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Read the following text: (1)… (English 2025 2/5/1 Q1)

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

CBSE Class 10 English 2025: question 1

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

Q1 · 10 marks · Reading comprehensionCompetency-basedReading (unseen passages)

Read the following text:

(1) ChatGPT can search. It cannot research. The platform has attracted the world's attention because of the speed with which it assembles and produces information in a logical sequence, powered by artificial intelligence, as if a human being were prompting it to write.

(2) Curious about understanding what ChatGPT can do, I opened an account and asked if it would replace research in the future. Promptly, it replied: "As an AI language model, I don't hold personal beliefs, but I can present arguments on both sides of the topic."

(3) The answer amused me. The speed with which it typed the information across the screen was mind-boggling. I could not read the answer as fast as it typed out the sentence. But, when it had finished, I read through the document. It was impressive. It was truly informative.

(4) Five different points had been explained briefly in seconds. I would have thought of those five points in an hour or more, depending on the complexity of the topic. "AI : Catalyst, not Conqueror : ChatGPT and the future of research" was the title that it threw up to my question. It matched my opinion about the future of research after ChatGPT. The write-up had an introduction and a conclusion, just as our English teachers have taught us.

(5) The document came from countless databases, as that is what it's designed to do. By contrast, when I research a subject for an 800-word article, I visit five or six authoritative sources; I don't go to a million as most are copies.

(6) The difference between the write-up of ChatGPT and my research article is the former is a mere summary. When I write, I search new ideas and knit them in a way that reflect my thoughts and perspective. I choose only what is original, unique and fresh and process them in my mind to create a fresh angle.

(7) Research has no value if it only summarises known information. Even a literature survey in your subject requires you to say what you will do with it further, and how.

(8) Research is not a joke. Years ago, I had asked my professor, later on my supervisor, "How can I publish an article in research journals ?"

(9) He answered, "When you have read everything on the subject, and have something original to add to the existing body of research." My head swam.

(10) Excellent research is a daunting task and calls for hard intellectual work. When you research, you don't go wide; you go deep. You thoroughly investigate a minor concept, researching it extensively, substantiating each claim with reliable sources, experiments, models and beyond. It took years to discover the atom and the theory of gravitation. ChatGPT can summarise these discoveries, but it cannot add to them. It does not have the mental wherewithal for that.

(openpage@thehindu.co.in/461words)

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above :

  1. (i)

    Which of the following statements best summarises the author's views about ChatGPT ?

    1. (A)It can summarise discoveries.
    2. (B)It assembles and produces information.
    3. (C)Its information is based on numerous databases.
    4. (D)It can only search but not research.
    1 mark
  2. (ii)

    What did the professor suggest to the author's question of how he could publish his research journal ? (Answer in 40 words only.)

    2 marks
  3. (iii)

    Complete the given analogy :
    Dependable : reliable : rational : ________.

    1 mark
  4. (iv)

    Mention one basic difference between the write-up of ChatGPT and author's research article.

    2 marks
  5. (v)

    Complete the sentence appropriately.
    The author noticed that the write-up produced by ChatGPT had an introduction and a conclusion, just as he learnt in his English class but it still lacked ________.

    1 mark
  6. (vi)

    The author was moved by the ________ with which the ChatGPT was producing the article.

    1. (A)originality
    2. (B)information
    3. (C)rationality
    4. (D)speed
    1 mark
  7. (vii)

    State whether the given statement is True/False :
    Research is not beneficial if it only summarises the known information.

    1 mark
  8. (viii)

    Quote the answer of ChatGPT, from the above given passage, when it was asked whether it would replace research in the future ?

    1 mark

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2025 board paper, set 2/5/1.

Hints

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

Hint 1

Go back to paragraphs 1, 6, 7 and 9 for the relevant lines.

Hint 2

For the analogy, find a word meaning 'based on reason'.

Hint 3

For (viii), copy the quoted reply from paragraph 2 exactly.

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 (D). The author's central claim is that ChatGPT can search but cannot research, since it only summarises existing information.

    1 mark

  2. (ii) The professor said the author should first read everything on the subject. Only then, with something original to add to the existing body of research, could he publish.

    2 marks

  3. (iii) Logical (analytical/objective also acceptable). 'Rational' means based on reason, as 'reliable' means dependable.

    1 mark

  4. (iv) ChatGPT's write-up is only a summary of information gathered from many databases, whereas the author's article presents original, fresh ideas shaped by his own perspective.

    2 marks

  5. (v) originality (a fresh angle/new perspective).

    1 mark

  6. (vi) Option (D) speed. The author was amazed at how fast it typed the answer.

    1 mark

  7. (vii) True. Paragraph 7 says research has no value if it only summarises known information.

    1 mark

  8. (viii) "As an AI language model, I don't hold personal beliefs, but I can present arguments on both sides of the topic."

    1 mark

Answer: (i) D; (ii) read everything on the subject and add something original; (iii) logical; (iv) ChatGPT only summarises, the author's work is original; (v) originality; (vi) D; (vii) True; (viii) "As an AI language model, I don't hold personal beliefs, but I can present arguments on both sides of the topic."

Where the marks are

  • (i) Option D (1 mark)
  • (ii) Read everything on the subject (1 mark) and add something original (1 mark)
  • (iii) Logical (1 mark)
  • (iv) ChatGPT gives a summary (1 mark); the author's work is original (1 mark)
  • (v) Originality (1 mark)
  • (vi) Speed (1 mark)
  • (vii) True (1 mark)
  • (viii) Correct quotation (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: Reading (unseen passages)
Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Reading (unseen passages), one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2025 board paper, set 2/5/1: 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.