HP Board 10th Class Model Question Paper 2026 English

HPBOSE
MODEL QUESTION
PAPERS

Model Test Paper
Class: 10th
Subject: English
Session: 2025-26
Time Allowed: 3 Hours Μ.Μ. 80

Candidates are required to give their answers in their own words as far as practicable.
Marks allotted to each question are indicated.
Special Instructions:
1. While answering your questions, you must indicate on your answer book the same question
number as appears in your question paper.
2. Do not leave blank pages in your answer book.
3. All questions are compulsory.
4. There are four sections in the question paper, and each section is compulsory to attempt:-
Section A (Multiple Choice Questions) 16 marks.
Section B (Reading) 17 marks.
Section-C(Writing) 17 marks.
Section D (Literature) 30 marks.
5. There is an internal choice in the question.
6. While answering your question, do not exceed the word limit wherever prescribed.

Section-A
(Multiple Choice Questions) 16 marks.

1. Answer the following MCQs by selecting the correct option. (16x1=16)
(i) Where did Lencho expect the downpour to come from?
a) north b) north-east c) north-west d) south east
(ii) What was the one-way fare from the village to the town?
a) one rupee b) 50 paise c) 40 paise d) 30 paise
(iii) Who is the speaker in the poem "Amanda"?
a) Amanda herself b) Amanda's teacher
c) Amanda's mother d) Amanda's friend.
(iv) What has the boy lost in the poem “The Ball Poem”?
a) A toy car b) A book c) A ball d) His way

(v) What problem does Mrs. Pumphrey think Tricki has?
a) diarrhoea b) malnutrition c) allergies d) All of the above
(vi) Who is the real culprit in "A question of trust?"
a) The lady thief b) Horace Danby c) Sherry d) Servant.
(vii) How long does the butterfly-collecting season last?
a) twelve weeks b) four weeks c) six weeks d) eight weeks
(viii) Which country used the Franc as its currency?
a) India b) Britain c) France d) Finland
(ix) The boy said, "The Hindus burn their dead." (Change into Indirect Speech)
a) The boy said the Hindus burn their dead.
b) The boy said that the Hindus burn their dead.
c) The boy said that the Hindus burnt their dead.
d) The boy said if the Hindus burn their dead.
(x) Fill in the blank with an appropriate sentence-connector.
I shall not let you go…………..you pay back my money.
a) Until b) till c) while d) as
(xi) Fill in the blank with the correct use of Tense
Who was talking to you when I ……………....?
a) Come b) Came c) Comes d) Coming.
(xii) Use the correct preposition:
Open your book………page twelve.
a) on b) to c) at d) of
xiii) Fill in the blank with correct modal verb.
You……….to read good grammar.
a) ought b) would c) must d) should
(xiv) I can open this box. (Change the voice)
a) I can never open this box. b) This box can be opened by me
c) This box can be opened by you. d) me can open this box.
(xv) Change the proper non-finite to complete the following sentence:
He made me………. Lesson.
a) repeated b) repeat c) to repeat d) is repeating

(xvi) Re-arrange the jumbled words intoa meaningful Sentence:
that/gold/glitters/not/all/is.
a) All that is gold not glitters. b) Gold is all that not glitters.
c) All that glitters is not gold. d) That is glitters all is not gold.

SECTION — B
(Reading) 17

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

Today, we know about every part of the world. No land or sea is not known to us.
Man has explored every corner of the world, and he knows all the ways and routes from
anywhere to everywhere in the world.But for ages, most of the world was unknown to man.
To begin with, he lived in caves. Then he came out of the caves and started making homes in
little corners of forests or behind the hills. He was afraid of wild animals as also of the clouds
and the winds. He offered prayers and sacrifices to gods who, he thought, controlled the
clouds and the winds. But slowly, through long centuries, men began to explore what lay
beyond their caves, hills and forests where they had their homes. They went in their boats,
first on the rivers and then across the seas. At first, they remained close to the shore, and
each new voyager went a little further than the previous one

To those early travellers, the earth seems to be a vast, flat world. They feared what
would happen if they reached the edge. They believed that if they sailed southward, the sea
would become so hot and boiling that life would be impossible. Toward the north, they
thought, it must be too cold for anything to live. Till only five hundred years ago, nearly all
men believed this. When some Portuguese explorers began to sail southward, their seamen
revolted and refused to go further. They believed that the steaming waters of the southern
seas would boil them like potatoes.

When some clever men of those days said that the earth was not flat but a ball or
sphere, people would laugh at them. "How could there be people or trees on the other side
of the world? They would say.But now we know that those clever men were right. The earth
is a ball, yet people on the other side do not fall off; they live just as we do. They walk
upside-up and not upside-down. Our Earth is like a great magnet. It draws all things towards
itself. Wherever a man may be on this earth, he feels that towards the earth it is 'downside
and away from the earth it is 'upside'.

(i) Where did men in ancient times build their homes and why? 2
(ii) Why were sacrifices offered to gods? 2
(iii) What did the early sailors think about the northern and southern 'ends' of the
world? 1
(iv) Why did the seamen of the Portuguese explorers revolt? 2

(v) The words 'route' and 'root' are
(a) synonyms (b) homophones (c) homonyms (d) antonyms 1
(vi) The opposite of 'previous' is:
(a) proceeding (b) following (c) earlier (d) later 1
(vii) Which of the following is not spelled correctly?
(a) belief (b) relief (c) receive (d) recieve 1

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

Character is destiny. Character is that on which the destiny of a nation is built. If we
want to build a great nation, we must try to train a large number of young men and women
who look upon others as the living images of themselves, as our 'Shastras' have so often
declared. But whether in public life or in student life. we cannot reach great heights if we are
lacking in character. We cannot climb the mountain. When the very ground at our feet is
crumbling. When the very basis of our structure is shaky, how can we reach great heights
which we have set before ourselves? We must all have humility. Our lives should be clean,
noble and dedicated to the service of Mother India. For whatever services we take up, we
should not care for what we receive. We must know how much we can put into that service.
That should be the principle thatanimates our youths. The whole of the East reflects our
culture. We must represent what Hindustan has taught right from the time of Mohenjo-Daro
and Harappa.

(i) What is meant by saying that character is destiny? 1
(ii) What do our 'Shastras' teach us? 1
(iii) How is character important in reaching great heights? 1
(iv) What advice does the writer give to young men and women of Mother India? 2
(v) What does the whole of the East reflect? 1
(vi) Find from the passage, words that mean the same as the following:
(a) Fate (b) Inspire 1

SECTION ---- C
(Writing) 17
4. You are Amita / Atul, a student of Sr. Sec. School Sirmour. Write an application to your
principal to issue you a Character certificate.
OR
You are Ajay / Jyoti, living at 39, Janakhuri Kangra. Write a letter to your friend telling them
about how people in your village worked together to help victims during the recent floods in
Mandi District. 6

5. Write a paragraph on any one of the following topics:

(a) The Happiest Day of My Life. (b) Importance of Education.
(c) If I were the Principal of My School. (d) Impact of Heavy Rainfall and Flooding. 6

6. You are Sumit / Sunita, Head boy/ girl of Government Sr. Sec. School, Chamba Draft a
notice to be put on the student's notice board, informing students about the school
inspection going to be held on 19th September, 2025
OR
Write a brief note on the effects of floods on people and the environment. 5

SECTION —- D
(Literature) 30
7. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Then smoke. Here are the matches. The weather is splendid now, but yesterday it was
so wet that the workmen didn't do anything all day. How much hay have you stacked? Just
think, I felt greedy and had a whole field cut, and now I'm not at all pleased about because
I'm afraid my hay may rot. I ought to have waited a bit. But what's this? Why, you're in
evening dress! Well, I never! Are you going to a ball or what? Though I must say you look
better... Tell me, why are you got up like that?
(i) Who says these words and to whom? 1
(ii) Why did the workmen not do anything all day? 1
(iii) How much hay did the speaker have cut? 1
(iv) Why was the speaker not pleased? 1
(v) What did the speaker think about the other person? 1
OR
The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already
flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow, when he had
taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings, he
became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long
way down- miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him, so he bent
his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night.
(i) Where was the seagull? 1
(ii) Why was he alone? 1
(ii) What happened when he ran to the brink of the ledge? 1
(iii) What was he certain about? 1
(iv) Find in the passage a word which means 'edge’. 1

8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down
All his young days into the harbour where
His ball went. I would not intrude on him; A dime, another ball, is worthless.
(i) What was the reaction of the boy at the loss of his ball? 1
(ii) Where was the boy staring down? 1
(iii) Why does the narrator say, “I would not intrude on him”? 1
(iv) Why did the poet not give the boy any dime? 1
OR
The trees inside are moving out into the forest,
the forest that was empty all these days where no bird could sit
no insect hide
no sun bury its feet in shadow
the forest that was empty all these nights will be full of trees by morning.

(i) Where are the trees? 1
(ii) Where are they moving to? 1
(iii) Why has the forest been said to be empty? 1
(iv) What is the poet's hope? 1
9. Answer the questions of the following: 2 x 2𝟏 𝟐 = 5
(i) Would you agree that the ‘depths of oppression’ create ‘heights of character’?
How does Mandela illustrate this?
OR
How can you illustrate the poet's comparison of the fog to a cat?
(ii) What evidence do you get from the text about Tricki's affluent living?
OR
What factors influenced Bholi's decision to refuse to marry Bishamber?
10. How can you say that bread-making isstill popular in Goa?
OR
How can you say that Coorgis are brave and hospitable people? 4
11. Do you think the methods Buddha used to attain enlightenment were effective? Give
a reason for your Answer?
OR
Do you agree that Mij is an intelligent, friendly, and fun-loving animal who needs
love? Support your answer with examples from the text. 4

12. Compare in your own words the characters of Anil and the thief in the story, “The
thief story”.
OR

Illustrate how Bholi’s teacher helped change the course of her life through guidance
and support. 4

13. Create an alternate ending where Max escapes. Explain how it changes the story?

OR

Imagine Ebright did not get the butterfly book from his mother. Write an alternate
story of his life. 4

*******

Marks Distribution
Subject: - English Class-10 th Session: - 2025-26
Section-A: 16 Marks
01. Multiple Choice Question =16 Marks
(a) First Flight = 04 Marks
(b) Footprints Without Feet = 04 Marks
(c) Grammar = 08 Marks
Section-B: - (Reading)17 Marks
02. Unseen Passage = 10 Marks
(a) Very Short Answer = 04 Marks
(b) Short Answer = 06 Marks
03. Unseen Passage = 07 Marks
(a) Very Short Answer = 05 Marks
(b) ShortAnswer = 02 Marks
Section-C: -(Writing) 17 Marks
04. Application/Letter writing = 06 Marks
05. Paragraph Writing =06 Marks
06. Notice / Note Writing = 05Marks
Section-D: - (Literature) 30 Marks
(a) First Flight (Prose) =15.5 Marks
(b) First Flight (Poetry) =04 Marks
(c) Footprints Without Feet =10.5 Marks
07. Seen PassageFirst Flight(Prose) = 05 Marks
Very ShortAnswer = 05 Marks
08. Extract from First Flight Poetry = 04 Marks
Very ShortAnswer = 04 Marks
09. (i) First Flight(Prose) =2.5 Marks
ShortAnswer = 2.5 Marks
09. (ii) Footprints Without Feet =2.5 Marks
Short arksAnswer = 2.5 Marks
10& 11. First Flight (Prose) =08 Marks
Long/ Essay Type Answer =(04+04)08 Marks
12 & 13. Footprints Without Feet (Prose) =08 Marks
Long/ Essay Type Answer = (04+04)08 Marks
Summary: Essay/Long Answer: =16 Marks Short Answer: = 13 Marks
Very Short Answer: = 18 Marks MCQs: =16 Marks
Grammar =17 Marks

AglaSem Earn While You Learn Program!

Share your recent question papers with us and get paid!
अपने हाल के न प हम भेज और कमाएँ!

To participate, email us with the following details:
भाग लेने के लए हम न न ववरण के साथ ईमेल कर:

- Your Name
- Your Class
- Your Board
- Details of the Question Papers you have
आपके पास उपल ध न प का ववरण

Our team will reach out to you with the next steps.
हमार ट म आगे क या के लए आपसे संपक करे गी।

Email: support@

Study Materials
Notes

Model Papers Class 6 Notes

Sample Papers Class 7 Notes
Half Yearly Sample Papers Class 8 Notes

Class 9 Notes
Important Resources
Class 10 Notes
Periodic Table
Class 11 Notes
Writing Skills / Formats

Maps of India / World Class 12 Notes

Books and Solutions

NCERT Books
NCERT Book Solutions
HC Verma Chapter Wise Solutions
RD Sharma Solutions
CGBSE Solutions