CBSE Class 10 English Board Paper 2026 — Set 3

Read the following extracts and answer the questions:

The postmaster — a fat, amiable fellow — also broke out laughing, but almost immediately he turned serious and, tapping the letter to his desk, commented, “What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter.” So, in order not to shake the writer’s faith in God, the postmaster came up with an idea: answer the letter. (A Letter to God)

OMEGA: Yes, sir. (She reads with great seriousness.)

Mistress Mary, quite contrary. How does your garden grow? With cockle shells and silver bells And pretty maids all in a row.

OOP: Ha, ha, ha. Imagine that. Pretty maids growing in a garden.

THINK-TANK: (alarmed) Stop! This is no time for levity. Don’t you realise the seriousness of this discovery? The Earthlings have discovered how to combine agriculture and mining. They can actually grow crops of rare metals such as silver. And cockle shells. They can grow high explosives, too. Noodle, contact our invasion fleet.

NOODLE: They are ready to go down and take over Earth, sir.

(The Book that Saved the Earth)

But he’s locked in a concrete cell,

His strength behind bars,

Stalking the length of his cage,

Ignoring visitors.

(A Tiger in the Zoo)

The fog comes

on little cat feet.

It sits looking

over harbour and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on.

(Fog)

Read the following passage carefully :

(1) In the contemporary digital era, personal information has become both a resource and a vulnerability. One of the most alarming practices exploiting this sensitivity is doxing, the deliberate act of publicly revealing private or sensitive information about an individual without their consent. It typically blurs the boundaries between online and offline privacy by disclosing personal details such as phone numbers, home addresses, workplace details or financial records on public platforms, making the digital and physical worlds collide.

(2) In the complex landscape of digital communication, doxing emerges as a controversial phenomenon which is often weaponized to frighten, harass, or harm the targeted individual. This leads to anxiety, stress, fear or paranoia as their sense of personal safety and control over their life is severely compromised. A determined doxer might scrape information from various social networking profiles, domain name records or exploit security lapses like weak passwords. Once gathered, this information is shared on public forums, social media, or ‘dox sites’, expanding the victim’s exposure to harassment, stalking, or even physical threats.

(3) This darker side of doxing reveals its true dangers. What makes it particularly treacherous is that once the information is released online, it is almost impossible to erase, making the harm sometimes lifelong. Legally, it occupies a grey area. In some jurisdictions it may violate privacy, cyberstalking or harassment laws, but global differences and the Internet’s borderless nature complicate enforcement. Ethically, doxing is a clear violation of personal autonomy. It disproportionately harms marginalized groups, who often face accelerated real-world risks from such exposures.

(4) Proponents of doxing sometimes claim it promotes justice by exposing individuals who might otherwise escape accountability. For instance, in some cases of online scams or criminal behaviour, Internet users have identified and revealed the real identities of offenders. Moreover, when individuals misuse their anonymity to harm others, exposing them may serve justice and discourage similar behaviour in future.

(5) Defending against doxing demands proactive, preventive and corrective measures like locking down social media privacy settings, using pseudonyms, enabling two-factor authentication, and minimizing shared personal data. However, individual efforts are often insufficient against determined attackers, though certain systematic solutions such as stricter data protection regulations, robust platform moderation and criminalizing doxing explicitly may play a vital role to curb its spread. In addition to this, public awareness campaigns on digital safety are equally important to educate users about risks. Victims should have access to legal aid, counselling and helplines for immediate support. A united effort may ensure better protection against this growing online threat.

Answer the following questions, based on the above passage :

Read the following passage carefully :

(1) Fascination of glassware has captivated people all over the world for its blending utility, artistry and cultural significance. The invention of glassblowing, a technique that involves inflating molten glass into a bubble with the help of a blowpipe, revolutionized the craft, making glassware more accessible, affordable and versatile. This allowed the mass production of glass vessels.

(2) In India, the craze for glassware has made this industry a significant segment of the manufacturing sector which is notably contributing to both — domestic consumption and exports. India’s glass industry comprises a diverse range of products such as container glass, flat glass, and fibreglass. As of 2024, the Indian glass industry was valued at approximately ₹ 40,338 crore. The growth is fuelled by increasing sustainability and the rising demand for decorative items. The flat glass segment, essential for the construction and automotive sectors, contributes around 55% of the total industry revenue. Due to rising demand for energy-efficient buildings, toughened glass is extensively employed. It is also used in automotive windows, doors, facades, and shower screens. Actually, it is a type of processed flat glass, made specifically to be stronger and safer than ordinary flat glass, also called tempered glass. In packaging, container glass is used especially for beverages and pharmaceuticals, which makes up around 25% of the market.

(3) Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh is the heart of the Indian glass industry and is often referred to as the “City of Glass”. Firozabad specializes in decorative glassware, chandeliers, bangles and domestic glass products. More than 400 glassware manufacturing units provide employment to over 1,50,000 workers. Artisans of this place have made it a leading contributor to India’s glassware export, preserving tradition while supporting the local economy.

(4) The Indian handmade glassware products including artistic and decorative items continue to thrive in the domestic market and in exports. The blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology has made the Indian glass industry distinctive in comparison to global leaders like China and the USA.

(5) However, the industry faces many challenges like dependence on imported raw material, energy-intensive manufacturing processes and environmental regulations, but it still holds a vital position in the national economy. In current times, it is focusing on sustainability, as manufacturers are adopting recycled glass or cullet in production in order to reduce energy consumption and carbon emission, as they require lower melting temperatures. Economically, it decreases the cost of raw material and supports circular economy models, making the industry both profitable and environmentally responsible. Answer the following questions, based on the above passage :

Read the given sentence from a story. Identify the error and supply the correction in the sentence:

The fisherman requested the guards to let him go to meet the king, but they demands half of the profit from his reward.

Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option given in the brackets:

____________ (All/Many/Each) girl in the class must have her/their own book.

Report the dialogue between a mother and her son by completing the sentence:

Mother: What have you bought from the store?

Son: A soft toy, mother.

Mother: How much did you pay for it?

Son: All the money father gave me yesterday.

The mother asked her son what he had bought from the store. He replied that he had bought a soft toy. Then his mother enquired how much he had paid for that. Upon this he said that __________.

Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the line given below:

Mohini attend every concert in the city because she loves classical music.

Select the correct option to complete the reporting of the dialogue given below:

My sister said to me, “I have washed my new dress.”

(A) My sister told me that she had washed her new dress.

(B) My sister asked me that she was washing her new dress.

(C) My sister told me that she has being washed her new dress.

(D) My sister replied me that she have been washed her new dress.

Complete the given sentence with the correct form of verb:

It was a challenge to meet the expectations of the committee __________ the given time period.

(A) along

(B) within

(C) between

(D) into

Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option given in the brackets:

Heena has worked hard the last six months. She surely _________ (must/would/may) pass this year.

Identify the error and supply the correction for the following note in an air purifier’s instruction manual:

If the humidity level in the room is very high, condensation may developed on the air quality sensor.

Use the given format for your response.

Mona and Tina plan a visit to the National Museum. Report the question asked by Mona to Tina:

Which is the shortest route to reach the museum?

Mona asked Tina ___________.

Replace the underlined word used in the sentence with the best option given below:

If Hemant take the earlier train, he would not have been late for the meeting.

(A) had taken

(B) had been taking

(C) have taken

(D) have been taking

Identify the error and supply the correction for the following sentence:

A bird in the hand are worth two in the bush.

Use the given format for your response.

Why does Mandela mention that he was prevented from fulfilling his obligations as a son, a brother, a father, and a husband? (Nelson Mandela – Long Walk to Freedom)

How does the line ‘people will take balls, balls will be lost always’ justify that material losses are necessary for emotional growth and to understand the harsh realities of life? (The Ball Poem)

Why did Kisa Gotami, despite her desperate efforts to find a solution for her grief, ultimately become weary and hopeless? (The Sermon at Benares)

What was Chubukov’s reaction when he discovered the actual purpose behind Lomov’s visit? (The Proposal)

Considering the emotional attachment of Mrs. Pumphrey with Tricki, state the impact of the word ‘convalescing’ on her. (A Triumph of Surgery)

Ausable displayed a remarkable presence of mind combined with a good sense of humour to handle Max. Justify. (The Midnight Visitor)

What makes Bholi believe that the place where she was taken was better than her home ? (Bholi)

Read the given details about sleep patterns and their effects.

● restores energy

● enhances immunity

● promotes emotional well-being

● benefits concentration and productivity

● oversleep leads to fatigue, weight gain and irritability

Analyse the details and write an analytical paragraph on the importance of sleep in maintaining physical health, mental well-being, and academic performance.

Read the given details:

Kharif and Rabi crops play a pivotal role in agriculture in India. Analyze the data given below and write an analytical paragraph by drawing a comparison between the two.

How does the method of the seagull’s mother to teach her child to be independent contrast with Amanda’s mother’s constant nagging? Examine how this affects the emotional responses of the seagull and Amanda. (‘Two Stories about Flying’ and ‘Amanda!’)

Anil’s love, trust and compassion influenced Hari Singh’s inner conflict and played a crucial role in transforming him. Elucidate. (The Thief’s Story)