UP Board Class 10 English Question Paper 2025 (Code 817 BI) with Answer Key and Solutions PDF is Available to Download

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for the reason why the old man was distressed, based on the provided passage.


Step 2: Locating the Information:

The very first sentence of the passage states: "An old man was distressed because his sons always quarrelled with one another."


Step 3: Final Answer:

The passage directly provides the answer. The old man's distress was caused by his sons constantly quarrelling among themselves. This matches option (D).
Quick Tip: In reading comprehension, the answer to a "why" question is often found immediately following the word "because" or in the same sentence that describes the situation or emotion.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for the meaning of the word "distressed" in the context of the sentence.


Step 2: Defining "Distressed":

The word "distressed" means suffering from great pain, anxiety, or sorrow. It indicates a state of being deeply upset or worried.


Step 3: Evaluating the Options:


(A) happy: This is the opposite of distressed.

(B) sad: This is a synonym for sorrow or unhappiness, which is a core component of being distressed.

(C) angry: While distress can lead to anger, its primary meaning is sorrow or worry.

(D) mad: This can mean angry or insane, neither of which is the primary meaning of distressed.


The closest and most appropriate synonym among the options is "sad."


Step 4: Final Answer:

"Distressed" means the old man was very worried and unhappy, so "sad" is the best fit.
Quick Tip: When asked for the meaning of a word in a passage, use the context to help you decide. The old man was worried about his sons, which would make him sad, not happy or angry in this context.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks to find the antonym (opposite) of the word 'weak' within the text of the passage.


Step 2: Locating the Word and its Opposite:

The last sentence of the passage makes a direct comparison: "Thus he taught them that united they would be strong, but disunited they would always be weak."


Step 3: Final Answer:

This sentence explicitly contrasts the word 'strong' with the word 'weak'. Therefore, the opposite of 'weak' found in the passage is 'strong'.
Quick Tip: Look for contrasting words like "but," "however," or "while" in a passage. They often connect opposite ideas and can help you easily identify antonyms.

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

This question tests the knowledge of appropriate prepositions that follow certain adjectives. These are often fixed expressions.


Step 2: Analyzing the Expression:

The adjective "proud" is always followed by the preposition "of" when it is followed by a noun or pronoun that is the source of the pride. The correct phrasal structure is "to be proud of someone/something."


Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct sentence is "I am proud of my students." Therefore, option (C) is the correct choice.
Quick Tip: Many adjectives in English are followed by specific prepositions (e.g., fond of, interested in, good at). It's helpful to learn these as complete phrases.

Step 1: Understanding the Task:

The task is to arrange the given jumbled words into a grammatically correct and coherent sentence.


Step 2: Identifying Sentence Components:


Subject: A logical subject would be 'Some children'.
Verb: The action word is 'love'.
Infinitive Phrase (Object): What do they love? 'to share their toys'. The infinitive 'to share' needs an object, which is 'their toys'.


Step 3: Constructing the Sentence:

Following the standard English sentence structure (Subject + Verb + Object/Complement):

Some children (Subject) + love (Verb) + to share their toys (Infinitive Phrase).

This forms the complete, meaningful sentence: "Some children love to share their toys."


Step 4: Final Answer:

This construction matches option (D). The other options are grammatically incorrect and do not make logical sense.
Quick Tip: When rearranging a sentence, first identify the subject and the main verb. Then, figure out what the object of the verb is. This simple S-V-O (Subject-Verb-Object) approach can solve most jumbled sentence questions.

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

This question tests the knowledge of correlative conjunctions, which are pairs of conjunctions that work together.


Step 2: Analyzing the Structure:

The phrase "No sooner..." is always followed by "than". This pair is used to indicate that one event happened immediately after another. The structure is:

No sooner + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb ... than + second event.

In this sentence, "No sooner did he reach..." must be followed by "than the bell rang."


Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct conjunction to complete the pair is "than". Therefore, option (D) is correct.
Quick Tip: Do not confuse 'than' (used for comparison and with "No sooner") with 'then' (used to indicate time or sequence). This is a very common error. Remember the fixed pair: "No sooner... than..."

Step 1: Understanding the Task:

The task is to identify the word that has an incorrect spelling from the list of options.


Step 2: Checking the Spelling of Each Word:


(A) Military: This spelling is correct.

(B) Temperary: This spelling is incorrect. The correct spelling is Temporary. It should have an 'o' instead of the second 'e'.

(C) Century: This spelling is correct.

(D) Ordinary: This spelling is correct.



Step 3: Final Answer:

The word "Temperary" is misspelt. The correct spelling is "Temporary".
Quick Tip: Common spelling errors often involve vowels (a, e, i, o, u) or double consonants. When in doubt, try to break the word into syllables and sound it out (Tem-po-ra-ry).

Step 1: Understanding the Task:

The question asks for a single word that describes a person who is unable to speak. This is a one-word substitution question.


Step 2: Defining the Options:


(A) dumb: This word traditionally means unable to speak.

(B) blind: This means unable to see.

(C) deaf: This means unable to hear.

(D) lame: This describes someone who is unable to walk normally due to an injury or illness affecting the leg or foot.



Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct term for someone who cannot speak is "dumb." Therefore, option (A) is the correct answer.
Quick Tip: In modern usage, the term "mute" is often preferred over "dumb" to describe someone who cannot speak, as "dumb" can also carry a negative connotation of being stupid. However, in the context of traditional vocabulary questions, "dumb" is the expected answer.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for the distance between the town and Valli's village, based on the information in the passage.


Step 2: Locating the Information:

The passage explicitly states the details Valli gathered. The fourth sentence says: "The town was six miles from her village."


Step 3: Final Answer:

The passage directly confirms that the distance was six miles. Therefore, option (B) is the correct choice.
Quick Tip: When a comprehension passage contains specific numbers, dates, or measurements, it's very likely that a question will test your recall of these precise details. Make a mental note of them as you read.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for the one-way bus fare according to the passage.


Step 2: Locating the Information:

The last sentence of the passage provides this information: "The fare was thirty paise one way..."


Step 3: Final Answer:

The passage clearly states that the one-way fare was thirty paise. Thus, option (A) is the correct answer.
Quick Tip: Reading comprehension questions often test your ability to extract specific, factual information. Scan the text for keywords from the question (like "fare") to find the relevant sentence quickly.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for the year of the first democratic elections in South Africa, which led to Nelson Mandela becoming president. This is a factual question based on the chapter "Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom."


Step 2: Recalling Historical Context:

The chapter describes the historic transition from apartheid to a democratic government in South Africa. The first multiracial democratic elections, in which all citizens were allowed to vote, were held on April 27, 1994. Following these elections, Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first black president of South Africa.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The correct year is 1994. Therefore, option (D) is the correct choice.
Quick Tip: For literature chapters based on historical events, it's very helpful to remember key dates and figures. The year 1994 is a landmark date in world history and central to Mandela's story.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for the age of Valli, the main character in the story "Madam Rides the Bus."


Step 2: Recalling Information from the Story:

The story introduces the protagonist, Valliammai, who is called Valli for short. The text explicitly states her age in the beginning: "There was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was eight years old and very curious about things."


Step 3: Final Answer:

Valli was an eight-year-old girl. This corresponds to option (D).
Quick Tip: Pay attention to the introductory details about the main character in a story, such as their name, age, and key personality traits. These are often tested in objective questions.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

This question refers to the anecdote from "From the Diary of Anne Frank" where Anne writes a poem to outwit her teacher, Mr. Keesing. The question is slightly misphrased, as the original poem was not about a "mother duck."


Step 2: Recalling the Anecdote from Anne Frank's Diary:

To counter Mr. Keesing's punishments for her talkativeness, Anne wrote a humorous poem. The poem was about three baby ducklings who were bitten to death by their father swan because they quacked too much. Mr. Keesing took the joke in the right spirit and stopped giving her extra homework.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The key characters in the poem were the ducklings and the father swan. Despite the question's error in mentioning a "mother duck," the intended answer referring to the other parent figure is "a father."
Quick Tip: Sometimes exam questions can contain small errors. Use your knowledge of the text to infer the question's intent. Here, recognizing the reference to Anne Frank's poem about the swan is key to finding the correct answer.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for one of the ways people believe the world will end, according to the poem.


Step 2: Analyzing the Extract:

The very first line of the poem states: "Some say the world will end in fire". The second line adds the alternative, "Some say in ice."


Step 3: Final Answer:

Based on the first line, "fire" is one of the predicted causes of the world's end. This matches option (C).
Quick Tip: For questions on poetry extracts, the most straightforward answer is often found by literally reading the lines provided. Don't overthink the question; first, check for a direct statement in the text.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for the meaning of the word 'hold' in the context of the line "I hold with those who favour fire."


Step 2: Analyzing the Context:

The poet is considering two different opinions on how the world will end. By saying "I hold with those who favour fire," the poet is stating which side of the argument he agrees with or supports. The phrase "to hold with someone/something" means to share an opinion or to support a particular view.


Step 3: Final Answer:

In this context, 'hold' means to agree with or support. Therefore, option (D) is the most appropriate meaning.
Quick Tip: The meaning of a word can change based on its context. Read the full sentence or phrase to understand how the word is being used before selecting its meaning.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks what the thief, Hari Singh, discovered when he woke up the morning after he had stolen and returned Anil's money.


Step 2: Recalling the Climax of "The Thief's Story":

After Hari Singh discreetly returns the stolen money, he is nervous about how Anil will react. The next morning, he finds that Anil is already awake and has prepared tea. Anil holds out a 50-rupee note, which is still damp from the rain, and tells Hari he will now be paid regularly. This shows Anil's forgiveness and kindness.


Step 3: Final Answer:

When Hari awoke, he found that Anil had already made the tea. This matches option (C).
Quick Tip: Remember the key turning points in a story's plot. Anil's act of making tea and offering a payment, rather than confronting Hari, is the climactic moment of forgiveness that changes the thief's life.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for the motivation behind Richard Ebright's experiments at Harvard Medical School, based on "The Making of a Scientist."


Step 2: Recalling Ebright's Scientific Journey:

Ebright's work at Harvard grew out of his earlier research on monarch butterflies. His discovery about the hormone produced by the gold spots on a pupa led him to a groundbreaking idea. He developed a new theory on how cells read their DNA blueprint. His experiments at Harvard were designed to test this new theory about cell life, which, if proven correct, could lead to new ways of preventing some types of cancer and other diseases.


Step 3: Final Answer:

His immediate goal at Harvard was to conduct experiments to prove or disprove his scientific theory. Therefore, option (D) is the most accurate answer.
Quick Tip: The scientific method involves forming a hypothesis or theory and then conducting experiments to test it. Ebright's story is a perfect example of this process in action.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for the number of sons and daughters Bholi's father, Ramlal, had.


Step 2: Recalling Information from the Story "Bholi":

The story provides details about Ramlal's family. It states that Ramlal was a prosperous farmer and had seven children in total. The text specifies that he had "three sons and four daughters," and that Bholi was the youngest of all of them.


Step 3: Final Answer:

Ramlal had three sons and four daughters. This corresponds to option (D).
Quick Tip: Basic factual details about the main character's family and background are often asked in literature-based questions. Make a mental note of these details when you first read the story.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for the real reason behind Tricki's illness in "A Triumph of Surgery."


Step 2: Recalling the Plot of the Story:

The veterinarian, Mr. Herriot, quickly diagnoses Tricki's problem. It was not a medical disease but a condition caused by his owner's overindulgence. Mrs. Pumphrey fed him an excessive amount of rich, fatty food and gave him no exercise. This led to him becoming extremely obese, listless, and suffering from bouts of vomiting. The problem was a direct consequence of being overfed.


Step 3: Final Answer:

Tricki's problem was the symptoms, like vomiting, that arose from the excess of food he was given. Option (C) accurately describes this cause-and-effect relationship.
Quick Tip: Understanding the central problem of a story is key. In this case, the problem was not a disease that needed medicine, but a lifestyle issue that needed discipline, which is why Mr. Herriot's treatment was successful.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks about the true nature of the necklace that Matilda Loisel lost.


Step 2: Recalling the Story's Ironic Twist:

Matilda and her husband believed the borrowed necklace was made of real diamonds. After losing it, they spent ten years in poverty to repay the debt for a genuine diamond replacement. In the final scene of the story, Matilda meets Madame Forestier again and learns the shocking truth: the original necklace was a fake, made of paste (artificial diamonds), and was worth very little.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The lost necklace was a fake, made of artificial diamonds. This corresponds to option (D).
Quick Tip: The twist ending is the most crucial part of "The Necklace." Remembering this ironic revelation is key to understanding the story's themes of pride, appearance versus reality, and the tragic consequences of a single mistake.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for the reason the poor woman approached the Buddha.


Step 2: Locating the Information:

The first sentence of the passage states: "Once a poor woman came to the Buddha to ask him whether he could give her any medicine to restore her dead child to life."


Step 3: Final Answer:

The poor woman went to the Buddha to ask for a medicine that could bring her dead child back to life.
Quick Tip: The opening sentence of a passage often sets the scene and explains the main character's initial motivation. Look there first for answers to "why" questions about the beginning of a story.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks what task the Buddha assigned to the woman.


Step 2: Locating the Information:

The third sentence of the passage provides the answer: "He bade her bring a handful of mustard seed from a house where death had never visited."


Step 3: Final Answer:

The Buddha asked the woman to bring him a handful of mustard seeds from a house that had never experienced death.
Quick Tip: Pay attention to instructions or commands given by one character to another in a story. These are often key plot points and are frequently asked about in comprehension questions.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for the specific sad responses the woman received from people.


Step 2: Locating the Information:

The passage gives direct quotes of the replies in the fifth and sixth sentences: 'One said, "I have lost my husband," another said, "our youngest child died last year."'


Step 3: Final Answer:

The sad replies people gave her were that they too had lost loved ones. For example, one person had lost a husband, and another had lost their youngest child.
Quick Tip: When a passage includes quoted text, it's often there to provide specific examples or evidence. These quotes are a prime source for answers to detailed questions.

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

The question asks for a synonym of the word 'softly' that is present in the passage.


Step 2: Searching the Passage for Synonyms:

Reading through the passage, we look for an adverb that describes a gentle or soft manner. The last sentence says, "...the Buddha, who told her tenderly that she must not think much of her own grief..." The word "tenderly" means in a gentle, kind, or affectionate way, which is very close in meaning to "softly."


Step 3: Final Answer:

The word in the passage that means 'softly' is tenderly.
Quick Tip: For vocabulary questions, use the context of the sentence to understand the meaning of a word. The way the Buddha spoke to the grieving mother suggests a soft and gentle tone.

Model Answer (Informal Letter):


Hotel Sea View

Marine Drive,

Mumbai - 400020


25th December 2023


Dear Rohan,


I hope this letter finds you well. I'm writing to you from Mumbai, where my family and I are spending our winter holidays. The city is absolutely amazing and full of energy!


Yesterday, we visited the Gateway of India and saw the beautiful Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The sea breeze here at Marine Drive is so refreshing. We also enjoyed some delicious street food like Vada Pav and Bhel Puri. I wish you were here to share all this fun with me. The city looks especially beautiful at night with all the lights.


I will be back next week and will show you all the pictures. Until then, take care.


Your loving friend,

Amit
Quick Tip: In an informal letter, the tone should be personal and friendly. Make sure to include the sender's address, the date, a warm salutation, and a friendly closing. Describe your experiences vividly to make the letter engaging for your friend.

Model Answer (Formal Application):


To

The Principal,

Government Inter College,

Lucknow, UP


Date: 25th December 2023


Subject: Application for a week's sick leave


Respected Sir,


With due respect, I wish to state that I am a student of Class X-B in your college. I have been suffering from a high fever and viral infection since last night. The doctor has diagnosed it as influenza and has advised me to take complete bed rest for one week.


Therefore, I kindly request you to grant me a leave of absence from 25th December 2023 to 31st December 2023. I shall be highly grateful to you for this act of kindness. A copy of the doctor's medical certificate is attached for your reference.


Thanking you,


Yours obediently,

Aarav Singh

Class X-B

Roll No. 15
Quick Tip: A formal application requires a specific format. Always include a clear subject line. The language should be polite, precise, and to the point. Mentioning the exact dates of leave and attaching a medical certificate (if applicable) makes your application more professional.

Model Answer (Report):



The Bustling Scene at Aminabad Market

\textit{- By Riya, a Local Resident


Aminabad Market in Lucknow is one of the busiest places in the city, especially during the evening hours. The shops are brightly decorated, attracting a huge crowd of customers. A wide variety of goods, from clothing and electronics to street food, are sold here. The constant movement of shoppers and the noise of hawkers create a lively atmosphere. However, the heavy traffic and lack of proper parking facilities cause a lot of chaos. This has a negative impact on the environment and convenience. Authorities should implement better traffic management and create designated parking zones to improve the experience for everyone.
Quick Tip: When writing a report based on hints, try to incorporate each hint into a logical flow. Start with an introduction (name, decoration), move to the body (goods, customers, traffic), and end with a conclusion or suggestions (impact, suggestions).

Model Answer (Article):



A Day with the Wild: A Visit to the Zoo

\textit{- By Rohan


A zoo is a facility where animals are housed within enclosures, cared for, displayed to the public, and may be bred. Last Sunday, I visited the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden in Lucknow. It was a thrilling experience to see so many different animals, birds, and reptiles in one place. The majestic Royal Bengal Tiger, the playful monkeys, and the colourful parrots were a delight to watch. The snake house, with its various species of reptiles, was both scary and fascinating. In conclusion, a visit to the zoo is an educational and enjoyable outing for people of all ages.
Quick Tip: For an article with a given structure, use each point as a guide for your sentences or paragraphs. (i) What is a zoo? - Start with a definition. (ii) Location - Name the place. (iii) Animals - Describe what you saw. (iv) Conclusion - End with your final thoughts.

Step 1: Understanding the Task:

The task is to convert a direct speech sentence, which is an imperative sentence (a request), into indirect (reported) speech.


Step 2: Rules for Conversion:


The reporting verb 'said to' changes to 'requested' because the sentence contains the word "Please".

The word "Please" is removed in indirect speech as the sense of request is conveyed by the reporting verb.

The imperative verb ('lend') is changed to its infinitive form ('to lend').

Pronouns change according to the speaker and listener. 'me' (first person, object) refers to the speaker ('My friend'), so it becomes 'him'. 'your' (second person, possessive) refers to the listener ('me'), so it becomes 'my'.

The adverb of time 'today' changes to 'that day'.



Step 3: Final Answer:

Applying these rules, the sentence becomes:

My friend requested me to lend him my book that day.
Quick Tip: For imperative sentences (commands, requests, advice) in indirect speech, the reporting verb changes to reflect the mood (e.g., ordered, requested, advised), and the main verb changes to an infinitive (to + verb).

Step 1: Understanding the Task:

The task is to convert an active voice sentence in the Simple Past tense into the passive voice.


Step 2: Rules for Conversion (Simple Past):


The object of the active sentence ('me') becomes the subject of the passive sentence. The pronoun 'me' changes to 'I'.

The subject of the active sentence ('She') becomes the object of the passive sentence, preceded by 'by'. The pronoun 'She' changes to 'her'.

The verb form (V2) changes to 'was/were + past participle (V3)'. Since the new subject is 'I', we use 'was'. The past participle of 'helped' is 'helped'.



Step 3: Final Answer:

The final passive voice sentence is:

I was helped by her.
Quick Tip: Remember the basic formula for changing to passive voice: Object becomes Subject, Subject becomes Object (with 'by'), and the verb is changed to a form of 'to be' + the past participle (V3).

Step 1: Understanding the Task:

The task is to add correct capitalization and punctuation to the given sentence, which is a direct quotation.


Step 2: Punctuation and Capitalization Rules:


Proper nouns must be capitalized: 'mohan' \(\rightarrow\) 'Mohan', 'sohan' \(\rightarrow\) 'Sohan', 'lucknow' \(\rightarrow\) 'Lucknow', 'uttar pradesh' \(\rightarrow\) 'Uttar Pradesh'.

The sentence starts with a capital letter.

A comma is needed after the reporting verb ('said to Sohan,').

The direct speech must be enclosed in quotation marks ("...").

The first word of the direct speech must be capitalized ('do' \(\rightarrow\) 'Do').

The direct speech is a question, so it must end with a question mark (?) inside the closing quotation mark.



Step 3: Final Answer:

The correctly punctuated sentence is:

Mohan said to Sohan, "Do you know that Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh?"
Quick Tip: Always check for proper nouns (names of people, places) and capitalize them. Remember the sequence for direct speech: comma, opening quote, capital letter, sentence, closing punctuation, closing quote.

Step 1: Translating Sentence by Sentence:


\(\rightarrow\) India is a developing country.

\(\rightarrow\) It is progressing rapidly.

\(\rightarrow\) Rising population and prices are big problems.

\(\rightarrow\) By controlling these, our country will become great.



Step 2: Combining into a Coherent Paragraph:

India is a developing country. It is progressing rapidly. Rising population and prices are big problems. By controlling these, our country will become great.
Quick Tip: When translating, aim for a natural-sounding English sentence rather than a literal word-for-word translation. For example, translates well to "is progressing."

Step 1: Understanding the Context:

The question refers to a specific event in the story "A Letter to God" by G. L. Fuentes. It asks for the reason behind the postman's strong emotional reaction.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The postman laughed heartily because he had come across something he had never seen in his entire career: a letter addressed to "God." The idea of a person writing and mailing a letter to God struck him as incredibly naive and amusing. The sheer absurdity and innocence of the act were the reasons for his hearty laughter.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The postman laughed heartily because he saw a letter addressed to God for the first time, an act he found utterly comical and unbelievable.
Quick Tip: When analyzing a character's reaction, consider their profession and experience. For a postman, whose job revolves around addresses, a letter to "God" would be a unique and funny anomaly, explaining his initial amusement.

Step 1: Understanding the Context:

This question is based on the chapter "A Baker from Goa" from "Glimpses of India." It asks about the work and routine of the traditional Goan bakers, known as 'paders'.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The main preparations of the bakers of Goa involved their daily routine of baking different types of bread. They would mix, mould, and bake loaves in their age-old, time-tested furnaces. They prepared not only the staple loaves of bread for daily consumption but also special sweet breads called 'bol' for marriages and 'bolinhas' for Christmas and other festivals. Their work started early, ensuring fresh bread was ready for the baker's morning rounds.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The main preparations of the bakers were mixing, moulding, and baking various types of bread in their traditional furnaces, including daily loaves and special festive breads.
Quick Tip: For questions about cultural descriptions, focus on the unique traditions and products mentioned. The different types of bread for different occasions highlight the integral role of the baker in Goan society.

Step 1: Understanding the Context:

The question asks what Lencho said or thought about the post office employees after he received the money.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

After counting the money and finding only 70 pesos instead of the 100 he had requested from God, Lencho became angry. In his second letter to God, he wrote that God should not send the rest of the money through the mail because the post office employees were "a bunch of crooks" who had likely stolen the missing 30 pesos.


Step 3: Final Answer:

Lencho's remark for the post office employees was that they were "a bunch of crooks."
Quick Tip: The central irony of the story lies in this remark. The very people who helped Lencho out of kindness were the ones he accused of theft due to his unshakable (but naive) faith.

Step 1: Understanding the Context:

The question asks about Valli's actions immediately after she boarded the bus for her first journey, as described in "Madam Rides the Bus."


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

After she got into the bus, Valli proudly paid her fare of thirty paise to the conductor. Since she was too short to see over the canvas blind that covered the lower part of the window, she stood up on her seat to get a clear view of the outside world. She then began to keenly observe the passing scenery, taking in all the new and wonderful sights with fascination.


Step 3: Final Answer:

After getting on the bus, Valli paid her fare and stood up on her seat to look out the window and enjoy the view.
Quick Tip: Remember a character's first actions in a new situation. Valli's actions of paying her fare confidently and standing up to see clearly reveal her independent and curious nature.

Step 1: Understanding the Character Interaction:

The question asks to describe the bus conductor's behaviour and attitude towards Valli when she boarded his bus.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The bus conductor was a jolly, fun-loving man. He was amused by Valli's mature and confident behaviour for an eight-year-old girl. He received her in a light-hearted and friendly manner, playfully calling her 'madam' as a joke. When he saw her standing on the seat, he showed concern and asked her to sit down, lest she fall. Throughout the journey, he engaged with her kindly, demonstrating his good-natured personality and making her first bus ride a pleasant experience.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The conductor received Valli with amusement and friendly humour. He playfully called her 'madam' and treated her with kindness and concern, ensuring she had a safe and enjoyable journey.
Quick Tip: Analyze the dynamic between characters. The warm and friendly interaction between the conductor and Valli is a heartwarming aspect of the story, showing how strangers can be kind.

Step 1: Summarizing the Description:

The question asks for a summary of the writer's description of the place Coorg and its inhabitants, the Kodavus.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The writer describes Coorg as a "piece of heaven," a beautiful land of rolling hills, evergreen rainforests, and vast coffee and spice plantations. It is the smallest district of Karnataka. The people of Coorg, known as Kodavus, are described as being of possible Greek or Arabic descent. They are a proud and independent race, famous for their bravery and martial traditions. The writer highlights their significant contribution to the Indian Army and their renowned tradition of hospitality, making them welcoming hosts to visitors.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The writer portrays Coorg as a beautiful, heavenly place famous for its coffee and rainforests. He describes its people, the Kodavus, as a fiercely independent and brave race known for their martial traditions and warm hospitality.
Quick Tip: For descriptive chapters, create a mind map with two branches: 'Place' and 'People'. Under each, list the key adjectives and features mentioned in the text. This helps in framing a comprehensive answer.

Step 1: Identifying the Poet and Message:

The question has two parts: naming the composer of the poem and explaining its central message.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The poem 'Dust of Snow' was composed by the famous American poet, Robert Frost.

The message of the poem is that even small, seemingly insignificant moments in nature can have a profound and positive effect on our mood. The poet, who was having a bad day ('a day I had rued'), experiences a simple event: a crow shaking a dusting of snow on him from a hemlock tree. This simple act instantly lifts his spirits and saves the rest of his day from being wasted in regret. The poem teaches us to appreciate the healing power of nature and that a small positive event can change our entire outlook.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The poem is composed by Robert Frost. Its message is that little things in nature can bring about a significant positive change in our mood and brighten our day.
Quick Tip: Remember that Frost often uses simple natural elements (like snow, trees, birds) to convey deep philosophical ideas. The use of a crow and a hemlock tree, both traditionally negative symbols, to bring about a positive change is a key element of the poem's message.

The following four lines are from the poem "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost:


\textit{Some say the world will end in fire,

\textit{Some say in ice.

\textit{From what I’ve tasted of desire

\textit{I hold with those who favour fire.
Quick Tip: For this type of question, it is always a good idea to memorize a few short and memorable poems from your syllabus. Ensure you write them with correct spelling and punctuation.

The central idea of the poem 'Amanda' by Robin Klein is the struggle of a child for freedom against the constant nagging and control of her parents, particularly her mother. The poem highlights how a child's imagination becomes her escape from the harsh realities of being constantly instructed and corrected. Amanda retreats into a fantasy world where she is a mermaid, an orphan, or Rapunzel—all figures who represent freedom and tranquility. The poem conveys the message that children need space and understanding, not constant control, to develop their own identity.
Quick Tip: The structure of 'Amanda' is key to its central idea: stanzas of nagging instructions are followed by stanzas of Amanda's imaginative escapes in parentheses. This contrast visually represents the theme of control versus freedom.

The central idea of Robert Frost's poem 'Dust of Snow' is that small, simple acts of nature can have a surprisingly large and positive impact on a person's mood. The poet describes how a seemingly trivial event—a crow shaking snow from a hemlock tree onto him—instantly changes his sad and regretful state of mind. This simple moment 'saved some part of a day I had rued,' teaching the reader that one should never consider a day completely lost, as a small bit of positivity can be found in unexpected places.
Quick Tip: The poem challenges our perceptions. The crow and the hemlock tree, often seen as symbols of bad omen, become agents of joy. This underlines the message that positivity can come from anywhere.

The central idea of the poem 'A Tiger in the Zoo' by Leslie Norris is the painful contrast between freedom and captivity. The poem highlights the agony and helplessness of a magnificent tiger confined within the limited space of a cage. The poet contrasts its suppressed anger and restricted movements in the zoo with the majestic freedom it should be enjoying in its natural habitat, the jungle. The poem is a powerful plea for the freedom of wild animals, suggesting that they belong in the wild and not in cages for human entertainment.
Quick Tip: To grasp the central idea, focus on the contrasting imagery used by the poet: the tiger's "quiet rage" on "pads of velvet quiet" in the cage versus "lurking in shadow" and "snarling" in the jungle.

When her husband showed her the invitation card to the party, Madame Loisel, instead of being delighted, reacted with irritation and despair. She threw the invitation spitefully upon the table and began to weep. She was upset because she felt she had no suitable dress or jewelry to wear for such a grand occasion and was afraid of looking poor among the wealthy guests. Her reaction revealed her deep-seated dissatisfaction with her life and her overwhelming desire to appear affluent.
Quick Tip: A character's reaction to a key event often reveals their core personality and the central conflict of the story. Mme Loisel's reaction immediately establishes her vanity and discontent as the driving forces of the plot.

The doctor, Mr. Herriot, gave Tricki a practical and non-medical treatment. Understanding that Tricki's real problem was overfeeding, he put the dog on a strict regimen. For the first two days, he gave Tricki no food at all, only plenty of water. Afterwards, he gradually introduced a balanced diet and allowed Tricki to run and play with the other dogs at the surgery for exercise. This simple treatment of diet control and physical activity cured Tricki completely.
Quick Tip: The title "A Triumph of Surgery" is ironic. The "surgery" was not a medical operation but a successful intervention in Tricki's lifestyle, which was the actual cure.

Bholi was initially terrified of going to school and refused to go, so her father, Ramlal, had to drag her. To persuade her and make her presentable, an unprecedented effort was made at home. For the first time, Bholi was given a proper bath, and her matted hair was washed and oiled. She was also given a clean dress to wear, even though it was an old one of her sister Champa's. This unusual treatment made Bholi feel that she was being taken to a place better than her home, which finally convinced her to go to school without protest.
Quick Tip: The details of how Bholi was prepared for school are significant as they highlight the neglect she usually faced at home. This day marked the beginning of her transformation and a new life.

Hari Singh returned to Anil even after stealing his money due to a combination of guilt and a desire for a better future. Firstly, his conscience pricked him for betraying the trust of Anil, who had been so kind and unsuspecting. Secondly, and more importantly, Hari realized that the stolen money would not last long, but the education Anil was giving him would. He knew that being able to read and write would allow him to become a clever, respected man and earn much more money honestly. The promise of education and a respectable life was more valuable to him than the immediate gain from the theft.
Quick Tip: The climax of "The Thief's Story" is this moment of transformation. The core reason for Hari Singh's return is his realization that education is the true path to success and respect, a path Anil had opened for him.