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Read the given extracts and… (Class 10 English 2025, Q7A)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2025, set 2/4/1 · 5 marks · Reading comprehension

CBSE Class 10 English 2025: question 7(A)

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2025, paper 2/4/1, 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-basedThe Tale of Custard the Dragon

Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two given:

(A)
Belinda giggled till she shook the house,
And Blink said Weeck! Which is giggling for a mouse,
Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age,
When Custard cried for a nice safe cage.
Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound,
And Mustard growled, and they all looked around.

(The Tale of Custard the Dragon)

  1. I

    What inference can be drawn from the repetition of 'suddenly, suddenly' in the above extract?

    1. (A)The scene shook the house
    2. (B)It highlights the swift assault
    3. (C)It emphasises that an unexpected noise was heard
    4. (D)It directs our notice to Mustard's growling
    1 mark
  2. II

    Despite its symbolism of captivity, what leads Custard to have a preference for staying in a cage?

    2 marks
  3. III

    Select the option that applies the same rhyme scheme as the lines of the first four lines of the given extract:

    1. (A)Through the telescope she saw a star / which she thought was very far / She stretched her hand / and felt the crumple of the sand.
    2. (B)Through the telescope she saw a star / She stretched her hand / As it was very far / But felt the crumble of the sand.
    3. (C)Through the telescope she saw a star / Which she thought was very far / Her hand she stretched / But felt the crumble of the sand.
    4. (D)Through the telescope she saw a star / Which she thought was very far / Her hand she stretched afar / But felt the crumble of the sand.
    1 mark
  4. IV

    In the given extract, the difference between the other animals and Custard is that Custard behaves like a ________. (coward / dragon)

    1 mark

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2025 board paper, set 2/4/1.

Hints

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

Hint 1

For (I), think about what repetition does to the sense of surprise.

Hint 2

For (II), recall how the other pets treated Custard.

Hint 3

For (III), mark the end rhymes of the extract as aabb and match the 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) Option (C). The repeated 'suddenly' stresses that an unexpected, nasty noise was heard without warning.

    1 mark

  2. (II) Custard was bullied and mocked by the other housemates, who called him a coward. He felt safe in the cage and sought refuge and comfort there, so he avoided confrontation.

    2 marks

  3. (III) Option (A): its lines rhyme in couplets (star/far, hand/sand), the same aabb scheme as house/mouse and age/cage.

    1 mark

  4. (IV) coward

    1 mark

Answer: (I) C; (II) He was bullied by the others and sought safety and comfort in the cage; (III) A; (IV) coward

Where the marks are

  • Chooses C (1 mark)
  • Any two points: bullied, sought refuge or comfort in the cage, avoided confrontation (2 marks)
  • Chooses A (1 mark)
  • Writes coward (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 paper2025 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.