HBSE CLASS 10 ENGLISH PAPER 2026 FULL SOLUTION (SET A/B/C/D)

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HBSE CLASS 10 ENGLISH PAPER 2026

COMPLETE PAPER ANALYSIS

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1️⃣ ANGLE 1

“आधा सिलेबस से पूरा पेपर” — Is it TRUE?

Yes — largely TRUE.
Almost 70–80% literature questions came from early chapters.

📚 FIRST FLIGHT (PROSE)

👉 5 questions from first 4–5 chapters

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📚 FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET

👉 Majority from first half

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📚 POETRY

👉 First 3 poems dominated the paper

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✔ Conclusion

Yes —
If students prepared

• First 3 poems

• First 4 chapters of First Flight

• First 4 chapters of Footprints

👉 They could answer almost half the literature section easily.

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2️⃣ ANGLE 2

Comparison with Questions Discussed in Our Sessions

Below I compared 2026 questions vs previous year papers (2019-2025) that you supplied earlier.

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📖 LITERATURE – PYQ MATCHING

👉 Nearly 80% literature questions were PYQ pattern

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📖 POETRY STANZA

Fire and Ice stanza

Asked:

• poet name

• symbolism

• rhyme scheme

• poetic device

• message

👉 Exactly same pattern

Seen in:

• HBSE 2019

• HBSE 2022

• HBSE 2024

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📖 GRAMMAR ANALYSIS

Grammar questions were very predictable and board-pattern.

👉 All grammar topics were repeated PYQ patterns

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📖 WRITING SKILLS ANALYSIS

Options in paper

1️⃣ Letter to Editor – Road Safety
2️⃣ Application – Character Certificate
3️⃣ Report – Cultural Club Talk
4️⃣ Advertisement – Tourist Guide

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PYQ Pattern

👉 Again full PYQ trend

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📖 READING SECTION ANALYSIS

Two passages:

1️⃣ Fear response / fight-flight
2️⃣ Personal hygiene

Question types:

• MCQ

• vocabulary

• inference

• message

👉 Exactly same as HBSE pattern 2020-2025

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📊 DIFFICULTY LEVEL

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📊 EXPECTED SCORE RANGE

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🎯 FINAL VERDICT

✔ Paper highly predictable
✔ PYQ based paper
✔ Early syllabus dominated
✔ Grammar very easy

👉 That is why students said:

“वही आया जो हमने पढ़ाया!”

HBSE CLASS 10 ENGLISH 2026

SHORT QUESTIONS vs LONG QUESTIONS ANALYSIS

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1️⃣ SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2–3 Marks)

These appeared mainly in Q7, Q10, Q11.

📚 First Flight – Prose

👉 4 questions from First Flight

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📚 Poetry Short Questions

👉 Poetry section highly predictable

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📚 Footprints Without Feet

👉 All short questions repeated PYQ pattern

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2️⃣ LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (5–6 Marks)

These appeared mainly in Q8 and Q12.

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📖 First Flight Long Question

Character Sketch of Valli

(Madam Rides the Bus)

👉 Very common board question

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📖 Prose Long Question

Lencho – Faith Question

(A Letter to God)

Statement based question:

“Lencho is a man of unwavering faith rather than logic.”

👉 Most repeated question

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📖 Footprints Long Question

The Necklace

Question:
How did the loss of necklace change Matilda’s life?

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📖 Alternate Long Question

Summary of Bholi

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3️⃣ IMPORTANT PATTERN

Short Questions Focused On

✔ Themes
✔ Character traits
✔ Story events
✔ Moral/lesson

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Long Questions Focused On

✔ Character sketch
✔ Theme explanation
✔ Story change / turning point

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4️⃣ MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS THAT APPEARED

These were exactly the same questions discussed in previous papers:

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5️⃣ FINAL OBSERVATION

Literature Questions

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Biggest Trend

✔ PYQ-based paper
✔ First half of syllabus dominated
✔ NCERT lines used directly

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🎯 FINAL VERDICT

If a student prepared:

• PYQs (2019-2025)

• First 4 chapters First Flight

• First 4 chapters Footprints

• First 3 poems

👉 They could solve almost the entire literature section easily.

SECTION A – READING SKILLS

Passage 1

(i) What is the brain’s built-in alarm system called?

Answer: (a) Amygdala

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(ii) Which chemical makes us hyper-alert and temporarily stronger?

Answer: (c) Both (a) and (b)
(Adrenaline and Cortisol)

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(iii) Correct statement option

1. Chronic fear can weaken our immune system.

2. We should not make fear our constant companion.

Answer: (b) Both Statement (1) and Statement (2) are true.

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(iv) Which practices can calm our nervous system?

Answer: (d) Both (a) and (b)
Deep breathing and regular exercise

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(v) Word in para 2 meaning ‘afraid’ or ‘frightened’

Answer: (a) Scared

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(vi) Meaning of fight-or-flight response

Answer:
It is the body’s automatic reaction to danger which prepares a person either to fight the threat or escape from it.

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(vii) Function of amygdala

Answer:
The amygdala acts as the brain’s alarm system that detects fear and sends signals to prepare the body for action.

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(viii) How does adrenaline affect our body?

Answer:
Adrenaline increases heart rate, boosts energy levels and sharpens reaction time to respond quickly to danger.

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(ix) Why is chronic fear harmful?

Answer:
Chronic fear can weaken the immune system, disturb digestion and affect sleep.

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(x) Word in para 5 opposite of ‘enemy’

Answer:
Companion

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Passage 2

(i) What do you mean by personal hygiene?

Answer:
Personal hygiene refers to daily habits like bathing, washing hands, brushing teeth and keeping clean to maintain health.

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(ii) How does regular hand washing benefit us?

Answer:
Regular hand washing reduces the spread of bacteria, viruses and infectious diseases.

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(iii) Benefits of bathing daily

Answer:
Bathing removes dirt, sweat and germs from the body and prevents skin infections.

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(iv) How do hygiene practices contribute to mental well-being?

Answer:
Good hygiene improves confidence, self-image and reduces stress related to personal appearance.

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(v) Word in para 4 meaning ‘humiliation’ or ‘awkwardness’

Answer:
Embarrassment

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(vi) Proper oral hygiene prevents

Answer: (d) Both (a) and (c)
Gum disease and bad breath

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(vii) Which reduces allergic reactions from dust mites?

Answer: (b) Regular Laundering

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(viii) Ignoring hygiene practices can lead to

Answer: (b) Mental well-being

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(ix) Message of the passage

Answer: (d) Personal hygiene promotes overall physical and mental health.

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(x) Correct option

1. Personal hygiene prevents spread of infectious diseases.

2. Personal hygiene fosters confidence.

Answer: (d) Both Statements are true.

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SECTION B – GRAMMAR

HBSE CLASS 10 ENGLISH 2026

GRAMMAR FULL SOLUTION WITH RULES

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1️⃣ TENSE

Question

I ______ the letter before he arrived.

Options included:
(a) wrote
(b) had written
(c) write
(d) will write

Correct Answer

✔ (b) had written

Reason

Two actions happened in the past.

• Action 1 → writing letter

• Action 2 → he arrived

The action completed earlier takes Past Perfect.

Rule
Past Perfect + Simple Past

Example

• I had finished my work before he came.

Correct sentence

✔ I had written the letter before he arrived.

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2️⃣ CLAUSE / FUTURE TIME CLAUSE

Question

I shall wait till you ______ your lunch.

Correct Answer
✔ finish

Reason

After words like:

• till

• when

• before

• after

• until

We do not use future tense.

Rule

Future in main clause → Present Simple in time clause

Example

• I will call you when you reach home.

• Wait till he comes.

Correct sentence

✔ I shall wait till you finish your lunch.

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3️⃣ ARTICLES

Question

We go to ______ church every week.

Correct Answer
✔ No article

Reason

When we talk about purpose of place, article is not used.

Examples

• go to school

• go to church

• go to bed

• go to hospital

Correct sentence

✔ We go to church every week.

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4️⃣ ARTICLES

Question

Aladdin had ______ wonderful lamp.

Correct Answer
✔ a

Reason

The word wonderful begins with consonant sound /w/.

Rule

• a → consonant sound

• an → vowel sound

Examples

• a boy

• a university

• a wonderful lamp

Correct sentence

✔ Aladdin had a wonderful lamp.

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5️⃣ PUNCTUATION

Question

Correct sentence:

Options included sentence with England France Italy

Correct Answer

✔ England, France and Italy formed an alliance.

Reason

In a list of three items we use comma.

Rule

Item 1 , Item 2 and Item 3

Example

• Ram, Mohan and Sita

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6️⃣ PUNCTUATION

Question

He said to his disciples watch and pray

Correct Answer

✔ He said to his disciples, “Watch and pray.”

Reason

Rules applied

1. Comma after reporting clause

2. Quotation marks for spoken words

3. Capital letter at start of speech

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7️⃣ FIGURE OF SPEECH

Question

The news was a dagger to his heart.

Correct Answer
✔ Metaphor

Reason

A direct comparison without using like / as.

Example

• Life is a journey.

• Time is money.

Here news = dagger

So it is Metaphor.

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8️⃣ FIGURE OF SPEECH

Question

I am able to fill a river with my tears.

Correct Answer
✔ Hyperbole

Reason

Hyperbole means exaggeration.

Example

• I cried a river.

• I waited for ages.

Here tears cannot fill a river → exaggeration.

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9️⃣ DIRECT / INDIRECT SPEECH

Question

Convert into indirect speech.

Correct Answer

✔ She told him that she was waiting for my son.

Rule

When reporting verb is past

• am → was

• is → was

• are → were

Example

Direct
She said, “I am waiting.”

Indirect
She said that she was waiting.

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🔟 DIRECT / INDIRECT SPEECH

Question

Correct indirect speech

Correct Answer

✔ I asked them if they had read the letter.

Reason

Question sentence → use if / whether

Rule

said → asked

Example

Direct
He said, “Have you finished?”

Indirect
He asked if I had finished.

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1️⃣1️⃣ INFINITIVE

Question

The speaker is about ______ (begin)

Correct Answer

✔ to begin

Reason

Structure

about + to + verb

Example

• The train is about to leave.

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1️⃣2️⃣ PARTICIPLE

Question

I met a girl ______ a basket of flowers.

Correct Answer

✔ carrying

Reason

Present participle shows ongoing action.

Structure

noun + verb + ing

Example

• A boy playing cricket

• A girl carrying flowers

Correct sentence

✔ I met a girl carrying a basket of flowers.

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📊 FINAL GRAMMAR ANSWERS

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✔ Grammar section difficulty: Easy
✔ All questions were standard board-pattern

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SECTION C – WRITING SKILLS

Option 1 – Letter to Editor

Subject: Importance of Road Safety Rules

Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to highlight the importance of road safety rules. Every year many accidents occur due to careless driving and ignorance of traffic rules. People should wear helmets, follow traffic signals and avoid using mobile phones while driving. Strict enforcement of rules and public awareness can save many lives.

Yours faithfully
Anand

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Option 2 – Application for Character Certificate

To
The Principal
ABC School

Subject: Application for Character Certificate

Respected Sir,
I am Anand, a student of Class X in your school. I have successfully passed my board examination and require a character certificate for further admission. Kindly issue my character certificate at the earliest.

Thanking you

Yours obediently
Anand

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SECTION D – LITERATURE

Q6 Passage (Anne Frank)

(i) Who is the narrator?

Answer: Anne Frank

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(ii) In which country was Margot born?

Answer: Germany

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(iii) Who was Edith Hollander Frank?

Answer: Anne Frank’s mother

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(iv) With whom did the narrator stay in Aachen?

Answer: Her grandmother

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(v) Word meaning ‘lovable’ or ‘darling’

Answer: Dear

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OR Passage (Mijbil the Otter)

(i) Chapter name

Answer: Mijbil the Otter

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(ii) Behaviour on the first day

Answer:
Mijbil was indifferent and aloof and slept on the floor away from the bed.

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(iii) Behaviour on the second night

Answer:
He slept in the crook of the narrator’s knees.

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(iv) What are otters fond of?

Answer: Water

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(v) Word meaning ‘disinterested’

Answer: Aloof

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Q7 Attempt any two

(i) Mandela’s hunger for freedom

Mandela believed that freedom was the birthright of every individual. His desire for freedom made him fight against apartheid and injustice. Though he faced imprisonment for many years, he never gave up his struggle. Finally, his determination led to the freedom of South Africa and the establishment of democracy.

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(ii) How mother seagull tricked the young seagull

The mother seagull tempted the young bird by bringing food close to him but not giving it. When he tried to reach the food, he fell from the cliff but eventually learned to fly.

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(iii) Indian legend about discovery of tea

According to the legend, a Chinese emperor accidentally discovered tea when leaves from a wild tree fell into boiling water. The emperor liked the taste and tea became popular.

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(iv) Lomov

Lomov is a nervous and quarrelsome man who comes to propose marriage to Natalya. Instead of talking about love, he starts arguing about property and dogs.

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Q8 Long Answer

Character sketch of Valli

Valli is an intelligent, curious and determined eight-year-old girl. She wishes to travel on a bus and secretly plans her journey by saving money and observing the bus schedule. During the ride she shows maturity and independence. However, she also displays sensitivity when she sees the dead cow. Her character reflects innocence, curiosity and courage.

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Q9 Poem – Fire and Ice

(i) Name of poem and poet

Fire and Ice – Robert Frost

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(ii) Fire symbolizes

Desire and greed

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(iii) Rhyme scheme

ABA ABCB

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(iv) Poetic device in “favour fire”

Alliteration

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(v) Message

Human emotions like desire and hatred can destroy the world.

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Q10 Attempt any two

(i) Theme of ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’

The poem shows the contrast between a tiger’s natural freedom in the jungle and its helpless captivity in a zoo.

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(ii) Poet’s reaction in “The Ball Poem”

The poet explains that losing things is part of life and helps a person grow and become mature.

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(iii) Fog compared to a cat

Because it comes silently and quietly and disappears just like a cat.

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(iv) Where are the trees in the poem?

The trees are inside houses or greenhouses instead of forests.

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Q11 Attempt any two

(i) Why narrator tempted to keep Tricki permanently?

Because Tricki became healthy and lively under his care and the narrator enjoyed looking after him.

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(ii) Why difficult to rob a careless person?

Because careless people are unpredictable and may suddenly notice the thief.

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(iii) Lesson Ebright learns

Failure teaches him to work harder and improves his scientific skills.

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(iv) Think-Tank’s guesses about books

He thinks books are sandwiches or communication devices from Earth.

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Q12 Long Answer

Necklace – Life change

Matilda lost the borrowed necklace and had to replace it with an expensive one. She and her husband worked for ten years to repay the debt and lived in poverty. Later she discovered that the original necklace was fake. The story teaches the danger of pride and dishonesty.