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Read the following text: (1) A… (Class 10 English 2026, Q2)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2026, set 2/4/1 · 10 marks · Reading comprehension

CBSE Class 10 English 2026: question 2

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

Q2 · 10 marks · Reading comprehensionCompetency-basedReading (unseen passages)

Read the following text:

(1) A detailed study conducted across various industries and research sectors has shed light on the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI). It revealed that nearly 70% of AI applications are developed by private tech companies, driven by innovation and market competition. About 20% stem from collaborations between academic institutions and industry leaders, fostering advancements in fields such as healthcare, finance, and transportation.

(2) Interestingly, around 10% of AI initiatives are spearheaded by governmental or non-governmental organisations, often focussing on social welfare. These projects aim to address issues like disaster prediction, agricultural efficiency, and public health monitoring.

(3) Among the AI applications, approximately 45% focus on automation, improving productivity and reducing operational cost. Around 30% cater to predictive analytics, aiding in decision-making processes in domains such as finance and weather forecasting. The remaining 25% revolve around interactive AI, such as chatbots and virtual assistants, enhancing user engagement and accessibility.

(4) Further analysis indicates that about 60% of AI implementations are found in urban areas, particularly in tech hubs and metropolitan cities. Around 30% are applied in industrial zones, enhancing manufacturing and logistics. The remaining 10% serve rural and underserved regions, supporting initiatives like digital literacy, healthcare access and agricultural support.

(5) Comparisons across parameters such as ethical concerns, accessibility, industry-specific applications, and societal impact reveal AI’s potential for transformative change. This analysis not only highlights the widespread adoption of AI but also underscores the need for inclusive and sustainable development in the field.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above:

  1. (i)

    What does the use of the phrase “evolving landscape of artificial intelligence” in paragraph 1 suggest?

    1. (A)disinterest
    2. (B)progress and development
    3. (C)frustration
    4. (D)confusion
    1 mark
  2. (ii)

    Select the option that is true for the assertion and reason given below. Assertion: Governmental and non-governmental organisations often use AI for social welfare. Reason: These organisations focus on disaster prediction, agricultural efficiency, and public health monitoring.

    1. (A)Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
    2. (B)Both the assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
    3. (C)The assertion is true, but the reason is false.
    4. (D)The assertion is false, but the reason is true.
    1 mark
  3. (iii)

    Identify the word or phrase that indicates supervision as one of the areas of AI applications. (paragraph 2)

    1 mark
  4. (iv)

    How do AI applications contribute to societal development, especially in rural and underserved regions?

    1 mark
  5. (v)

    Read the given prompt and select the correct option in the brackets to fill in the blank. In a remote village, an AI powered system is used to monitor crop health and provide timely updates to farmers. The percentage of AI initiatives in this segment would be categorized under is _______. (10% / 30% / 45%)

    1. (A)10%
    2. (B)30%
    3. (C)45%
    1 mark
  6. (vi)

    What does the high percentage of AI implementations in urban areas suggest about the development and adoption of technology?

    1 mark
  7. (vii)

    Complete the sentence suitably: The collaboration between academic institutions and industry leaders in developing AI applications demonstrates _______.

    1 mark
  8. (viii)

    Complete the following with a suitable reason: The most likely reason the passage mentions “interactive AI” as a key focus area is because it enhances _______.

    1 mark
  9. (ix)

    In the context of the last paragraph, describe the significance of comparing various parameters such as ethical concerns, accessibility, industry-specific applications, and societal impact in understanding the evolving AI landscape.

    2 marks

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

Read paragraphs 2 and 4 for the words and percentages.

Hint 2

Rural and underserved regions have their own percentage in paragraph 4.

Hint 3

For (ix), think of what comparison reveals: challenges and the way forward.

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) (B) progress and development. 'Evolving' suggests continuous growth.

    1 mark

  2. (ii) (A) Both are true and the reason explains the assertion. The disaster, agriculture and health projects are the social-welfare uses.

    1 mark

  3. (iii) The word is 'monitoring' (public health monitoring).

    1 mark

  4. (iv) AI improves living standards in rural and underserved regions by supporting digital literacy, healthcare access and agricultural support.

    1 mark

  5. (v) 10%. Rural and underserved regions get 10% of AI implementations.

    1 mark

  6. (vi) Urban areas have better infrastructure, investment and skilled professionals, so they lead in technological development and adoption.

    1 mark

  7. (vii) Complete: The collaboration demonstrates advancement in fields such as healthcare, finance and transportation.

    1 mark

  8. (viii) Complete: it enhances user engagement and accessibility, making communication with technology more efficient.

    1 mark

  9. (ix) Comparing these parameters gives a comprehensive understanding of AI's implications. It highlights challenges such as ethical dilemmas and unequal access, and it helps design strategies for inclusive and sustainable growth.

    2 marks

Answer: (i) B; (ii) A; (iii) monitoring; (iv) improves living standards via digital literacy, healthcare, agriculture; (v) 10%; (vi) better infrastructure and investment in cities; (vii) advancement in healthcare, finance, transport; (viii) user engagement and accessibility; (ix) comprehensive understanding, shows challenges, guides inclusive growth

Where the marks are

  • (i) B (1 mark)
  • (ii) A (1 mark)
  • (iii) monitoring (1 mark)
  • (iv) social development in rural areas (1 mark)
  • (v) 10% (1 mark)
  • (vi) urban infrastructure and investment lead tech (1 mark)
  • (vii) advancement in fields (1 mark)
  • (viii) user engagement and accessibility (1 mark)
  • (ix) any two valid points (2 marks)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: Reading (unseen passages)
Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Reading (unseen passages), 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.