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Answer any two of the following… (English 2026 2/5/1 Q9)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2026, set 2/5/1 · 6 marks · Short answer

CBSE Class 10 English 2026: question 9

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2026, paper 2/5/1, section C, question 9, for 6 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q9 · 6 marks · Short answerFootprints without Feet

Answer any two of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words each. (2 × 3 = 6)

  1. (i)

    Why does Griffin, despite his scientific genius, end up leading a destructive life? (Footprints Without Feet)

    3 marks
  2. (ii)

    Why does Horace Danby consider himself an honest man despite being a thief? How does this self-perception affect his decision in the story? (A Question of Trust)

    3 marks
  3. (iii)

    In ‘A Triumph of Surgery’, how does Tricki’s condition reflect the consequences of pampering pets excessively? What does this suggest about human attachment?

    3 marks

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2026 board paper, set 2/5/1.

Hints

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

Hint 1

Recall what Griffin, Danby and Mrs Pumphrey each did in their story.

Hint 2

Cover both parts of the question where it has two parts.

Hint 3

Keep each answer to 40-50 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) Griffin misuses his invisibility for crime and revenge. He robs people and attacks those who oppose him. Despite his brilliance he lacks ethics, empathy and responsibility. His pride makes him arrogant and lawless, so his genius becomes self-destructive.

    3 marks

  2. (ii) Horace Danby steals only from the rich, only once a year, to buy rare books, and otherwise lives respectably as a locksmith. He thinks he harms no one. This self-justification clouds his judgement, and his habit takes him to Shotover Grange, where the police catch him.

    3 marks

  3. (iii) Tricki becomes extremely sick because Mrs Pumphrey never says no to his food demands. This shows that over-indulgence harms instead of helping. It suggests that human attachment, when uncontrolled, turns into blind pampering, and care needs discipline and firmness.

    3 marks

Answer: Any two of (i)-(iii) answered; all three are given above.

Where the marks are

  • Two relevant value points with textual evidence per answer (2 marks each)
  • Expression: clear, coherent writing per answer (1 mark each)
  • Any two answers attempted (6 marks)

Revise the chapter

Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Footprints without Feet, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2026 board paper, set 2/5/1: 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.