CBSE Class 10 · English · board exam 2027
Chapter 5: Glimpses of India
This chapter’s questions from CBSE’s real papers of 2023–2026 — the 20 asked most often, 2 with the full model answer, 16 with how the answer begins — and objective questions with the board’s key. All 21 questions of this chapter, with answers, are in the app.
- marks a year (about)
- 1
- questions a year (about)
- 1
- rank in English
- #17
From 4 years of papers, 2023–2026 · full chapter-wise marks
Important questions — the ones the board asked most (20)
- Q1Case-based5 marksAsked: 2024
Read the given extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two : (a) The train pulled out of the station – Pranjol buried his nose in his detective book again. Rajvir too was an ardent fan of detective stories but, at the moment he was keener on looking at the beautiful scenery. It was green, green everywhere. Rajvir had never seen so much greenery before. Then the soft green paddy fields gave way to tea bushes. It was a magnificent view. Against the backdrop of densely wooded hills a sea of tea bushes stretched as far as the eye could see. Dwarfing the tiny tea plants were tall, sturdy, shade-trees and amidst the orderly rows of bushes busily moved doll-like figures. (Glimpses of India – Tea from Assam) (i) State any one inference about Rajvir from the given context : "Rajvir too was an ardent fan of detective stories, but at the moment he was keen on looking at the beautiful scenery." (ii) State True or False : The reason Rajvir was interested in looking at the beautiful scenery was that the detective book he was reading, was not interesting. (iii) People who live in big cities are always fascinated by the natural beauty and abundant greenery. Elaborate in about 40 words, with reference to the extract. (iv) Which phrase would correctly substitute 'doll-like figures', in the given sentence from the extract ? Dwarfing the tiny tea plants were tall sturdy shade-trees and amidst the orderly rows of bushes busily moved _doll-like figures_. OR (b) I went back to the bazaar and sat down in the shelter of the clock tower. The clock showed midnight. I felt for the notes. They were damp from the rain. Anil's Money. In the morning he would probably have given me two or three rupees to go to the cinema, but now I had it all. I couldn't cook his meals, run to the bazaar, or learn to write whole sentences any more. I had forgotten about them in the excitement of the theft. Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees. It was a simple matter to steal- and sometimes just as simple to be caught. (The Thief's Story) (i) Which of the following is NOT a reason why Hari Singh thinks he would not be able to write whole sentences ? (A) Anil would not be there to teach him. (B) He had robbed Anil and left. (C) He would not go back to Anil to learn. (D) He had no money to take admission in school. (ii) Why is it fair to say that Hari Singh's tone, when he says "I couldn't cook his meals, run to the bazaar or learn to write whole sentences any more," is filled with remorse and regret ? Answer in about 40 words. (iii) What do you infer about Hari Singh from this statement ? "Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees." (iv) State True or False with reference to the given extract. The reason Hari Singh was filled with a feeling of guilt was because Anil trusted him.
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Model answer · character and theme, Tea from Assam
- 1.(a)(i) Rajvir is a lover of nature. Though he was a fan of detective stories, he put them aside to enjoy the beautiful green scenery. OR (b)(i) (D) He had no money to take admission in school.1 mark
- 2.(a)(ii) False. Rajvir was keen on the scenery because he had never seen so much greenery before, not because the book was dull. OR (b)(iii) Hari Singh realises the value of education. He knows that the ability to write whole sentences could one day bring him far more than the few hundred rupees he has stolen.1 mark
- 3.(a)(iii) People in big cities live among concrete buildings and rarely see open green spaces. Like Rajvir, who had never seen so much greenery before, they are thrilled by green paddy fields, a sea of tea bushes and densely wooded hills. Such natural beauty is new and refreshing for them. OR (b)(ii) Hari Singh realises that by stealing he has lost everything Anil gave him: his job of cooking meals, running errands to the bazaar and, above all, the chance to learn to write whole sentences. He now values this education more than the stolen money, so his tone is full of remorse and regret.2 marks
- 4.(a)(iv) 'Tea-pluckers' (the workers plucking tea leaves). OR (b)(iv) False. In the extract his regret is about losing the chance to work for Anil and learn to write, not about Anil's trust.1 mark
Marks split from a structure derived from past papers (checked twice); not CBSE’s official scheme
- Q2Case-based5 marksAsked: 2024
Read the given extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two : (a) [passage] (Glimpses of India – Tea from Assam) (i) State any one inference about Rajvir from the given context : "Rajvir too was an ardent fan of detective stories, but at the moment he was keen on looking at the beautiful scenery." 1 (ii) State True or False : 1 The reason Rajvir was interested in looking at the beautiful scenery was that the detective book he was reading, was not interesting. (iii) People who live in big cities are always fascinated by the natural beauty and abundant greenery. Elaborate in about 40 words, with reference to the extract. 2 (iv) Which phrase would correctly substitute 'doll-like figures', in the given sentence from the extract ? 1 Dwarfing the tiny tea plants were tall sturdy shade-trees and amidst the orderly rows of bushes busily moved doll-like figures. OR (b) [passage] (The Thief's Story) (i) Which of the following is NOT a reason why Hari Singh thinks he would not be able to write whole sentences ? 1 (A) Anil would not be there to teach him. (B) He had robbed Anil and left. (C) He would not go back to Anil to learn. (D) He had no money to take admission in school. (ii) Why is it fair to say that Hari Singh's tone, when he says "I couldn't cook his meals, run to the bazaar or learn to write whole sentences any more," is filled with remorse and regret ? Answer in about 40 words. 2 (iii) What do you infer about Hari Singh from this statement ? 1 "Whole sentences, I knew, could one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees." (iv) State True or False with reference to the given extract. 1 The reason Hari Singh was filled with a feeling of guilt was because Anil trusted him.
- Q3Short answer3 marksAsked: 2026
Bread plays a pivotal role in Goan culture and tradition. Support the statement with evidences from the text. (Glimpses of India : A Baker from Goa)
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Model answer · role of bread, Goan culture
- 1.Bread plays a pivotal role in Goan culture and tradition because marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol. No Goan marriage is considered complete without this bread, which makes it an essential part of celebrations.1 mark
- 2.Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals, showing that baking them is an important tradition. Besides this, the lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter's engagement, and the presence of bread at a party or a feast is considered essential, for a party or a feast loses its charm without bread.1 mark
- 3.The baker, known as the pader, continues to be an important person in Goan life even today, especially during traditional ceremonies and festivals, as the thud and the jingle of the traditional baker's bamboo can still be heard in some places. The paders have managed to survive because they have perfected the art of door-to-door delivery service, showing that bread remains an indispensable part of daily life for the Goans.1 mark
- Write the words 'bol' and 'marriage' in the first paragraph to show bread's role in celebrations.
- Mention both 'Christmas' and 'engagement' in the second paragraph to cover festive occasions.
- Use the word 'pader' in the last paragraph to show the baker's continuing importance in daily life.
Marks split from a structure derived from past papers (checked twice); not CBSE’s official scheme
- Q4Short answer3 marksAsked: 2026
The people of Coorg are said to be descendants of the Arabs. Elaborate. (Glimpses of India)
How the model answer begins
1. One theory about the people of Coorg, the Kodavus, is that they are of Arab origin; another story says they are descendants of a section of Alexander's army.
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q5Short answer3 marksAsked: 2026
In ‘Glimpses of India – Part III (Tea from Assam)’, how does the story connect tea with both culture and economic significance ?
How the model answer begins
1. The story links tea to culture by showing it as an everyday habit shared by people all over the world. On the train, a vendor calls out "garam-chai", and almost everyone in the compartment is drinking tea, so tea brings…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q6Short answer3 marksAsked: 2025
How does the author support the view that the people of Coorg are possibly of Arabic descent ? (Glimpses of India - Coorg)
How the model answer begins
1. The author supports the view of Arabic descent with the traditional dress of the people of Coorg, the Kodavus. The fiercely independent people of Coorg are possibly of Greek or Arabic descent. The theory of Arab origin…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q7Short answer3 marksAsked: 2025
What according to Rajvir was the Indian legend about the origin of tea? (Glimpses of India - Tea from Assam)
How the model answer begins
1. According to Rajvir, the Indian legend about the origin of tea is about Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic. He felt sleepy during his meditations, so he cut off his eyelids. Ten tea plants grew out of these…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q8Short answer3 marksAsked: 2025
How does the description of the baker’s lifestyle in the past evoke a sense of nostalgia ? (Glimpses of India - A Baker from Goa)
How the model answer begins
1. The description of the baker's lifestyle evokes nostalgia by highlighting the traditional method of bill collection in the old days. The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month, and the monthly…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q9Short answer3 marksAsked: 2025
Why is Coorg an attractive tourist destination ? (Glimpses of India)
- Q10Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024
The most laid back individuals become converts to the life of high-energy adventure. Elaborate with reference to Coorg. (Glimpses of India)
How the model answer begins
1. Coorg turns even the most laidback individuals, people who are relaxed and not in a hurry, into converts to the life of high-energy adventure. Coorg is coffee country, and life on its coffee estates is calm and…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q11Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024
Coorg has been defined as a 'piece of heaven' by the writer. Justify.
How the model answer begins
1. Coorg is called a 'piece of heaven' because of its natural beauty, wildlife, culture and adventure. It is a land of rolling hills and evergreen rainforests, with a panoramic view of the misty landscape from the…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q12Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024
The author says – ‘During our childhood in Goa, the baker used to be our friend, companion and guide.’ Elaborate. (Glimpses of India)
How the model answer begins
1. The baker, or pader, was the author's friend, companion and guide because he was an important part of the children's growing up in Goa. Every morning he made a musical entry on the scene. The thud and the jingle of his…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q13Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024
“Coorgi homes have a tradition of hospitality, and they are more than willing to recount numerous tales of valour related to their sons and fathers.” Elaborate with reference to the chapter “Glimpses of India”.
How the model answer begins
1. Coorgi homes have a tradition of hospitality. The people of Coorg warmly welcome visitors and are always ready to tell them stories of the courage and bravery their sons and fathers showed in war. These tales of valour…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q14Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023
What did Pranjol and Rajvir do during the journey ? Why ?
How the model answer begins
1. During the journey Pranjol remained buried in his detective book.
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q15Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023
Where is Coorg located ? Write any two characteristics of the people of Coorg ?
How the model answer begins
1. Coorg, the smallest district of Karnataka, lies midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore.
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q16Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023
What is the Indian legend about the discovery of tea ?
How the model answer begins
1. According to the Indian legend, Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic, took a vow to pray for nine years without sleep.
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q17Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023
Valour and hospitality are inherent in the people of Coorg. Explain.
How the model answer begins
1. Valour and hospitality are inherent in the people of Coorg because they are a proud race of martial men and their homes have a tradition of hospitality. The fiercely independent Coorgis have strong martial traditions.…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q18Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023
‘A Baker from Goa’ is a nostalgic saga of childhood memories. Comment.
How the model answer begins
1. 'A Baker from Goa' is a nostalgic saga because the author fondly remembers the baker, or pader, of his childhood days in Goa. He remembers a sound: the thud and the jingle of the traditional baker's bamboo, heralding…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q19Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023
Who are paders and why are they friends of children ? (Glimpses of India)
How the model answer begins
1. Paders are the traditional bakers, or bread-sellers, of Goa. The pader was the children's friend and not just a vendor. Every morning, the thud and the jingle of his bamboo stick woke the children up. They ran to meet…
The full answer from Medha Ma’am → - Q20Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023
Why did Pranjol not share Rajvir's excitement at seeing the tea gardens ?
How the model answer begins
1. Pranjol had been born and brought up on a plantation in Assam, so he had seen tea gardens many times before. Having grown up amidst tea bushes since his childhood, the sight of a tea garden was nothing new for him.
The full answer from Medha Ma’am →
1 more questions of this chapter, each with its model answer, in the AskMedha app.
Questions parents and students ask
- How many marks does "Glimpses of India" carry in CBSE Class 10 English?
- In the CBSE papers of 2023–2026, this chapter carried about 1 marks and about 1 questions a year; by marks it ranks 17 in English.
- Which are the most important (VVI) questions of "Glimpses of India"?
- The 20 questions above are from the board’s real papers, each with the years it was asked; the most-asked come first with their full model answers. All 21 written questions of this chapter, with answers, are in the AskMedha app.
- Do the answers follow the board’s marking scheme?
- Yes. CBSE publishes its marking schemes; every model answer here is written point by point to the marks the board’s own scheme gives, and checked by a second, independent model.
The same preparation, with Medha Ma’am — on your phone
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