Madhyamik English Question Paper 2026 West Bengal Board
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Class 10 Madhyamik English Question Paper Solved 2026 | WBBSE PDF Download
ENGLISH
(Second Language)
Time :3 Hours 15 Minutes
(First 15 Minutes for readinz the question paper only, 3 Hours for writing)
Full Marks : For Regular Candidates 90
For External Candidates - 100
Madhyamik English Question Paper 2026 With Answer
Section - A
READING COMPREHENSION (SEEN)
1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Of course, there was nobody for us to play with on the Big Half Moon. We just had to make the most of each other, and we did.
We live on the Big Half Moon island. ‘We’ are Father and Claude and I and Aunt Esther and Mimi and Dick. It used to be only Father and Claude and I. It is all on account of the kite that there are more of us. This is what I want to tell you about. Father is the keeper of the Big Half Moon Lighthouse. I am eleven years old. Claude is twelve. In winter, when the harbour is frozen over, we all move over to the mainland. As soon as spring comes, back we sail to our own dear island.
The funny part used to be that people always pitied us when the time came for us to return. They said we must be so lonesome over there, with no other children near us. Of course Claude and I would have liked to have someone to play with us. It is hard to run pirate caves and things like that with only two. But we used to quarrel a good deal with the mainland children in winter. So it was perhaps just as well that there were none of them on the Big Half Moon. Claude and I never quarrelled.
To be sure, Father didn’t seem to have any relations except us. This used to puzzle Claude and me. Everybody on the mainland had relations. Why hadn’t we? Was it because we lived on an island? We thought it would be so jolly to have an uncle and aunt and some cousins. Once we asked Father about it, but he looked so sorrowful that we wished we hadn’t. He said it was all his fault. Claude and I didn’t understand what he meant.
A. Write the correct alternative in the given space to complete the following sentences: 1×5 = 5
(a) Big Half Moon is the name of a/an
(i) hotel
(ii) city
(iii) island
(iv) tower
Ans: (iii) island
(b) The age of Claude is
(i) eleven years
(ii) twelve years
(iii) fifteen years
(iv) ten years
Ans: (ii) twelve years
(c) Esther is the
(i) cousin of Claude and the narrator
(ii) mother of the narrator and Claude
(iii) neighbour of the narrator’s father
(iv) sister of the narrator’s father
Ans: (iv) sister of the narrator’s father
(d) Claude and the narrator used to quarrel
(i) with the mainland children
(ii) among themselves only
(iii) with their cousins
(iv) with other children of the island
Ans: (i) with the mainland children
(e) Father looked sad when
(i) the children felt lonely
(ii) aunt Esther was found
(iii) the family left the island
(iv) he was asked about relatives
Ans: (iv) he was asked about relatives
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text: 1×3 = 3
(i) The father of the two children worked as ____________________.
Ans : - the keeper of the Big half moon lighthouse.
(ii) The family used to move over to the mainland because _______.
Ans : the harbour was frozen over in winter.
(iii) People of the mainland pitied the narrator’s family when ____________________.
Ans : - the time came for them to return to the island.
C. State whether the following statements are ‘True’ or ‘False’. Write ‘T’ for ‘True’ and ‘F’ for ‘False’. Also provide sentences/phrases from the passage in support of your answers: 2×2 = 4
(i) The family found their relatives because of the kite.
Supporting statement: ______________________________________
Ans :- T, "It is all an account of the kite.... are more of us"
(ii) No family living on the mainland had relatives.
Supporting statement: ______________________________________
Ans :- F, "Everybody on the mainland had relatives."
2. READ THE POEM AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW:
To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall,
The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall,
As if he grew there, house and all,
Together.
Within that house secure he hides
When danger imminent betides
Of storm, or other harm besides
Of weather.
Give but his horns the slightest touch,
His self-collecting power is such,
He shrinks into his house with much
Displeasure.
Where’er he dwells, he dwells alone,
Except himself has chattels none,
Well satisfied to be his own
Whole treasure.
Thus, hermit-like, his life he leads,
Nor partner of his banquet needs,
And if he meets one, only feeds
The faster.
A. Tick the correct alternative to complete the following sentences: 1×4 = 4
(a) The snail sticks to the wall as if
(i) he grew there
(ii) it is afraid to fall
(iii) he is fond of it
(iv) it is his house
Ans : - (i) he grew there
(b) With the slightest touch the snail shrinks with
(i) disappointment
(ii) delight
(iii) displeasure
(iv) defiance
Ans : - (iii) displeasure
(c) The phrase “danger imminent” in the second stanza refers to dangers
(i) that cannot be faced
(ii) likely to happen soon
(iii) being faced at present
(iv) that happened in the past
Ans : - (ii) likely to happen soon
(d) Wherever the snail lives, it lives
(i) with family
(ii) with chattels
(iii) with friends
(iv) with none
Ans : - (iv) with none
B. Answer the following questions: 2 × 2 = 4
(i) What does the snail do when it meets another snail?
Ans: When the snail meets another snail, it feeds the faster.
(ii) With whose life is the life of the snail compared and what similarity can be found in their lives?
Ans: The life of the snail is compared with the life of a hermit.
The snail and the hermit both lead a solitary, self-contained and undisturbed quiet life.
3. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Every year, the third Sunday in July will be celebrated as the “Kingfisher Day” in Bengal. Starting today, the third Sunday of every July will also see Bengal birders undertaking a survey to know the status and distribution of Kingfishers in Bengal. The decision was taken during the Bengal Birders’ Meet on Sunday. The White-throated Kingfisher is the state bird of Bengal.
“The Birdwatchers’ Society (BWS) is proud to propose that beginning this year, the week starting from the third Sunday will be observed as ‘Kingfisher Census Week’ across Bengal. This will focus on documenting the distribution and diversity of Kingfishers,” said Suhas Banerjee of BWS.
“Kingfishers are critical indicators of freshwater ecosystem health. Species that rely on muddy ponds and riverbanks are uniquely adapted, yet they face mounting threats from habitat loss and degradation. Targeted conservation efforts are essential to secure their future,” said Ardhendu Das, ecologist and BWS member.
“Bengal holds the unique distinction of having recorded all 12 species of Kingfishers found in India—an ecological honour that makes this initiative all the more significant. As awareness grows, we envision Kingfisher Day evolving into a national movement,” added Banerjee.
The Birdwatchers’ Society in association with eBird and Bird Count India kicked off the two-day Bengal Birders’ Meet 2025 on Saturday, the 19th of July. This year, the meet is being held with over 350 participants. Among the speakers are eminent conservationist and ornithologist Asad Rahmani, wildlife ecologist Aparajita Dutta, Sunderbans Tiger Reserve deputy field director Justin Jones, DFO Malda Jiju Jasper, Aswin Viswanathan of Nature Conservation Foundation, Major B. S. Parihar and IFS Milan Mandal.
[Adapted from an article published in The Times of India, dated 20 July 2025]
A. Tick the right answer: 1 × 5 = 5
(a) Kingfisher Day is going to be celebrated in Bengal on the
(i) third Sunday of August
(ii) third Sunday of July
(iii) third Saturday of July
(iv) first Sunday of July
Ans : - (ii) third Sunday of July
(b) Bengal birders will undertake a survey to know the
(i) habitat loss and degradation of Kingfishers across Bengal
(ii) effect of habitat loss of Kingfishers in India
(iii) status and distribution of Kingfishers all over Bengal
(iv) distribution of Kingfishers in different parts of India
Ans : - (iii) status and distribution of Kingfishers all over Bengal
(c) The number of associations involved in organizing Bengal Birders’ Meet 2025 is
(i) three
(ii) ten
(iii) two
(iv) four
Ans : - (i) three
(d) Bengal Birders’ Meet started on a
(i) Sunday
(ii) Friday
(iii) Monday
(iv) Saturday
Ans : - (iv) Saturday
(e) Ardhendu Das is a BWS member and an
(i) ornithologist
(ii) anthropologist
(iii) ecologist
(iv) economist
Ans : - (iii) ecologist
(f) The number of participants in Bengal Birders’ Meet 2025 was
(i) more than three hundred and fifty
(ii) less than three hundred and fifty
(iii) more than four hundred and fifty
(iv) less than two hundred and fifty
Ans : - (i) more than three hundred and fifty
B. Each of the following statements is either ‘True’ or ‘False’. Write “T” or “F”. Also write suitable line(s) or phrase(s) from the passage in support of your answer: (1 + 1) × 3 = 6
(i) The Birdwatchers’ Society of Bengal hopes that observing ‘Kingfisher Day’ will become a national movement in future.
Supporting statement:
Ans : - T
“As awareness grows, we envision Kingfisher Day evolving into a national movement.”
(ii) Kingfishers are critical indicators of only urban ecosystem health.
Supporting statement:
Ans : - F
“Kingfishers are critical indicators of freshwater ecosystem health.”
(iii) Jiju Jasper is an eminent conservationist and ornithologist.
Supporting statement:
Ans : - F
“DFO Malda Jiju Jasper …”
C. Answer the following questions: 2 × 4 = 8
(i) Which Kingfisher is the state bird of Bengal? How many other species of Kingfishers can be found in Bengal?
Ans: The White-throated Kingfisher is the state bird of Bengal.
Eleven other species of Kingfishers can be found in Bengal.
(ii) What will be the focus of ‘Kingfisher Census Week’?
Ans: The focus of Kingfisher Census Week will be on documenting the distribution and diversity of Kingfishers.
(iii) Which ecological honour does Bengal have? What is essential to secure the future of Kingfishers?
Ans: Bengal has the ecological honour of holding the unique distinction of having recorded all 12 Kingfishers found in India.
Targeted conservation efforts are essential to secure the future of Kingfishers.
(iv) Write the names of two speakers who attended the Bengal Birders’ Meet 2025.
Ans: Asad Rahmani and Aparajita Dutta.
GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY
4. Choose the correct alternatives to fill in the blanks: 1 × 3 = 3
One day the Giant __________ (comes / came / was coming)back. He __________ (had been / has been / was) to visit his friend the Cornish Ogre and __________ (was staying / had stayed / had been staying)with him for seven years.
Ans : - came, had been, had stayed
5. Do as directed:
A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions: 1 × 3 = 3
On 4th August 2023, ______ Indian women’s archery team achieved ______ historic feat ________ securing the gold medal ______ the World Archery Championship in Berlin.
Ans : - the, by, in(maybe "at")
B.1 × 3 = 3
(i) My father lives in a big house. The house is near the river. (Join into a single sentence)
Ans : - My father lives in a big house which is near the river.
or, My father lives in a big house near the river.
or, The big house, in which My father lives, is near the river.
(ii) “You are half an hour late,” Samuel said. (Change into indirect speech)
Ans : - Samuel said that he was half an hour late.
(iii) At every station sorrowful crowds fulfilled the platform. (Change the voice)
Ans: At every station the platform was fulfilled by sorrowful crowds.
C. Choose the correct phrasal verbs from the list given below to replace the words underlined. Write the correct phrasal verbs in the boxes on the right-hand side, changing the form where necessary. There is one extra phrasal verb in the list: 1 × 3 = 3
[put on, give up, give in, bring out]
(i) Nandini has published her first novel.
Ans: Brought Out
(ii) I will wear a new dress tomorrow.
Ans: - Put on
(iii) We should abandon bad habits.
Ans : - Give Up
6. Given below are the meanings of four words which you will find in the passage in Question No. 3. Find out the words and write them in the appropriate boxes on the right-hand side: 2 × 4 = 8
(i) The natural home of a plant or an animal : Habitat
(ii) Variety : Diversity
(iii) Preservation : Conservation
(iv) Famous and respected for outstanding quality : Eminent
SECTION – C
WRITING
7. Write a story (in about 100 words) using the following hints. Give a title to your story: 8 + 2 = 10
A dog crossing a bridge over a stream – a piece of flesh in mouth – sees the image in water – takes it for another dog – becomes greedy – jumps down.
8. A renowned magician will come to your school next month. As the Secretary of the Students’ Council, write a notice (in about 100 words) for the students announcing the date, time and place where students can attend the magic show. Mention that tickets are available free of cost from class teachers. 10
9. Write a letter (in about 100 words) to your cousin advising him/her to plant saplings or new plants during the rainy season. Your letter should include reasons why you are advising him/her to plant trees every year and why the rainy season is chosen for tree plantation. 10
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