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There was a fifty rupee note… (Class 10 English 2025, Q6b)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2025, set 2/6/1 · 5 marks · Reading comprehension

CBSE Class 10 English 2025: question 6(b)

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2025, paper 2/6/1, section C, question 6(b), for 5 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q6(b) · 5 marks · Reading comprehensionCompetency-basedThe Thief's Story

There was a fifty rupee note between his fingers. My heart sank. I thought I had been discovered. "I made some money yesterday," he explained. "Now you'll be paid regularly." My spirits rose. But when I took the note, I saw it was still wet from the night's rain. "Today we'll start writing sentences," he said.
He knew. But neither his lips nor his eyes showed anything.

(The Thief's Story)

  1. (i)

    In the context of the given extract:
    What was the feelings UNLIKELY to have been on seeing 'a fifty rupee note between his fingers'?

    1. (A)joyous
    2. (B)sad
    3. (C)unhappy
    4. (D)worried
    1 mark
  2. (ii)

    How does the prospect of being paid regularly affect the narrator's motivation and hope for the future? Answer in about 40 words.

    2 marks
  3. (iii)

    Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket:
    The person spoken about did not let the narrator realise that his act of stealing was caught. It reflects the ________ (nobility / dishonesty) of his character.

    1 mark
  4. (iv)

    Compare the meanings of the expressions: "My heart sank", and "My spirits rose".

    1 mark

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2025 board paper, set 2/6/1.

Hints

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

Hint 1

Ask which feeling the narrator would NOT have had when he thought he was caught.

Hint 2

For (ii), think about what regular pay means for a thief who wants to change.

Hint 3

For (iv), say what emotion each expression stands for and show the contrast.

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) A – joyous. The narrator thought he had been discovered, so his feeling was fear and worry, not joy.

    1 mark

  2. (ii) The prospect of regular pay lifts the narrator's spirits and motivation and changes his outlook positively. It gives him hope of being educated by Anil and of finding a respectable place in society.

    2 marks

  3. (iii) nobility. Anil kept silent and showed no sign that he knew, which reflects his noble character.

    1 mark

  4. (iv) 'My heart sank' expresses disappointment, worry or fear. 'My spirits rose' expresses a hopeful, optimistic and positive state of mind.

    1 mark

Answer: (i) A; (ii) regular pay raises his motivation and hope of education and a respectable life; (iii) nobility; (iv) 'heart sank' means fear or disappointment, 'spirits rose' means hope or joy

Where the marks are

  • (i) A (1 mark)
  • (ii) Any two points: raised motivation, positive outlook, hope of education, respectable place in society (1+1 marks)
  • (iii) nobility (1 mark)
  • (iv) Contrast of the two expressions (½ + ½ marks)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: The Thief's Story (notes, formulas, where marks are lost and every past question)
Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from The Thief's Story, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2025 board paper, set 2/6/1: 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.