CBSE Class 10 English Mid-Term Marathon 2026: Important Questions and Topics to Revise From Literature, Grammar & Writing

English can seem like one of the easier subjects until you sit down to revise everything together. You may remember what happened in a chapter but still find it difficult to frame an answer, explain a character or interpret a line from a poem. A few marks can also slip away in Grammar, Reading and Writing when formats, rules or practice are overlooked.

For your English Mid-Term Exam, it is important to divide your preparation across all sections of the paper. The PW Class 10 English Half Mid-Term Marathon 2026 focuses on important Literature questions from First Flight and Footprints Without Feet, along with key Grammar and Writing Skills topics. This gives you focused practice across the major areas you need to prepare for the English Mid-Term exam. 

What Are the Important Areas to Revise for CBSE Class 10 English Mid-Term 2026? 

The Class 10 English Mid-Term 2026 covers more than just questions from the Literature books. Along with the prescribed prose and poems, you should revise the key Grammar topics, practise different Writing formats and work on reading passages. The table below highlights the areas you should focus on while preparing for the exam.

Class 10 English Most Important Questions to Practise

The Midterm Questions may ask you to explain an author's idea, analyse a character, interpret a line or connect an incident with the central theme. Practising important questions chapter-wise can help you identify what you should be able to explain in your own words.

First Flight: Prose

A Letter to God

1. What is the irony in the story A Letter to God?

Answer:
The irony lies in Lencho's complete faith in God but his distrust of the post office employees. The people he suspects of stealing his money are actually the same people who collected money and sent it to help him.

2. Why did Lencho compare the raindrops to new coins?

Answer:
Lencho compared the raindrops to new coins because he believed the rain would bring a good harvest. The large raindrops represented valuable money, while the smaller ones reminded him of five-cent coins.

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

3. What does Mandela say about courage?

Answer:
Mandela explains that courage does not mean the absence of fear. Instead, it means having the ability to overcome fear. He believes that brave people are those who conquer their fear rather than never experiencing it.

Two Stories About Flying

4. What motivated the young seagull to take his first flight?

Answer:
The young seagull was encouraged to fly when his mother came near him with a piece of fish. Driven by hunger, he jumped towards the food and discovered that he could fly.

5. How did the women in the control centre react to the mysterious aeroplane?

Answer:
The women in the control centre were surprised because they could not find any record or trace of the mysterious aeroplane. The strange experience left them puzzled about the identity and existence of the pilot.

From the Diary of Anne Frank

6. Why did Anne Frank justify being a chatterbox?

Answer:
Anne felt that talking was a habit she had inherited from her mother. She also believed that she could not easily change herself. Her justification reflects her honest and self-aware personality.

A Baker from Goa

7. How was the baker important to village life in Goa?

Answer:
The baker was an important part of Goan village life because bread was associated with everyday meals, festivals and special occasions. Bakers regularly visited homes and supplied different types of bread to the villagers.

Coorg

8. What are the different theories about the descent of the Coorgi people?

Answer:
One theory suggests that the Coorgis may have descended from Alexander's Greek soldiers who settled in the region. Another theory connects them with Arab ancestry because of similarities in their traditional dress and customs.

Glimpses of India

9. How does literature promote tourism and awareness of regional culture?

Answer:
Literature introduces readers to the landscapes, traditions, food, people and history of different regions. By describing these cultural features, it can create curiosity among readers and encourage them to learn more about or visit those places.

First Flight: Poetry

Dust of Snow

10. What was the poet's initial mood, and how do the images and symbols in the poem change it?

Answer:
The poet was initially in a sad and regretful mood. The falling snow from the hemlock tree unexpectedly changed his mood and helped him feel more positive. The natural images symbolise how a small moment can bring a positive change in one's state of mind.

Fire and Ice

11. Why does the poet believe that the world will end in fire?

Answer:
The poet associates fire with desire. He believes that uncontrolled desire, greed and passion can become destructive enough to bring about the end of the world.

A Tiger in the Zoo

12. What is the contrast between "stalks" and "stocks" and between the "few steps of his cage" and the tiger's natural movement?

Answer:
"Stalks" represents the tiger's natural movement while hunting in the jungle, whereas "stocks" refers to the confined environment of the zoo. The few steps available inside the cage contrast with the freedom to move through a large forest, highlighting the tiger's loss of liberty.

How to Tell Wild Animals

13. Why does the poet call the lion a "noble wild beast"?

Answer:
The lion is described as a "noble wild beast" because of its majestic appearance and powerful nature. The phrase also adds humour to the poem's playful description of identifying wild animals.

14. How can you identify an Asian Lion and a Bengal Tiger?

Answer:
The Asian Lion can be identified by its large size, tawny appearance and dangerous roar. The Bengal Tiger can be recognised by its yellow body with black stripes and its threatening behaviour.

The Ball Poem

15. What does the phrase "epistemology of loss" mean in The Ball Poem?

Answer:
"Epistemology of loss" refers to learning and understanding what loss means through personal experience. The boy's loss of his ball becomes a lesson that losing things is a natural part of life and that money cannot remove the emotional impact of such experiences.

16. Why does the poet say that "money is external" in The Ball Poem?

Answer:
Money can buy another ball, but it cannot replace the emotional attachment the boy had to his lost ball. Therefore, money is external to the personal experience of loss and cannot undo the feelings associated with it.

Amanda!

17. What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid?

Answer:
If Amanda were a mermaid, she could move freely in the peaceful sea and live away from the restrictions and instructions that surround her. The image reflects her desire for freedom and escape.

18. Why are some parts of the poem Amanda! written in brackets?

Answer:
The bracketed lines represent Amanda's imagination and inner thoughts. They contrast with the instructions given to her by the adult and show her desire to escape into an imaginary world.

Footprints Without Feet

A Triumph of Surgery

19. Why was Mr Herriot tempted to keep Tricki permanently?

Answer:
Mr Herriot was tempted to keep Tricki because the dog had recovered well under his care and had become a source of enjoyment for everyone at the surgery. Tricki also had access to good food and companionship there.

20. How did the vet cure Tricki?

Answer:
Mr Herriot cured Tricki mainly through a controlled diet and regular exercise. He initially kept Tricki away from rich food and allowed him to become active by playing with the other dogs at the surgery.

The Thief's Story

21. What does Hari Singh's statement about writing "whole sentences" imply?

Answer:
Hari Singh's statement shows that Anil's influence was gradually changing him. Although Hari had initially approached Anil with the intention of stealing, learning to read and write gave him a reason to reconsider his dishonest way of life.

22. Anil knew about the theft, but neither his lips nor eyes showed anything. How did he address the situation by not directly addressing it?

Answer:
Anil understood that Hari had returned the stolen money but chose not to confront him directly. Instead, he silently accepted Hari's decision to change and continued teaching him. His calm response gave Hari a chance to reform without humiliation.

Want to revisit important chapters and practise more questions from Literature, Grammar and Writing? Watch the PW CBSE Class 10 English Mid-Term Marathon 2026 for detailed explanations and exam-focused practice.

The Midnight Visitor

23. What qualities of Ausable are highlighted in The Midnight Visitor?

Answer:
Ausable is intelligent, calm, quick-thinking and resourceful. Even when faced with a dangerous situation, he remains composed and uses his presence of mind to outsmart Max.

24. How does narrative misdirection help in The Midnight Visitor?

Answer:
The story uses misdirection through Ausable's invented story about a balcony and his confident behaviour. Max believes the information and acts on it, allowing Ausable to turn the situation in his favour.

A Question of Trust

25. What does the phrase "honour among thieves" mean in the context of the story?

Answer:
The phrase suggests that even criminals may expect certain rules or trust to exist among themselves. In the story, however, this idea is challenged when the lady in red deceives Horace and takes advantage of his situation.

26. How did the lady in red outsmart Horace?

Answer:
The lady in red pretended to be the owner of the house and convinced Horace that she needed the safe opened. She used his fear of being caught and his desire to complete the theft to trick him into opening it for her.

Footprints Without Feet

27. What was curious about the episode in the clergyman's study?

Answer:
The clergyman and his wife witnessed strange movements of objects in their study without seeing anyone present. The mysterious incidents were caused by Griffin, who was invisible and had secretly entered the house.

28. How does Griffin's character change through the story?

Answer:
Griffin is introduced as a brilliant scientist who discovers how to become invisible, but he uses his discovery irresponsibly. His actions become increasingly selfish, violent and criminal, showing how scientific knowledge can be dangerous when used without moral responsibility.

29. What did the Halls see in the scientist's room?

Answer:
The Halls noticed unusual and mysterious activity in the room. They could hear sounds and see objects moving without being able to see the person responsible, because Griffin was invisible.

30. How did Griffin enjoy himself inside a big London store?

Answer:
Griffin entered the store after it closed and enjoyed the food, drinks and warmth available there. Since he was invisible, he could move around without being seen. He stayed there overnight and left before the store opened.

How Can the PW Class 10 English Mid-Term Marathon Help With Revision?

The PW Mid-Term Marathon brings important Literature questions and key language topics together, helping you focus on areas that need more practice before the exam. You can use the lectures to:

• Revise Important Literature Questions: Revisit key questions from First Flight and Footprints Without Feet that focus on characters, themes, incidents and poetic ideas.

• Strengthen Chapter Understanding: Go back to chapters where you remember the story but struggle to frame complete answers.

• Practise Grammar: Revise the important grammar rules and practise applying them correctly in questions.

• Improve Writing Skills: Practise the formats and key points required for Formal Letters and Analytical Paragraphs.

• Build Reading Skills: Work on factual and discursive passages to improve comprehension, inference and answer selection.

• Improve Answer Writing: Understand how to frame clear, relevant Literature answers instead of simply reproducing the chapter summary.

• Identify Weak Areas: Use the questions and topics discussed in the marathon as a self-check and revisit areas where you make repeated mistakes.

With focused Literature practice and regular Grammar, Reading and Writing revision, you can prepare more confidently for the CBSE Class 10 English Mid-Term 2026. Use the PW marathon to revise important areas and practise answering questions effectively.