Skip to content

Answer ANY ONE of the… (Class 10 English 2026, Q10)

questionbuddy.in/q/cbse-10-english-2026-2-1-1-q10

EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2026, set 2/1/1 · 6 marks · Long answer

CBSE Class 10 English 2026: question 10

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2026, paper 2/1/1, section C, question 10, for 6 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q10 · 6 marks · Long answerA Tiger in the Zoo

Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words:

  1. I.

    Examine the similarities and differences between the tiger in "A Tiger in the Zoo" and the dragon in "The Tale of Custard the Dragon".

    0 marks
  2. II.

    "The Sermon at Benaras" and "For Anne Gregory", deal with the themes of 'love' and 'life'. Discuss.

    0 marks

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2026 board paper, set 2/1/1.

Hints

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

Hint 1

Make a list of similarities first, then differences.

Hint 2

Use evidence from both texts.

Hint 3

Write about 100-120 words.

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. Similarities: both the tiger and Custard are powerful, fearsome creatures. Both are confined to places that are not their habitat and are emotionally isolated, which evokes sympathy. Differences: the tiger is forcibly caged, while Custard chooses a safe cage for himself. The tiger never gets to prove his strength, while Custard shows his bravery against the pirate. The tiger's plight is tragic (human control over wildlife), while Custard's is comic (appearances are deceptive).

    6 marks

  2. II. In 'The Sermon at Benaras', Kisa Gotami's love for her son is selfish. Buddha shows that excessive attachment brings suffering, and that accepting life and death gives peace. 'For Anne Gregory' shows that physical love is short-lived, while spiritual love transcends the material. Both texts show that clinging to beauty, youth or life causes suffering, and that acceptance and spiritual realisation bring true peace.

    6 marks

Answer: Attempt either I or II (6 marks).

Where the marks are

  • Three points, with at least one from each aspect (3 marks)
  • Balanced comparison and synthesis (2 marks)
  • Accuracy (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: A Tiger in the Zoo (notes, formulas, where marks are lost and every past question)
Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from A Tiger in the Zoo, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2026 board paper, set 2/1/1: 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.