ICSE Class 10 Sanskrit Group I Practice Paper with Answers
Second Language · 80 marks · 3 hours
TutorVertex practice material based on the CISCE 2027 syllabus. The question choices and individual marks are for this practice paper.
Instructions and timing
Attempt one composition topic, the letter, all comprehension and grammar questions, and both prescribed-text extracts. Allow about 85 minutes per section and 10 minutes to review. Ask a teacher to select two passages from your school's assigned portion of Sanskrit Vani, Book 5 before you start Section B.
Write your answers separately before opening the marking guides. In language exercises, accept equivalent wording that preserves the meaning and uses correct forms.
CISCE 2027 syllabus · Group I Second Language · CISCE prescribed-book list
Section A · Language · 40 marks
1. Composition · 10 marks
Write 8–10 connected sentences in Sanskrit on one topic.
- मम विद्यालयस्य पुस्तकालयः
- वृक्षाणां महत्त्वम्
Model compositions and marking guide
मम विद्यालये विशालः पुस्तकालयः अस्ति। तत्र बहूनि पुस्तकानि सन्ति। छात्राः प्रतिदिनं तत्र गच्छन्ति। अहं विज्ञानविषयकानि पुस्तकानि पठामि। मम मित्रं कथाः पठति। पुस्तकालये सर्वे मौनं पालयन्ति। पुस्तकालयाध्यक्षः अस्मभ्यं पुस्तकानि ददाति। वयं समये तानि प्रत्यर्पयामः। पुस्तकालयः अस्माकं ज्ञानं वर्धयति।
वृक्षाः अस्माकं जीवनाय आवश्यकाः सन्ति। ते अस्मभ्यं फलानि छायां च ददति। वृक्षेषु पक्षिणः निवसन्ति। वृक्षाः वायुम् अपि शुद्धं कुर्वन्ति। ग्रीष्मकाले जनाः तेषां छायायां विश्रामं कुर्वन्ति। वयं नूतनान् पादपान् रोपयामः। तेभ्यः प्रतिदिनं जलं ददामः। सर्वे जनाः वृक्षाणां रक्षणं कुर्वन्तु।
Award 4 for relevant, developed ideas, 2 for sequence and connections, and 4 for accurate vocabulary, agreement and verb forms.
2. Letter writing · 10 marks
विद्यालयस्य पुस्तकालयात् पुस्तकं स्वीकर्तुम् अनुमतिं याचमानः पुस्तकालयाध्यक्षाय पत्रं लिखतु।
State which kind of book you need, why you need it and when you will return it.
Model letter and marking guide
दिनाङ्कः १४ नवम्बर २०२६
सेवायाम्
पुस्तकालयाध्यक्षमहोदयाय
विद्यालयस्य पुस्तकालयः
विषयः — पुस्तकग्रहणस्य अनुमतिः।
महोदय,
सविनयं निवेदयामि यत् विद्यालयस्य विज्ञानकार्याय मह्यम् एकं विज्ञानविषयकं पुस्तकम् आवश्यकम् अस्ति। तत् पुस्तकं सप्ताहपर्यन्तं स्वीकर्तुम् इच्छामि। कृपया मह्यम् अनुमतिं ददातु। अहं तत् पुस्तकं समये प्रत्यर्पयिष्यामि।
भवदीयः छात्रः
अर्जुनः
दशमी कक्षा
Award 3 for format and register, 3 for the request, purpose and return arrangement, and 4 for accurate, clear Sanskrit.
3. Unseen comprehension · 10 marks
एकदा दशमकक्षायाः छात्राः ग्रामस्य पुस्तकालयम् अगच्छन्। पुस्तकालयाध्यक्षः तान् अपश्यत्। सः तेभ्यः विविधविषयकाणि पुस्तकानि अदर्शयत्। सीता विज्ञानविषयकं पुस्तकं चितवती। तस्याः मित्रम् एकां कथां पठितुम् ऐच्छत्। अध्यक्षः अवदत्, “पुस्तकानि सप्ताहानन्तरं प्रत्यर्पणीयानि।” पुस्तकानि रोचकानि आसन्, अतः छात्राः पुनः आगन्तुम् ऐच्छन्।
Answer all five questions in Sanskrit. Each is worth 2 marks.
- छात्राः कुत्र अगच्छन्?
- पुस्तकालये कः तान् अपश्यत्?
- सीता किं पुस्तकं चितवती?
- पुस्तकानि कदा प्रत्यर्पणीयानि?
- छात्राः पुनः किमर्थम् आगन्तुम् ऐच्छन्?
Comprehension answers and marking guide
- छात्राः ग्रामस्य पुस्तकालयम् अगच्छन्।
- पुस्तकालयाध्यक्षः तान् अपश्यत्।
- सीता विज्ञानविषयकं पुस्तकं चितवती।
- पुस्तकानि सप्ताहानन्तरं प्रत्यर्पणीयानि।
- पुस्तकानि रोचकानि आसन्, अतः छात्राः पुनः आगन्तुम् ऐच्छन्।
Each answer earns 1 for identifying the correct detail and 1 for expressing it clearly in Sanskrit. For question 5, the reason is that the books were interesting.
4. Grammar · 10 marks
Each answer earns 2 marks. For a transformation, change every form affected by the instruction.
- सन्धिं कुरुत — विद्या + आलयः।
- सन्धिविच्छेदं कुरुत — सदैव।
- कोष्ठकात् उचितं रूपं लिखत — बालकः ___ फलम् ददाति। (मित्र, चतुर्थी एकवचनम्)
- बहुवचनं कुरुत — बालिका पुस्तकं पठति।
- लङ्-लकारे परिवर्तयत — सः विद्यालयं गच्छति।
Grammar answers and marking guide
- विद्यालयः। आ + आ together give आ.
- सदा + एव। आ + ए give ऐ.
- मित्राय। The recipient takes the dative.
- बालिकाः पुस्तकानि पठन्ति। The subject, object and verb have been pluralised.
- सः विद्यालयम् अगच्छत्। The singular imperfect of गम् is अगच्छत्.
Award 2 for a complete correct answer. Award 1 where a two-part response has one correct part, or where the requested transformation is evident but one required form is wrong.
Section B · Prescribed text · 40 marks
Use two extracts from your school's prescribed lessons, ideally one prose passage and one verse passage if both are on your school list. Write the lesson, page and opening words for each. Complete the same five tasks separately for each extract. Each extract is worth 20 marks.
- Identify the speaker or main character and explain what happens immediately before this passage. · 4 marks
- Explain two important expressions in context. · 4 marks
- Explain the event or idea developed in the passage. Give two details from the text. · 4 marks
- Explain a character’s motive or the speaker’s attitude. Use one phrase as evidence. · 4 marks
- Explain how the passage develops the lesson’s theme or prepares for its next event. · 4 marks
Marking guide for both extracts
- 1 for correct identification and 3 for accurate details of the setup.
- For each expression, award 1 for an accurate meaning and 1 for explaining its use in this passage.
- 2 for the main explanation and 1 for each supporting detail.
- 2 for a plausible reading and 2 for connecting the phrase to that reading.
- 2 for the correct connection and 2 for explaining how the passage supports it.
Check the wording and context against your own textbook. A general summary earns credit only where it answers the specific question and is supported by the selected text.
Worked example using an original teaching extract
छात्रः अवदत्, “अद्य समयः नास्ति।” गुरुः प्रत्यवदत्, “प्रतिदिनम् अल्पम् अपि पठ। नित्याभ्यासेन कठिनं कार्यमपि सुकरं भवति।” छात्रः ततः प्रतिदिनं दश निमेषान् अपठत्।
- The student speaks first and says he has no time. This prompts the teacher to give advice. The extract begins with the student's remark, so earlier context would require the surrounding text.
- अल्पम् अपि means “even a little” and describes how much to read. नित्याभ्यासेन means “through daily practice” and gives the means by which the task becomes easier.
- The teacher suggests small, regular reading sessions. The student follows the advice and reads for ten minutes every day.
- The teacher wants to make study manageable. The words प्रतिदिनम् अल्पम् अपि पठ show that the teacher values a small daily effort.
- The theme is the value of a regular habit. The final sentence shows the student acting on the advice, connecting the teacher’s claim to a concrete action.
Use the example to practise supporting a claim with the extract. Section B marks come from your two assigned passages.
Marking and revision checklist
Record composition /10, letter /10, comprehension /10, grammar /10 and extracts /40. Add the scores for a total out of 80.
- Check subject–verb agreement, especially in dual and plural answers.
- Underline each verb and verify tense. Check the case of the object, recipient, instrument and location.
- For each literature answer, match your explanation to a specific event, phrase or line in the assigned text.
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