Madhyamik 2026 Suggestion
CLASS- X
ENGLISH (Second Language)
SECTION - A
READING COMPREHENSION (SEEN)
1. ( Unit 1 from Our Runway Kite***/ The Passing Away of Bapu***/ Father's Help)
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Of course, there was nobody for us to play with on the Big Half Moon. We just had to make the most of each other, and we did.
We live on the Big Half Moon island. ‘We’ are Father and Claude and I and Aunt Esther and Mimi and Dick. It used to be only Father and Claude and I. It is all on account of the kite that there are more of us. This is what I want to tell you about.
Father is the keeper of the Big Half Moon lighthouse. I am eleven years old. Claude is twelve. In winter, when the harbour is frozen over, we all move over to the mainland. As soon as spring comes, back we sail to our own dear island.
The funny part used to be that people always pitied us when the time came for us to return. They said we must be so lonesome over there, with no other children near us. Of course Claude and I would have liked to have someone to play with us. It is hard to run pirate caves and things like that with only two. But we used to quarrel a good deal with the mainland children in winter. So it was perhaps just as well that there were none of them on the Big Half Moon. Claude and I never quarrelled.
To be sure, Father didn't seem to have any relations except us. This used to puzzle Claude and me. Everybody on the mainland had relations. Why hadn't we? Was it because we lived on an island? We thought it would be so jolly to have an uncle and aunt and some cousins. Once we asked Father about it, but he looked so sorrowful that we wished we hadn't. He said it was all his fault. Claude and I didn't understand what he meant.
A. Write the correct alternatives to complete the following sentences: 1×5=5
(a) The keeper of the Big Half Moon lighthouse is - i) Dick ii) Father iii) Claude iv) The narrator
(b) The family lived during winter - i) Near the harbour ii) On the mainland iii) In the lighthouse iv) On the Big Half Moon island
(c) Claude and the narrator did not quarrel with each other because - i) They always stayed indoors ii) There were no mainland children on the island iii) They were very quiet by nature iv) They were afraid of their father
(d) What made Father look sorrowful when asked about relations? - i) He did not know the answer ii) He felt it was his fault iii) He had forgotten them iv) He disliked the question
(e) Which season marked their return to the Big Half Moon island? - i) Summer ii) Winter iii) Autumn iv) Spring
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text: 1×3=3
(i) Claude and the narrator found it difficult to play games like pirate caves because ____________________________.
(ii) The narrator says that it was because of a kite that ____________________________.
(iii) At first, the family on the Big Half Moon island consisted only of ____________________________.
C. Answer the following questions: 2×2= 4
(i) Why did people on the mainland pity the children when they returned to the Big Half Moon island?
(ii) Why were Claude and the narrator puzzled about their father’s relations?
2. ( The Snail*** / Fable**/ My Own True Family)
Read the poem and answer the questions that follow:
To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall
The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall
As if he grew there, house and all,
Together.
Within that house secure he hides
When danger imminent betides
Of storm, or other harm besides
Of weather.
Give but his horns the slightest touch,
His self-collecting pow’r is such,
He shrinks into his house with much
Displeasure.
Where’er he dwells, he dwells alone,
Except himself has chatells none,
Well satisfied to be his own
Whole treasure.
Thus, hermit-like, his life he leads,
Nor partner of his banquet needs,
And if he meets one, only feeds
The faster.
Who seeks him must be worse than blind,
(He and his house are so combin'd)
If, finding it, he fails to find
Its master.
A. Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences: 1×4=4
a) What does the snail do when its horns are touched? - i) Moves away slowly ii) Shrinks into its house iii) Hides under a leaf iv) Stands still
b) Why does the poet admire the snail? i) Because it is fast and clever ii) Because it is self-sufficient and cautious iii) Because it is colorful iv) Because it eats a lot
c) Which of the following lines shows that the snail carries its home everywhere? i) “Together.” ii) “Of storm, or other harm besides” iii) “He and his house are so combin'd” iv) “Nor partner of his banquet needs”
d) What does the poet mean by “faster” in the line “And if he meets one, only feeds / The faster”? i) The snail eats quickly ii) The snail retreats faster iii) The snail avoids sharing with others iv) The snail moves faster than others
B. Answer the following questions: 2×2= 4
(i) What does the poet mean by saying that the snail is “his own whole treasure”?
(ii) Why is the snail compared to a hermit in the poem?
3. ( Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom 4 Mission/ Sunita Williams/ Pahalgam Terror Attack/ Medinipur Flood/ Bankura beats Mousinram in Rainfall/ Monsoon Blust/ La Nina/ Asia Cup 2025/ Women's Odi WC win/ ORS Case / Har Sikhar Tiranga)
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
READING COMPREHENSION (UNSEEN)
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a distinguished pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF), achieved a historic milestone in June 2025 when he soared into space aboard Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The mission, a collaboration between Axiom Space and NASA, lifted off on June 25, 2025, marking yet another stride in international cooperation in space exploration. Shukla became the 634th astronaut to reach space and the first Indian to fly on a commercial mission to the International Space Station (ISS), symbolizing India’s growing presence in human spaceflight.After a 28-hour journey, the SpaceX Dragon “Grace” docked with the ISS on June 26, where the Ax-4 crew—comprising astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary—was greeted warmly by the Expedition 73 team. During the formal welcome ceremony, Axiom Commander Peggy Whitson presented astronaut pins to the newcomers. Mr. Shukla, expressing pride and humility, said, “I am astronaut 634. It is a privilege to be here,” while reflecting on the early moments of microgravity adaptation aboard the station.During the 18-day mission, the Ax-4 crew conducted more than 60 scientific experiments across diverse domains such as muscle regeneration, algae growth for food and oxygen, crop viability, and materials research. They also performed Earth observation and technology demonstration activities, representing the scientific aspirations of 31 countries. Axiom Space CEO Tejpaul Bhatia described the mission as “a powerful demonstration of what’s possible through commercial space,” emphasizing Axiom’s vision of expanding access to low-Earth orbit beyond government-led efforts.Mr. Shukla conveyed that the mission was not only about science but also about inspiration. Carrying the Tiranga, he dedicated his journey to India’s advancement in space exploration and described it as “a phase of India’s space journey.” Throughout the mission, the crew engaged in over 20 outreach events, interacting with students, researchers, and government officials to promote global education and innovation in microgravity research.The Ax-4 mission concluded successfully with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on July 15, 2025. Back in Lucknow, crowds gathered to celebrate as India proudly welcomed home one of its own pioneers of the new space era. Shukla’s journey, from his early days as a fighter pilot in 2006 to his role in India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, reflected the spirit of dedication and global partnership that defines the future of space exploration.
A. Choose the correct alternatives: 1×6=6
(i) What position did Shubhanshu Shukla hold on the Ax-4 mission?
a) Mission Commander
b) Flight Engineer
c) Pilot
d) Payload Specialist
(ii) From where did the Ax-4 mission launch?
a) Satish Dhawan Space Centre
b) Baikonur Cosmodrome
c) Kennedy Space Center
d) Guiana Space Centre
(iii) Shubhanshu Shukla became the ______ human to reach space.
a) 534th
b) 614th
c) 624th
d) 634th
(iv) The Ax-4 mission conducted more than 60 experiments representing how many countries?
a) 14
b) 21
c) 31
d) 41
(v) Which of the following was one of the main research themes on Ax-4?
a) Deep-sea mining
b) Muscle regeneration in microgravity
c) Nuclear reactor design
d) Submarine navigation
(vi) Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) launched aboard which rocket?
a) GSLV Mk III
b) Falcon 9
c) Ariane 5
d) Soyuz
B. Each of the following statements is either 'True' or 'False'. Write 'T' for 'True' and 'F' for 'False' in the boxes on the right-hand side. Also pick out suitable line(s) or phrase(s) from the passage in support of your answer: 2×3=6
(i) Ax-4 was the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary flew together to the International Space Station. [ ]
Supporting statement:
(ii) The Ax-4 mission was organised only by ISRO without any commercial partners. [ ]
Supporting statement:
(iii) Shubhanshu Shukla entered the ISS after a journey of about 28 hours from launch. [ ]
Supporting statement:
C. Answer the following questions: 2×4=8
(i) Who were the international partners on the Ax-4 crew along with Shubhanshu Shukla, and why was this combination historically significant?
(ii) How does the Ax-4 mission contribute to India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme?
(iii) Describe the nature and scope of scientific research conducted during Ax-4.
(iv) In what ways did the Ax-4 mission engage with people on Earth beyond pure science?
or,
Give a suitable title to this passage.
SECTION - B
(GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY)
4. Write the correct alternative to fill in the blanks: 1×3=3
5. Do as directed:
A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions: 1×3=3
B. (i) ( Change the voice) 1×3=3
(ii) ( Change into indirect speech)
(iii) ( Make it a complex sentence or Join into complex sentence)
C. Choose the correct phrasal verbs from the list given below to replace the words underlined. Write the correct phrasal verbs in the boxes on the right-hand side changing the form where necessary. There is one extra phrasal verb in the list. 1×3=3
(i) Corona has spread in the locality. [ ]
( ii) The gang of dacoits forcibly entered the bank. [ ]
( iii) The bomb shattered the house.[ ]
( blow up, break out, turn down, break into)
6. Given below are the meanings of four words which you will find in the passage in Question No.3. Find out the words and write them in the appropriate boxes on the right-hand side: 2×4=8
(i) A significant event or stage in the life, progress, development, or the like of a person, nation, etc.. -[. ]
(ii) The quality of being able to happen or having a reasonable chance of success. - [. ]
(iii) A specific area of control, knowledge, or activity. - [. ]
(iv) The landing of a spacecraft, or its crew capsule, into a large body of water, typically the ocean, using parachutes to slow its descent for a safe return to Earth. - [. ]
SECTION - C
(WRITINGS)
( Moral Story or Report, Notice/Processing/Biography, Formal Letter / Personal Letter )
7. Write a story (within 100 words) using the given hints. Give a title to the story. 10
[ Points: . ]
8. As a student secretary of your school, write a Notice on organizing the dengue awareness camp. Kindly mention the date, time and place of the camp. 10
9.
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Phrasal Verbs Suggestions
Very High Probability
bring out – publish
set up – establish, build, install, start a buisness
come across – find by chance, meet
get over – recover from, overcome
break out – start suddenly, erupted, spread (fire, disease)
High Probability
fall through – fail
put up with – tolerate, endure, bear
turn up – appear, arrive
run after, go after – chase
break into – enter forcibly
Low Probability
bear with - tolerate
break up - close / disperse
bring up - reared
do away with - abolish
fall out - quarrel
give in - surrender
keep on - continue
look after - take care of
put away - remove / keep
set in - start (evening/rain/winter)
stand against - oppose
take off - remove
tell upon - cause harm / affect
Moral Story suggestions
1. Lord Buddha and a Bereaved Mother
2. The Wind and the Sun
3. Newton and His Pet Dog
4. The Blue Jackal
5. A Sailor and Some Monkeys / The Cap Seller and the Monkeys
6. The Pied Piper of Hamelin
7. The Ant and the Grasshopper
8. The Crows and the Serpent
9. The Donkey in the Lion's Skin / The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
10. The Hare and the Tortoise
11. Who will Bell the Cat?
12. The Fox and the Grapes
13. The Lion and the Mouse
14. The Monkey and the Crocodile
15. King Solomon and the Two Mothers
16. The Honest Woodcutter
17. The Miser and His Gold
18. The Three Artists
19. The Hare and the Lion
20. The Hare and the Tortoise ❌
21. A Thirsty Crow
22. The Farmer and His Quarrelsome Sons
23. The Farmer and His Lazy Sons
24. A Clever Crow and a Fox
25. A Greedy Farmer
26. The Blind Lady and the Greedy Doctor
27. The Boys and the Frogs
28. A Prisoner and the Bird Seller
29. The Tortoise and the Cranes
30. The Fox and the Crane
31. The Fox and the Goat
32. The Brave Children ❌
33. The Shepherd and the Wolf ❌
Report Writing Suggestions
1. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
2. Paschim Medinipur/ North Bengal Flood
3. A Fatal Boat Capsize
4. A Devastating Storm
5. Any Event Observed in your school
Personal Letter Suggestions
1. To a friend describing your experience
Formal Letter Suggestions
1. To Headmaster/ Headmistress seeking leave of absence
2. To Headmaster/ Headmistress application for Cycle Shed/ Water Purifier etc.
3. To Headmaster/ Headmistress seeking Concession of School fees
4. To the I.C. loss of admit or registration or Aadhaar Card
5. To the B.D.O.
6. To the local Panchayat bad condition of road/ water supply
7. To Post Master Irregular delivery of letters
8. To Shop Keeper informing about any left item in the shop
Notice Writing Suggestions
1. Relief Funds
2. Inter-school Dance Competition
3. Dengue Awareness Camp
4. Blood Donation Camp
5. Free Eye Check-up Camp
6. Seminar/ Drive on Any Topic in school
Biography Writing Suggestions
1. Shubhanshu Shukla
2. Rohit Sharma
3. Sunil Chhetri
4. Sunita Williams
5. Ratan Tata
6. Lata Mangeshkar
7. Zubeen Garg
8. Tulshi Gowda
9. M S Dhoni
10. Dr. Manmohan Singh
Processing Writing Suggestions
1. Any type of Juice or Food Processing
2. Building Construction
