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Answer any two of the… (Class 10 English SQP 2026-27, Q9)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Sample paper, session 2026-27 · 6 marks · Short answer

CBSE Class 10 English sample paper 2026-27: question 9

From the official CBSE sample question paper for 2026-27, section C, question 9, for 6 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q9 · 6 marks · Short answerThe Thief's Story

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

  1. I

    Compare Hari's initial approach to Anil with his honest smile at the story's end. What does this change reveal? (The Thief’s Story)

    3 marks
  2. II

    Analyse how the writer uses irony throughout the story to convey the message that vanity and materialism lead to one’s downfall. (The Necklace)

    3 marks
  3. III

    Why does Horace take off his gloves to give the young lady his lighter? What does this action tell us about his state of mind at that crucial moment? (A Question of Trust)

    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

Name the character, the specific event and what it reveals about them.

Hint 2

Keep each answer to 40-50 words, with a contrast or cause-effect link.

Hint 3

Use specifics: Hari's smile, the paste necklace, the gloves and fingerprints.

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) At first Hari charms and deceives Anil to win his trust and exploit him. His final smile is spontaneous and honest, with no effort behind it. This shows a real change: he now values genuine human connection over using people, and the change is internalised.

    3 marks

  2. (II) Matilda sacrifices ten years to replace a necklace that was worthless paste. Her pride and wish to look rich make her into the common woman she despised. Her suffering was needless, so the irony shows that vanity and materialism cause self-inflicted ruin.

    3 marks

  3. (III) Horace removes his gloves, abandoning his careful criminal habit of avoiding fingerprints. He is so eager to please the lady and be set free that he forgets caution. This shows his desperation and confusion, as he acts like a frightened man, not a careful thief.

    3 marks

Answer: Any two of I-III answered as above (all three 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: The Thief's Story (notes, formulas, where marks are lost and every past question)
Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from The Thief's Story, 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.