English Examination – March 2026 Answers

I. Answer the following questions by choosing the right option. (10×1 = 10)

1. b. Night

2. c. Death sentence

3. d. Yesterday

4. b. A-iii, B-i, C-ii

5. c. Basavaiah

6. c. Modern developments would replace books with more dynamic things

7. a. Pedestrians

8. b. Maduka

9. d. Fatima

10. c. Water

11. Fill in the blanks with the passive form of the verb given in brackets. (3×1 = 3)

Was supported
Was opposed
Were composed

12. Fill in the blanks by choosing the appropriate expression given in brackets. (2×1 = 2)

Swept across
Brain child

13. Match the pronouns in Side A with the nouns / noun phrases in Side B. (5×1 = 5)

A — B
a) He – Dr. Goldsmith
b) His – Dr. Goldsmith’s
c) She – Poor woman
d) Who – Poor woman’s husband
e) Which – A small box

PART – B

II. Answer any three of the following questions in one or two sentences / words / phrases each. (3×2 = 6)

14. Rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear and snowy dove / torches burning bright

15. The archer / God bends the bow
    To send the arrows / children swift and far

16. Landslide / floods / scarcity of water, fodder and fuel

17. Mahad Struggle / at Chadar tank

III. Answer any four of the following questions in about 60 words each. (4×3 = 12)

18. Navdanya Movement – biodiversity and biodiversity-based living economies – Navdanya farm – a biodiversity farm for demonstration and training – 1994 – Doon Valley – conservation and growing of 630 varieties of rice and 150 varieties of wheat – promotes biodiversity-intensive farming – produces more food and nutrition per acre – answer to food crisis – organic farming – Earth University.

19. Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo were in love – Gonzalo the gallant lover – Laura the Silver Maiden – Laura’s parents wanted her to marry a merchant – quarrel between Gonzalo and the merchant – duel – merchant badly wounded – Gonzalo concealed himself – later fled to Seville and then Madrid.

20. The lady was beautiful in youth and admired by many – the “one man” refers to the speaker – he loved her unique soul – different from other suitors – others loved external beauty – he loved inner beauty – loved her even as she grew fragile – his love was unconditional.

21. The poet uses “foot” as a metaphor for life – life begins in infancy – the infant foot does not know it is a foot – later realizes it cannot become a fruit or butterfly – imprisoned in a shoe – symbolizes stages of life – works in fields, markets, mines and offices until death.

22. The poet addresses Heaven – Heaven, God and Nymphs are human imagination – Heaven exists on Earth through nature – streams, sea waves, sunlight and gardens represent heavenly bliss – poets spread this bliss through poetry – nature is more beautiful than imaginary heaven.

23. A quarter of an hour in Japan – among well-mannered people – overcrowded island – courtesy replaces privacy – red telephones without booths – nobody listens – bowing and greeting with natural grace.

IV. Answer any three of the following questions in about 100 words each. (3×4 = 12)

24. The Prince dismissed the special guard to allow the prisoner to escape. But the prisoner refused to leave because society would reject him as a murderer. In prison he received food regularly from the royal kitchen and had no need to work. Therefore he preferred to remain in prison.

25. Dona Laura and Don Gonzalo were once lovers. Laura’s parents arranged her marriage with a merchant. Gonzalo fought a duel with him and fled to Seville and Madrid. Years later they met in a park in Madrid. Both recognized each other but hid their identities and narrated imaginary stories while remembering their past.

26. Tammanna and Basavaiah were rivals. Tammanna owned 1000 acres and Basavaiah 800 acres. Basavaiah grabbed 200 acres. Tammanna composed ballads mocking him. The songs became popular and Basavaiah felt humiliated. Tammanna later pretended to die. Basavaiah lost his purpose and died soon after.

27. Borges says books extend human imagination and memory. Telephone extends voice, telescope and microscope extend sight, sword and plough extend arms. Books preserve the memory of centuries. Without books, history and human memory would disappear.

28. Villagers realized the power of their votes after seeing Marcus Ibe become wealthy through politics. Earlier they voted freely, but now they demanded benefits. Marcus Ibe had become rich with cars, a large house and electricity plant. The villagers wanted to gain something in return for their votes.

29. Cycling spread across Pudukkottai district among rural women. The idea came from Sheela Rani Chunkath and the Arivoli literacy movement. Cycling symbolized freedom and independence. Training camps and rallies were organized despite criticism.

PART – C

V. 30. A. Read the following passage and answer the questions. (9×1 = 9)

a) Trinidad
b) 2001
c) 2 years
d) Because of his bitter critiques of third-world societies
e) “In a Free State”
f) Intensified isolation and alienation
g) “A House for Mr. Biswas”
h) Accomplishment
i) Uneducated

OR

B. Poem answers

a) Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
b) In the desert
c) “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: Look on my works, Ye Mighty, and despair!”
d) The king was arrogant
e) God
f) Sculptor understood the king’s passions
g) The lone and level sands
h) Antique
i) Frown

PART – D

VI. 31. A. Rewrite as directed (4×1 = 4)

i) on
ii) I called my daughter in and shut the door of my home.
iii) is
iv) saw

OR

B. Fill in the blanks with linkers

And, as, but, at last

32. A. Rewrite as directed (2×1 = 2)

i) I do not know what to do, do I?
ii) What was a policeman clearing?

OR

B. Rectify the errors

i) Children like sweets.
ii) The sun rises in the east.

33. Notes (4×½ = 2)

1. Lee Falk

2. Mr. Walker

3. American

4. Mandrake

34. Reported Speech (5×1 = 5)

Roof told Ezenwa that he had given him three shillings and asked what more he expected.
Ezenwa replied they would not have asked if Marcus were poor.
Roof then offered one more shilling and asked them not to expect more.

35. Conversation (3×1 = 3)

Mayura: Hi Madhura, you are looking very beautiful.
Madhura: Thank you so much.
Mayura: Is today a special day for you?
Madhura: Yes, today is my birthday.
Mayura: Many happy returns of the day.
Madhura: Thank you, Mayura.

PART – E

36. A. Job Application

Format – 2 marks
Content / Body – 3 marks

OR

B. Speech Writing

Greeting – 1 mark
Language – 2 marks
Cohesion – 1 mark
Leave taking – 1 mark