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"Richard was competitive,"… (Class 10 English 2026, Q6b)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2026, set 2/2/1 · 5 marks · Case-based

CBSE Class 10 English 2026: question 6(b)

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2026, paper 2/2/1, 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 · Case-basedCompetency-basedThe Making of a Scientist

"Richard was competitive," Mr. Weiherer continued, "but not in a bad sense." He explained, "Richard wasn't interested in winning for winning's sake or winning to get a prize. Rather, he was winning because he wanted to do the best job he could. For the right reasons, he wants to be the best." And that is one of the ingredients in the making of a scientist. Start with a first-rate mind, add curiosity, and mix in the will to win for the right reasons. Ebright has these qualities. (The Making of a Scientist)

  1. (i)

    In light of the excerpt, what can we infer about Richard from Mr. Weiherer's statement, "Richard was competitive, but not in a bad sense"?

    1 mark
  2. (ii)

    Mention the 'ingredients' which are necessarily required in the making of a scientist.

    2 marks
  3. (iii)

    Fill in the blank with the correct word from the brackets: Mr. Weiherer suggests that Richard was _____________. (lethargic/persistent)

    1 mark
  4. (iv)

    As per the above excerpt, what is not true about Ebright? Select the correct option.

    1. (A)strongly curious
    2. (B)bright minded
    3. (C)competitive spirit
    4. (D)irrational
    1 mark

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

Hints

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

Hint 1

Read what Mr. Weiherer says about why Richard wanted to win.

Hint 2

The ingredients are listed in the sentence beginning 'Start with'.

Hint 3

Choose the option that is not among the qualities named.

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) Richard had a strong desire to win, not for fame, a prize or to put others down, but to do his best work. His competitiveness was genuine and healthy.

    1 mark

  2. (ii) The ingredients are a first-rate mind, curiosity and the will to win (to excel) for the right reasons.

    2 marks

  3. (iii) persistent

    1 mark

  4. (iv) (D) irrational. Ebright is curious, bright and competitive, but not irrational.

    1 mark

Answer: (i) His competitiveness was healthy, aimed at doing his best; (ii) first-rate mind, curiosity, will to win for the right reasons; (iii) persistent; (iv) D

Where the marks are

  • (i) A valid inference (1 mark)
  • (ii) Two ingredients (2 marks)
  • (iii) persistent (1 mark)
  • (iv) D (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from The Making of a Scientist, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2026 board paper, set 2/2/1: 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.