ANNUAL EXAMINATION SYSTEM
ENGLISH (Morning Session)
Time Allowed: 3 Hours Maximum Marks: 80
- You must write the subject code/paper code 02/C in the box provided on the title page of your answer book.
- Make sure that answer book contains 24 pages and are properly serialized.
- Questions attempted after leaving blank pages will not be evaluated.
- No extra sheet will be given. Do not strike the written answer.
- All questions are compulsory.
[Marks: 8]
1. (a) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below: 4 × 1 = 4
There is nothing more frustrating than when you sit down at your table to study with the most sincere of intentions and instead of being able to finish the task at hand, you find your thoughts wandering. However, there are certain techniques that you can use to enhance your concentration. To begin with, one should attempt to create the physical environment that is conducive to focused thought. Identify the factors that make it difficult for you to focus. Do not place your study table or desk in front of a window. While there is no cure for a mind that wants to wander, one should try and provide as little stimulus as possible. Looking out of the window when you are trying to concentrate will invariably send your mind on a tangent. It is very important to decide what you have to finish in a given span of time. Divide your schedule into study and leisure time. When you study, choose a mix of subjects that you enjoy and dislike and save the former for the last so that you have something to look forward to. Try to sit more than 40 minutes at a stretch. Take a very short break to make a cup of tea or listen to a song and sit down again. Under no circumstance should one sit for a long time. Short breaks build your concentration and refresh your mind. However, be careful not to overdo the relaxation. It may have undesired effects. More than anything else, do not get disheartened. Concentration is a matter of disciplining the mind. It comes with practice and patience and does not take very long to become a habit for life.
(i) What emotion should one avoid according to the passage?
(ii) What does the passage suggest about dividing study time?
(iii) How should one sequence subjects for effective study as per the passage?
(iv) Which technique is not mentioned in the passage?
(b) Study the given poster carefully and answer the questions: 4 × 1 = 4
ECOFEST 2026: CELEBRATE OUR PLANET
GREENING TOMORROW TODAY
City Grounds, Green Park Area | 15th Oct to 19th Oct
Highlights:
- 🌿 Green Workshops: upcycling, composting, solar energy
- 🌍 Eco-Exhibitors: Sustainability brands showcasing innovations
- 🎤 Climate Talks: 16th & 18th Oct with environmental experts
- 🧒 Kids' Green Zone: Interactive eco-activities
- 🧹 Community Clean-Up: 17th Oct
- 🍎 Green Food Festival: organic & plant-based foods
(i) How does EcoFest cater to younger attendees?
(ii) What is the likely goal of the Green Workshops?
(iii) What does the Community Clean-Up on 17th Oct suggest?
(iv) What is the festival's likely emphasis based on the theme "Greening Tomorrow Today"?
[Marks: 6]
2. Answer the following: 6 × 1 = 6
(i) Where did Sausage reach while diving? (Return to Air)
(ii) Where did Subbiah's wife take the man? (Half a Rupee Worth)
(iii) ................ was sent to bring the two most precious things from the city.
(iv) Which illustration was used by the professor of Psychology? (Secret of Happiness)
(v) What lives after death? (Death the Leveller)
(vi) Robert Gillian offered a .... to Miss Lotta Lauriere. (One Thousand Dollars)
[Marks: 29]
3. (a) Answer any three questions (15-20 words each): 3 × 3 = 9
(i) Who did the gods go to in desperation? (Ancient Indian Thought)
(ii) Define solar system. (The Making of the Earth)
(iii) What was the new mischief Phatik thought of? (The Home-Coming)
(iv) "Today the upper age group is overcrowded." Why? (Where is Science Taking Us?)
(v) How did Della manage to buy the gift? (A Gift for Christmas)
(b) Answer any one question (50 words): 1 × 4 = 4
What is the theme of the essay 'The Rule of the Road'? OR Why did the Mayor dislike the statue so much? (The Happy Prince)
4. (a) Read the stanza and answer any two questions: 2 × 2 = 4
Untied unto the world with care
Of public fame or private breath,
Who envies none whom chance doth raise
Nor vice; who never understood.
(i) Does the person envy others?
(ii) What does a truly happy man not care about?
(iii) Which phrase indicates the person's detachment from worldly things?
[Marks: 4]
5. Do as directed: 4 × 1 = 4
(i) One word for: To increase the gravity of a situation ____________.
(ii) Correct the sentence: My son does not listen what I say.
(iii) Fill in the blank: She is an expert in __________ (dyeing, dying).
(iv) Use the idiom in a sentence: A cat and dog life.
[Marks: 33]
8. Do as directed: 10 × 1 = 10
(iv) He ________ (teach) in this school since 2002. (Correct form of verb)
(v) Punctuate: we bought apples oranges peaches and bananas
(vi) Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was ________ first Prime Minister of Independent India. (Determiner)
(viii) You ____ not enter my class, I forbid it. (must/will)
DETAILED ANSWER KEY
PSEB Class 10 English Answer Key 2026
(Code 02/C – Morning Session)
SECTION A – Reading Skills
1 (a) Passage Based MCQs
(i) What emotion should one avoid according to the passage?
Answer: (B) Disheartenment
Explanation: The passage advises students not to get discouraged or disheartened when they lose concentration while studying.
(ii) What does the passage suggest about dividing study time?
Answer: (B) Divide schedule into study and recreation hours.
Explanation: The passage clearly says that students should divide their schedule between study time and leisure time for better concentration.
(iii) How should one sequence subjects for effective study?
Answer: (B) Save enjoyable subjects for last.
Explanation: The passage recommends mixing subjects you enjoy and dislike, but keeping enjoyable ones for the end so that you stay motivated.
(iv) Which technique is NOT mentioned in the passage?
Answer: (D) Multitasking heavily
Explanation: The passage suggests identifying distractions, taking short breaks, and planning study schedules but does not recommend multitasking.
1 (b) Poster Based Questions
(i) How does EcoFest cater to younger attendees?
Answer: (B) Through Kids' Green Zone
(ii) What is the likely goal of the Green Workshops?
Answer: (B) Educating sustainable practices
(iii) What does the Community Clean-Up on 17th Oct suggest?
Answer: (B) Encourages community environmental action
(iv) Looking at EcoFest's theme “Greening Tomorrow Today”, what is the festival's likely emphasis?
Answer: (B) Sustainability and environmental consciousness
SECTION B – Objective Type Questions
(i) Where did Sausage reach while diving?
Answer: At the otherend of Pond / underwater deep in the river.
(ii) Where did Subbiah’s wife take the man?
Answer: She took him to secret godown
(iii) ______ was sent to bring the two most precious things from the city.
Answer: (C) Angel
(iv) Which illustration was used by the professor of Psychology?
Answer: Illustration of burning of a glass
Good deeds remain after one's death
Diamond pendant to miss Lotta.
(v) What lives after death?
Answer: The soul lives after death.
(vi) Robert Gillian offered a ______ to Miss Lotta Laurie.
Answer: One thousand dollars.
SECTION C – English Textbooks
3 (a) Short Answer Questions
(i) Who did the gods go to in desperation?
Answer:
The gods went to Lord Vishnu in desperation to seek guidance and protection for humanity.
(ii) Define solar system.
Answer:
The solar system is the group of the sun and all the planets, satellites, asteroids, and other celestial bodies that revolve around the sun.
(iii) What was the new mischief Phatik thought of?
Answer:
Phatik thought of rolling a large log of wood lying on the riverbank, which belonged to someone else, just for fun.
(iv) “Today the upper age group is overcrowded.” Why?
Answer:
Because medical science has increased life expectancy, so more people live longer than before.
(v) How did Della manage to buy the gift?
Answer:
Della sold her beautiful long hair to get money to buy a platinum chain for Jim’s watch.
3 (b) Answer in about 50 words
What is the theme of the essay “The Rule of the Road”?
Answer:
The essay explains the importance of discipline and rules in society. Just as traffic rules are necessary for safety on roads, rules are essential for maintaining order and harmony in society. Freedom does not mean doing whatever we like; it must be exercised responsibly.
OR
Why did the Mayor dislike the statue so much?
Answer:
The Mayor disliked the statue of the Happy Prince because it had become dull and shabby after the swallow removed its gold and jewels to help the poor. The statue no longer looked beautiful, so the Mayor considered it useless.
SECTION C – Poetry
4 (a)
(i) Does the person envy others?
Answer: No, he does not envy others.
(ii) What does a truly happy man not care about?
Answer:
A truly happy man does not care about public fame or private criticism.
(iii) Which phrase indicates the person's detachment from worldly things?
Answer:
“Untied unto the world with care.”
4 (b)
Theme of the poem “Razia, the Tigress”
Answer:
The poem shows the strength, courage, and dignity of Razia Sultan. It highlights her determination and bravery as a ruler who fought against opposition and proved that women can also be powerful leaders.
OR
Who was Sir Pertab Singh?
Answer:
Sir Pertab Singh was a brave Rajput ruler and a loyal soldier who served the British Empire. He was known for his courage, leadership, and dedication to duty.
SECTION C – Supplementary Reader
5 (Short Answers)
(i) What was the condition laid down by the lawyer?
Answer:
The lawyer promised to give one thousand dollars to Gillian only if he followed the instructions written in the letter properly.
(ii) Why couldn't Sausage see inside the water?
Answer:
Because the water was muddy and unclear, which made it difficult to see inside.
(iii) When did the author regain his confidence and how?
Answer:
The author regained his confidence after learning swimming properly and overcoming his fear of water.
(iv) What was Holmes' condition when Watson saw him?
Answer:
Holmes looked weak, pale, and very ill, as if he were suffering from a serious disease.
(v) Who were the Bashkirs? How did Pakhom make friends with them?
Answer:
The Bashkirs were simple and friendly tribal people living in the steppes. Pakhom made friends with them by giving gifts like tea, cloth, and wine.
SECTION D – Vocabulary
(i) One word:
To increase the gravity of a situation
Answer: Aggravate
(ii) Correct sentence:
Wrong: My son does not listen what I say.
Correct: My son does not listen to what I say.
(iii) Correct word:
She is an expert in dyeing.
(iv) Idiom sentence:
A cat and dog life
Sentence: The two brothers live a cat and dog life and quarrel every day.
SECTION E – Grammar and Composition
7 (a) Translation (Example Answers)
(i) One day Phatik lost his lesson book.
Hindi: एक दिन फटिक अपनी पाठ्य-पुस्तक खो बैठा।
(ii) We must be a judicious mixture of both.
Hindi: हमें दोनों का संतुलित मिश्रण होना चाहिए।
(iii) He never lost his calm.
Hindi: उसने कभी अपना धैर्य नहीं खोया।
7 (b) Punjabi/Hindi to English
(i) My daughter is very clever.
(ii) From morning the children are crying.
(iii) How are votes cast?
(iv) My wife is very understanding.
(v) What will happen will happen.
8 Grammar
(i) If you do not walk fast, you will miss the train.
(ii) Nobody should disturb me.
(iii) The teacher asked Krish where he lived.
(iv) He has been teaching in this school since 2002.
(v) We bought apples, oranges, peaches and bananas.
(vi) Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of Independent India.
(vii) I went to take a round of his house.
(viii) You must not enter my class.
(ix) If you do not get success despite your repeated efforts, you should not lose heart.
(x) His handwriting is too bad to read.
9 Composition
Students could write:
Paragraph Topics
• Leisure
• A Visit to Rajghat
Letter
• Letter to sister describing visit to a historical place
OR
• Letter to editor about begging problem
Message Writing
Message example:
Message
Ishaan,
Anoushka called to inform that your interview for Tata Indicom is fixed tomorrow at 9 a.m. Please reach the office on time and bring your certificates.
—Ritu
Answer Key – Question 9 (d)
Notes on the Passage: DEMOCRACY
1. Meaning and Origin of Democracy
- The word democracy comes from Greek words.
- Demos means people or territory.
- Kratos means rule or power.
- Therefore, democracy means rule by the people.
2. Modern Concept of Democracy
- Modern democracy developed during the Enlightenment period.
- It is based on the idea of autonomy and self-governance.
- People create laws and govern themselves.
3. Key Features of Democracy
- Government of the people, by the people, for the people.
- Protection of civil liberties.
- Rule of law.
- Accountability of government.
4. Importance of Democracy
- Democracy protects people from tyranny.
- It ensures freedom and equality.
- It promotes civic participation and responsibility.
Title: Democracy
