Skip to content

Read the given… (Class 10 English SQP 2024-25, Q7B)

questionbuddy.in/q/cbse-10-english-2024-25-sqp-q7b-extracts-belinda-paled-she-cried

EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Sample paper, session 2024-25 · 5 marks · Reading comprehension

CBSE Class 10 English sample paper 2024-25: question 7(B)

From the official CBSE sample question paper for 2024-25, section D, question 7(B), for 5 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q7(B) · 5 marks · Reading comprehensionCompetency-basedThe Tale of Custard the Dragon

Read the given extracts and answer the questions for any one of the two, given.

Belinda paled, and she cried Help! Help! / But Mustard fled with a terrified yelp, / Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household, / And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed. (The Tale of Custard the Dragon)

  1. I

    Examine the portrayal of Blink in the given lines.

    2 marks
  2. II

    Complete the following suitably. The word ‘paled’ implies that Belinda ______.

    1 mark
  3. III

    What kind of picture is painted by the poet through the line, ‘Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household’?

    1 mark
  4. IV

    What kind of atmosphere is created through these lines? Select the correct option. 1. Urgency 2. Apprehension 3. Uncertainty 4. mystery 5. Aggression

    1. (A)1 and 4
    2. (B)Only 2
    3. (C)1, 2 and 3
    4. (D)4 and 5
    1 mark

Source: official sample paper from cbseacademic.nic.in (PDF). See it in the full Sample paper 2024-25.

Hints

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

Hint 1

Look at what 'strategically' says about how Blink moves.

Hint 2

What happens to a person's face when they are scared?

Hint 3

Which feelings fit characters hurrying away from sudden danger?

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) Blink's retreat is shown as swift and calculated: 'strategically mouseholed' suggests a quick, clever dash to safety, which highlights his survival instinct in the face of danger.

    2 marks

  2. (ii) ...turned pale with fear, as she recognised that she was in danger.

    1 mark

  3. (iii) A slow, silent descent, with Ink trying to avoid attention and reach safety cautiously and unnoticed.

    1 mark

  4. (iv) C (1, 2 and 3): urgency, apprehension and uncertainty.

    1 mark

Answer: (i) swift, calculated escape; (ii) was frightened; (iii) cautious silent descent; (iv) C

Where the marks are

  • Blink shown as quick and strategic, with survival instinct (2 marks)
  • 'Paled' means frightened at danger (1 mark)
  • Slow, silent, cautious descent (1 mark)
  • C (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from The Tale of Custard the Dragon, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paperSample paper 2024-25: 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.