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Sample Practice Paper — 3 (2026–27)
| Student Name: ______________________ | Roll No.: __________ | Section: __________ |
General Instructions:
1. This paper is divided into THREE sections: A, B and C. All questions are compulsory.
2. Section A – Reading Skills — 20 Marks.
3. Section B – Writing Skills with Grammar — 20 Marks.
4. Section C – Literature (Textbooks) — 40 Marks.
5. Attempt all sub-parts of a question together at one place.
6. Marks are indicated against each question / sub-part.
SECTION A — READING SKILLS (20 Marks)
Q1. Read the passage given below.10 Marks
Street food has always been part of India's culinary identity, but a quiet revolution is underway as young entrepreneurs bring hygiene certifications, digital payments and social media marketing to roadside stalls once dismissed as unorganised. Vendors who once relied purely on word of mouth now post photos of their dishes online, attracting customers from across the city.
Municipal bodies in several cities have begun offering training programmes on food safety, helping vendors obtain licenses and improve sanitation standards. This has opened doors for many stall owners to be featured in food festivals and even collaborate with restaurants for pop-up events, boosting both their income and reputation.
Not everyone welcomes the change, however. Some long-time vendors feel that rising costs of compliance and competition from delivery apps threaten their traditional way of doing business. Balancing tradition with modernisation, they say, remains the biggest challenge as street food culture evolves for a new generation of customers.
Municipal bodies in several cities have begun offering training programmes on food safety, helping vendors obtain licenses and improve sanitation standards. This has opened doors for many stall owners to be featured in food festivals and even collaborate with restaurants for pop-up events, boosting both their income and reputation.
Not everyone welcomes the change, however. Some long-time vendors feel that rising costs of compliance and competition from delivery apps threaten their traditional way of doing business. Balancing tradition with modernisation, they say, remains the biggest challenge as street food culture evolves for a new generation of customers.
1.1 What change is described as a "quiet revolution" in street food culture? (1)
1.2 Municipal bodies have helped street vendors mainly by: (1)
1.3 How have some vendors benefited from collaborating with restaurants? (1)
1.4 Find a word from the passage (para 1) that means "not properly planned or structured". (1)
1.5 State whether True or False: "All street vendors are happy with the changes taking place." (1)
1.6 What challenge do some long-time vendors feel they are facing? (1)
1.7 The phrase "balancing tradition with modernisation" suggests that street food culture is: (1)
1.8 Name one tool mentioned in the passage that vendors now use to attract customers. (1)
1.9 In about 40 words, explain how street food vendors are adapting to modern trends, based on the passage. (2)
Q2. Read the passage given below.10 Marks
Is it time for schools to make financial literacy a compulsory subject? As young people increasingly manage digital wallets and online transactions from an early age, educators argue that understanding budgeting, saving and the basics of investment is now as essential as learning mathematics or science.
Opponents of adding another compulsory subject worry about overburdening an already packed curriculum. They suggest that financial literacy could instead be woven into existing subjects — for example, through practical problems in mathematics classes or case studies in social science — rather than treated as a standalone course.
A handful of schools have already piloted short financial literacy modules, with encouraging results: students report feeling more confident about managing pocket money and understanding the value of saving. Whether such modules should be scaled up nationally remains a matter of ongoing policy debate.
Opponents of adding another compulsory subject worry about overburdening an already packed curriculum. They suggest that financial literacy could instead be woven into existing subjects — for example, through practical problems in mathematics classes or case studies in social science — rather than treated as a standalone course.
A handful of schools have already piloted short financial literacy modules, with encouraging results: students report feeling more confident about managing pocket money and understanding the value of saving. Whether such modules should be scaled up nationally remains a matter of ongoing policy debate.
2.1 Why do educators believe financial literacy has become essential for young people? (1)
2.2 What concern do opponents raise about making financial literacy compulsory? (1)
2.3 What alternative approach do opponents suggest instead of a standalone subject? (1)
2.4 Find a word from the passage (para 3) that means "tried out on a small scale before wider use". (1)
2.5 State whether True or False: "All schools nationwide have already adopted financial literacy modules." (1)
2.6 What positive outcome did students report after the pilot modules? (1)
2.7 The tone of the passage can best be described as: (1)
2.8 What remains "a matter of ongoing policy debate", according to the passage? (1)
2.9 In about 40 words, summarise the two viewpoints on introducing financial literacy in schools. (2)
SECTION B — WRITING SKILLS WITH GRAMMAR (20 Marks)
Q3. You are the Sports Captain of your school. Write a formal letter to the Principal requesting additional sports equipment and better maintenance of the school playground before the upcoming inter-school tournament. 5 Marks
— OR —
You recently visited a public park and noticed broken benches and non-functional streetlights posing a safety risk. Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper highlighting this issue and urging authorities to take action. 5 Marks
Q4. "Is technology making students less patient?" Write an analytical paragraph in 120–150 words expressing your view, supported with reasons and examples. 5 Marks
— OR —
Your school is organising a Career Guidance Workshop for Class X and XII students. Write a notice, in not more than 50 words, informing students about the event, and also draft a short article (100–120 words) on "The Importance of Choosing the Right Career Path Early". 5 Marks
Q5. Read the passage given below and fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate option: 4 Marks
Interest in traditional handicrafts (a) _____ (revive/revives/reviving/has revived) among young designers in recent years. Experts believe that (b) _____ (a/an/the/no article) growing demand for sustainable products is partly responsible. Several artisan communities (c) _____ (is/are/was/has) now collaborating directly with online marketplaces, (d) _____ (so/but/because/although) fair pricing remains a concern for many craftsmen.
Q6. Complete the following tasks as directed: 6 Marks
(a) Rewrite the sentence in reported speech: The doctor said, "Drink plenty of water and take rest." (2)
(b) Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb: If they _______ (leave) earlier, they would not have missed the train. (2)
(c) Reorder the following words/phrases to form a meaningful sentence: could / anyone / believe / hardly / the news / such / good (2)
SECTION C — LITERATURE (TEXTBOOKS) (40 Marks)
Q7. Read the extract given below from the prose section of your textbook and answer the questions that follow. 8 Marks
He stood at the doorway for a long moment, unwilling to step in. It was not fear that held him back, but the weight of memory — every corner of that house seemed to whisper a version of the boy he used to be.
7.1 Who is being described in this extract, and what emotion does he seem to be experiencing? (2)
7.2 Explain what the phrase "the weight of memory" suggests about the character's state of mind. (2)
7.3 Choose the option that best describes the character's feelings at this moment: (1)
7.4 In about 40 words, explain how the theme of the past shaping the present is developed in the chapter this extract belongs to. (3)
Q8. Read the poetry extract below and answer the questions that follow. 6 Marks
The old tree bends but does not break,
Its roots run deep for its own sake,
Through storm and drought, through joy and pain,
It stands to rise and grow again.
Its roots run deep for its own sake,
Through storm and drought, through joy and pain,
It stands to rise and grow again.
8.1 Identify the poetic device used in the phrase "bends but does not break". (1)
8.2 What human quality does the poet associate with the old tree in this extract? (2)
8.3 What central message about resilience does this extract convey? (3)
Q9. Answer any FOUR of the following short-answer questions in 30–40 words each, based on the prose and poetry lessons of your textbook. 8 Marks (4 × 2)
9.1 Describe an incident from any lesson where a character learns an important lesson from failure.
9.2 How does the theme of identity or self-discovery appear in any chapter you have studied?
9.3 Explain how contrast (between characters, settings, or ideas) is used effectively in any poem you have read.
9.4 What does any one lesson teach about the importance of empathy towards others?
9.5 How does a turning point in the plot change the direction of events in any chapter you have studied?
Q10. Answer the following in about 100–120 words (attempt any ONE): 6 Marks
10.1 "Every failure carries within it the seed of a valuable lesson." Discuss this statement with close reference to any character from your textbook.
— OR —
10.2 Explain how the relationship between two characters evolves over the course of any chapter you have studied.
Q11. Answer the following questions in 30–40 words each, based on the supplementary reader. 6 Marks (3 × 2)
11.1 Describe a situation from any chapter where a character's quick thinking resolves a problem.
11.2 How does the author use suspense to keep readers engaged in any story you have read?
11.3 What role does sacrifice play in the development of any story from your supplementary reader?
Q12. Answer the following in about 100–120 words (attempt any ONE), based on the supplementary reader: 6 Marks
12.1 "Circumstances test character, but they do not define it." Elaborate with reference to any character from your supplementary reader.
— OR —
12.2 Discuss how a character's transformation from the beginning to the end of a story reflects a larger message about human nature.
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