Solved MP Board Class 10th English Sample Paper 2025-26 | Full Solution

High School Examination - 2026

Solved Sample Question Paper: Subject - English

Maximum Marks: 75 | Time: 3 hours

SECTION-A (READING)

Q.1. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below- (1x5=5)

Passage Text:

The Great Wall of China is one of the most iconic structures in human history, stretching over 21,000 kilometers across northern China. Built over several centuries, its primary purpose was to protect Chinese territories from invasions, particularly from nomadic tribes in the north. Construction began in the 7th century BC, but the most well-preserved sections were built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The wall is made from various materials, including stone, brick, tamped earth, and wood, depending on the region's resources. Watchtowers were strategically placed for surveillance, communication, and defense, with soldiers stationed to guard vulnerable points. Contrary to the popular myth, the wall is not visible from space without aid, but it remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of Chinese resilience. Over the centuries, the wall also served as a means of controlling trade along the Silk Road and regulating immigration and emigration. Today, it attracts millions of tourists annually, standing as a reminder of China's rich history and engineering skill.

Questions & Options:

1. i. Approximately how long is the Great Wall of China?
• (a) 2,100 km
• (b) 21,000 km
• (c) 210 km
• (d) 12,000 km
2. ii. What was the primary purpose of building the Great Wall?
• (a) to mark Chinese territory
• (b) to protect from northern invasions
• (c) to serve as a trade route
• (d) to connect cities
3. iii. What is a common myth about the Great Wall?
• (a) It was built in one year.
• (b) It is visible from space without aid.
• (c) It is made entirely of stone.
• (d) It has no watchtowers.
4. iv. Besides defence, what other functions did the Great Wall serve?
• (a) controlled trade and regulated migration
• (b) stored grain and water
• (c) served as a royal palace
• (d) hosted sports events
5. v. Today, the Great Wall is a symbol of-
• (a) Chinese wealth
• (b) Chinese resilience and engineering skill
• (c) Modern military strength
• (d) Global unity

Solution for Q.1:

1. (b) 21,000 km
2. (b) to protect from northern invasions
3. (b) It is visible from space without aid.
4. (a) controlled trade and regulated migration
5. (b) Chinese resilience and engineering skill

Q.2. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below- (1x5=5)

Passage Text:

Ravi was late for work, weaving through the crowded street when something caught his eye- a small, worn leather wallet lying near a bus stop. He bent down and picked it up. Inside were a few bills, a bus pass, and an ID card belonging to a Mr. Sharma, an elderly man who lived only a few streets away. Ravi considered leaving it at a police station, but something urged him to return it personally. The building he found was old, with peeling paint and narrow stairs. When he knocked, the door opened to reveal a frail man with worry etched on his face. "My wallet!" Mr. Sharma exclaimed, relief flooding his voice. He explained that he had been searching for it all morning-it held not only his money but also photographs of his late wife, his most treasured possession. As Ravi handed it over, Mr. Sharma's eyes filled with gratitude. "You've returned more than just a wallet," he said softly. Ravi left with a lighter heart, realizing that small acts of honesty could leave deep imprints on someone's life.

Questions & Options:

1. i. Where did Ravi find the wallet?
• (a) in a park
• (b) near a bus stop
• (c) on his office desk
• (d) in a shop
2. ii. What was not inside the wallet?
• (a) bills
• (b) bus pass
• (c) photographs of Ravi's family
• (d) ID card
3. iii. Why did Ravi decide to return the wallet personally?
• (a) He wanted to meet Mr. Sharma.
• (b) He had extra time.
• (c) He felt urged to do so.
• (d) He didn't trust the police.
4. iv. Why was the wallet so important to Mr. Sharma?
• (a) It had his bank cards.
• (b) It had photographs of his late wife.
• (c) It had gold coins.
• (d) It was a gift from his son.
5. v. What realization did Ravi have at the end?
• (a) Helping others is a waste of time.
• (b) Honesty can deeply impact someone's life.
• (c) He should work for the police.
• (d) He should carry less money.

Solution for Q.2:

1. (b) near a bus stop
2. (c) photographs of Ravi's family
3. (c) He felt urged to do so.
4. (b) It had photographs of his late wife.
5. (b) Honesty can deeply impact someone's life.

SECTION-B (WRITING)

Q.3 Read the following passage carefully and make notes on it. Also give a suitable title to it. (4)

Passage Text:

Reading is one of the most enriching habits a person can develop. It is a gateway to knowledge, imagination, and emotional understanding. Through books, we are transported into worlds beyond our own, meeting characters, ideas, and perspectives that challenge and inspire us. Fiction allows us to experience emotions, dilemmas, and cultures that we may never encounter in real life, building empathy and creative thinking. Non-fiction, on the other hand, expands our factual knowledge, offering insights into history, science, philosophy, and countless other fields. In today's fast-paced digital era, where attention spans are shrinking, deep and focused reading is more important than ever. It improves vocabulary, sharpens critical thinking, and strengthens concentration. Reading also has therapeutic benefits-it reduces stress and can even improve mental health by providing an escape from daily pressures. Furthermore, it keeps the brain active, which helps prevent cognitive decline with age. Developing a reading habit does not require hours of free time; even 20-30 minutes a day can have a profound impact. Whether you choose novels, poetry, essays, or newspapers, reading is a lifelong companion that continues to enrich the mind and soul.

Solution for Q.3 (Note Making):

Title: The Profound Benefits of Reading

Notes:

1. Reading: An Enriching Habit (E.H.)
   • Gateway to knwldg., imagination, and emotional understndg.
   • Transports us to new worlds; challenges & inspires.
2. Types and Functions
   • Fiction (F.): builds empathy & creative thinking.
   • Non-fiction (N.F.): expands factual knwldg. in history, science, etc.
3. Benefits in Digital Era (D.E.)
   • More important than ever due to shrinking attention spans.
   • Imprvs. vocab., sharpens critical thnkg., strengthens concentration.
4. Therapeutic & Lifelong Benefits
   • Reduces stress; imprvs. mental health.
   • Keeps brain active; prevents cognitive decline with age.
   • Even 20-30 mins/day can have a profound impact.

Q.4 Write an application to your principal for full fee concession. (4)

You are Deepa /Deepak, studying in Govt. High School, Rajgarh, MP.

OR

You are Anam/Aman, residing at 152, Adarsh Nagar, Ratlam MP. Write a letter to your friend inviting him to attend the house warming ceremony of your house.

Solution for Q.4 (Sample Answer - Application for Fee Concession):

To,
The Principal,
Govt. High School,
Rajgarh, MP.

Subject: Application for Full Fee Concession.

Respected Sir/Madam,
I, Deepa/Deepak, a student of Class X, respectfully request you to grant me full fee concession. My father is the sole earner in our large family, and his income is insufficient to cover the school fees. I have always maintained good grades and actively participated in school activities. Please consider my family’s poor financial condition and oblige.

Thanking you,
Yours obediently,
Deepa / Deepak
Class X

Q.5 Write an essay on any one of the following topics (In about 150 words) - (5)

1. Importance of English
2. The Role of Science in Human Progress
3. Value of Games and Sports
4. Computer and Mobile: Modern Need

OR

Write a paragraph in about 150 words on 'Importance of Trees'.

Solution for Q.5 (Sample Answer - Essay on Value of Games and Sports):

Value of Games and Sports
Games and sports are indispensable for the overall development of an individual, going far beyond mere physical exercise. They teach vital life lessons such as discipline, leadership, and the spirit of teamwork. Regular participation helps maintain physical fitness, build stamina, and combat lifestyle diseases. Mentally, sports act as a great stress buster, offering a necessary break from academic pressure, which in turn improves focus and concentration. Playing sports instills the values of handling both victory and defeat gracefully. In essence, games and sports are essential for cultivating a healthy mind, a strong body, and a well-rounded, positive personality.

Q.6 Look at the picture and write a paragraph in about 75 words. (3)

Solution for Q.6 (Sample Answer - Picture Composition):

The picture shows a beautiful scene of a happy, multigenerational family spending quality time together indoors. The father is relaxed on the sofa, engrossed in reading the newspaper. Around him, the children are engaged in various enriching activities: one daughter is playing the piano, while the youngest is happily drawing on the floor. Another older daughter is enjoying a quiet cup of tea. This illustration emphasizes the importance of family bonding, hobbies, and the peaceful co-existence of different activities under one roof.

SECTION-C (GRAMMAR)

Q.7 Fill in the blanks choosing the correct alternatives given- (any five) (5)

1. How many students are present today? (any/much/many)
2. I want to purchase an H.M. T. watch. (a/an/the)
3. May I take your pen? (Need/May/Must)
4. He has written many plays. (write/wrote/written)
5. The meeting will be held on Tuesday. (on/in/since)
6. He could not come to school because he was ill. (so/but/because)
7. Bhopal is larger than Gwalior. (from/to/than)

Solution for Q.7:

1. many
2. an
3. May
4. written
5. on
6. because
7. than

Q.8 Do as directed- (any five) (5)

1. in the park/were playing/Children/football (Rearrange the words to make a meaningful sentence)
2. David has taken coffee. (Change into interrogative)
3. The teacher taught English. (Change the sentence into Present Indefinite Tense)
4. He is too weak to go to school. (Rewrite the sentence using 'so...that')
5. The boy is my friend. The boy who has won the prize. (Combine the sentence using 'who')
6. If she does not come on time, the teacher will punish her. (Rewrite the sentence using 'unless' in place of 'if')
7. Seema writes a letter. (Change the sentence into passive voice)

Solution for Q.8:

Q. No.	Solution
i.	Children were playing football in the park.
ii.	Has David taken coffee?
iii.	The teacher teaches English.
iv.	He is so weak that he cannot go to school.
v.	The boy who has won the prize is my friend.
vi.	Unless she comes on time, the teacher will punish her.
vii.	A letter is written by Seema.

SECTION- D (TEXTBOOKS)

Q.9. Choose the correct answers: (4)

1. 1. How much money did Lencho want?
• (a) 100 pesos
• (b) 50 pesos
• (c) 10 pesos
• (d) 70 peso
2. 2. Where was the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?
• (a) on the wall
• (b) in a diary
• (c) on a paper
• (d) in a notebook
3. 3. What was Gautama Buddha's childhood name?
• (a) Sandeep
• (b) Siddhartha Gautama
• (c) Sudheer Gautama
• (d) None of these
4. 4. What did the crow shake on the poet?
• (a) dust of soil
• (b) dust of snow
• (c) dust of tree
• (d) dust of ash

Solution for Q.9:

1. (a) 100 pesos
2. (a) on the wall
3. (b) Siddhartha Gautama
4. (b) dust of snow

Q.10 (A) Read the following extract and answer the questions given below- (3)

Extract Text (From Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom):

"On the lovely autumn day of 10 May 1994, I was accompanied by my daughter Zenani. On that day I was sworn in as the first non-white President of South Africa. The ceremonies took place in the Union Buildings amphitheater in Pretoria. Politician and dignitaries from more than 140 countries attended the ceremony, representing every continent of the world. For decades this had been the seat of white supremacy, and now it was the site of a government that represented all the people of South Africa, black and white. The air was charged with the energy of celebration and the hope for a new, just beginning."

Questions and Options:

1. Who accompanied Nelson Mandela on 10 May 1994?
• a) his wife
• b) his daughter Zenani
• c) his son
• d) his friend Oliver Tambo
2. Where did the inauguration ceremony take place?
• a) Cape Town City Hall
• b) Johannesburg Stadium
• c) Union Buildings amphitheater in Pretoria
• d) Nelson Mandela Square
3. What was the historical significance of the location?
• a) It was where South Africa gained independence from Britain.
• b) It had been the seat of white supremacy, now hosting a government for all people.
• c) It was the site of the first anti-apartheid protest.
• d) It was Mandela's birthplace.

Solution for Q.10 (A):

1. (b) his daughter Zenani
2. (c) Union Buildings amphitheater in Pretoria
3. (b) It had been the seat of white supremacy, now hosting a government for all people.

Q.10 (B) Read the following extract and answer the questions given - (3)

Extract Text (From the poem 'Fog'):

The fog comes
On little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbour and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

Questions and Options:

1. Who is the poet of the poem "Fog"?
• a) Robert Frost
• b) Carl Sandburg
• c) William Wordsworth
• d) Emily Dickinson
2. What does the poet compare the fog to?
• a) dog
• b) cat
• c) A bird
• d) A cloud
3. How does the fog come, according to the poem?
• a) quickly and noisily
• b) slowly and silently
• c) with thunder and rain
• d) like a strong wind

Solution for Q.10 (B):

1. (b) Carl Sandburg
2. (b) cat
3. (b) slowly and silently

Q.11 Answer the following questions in about 30 words- (any six) (2x6=12)

Questions:

1. What did Lencho hope for?
2. What does courage mean to Mandela?
3. What name did Anne give to her diary?
4. Why did the conductor call Valli as "madam"?
5. What did Chubukov at first suspect that Lomov had come for?
6. What does a 'jackfruit like appearance' mean?
7. Why was the young seagull afraid to fly?

Solution for Q.11 (Short Answers - All 7 provided):

• i. Lencho hoped for a good rain or a downpour for his field of ripe corn, as a good harvest was essential for his family's livelihood.
• ii. To Mandela, courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
• iii. Anne Frank gave her diary the name 'Kitty'. She treated it as her only true friend to whom she could confide all her thoughts and feelings.
• iv. The conductor called Valli "madam" because she behaved like an adult and tried to assert her independence, giving him money and ordering the ticket authoritatively.
• v. Chubukov initially suspected that Lomov had come to borrow money, as they often borrowed from each other. He was pleasantly surprised when Lomov proposed marriage.
• vi. A 'jackfruit like appearance' is a phrase used to describe the plump, slightly unusual appearance of the baker or 'Pader' during the Portuguese days in Goa.
• vii. The young seagull was afraid to fly because he thought his wings would not support him. His brothers and sister had already flown, but he lacked the confidence to make his first flight.

Q.12 Answer the following questions in about 30 words (any two) (2x2=4)

Questions:

1. What happened to the house when the trees move out of it in the poem 'The Trees'?
2. Why does Amanda want to be an orphan?
3. What does 'ice' stand for in the poem? (Fire and Ice)

Solution for Q.12 (Short Answers - All 3 provided):

• i. When the trees move out, the house is left silent, with the smell of leaves and lichen filling the air. The glass of the windows gets broken and the roof is damaged.
• ii. Amanda wants to be an orphan so that she can roam around freely in the street, make patterns with her bare feet on the dust, and live a peaceful life free from constant nagging and instruction.
• iii. In the poem 'Fire and Ice', 'ice' stands for hatred, indifference, cruelty, and coldness in human relationships, which the poet believes is equally capable of destroying the world.

Q.13 Answer the following questions in about 30 words (any two) - (2x2=4)

Questions:

1. Why was Dr. Herriot worried about Tricki?
2. Why had Fowler wanted to meet Ausable?
3. What did Horace Danby steal every year?

Solution for Q.13 (Short Answers - All 3 provided):

• i. Dr. Herriot was worried about Tricki because the dog had become hugely fat, like a bloated sausage, and was extremely listless, refusing to eat anything, which suggested serious illness.
• ii. Fowler was a young, romantic writer who wanted to meet Ausable because he was supposed to be a secret agent, hoping for thrills and adventure. Instead, he found Ausable to be fat and boring.
• iii. Horace Danby was a habitual thief who stole sufficient high-priced jewels every year. He did this to buy the expensive and rare books that he loved to read.

Q.14 Answer the following question in about 75 words (any one) (3)

Questions:

1. What message does the story 'A Letter to God' convey?
2. When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?

Solution for Q.14 (Long Answer - Both Options):

[Q.14 i - Message of 'A Letter to God']
The story conveys two main messages. First, it highlights Lencho's profound and unwavering faith in God, showcasing an innocent belief that transcends logic. Second, it conveys the irony and nobility of human nature. The postmaster and his employees, despite being called "a bunch of crooks" by Lencho, represented true charity and selfless kindness by collecting money to help a stranger.

[Q.14 ii - Kisa Gotami's quest]
Kisa Gotami asks for medicine to bring her dead son back to life. She does not get it. The wise Buddha asks her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one has ever died. This is impossible because death is inevitable. The purpose was to make her realize the universality of sorrow and the futility of grieving over the inevitable loss.

Q.15 Answer the following question in about 75 words (any one) - (3)

Questions:

1. What color is the young woman's hair? What does she say she can change it to? Why would she want to do so? (For Anne Gregory)
2. What is the theme of the poem 'A Tiger in the Zoo'?

Solution for Q.15 (Long Answer - Both Options):

[Q.15 i - For Anne Gregory]
The young woman's hair is yellow (honey-coloured). She says she can change it to brown, black, or carrot red. She would want to do so to prove that true love should be based on her inner qualities, not her physical appearance. She desires a man who loves her for herself alone, not for her attractive exterior.

[Q.15 ii - Theme of 'A Tiger in the Zoo']
The central theme is the cruelty of confinement and the contrast between freedom and captivity. The poem highlights the tiger's natural life (pride, power, stalking) versus its miserable, caged existence. It pleads for wildlife conservation and shows how captivity causes frustration and despair, emphasizing that freedom is the natural right of all living beings.

Q.16 Answer the following question in about 75 words (any one) - (3)

Questions:

1. How did the invisible man first become visible?
2. How did Richard Ebright's mother help him?

Solution for Q.16 (Long Answer - Both Options):

[Q.16 i - The Invisible Man]
The invisible man (Griffin) first became visible when he slipped into a London store and, feeling cold, put on clothes. The clothes made him visible because his body was only transparent, not the objects he wore. He also ate, drank, and slept, but it was the act of putting on clothes that made his form visible to the people around him.

[Q.16 ii - Richard Ebright's Mother]
Richard Ebright's mother was his biggest motivator. She encouraged his interest in science by buying him tools, telescopes, and cameras. When he ran out of things to study locally, she bought him the book "The Travels of Monarch X," which opened the world of science to him and paved the way for his butterfly research.

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