Solution

Small flats cannot accommodate all members of a family. As a result, aged parents are confined to some remote corner of the house or are shared round the year among different family members, and eventually may have to be sent to old age homes.

(ii) How does the rising cost of living affect the life of the aged?

हल / Solution:

As the cost of living is steadily going up, doctors' expenses and special food required by the elderly have become very expensive, making it financially difficult for families to care for them properly.

(iii) What is the most frightening problem of the old age?

हल / Solution:

The most frightening problem of old age is the problem of loneliness.

(iv) Give the meaning of the underlined words in the passage.

हल / Solution:

• Steadily: Continuously, gradually, or at a constant and uniform rate.

(v) What is the opposite of the word ’confined’?

हल / Solution:

• Opposite of 'confined': Free / Released / Unconfined / Liberated.

Section 'B' (Writing)

REPORT: BLOOD DONATION CAMP

By: Student Editor

XYZ Senior Secondary School

October 15, 2025: A Blood Donation Camp was organized by our school in the school auditorium in collaboration with the District Red Cross Society. The camp began at 9:00 AM and was inaugurated by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the district.

A team of doctors and nurses arrived with proper medical equipment. Students, teachers, and non-teaching staff participated enthusiastically. Prior to donation, medical check-ups including blood pressure and hemoglobin tests were conducted for each donor. Refreshments, fruit juice, and certificates of appreciation were distributed to all donors. Over 150 units of blood were collected by 2:00 PM. The CMO praised the noble initiative taken by the school. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by the Principal.

OR

NOTES AND SUMMARY

1. NOTES

Title: Anger and Its Consequences

1. Human Qualities & Anger:

a. Man has both good and bad qualities.

b. Offence to sentiments/principles excites anger.

2. Evils Resulting from Anger:

a. Loss of reasoning and judgement.

b. Loss of self-control.

c. Unaware of words and actions.

3. Impact on Relationships & Behavior:

a. Forgets duty towards superiors.

b. Uses insulting language.

c. Capable of worst crimes, even murder.

2. SUMMARY

Human nature consists of various good and bad qualities, with anger being one of the most destructive negative emotions. When a person's sentiments or principles are hurt, anger is triggered. Under its influence, a person loses self-control, balance, reasoning, and judgment. An angry person fails to respect superiors and uses insulting language. Ultimately, uncontrollable anger can lead an individual to commit heinous crimes, including murder.

SAVE WATER, SAVE LIFE

Water is the essence of life on Earth. Every living organism requires water to survive. Despite covering nearly 71% of the Earth's surface, only a tiny fraction of water is fresh and drinkable. Due to overpopulation, industrialization, and global warming, freshwater resources are depleting rapidly. Wastage and pollution of water further aggravate the crisis.

If we do not take immediate measures to conserve water, future generations will face severe drought and conflict over water resources. Simple practices like fixing leaks, rainwater harvesting, turning off taps while brushing, and using water judiciously in daily activities can save millions of liters of water. Saving water means saving our environment and securing our future. Save water, save life!

Examination Hall,

XYZ City.

October 15, 2025.

My dear Father,

I am well here and hope everyone at home is doing well. My studies are going on smoothly, and I am working hard for my upcoming examinations.

I need to purchase some essential reference books and stationary for my preparation. Additionally, I have to deposit the sports and examination fees for this term. Therefore, I request you to kindly send me Rs. 3,000/- at your earliest convenience.

Please give my respectful regards to Mother and love to younger siblings.

Your loving son,

Anuj

Section 'C' (Grammar)

the following :

(A)

(i) The boy said to his mother, “Are you going to temple now?”

हल / Solution:

The boy asked his mother if she was going to temple then.

(ii) I said to them, “I shall meet him tommorrow.”

हल / Solution:

I told them that I should meet him the next day. (or: I told them that I would meet him the following day.)

(B) Change any one as directed :

(i) The doctor came. The patient had died. (into complex sentence)

हल / Solution:

The patient had died before the doctor came.

(ii) The sun rose. The fog disperred. (into simple sentence)

हल / Solution:

The sun having risen, the fog dispersed.

(C) Change any one of the following :

(i) He wrote a letter to me. (into passive voice)

हल / Solution:

A letter was written to me by him.

(ii) Call him. (into passive voice)

हल / Solution:

Let him be called. (or: You are ordered to call him.)

(D) Correct any one of the following sentence :

(i) You, we and they are friends.

हल / Solution:

We, you and they are friends.

(ii) The new is much perplesing.

हल / Solution:

The news is very perplexing. (or: The news is much perplexing.)

(E) Use any one of the given idioms into your own sentence :

(i) pick holes in

हल / Solution:

• Pick holes in (to criticize or find faults): It is very easy to pick holes in other people's work without offering solutions.

(ii) a black sheep

हल / Solution:

• A black sheep (a disgraceful member of a family/group): Rohit is considered the black sheep of the family because of his bad habits.

(F) Use any one from the given phrasal verbs in your own sentence :

(i) turn up

हल / Solution:

• Turn up (to arrive/appear): Many guests failed to turn up at the party on time.

(ii) call for

हल / Solution:

• Call for (to require/demand): This serious issue calls for immediate action from the authorities.

(G) Give synonyms of the following :

(i) pride

हल / Solution: Vanity / Arrogance / Self-respect

(ii) timid

हल / Solution: Shy / Fearful / Bashful

(iii) confess

हल / Solution: Admit / Acknowledge

(iv) admit

हल / Solution: Accept / Confess

(H) Give antonym of the following :

(i) fresh

हल / Solution: Stale

(ii) damage

हल / Solution: Repair / Protection / Benefit

(iii) cruel

हल / Solution: Kind / Merciful

(iv) atheist

हल / Solution: Theist

(I) Give any one word for the following group of words :

(i) A person who can neither read nor write.

हल / Solution: Illiterate

(ii) A child whose parents are dead.

हल / Solution: Orphan

(j) Use the following words in sentence of your own so as to bring out the difference in their meaning :

(i) wait, weight

हल / Solution:

• Wait: Please wait for me at the bus stop.

• Weight: What is the exact weight of this package?

OR

(ii) check, cheque

हल / Solution:

• Check: The teacher will check our homework tomorrow.

• Cheque: He paid his college fees through a bank cheque.

Everyone is well acquainted with the name of Guru Nanak. In his childhood, he was not interested in reading, writing, and playing. One day his father gave him ten rupees and asked him to bring some essential items from the market. While going to the market, he met some saints (sadhus) who were very hungry. He spent all the money on feeding the saints and returned home. When his father came to know about this, he said nothing to Guru Nanak. But he thought that in the future, his son would become such a great man whom everyone would respect.

Section 'D' (Literature)

any one of the following questions in about 100 words:

(a) Who was Amenhotel IV? How did he bring one of the strongest periods in the history of ancient Egypt?

OR

(b) Draw a character sketch of the narrator in 'We’re not afraid to die'

हल / Solution:

(b) Character Sketch of the Narrator in 'We're Not Afraid to Die...':

The narrator is a 37-year-old businessman who dreams of duplicating Captain James Cook’s round-the-world voyage made 200 years earlier. He is a courageous, determined, and responsible man. For 16 years, he and his wife Mary spent all their leisure time honing their seafaring skills in British waters.

When a violent storm strikes their boat, Wavewalker, in the southern Indian Ocean, his bravery and leadership shine through. Despite suffering severe injuries—including broken ribs and a mouth full of blood and broken teeth—he keeps his cool. He manages the wheel, pumps out water, and repairs the damaged ship relentlessly. He is a loving father and husband who inspires his family and crew to fight against death. His courage, optimism, and unyielding spirit ultimately guide the ship safely to the island of Ile Amsterdam.

any two of the following questions in about 30-40 words each:

(i) Why was the body of tut C.T. scanned?

हल / Solution:

King Tut’s mummy was C.T. scanned to uncover the medical mysteries surrounding his life and death. The scan aimed to provide new data regarding how he died and how old he was at the time of his death.

(ii) What happened to sue?

हल / Solution:

Sue (Suzanne) was badly injured during the storm. Her head suffered a severe bump, her eyes were swollen, and she had a deep cut on her arm. Despite her pain, she did not complain to avoid worrying her parents.

(iii) How did grandmother die?

हल / Solution:

The grandmother knew her end was near. She lay peacefully in bed praying and telling her beads, refusing to talk to anyone. Suddenly, her lips stopped moving and the rosary fell from her lifeless fingers, indicating her peaceful death.

The poet's mother died nearly twelve years ago (as many years as the girl in the photograph lived).

(ii) What is at about which nothing can be said?

हल / Solution:

Nothing can be said about the painful circumstance of the poet's mother's death and the deep sense of loss caused by her absence.

(iii) Explain the line "Its silence silence".

हल / Solution:

This line emphasizes the overwhelming, absolute grief and silence brought by death, which leaves the poet speechless and devoid of words.

(a) Central Idea of 'A Photograph':

The poem 'A Photograph' by Shirley Toulson revolves around the themes of loss, transience of human life, and the nostalgic power of memories. The poet looks at an old photograph of her late mother as a twelve-year-old girl enjoying a beach holiday with her cousins.

The poem highlights the contrast between permanent nature and fleeting human life. The sea remains unchanged, but human life passes through stages and ends in death. The poet recalls her mother laughing at the snapshot years later. Now, with her mother gone for twelve years, the poet is left with deep grief and silence. Death creates an irreparable void that leaves no words to express the loss.

any one of the following questions in about 100 words:

(a) Draw a character-sketch of Mourad.

OR

(b) Why did the narrator of the story want to forget the address?

हल / Solution:

(a) Character Sketch of Mourad:

Mourad is one of the central characters in William Saroyan's story "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse". He is a thirteen-year-old Armenian boy belonging to the Garoghlanian tribe, which is famous for its honesty and trust. Mourad is considered the natural descendant of the crazy streak in his family.

Mourad loves adventure and nature. He has a special way with animals, often claiming, "I have a way with horses, birds, and dogs." He tenderly heals an injured robin and successfully tames a stolen white horse. Though he steals the horse to fulfill his passion for riding, he does not intend to sell it, which in his mind prevents it from being true theft. Mourad is kind, warm-hearted, fearless, and deeply attached to his cousin Aram. His integrity shines when he voluntarily returns the horse to its rightful owner, John Byro, to keep his tribe's pride intact.

any two of the following questions in about 30-40 words each :

(a) Where did Mourad and Aram ride the horse?

हल / Solution:

Mourad and Aram rode the horse in the countryside behind their house, on Walnut Avenue, and across the vineyards, orchards, and irrigation ditches near Olive Avenue.

(b) What was that woman’s reply to the narrator?

हल / Solution:

Mrs. Dorling’s daughter opened the door and told the narrator that her mother was away on an errand. Mrs. Dorling herself initially pretended not to recognize the narrator and refused to talk or let her into the house.

(c) Why had people gathered at Ranga’s house?

हल / Solution:

People gathered at Ranga's house because he had returned from Bangalore after pursuing his studies. Everyone was curious to see if the city education had brought any changes in his personality, appearance, or behavior.