Class X – English Guess Paper 2026
Time Allowed: 3 Hours
Maximum Marks: 80
PART – I
Section A – Reading Skills
1. (a) Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
(4×1 = 4 marks)
Brain drain refers to the migration of highly skilled and educated individuals from one country to another in search of better opportunities, higher wages and improved quality of life. This phenomenon has become a matter of concern for many countries, particularly those that experience a significant outflow of talent. One of the primary reasons for brain drain is the pursuit of advanced education and professional growth. Many individuals opt to study abroad and upon completing their degrees, they often choose to remain in their host countries, attracted by the prospects of better jobs and research opportunities. This leads to a loss of human capital for their home countries, which invested resources in their education. The impact of brain drain can be felt on various levels. Economically, it may result in a shortage of skilled workers, hindering a nation's development and growth potential. Additionally, the loss of skilled professionals can slow down research and technological advancements in the home country. Moreover, brain drain can have social implications, as families are separated and the nation may lose valuable contributors to its culture and society. To address brain drain, some countries are bringing back their talented citizens from abroad. These policies may include offering attractive job opportunities, funding research projects and creating a conducive environment for professional development.
i. What does the term 'brain drain' refer to?
a) Migration of unskilled workers
b) Migration of highly skilled and educated individuals
c) Migration of students
d) Migration of retirees
ii. Why do many individuals choose to study abroad?
a) To escape their home countries
b) To find low-paying jobs
c) To pursue advanced education and professional growth
d) To retire in a different country
iii. What is one of the economic impacts of brain drain?
a) Increased foreign investment
b) Shortage of skilled workers
c) Improved infrastructure
d) Reduced unemployment
iv. How can countries address brain drain?
a) By restricting education abroad
b) By offering attractive job opportunities and funding research projects
c) By increasing taxes on foreign-educated individuals
d) By reducing investment in education
1. (b) Study the given poster carefully and answer the questions that follow.
(5×1 = 5 marks)
i. ______ state has the highest prevalence of child labour.
a) Uttar Pradesh
b) Bihar
c) Rajasthan
d) Maharashtra
ii. Child labour has been decreased by ____ between 2001 and 2011 census.
a) 1 million
b) 0.72 million
c) 2.6 million
d) 0.84 million
iii. _____ (10–14 years) boys neither working nor attending the school.
a) 4.3 million
b) 4.6 million
c) 3.9 million
d) 5.6 million
iv. Name the industries where prevalence of child labour is high.
a) Mining
b) Fisheries
c) Brick Kilns
d) All of these
v. How many children (5–14 years) are involved in child labour?
a) 5.6 million
b) 4.5 million
c) 10.1 million
d) 11.3 million
PART – II
Section B – Objective Type Questions
2. Answer the following questions.
(8×1 = 8 marks)
i. Who was sent to bring the two most precious things from the city? (The Happy Prince)
a) Mayor
b) God
c) angel
d) match-girl
ii. Machine age gives us more hours of _______. (Where is Science Taking Us?)
iii. The author found an elephant when he flung open the door. (True/False)
(Secret of Happiness)
iv. Della sold her hair for _____ dollars. (Gift for Christmas)
a) twenty
b) forty
c) fifteen
d) none of these
v. Who did the author meet in the hospital ward? (Bed Number 29)
vi. Subbiah’s profit ____ during the war. (Half a Rupee Worth)
vii. The blind man was selling pencils on the walkside. (True/False)
(One Thousand Dollars)
viii. Where did Sausage reach while diving? (Return to Air)
PART – III
Section C – English Textbooks
English Main Course Book – Prose
3. (a) Answer any three questions in about 15–20 words each.
(3×3 = 9 marks)
i. What were the two most precious things in the city? (The Happy Prince)
ii. What is the greatest triumph of science? (Where is Science Taking Us?)
iii. How can weak personalities become strong? (Secret of Happiness)
iv. Why was Della crying? (A Gift for Christmas)
v. What are planets? (The Making of the Earth)
(b) Answer any one question in about 50 words.
(1×4 = 4 marks)
i. What should be the ultimate aim of science? (Where is Science Taking Us?)
OR
ii. Why was the prince called the Happy Prince? (The Happy Prince)
PART – IV
English Main Course Book – Poetry
4. (a) Read the given stanza and answer any two questions that follow.
(2×2 = 4 marks)
On neck and antler – both were crushed
Now Sheru's gone. Not any more
Do people fear his dreaded spoor,
Pug-marked on the forest floor.
i. Name the poem and its poet.
ii. Why are people no longer afraid of the tiger-scent?
iii. Why did Sheru go from the forest?
(b) Answer any one question.
(1×3 = 3 marks)
What is the theme of the poem ‘Death the Leveller’ ?
OR
Why is the world broken by narrow domestic walls? What can we do about it?
(Where the Mind is without Fear)
SECTION D – Vocabulary
6. Do as directed.
(4×1 = 4 marks)
i. Choose the correct word from the bracket to fill in the blank.
Military tents are generally made of _______. (canvas / canvass)
ii. Use the following idiom in a sentence.
To call a spade a spade
iii. Give one word for the following.
One who believes everybody
iv. Correct the following sentence.
Law and order are to be maintained.
SECTION E – Translation, Grammar and Composition
7. (a) Translate any three sentences from English to Punjabi/Hindi.
(3×1 = 3 marks)
i. Fear is one of man's most common enemies.
ii. Dadhichi took no time in laying down his life.
iii. The stranger asked him again.
iv. We think the earth is very big.
v. I may be as free as I like.
(b) Translate any three sentences from Punjabi/Hindi to English.
(3×1 = 3 marks)
i. ਕਾਸ਼! ਮੈਂ ਅਮੀਰ ਹੁੰਦਾ। / काश! मैं अमीर होता।
ii. ਕੀ ਉਹ ਮੇਰੇ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਸਕੂਲ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਚੁੱਕਾ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ? / क्या वह मुझसे पहले स्कूल पहुँच गया होगा?
iii. ਬਕਵਾਸ ਨਾ ਕਰੋ। / बकवास मत करो।
iv. ਹਾਥੀ ਦੇ ਦੰਦ ਖਾਣ ਦੇ ਹੋਰ ਅਤੇ ਦਿਖਾਉਣ ਦੇ ਹੋਰ। / हाथी के दाँत खाने के और दिखाने के और।
v. ਇੱਧਰ ਉੱਧਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਨਾ ਕਰੋ, ਕੰਮ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਕਰੋ। / इधर‑उधर की बातें मत करो, काम की बात करो।
8. Do as directed.
(10×1 = 10 marks)
i. Fill in the blank with a suitable determiner.
May God give her wisdom and strength to fight _____ odds of life.
ii. Fill in the blank with a suitable preposition.
Paul wanted to bring luck _____ his family.
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct modal.
The children asked if they _____ have ice cream. (can / could)
iv. Fill in the blank with a suitable conjunction.
_____ we had limited means, we were honest.
v. Combine the following sets of sentences using a non‑finite verb (Infinitive, Gerund or Participle).
She left home early. She arrived here on time.
vi. Transform the following sentence using ‘what’.
You say something. I agree to it.
vii. Change the following sentence into passive voice.
Why did you laugh at the poor man?
viii. Change the following sentence into the direct form of narration.
The boy requested the teacher to forgive him.
ix. Correct the following sentence.
I lived in Chandigarh since 1978.
x. Punctuate the following sentence.
his story was in several ways improbable
9. (a) Attempt any one of the following.
(3 marks)
Nikita has to go to the market. Write the message on her behalf based on the given telephonic conversation.
OR
You are Nimisha, Editor, School Magazine, Radha Vatika School, Khanna. Draft a notice inviting entries for the magazine from students. The last date is 10th of October.
(b) Draft an advertisement for TIP‑TOP Beauty Parlour.
(3 marks)
OR
Read the passage given below and make notes. (3 marks)
(c) Write a paragraph on any one topic using the given hints.
(4 marks)
OR
(d) Write a letter on any one of the following.
(7 marks)
