The topic of Unseen Passage for Class 10 offers many benefits for students in board exams. It helps improve reading comprehension skills, making it easier for students to understand and interpret new texts. Reading these passages also enhances vocabulary and language skills. Additionally, working with unseen passages encourages critical thinking and analysis by asking students to find information, make inferences, and draw conclusions from what they read.
Table of Contents
Unseen Passage For Class 10 – Passage – 1
Directions: Read the following Unseen Passage for class 10 carefully and answer the questions given below the Reading Comprehension:-
The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. When he reached the King, he fell fainting on the ground moaning feebly. The King and the hermit unfastened the man’s clothing. There was a large wound in his stomach. The King washed it as best he could, and bandaged it with his handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had.
But the blood would not stop flowing, and the King again and again removed the bandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and re-bandaged the wound. When at last the blood ceased flowing, the man revived and asked for something to drink. The King brought fresh water and gave it to him. Meanwhile the Sun had set, and it had become cool. So the King, with the hermit’s help, carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed.
Lying on the bed the man closed his eyes and was quiet; but the King was so tired with his walk and with the work he had done, that he crouched down on the threshold, and also fell asleep-so soundly that he slept all through the short summer night. When he awoke in the morning, it was long before he could remember where he was or who was the strange bearded man lying on the bed and gazing intently at him with shining eyes.
‘Forgive me!’ said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he saw that the King was awake and was looking at him.
“I do not know you and have nothing to forgive you for? said the King.
Please read the questions carefully asked from the Unseen Passage for class 10 and answer them.
1. Describe the condition of the bearded man when he approached the King.
2. How did the King and the hermit attempt to address the bearded man’s injuries?
3. What challenges did the King face in trying to stop the flow of blood from the man’s wound?
4. What did the King do to help revive the wounded man after the bleeding finally stopped?
5. Explain the King’s reaction when he woke up in the morning and encountered the bearded man seeking forgiveness.
6. Find the similar word from the passage which means, “lose consciousness”
7. Find the opposite word from the passage “forget”
Answers-
Write Yourself
Unseen Passage For Class 10 – Passage – 2
Directions: Read the following Unseen Passage for class 10 carefully and answer the questions given below the Reading Comprehension:-
“I will die if I don’t tell someone,” the barber groaned. “My stomach is swelling with the secret.”
He saw a tamarind tree standing in the middle of the royal courtyard. He went up to it and whispered the secret to its trunk. That night there was a fierce storm and the Tamarind tree was blown down. The King was informed through the door, for he would not see anyone, and he commanded the tree to be given to the royal musician. “Let him make a drum from the trunk of the tamarind and play it outside my door.”
Soon the drum made of tamarind wood was ready.
The courtiers assembled outside the king’s door and the musician began to play. But instead of the thum-thum-thum that everyone expected, the Tamarind drum intoned, “The Raja has horns on his head. The Raja has horns on his head.” The court burst out laughing and the king cried with rage. “I won’t stay in the palace a moment longer”, he shouted, “I’ll go to the forest and live by myself.” He tore the nightcap off his head and ran out of the palace, seizing the Tamarind drum on his way out.
The king lived for several years in the forest. He learnt to care for creatures smaller than himself. He grew strong and wise and selfless. His only companion was the Tamarind drum and the drum, when he beat it, gave him all the advice and experience of the old tree.
The king learnt to play the drum so beautifully that even the spirits of the trees were charmed and they went to meet the god who had given him the horns. “Forgive him”, they pleaded. “He has changed. Remove his horns and give him back his kingdom.”The god waved his hand and the horns disappeared.
Please read the questions carefully asked from the Unseen Passage for class 10 and answer them.
1. Why did the barber feel compelled to share the secret, and how did he choose to reveal it?
2. What was the king’s reaction upon learning the secret, and what unusual decision did he make regarding the fallen tamarind tree?
3. How did the tamarind drum differ from the expectations of the courtiers when it was played by the royal musician?
4. How did the revelation about the king having horns affect the court, and what was the king’s response to the embarrassment?
5. What changes did the king undergo during his years in the forest, and who or what became his only companion?
6. How did the king’s relationship with the Tamarind drum lead to a plea for forgiveness from the spirits of the trees, and what was the god’s response to their request?
7. Find the similar word from the passage which means, “get together”
8. Find the opposite word from the passage “appear”
Answers:-Ans-1. The barber felt the need to share the secret, claiming that his stomach was swelling with it. He chose to whisper the secret to the trunk of a tamarind tree in the royal courtyard.
Ans-2. The king, upon learning the secret, decided to use the fallen tamarind tree for a drum. He commanded the royal musician to make a drum from its trunk and play it outside his door.
Ans-3. The tamarind drum played the unexpected message, “The Raja has horns on his head,” instead of the anticipated thum-thum-thum.
Ans-4. The court burst out laughing, and the king, enraged and embarrassed, declared that he would leave the palace and live in the forest.
Ans-5. In the forest, the king became strong, wise, and selfless. His only companion was the Tamarind drum, which provided him with advice and the experience of the old tree.
Ans-6. The spirits of the trees pleaded with the god to forgive the king. The god waved his hand, and the horns disappeared, allowing the king to regain his kingdom.
Ans-7. Assembled
Ans-8. disappear
Unseen Passage For Class 10 – Passage – 3
Directions: Read the following Unseen Passage for class 10 carefully and answer the questions given below the Reading Comprehension:-
At last Ratan would enter, with puffed-out cheeks, vigorously blowing into a flame a live coal to light the tobacco. This would give the postmaster an opportunity to chat with her. “Well, Ratan,” perhaps he would begin, “do you remember anything of your mother?” That was a fertile subject. Ratan partly remembered, and partly forgot. Her father had been fonder of her than her mother.
She recollected more vividly. He used to come home in the evening after his works, and one or two evenings stood out more clearly than others, like pictures in her memory. Ratan would sit on the floor near the postmaster’s feet as memories crowded in upon her. She called to mind a little brother that she had and how on some bygone cloudy day she had played at fishing with him on the edge of the pond, with a twig for a fishing-rod.
Such little incidents would drive out greater events from her mind. Thus, as they talked, it would often get very late, and the postmaster would feel too lazy to do any cooking at all. Ratan would then hastily light the fire, and toast some unleavened bread, which with the cold remnants of the morning meal, was enough for their supper.
On some evenings, seated at his desk in the corner of the big empty shed, the postmaster too would call up memories of his own home, of his mother and his sister, of those for whom in his exile his heart was sad, memories which were always haunting him, but which he could not reveal to the men of the factory, though he found himself naturally recalling them aloud in the presence of the simple little girl.
And so it came about that the girl would allude to his people as mother, brother, and sister, as if she had known them all her life. Indeed, she had a complete picture of each one of them painted in her heart.
Read the questions carefully asked from the Unseen Passage for class 10 and answer them.
1. Who would light the tobacco for the postmaster, and how did she create an opportunity for conversation?
2. How did Ratan remember her mother, and what was her clearer recollection involving her father?
3. What vivid memories did Ratan recall while sitting at the postmaster’s feet, and what were some specific incidents?
4. What did the postmaster share about his own family during his evenings in the big empty shed?
5. How did Ratan refer to the postmaster’s family members, even though she had never met them?
6. What was the makeshift supper arrangement on evenings when the postmaster and Ratan got engrossed in conversation?
7. Find the similar word from the passage which means, “energetically.”
8. Find the opposite word from the passage “forget”
Ans-1. Ratan would light the tobacco for the postmaster, creating an opportunity for conversation with him.
Ans-2. Ratan partly remembered her mother, but her father’s fondness for her made him more memorable in her recollections.
Ans-3. Ratan recalled sitting at the postmaster’s feet, remembering her little brother and playing at fishing with him on a cloudy day.
Ans-4. The postmaster recalled memories of his own home, his mother, and sister, sharing them aloud in the presence of Ratan.
Ans-5. Ratan referred to the postmaster’s family members as mother, brother, and sister, creating a complete picture of them in her heart.
Ans-6. On evenings of engrossing conversation, Ratan hastily cooked unleavened bread with the cold remnants of the morning meal for supper.
Ans-7. Vigorously
Ans-8. Remember
Unseen Passage For Class 10 – Passage – 4
Directions: Read the following Unseen Passage for class 10 carefully and answer the questions given below the Reading Comprehension:-
Gajju’s home was the little temple which was at the very end of the village. No one could say how he had come to regard himself as the owner of the temple. The temple was a very small structure with red-striped walls, with a stone image of the Goddess Shakti in the sanctum. The front portion of the temple was Gajju’s home. For aught it mattered any place might be his home; for he was without possessions.
All that he possessed was a broom with which he swept the temple; and he had also a couple of dhotis and upper cloth. He spent most of the day in the shade of the banyan which spread out its branches in front of the temple. When he felt hungry he walked into any house that caught his fancy and joined the family at dinner. When he needed new clothes they were brought to him by the villagers.
He hardly ever had to go out in search of company; for the banyan shade served as a clubhouse for the village folk. All through the day people came seeking Gajju’s company and squatted under the tree. If he was in a mood for it he listened to their talk and entertained them with his own observations and anecdotes.
When he was in no mood he looked at the visitors sourly and asked, ‘What do you think I am? Don’t blame me if you get no story at the next moon. Unless I meditate, how can the Goddess give me a stray? Do you think stories float in the air?’ And he moved out to the edge of the forest and squatted there, contemplating the trees.
On Friday evenings the village turned up at the temple for worship, when Gajju lit a score of mud lamps and arranged them around the threshold of the sanctuary. He decorated the image with flowers, which grew wildly in the backyard of the temple. He acted as the priest and offered to the Goddess fruits and flowers brought in by the villagers.
Read the questions carefully asked from the Unseen Passage for class 10 and answer them.
1. Where did Gajju live?
2. What did Gajju possess?
3. How did Gajju spend his days?
4. How did villagers provide for Gajju?
5. What did Gajju do on Friday evenings?
6. Find the similar word from the passage which means, “a holy place for worship”
7. Find the word which means, “a person who performs religious ceremonies”
Answers:-Ans-1. Gajju lived in a temple at the end of the village.
Ans-2. Gajju possessed a broom, a couple of dhotis, and upper cloth.
Ans-3. Gajju spent his days sweeping the temple, sitting under the banyan tree, joining families for meals, and entertaining villagers with stories.
Ans-4. The villagers provided him new clothes, joining him for meals, seeking his company under the banyan tree.
Ans-5. On Friday evenings he lit mud lamps, decorated the temple with flowers, and acted as a priest for worship.
Ans-6. Temple
Ans-7. Priest
Unseen Passage For Class 10 – Passage – 5
Directions: Read the following Unseen Passage for class 10 carefully and answer the questions given below the Reading Comprehension:-
The story I am about to tell you happened long, long ago; yet there had been time for the old palace and fortress of Ujjain to fall into ruins, and for the sand to be heaped up over them, covering the blocks of stone, and bits of old wall, often with grass and dust, and even trees. There had been time, too, for the people to forget.
In those days, the people of the villages, as they still do, used to send their cows out to the wild land to graze.
Early in the morning they would go, in the care of the shepherds, and not return till evening, close to dusk. How I wish I could show you the coming and going of the Indian cows!
Such gentle little creatures they are, with such large wise eyes, and a great hump between their shoulders! And they are not timid or wild, like our cattle. For in India. among the Hindus, everyone loves them. They are very useful and precious in that hot, dry country, and no one is allowed to tease or frighten them.
Instead of that, the little girls come at daybreak and pet them, giving them food and hanging necklaces of flowers about their necks, saying poetry to them and even strewing flowers before their feet! And the cows, for their part, seem to feel as if they belonged to the family, just as our cats and dogs do.
Read the questions carefully asked from the Unseen Passage for class 10 and answer them.
1. When did the events in the story take place?
2. What happened to the old palace and fortress of Ujjain?
3. What did the people of the villages do with their cows during the day?
4. Who took care of the cows when they were sent out to graze?
5. How are Indian cows described in the passage?
6. How do the people treat the cows in India?
7. Find the similar word from the passage which means, “a large house that is or was the home of a king or queen”
8. Find the opposite word from the passage of “fearless”
Answers:-Ans-1. The events took place long, long ago.
Ans-2. The old palace and fortress of Ujjain fell into ruins and were covered with sand, grass, dust, and trees.
Ans-3. The people of the villages sent their cows out to graze in the wild land.
Ans-4. The cows were in the care of shepherds.
Ans-5. Indian cows are described as gentle creatures with large wise eyes and a great hump between their shoulders.
Ans-6. People in India treat the cows with love and respect, petting them, feeding them, adorning them with flowers, and reciting poetry to them.
Ans-7. Palace
Ans-8. Timid
Unseen Passage For Class 10 – Passage – 6
Directions: Read the following Unseen Passage for class 10 carefully and answer the questions given below the Reading Comprehension:-
One cowherd stands and calls at the edge of the pasture and another goes around behind the cattle, to drive them towards him, and so they come quietly forward from here and there, sometimes breaking down the brushwood in their path. And when the herdsmen are sure that all are safe, they turn homewards-one leading in front, one bringing up the rear, and the cows making a long procession between them.
As they go they kick up the dust along the sun-baked path, till at last they seem to be moving through a cloud, with the last rays of the sunset touching it. And so the Indian people call twilight, cowdust, ‘the hour of cowdust’. It is a very peaceful, very lovely moment. All about the village can be heard the sound of the children playing. The men are seated, talking, round the foot of some old tree, and the women are gossiping or praying in their houses.
Tomorrow, before dawn, all will be up and hard at work again, but this is the time of rest and joy.
Read the questions carefully asked from the Unseen Passage for class 10 and answer them.
1. How do the cowherds drive the cattle forward?
2. What do the herdsmen do when they are sure all the cows are safe?
3. What do the Indian people call twilight?
4. Describe the atmosphere around the village during twilight.
5. What is mentioned about the activities of the villagers during twilight?
6. Find the one word from the passage which means, “to talk about other people’s private lives”
7. Find the opposite word of “dusk”
Answers:-Ans-1. One cowherd stands at the edge of the pasture while another goes behind the cattle to drive them forward.
Ans-2. The herdsmen lead the cows homewards, one in front and one at the rear, with the cows in between.
Ans-3. Twilight is called “cowdust” by the Indian people.
Ans-4. Twilight is described as peaceful and lovely, with children playing, men talking under trees, and women gossiping or praying.
Ans-5. The villagers are engaged in rest and joy during twilight before resuming work the next day.
Ans-6. Gossip
Ans-7. Dawn
Unseen Passage For Class 10 – Passage – 7
Directions: Read the following Unseen Passage for class 10 carefully and answer the questions given below the Reading Comprehension:-
Now Ujjain had long ceased to be a capital, and the King now lived very far away, hence it was some time before he heard the story. At last, however, it came to his ears. ‘Why,’ he said, ‘that boy must have sat on the Judgement-Seat of Vikramaditya! He spoke without thinking, but all around him were learned men, who knew the chronicles. They looked at one another.
The King speaks the truth, they said; the ruins in yonder meadows were once Vikramaditya’s palace! Now this sovereign had long desired to be possessed with the spirit of law and justice. Everyday brought its problems and difficulties to him and he often felt weak and ignorant in deciding matters that needed wisdom and strength.
If sitting on the mound brings it to the shepherd boy.’ he thought, ‘let us dig deep and find the Judgement-Seat. I shall put it in the chief place in my hall of justice, and on it I shall sit to hear all cases. Then the spirit of Vikramaditya will descend on me also and I shall always be a just judge!’
Read the questions carefully asked from the Unseen Passage for class 10 and answer them.
1. How did the King react when he heard the story about the shepherd boy?
2. What realization did the learned men have when the King spoke?
3. What desire did the King have regarding law and justice?
4. What did the King plan to do to attain the spirit of Vikramaditya?
5. Where did the King decide to place the Judgment-Seat?
6. Find the one word from the passage which means, “ended”
7. Find the opposite word of “knowledgeable”
Answers:-Ans-1. The King believed that the boy must have sat on Vikramaditya’s Judgment-Seat.
Ans-2. The learned men agreed with the King’s observation.
Ans-3. The King desired to possess the spirit of law and justice.
Ans-4. The King planned to find the Judgment-Seat, place it in his hall of justice, and sit on it to hear cases.
Ans-5. The King decided to place the Judgment-Seat in the chief place in his hall of justice.
Ans-6. Ceased
Ans-7. Ignorant
Unseen Passage For Class 10 – Passage – 8
Directions: Read the following Unseen Passage for class 10 carefully and answer the questions given below the Reading Comprehension:-
‘Sit down,’ the principal said. But Mr Gupta continued to stand, gaining courage from his own straight-backed stance, because he was beginning to feel a little afraid now.
The principal looked unhappy. He disliked being forced to perform this sort of an unpleasant task. ‘I wish you would consider withdrawing this report,’ he said. ‘I am sorry sir, I cannot do that,’ Mr. Gupta said. He was pleased with his unwavering voice and uncompromising words. ‘It will be a very damaging report if put on record.’ ‘It is a factual report on very damaging conduct.’ ‘You are asking for the boy’s expulsion from school.
Don’t you think the punish- ment is too harsh for a few boyish pranks?’ ‘He has spoiled benches in my class room by scoring them with a razor blade. He has made the blackboard useless by scratching on it with a piece of tin. He has broken several window panes by throwing stones at them. Yesterday he broke another one and the flying pieces of glass hurt a pupil badly.
That is not all. Many girl students have complained of having their books, notebooks and pens stolen, and I could get evidence that the More boy is behind it. Also there have been complaints from girls that he stop them on the street and shouts obscenities at them and threatens to beat them up. The report contains all this and more. I cannot agree with you that the behaviour can be called merely boyish pranks.’
Read the questions carefully asked from the Unseen Passage for class 10 and answer them.
1. What did the principal ask Mr. Gupta to do?
2. Why did Mr. Gupta continue to stand despite the principal’s instruction?
3. How did the principal feel about performing the task?
4. What did the principal wish Mr. Gupta would consider?
5. Why did Mr. Gupta refuse to withdraw the report?
6. What behaviors did Mr. Gupta cite as evidence for not considering the boy’s actions as mere boyish pranks?
7. Find the one word from the passage which means, “Penalty”
8. Find the opposite word of “repair”
Answers:-Ans-1. The principal asked Mr. Gupta to sit down.
Ans-2. Mr. Gupta continued to stand, feeling a little afraid.
Ans-3. The principal looked unhappy and disliked performing the unpleasant task.
Ans-4. The principal wished Mr. Gupta would consider withdrawing the report.
Ans-5. Mr. Gupta refused to withdraw the report because he believed it contained important factual information about damaging conduct.
Ans-6. Mr. Gupta cited instances such as damaging school property, stealing from fellow students, and harassing girls on the street as evidence for not considering the boy’s actions as mere boyish pranks.
Ans-7. Punishment
Ans-8. Damage
Unseen Passage For Class 10 – Passage – 9
Directions: Read the following Unseen Passage for class 10 carefully and answer the questions given below the Reading Comprehension:-
‘Where does the zenana stop?’asked Mrs. Lal.
‘Right at the end of the platform.’ said the coolie.
The coolie flattened his turban to make a cushion, hoisted the steel trunk on his head, and moved down the platform. Lady Lal picked up her brass tiffin-carrier and ambled along behind him. On the way, she stopped by a hawker’s stall to replenish her silver betel-leaf case, and then joined the coolie. She sat down on her steel trunk (which the coolie had put down) and started talking to him.
‘Are the trains very crowded on these lines?’asked Mrs. Lal.
‘These days all trains are crowded, but you’ll find room in the zenana.’ replied the coolie.
‘Then I might as well get over the bother of eating.’
Lady Lal opened the brass carrier and took out a bundle of cramped chapatis and some mango pickle. While she ate, the coolie sat opposite her, drawing lines in the gravel with his finger.
‘No, I am with my master, brother. He is in the waiting room. He travels first class. He is a vizier and barrister, and meets many officers and Englishmen in the trains and I am only a native woman. I can’t understand English and don’t know their ways, so I keep to my zenana inter class.’
Read the questions carefully asked from the Unseen Passage for class 10 and answer them.
1. Where does the zenana end, as asked by Mrs. Lal?
2. What did the coolie do to carry the steel trunk?
3. What did Lady Lal pick up from the hawker’s stall?
4. What did Mrs. Lal inquire about the train’s crowd?
5. What did Lady Lal do while sitting on her steel trunk?
6. Why did the coolie mention finding room in the zenana?
7. Find the one word from the passage which means, “Porter”
8. Find the opposite word of “Misunderstand”
Answers:-Ans-1. The zenana ends at the end of the platform.
Ans-2. The coolie flattened his turban, hoisted the steel trunk on his head, and moved down the platform.
Ans-3. Lady Lal picked up a silver betel-leaf case from the hawker’s stall.
Ans-4. Mrs. Lal inquired about the trains’ crowd on these lines.
Ans-5. Lady Lal ate some cramped chapatis and mango pickle while sitting on her steel trunk.
Ans-6. The coolie mentioned finding room in the zenana because all trains are crowded these days.
Ans-7. Coolie
Ans-8. Understand
Unseen Passage For Class 10 – Passage – 10
Directions: Read the following Unseen Passage for class 10 carefully and answer the questions given below the Reading Comprehension:-
When you are cycling and see an old man hesitating on a crossing, don’t call him an old fool. He may not hear very well, or he may not see clearly, or he may have become tired from walking. Perhaps he was a famous soldier in the War and his wounds are still painful, or perhaps he had an artificial leg. One day you may go to a war and be severely injured. What would you think if schoolboys make fun of you because you can only move slowly?
One of the things all boys and girls are going to learn before very long is that they are fragile little things in a dangerous world. Your parents and your teachers and all older people have had some severe blows already. They get more severe blows every year. Most of them would give all the money they have to get your health and strength, your good teeth and nice hair.
You have no idea how tired they are at times, but because they do not complain you think everything is alright. Well, try to make life easy for them as far as you can, and when it is your turn to suffer, you will feel happier for having helped when you could.
Read the questions carefully asked from the Unseen Passage for class 10 and answer them.
1. What advice is given regarding encountering an old man at a crossing?
2. Why might an old man hesitate at a crossing according to the passage?
3. What lesson are boys and girls likely to learn soon according to the passage?
4. Why do older people get tired according to the passage?
5. How does the passage suggest children can make life easier for older people?
6. What is the potential benefit of helping others according to the passage?
7. Find the one word from the passage which means, “Popular”
8. Find the opposite word of “weakness”
Answers:-Ans-1. The advice given is not to call an old man an “old fool” if he hesitates at a crossing while cycling.
Ans-2. An old man might hesitate due to poor hearing, unclear vision, fatigue from walking, or having physical injuries from the war.
Ans-3. Boys and girls are likely to learn that they are fragile in a dangerous world.
Ans-4. Older people get tired because they have experienced severe blows and continue to face challenges every year.
Ans-5. Children can make life easier for older people by being considerate and helpful, especially when they become older and may face difficulties themselves.
Ans-6. Helping others can lead to feeling happier when facing one’s own challenges in the future.
Ans-7. Famous
Ans-8. strength
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