Read the passage given below : — English Language & Literature

Q1. [10]

(1) Starting Monday, the country's low-cost Mars mission with the red planet for an extended period will enter the "blackout" phase snapping communication with the satellite. From June 8 to 22 the Sun will block Mars from the Earth snapping communication with the satellite. (2) A senior Indian Space Research Organisation official said. "This will be for the first time that there will be a communication break for such a long period of about 15 days. During this period, there will be no communication with the satellite", he added. (3) Expressing confidence about regaining control over the satellite once the blackout phase is over, he said, "the scenario has been tested and the line of communication will be established." The spacecraft's life has been extended for another six months in March due to surplus fuel. (4) Stating that the spacecraft has been "configured" for the blackout, the ISRO official said, "we are not sending any commands to the spacecraft now, till 8th June few hours of signals will be sent by the spacecraft that will be for about two to three hours per day". In May next year, the mission will have to go through a similar phase once again, if there is another extension of mission life when the Earth will come between the Sun and Mars. (5) Scripting space history, India on September 24 last successfully placed its low-cost Mars spacecraft in orbit around the red planet in its very first attempt, breaking into an elite club of three countries.

Read the passage given below :

(i) Infer one reason for the following based on information in paragraph 1. The 'blackout' phase is significant _______. [1]
(ii) Choose the appropriate option to fill in the blank. From paragraph 1 & 2, we can infer that there will be ________ 1. no communication with the people. 2. blackout phase. 3. satellite will get no communication. 4. moon will block the earth. 5. the communication break will be for 15 days. [1]
1. (a) 1, 2 & 3
2. (b) 1, 3 & 4
3. (c) 2, 3 & 5
4. (d) 3, 4 & 5
(iii) The communication with the satellite will break for approximately _____ days. [1]
1. (a) 10
2. (b) 15
3. (c) 20
4. (d) 25
(iv) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phase from paragraph 2 : aroma : cooking : : _______ : space research (Clue – just like aroma is integral to cooking, similarly _____ is/are integral to Space Research.) [1]
(v) According to ISRO official till 8th July, when Sun will block Mars, _____ signal / signals per day will be sent to the spacecraft. [1]
1. (a) no
2. (b) considerable
3. (c) indefinite
4. (d) only for few
(vi) Select the correct option to complete the following sentence : The ISRO officials are _____ about their control over the spacecraft after the blackout phase. [1]
1. (a) doubtful
2. (b) apprehensive
3. (c) confident
4. (d) jittery
(vii) The spacecraft's life was extended by six months because of [1]
1. (a) extra fuel
2. (b) incomplete work
3. (c) lack of communication amongst ISRO officials
4. (d) technical problems in its landing
(viii) Read the following sentences : (A) The blackout was a sudden development. (B) Because of this, the officials are very nervous about the success of the spacecraft. [1]
1. (a) Both (A) & (B) are true.
2. (b) Both (A) & (B) are false.
3. (c) (A) is true and (B) is false.
4. (d) (A) is false and (B) is true.
(ix) Substitute the word 'nonpareil' with one word similar in meaning in the following sentence from paragraph 5. India managed to get into the nonpareil club of Mars spacecraft in orbit. [1]
(x) The word 'fascination' in the opening sentence means the same as [1]
1. (a) enchantment
2. (b) boredom
3. (c) disinterest
4. (d) ugliness

Previously asked in CBSE board exam

2023 2/6/1 Q2

Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:11 · grounding stimulus

Model Answer

(i) The 'blackout' phase is significant because it will be the first time communication with the satellite will be completely snapped for such a long period of about 15 days, due to the Sun blocking Mars from the Earth.

(ii) (c) 2, 3 & 5

(iii) (b) 15

(iv) aroma : cooking : : communication : space research
(Just as aroma is integral to cooking, communication is integral to space research.)

(v) (d) only for few
(The official stated that till 8th June, signals will be sent for about two to three hours per day — i.e., only for a few hours.)

(vi) (c) confident

(vii) (a) extra fuel
(The spacecraft's life was extended due to surplus/extra fuel.)

(viii) (b) Both (A) & (B) are false.
(The blackout was planned and configured for in advance; ISRO officials expressed confidence, not nervousness.)

(ix) The word 'nonpareil' can be replaced with elite.
(India managed to get into the elite club of Mars spacecraft in orbit.)

(x) (a) enchantment

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Explanation

For (i), always use the passage to support your inference — the key detail is "first time" + "15 days."
For (iv), the analogy tests vocabulary in context; "communication" is the concept central to the entire passage and to space research.
For (viii), both statements contradict the passage — the blackout was pre-planned ("configured") and officials were "confident," so both are false.
For (ix), "nonpareil" means unrivalled/elite; the passage itself uses "elite club" in paragraph 5 — use that word directly.
(x) is a vocabulary question; "fascination" means enchantment/charm, so (a) is correct.

English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question