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English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question

Q1. [6]
Answer in about 100-120 words : Self-doubt and fear often act as barriers to success. On the other hand, curiosity leads to learning new things. Justify the statement citing instances from 'His First Flight' and 'Madam Rides the Bus'.
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2025 2/5/1 Q10(a)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:18 · grounding rag
Model Answer

From 'His First Flight': The young seagull was gripped by self-doubt and fear. He was convinced that his wings would not support him, so he refused to fly while his siblings had already flown. His family tried threatening and cajoling him, but fear held him back. However, hunger and curiosity about the food his mother held overcame his fear. The sight of the fish maddened him, and when he dived toward it, he instinctively spread his wings and soared — conquering his barrier through a single act of desperate curiosity.

From 'Madam Rides the Bus': Valli's curiosity about the bus that passed her street drove her to learn everything — fare, distance, timing — through careful observation and discreet questions. Rather than letting fear or her young age stop her, her curiosity turned into a plan, and she successfully made the journey alone. Her desire to experience something new led to a learning experience beyond her expectation.

Thus, both stories prove that self-doubt limits us while curiosity empowers us.

Source: Chapter 3 (His First Flight); Chapter 7 (Madam Rides the Bus)

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Explanation
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