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Answer any four of the following… (English 2024 2/4/1 Q8)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2024, set 2/4/1 · 12 marks · Short answer

CBSE Class 10 English 2024: question 8

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2024, paper 2/4/1, section C, question 8, for 12 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q8 · 12 marks · Short answerNelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Answer any four of the following five questions in 40 – 50 words each. (4 x 3 = 12)

  1. (i)

    Nelson Mandela in his inauguration speech says, "We, who were outlaws not so long ago, have today been given the rare privilege to be host to the nations of the world on our own soil." What is the significance of this statement with reference to the political system that prevailed before this? (Nelson Mandela – Long Walk to Freedom)

    3 marks
  2. (ii)

    'The Ball Poem' initially appears simple but it is actually quite impactful and intense. Comment upon the theme of 'The Ball Poem'.

    3 marks
  3. (iii)

    Coorg has been defined as a 'piece of heaven' by the writer. Justify. (Glimpses of India)

    3 marks
  4. (iv)

    "Oh, what a burden, Lord, to be the father of a grown-up daughter!" Explain what this line conveys about Chubukov as a father. (The Proposal)

    3 marks
  5. (v)

    In every alternate stanza, Amanda drifts into fantasy and yearns for more freedom and silence. Justify and elaborate the reason. (Amanda)

    3 marks

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2024 board paper, set 2/4/1.

Hints

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

Hint 1

Recall the specific context of each text before writing.

Hint 2

Give two clear points in 40-50 words, each backed by a detail from the text.

Hint 3

Write in a short paragraph with a logical order and check spelling.

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) Mandela's words show South Africa's change from the apartheid era, when the black majority were denied equal rights and treated as outlaws, to a free democracy. The country was once isolated internationally and is now host to world leaders. This shows the triumph of justice and human dignity over racial oppression.

    3 marks

  2. (ii) The poem deals with loss and the lessons it teaches. A boy loses his ball, which stands for his possessions, and feels deep grief. The poet says he must learn to bear loss and take responsibility. This marks his growth from childhood to maturity, and money cannot replace the lost ball.

    3 marks

  3. (iii) Coorg is called a piece of heaven for its natural beauty: lush green hills, mist, forests and coffee plantations with their aroma. It has rich wildlife and a proud culture, including the brave Kodavus. It also offers adventure such as trekking and river rafting, so it is truly heavenly.

    3 marks

  4. (iv) Chubukov's cry shows him as a worried and anxious father who sees his grown-up daughter Natalya as a burden. He cannot accept that she is an adult and wants her married off quickly. He finds her tantrums hard to handle and thinks of her almost as a commodity.

    3 marks

  5. (v) Amanda is nagged all the time by her mother, who corrects her posture, eating and behaviour. She feels stressed and suffocated. To escape she daydreams, imagining herself as a mermaid, an orphan or Rapunzel, living in silence and freedom with no one to command her.

    3 marks

Answer: Any four sub-parts answered, all four above are model answers (3 marks each).

Where the marks are

  • Two relevant content points (2 marks)
  • Organisation and clear expression (1 mark)
  • Half mark deducted if errors exceed two

Revise the chapter

Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2024 board paper, set 2/4/1: 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.