CBSE Class 10 English Syllabus

English syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for English in CBSE Class 10, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   First Flight

   10 topics

   • A Letter to God
   • Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
   • Two Stories about Flying
   • From the Diary of Anne Frank
   • The Hundred Dresses
   • Glimpses of India
   • Mijbil the Otter
   • Madam Rides the Bus
   • The Sermon at Benares
   • The Proposal
2. 2

   Footprints Without Feet

   10 topics

   • A Triumph of Surgery
   • The Thief's Story
   • The Midnight Visitor
   • A Question of Trust
   • Footprints Without Feet
   • The Making of a Scientist
   • The Necklace
   • The Hack Driver
   • Bholi
   • The Book That Saved the Earth

English flashcards for CBSE Class 10

23 of 52 cards from the English deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In 'A Letter to God' by G.L. Fuentes, why does Lencho write a letter to God, and how much money does he ask for?

   After a hailstorm destroys his ripe corn crop, Lencho writes to God asking for 100 pesos to sow his field again and survive until the next harvest.

2. In 'A Letter to God', how do the post office employees respond to Lencho's letter, and what is the ironic ending?

   The postmaster and employees collect money out of charity but manage only 70 pesos. Lencho, unaware, concludes God sent less and that the post office employees ('a bunch of crooks') stole the remaining 30 pesos.

3. What two contrasting qualities of Lencho's character does 'A Letter to God' highlight?

   His unwavering, blind faith in God, contrasted with his suspicious distrust of human beings.

4. In 'Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom', what historic event is being described, and on what date did it occur?

   Nelson Mandela's inauguration as South Africa's first Black President on 10 May 1994, marking the end of apartheid.

5. According to Mandela in 'Long Walk to Freedom', what are the 'twin obligations' every man has?

   An obligation to his family (parents, wife, children) and an obligation to his people, community, and country.

6. In 'Long Walk to Freedom', how does Mandela define courage?

   Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it; the brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

7. What does Mandela mean by saying both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed of their humanity?

   A man who takes away another's freedom is a prisoner of hatred, locked behind prejudice; thus the oppressor is as much a victim and not truly free, just like the oppressed.

8. In 'His First Flight' (Two Stories about Flying), how does the young seagull finally overcome his fear and learn to fly?

   Driven by extreme hunger, when his mother flies near him with a piece of fish, he dives to seize it, falls into space, and is forced to spread his wings—discovering he can fly.

9. In 'The Black Aeroplane' (Two Stories about Flying), what mysterious help does the pilot receive while lost in a storm?

   A black aeroplane appears and guides him safely through the dark storm clouds to a runway, yet the control room later reports no other plane was on the radar that night.

10. In 'From the Diary of Anne Frank', what name does Anne give her diary, and why does she keep it?

    She names her diary 'Kitty' and treats it as her closest friend, confiding in it because she feels she has no true friend to share her deepest thoughts with.

11. In 'From the Diary of Anne Frank', who is Mr Keesing and what punishment does he give Anne?

    Mr Keesing is Anne's strict maths teacher who scolds her for talking too much; as punishment he assigns essays on the topic 'A Chatterbox'.

12. How does Anne win over Mr Keesing in 'From the Diary of Anne Frank'?

    After three essays defending talkativeness (the last a humorous poem about a mother duck and father swan), Mr Keesing takes the joke well, and afterward allows Anne to talk in class.

13. In 'The Hundred Dresses', who is Wanda Petronski and why is she teased?

    Wanda is a poor Polish immigrant girl with an odd-sounding surname who is teased for wearing the same faded blue dress daily while claiming she has a hundred dresses at home.

14. In 'The Hundred Dresses', what do Wanda's 'hundred dresses' turn out to be?

    They are a hundred beautiful drawings/paintings of dresses she had made, which win the school drawing contest after her family has already moved away.

15. In 'The Hundred Dresses', who are Peggy and Maddie, and how does Maddie feel?

    Peggy is the popular girl who leads the teasing of Wanda; Maddie is her friend who silently goes along despite feeling uncomfortable, and later feels deep guilt for not standing up for Wanda.

16. In 'Glimpses of India: A Baker from Goa', what is the traditional role and dress of the Goan baker?

    The baker (pader) is a vital part of Goan life, especially for festivals and celebrations; he traditionally wore a peculiar dress called the 'kabai', a single-piece long frock reaching the knees.

17. In 'Glimpses of India: Coorg', where is Coorg located and what is it famous for?

    Coorg (Kodagu) is in the southernmost region of Karnataka, famous for its coffee plantations, rainforests, the brave Kodavu people, and the belief that they are of Greek or Arabic descent.

18. In 'Glimpses of India: Tea from Assam', what legend explains the origin of tea?

    A Chinese legend tells of Emperor Shen Nung, in whose pot a few tea leaves accidentally fell into boiling water, giving a refreshing flavour; another Indian legend tells of Bodhidharma cutting off his eyelids, from which tea plants grew.

19. In 'Mijbil the Otter', how does Gavin Maxwell acquire Mijbil and what species is he?

    Maxwell receives Mijbil from a friend in Iraq; the otter is later identified as a previously unknown subspecies named 'Maxwell's otter' (Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli).

20. In 'Mijbil the Otter', how is Mij transported to England and what problem arises?

    Airline rules force Maxwell to pack Mij in a box; Mij injures himself and escapes, causing chaos on the plane, but a kind air hostess lets Maxwell keep him on his lap.

21. What playful behaviour of Mij is described in 'Mijbil the Otter'?

    Mij invents games with a ball and marbles, and becomes obsessed with the bathroom water, turning on the tap and splashing about with great joy.

22. In 'Madam Rides the Bus', who is Valli and what is her great desire?

    Valli is a curious eight-year-old girl whose greatest wish is to ride the bus that passes through her village to the town and back.

23. In 'Madam Rides the Bus', what disturbing sight changes Valli's mood during her journey?

    She sees a dead cow lying on the road, killed by a bus; this gives her a glimpse of the sad reality of life and death, dampening her earlier excitement.

See more English flashcards →

Planning English for CBSE Class 10

English (CBSE Class 10) FAQ