Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words :
Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words :
This is a general instruction, not a scorable question in itself: it tells the candidate to attempt only ONE of the two 6-mark long-answer literature questions that follow — Q.10.I ('A Tiger in the Zoo' / 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon') OR Q.10.II ('The Sermon at Benaras' / 'For Anne Gregory') — in about 100-120 words. Attempting both wastes time, as CBSE norms evaluate only one clearly labelled response.
Marking Scheme
- 1This is an instruction line carrying no independent marks; marks (6) are allocated to whichever single sub-option (I or II) the candidate attempts and answers.
- 2Candidates must clearly label which option (I or II) they are answering so the examiner evaluates the correct response.
- 3Answering both options does not earn double credit; only one response (typically the first) is assessed under CBSE guidelines.
Hint
Read both options first, then attempt only ONE — the one you can support with more specific textual detail — within 100-120 words.
Quick Oral Answer
This line simply tells the student to answer only one of the two questions that follow, in 100-120 words — it is an instruction, not a question to be answered itself.
Analysis & Explanation
This is an internal-choice instruction line, not a scorable question in itself.
Concept
- CBSE Literature sections often give an 'Answer ANY ONE' choice between two thematically linked 6-mark questions (here: Tiger/Custard vs Sermon/Anne Gregory).
- Only the option the student attempts and labels is evaluated; marks (6) sit with that response, not the instruction.
Key points
- Read both options fully before writing.
- Pick the one you can support with specific plot/quotation detail.
- Answer within the 100-120 word limit.
Common mistakes
- Attempting both options — the second is not awarded marks, wasting time.
- Not labelling the chosen option (I or II) clearly, causing evaluator confusion.
Common Mistakes
- 1Attempting both options instead of just one, wasting valuable exam time since only one is credited.
- 2Not labelling the chosen option clearly (I or II), causing confusion for the evaluator.
- 3Ignoring the 100-120 word limit and writing either too briefly (losing content marks) or excessively long (no extra credit, time lost).
Interesting Facts
CBSE introduced increased internal choices across most sections from 2020 onwards to reduce rote learning and allow students some control over which texts they engage with.
In the Literature section, internal choice questions are typically paired thematically (e.g., two poems or two prose pieces dealing with a similar idea) so both options test comparable analytical skill.
The 100-120 word guideline for 6-mark literature long answers has been a stable CBSE convention across recent Class 10 English Language and Literature papers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get marks for attempting both options under this instruction?
No. CBSE evaluators mark only one response as per the 'any one' instruction; attempting both wastes time and typically only the first attempted answer is assessed.
Is there a penalty for exceeding the word limit?
There is no direct penalty, but content beyond the appropriate scope will not earn extra marks, and time management for the rest of the paper may suffer.