Class 10 English Test Paper Chapter 1 A letter to God and Poem 1 Fire and Ice , Dust of Snow | GSEB Board | Detailed Solutions & Marking Scheme

VEDANT CLASSES - A Pathway to Success...

Date: ___________
Subject: English
Marks: 30

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Section A (14 Marks)

1. Discursive Passage (600–700 words)

Passage:

Success is often misunderstood as something that comes instantly or through luck. However, in reality, success is the result of continuous effort, discipline, and patience. Many people admire successful individuals but fail to recognize the years of struggle behind their achievements. It is important to understand that failure is not the opposite of success, but rather a part of it.

In today’s fast-paced world, people want quick results. They tend to give up when things do not go their way. This attitude can prevent them from achieving their goals. Instead, one should learn from mistakes and keep moving forward. Every challenge offers an opportunity to grow stronger and wiser.

Another key factor in success is self-belief. Without confidence, even the most talented individuals may fail to achieve their potential. Believing in oneself helps overcome obstacles and motivates a person to keep trying. Along with this, proper planning and time management are equally important. Setting clear goals and working systematically increases the chances of success.

Moreover, success does not mean the same thing for everyone. For some, it may be achieving financial stability, while for others, it could be personal happiness or helping others. Therefore, one must define success based on personal values and not compare with others.

In conclusion, success is a journey, not a destination. It requires hard work, determination, and a positive attitude. By staying focused and persistent, anyone can achieve their dreams.

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Questions (10 Marks)

1. Give a suitable title for the passage. (1)

2. What is the real meaning of success according to the passage? (1)

3. Find a word from the passage which means “continuous effort”. (1)

4. Why do people fail to achieve success in today’s world? (1)

5. Fill in the blank: Success is a ______, not a destination. (1)

6. What role does self-belief play in success? (2)

7. Write True/False: Failure is not part of success. (1)

8. What helps in increasing the chances of success? (1)

9. Do as directed:
   Find the synonym of “obstacles”. (1)

10. What lesson do you learn from the passage? (1)

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2. Factual Passage (600–700 words)

Passage:

The environment is one of the most important aspects of life on Earth. It includes everything around us such as air, water, land, plants, and animals. A healthy environment is essential for the survival of all living beings. However, human activities have caused significant damage to the environment over the years.

Industrialization and urbanization have led to increased pollution levels. Factories release harmful gases into the air, while waste products are often dumped into rivers and oceans. This results in air and water pollution, which can cause serious health problems. Deforestation is another major issue, where trees are cut down for development purposes. This reduces oxygen levels and disturbs the balance of nature.

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. It is mainly caused by the increase in greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming. As a result, glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, and extreme weather conditions are becoming more frequent.

To protect the environment, it is important to adopt sustainable practices. This includes reducing waste, recycling materials, and conserving natural resources. Planting trees and using renewable sources of energy can also help in minimizing environmental damage. Governments and individuals must work together to create awareness and take necessary actions.

In conclusion, protecting the environment is not just a responsibility but a necessity. If immediate steps are not taken, the future of our planet will be at risk.

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Questions (10 Marks)

1. What does the environment include? (1)

2. Find one word from the passage for “cutting down trees”. (1)

3. MCQ: Which gas is mainly responsible for global warming?
   (a) Oxygen (b) Nitrogen (c) Carbon dioxide (d) Hydrogen (1)

4. Fill in the blank: Climate change leads to ______ weather conditions. (1)

5. What are the causes of air pollution? (1)

6. Write True/False: Recycling increases environmental damage. (1)

7. Give one example of a sustainable practice. (1)

8. Do as directed:
   Find the antonym of “healthy”. (1)

9. Why is environmental protection necessary? (2)

10. Suggest one method to reduce pollution. (1)

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Section B (10 Marks)

From “A Letter to God” & Poems

1. Why did Lencho go to the post office? (2)

2. What was the effect of the hailstorm on Lencho’s field? (2)

3. How does “Dust of Snow” show a change in mood? (3)

4. What idea does the poem “Fire and Ice” convey about the end of the world? (3)

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Here is the Detailed Answer Key with Marking Scheme for your paper 👇

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ANSWER KEY & MARKING SCHEME

Class 10 – English (GSEB)
Marks: 20

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Section A – Reading (14 Marks)

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1. Discursive Passage (10 Marks)

1. Title (1 mark)

• Any suitable title:
  ✔ “The Real Meaning of Success”
  ✔ “Keys to Success”
  ✔ “Success: A Journey”
  Marking: 1 mark for relevant title

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2. Meaning of success (1 mark)

• Success is the result of continuous effort, discipline, and patience.
  Marking:

• Complete idea → 1 mark

• Partial → 0.5 mark

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3. Word for “continuous effort” (1 mark)

• Persistence / Effort
  Marking: Exact or nearest acceptable word → 1 mark

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4. Why people fail (1 mark)

• They want quick results and give up easily.
  Marking:

• Any one correct reason → 1 mark

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5. Fill in the blank (1 mark)

• journey
  Marking: Correct word only → 1 mark

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6. Role of self-belief (2 marks)

• Helps overcome obstacles

• Builds confidence

• Motivates to keep trying

Marking:

• Any 2 valid points → 2 marks

• 1 point → 1 mark

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7. True/False (1 mark)

• False
  Marking: Correct → 1 mark

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8. Increasing chances of success (1 mark)

• Proper planning and time management
  Marking: Any one correct → 1 mark

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9. Synonym of “obstacles” (1 mark)

• Challenges / difficulties
  Marking: Acceptable synonym → 1 mark

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10. Lesson from passage (1 mark)

• Hard work and persistence lead to success

• Never give up
  Marking:

• Logical answer → 1 mark

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2. Factual Passage (10 Marks)

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1. Environment includes (1 mark)

• Air, water, land, plants, animals
  Marking: Any 2–3 correct → 1 mark

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2. One word for cutting trees (1 mark)

• Deforestation
  Marking: Correct word → 1 mark

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3. MCQ (1 mark)

• (c) Carbon dioxide
  Marking: Correct option → 1 mark

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4. Fill in the blank (1 mark)

• extreme
  Marking: Correct word → 1 mark

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5. Causes of air pollution (1 mark)

• Harmful gases from factories
  Marking: Any valid cause → 1 mark

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6. True/False (1 mark)

• False
  Marking: Correct → 1 mark

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7. Sustainable practice (1 mark)

• Recycling / planting trees / saving resources
  Marking: Any one → 1 mark

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8. Antonym of “healthy” (1 mark)

• unhealthy
  Marking: Correct → 1 mark

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9. Why protection necessary (2 marks)

• For survival of living beings

• To maintain ecological balance

• To avoid future risks

Marking:

• Any 2 points → 2 marks

• 1 point → 1 mark

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10. Method to reduce pollution (1 mark)

• Reduce waste / use renewable energy / plant trees
  Marking: Any valid → 1 mark

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Section B – Literature (6 Marks)

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1. Why did Lencho go to the post office? (2 marks)

• To send a letter to God asking for money after crop destruction

Marking:

• Complete answer → 2 marks

• Partial → 1 mark

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2. Effect of hailstorm (2 marks)

• Entire crop destroyed

• Field looked like covered with salt

Marking:

• 2 points → 2 marks

• 1 point → 1 mark

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3. Dust of Snow – change in mood (3 marks)

• Poet was sad initially

• Crow shook snow from tree

• Mood changed to positive / hopeful

Marking:

• 3 clear points → 3 marks

• 2 points → 2 marks

• 1 point → 1 mark

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4. Fire and Ice – idea (3 marks)

• World may end due to desire (fire) or hatred (ice)

• Both are destructive emotions

Marking:

• Explanation + meaning of symbols → 3 marks

• Partial explanation → 2 marks

• Basic idea → 1 mark

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✅ General Marking Guidelines

• Step marking allowed in 2 & 3 mark answers

• Grammar/spelling errors → ignore if meaning clear

• Student’s own wording → acceptable

• Avoid strict word-to-word checking