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Board exam practice paper
CBSE · Class 10 · English Language and Literature (184)

English Language and Literature: Board Exam Practice Paper

Time allowed: 3 hours · Maximum marks: 80 · AW-10E-BP-70184

Name: Date: Score: ____ / 80
  1. This paper has 11 questions in three sections. All questions are compulsory, but some have an internal choice (marked OR) or ask you to answer only some of their parts.
  2. Section A, Reading (20 marks): two unseen passages.
  3. Section B, Grammar and Writing (20 marks): grammar, a formal letter and an analytical paragraph.
  4. Section C, Literature (40 marks): questions on First Flight and Footprints without Feet.
  5. Questions 6 and 7 are on an extract from First Flight. The extract is not printed here: read the part named in the question in your own copy of First Flight, then answer.
  6. Keep to the word limits given with the questions.
Section A: Reading Skills (20 marks)
1.
The Forgotten Skill of Listening
(1) Schools spend years teaching us to speak well. We practise debates, recite poems on stage and prepare speeches for the morning assembly. Far less time is spent on the skill that sits on the other side of every conversation: listening. We assume that it comes naturally, like breathing. Yet anyone who has tried to tell a friend something important, only to watch him glance at his phone, knows that real listening is surprisingly rare. We nod, we say “hmm”, and our minds are elsewhere.

(2) Hearing and listening are not the same thing. We hear the hum of a fan or the traffic outside without trying. Listening is active. It means giving full attention to the speaker, following not just the words but the feelings behind them, and holding back our own reply until the other person has finished. Many of us listen only to find a gap in which to talk about ourselves. Real listening is a gift of attention.

(3) Good listeners are valued everywhere. In a classroom, the student who listens carefully to the question gives a better answer than the one who rushes in. In a group project, the member who listens to everyone’s ideas often finds a solution that combines the best of them. Among friends, the person who listens well is the one we turn to when we are worried, because we know we will be understood rather than judged. In sport, too, a player who listens to the coach’s instructions learns faster than one who is sure he already knows.

(4) Listening also prevents a great many quarrels. Many arguments grow not because people disagree but because neither side feels heard. When someone simply repeats back what the other person said — “So you felt left out when we planned the trip without you?” — tempers often cool at once. Feeling understood can matter more to us than winning the point. Once people feel heard, they become far more willing to listen in return.

(5) Like any skill, listening improves with practice. We can put the phone face down when someone talks to us. We can ask a follow-up question instead of changing the subject. We can notice the urge to interrupt and let it pass. At first this may feel slow and awkward. Over time, however, we discover that people open up to us more, that we learn more from them and that our conversations become richer. It is a small effort with a large reward. Nature, as an old saying goes, gave us two ears and only one mouth — perhaps for a good reason.
(i)
[1]According to paragraph 1, schools spend more time teaching students to
  1. listen
  2. speak
  3. read silently
  4. breathe correctly
(ii)
[1]Pick the word from paragraph 2 that means ‘involving effort; not passive’.
(iii)
[1]Complete the sentence: Many of us listen only to ______.
(iv)
[1]Why do we turn to a good listener when we are worried?
(v)
[1]State whether true or false, with a reason: Most arguments grow because people strongly disagree.
(vi)
[1]The last sentence of the passage suggests that we should
  1. speak twice as much as we listen
  2. trust our ears more than our eyes
  3. ignore old sayings
  4. listen more than we speak
(vii)
[2]How is listening different from hearing?
(viii)
[2]Mention two ways, from paragraph 5, in which we can practise listening.
2.
How Students Reach School
(1) A survey of 500 students at a large city school in Pune looked at how pupils travel to school each morning. The results, shown in the table, reveal a mixed picture. The school bus is the most popular choice, carrying 150 students, or 30 per cent of those surveyed. Walking comes second, with 120 students, most of whom live within two kilometres of the gate.

(2) Cycling, once a common sight, now accounts for only 80 students. When asked why they did not cycle, many students said that their parents were worried about heavy traffic on the main road outside the school. Others said that there was no safe place to park a bicycle. Ninety students are dropped off by car, and the remaining 60 use auto-rickshaws or vans shared with other children.

(3) The survey team noticed that the queue of cars at the gate between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. causes long delays for everyone, including the buses. Students who walked or cycled said they felt more awake in the first period than those who came by car, although the survey did not measure this formally.

(4) Based on these findings, the student council has proposed two changes: a covered bicycle stand inside the campus and a ‘walking bus’, in which an adult volunteer leads a group of younger children along a fixed route each morning. The council hopes that these steps will reduce the morning traffic jam.
How 500 students travel to school
Mode of travelNumber of studentsShare (%)
School bus15030
Walking12024
Car9018
Bicycle8016
Auto-rickshaw or van6012
(i)
[1]Which is the most common way of travelling to school?
  1. Walking
  2. Car
  3. School bus
  4. Bicycle
(ii)
[1]How many students are dropped off by car?
(iii)
[1]Pick the word from paragraph 3 that means ‘officially; in a proper, planned way’.
(iv)
[1]State whether true or false, with a reason: Walking is the least popular way of reaching school.
(v)
[1]Complete the sentence, using the table: Students who walk or cycle together make up ______ per cent of those surveyed.
(vi)
[1]What is a ‘walking bus’?
(vii)
[2]Give two reasons why students said they did not cycle to school.
(viii)
[2]How could the two proposals help to reduce the morning traffic jam?
Section B: Grammar and Writing Skills (20 marks)
3.
[10]Answer any ten of the following twelve questions.
(i)
[1]The past participle of “write” is:
  1. writing
  2. wrote
  3. written
  4. writes
(ii)
[1]Host: ____ you like some more rice? Guest: Just a little, thank you.
(iii)
[1]Choose the right article: ____ Yamuna flows past Agra.
  1. A
  2. An
  3. no article
  4. The
(iv)
[1]Change into direct speech: Rahul told Priya that he had carried the bag the week before.
(v)
[1]Choose the right verb: One of my cousins ____ at the bus stop.
  1. being
  2. is
  3. are
  4. be
(vi)
[1]Does this sentence need an article in the blank? Explain: ____ Mount Kanchenjunga is in Sikkim.
(vii)
[1]In the old days, people ____ send letters by post; now they send messages in seconds.
  1. must
  2. ought to
  3. need
  4. used to
(viii)
[1]Change into reported speech: Asha said to Farhan, “Why are you decorating the cake?”
(ix)
[1]There is only ____ milk left, so we must buy more.
  1. a lot
  2. a little
  3. a few
  4. many
(x)
[1]Fill in the blank with “was” or “were”: One of my neighbours ____ at the bus stop.
(xi)
[1]Choose the right verb: My spectacles ____ on the shelf.
  1. be
  2. being
  3. are
  4. is
(xii)
[1]Correct the sentence, if needed, and give the rule: “The carton of toys were on the table.”
4.
[5]You are Meera Singh, of 147, Shanti Vihar, Jaipur. Your local public library closes at 5 p.m., before most students finish school and tuition. Write a letter to the Chief Librarian, District Public Library, Jaipur, requesting longer opening hours. Write the letter in 100–120 words.
OR
[5]You are Neha Gupta, of 42, MG Road, Patna. Frequent power cuts in your area in the evenings are disturbing students preparing for board examinations. Write a letter to the Assistant Engineer, Electricity Department, Patna, requesting regular power supply. Write the letter in 100–120 words.
5.
[5]The table below shows the number of visitors in a year in a town in Madhya Pradesh from 2021 to 2026. Write an analytical paragraph of 100–120 words describing the trend.
Visitors to the science centre of a town in Madhya Pradesh (thousands)
Year202120222023202420252026
Number273025323841
OR
[5]The table below shows the number of rooftop solar panels fitted in a year in a district in Kerala from 2020 to 2025. Write an analytical paragraph of 100–120 words describing the trend.
Rooftop solar panels fitted in a district in Kerala (hundreds)
Year202020212022202320242025
Number3106111416
Section C: Language through Literature (40 marks)
6.
Read the opening of 'Coorg' (in 'Glimpses of India') describing where Coorg is, its forests and rain, and the best season to visit.
(i)
[1]Coorg is
  1. the smallest district of Karnataka
  2. a coastal town
  3. the largest district of Kerala
  4. an island in the Kaveri
(ii)
[1]What part of the district is covered by evergreen rainforest?
(iii)
[1]When is the best season to visit Coorg?
(iv)
[2]Why do visitors stay away in the monsoon, and what makes the following months pleasant?
OR
Read the opening of 'Madam Rides the Bus', in which Valli watches the street from her front doorway and quietly gathers information about the bus to town.
(i)
[1]Valli’s favourite pastime was
  1. playing with friends
  2. riding a bicycle
  3. reading stories
  4. watching the street from her front doorway
(ii)
[1]What was the fare to the town, one way?
(iii)
[1]How long did the bus take to reach the town?
(iv)
[2]How did Valli find out about the trip without telling anyone her plan?
7.
Read the lines of 'The Ball Poem' in First Flight that describe the boy staring down into the harbour where his ball went, and answer.
(i)
[1]The boy stands
  1. rigid and trembling
  2. laughing
  3. running after the ball
  4. shouting for help
(ii)
[1]What does the boy seem to be staring at as he looks down 'all his young days'?
(iii)
[1]The word 'rigid' means
  1. stiff and still
  2. angry
  3. tired
  4. cheerful
(iv)
[2]How does the poet show the depth of the boy’s sorrow without the boy saying a word?
OR
Read the lines of 'The Trees' in First Flight that describe the fresh night and the smell of leaves and lichen reaching into the rooms, and answer.
(i)
[1]The smell of leaves and lichen is said to reach into the rooms like a voice. This is
  1. a simile
  2. a metaphor
  3. an alliteration
  4. a hyperbole
(ii)
[1]What is 'lichen'?
(iii)
[1]The sky in these lines is described as
  1. still open
  2. cloudy
  3. stormy
  4. pitch dark
(iv)
[2]Why does the poet compare the smell of the forest to a voice?
8.
[12]Answer any four of the following five questions from First Flight in about 40–50 words each.
(i)
[3]Do you think Amanda is a "moody" child, as the speaker says? Give reasons. (Amanda!) (40–50 words)
(ii)
[3]How can desire lead to conflict in everyday life, as "Fire and Ice" suggests? (40–50 words)
(iii)
[3]What does the tiger "terrorising the village" tell us about life in the wild? (A Tiger in the Zoo) (40–50 words)
(iv)
[3]How is a bear recognised, according to the poem, and why is this funny? (How to Tell Wild Animals) (40–50 words)
(v)
[3]Why does Anne feel that “paper has more patience than people”? (From the Diary of Anne Frank) (40–50 words)
9.
[6]Answer any two of the following three questions from Footprints without Feet in about 40–50 words each.
(i)
[3]What was Max looking for, and how had he entered the room? (The Midnight Visitor) (40–50 words)
(ii)
[3]How did Monsieur Loisel arrange a dress for his wife? (The Necklace) (40–50 words)
(iii)
[3]Describe the scene when Mrs Pumphrey came to take Tricki home. (A Triumph of Surgery) (40–50 words)
10.
[6]Imagine you are Custard. Narrate the night the pirate came to Belinda’s house. (The Tale of Custard the Dragon) (100–120 words)
OR
[6]'Dust of Snow' shows how nature can heal a troubled mind. Discuss with reference to the poem and say what it teaches us about dealing with a bad day. (100–120 words)
11.
[6]Appearances can be deceptive. Discuss with reference to Horace Danby and the lady in red. (A Question of Trust) (100–120 words)
OR
[6]Trust and kindness can change a person. Show how Anil’s behaviour reformed Hari Singh. (The Thief’s Story) (100–120 words)
AmbifulWorksheets
Marking scheme
CBSE · Class 10 · English Language and Literature (184)

Marking scheme

English Language and Literature: Board Exam Practice Paper · AW-10E-BP-70184 · For the parent or teacher: award the marks shown for each step, even when the final answer is wrong.

QAnswer and marks for each stepMarks
Section A: Reading Skills (20 marks)
1 (i)(b) speak1
1 (ii)active1
1 (iii)find a gap in which to talk about ourselves1
1 (iv)We know we will be understood rather than judged.1
1 (v)False. Paragraph 4 says many arguments grow because neither side feels heard.1
1 (vi)(d) listen more than we speak1
1 (vii)Hearing happens without effort, like hearing a fan’s hum; listening is active — giving full attention to the words and feelings and holding back our reply until the speaker finishes.
  1. Hearing needs no effort (the hum of a fan, traffic outside). (1)
  2. Listening is active: full attention to words and feelings, holding back one’s reply till the speaker finishes. (1)
2
1 (viii)Putting the phone face down when someone talks, and asking a follow-up question instead of changing the subject (or letting the urge to interrupt pass).
  1. Putting the phone face down when someone talks to us. (1)
  2. Asking a follow-up question instead of changing the subject, or letting the urge to interrupt pass (either). (1)
2
2 (i)(c) School bus1
2 (ii)901
2 (iii)formally1
2 (iv)False. Walking is the second most popular (120 students); auto-rickshaws or vans are the least (60).1
2 (v)40 (24 + 16)1
2 (vi)An adult volunteer leading a group of younger children to school along a fixed route each morning.1
2 (vii)Their parents were worried about heavy traffic on the main road, and there was no safe place to park a bicycle.
  1. Parents were worried about heavy traffic on the main road outside the school. (1)
  2. There was no safe place to park a bicycle. (1)
2
2 (viii)A covered bicycle stand gives cyclists a safe place to park, so more students may cycle instead of being driven; a walking bus lets younger children walk safely, so fewer cars queue at the gate.
  1. A covered bicycle stand gives a safe place to park, so more students may cycle instead of coming by car. (1)
  2. A walking bus lets younger children walk safely with an adult, so fewer cars queue at the gate. (1)
2
Section B: Grammar and Writing Skills (20 marks)
3Answer any ten of the following twelve questions. Mark the 10 answered.10
3 (i)(c) written
write – wrote – written
1
3 (ii)Would1
3 (iii)(d) The
the sun, the moon, the earth, rivers, oceans, mountain ranges and famous buildings take “the”
1
3 (iv)Rahul said to Priya, “I carried the bag last week.”
  1. reverse the changes: the tense moves forward and the pronoun becomes “I” (1)
1
3 (v)(b) is
“one of …” takes a singular verb: the subject is “one”
1
3 (vi)
  1. No article: languages, games, single mountains, cities, meals, subjects and ideas like honesty take no article. (1)
1
3 (vii)(d) used to1
3 (viii)Asha asked Farhan why he was decorating the cake.
  1. a wh- question keeps its question word, and the word order becomes a statement (1)
1
3 (ix)(b) a little
“a little” goes with uncountable nouns
1
3 (x)was
  1. “one of …” takes a singular verb: the subject is “one” (1)
1
3 (xi)(c) are
nouns like scissors, spectacles and trousers are always plural
1
3 (xii)
  1. The carton of toys was on the table. (the verb agrees with the main noun before “of”, not the noun after it) (1)
1
4147, Shanti Vihar
Jaipur
15 September 2026

The Chief Librarian
District Public Library
Jaipur

Subject: Request to extend library timings

Sir/Madam,
I am a regular member of the District Public Library and I wish to make a request on behalf of many student members. At present the library closes at 5 p.m. on all days.
Most of us return from school and coaching classes only by 4.30 p.m., which leaves us hardly any time to read or borrow books. On Sundays, when we are free, the library remains closed.
I request you to keep the library open until 8 p.m. on weekdays and for a few hours on Sundays, at least during the examination months. This would greatly benefit students. I hope you will consider this request favourably.

Yours faithfully,
Meera Singh
  1. Format: sender’s address, date, receiver’s address, subject, salutation, complimentary close and name (1)
  2. Content: Why the present timings are inconvenient for students (1)
  3. Content: Request for extended weekday and Sunday hours (1)
  4. Expression: organisation, accuracy and fluency (2)
5
4 OR42, MG Road
Patna
20 April 2027

The Assistant Engineer
Electricity Department
Patna

Subject: Request for regular power supply during examinations

Sir/Madam,
I am writing on behalf of the students of Model Colony, where the power supply has been very irregular for the last three weeks. There are power cuts of two to three hours almost every evening.
Our board examinations begin next month, and evenings are our main study hours. Studying by candlelight strains the eyes, and the heat makes it hard to concentrate. Elderly residents and patients also suffer greatly.
I request you to look into the cause of these power cuts and ensure regular supply, at least during the examination period. If repairs are needed, they may be carried out during the day. I hope for your kind cooperation.

Yours faithfully,
Neha Gupta
  1. Format: sender’s address, date, receiver’s address, subject, salutation, complimentary close and name (1)
  2. Content: Power cuts and their effect on students’ studies (1)
  3. Content: Request for regular supply during examinations (1)
  4. Expression: organisation, accuracy and fluency (2)
5
5Visitors to the science centre of a town in Madhya Pradesh, 2021–2026
The table shows the number of visitors in a year in a town in Madhya Pradesh from 2021 to 2026, in thousands.
The figure rose from 27 thousand in 2021 to 41 thousand in 2026, 52 per cent more than in 2021. The growth was not steady: in 2023 the number fell to 25 thousand from 30 thousand the year before, before climbing again.
The highest figure was in 2026, at 41 thousand.
On the whole, apart from the dip in 2023, the trend is one of strong and steady growth.
  1. Format: a title, an introduction saying what the data shows, and a conclusion (1)
  2. Content: the overall rise, from 27 to 41 thousand, with the peak in 2026 (1)
  3. Content: the dip in 2023 (from 30 to 25 thousand) (1)
  4. Expression: organisation, accuracy and fluency (2)
5
5 ORRooftop solar panels fitted in a district in Kerala, 2020–2025
The table shows the number of rooftop solar panels fitted in a year in a district in Kerala from 2020 to 2025, in hundreds.
The figure rose from 3 hundred in 2020 to 16 hundred in 2025, about three times the 2020 figure. The growth was not steady: in 2022 the number fell to 6 hundred from 10 hundred the year before, before climbing again.
The highest figure was in 2025, at 16 hundred.
On the whole, apart from the dip in 2022, the trend is one of strong and steady growth.
  1. Format: a title, an introduction saying what the data shows, and a conclusion (1)
  2. Content: the overall rise, from 3 to 16 hundred, with the peak in 2025 (1)
  3. Content: the dip in 2022 (from 10 to 6 hundred) (1)
  4. Expression: organisation, accuracy and fluency (2)
5
Section C: Language through Literature (40 marks)
6 (i)(a) the smallest district of Karnataka1
6 (ii)Thirty per cent.1
6 (iii)From September to March.1
6 (iv)
  1. During the monsoon it rains so heavily that many visitors keep away. (1)
  2. From September to March the weather is perfect, with a few showers and air fragrant with coffee. (1)
2
6 OR (i)(d) watching the street from her front doorway1
6 OR (ii)Thirty paise.1
6 OR (iii)Forty-five minutes.1
6 OR (iv)
  1. She listened carefully to neighbours and regular passengers talking about the bus. (1)
  2. She asked a few careful questions here and there. (1)
2
7 (i)(a) rigid and trembling1
7 (ii)His childhood and the happy memories tied to the ball.1
7 (iii)(a) stiff and still1
7 (iv)He describes the boy’s body: standing stiff, trembling and staring. The boy looks into the water as if his whole childhood had gone down with the ball.
  1. Through his body: he stands rigid, trembling and staring. (1)
  2. He stares into the water as if his childhood had sunk with the ball. (1)
2
7 OR (i)(a) a simile1
7 OR (ii)A plant-like growth found on rocks, walls and tree bark.1
7 OR (iii)(a) still open1
7 OR (iv)The smell seems to call to the poet and to the trees, as if the forest were inviting them out. It makes nature feel alive and able to speak.
  1. The smell seems to call out, as if the forest were inviting the trees back. (1)
  2. It makes nature seem alive and able to communicate. (1)
2
8Answer any four of the following five questions from First Flight in about 40–50 words each. Mark the 4 answered.12
8 (i)1. Her sulking is a reaction to being nagged constantly, not plain moodiness. 2. She is an imaginative child who needs space, which she does not get.
  1. Her sulking is a reaction to being nagged constantly, not plain moodiness. (1)
  2. She is an imaginative child who needs space, which she does not get. (1)
  3. Expression: clear, accurate sentences (1)
3
8 (ii)1. When people always want more, they compete and quarrel over things. 2. Greed spreads quickly like fire and can damage relationships and society.
  1. When people always want more, they compete and quarrel over things. (1)
  2. Greed spreads quickly like fire and can damage relationships and society. (1)
  3. Expression: clear, accurate sentences (1)
3
8 (iii)1. In the wild the tiger is free to show his natural fierceness. 2. He is master of his surroundings, unlike the helpless animal in the zoo.
  1. In the wild the tiger is free to show his natural fierceness. (1)
  2. He is master of his surroundings, unlike the helpless animal in the zoo. (1)
  3. Expression: clear, accurate sentences (1)
3
8 (iv)1. You know it is a bear if a creature hugs you very, very hard. 2. A bear’s deadly hug is described as if it were a friendly greeting.
  1. You know it is a bear if a creature hugs you very, very hard. (1)
  2. A bear’s deadly hug is described as if it were a friendly greeting. (1)
  3. Expression: clear, accurate sentences (1)
3
8 (v)1. People may not listen, may lose interest or may judge her. 2. Paper silently accepts whatever she writes, so she can pour out her feelings freely.
  1. People may not listen, may lose interest or may judge her. (1)
  2. Paper silently accepts whatever she writes, so she can pour out her feelings freely. (1)
  3. Expression: clear, accurate sentences (1)
3
9Answer any two of the following three questions from Footprints without Feet in about 40–50 words each. Mark the 2 answered.6
9 (i)1. Max wanted an important report about some new missiles that Ausable was expecting that night. 2. He had got into the room with a passkey and was waiting there with a pistol.
  1. Max wanted an important report about some new missiles that Ausable was expecting that night. (1)
  2. He had got into the room with a passkey and was waiting there with a pistol. (1)
  3. Expression: clear, accurate sentences (1)
3
9 (ii)1. He gave her the four hundred francs he had saved to buy a gun. 2. He gave up his own plan of hunting with friends so that she could be happy at the ball.
  1. He gave her the four hundred francs he had saved to buy a gun. (1)
  2. He gave up his own plan of hunting with friends so that she could be happy at the ball. (1)
  3. Expression: clear, accurate sentences (1)
3
9 (iii)1. She arrived in her car, and Tricki, now lean and lively, leapt eagerly into it. 2. She was overjoyed, almost in tears, and praised the vet for what she called a triumph of surgery.
  1. She arrived in her car, and Tricki, now lean and lively, leapt eagerly into it. (1)
  2. She was overjoyed, almost in tears, and praised the vet for what she called a triumph of surgery. (1)
  3. Expression: clear, accurate sentences (1)
3
101. Being teased by Belinda and the pets for wanting a safe cage. 2. The pirate’s arrival and how the others panicked, fled and hid. 3. How Custard leapt at the pirate and gobbled him up. 4. Afterwards: the others’ excuses, and Custard still wanting his safe cage. Also accept: First-person narrative as Custard is part of expression.
  1. Being teased by Belinda and the pets for wanting a safe cage. (1)
  2. The pirate’s arrival and how the others panicked, fled and hid. (1)
  3. How Custard leapt at the pirate and gobbled him up. (1)
  4. Afterwards: the others’ excuses, and Custard still wanting his safe cage. (1)
  5. Expression: organisation, accuracy and fluency (2)
6
10 OR1. The poet is in low spirits and regrets how his day has gone. 2. A crow shakes snow onto him from a hemlock tree, a small natural event. 3. This lifts his mood and saves the rest of the day from waste. 4. Lesson: we should stay open to small joys; one bad moment need not spoil a whole day.
  1. The poet is in low spirits and regrets how his day has gone. (1)
  2. A crow shakes snow onto him from a hemlock tree, a small natural event. (1)
  3. This lifts his mood and saves the rest of the day from waste. (1)
  4. Lesson: we should stay open to small joys; one bad moment need not spoil a whole day. (1)
  5. Expression: organisation, accuracy and fluency (2)
6
111. Horace looked like an honest, respectable citizen but was a thief. 2. The lady in red looked and behaved like the owner of the house. 3. She was in fact a thief who used her charm to make Horace open the safe. 4. Both deceived others by appearances, but the cleverer deceiver went free while Horace went to prison.
  1. Horace looked like an honest, respectable citizen but was a thief. (1)
  2. The lady in red looked and behaved like the owner of the house. (1)
  3. She was in fact a thief who used her charm to make Horace open the safe. (1)
  4. Both deceived others by appearances, but the cleverer deceiver went free while Horace went to prison. (1)
  5. Expression: organisation, accuracy and fluency (2)
6
11 OR1. Anil took Hari in, fed him and trusted him with the shopping, though Hari was a thief. 2. He began teaching Hari to write, which gave him hope of becoming a respectable man. 3. After stealing the money, Hari could not leave; he returned it, valuing education and trust more. 4. Anil forgave him silently, gave him money and continued his lessons; kindness won where punishment might have failed.
  1. Anil took Hari in, fed him and trusted him with the shopping, though Hari was a thief. (1)
  2. He began teaching Hari to write, which gave him hope of becoming a respectable man. (1)
  3. After stealing the money, Hari could not leave; he returned it, valuing education and trust more. (1)
  4. Anil forgave him silently, gave him money and continued his lessons; kindness won where punishment might have failed. (1)
  5. Expression: organisation, accuracy and fluency (2)
6