HBSE Class 10 Sample Paper 2026 English

CLASS : X (2025-26)

SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER

ENGLISH (CORE)

Time Allowed: 3 hours Maximum Marks: 80

General Instructions:

(i) This question paper is divided into four Sections: A, B, C and D.

(ii) All the sections are compulsory.

(iii) Attempt all the parts of a question together.

(iv) Stick to the word-limit wherever prescribed.

SECTION-A

(Unseen Comprehension) (Μ. Μ.: 20)

1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

I. Black Friday, celebrated globally but especially in the USA, falls on the final Friday of November.
It symbolises an annual shopping frenzy, erupting the day after 'Thanksgiving' in the United
States. It's a retail extravaganza renowned for colossal discounts and unparalleled deals across
stores and online platforms. Shoppers eagerly anticipate slashed prices on electronics, clothing,
and more, often queuing for hours before stores open or scouring the internet for lightning
deals.
II. Black Friday traces its roots back to mid-20th century Philadelphia, where police used the term
to describe the chaotic crowds flooding the city the day after Thanksgiving. It marked the Army-
Navy football game and the influx of shoppers, causing traffic gridlock and headaches for law
enforcement.
III. Black Friday got its name from the idea of businesses going from 'in the red' (being in debt) to 'in
the black' (making profits). Originally, it was known as 'Big Friday,' but that name didn't stick. In
2011, Walmart, a massive retailer, changed the tradition by opening on Thanksgiving night,
breaking the usual Black Friday routine. This move shifted the shopping trend, sparking early
openings for others too.
IV. There's also Buy Nothing Day, which protests against excessive consumerism. It falls on the
same day as Black Friday, promoting mindful spending and challenging the shopping craze.

Colombia celebrates two Black Fridays, one in November, the other in May for better profits.
Despite debates about its impact on consumerism and the commercialization of holidays, Black
Friday remains a cultural touchstone.

Questions:

a) In which month Black Friday falls?
i. December
ii. January
iii. November
iv. March

b) What does Black Friday symbolise?

i. painting frenzy
ii. dancing frenzy
iii. driving frenzy
iv. shopping frenzy

c) Black Friday originated from ________ in the mid- twentieth country.

i. Phoenix
ii. New York
iii. Los Angeles
iv. Philadelphia

d) What do red and black colours symbolise in the field of business?

i. profit and achievements
ii. debt and profit
iii. black-marketing and loss
iv. corruption and profit

e) Who changed the usual Black Friday routine?

i. a saint
ii. a retailer

iii. a magician
iv. a minister

f) Black Friday was originally known as ______.

g) Which day protests against excessive consumerism?

h) In which months does Colombia celebrate two Black Fridays?

i) Which word in paragraph 4 has the same meaning as 'gauge'?

j) Which word is opposite in meaning to the word 'balance or peace' in paragraph I?

Q2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

I. National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) places the teacher at the centre of the fundamental
reforms in the education system in India. Education is a continuous process that affects every
citizen's life, and the teacher plays a crucial role in that process. The National Professional
Standards for Teachers (NPST) seek to fulfil NEP 2020's objectives of ensuring that all students
have equitable access to the best possible education. NPST assures that all teachers should be
enthusiastic, driven, highly qualified, well prepared, and equipped to teach all learners at all
levels of schooling. Thus, drawing the best talent to the teaching profession is the need of the
hour.
II. The NPST facilitates identifying the qualities of teachers at various career stages. In addition, it
focuses on the preparation, practice and performance improvement of all teachers. The
standards and related policies are in line with the fundamental NEP 2020 principles, which will
guide the education system and will support the policy initiatives vision of NEP 2020 to provide
high-quality education to all. The NPST will also help in designing pre-service teacher education
programme and in determining all aspects of teacher career management.
III. Students reap the rewards of efforts made in upskilling the teachers. The Professional Standards
for Teachers would outline what is expected of teachers at various career stages and at various
levels of expertise, as well as the competencies needed for each. The professional standards will
be reviewed and revised at the national level in 2030 and every ten years after that based on
rigorous empirical analysis of the system's efficacy.
IV. The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) is a statutory body created by the National
Council for Teacher Education Act (NCTE Act), 1993. It is mandated with the planned and
coordinated development of both pre-service and in-service teachers throughout the country.
NPST was announced in the Budget 2021 as a mandate of Ministry of Education (MoE) and NCTE
was assigned the responsibility to carry out this task.

Questions:

a) What does 'NPST' stand for?
b) Who holds the most crucial role for the fundamental reforms in the education system of India?
c) Which qualities should a teacher have as assured by NPST?
d) When will the professional standards be revised and reviewed?
e) Which word in paragraph I has the same meaning as 'unbiased' or 'impartial'?

f) Which objective of NEP 2020 is discussed in the passage?
i. All students should have equitable access to get fame.
ii. All students should have equitable access to get money.
iii. All students should have equitable access to get job.
iv. All students should have equitable access to the best possible education.

g) What is the need of the hour as discussed in the passage?

i. drawing the best talent to the teaching profession
ii. drawing the best talent to the dancing profession
iii. drawing the best talent to the cooking profession
iv. drawing the best talent to the painting profession

h) What is the function of NPST?

i. to identify the qualities of teachers at various career stages
ii. to focus on the preparation and performance improvement of all teachers.
iii. to design pre service teacher education program
iv. all of these

i) NCTE is created by ___.

i. The National Council for Teacher Education Act 1994
ii. The National Council for Teacher Education Act 1995
iii. The National Council for Trainers Education Act 1993
iv. The National Council for Teacher Education Act 1993

j) What will be the noun form of the word 'mandated'?

i. mandatory
ii. mandate

iii. Both A and B
iv. Neither A nor B

SECTION - B

(Grammar) ( 1 X 10 = 10)

Q3. Attempt any ten sentences from the given items:

A. Fill in the blanks with correct form of the verb.

(i) It ____ just ___________ (strike) ten.

a. had just struck

b. has just struck

c. has been just striking

d. is just struck

(ii) I _________(smell) something burning.

a. am smelling

b. was smelling

c. smell

d. have been smelling

B. Fill in the blanks with correct article.

(iii) Which is ______ longest river in India?

a. the

b. a

c. an

d. No article

(iv) I met him at ________ church.

a. No Article

b. the

c. a

d. an

C. Change the following sentences into indirect speech:

(v) I say to Sheela, "You are my best friend."

a. I told Sheela that she was my best friend.

b. I tell Sheela that you are my best friend.

c. I tell Sheela that she is my best friend.

d. I ask Sheela if she is my best friend.

(vi) My father said to Reena, "Go and wash your hands."

a. My father asked Reena to go and wash your hands.

b. My father ordered Reena to go and wash her hands.

c. My father told Reena to go and wash your hands.

d. My father told Reena if go and wash her hands.

D. Fill in the blanks with suitable modals.

(vii) The Seagull thought that his wings _________ not support him.

a. will

b. shall

c. must

d. would

(viii) You _______ not swim in the river as the current is very fast.

a. need

b. must

c. dare

d. would

E. Fill in the blanks with correct non-finite form of the verb.

(ix) I do not know how _ (drive) a car.

a. driving

b. drive

c.to drive

d. none of these

(x) ___(teach) French needs great care.

a. teaching

b. teach

c. to teach

d. having

F. Combine the following sentences using a noun clause:

(xi) Why is he coming here? Do you know this?

a. Do you know this why he is coming here?

b. Do you know why he is coming here?

c. Do you know why was he coming here?

d. Do you know why he was coming here?

(xii) He is Pradeep. His son won the first position in the poem recitation.

a. He is Pradeep who son won the first position in the poem recitation.

b. He is Pradeep whose son won the first position in the poem recitation.

c. He is Pradeep which son won the first position in the poem recitation.

d. He is Pradeep about whom his son won the first position in the poem recitation.

SECTION – C

(Writing Skill) (M.M. 10)

Q4 Attempt any one of the following: 5

i. Write a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of your city about the nuisance caused by rhesus
monkeys in your colony.
ii. Write an application to the Principal of your school requesting him to organise an awareness
camp on the right to education.

Q5. Attempt any one of the following: 5

i. You found a purse in the market. Write an advertisement to be published in local daily for the
owner to claim it from you within 10 days.
ii. Write a story with the help of the following outline:

Once a woodcutter ....cutting a tree ……..axe fell into the water....... Goddess appeared ....... iron
axe ....golden axe.... woodcutter refused…………silver axe..........Goddess pleased….

SECTION – D

(Literature) M.M. 40

Q6. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 5

In life, every man has twin obligations --- obligations to his family, to his parents, to his wife and
children; and he has an obligation to his people, his community, his country. In a civil and humane
society, each man is able to fulfil those obligations according to his own inclinations and abilities. But in

a country like South Africa, it was almost impossible for a man of my birth and colour to fulfil both of
those obligations.

Questions:

(a) Name the chapter from which the extract has been taken.

(b)What are the twin obligations of a man?

(c) What type of a society is required to fulfil both obligations?

(d) Why was it impossible for a black man to fulfil both of the obligations?

(e) which word in the passage means the same as 'leaning'?

OR

Coorgi homes have a tradition of hospitality, and they are more than willing to recount numerous tales
of valour related to their sons and fathers.The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated in the
Indian Army, and the first Chief of the Indian Army, General Cariappa, was a Coorgi.Even now, Kodavus
are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a license.

Questions:

(a) Name the writer of the chapter 'Coorg'.

(b) What are the tales that the Coorgi people are always ready to tell?

(c) What is the special favour granted only to the Kodavus?

(d) Who is the first chief of the Indian Army?

(e) Find a word from the extract which means the same as 'courage and bravery'.

Q7. Attempt any two of the following questions: 3X2 = 6

i) What made Lencho angry? (A letter to God)

ii) What does Anne write in her first essay titled 'A Chatterbox'? (From the Diary of Anne Frank)

iii) What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What did it do two days after that?
(Mijbil the Otter)

iv) Why was Kisa Gotami sad? What did she do in her hour of grief? (The Sermon at Benares)

Q 8. Attempt any one of the following question: 6

Age is not a barrier when it comes to doing something different and great. Which characteristics of Valli
help her achieve the wonder of visiting the town at such a tender age?

OR

''The climax of the play 'The Proposal' shows the deep love between Lomov and Natalya.'' Do you agree
with the above statement? Justify your answer based on the text of the play.

Q9 Read the following stanza and answer the questions that follow: (Do any one) 5

If strolling forth, a beast you view,

Whose hide with spots is peppered,

As soon as he has lept on you,

You'll know it is the Leopard.

'Twill do no good to roar with pain,

He'll only lep and lep again.

(a) Which quality of the Leopard will help to identify it?

(b) What will be of no use for the victim?

(c) Write one pair of rhyming words.

(d) Name the poem and its poet.

(e) Which word means the same as 'skin'?

OR

"But I can get a hair-dye

And set such colour there,

Brown, or black, or carrot,

That young men in despair

May love me for myself alone

And not my yellow hair."

(a) Who is the speaker of this stanza?

(b) Who is being spoken to here?

(c) What kind of dye will she apply on her hair?

(d) Why does she want to dye her hair?

(e) Name the poem from which the stanza has been extracted.

Q 10 Attempt any two of the following questions: 3X2=6

(a) What is the central idea of the poem 'Fire and Ice'?

(b) Why does the boy shake in grief? (The Ball Poem)

(c) What does the poet compare their branches to in the poem 'The Trees'?

(d) Who is according to you, really brave in the poem 'The Tale of custard the Dragon'?

Q11 Answer any two of the following questions: 3x2=6

(a)What did James Herriot do to save Tricki? (A Triumph of Surgery)

(b) How did Loisel replace the lost necklace? (The Necklace)

(c) Why do Bholi's parents accept Bishamber's marriage proposal? (Bholi)

(d) What type of a person was Think-Tank? (The Book That Saved the Earth)

Q12 Answer any one of the following questions: 6

Do you agree that the young lady, in the story, was a more professional thief than Horace Danby?
Elaborate your answer based on the chapter 'A Question of Trust'.

OR

Discoveries of science, if used properly, can be beneficial or vice versa. How does this apply to Griffin's
scientific discovery? (Footprints Without Feet)