PSEB CLASS 10 ENGLISH

GUESS PAPER - MARCH EXAM 2026

Time Allowed: 3 Hours | Maximum Marks: 80

Note: All questions are compulsory. Marks for each question are indicated against it.

SECTION A - READING COMPREHENSION (10 Marks)

1. (a) Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (5 × 1 = 5)

Insects are the most common animals on our planet. More than 1.5 million species of insects have been named. Many are yet to be discovered. We can find insects in almost every type of habitat. Their size, shape, colour, biology, and life history are so diverse that it makes the study of insects very interesting.

Insects feed on endless variety of foods. Many insects are omnivorous, meaning that they can eat a variety of foods including plants, fungi, dead animals, decaying organic matter, almost everything in their environment. Still others are specialists in their diet. They may need only one particular plant part to survive. Many insects are predatory. They feed on plants, other insects, animals, including people.

Insects are very important as primary or secondary decomposers. Insects help break down the dead and wastes into the simpler components that ultimately make soil fertile. Without their act, dead animals and plants would accumulate in our environment and it would be messy indeed.

What makes the study of insects interesting?
(a) Their numerous species
(b) Their ability to live almost everywhere
(c) They are of different size, shape and colour
(d) All of the above
Insects help us by giving
(a) fruit by pollinating flower
(b) honey and beeswax
(c) silk
(d) all of the above
'Insects feed on an endless variety of foods', means
(a) insects eat plants
(b) insects eat dead animals
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of the above
'Omnivorous' means:
(a) eating plants
(b) eating animals
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of the above
Where do the predatory insects get their food from?
(a) From other insects
(b) From other plants
(c) From other animals and humans
(d) All of the above

(b) Look at the poster carefully and answer the questions that follow: (5 × 1 = 5)

Water Crisis Awareness Poster

How many people do not have access to clean and safe water worldwide?
(a) 783 million
(b) 738 million
(c) 873 million
(d) 378 million
How many people worldwide do not have access to safe and clean drinking water?
(a) 1 in 9 people
(b) 1 in 8 people
(c) 8 in 9 people
(d) 7 in 9 people
443 million _________ days are lost each year due to water related diseases.
(a) work
(b) school
(c) health
(d) running
What is the percentage of illness that is linked to the poor water and sanitation conditions in developing countries?
(a) 80%
(b) 90%
(c) 70%
(d) 65%
How many primary schools of the developing world do not have access to water and sanitation facilities?
(a) 1/2
(b) 1/3
(c) 1/4
(d) 1/6

SECTION B - OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS (8 Marks)

2. Answer the following objective type questions: (8 × 1 = 8)

The drops were coming from the ______ of the Happy Prince. (Fill in the blank)
Who was losing in the battle between gods and demons? (Some Glimpses of Ancient Indian Thought and Practices)
The signs of richness were everywhere in their house. (True / False) (A Gift for Christmas)
Modern drugs have decreased the average span of life of human beings. (True / False) (Where is Science Taking Us?)
Subbiah was a rice merchant. (True / False) (Half a Rupee Worth)
Naeem was in the hospital when the author regained his eyesight. (True / False) (Bed Number 29)
Robert Gillian received one million dollars from his uncle's will. (True / False) (One Thousand Dollars)
Holmes got the illness from some ____________.
(a) Chinese sailors
(b) Indian sailors
(c) English sailors
(d) Russian sailors

SECTION C - ENGLISH TEXTBOOKS (27 Marks)

3. (a) Answer any THREE of the following questions in about 15-20 words: (3 × 2 = 6)

Where was the Swallow going? (The Happy Prince)
What is the greatest triumph of Science? (Where is Science Taking Us?)
Why was Della crying? (A Gift for Christmas)
What caused desperation to the gods? (Some Glimpses of Ancient Indian Thought and Practices)
What was Phatik's new mischief? (The Home-Coming)

(b) Answer any ONE of the following questions in about 50 words: (1 × 4 = 4)

Why was the prince called the Happy Prince? (The Happy Prince)
OR
Write a character-sketch of Makhan. (The Home-Coming)

4. (a) Read the stanza given below and answer any TWO questions that follow: (2 × 2 = 4)

"The glories of our blood and state,
Are shadows, not substantial things,
There is no armour against fate,
Death lays his icy hands on kings;"

Name the poem and the poet.
What are not substantial things?
Explain: 'Death lays his icy hands on kings.'

(b) Write the central idea of any ONE of the following poems: (1 × 4 = 4)

Character of a Happy Man
Razia, the Tigress

5. Answer any THREE of the following questions in about 25-30 words: (3 × 3 = 9)

How did the author of 'Bed Number-29' lose his eyesight? (Bed Number-29)
How did Subbiah manage to get rice during the drought? (Half a Rupee Worth)
Why was Bobby Gillian not happy with the money given to him? (One Thousand Dollars)
Who was Culverton Smith? Why did Holmes want him for the treatment of his disease? (The Dying Detective)
What did the two women discuss? Were they related to each other? (How Much Land Does a Man Need?)

SECTION D - VOCABULARY (4 Marks)

6. Do as directed: (4 × 1 = 4)

Give one word for the following:
A bunch of flowers.
Use the following idiom in a sentence of your own:
A bed of roses
Correct the following sentence:
These cattles are mine.
Fill in the blank with the correct word:
The _____________ drops on the rose flower make it more beautiful. (dew / due)

SECTION E - GRAMMAR, TRANSLATION AND COMPOSITION (31 Marks)

7. (a) Translate any THREE of the following sentences from English to Punjabi/Hindi: (3 × 1 = 3)

You may not think so.
The real stars are like our sun.
Phatik refused to move.
The entire universe is one family.
It is very cold here.

(b) Translate any THREE of the following sentences from Punjabi/Hindi to English: (3 × 1 = 3)

ਮੈਂ ਇਹ ਸਵਾਲ ਹੱਲ ਕਰ ਸਕਦਾ ਹਾਂ| / मैं यह सवाल हल कर सकता हूँ।
ਅਸੀਂ ਕ੍ਰਿਕਟ ਖੇਡਦੇ ਹਾਂ| / हम क्रिकेट खेलते हैं।
ਬੁਰੀ ਸੰਗਤ ਤੋਂ ਬਚੋ| / बुरी संगति से बचें।
ਚੁੱਪ ਕਰੋ | / चुप रहो।
ਮੇਰੀ ਗੱਲ ਸੁਣੋ| / मेरी बात सुनो।

8. Do as directed: (10 × 1 = 10)

Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:
Mr. Sharma went to bazaar and bought ________ honey from ______ shop.
Fill in the blank with a suitable preposition:
I prefer tea _________ coffee.
Fill in the blank with a suitable modal:
You _________________ do as you are told.
Combine the sentences with the conjunction given in the bracket:
This is the house. Sanjeev built it. (that)
Identify the subordinate clause in the following sentence:
Where there is a will there is a way.
Complete the sentence using the non-finite form of the verb given in the bracket:
_________ is injurious to health. (smoke)
Change the voice:
Columbus discovered America.
Change the narration:
She said, "What a lovely scene!"
Punctuate the following sentence:
may i come in sir
Change the given sentence into Past Indefinite Tense:
I do not trust you.

9. (a) Do any ONE of the following: (4 Marks)

You are Munish, the head boy of Karnal Public School, Karnal. Write a notice for the school notice board inviting the students to participate in the Annual Sports Day.

Draft an attractive advertisement for 'Tip-Top Beauty Parlour'.

(b) Write a paragraph on any ONE of the following topics: (4 Marks)

An Indian Festival
Fast Food - A Health Hazard

(c) Do any ONE of the following: (7 Marks)

You are Jasbir and you live at New Janta Nagar, Sahnewal. Write a letter to your friend Jyoti congratulating her on her grand success in the matriculation examination.

You are Pramod Kumar living at G-576, Niwas Puri, Delhi. There is no shed at the bus stand in your colony causing hardships to people in bad weather. Write a letter to the Chairman, Delhi Transport Corporation, requesting him to make necessary arrangements.

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