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Read the text given below: (1)… (Class 10 English 2024, Q1)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2024, set 2/1/1 · 10 marks · Reading comprehension

CBSE Class 10 English 2024: question 1

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2024, paper 2/1/1, section A, question 1, for 10 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q1 · 10 marks · Reading comprehensionCompetency-basedReading (unseen passages)

Read the text given below:

(1) Held every year on 21 May, UNESCO leads the celebration of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development highlighting not only the richness of the world's cultures, but also the essential role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development.

(2) A recent international emergency has proved the intrinsic value of the cultural and creative sector at generating social cohesion, educational resource or personal well-being in times of crisis. It has also underscored the sector's potential to generate economic growth, something which is too often underestimated.

(3) With the adoption in September 2015 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations, and the resolution on Culture and Sustainable Development adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2015, the message of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is more important than ever. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can best be achieved by drawing upon the creative potential of the world's diverse cultures and engaging in continuous dialogue to ensure that all members of society benefit from sustainable development.

(4) Bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and necessary for peace, stability and development. Cultural diversity is a driving force of development, not only with respect to economic growth, but also as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life. This is captured in the culture conventions, which provide a solid basis for the promotion of cultural diversity. Cultural diversity is thus an asset that is indispensable for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development.

(5) At the same time, acceptance and recognition of cultural diversity in particular through innovative use of media and Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) are conducive to dialogue among civilizations and cultures, respect and mutual understanding.

(6) In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. Next, in December 2002, the UN General Assembly, in its resolution 57/249, declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, and in 2015, the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution on Culture and Sustainable Development, affirming culture's contribution to the three dimensions of sustainable development, acknowledging further the natural and cultural diversity of the world, and recognizing that cultures and civilizations can contribute to, and are crucial enablers of, sustainable development.

(7) The day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to achieve the goals of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions adopted on 20 October, 2005.

Answer the following questions based on the above passage:

  1. (i)

    Based on the reading and understanding of the above passage, list 2 points to describe the purpose of UNESCO leading the celebration of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

    (a) ______

    (b) ______

    1 mark
  2. (ii)

    Select the option that corresponds to the meaning of the following sentence from para (2).

    "The recent international emergency has proved the intrinsic value of the cultural and creative sector at generating social cohesion, educational resource or personal well-being in times of crisis."

    1. (A)the real worth of cultural sector at generating social cohesion during pandemics
    2. (B)the real worth of creative sector at undermining the social cohesion during an international emergency
    3. (C)questioning the real worth of creative sector at generating education resource during an international emergency
    4. (D)highlighting the real worth of cultural and creative sector at generating social cohesion and educational resource during an international emergency
    1 mark
  3. (iii)

    Based on your reading of the passage, examine in about 40 words how Sustainable Development Goals can be achieved.

    2 marks
  4. (iv)

    What is the tone of the writer in the given line from paragraph (4)? Rationalise your response in about 40 words:

    "Cultural diversity is an asset."

    2 marks
  5. (v)

    The phrase 'bridging the gap' in paragraph (4) refers to:

    1. (A)widening the differences
    2. (B)connecting two desparate ideas
    3. (C)supporting the bridging
    4. (D)filling in the space between two connected things
    1 mark
  6. (vi)

    In sets a-e below, identify two sets of synonyms.

    a. richness and poverty
    b. intellectual and moral
    c. reduction and promotion
    d. essential and intrinsic
    e. urgent and crucial

    1. (A)a and c
    2. (B)b and e
    3. (C)d and e
    4. (D)b and d
    1 mark
  7. (vii)

    Complete the sentence appropriately:

    The Second Committee of UN General Assembly in 2015 adopted ______.

    1 mark
  8. (viii)

    Complete the following sentence:

    ______ is urgent and necessary for peace, stability and development.

    1 mark

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2024 board paper, set 2/1/1.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

Go back to the paragraph that each question points to.

Hint 2

For (iii), look at the last sentence of para 3.

Hint 3

For the tone question, ask whether 'asset' is a favourable or unfavourable word.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. (i) (a) To highlight the richness of the world's cultures. (b) To stress the essential role of intercultural dialogue in achieving peace and sustainable development.

    1 mark

  2. (ii) Option D: the sentence says the emergency proved the intrinsic (real) value of the cultural and creative sector in generating social cohesion and educational resources in a crisis.

    1 mark

  3. (iii) The Sustainable Development Goals can be achieved by drawing upon the creative potential of the world's diverse cultures. They also need continuous dialogue among cultures, so that every member of society benefits from sustainable development.

    2 marks

  4. (iv) The tone is positive and appreciative. The writer calls diversity an 'asset', treating it as an advantage and a driving force for development and poverty reduction, not as a cause of division.

    2 marks

  5. (v) Option B: 'bridging the gap' means connecting two disparate (different) ideas or groups, here different cultures.

    1 mark

  6. (vi) Option C: 'essential' and 'intrinsic' are synonyms, and 'urgent' and 'crucial' are synonyms.

    1 mark

  7. (vii) The Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in 2015 adopted the resolution on Culture and Sustainable Development, affirming culture's contribution to the three dimensions of sustainable development.

    1 mark

  8. (viii) Bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and necessary for peace, stability and development.

    1 mark

Answer: (i) richness of cultures; role of dialogue for peace and development; (ii) D; (iii) draw on cultures' creative potential and continuous dialogue; (iv) positive, appreciative; (v) B; (vi) C; (vii) resolution on Culture and Sustainable Development; (viii) Bridging the gap between cultures

Where the marks are

  • Two purposes stated (1 mark)
  • Option D chosen (1 mark)
  • Draws on cultural creative potential plus continuous dialogue so all benefit (2 marks)
  • Tone identified as positive/appreciative with reason (2 marks)
  • Option B (1 mark)
  • Option C (1 mark)
  • Resolution on Culture and Sustainable Development (1 mark)
  • Bridging the gap between cultures (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: Reading (unseen passages)
Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Reading (unseen passages), one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2024 board paper, set 2/1/1: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.