CBSE Class 10 English Literature Question Paper 2020

CBSE Class 10 English Literature Question Paper 2020

The CBSE Class 10 board examination is one of the most awaited examinations for students. Students and teachers work hard for this all year round. All year, students and teachers work hard to achieve this goal.CBSE examinations are based on the NCERT syllabus. Therefore, it is advised to study and prepare for exams from the NCERT textbook for Class 10. 

The CBSE Board examination consists of an English Literature paper as one of its core language papers. 

CBSE Class 10 English paper roughly consists of the following section:-

1. Reading – Reading section of the question paper requires good attention. You must select the correct answer from the given comprehension. It is a good idea to read the questions once before reading the comprehension so that you can easily spot any answers.
2. Writing -This section of the English Communicative Paper depends largely upon the format of the given topic. You must practise them beforehand in order to form a kind of outline on the question paper. This part of the paper is quite lengthy in nature. This section is typically used to request articles, notices, reports, and so on. Students only need to focus on the format of the given writing, the rest, they can form the answer on their own. But it takes regular practice for students to be able to finish the paper on time. English papers are usually lengthy, and regular practice helps you manage your time. So try to increase your efficiency in English examinations.
3. Grammar-  It is an important skill to have. Reading and listening to more and more English-language content helps you develop good grammar skills. Also, this is a very strong section of the paper you can gain good marks if you are well aware of basic grammatical rules.
4. Literature- This section is totally based on English lessons. You must read them thoroughly. Practice the question answers before the examination to understand how to frame answers in the examination. This is the lengthy part of the question paper. Questions from this section consist of different marking schemes. You need to answer them accordingly. Also, sometimes value-based questions are added to them. Here you need to explain the moral ethics behind the story. This is something that students are not usually prepared for. Students are advised to always try to figure out the symbolic meanings in the poems or the moral of the story that they have learned while reading any chapter.

Multiple choice questions, or objective-type questions, are an essential part of achieving good marks in English papers. You must be sure of the answer to the multiple-choice question before writing it. This allows you to easily gain one mark on a question. But be careful, and read thoroughly before answering; otherwise, you can lose it in a hurry. This is a mistake made by many students, usually. And they realise it after they come out of the examination hall. It is advised to revise them before submitting your answer sheet. So, before submitting the answer sheet to the invigilator, spend some time reviewing all of the answers on it.

CBSE Previous Year Question Papers for Class 10 English Literature

Additionally, you can check out Year on Year CBSE Class 10 Previous Year Question Papers English:

English Literature Question Paper for CBSE Class 10 – 2020

CBSE conducts board examinations every year. Every year, students work hard to score well in their examinations. Class 10 exams are important because, after these exams, students choose the fields in which they want to build their careers. So, all the students, parents, and teachers await this examination and its results. All the students want to excel in this examination. 

At the start of the academic year, all the students want to know about the best preparation strategy to follow throughout the year. 

First, it is important to select the best book to study. There are various books available on the market for CBSE Class 10 courses. But the most trusted and standardised book available in the market is the NCERT textbook. CBSE has prescribed NCERT books for conducting the academic session for Class 10. Students must get a copy of the NCERT English book for Class 10. You can download a copy online from Extramarks. The NCERT  English book contains lessons and poems by great authors. You get to learn a lot of new vocabulary. Pay close attention to the names of the authors and poets; questions may be framed around them.

CBSE Class 10 English question papers need descriptive solutions to every literature question. You must know how to write balanced answers. NCERT books contain exercises for practice at the end of every chapter. You should solve all the questions in a descriptive manner after studying the chapter. Extramarks provides NCERT English textbook solutions for Class 10 online.  To check your solutions, you must go to Extramark’s website. Learn to write the answers in a standard way. It is good to learn to present your solutions in the CBSE board English examinations for Class 10. 

The CBSE board tends to frame questions in a tricky manner. Students should, therefore, visit CBSE’s previous year’s question papers. This helps them get a good understanding of the pattern of the question paper. Students can solve the previous year’s paper by themselves. Download the CBSE previous year’s question papers for English Class 10 in PDF from Extramarks. The CBSE board usually follows a similar paper pattern in its examinations. The more you practise on the previous year’s question papers, the easier it becomes for you to understand the nature of the questions. Teachers always advise Class 10 students to practise giving the previous year’s examination papers on their own at home and check the results. This gives a major boost to your preparations. Different kinds of questions that you face help you understand the different kinds of twists that can be applied to a certain topic. After completing each paper, you can also assess your progress in English preparation. This helps you gain confidence in attempting your CBSE board exams and eliminates all kinds of nervousness.

CBSE provides extensive assistance to students. Before the CBSE board examinations for Class 10, the CBSE releases sample papers. The CBSE publishes sample papers for each subject. Students should practise each paper as if they were attempting their board’s paper. Set the time limit before starting the paper. 

CBSE Class 10 English Literature Paper 2020

The CBSE Class 10 English Literature paper 2020 is a must-practise paper for all students before their final examinations. Class 10 previous question papers can greatly assist students in achieving good grades.

Class 10 English literature paper consists of two parts. The first is to read the extract and answer the questions, and the second is to answer the questions based on the textbook chapters.

So you need to match your word count with the number of marks per question. Be very careful while reading the question paper. Section C is the last section in the question paper, due to which students often solve it in a hurry. This makes them prone to making more mistakes. It is important for you to keep your mind relaxed. Read the questions carefully and then respond in accordance with the question’s requirements. Do not forget to maintain the word limit. Neither write less than the word limit nor exceed the word limit. The ‘read the extract to answer below’ part of the question is also based on the poem in the NCERT textbook. You must therefore put great focus on the lessons while reading them, understand the symbolic meanings, learn the different figures of speech involved, and also learn the poet’s name. 

Another part is the “answer-questions” section, where you need to describe the part of the story that was asked. You must understand the story, so it is recommended that you read the chapters as many times as possible. There are ‘OR’ questions in the 8-mark section. You can solve them with a little ease. Here, you get to choose the question that you can solve perfectly. While answering long questions, it is important to take good care of the presentation. Practise answering questions in legible handwriting. This leaves a good impression. Reference to the Context (Section C)

• One extract out of two from Drama / Prose in the CBSE Class 10 English syllabus
• One extract out of two from poetry in the CBSE Class 10 English syllabus.
• Each of them of five marks. (5+5 = 10 Marks)
• Multiple Choice Questions or Objective Type Questions are asked to assess the inference, analysis, interpretation, evaluation, and vocabulary skills of the students. 
• Short & Very Long Answer Questions (Section C)

These are of total 30 marks.

One out of two extracts from prose/drama for reference to context. Four Objective Type Questions( including MCQs): 

• Five Short Answer type Questions to be answered in 30-40 words each from FIRST FLIGHT and FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET  ( three from FIRST FLIGHT and two from FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET). Each question carries 2 marks making a total of 10 marks.
• One out of two Long Answer type Questions from FIRST FLIGHT is to be answered in about 100-150 words. This is an ‘Or’ kind of question. Each question carries 8 marks.

One out of two long answer questions from the book ‘FOOTPRINTS without FEET’ on theme or plot is to be answered in about 100-150 words. This is also an ‘or’ kind of question. Each question carries 8 marks.

Students must be sure of the answer to the MCQ questions in Section C of the English literature Class 10 paper. Then there are questions with 2 marks. Usually, you have to solve ‘any 5’ of them. Choose the questions that you can answer best. Answer all these questions in a fair and neat manner. Then come the long questions which contain 8 marks each. The good thing is that CBSE offers you a choice among two questions and answers. 8-mark questions are lengthy by nature. And there are a total of 2 of them that you need to solve. It is recommended that you think through the answer before writing it so that you do not have to stop and think in between. This helps you maintain your flow and speed as well. And always start another answer on a new page that displays a neat answer sheet. The section of the English board question paper is quite lengthy. It approximately takes one hour and thirty minutes to solve Section C. But, students who have continuously practised the previous year’s English board question papers can solve this section quickly. The key to solving papers in CBSE examinations is consistent practice and good conceptual knowledge.

English as a Language

English is a global language. It is extremely important these days to master the English language. With the advent of the digital age, the English language has emerged as an essential medium of communication is therefore good to learn English from the basics. The CBSE board has prescribed NCERT English books for conducting its academics. The NCERT English Textbook is a great book to increase comprehension and vocabulary Regular practice improves English-speaking abilities. Learning new vocabulary and good grammatical skills helps you advance in English. English as a language will greatly assist you in seizing opportunities.

CBSE students are taught English literature beginning in elementary school. They are taught basic grammatical rules in Class 1. NCERT textbooks have a great practice exercise given at the end of every chapter. Students must practise those to understand the correct usage of different parts of speech. 

The Writing and Grammar section of the CBSE Class 10 English board question paper requires efficient grammatical skills and a good imagination. The writing section of the English question paper is based on the format. Other than format, students’ imaginative skills, analytical skills, story-building skills, and vocabulary are tested. It is advised for students to practise writing more of these types of essays before the examination to get an idea of how to frame and develop a story around the situation given in the question.CBSE conducts a number of competitions in schools regarding article writing, essay writing, and creative writing to give students an exploration of the English language. Students are motivated to develop and enhance their English speaking skills with correct grammar and a good vocabulary.

CBSE Class 10 English Literature Paper 2020

CBSE Class 10 English literature paper 2020 Pdf is available for free at Extramarks. Students search for the previous year’s question papers for Class 10 everywhere. Extramarks has brought all the CBSE Class 10 English previous year question papers PDF for free online. English Class 10 Boards syllabus 2020 is mentioned below:-

• CBSE English Board syllabus.
• Literature Reader (First Flight book)
• PROSE

A Letter to God – A letter to God is a story about a farmer named Lencho. His crops are destroyed by the rainstorm. Still, he has unshaken faith in God. With this faith, he writes a letter to God demanding one hundred pesos. The postmaster gives seventy pesos to the farmer. He thinks it was sent by God. So he asks God not to send the remaining thirty pesos through the post because they are a bunch of crooks. This story shows the innocence of the farmer. Also, his unshakeable faith in God pays him in some way or another. The postmaster, on the other hand, is referred to as a gang of crooks.

Nelson Mandela – This story is actually about the great Nelson Mandela. This story revolves around getting freedom from the oppression of men. It is achieved by the sacrifices of people for equality and peace in the country.

Two Stories about Flying – There are two parts to this lesson. The first part of the lesson is about a seagull. Somehow the seagull is unable to gather the strength to fly. All the younger seagulls with smaller wings are able to fly in the sky. Even the threat from the parents isn’t motivating enough for the seagull to fly. The inner belief that any attempt to fly will fail prevents him from flying. One day the whole family of seagulls flies to a big plateau, but the seagull is left on the opposite side. He insists his mother bring some food, as he is hungry. In an attempt to eat food as he is very hungry, he takes a jump on the fish and is able to fly in the air. This way he finds out that he can fly perfectly fine as any other bird.

Another story is about a pilot who is flying from Paris to London. He is excited to have a good breakfast in London with his family. Unfortunately, he has to face a storm. He should return to Paris, but he risks the lives of all the passengers and doesn’t return. As he gets into trouble, he sees another plane that is going back, and he follows it to land safely. After landing, he finds out that there is no other plane in the sky. 

From the Diary of Anne Frank – The theme of ‘From the Diary of Anne Frank’ revolves around the inner conflict that she faced at the time when they were hiding. 

The Hundred Dresses – This story is about how a girl was mistreated. And the ones who did it eventually regretted it. It teaches us that we should never mistreat anyone and accept all human beings as they are.

The Hundred Dresses – II This story is a continuation of the above story. It is based on the real-life experience of the author. It tells about how it feels to suffer from social discrimination.

Glimpses of India. – This story comprises three short stories. The first story is a historical one from the time when the Portuguese ruled Goa. It is about a baker from Goa named Lucio Rodrigues.

The second story is from Coorg to Goa. It describes the district of Coorg, which lies between two towns.

The third story is about two friends, Rajvir and Pranjol, who travel to Assam. They find good tea and beautiful scenery there. They are interested in learning more about the tea plantations.

Mijbil the Otter – This story is about the author telling about the changes in his life after he decided to keep an Otter named Mijbil.

Madam Rides the Bus – This is a story about an 8-year-old girl and how her understanding of life changes after a bad incident. She has the urge to enjoy a bus ride.

The Sermon at Benares – This story is about the early life of Lord Buddha. Lord Buddha was earlier born into a royal family as a prince. But later, he left his home after watching the sufferings of the world. The story later describes Lord Buddha’s thoughts about sorrow and grief, which only increases human pain, and to overcome it, one should accept the functioning of the world. 

The Proposal –This is a play written by the Russian writer Chekhov. It is about rich families’ proclivity to marry their children into another rich family in order to increase their wealth.

POETRY

Dust of Snow – This is a short poem by Robert Frost. It is about a short incident and how the poet’s observation changed the mood of his ironic response to the incident that took place.

Fire and Ice – This poem is again by Robert Frost. He describes how the world would end either by fire or by ice. Here, fire symbolises human greed, desire, and lust. Growing selfishness would end the world one day. And the ice depicts coldness, rudeness, and hatred. He explains how being indifferent to people’s emotions would lead to the end of the world.

A Tiger in the Zoo – This poem describes the difference between the life of a tiger in a zoo and in its natural habitat. The closed walls of the zoo make the tiger feel trapped and helpless. On the other hand, he wishes to go back to its natural habitat, where he could live freely with no human restriction.

How to Tell Wild Animals – This is a poem by Carolyn Wells. It describes the wildlife and is aware of the various animals that live there. The Ball Poem – This is a poem by John Berryman. He teaches a very good lesson through a story where a boy loses a ball while playing. The poem teaches how to deal with the pain that comes with a personal loss. 

Amanda – This is a poem by Robin Klein. He tells how parents are responsible for the upbringing of their children. But in this process, they should not restrict their children so much that they start feeling imprisoned.

Animals – This is a poem by Walt Whitman. He wishes to live only with animals. This poem focuses on comparing human life with that of animals to express how animals are free of sins and sorrows. 

The Trees – This is a poem by Adrienne Rich. The poet communicates the message of how humans have taken over trees. Trees have lost their natural usefulness. Humans plant trees in their homes, but the value of a tree that was used for a specific purpose, such as providing a bird’s nest, is lost.

Fog – This poem was written by Carl Sandburg. The poet describes the beauty of fog. It is compared to a metaphorical cat in terms of its arrival and departure, too.

The Tale of Custard the Dragon –This is a poem by Frederic Ogden Nash. It is a fantasy poem about a girl named Belinda who lives with her four pets. There was an “Ink” cat, a “Blink” mouse, a “Mustard” dog, and a “Custard” dragon. It is about the different games they play and how they together make fun of Custard’s timidity. For Anne Gregory – This is a poem by William Butler Yeats. This is a conversation between the poet and a young girl, Anne Gregory. He tells the girl that if a boy becomes sad because she rejects him, he is not a true lover. He says that a true lover is one who loves you for your inner qualities. In the end, it is said that only God truly loves us because God loves us for our inner qualities.

SUPPLEMENTARY READER (Footprints without Feet)

A Triumph of Surgery – This is a story about a rich lady, Ms. Pomphrey, and her dog, Tricky. It explains how an excess of anything is bad for health. Ms. Pomphrey takes her dog out for a walk. TA doctor looks at the dog and is shocked to see him so fat. He tells her that Tricky must undergo treatment for the ailment.

The Thief’s Story – This is a story by Ruskin Bond. It is about a fifteen-year-old boy who is a thief. This story determines the importance of human relations and how they can help change a human being.

The Midnight Visitor – This is a detective story by Robert Arthur. It is about a detective who expects some important documents in his hotel room. But his competitor, on the way, asks for the papers at gunpoint. The secret agent uses his excellent presence of mind and handles the situation.

A Question of Trust – This is a story by  Horace Danby. It is about a thief who gets a taste of his own medicine. This story tells us not to trust anyone without completely knowing them.

Footprints without Feet – This is a story by Herbert George Wells. It is about a scientist named Griffin. He developed a rare formula of invisibility and, after some time, started misusing it. 

The Making of a Scientist – Richard Ebright is the scientist who channelled his childhood curiosity into becoming a scientist. His mother plays an important role in his becoming a scientist.

The Necklace – This is a story by a French author, De Maupassant. It is a fictional story about a woman named Matilde. She is a greedy woman. She faces a hard time because of her extreme desires. It teaches us to be satisfied with whatever we have.

The Hack Driver – The author of this story is Sinclair Lewis. It is a story about an innocent lawyer. He goes to a village in search of a man named Oliver Lutkins. He meets a villager at the railway station who calls himself Bill. He travels with him to various locations. He also spends lawyers’ money, but the lawyer is unable to find Lutkins. The next day, a colleague of the lawyer and the lawyer go to the village. There they find out that the jack driver was Mr. Lutkins. The lawyer then feels ashamed.

Bholi – This is written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. It is about a girl who was hurt in the head by falling, and then some part of her brain was damaged. Due to the damage, she was a little slow in school and would also stammer. After going to school, where she met a kind-hearted teacher, her life changed. She also overcame her problem of stammering. When it came time to marry, she refused to accept dowry. Instead, she expressed her wish to serve her parents and teach students at the same school where she had been educated. 

The Book that Saved the Earth – This is a play about an imaginary world. Think Tank, Noodle, Oop, Omega, and other characters arrive on Earth. They misinterpret books in the library for sandwiches. Later, when they realise it, they get scared of the rhymes in the children’s books. They feel they are not safe here, so they leave immediately.

Benefits of CBSE Class 10 English Literature Question Paper 2020

CBSE Class 10 English Literature Question paper 2020 benefits:-

• Students can get a rough idea of the pattern of the question paper before attempting the final board examinations in Class 10.
• Students can get a basic example of mark distribution in the English literature Question paper. 
• Students can practise the studied chapters thoroughly. 
• Students can check their progress in the preparations.
• Students can increase their efficiency and speed with continuous practice of the English question papers.
• Students can increase their vocabulary skills by inculcating more vocabulary in the writing section of the paper.