Past board exam questions
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
How does Noodle deal with Think Tank mistakes without openly contradicting him ?
(The Book that Saved the Earth)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
Show answer
(Content 2 – any two points; Expression 1)
Noodle flatters Think-Tank to protect his ego and appears to agree with him respectfully. He then corrects him indirectly and diplomatically, offering his idea as a humble suggestion (‘might I suggest…’) – for example, that the ‘sandwiches’ are really books, meant for reading. Think-Tank then accepts the idea as his own. By avoiding open disagreement, Noodle safeguards his own position, showing tact, intelligence and political wisdom.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 6 marks
The Martians, despite their advanced technology, are outsmarted by their own ignorance and an old book of rhymes. Comment with reference to ‘The Book that Saved the Earth’.
(Answer in about 100-120 words.)
Show answer
(Content 3 – any three points supported by textual evidence; Expression 2; Accuracy 1)
The Martians had spaceships and advanced technology, yet they were terrified by a book of nursery rhymes. Their leader, Think-Tank, believed himself the most brilliant being in the universe, but his arrogance hid a lack of real understanding. When the Martians landed in a library in Earth’s Centerville, they found books, which they took to be sandwiches. Think-Tank decoded ‘Mother Goose’ as a secret code: he read ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’ as an Earth plan to reach the moon and ‘Humpty Dumpty’ as a threat to his own egg-shaped head. Panicked by this misunderstanding, he called off the invasion and fled. The …
CBSE 2026 board paper · 6 marks
The play ‘The Book that Saved the Earth’ conveys that misunderstanding cultural differences can cause uninvited chaos and disaster. Explain this statement in the light of Think-Tank’s interpretation of the rhymes in the book ‘Mother Goose’.
(Answer in about 100-120 words.)
Show answer
(Content 3 – any three points supported by textual evidence; Expression 2; Accuracy 1)
The Martians, led by the arrogant Think-Tank, planned to invade Earth but understood nothing of its culture. Their interpretations of earthly things were strange and funny: Think-Tank took the library for a barn and then a haberdashery, and decided that books were sandwiches, ordering Omega to eat one, who found it very dry. When they examined ‘Mother Goose’, he read the innocent nursery rhymes literally, lacking any sense of human culture or humour. ‘Mistress Mary, quite contrary’ seemed an Earth plan of weapons and spies, ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’ suggested Earthlings could reach the moon with animals, and …
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
The story highlights the power of books and imagination.
Justify the statement in the light of the chapter, “The Book That Saved the Earth”.
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
Show answer
(Content 2 – at least two value points; Expression 1)
A simple children’s book, Mother Goose, saved the Earth. Think-Tank took its nursery rhymes literally as secret codes: from ‘Humpty Dumpty’ he imagined that Earthlings planned to capture Mars Central Control and himself, and from ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’ and ‘Mistress Mary’ he imagined an advanced, dangerous Earth. Out of this misinterpretation he cancelled the invasion, so the Earth was saved without a fight.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 5 marks
Read the given extract and answer the questions given below :
OOP : I haven’t a clue. I’ve been to seven galaxies, but I’ve never seen anything like this. Maybe they’re hats. (He opens a book and puts it on his head.) Say, maybe this is a haberdashery!
OMEGA : (bowing low) Perhaps the Great and Mighty Think-Tank will give us the benefit of his thought on the matter.
THINK-TANK : Elementary, my dear Omega. Hold one of the items up so that I may view it closely. (Omega holds a book on the palm of her hand.) Yes, yes, I understand now. Since Earth creatures are always eating, the place in which you find yourselves is undoubtedly a crude refreshment stand.
OMEGA : (to Iota and Oop) He says we’re in a refreshment stand.
OOP : Well, the Earthlings certainly have a strange diet.
(The Book that Saved the Earth)
I. “Elementary, my dear Omega.” What is Think-Tank’s tone in the sentence ? (1)
(A) patronising
(B) admonishing
(C) ironic
(D) sarcastic
II. Why does Omega call Think–Tank great and mighty ? (2)
III. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket : (1)
After viewing the book closely, Think-Tank concludes that Earth creatures _______ (enjoy/dislike) eating food.
IV. Why does Oop open the book and put it on his head ? (1)
Show answer
I. (A) patronising
II. (Any two) Omega calls Think-Tank ‘great and mighty’ as a mark of respect and in recognition of his supremacy as the leader; she acknowledges his supposed knowledge and wisdom, which are his strength; it is also flattery, as Think-Tank loves to be praised.
III. enjoy
IV. Oop has never seen a book before and mistakes it for a hat, so he puts it on his head (and thinks the place may be a haberdashery).
CBSE 2026 board paper · 5 marks
Read the following extract and answer the questions :
OMEGA : Yes, sir. (She reads with great seriousness.)
Mistress Mary, quite contrary.
How does your garden grow?
With cockle shells and silver bells
And pretty maids all in a row.
OOP : Ha, ha, ha. Imagine that. Pretty maids growing in a garden.
THINK-TANK : (alarmed) Stop! This is no time for levity. Don’t you realise the seriousness of this discovery? The Earthlings have discovered how to combine agriculture and mining. They can actually grow crops of rare metals such as silver. And cockle shells. They can grow high explosives, too. Noodle, contact our invasion fleet.
NOODLE : They are ready to go down and take over Earth, sir.
(The Book that Saved the Earth)
(i) What can we infer from the given statement, “This is no time for levity” ? (1)
(ii) Think-Tank thinks that Earthlings have reached a high level of civilisation. Why does he think so ? (2)
(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately : (1)
The piece of information that Noodle provides to Think-Tank is ___________.
(iv) What is the tone of Omega while reading the rhyme ? (1)
1. happy
2. optimistic
3. serious
4. pessimistic
5. sarcastic
Select the correct option :
(A) Only 1
(B) 4 and 5
(C) Only 3
(D) 1 and 2
Show answer
(i) (Any one) Think-Tank believes the Martians are in danger and that the situation is serious, not a matter for laughter; he thinks human civilisation is highly advanced.
(ii) (Any two) He believes the Earthlings have discovered how to combine agriculture and mining; they can grow crops of rare metals such as silver, and cockle shells; they can even grow high explosives in their gardens, so he fears they may attack the Martians.
(iii) that their invasion fleet is ready to go down and take over Earth.
(iv) (C) Only 3
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
Compare and contrast the characters of Noodle and Think Tank.
(The Book That Save the Earth)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
Show answer
(Content 2 – at least two value points; Expression 1)
Noodle and Think Tank differ in personality. Think Tank is arrogant, over-confident, proud and boastful, and draws illogical conclusions about the book of Mother Goose rhymes. Noodle is humble and cautious, logical and practical; he tactfully corrects Think Tank’s mistakes and offers more sensible explanations. Both are intelligent, but their approaches to problem solving are very different – and Noodle’s saves the Earth.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 6 marks
How does Think-Tank’s arrogance and ignorance contribute to the theme of wit over power in ‘The Book that Saved the Earth’ ?
(Answer in about 100-120 words.)
Show answer
(Content 3 – any three points supported by textual evidence; Expression 2; Accuracy 1)
Think-Tank, the ruler of Mars, considered himself the most brilliant mind in the universe, expected his subordinates to flatter him, and looked down on the people of Earth. His arrogance made him take credit for Noodle’s intelligent suggestions and refuse to admit his own mistakes. His ignorance showed when he misunderstood the books found on Earth and Mother Goose’s nursery rhymes: he read ‘Humpty Dumpty’ as a secret code and took the rhymes as signs of Earthlings’ advanced weapons. Panicked, he abandoned the invasion and fled. Thus his arrogance and ignorance brought about his own defeat, while …
