Rajasthan Board Class 10 English 2023
paper solved with our signature concept map for deeper understanding. Detailed questions on reading, writing,
grammar, and literature for effective exam preparation

Rajasthan Board Class 10 Solved English Examination – 2023

• Number of Questions: 20
• Time: 3 Hours 15 Minutes Maximum
  Marks: 80

General Instructions for Examinees:

1. Roll Number:
   Candidates must write their Roll Numbers on the question paper compulsorily.
2. Compulsory Questions:
   All questions are mandatory. No optional questions.
3. Answer-Book Usage:
   Write the answers in the given answer-book only. Do not write on
   the question paper.
4. Continuity in Answers:
   For questions having multiple parts, ensure that the answers to those
   parts are written together and in sequence.
5. Correct Serial Number:
   Always write the correct serial number of each question as it
   appears in the question paper.

Concept Map for deeper understanding:

Secondary Examination, 2023 – English Paper

 

SECTION A – Reading Comprehension (खंड A – पढ़ने की समझ)

1. Passage 1: Gujarat Farmers (गुजरात के किसान)
• Main Character (मुख्य पात्र): Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
• Topic (विषय): Co-operative dairy unit for
  farmer prosperity.
  (किसानों की
  समृद्धि के लिए सहकारी दुग्ध इकाई।)
2. Passage 2: Bismillah Khan’s
   Journey (बिस्मिल्लाह खान की यात्रा)
• Main Character (मुख्य पात्र): Ustad Bismillah Khan
• Topic (विषय): His early life, Shehnai
  practice, and rise in classical music.
  (उनका
  प्रारंभिक जीवन, शहनाई का अभ्यास, और शास्त्रीय संगीत में उनका उदय।)

SECTION B – Writing (खंड B – लेखन)

1. Letter Writing (पत्र लेखन)
• Topics (विषय): Invitation to a wedding or
  Request to change school section.
  (शादी का
  निमंत्रण या स्कूल की सेक्शन बदलने का अनुरोध।)
2. Story Writing (कहानी लेखन)
• Outlines (रूपरेखा):
• The Capseller and Monkeys (टोपी बेचने वाला और बंदर)
• The Fox and the Crow (लोमड़ी और कौआ)
3. Paragraph Writing (अनुच्छेद लेखन)
• Topic 1 (विषय 1): Based on visual aid. (दृश्य सहायता पर आधारित)
• Topic 2 (विषय 2): My Best Friend (मेरा सबसे अच्छा मित्र)

SECTION C – Grammar (खंड C – व्याकरण)

1. Verbs (क्रिया)
• Correct forms (सही रूप): E.g., “Once there was a
  king.”
  (जैसे:
  “एक बार एक राजा था।”)
2. Indirect Speech (अप्रत्यक्ष कथन)
• Convert direct to indirect
  sentences. (प्रत्यक्ष वाक्यों को अप्रत्यक्ष में बदलें।)
3. Use of Connectives (संबंधसूचक शब्दों का प्रयोग)
• E.g., “He is not only a
  teacher but also a writer.”
  (जैसे:
  “वह न केवल शिक्षक है बल्कि लेखक भी है।”)
4. Relative Pronouns (संबंधवाचक सर्वनाम)
• E.g., “The book which is on
  the table.”
  (जैसे:
  “वह पुस्तक जो मेज पर है।”)
5. Active to Passive Voice (सक्रिय से निष्क्रिय वाच्य)
• E.g., “Pratibha will play
  cricket tomorrow.”
  (जैसे:
  “प्रतिभा कल क्रिकेट खेलेगी।”)

SECTION D – Literature (खंड D – साहित्य)

1. Character Analysis and Questions
   from Texts (चरित्र विश्लेषण और पाठ से प्रश्न)
• Texts (पाठ): “A Letter to God”,
  “The Hundred Dresses – I”, “The Proposal”, etc.
  (जैसे:
  “ए लेटर टू गॉड”, “द हंड्रेड ड्रेसेस – I”, “द प्रपोजल” आदि।)
• Tasks (कार्य): Extract-based questions and
  character sketch writing.
  (पाठांश
  आधारित प्रश्न और चरित्र चित्रण लेखन।)
2. Poetry Analysis (कविता विश्लेषण)
• Rhyme scheme identification (तुकांत योजना की पहचान)
• Interpretation of destruction
  imagery (विनाश की छवि की व्याख्या)
• E.g., Fire and Ice (जैसे: आग और बर्फ)

SECTION A – READING

1) Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

The people of Gujarat were mostly farmers. They reared cattle but remained
poor. Despite their hard work, they always remained in want. The poor plight of
these farmers moved the heart of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel. He was determined to bring prosperity into their lives. So, he decided
to organize them into a co-operative force and provide them with a steady
source of income. This task was assigned to Mr. Tribhuvandas Patel. He united
the disorganized farmers and started a co-operative dairy unit. This system of
co-operative effort eliminated the middlemen who harassed and exploited the
ignorant farmers.

i) Who was determined to bring prosperity into Gujarat farmers’
lives? [1]
(A) Mr. Tribhuvandas
(B) British dairy
(C) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(D) Government

Answer:
(C) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

ii) What was started by Tribhuvandas Patel? [1]
(A) Co-operative dairy unit
(B) Farming
(C) Industry
(D) None of them

Answer:
(A) Co-operative dairy unit

iii) What did the system of co-operative effort do? [1]
Answer:
The co-operative effort eliminated middlemen who harassed and exploited the
farmers, providing them with a steady income.

iv) Why did the heart of the Iron Man of India move? [1]
Answer:
The heart of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, was moved by the
poor plight and hardships faced by the farmers of Gujarat.

v) Write a similar word to the following from the passage:
“Removed” [1]
Answer:
“Eliminated”

vi) Write the opposite word of the following from the passage:
“Solitary” [1]
Answer:
“Co-operative”

2) Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

At the age of six, Bismillah Khan moved to Varanasi (earlier known as
Banaras), where his maternal uncle, Ali Baksh ‘Vilayatu,’ was the official
‘Shehnai’ player at the famous Vishwanath Temple. Ali Baksh noticed that
Bismillah was a keen music learner, so he took him under his tutelage. Thus,
Bismillah Khan started learning to play the ‘Shehnai’ from his uncle. Ali Baksh
played ‘Shehnai’ at the Vishwanath Temple and practiced in one of the temple
rooms at Balaji Ghat. Bismillah Khan’s routine was to follow his uncle the
whole day to both the temples and practice for hours together – without any playtime,
school, and sometimes even regular meals.

Bismillah Khan religiously practiced the ‘Shehnai’ and attained perfection
in a very short time. The flowing waters of the River Ganga inspired him to
improvise and invent ‘ragas’ that were earlier considered to be beyond the
range of ‘Shehnai.’ He often played the ‘Shehnai’ at the Vishwanath Temple on
the banks of River Ganga. He was also a devotee of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess
of wisdom and arts.

Ustad Bismillah Khan was perhaps single-handedly responsible for making the
‘Shehnai’ a famous and popular musical instrument and bringing it into the
mainstream Indian classical music. His concert at the All India Music
Conference (1937) in Calcutta brought ‘Shehnai’ into the limelight and was
hugely appreciated by music lovers.

i) Varanasi earlier known as: [1]
(A) Prayag
(B) Varanas
(C) Kaushal
(D) Banaras

Answer:
(D) Banaras

ii) Who was the official Shehnai player at the famous Vishwanath
Temple? [1]
(A) Ustad Bismillah Khan
(B) Ali Baksh
(C) Paigambar Khan
(D) Mitthan

Answer:
(B) Ali Baksh

iii) At the age of ______, Bismillah Khan moved to Varanasi. [1]
(A) six
(B) five
(C) seven
(D) eight

Answer:
(A) six

iv) Who was Ali Baksh ‘Vilayatu’? [1]
Answer:
Ali Baksh ‘Vilayatu’ was Bismillah Khan’s maternal uncle and the official
Shehnai player at the Vishwanath Temple.

v) What was Bismillah Khan’s routine? [1]
Answer:
Bismillah Khan’s routine was to follow his uncle to the temples and practice
the Shehnai for hours without playing, going to school, or even regular meals.

vi) Name the thing which inspired Bismillah Khan to improvise and
invent ‘ragas.’ [1]
Answer:
The flowing waters of the River Ganga inspired Bismillah Khan to improvise and
invent new ragas.

vii) What do you know about Saraswati on the basis of the passage?
[1]
Answer:
Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of wisdom and arts, and Bismillah Khan was a
devotee of her.

viii) Write a similar word to the following from the passage:
“Guardianship” [1]
Answer:
“Tutelage”

ix) Write the opposite word of the following from the passage:
“Dull” [1]
Answer:
“Bright” or “Inspired”

 

SECTION B – WRITING

3) Imagine that you are Sachin/Sakshi. Your sister’s marriage will
be held next month. Write a letter to your friend Vivek/Vaishnawi to invite
him/her on this occasion.
(5 Marks)

Answer:

Sachin Kumar
123, XYZ Colony
Jaipur, Rajasthan
28th September, 2023

Dear Vivek,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am delighted to inform you that my
sister’s wedding is scheduled for next month. The wedding will take place on
the 15th of October at our residence in Jaipur. It would be a pleasure to have
you and your family join us for this joyous occasion.

Your presence will add to the happiness of this celebration, and I look
forward to seeing you soon. Please let me know if you can make it so I can make
the necessary arrangements for your stay.

Best regards,
Sachin

OR

You are Ajay/Anita, studying in Govt. S.S. School Chomu (Jaipur) in
X class Section A. Your sister is also studying in the same school in X class
Section B. You have only one set of books. There is a problem to change books
after every period. Write an application to your principal requesting him to
change either your section or your sister’s section.
(5 Marks)

Answer:

Ajay Kumar
Class X, Section A
Govt. S.S. School Chomu
Jaipur, Rajasthan
28th September, 2023

The Principal
Govt. S.S. School Chomu
Jaipur, Rajasthan

Subject: Request for Section Change

Respected Sir,

I am Ajay Kumar, a student of Class X Section A. My sister is also studying
in the same class but in Section B. We have only one set of books, and it
becomes quite inconvenient to exchange the books after each period. This has
created a problem in managing our studies effectively.

I kindly request you to change either my section or my sister’s section so
that we can study more efficiently without any interruptions.

Thank you for considering my request. I shall be grateful for your positive
response.

Yours sincerely,
Ajay Kumar
Class X, Section A

4) Write a story with the help of the given outlines in about 80
words. Give the title and moral to it.
(4 Marks)

Outline:
A capseller ………. sells caps ……….. He falls asleep ………….
monkeys on the tree …………. takes caps. Capseller awakes ………..
missing caps …………. each monkey wears cap. Capseller ………….
throws his cap …………. collects caps. Capseller …………. happy
…………. goes.

Answer:

The Capseller and the Monkeys
Once upon a time, a capseller was walking through a forest to sell his caps.
Feeling tired, he decided to rest under a tree and soon fell asleep. When he woke
up, he was shocked to find that his caps were missing. Looking up, he saw that
the monkeys in the tree had taken his caps and were wearing them. The capseller
thought of a clever idea. He threw his own cap on the ground, and the monkeys
imitated him, throwing their caps down too. The capseller collected all his
caps, smiled, and went on his way.

Moral: Wisdom wins over strength.

OR

Outline:
A hungry fox …………. food. Sees a crow …………. Fox wants
…………. bread. Fox tells …………. sweet song. The crow opens
………….. The bit of bread falls …………. Fox takes…………. runs
………….

Answer:

The Fox and the Crow
A hungry fox was wandering in search of food. Suddenly, he saw a crow sitting
on a tree with a piece of bread in its beak. The fox wanted the bread, so he
came up with a plan. He praised the crow, calling it the best singer in the
jungle. The crow, feeling flattered, opened its beak to sing, and the piece of
bread fell to the ground. The fox quickly grabbed the bread and ran away
happily.

Moral: Don’t fall for flattery.

5) Write a paragraph of about 60 words using the visual aid given
below.
(4 Marks)
(Note: Since the visual aid is not provided in the document, I’ll answer
the other option.)

OR

Write a paragraph on “My Best Friend” in about 60 words.

Answer:

My Best Friend
My best friend is Rohan. We have been friends since childhood, and he is always
there for me in every situation. Rohan is kind-hearted, intelligent, and
supportive. We spend a lot of time together studying, playing, and sharing our
thoughts. He motivates me to work hard, and I feel lucky to have such a
wonderful friend in my life.

SECTION C – GRAMMAR

6) Choose the correct form of the verbs:
(1 Mark each)

i) Once there ______ (be) a king.
(A) be
(B) was
(C) are
(D) were

Answer:
(B) was

ii) Ram always ______ (attend) his classes.
(A) attends
(B) is attending
(C) are attending
(D) attend

Answer:
(A) attends

iii) We had gone to our house before father _______ (come).
(A) had come
(B) have come
(C) came
(D) comes

Answer:
(C) came

iv) He _______ (live) here since 01 January, 2020.
(A) had lived
(B) have lived
(C) has lived
(D) has been living

Answer:
(D) has been living

7) Change the following sentences into Indirect speech:
(1 Mark each)

i) He said to me, “Please give me your pen.”
Answer:
He requested me to give him my pen.

ii) He said to me, “Where are you going?”
Answer:
He asked me where I was going.

8) Rewrite the following sentences using connectives given in the
brackets:
(1 Mark each)

i) He is a teacher. He is a writer. (not only – but also)
Answer:
He is not only a teacher but also a writer.

ii) Ram is my friend. Shyam is my friend. (both – and)
Answer:
Both Ram and Shyam are my friends.

iii) Ramu is a thief. Shyamu is a thief. (either – or)
Answer:
Either Ramu or Shyamu is a thief.

9) Join the following sentences using the relative pronoun given in
the brackets:
(1 Mark each)

i) The book is on the table. The book has a white wrapper. (which)
Answer:
The book, which has a white wrapper, is on the table.

ii) You met a man yesterday. The man was my father. (whom)
Answer:
The man whom you met yesterday was my father.

10) Change the following sentences into passive voice:
(1 Mark each)

i) Pratibha will play cricket tomorrow.
Answer:
Cricket will be played by Pratibha tomorrow.

ii) They have built a house.
Answer:
A house has been built by them.

11) Frame a question for the following sentence:
(1 Mark each)

i) He is going to Jaipur today.
Where ____________?
Answer:
Where is he going today?

ii) Add a question tag to the statement given below:
Ram will play cricket _____?
Answer:
Ram will play cricket, won’t he?

 

SECTION D – TEXTBOOK

12) Read the passage given below and answer the questions that
follow:

The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister
had already flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them.
Somehow, when he had taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and
attempted to flap his wings, he became afraid. The great expanse of the sea
stretched down beneath, and it was such a long way down—miles down. He felt
certain that his wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran
away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night.

i) How many brothers and sisters did the young seagull have? [1]
(A) two brothers and one sister
(B) two brothers and two sisters
(C) one brother and two sisters
(D) one brother and one sister

Answer:
(A) two brothers and one sister

ii) Who had been afraid to fly? [1]
(A) Seagull’s brothers
(B) Seagull’s sisters
(C) Seagull’s sister
(D) Young seagull

Answer:
(D) Young seagull

iii) Who had already flown away the day before? [1]
Answer:
The young seagull’s two brothers and his sister had flown away the day before.

iv) Where did the young seagull run away back? [1]
Answer:
The young seagull ran back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at
night.

v) Find out the word from the passage which means: ‘edge’ [1]
Answer:
‘Brink’

vi) Find out the word from the passage which has opposite meaning
of: ‘fearless’ [1]
Answer:
‘Afraid’

13) Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

There was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was
eight years old and very curious about things. Her favorite pastime was
standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the
street outside. There were no playmates of her own age on her street, and this
was about all she had to do.

But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable as any
of the elaborate games other children played. Watching the street gave her many
new unusual experiences.

i) What was the short name of the girl? [1]
(A) Valliammai
(B) Valli
(C) sweet girl
(D) ammai

Answer:
(B) Valli

ii) What was the age of Valli? [1]
(A) fourteen
(B) ten
(C) eight
(D) seven

Answer:
(C) eight

iii) Why did Valliammai not play with her playmates? [1]
Answer:
Valliammai did not play with her playmates because there were no children of
her age on her street.

iv) What was Valliammai’s favorite pastime? [1]
Answer:
Valliammai’s favorite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house
and watching what was happening on the street.

v) Write the similar word of the following from the passage:
‘anterior’ [1]
Answer:
‘Front’

vi) Write the opposite word of the following from the passage:
‘usual’ [1]
Answer:
‘Unusual’

14) Answer any one of the following questions in about 80 words:

Question 1: Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho?
Why does he sign the letter ‘God’? [A Letter to God]
Answer:
The postmaster was moved by Lencho’s deep faith in God. Lencho had written a
letter to God asking for 100 pesos to help him recover from the damage caused
to his crops. To maintain Lencho’s faith in God, the postmaster collected money
from his colleagues and sent it to Lencho. He signed the letter ‘God’ to make
Lencho believe that the money was indeed sent by God, thus preserving Lencho’s
belief in divine help.

OR

Question 2: Why is Maddie embarrassed by the questions
Peggy asks Wanda? Is she also like Wanda, or is she different? [The Hundred
Dresses – I]
Answer:
Maddie is embarrassed by the questions Peggy asks Wanda because she knows that
Wanda is poor and does not have a hundred dresses. Although Maddie does not
speak up against Peggy, she feels guilty for remaining silent. Maddie is
different from Wanda in that she is not as poor, but she is also afraid of
becoming the target of ridicule because she wears hand-me-downs. She empathizes
with Wanda but lacks the courage to stop Peggy’s teasing.

15) Answer any one of the following questions in about 20 words:

Question 1: Draw a character sketch of Natalya. [The
Proposal]
Answer:
Natalya is a strong-willed, argumentative, and materialistic young woman. She
quarrels with Lomov over trivial matters, but deep down, she has feelings for
him.

OR

Question 2: Can you now imagine what these characters will
quarrel about next? [The Proposal]
Answer:
The characters will likely quarrel about more trivial matters such as property
boundaries or other domestic issues after their marriage.

16) Read any one of the following extracts and answer the questions
that follow:

Extract 1:
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
is also great.

i) Write rhyme scheme and rhyming words. [2 Marks]
Answer:
The rhyme scheme of the stanza is ABAA. The rhyming words are ‘twice’ and ‘ice.’

ii) Which thing is also great for destruction? [2 Marks]
Answer:
Ice, which symbolizes hatred and coldness, is also great for destruction.

OR

Extract 2:
(I am an orphan, roaming the street. I pattern soft dust with my hushed,
bare feet. The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet.)

i) Write the rhyme scheme and words. [2 Marks]
Answer:
The rhyme scheme is AAB. The rhyming words are ‘street’ and ‘feet.’

ii) What is golden and what is sweet? [2 Marks]
Answer:
The silence is golden, and the freedom is sweet.

17) Answer any two of the following questions in about 20 words:

i) What color is the young woman’s hair? What does she say she can
change it to? [For Anne Gregory]
Answer:
The young woman’s hair is yellow. She says she can dye it any other color if
needed.

ii) Why is the boy very upset? [The Ball Poem]
Answer:
The boy is very upset because he has lost his ball, and it represents the loss
of something valuable to him.

iii) Why does the poet tell us that he feels more at home with
animals than humans? [Animals]
Answer:
The poet feels more at home with animals because they are content, peaceful,
and do not complain about their lives, unlike humans.

18) Choose the correct answer:

i) ______ is the writer of ‘The Necklace’. [The Necklace]
(A) H.G. Wells
(B) Guy De Maupassant
(C) Ruskin Bond
(D) Victor Canning

Answer:
(B) Guy De Maupassant

ii) Name the book that saved the Earth. [1]
(A) Mother Goose
(B) Mother Marry
(C) Mother Poem
(D) Mother Teresa

Answer:
(A) Mother Goose

19) Answer any one of the following questions in about 60 words:

Question 1: With what do Mr. and Mme. Loisel replace ‘the
necklace’? [The Necklace]
Answer:
Mr. and Mme. Loisel replace the lost necklace with a new one that they buy from
a jeweler. The new necklace costs them a huge sum of money, forcing them to
take loans and spend the next ten years in poverty repaying the debt.

OR

Question 2: Who helped the narrator? Why did the narrator
arrive at New Mullion? [The Hack Driver]
Answer:
The hack driver, Oliver Lutkins, helped the narrator by offering to take him
around New Mullion to find Lutkins. The narrator arrived at New Mullion to
serve summons to Lutkins, unaware that the hack driver was Lutkins himself.

20) Answer any two out of three following questions in about 20
words:

i) What was the Ebright’s project? [The Making of a Scientist]
Answer:
Ebright’s project involved studying the purpose of the twelve tiny gold spots
on a monarch pupa.

ii) Why was Bholi glad and what did she hope? [Bholi]
Answer:
Bholi was glad when her teacher encouraged her. She hoped to become an educated
and confident person.

iii) Who surged round the narrator? [A Triumph of Surgery]
Answer:
The staff at the hospital surged around the narrator to celebrate the recovery
of Tricki, the dog.