Read the following passage and answer the question by choosing among the four alternatives given: I woke up early in the morning, feeling a sense of excitement coursing through my veins. Today was the day I had been preparing for---the marathon race. Months of training, countless hours of pushing my limits, and overcoming mental barriers had led me to this moment. As I laced up my running shoes and stepped outside, I took a deep breath, ready to face the challenge ahead. The racecourse stretched out before me, a daunting yet exhilarating path that would test my endurance and determination. With every step, the crowd's cheers resonated in my ears, fueling my motivation. The miles seemed to blur together as I settled into a rhythm, focusing on my breathing and maintaining a steady pace. Fatigue began to set in, but I pushed through, drawing strength from the sheer willpower within me. As I approached the finish line, a surge of energy surged through my body, propelling me forward. Crossing that finish line was a moment of triumph, a culmination of perseverance and resilience. It was a testament to the power of the human spirit and the limitless potential within us all. Question: What is the main theme of the passage?

Provide ONE textual evidence from the text which states lack of sense of humour may prove to be a handicap in one’s life.

CBSE CLASS XII - 2025
English Core
Reading Comprehension

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Later, he patted me on the head and said never mind, he'd teach me to cook. He also taught me to write my name and said he would soon teach me to write whole sentences and to add numbers. I was grateful. I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve.
It was quite pleasant working for Anil. I made the tea in the morning and then would take my time buying the day's supplies,usually making a profit of about a rupee a day. I think he knew I made a little money this way but he did not seem to mind.
(The Thief's Story)

CBSE Class X - 2025
English
Reading Comprehension

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Not a leaf remained on the trees. The corn was totally destroyed. The flowers were gone from the plants. Lencho's soul was filled with sadness. When the storm had passed, he stood in the middle of the field and said to his sons, "A plague of locusts would have left more than this. The hail has left nothing. This year we will have no corn."
That night was a sorrowful one.
"All our work, for nothing."
"There's no one who can help us."
"We'll all go hungry this year."
(A Letter to God)

CBSE Class X - 2025
English
Reading Comprehension

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Read the following passage carefully :
(1) Silk is a natural protein fibre, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. Silk has a long history in India. It is known as Resham in eastern and northern India, and Pattu in the southern parts of India. India is the second largest producer of silk in the world after China.
(2) Silk is renowned for its luxurious qualities with a natural soft and smooth texture that feels comfortable on the skin. One of its unique qualities is to absorb and release moisture, regulating the body temperature, and keeping the wearer cool and dry.
(3) Silk is one of the strongest natural fibres, but it loses up to 20% of its strength when wet. Its elasticity is moderate to poor: if elongated even a small amount, it remains stretched. It can be weakened if exposed to too much sunlight. It may also be attacked by insects, especially if left dirty.
(4) The process of silk production is known as sericulture. Silk is produced by several insects; but, generally, only the silk of moth caterpillars has been used for textile manufacturing. To produce 1 kg of silk, 104 kg of mulberry leaves must be eaten by 3000 silkworms.
(5) So what makes silk so costly ? Firstly, cultivation of silk is a labour-intensive work. Secondly, the silk fabric is carefully derived from the larva of the silkworms which spin silk threads around themselves to make cocoons from natural sources. This makes the production limited due to factors like - climate, availability of quality mulberry leaves and time required by silkworms to complete their lifecycle. Thirdly, the intensive work can only be carried out with specialized knowledge and expertise by skilled artisans andcraftsmanship. Lastly, superior quality silk fabrics are made from long and uniform silk fibres giving them a smooth and lustrous appearance. Thus, production requires careful selection, adding to the cost.
In 2021, Karnataka was the highest producer of raw silk at 8483 metric tonnes followed by Andhra Pradesh at 5520 metric tonnes with Assam close behind at 5038 metric tonnes. At the other end of the spectrum there was Chhattisgarh (248 metric tonnes), Nagaland (230 metric tonnes) and UP trailed behind at 179 metric tonnes.
Answer the following questions, based on the above passage :

CBSE Class X - 2025
English
Reading Comprehension

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Read the following passage carefully :
(1) Saffron is a spice that's long been revered across the globe,captivating hearts and palates with its deep-red hue and complex flavour. It is one of the most prized spices that you can find on this planet. Just like gold is among the most valuable metals in the world,saffron means the same in the world of spices. Also known as 'kesar' in Hindi, it has a rich history and is often called an ancient spice.Saffron is being used since ages in various foods made for the royals and the elite as it contains medicinal properties.
(2) Originating from the delicate stigma of the saffron crocus flower, it transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, infusing dishes with a subtle, earthy sweetness that adds a special taste to the palate.Saffron has a strong exotic aroma and a unique flavour and is used to colour and flavour many Mediterranean and Asian dishes, particularly rice, fish and English, Scandinavian, and Balkan breads.
(3) Saffron forms the backbone of several iconic dishes from around the world, such as the Spanish rice, seafood dish Paella, the French stew Bouillabaisse, Italian rice dish Risotto Milanese, the Indian ice cream Kesar Kulfi, Pakistani rice dish Biryani, and baked Iranian rice Tachin. Saffron's rich red colour is attributed to crocin; its bitter taste, to picrocrocin; and its distinctive aroma, to safranal.
(4) Saffron is cultivated chiefly in Iran but is also grown in Spain,France, Italy, and parts of India. A labour-intensive crop, the three stigmas are handpicked from each flower, spread on trays, and dried over charcoal fires for use as a food flavouring and colouring agent.
(5) Most historians speculate it was first domesticated in Iran, but south-western Greek islands remain strong contenders. Traders,conquerors, and world explorers introduced it to China, India and the Middle East. From there, it travelled to Mediterranean Europe.
(6) The high retail value of saffron is maintained in world markets because of labour-intensive harvesting methods, which require some 444,000 hand-picked saffron stigmas per kilogram - equivalently,150,000 crocus flowers per kilogram. Forty hours of labour are needed to pick 150,000 flowers. Almost all saffron grows in a belt from Spain in the west to India in the east. Iran is responsible for around 88% of global production. Afghanistan comes second, and Spain is the third largest producer, while the United Arab Emirates, Greece, the Indian subcontinent and Morocco are among minor producers.
(7) Given its high price, adulteration is quite common, unfortunately.Adulterants like beetroot or pomegranate are used to enhance red colour; silk fibres, oil, or wax are used to add bulk, and powdered saffron can be adulterated with turmeric and paprika.
Answer the following questions, based on the above passage :

CBSE Class X - 2025
English
Reading Comprehension

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The Correct Option is C

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