CBSE Class 10 English Pre-Board Sample Paper 2025, Download FREE PDF!

Read the following text.

(1) As a high school student, studying poetry can be a rollercoaster ride. This journey is punctuated by moments of profound appreciation for simpler pieces and intermittent frustration with more complex works. Let's be real here -some poems are just plain confusing and no amount of re-reading seems to help decipher the intended meaning. The puzzlement that results from such instances can be both vexing and demotivating. If solving a riddle is what was intended, then playing Sudoku is a better option. One is led to ponder if obscurity was the goal.

(2) Conversely, some pieces resonate with the reader's soul. stirring feelings of warmth, happiness, and connection to the world. Often, these compositions centre on themes that are universally understood, such as love, nature, or faith. Being able to actually understand what the poet is trying to say can feel like a little victory and is a welcome relief after grappling with more perplexing poetry.

(3) Then there are poems that are emotionally charged; the ones that make the reader curl up in a ball and cry or jump up and down with joy. One is left in awe of the poet's ability to convey emotion through words. Let’s not forget the downright weird poems. These are the ones that defy categorisation and leave the reader to their own devices in attempting to interpret meaning. The author's use of figurative language and unconventional imagery can create a sense of bewilderment that is either intriguing or off-putting. Regardless, the reader can appreciate the uniqueness of the work.

(4) Despite the wide range of emotions and reactions that come with studying poetry, it can be a rewarding pursuit. Not only does reading poetry allow one to appreciate the artistic beauty of the written word but also enables one to develop crucial critical thinking and analytical skills. The process of unlocking a poem's meaning can feel like cracking a code or solving a puzzle but the sense of accomplishment derived from mastering a challenging piece can be deeply gratifying. Finally, impressing an English teacher with a well-analysed poem can be a source of pride and validation.

(5) Overall, studying poetry is like a box of mixed chocolates, you never know what you're going to get. But whether it's complex, emotional, simple, or just downright weird, there's always something to be gained from the experience. So, let's applaud all the poets out there, for making us laugh, cry, scratch our heads, and occasionally feel like a genius.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i) Which of the following statements best describes the author's attitude towards studying poetry?

A. Finds poetry to be a frustrating and meaningless endeavour.

B. Believes that the emotional rollercoaster of studying poetry is not worth the effort.

C. Recognizes the challenges of studying poetry but also acknowledges the rewards it offers.

D. Feels that poetry is too obscure and abstract for the average person to appreciate.

ii) What is the tone of the writer in the given lines from the paragraph? Rationalise your response in about 40 words.

If solving a riddle is what was intended, then playing Sudoku is a better option. One is led to ponder if obscurity was the goal.

iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.

The author's use of vivid imagery in paragraph (3), such as "curl up in a ball and cry" and "jump up and down with joy", greatly affects the reader because.

iv) The passage includes some words that are opposites of each other. From the sets (a)-(e) below, identify two sets of antonyms:

(a) intriguing and off-putting

(b) deciphering and interpreting

(c) appreciate and applaud

(d) simple and challenging

(e) emotions and feelings

v) Complete the sentence appropriately.

We can say that the author's stone becomes more neutral and objective when discussing weird poems, compared to other types of poetry.

vi) Based on the reading of the passage, examine, in about 40 words, how studying poetry can be like exploring a new city.

vii) What is the message conveyed by Hina's experience, in the following case?

Hina spends hours trying to analyse a poem for her assignment and finally feels a sense of accomplishment and pride, once she understands.

A. Only those with a natural talent for poetry should engage with it.

B. Persistence makes studying poetry a rewarding pursuit.

C. Study of poetry is guaranteed to impress others.

D. The efforts of studying poetry are inversely proportional to the rewards gained.

viii State whether the following lines display an example of a simple/complex / emotionally charged / downright weird, poem.

The sun rises in the east,

A new day begins a fresh start.

Birds chirp, nature wakes up,

A peaceful feeling in my heart.