RBSE Class 10th 2025 English-S-02-2025 Previous Year Papers

SECONDARY EXAMINATION, 2025

ENGLISH

Time: 3 Hours 15 Minutes   |   Maximum Marks: 80

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE EXAMINEES:

1. Candidates must first write their Roll Nos. on the question paper compulsorily.
2. All the questions are compulsory.
3. Write the answer to each question in the given answer-book only.
4. For questions having more than one part, the answers to those parts are to be written together in continuity.
5. Write the correct serial number of each question as mentioned in the question paper.

S-02-English    Turn Over

SECTION - A (READING)

1. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow :

A little distance from the Tarnaka crossroads, you come across a quiet house called ‘Needa’ (refuge). Attached to it is a small school where in the afternoons, you will come across many little girls who are domestic servants, learning to read.

This is no non-formal education centre. Education is a very serious business here. The girls get to write their public exams, some of them join residential schools (after clearing the entrance exams) and some others go for higher studies.

Innovative teaching methods help these first generation learners. Field trips, discussion on current events are common features in this school.

Anand Bharti is not just about education, many people have commented that the children here are transformed into confident individuals and that the values imbibed here stay with them wherever they go.

The woman who runs the school and who has a house in ‘Needa’ is Janaki Iyer, a 70-year old lady.

i) Anand Bharti is located in a house called

• A) Anand
• B) Needa
• C) Bharti
• D) Janaki

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who studied in a small school?

   • A) Little girls
   • B) Elders
   • C) Little boys
   • D) Old men

   Correct Answer: A) Little girls

   Explanation: The passage mentions that little girls studied in a small school.

2. A first generation learner is a person

   • A) Who goes to school for the first time
   • B) Who is the first in the family to go to school
   • C) Who learns about first generation
   • D) None of the above

   Correct Answer: B) Who is the first in the family to go to school

   Explanation: A first generation learner is defined as someone who is the first member of their family to attend school.

3. What are common features of the school?

   • A) Field trips
   • B) Discussions on current events
   • C) Innovative teaching methods
   • D) All of the above

   Correct Answer: D) All of the above

   Explanation: The school includes field trips, discussions on current events, and innovative teaching methods as common features.

4. The children in the school are transformed into

   • A) confident individuals
   • B) dullard
   • C) politicians
   • D) teachers

   Correct Answer: A) confident individuals

   Explanation: The school transforms children into confident individuals.

5. Who set up Anand Bharti school?

   • A) Mother Teresa
   • B) Dr. A. P. J. Kalam
   • C) Janaki Iyer
   • D) Jyoti Swaroop

   Correct Answer: D) Jyoti Swaroop

   Explanation: Anand Bharti school was set up by Jyoti Swaroop.

S-02-English

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow : [9×1=9]

1. i) Whose message stole the hearts of Indians ?

   Answer: The magic of Bapuji's (Mahatma Gandhi's) message stole the hearts of Indians.

2. ii) Who became India's soldiers of freedom ?

   Answer: Men, women and even little children came out of their little shells and became India's soldiers of freedom.

3. iii) Why are you and I fortunate ?

   Answer: We are fortunate because we are making history in India and we can see this happening before our eyes and take part in this great drama of freedom.

4. iv) What has to be respected if we are India's soldiers ?

   Answer: If we are to be India's soldiers, we have to respect India's honour, which is a sacred trust.

SECTION - B (Reading)

4. (iv) Why should anything not be hidden?

   Answer: Anything should not be hidden because truth and honesty are important. Hiding things can lead to problems and distrust.

5. (vi) What cannot be done under Bapuji’s leadership?

   Answer: Under Bapuji’s leadership, nothing wrong or unjust can be done. His leadership is based on truth and non-violence.

6. (vii) How will you grow up if you are unafraid?

   Answer: If you are unafraid, you will grow up to be brave, confident, and strong. Fearlessness helps in facing challenges and achieving success.

7. (viii) Write the similar word of the following from the passage: ‘Lucky’

   Answer: The similar word for ‘Lucky’ from the passage is ‘Fortunate’.

8. (ix) Write the opposite word of the following from the passage: ‘Worthy’

   Answer: The opposite word for ‘Worthy’ from the passage is ‘Unworthy’.

SECTION - C (WRITING)

Question 5: Letter Writing

Imagine you are Anjali/Punit, living in Mumbai. Write a letter to your friend about your school and studies there.

OR

You are Karis/Karan, studying in X class, in G.S.S.S., Jodhpur. Your board examination is near but you don’t have an English teacher in school. Write an e-mail to the Principal of your school to arrange classes and a teacher to teach you English.

Question 6: Story Writing

Write a story with the help of given outline in about 80 words. Give the title and moral to it.

Outline 1: Once, on a winter morning, a farmer... a snake... cold. The farmer... kind. He took pity... put in the basket... brought home. The farmer’s children... snake attacked... brought stick...

OR

Outline 2: Once, there was a cap seller... sell his caps... nearby towns... tired... sun’s heat... under a tree... put basket... slept for sometime... Monkeys on the tree... took away caps... woke up... used tricks... used common sense... threw his cap... collected caps... home happily.

SECTION-C (GRAMMAR)

6. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of the verbs given in the brackets: [4]

1. The sun rises in the east. (rise) [1]

2. We have taken Board Exams for fifteen days. (take) [1]

Choose the correct option:

3. My brother will reach here on next Monday. [1]

   • A) will reach ✓ Correct
   • B) reaches
   • C) reached
   • D) reach

   Explanation: "Next Monday" indicates future time, so the future tense "will reach" is correct.

4. The patient had died before the doctor came. [1]

   • A) died
   • B) had died ✓ Correct
   • C) dies
   • D) will die

   Explanation: The action of dying happened before the doctor came, so the past perfect tense "had died" is used.

7. Rewrite the following sentences changing them into indirect speech :

1. i) My mother said to me, “Take care of your health.”
   Answer: My mother advised me to take care of my health.
2. ii) Sanjay said to Achy, “Why do you work so hard?”
   Answer: Sanjay asked Achy why he worked so hard.

8. Fill in the blanks with a verb in agreement with its subject :

1. i) Madam as well as your brothers comes here everyday.

   (The subject is 'Madam', which is singular; 'as well as' does not make the subject plural.)

2. ii) One of the students was present in the seminar.

   (The subject is 'One', which is singular; 'of the students' is a prepositional phrase.)

9. Change the following sentences into Passive voice :

1. i) My friend brought a bag for me.
   Answer: A bag was brought for me by my friend.
2. ii) Madam teaches us English.
   Answer: English is taught to us by Madam. / We are taught English by Madam.

10. i) Frame a question of the following :

Statement: Children eat chocolate.

ii) Add a Question Tag to the statement given below :

Statement: Parents love their kids.

SECTION - D (TEXT BOOK)

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

(Note: The questions for this passage are not provided in the given text. If you have the specific questions, please share them for answers.)

Comprehension Passage

The baker made his musical entry on the scene with the ‘jhang’ sound of his specially made bamboo staff. One hand supported the basket on his head and the other banged the bamboo on the ground. He would greet the lady of the house with “Good Morning” and then place his basket on the vertical bamboo. We kids would be pushed aside with a mild rebuke and the loaves would be delivered to the servant. But we would not give up. We would climb a bench or the parapet and peep into the basket, somehow. I can still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves.

Questions based on the passage:

1. i) The baker used to be

   • A) Friend
   • B) Companion
   • C) Guide
   • D) All of the above

   Explanation: The passage describes the baker as a friend, companion, and guide to the children and the community, making option D correct.

2. ii) How many times did the baker come in a day?

   • A) Once
   • B) Twice
   • C) Thrice
   • D) Four times

   Explanation: The passage implies the baker came twice a day (morning and evening), as is typical in the context, though not explicitly stated in this excerpt.

3. iii) The children longed for

   • A) Toys
   • B) Bread-bangles
   • C) Toffees
   • D) Drinks

   Explanation: The children were eager to see and get the bread (loaves), often referred to as bread-bangles in the context.

4. iv) How did the baker greet the lady of the house?

   The baker greeted the lady of the house by saying “Good Morning”.

5. v) How did the children see the basket?

   The children climbed a bench or the parapet and peeped into the basket to see it.

6. vi) Write the similar word of the following from the passage: ‘Railing’

   The similar word for ‘Railing’ in the passage is ‘Parapet’.

OR

Comprehension Passage

Kisa Gotami had an only son and he died. In her grief she carried the dead child to all her neighbours, asking them for medicine and the people said, “She has lost her senses. The boy is dead.”

At length, Kisa Gotami met a man who replied to her request. “I cannot give thee medicine for thy child, but I know a physician who can.”

And the girl said, “Pray tell me, sir; Who is it?” And the man replied to her request. “Go to Sakyamuni, the Buddha.”

Kisa Gotami repaired to the Buddha and cried, “Lord and Master give me the medicine that will cure my boy.”

Questions based on the passage:

1. i) What happened to Kisa Gotami's son?

   Kisa Gotami's only son died.

2. ii) What did the neighbours say to Kisa Gotami?

   The neighbours said, “She has lost her senses. The boy is dead.”

3. iii) Who did the man advise Kisa Gotami to go to?

   The man advised Kisa Gotami to go to Sakyamuni, the Buddha.

4. iv) What did Kisa Gotami ask the Buddha?

   Kisa Gotami asked the Buddha, “Lord and Master give me the medicine that will cure my boy.”

9

The Buddha answered, “I want a handful of mustard-seeds”. And when the girl in her joy promised to procure it, the Buddha added, “The mustard-seeds must be taken from a house where no one has lost a child, husband, parent or friend.”

Poor Kisa Gotami now went from house to house, and the people pitied her and said, “Here is mustard-seed : take it!” But when she asked, “Did a son or daughter, a father or mother, die in your family?” they answered her, “Alas! the living are few, but the dead are many. Do not remind us of our deepest grief.” And there was no house but some beloved one had died in it.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. i) How many sons did Kisa Gotami have?

   • A) One
   • B) Two
   • C) Three
   • D) Four

   Correct Answer: A) One

   Explanation: The story mentions Kisa Gotami had only one son who died.

2. ii) What did Kisa Gotami ask for her dead child?

   • A) Milk
   • B) Chapati
   • C) Fruits
   • D) Medicine

   Correct Answer: D) Medicine

   Explanation: Kisa Gotami went to Buddha asking for medicine to bring her dead child back to life.

3. iii) Who was Sakyamuni?

   • A) Kisa
   • B) Gotami
   • C) Buddha
   • D) Neighbours

   Correct Answer: C) Buddha

   Explanation: Sakyamuni is another name for Gautama Buddha, meaning the sage of the Shakya clan.

4. iv) What did Buddha want?

   Correct Answer: A handful of mustard-seeds from a house where no one had died.

   Explanation: Buddha asked for mustard-seeds from a house that had never experienced death, to teach Kisa Gotami about the universality of grief.

5. v) Which question was asked by Kisa Gotami from the people?

   Correct Answer: She asked, “Did a son or daughter, a father or mother, die in your family?”

   Explanation: Kisa Gotami asked this question to every house while collecting mustard-seeds, as instructed by Buddha.

6. vi) Write the similar word of the following from the passage: ‘Heal’

   Correct Answer: The word ‘heal’ is not directly present in the passage. However, the closest synonym could be ‘cure’ or ‘relieve’ (implied through the context of grief).

Short Answer Questions (Answer any three in about 20-30 words each)

1. i) What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent? (Coorg)

   The Kodavu people are believed to be of Greek or Arab descent. Some say they are descendants of Alexander’s soldiers who settled here, while others claim they came from Arabia.

2. ii) How did Valli plan her bus ride? (Madam Rides The Bus)

   Valli carefully planned her bus ride by listening to conversations, noting the bus timings, and saving money for the fare. She also chose a time when her mother would be asleep.

3. iii) Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life? (From The Diary of Anne Frank)

   Anne provides a brief sketch of her life because she feels that no one would understand her diary entries without knowing her background, family, and the circumstances she lived in.

4. iv) Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? (The Black Aeroplane)

   The narrator was likely helped by a mysterious pilot in a black aeroplane who guided him through the storm. This could be interpreted as a supernatural or imaginary helper.

3. Answer any one of the following questions in about 80 words:

1. i) What does “The sight of the food maddened him” suggest? [His First Flight]

   This line suggests the young seagull's extreme hunger and desperation. After days of not eating, the sight of fish scraps being offered by his family drove him to overcome his fear of flying. His hunger overpowered his instinctive fear of the vast sea below. It shows that basic needs like food can push a living being to take risks and conquer deep-seated fears. The maddening hunger forced him to take the leap, leading to his first successful flight.

2. ii) How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life? [Nelson Mandela]

   Mandela's hunger for freedom transformed him from a young, carefree boy into a courageous leader and revolutionary. Initially, he desired personal freedom, but witnessing the oppression of his people made his hunger for collective freedom stronger. This desire led him to join the African National Congress and fight against apartheid. It changed his life by making him a symbol of resistance, leading to his imprisonment for 27 years, and ultimately shaping him into the first black President of South Africa.

4. Answer any one of the following questions in about 40 words: [3]

1. i) Write the character sketch of Natalya. [The Proposal]

   Natalya is a young, beautiful, and argumentative woman. She is proud and quick-tempered, especially when it comes to matters of land and property. Despite her quarrelsome nature, she is practical and eager to marry, as seen when she immediately agrees to marry Lomov once the initial arguments are resolved.

2. ii) Describe the story of the play ‘The Proposal’. [The Proposal]

   The play is a comedy about a nervous landowner, Lomov, who comes to propose to his neighbor, Natalya. However, they get into a heated argument over the ownership of a piece of land called Oxen Meadows. After Lomov leaves, Natalya learns his true purpose and insists he be called back. They reconcile and agree to marry, only to start arguing again about whose dog is better.

5. Read any one of the following extracts and answer the questions that follow: [4]

Extract 1:

He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,
The epistemology of loss, how to stand up
Knowing what every man must one day know
And most know many days, how to stand up.

1. i) What is the meaning of ‘epistemology’? [2]

   Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that deals with the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. In this context, it refers to the boy's painful learning about the nature of loss.

2. ii) What is the boy learning in the poem? [2]

   The boy is learning the harsh reality of loss and how to cope with it. He is learning to stand up again after experiencing a loss, a lesson that every person must learn in life. He is understanding that loss is a part of life and one must learn to move on.

OR

The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree.

1. i) What is a ‘dust of snow’? [2]

   'Dust of snow' refers to the fine particles of snow that fall from a hemlock tree when a crow shakes the branch. It is a small, seemingly insignificant event that has a profound effect on the poet's mood.

2. ii) Write the reference of hemlock tree. [2]

   The hemlock tree is a poisonous tree, often associated with negative or dark symbolism. The poet uses it to contrast with the positive change in his mood. The reference suggests that even from something considered poisonous or gloomy, a beautiful and uplifting moment can occur.

6. Answer any two out of the following three questions in about 20 words: [2x2=4]

1. i) What does ‘fire’ stand for? [Fire and Ice]

   'Fire' stands for desire, greed, and uncontrolled human passions that can lead to destruction and the end of the world.

2. ii) What does ‘ice’ stand for? [Fire and Ice]

   'Ice' stands for hatred, coldness, and indifference, which the poet believes could also be powerful enough to destroy the world.

3. iii) What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid? [Amanda]

   If Amanda were a mermaid, she could drift blissfully in the calm, green sea, free from all instructions and restrictions, living a quiet and peaceful life.

Section: Questions and Answers

7. Answer any one out of the following two questions in about 80 words: [4]

i) What does the thief say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed? [The Thief's Story]

ii) “Horace Danby was good and respectable — but not completely honest.” Explain. [A Question of Trust]

8. Answer any two out of the following three questions in about 20 words: [2×2=4]

i) Why does Mrs. Pumphrey think the dog’s recovery is ‘a triumph of surgery’? [A Triumph of Surgery]

ii) What curious episode occurs in the study? [Footprints Without Feet]

iii) How did the mother of Richard help him? [The Making of A Scientist]

9. Choose the correct answer: [1×4=4]

i) Ausable is expecting to get a very important ______. [The Midnight Visitor]

• A) Magazine
• B) Copy
• C) Report
• D) Book

Explanation: Ausable is expecting a very important book from a secret agent.

ii) ______ is invited to a grand party. [The Necklace]

• A) Matilda
• B) Shopkeeper
• C) Mme Forestier
• D) All of the above

Explanation: Matilda Loisel is invited to the grand party by the Minister of Education.

iii) What was the name of Bholi? [Bholi]

• A) Sunita
• B) Surekha
• C) Sulekha
• D) Mangia

Explanation: Bholi’s real name was Sulekha, but everyone called her Bholi because she was simple-minded.

iv) ______ is a well-known book of nursery rhymes in English. [The Book That Saved The Earth]

• A) Humpty Dumpty
• B) Mother Goose
• C) Martian Book
• D) Space Control Book

Explanation: Mother Goose is a famous collection of nursery rhymes that saved Earth from a Martian invasion in the story.