CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature Question Paper 2020 Set 2-2-3

Series : JBB/2 SET – 3

Code No. 2/2/3
Candidates must write the Code
Roll No. on the title page of the answer-
book.

NOTE

(I) Please check that this question paper contains 11 printed pages.

(II) Code number given on the right hand side of the question paper should be
written on the title page of the answer-book by the candidate.

(III) Please check that this question paper contains 11 questions.

(IV) Please write down the Serial Number of the question in the
answer-book before attempting it.

(V) 15 minute time has been allotted to read this question paper. The question
paper will be distributed at 10.15 a.m. From 10.15 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., the
students will read the question paper only and will not write any answer
on the answer-book during this period.

ENGLISH
(Language and Literature)

Time allowed : 3 hours Maximum Marks : 80

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General Instructions :
Read the following instructions very carefully and strictly follow them :
(i) Question paper comprises three sections – A, B and C.
(ii) Section A – Reading : 20 marks
Section B – Writing & Grammar : 30 marks
Section C – Literature : 30 marks
(iii) There are 11 questions in the question paper. All questions are
compulsory.
(iv) Answer should be brief and to the point.
(v) There is no overall choice in the question paper. However, an internal
choice has been provided in Section B and Section C. Make your choice
correctly.
(vi) In addition to this, separate instructions are given with each section and
question, wherever necessary.
(vii) Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

Section – A 20
(Reading)

1. Read the following passage carefully.

(1) Caged behind thick glass, the most famous dancer in the world can

easily be missed in the National Museum, Delhi. The Dancing Girl of

Mohenjo-Daro is that rare artefact that even school children are

familiar with. Our school textbooks also communicate the wealth of

our 5000 year heritage of art. You have to be alert to her existence

there, amid terracotta animals to rediscover this bronze image.

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(2) Most of us have seen her only in photographs or sketches therefore

the impact of actually holding her is magnified a million times over.

One discovers that the dancing girl has no feet. She is small, a little

over 10 cm tall – the length of a human palm – but she surprises us

with the power of great art – the ability to communicate across

centuries.

(3) A series of bangles – of shell or ivory or thin metal – clothe her left

upper arm all the way down to her fingers. A necklace with three

pendants bunched together and a few bangles above the elbow and

wrist on the right hand display an almost modern art.

(4) She speaks of the undaunted ever hopeful human spirit. She

reminds us that it is important to visit museums in our country to

experience the impact that a work of art leaves on our senses, to find

among all the riches one particular vision of beauty that speaks to

us alone.

1.1 On the basis of your reading of the above passage answer the
following questions. 18=8

(a) The dancing girl belongs to

(i) Mohenjo-Daro (ii) Greek culture

(iii) Homosapiens (iv) Tibet

(b) In the museum she’s kept among

(i) dancing figures (ii) bronze statues

(iii) terracotta animals (iv) books

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(c) Which information is not given in the passage ?

(i) The girl is caged behind glass.

(ii) She is a rare artefact.

(iii) School books communicate the wealth of our heritage.

(iv) She cannot be rediscovered as she’s bronze.

(d) ‘Great Art’ has power because :

(i) it appeals to us despite a passage of time.

(ii) it is small and can be understood.

(iii) it’s seen in pictures and sketches.

(iv) it’s magnified a million times.

(e) The jewellery she wears :

(i) consists of bangles of shell, ivory or thin metal.

(ii) is a necklace with two pendants.

(iii) both (i) and (ii) are correct.

(iv) neither (i) nor (ii) is correct.

(f) She reminds us

(i) of the never say-die attitude of humans.

(ii) why museums in our country are exciting.

(iii) why she will make us come into money.

(iv) of dancing figures.

(g) The synonym of the word “among” in para 1 is ______.

(h) The size of the dancing girl is equal to the length of human
palm. (True/False)
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2. Read the following passage carefully.

(1) As the family finally sets off from home after many arguments there
is a moment of lull as the car takes off. “Alright, so where are we
going for dinner now?” asks the one at the driving wheel. What
follows is a chaos as multiple voices make as many suggestions.

(2) By the time order is restored and a decision is arrived at, tempers
have risen, feelings injured and there is at least one person
grumbling.

(3) Twenty years ago, you would step out of home, decision of meal and
venue already made with no arguments or opposition and everybody
looked forward to the meal with equal enthusiasm. The decision was
made by the head of the family and the others fell in line. Today
every member of the family has a say in every decision which also
promotes a sense of togetherness and bonding.

(4) We empower our kids to take their own decisions from a very early
age. We ask them the cuisine they prefer, the movie they want to
see, the holiday they wish to go on and the subjects they wish to
study.

(5) It’s a closely connected world out there where children consult and
guide each other. A parent’s well meaning advice can sound like
nothing more than unnecessary preaching. How then do we reach
our children through all the conflicting views and make the voice of
reason be heard ? Children today question choices and prefer to go
with the flow.

(6) What then is the best path to take? I would say the most important
thing one can do is to listen. Listen to your children and their
silences. Ensure that you keep some time aside for them, insist that
they share their stories with you. Step into their world. It is not as
complicated as it sounds; just a daily half an hour of the quality time
would do the trick.
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2.1 On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the
following questions in 30-40 words each. 24=8

(a) Write one advantage and one disadvantage of allowing every
family member to be part of the decision making process.

(b) In today’s world, what are parents asking their kids ?

(c) Which two pieces of advice does the writer give to the parents ?

(d) The passage supports the parents. How far do you agree with
the author’s views ? Support your view with a reason.

2.2 On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the
following : 14=4

(a) The synonym of ‘hurt’ as given in paragraph 2 is ____.

(b) The word which means the same as ‘a style or method of
cooking’ in paragraph 4 is :

(i) Cuisine (ii) Gourmet

(iii) Gastric (iv) Science

(c) The antonym of ‘agreeable’ as given in paragraph 5 is _____.

(d) The antonym of ‘simple’ as given in paragraph 6 is

(i) difficult (ii) complicated

(iii) easy (iv) tricky

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Section – B 30

(Writing and Grammar)

3. You are Shammi/Sapna, resident of 12 Mall Road, Agra. You have noticed

that majority of the water taps in your colony keep on leaking. Also water

drips from various joints in the supply pipes. All these lead to a big

wastage of potable water. Write a letter of complaint to the Municipal

Commissioner, Agra Municipal Corporation requesting him to get the

necessary repairs done. (100-150 words) 8

OR

Outdoor games occupy a prominent place in the life of people. They not

only help in keeping them healthy and fit but also play an important part

as recreational events. Write an article in 100-150 words on, “Importance

of Outdoor Games.” You are Raj/Rani. 8

4. Write a story in 150-200 words with the help of the following clues.

Last year in the month of December, I went to my native village where

my grand parents live in a cottage on the foothills of the Himalayas. One

day, I was standing on the edge of a dense forest. Suddenly ................ . 10

OR

It was an amazing day, full of fun and frolic. We all stood aghast to see a

strange flying object over our heads. We started ........... . 10

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5. Fill in the blanks in the paragraph given below by choosing the most
appropriate options from the ones that follow. Write the answers in your
answer sheet against the correct blank numbers. 14=4

Reading books (a) a good hobby. Books open (b) vast new
world to us. They increase (c) knowledge and change our out-
look (d) the world.

(a) (i) has (ii) was (iii) are (iv) is

(b) (i) the (ii) a (iii) an (iv) some

(c) (i) his (ii) one’s (iii) our (iv) your

(d) (i) towards (ii) for (iii) by (iv) from

6. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each
line. Write the error along with its correction in the space provided. 14=4

Error Correction

Spending time for their kids brings (a) ________ _______

immediate as well as long-last (b) ________ _______

gain for a parents. According to a (c) ________ _______

research, children with concerned (d) ________ _______

parents are more efficient.

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7. Rearrange the following words/phrases to make meaningful sentences.
14=4

(a) is / as / known / Jaipur / Pink City.

(b) in the / are / buildings / city / in pink colour / painted / most of the

(c) have made / a popular / it / its / historical buildings / destination /
tourist.

(d) go there / one / bus / from Delhi / can easily / by

Section – C 30
(Literature)

8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow : 14=4

Max bit his lip nervously. The knocking was repeated.

“What will you do now, Max ?” Ausable asked. “If I do not answer
the door, they will enter anyway. The door is unlocked. And they will not
hesitate to shoot”.

(a) Who is Max ?

(i) a spy (ii) a tourist

(iii) a businessman (iv) a waiter

(b) Max became nervous because :

(i) he got scared of Ausable.

(ii) he thought the police had come.

(iii) the door was unlocked.

(iv) Ausable did not get up to open the door.

(c) Actually the door was knocked at by the ______.

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(d) Which word in the extract is opposite in meaning to the word
‘confidently’ ?

OR

..........Winds rush to meet them. 14=4

The moon is broken like a mirror,

Its pieces flash now in the crown

of the tallest oak.

(a) The above lines were written by

(i) Robert Frost (ii) John Berryman

(iii) Robin Klein (iv) Adrienne Rich

(b) The crown of the oak lies in its

(i) top most branch (ii) roots

(iii) rich and tasty fruit (iv) broad leaves

(c) The winds are rushing to meet the ______.

(d) Find the word from the extract which means the same as
“shine.”

9. Answer any five of the following questions in 30-40 words each. 2  5 = 10

(a) What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped ?

(b) Why did Peggy and Maddie not wait for Wanda ?

(c) Why does the poet use the term ‘noble’ and ‘wild’ for the tiger ? (How
to Tell Wild Animals)

(d) What was the major flaw in Tricki ?

(e) What made the boys follow Griffin ?

(f) How is Ausable different from other secret agents ?

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10. Attempt the following question in 100-150 words.
Why were the children fascinated by the baker ? How did they show their
eagerness to see him ? 8
OR
Why does the poet not offer money to the boy to buy another ball ? 8

11. Attempt the following question in 100-150 words.
Education, love and sympathy can transform even a thief. How is it true
in the case of Hari Singh ? 8
OR
What did the hack driver tell the narrator about Lutkin’s mother ? How
did she treat the narrator ? 8

_____________

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