CBSE Class 10 English Answer Key 2025 Section C: If you’re searching for the CBSE Class 10 English Answer Key 2025, you’ve landed at the right place! After covering Section B: Grammar and Creative Writing Skills (20 Marks), we now present the complete answer key for Section C: Literature.
This section carries 40 marks and evaluates students’ understanding of prose, poetry, and drama from the Class 10 English textbook. The questions test both comprehension and analytical skills.
For section B: Click Here
Section C is divided into the following parts (40 marks):
1. Extract-Based Questions (10 Marks)
- Question 6: Prose-Based Extract (5 Marks)
- Question 7: Poetry-Based Extract (5 Marks)
(Students must attempt one extract from each category.)
2. Short-Answer Questions (12 Marks)
(5 questions provided; students must attempt any 4. Each carries 3 marks.)
3. Short-Answer Questions (6 Marks)
(3 questions provided; students must attempt any 2. Each carries 3 marks.)
4. Long-Answer Questions (6 Marks)
(2 questions provided; students must attempt any 1. Each carries 6 marks.)
In this guide, you’ll find detailed solutions to each of these sections, along with step-by-step explanations and sample answers to help students understand how to approach the paper effectively.
Section C: Extract-Based Questions (5 Marks each)
(a) Extract 1 (Prose)
From: “Two Stories About Flying”
Extract: The moon was coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear sky above me. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone high up above the sleeping countryside. I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England. I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family. I looked at my watch: one thirty in the morning.
Questions:
1. What time of the day is the above extract set in?
(A) Dawn (B) Afternoon (C) Night (D) Dusk
- Answer: (C) Night
2. State any one inference about the writer from the context: “I was looking forward to being with my family.”
- Answer: The writer values family time and is excited about his upcoming holiday.
3. Fill in the blank with the correct word:
The use of the phrase ‘clear sky’ adds to a sense of ___ weather conditions. (favourable/flavourful)
- Answer: favourable
4. How does the serene atmosphere described by the narrator contribute to the mood of his journey? (Answer in 40 words.)
- Answer: The clear sky, shining stars, and peaceful surroundings create a calm and pleasant atmosphere. It enhances the narrator’s joyful mood as he anticipates a relaxing holiday with his family.
(b) Extract 2 (Prose)
From: “The Midnight Visitor”
Extract: “It’s not my balcony,” Ausable said with extreme irritation. “It belongs to the next apartment.” He glanced at Fowler. “You see,” he said, “this room used to be part of a large unit, and the next room — through that door there — used to be the living room. It had the balcony, which extends under my window now. You can get to it from the empty room two doors down — and somebody did, last month. The management promised to block it off. But they haven’t.”
Questions:
1. What was the management supposed to do regarding the balcony?
- Answer: The management was supposed to block off the balcony to prevent unauthorized access.
2. Why was Ausable irritated about the balcony?
(A) Its size and layout
(B) Its location relative to his apartment
(C) Its accessibility from the neighbouring unit
(D) Its maintenance by the apartment management)
- Answer: (C) Its accessibility from the neighbouring unit
3. How does Ausable’s explanation contribute to the suspense in the story? (Answer in 40 words.)
- Answer: Ausable’s calm and detailed description of the balcony creates suspense by making Fowler believe that an intruder could enter. This unexpected revelation builds tension about the safety of the secret papers.
4. Fill in the blank:
The reference to ‘last month’ and ‘now’ adds to a sense of ___. (reconciliation/mystery)
- Answer: mystery
Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (a) or (b): (5 Marks)
(a) Extract 1 (Poem)
From: “Dust of Snow” by Robert Frost
Extract:
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
Questions & Answers:
1. Complete the sentence:
Shaking down of dust of snow gave the speaker a change of heart by ___.
- Answer: uplifting his mood and helping him overcome his sadness.
2. How does the interaction between the crow, the snow, and the hemlock tree contribute to the speaker’s emotional transformation? (Answer in about 40 words.)
Answer: The crow, the hemlock tree, and the dust of snow together symbolize nature’s power to bring positive change. The unexpected snowfall shifts the speaker’s mood from gloom to happiness, teaching the importance of finding joy in life’s simple moments.
3. ‘Dust of Snow’ is referred to as:
(A) Mist
(B) Dust of branches
(C) Snow residue
(D) Snowflakes
Answer: (C) Snow residue
4. The crow and the hemlock tree represent:
- Sorrow
- Elation
- Hope
- Anxiety
- Enthusiasm
(A) 1 only
(B) 2, 3, and 5
(C) 4 only
(D) 1, 4, and 5
- Answer: (D) 1, 4, and 5 (Sorrow, Anxiety, and Enthusiasm)
(b) Extract 2 (Poem)
From: “Amanda” by Robin Klein
Extract:
Don’t bite your nails, Amanda!
Don’t hunch your shoulders, Amanda!
Stop that slouching and sit up straight, Amanda!
(There is a languid, emerald sea,
where the sole inhabitant is me —
a mermaid, drifting blissfully.)
Questions & Answers:
1. How does the poet reinforce the contrast between what the narrator wants and what Amanda desires? (Answer in 40 words.)
- Answer: The narrator wants Amanda to follow rules and display good manners. In contrast, Amanda desires freedom, creativity, and escape from constant instructions, as reflected in her imagination of a peaceful life as a mermaid in an emerald sea.
2. What tone is conveyed through the repetition of Amanda’s name?
- (A) Loving
- (B) Instructive
- (C) Indifferent
- (D) Playful
Answer: (B) Instructive
3. How does the imagery of the emerald sea with the mermaid contrast with Amanda’s actions?
- Answer: The emerald sea represents Amanda’s imagination, freedom, and tranquility, contrasting with her real-life actions where she is constantly corrected and controlled by adults.
4. Select the option with the same rhyme scheme:
Poem Options:
(A) Sitting by the pond / Awaiting my bond
(B) I looked above / I turned with love
(C) The crackle stopped / My heart dropped
(D) Sitting by the tree / Watching the sea
- Answer: (A) Sitting by the pond / Awaiting my bond (AABB rhyme scheme, similar to the poem’s pattern)
Short-Answer Questions (3 Marks each)
Answer any 4 of the following 5 questions (4×3=12 Marks).
1. Why was Valli excited about her bus journey? (Madam Rides the Bus)
- Answer: Valli was excited because she was going to experience a bus ride for the first time. She was curious about the outside world and eager to see the town she had only heard about.
2. Why does Custard long for a nice safe cage? (The Tale of Custard the Dragon)
- Answer: Custard longs for a safe cage because he is timid and fearful. He feels insecure and prefers the safety of a cage over the dangerous, unpredictable world outside.
3. Why did Mandela feel that liberation was important for both, the oppressor and the oppressed? (Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
- Answer: Mandela believed that both the oppressor and the oppressed were prisoners — the oppressed by fear and suffering, and the oppressor by hatred and prejudice. True freedom requires liberation of both groups.
4. Mention any three surprises that await visitors in Coorg.(Glimpses of India – Coorg)
Answer:
- Scenic coffee plantations
- Rich wildlife with birds and animals
- Kodava culture and the tales of valor
5. What does the poet mean by the phrase ‘And no one buys a ball back’? (The Ball Poem)
- Answer: The phrase means that lost possessions, like childhood innocence or lost experiences, cannot be bought or regained, no matter how much one is willing to pay.
Short-Answer Questions (3 Marks each)
Answer any 2 of the following 3 questions (2×3=6 Marks).
1. How do Anil’s initial reaction to Hari Singh’s cooking and his later actions reflect his evolving relationship with Hari Singh? (The Thief’s Story)
- Answer: Initially, Anil was displeased with Hari’s cooking but later grew fond of him. He trusted Hari with money and valued his company, showing his belief in giving people second chances.
2. How did the unexpected voice in the doorway affect Horace’s burglary attempt? (A Question of Trust)
- Answer: The sudden voice startled Horace and tricked him into believing it was the homeowner. This led him to abandon the burglary and ultimately get caught.
3. How does the play ‘The Book That Saved the Earth’ use humor and cultural differences to convey its message?
- Answer: The play uses humor by presenting Martians who misunderstand a nursery rhyme book as a threat. The cultural differences between Earth and Mars highlight the importance of understanding and open-mindedness.
Long-Answer Questions (6 Marks each)
Answer any 1 of the following 2 questions (1×6=6 Marks).
Question 1:
Comment on the reactions of Lencho and Nelson Mandela when they faced challenges in their lives. (A Letter to God / Long Walk to Freedom)
Answer (Sample):
Lencho reacted to his challenge with unwavering faith. When his crops were destroyed, he turned to God for help, believing in divine intervention. His innocent faith was so strong that he even doubted the integrity of the post office employees.
Mandela, on the other hand, reacted to challenges with determination and resilience. His life in prison strengthened his resolve to fight against apartheid. He believed that courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. Both men showed remarkable perseverance, but while Lencho sought help from God, Mandela took action for societal change.
Question 2:
How did the writers create humor in ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ and ‘The Proposal’?
Answer (Sample):
In “The Tale of Custard the Dragon”, humor is created through the irony of Custard’s cowardly nature despite being a fierce dragon. The exaggerated bravery of the other animals, who ultimately panic during danger, adds to the poem’s lighthearted tone.
In “The Proposal”, humor arises from the petty arguments between the characters. Lomov and Natalya quarrel over trivial matters like property and dog breeds, despite their intention to get married. The ridiculous nature of their fights provides comic relief while satirizing human behavior.
Final Overview:
Section C: Literature thoroughly tests comprehension, analytical thinking, and the ability to connect themes across different literary works. By practicing these questions and reviewing the answers, students can gain confidence for their CBSE exams.
