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Answer any four of the following… (English 2026 2/2/1 Q8)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2026, set 2/2/1 · 12 marks · Short answer

CBSE Class 10 English 2026: question 8

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2026, paper 2/2/1, section C, question 8, for 12 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q8 · 12 marks · Short answerFire and Ice

Answer any four of the following five questions in 40 – 50 words each: (4×3=12)

  1. (i)

    In the poem 'Fire and Ice', how does the intense human emotion symbolised by fire, lead to the destruction of the world?

    3 marks
  2. (ii)

    Mention the details that Anne provides about her family in her diary. (From the Diary of Anne Frank)

    3 marks
  3. (iii)

    Bread plays a pivotal role in Goan culture and tradition. Support the statement with evidences from the text. (Glimpses of India: A Baker from Goa)

    3 marks
  4. (iv)

    What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? (Mijbil the Otter)

    3 marks
  5. (v)

    Despite her young age, how does Valli manage to gather the subtle details about the bus journey? (Madam Rides the Bus)

    3 marks

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

Recall the key idea of the lesson or poem behind each question.

Hint 2

Pick two clear points from the text for each sub-part and write them in 40-50 words.

Hint 3

Use connecting words so that your answer reads smoothly.

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) In the poem, fire stands for desire, which includes greed, lust and the urge to possess. Unchecked desire leads to conflict, hatred and fury among people. These instincts can destroy the world, so the world may end in fire if desire is not controlled.

    3 marks

  2. (ii) In her diary Anne describes her father Otto Frank as loving, patient and understanding. He married her mother Edith, who was good-looking, at thirty-six. Her sister Margot was born in Germany. The Jewish family lived in Frankfurt before moving to Amsterdam, and Anne mentions her loving grandmother and aunts.

    3 marks

  3. (iii) Bread is central to Goan life. No marriage gift is complete without the sweet bread 'bol', and sandwiches are made for a daughter's engagement. Cakes and bolinhas are a must at Christmas and other festivals. So bread is a symbol of community, tradition and life.

    3 marks

  4. (iv) Mijbil was startled at first but then leapt up and down in the bathtub, in the water. He slid, rolled and scrambled with great splash and slosh, scattering soap, toothbrushes and other toiletries. He seemed to want to make use of every drop of water.

    3 marks

  5. (v) Valli is a keen observer and curious about the world beyond her village. She asks passengers discreet questions and listens to her neighbours' conversations. In this way she gathers details like fares and timings of the bus journey.

    3 marks

Answer: Model answers for sub-parts (i) to (v) are given above; any four are required.

Where the marks are

  • Each sub-part: two relevant value points (2 marks)
  • Each sub-part: clear expression (1 mark)
  • Any four sub-parts attempted (4 x 3 = 12 marks)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: Fire and Ice (notes, formulas, where marks are lost and every past question)
Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Fire and Ice, 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.