Class 10 English Test Paper Chapter and Poem 1 AND 2 | Tenses and Determiners | CBSE Board | Detailed Solutions & Marking Scheme

 

VEDANT SKILL ASSESSMENT SERIES

ACADEMIC YEAR 2026-27

CLASS: X SUBJECT: ENGLISH (LANGUAGE & LITERATURE) TOTAL MARKS: 30 | TIME ALLOWED: 1 HOUR Syllabus: Prose: Ch 1 (A Letter to God), Ch 2 (Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) | Poetry: P 1 (Dust of Snow), P 2 (Fire and Ice) | Grammar: Tenses & Determiners

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Read all questions carefully before answering. - Misreading the question and then blaming the paper will not increase your marks.

2. Show proper steps wherever required. - “Sir, answer toh yahi aana tha” is not an accepted mathematical method.

3. Write neatly and clearly. - If your handwriting requires a decoder machine, checking may become an adventure.

4. Manage your time wisely. - Spending 45 minutes on one question and calling the rest “optional” is not a strategy.

5. If you do not know the answer, you may cry silently. - Loud crying, emotional speeches, and negotiations for hints are strictly prohibited.

SECTION A: GRAMMAR (TENSES & DETERMINERS)

(10 × 1 = 10 Marks)

Q1. Choose the correct option to fill in the blank for the given sentence based on a real-life conversation: "Ever since the local council optimized the trash collection mechanism last quarter, the resident welfare association ________ complaints about municipal hygiene."

A. did not record

B. has not been recording

C. had not recorded

D. is not recording

Q2. Complete the structural analysis report by filling in the blank with the correct form of the word in brackets: "By the time the global auditing panel submits its absolute evaluation parameters next November, our administrative framework ________ (restructure) its foundational operations entirely."

Q3. Identify the error in the given sentence from a public health notice and supply its correction: "Each of the clinical practitioners participating in the ongoing epidemiological research initiative have expressed severe reservations regarding the revised vaccine deployment protocols." Error: ________ | Correction: ________ Q4. Fill in the blank using the correct form of the verb given in the bracket: "The high-altitude research expedition team encountered severe atmospheric disruptions while they ________ (traverse) the precarious northern ridge of the mountain range."

Q5. Fill in the blank with an appropriate determiner from the choices provided: "The archaeological director noted that although the site was heavily looted, ________ artifacts recovered from the inner sanctum provided sufficient context for historical mapping."

A. little

B. the few

C. fewer

D. any

Q6. Fill in the blank with the most suitable determiner to complete the professional email excerpt: "We have encountered ________ unexpected technical constraints during the beta deployment phase, so we must request an operational extension from the core steering committee."

A. much

B. every

C. several

D. any

Q7. Read the dialogue between an administrative officer and a candidate, and complete the sentence by reporting the officer's question: Officer: "Why did you choose to skip the secondary verification desk before presenting your documentation here?"

The administrative officer asked the candidate __________________________________________________.

Q8. Fill in the blank with the correct tense marker for a corporate project brief: "The specialized cloud infrastructure team ________ overnight to restore server capability before the trading window opens at dawn."

A. will have been working

B. works

C. was worked

D. has been working

Q9. ASSERTION-REASON QUESTION Assertion (A): In the statement "Neither of the proposed infrastructural frameworks is scalable," the singular verb 'is' is grammatically accurate.

Reason (R): The distributive determiners 'neither' and 'either' focus on options individually and always command a singular verbal agreement when acting as subjects.

A. Both A and R are true, R is correct explanation of A

B. Both A and R are true, R is not correct explanation of A

C. A is true, R is false

=D. A is false, R is true

Q10. ASSERTION-REASON QUESTION Assertion (A): The sentence "The researcher discovered that the bacteria already mutated before the temperature stabilizes" is structurally perfect.

Reason (R): Past chronological developments that take place prior to another past milestone require a past perfect tense framework ('had mutated').

A. Both A and R are true, R is correct explanation of A

B. Both A and R are true, R is not correct explanation of A

C. A is true, R is false

D. A is false, R is true

SECTION B: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (30–50 WORDS)

(3 × 2 = 6 Marks)

Q11. Imagine Lencho from 'A Letter to God' encounters a modern agricultural insurance agent trying to settle his crop loss instead of receiving an ethereal response. Evaluate how Lencho's singular ideological focus would conflict with corporate reality.

Q12. Nelson Mandela notes that "the compressed weight of deep oppression produces supreme heights of character." Deduce how this philosophical perspective applies to modern community leadership during systemic global crises.

Q13. In Robert Frost's 'Dust of Snow', the toxic combination of a poisonous hemlock tree and a traditionally ominous crow precipitates a positive psychological shift. Explain the deep underlying paradox of this situational dynamic.

SECTION C: LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (80–100 WORDS)

(2 × 4 = 8 Marks)

Q14. Imagine an analytical panel discussion where Lencho (A Letter to God) and Nelson Mandela (Long Walk to Freedom) deliberate on the theme: "The exact locus of human trust—Is it an invisible supreme power or the resilient fabric of human collective action?" Formulate a detailed comparative analysis of their hypothetical arguments based on their respective experiences.

Q15. Analyze how Robert Frost uses cosmological and natural elements in 'Fire and Ice' and 'Dust of Snow' as profound psychological projections of the internal human condition. Focus on how mini-environmental triggers alter macro-existential outlooks.

SECTION D: POETIC DEVICES / REFERENCE TO CONTEXT

(1 × 6 = 6 Marks)

Q16. Read the literary extract given below carefully and execute the analytical tasks that follow: > "Some say the world will end in fire, > Some say in ice. > From what I’ve tasted of desire > I hold with those who favor fire. > But if it had to perish twice, > I think I know enough of hate > To say that for destruction ice > Is also great > And would suffice." Sub-Questions: (i) Identify the precise dual literary device manifested in the parallel structure of "Some say the world will end in fire, / Some say in ice" and evaluate its thematic purpose. (2 Marks) (ii) Briefly explain the underlying conceptual link the poet establishes between the physical property of 'ice' and the psychological state of 'hate' in under 30 words. (2 Marks) (iii) Which choice perfectly isolates the rhyme scheme of this entire structural layout? (1 Mark) A. ABAA ABCDB

B. ABAA BCBBB

C. ABAA BCACA

D. AABB CCDDE

(iv) The word 'perish' as used by Frost most nearly means: (1 Mark) A. To transform structurally

B. To cease to exist completely

C. To deteriorate slowly

D. To expand globally

Here is the comprehensive, official Answer Key & Marking Scheme for the assessment paper to assist you with evaluation.

VEDANT SKILL ASSESSMENT SERIES (2026-27)

ANSWER KEY & MARKING SCHEME (ENGLISH - CLASS X)

SECTION A: GRAMMAR (TENSES & DETERMINERS)

[Total: 10 Marks | 1 Mark Each]

• Q1. Correct Option: B. has not been recording

  • Explanation: The phrase "Ever since" establishes a continuous timeline originating from a fixed past action (last quarter) up to the present moment, requiring the Present Perfect Continuous tense.

• Q2. Correct Answer: will have restructured

  • Explanation: The time marker "By the time..." combined with a future target date ("next November") indicates an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future, dictating the Future Perfect tense.

• Q3. Correct Answer: Error: have | Correction: has

  • Explanation: The subject of the sentence is "Each," which is a distributive pronoun and strictly singular. It requires the singular verb "has" instead of the plural "have".

• Q4. Correct Answer: were traversing

  • Explanation: The sentence portrays a continuous background action in the past ("were traversing") disrupted by a sudden, singular event ("encountered").

• Q5. Correct Option: B. the few

  • Explanation: "The few" means a small number, but all of what remains. Since specific artifacts from the inner sanctum are being discussed and acknowledged as sufficient, "the few" is accurate.

• Q6. Correct Option: C. several

  • Explanation: "Constraints" is a countable plural noun. "Much" is used with uncountable nouns, "every" requires a singular noun, and "several" fits perfectly in a positive sentence context.

• Q7. Correct Reported Speech: The administrative officer asked the candidate why he/she had chosen to skip the secondary verification desk before presenting his/her documentation there.

  • Explanation: Simple past tense ("did you choose") shifts back into past perfect ("had chosen"), and second-person pronouns shift to match the reported object.

• Q8. Correct Option: D. has been working

  • Explanation: This choice highlights an ongoing action that started in the past and carries up to the present horizon ("before dawn"), which validates the Present Perfect Continuous form.

• Q9. Correct Option: A. Both A and R are true, R is correct explanation of A

  • Explanation: Distributive determiners treat entities individually, making the core grammatical subject singular and verifying both the rule and its application.

• Q10. Correct Option: D. A is false, R is true

  • Explanation: The Assertion statement is grammatically incorrect because it mixes a past occurrence with a present tense framework ("stabilizes"). It should read: "The researcher discovered that the bacteria had already mutated before the temperature stabilized." The Reason accurately details past-perfect chronology.

SECTION B: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

[Total: 6 Marks | 2 Marks Each]

• Q11. Suggested Value Points:

  • Lencho possesses an unyielding, literal faith in a moral, singular divine force.

  • A modern corporate agent would operate on rational legal parameters, fine print, depreciation assessments, and terms of contract.

  • Conflict: Lencho would perceive bureaucratic paperwork, legal delays, or partial payouts not as practical protocol, but as a deliberate scam or systemic corruption by the agent (similar to his view of the post office employees).

• Q12. Suggested Value Points:

  • Mandela's quote asserts that profound adversity refines human grit and builds monumental integrity.

  • In modern global crises (like pandemics, economic collapses, or human rights struggles), leaders who emerge from deep marginalized struggle carry distinct resilience, empathy, and clarity of vision.

  • Systemic friction forces these leaders to develop innovative problem-solving skills and a strong collective spirit.

• Q13. Suggested Value Points:

  • The Paradox: Elements historically associated with doom, dark omens, or toxicity (the crow and the hemlock tree) serve as catalyst agents for joy and mental rejuvenation.

  • Frost shows that nature's impact is not inherently positive or negative; an individual's psychological state can find sudden relief through unexpected, non-traditional environmental interactions.

SECTION C: LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

[Total: 8 Marks | 4 Marks Each]

• Q14. Suggested Value Points:

  • Lencho’s Stance: Trust must be absolute, vertical, and directed toward a higher supreme power. Human systems are naturally flawed, deceptive, and prone to greed (calling human helpers "a bunch of crooks"). Lencho demands a direct response from the universe without human mediation.

  • Mandela’s Stance: Trust must be horizontal and woven into the collective community. True transformation comes from human camaraderie, shared struggle, and sacrifice. The resilience of human beings working together can dismantle centuries of deep oppression.

  • Conclusion/Comparison: Lencho's isolating faith keeps him disconnected from real human kindness, while Mandela's faith builds community structures that turn shared pain into shared victory.

• Q15. Suggested Value Points:

  • Frost projects human emotions onto natural phenomena, treating the environment as a mirror of human psychology.

  • In 'Fire and Ice', 'fire' represents hot desires (greed, ambition) and 'ice' represents cold indifference (hate). He shows how these internal emotional forces are destructive enough to cause a global end.

  • In 'Dust of Snow', a small physical event—the falling of cold snow flakes—instantly breaks a heavy, bleak mood.

  • Synthesis: Both poems present natural elements not merely as scenery, but as deep reflections of the human mind. They demonstrate how minor environmental triggers can shift or ruin an entire existential outlook.

SECTION D: POETIC DEVICES / REFERENCE TO CONTEXT

[Total: 6 Marks]

• Q16. Sub-questions Answer Key:

  • (i) Precise Device: Anaphora (the repetition of the exact phrase "Some say" at the start of consecutive lines) combined with Imagery.

    Thematic Purpose: It highlights the division in public thought regarding how the world ends and reflects humanity's ongoing debate over which destructive emotion is worse. (2 Marks)

  • (ii) Ice is physically cold, stiff, numbing, and isolates whatever it touches. Similarly, hate acts as a silent, rigid emotional force that destroys human relationships through cold indifference. (2 Marks)

  • (iii) Correct Option: NO CORRECT ANS (GRACE)

    Explanation: fire (A), ice (B), desire (A), fire (A) / twice (B), hate (C), ice (B), great (C), suffice (B)pattern. (1 Mark)

  • (iv) Correct Option: B. To cease to exist completely

    Explanation: Within this context, 'perish' means complete destruction or death. (1 Mark)