CBSE Class 10 English 2025: question 2
Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2025, paper 2/3/1, 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
Silk is a popular fabric in India. Support the above statement 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 feels comfortable to the skin. Reason: It made of natural protein fibre.
- (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: Though one of the strongest natural fibres, silk remains stretched.
- (iv)1 mark
According to the passage, in what way is sunlight harmful to silk?
- (v)1 mark
“To produce 1 kg of silk, 104 kg of mulberry leaves must be eaten by 3000 silkworms.” State any one inference that can be drawn from the above statement.
- (vi)1 mark
Complete the following with one suitable reason from the text: Silk production work can be carried out by skilled artisans because __________.
- (vii)1 mark
Based on the given text, which state was the smallest producer of silk.
- (viii)1 mark
Complete the sentence suitably. To carry out silk production requires careful selection because __________.
- (ix)1 mark
Give one reason to support why production of silk is limited.
Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2025 board paper, set 2/3/1.
Hints
Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.
Hint 1
Answer from the passage only and keep (i) near 40 words.
Hint 2
For (vii), compare the figures listed at the low end.
Hint 3
For (ix), look at paragraph 5 for the factors that limit production.
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) Silk has a long history in India and is called Resham in the east and north and Pattu in the south. India is the second largest producer in the world. Its soft, smooth texture is comfortable on the skin, and it absorbs and releases moisture, keeping the wearer cool and dry.
- 1 mark
(ii) Option A. Silk is a natural protein fibre, and this is why it has a soft, smooth texture that is comfortable on the skin, so the reason explains the assertion.
- 1 mark
(iii) Silk is very strong, yet it has moderate to poor elasticity: even a small elongation leaves it stretched, and it loses about 20% of its strength when wet.
- 1 mark
(iv) Too much exposure to sunlight weakens the silk fabric.
- 1 mark
(v) Silk production is labour-intensive and needs a large quantity of mulberry leaves, so the output is limited and the silk is costly.
- 1 mark
(vi) ...the work requires specialised knowledge and expertise.
- 1 mark
(vii) Uttar Pradesh (179 metric tonnes).
- 1 mark
(viii) ...superior quality silk is made from long and uniform fibres, which give a smooth, lustrous look.
- 1 mark
(ix) Production is limited by natural factors such as climate, the availability of quality mulberry leaves, and the time silkworms need to complete their lifecycle.
Answer: (i) long history, 2nd largest producer, comfortable qualities; (ii) A; (iii) poor elasticity so stays stretched; (iv) weakens the fabric; (v) large amount of leaves needed; (vi) specialised knowledge needed; (vii) Uttar Pradesh; (viii) long uniform fibres give lustre; (ix) climate/leaf availability
Where the marks are
- (i) Two supported points (1+1 marks)
- (ii) A (1 mark)
- (iii) Poor elasticity (1 mark)
- (iv) Weakens fabric (1 mark)
- (v) Valid inference (1 mark)
- (vi) Specialised knowledge (1 mark)
- (vii) UP (1 mark)
- (viii) Long uniform fibres (1 mark)
- (ix) Any one reason (1 mark)
Revise the chapter
- Chapter: Reading (unseen passages)
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