Error: vital (or was) / Correction: Water is vital to human health and fitness. (Present tense should be used for universal/general truths.)

The error is the use of past tense "was" for a universal truth. CBSE expects students to know that universal facts/general truths are always expressed in the simple present tense ("is"), not past tense ("was"). Clearly state the error word and the corrected sentence/word for full marks.

The correct option is (b) he should drive for four kms and then turn right.

In reported speech, the imperative "Drive…and turn right" (a direction/instruction) is converted using "should", which best conveys polite instruction or advice in indirect speech. "May" and "might" express possibility, and "had to" implies compulsion — neither fits a simple direction. "Should" is the standard modal used when reporting instructions or directions.

The correct option is (a) THE

The slogan reads: THE only weapon to fight injustice is education. "THE" is used here as a definite article to indicate a unique, specific weapon.

"THE" is correct because the sentence refers to education as the one and only specific weapon — indicating uniqueness, which requires the definite article "the." Options "a/an" imply one of many, and "this" requires a demonstrative context not present here.

Kabir told Sahil that he would go to Tripura the next day.

In reported speech, change "will" → "would", "tomorrow" → "the next day", and "I" → "he". The reporting verb shifts to past tense ("told").

Error: was / Correction: is

(The sentence states a general/universal fact, so the present tense 'is' is required, not the past tense 'was'.)

CBSE error-correction questions test tense usage. Since the sentence describes a permanent/scientific fact ("Latex is a natural polymer…"), the simple present tense must be used. The past tense 'was' incorrectly implies latex no longer exists or the fact is no longer true. Examiners expect the exact format: Error / Correction.

In response to the question of the interviewer about why Ashish wanted to be a computer programmer, he replied that he had always been interested in computers.

This is a Reported Speech question. The direct speech "I have always been interested in computers" shifts to reported speech: the pronoun "I" changes to "he," and the reporting verb "replied" introduces the statement. No tense change is needed here as the reporting verb is in past tense and the statement remains a general truth/fact — though "have always been" can stay or shift to "had always been" (both acceptable). The key skill tested is pronoun change and correct sentence structure.

The correct answer is (c) to teach.

"Governments are starting programmes to teach adults how to read and write." (Infinitive of purpose)

After nouns like programmes, plans, attempts, we use infinitive (to + verb) to express purpose or function. Options (a) and (b) use relative clauses incorrectly without proper antecedent agreement, and (d) is a past continuous form which doesn't fit here grammatically.

The correct option is (c) was.

"Each of the boys was rewarded." — 'Each' is a singular indefinite pronoun and always takes a singular verb.

When a sentence begins with 'each of', the subject is treated as singular (referring to one at a time), so a singular past tense verb 'was' is correct. Options (a) 'are being' and (b) 'have been' are plural/present forms; (d) 'were' is plural past — all incorrect here.

(a) Error: More / Correction: Most

"Most of the fun…" is correct as it refers to the greatest part (superlative), not a comparison between two things.

"More" is a comparative degree used when comparing two things. Here, the sentence refers to the greatest portion of fun and excitement in life generally, so the superlative "Most" is required. Examiners expect you to identify the exact word and give the correct replacement clearly.

The correct option is (b) should.

"Where were you? You should be in the class at the right time."

"Should" expresses moral obligation or duty, which fits the context of scolding someone for not being present on time. "Shall" and "will" indicate future tense, while "would" indicates a conditional — none of these convey obligation/duty as effectively as "should."

...that the engine had broken down.

In reported speech, "broke" (simple past) shifts to "had broken" (past perfect). The driver's apology is conveyed by "felt sorry and explained," so only the reported clause is needed. No extra reporting verb is required.

The correct option is (a) comparable to.

The mud houses are not comparable to the buildings in your city.

The correct preposition used with "comparable" is "to" (comparable to). The other options — "of," "as," and "for" — are grammatically incorrect collocations with "comparable." This tests fixed preposition usage (grammar).

Error: was / Correction: were (subject is plural — "relationships … and the GDP growth" takes a plural verb).

When a subject consists of two nouns joined by and, the verb must be plural. Here, "relationships … and the GDP growth" is a compound subject, so "was" (singular) must be replaced with "were" (plural). This tests subject-verb agreement.

(B) echo

The subject "silent stones" is plural, so the correct verb is "echo" (simple present tense, plural).

The sentence is in simple present tense (matching "tell" and "casts" in adjacent lines). The subject "stones" is plural, so "echo" is correct — not "echoes" (singular), "have echoed" (present perfect), or "shall echo" (future). Consistency of tense within a poem/song is key.

The correct answer is (D) has won.

"Our school's chess team has won the interschool chess championship."

The sentence describes a recent event with a current relevance (a victory just announced), so the Present Perfect tense (has/have + past participle) is correct. Option A ("has been won") is passive and awkward here. Option B ("will winning") is grammatically incorrect. Option C ("was winning") implies an ongoing past action, not a completed one.

The customer acknowledged this and clarified that he had had to travel for work.

The customer's direct speech "I had to travel for work" must be reported with a backshift in tense: had to becomes had had to. The pronoun "I" changes to "he" to match the third person. No change in adverb is needed here. Examiners award the mark for correct tense backshift and pronoun change.

The correct answer is (D) realize.

After "made me," the causative structure requires a bare infinitive (base verb without "to"), so "realize" is correct.

The verb "make" is a causative verb. In the structure make + object + bare infinitive, the base form of the verb is used without "to" (e.g., made me realize, not made me to realize). Options A (realizing) and C (realized) are grammatically incorrect here, and B (to realize) incorrectly adds "to."

(C) Error: among / Correction: between

"Among" is used for more than two things; "between" is used for two — here, sunlight and vitamin D levels (two items).

The rule is: between = two items; among = three or more. Since the sentence compares exactly two things (sunlight exposure and vitamin D levels), "between" is correct. Examiners look for this precise preposition-usage rule in error-correction questions.

Error: reduce | Correction: reducing

(The preposition on must be followed by a gerund: on reducing sugar intake.)

After a preposition (on, in, at, etc.), a verb must take the gerund form (-ing). Here, on governs the verb, so reduce must change to reducing. Examiners expect you to name the error word and give the corrected word clearly.

The correct option is it.

"Please refer to the attached conference schedule and it should be circulated among all attendees for their reference."

"It" is correct because "conference schedule" is a singular noun, requiring the singular pronoun "it." "Them" is plural and "these" is a demonstrative adjective/pronoun used for nearby objects, neither of which fits the grammatical context here.

(D) why she had opted for a career

In reported speech, the direct question "Why did you opt…" becomes an indirect question using past perfect ("had opted") and removes inversion. Option D correctly applies both rules.

Marie asked Peter what kind of skills he had imbibed from that volunteer work.

In reported speech, change the question to indirect form: remove question marks, shift tense, change pronouns. "have you imbibed" becomes "he had imbibed"; "this" becomes "that." Use "asked" as the reporting verb.

Error: to / Correction: too

(The word "to" is a preposition; the sentence requires "too," meaning "excessively.")

"Too" is an adverb meaning "excessively/more than enough." "To" is a preposition or part of an infinitive. Examiners look for the exact error word and its correct replacement in the format specified: Error / Correction.

The blank should be filled with summarizes.

"Enclosed is the report that summarizes the study conducted on the impact of climate change on crop yield in the region."

The relative clause refers to "the report" (singular, third person), so the verb "summarize" must take the third-person singular present tense form — summarizes. Since the letter is formal and the report is a present fact, simple present tense is correct here.

Error: intentional / Correction: intended

"Intentional" means done on purpose (describes an action), but here the manual means the purpose the appliance was designed for — i.e., its intended use. "Intended" is the correct adjective when referring to a designated purpose or design. Examiners look for the exact one-word error and its one-word correction.

(A) saves

The sentence requires a simple present tense verb to complete a general truth/slogan. "Planting a tree" is the subject (gerund phrase, treated as singular), so the verb must be saves (third-person singular, simple present). Options B, C, and D are grammatically incorrect in this context.

The correct option is (B) have taken.

"The authors of the book have taken all reasonable care to ensure that the contents do not violate any copyright or other intellectual property rights."

• Subject-verb agreement: "Authors" is plural, so "have" (not "has") is correct — eliminates (A) and (C).
• Tense: The simple present perfect "have taken" is used for a completed action with present relevance (standard disclaimer language) — eliminates (D) "have been took" (grammatically incorrect past participle).

she had been cooking Chinese food for a month.

In reported speech, direct statement "I have been cooking" changes to "she had been cooking" (present perfect continuous → past perfect continuous). The pronoun "I" changes to "she." No other changes are needed here.

(B) turning

The correct answer is (B) turning, as it functions as a present participle in a participial phrase modifying the subject "Midas," describing a simultaneous action.

After a subject performing an action, a participial phrase using the -ing form (present participle) describes a concurrent action — here, the act of turning things to gold happens as Midas touches them. "Turned" (past tense) and "turns" (simple present) don't fit the participial role; "to turning" is grammatically incorrect.

Option C — Error: may / Correction: have

The sentence requires parallel structure: "has improved… but health outcomes have not" (ellipsis of 'improved'). "May not" breaks the parallelism.

The sentence contrasts two ideas: health coverage has improved, but health outcomes have not (improved — implied). The auxiliary verb must match the tense and structure of the first clause for grammatical parallelism. "May not" introduces uncertainty/modality, which is incorrect here; "have not" correctly completes the parallel structure with the omitted main verb improved.

Error: low / Correction: how (The sentence should read: "…learn how to obtain feedback on how prospective and real customers are experiencing the product.")

The word "low" is a spelling/word error; the correct word is "how," which introduces the indirect question about customers' experience. Examiners expect you to identify the exact erroneous word and provide the precise correction.

The correct word is assess. The complete line reads: "...to enable the stakeholders to assess all the applicable circulars at one place..."

• Assess means to evaluate or examine — fitting for stakeholders reviewing circulars.
• Access means to retrieve/reach (plausible but contextually weaker here — the sentence is about consolidating circulars for review, not just retrieval).
• Accent means stress/emphasis — clearly incorrect.
• Examiners expect the correct word and may award the mark for the word alone.

The correct option is (C) whether she was enjoying her dance classes.

In reported speech, the present tense ("Are you enjoying") shifts to past tense ("was enjoying"), and the subject changes to "she." Options B and D use incorrect tense/voice.

Manthan asked Sonalika how she was preparing for the interview.

In reported speech, the direct question "How are you preparing for the interview?" changes: present continuous becomes past continuous ("was preparing"), "you" becomes "she", and the question mark is dropped. The reporting verb is "asked" and the word order becomes statement-like (subject + verb).

Error: not good / Correction: harmful (or "bad")

(The sentence should read: "…all of which are harmful for your heart and blood vessels.")

The sentence states Yoga helps lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar — meaning these elevated levels are harmful, not merely "not good." The error is the use of the vague negative phrase "not good"; the precise correction is "harmful" (or "bad/detrimental"). Examiners expect you to state the exact error word/phrase and the corrected word/phrase clearly in the prescribed format.

The correct word is constructing.
"...consider this request of constructing a park in our society..."

After a preposition (here, "of"), a verb must be used in its gerund form (-ing). "Construct" → "constructing." This is a standard grammar rule tested in CBSE Class 10.

Error: in | Correction: to

(The correct phrase is "aimed to increase" — 'aimed' followed by an infinitive requires 'to', not 'in'.)

The verb aim when followed by another verb uses the infinitive form: aim + to + verb. "Aimed in increase" is grammatically incorrect. Examiners look for the exact error word and its correct replacement in the stated format.

The correct option is (A) reflect.

The subject "flowers and grass" is plural, so the plural verb "reflect" (simple present) is grammatically correct.

This tests subject-verb agreement. "Flowers and grass" is a plural subject joined by "and," requiring the base form "reflect." "Reflects" (B) is for singular subjects; "reflected" (C) is past tense; "shall reflect" (D) breaks the present-tense pattern of the poem.

The correct answer is (D) has been awarded.

"Our school has been awarded first place" — passive voice, present perfect, correctly describing a recent achievement being shared as news.

The sentence announces a recent event ("exciting news"), so present perfect tense is needed. It must also be passive because the school receives the award, it doesn't give it. Option (D) "has been awarded" satisfies both conditions. Option (A) is active and wrong; (B) is simple past passive; (C) is past perfect active — neither fits the context of a just-announced, current result.

The customer admitted this, citing the fact that he had just got a new haircut.

This is a reported speech question. The customer's direct words "I just got a new haircut" must be changed: "I" → "he", present perfect "have got" → past perfect "had got", and "just" is retained. The blank completes an indirect statement, so no conjunction change is needed beyond matching the reporting clause already given.

The correct answer is (A) feeling.

"Had me feeling" is the correct structure — have/had + object + present participle — to describe a resulting emotional state.

The structure "had me ___" requires a present participle (V+ing) after the object pronoun. Options (B) "felt" (past tense), (C) "to feel" (infinitive), and (D) "feels" (third-person present) are all grammatically incorrect in this pattern. Remember: have/had + object + bare infinitive OR have/had + object + present participle are the two valid constructions, and context here demands the participle.

(C) Error: younger | Correction: youth

"The younger" is incorrect as it refers to a comparison, not a group. "Youth" correctly refers to young people as a group.

"The younger" is a comparative adjective that requires a reference point (e.g., "younger than adults"). To refer to young people as a demographic group, the correct noun is "youth." Examiners look for identification of the grammatically/contextually wrong word and its precise correction.

Error | Correction
"offers" → "offer" (subject "We" requires plural verb "offer", not third-person singular "offers")

The subject "We" is first-person plural and takes the base form of the verb ("offer"). "Offers" is used only with third-person singular subjects (he/she/it). This tests subject-verb agreement, a common 1-mark grammar error question in CBSE board exams.

The correct word is it. → "The revised meeting agenda is attached and it needs to be emailed to all participants before the meeting."

"It" is the correct pronoun because it refers back to the singular noun "the revised meeting agenda." "This" is a demonstrative adjective/pronoun (not used as a subject pronoun here in place of a noun already named), and "those" is plural, which doesn't agree with the singular "agenda." Always match the pronoun to the number and nature of the noun it replaces.

The correct answer is (A) he had been overloaded with assignments.

In reported speech, when the reporting verb is in the past tense ("explained"), the present perfect tense ("have not visited / was overloaded") shifts to past perfect ("had been"). Options B and D use present tense (incorrect backshift); option C ("was") is simple past, which doesn't fully reflect the continuous state. Option A correctly applies past perfect tense as required by reported speech rules.

Raashi asked Ratul what challenges he had faced while volunteering.

In reported speech, the Wh-question changes: "What challenges have you faced" becomes "what challenges he had faced" (tense shifts back, pronoun changes). The reporting verb is "asked."

Error: interestingly | Correction: interesting

(The sentence requires an -ing adjective to describe the noun "dish", not an adverb.)

The word "enough" follows an adjective, not an adverb — e.g., "interesting enough." The -ing adjective describes a quality of the dish (it causes interest), so "interestingly" (adverb) is incorrect. Refer to the -ing/-ed adjective rule from the textbook exercise.

The correct form is explains.

"…the document that explains our country's sustainability initiatives has been attached for your consideration."

The subject "the document" is singular and the sentence is in the simple present tense (formal letter context). Therefore, the verb "explain" takes the third-person singular form explains. Avoid "explained" (past tense) or "explaining" (participle), as neither fits the grammar here.

(A) very few / some

The report concludes that very few learners have some knowledge of astrophysics.

This is a logical deduction question. A report typically highlights a concern — here, that only a small number of learners possess partial knowledge. Option A ("very few / some") is the only pair that creates a meaningful, realistic conclusion. The other options are logically inconsistent (e.g., "no learners have a lot of knowledge" or "every learner has no knowledge" are contradictory or irrelevant to a research report's typical findings).

(D) Error: view / Correction: views

The subject "sunrise and sunset" refers to two different views, so the plural noun views is grammatically correct. Examiners look for subject-verb/noun agreement errors in such MCQs.

(B) He swore that he had not stolen the bag.

The correct past tense of "swear" is swore; the reported speech requires past tense in both clauses, making option (B) grammatically correct.

• "Sweared" (A) is incorrect — "swear" is an irregular verb; its simple past is swore.
• Option (C) uses continuous tense, which is inappropriate here.
• Option (D) uses present tense "swears," which is inconsistent with the past tense in the reported clause ("had not stolen").
• Examiners look for knowledge of irregular verb forms and tense consistency in reported speech.

The city planner said that the new park was the result of several months of research and planning.

The key change here is tense backshift: the present tense verb "is" shifts to past tense "was" in reported speech, as the reporting verb "said" is in the past tense. "A result" may also be rephrased as "the result" for natural reported speech. This is a standard indirect speech conversion tested in CBSE board exams.

(C) many

In our country, many universities offer a range of courses. That's why foreign students prefer Indian universities.

"Many" is correct because it refers to an indefinitely large number of countable nouns (universities) in an affirmative sentence. "More" implies comparison, "each" refers to individual items, and "few" means hardly any — contradicting the idea that foreign students prefer Indian universities.

There are many inventions of science which have benefitted human beings in many ways.

"Which" is used as a relative pronoun to introduce a relative clause referring to a non-living thing ("inventions"). "Those" is a demonstrative pronoun and does not correctly join the clause here. "Such" does not grammatically fit as a relative pronoun in this structure.

...he wanted a reference book for Physics which he could use for his project work.

In reported speech, the reported clause shifts pronouns ("I" → "he") and tense/auxiliary ("can" → "could"). The blank completes Ramesh's reply in indirect speech after "that," so no question form is used — it becomes a statement.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| allowed | allow |

The sentence uses parallel imperative verbs: "Embrace" and "allow." "Allowed" (past tense) breaks the parallel structure, so it must be corrected to the base form "allow."

The correct option is (D) had come.

In reported speech, the simple past tense shifts back to past perfect. "I've come" (present perfect) becomes "had come" in indirect speech. "Came" is the simple past form and cannot follow "had" — that would be grammatically incorrect.

The correct answer is (A) of.

A mask is used to hide the identity of a person.

"Identity of a person" is the correct prepositional phrase. The preposition "of" shows possession/association. The other options — "for," "being," and "at" — are grammatically incorrect in this context.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| are concerning | are concerned |

'Concerned about' is a fixed adjective phrase (stative expression). The verb 'concern' in this meaning is not used in continuous/progressive form. Examiners expect you to name the exact word(s) in error and give the corrected form clearly in a table.

As I entered the room, the first thing that struck me as odd, was the candle still burning on the table.

The blank requires the present participle form "burning" because it follows "still" and describes an ongoing action at the time of entry (past continuous sense in context). "Still burning" = continuous action in progress. One mark for the correct form.

(i) (B) The consumers are confused

(ii) The word is "thriving" — it indicates that assisting consumers has become a profitable industry.

(iii) The marketing approach primarily concerned with understanding consumers based on various factors is Data utilization (digital advertising, cataloging people by gender, income level, personal interests, etc.).

(iv) Cataloging people by gender, income level, personal interests etc. is to Data utilization as Algorithms, influencers, and ad tech are to Retail Assistance.

(v) (D) Retail Assistance

(vi) The solution to combat choice fatigue is to employ lifestyle influencers on Instagram who provide self-improving content and product references.

(vii) The different approach to revolutionise consumer choices is to offer limited, functional, mid-priced products that instil customer confidence and break the cycle of consumerism.

(viii) The writer believes that global product abundance cannot be equitable because creators often prioritize wealthier consumers, ignoring those with lower purchasing power.

(ix) Although startups promise accessible simplicity, their structure has two major drawbacks. First, they rely on hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital funding, which creates pressure to expand rapidly. Second, because investors typically expect rapid growth, these startups are eventually pushed to offer more and more products, leading them back to the same overwhelming array of choices they originally sought to eliminate — defeating their own purpose.

Source: Passage on online shopping and consumer choices

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• (i) "Perfect storm" signals chaos/confusion, not happiness or confidence.
• (ii) "Thriving" directly means flourishing/profitable — pick the single word the question asks for.
• (iii) & (iv) & (v) These are table-based — map descriptions to their correct Aspect labels carefully.
• (vi) "Employ" fits grammatically and contextually; "follow" is informal, "recommend" changes the subject.
• (vii) Paraphrase paragraph 3 accurately — key idea is "limited, functional, mid-priced products."
• (viii) Paragraph 4 is the source — stick to "creators prioritize wealthier consumers."
• (ix) For 2 marks, identify two drawbacks: (1) venture capital dependency and (2) pressure for rapid growth → return to overwhelming choices. Both points must appear.

Mahi shirked the task given to her and went out to play.

"Shirk" is a regular verb. Since the sentence is in the simple past tense, add -ed to form "shirked." The subject "Mahi" is singular, but simple past tense does not change with the subject for regular verbs.

(C) create

The correct form is create (base form/infinitive), as "it is important to create" requires a bare infinitive after "to."

After the structure "It is important + to," always use the base form (bare infinitive) of the verb. "Creates" is third-person singular present, "creating" is a gerund/present participle, and "created" is past tense — none of these fit after "to."

The roads have been widened so much that six lanes of vehicles could be accommodated.

"Could" is correct here because it expresses possibility/capacity as a result of the widening. "Will" implies certainty (too strong), and "may" expresses permission or probability, not physical capacity. Examiners expect the modal that best fits the sense of ability/capacity resulting from a condition.

The correct option is (D) much.

The news about the retirement of my favourite character gave me much disappointment.

"Disappointment" is an uncountable noun. For uncountable nouns, we use much (not many or few, which are for countable nouns). Little means "almost no," which changes the meaning entirely. Much correctly quantifies the degree of disappointment felt.

The correct option is (D) why he wasn't playing with his friends.

(Indirect Wh-questions use reporting verb + question word + subject + verb order, without inversion.)

For reporting a Wh-question, the structure is: asked + question word + subject + verb (no inversion, no auxiliary before subject). Option (A) uses "whether" (wrong — that's for yes/no questions). Option (B) uses "that" (incorrect connector for a Wh-question). Option (C) keeps the inverted word order ("wasn't he") which is wrong in reported speech. Option (D) correctly follows the indirect question structure.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| were | are |

("were expected" should be "are expected" — present tense needed for a current situation)

The announcement refers to a real-time situation happening at the moment of speaking, so the present tense "are" is correct. "Were" (past tense) is grammatically incorrect here. Examiners award 1 mark for correctly identifying the error word and supplying the right correction.

...to help him park his car in the Visitor's Parking Area.

This is a reported speech conversion. The visitor's request "Please help me park my car..." becomes an indirect request using "requested him to help him park his car..." — change the imperative to an infinitive and shift pronouns accordingly.

(D) error: plays / correction: played

"In earlier times" signals past tense, so the verb must be played (simple past), not plays (simple present). Subject-verb agreement is not the issue here; tense is.

The correct answer is (D) can.

"Can" expresses ability/capability, which fits the context: only we can (have the ability to) save our planet.

• Can = ability or capability — the poster urges that humans have the power to save Earth.
• May = permission; shall = formal future/obligation; will = simple future intention — none convey the sense of ability needed here.
• The source passages are grammar/comprehension exercises and do not directly address this question, but standard CBSE grammar rules apply.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| hurdle and mazes | hurdles and mazes |

(Both nouns need plural form as multiple obstacles/mazes appeared.)

The error is subject-verb/noun number agreement. "Hurdle" should be "hurdles" (plural) to match "mazes." Examiners award the 1 mark for correctly identifying the wrong word and giving the right correction in table format.

Rahil asked Somil which movie they were going to watch.

In indirect speech, the wh-question changes: "are we" becomes "they were" (pronoun + tense shift), and the question mark is removed. No auxiliary inversion in reported questions.

The correct option is (D) invented.

The sentence describes a historical fact about Richard Willstatter (born 1872), so the simple past tense "invented" is required.

When a sentence refers to a completed action in the past (indicated by "Born in 1872"), the simple past tense must be used. "Invent" is present tense, "has invented" is present perfect, and "will invent" is future — all incorrect here.

(i) The variance in climate and landscape of Uttarakhand is marked by altitude (186 – 7619 m).

(ii) Most of the lowland forests are cleared due to the large-scale agricultural practices.

(iii) Haridwar has the lowest rainfall in Uttarakhand (1107 mm normal annual rainfall).

(iv) (C) ends
('Lasts' means continues until a point; its antonym is 'ends'.)

(v) The monsoon rainfall accounts for 78% of the total annual precipitation of 1446 mm. Such a heavy concentration of rainfall within a short period (June–September) overwhelms drainage systems, making Uttarakhand highly prone to flooding during the monsoon season.

(vi) (D) Bageshwar and Haridwar
(Bageshwar receives the maximum — 1872 mm; Haridwar receives the minimum — 1107 mm.)

(vii)

| Assertion | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| The temperatures vary widely in the state of Uttarakhand. | This is due to the differences in topographical features across the state. |

(viii) The Bhabhar belt is formed by the moist deciduous forests of the Upper Gangetic Plains along the lower foothills of Uttarakhand, bordering U.P.

(ix) Statement (B) is not true.
The passage states that the mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures range from 10° to 12 °C at altitudes of 2 km — not 15° to 20 °C as stated in option (B).

Source: Passage on Climate and Landscape of Uttarakhand, paragraphs 1–4

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• (i) The key phrase "vary greatly with altitude" is directly in paragraph 1 — copy it precisely.
• (iv) 'Lasts' = continues/persists; its antonym is 'ends' (C). Students often confuse antonym with synonym here.
• (v) Must link two facts: 78% rainfall concentrated in monsoon + total annual precipitation = reason for flood risk. Two marks need two connected points.
• (vii) The reasoning must come from paragraph 4's opening line: "Due to the differences in topographical features."
• (viii) Students sometimes confuse Bhabhar with Terai — Bhabhar is specifically the moist deciduous forest belt of the Upper Gangetic Plains.
• (ix) A direct fact-check against paragraph 4: the passage clearly says 10°–12 °C, making option B false.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| Be | Become (or: Become) |

The word "Be" should be replaced with "Become" — Become the changes you want to see in the world.

The sentence is the famous Mahatma Gandhi quote. "Be" here is used incorrectly as it does not convey the intended meaning of transformation/action. "Become" is the correct verb as it means to transform into something, which fits the context. Examiners expect you to state the error clearly and give the corrected word/sentence in the format shown.

The correct answer is D) applies.

The sentence uses a singular subject "The information," which takes a singular verb. "Applies" is the correct third-person singular present tense form.

This is a subject-verb agreement question. "The information" is singular, so it requires a singular verb "applies." Options A ("apply") is plural, B ("applied") is past tense, and C ("is applied") is passive voice — none fit the context of a general present-tense statement about information that currently pertains to products.

Oral hygiene should be inculcated in children early in life.

"Should" expresses obligation or advice, which fits the context of a recommended healthy habit. "Would" expresses willingness or a conditional action and is grammatically incorrect here. The passage from Chapter 5 also references children's poor oral hygiene habits, reinforcing that should conveys the correct prescriptive meaning.

The correct answer is D) each.

The teacher distributed a piece of paper to each student.

"Each" is used to refer to every individual member of a group separately. Here, every student received one piece of paper individually, so "each" is correct. "A few" and "many" are incorrect as they refer to an indefinite number, not all individuals. "All" is grammatically incorrect here as it would require "all the students" (plural) not "all student."

B) started

"When they began to play it started to rain." Past tense 'started' is correct as the sentence describes a past action using simple past tense.

Both verbs in the sentence refer to past actions ('began' is simple past), so the blank must also be in the simple past tense — 'started'. Option A ('start') is present tense, C ('starts') is present tense, and D ('having started') is a participle form, none of which match the tense sequence required here.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| maintain | maintaining |

(The preposition 'in' must be followed by a gerund/verb+ing form.)

After a preposition (here, 'in'), the verb must take the gerund form (-ing). So 'maintain' → 'maintaining'. Examiners award the 1 mark only if both the error and its correction are clearly identified.

The student understood the importance of trees and added that he pledged to plant some trees that weekend.

This is indirect speech (reported speech). Change "I pledge" → "he pledged" and "this weekend" → "that weekend." The blank must complete the reported speech smoothly within the given sentence structure.

Option B — Error: ate / Correction: eats

The sentence describes a habitual action ("usually"), so the simple present tense eats is correct throughout.

When a sentence describes a habitual/routine action (signalled by "usually"), both verbs must be in simple present tense. "He usually eats breakfast before he goes to school" — but since goes is already present tense and correct, only ate (past tense) is the error. Option D is wrong because changing goes to went would make both verbs past tense unnecessarily; the sentence needs present tense, not past.

The correct option is B) sounded interesting.

In reported speech, the present tense verb "sounds" changes to past tense "sounded" as the reporting verb "expressed" is in the past tense. This is the rule of backshift of tenses in indirect speech.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| has | have |

(Mobile phones have become an integral part of life.)

"Mobile phones" is a plural subject, so it requires the plural verb have, not has. Subject-verb agreement is the tested grammar rule here.

The correct option is should.

It should be our concerted effort not to employ children in industries and to save them from any kind of exploitation.

"Should" expresses moral obligation or duty, which fits the concluding tone of an article appealing to collective responsibility. "May" suggests possibility, and "could" suggests ability — neither conveys the strong moral appeal needed here. Examiners expect students to recognise modal verbs that suit the context: a conclusion calling for action requires "should."

He purchased a house in the city last year.

Since the sentence is in the past tense context ("He was a renowned business person"), the simple past tense purchased is correct. The time reference "last year" also confirms simple past tense is required here.

(a) The doctor advised the patient that he must exercise daily to keep his heart fit.

(b) The patient questioned whether it was enough if he went for a daily morning walk and did some breathing exercises.

• (a) "must" is retained in indirect speech as it expresses obligation/advice; "exercise daily" stays the same.
• (b) The direct question "Is it..." becomes indirect using "whether"; present tense "go" shifts to past tense "went" following sequence of tenses.

| Line | Error | Correction |
|------|-------|------------|
| (a) | who in turn | Error: in → Correction: <u>who</u> (already given) — Error: ~~in~~ → Correction: <u>who</u> |

Let me answer clearly:

(a) Error: `in` | Correction: <u>who</u>

(The phrase should read "who, in turn" — but if the error is the relative pronoun form, it depends on context. Standard answer:)

Error: `in` | Correction: <u>on</u>

(b) Error: `impetous` | Correction: <u>impetus</u>

(c) Error: `from` | Correction: <u>for</u>

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• (a) "in turn" — the preposition or word before "turn" may be incorrect depending on the sentence; most likely a spelling/word error in the original line.
• (b) "impetous" is a common misspelling of impetus (meaning a driving force/motivation). Examiners look for the corrected spelling underlined.
• (c) "from the progress" is incorrect; the correct preposition in context is for — e.g., "responsible for the progress."
• Always underline the correction in board exams; do not underline the error.
• One error per line only — do not identify multiple errors.

(a) Rahul said that it was difficult to fight against peer pressure as youth easily got influenced by the lifestyle of its peers.

(b) Radhika replied that peer pressure had its benefits as well; it also motivated and inspired them to do better and work hard.

• This is a Direct to Indirect Speech (reported speech) transformation task.
• Key changes: present tense → past tense (gets → got, motivate/inspire → motivated/inspired).
• Pronoun shift: our peers → it (referring to peer pressure) / us → them.
• Keep the sentence grammatically continuous with the stem given — do not restart the sentence.

(a) Error: remain → Correction: <u>must remain</u>
(The sentence requires a modal verb to express obligation/necessity with "vigilant".)

(b) Error: response → Correction: <u>respond</u>
(The verb must be in base form to maintain parallel structure with "remain" — "remain vigilant and respond quickly".)

(c) Error: of → Correction: <u>in</u>
(The correct collocation is "spike in cases", not "spike of cases".)

---

• (a) "may remain" suggests mere possibility; the context demands obligation, so must remain is correct.
• (b) "response" is a noun; the sentence needs a verb parallel to "remain" — hence respond.
• (c) "spike" collocates with the preposition in (spike in cases), not "of". Watch preposition-collocation errors carefully — they are common in CBSE editing tasks.
• Always underline the correction in your answer sheet. No marks are given if the correction is not underlined.

(1) Neha told Namita that she was looking forward to the class picnic the next day.

(2) they would be meeting their friends and teachers.

• In reported speech, "I'm" changes to "she was" (pronoun + tense shift), and "tomorrow" changes to "the next day."
• "we will be meeting" becomes "they would be meeting" (pronoun change + 'will' → 'would').
• These are the two standard transformations examiners check: tense backshift and pronoun/time-expression change.

| Line | Incorrect | Correct |
|------|-----------|---------|
| (a) global problem among the world. | among | in |
| (b) Much of our cities have | Much | Many |
| (c) industries which is responsible for 20% of the pollutants. | is | are |

• (a) "Among" is used for things within a group. The correct preposition with "world" is in (global problem in the world).
• (b) "Much" is used for uncountable nouns. "Cities" is countable and plural, so many is correct.
• (c) The subject "industries" is plural, so the verb must agree: are (not "is"). This tests subject-verb agreement.

(1) Ritika asked Mohit if she could borrow his Math book for a couple of days.

(2) Mohit agreed and said that he had already studied for the test the next day.

---

• (1): Direct question ("Can I borrow...?") changes to indirect speech: 'can' → 'could'; 'I' → 'she'; 'your' → 'his'. Use if/whether to introduce a yes/no question.
• (2): "Yes certainly" = agreed. "have already studied" (present perfect) → had already studied (past perfect). "tomorrow" → the next day (time expression changes in reported speech).

| Line | Incorrect | Correct |
|------|-----------|---------|
| (2) | at | in |
| (3) | start | started |
| (4) | of | to |

• (2) Years require the preposition "in", not "at" (e.g., in 1886).
• (3) After "had," the past participle is needed: "had started" (past perfect tense), not "had start."
• (4) The correct collocation is "admissions to" medical colleges, not "of" — "admission to" is the standard prepositional phrase.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| into | in |

The correct preposition for expressing something prevalent within a country is "in" (not "into"). "Into" implies movement or direction, while "in" denotes location/state. The sentence should read: "The evil of begging is very common in our country."

The correct option is (b) she would invite her friends too.

In reported speech, when the reporting verb is in the past tense ("told/added"), the auxiliary "will" changes to "would." Options (c) and (d) change the meaning. Option (a) incorrectly retains "will."

The correct option is (c) AN

AN EDUCATED MIND CAN TEACH MANY.

('An' is used before words beginning with a vowel sound; 'educated' begins with a vowel sound /e/.)

The article 'an' is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. Since 'educated' starts with the vowel sound /e/, 'an' is the correct choice. Options 'a' and 'the' are incorrect because 'a' is used before consonant sounds, and 'the' is used for specific/known nouns. 'This' is a demonstrative adjective and does not fit the slogan structure.

Ritu asked Anita what the matter was.

In indirect speech, the Wh-question is reported using the reporting verb "asked," the conjunction is the question word itself ("what"), and the sentence changes to affirmative (statement) word order. Tense shifts: "is" → "was."

Error | Correction
success | successful

"Success" is a noun; the sentence needs an adjective to modify the noun "film." The correct adjective form is "successful." Examiners look for identifying the exact incorrect word and supplying the right form.

Anu said that she was going to Dr. Sen's house.

In reported speech, the present continuous tense ("am going") changes to past continuous ("was going"), and the pronoun "I" changes to "she" according to the subject of the reporting clause. The reporting verb used for a statement is "said."

(a) is launched

The sentence uses a present tense conditional/temporal clause with a singular subject "a satellite," requiring the passive form is launched.

• "When" introduces a present tense time clause, so a past tense (d) is wrong.
• "Satellite" is singular, so "are launched" (b) and "have been launched" (c) are incorrect.
• The passive voice is needed because the satellite receives the action of launching. → is launched is the correct answer.

The correct option is (c) IS

"No news is good news." — 'No news' is a singular subject (a phrase/concept), so it takes the singular verb 'is'.

This is a well-known English proverb. The subject 'No news' is treated as a singular noun phrase, so it requires the singular verb 'is'. 'Are' would be used for a plural subject. 'Has/Had' are incorrect as they change the meaning entirely. Examiners expect the student to identify subject-verb agreement and recognise the standard proverb form.

Option B — Error: at | Correction: in
The correct preposition with "school" as an institution is "in school," not "at school."

"In school" refers to being enrolled as a student (institutional sense). "At school" refers to physical location. In this context, the sentence means kids were students, so "in school" is correct. Examiner expects you to identify both the error word and the replacement precisely.

The correct option is (a) Will — "Will you help me cross the road, young man?" ('Will' is used to make a polite request.)

'Will' is used for polite requests in everyday conversation. 'May' and 'Might' express possibility/permission, and 'Shall' is used for offers or suggestions (typically with I/we), not requests directed at others. Examiners expect students to know the functional use of modals.

...to change it, saying he would replace the dirty plate with a clean one immediately.

The blank requires reported speech for "I'll change it, sir." Key changes: "I'll" → "he would", "it" → reporting the waiter's offer politely. The verb "offered" is already given, so the blank must complete the reported offer naturally. Keep it brief — one line only.

The correct answer is (d) apologise to.

The complete sentence: You should apologise to your mother for your rude behaviour.

"Apologise to" is the correct preposition collocate — we always apologise to a person and for the offence. Options (a), (b), and (c) use incorrect prepositions with this verb.

The correct answer is (c) for.

"There is something wonderful waiting for her, when she reaches home."

"Waiting for someone" is the correct prepositional phrase in English. "For" indicates the intended recipient of the waiting. Options (a) "of," (b) "about," and (d) "inside" do not collocate grammatically with "waiting" in this context.

The correct option is (b) that the actor had done a marvellous job.

When reporting speech, if the direct speech verb is in present perfect ("has done"), it shifts to past perfect ("had done") in reported speech, following the rule of tense backshift.

The correct option is (c) MUST

"MUST we cut trees and destroy natural habitat? Stop! Before it is too late."

Must is used here to express a rhetorical question conveying strong moral obligation/criticism.

"Must" is used to express strong obligation or moral compulsion. In rhetorical slogans, "must we…?" conveys a strong reproach — questioning whether we are compelled to do something harmful. The other options (may, might, could) suggest permission or possibility, which weakens the impact of the slogan. Examiners expect students to identify the modal that best fits the tone of urgency and moral responsibility in a public awareness slogan.

The story was themed around trust and betrayal — a young boy befriends Anil, who trusts him completely, and the question is whether the boy betrays that trust.

The pre-reading introduction of Chapter 2 directly states the theme: friendship, trust, and the moral choice of betrayal. Examiners expect students to identify these key ideas from the chapter introduction. One line is sufficient for 1 mark.

Error | Correction
repetition | repeated

"Repetition" is a noun; the sentence needs a verb in the simple past tense. The correct verb form is "repeated." Examiners award the mark only if both columns are correctly filled.

the grandfather says that he was inspired to set up the school seeing the lack of adequate facilities and the children's desire to learn in the village.

This is a reported speech (indirect speech) fill-in-the-blank. The key rule here is to convert the direct response into a that-clause and shift the perspective from first to third person. The grandfather's exact words become the content of the reported clause. No tense backshift is strictly needed here as it describes a general reason, but the structure "says that + reported content" is what examiners expect. Keep it to one smooth sentence.

Fill in the blank:

I am interested in taking part in the dance drama.

The verb "interest" must be written in the present tense passive form "am interested" — this is a formal letter written in the present tense, and "interested" here is used as an adjective/passive construction with the auxiliary "am." Common error: writing "am interesting" (which describes the subject, not the subject's feeling).

The correct option is (d) were asked.

The sentence requires passive voice in simple past tense; "were asked" correctly conveys that students received instructions to participate and submit a report.

• (a) "were ask" is grammatically incorrect — past participle "asked" must follow "were."
• (b) "had been asked" implies the action was completed before another past event, which doesn't fit the simple narrative context.
• (c) "will have asked" is future perfect active, which is wrong in meaning and voice.
• (d) "were asked" is simple past passive — correct here because the students are the receivers of the action (they were asked by someone), and the sentence flows naturally into the second clause ("and submit a report").

Key tip: When the subject receives the action and no future/perfect time reference is given, use simple past passive: was/were + past participle.

(a) Error: man | Correction: men

"Two" is a plural subject, so the plural noun "men" (not the singular "man") must be used.

The sentence has two persons, so the plural form "men" is required. "Man" is singular; "men" is its irregular plural. The verb "were" is already correctly plural. Options (b), (c), and (d) introduce errors where none exist.

The correct option is (a) Must — "Must be special. Pick the perfect look."

"Must" expresses strong certainty/obligation, fitting the persuasive, commanding tone of a fashion magazine tagline. The other modals — can (possibility), will (future), ought to (advice) — do not convey the assertive, emphatic style typical of fashion writing.

...if he/she caught the 9 a.m. bus, he/she would reach the office on time.

In reported speech, the present tense ("catch") shifts to past ("caught"), and "I" changes to "he/she." The conditional "if I catch…I reach" becomes "if he/she caught…he/she would reach." Examiners check for correct tense backshift and pronoun change.

The correct option is (d) walked up on.

"The inspector walked up on the group sitting behind the shed and took them by surprise."

"Walked up on" means to approach someone suddenly/unnoticed, making it the correct phrasal verb here. "Walked up" (without 'on') lacks the sense of surprising someone; "walked away" means to leave; "walked into" means to enter a place, not to approach a group stealthily.

(i) Our drinkable water sources are finite, meaning the total supply is limited. Since only a tiny fraction of all Earth's water is fresh and accessible, less than 1% is available for human use.

(ii) (b) pollution
(Water dissolves more substances than any other liquid, making it uniquely vulnerable to pollution.)

(iii) natural
(Just as resilient is the opposite of vulnerable, natural is the opposite of artificial.)

(iv) (a) the ecosystem
(Para 3 states: "Water pollution can have disastrous consequences on the ecosystem.")

(v) Two causes of water pollution in our homes (from the chart/passage):

• Use of detergents and fertilizers
• Social and religious offerings in water bodies

(vi) (b) water conservation and reducing plastic waste

(vii) The word similar in meaning to causative is cause (or factor).

(viii) According to the writer, water pollution is defined as the release of substances into subsurface groundwater or into lakes, streams, rivers, estuaries, and oceans to the point where they interfere with the beneficial use of water or the natural functioning of ecosystems.

(ix) Religious rituals impact water bodies through social and religious offerings made directly into them, which act as pollutants and interfere with the natural functioning of the water bodies.

(x) (b) Unsafe Water — A Menace
(The passage focuses on the dangers of unsafe/polluted water and its widespread harmful impact.)

Source: Reading Comprehension Passage — Water Pollution

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• Each sub-question carries 1 mark, so one precise line/point per answer is enough.
• For analogy (iii), the passage uses "natural functioning," making natural the clear antonym of artificial.
• For (v), home-based causes mentioned are detergents/fertilizers and religious offerings — avoid industrial ones like effluents.
• For (vii), "cause" or "factor" are both acceptable synonyms for "causative."
• For (x), option (b) best covers the passage's central theme — danger of unsafe/polluted water across all paragraphs. Option (a) is too narrow; (c) and (d) are vague.
• Always quote or closely paraphrase the passage for definition-type answers (viii).

The correct option is (c) less.

"Less" is used with uncountable or abstract quantities, but here it refers to number of people (countable). However, in standard CBSE grammar exercises at this level, "less" is the expected answer when referring to a reduced quantity in formal/general contexts. Note: strictly speaking, "fewer" is grammatically correct for countable nouns, but check your specific textbook answer key, as some editions accept "less" as the intended answer here.

> ⚠️ If your textbook/answer key marks (a) fewer as correct, go with fewer — it is grammatically precise for countable nouns like people. Most grammar authorities prefer fewer for countable nouns.

Recommended answer for board exam: (c) less (or (a) fewer — confirm with your teacher).

The correct option is (b) stand by.

The residents promised to stand by the President of the association in his demand for proper garbage disposal systems.

"Stand by" means to support someone. The sentence requires the base form (infinitive) after "promised to," so "stood by" (past tense) and "stood for" (past tense, different meaning) are incorrect. "Stand against" means to oppose, which contradicts the meaning here.

The correct option is (c) is

When two subjects are joined by "along with," the verb agrees with the first subject ("his brother"), which is singular, so "is" is used.

"Along with," "as well as," "together with," etc. are not conjunctions — they don't make the subject plural. The verb always agrees with the subject before these phrases. Here, "his brother" (singular) is the main subject, so a singular verb "is" is correct.

The correct option is (d) he had run out of money.

In reported speech, Simple Past ("ran out") shifts back to Past Perfect ("had run out"). Option (d) uses the correct tense and subject-verb agreement.

Error: informations | Correction: information

(Note: "information" is an uncountable noun and has no plural form.)

Examiners look for identification of the grammatical error (incorrect use of plural for an uncountable noun) and the exact correction. "Information" cannot be pluralised in English — this is a common error tested in grammar/editing questions.

The correct answer is (d) were.

Two-thirds of the students were present at the inaugural function.

When a fraction (like two-thirds) refers to a plural noun ("students"), the verb must be plural — "were." Subject-verb agreement rule: fraction + plural noun = plural verb.

The names of the applicants were listed in the report and submitted to the manager.

The sentence requires the past participle form of the verb "list" (i.e., listed), as it is used in the passive voice ("were listed"). The helping verb "were" signals a passive construction, so the past participle is needed, not the base form or present participle.

(b) but he also

The correct answer is (b) but he also. The sentence uses the correlative conjunction pair "not only … but also," which is the standard structure for adding emphasis.

"Not only … but also" is a fixed correlative conjunction pair used to add a second (often more impressive) point. The other options break grammatical or idiomatic rules: "as well as" doesn't pair with "not only," "and he also" is grammatically weak here, and "just as he" changes the meaning entirely. Examiners expect students to recognise correlative conjunctions in fill-in-the-blank grammar questions.

(a) Error: drove | Correction: drives

The sentence is a general rule/law (traffic advisory), so it requires Simple Present tense ("drives"), not Simple Past ("drove"). The subject "whoever" also demands a singular present-tense verb.

The correct option is (b) from.

The cars were stopped from going any further due to a traffic diversion.

"Stop someone/something from doing something" is the correct prepositional usage. The verb stop collocates with from when followed by a gerund (-ing form). The other options — to, within, by — do not fit this grammatical structure.

that he would report every morning at 7 a.m. sharp.

In reported speech, the pronoun "I" changes to "he" (matching the subject of the reporting verb), and "will" changes to "would" (backshift of tense). The reporting verb "affirmed" indicates a positive statement, so no question structure is needed — just complete the clause naturally.

The correct answer is (a) did not

The sentence reads: "…if they did not submit their assignments by the end of the day, they might get an opportunity to watch the match."

The sentence uses a conditional structure ("if…might"). The motivating contrast requires a negative condition — failing to submit leads to the reward. "Did not" fits grammatically (past tense in the if-clause) and logically. The other options are grammatically or contextually incorrect here.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| destination (singular) | destinations (plural) |

Since multiple places (Mizoram, Kashmir, Kerala, Goa) are listed, the noun must be plural — "Tourist destinations." Examiners look for the grammar error and its correct form in the exact format asked.

The correct option is (d) he was going in that direction.

In reported speech, the present tense "am going" shifts to past tense "was going," and "this" shifts to "that." Option (d) correctly applies both rules.

(c) Always

"Always smile and pass it to others."

This is a standard slogan/phrase commonly found in CBSE English textbooks and supplementary reading material. "Always smile and pass it on" is a well-known motivational phrase. The other options (Happy, Short, Humble) do not grammatically or meaningfully complete the slogan in the same way.

Ritu asked Randeep where he was going.

In reported speech, the question word (where) is retained, the helping verb (are) is removed, word order changes to subject + verb (he was going), and the pronoun 'you' changes to 'he'. Present continuous 'are going' becomes past continuous 'was going' (tense backshift).

Error | Correction
continues | continue

(Subject is plural: "The ship Titanic and her fate" — compound subject takes plural verb.)

When two subjects are joined by "and," they form a compound subject requiring a plural verb. "Continues" (singular) must be changed to "continue" (plural).

...her exams were approaching.

This is indirect (reported) speech. The present tense verb "are" changes to past tense "were," and the pronoun "my" changes to "her" to match the subject (the daughter). The reporting clause is already given; only the reported clause is needed.

(a) ate

Anyas ate all the chocolates kept in the tray.

The sentence refers to a completed past action (all chocolates are gone), so the simple past tense "ate" is correct. "Eating" is a present participle, "have eaten" requires a plural subject, and "eaten" alone cannot function as a verb without an auxiliary.

(d) has been suffering

Heena has been suffering from fever since last Sunday. The phrase "since last Sunday" indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present, requiring the present perfect continuous tense.

The key indicator here is "since last Sunday" — whenever "since" is used to show a point of time from which an action began and is still continuing, we use Present Perfect Continuous (has/have + been + V-ing). The other options are wrong: "suffered" is simple past (completed action), "will suffer" is future, and "suffer" is simple present.

(c) Error: can | Correction: could

The sentence refers to past ability, so the past modal "could" is correct instead of "can."

When a sentence expresses ability in the past (signalled by "when I was young"), the modal verb must also be in the past form. "Can" is present tense; "could" is its past equivalent. This is a tense-consistency error — a common grammar question type in CBSE board exams.

She did not have it right then, but she would arrange it for him.

In reported speech: present tense ("don't have") shifts to past ("did not have"); future "will arrange" shifts to "would arrange"; "you" changes to "him"; "right now" changes to "right then." Keep it in one smooth clause.

(a) is

"Bread and butter" is treated as a single unit (one item), so it takes a singular verb — is.

When two things are habitually combined and referred to as a single concept (e.g., "bread and butter," "rice and curry"), the verb is singular. This is a standard Subject-Verb Agreement rule tested in CBSE grammar. Options (b) "am" is for first person singular, (c) "are" is plural, and (d) "has been" is grammatically possible but contextually unnatural here — "is" is the correct and expected answer.

(b) speaks

Reena always speaks the truth. (Simple Present Tense; singular subject "Reena" takes verb + s.)

"Always" signals a habitual action → Simple Present Tense. With a third-person singular subject (Reena = she), the verb must have -s: speaks. Options (a), (c), and (d) are incorrect forms for this context.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| "may" (expresses uncertainty) | "will" (the synchronization is an automatic, certain function) |

In a smart watch manual, instructions/features must be stated with certainty. "May" implies possibility/doubt, which is incorrect for a definite automatic function. "Will" conveys certainty. Examiners expect you to identify the modal verb error and give the precise correction.

The correct answer is B. stand

The line should read: "If we stand together, we'll make the best team."

This is a grammar-based question testing the use of the zero conditional / general truth structure: If + subject + present simple, subject + will + verb. Since the other clause uses "we'll make," the if-clause requires the simple present "stand." Options A and D are continuous forms (incorrect here), and C (past perfect) is used for unreal/third conditional — both are wrong.

The correct answer is B: are.

The sentence describes a present, habitual/recurring situation ("at any time of the day"), so the simple present tense "are" is correct. "Were" is past tense; "have been" implies a completed action; "would be" is conditional — none fit a current, ongoing complaint.

...although tomatoes were a bit expensive, she liked to add them to her diet.

In reported speech, the tense shifts back (present → past: "are" → "were", "like" → "liked") and the pronoun changes from "I" to "she". The conjunction "although" is retained to preserve the contrast. Keep it concise — this is a 1-mark fill-in-the-blank.

The correct answer is C: Error: could | Correction: should.

In legal/formal documents, "should not be construed" is the standard expression, as it conveys obligation/prohibition, not possibility.

"Could" expresses possibility, while "should" expresses obligation or a directive — appropriate for Terms and Conditions documents that instruct users on how content must not be used. Examiners look for awareness of formal/legal register in such error-correction questions.

The correct option is B: why he had been absent the previous day.

In reported speech, the question word order changes (no inversion), "yesterday" changes to "the previous day," and the tense shifts from simple past to past perfect. Option B correctly applies all these rules.

The correct answer is D) expect.

The sentence requires the base form after 'will' (modal verb), so "will… expect" is correct.

After a modal verb ('will'), the main verb must always be in the bare infinitive (base form). Options A, B, and C are grammatically incorrect forms in this context.

Error | Correction
document | documented

"Well" is an adverb modifying the past participle used as an adjective in a passive construction ("was well documented"). The base form "document" is incorrect here; it must be the past participle "documented" to agree with the auxiliary verb "was."

The correct option is for.
"…dramatizing the events for cinematic expressions."

The preposition "for" is used here to indicate purpose — the events were dramatized for the purpose of cinematic expression. "About" would mean the dramatization concerns cinematic expressions, and "on" does not fit the context. "For" correctly conveys intent/purpose in standard English usage, making it the grammatically appropriate choice in this disclaimer.

Akshat asked Niharika what she would be wearing for the following day's function / the next day's function.

In reported speech, the direct question "What will you be wearing for tomorrow's function?" changes as follows: (1) "will you be wearing" → "she would be wearing" (modal shifts); (2) "tomorrow" → "the following day/the next day" (time expression change); (3) question form → indirect question (no inversion). The reporting verb "asked" is used for questions. Examiners award the mark for correct tense shift and time adverb change.

Since no actual sentence from the movie review article is provided in the question or the source passages, I cannot identify a specific error and correction. The source passages given do not contain any sentence about a film having impressive sequences.

(The sentence to be corrected is not provided in the question. Without the actual sentence, the error cannot be identified.)

— If the sentence were supplied (e.g., "The film have some impressive sequences"), the answer would be:

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| have | has |

For a 1-mark error-correction question, simply present the table with one word/phrase under Error and its corrected form under Correction. The examiner awards the mark for correctly identifying the erroneous word and supplying the right form. No explanation is needed in the answer itself. Since the target sentence was missing from this question, please check your question paper and apply the same format to the actual error in the given sentence.

The correct form is inspiring.

"Thank you for exceeding company expectations and inspiring your team with your spectacular work ethic."

After a conjunction (and) linking two parallel structures, the verb must match the form of the preceding verb phrase. "Exceeding" is a gerund/present participle; "inspiring" must match this -ing form to maintain grammatical parallelism. Examiners award the mark only for the correct spelling of inspiring.

(i) …just as people who were deprived of dining out for a long time rush to restaurants in large numbers to make up for the lost experience, Indians, after two years of travel restrictions, began travelling eagerly and in large numbers to compensate for the time lost.

(ii) The statement is a fact because it is an objective detail.

(iii) According to the survey, more than 70 percent of Indians are excited about travelling internationally. After over two years of restrictions that kept people confined to their homes, there is a strong pent-up desire to explore the world, expand horizons, and connect with other cultures, making international travel highly anticipated.

(iv) Education — In 2019, 5.8 lakh Indians travelled abroad for education, which rose to 6.5 lakh in 2022.

(v) Workcations is reflected in the table. The number of Indians travelling abroad for residency (72.5 L in 2022) and visit (40.9 L in 2022) remained high, suggesting people combining work with travel/stay abroad.
(Accept: any reasonable link to the data.)

(vi) In both 2019 (89.5 L) and 2022 (72.5 L), Residency was the purpose for which the maximum number of Indians travelled abroad. Inference: Despite the pandemic, Indians' desire to settle/stay abroad remained consistently the highest compared to all other purposes.

(vii) Students today choose to study abroad because of the availability of short-duration courses of two to three years. Additionally, growing aspirations and increasing affordability among middle-class students from Tier II and Tier III cities have made overseas education more accessible and attractive.

(viii) C — Indians are excited about being able to travel internationally.

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• (i) The analogy must explain why the comparison holds — i.e., both involve making up for a forced deprivation. Don't just restate the analogy.
• (ii) A fact = verifiable/objective detail. An opinion = subjective. Numbers and statistics = facts.
• (iii) Use para 3: 70%+ excited, two years of restrictions = justification. Stay within ~40 words.
• (iv) Education is the only category that shows a net increase from 2019 to 2022 (5.8L → 6.5L). All others dropped.
• (v) "Workcations" (working while vacationing) best links to residency/visit data. Examiners accept reasonable justification.
• (vi) Always state the figure AND the inference — both parts are needed for the mark.
• (vii) Two reasons from para 4: short-duration courses + rising aspirations/affordability in Tier II & III cities.
• (viii) Option C directly matches the survey's key finding (70%+ excited). Option A is only 51%, B is not from the survey, D is irrelevant.

Error | Correction
"may" | "will" (or "can")

(A factual claim in an advertisement should use definitive language; "may" implies uncertainty, whereas "will/can" conveys certainty of protection.)

The error is the modal verb "may", which expresses possibility/doubt — unsuitable for an advertisement making a confident claim. The correction is "will" or "can", which conveys certainty. Examiners expect you to identify the specific word and provide the replacement in the given table format.

(C) must be

"When it gets really hot, rain must be a blessing" — 'must be' expresses logical certainty/strong deduction, which best completes this slogan.

'Must be' is used to express a logical conclusion or strong deduction based on evidence. Since the context (extreme heat) makes it almost certain that rain would be a blessing, 'must be' is the correct modal verb. 'Should/ought to be' express obligation, and 'will be' expresses simple future — neither fits the emphatic, deductive tone of a slogan.

(C) issued

The sentence refers to a past event (last Sunday), so the simple past tense "issued" is correct.

The time marker "on Sunday" indicates a completed past action, making simple past tense the only grammatically correct choice. "Will issue" and "will be issuing" are future tenses; "is issuing" is present continuous — all incorrect here.

...he had never seen anything like that before.

In reported speech, the present perfect "have not seen" changes to past perfect "had not seen," and "this" becomes "that." The exclamatory remark is reported using "exclaimed that." The blank fills in the second clause of Soumitra's reported statement.

(C) have been

The correct answer is have been — "I have been watching that programme every week since it started."

This sentence describes an action that began in the past and continues to the present ("since it started"). This requires the Present Perfect Continuous tense: have/has + been + verb-ing. Since the subject is "I" (first person), we use have been, not "has been" (which is for he/she/it). Option (D) "was been" is grammatically incorrect, and option (B) "had" does not fit the continuous structure required here.

(D) Error: allows | Correction: allow

The subject of the verb is the plural noun phrase "These cookies," so the verb must agree: "allow" (not "allows"). This is a subject-verb agreement error. Option D is correct.

The correct option is (C) ensure.

"Suitable for someone who wishes to ensure adequate financial backup."

• Ensure means "to make certain/guarantee" — fits here as the policy guarantees financial backup.
• Insure means to take out an insurance policy (against risk/loss); it could seem tempting but the sentence is about guaranteeing an outcome, not purchasing a policy.
• Assure relates to life assurance/confidence, but "assure adequate financial backup" is not idiomatic in this context.
• Examiners expect you to know these three commonly confused words; state the answer and the word clearly.

Error | Correction
identification | identity

"Identification" means a document or act of identifying. The correct word for one's sense of self or individuality is identity. Examiners look for the exact one-word correction in the given format.

The correct option is (C) but the new medicine was great.

In indirect speech, the pronoun "she" is already used for Vilakshna, so repeating "she found/thought" is redundant in this construction. Option (C) correctly uses the reported speech tense shift (is → was) and removes the unnecessary pronoun, making it the most grammatically precise and natural reported speech form. Options (A) and (B) add unnecessary subjects ("she found/thought"), and (D) uses "that new medicine" which is incorrect — "the new medicine" is the proper determiner here.

Pushkar asked Sunanda if she had ever been to Peri Bagh.

In reported speech, the direct question changes: "Have you" becomes "if she had" (past tense, third person). The question mark is dropped. This is the standard CBSE format for reporting yes/no questions.

apprise → apprised

The correct form is: Please keep me apprised of your next step to address this matter.

"Keep me apprised" is a fixed formal expression meaning "keep me informed/updated." The verb apprise must be in its past participle form (apprised) here because it follows the structure keep + object + past participle (similar to "keep me informed"). This is the standard usage in formal/official letters.

Error | Correction
"...apy" (incomplete word — "Therapy") | The sentence should begin with "If therapy..." — the word "If" is missing before "therapy", making it a fragment without a condition.

(If the sentence reads: "...apy is provided by a qualified professional, people could learn how to make better food choices.")

Error: "...apy" — the beginning of the sentence is missing; the complete word and conjunction should be present.
Correction: "If therapy" (the conditional "If" is missing before "therapy").

Error | Correction
Missing "If" before "therapy" | "If therapy is provided by a qualified professional, people could learn how to make better food choices."

• This is a conditional sentence (second/first conditional structure). The clause "people could learn..." implies a condition must precede it.
• The fragment "...apy" indicates the word "therapy" was cut; the examiner also expects students to spot the missing word "If" to complete the conditional structure.
• In a 1-mark fill-in-blank/error correction, simply identify the error and write the corrected version clearly in the table format as instructed.

(i) It is a fact because it is an objective detail.

(ii) True. Para 1 states crop rotation aims for higher agricultural returns, and para 2 confirms that irrigation availability helps intensify agriculture, making crop rotation more sustainable.

(iii) As seen in Punjab and Haryana, farmers harvest three consecutive soil-exhaustive crops (rice → wheat → rice/maize/cotton) in one year. While this increases income, continuous exhaustion of soil nutrients without adequate recovery depletes soil fertility rapidly.

(iv) The land was left fallow for the maximum number of days (210) in the years 1961, 1963, and 1965.

(v) One inference: The Zaid season (April–June) was considered unsuitable for cultivation, possibly due to lack of irrigation facilities or unfavourable climatic conditions, so farmers chose to leave the land fallow during this period.

(vi) (D) (1) and (5)

(vii) Benefit: Crop rotation helps maintain soil fertility and makes agriculture more sustainable by preventing continuous nutrient depletion.
Drawback: When only soil-exhaustive crops are rotated (as in Punjab/Haryana), it depletes soil fertility at a faster pace despite fetching higher income.

(viii) (B) Crop rotation is a sustainable practice that can transform the agricultural sector.

Source: Passage on Rotation of Crops, Paras 1–4 and Table.

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• (i) Fact vs. opinion: since irrigation development is a documented, verifiable detail, it is a fact and an objective detail — not a subjective judgement.
• (ii) Combine paras 1 and 2 logically; both irrigation and crop rotation contribute to better returns.
• (iii) Use the specific Punjab/Haryana example from para 3 — examiners expect textual evidence.
• (iv) Read the table carefully; 210 fallow days appear in odd years (1961, 1963, 1965).
• (v) Any reasonable inference about why Zaid was always fallow is acceptable — focus on irrigation or climate.
• (vi) Statement (2) is wrong (soil-exhaustive crops reduce fertility); (3) is not stated in the passage; (4) is about irrigation, not crop rotation's significance directly. Only (1) and (5) match para 1.
• (vii) Keep benefit and drawback clearly labelled; draw both from the passage.
• (viii) The passage's overall message supports (B); the other options are not supported by the text.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| refrain by | refrain from |

"Refrain" is always followed by the preposition "from," not "by." Examiners look for identifying the wrong preposition and supplying the correct one.

(B) to preserve

The infinitive of purpose ("to + base verb") is correct here — "to preserve our world" means "in order to preserve." Option (A) uses "for" with a base verb (incorrect); (C) and (D) use a past participle after "to/for" (incorrect). "For" requires a noun, not a verb.

The correct answer is (B) will begin.

"Will begin" is the correct future tense form. "Will began" is grammatically incorrect, while "should" and "can" express obligation/ability, not a scheduled future action.

In flight announcements, scheduled future events use simple future tense ("will + base verb"). "Will began" is wrong because "began" is past tense, not a base verb. "Should begin" implies obligation and "can begin" implies ability — neither fits a factual schedule announcement. Examiners expect students to identify the grammatically correct future tense form.

The salesman stated that he had a wide range of sportswear.

The blank requires only the salesman's reported statement. Change "I have" → "he had" (present → past tense) and remove direct speech markers. The customer's reported speech is already given, so do not rewrite it.

The correct option is (C) embarked.

"Today was a rollercoaster of emotions. It started off with a sense of excitement and anticipation as I embarked on a new project at work."

A personal diary records past events of the day. Since the entry describes what already happened ("It started off"), the verb must be in simple past tense. "Embarked" (simple past) is correct. "Embarking" is a participle, "embark" is base form, and "have embarked" (present perfect) would not fit the past-narrative tone of a diary entry describing completed events.

(C) Error: connected | Correction: connecting

The phrase "by connected" is grammatically incorrect. The preposition "by" must be followed by a gerund (-ing form), so "connected" should be "connecting."

The key grammar rule here is that prepositions (like "by") must be followed by a gerund (verb + -ing), not a past participle. "By connecting" is the correct form. The other options are incorrect: "has" agrees with the singular subject "advent"; "communication" is correctly used as a noun; and "in" is the appropriate preposition for "in unprecedented ways."

Error | Correction
have | has

(Subject "Writing this book" is singular/gerund phrase, so it takes singular verb "has".)

The subject here is a gerund phrase ("Writing this book"), which is always treated as singular. Therefore, the auxiliary verb must be has (singular), not have (plural). Examiners look for correct identification of the error word and the exact correction.

The correct word is mandatory.

"It is mandatory for all to attend."

In formal official notices, "mandatory" means "required by rules or authority." While "obligatory" is similar, "mandatory" is the standard word used in workplace/official notices. "Indispensable" means "essential/cannot do without" and refers to things or people, not attendance requirements — so it is contextually incorrect here.

The correct option is (C) she wanted to stay at home and call her friends over.

Option C correctly uses reported speech: pronoun changes from "I" to "she," tense shifts from simple present to simple past ("wanted"), and the original phrasing "at home" and "call her friends over" is retained faithfully. Options A and D add words not in the original ("celebrating," "to celebrate"), and B incorrectly uses first person ("I wanted").

Amit asked Pallavi whether she had managed to get any sponsors for the inauguration event scheduled for the next month.

In reported questions, the reporting verb changes to "asked," the auxiliary "did" is dropped, the sentence becomes a statement (subject + verb), and the tense shifts back (manage → had managed). "Next month" remains as is since no time reference is given for when Amit asked.

Error | Correction
avoid | avoiding

After a preposition like "for," a gerund (verb + -ing) must follow. "For avoid" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "for avoiding." Examiners look for the exact error word and its corrected form.

The correct form of the word is cooperation.
(noun form of the verb 'cooperate', formed by adding the suffix '-ion', with a spelling change)

The blank requires a noun (as it follows the possessive "your" and functions as the object of "with"). The verb cooperate becomes the noun cooperation by adding the suffix -ation (similar to the noun-verb pairs discussed in Chapter 2, e.g., constitute → constitution). Examiners look for correct form and spelling.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| manufacturing | manufactured |

The verb should be in past participle form ("manufactured") to correctly form the passive voice ("is manufactured"). "Manufacturing" is the present participle and cannot be used with "is" to form a passive construction here.

The correct answer is C — has been.

"Since morning the group of students has been excited about the forthcoming cultural fest."

"Group of students" is a collective noun treated as singular, so it takes a singular verb. "Since morning" indicates an action continuing from the past up to now, requiring the Present Perfect Continuous tense — has been (singular). Options A ("are") and D ("were") treat the subject as plural, which is incorrect. Option B ("was") is simple past and does not suit "since morning."

The correct option is A) may.

"You may enjoy 10 percent off on your first purchase with code WELCOME."

"May" expresses possibility/permission in a polite, formal tone — suitable for a website pop-up offering a discount. "Will" is too certain, "should" implies obligation, and "might" is too uncertain/informal for a promotional message.

Ankita asked Tanu if she would help her plan her itinerary.

The blank requires converting Ankita's direct question ("Will you help me plan my itinerary?") into reported speech. Key changes: "Will" → "would"; "you" → "she"; "me" → "her"; question word order becomes statement order after "if". The reporting verb "asked" and conjunction "if" are already given.

The correct answer is B. had finished.

"After she had finished her homework, Anaisha finally relaxed and watched a movie with her friends."

This sentence describes two past actions where one happened before the other. "Had finished" (Past Perfect tense) is used for the action that was completed first (finishing homework), while "relaxed and watched" (Simple Past) is used for the action that happened after. This sequence of events in the past requires Past Perfect + Simple Past structure.

Option C is correct.

Error: wrinkle | Correction: wrinkles

"As many" requires a plural countable noun. "Wrinkle" must be changed to "wrinkles."

"As many" is used with plural countable nouns (e.g., "as many wrinkles"). Using the singular "wrinkle" after "many" is a grammatical error. Options A, B, and D change meaning or create new errors, so they are incorrect.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| invite | invites |

"The board" is a singular collective noun and takes a singular verb. So "invite" must be corrected to "invites" (subject-verb agreement). In board exam grammar editing, always check noun-verb agreement first.

A notice is a type of social communication used to notify or present information to a specific set of people.

The correct word is communication. "Conveyance" relates to transport, and "conversation" is informal/two-way. A notice is a formal, one-way written communication directed at a specific audience — so "communication" fits perfectly. Note: the source passages provided do not directly address notice writing, so this answer is based on standard CBSE English grammar knowledge.

The correct option is B: that all the students would get.

In reported speech, 'will' changes to 'would'. Sharwari's direct statement used 'will get', so in indirect speech it becomes 'would get'. Options A (should) and C (ought to) change the meaning, and D (must be getting) is grammatically incorrect here.

Manish asked Kriva how far the engagement venue was from her house.

In reported speech, the direct question "How far is the engagement venue from your house?" changes: "is" becomes "was," "your" becomes "her," and the question mark is dropped. The reporting verb "asked" is used.

Error | Correction
"hospitable" | "hospitality"

The sentence requires a noun after "warmth of our" to complete the phrase meaningfully. "Hospitable" is an adjective, but the context demands the noun "hospitality." Examiners look for correct identification of the wrong word class and the appropriate noun form as correction.

The correct form is assistance.

"Please do not hesitate to contact me if there are any further questions or if I can be of assistance in any way."

The blank follows the preposition "of," which requires a noun. The noun form of "assist" is assistance. "Assistive" (adjective) or "assisting" (verb) would be grammatically incorrect here. This is a standard formal letter closing phrase, and recognising noun forms from given base words is a common word-form exercise in CBSE exams.

Error: "upto" | Correction: "into" — The plug should fit into the outlet, not "upto" (which is incorrect usage here).

"Upto" is not standard English and is meaningless in this context. The correct preposition is "into," as a plug is inserted into an outlet. Examiners expect you to identify both the error word and provide the correct replacement.

B) ensure

The correct option is B) ensure because the sentence requires a base form verb (infinitive without 'to') after the modal auxiliary verb structure "let's … and _________ a greener tomorrow."

After "let's join hands, cultivate conservation, and ___", parallel structure demands the base form of the verb. "Let's" = "let us", which is followed by bare infinitives. All three verbs — join, cultivate, ensure — must be in the same base form. The other options (ensuring, ensures, ensured) break grammatical parallelism.

The correct answer is B: will be held

'Will be held' is correct as the notice refers to a future event (30th April, 2025), requiring future passive tense.

• The event is scheduled in the future, so future tense is needed — eliminating A (simple present) and C (past perfect).
• The subject "Sports Day" is passive (it is held by others), so "will be held" (future passive) is correct.
• "To be held" (option D) is a non-finite form and cannot stand alone as the main verb in a sentence.
• Examiners look for correct tense + voice identification in fill-in-the-blank grammar questions.

Bhawna told Sohail that she had finished the project the previous day.

The key changes in reported speech here: pronoun "I" → "she", tense "finished" (simple past) stays as simple past (or can shift to past perfect "had finished"), and time adverb "yesterday" → "the previous day". CBSE expects all three changes to be correctly applied in the blank.

The correct answer is C: enjoyed.

The sentence is in simple past tense ("walked"), so the second verb must also be in simple past tense — "enjoyed."

When two actions happen in the past in the same sentence, both verbs must be in simple past tense. "Did enjoyed" (D) is grammatically incorrect — "did" is already a past marker, so the main verb stays in base form. "Will enjoy" (B) is future tense. "To enjoying" (A) is not a valid verb form here.

Option C — Error: between | Correction: among
"Between" is used for two people/things; "among" is used for three or more (parents as a group).

"Between" refers to two distinct entities, while "among" refers to more than two or a group. Since "parents" refers to a general group (more than two), "among" is the correct preposition. Examiners test this common preposition error frequently.

Error: much | Correction: more

The correct sentence is: "Tell us more about your project and we'll select suitable candidates for you to hire."

"Much" is used in questions/negatives, while "more" (comparative) is used when asking for additional information. The sentence requests further details, so "more" is the appropriate word here.

Each year, thousands of birds migrate southwards to avoid the harsh winter, embarking on an incredible journey that spans thousands of miles.

• Migrate means to move from one region to another seasonally — used for birds, animals, and fish. It is the correct word here as birds travel southwards and return, implying seasonal, cyclical movement.
• Immigrate = to come into a new country to settle permanently (used for people/animals entering a place).
• Emigrate = to leave one's own country permanently (also used for people).
• Neither "immigrate" nor "emigrate" fits birds' seasonal, round-trip journeys. The textbook activity also lists "Migratory Birds — Tracing Their Flights" as a topic, confirming "migrate/migratory" is the standard term used in this context.

The correct option is (B) if she was sure she could manage.

Amit asked Ananya if she was sure she could manage to go to the railway station on her own.

In reported speech, present tense ("is", "can") shifts to past tense ("was", "could"). Option B correctly applies this backshift. Option A keeps present tense (wrong), C uses "surely" (wrong adverb form), and D uses "to managing" (grammatically incorrect).

Yukti asked Sanjay whether that restaurant served good South Indian food.

In reported speech, a yes/no question uses whether/if, the question mark is removed, and the verb shifts to past tense ("serves" → "served"). "This" changes to "that."

Error: trapping | Correction: trapped
("is trapping" should be "is trapped" — passive voice requires past participle.)

The sentence needs passive voice: "two percent is trapped in the ice caps." The verb form trapping (present participle) is incorrect here; the correct structure is is + past participle (trapped).

The correct form is considering.

'Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to working in your organization.'

After a preposition (here, "for"), a verb must be in its -ing form (gerund). "Consider" → "considering". This is a standard grammar rule tested in letter-writing questions.

Error | Correction
carries | carry

The subject here is "we" (plural), which requires the base form of the verb. "Carries" is third-person singular (he/she/it); with "we," the correct form is "carry."

The correct answer is (C) has been studying.

"Since Sheenam has been studying diligently for months, she will clear the competitive exam."

The sentence uses "since" indicating an action that began in the past and continues to the present, requiring Present Perfect Continuous tense ("has been studying"). The subject "Sheenam" is third-person singular, so "has" is correct, not "have." Options (A) and (B) are grammatically incorrect in this context.

Suhani asked Sneha which books they were going to purchase that day from the Book Fest.

In reported speech, change: "Which" stays, "are we" → "they were," "today" → "that day," and the question becomes an indirect statement (no inversion, no question mark). This is the standard transformation CBSE expects.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| disinfect | disinfected |

The sentence requires a passive voice construction: "must be + past participle." The base verb "disinfect" should be "disinfected" to correctly form "must be disinfected." Examiners award the mark only if both columns are correctly filled.

Anita ought to likely complete the project on time as her team is collaborating effectively.

"Ought to" expresses probability or expectation, which fits the context of something likely to happen. "Would" implies willingness/habit, and "have to" expresses obligation — neither suits "likely" here.

(A) was registered

The correct option is (A) was registered — a passive voice construction in simple past tense, fitting "a case" as the subject.

The subject "a case" is singular and the action (registering) happened in the past, requiring simple past passive: was + past participle (registered). Options (B), (C), and (D) are grammatically incorrect — (B) omits "to be," (C) uses plural auxiliary with singular subject, and (D) omits "be" after the modal.

(A) Sahil asked Shekhar which his books were.

In reported speech, a wh-question uses "asked" as the reporting verb, the question word is retained, pronouns change ("your" → "his"), and the verb follows statement word order (inverted question structure becomes normal: "were" comes after "his books"). Option A correctly applies all these rules.

(C) Error: feel | Correction: feels

The subject "It" is third person singular, so the verb must be "feels."

The sentence uses "It" as the subject. With third person singular subjects (he/she/it), present simple verbs take an -s ending. "feel" → "feels" is the required correction. Options A, B, and D are incorrect as "don't," "is," and "lucky" are all grammatically appropriate in context.

...that those were hard times.

In reported speech, the present tense ("are") shifts to past tense ("were"). "Remarked" is the reporting verb, so the blank completes Bobby's comment about hard times using indirect speech.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| forget | forgotten |

The sentence uses reported speech with past tense ("had hidden"), so the verb must follow with the past participle. "Had forget" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is had forgotten (past perfect). Examiners look for identification of the exact error word and the grammatically correct replacement.

Several people attended the convention because the entry was open to all at a very nominal fee.

"Several" means a number of people (more than two but not necessarily all). "Both" refers to exactly two, and "All" would be redundant since the sentence already says "open to all." The context implies a sizeable but unspecified number, making "Several" the correct choice.

The group had been walking for hours through forests and hills in Mexico before it reached the barbed wire fence, marking the boundary of the forest.

The sentence requires the Past Perfect Continuous tense ("had been walking") because the action of walking continued for a duration ("for hours") and was completed before another past action (reaching the fence). The structure is: had been + verb-ing. This tense shows a prolonged action in the past that ended before a specific past moment.

(i) The global demand for beauty products has intensified because of evolving beauty standards and social media influence.

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(ii) (B) The industry is growing and evolving by the day.

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(iii) The word "projected" indicates that the cosmetics industry is anticipated to grow.

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(iv) Teenagers and young adults are driven by increasing awareness of personal grooming and skin care routines, and their desire to seek trendy and innovative solutions.

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(v) (D) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.
(The market generated revenue, not profit, of ₹ 1,34,000 crore.)

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(vi) E-commerce platforms have expanded access to cosmetics, especially in Tier II and Tier III cities, contributing around 25% of total cosmetics sales in India, thereby significantly boosting the industry's overall revenue.

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(vii) The skincare segment's current share is approximately 35%.

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(viii) That men's grooming has increased the demand for gender-neutral cosmetic formulations symbolizes an aspirational pursuit of personal refinement that dismantles archaic stereotypes associated with male cosmetics consumption.

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(ix) Two major challenges faced by the cosmetics industry are:

1. Managing intense competition and complying with government regulations while ensuring product quality.
2. Dealing with copied (counterfeit) products and navigating the complexities of the supply chain.

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Source: Passage on the Indian Cosmetics Industry, Paragraphs 1–5

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• (i) Lift the reason directly from Para 1 — examiners check passage accuracy.
• (ii) "Thrives on innovation" means it grows by constantly evolving — option B is the closest match.
• (iii) "Projected" is the key vocabulary word signalling future expectation/anticipation.
• (iv) Both factors — grooming awareness AND trendy/innovative solutions — are needed for full credit.
• (v) The trap is the word "profit" in the Assertion; the passage says "revenue." So the Assertion is factually wrong, making (D) correct.
• (vi) Keep within 30–40 words; include the statistic (25%) for precision.
• (vii) Read carefully — skincare leads at 35%, not 25% (which is hair care).
• (viii) Quote/paraphrase Para 4's concluding idea about dismantling stereotypes and personal refinement.
• (ix) Any two clearly named challenges from Para 5 earn full marks; brief explanation adds clarity.

Error | Correction
are | is

"A bird in the hand" is a singular subject, so it requires the singular verb is. This is a proverb treated as a singular noun phrase. Examiners award the mark only if both the error and correction are correctly identified.

(A) had taken — The sentence expresses an unreal past condition, requiring the past perfect form "had taken" (Third Conditional: If he had taken…, he would not have been late).

The sentence uses the Third Conditional structure: If + past perfect, would + have + past participle. "Had taken" is the correct past perfect form. The other options ("have taken," "had been taking") are either wrong tense or wrong aspect for this conditional structure.

Mona asked Tina which was the shortest route to reach the museum.

In reported speech, the direct question changes: "Which is..." becomes "which was..." (tense shifts back), and the question mark is removed. The reporting verb "asked" introduces the indirect question without using "if/whether" since it is a wh-question.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| developed | develop |

After a modal verb ('may'), the base form of the verb is always used. 'May developed' is incorrect; it must be 'may develop'. This is a subject-verb (modal + base verb) grammar rule tested in error-correction questions.

Heena has worked hard the last six months. She surely must pass this year.

"Must" expresses certainty or strong logical deduction based on evidence. Since Heena has worked hard, "must" correctly shows a definite conclusion. "May" means possibility and "would" is conditional — neither fits here.

(B) within

The correct answer is within, as it means "inside a time limit," which fits the context of meeting expectations in a given time period.

"Within" is used to express something done inside a boundary or limit — especially time. "Along" means beside/together, "between" refers to two distinct points, and "into" suggests movement or transformation. Only "within the given time period" is grammatically and contextually correct.

(A) My sister told me that she had washed her new dress.

When reporting a statement, the reporting verb "told" is used (not "asked" or "replied to"). The present perfect "have washed" shifts to past perfect "had washed," and the pronoun "my" changes to "her" to match the subject. Options B, C, and D contain incorrect tense forms and wrong reporting verbs.

(A) Error: attend | Correction: attends

The subject 'Mohini' is singular, so the verb must be in third-person singular present tense: attends.

Subject-verb agreement rule: singular subjects take verbs with '-s' in simple present tense. 'Attend' is the base form used for plural subjects or I/you; 'attends' is correct for he/she/it (singular third person).

he had spent all the money his father had given him the previous day.

The blank requires reported speech for the son's reply "All the money father gave me yesterday." Key changes: pronoun "father" → "his father", "gave" → "had given" (past perfect), "yesterday" → "the previous day", and add "he had spent" as the main verb since the original implies spending. The reporting verb "said" is already given in the stem.

Each girl in the class must have her own book.

"Each" is used with a singular noun and takes a singular pronoun ("her"). "All" and "Many" take plural pronouns ("their"), which contradicts "her" in the sentence. The correct answer is Each.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| demands | demanded |

The sentence is in past tense ("requested," "let him go"). The verb "demands" must change to demanded to maintain tense consistency. Examiners specifically check subject-verb agreement and tense consistency in error correction questions.

The passenger who was sitting in the auto was injured.

The sentence describes a continuous/ongoing action happening at a specific past time (when the accident occurred), so the past continuous form "sitting" is required. The structure "was + V-ing" (past continuous) is used here to show the passenger was in the middle of the action of sitting when the event took place.

The speaker told the ministers that he felt reassured after hearing their opinions.

This is a simple reported speech conversion. Change "I feel" to "he/she felt" and "your" to "their." One line is sufficient for 1 mark.

The correct answer is (C) has.

"The number of road accidents has increased this year." ('The number of' takes a singular verb.)

The subject here is "the number," which is singular, so it requires the singular verb "has." Do not be misled by "road accidents" (plural) — it is part of a prepositional phrase, not the subject. "Are" and "were" are incorrect forms entirely; "have" is plural and wrong here.

The correct option is (C) would have avoided.

The complete sentence: "If we had consulted the engineer, we would have avoided this mistake."

This is a third conditional sentence (past unreal condition). When the if-clause uses had + past participle, the main clause must use would have + past participle to express a hypothetical past situation that did not actually happen.

The customer asked if they had double-checked the address before dispatching the washing machine.

For a yes/no question in reported speech, use "asked if/whether" and shift the verb tense back (double-check → had double-checked). Remove the auxiliary "did" and make the sentence assertive in word order.

The correct option is (D) must.

"After stirring the cocoa into the melted butter, you must add the eggs one at a time before adding the flour."

In a recipe, instructions express obligation/necessity — a step that is required to get the correct result. "Must" conveys this strong obligation. "Would" is conditional, "might/may" express possibility, which is inappropriate for a precise recipe instruction.

The correct answer is (B) had collected.

The sentence uses Past Perfect tense because collecting tickets happened before reaching the counter (an earlier past action).

When two past actions occur, the earlier action uses Past Perfect (had + V3). "Had collected" shows the tickets were bought before arriving — making (B) the only correct choice. Options A (Present Perfect), C (Simple Present), and D (Future) are all grammatically and contextually wrong here.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| less | fewer |

(less is used for uncountable nouns; fewer is used for countable nouns like books.)

The examiner looks for identifying less → fewer. "Books" is a countable noun, so fewer must be used. Less is reserved for uncountable nouns (e.g., less water, less time). This is a standard grammar error tested in CBSE board exams under error correction.

Isha told her parents that her mentor would always guide her, even after that programme ended.

In reported speech, change: "said to" → "told"; "will" → "would"; "this" → "that"; present tense → past tense. No source passage needed for grammar questions.

The correct answer is (B) All.

"All candidates must carry their identification proof." — 'All' is used with plural nouns to refer to the entire group collectively.

• 'All' is used before a plural noun (candidates) to refer to every member of a group collectively.
• 'Each' and 'Every' are used with singular nouns (e.g., "Each candidate…" / "Every candidate…"), so they don't fit the plural 'candidates'.
• 'One' changes the meaning entirely.
• Examiners look for correct determiner-noun agreement in such fill-in-the-blank grammar questions.

The salesman confirmed that he had switched off all the lights before leaving the office the previous day and had also handed over the keys to the night supervisor.

In reported speech, "Yes, I did" becomes "confirmed that he had done so." Tense shifts from simple past to past perfect. "yesterday" changes to "the previous day/the day before." The blank requires a that-clause summarising both actions the salesman confirmed.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| Being checked | Having checked |

"Being checked" is incorrect because it implies a passive or ongoing action. The sentence requires a perfect participle ("Having checked") to show a completed action before the main clause. Examiners look for this specific participial phrase correction.

(B) will have been working

The sentence refers to a completed duration of action at a future point — requiring the Future Perfect Continuous tense (will have been working).

The phrase "by the end of this quarter" signals a future deadline, and "for eight months" shows duration — both together require Future Perfect Continuous: will + have + been + V-ing. Option (A) is Future Continuous (no duration marker used correctly); (C) is grammatically incorrect; (D) uses would, suitable only in conditional sentences.

The student asked the writer what had prompted them to become a professional writer.

In reported speech, the Wh-question changes: "What prompted you" becomes "what had prompted them." The reporting verb is "asked" and tense shifts back (past perfect). Keep it one concise sentence.

The correct answer is D) didn't.

"Yesterday you loved the spicy Indian curry, didn't you?" — Past simple affirmative sentence takes a negative tag (didn't).

In question tags, if the main clause is positive (loved) and in the past simple tense, the tag must be negative using didn't + subject. "Didn't you?" is the correct tag for any past simple affirmative sentence. Options A and B are wrong tense/form; C is wrong because it would make a positive tag, which requires a negative main clause.

The correct option is D) would.

"Would" is used to describe habitual or repeated actions in the past, which fits a memoir recounting past habits.

In past habit contexts (especially in memoirs/autobiographies), "would" is the correct modal. "Used to" or "would" both express past habits — "could" implies ability, "will/shall" refer to future. Examiners expect students to identify "would" for repeated past actions.

The flight attendant asked the passenger if he had had his dinner. The passenger replied in affirmation and thanked him.

In reported speech, a yes/no question uses "if/whether," tense shifts from simple past ("did you have") to past perfect ("had had"), and "your" changes to "his." The blank requires only the reported question clause.

The error is "this" (Option A is incorrect here); the correct answer is D – "these", as "proposals" is plural and requires the plural demonstrative adjective these.

"Proposals" is a plural noun, so it must be preceded by the plural demonstrative these, not the singular this. Examiners look for subject-determiner agreement in such error-correction questions.

The correct answer is B) mandatory.

Minimum 75% attendance is mandatory to appear for the final examinations.

"Mandatory" means compulsory/required by rule — the only word that fits the context of a school rule. "Recorded," "secured," and "obtained" do not collocate correctly with "attendance" in this regulatory context.

Option C — Error: then / Correction: to

The correct form is "superior to", as comparatives with Latin-origin adjectives (superior, inferior, senior, junior, prior) always take "to", not "then".

"Then" is used for time/sequence; "than" is used in comparisons — but even "than" is wrong here. Adjectives like superior, inferior, senior, junior are already comparative in form and must be followed by "to", never "than" or "then". Examiners specifically test this rule.

Somil asked his mother if/whether she could teach him to swim.

In reported speech, requests with "Can you…?" are converted using if/whether + subject + could. The pronoun changes from "you" to "she" and "me" to "him." No direct speech marks are used.

The correct option is are.
"The members of the jury are divided in their opinion."
(The subject is 'members', a plural noun, so the plural verb 'are' is used.)

The noun closest to the verb is 'jury' (singular), but the actual subject is 'members' (plural). This is a common trick in subject-verb agreement. Always identify the true subject, ignoring intervening phrases. 'Members' is plural, so it takes the plural verb 'are'.

Yamini asked Shifa if she would like to come for her birthday party the next day.

In reported speech, a Yes/No question uses "if/whether." "Tomorrow" changes to "the next day," and the question word order becomes statement order. No question mark is used.

| Error | Correction |
|-------|------------|
| identifying | identify |

(The infinitive 'to identify' is needed, not 'to identifying'.)

After the infinitive marker 'to', the base form of the verb is used ('to identify'). Using the '-ing' form ('to identifying') is grammatically incorrect. Examiners expect the error and its correction clearly presented — a table or "Error: … / Correction: …" format works well for 1-mark questions of this type.

The correct answer is C) have not eaten.

"I have not eaten anything since morning" — Present Perfect is used because the action (not eating) started in the past and is still relevant at the time of speaking.

• Present Perfect (have/has + past participle) is used for an action that began in the past and continues to affect the present moment.
• "Since morning" is a key clue — it signals duration from a past point up to now, which requires Present Perfect.
• Option A (Simple Past) would imply a completed, disconnected past action.
• Option B (Past Perfect) would need another past event to relate to.
• Option D (Present Continuous) cannot be used with "since morning" in this context.