SEBA HSLC English Vocabulary Solved Papers (1996–2026) | Class 10 Grammar
SEBA Class 10 Grammar
HSLC English Vocabulary (1996 – 2021)
Year-wise solved previous papers, confusing word pairs, and sentence framing examples.
HSLC 1996
(a) She would not ____ us how old she was. (tell/say)
Answer: She would not tell us how old she was.
(b) He ____ the money. (denied/refused)
Answer: He refused the money.
HSLC 1997
(a) Several boats ____ during the storm. (sank/drowned)
Answer: Several boats sank during the storm.
(b) It is difficult to go out in bad ____ . (climate/weather)
Answer: It is difficult to go out in bad weather.
HSLC 1998
(a) Today the ____ of Shillong is pleasant. (weather/climate)
Answer: Today the weather of Shillong is pleasant.
(b) Both the parties came to an ____ settlement. (amiable/amicable)
Answer: Both the parties came to an amicable settlement.
HSLC 1999
(a) My warnings had no ____ on the boy. (effect/affect)
Answer: My warnings had no effect on the boy.
(b) He could not ____ himself to the new situation. (adapt/adopt)
Answer: He could not adapt himself to the new situation.
HSLC 2000
(a) He has easy ____ to the minister. (excess/access)
Answer: He has easy access to the minister.
(b) Hundreds of soldiers were ____ in the battle. (wounded/injured)
Answer: Hundreds of soldiers were wounded in the battle.
HSLC 2001
(a) The ____ in my shop is not good today. (sell/sale)
Answer: The sale in my shop is not good today.
(b) He ____ good English. (says/speaks)
Answer: He speaks good English.
HSLC 2002
(a) It is not proper to ____ through an open window. (see/look)
Answer: It is not proper to look through an open window.
(b) His parents' warning had no ____ on him. (affect/effect)
Answer: His parents' warning had no effect on him.
HSLC 2003
(a) The old man knew that his death was ____ . (imminent/eminent)
Answer: The old man knew that his death was imminent.
(b) Several boats ____ in the river during the storm. (sank/drowned)
Answer: Several boats sank in the river during the storm.
HSLC 2004
(a) I ____ I had taken your advice. (hope/wish)
Answer: I wish I had taken your advice.
(b) He will leave for England ____ . (shortly/recently)
Answer: He will leave for England shortly.
HSLC 2005
(a) August 15 is a ____ day for the Indians. (historic/historical)
Answer: August 15 is a historic day for the Indians.
(b) He will lose marks for his ____ handwriting. (eligible/illegible)
Answer: He will lose marks for his illegible handwriting.
HSLC 2006
(a) An ____ writer was invited as the chief guest. (eminent/imminent)
Answer: An eminent writer was invited as the chief guest.
(b) A man of ____ is respected by all. (principal/principle)
Answer: A man of principle is respected by all.
HSLC 2007
(a) My advice had little ____ on the boy. (affect/effect)
Answer: My advice had little effect on the boy.
(b) He was loved by all for his ____ nature. (amiable/amicable)
Answer: He was loved by all for his amiable nature.
HSLC 2008
(a) His handwriting is ____ . (eligible/illegible)
Answer: His handwriting is illegible.
(b) Nobody likes your ____ behaviour. (childlike/childish)
Answer: Nobody likes your childish behaviour.
HSLC 2009
(a) The woman narrated the incident ____. (shortly/briefly)
Answer: The woman narrated the incident briefly.
(b) Her father was an ____ physician. (eminent/imminent)
Answer: Her father was an eminent physician.
HSLC 2010
(a) Our family deals in ____ products. (diary/dairy)
Answer: Our family deals in dairy products.
(b) He became popular because of his ____ nature. (amiable/amicable)
Answer: He became popular because of his amiable nature.
(c) The lady could not thread the needle because of her ____ . (old age/weak health/poor eyesight)
Answer: The lady could not thread the needle because of her poor eyesight.
(d) She does not read newspapers as she ____ . (watches TV/can't read/has no time)
Answer: She does not read newspapers as she has no time.
HSLC 2011 (Sentence Framing)
(a) Lose vs. Loose
Lose: I have lost my bicycle.
Loose: The shirt is loose on me.
(b) Rise vs. Raise
Rise: The Sun rises in the east.
Raise: Grandmother raised the child.
(c) Sight vs. Site
Sight: The old man has lost his eyesight.
Site: This is the site of our new house.
HSLC 2012 (Sentence Framing)
(a) Eligible vs. Illegible
Eligible: He is eligible for the post.
Illegible: His handwriting is almost illegible.
(b) Accept vs. Except
Accept: He did not accept my proposal.
Except: Everybody was present except me.
(c) Altar vs. Alter
Altar: The idol was placed on the altar.
Alter: The plan was altered.
HSLC 2013 (Sentence Framing)
(a) Diary vs. Dairy
Diary: Diary writing is a good hobby.
Dairy: His family deals in dairy products.
(b) Effect vs. Affect
Effect: The medicine had a quick effect.
Affect: Idleness affected his life.
(c) Site vs. Cite
Site: The site is reserved for a school.
Cite: He cited an example for his point.
HSLC 2014 (Sentence Framing)
(a) Principle vs. Principal
Principle: A man of principle is respected by all.
Principal: He is the principal of our college.
(b) Adopt vs. Adapt
Adopt: The family adopted an orphan.
Adapt: He could not adapt himself to the new situation.
HSLC 2015
(a) The Brahmaputra has changed its ____ (Coarse/Course)
Answer: The Brahmaputra has changed its course.
(b) Sankardeva was an ____ scholar. (Eminent/Imminent)
Answer: Sankardeva was an eminent scholar.
HSLC 2016
(a) My warning had no ____ on the boy. (affect/effect)
Answer: My warning had no effect on the boy.
(b) He ____ to accept the money. (refused/denied)
Answer: He refused to accept the money.
HSLC 2017
(a) Rose smells ____ (sweetly/sweet)
Answer: Rose smells sweet.
(b) Her handwriting is ____ (illegible/eligible)
Answer: Her handwriting is illegible.
HSLC 2018
(a) Mr. John will come to Guwahati ____ (recently/shortly)
Answer: Mr. John will come to Guwahati shortly.
(b) Popular criticism has no ____ on the politicians. (effect/affect)
Answer: Popular criticism has no effect on the politicians.
HSLC 2019
(a) She narrated the matter ____ (shortly/briefly)
Answer: She narrated the matter briefly.
(b) Please ____ to what he says. (listen/hear)
Answer: Please listen to what he says.
HSLC 2020
(a) The tiger is a beast of ____ (pray/prey)
Answer: The tiger is a beast of prey.
(b) This medicine will ____ you of your pain. (relief/relieve)
Answer: This medicine will relieve you of your pain.
HSLC 2021
(a) She works in a ____ farm. (dairy/diary)
Answer: She works in a dairy farm.
(b) Milk is a good ____ . (food/drink)
Answer: Milk is a good food.
Quick Reference Rules
• Affect vs. Effect: Affect is a verb (to influence); Effect is a noun (the result).
• Amiable vs. Amicable: Amiable refers to pleasant persons; Amicable refers to peaceable agreements.
• Eminent vs. Imminent: Eminent means well-known/respected; Imminent means bound to happen soon.
• Sink vs. Drown: Non-living things (ships, boats) sink; living creatures drown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are vocabulary questions repeated in SEBA HSLC exams?
Yes. Common word pairs like Affect/Effect, Eminent/Imminent, Amiable/Amicable, and Diary/Dairy frequently repeat in HSLC English examinations.
How many marks are allotted to Vocabulary in HSLC English?
Usually, 2 marks are allotted for choosing the correct alternative word or making meaningful sentences from pairs of confusing words.
What is the difference between 'Sink' and 'Drown'?
Use sink when an inanimate object (e.g., boat, stone) submerges underwater. Use drown when a living being dies from being submerged in liquid.