10th English Quarterly Exam 2025 - Solution
Original Question Paper
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PART-I (14x1=14)
I Choose the appropriate synonyms for the underlined words:
1) He even gnawed at the dried piece of egg shell.
2) Today's women have potential to do great things.
3) The spoilt child of affluent parents.
Choose the appropriate antonyms for the underlined words.
4) The cops were reluctant to leave without getting that hand on somebody besides Grandfather.
5) The project was undertaken in consonance with the National policy to empower women.
6) His father was preening the feathers.
7) Choose the correct plural form of Alga.
8) Form a derivative by adding the right prefix to the word 'natural'.
9) Choose the correct expansion of the AAC abbreviation.
10) Replace the underlined word with phrasal verb.
I couldn't understand what you meant.
11) Choose the suitable option to pair it with the word master to form a Compound word.
12) Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate preposition given below.
We discussed this points _____ many months.
13) Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate tense given below.
If I _____ a millionaire I would help you immediately.
14) _____ he was poor, he was happy and content.
PART-II (SECTION-1) (3x2=6)
Answer any three of the following questions in a sentence or two.
15) What prompted the young Seagull to fly finally?
The sight of the fish in his mother's beak and his extreme hunger maddened the young seagull. In a desperate attempt to get the food, he dived at the fish, which finally prompted him to make his first flight.
16) What woke up the mother? (From 'The Night the Ghost Got In')
The sound of footsteps circling the dining room table downstairs woke up the mother. She thought it was a burglar.
17) Mention the special features of INSV Tarini?
INSV Tarini is a state-of-the-art sailing vessel of the Indian Navy. Its special features include being the platform for the first-ever all-woman circumnavigation of the globe ('Navika Sagar Parikrama') and being equipped with advanced satellite communication systems for navigation and safety.
18) What did Aditya offer Sanyal?
Aditya offered Sanyal one hundred and fifty rupees, which was the money he got from selling the silver medal he had stolen from Sanyal in their childhood.
SECTION-2 (3x2=6)
Read the following sets of poetic lines and answer any three of the following.
19) "My heart will keep the courage of the quest
And hope the road's last turn will be the best"
a) What kind of quest does the poet seek here?
The poet seeks the quest of life's journey, filled with challenges and new experiences.
b) Whose heart is mentioned here?
The poet's own heart is mentioned here.
20) "Let us learn to walk with a smile a song
No matter if things do some times go wrong"
a) What does the poet expect everyone to learn?
The poet expects everyone to learn to face life with a positive and cheerful attitude.
b) What should we do when things go wrong sometimes?
We should remain positive, walking with a smile and a song, even when things go wrong.
21) "Began to complain when he found that at home
His cupboard was empty, and winter was come"
a) Who does 'he' refer to?
'He' refers to the cricket.
b) Why was his cupboard empty?
His cupboard was empty because he had spent the warm summer months singing instead of gathering food for the winter.
22) "Strong is she in her faith and beliefs
Persistence is the key to everything says she"
a) What is she strong about?
She is strong in her faith and beliefs.
b) How does she deal with the adversities in life?
She deals with adversities through persistence, which she believes is the key to overcoming challenges.
SECTION-3 (3x2=6)
Answer any three of the following.
23) Rewrite the following sentence in the other voice:
The students expect that the result will be published next week.
It is expected by the students that the result will be published next week.
24) Rewrite the sentence in Reported speech:
The interviewer said to the student, "Where did you organise the NEL Festival?"
The interviewer asked the student where he/she had organised the NEL Festival.
25) Punctuate the following sentence:
what a pretty girl you are exclaimed rashmi
"What a pretty girl you are!" exclaimed Rashmi.
26) Change the following sentence into a simple sentence:
Besides being an athlete Lingaa is a singer
The given sentence is already a simple sentence.
Besides being an athlete, Lingaa is a singer.
27) Rearrange the words in the correct order to make meaningful sentences.
a) allergic / dogs / Rani / though / is / to / Six / She / them / has
Though Rani has six dogs, she is allergic to them.
b) before / is / silver / thirty times / than / now / costlier
Silver is thirty times costlier now than before.
SECTION-4 (1x2=2)
28) Your friend wants to visit the Exhibition. Give him to reach his destination.
Image depicting a map:
[You are here] on New Street.
Ahead on the right is a [Circus].
Further ahead on Gandhi Bazaar road is a [School] and opposite to it is the [Exhibition].
Directions to the Exhibition:
Start from where you are on New Street and walk straight ahead.
Take the first left turn.
Continue walking. You will pass the Circus on your left and the School on your right.
When you reach the main road, Gandhi Bazaar, turn right.
Walk a short distance, and the Exhibition will be on your left side.
PART-III (SECTION-1) (2x5=10)
Answer any two of the following in a paragraph.
29) Describe the struggles underwent by the young Seagull to overcome its Fear Of Flying.
The young seagull was terrified of flying. While his siblings had already flown, he remained on the ledge, convinced his wings would not support him. His family tried everything to encourage him—they taunted him, scolded him, and even left him alone to starve for twenty-four hours. The seagull’s hunger grew intense, but his fear was greater. The turning point came when his mother, carrying a piece of fish in her beak, flew close to the ledge but didn't land. Maddened by hunger and the sight of food, the seagull dived for the fish. In that moment of desperation, his wings automatically spread out, and he found himself flying, finally overcoming his crippling fear through a mix of instinct and extreme hunger.
30) Narrate the extensive search operation made by the policemen in the house. (From 'The Night the Ghost Got In')
The arrival of the policemen at the narrator's house was chaotic. They stormed in, suspicious and aggressive, believing they were dealing with burglars. The search operation was extensive and disorganized. They ransacked the house, tearing up beds, peering into closets, and looking up the chimney. Their confusion grew as they found no one. The climax of the search occurred when they went up to the attic. There, the narrator's grandfather, who was sleeping and thought the police were deserters from General Meade's army, shouted at them and shot a policeman in the shoulder with an old gun. Utterly bewildered by the strange family and the grandfather's reaction, the police finally left the next morning without finding any intruders, leaving the house in disarray.
SECTION-2 (2x5=10)
Answer any two of the following.
33) What qualities have made women powerful?
Women are portrayed as powerful due to a combination of innate strength, resilience, and unwavering belief in themselves. Qualities such as strong faith, persistence, and a positive outlook are key to their power. They face adversities not with despair but with hope and determination, seeing every challenge as an opportunity to grow. Their inherent love and care for others give them a different kind of strength, making them the pillars of their families and society. As described in the poem 'I am Every Woman', a woman's strength is multifaceted; she is strong in her faith and beliefs, and her persistence is the key to her success. She is a symbol of power and strength, always ready to face life's challenges with a smile.
35) Read the following stanza and answer the questions given below.
"A silly young cricket, accustomed to sing
Though the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring,
Began to complain when he found that, at home
His cup board was empty, and winter was come."
(i) Pick out rhyming words from the above lines
sing – spring; home – come
(ii) Write the rhyme scheme of the given poem
The rhyme scheme is aabb.
(iii) Identify the figure of speech employed in the first line of the given stanza
The figure of speech is Personification. The cricket is given the human quality of being 'silly' and 'accustomed to sing'.
(iv) Pick out the alliterating words in the second line
The alliterating words are: sunny, summer, spring.
SECTION-3 (1x5=5)
Answer any one of the following.
37) Rearrange the following sentences in coherent order.
- i) The son made up his mind to take back his mother home
- ii) A farmer decided to leave his old mother on top of a mountain
- iii) Once in shining, a cruel ruler declared that all old people must be put to death
- iv) When the farmer bade farewell, she advised him to return home with the aid of twigs
- v) The mother dropped the small twigs as markers on the way to help her son return.
Correct Order:
- (iii) Once in shining, a cruel ruler declared that all old people must be put to death.
- (ii) A farmer decided to leave his old mother on top of a mountain.
- (v) The mother dropped the small twigs as markers on the way to help her son return.
- (iv) When the farmer bade farewell, she advised him to return home with the aid of twigs.
- (i) The son made up his mind to take back his mother home.
38) Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Gone was Zigzag's bored and grumpy expression...Zigzag never step or snored even for a second.
a) How did Zigzag look after it entered Dr. Krishnan's Clinic?
Zigzag looked happy and alert after it entered the clinic.
b) By whom was Zigzag trained before?
Zigzag was trained first by an African witch doctor and then by Dr. Somu.
c) How did Dr. Krishnan's Clinic transform into?
It transformed from a noisy sea of tears and tantrums into a calm, orderly place.
d) Whom did Zigzag scold in the clinic?
Zigzag scolded the naughty children.
e) Did Zigzag sleep again?
No, Zigzag never slept or snored even for a second in the clinic.
SECTION-4 (4x5=20)
Answer any four of the following.
39) Prepare an advertisement using the hints given below.
Hints: Tasty and hygienic - homemade taste - 200 varieties to select - Purely vegetarian - Manivilas - Gandhiji road - Tanjore.
Taste the Tradition! Welcome to MANIVILAS!
Experience the authentic taste of home, right here in Tanjore!
- ★ Tasty & Hygienic Food
- ★ The True Homemade Taste
- ★ Over 200 Varieties to Choose From
- ★ 100% Purely Vegetarian
Visit us today!
Manivilas
Gandhiji Road, Tanjore.
40) Write a letter to the manager of a famous daily, ordering subscription for your school library.
From,
The Librarian,
Govt. Higher Secondary School,
Chennai - 600 028.
15th September 2025
To,
The Manager,
The Hindu,
Anna Salai,
Chennai - 600 002.
Subject: Subscription for 'The Hindu' Newspaper
Sir/Madam,
I would like to place an order for a one-year subscription to 'The Hindu' English daily for our school library. We believe that your newspaper provides valuable information and will be highly beneficial for our students to improve their knowledge and language skills.
Kindly arrange for the delivery of the newspaper to the school address mentioned above, starting from the 1st of October 2025. Please let us know the subscription charges and the available payment methods. An early response would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
[Your Name]
Librarian
41) You are the school pupil leader you have been asked to write a report On the Inaugural ceremony of English literary Association of your School which was held recently: Write a report on the same in not more than 120 words.
INAUGURATION OF ENGLISH LITERARY ASSOCIATION
By Anjali Sharma,
School Pupil Leader
Chennai, 15th September 2025: The English Literary Association of Government Higher Secondary School was formally inaugurated on 14th September 2025, in our school auditorium. The ceremony was graced by the renowned author and academic, Dr. Suresh Menon, who was the Chief Guest for the occasion.
The event began with a prayer song, followed by the lighting of the lamp. Our Headmaster delivered the welcome address. The Chief Guest, in his inspiring speech, emphasized how literature shapes personality and encouraged students to read widely and write creatively. Following his address, students presented a captivating skit. The event concluded successfully with the vote of thanks, motivating many students to engage in future literary activities.
42) Look at the following picture and express your views on it in a paragraph of five sentences.
This is a great photo of two famous chess players, Magnus Carlsen and R Praggnanandhaa. They are about to play a game at a very important tournament. The picture shows an experienced champion competing against a talented young challenger. You can tell by their serious faces that the match is a very big deal. It shows the sportsmanship and hard work needed to be a top chess player.
43) Make notes or write a summary of the following passage.
He delivered a heartfelt message, expressions gratitude to ISRO The four member crew has a 21- hour-long journey to return home.Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India's first astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), is set to unlock from the orbiting laboratory On Monday at 4.30 pm IST, concluding a landmark mission that has propelled Indian Space Science to new heights. The Axiom-4 (AX-4) crew, including Shukla and three International Colleagues, will begin their return journey Aboard Space X's Dragon Spacecraft. With splashdown scheduled off the California coast on July 15 at approximately 3.00 pm IST.During their 18-day stay, Shukla and the Ax-4 crew completed over 60 advanced scientific experiments spanning biology, artificial intelligence, materials science, and human health.Among Shukla's key contributions was the Sprouts Project, which investigated how microgravity affects seed germination and early plant development. Seeds grown on the ISS will be cultivated on Earth over several generations to study changes in genetics, microbial ecosystems with implications for future space agriculture.
Note-Making
Title: Axiom-4 Mission: India's Leap in Space Science
- 1. Landmark Mission
- 1.1 Grp. Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla: India's 1st astronaut to ISS.
- 1.2 Mission Name: Axiom-4 (AX-4).
- 1.3 Significance: Propelled Indian Space Sci. to new heights.
- 2. The Crew & Return Journey
- 2.1 Crew: 4 members (Shukla + 3 int'l colleagues).
- 2.2 Journey: 21-hr long return.
- 2.3 Vehicle: SpaceX's Dragon Spacecraft.
- 2.4 Splashdown: Off California coast on July 15.
- 3. Scientific Endeavors at ISS
- 3.1 Duration: 18-day stay.
- 3.2 Experiments: Over 60 advanced sci. experiments.
- 3.3 Fields: Biology, AI, materials sci., human health.
- 4. Shukla's Key Contribution
- 4.1 Project Name: Sprouts Project.
- 4.2 Focus: Investigated microgravity's effect on seed germination & plant dev.
- 4.3 Goal: Study genetics for future space agriculture.
Summary Writing
Title: India's Landmark Axiom-4 Space Mission
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history as India's first astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) on the landmark Axiom-4 (AX-4) mission, propelling Indian space science to new heights. The four-member crew, including Shukla and three international colleagues, concluded their 18-day stay by embarking on a 21-hour return journey aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, scheduled for a splashdown off the California coast. During their time on the ISS, the crew conducted over 60 advanced scientific experiments across various fields like biology, AI, and human health. A key contribution from Shukla was his work on the 'Sprouts Project,' which studied the effects of microgravity on seed germination to explore possibilities for future space agriculture.
SECTION-5
44) Identify the errors in the following sentences and rewrite them correctly.
a) I don't know who is she
Error: Incorrect word order.
Correct: I don't know who she is.
b) She cannot cope up with the pleasure
Error: Redundant preposition 'up'.
Correct: She cannot cope with the pleasure.
c) Though he was hungry but he did not eat
Error: Double conjunction ('Though' and 'but').
Correct: Though he was hungry, he did not eat.
d) A earth goes round the sun
Error: Incorrect article.
Correct: The earth goes round the sun.
e) Siva lingesh avoids to eat fruits.
Error: Incorrect verb form after 'avoids'.
Correct: Siva lingesh avoids eating fruits.
45) Quote from memory.
From The summer of life ...... To and beliefs
"The summer of life she's ready to see in spring.
She says, "Spring will come again, my dear.
Let me care for the ones who're near."
She's The Woman - she has no fear!
Strong is she in her faith and beliefs."
PART-IV (2x8=16)
46) Write a paragraph of about 150 words in developing the following hints.
a) The Tempest: Prospero's Tale of Forgiveness
Hints: There was an island – Prospero and his daughter Miranda – Ariel was the chief – storm created – Ferdinand and Miranda – Prospero ungentle – Prospero's brother – King of Naples – repented – Ariel dismissed.
Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, lived in exile on a remote island with his beloved daughter, Miranda. Aided by Ariel, a powerful spirit he had freed, Prospero commanded the forces of nature. Using his magic, he created a great storm to shipwreck a vessel carrying his treacherous brother, Antonio, and the King of Naples, who had usurped his dukedom. The storm brought the ship's passengers to the island, including the King's son, Ferdinand, who soon fell in love with Miranda. At first, Prospero appeared ungentle, testing Ferdinand's love and loyalty. He then confronted his brother and the King, who, filled with remorse, repented for their past sins. Choosing forgiveness over revenge, Prospero reclaimed his dukedom and, in a final act of grace, dismissed the loyal Ariel, granting him his freedom.
(OR)
b) The Courage of Mulan
Hints: Mulan - woman of courage - joins army - fights well - good leadership qualities - leads the troops – becomes General – Doctor reveals Mulan identity – again wins the battle - Emperor appoints - royal advisor - Mulan returns home happily.
Mulan stands as a timeless symbol of courage and determination. When the Emperor of China decreed that one man from every family must join the army, Mulan, a brave young woman, made a heroic decision. To save her ailing father, she disguised herself as a man and took his place. In the army, she proved to be an exemplary soldier, fighting with great skill and displaying excellent leadership qualities. Her intelligence and strategic thinking earned her respect, and she rose through the ranks to become a General, leading her troops to victory. During a battle, she was injured, and a doctor revealed her true identity. Despite the shock, she went on to win the war, saving China. The grateful Emperor offered her the position of royal advisor, but Mulan humbly declined, choosing instead to return home happily to her family, having brought them the greatest honor.
47)
(a) Read the following paragraph and answer the questions given below. (Operation Sindoor)
a) Why did our country want to conduct operation Sindoor?
India conducted Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which had resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.
b) What was the primary goal of operation Sindoor?
The primary goal was to dismantle and eliminate terrorist infrastructure, particularly camps associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, and to hold those responsible for the attack accountable.
c) What was the significance of the operation?
The operation was significant because it demonstrated India's firm commitment to counter-terrorism, showcased its military capabilities, and asserted its sovereignty and resolve to respond decisively to attacks.
d) Name any two special features of this operation.
Two special features were: 1) It was characterized by precision strikes against terrorist targets. 2) It targeted nine specific locations and resulted in the elimination of over 150 terrorists.
(b) Read the following poem and answer the questions given below. (Solitary Reaper)
1. Where is the girl?
The girl is single in a field in the Scottish Highlands.
2. Is she alone or working with others?
She is alone.
3. What is the girl doing?
She is cutting and binding the grain (reaping) and singing by herself.
4. What kind of song does she sing?
She sings a melancholy (sad) song.