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Answer ANY FOUR of the… (Class 10 English SQP 2025-26, Q8)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Sample paper, session 2025-26 · 12 marks · Short answer

CBSE Class 10 English sample paper 2025-26: question 8

From the official CBSE sample question paper for 2025-26, section D, question 8, for 12 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q8 · 12 marks · Short answerMijbil the Otter

Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 50 words each. 4x3=12

  1. I

    Otters are known for their peculiar behavioural traits. Support this statement with reference to any two traits mentioned in ‘Mijbil the Otter.’

    3 marks
  2. II

    How does the use of repetition in the poem ‘Amanda!’ highlight the speaker's expectations and Amanda's responses?

    3 marks
  3. III

    How can Nelson Mandela’s vision of ‘liberating both the oppressed and the oppressor’ be applied in modern-day societies to address issues of inequality and discrimination? (Nelson Mandela – Long Walk to Freedom)

    3 marks
  4. IV

    How does the line ‘and then moves on’ reflect the transient nature of the fog thereby contributing to the poem's deeper message about life's impermanence? (Fog)

    3 marks
  5. V

    How does Chubukov’s reaction to Lomov’s marriage proposal reflect his priorities and values? (The Proposal)

    3 marks

Source: official sample paper from cbseacademic.nic.in (PDF). See it in the full Sample paper 2025-26.

Hints

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

Hint 1

Recall the specific incident in the text that supports the point you are making.

Hint 2

Make one clear point about meaning and a second about theme or character, then add textual evidence.

Hint 3

Keep to about 50 words and write in complete sentences.

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) Otters have a love for moving water. Mijbil could not bear still water, so he overturned his bowl, sat in it and splashed until it overflowed. He was also very curious and fumbled with taps to turn them on. He could also juggle marbles on his belly while lying on his back.

    3 marks

  2. (II) The repeated commands, such as 'Don't bite your nails', show the constant expectations and pressure on Amanda and her lack of freedom. Amanda's responses are imaginative escapes, such as being a mermaid or a prima donna, and they are not repetitive. They show her longing for independence and the tension between control and self-expression.

    3 marks

  3. (III) Mandela's vision can be applied today by encouraging dialogue, understanding and reconciliation between groups. Marginalised people must be empowered, and the mindsets of those who discriminate must also be changed. This breaks the cycle of hatred and builds lasting equality and peace.

    3 marks

  4. (IV) 'And then moves on' shows that the fog arrives quietly, stays briefly and leaves, like fleeting moments in life. It reinforces the poem's message that experiences are temporary and pass without warning, leaving only a sense of mystery and reflection.

    3 marks

  5. (V) Chubukov turns very warm and enthusiastic towards Lomov once he hears the proposal. He calls him 'my dear fellow', even though he had been hostile a little earlier. His joy is about marrying his daughter to a neighbouring landowner, not about her happiness. This shows that he is opportunistic and values status and financial security over genuine feeling.

    3 marks

Answer: Model answers to all five sub-parts (I)-(V) are given; any four are required.

Where the marks are

  • (I) Two traits of Mijbil with examples (2 marks) and expression (1 mark)
  • (II) Repetition shows pressure and control, and Amanda's imaginative escapes show her desire for freedom (2 marks) with expression (1 mark)
  • (III) Application of the vision through dialogue, reconciliation and changing mindsets (2 marks) with expression (1 mark)
  • (IV) 'Moves on' shows transience and the impermanence of life (2 marks) with expression (1 mark)
  • (V) Chubukov is opportunistic and values status and security (2 marks) with expression (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: Mijbil the Otter (notes, formulas, where marks are lost and every past question)
Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Mijbil the Otter, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paperSample paper 2025-26: 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.