Past board exam questions
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
In what way was Richard Ebright’s scientific journey enhanced by the support of his mother ?
(The Making of a Scientist)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
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(Content 2 – any two points; Expression 1)
After his father’s death, Ebright’s mother was his pillar of support. She encouraged his interest in learning, took him on trips and bought him a telescope, microscope and camera. She gave him the book ‘The Travels of Monarch X’, which led him to tag butterflies and contact Dr Urquhart – opening the world of science to him.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
Richard Ebright’s mother gifted him a book which became the turning point in his life. Discuss.
(Making of a Scientist)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
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(Content 2 – any two points; Expression 1)
When Ebright had collected all the butterflies around his home, his mother gave him ‘The Travels of Monarch X’, which told how monarch butterflies migrate to Central America. It invited readers to help study the migration by tagging butterflies, which brought him into contact with Dr Frederick Urquhart. This opened up the world of science to him and led to his butterfly projects and, eventually, his theory of how cells read DNA.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 6 marks
How were Richard Ebright’s scientific achievements the result of a combination of personal qualities, external support, and opportunities ? Which factor do you think played the most important role and why ?
(The Making of a Scientist)
(Answer in about 100-120 words.)
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(Content 3 – at least three value points; Expression 2; Accuracy 1)
Richard Ebright’s success was the result of many factors working together. He had strong personal qualities: curiosity, determination, hard work and a competitive spirit from a young age. He also received great external support: his mother encouraged his interest by buying him books, telescopes and microscopes, and Dr Urquhart guided him in his research. He got valuable opportunities too, working in the entomology laboratory of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he could test his ideas on the gold spot hormone. In my opinion, his personal qualities …
CBSE 2026 board paper · 5 marks
Read the following extract and answer the questions :
“Richard was competitive,” Mr. Weiherer continued, “but not in a bad sense.” He explained, “Richard wasn’t interested in winning for winning’s sake or winning to get a prize. Rather, he was winning because he wanted to do the best job he could. For the right reasons, he wants to be the best.” And that is one of the ingredients in the making of a scientist. Start with a first-rate mind, add curiosity, and mix in the will to win for the right reasons. Ebright has these qualities.
(The Making of a Scientist)
(i) In light of the excerpt, what can we infer about Richard from Mr. Weiherer’s statement, “Richard was competitive, but not in a bad sense” ? (1)
(ii) Mention the ‘ingredients’ which are necessarily required in the making of a scientist. (2)
(iii) Fill in the blank with the correct word from the brackets : (1)
Mr. Weiherer suggests that Richard was _____________. (lethargic/persistent)
(iv) As per the above excerpt, what is not true about Ebright ? Select the correct option. (1)
(A) strongly curious
(B) bright minded
(C) competitive spirit
(D) irrational
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(i) (Any one) Richard had a strong desire to win, but not for fame, money or a prize, nor to put others down; his competitiveness was genuine, showing his passion for science and his desire to do the best job he could.
(ii) (Any two) a first-rate mind; curiosity; the will to win for the right reasons (determination to excel).
(iii) persistent
(iv) (D) irrational
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
Working through his project of collecting and tagging butterflies, Ebright developed a scientific temperament. Elaborate. (Making of a Scientist)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
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(Content 2 – any two points with textual evidence; Expression 1)
Collecting and tagging butterflies taught Ebright patience, close observation and systematic recording of data. His curiosity grew from collecting to questioning. Through Dr Urquhart, who asked him to tag butterflies for research, his imagination was fuelled, and the hobby turned into deep engagement – raising butterflies and doing projects – the hallmark of a scientific temperament.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
What vision did Ebright have in raising a flock of butterflies ?
(The Making of a Scientist)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
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(Content 2 – any two points; Expression 1)
Ebright did not want merely to collect butterflies. He raised them to study their life cycle scientifically – how caterpillars grow and transform – and to observe metamorphosis closely. He tagged butterflies for Dr Urquhart’s migration study and went on to do real experiments, aiming to discover new facts about insect behaviour as a serious scientist rather than a hobbyist.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
Richard Ebright’s mother played a huge role in making him a great scientist. Elaborate.
(The Making of a Scientist)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
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(Content 2 – at least two value points; Expression 1)
Ebright’s mother encouraged and supported him at every step. She nurtured his curiosity by taking him on trips, buying him a microscope, telescopes, cameras and other equipment, and helping him with his projects. She also gave him the book ‘The Travels of Monarch X’, which turned his interest from collecting butterflies to studying them and set him on the path to becoming a great scientist.
CBSE 2024 board paper · 3 marks
What is common about the role that Dr. Urquhart and Mr. Weiherer played in Richard Ebright’s life? Describe any one commonality with evidence from the text “The Making of a Scientist”.
(The Necklace)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
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(Content 2 – any two–three relevant points; Organisation 1)
Both gave Ebright new ideas and encouraged his curiosity, steering him towards science. Dr. Urquhart, through his book ‘The Travels of Monarch X’, invited readers to help study butterfly migration by tagging monarchs – this set Ebright on years of butterfly research. Mr. Weiherer, his social studies teacher, was appreciative of new ideas and encouraged Ebright’s interests and projects. Thus both nurtured his curiosity and helped him grow into a scientist.
