CBSE Class 10 English 2026 Question Paper: ✅ FULL SOLUTION – ENGLISH PAPER (SET-1)
✅ FULL SOLUTION – ENGLISH PAPER (SET-1)
🔶 SECTION A – READING SKILLS
⭐ Passage 1 (FOMO)
(i) Primary psychological trigger →
✅ (D) Fear of being left out of rewarding experiences
(ii) FOMO entered every dimension because →
✅ (B) constant edits and updates on social media
(iii) Impact of ‘experience economy’ →
👉 It increases pressure on people to participate in activities and compare lifestyles, turning experiences into social competition.
(iv) Effect on decision-making →
👉 People hesitate to commit, overthink choices, and make impulsive decisions due to fear of missing better options.
(v) Emotional consequences →
👉 Lower self-esteem, anxiety, exhaustion, dissatisfaction.
(vi) Two ways to deal with FOMO →
-
Limit social media usage
-
Practice mindfulness/meditation
(vii) True/False →
✅ True
(viii) Meaning of resilience →
✅ (B) withstand emotional anxiety of FOMO
⭐ Passage 2 (Cosmetics Industry)
(i) Demand intensified because →
👉 evolving beauty standards and strong social media influence.
(ii) Meaning of ‘thrives on innovation’ →
✅ (B) The industry is growing and evolving by the day
(iii) Word indicating anticipated growth →
👉 “projected”
(iv) Key factors shaping buying decisions →
👉 personal grooming awareness, social media trends, organic/premium products.
(v) Assertion-Reason →
✅ (A) Both true and Reason explains Assertion
(vi) Impact of e-commerce (30–40 words)**
👉 Online platforms expanded reach, improved accessibility, boosted premium product sales, and contributed significantly to industry revenue growth.
(vii) Skincare share →
✅ 35%
(viii) Gender-neutral demand symbolizes →
👉 changing societal attitudes and self-care awareness.
(ix) Two challenges →
-
intense competition
-
regulatory compliance / supply chain issues
🔶 SECTION B – GRAMMAR
(i) had walked
(ii) Several people
(iii)
Error: forget
Correction: forgot
(iv) Reporting dialogue →
👉 Bobby thanked Harry and said that he was quite well but remarked that these were hard times.
(v) Error identification →
✅ (C) feel → feels
(vi) Reported speech →
✅ (A) Sahil asked Shekhar which his books were.
(vii) Verb form →
✅ (B) is registered
(viii) Modal →
✅ ought to
(ix) Error in notice →
Error: disinfect
Correction: disinfected
(x) Reported question →
👉 Suhani asked Sneha which books they were going to purchase that day from the Book Fest.
(xi) Correct tense →
✅ (C) has been studying
(xii) Error correction →
Error: in celebrations
Correction: with celebrations
🔶 CREATIVE WRITING
✉️ Q4(a) Letter to Editor (Food Adulteration)
Answer (≈120 words):
To
The Editor
The National Daily
Subject: Rising Food Adulteration
Sir/Madam,
Through your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw attention to the alarming rise of adulteration in food and dairy products. Such practices pose severe health risks including digestive disorders and long-term diseases. Unscrupulous traders add harmful chemicals for profit, endangering public safety. Strict inspections, heavy penalties and public awareness campaigns are essential to curb this menace. Consumers should also remain vigilant while purchasing products. Ensuring pure and safe food is the responsibility of both authorities and citizens.
Yours sincerely
Sanjit
📊 Q5(a) Analytical Paragraph (School Activities)
School activities such as student councils, morning assemblies, competitions, and sports play a crucial role in holistic development. They foster leadership, discipline, and teamwork while enhancing communication skills and confidence. Participation motivates students to take responsibility and develop problem-solving abilities. Celebrations of important days promote cultural awareness and unity. Such activities also balance academic pressure by encouraging creativity and collaboration. Overall, these initiatives shape well-rounded individuals ready to face real-life challenges.
🔶 SECTION C – LITERATURE
⭐ Q6(a) Nelson Mandela
(i) → ✅ (B) Due to Apartheid many countries broke diplomatic relations
(ii) →
👉 because they supported South Africa’s struggle for justice.
(iii) →
👉 “extraordinary human disaster” refers to Apartheid – racial discrimination and oppression.
(iv) Tone →
✅ (C) 1 and 2 (unifying and determined)
⭐ Q7(a) How to Tell Wild Animals
(i) Crocodile’s tears →
✅ (C) false and deceptive
(ii) Confusion →
👉 Hyenas smile while crocodiles cry falsely, confusing newcomers humorously.
(iii) Chameleon traits →
-
small lizard-like creature
-
no ears or wings
(iv) Tone →
👉 playful and humorous
⭐ Q8 (40-50 words each)
(i) Fire and Ice
Fire symbolises desire and intense emotions like greed and hatred. These emotions can lead to conflict and destruction. Frosty hatred represented by ice can also destroy relationships and humanity, showing that both extremes are dangerous.
(ii) Diary of Anne Frank
Anne describes her parents, sister Margot, and their life in hiding. She presents her father as loving and supportive, while she often feels misunderstood by her mother.
(iii) A Baker from Goa
Bread is central to Goan culture. Bakers visit homes daily, and bread is used in festivals, weddings, and daily meals, showing its cultural importance.
(iv) Mijbil the Otter
Mijbil enjoyed playing in water and created chaos in the bathroom, splashing everywhere and showing his playful nature.
(v) Madam Rides the Bus
Valli observes carefully, listens to conversations, saves money secretly, and studies the route details, showing maturity and curiosity.
⭐ Q9 (40-50 words)
(i) The Thief’s Story
Hari Singh liked working for Anil because Anil trusted him, treated him kindly, and taught him to read and write. This changed Hari’s attitude and made him reconsider his life choices.
(ii) The Necklace
Matilda borrowed a necklace and lost it, leading to years of poverty. She worked hard to repay debts, showing how pride and materialism caused her suffering.
⭐ Q10 (100-120 words)
(a) Lencho & Kisa Gotami
Lencho shows blind faith in God after losing crops and writes a letter asking for help. Though disappointed with the post office workers, he never loses belief. Kisa Gotami learns the truth of life after searching for mustard seeds from a house untouched by death. She accepts the universality of suffering and overcomes grief through wisdom. Both characters respond differently—Lencho through faith and Kisa through realization—but ultimately find emotional strength.
⭐ Q11 (100-120 words)
(a) A Triumph of Surgery
Before surgery, Tricki was overweight, lazy, and ill due to overfeeding and lack of discipline. At the surgery, he received balanced food, exercise, and proper care. Gradually, he became active and healthy. This contrast highlights how discipline, proper diet, and environment are essential for well-being. It also shows that excessive pampering harms more than helps. Mrs. Pumphrey’s emotional attachment caused the problem, while Dr. Herriot’s professional approach restored Tricki’s health.
