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Read the following… (Class 10 English SQP 2026-27, Q2)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Sample paper, session 2026-27 · 10 marks · Reading comprehension

CBSE Class 10 English sample paper 2026-27: question 2

From the official CBSE sample question paper for 2026-27, 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 passage.

(1) A 2023 report found that ‘audio routines’ have become a mainstay in people’s daily lives. Unlike traditional content, audio-based experiences offer a hands-free and eyes-free experience, allowing individuals to stay entertained or absorb information outside the confines of a screen or paper book. The audiobooks market in India is also witnessing intense growth, fuelled by the rapid adoption of smartphones and a rising preference for convenient, on-the-go content consumption.

(2) A survey found that half of audiobook listeners spend between 1-4 hours per week listening to audiobooks and 33% spend 5-10 hours a week. When asked in which scenarios they’re most likely to hit play on an audiobook, commute was the most popular choice. 63% said they listen to audiobooks while on the go, 54% while completing household chores and 44% while relaxing or falling asleep. 56% of the listeners generally prefer to listen to fiction over non-fiction books.

(3) 67% of audiobook listeners say they read more with audiobooks compared to books in traditional text format. When integrated into daily routines, audiobooks serve as a channel for more people to enjoy literature, accommodating those with the busiest of schedules.

(4) The audiobook format also offers a user-friendly format that enables a diverse population, including individuals with physical or neurological limitations to have access to literature. Additionally, it serves as a valuable resource for individuals with attention span difficulties, allowing them to engage with books despite the challenges of sitting down and maintaining a focus on reading.

Created for academic usage / 253 words

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

  1. I

    Complete the sentence by selecting the correct option from those given in the bracket.
    The word ‘mainstay’ as used in Paragraph 1 suggests that audiobooks have ______.
    (overpowered people’s lives/ become a support in people’s lives)

    1 mark
  2. II

    What does relationship between smartphone adoption and audiobook suggest about consumer preferences? (Paragraph 1)

    1 mark
  3. III

    Select the option that is true for the assertion and reason given below.
    Assertion: The most preferred scenario for listening to audiobooks is when travelling.
    Reason: During travel, listeners struggle with short attention span problems.

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

    Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
    All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 2 EXCEPT—

    1. (A)50% of audiobook listeners spend between one and four hours weekly listening to audiobooks.
    2. (B)A little more than half of the audiobook listeners prefer fiction over non-fiction content.
    3. (C)Approximately 30% percent of listeners spend less than one hour weekly listening to audiobooks.
    4. (D)Audiobooks have made it possible for people to appreciate literature.
    1 mark
  5. V

    Compare the preference for fiction (56%) versus non-fiction in audiobooks. What might this suggest about listener expectations? (Paragraph 2)

    2 marks
  6. VII

    Identify the phrase from paragraph 4 that indicates that everyone would find audiobooks easy and comfortable.

    1 mark
  7. VIII

    A student with reading difficulties wants to complete his reading assignments in school. Why would an audio book option be an advantage? (Paragraph 4)

    1 mark
  8. IX

    Suggest one reason why the title, ‘Rise of Audiobooks: Transforming Reading’ is a suitable title for the passage.

    1 mark

Source: official sample paper from cbseacademic.nic.in (PDF). See it in the full Sample paper 2026-27.

Hints

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

Hint 1

Check each option in IV against the percentages in paragraph 2.

Hint 2

For III, does the passage mention attention problems during travel?

Hint 3

For VII, look for the phrase in paragraph 4 about a format that is easy for everyone.

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) become a support in people's lives. 'Mainstay' means something that supports and is relied upon.

    1 mark

  2. (II) It suggests that consumers increasingly prefer digital, on-the-go content that fits mobile lifestyles, rather than physical books or stationary screens.

    1 mark

  3. (III) (C). The assertion is true, as commute was the most popular scenario. The reason is false, because the passage never says travellers have attention span problems.

    1 mark

  4. (IV) (C). The passage says half listen for 1-4 hours and 33% for 5-10 hours, which leaves only about 17% for less than one hour, not 30%.

    1 mark

  5. (V) The strong preference for fiction (56%) suggests that listeners use audiobooks mainly for narrative-driven content. Storytelling suits audio, where the narrator's voice and the plot's twists add to engagement.

    2 marks

  6. (VII) 'user-friendly format'

    1 mark

  7. (VIII) Listening removes text-processing barriers such as decoding words, so the student can engage with the assigned books despite his reading difficulty.

    1 mark

  8. (IX) The title is suitable because it captures the main shift the passage describes, with 67% of listeners reading more through audiobooks. It also covers the growth and benefits discussed in all four paragraphs.

    1 mark

Answer: (I) become a support in people's lives; (II) preference for digital, on-the-go content; (III) C; (IV) C; (V) fiction suits narrative-driven audio; (VII) user-friendly format; (VIII) removes text-decoding barriers; (IX) captures growth and benefits

Where the marks are

  • Chooses 'become a support' (1 mark)
  • Says consumers prefer digital, on-the-go content (1 mark)
  • Chooses C (1 mark)
  • Chooses C (1 mark)
  • Links fiction preference to narrative-driven use (1 mark)
  • Says storytelling works well in audio with narration (1 mark)
  • Quotes 'user-friendly format' (1 mark)
  • Says audio removes reading barriers (1 mark)
  • Gives a valid reason for the title (1 mark)

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 paperSample paper 2026-27: 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.