Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words each :
Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words each :
This is an instruction (not a content question) directing candidates to attempt any TWO of the three sub-questions that follow — 9.I, 9.II and 9.III, based on 'Making of a Scientist', 'The Midnight Visitor' and 'Bholi' respectively — each worth 3 marks, in about 40-50 words. Candidates should skim all three options first, choose the two they can answer most completely and precisely within the word limit, and clearly indicate the two question numbers attempted. Answering all three earns no extra credit; typically only the first two attempted (or the best two, per instructions) are evaluated, so careful choice and time management matter.
Marking Scheme
- 1No content marks for this instruction line itself; marks (3 each) are awarded separately for the two chosen sub-questions actually attempted.
- 2Candidates must attempt exactly two of the three sub-questions; attempting only one scores marks for one only, and attempting all three is typically evaluated only for the first two unless otherwise specified.
- 3Each attempted sub-answer should stay within approximately 40-50 words to be time-efficient and precise.
Hint
Read all three sub-questions first, then choose the two you know best; keep each answer to about 40-50 words and mention only two clearly.
Quick Oral Answer
This line instructs students to choose and answer any two out of the three short questions that follow, each in about 40-50 words, rather than attempting all three.
Analysis & Explanation
This is a procedural instruction line (attempt any TWO of three sub-questions), testing exam-technique rather than content.
Concept: CBSE's internal-choice format in Section C lets candidates skip one of three short-answer options while still scoring full marks on the two attempted.
Key points
- Read all three sub-questions (on 'Making of a Scientist', 'The Midnight Visitor', 'Bholi') before choosing.
- Pick the two best-remembered/most confidently answerable, and clearly mark which two are attempted.
- Keep each answer to about 40-50 words — long enough to cover the point, short enough to save time.
Common mistakes
- Attempting all three (no extra credit, and only the first two are usually evaluated, causing confusion).
- Ignoring the word limit — either a one-line answer (under-elaborated) or a full paragraph (time-wasting for 3 marks).
परीक्षा में सावधानी: Always underline or number the two questions actually attempted so the evaluator marks the right ones.
Common Mistakes
- 1Attempting all three sub-questions instead of exactly two, wasting valuable exam time.
- 2Ignoring the 40-50 word guideline — writing either too briefly (losing marks) or too elaborately (time loss).
- 3Not clearly indicating which two question numbers have been attempted, causing evaluation confusion.
Interesting Facts
This 'answer any two of three' format is a common CBSE internal-choice pattern used in Section C to reduce dependence on memorising every single prose chapter equally.
The three underlying chapters — Making of a Scientist, The Midnight Visitor and Bholi — are all drawn from the same supplementary reader, Footprints without Feet.
A strict 40-50 word limit per sub-answer means candidates typically spend only about 2-3 minutes per response if managing a 3-hour paper efficiently.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a student answers all three sub-questions instead of two?
Typically only the first two attempted responses (or as per specific evaluation guidelines) are considered for marking; attempting all three does not earn extra marks and wastes exam time.
Is the word limit of 40-50 words strictly enforced?
While not usually penalised letter-for-letter, answers significantly shorter risk losing marks for incomplete explanation, and significantly longer answers waste time without extra credit for a 3-mark question.