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Evaluate the similarities… (Class 10 English 2026, Q10b)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2026, set 2/4/1 · 6 marks · Long answer

CBSE Class 10 English 2026: question 10(b)

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2026, paper 2/4/1, section C, question 10(b), for 6 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q10(b) · 6 marks · Long answerA Tiger in the Zoo

Evaluate the similarities and differences between the tiger in “A Tiger in the Zoo” and the dragon in “The Tale of Custard the Dragon”. Answer in about 100-120 words.

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2026 board paper, set 2/4/1.

Hints

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

Hint 1

Think of the setting of each creature: cage or home.

Hint 2

Compare how each behaves and how others feel about it.

Hint 3

Link the tiger to captivity and Custard to hidden bravery.

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. Similarities: both the tiger and Custard are powerful creatures who symbolise strength and danger. Both are under human control, the tiger caged in the zoo and Custard kept by Belinda. Both arouse fear, the tiger through silent rage and Custard through his fierce looks.

    3 marks

  2. Differences: the tiger is caged and helpless, pacing in anger with wasted strength. Custard lives safely at home, seems cowardly at first, then proves brave by driving off the pirate.

    2 marks

  3. Thus the tiger evokes sympathy and shows the tragedy of lost freedom. Custard shows that appearances deceive and that true courage appears in action.

    1 mark

Answer: Both are powerful and controlled by humans, but the tiger is a tragic captive while Custard proves his courage.

Where the marks are

  • Valid similarities (up to 3 marks for content)
  • Valid differences with textual support
  • Synthesis of the two ideas
  • Expression and accuracy (2 + 1 marks)

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 2/4/1: 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.