Past board exam questions
CBSE 2026 board paper · 6 marks
In ‘The Necklace’, Madam Loisel spends years repaying a debt for a necklace that was never valuable. How does this irony expose the illusion of wealth and the consequences of chasing appearances ?
(Answer in about 100-120 words.)
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(Content 3 – any three points with textual evidence; Expression 2; Accuracy 1)
Matilda Loisel, dissatisfied with her modest life, is obsessed with appearing rich. To shine at the ball she borrows a diamond necklace from Mme Forestier, and when she loses it, pride stops her from confessing the truth. The Loisels buy a replacement worth thirty-six thousand francs, borrowing heavily, and spend ten years in poverty – dismissing the maid, moving to an attic and doing hard labour – until Matilda looks old and worn. The cruel irony is that the original necklace was fake, worth only five hundred francs: the wealth was an illusion, but the suffering was real. The story shows that pride and …
CBSE 2026 board paper · 6 marks
The inability to accept one’s real circumstances led to suffering and an unhappy life, as reflected through the character of Matilda in ‘The Necklace’. Analyze.
(Answer in about 100-120 words.)
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(Content 3 – any three points supported by textual evidence; Expression 2; Accuracy 1)
Matilda Loisel was born into a family of clerks and married a petty clerk, but she could never accept her modest circumstances. She dreamed of luxuries and the joys of the rich, believed that appearance defines happiness and success, and was constantly unhappy with her life. When invited to the minister’s ball, she was dissatisfied with her dress and borrowed a diamond necklace from her friend Mme Forestier to look rich and elegant. She lost it, and instead of telling the truth, she and her husband bought a replacement worth thirty-six thousand francs with heavy loans. For ten years they lived in poverty …
CBSE 2026 board paper · 6 marks
A little confession might have saved Matilda from years of suffering and hardships. Analyse how Matilda’s vanity, pride, and fear of judgement caused her to live a miserable and tormented life.
(The Necklace)
(Answer in about 100-120 words.)
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(Content 3 – any three points; Expression 2; Accuracy 1)
Matilda was vain and loved luxury; unhappy with her modest life as a clerk’s wife, she dreamed of riches, fine clothes and jewels. Wanting to appear wealthy at the minister’s ball, she borrowed a diamond necklace from Madame Forestier – and lost it. Out of pride and fear of being judged careless or poor, she lacked the courage to confess. Instead, she and her husband bought a replacement for thirty-six thousand francs, borrowing heavily. For ten years they lived in poverty: she dismissed her servant, moved to an attic and did hard household work, and lost her beauty. Finally Madame Forestier revealed that the necklace had been false, …
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
What is the biggest irony in “The Necklace” and how does it change the ending of the story ?
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
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(Content 2 – at least two value points; Expression 1)
The biggest irony is that the diamond necklace Matilda borrowed and lost was fake, worth only about five hundred francs. Thinking it real, she and her husband bought a replacement for thirty-six thousand francs and spent ten years in poverty repaying the debt. The revelation at the end shows that all their sacrifice was in vain.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 5 marks
Read the given extract and answer the questions given below :
Mme Loisel was a great success. She was the prettiest of all – elegant, gracious, smiling, and full of joy. All the men noticed her, asked her name and wanted to be presented. She danced with enthusiasm, intoxicated with pleasure, thinking of nothing but all this admiration, this victory so complete and sweet to her heart.
(The Necklace)
(i) How is “success” perceived by Matilda ? (1)
(ii) Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. (2)
‘All the men noticed her, asked her name and wanted to be presented’ indicates that the men wanted to be formally _______ (introduced / withholden) to her.
(iii) Which of the following best describe Matilda’s state of mind in the context ? (1)
(A) overwhelmed
(B) anxious
(C) confused
(D) sad
(iv) Explain the phrase “this victory so complete and sweet to her heart”. (1)
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(i) (Any one) For Matilda, success means that her beauty, dress and ornaments gain the admiration and attention of all the men / being the prettiest of all / dancing with enthusiasm, intoxicated with pleasure / a rise in her social status at the ball.
(ii) introduced
(iii) (A) overwhelmed
(iv) (Any one) It shows the fulfilment of her desire to be admired and envied – she has become the centre of attention, satisfying her longing for social validation.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
How does Matilda face ‘the horrible life of necessity’ ?
(The Necklace)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
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(Content 2 – at least two value points; Expression 1)
After losing the borrowed necklace, Matilda and her husband sank into poverty to repay the huge debt. She dismissed the maid, moved to a small attic, and did all the heavy household chores herself – washing dishes and clothes, carrying water and bargaining at the grocer’s for every sou. The years of hard work ruined her beauty, and she looked like an old woman.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 6 marks
Evaluate how “The Necklace” critiques the obsession with appearances and social status.
(Answer in about 100-120 words.)
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(Content 3 – any three points with textual evidence; Expression 2; Accuracy 1)
Matilda Loisel, unhappy with her modest life, equates worth with wealth, physical appearance and social status. To look rich at the ball, she borrows a diamond necklace from Mme Forestier and then loses it. Instead of confessing, the Loisels buy a replacement for thirty-six thousand francs and spend ten years in poverty repaying the debt – dismissing the maid, moving to an attic and doing hard labour – until Matilda’s youth and health are gone. The final twist is that the original necklace was fake. The irony that the very thing she desired was false shows that she sacrificed her life for one night of …
CBSE 2026 board paper · 6 marks
Analyze, how the theme of appearance versus reality is developed in ‘The Necklace’ through Matilda’s life choices and their consequences.
(The Necklace)
(Answer in about 100-120 words.)
Show answer
(Content 3 – any three points supported by textual evidence; Expression 2; Accuracy 1)
Matilda Loisel, born into a family of clerks, dreamed of the luxuries of the rich and was unhappy with her modest life, believing that appearance defines happiness and success. To look rich and elegant at the ministerial ball, she borrowed a diamond necklace from her friend Mme Forestier. She was the centre of attention, but lost the necklace. Instead of telling the truth, she and her husband bought a replacement worth thirty-six thousand francs, borrowing heavily. For ten years they lived in poverty, she did hard household work, and she lost her beauty. Finally she learned from her friend that the …
