RBSE Class 10 English Paper 2026 and Answer Key

SECTION – A(READING)

 

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

 

Of all the emotions which surged through me as I stood on the summit of Everest, looking over miles of panorama below us, the dominant one I think was humility. The physical in me seemed to say, “Thank God, it’s all over!” However instead of being jubilant, there was a tinge of sadness. Was it because I had already done the ‘ultimate’ in climbing and there would be nothing higher to climb and all roads hereafter would lead down?

 

By climbing the summit of Everest you are overwhelmed by a deep sense of joy and thankfulness. It is a joy which lasts a lifetime. The experience changes you completely. The man who has been to the mountains is never the same again. As I look back at life after climbing Everest I cannot help remarking about the other summit – the summit of the mind – no less formidable and no easier to climb.

 

i) Standing on Everest, the writer was [1]

 

A) Overjoyed B) Very sad

 

C) Jubilant and sad D) None of these

 

ii) The emotion that gripped him was [1]

 

A) Victory over hurdles B) Humility

 

C) Greatness and self importance D) None of the above

 

iii) The joy that the writer feels by climbing the summit of Everest lasts [1]

 

A) a day B) a month

 

C) a year D) a lifetime

 

iv) According to the Writer, what is ‘ultimate’ in climbing? [1]

 

A) climbing hills B) climbing high summits

 

C) climbing Everest D) none of the above

 

v) Which other summit is no less formidable and no easier to climb? [1]

 

A) The summit of aravali B) The summit of physical fitness

 

C) The summit of thought and imagination D) The summit of the mind

 

vi) What changes you completely? [1]

 

A) Joy B) Experience

 

C) Sorrow D) Thankfulness

 

vii) Find a word from the passage that means. [1]”The highest point of a mountain.”

 

A) Roads B) Hills

 

C) Summit D) Humility

 

viii) Find the word from the passage that means the opposite of ‘Jubilant’. [1]

 

A) Sadness B) Joy

 

C) Dominant D) Thankfulness

 

2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below: [8×1=8]

 

The earth without water is difficult to imagine. It is believed that the life on earth began in water. Water covers nearly 70% of the globe, but most of it is salt water, that fills the ocean. In quantity, less than 3% of all the water on earth is fresh water, most of which lies frozen in Antarctica and Greenland in polar ice and unavailable to humanity. Less than 1% of all the water on earth is found in the form of rivers, fresh water lakes and in underground shallow aquifers. Water gives life to thirsty cities and dried crops and is used in industries but the amount of fresh water available on earth today is not more than what was available 2000 years ago. At that time the population was less than 3% of its current size. Water shortage is a routine feature today. Rising demands for water in agriculture, domestic sector and industry are difficult to be met. India receives more than 350 million hectare meters of rainfall every year. There is also a vast network of rivers, ponds and lakes but still there is a shortage of drinking water. It is shocking to note that Cherrapunji which is one of the world’s wettest places is facing a serious shortage of drinking water.

 

Today increasing pollution has also added itself to the growing shortage of water. Polluted water not only harms humans but also birds, fish and all other forms of life that need it for survival. For centuries, streams and rivers have been a place to dump wastes. Deforestation has ruined land and changed climates; causing less rain in some areas. In others, rain water runs so fast that little can be collected for use.

 

i) Where did life originate? [1]

 

Answer :- Life originated in water.

 

ii) Name some sources from where we get fresh water. [1]

 

Answer:- Sources of fresh water are rivers, fresh water lakes and underground shallow aquifers.

 

iii) What are the areas where the rising demands for water are difficult to be met? [1]

 

Answer:- Rising demands for water are difficult to be met in agriculture, domestic sector and industry.

 

iv) Where do we dump our waste? [1]

 

Answer:- We dump our waste in streams and rivers.

 

v) Which is the wettest place in India and what problem it is facing? [1]

 

Answer:- Cherrapunji is the wettest place in India and it is facing a serious shortage of drinking water.

 

vi) Which form of fresh water is unavailable to humanity? [1]

 

Answer:- Fresh water frozen in Antarctica and Greenland in polar ice is unavailable to humanity.

 

vii) Write the word from the passage that means similar to ‘Scarcity’. [1]

 

Answer:- Shortage

 

viii) Write the word from the passage which means opposite to ‘Driest’. [1]

 

Answer:- Wettest

 

SECTION – B(WRITING)

 

3. Imagine that you are a student of Class X-A and your sister is studying in X-B. Write an e-mail to the Principal of your school at principalgssabcd@gmail.com requesting him/her to change your section from X-A to X-B. [4]

Answer:-

To: principalgssabcd@gmail.com

Cc: 

Bcc: 

Subject: Request for Change of Section from X-A to X-B

Dear Sir,

I hope this email finds you in good health. I am a student of Class X-A of our school. I would like to request you kindly to change my section from X-A to X-B.

My sister is currently studying in Class X-B. As both of us come to school together and help each other in studies, it will be very convenient for us if we are placed in the same section. This change will also help me improve my academic performance and maintain better focus on my studies.

I assure you that this change will not affect my discipline or studies in any way. I shall remain grateful to you for your kind consideration.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely,

XYZ

Class X-A

Roll No. ___

 

OR

 

Suppose you are Kunal/Kamala studying in Udaipur. Your sister studying in Jaipur hasn’t scored good marks in 2nd semester and is feeling a little depressed. Write a letter encouraging her to do better in the next semester.

Answer:-

Udaipur

12 February 2026

Dear Sister,

I hope you are fine. I received your letter yesterday and came to know about your second-semester result. I understand that you are feeling sad and disappointed. Please do not lose heart. Low marks are not the end of life; they are only a stepping stone to success.

Remember, failure is the best teacher. It shows us our weak areas and helps us improve. Many successful people faced failures before achieving greatness. You are intelligent and hardworking, so I am confident that you can do much better in the next semester.

Make a proper study timetable and follow it sincerely. Focus more on the subjects in which you scored less. Revise regularly and do not hesitate to ask your teachers for guidance. Along with studies, take care of your health and keep your mind fresh. A positive attitude works wonders.

We all believe in you and are proud of you. Do not feel depressed. Work hard with determination, and success will surely follow.

With lots of love and best wishes.

Yours lovingly,

Kunal / Kamala

 

4. Write a story with the help of the given outline in about 100 words. Also mention the title and the moral of the story. [4]

 

Once upon …….. a farmer …….. four sons …….. always quarrelsome …….. on his deathbed …….. calls his sons …….. gives each a bundle of sticks …….. all fail to break …….. untied the bundle …….. single stick …….. breaks easily …….. value of unity.

 

OR

 

A good boy …….. falls into bad company …….. disobeys his parents …….. father gives some good apples …….. after few days …….. no change …….. father gives one rotten apple …….. place with good apples …….. all good apples rotten …….. learns a lesson.

 

5. Write a paragraph in about 100 words on ‘My School’. [4]

 

(big building, garden, play ground, smart class, computer lab, good teachers, friendly environment)

 

OR

 

Write a paragraph in about 100 words on the picture given below.

 

[Image shows what appears to be a cultural or traditional scene with people in traditional Indian dress]

 

SECTION – C(GRAMMAR)

 

6. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of the verbs given in the brackets: [4×1=4]

 

i) My father ________ (run) a mile everyday. [1]

 

ii) Raju ________ (play) in the ground while I was helping my mother in the kitchen. [1]

 

iii) We ________ (go) to Jaipur tomorrow. [1]

 

iv) The thief ________ (escape) before the police arrived. [1]

 

7. Fill in the blanks with a verb in agreement with its subject: [2×1=2]

 

i) Both Ram and Shyam ________ (is/are) playing outside. [1]

 

ii) Either Sumit or Manish ________ (has/have) completed the work. [1]

 

8. Combine the following sentences using the words given in the brackets: [2×1=2]

 

i) Mitali is hard-working. Mitali is intelligent. (Use “not only ….. but also”.) [1]

 

ii) Anil is a rich person. Anil is unhappy. (Use “but”.) [1]

 

9. Change the following sentence into passive voice:Indian girls cricket team won the world cup. [1]

 

10. Rewrite the following sentence changing it into indirect speech:The teacher said to the students, “The earth moves round the sun.” [1]

 

SECTION – D(TEXT BOOK)

 

11. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: [6×1=6]

 

The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings he became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long way down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night.

 

i) Who was with the young seagull on his ledge? [1]

 

A) his parents B) his brother

 

C) his sister D) he was alone

 

ii) What he had been afraid to do? [1]

 

A) to hunt B) to sleep alone

 

C) to fly D) to jump

 

iii) What was stretched down beneath his ledge? [1]

 

A) Desert B) Land

 

C) Forest D) Sea

 

iv) What would not support him to fly? [1]

 

A) his legs B) his wings

 

C) both A) and B) D) none of the above

 

v) How many brothers and sisters the young seagull had? [1]

 

vi) What happened when he attempted to fly? [1]

 

OR

 

I finished my poem, and it was beautiful! It was about a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings who were bitten to death by the father because they quacked too much. Luckily, Mr. Keesing took the joke the right way. He read the poem to the class, adding his own comments, and to several other classes as well. Since then I’ve been allowed to talk and haven’t been assigned any extra homework. On the contrary, Mr. Keesing is always making jokes these days.

 

i) What was beautiful? [1]

 

A) The writer B) The poem

 

C) The mother duck D) None of the above

 

ii) How many baby ducklings they had? [1]

 

A) One B) Two

 

C) Three D) Four

 

iii) By whom the baby ducklings were bitten to death? [1]

 

A) Father swan B) Mother duck

 

C) Mr. Keesing D) The writer

 

iv) What is Mr. Keesing always making these days? [1]

 

A) House B) Bridge

 

C) Jokes D) Roads

 

v) What did Mr. Keesing add to the poem? [1]

 

vi) What did Mr. Keesing allow her to do? [1]

 

12. Answer any three of the following four questions in about 20-30 words each: [3×2=6]

 

i) What did Lencho hope for? [A Letter to God] [2]

 

ii) What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?[Nelson Mandela – Long Walk to Freedom] [2]

 

iii) “I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? [The Black Aeroplane] [2]

 

iv) What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about? [A Baker from Goa] [2]

 

13. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 60 words: [1×3=3]

 

i) What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent? [Coorg] [3]

 

ii) What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details? [Madam Rides The Bus] [3]

 

14. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 60 words: [1×3=3]

 

i) Write the character sketch of Lomov. [The Proposal] [3]

 

ii) At first, what does Chubukov suspect regarding Lomov’s reason for coming? What has Lomov actually come for? [The Proposal] [3]

 

15. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

 

Did you finish your homework, Amanda?

 

Did you tidy your room, Amanda?

 

I thought I told you to clean your shoes, Amanda!

 

i) What is Amanda being asked to finish? [1]

 

A) Chocolate B) Homework

 

C) Meals D) None of the above

 

ii) What Amanda was told to do? [2]

 

iii) Who do you think is speaking to Amanda? [2]

 

OR

 

The fog comes on little cat feet.

 

It sits looking over harbour and city on silent haunches

 

i) What does ‘it’ in the third line refer to? [1]

 

A) Cat B) Fog

 

C) Poet D) Dog

 

ii) What does the poet think the fog is like? [2]

 

iii) How does the fog come? [2]

 

16. Answer any two of the following three questions in about 20 – 30 words each: [2×2=4]

 

i) What does the dust of snow that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree stand for? [Dust of Snow] [2]

 

ii) What suggestions does the poet give for identifying the tiger?[How to Tell Wild Animals] [2]

 

iii) Why doesn’t the poet offer the boy money to buy another ball?[The Ball Poem] [2]

 

17. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 60 words: [1×3=3]

 

i) Where are the trees in the poem? What do their roots, their leaves and their twigs do? [The Trees] [3]

 

ii) Why did custard cry for a nice safe cage? Why is the dragon called “Cowardly dragon”? [The Tale of Custard the Dragon] [3]

 

18. Answer any two of the following three questions in about 20 – 30 words each:[2×2=4]

 

i) Why is Mrs. Pumphrey worried about Tricki? [A Triumph of Surgery] [2]

 

ii) What is he “a fairly successful hand” at? [The Thief’s Story] [2]

 

iii) How is Ausable different from other secret agents?[The Midnight Visitor] [2]

 

19. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 60 words: [1×3=3]

 

i) “Griffin was rather a lawless person.” Explain. [Footprints Without Feet] [3]

 

ii) What kind of a person is Mme Loisel? Why is she always unhappy?[The Necklace] [3]

 

20. Choose the correct answer: [5×1=5]

 

i) How many daughters Ramlal had? [Bholi] [1]A) One B) Two C) Three D) Four

 

ii) Who was the Commander-in-Chief of Mars Space Control?[The Book that Saved the Earth] [1]

 

A) Noodle B) Lieutenant Iota

 

C) Great and Mighty Think-Tank D) Captain Omega

 

iii) Richard H. Ebright was encouraged to become a scientist by his[The Making of a Scientist] [1]

 

A) Mother B) Father

 

C) Friend D) None of the above

 

iv) What does Horace Danby like to collect? [A Question of Trust] [1]

 

A) Coins B) Expensive books

 

C) Stamps D) Locks

 

v) Who was Mr. Herriot? [A Triumph of Surgery] [1]

 

A) Teacher B) Policeman

 

C) Veterinary Surgeon D) Advocate

 

RBSE Class 10 English Question Paper 2026 : Click Here