CBSE Class 10 English 2025: question 2
Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2025, paper 2/1/1, section A, question 2, for 10 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.
Q2 · 10 marks · Reading comprehensionCompetency-basedReading (unseen passages)
Read the following passage carefully:
(1) Silk is a natural protein fibre, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. Silk has a long history in India. It is known as Resham in eastern and northern India, and Pattu in the southern parts of India. India is the second largest producer of silk in the world after China.
(2) Silk is renowned for its luxurious qualities with a natural soft and smooth texture that feels comfortable on the skin. One of its unique qualities is to absorb and release moisture, regulating the body temperature, and keeping the wearer cool and dry.
(3) Silk is one of the strongest natural fibres, but it loses up to 20% of its strength when wet. Its elasticity is moderate to poor: if elongated even a small amount, it remains stretched. It can be weakened if exposed to too much sunlight. It may also be attacked by insects, especially if left dirty.
(4) The process of silk production is known as sericulture. Silk is produced by several insects; but, generally, only the silk of moth caterpillars has been used for textile manufacturing. To produce 1 kg of silk, 104 kg of mulberry leaves must be eaten by 3000 silkworms.
(5) So what makes silk so costly? Firstly, cultivation of silk is a labour-intensive work. Secondly, the silk fabric is carefully derived from the larva of the silkworms which spin silk threads around themselves to make cocoons from natural sources. This makes the production limited due to factors like — climate, availability of quality mulberry leaves and time required by silkworms to complete their lifecycle. Thirdly, the intensive work can only be carried out with specialized knowledge and expertise by skilled artisans and craftsmanship. Lastly, superior quality silk fabrics are made from long and uniform silk fibres giving them a smooth and lustrous appearance. Thus, production requires careful selection, adding to the cost.
In 2021, Karnataka was the highest producer of raw silk at 8483 metric tonnes followed by Andhra Pradesh at 5520 metric tonnes with Assam close behind at 5038 metric tonnes. At the other end of the spectrum there was Chhattisgarh (248 metric tonnes), Nagaland (230 metric tonnes) and UP trailed behind at 179 metric tonnes.
Answer the following questions, based on the above passage:
- (i)2 marks
What does the phrase ‘luxurious qualities’ in paragraph (2) tell you about the silk fabric? Write in 40 words with evidence from the text.
- (ii)1 mark
Select the option that is true for the assertion and reason given below.
Assertion: Silk production requires careful selection.
Reason: Long and uniform silk fibres give silk a glossy appearance.
(A) Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(B) Both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(C) The assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(D) The assertion is false, but the reason is true.- (A)Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
- (B)Both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
- (C)The assertion is true, but the reason is false.
- (D)The assertion is false, but the reason is true.
- (iii)1 mark
Justify the following statement:
Silk whispers luxury! Its price reflects not just its rarity but the value of the meticulous process behind its creation. - (iv)1 mark
According to the passage, mention the top two countries that produce silk.
- (v)1 mark
“Factors like climate, availability of quality mulberry leaves and time required by silkworms to complete their lifecycle are important factors for the production of silk.”
State any one inference that can be drawn from this. - (vi)1 mark
Complete the following with a suitable reason from the text:
Though silk is considered one of the strongest fibres, it is ________. - (vii)1 mark
Based on the given text, mention the states which produced the most and the least amount of raw silk in India in the year 2021.
- (viii)1 mark
Complete the sentence suitably.
104 kgs of mulberry leaves eaten by 3000 silkworms results in ___________. - (ix)1 mark
With reference to the given passage, give one reason why silk production is considered labour-intensive.
Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2025 board paper, set 2/1/1.
Hints
Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.
Hint 1
Every answer comes straight from the passage, so locate the paragraph named for each part.
Hint 2
For the assertion-reason, ask whether the reason explains why selection is needed.
Hint 3
For (vii), compare the figures in the last paragraph.
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.
- 2 marks
(i) 'Luxurious qualities' tell us that silk is a premium fabric. It has a soft, smooth texture that feels comfortable on the skin, and it absorbs and releases moisture, keeping the wearer cool and dry.
- 1 mark
(ii) Option (A). Superior silk needs long, uniform fibres, which give a smooth, lustrous look, so careful selection is needed. The reason therefore explains the assertion.
- 1 mark
(iii) Silk production is labour-intensive, limited by climate and the silkworm life cycle, and needs skilled artisans. Careful selection of long, uniform fibres adds to the cost, so the price reflects the effort involved.
- 1 mark
(iv) China and India (India is second after China).
- 1 mark
(v) Silk production is limited and costly because it depends on natural factors, so it cannot be increased easily.
- 1 mark
(vi) ...it loses up to 20% of its strength when wet. (Also acceptable: poor elasticity, weakened by sunlight, attacked by insects when dirty.)
- 1 mark
(vii) Karnataka produced the most raw silk (8483 MT); Uttar Pradesh produced the least (179 MT).
- 1 mark
(viii) ...1 kg of silk.
- 1 mark
(ix) It requires specialised knowledge and expertise from skilled artisans and craftsmanship.
Answer: (i) Silk is soft, smooth, comfortable and moisture-regulating; (ii) A; (iii) rarity and meticulous process raise the price; (iv) China and India; (v) production is limited by natural factors; (vi) it loses 20% strength when wet; (vii) Karnataka (most), Uttar Pradesh (least); (viii) 1 kg of silk; (ix) needs skilled artisans and expertise
Where the marks are
- (i) Two qualities from the text, e.g. soft/smooth texture, comfortable on skin, moisture absorbing (1+1)
- (ii) A (1)
- (iii) Justification using labour, limited production, skill or selection (1)
- (iv) China and India (½+½)
- (v) Valid inference (1)
- (vi) A valid weakness of silk (1)
- (vii) Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh (½+½)
- (viii) 1 kg of silk (1)
- (ix) Skilled labour or expertise (1)
Revise the chapter
- Chapter: Reading (unseen passages)
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