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 disposable consumer electronics, the emerging Right to Repair movement represents a crucial intersection between digital sovereignty, environmental stewardship, and consumer rights. For decades, consumer technology conglomerates engineered systemic obsolescence—using proprietary fasteners, glued battery casings, and cryptographic software locks that prevent third-party independent repair. This design philosophy forces consumers to discard functional devices when a single modular component degrades.
(2) The environmental repercussions of this linear throwaway model are staggering. Global electronic waste (e-waste) generation exceeds 60 million metric tons annually, with less than 20% formally collected and recycled. Discarded printed circuit boards leach toxic heavy metals—including lead, cadmium, and mercury—into soil systems and groundwater tables. Furthermore, manufacturing a replacement smartphone consumes precious rare-earth minerals whose mining devastates delicate biodiversity hotspots.
(3) The Right to Repair legislation fundamentally challenges this model by mandating that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) provide fair, open-market access to authentic replacement parts, diagnostic schematics, and calibration software at reasonable costs. Independent repair shops, which have long formed the economic backbone of local community services, gain the legal right to service hardware without fear of copyright lawsuits.
(4) Transitioning to repairable design is not an impediment to innovation; it is a catalyst for genuine circular engineering. When manufacturers design modular devices with standard screw interfaces, easily replaceable batteries, and backward-compatible operating systems, they extend product life spans and drastically reduce carbon footprints. Repairability restores consumer autonomy while creating a more resilient, sustainable technological future.
(i) What design practices do tech conglomerates use to engineer systemic obsolescence according to paragraph 1? [1]
(ii) Complete the sentence appropriately: [1]
The informal dumping of discarded printed circuit boards threatens ecosystems because ______________________.
(iii) Explain how Right to Repair legislation empowers independent repair shops based on paragraph 3. (Answer in about 40 words) [2]
(iv) Select the option that conveys the closest meaning of the word ‘obsolescence’ as used in paragraph 1: [1]
(v) Why does manufacturing replacement electronics cause significant ecological damage? [1]
(vi) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE: [1]
More than 80% of global e-waste generated annually is formally collected and recycled.
(vii) List two modular design features mentioned in paragraph 4 that promote circular engineering. [2]
(viii) Choose the most suitable title for the passage: [1]
(1) A 2026 international educational study evaluated the impact of mandatory digital detox protocols on adolescent cognitive performance and mental well-being across 75 secondary schools. Over an entire academic semester, 10,000 students aged 14–17 participated in structured interventions that restricted personal smartphone usage during school hours and instituted designated screen-free evening study blocks.
(2) The empirical results demonstrated remarkable cognitive gains. Students adhering to structured daily screen limits exhibited a 31% increase in sustained reading comprehension scores and a 44% improvement in complex mathematical problem-solving tasks. Furthermore, standardized sleep quality audits revealed that eliminating blue-light screen exposure two hours prior to bedtime reduced average sleep latency from 52 minutes to 18 minutes, directly improving daytime alert levels.
(3) The assessment also recorded profound psychological improvements. Peer-to-peer social interaction during lunch and recess intervals increased by 65%, while self-reported exam anxiety dropped by 38%. Educational psychologists concluded that establishing healthy digital boundaries in schools enhances both academic excellence and emotional resilience.
(i) What percentage increase in sustained reading comprehension was recorded among participating students? [1]
(ii) By how many minutes did pre-bedtime screen restriction reduce average sleep latency? [1]
(iii) How did structured smartphone restrictions during school hours influence peer-to-peer social dynamics? (Answer in 20–30 words) [2]
(iv) Explain the relationship between pre-bedtime blue-light exposure and daytime cognitive alertness as detailed in paragraph 2. [2]
(v) Complete the sentence by selecting the correct option: [1]
The primary conclusion of the adolescent digital detox study emphasizes that ________.
(a) digital devices should be permanently banned from modern society
(b) healthy digital boundaries enhance academic performance and emotional resilience
(c) teenagers cannot study without continuous social media notifications
(d) physical textbooks are completely obsolete
(vi) Identify the two specific school-level intervention rules enforced during the study mentioned in paragraph 1. [1]
(vii) State one adverse cognitive consequence of unconstrained nighttime smartphone scrolling. [1]
(viii) Select the word from paragraph 2 that means ‘the time it takes to fall asleep’: [1]
(i) Fill in the blank with the correct verb form from the options:
The panel of wildlife conservators ________ (has released / have released / are releasing) its annual census on the endangered snow leopard population.
(ii) Read the conversation between an astronomy teacher and a student. Report the student’s statement correctly:
Teacher: Did you observe the lunar eclipse through your binoculars last night?
Student: Yes sir, I recorded the entire event from our terrace.
The teacher enquired if the student had observed the lunar eclipse through his binoculars the previous night. The student affirmed and replied that ______________________.
(iii) Select the correct modal verb to complete the fire safety regulation:
Occupants ________ (must / may / might) immediately evacuate the building upon hearing the emergency alarm.
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the line from an environmental brochure:
“A wide variety of native medicinal plants is cultivated in the university botanical conservatory.”
| Option No. | Error | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | variety | varieties |
| (b) | is | are |
| (c) | cultivated | cultivating |
| (d) | in | at |
(v) Fill in the blank with the correct form of the word in brackets:
By the time the emergency ambulance arrived at the intersection, the trained bystanders ________ (already administer) basic first aid.
(vi) Fill in the blank with the appropriate determiner:
There was ________ (much / many / few / several) enthusiasm among the volunteers who joined the afforestation drive.
(vii) Report the conversation between a nutrition counselor and a client:
Counselor: Have you replaced refined sugar with natural sweeteners in your diet?
Client: Yes, I switched to organic jaggery two weeks ago.
The counselor asked whether the client had replaced refined sugar with natural sweeteners in her diet. The client affirmed and stated that ______________________.
(viii) Identify the error in the sentence from an urban forestry journal and supply the correction:
“The systematic planting of deep-rooted shade trees prevent soil erosion during heavy monsoons.”
Use the format: Error | Correction
(ix) Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb:
The governing body of trustees ________ (has approved / have approved / are approving) the budget for the new sports complex.
(x) Fill in the blank with the correct modal verb:
Passengers ________ (need not / must not / cannot) reprint their boarding passes if they hold a validated mobile e-boarding card.
(xi) Complete the water conservation slogan using the correct verb form:
Conserve every drop today, and nature ________ (sustains / sustained / sustaining) our communities tomorrow.
(xii) Identify the error and supply the correction for this public swimming pool guideline:
“Every swimmers are requested to shower thoroughly before entering the main pool.”
Use the format: Error | Correction
(A) You are Rishabh/Radhika, residing at 72, Sector 15, Panchkula. You have observed that the open storm drains along your neighborhood market road are chronically clogged with single-use plastic bags and commercial debris, causing severe foul odors and breeding swarms of disease-carrying mosquitoes. Write a formal letter in 100–120 words to the Chief Medical Officer of the Municipal Corporation, urging immediate desilting of the drains, weekly chemical larvicide spraying, and the placement of covered waste bins across the market.
(B) You are Samar/Samiksha, the President of the Digital Literacy and Coding Society at Delhi Public School, Gwalior. Write a formal letter of inquiry in 100–120 words to the Sales Manager of M/s MicroChip Educational Robotics Ltd., Bengaluru, inquiring about the cost, technical specifications, warranty terms, and shipping schedule for 25 beginner-level open-source micro-controller kits and sensor packs for your school’s new AI laboratory.
(A) The horizontal bar graph below illustrates the daily water footprint required to produce one kilogram of various staple food commodities (Bovine Meat: 15,400 litres, Sheep Meat: 10,400 litres, White Rice: 2,500 litres, Wheat Grain: 1,800 litres, Pulses & Lentils: 900 litres, Green Leafy Vegetables: 320 litres). Write an analytical paragraph in 100–120 words evaluating the data, contrasting the ecological strain of animal livestock with plant-based staples, and proposing sustainable dietary transitions for water conservation.
(B) A survey of 500 secondary school students evaluated their preferred methods for participating in community civic service (Neighborhood Tree Plantation: 38%, Peer-to-Peer Academic Mentoring: 28%, Stray Animal Welfare & Feeding: 20%, Old-Age Home Assistance: 14%). Write an analytical paragraph in 100–120 words analyzing the student preferences, comparing environmental initiatives with social welfare contributions, and drawing a reasoned conclusion.
(A) “We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge“`html
(1) In an interconnected world increasingly reliant on automated algorithmic decision-making, the preservation of linguistic diversity has emerged as an urgent cultural imperative. Over half of the world’s approximately 7,000 spoken languages are projected to vanish by the end of this century. Language is far more than a functional instrument for exchanging basic facts; it is a repository of indigenous ecological wisdom, unique philosophical worldviews, and historical memory accumulated over generations. (2) When a language disappears, the intricate environmental knowledge embedded in its vocabulary is lost forever. For instance, indigenous communities along river deltas often have dozens of specific terms describing minute fluctuations in water turbidity, soil composition, and seasonal fish migrations. These linguistic markers encode sophisticated environmental observations that modern ecological sciences are only beginning to document. The disappearance of regional dialects weakens our collective ability to understand local climate systems. (3) The rapid spread of uniform digital interfaces exacerbates this linguistic erosion. Major search engines, automated translation tools, and generative assistants are predominantly trained on a tiny fraction of global languages—primarily English, Mandarin, and Spanish. As younger generations encounter digital tools almost exclusively in dominant languages, their fluency in ancestral mother tongues steadily weakens, creating an intergenerational communication gap. (4) Reversing this trajectory requires innovative grassroots mobilization combined with open-source digital archiving. Grassroots community language nests, oral history recording initiatives, and youth-led regional podcasts demonstrate that digital technology can be repurposed to preserve endangered tongues. Championing linguistic preservation is not a nostalgic retreat into isolation; it is a vital defense of human diversity, cultural sovereignty, and intellectual richness. (i) What future projection regarding global spoken languages is highlighted in paragraph 1? [1] (ii) Complete the sentence appropriately: [1] (iii) Explain how digital platforms and language models contribute to the erosion of regional tongues based on paragraph 3. (Answer in about 40 words) [2] (iv) Select the option that conveys the closest meaning of the word ‘exacerbates’ as used in paragraph 3: [1] (v) Why are the vocabulary terms of river delta communities considered valuable by modern ecologists? [1] (vi) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE: [1] (vii) List two grassroots initiatives mentioned in paragraph 4 that help revitalize endangered languages. [2] (viii) Choose the most suitable title for the passage: [1] (1) A 2026 international waste-management benchmark surveyed household electronic-waste (e-waste) collection models across 50 emerging municipal corporations. The study evaluated consumer return incentives, authorized recycler networks, and hazardous heavy-metal containment over a three-year implementation period. (2) The findings revealed that municipalities offering deposit-refund schemes and direct doorstep collection achieved a 64% formal e-waste recovery rate, compared to barely 18% in cities relying solely on distant municipal collection drop-boxes. Furthermore, formal extraction of precious metals (gold, silver, and copper) from circuit boards reduced local soil lead and mercury contamination by 72% in surrounding suburban industrial zones. (3) Public education and producer responsibility laws proved decisive. In regions enforcing extended producer responsibility (EPR) mandates—requiring device manufacturers to fund recycling infrastructure—processing compliance reached 79%. Economists noted that establishing circular urban mining frameworks creates green technical jobs while conserving primary mineral reserves from destructive geological mining. (i) What formal e-waste recovery rate was achieved in cities providing deposit-refund schemes and doorstep pickup? [1] (ii) Name two toxic heavy metals whose soil contamination was reduced by 72% through authorized e-waste recycling. [1] (iii) Why did distant municipal drop-box systems fail to secure high e-waste collection rates? (Answer in 20–30 words) [2] (iv) Discuss the role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mandates in improving e-waste processing compliance. [2] (v) Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option: [1] (vi) Identify two economic benefits of circular e-waste recycling mentioned in paragraph 3. [1] (vii) State one major environmental danger of informal, unscientific e-waste burning in suburban areas. [1] (viii) Select the word from paragraph 1 that means ‘involving severe risk or danger to health and safety’: [1] (i) Fill in the blank with the correct verb form from the options: (ii) Read the dialogue between a fitness coach and an athlete. Report the athlete’s statement correctly: (iii) Select the correct modal verb to complete the workplace safety guideline: (iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for this notice board line: (v) Fill in the blank with the correct form of the word in brackets: (vi) Fill in the blank with the appropriate determiner: (vii) Report the conversation between an architect and a client: (viii) Identify the error in the sentence from a health journal and supply the correction: (ix) Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb: (x) Fill in the blank with the correct modal verb: (xi) Complete the sustainability slogan using the correct verb form: (xii) Identify the error and supply the correction for this public transportation advisory: (A) You are Samar/Samiksha, a resident of 36, Green Avenue, Ludhiana. The unauthorized dumping of construction rubble and plastic waste along the banks of the local canal has choked water flow, created foul odors, and posed severe health risks. Write a formal letter in 100–120 words to the Municipal Commissioner, urging immediate dredging of the canal, strict surveillance against illegal dumping, and the installation of protective boundary wire fences. (B) You are Kushal/Kavita, President of the Science Innovation Club at Heritage Senior Secondary School, Jaipur. Write a formal letter of inquiry in 100–120 words to the Sales Director of M/s SolarTech Educational Instruments, New Delhi, inquiring about the cost, technical specifications, warranty terms, and shipping timelines for ten portable solar-energy experiment kits and digital light meters for your school science laboratory. (A) The horizontal bar graph below illustrates the daily water footprint required to produce one kilogram of various staple food commodities (Bovine Meat: 15,400 litres, Sheep/Goat Meat: 10,400 litres, Paddy/White Rice: 2,500 litres, Wheat Grain: 1,800 litres, Chickpeas/Lentils: 900 litres, Seasonal Vegetables: 320 litres). Write an analytical paragraph in 100–120 words evaluating the data, comparing the water intensity of livestock farming with plant-based staples, and discussing dietary strategies for freshwater conservation. (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 key trends, comparing physical activity with technical and creative pursuits, and drawing a balanced conclusion. (A) In a tranquil, sunlit valley bordered by rolling green hills, a small agricultural settlement celebrated the harvest season. A hardworking farmer stood examining his ripe cornfields, noting with satisfaction the golden ears of grain interspersed with kidney-bean blossoms. The only missing element for a prosperous yield was a gentle downpour or at least a passing shower. Throughout the morning, the farmer kept glancing expectantly toward the northeast sky, searching for clouds that could bring relief to the thirsty earth. (i) What single natural requirement was needed to secure a rich harvest for the farmer? [1] (ii) What expectation did the farmer hold while observing the northeast sky? [2] (iii) Complete the sentence: The sight of corn interspersed with bean blossoms signaled the promise of a ________ yield. [1] (iv) Select the character trait demonstrated by the farmer as he inspects his fields: [1] (B) In a secluded country house, a heated argument erupts between two wealthy landowners over the pedigree, hunting abilities, and physical traits of their respective dogs. What began as an amicable matrimonial discussion disintegrates into petty insults regarding family lineage, physical infirmities, and canine hunting speeds, with neither party willing to concede superior judgment to the other. (i) What subject triggers the second major argument between the characters? [1] (ii) How does this petty argument reflect the underlying absurdity of the characters’ priorities? [2] (iii) Complete the sentence: The dispute over hunting dogs exposes the landowners’ obsession with vanity and social ________. [1] (iv) Identify the comic technique used by the playwright to depict their stubborn squabbling: [1] (A) A caged predator paces within the cramped confines of a concrete cell, his vivid stripes visible as he moves with quiet, suppressed fury on soft paws. Instead of stalking prey through the long grass near forest waterholes, he is reduced to an exhibit for casual visitors, ignoring the crowds while staring into the night sky at the distant, brilliant stars. (i) Contrast the animal’s life of confinement in a cage with his natural role in the wild ecosystem. [2] (ii) What does the predator’s gaze toward the distant stars signify? [1] (iii) Identify the emotion captured by the phrase describing the animal’s restrained anger in captivity: [1] (iv) Complete the sentence: The contrast between the concrete cage and the open wild underscores the cruelty of animal ________. [1] (B) A young girl lost in reverie envisions herself as Rapunzel residing peacefully inside a tranquil, solitary tower. She resolves that unlike the mythical heroine, she would never let down her bright hair to allow intrusive visitors, valuing uninterrupted silence and freedom above all external demands. (i) Why does the girl choose the image of Rapunzel in a solitary tower for her daydream? [2] (ii) What distinct choice does she declare she would make differently from the traditional fairytale? [1] (iii) Identify the central emotional desire reflected in her fantasy: [1] (iv) Complete the sentence: The girl’s daydreams represent an imaginative retreat from relentless adult ________. [1] (i) How did an unexpected hailstorm shatter the hopes of the hardworking farmer, and what was his single remaining hope? (A Letter to God) (ii) What did Nelson Mandela mean when he declared that the policy of apartheid created a “deep and lasting wound” in South Africa? (Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) (iii) How did Anne Frank use her diary ‘Kitty’ to share the intimate thoughts and anxieties she could not discuss with companions? (From the Diary of Anne Frank) (iv) How does Robert Frost use the simple image of snow falling from a hemlock tree to illustrate nature’s capacity to lift a despondent human spirit in ‘Dust of Snow’? (v) What spiritual truth regarding human mortality did the Buddha convey to Kisa Gotami through her search for mustard seeds? (The Sermon at Benares) (i) Why was Dr. Herriot tempted to retain the pampered pet Tricki as a permanent guest at his veterinary clinic? (A Triumph of Surgery) (ii) How did Ausable use his composure and quick wit to eliminate the armed secret agent Max without firing a shot? (The Midnight Visitor) (iii) How did the discovery of monarch butterfly tagging initiate Richard Ebright’s journey into advanced scientific research? (The Making of a Scientist) (A) Overcoming paralyzing fear requires stepping into the unknown and trusting one’s inner capabilities. Compare how the young seagull in His First Flight and the adventurous girl Valli in Madam Rides the Bus overcome hesitation and expand their personal worlds. (B) The quiet forces of nature possess an innate power to heal human gloom and reclaim environmental balance. Explore this idea with close reference to Robert Frost’s ‘Dust of Snow’ and the imagery of liberating trees in Adrienne Rich’s ‘The Trees’. (A) Genuine human reformation is achieved through trust, empathy, and education rather than punishment. Discuss how Anil’s quiet compassion and integrity reformed Hari Singh in The Thief’s Story, contrasting it with Horace Danby’s betrayal in A Question of Trust. (B) Education and compassionate mentorship can dismantle years of social neglect, empowering an individual to stand up for self-respect. Elaborate on this statement with reference to Sulekha’s transformation in Bholi.General Instructions:
The loss of a regional language threatens ecological science because ______________________.
The author argues that digital media tools can only harm native languages and have no utility in language preservation.
The term ‘urban mining’ in the text refers to ________.
(a) digging deep open-cast mines in city centres
(b) recovering precious metals from discarded consumer electronics
(c) manufacturing single-use plastic devices
(d) dumping circuit boards into municipal landfills
The international federation of climate researchers ________ (has released / have released / are releasing) an updated assessment of melting polar ice sheets.
Coach: Why did you modify your sprint recovery interval?
Athlete: I felt slight muscle tightness during the warmup drills.
The coach enquired why the athlete had modified his sprint recovery interval. The athlete replied that ______________________.
Technicians ________ (must / may / might) de-energize the primary electrical circuit before servicing industrial machinery.
“A diverse selection of academic reference journals are available in the digital archive.”Option No. Error Correction (a) diverse diversity (b) are is (c) available availability (d) in at
By the time the rescue vessel reached the reef, the marine biologists ________ (already secure) the research equipment.
There was ________ (much / many / few / several) public support for the municipal drive to install rooftop rainwater recharge units.
Architect: Have you finalized the floor plan for the solar courtyard?
Client: Yes, I approved the structural blueprint yesterday.
The architect enquired whether the client had finalized the floor plan for the solar courtyard. The client affirmed and stated that ______________________.
“The regular consumption of whole grains and leafy greens reduce arterial inflammation.”
Use the format: Error | Correction
The governing council ________ (has announced / have announced / are announcing) its unanimous approval for the green campus initiative.
Commuters ________ (need not / must not / cannot) stand in ticket queues if they use the unified mobile transit card.
Plant native saplings today, and the future ________ (thrives / thrived / thriving) with clean air.
“Every passengers on the express bus are requested to keep their seatbelts fastened.”
Use the format: Error | Correction
(ii) He expected rain clouds to arrive and provide the necessary moisture for his crops. [2 Marks]
(iii) good / prosperous. [1 Mark]
(iv) (b) Deep connection to the soil and optimistic diligence [1 Mark]
OR
6. (B) (i) The hunting merits, breed, and speed of their respective dogs (Guess and Squeezer). [1 Mark]
(ii) It shows how their excessive vanity and pride override practical, important matters like marriage. [2 Marks]
(iii) superiority / prestige. [1 Mark]
(iv) (b) Farce and escalating exaggeration [1 Mark]
(ii) His silent yearning for freedom in the open night sky away from captivity. [1 Mark]
(iii) (b) Quiet, suppressed rage [1 Mark]
(iv) captivity / confinement. [1 Mark]
OR
7. (B) (i) To escape the noise of continuous household instructions and live in peaceful solitude. [2 Marks]
(ii) She would never let down her hair, ensuring her solitude remains undisturbed. [1 Mark]
(iii) (b) Desire for peaceful autonomy and freedom from constant nagging [1 Mark]
(iv) nagging / control. [1 Mark]