surveillance capitalism, and algorithmic fairness. A democratic society relies on an informed populace capable of holding both human and automated systems accountable.
(4) Integrating AI literacy into school curricula requires an interdisciplinary approach. It bridges mathematics, language arts, and social sciences. By analyzing how language models process literature or how statistical models forecast climate patterns, students discover that technology is deeply interwoven with human culture. Fostering this dual understandingβtechnical intuition paired with ethical reasoningβis essential for nurturing responsible digital citizens in the twenty-first century.
(i) What is the primary objective of introducing AI literacy in schools, according to paragraph 2? [1]
(ii) Complete the sentence appropriately: [1]
When students realize that algorithms reflect human assumptions, they transform from passive consumers into ______________________.
(iii) Explain why the ethical understanding of AI is vital for a democratic society. (Answer in about 40 words based on paragraph 3) [2]
(iv) Select the option that conveys the closest meaning of the word ‘interwoven’ as used in paragraph 4: [1]
(v) Why does the author advocate for an ‘interdisciplinary approach’ to teaching AI? [1]
(vi) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE: [1]
AI literacy requires every student to learn programming and become a software engineer.
(vii) List two societal issues mentioned in paragraph 3 where algorithmic decisions impact individual lives. [2]
(viii) Choose the most appropriate title for the passage: [1]
(1) A 2026 nationwide study conducted across 120 government and private schools examined the correlation between daily physical activity, school-provided nutrition, and academic focus among secondary school students. The study tracked 15,000 students over an academic year to evaluate how structured lifestyle interventions affect cognitive retention and psychological well-being.
(2) The findings revealed that students engaging in at least 45 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise daily demonstrated a 24% higher average score in standardized problem-solving assessments compared to sedentary peers. Furthermore, schools that substituted ultra-processed cafeteria snacks with fresh fruit, whole grains, and protein-rich meals recorded a 35% decrease in post-lunch cognitive fatigue and a 42% reduction in chronic absenteeism.
(3) The study also evaluated mental health indicators. Regular sports participation led to a 50% drop in reported exam-related anxiety among adolescents. However, the survey highlighted an alarming disparity: 68% of urban schools had reduced physical education periods to allocate more time for test preparation. Experts warn that prioritizing rote academic drills at the expense of physical health is counterproductive, as aerobic movement directly stimulates brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF) essential for memory consolidation.
(i) What percentage improvement in problem-solving scores was observed in students who exercised for at least 45 minutes daily? [1]
(ii) Name the biological factor mentioned in the text that is stimulated by aerobic exercise and aids memory retention. [1]
(iii) How did replacing processed cafeteria snacks with nutritious food impact students’ daily performance? (Answer in 20β30 words) [2]
(iv) Discuss the concerning trend observed in 68% of urban schools and explain why health experts consider it counterproductive. [2]
(v) Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option: [1]
The reduction in exam-related anxiety recorded among students engaged in regular sports was ________.
(a) 24%
(b) 35%
(c) 42%
(d) 50%
(vi) State one key inference that school administrators can draw from this nationwide study. [1]
(vii) State whether the following statement is supported by the passage: [1]
Cutting sports periods to increase test-prep time enhances cognitive retention.
(viii) Select the word from the text which means the same as ‘strengthening or combining into a unified whole’ (Paragraph 3): [1]
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the weather advisory:
Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms ________ (is expected / are expected / was expected) to persist across coastal districts over the next 48 hours.
(ii) Read the conversation between an interviewer and a candidate. Complete the sentence by reporting the candidate’s reply correctly:
Interviewer: What motivated you to choose environmental architecture?
Candidate: I wanted to design buildings that minimize carbon footprint.
The interviewer enquired what had motivated the candidate to choose environmental architecture. The candidate replied that ______________________.
(iii) Select the correct modal verb to complete the safety rule:
Cyclists ________ (ought to / might / can) wear reflective jackets while riding on unlit rural roads at night.
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line from a museum guide:
“A collection of rare ancient coins are displayed in the central heritage gallery.”
| Option No. | Error | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | ancient | antique |
| (b) | are | is |
| (c) | displayed | displaying |
| (d) | in | at |
(v) Fill in the blank with the correct form of the word given in brackets:
If the administration ________ (implement) strict emission norms earlier, air quality index would not have plummeted so drastically.
(vi) Fill in the blank with the appropriate determiner:
There was ________ (little / few / many / several) enthusiasm among the volunteers after working continuously in the scorching sun.
(vii) Report the doctor’s advice to the patient by completing the sentence:
Doctor: Do not skip your morning walk if you want to keep your blood pressure stable.
The doctor advised the patient ______________________.
(viii) Identify the error in the given public service announcement and supply the correction:
“Every citizen have a constitutional responsibility to protect public property.”
Use the given format: Error | Correction
(ix) Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb:
The jury ________ (has / have / are) announced its unanimous verdict in the high-profile copyright lawsuit.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct modal verb:
You ________ (need not / must not / cannot) submit physical copies if you have already uploaded the digital form online.
(xi) Complete the slogan for wildlife preservation by choosing the correct verb form:
When forests thrive, wildlife ________ (survives / survived / surviving).
(xii) Identify the error and supply the correction for this magazine line:
“The innovative design of electric vehicles reduce atmospheric noise pollution.”
Use the format: Error | Correction
(A) You are Kabir/Kavya, a resident of 12, Green Park Avenue, Bengaluru. You have observed a surge in reckless driving and over-speeding by commercial delivery riders in your residential locality, endangering children and elderly residents. Write a letter in 100β120 words to the Deputy Commissioner of Traffic Police, drawing attention to this issue and requesting speed breakers, automated speed cameras, and stricter patrolling.
(B) You are Tanishq/Tanya, the Head of the Department of Computer Science at Delhi Public School, Pune. Write a formal letter of inquiry in 100β120 words to the Sales Manager of M/s TechWorld Electronics, Mumbai, inquiring about the supply of 40 desktop computers, robotic kits, and interactive smartboards for your school’s new AI laboratory. Inquire about bulk discounts, warranty terms, and installation support.
(A) The pie chart below presents the sources of greenhouse gas emissions generated by an industrial township (Thermal Power: 40%, Transportation: 25%, Industrial Manufacturing: 20%, Domestic Waste: 10%, Agriculture/Deforestation: 5%). Write an analytical paragraph in 100β120 words summarizing the data, highlighting the primary contributing sectors, and proposing viable decarbonization strategies.
(B) A survey was conducted among 500 college graduates regarding their preferred career paths in 2026. The data showed: Startups & Entrepreneurship: 38%, Private Corporate Sector: 32%, Government Civil Services: 20%, Higher Research & Academia: 10%. Write an analytical paragraph in 100β120 words analyzing the career preferences, comparing modern entrepreneurial ambitions with traditional career stability, and drawing a reasoned conclusion.
(A) “The baker made his musical entry on the scene with the ‘jhang, jhang’ sound of his specially made bamboo staff. One hand supported the basket on his head and the other banged the bamboo on the ground. He would greet the lady of the house with ‘Good morning’ and then place his basket on the vertical bamboo. We kids would be pushed aside with a mild rebuke and the loaves would be delivered to the servant. But we would not give up. We would climb a bench or the parapet and peep into the basket, somehow.” (Glimpses of India: A Baker from Goa)
(i) What was the distinctive sound that heralded the traditional baker’s arrival in the village? [1]
(ii) How did the village children react to the baker’s arrival despite being pushed aside? [2]
(iii) Complete the sentence: The children were particularly eager to look into the basket because they craved for the sweet ________. [1]
(iv) What social status or cultural role did the baker (pader) hold in Goan society as portrayed in the text? [1]
(B) “With a loud cry she addressed him: ‘Father, take back your money. I am not going to marry this man.’ Ramlal was thunderstruck. The guests began to whisper, ‘So shameless! So ugly and so shameless!’ Bholi said, ‘Yes, Pitaji, I am going to marry this lame old man for your sake. But I will not have such a mean, greedy and contemptible coward as my husband. I won’t, I won’t, I won’t!'” (Bholi)
(i) Why did Bholi refuse to marry Bishamber at the final moment of the garland ceremony? [2]
(ii) What was Ramlal and the guests’ immediate reaction to Bholi’s bold refusal? [1]
(iii) Fill in the blank with an appropriate word:
Bholi’s courageous stand against dowry reflects the triumph of ________ over social oppression. [1]
(iv) Select the character trait demonstrated by Bholi in this extract: [1]
(A)
“Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.” (Fire and Ice)
(i) What human emotions are symbolized by ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ in the poem? [2]
(ii) Identify the rhyme scheme of the given extract. [1]
(iii) Why does the poet say that ‘ice’ would also suffice for the destruction of the world? [1]
(iv) Fill in the blank: The poet associates ‘fire’ with unbridled ________. [1]
(B)
“(There is a languid, emerald sea,
where the sole inhabitant is meβ
a mermaid, drifting blissfully.)” (Amanda!)
(i) Why are these lines enclosed within parentheses in the poem? [2]
(ii) What kind of life does Amanda envision for herself as a mermaid in the emerald sea? [1]
(iii) Identify the figure of speech used when Amanda imagines herself as a mermaid. [1]
(iv) Select the word that conveys the opposite of ‘languid’: [1]
(i) Why did the postmaster send money to Lencho, and why did he sign the letter as ‘God’? (A Letter to God)
(ii) According to Nelson Mandela, what are the ‘twin obligations’ that every man has in life, and why could he not fulfill them in South Africa? (Long Walk to Freedom)
(iii) What did the pilot of the Dakota aircraft experience inside the black storm clouds, and how was he guided to safety? (Two Stories about Flying: The Black Aeroplane)
(iv) How does the poet convey the sudden, silent arrival and departure of fog over the harbour and city? (Fog)
(v) Why did Lomov think that Natalya Stepanovna was an ideal match for him to marry? (The Proposal)
(i) What was Mrs. Pumphrey’s reaction when Tricki was restored to full health, and how did she describe his recovery? (A Triumph of Surgery)
(ii) Why did Griffin decide to slip into a big London store, and what unexpected trouble did he encounter the next morning? (Footprints without Feet)
(iii) How did Richard Ebright’s mother encourage his scientific curiosity and contribute to his journey as a renowned scientist? (The Making of a Scientist)
(A) Grief and bereavement are inevitable realities of human existence, but clinging to sorrow only compounds suffering. Analyze how Kisa Gotami in The Sermon at Benares and the young boy in The Ball Poem come to terms with loss and learn the universal law of detachment.
(B) Anne Frank in From the Diary of Anne Frank and Valli in Madam Rides the Bus both display a maturity and perceptiveness far beyond their years. Compare and contrast how each young protagonist navigates the adult world and articulates her individual identity.
(A) In A Question of Trust, Horace Danby was a meticulous thief who planned his burglaries with precision, yet he was completely outsmarted by a young woman. Analyze the conflict between appearance and reality in the story, and explain how Horace’s trust was exploited.
(B) Education is the greatest catalyst for human dignity and social empowerment. Discuss this statement in the context of Bholi, highlighting how schooling transformed Sulekha from a neglected, fearful child into an assertive, self-reliant individual.