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Answer any four of the… (Class 10 English SQP 2026-27, Q8)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Sample paper, session 2026-27 · 12 marks · Short answer

CBSE Class 10 English sample paper 2026-27: question 8

From the official CBSE sample question paper for 2026-27, section C, question 8, for 12 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q8 · 12 marks · Short answerFog

Answer any four of the following five questions, in about 40-50 words. (4 x 3 = 12)

  1. I

    How does the poem use the ‘cat metaphor’ to characterise the fog’s nature? (Fog)

    3 marks
  2. II

    The writer uses humour to simultaneously entertain readers and critique societal attitudes toward animals. Elaborate. (Mijbil the Otter)

    3 marks
  3. III

    How does the hailstorm function as more than just a weather event in the story? (A Letter to God)

    3 marks
  4. IV

    Assess how the poem's message about not judging by appearances still relevant today. (The Tale of Custard the Dragon)

    3 marks
  5. V

    Why has the writer included the legends about tea’s origin-the Chinese emperor's story and Bodhidharma's tale in the narrative? (Glimpses of India- Tea from Assam)

    3 marks

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

Pick the four you remember best and give a point, an example from the text, and its significance.

Hint 2

Write 40-50 words, with two content points and one linking idea.

Hint 3

Use text references: cat feet, the tap, the hailstorm, Custard's fight with the pirate, Bodhidharma.

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) Fog comes silently on 'little cat feet', sits looking over the harbour and city, then moves on. The metaphor gives fog a cat's quiet, aloof, watchful and mysterious nature. It makes a natural phenomenon seem alive and links living and non-living nature.

    3 marks

  2. (II) Mijbil's mischief, such as screwing and unscrewing the tap, is funny and entertains. The absurd guesses of Londoners and the labourer's indignant reaction show how people force an unfamiliar animal into familiar categories like 'rat'. This mocks human arrogance and our distance from nature.

    3 marks

  3. (III) The hailstorm destroys Lencho's crop and so creates his crisis. It also tests his unwavering faith in God. It leads to his letter and prompts the postmaster's kindness, revealing character and human compassion.

    3 marks

  4. (IV) Today people often judge by looks, social media image or first impressions. Custard, mocked as a coward, proves brave when danger comes. The poem reminds us that real character shows in action, not appearance, and cautions against hasty judgments.

    3 marks

  5. (V) The legends add cultural richness and make the account more interesting and memorable. The Chinese emperor story and Bodhidharma's tale show how tea was valued for health and spiritual alertness in China and India. They show that tea has deep cultural meaning beyond commerce.

    3 marks

Answer: Any four of I-V answered as above (all five are modelled).

Where the marks are

  • Each answered part: relevant content, 2 marks (2 marks)
  • Each answered part: clear expression, 1 mark; deduct up to 1 overall for errors (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

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