10th Standard – English Public Examination 2026
PART – I
Answer all the questions. Choose the most appropriate answer from the four alternatives and write the option code and the corresponding answer.
Choose the appropriate synonyms for the italicised words.
1. He even gnawed at the dried pieces of seashell.
(a) swallowed
(b) bit
(c) drank
(d) gulped
2. There was a sudden rush and scuffle.
(a) dance
(b) talk
(c) fight
(d) distraction
3. Those are the times we have to be active and need to anticipate what could be there ahead.
(a) foresee
(b) forebear
(c) avoid
(d) treat
Choose the appropriate antonyms for the italicised words.
4. The project was undertaken in consonance with the National policy to empower women.
(a) argument
(b) agreement
(c) disagreement
(d) amusement
5. I saw a frail man with bald head sitting.
(a) strong
(b) weak
(c) delicate
(d) fragile
6. I would have forgotten that unpleasant incident of my childhood.
(a) ugly
(b) bad
(c) pleasant
(d) unhappy
7. Choose the correct plural form of 'loaf'.
(a) loaves
(b) loafs
(c) loafes
(d) loavs
8. Form a derivative by adding the right prefix to the word 'accurate'.
(a) il
(b) in
(c) un
(d) dis
9. Choose the correct expansion of the abbreviation 'BCE'.
(a) Before Complete Era
(b) Beside Common Era
(c) Beside Complete Era
(d) Before Common Era
10. Complete the following sentence with the most appropriate phrasal verb given below.
There will be a __________ next week in the office.
(a) shut out
(b) shut down
(c) shut up
(d) shut in
11. Choose the suitable option to pair it with the word 'house' to form a compound word.
(a) keeping
(b) ride
(c) rain
(d) play
12. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate preposition given below.
There are many problems of the disease __________ the East.
(a) until
(b) on
(c) by
(d) in
13. Complete the following sentence using the most appropriate tense form of the verb given below.
Mani __________ in the school for five years.
(a) is working
(b) has been working
(c) working
(d) have been working
14. Choose the most appropriate linker from the given four alternatives.
My mother called me __________ I was playing football.
(a) while
(b) or
(c) by
(d) if
SECTION – 2
Read the following sets of poetic lines and answer any five of the following.
19. Nothing goes right with the folks you meet
Down on that glum, complaining street.
(a) What is the gloomy couplet refer to?
(b) What does the word 'folks' mean?
20. Their hands are ours, and in their lives we read
A labour not different from our own.
(a) What does the word 'toil' refer to?
(b) What does the poet mean by 'lives we read'?
21. Not a crumb to be found
On the snow-covered ground.
(a) What could be held on the ground?
(b) Why was the ground covered with snow?
22. Not hurrying in, nor turning from the goad
Not moving to the thing that displeases.
(a) Why do you think the poet is not in a hurry?
(b) What should one not mourn for?
SECTION – 3
Answer any two of the following.
23. Rewrite the sentence in Reported Speech.
Bala said, "Asia is the largest continent."
24. Rewrite the following sentence in Passive Voice.
The carpenter was driving a car.
25. Punctuate the following sentence.
thats my delicate small pet horse
26. Change the following sentence into a simple sentence.
Raghav was old yet he walked fast.
27. Rearrange the words in the correct order to make meaningful sentences.
(i) / position / women / attained / any / far / happy / society / occupy.
(ii) Delighted / them / aunt / I / to / was.
Here is Part 3 of the paper (Questions 28–46), including the drawing for Question 28.
SECTION – 4
28. Answer the following question. (1×2=2)
You are at the Bus Stop. An old woman asks for direction to the hospital. Guide her with your instructions.
Map:
PART – III
SECTION – 1
Answer any two of the following in a paragraph. (2×5=10)
29. How did Watson help his friend to arrest the criminal?
30. "Technology is a boon to the disabled." Justify.
31. Give a brief character sketch of Sasanka Sanyal.
32. Write in detail about the selection and training process which the Indian Navy crew underwent.
SECTION – 2
Answer any two of the following. (2×5=10)
33. What feelings are evoked in us by the machines in the poem?
34. How is mystery depicted in the poem, "The House on Elm Street"?
35. Read the following stanza and answer the questions given below.
Let me but live my life from year to year,
With forward face and unreluctant soul;
Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal;
Not mourning for the things that disappear.
(a) Pick out the rhyming words in the given stanza.
(b) Give the rhyme scheme for the given stanza.
(c) Identify the figures of speech in the last two lines.
(d) Pick out the alliterated words in the first line.
36. Paraphrase the following stanza.
She's a lioness; don't mess with her.
She'll not spare you if you're a prankster.
Don't ever try to saw her pride, her self-respect.
She knows how to thaw you, saw you – so beware!
SECTION – 3
Answer any one of the following. (1×5=5)
37. Rearrange the following sentences into coherent order.
(i) The Emperor gave her fine gifts.
(ii) She was very brave and won many battles.
(iii) When Mulan's father heard about the Emperor's order he was about to prepare himself.
(iv) Then Mulan disguised as a man and joined the army.
(v) The Emperor ordered one man from each family to join the army.
38. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below.
This story speaks about the people of the twenty-ninth century who live in fairyland. The year is 2889, the date 25th July and the place is the office block of the Managing Editor of the Earth Herald, the world's largest newspaper. In this futuristic story written in 1889, the writer describes how he visualizes the world a thousand years later – a world of technological advancements where newspapers are not printed but "spoken".
Questions:
(a) What does the story speak about?
(b) Which is the world's largest newspaper mentioned in this passage?
(c) When is this futuristic story written?
(d) How does the writer describe the world?
(e) Are the newspapers printed?
SECTION – 4
Answer any four of the following. (4×5=20)
39. Prepare an attractive advertisement using the hints given below.
Garuda Motors – EV World – Two wheelers – Electric – Eco-Friendly – Long range – Budget Friendly – Long Life – No.25 Carmel Convent Road – Nagercoil.
40. Write a letter of complaint for the following.
You are Raja. The street lights of your area do not work properly. As a responsible citizen, write a letter to the editor of the newspaper enlightening them about the problem and also suggest ways to brighten the area.
41. You are Nikhil/Nikhita, school pupil leader of GHSS, Trichy. Prepare a notice on behalf of your school inviting the grandparents of the students to celebrate World Elders' Day in your school auditorium on the 20th of next month.
42. Look at the given picture and express your views on it in a paragraph of five sentences.
43. Make notes or write a summary of the given passage.
44. Identify the errors in the following sentences and rewrite them correctly.
(a) But he was honest, he was punished.
(b) My brother go to the temple daily.
(c) My son is fond to music.
(d) Riya is one of my better friends.
(e) The young seagull uttered a joyfully scream.
45. Quote from memory.
Remember, no men ...............................................
................................................ air and water.
46. Write a paragraph of about 150 words by developing the following hints.
(a) Zigzag – house – Dr. Krishnan – dull – sleep – snore – fan – fruits – neighbours – complain – zigzag – reception – clinic – nurse – table – not sleep – active – Dr. Krishnan – walked – half-door clinic – waiting room – voice – clear – commanding – silence – open mouthed – Krishnan – amazed – grumpy – gone – happy – job – trained – Dr. Krishnan – hospital – calm – peaceful – family – happy.
OR
(b) Holland – country – land – below – sea level – walls – dikes – North Sea – flooding – land – centuries – worked – walls – safe – dry – children – know – dikes – watched – moment – hole – finger – dangerous – boy – Peter – father – gates – sluices – open – ships – pass – Holland – canals – sea – leak – danger – alarm – people – Peter – home – hero.
47. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below. (5×1=5)
English plays a vital role in connecting people around the world. It provides us to the information which is widely available on laws and scientific and medical knowledge. It facilitates a common language to using economical land. People use it to express their ideas, opinions and keep up with the latest current. It enables people to expand their education which can lead to the kind of work and understanding which is vital in negotiating and agreeing to our common future. English has become essential for international communication. Because English is used by many people from different regions of education around the globe it has become the main vehicle for worldwide communication. Most English is needed by people who want to travel abroad. It is useful for learning about customs and for daily problem solving wherever English is spoken. An ordinary and commonly used way for learning and what happens in school. A minimum proficiency level in English is increasingly regarded as an entrance requirement for universities.
Questions:
(i) Which language plays an important role in increasing opportunities?
(ii) How is English important as a common language?
(iii) Why is English needed by more people?
(iv) How does English help people?
(v) Why is English useful?
OR
48. Read the following poem and answer the questions given below. (5×1=5)
Memories of My Dad
He wasn't a hero,
Known by the world,
But a hero he was
To his little girl.
My daddy was God,
His love set things.
And then the last thing,
With the gifts he'd bring.
I knew his voice
Before I could speak.
And I loved all my life
He would sing me to sleep.
Questions:
(i) What is your Dad to his little girl?
(ii) Why did the girl call her Dad, a God?
(iii) Who was the Dad before than start?
(iv) How knew the voice of Dad?
