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Read the following extract and… (English 2025 2/1/1 Q7a)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2025, set 2/1/1 · 5 marks · Reading comprehension

CBSE Class 10 English 2025: question 7(a)

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2025, paper 2/1/1, section C, question 7(a), for 5 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q7(a) · 5 marks · Reading comprehensionCompetency-basedFor Anne Gregory

Read the following extract and answer the questions:

“I heard an old religious man
But yesternight declare
That he had found a text to prove
That only God, my dear,
Could love you for yourself alone
And not your yellow hair.”
(For Anne Gregory)

  1. (i)

    Complete the sentence appropriately:
    The speaker addresses the person he is speaking to as “my dear” because ___________.

    1 mark
  2. (ii)

    The poet mentions “yellow hair”. What is its significance in the context of the statement? Answer in about 40 words.

    2 marks
  3. (iii)

    Fill in the blank with the correct word from the brackets.
    The poet suggests that God’s love in comparison to that of a human being is ____________ (selfish/selfless).

    1 mark
  4. (iv)

    As per the above extract, what attributes does God not love a person for? Select the correct option.
    1. Wealth 2. Physical appearance 3. Intelligence 4. Inner qualities 5. Youth
    (A) 1 and 4
    (B) 3, 4, and 5
    (C) 2 and 4
    (D) Only 4

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

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

Think about why people use 'my dear' for someone close.

Hint 2

Yellow hair is something others see on the outside. What does it represent?

Hint 3

For (iv), compare what the extract says God does not love for with each option.

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) The speaker addresses her as "my dear" because it is a term of endearment, showing affection and closeness between him and Anne.

    1 mark

  2. (ii) The "yellow hair" stands for physical beauty and outward attractiveness. Young men love a girl for such looks, but the old religious man says only God can love a person for herself, not for appearance.

    2 marks

  3. (iii) selfless

    1 mark

  4. (iv) The extract says God does not love a person for physical appearance (yellow hair) or for youth, and the attributes listed in the options do not give this combination. The scheme treats the options as lacking a correct answer, so the mark is given to all attempts.

    1 mark

Answer: (i) a term of endearment showing affection; (ii) yellow hair = physical beauty; (iii) selfless; (iv) no option is correct, so full credit is given

Where the marks are

  • Term of endearment or closeness (1 mark)
  • Yellow hair as symbol of physical beauty, with the contrast to God's love (2 marks)
  • Selfless (1 mark)
  • Question (iv): the options do not contain the correct answer, so 1 mark is awarded to all who attempt it (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: For Anne Gregory (notes, formulas, where marks are lost and every past question)
Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from For Anne Gregory, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2025 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.