Top 50 CBSE Class 10 English MCQs with Answers for High Score in Pre Board Exam 2026

The CBSE Class 10 English Exam is the “defining moment” for the students as it will shape their comprehension of the essential elements of the subject, which are Language, Literature, and Grammar itself. Performance in the subject is the key to success and success not only in academics but also in the art of communication as the foundation has to be sound and strong here as well. If the students are aiming for success in the upcoming Pre-Board Exam of 2026, then the prep work needs to be done in every part of the question paper that needs to be attempted.

These Top 50 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) are made in a way that keeps in mind the requirements of the new CBSE syllabus and pattern. These MCQs are based on the substantial concepts of English, literary devices, comprehension passages, and grammar rules right from the entire English syllabus. Interaction with these MCQs will help the child identify his or her strengths and weaknesses, work on the strategies for solving papers, as well as boost confidence levels for both Pre-Board and Board papers.

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CBSE Class 10 English Pre-Board Exam 2026 MCQs

To help you excel in the CBSE Class 10 English Pre-Board Exam 2026, here's compiled 50 essential MCQs: 

Section A: Literature (Prose & Poetry)

1. In "A Letter to God," what was the only thing the earth needed according to Lencho?

   (a) A heavy snowfall

   (b) A downpour or at least a shower

   (c) Strong winds

   (d) Sunlight

2. What does Mandela mean by "an extraordinary human disaster"?

   (a) The World War

   (b) The practice of Apartheid

   (c) The poverty in South Africa

   (d) Lack of education

3. In "The Black Aeroplane," what was the pilot’s plan for his arrival in England?

   (a) To meet his friends

   (b) To be in time for a big English breakfast

   (c) To attend a family wedding

   (d) To sell his old Dakota

4. In the poem "Fire and Ice," what does "Fire" symbolize?

   (a) Love

   (b) Desires and Greed

   (c) Indifference

   (d) Coldness

5. Why was the young seagull afraid to fly?

   (a) He was lazy

   (b) He felt his wings would never support him

   (c) He wanted to stay with his parents

   (d) He was too small

6. In "The Ball Poem," what is the "epistemology of loss"?

   (a) The cost of a new ball

   (b) The science of playing well

   (c) Understanding what it means to lose something

   (d) Forgetting the past

7. How does the tiger feel in the cage in "A Tiger in the Zoo"?

   (a) Happy and well-fed

   (b) Quietly angry

   (c) Excited to see visitors

   (d) Sleepy and tired

8. What was Anne Frank’s view on "Paper"?

   (a) Paper is expensive

   (b) Paper has more patience than people

   (c) Paper is hard to find

   (d) Paper is only for schoolwork

9. In "The Midnight Visitor," how did Ausable claim the intruder (Max) entered?

   (a) Through the door

   (b) Through a balcony

   (c) Through the chimney

   (d) Through a secret passkey

10. Why did Horace Danby rob a safe every year?

    (a) To support his family

    (b) To buy rare and expensive books

    (c) To pay off his debts

    (d) To live a luxurious life

11. What did Griffin discover in "Footprints without Feet"?

    (a) A drug that could make the human body invisible

    (b) A cure for common cold

    (c) A way to travel through time

    (d) A method to fly

12. In "The Necklace," what was the actual cost of the necklace Mme Forestier lent to Matilda?

    (a) Thirty-six thousand francs

    (b) Five hundred francs

    (c) Forty thousand francs

    (d) Ten thousand francs

13. Why was Bholi’s father worried about her?

    (a) She was too smart

    (b) She had neither good looks nor intelligence

    (c) She was very naughty

    (d) She refused to go to school

14. In "A Baker from Goa," the baker was also the children's:

    (a) Teacher

    (b) Friend, companion, and guide

    (c) Neighbor

    (d) Enemy

15. What does the "Dust of Snow" change for the poet?

    (a) His clothes

    (b) His location

    (c) His mood

    (d) His health

16. Amanda imagines herself as an orphan because:

    (a) She has no parents

    (b) She wants the freedom to roam the streets barefoot

    (c) She is lost

    (d) She hates her home

17. In "The Tale of Custard the Dragon," what did the pirate have in his hand?

    (a) A sword

    (b) A pistol

    (c) A wooden stick

    (d) A shield

18. In "Madam Rides the Bus," what was Valli’s deepest desire?

    (a) To go to school

    (b) To ride on the bus

    (c) To buy toys

    (d) To meet the conductor

19. Kisa Gotami's son died. What did the Buddha ask her to bring?

    (a) Money

    (b) A handful of mustard seeds

    (c) Holy water

    (d) A bouquet of flowers

20. What did Siddhartha Gautama see that moved him to seek enlightenment?

    (a) A sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and a monk

    (b) A beautiful garden and a palace

    (c) A war between two kingdoms

    (d) A group of children playing

21. In "The Trees," what are the roots doing?

    (a) Growing deeper

    (b) Working to disengage themselves from the cracks

    (c) Dying

    (d) Staying still

22. What does the fog look over?

    (a) The forest

    (b) The mountains

    (c) The harbor and the city

    (d) The village

23. What was the name of the scientist in "The Making of a Scientist"?

    (a) Richard Ebright

    (b) Robert Peterson

    (c) James Watson

    (d) Dr. Urquhart

24. In "The Sermon at Benares," death is compared to:

    (a) A ripe fruit falling

    (b) A flowing river

    (c) A blooming flower

    (d) A sunrise

25. How did the Postmaster help Lencho?

    (a) He gave him a job

    (b) He collected money from his employees and friends

    (c) He complained to the government

    (d) He ignored the letter

Section B: Language (Grammar)

26. Identify the tense: "I have been reading this novel since morning."

    (a) Present Perfect

    (b) Present Continuous

    (c) Present Perfect Continuous

    (d) Past Perfect Continuous

27. Choose the correct modal: "You _______ keep your promise."

    (a) may

    (b) can

    (c) should

    (d) might

28. Fill in the blank: "Each of the participants _______ a certificate."

    (a) receive

    (b) receives

    (c) are receiving

    (d) have received

29. Reported Speech: He said to me, "Do you like coffee?"

    (a) He asked me if I liked coffee.

    (b) He told me that I liked coffee.

    (c) He asked me if I like coffee.

    (d) He asked me whether do I like coffee.

30. Fill in the blank: "I haven't got _______ pens in my bag."

    (a) some

    (b) any

    (c) many

    (d) much

31. Identify the error: "The crew were ready for the journey."

    (a) crew -> crews

    (b) were -> was

    (c) ready -> readied

    (d) No error

32. Choose the correct option: "The Sun _______ in the East."

    (a) rise

    (b) rises

    (c) is rising

    (d) rose

33. Fill in the blank: "If it rains, we _______ the match."

    (a) cancel

    (b) would cancel

    (c) will cancel

    (d) had cancelled

34. Reported Speech: "Please help me," said the old man.

    (a) The old man said to help him.

    (b) The old man requested to help him.

    (c) The old man requested me to help him.

    (d) The old man asked for help.

35. Choose the correct determiner: "There is _______ water in the jug."

    (a) few

    (b) many

    (c) little

    (d) several

36. Identify the tense: "They had left before I arrived."

    (a) Simple Past

    (b) Past Continuous

    (c) Past Perfect

    (d) Past Perfect Continuous

37. Modals: "It _______ rain today, look at the clouds."

    (a) should

    (b) may

    (c) must

    (d) would

38. Fill in the blank: "Neither Ravi nor his friends _______ present."

    (a) is

    (b) was

    (c) were

    (d) has been

39. Reported Speech: The teacher said, "Honesty is the best policy."

    (a) The teacher said that honesty was the best policy.

    (b) The teacher said that honesty is the best policy.

    (c) The teacher told honesty is the best policy.

    (d) The teacher says that honesty is the best policy.

40. Fill in the blank: "He is _______ M.A. in English."

    (a) a

    (b) an

    (c) the

    (d) no article

41. Identify the error: "One of my friend lives in Mumbai."

    (a) friend -> friends

    (b) lives -> live

    (c) Mumbai -> Mumbais

    (d) my -> mine

42. Tenses: "I _______ my breakfast an hour ago."

    (a) eat

    (b) have eaten

    (c) ate

    (d) was eating

43. Modals: "_______ you lend me some money?"

    (a) Should

    (b) Could

    (c) Must

    (d) Shall

44. Fill in the blank: "Physics _______ a difficult subject for some."

    (a) are

    (b) is

    (c) were

    (d) have been

45. Reported Speech: She said, "I will go to Delhi tomorrow."

    (a) She said that she would go to Delhi the next day.

    (b) She said that she will go to Delhi tomorrow.

    (c) She said that she would go to Delhi tomorrow.

    (d) She told she would go to Delhi the next day.

46. Determiners: "I have _______ friends in the city."

    (a) much

    (b) a few

    (c) a little

    (d) any

47. Tenses: "She _______ for two hours."

    (a) sleep

    (b) is sleeping

    (c) has been sleeping

    (d) slept

48. Identify the type of sentence: "Please close the door."

    (a) Assertive

    (b) Imperative

    (c) Interrogative

    (d) Exclamatory

49. Fill in the blank: "Slow and steady _______ the race."

    (a) win

    (b) wins

    (c) is winning

    (d) won

50. Modals: "We _______ respect our elders."

    (a) ought to

    (b) can

    (c) may

    (d) might

Answer Key Table

This comprehensive set of 50 Multiple Choice Questions serves as a crucial final check for students appearing in the CBSE Class 10 English Pre-Board Exam 2026. By testing proficiency across grammar, literature and language these MCQs ensure students are well-prepared for the examination's objective section. Consistent practice with these high-yield questions, coupled with a thorough review of the provided answer key, will significantly boost confidence and performance, paving the way for academic success.

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