Roll No.
Total Printed Pages : 8Total Questions : 15
Time : 3 HoursMaximum Marks : 80
हायर सेकेण्डरी परीक्षा / Higher Secondary Examination (मुख्य / Main) वर्ष / Year – 2026
QR
263697
A
SET / सेट
ENGLISH
Instructions :
(1) Attempt all questions. (2) Read instructions carefully. (3) Marks indicated against each question.
SECTION – A (Reading Skills)
1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it :10
Books are our best companions. They enrich our minds with knowledge and open the doors of imagination. Reading good books helps in developing our personality, improving our language, and broadening our outlook. Unlike friends, books never demand anything from us. They are always ready to share their wisdom and experience.

In this modern age of technology, many people have turned away from books to television and mobile phones. Although, these gadgets provide entertainment and information, they cannot replace the joy and depth of reading.
(i) According to the passage, books are our _________.
(A) best companions(B) enemies(C) teachers(D) relatives
Answer: (A) best companions
(ii) Reading good books helps in _________.
(A) wasting time(B) narrowing outlook(C) broadening our outlook(D) laziness
Answer: (C) broadening our outlook
(iii) Books differ from friends because they _________.
(A) argue(B) demand nothing(C) demand attention(D) get angry
Answer: (B) demand nothing
(iv) What has replaced books for many people?
(A) Nature(B) Magazines(C) TV and mobile phones(D) Newspapers
Answer: (C) Television and mobile phones
2. Read the passage and make notes & give title:4
The ultimate challenge is to make your mind calm and the ultimate solution is meditation. In today’s age every second person recommends meditation to the first! And for a student, there cannot be a more powerful technique to improve long term performance in studies…
Answer:
Title: Benefits of Meditation
1. Why Meditation?
  1.1 Solution for calm mind
  1.2 Improves long term performance
2. Obvious Benefits
  2.1 Better retention & focus
  2.2 Spiritual growth & happiness
SECTION – C (Grammar)
6. Fill in the blanks: (Any Five)5
(i) He ________ football since morning. (played/playing/has been playing)
Answer: has been playing
(ii) She works hard ________ she may get good marks. (though/if/so that)
Answer: so that
(iii) Sohan is superior ________ Mohan. (from/to/than)
Answer: to
(iv) ________ Ganga is a holy river. (A/An/The)
Answer: The
(v) It ________ rain today. (need/dare/may)
Answer: may
7. Do as directed: (Any Five)5
(i) As soon as the students saw the teacher, they became silent. (Use ‘No sooner…than’)
Answer: No sooner did the students see the teacher than they became silent.
(ii) I know him. (Change the voice)
Answer: He is known to me.
(iii) He shut the window. (Negative)
Answer: He did not shut the window.
SECTION – D (Literature)
8. Read the extract and answer: (Rattrap/Cottage)5
One dark evening as he was trudging along the road he caught sight of a little gray cottage by the road side. He knocked on the door to ask shelter for the night and was not refused…
(i) The extract is from which lesson?
(A) Last Lesson(B) Lost Spring(C) The Rat Trap(D) Deep Water
Answer: (C) The Rat Trap
(ii) Why was the owner happy?
Answer: Because he was lonely and got someone to talk to.