10th English - Quarterly Exam 2025 - Original Question Paper | Salem District

10th English Quarterly Exam 2025 - Full Solutions

Original Question Paper

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Standard: X Subject: English Time: 3.15 Hrs Marks: 100

PART - I (14 x 1 = 14)

Note: i) Answer all the questions. ii) Choose the most suitable answer and write the code with corresponding answer.

Choose the appropriate synonyms for the italicized words.

1.

His mother had swooped upwards.

• a. slowly
• b. leisurely
• c. rushed
• d. gradually

2.

Currently women's accomplishments are tremendous in many fields.

• a. achievements
• b. failures
• c. flaws
• d. mistakes

3.

His nerves seemed overwrought for some reason.

• a. stressed
• b. calm
• c. serene
• d. composure

Choose the appropriate antonyms for the italicized words.

4.

He felt certain that his wings would never support him.

• a. assured
• b. uncertain
• c. clear
• d. undeniable

5.

The spoilt child of affluent parents.

• a. wealthy
• b. prosperous
• c. poor
• d. rich

6.

The cops were reluctant to leave.

• a. unwilling
• b. averse
• c. hesitant
• d. keen

Grammar and Vocabulary

7.

Choose the correct plural form of erratum from the following.

• a. erratums
• b. erraton
• c. errata
• d. erratuma

8.

Attach a suitable prefix to the word - 'powered'.

• a. em
• b. en
• c. in
• d. dis

9.

The common expansion of INWTC is...

• a. Indian Naval Waterman ship Trained Centre
• b. International Naval Waterman ship Training Centre
• c. Indian Naval Waterman ship Training Centre
• d. Integrated Naval Waterman ship Training Centre

10.

Complete the following sentence with the most appropriate phrasal verb given below.
The air hostess instructed the passengers to wear seat belts during the ..........

• a. take up
• b. take off
• c. take on
• d. take out

11.

Choose the suitable option to pair it with the word 'foot' to form a compound word.

• a. back
• b. ticket
• c. note
• d. down

12.

Fill in the blank with the appropriate preposition given below.
We sat .......... two tin chairs.

• a. on
• b. up
• c. down
• d. below

13.

Complete the following sentence using the most appropriate tense form of the verb given below.
Varun .................... by this time tomorrow.

• a. is singing
• b. has sung
• c. will be singing
• d. had been sung

Note: The phrase "by this time tomorrow" typically indicates the Future Perfect tense ('will have sung'). Since this option is not available, 'will be singing' (Future Continuous) is the most plausible choice provided.

14.

Choose the most appropriate linker from the given four alternatives.
They faced many hardships ............. they are always cheerful.

• a. although
• b. nevertheless
• c. otherwise
• d. since

PART - II

Section I (PROSE) - Answer any three (3 x 2 = 6)

15.

How did the bird try to reach its parents without having to fly?

The young seagull tried to reach its parents without flying by moving to the brink of the ledge and standing on one leg with the other leg hidden under his wing, pretending to be asleep to gain their attention.

16.

What was the grandfather wearing?

The grandfather was wearing a loose-fitting pair of white trousers, a long, white beard that covered the best part of his chest, and a big turban. He looked at least a hundred years old.

17.

Mention the special features of INSV Tarini.

INSV Tarini is a 55-foot sailing vessel built indigenously in India. It has all the modern navigation, communication, and satellite equipment for perfect navigation. It is also designed to be eco-friendly, using wind power and collecting solar and wind energy.

18.

What did Nagen uncle tell about Sanyal's past life?

Nagen uncle told that Sanyal was once a wealthy man named Sasadhar Sanyal who lived in Deodhar. He had a sudden financial loss and was tricked by his relatives, which caused him to lose his mental balance and live in poverty.

SECTION II (POETRY) - Answer any three (3 x 2 = 6)

19.

Read the lines and answer.

"Let me but live my life from year to year
With forward face and unreluctant soul"

a) Whom does the word “me” refer to?
The word "me" refers to the poet, Henry Van Dyke.

b) What kind of life does the poet want to lead?
The poet wants to lead a life with a positive attitude, looking forward to the future with a willing and happy soul, without hesitation or reluctance.

20.

Read the lines and answer.

"But we ants never borrow; we ants never lend."

a. Why do you think ants neither borrow nor lend?
Ants neither borrow nor lend because they believe in hard work and self-sufficiency. They work diligently during the summer to store food for the winter, so they do not need to depend on others.

b) Who says these lines to whom?
The ant says these lines to the cricket.

21.

Read the lines and answer.

"Nothing goes right with the folks you meet
Down on that gloomy complaining street"

a. What does the word 'gloomy' mean here?
Here, the word 'gloomy' means sad, depressing, and filled with negativity.

b. What is the opinion about the folks you meet down the street?
The opinion is that the people on that street are always complaining and find fault in everything. They are negative and dissatisfied.

22.

Read the lines and answer.

"Despite the sighs and groans and moans,
She's strong in her faith, firm in her belief!"

a) Is she complaining about the problems of life?
No, she is not complaining. Despite facing hardships ('sighs and groans and moans'), she remains strong and firm in her beliefs.

b) Pick out the words that show her grit.
The words that show her grit are "strong in her faith" and "firm in her belief".

SECTION III (GRAMMAR) (3 x 2 = 6)

Answer any THREE of the followings.

23.

Rewrite the following sentence to the other voice.
The salesman answered all the questions patiently.

Answer: All the questions were answered patiently by the salesman.

24.

Rewrite using indirect speech.
Johnson said, "I'll be there at eight."

Answer: Johnson said that he would be there at eight.

25.

Punctuate the following sentence.
heaven thank you my dear father said miranda

Answer: "Heaven! Thank you, my dear father," said Miranda.

26.

Transform the following sentence into a simple sentence.
As Varun is a voracious reader, he buys a lot of books.

Answer: Being a voracious reader, Varun buys a lot of books.

27.

Rearrange the words in the correct order to make meaningful sentence.

a. point / had / bifurcated / the / we / reached / where / road /a
Answer: We had reached a point where the road bifurcated.

b. zigzag / be / somu's / must / snake / uncle / pet
Answer: Somu's uncle's pet must be a zigzag snake. (Note: The sentence can be interpreted in a few ways, but this is a logical construction.)

SECTION IV (WRITING) COMPULSORY (1 x 2 = 2)

28.

You are near the School. An old man approaches you to direct him to a nearby hotel. Guide him with your instructions.

Please follow these simple directions:

1. Walk straight up this road until you reach the Main Road.
2. Carefully cross the Main Road to the other side.
3. Once you are on the other side, turn left.
4. Walk straight for a short distance, and you will find The Saravana Hotel on your right.

PART III

SECTION - I (Prose) - Answer any TWO (2 x 5 = 10)

29.

Describe the struggles underwent by the young Seagull to overcome its fear of flying.

The young seagull was terrified of flying. His two brothers and sister had already flown away, but he couldn't gather the courage. He felt his wings would not support him. For a whole day, he watched his parents teaching his siblings to fly and dive for fish. He was left alone on the ledge, starving. He tried to get his parents' attention by pretending to sleep, but they ignored him. Driven by extreme hunger, he cried out when he saw his mother tearing a piece of fish. She flew towards him with the fish, but halted just out of his reach. Maddened by hunger, the seagull dived at the fish, forgetting his fear. He fell outwards and downwards, and in a moment of terror, his wings spread open automatically. He flapped them and found he could fly, finally overcoming his fear.

30.

Write in detail about the selection and training process which the crew underwent.

The crew of INSV Tarini consisted of six women naval officers. They were selected from a pool of volunteers after a rigorous selection process. The initial crew was shortlisted to 20, and then further trimmed down to the final six. The training process was extensive and spanned almost three years. They first had theoretical courses on navigation, communication, and weather prediction. Then, they underwent hands-on training on smaller boats like the INSV Mhadei, sailing from Mumbai to Goa. They gained confidence by sailing on the Mhadei for about 20,000 nautical miles, including a voyage to Mauritius in 2016 and another from Cape Town to Goa in 2017. This comprehensive training prepared them physically and mentally for the challenges of their circumnavigation expedition, 'Navika Sagar Parikrama'.

SECTION - II (POETRY) - Answer any TWO (2 x 5 = 10)

33.

Compare and contrast the attitude of the ant and the cricket.

The ant and the cricket have completely opposite attitudes towards life and work. The cricket is lazy, irresponsible, and lives only for the present. He spends the warm summer months singing and enjoying himself, without a thought for the future. In contrast, the ant is hardworking, disciplined, and forward-thinking. It toils all summer to gather and store food for the harsh winter. When winter arrives, the cricket is starving and helpless, while the ant is comfortable and secure. The ant believes in self-sufficiency ("we ants never borrow; we ants never lend"), whereas the cricket is forced to beg. The poem highlights the importance of hard work and planning through the contrasting attitudes of these two characters.

35.

Read the following stanza and answer the questions given below.

The weather is always too hot or cold;
Summer and winter alike they scold.
Nothing goes right with the folks you meet
Down on that gloomy Complaining Street.

a. Pick out the alliterated words in the second line.
The alliterated words are 'Summer' and 'scold'.

b. Identify the rhyming words in the above stanza.
The rhyming words are 'cold' - 'scold' and 'meet' - 'street'.

c. What is the rhyme scheme of the above stanza?
The rhyme scheme is aabb.

d. What is the figure of speech employed in the fourth line?
The figure of speech is Metaphor. 'Complaining Street' is a metaphor for a place or state of mind filled with negativity and complaints.

36.

Paraphrase the following stanza.

So let the way wind up the hill or down,
O'er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy:
Still seeking what I sought when but a boy,
New friendship, high adventure, and a crown,

Paraphrase: The poet says that he doesn't care if the path of his life goes uphill or downhill, or if it is difficult or easy. No matter the circumstances, he will embrace the journey with happiness. He will continue to search for the same things he desired as a young boy: new friends, exciting adventures, and the ultimate prize or goal in life.

SECTION III - SUPPLEMENTARY (1 x 5 = 5)

37.

Rearrange the following sentences in the correct order.

i) The son made up his mind to take back his mother home.
ii) A farmer decided to leave his old mother on the top of a mountain.
iii) The entire province was given strict orders to immediately put to death all aged people.
iv) When the farmer reached the top of the mountain, his mother advised him to return home by following the twigs.
v) The farmer's mother dropped twigs on the way to help her son.

Correct Order:

1. (iii) The entire province was given strict orders to immediately put to death all aged people.
2. (ii) A farmer decided to leave his old mother on the top of a mountain.
3. (v) The farmer's mother dropped twigs on the way to help her son.
4. (iv) When the farmer reached the top of the mountain, his mother advised him to return home by following the twigs.
5. (i) The son made up his mind to take back his mother home.

38.

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

'You're both quite mistaken', their father hastened to explain, seeing his wife's horrified expression. 'Zigzag is a most harmless, unusual and lovable bird' Apparently, it was bred by a genuine African witch doctor, who gifted it to Somu when he- being a child specialist like me - cured the witch doctor's son while he was touring the deepest jungles of equatorial Africa last month. Somu says the bird is an absolute treasure and a real help. It's his favorite pet, you know'

i) Who is Zigzag?
Zigzag is a harmless, unusual, and lovable bird, which is Somu's favorite pet.

ii) How was it bred?
It was bred by a genuine African witch doctor.

iii) What did Somu say about the bird?
Somu said that the bird is an absolute treasure and a real help.

iv) Who gifted Zigzag to Somu?
An African witch doctor gifted Zigzag to Somu.

v) Was the bird really a treasure?
Yes, according to Somu, the bird was an absolute treasure and his favorite pet.

SECTION IV - WRITING (4 x 5 = 20)

Answer any FOUR of the following.

39.

Prepare an attractive advertisement using the hints given below.

Welcome to the Digital World!

Upgrade Your Life with Our Latest Laptops and Computers.

Smart Tech for Smarter Living

Special Offer!

• Free Accessories Worth ₹2000 on every purchase!
• Extended Warranty for 2 Years!
• Free Services and Software Installation!

Visit 'Digital World' Today!
Your one-stop shop for all things tech.

40.

Write a complaint to the officer of the PWD department to take immediate actions of maintaining cleanliness in the Children's Park in your locality.

From,
[Your Name],
[Your Address],
[Your City],
[Date].

To,
The Officer,
Public Works Department (PWD),
[City Name].

Subject: Complaint regarding poor maintenance and lack of cleanliness in the Children's Park.

Respected Sir/Madam,

I am writing to bring your urgent attention to the deplorable condition of the Children's Park located in our locality, [Your Locality Name]. The park, which should be a safe and clean space for children, has become a hub of garbage and neglect.

The dustbins are overflowing, and litter is strewn all over the playing area. The benches are broken, and the play equipment is not maintained, posing a safety risk to the children. The lack of regular cleaning has made the park unhygienic and unusable for the residents.

We request you to take immediate and necessary action to clean the park, repair the equipment, and ensure regular maintenance. We hope for a swift response to restore the park to its intended purpose.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Signature]
([Your Name])

41.

You are the Coordinator of the Science Forum of your school. An event had been organized on account of National Science Day for the members of the forum. Write a report on the observation of “National Science Day" at your school.

NATIONAL SCIENCE DAY CELEBRATION

Reported by [Your Name], Coordinator, Science Forum

[School Name], [City], March 1, 2025:

Our school celebrated National Science Day on February 28, 2025, to commemorate the discovery of the 'Raman Effect' by Sir C.V. Raman. The event, organized by the Science Forum, aimed to foster a scientific spirit and curiosity among the students.

The celebration began with a special assembly highlighting the importance of science in our daily lives. The chief guest for the day was Dr. Arul Selvan, a renowned scientist from the Indian Institute of Science, who delivered an inspiring speech on "Innovations for a Sustainable Future."

Various activities were conducted for the members of the Science Forum, including a science exhibition where students showcased innovative working models and projects. A science quiz competition and a poster-making contest were also held, which saw enthusiastic participation from all members. The event was a grand success, encouraging students to develop a deeper interest in science and technology.

The day concluded with a prize distribution ceremony, where the chief guest honored the winners of the various competitions. The event not only provided a platform for students to display their scientific talents but also motivated them to pursue careers in science.

42.

Look at the following picture and express your views on it in about five sentences.

1. This picture shows a group of five figures, appearing to be a family.
2. There's an adult male, an adult female, and three younger children.
3. They are all depicted with smiling faces and an open, friendly posture.
4. It conveys a sense of unity and happiness among the individuals.
5. They appear to be standing together, holding hands, which suggests closeness.

43.

Make notes or write a summary of the following passage.

Note-Making

Title: The Beauty and Importance of Flowers

1. Nature's Beauty
   • One of the most beautiful creations.
   • Var. in colors, shapes, sizes (e.g., sunflowers, daisies).
   • Grow on plants, trees, bushes.
2. Role in Environment
   • Help plants create seeds for new life.
   • Attract insects (bees, butterflies) for pollination.
   • Pollination essential for fruit/veg. growth.
3. Uses for People
   • Beautify homes & gardens.
   • Used as gifts (birthdays, anniversaries).
   • Bring joy & happiness.
   • Used in perfumes (roses) & other products.
   • Used in food & medicine in various cultures.
4. Conclusion
   • Not just pretty, but vital for nature & humans.

---

Summary

Flowers are among nature's most beautiful creations, coming in various colors, shapes, and sizes. They play a vital role in the environment by helping plants produce seeds and attracting insects like bees for pollination, which is crucial for the growth of fruits and vegetables. Flowers also have numerous uses for people; they beautify homes, are given as gifts for special occasions, and bring joy. Some, like roses, are used in perfumes, while others are used in food and medicine. In essence, flowers are not merely for decoration but are essential for both nature and humanity.

SECTION V, PART IV & V

SECTION –V MEMORITER (COMPULSORY) (1 x 5 = 5)

44.

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.

i. Our classroom is in the second floor.
Correct: Our classroom is on the second floor.

ii. They left the place a hour ago.
Correct: They left the place an hour ago.

iii. Have anyone attended the function?
Correct: Has anyone attended the function?

iv. Every students like the teacher.
Correct: Every student likes the teacher.

v. The whole range of mountains are visible from the sea.
Correct: The whole range of mountains is visible from the sea.

45.

Quote from memory.
Not mourning .................. with cheer.

Not mourning for the things that disappear
In the dim past, nor holding back in fear
From what the future veils; but with a whole
And happy heart, that pays its toll
To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer.

46.

Write a paragraph about 150 words by developing the following hints.

a) The Story of Mulan

When China faced a great war, the king commanded that one man from every house must join the army to take part in the war. As Mulan's father was old and weak, Mulan decided to take his place. She disguised herself as a man, wearing armour and carrying a sword, and went to war. She fought bravely in many battles and was promoted to the rank of a chief. The king was very happy with her service. However, during the war, a fever swept through the war camp, and Mulan was affected. When a doctor came to treat her, her true identity as a woman was revealed. The soldiers initially resented the fact that they were led by a woman, but Mulan didn't mind. She proved her worth by leading them into a final, victorious battle and won the war for China. As a reward, the King offered her a high position at the palace. Mulan politely rejected the offer and chose to go back to her village. She returned home with royal gifts, and her people welcomed her as a hero.

---

(OR)

b) The Story of Prospero (The Tempest)

Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, lived in a cave on a deserted island with his young daughter, Miranda. With the help of a powerful spirit named Ariel, he raised a violent storm in the sea. This storm caused a shipwreck, stranding his enemies—his usurping brother Antonio, the King of Naples, and the King's son, Ferdinand—on the island. Prospero commanded Ariel to bring Ferdinand to his cave. Upon seeing a human being for the first time besides her father, Miranda was captivated by Ferdinand, who was also surprised to see her beauty. To test Ferdinand's love, Prospero engaged him in hard tasks. Miranda pleaded with her father for him. Eventually, Ariel brought the King of Naples and Antonio to Prospero. They realized their past mistakes and repented. Prospero forgave them and had his dukedom restored. Finally, he happily agreed to the marriage of Miranda and Ferdinand, bringing the story to a joyful conclusion.

PART- V (GENERAL COMPREHENSION) (4 x 2 = 8)

47.

a. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below.

Our blood consists of three types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets...

i. What are the three types of blood cells?
The three types of blood cells are red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

ii. What happens when blood passes through lungs?
When blood passes through the lungs, each hemoglobin molecule in the red blood cells picks up four oxygen molecules.

iii. What do red blood cells transport?
Red blood cells transport oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and also transport carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.

iv. How are the white blood cells described?
White blood cells are described as big and few compared to red cells. They are the body's defenders, like soldiers that fight bacteria and other enemies.

b) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below.

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
...

i. What is our life filled with?
Our life is filled with care (worries and responsibilities).

ii. What do the squirrels do?
The squirrels hide their nuts in the grass.

iii. What is a poor life according to the poet?
According to the poet, a poor life is one that is so full of worries that we have no time to stop and appreciate the beauty of nature around us.

iv. Who stand beneath the boughs and stare at nature?
Sheep and cows stand beneath the boughs and stare at nature.