MBOSE Class 10 Question Paper 2024 for English

Meghalaya Board of School Education

QUESTION
PAPERS

Total No. of Printed Pages—15
X/24/E

2024

ENGLISH

( FOR CANDIDATES WITH INTERNAL ASSESSMENT )

Full Marks : 80
Pass Marks : 24

( FOR CANDIDATES WITHOUT INTERNAL ASSESSMENT )

Full Marks : 100
Pass Marks : 30
Time : 3 hours

( FOR ALL CATEGORIES OF CANDIDATES )

General Instructions :

(i) The candidates are advised to attempt all the questions
accordingly.

(ii) Marks allocated to every question are indicated against
each.

(iii) Question Nos. 1 to 15 are to be answered by all
candidates.

(iv) Question Nos. 16 to 19 are to be answered only by
Candidates without Internal Assessment.

/54 [ P.T.O.

( 2 )

SECTION—A

( Reading )

(Do not spend more than 15 minutes on this Section)

1. Read the following passage carefully :

Research has shown that the human mind can process
words at the rate of about 500 words per minute,
whereas a speaker speaks at the rate of 150 words a
minute. The difference between the two at 350 is
quite large.

So a speaker must make every effort to retain the
attention of the audience and not let his own mind
wander. Good communication calls for good listening
skills. A good speaker must be a good listener. Listening
starts with hearing but goes beyond. Hearing is
necessary but is not a sufficient condition for listening.
Listening involves hearing with attention. Listening is a
process that calls for concentration. While listening, one
should also be observant. In other words, listening has
to do with the ears, as well as with the eyes and
the mind.

Good communication is essentially an interactive process
calling for participation and involvement. It is quite often
a dialogue rather than a monologue. Good listening is
an art that can be cultivated. A good listener knows
how to prompt, respond, persuade but not interrupt
the speaker.

For listening to be effective, it is also necessary that
barriers to listening are removed. Such barriers can be
both physical and psychological. Physical barriers
generally relate to hindrance to proper hearing whereas

X/24/E/54 [ Contd.

( 3 )

psychological barriers are more fundamental and relate
to the interpretation and evaluation of the speaker and
the message.

On the basis of your reading the above passage, answer
the following questions by choosing the most appropriate
options given : 6

(a) How many words does a speaker speak in one
minute? 1
(i) 500 words
(ii) 150 words
(iii) 350 words

(b) Good _____ helps in good communication. 1
(i) listening skills
(ii) reading skills
(iii) writing skills

(c) According to the passage, a good listener must
(i) have the ability to interrupt the speaker
(ii) be a good speaker
(iii) be focused and observant 1

(d) What does good communication call for? 1
(i) Participation and involvement
(ii) Participation and learning
(iii) Hearing and learning

X/24/E/54 [ P.T.O.

( 4 )

(e) How many types of barriers to listening are usually
identified? 1
(i) One type
(ii) Two types
(iii) Three types

(f) Which words in the passage mean the same as the
following? ½+½=1
(i) Systematic investigation
(ii) One person doing all the talking

SECTION—B

( Writing and Grammar )

(Do not spend more than 60 minutes on this Section)

2. Either

You are Sam/Sarah and you are highly concerned over
the problem of broken and leaked water pipes in your
locality. Write a letter to the Editor of a local newspaper
stating the problems faced by the residents and the need
for immediate action in this regard. 6

Or

Time management is the key to success and as a student
you are aware of the value of time management. Write an
article (in about 120 words) to be published in your
school magazine highlighting the importance and
benefits of time management for success. 6

X/24/E/54 [ Contd.

( 5 )

3. Either

You are Raj/Rita and you are concerned about your
brother’s lack of interest in studies. Write an e-mail to
your brother Mohan explaining the importance of studies
and knowledge to prosper and secure stability in future. 6

Or

Write a story in about 150 –200 words which begins with
the words given below. Give a suitable title too : 6
One winter evening, I was gazing at the setting sun
when suddenly I hear....

4. Read the passage given below and fill in the blanks by
choosing the most appropriate words from the given
options : ½×8=4
I am sorry to (a) _____ about the watch which I (b) _____
from you last month. The watch (c) _____ not show
correct time. I (d) _____ it since the day of purchase. I
(e) _____ that it (f) _____ four minutes a day. I (g) _____
you the watch through my brother. I (h) _____ much
obliged if you will either set it right or supply a new
watch in its place.

(a) (i) complain (ii) complains (iii) complained
(iv) complaining

(b) (i) buy (ii) have bought (iii) bought (iv) shall buy

(c) (i) do (ii) does (iii) did (iv) doing

(d) (i) use (ii) am using (iii) was using (iv) have been using

(e) (i) finds (ii) have found (iii) had found (iv) was finding

(f) (i) gains (ii) is gaining (iii) has gained (iv) had gained

X/24/E/54 [ P.T.O.

( 6 )

(g) (i) sent (ii) shall send (iii) am sending (iv) have sent

(h) (i) am (ii) be (iii) was (iv) shall be

5. (a) Construct suitable sentences with the following
idioms (any two) : 1×2=2
(i) at arm’s length
(ii) part and parcel
(iii) French leave
(iv) gift of the gab

(b) Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions : ½×4=2

(i) The boys are confident _____ a huge victory.

(ii) We should abstain _____ junk food.

(iii) This is the book I was looking _____.

(iv) The glass broke _____ small pieces.

6. Rewrite the following as directed : 1×4=4

(a) He kept me waiting.
(Begin with : I ....)

(b) He said, “My son is fond of sports.”
(Begin with : He said that ....)

(c) By whom was the parcel opened?
(End with : .... parcel?)

(d) “Please wait here till I return”, said Emma to me.
(End with : .... returned.)

X/24/E/54 [ Contd.

( 7 )

SECTION—C

LITERATURE TEXTBOOK
( Prose and Poetry )
(Do not spend more than 60 minutes on this Section)

7. Read the following extracts and answer the questions
that follow (any two) : 3×2=6

(a) ‘‘I don’t know who has this map; but I make it a
point, it shall be kept secret even from me and
Mr. Arrow.”

(i) Who is the speaker of the above line? 1

(ii) Who is Mr. Arrow? 1

(iii) Why does the speaker want the map to be kept
secret? 1

(b) “The firm wished me to convey their sincere
sympathy with you in your great loss.”

(i) Who speaks the above line and to whom? 1

(ii) Which firm is being referred to? 1

(iii) What ‘great loss’ is being talked about? 1

(c) “Great Caesar, now what have I done!”

(i) Who exclaims the above line? 1

(ii) To whom has the speaker been speaking prior
to this? 1

(iii) What has the speaker done to react in this way? 1

X/24/E/54 [ P.T.O.

( 8 )

8. Choose the correct answer : 1×5=5

(a) The first guest to cancel Mrs. Pringle’s invitation was
(i) Mr. Morgan
(ii) Mr. Harper
(iii) Mr. Farnsworth

(b) Romeo was banished for
(i) killing Count Paris
(ii) killing Mercutio
(iii) killing Tybalt

(c) The convict was a fearful man, with no hat and wore
(i) no shoes
(ii) broken shoes
(iii) brown shoes

(d) The Demon had the face of a
(i) hawk
(ii) vulture
(iii) falcon

(e) Long John was appointed as the
(i) mate of the ship
(ii) cook of the ship
(iii) captain of the ship

X/24/E/54 [ Contd.

( 9 )

9. Answer the following in about 30 –40 words
(any three) : 2×3=6

(a) What kind of spell did the fakir put on the paw and
why?

(b) What promise did Pip make to the convict?

(c) What did Friar Lawrence suggest Juliet to do in
order to avoid getting married to Count Paris?

(d) What was Mrs. Pringle’s main purpose of hosting the
dinner?

10. Answer the following in 80 –100 words : 8

Either

What did the Prince learn during his stay with his
teacher? How did his learning help transform the
Demon? 4+4=8

Or

What complaints and suggestions were made by Captain
Smollett to the squire and the doctor? 6+2=8

11. Choose the correct answer : 1×3=3

(a) According to Charlotte Bronte, one can suppress
despair by being

(i) pessimistic

(ii) courageous

(iii) cowardly

X/24/E/54 [ P.T.O.

( 10 )

(b) And your love shall offer _____ thanks.
Which word completes this line?
(i) grateful
(ii) honourable
(iii) memorial

(c) In the poem, The Village Schoolmaster, the word
‘counterfeited’ means
(i) pretended
(ii) genuine
(iii) careless

12. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions
that follow (any two) : 3×2=6

(a) “Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!”
(i) Who is the ‘Highland Lass’? 1
(ii) What work is she doing? 1
(iii) What draws the poet’s attention to the girl? 1

(b) “And still they gaz’d, and still the wonder grew,
That one small head could carry all he knew.”
(i) Who does ‘they’ refer to here? 1
(ii) When do they express their wonder? 1
(iii) What is the thing that they wonder about? 1

X/24/E/54 [ Contd.

( 11 )

(c) “Scattered like shells on Egyptian sands,
They lie with pale brows and brave, broken hands.”
(i) Who were lying scattered like shells? 1
(ii) What happened to them? 1
(iii) What does the expression ‘broken hands’
signify? 1

13. Answer the following in 80 –100 words : 6
Either
In the poem, Exiled, the poet feels stifled and homesick.
How does she express her longingness for the sea?
Or
The village schoolmaster was known to be stern but
highly committed to education. Describe his character
and abilities.

SECTION—D

LONG READING TEXT
( Rapid Reader )

(Do not spend more than 15 minutes on this Section)

14. Choose the correct answer : 1×3=3
(a) The Artful Dodger had stolen a _____ out of
Mr. Brownlow’s pocket.
(i) wallet
(ii) pocketbook
(iii) handkerchief
(iv) five Pound note

X/24/E/54 [ P.T.O.

( 12 )

(b) “.... a stout old gentleman, dressed in a blue coat
and striped waistcoat and supported himself on a
thick stick.”
The above description refers to
(i) Dr. Losberne
(ii) Mr. Grimwig
(iii) Mr. Brownlow
(iv) Mr. Bumble

(c) Who was sentenced to die by public hanging?
(i) Monks
(ii) Sikes
(iii) Fagin
(iv) Jack Dawkins

15. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions
that follow : 7
Either

(a) “Oh, lady! If there were more like you,
there would be fewer like me!”

(i) Who said this and to whom? 1

(ii) How was the listener’s life different from the
speaker’s life? 2

(iii) What information did the speaker share? 4

X/24/E/54 [ Contd.

( 13 )

Or

(b) “They’ve hit him! Damnation! How the boy bleeds!”

(i) Who is the speaker? 1

(ii) Who was hit and by whom? 2

(iii) Describe what happened to ‘the boy’ after this
incident. 4

[ For Candidates without Internal Assessment ]

( Marks : 20 )

16. Answer the following in a sentence or two (any five) :
2×5=10
(a) Who was Pip’s brother-in-law and what was his
profession?

(b) Who was Elaine?

(c) Why did the King send the Prince away to Takkasila?

(d) “Or I’ll have your heart and liver out.” Who said this
and to whom?

(e) Who persuaded Romeo to go to the Capulet’s ball
and why?

(f) What was the first wish of Mr. White? Was it
granted?

X/24/E/54 [ P.T.O.

( 14 )

17. Match Column—A with Column—B : 1×5=5

Column—A Column—B

(a) That I am weary of words (i) The Gift of India
and people

(b) The village master taught (ii) Life
his little school

(c) And you honour the deeds (iii) A man severe he was,
of the dauntless ones and stern to view

(d) Yet hope again elastic (iv) William Wordsworth
springs

(e) Will no one tell me what (v) Sick of the city,
she sings? wanting the sea

18. Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the
choices given in the brackets : ½×4=2

(a) O, why _____ its fall?
(lament/rejoice)

(b) And yielded the sons of my _____ womb.
(injured/stricken)

(c) If I could see the _____ mussels.
(weedy/mossy)

(d) Stop here, or _____ pass!
(softly/gently)

X/24/E/54 [ Contd.

( 15 )

( Oliver Twist )

19. Answer the following in a sentence or two (any three) :
1×3=3
(a) What was the real name of the Artful Dodger?

(b) What proofs of Oliver’s identity were destroyed by
Monks?

(c) What was the name of Oliver’s father?

(d) Whom did Nancy meet at the London Bridge?

(e) Why did Mr. Bumble marry the matron of the
poorhouse?



X/24/E/54 24K—58690

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