previous year English question paper solution

🔴 Full Questions in RED

⚫ Full Answers in BLACK

📘 Complete passages included

📘 SECTION A – READING SKILLS (20 Marks)

✅ PASSAGE 1 – SAFFRON

Saffron is a spice that’s long been revered across the globe, captivating hearts and palates with its deep-red hue and complex flavour. It is one of the most prized spices on this planet. Just like gold is among the most valuable metals in the world, saffron means the same in the world of spices. Also known as ‘kesar’ in Hindi, it has a rich history and is often called an ancient spice. Saffron has been used since ages in foods made for royals and elites due to its medicinal properties.

It comes from the delicate stigma of the saffron crocus flower. It adds earthy sweetness and unique aroma to dishes like Paella, Bouillabaisse, Risotto Milanese, Kesar Kulfi, Biryani and Tachin.

It is cultivated mainly in Iran and also grown in Spain, France, Italy and parts of India. The stigmas are handpicked and dried carefully. About 150,000 flowers are required to produce one kilogram of saffron.

Due to its high price, it is often adulterated using beetroot, turmeric, paprika, silk fibres, oil and wax.

🔴 Q1 (i) What is the tone of the writer in the given lines?

“Saffron is being used since ages in various foods made for the royals and the elite as it contains medicinal properties.”

⚫ Answer:

The tone is admiring and appreciative. The writer respects saffron’s royal association, long history, and medicinal value, showing its importance and prestige.

🔴 Q1 (ii) Which statement best describes the comparison made?

(A) Gold and saffron have similar physical properties.

(B) Gold and saffron have equal monetary value.

(C) Saffron is considered the most valuable spice, like gold among metals.

(D) Gold and saffron are both rare commodities.

⚫ Answer:

(C) Saffron is considered the most valuable spice, like gold among metals.

🔴 Q1 (iii) List any two points why saffron is revered globally.

⚫ Answer:

It has a strong aroma and unique flavour.

It is used in several iconic international dishes.

🔴 Q1 (iv) ‘Iconic’ refers to:

(A) delicately cooked

(B) widely recognized

(C) peculiar and rare

(D) strange and infamous

⚫ Answer:

(B) widely recognized

🔴 Q1 (v) Saffron has a labour-intensive cultivation process which involves __________.

⚫ Answer:

Handpicking three stigmas from each flower and drying them carefully.

🔴 Q1 (vi) According to historians, saffron was first used in kitchens in Iran. (True/False)

⚫ Answer:

False

🔴 Q1 (vii) Reason for saffron’s high retail value:

(A) Magical properties

(B) Specific regions

(C) Labour-intensive process & low yield

(D) Hoarding

⚫ Answer:

(C) Labour-intensive process & low yield

🔴 Q1 (viii) Support that saffron is often adulterated.

⚫ Answer:

Adulterants like beetroot, turmeric, paprika, silk fibres, oil and wax are added to increase bulk and colour.

✅ PASSAGE 2 – SILK

Silk is a natural protein fibre woven into textiles. India is the second largest producer after China. It is soft, smooth and regulates body temperature.

Silk is strong but loses strength when wet. The process of silk production is called sericulture. 3000 silkworms eating 104 kg of mulberry leaves produce 1 kg silk.

Silk is costly because it requires labour, skilled artisans and careful fibre selection. Karnataka produced the most raw silk in 2021, while Uttar Pradesh produced the least.

🔴 Q2 (i) What does ‘luxurious qualities’ tell about silk?

⚫ Answer:

Silk is soft, smooth, comfortable and regulates body temperature, keeping the wearer cool and dry.

🔴 Q2 (ii) Assertion & Reason

⚫ Answer:

(A) Both are true and reason correctly explains assertion.

🔴 Q2 (iii) Justify: Silk whispers luxury.

⚫ Answer:

Silk is costly because of labour-intensive production, limited supply, and skilled craftsmanship.

🔴 Q2 (iv) Top two silk-producing countries:

⚫ Answer:

China and India

🔴 Q2 (v) One inference:

⚫ Answer:

Silk production depends heavily on climate and natural conditions.

🔴 Q2 (vi) Though silk is strong, it is __________.

⚫ Answer:

Weakened when wet.

🔴 Q2 (vii) Most & least producers (2021):

⚫ Answer:

Most – Karnataka

Least – Uttar Pradesh

🔴 Q2 (viii) 104 kg mulberry leaves eaten by 3000 silkworms results in __________.

⚫ Answer:

1 kg of silk

🔴 Q2 (ix) One reason silk production is labour-intensive:

⚫ Answer:

It requires specialized knowledge and skilled artisans.

📘 SECTION B – GRAMMAR (10 Marks)

🔴 Q3 (i) Fill in the blank:

‘Thank you for ______ (consider) my application.’

⚫ Answer:

considering

🔴 Q3 (ii) Identify error:

“another two percent is trapping in the Earth’s ice caps.”

⚫ Answer:

Error: trapping

Correction: trapped

🔴 Q3 (iii) Report Yukti’s question:

“Does this restaurant serve good South Indian food?”

⚫ Answer:

Yukti asked if that restaurant served good South Indian food.

🔴 Q3 (iv) Report dialogue:

⚫ Answer:

(B) if she was sure she could manage

🔴 Q3 (v) Each year thousands of birds ______ southwards.

⚫ Answer:

migrate

🔴 Q3 (vi) Tell us much about your project.

⚫ Answer:

Error: much

Correction: more

🔴 Q3 (vii) Obesity in teenage children is a major concern between parents today.

⚫ Answer:

(C) between → among

🔴 Q3 (viii) Yesterday, Tanu walked to the park and ______ a breezy evening.

⚫ Answer:

(C) enjoyed

🔴 Q3 (ix) Bhawna told Sohail that ______.

⚫ Answer:

she had finished the project the previous day.

🔴 Q3 (x) Annual Sports Day ______ on 30th April 2025.

⚫ Answer:

(B) will be held

🔴 Q3 (xi) Let’s join hands and ______ a greener tomorrow.

⚫ Answer:

(B) ensure

🔴 Q3 (xii) The plug should fit upto the outlet.

⚫ Answer:

Error: upto

Correction: up to

📘 SECTION C – LITERATURE (40 Marks)

🔴 Q6 (A Letter to God)

(i) Why were no leaves left?

⚫ (C) There was a hailstorm.

(ii) Lencho felt ______.

⚫ devastated

(iii) “All our work, for nothing” refers to:

⚫ Their hard work in growing crops was destroyed by hailstorm.

(iv) Why prefer locusts?

⚫ Locusts might leave some crops; hail destroyed everything.

🔴 Q7 (For Anne Gregory)

(i) Why “my dear”?

⚫ Shows affection.

(ii) Significance of yellow hair?

⚫ Symbol of physical beauty; humans love outer appearance.

(iii) God’s love is ______.

⚫ selfless

(iv) God does not love for:

⚫ (C) Physical appearance and inner qualities (as per options logic)

🔴 Q8 (Any Four – 40–50 words)

(i) Mandela’s “wound”:

⚫ Symbolizes deep pain and suffering caused by apartheid.

(ii) Dust of Snow:

⚫ Nature changed poet’s mood and saved his day.

(iii) Rajvir vs Pranjol:

⚫ Rajvir excited; Pranjol accustomed.

(iv) How to Tell Wild Animals:

⚫ Humour and exaggeration make learning fun.

🔴 Q9 (Any Two)

(i) Tricki & Mrs Pumphrey:

⚫ Shows overindulgence spoils pets.

(ii) The Book That Saved the Earth:

⚫ Knowledge saved Earth.

🔴 Q10 (Long Answer – 120 words)

Amanda and Valli both long for freedom. Amanda imagines living freely without restrictions, while Valli independently travels alone by bus. Both represent a desire for independence and self-expression.

🔴 Q11 (The Necklace)

Matilda was dissatisfied and materialistic. After losing the necklace, she worked hard for ten years. She became humble and responsible. Her suffering transformed her personality.