Sample Higher Difficulty Test Paper

Time: 3 Hours Maximum Marks: 100

Objective (1 mark each, -0.25 negative

marking for incorrect)
1. A satellite is in a circular orbit around Earth at an altitude where the
acceleration due to gravity is one-fourth of its value at Earth’s surface.
If F1 is the gravitational force exerted by Earth on the satellite and F2 is
the gravitational force exerted by the satellite on Earth, then:

(a) F1 = 4F2 (c) F1 = F2

(b) F2 = 4F1 (d) F1 = 14 F2

2. The velocity-time graphs of four objects A, B, C, and D are shown.

Which object experiences the greatest acceleration between t = 2s and
t = 4s?

(a) Object A (c) Object C

(b) Object B (d) Object D

3. A block of mass 5 kg is moving with a constant velocity of 6 m/s on a

rough horizontal surface. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the
block and the surface is 0.2. The force required to maintain this motion
is:

(a) 10 N (c) 5 N
(b) 9.8 N (d) 0 N

4. A compound microscope consists of an objective lens with focal length 2

cm and an eyepiece with focal length 5 cm. The lenses are placed 20 cm
apart. The magnification of the microscope when the final image is
formed at infinity is approximately:

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 (a) 50 (c) 150
(b) 100 (d) 200

5. A convex lens of focal length 20 cm is combined with a concave lens of

focal length 25 cm. The power of the combination is:

(a) +1 D (c) +9 D
(b) -1 D (d) +0.5 D

6. The phenomenon responsible for the blue color of the sky is:

(a) Dispersion (c) Refraction

(b) Scattering (d) Total internal reflection

7. What is the maximum resistance that can be obtained using six resistors
each of 2 ?

(a) 12 (c) 3
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(b) 6 (d) 3

8. If the potential difference across a resistor is doubled while keeping the

resistance constant, the power dissipated will:

(a) Remain the same (c) Become double

(b) Become half (d) Become four times

9. In a circuit, three resistors of 3 , 6 and 9 are connected in parallel to a

12 V battery. The heat dissipated by the 6 resistor in 10 seconds is:

(a) 240 J (c) 60 J

(b) 120 J (d) 30 J

10. Which of the following statements about a solenoid is incorrect?

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 (a) The magnetic field inside a depends on the number of
long solenoid is uniform turns per unit length
(b) The magnetic field outside an (d) The magnetic field strength
ideal solenoid is zero decreases when an iron core is
(c) The magnetic field strength inserted

11. Consider the reaction: 2P b(N O3 )2 → 2P bO + 4N O2 + O2 . Which

statements are correct?

(i) Lead is getting reduced

(ii) Nitrogen is getting oxidized
(iii) Oxygen is getting oxidized
(iv) Lead is getting oxidized

(a) (i) and (ii) (c) (iii) and (iv)

(b) (ii) and (iii) (d) (ii) and (iv)

12. During the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride, the ratio of masses of
sodium and chlorine produced is (atomic masses: Na=23, Cl=35.5):

(a) 1:1.54 (c) 2:1

(b) 1.54:1 (d) 1:2

13. Which of the following inert gases is most suitable for creating an inert
atmosphere in food packaging?

(a) Helium (c) Argon

(b) Neon (d) Radon

14. In a soap micelle:

(a) Hydrophilic heads point (c) Hydrophilic heads point

inward outward
(b) Hydrophobic tails point (d) Both heads and tails point
outward outward

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20. Match the following:

Column A Column B
(a) Plaster of Paris (i) Antacid
(b) Gypsum (ii) Setting fractured bones
(c) Sodium bicarbonate (iii) Fire retardant
(d) Calcium oxide (iv) Making statues

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 (a) a-ii, b-iii, c-i, d-iv (c) a-ii, b-iv, c-i, d-iii
(b) a-iv, b-iii, c-i, d-ii (d) a-iv, b-ii, c-iii, d-i

21. The number of prime factors in the prime factorization of 1729 is:

(a) 2 (c) 4
(b) 3 (d) 5

22. If Sn denotes the sum of first n terms of an AP, then Sn+2 − Sn is equal
to:

(a) an+1 + an+2 (c) a1 + an+2

(b) 2(an+1 + an+2 ) (d) 2(a1 + an+2 )

23. If x − y = 5 and x2 + y 2 = 53, then the value of xy is:

(a) 14 (c) 36
(b) 28 (d) 42

24. The ratio of the volumes of two cubes is 8:27. The ratio of their total
surface areas is:

(a) 2:3 (c) 8:27

(b) 4:9 (d) 16:81

25. If 7 sin θ + 3 cos θ = 4, then the value of tan θ is:

1 4
(a) 7
(c) 7
3 5
(b) 7
(d) 7

26. The area of a rhombus is 120 cm2 and one diagonal is 24 cm. The length
of the other diagonal is:

(a) 5 cm (c) 15 cm
(b) 10 cm (d) 20 cm

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27. Which of the following numbers will completely divide 360 − 1?

(a) 4 (c) 7
(b) 5 (d) 13

28. A bag contains 5 red, 4 blue and 3 green balls. One ball is drawn at
random. The probability that it is not green is:
3 1
(a) 4
(c) 3
1 2
(b) 4
(d) 3

29. If (3x + 2) and (x − 1) are factors of the polynomial 3x3 + ax2 + bx + 2,

then the value of a + b is:

(a) -7 (c) 5
(b) -5 (d) 7

30. The median of the data 3, 5, 7, 2x-1, 2x+3, 21, 23 arranged in ascending
order is 14. The value of x is:

(a) 6 (c) 8
(b) 7 (d) 9

31. If the sum of two numbers is 50 and their product is 525, then their
difference is:

(a) 5 (c) 15
(b) 10 (d) 20

32. The expression 0.00452 × 25.6 × 0.042 is equivalent to:

(a) 45.2 × 0.256 × 0.0042 (c) 452 × 0.0256 × 0.00042

(b) 4.52 × 2.56 × 0.42 (d) 0.452 × 256 × 0.00042

33. The Roman numeral DCCLXXXIX represents:

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 (a) 689 (c) 889
(b) 789 (d) 989

34. How many integers between 200 and 400 are divisible by either 6 or 9
but not both?

(a) 44 (c) 66
(b) 55 (d) 77

35. The last digit of 74n + 3, where n is a positive integer, is:

(a) 0 (c) 6
(b) 4 (d) 8

36. The average of seven numbers is 62. If the average of the first three
numbers is 58 and the average of the last three numbers is 65, then the
fourth number is:

(a) 60 (c) 64
(b) 62 (d) 66

37. The average of three numbers is 45. If two of the numbers are 3* and *5
(where * represents the same digit), then the third number must be:

(a) 28 (c) 36
(b) 32 (d) 40

38. A manufacturer rejects 0.05% of the components as defective. How

many components must be examined to reject 5 components?

(a) 1000 (c) 10000

(b) 5000 (d) 50000

39. A number when increased by 15% becomes 299. The original number is:

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 (a) 250 (c) 270
(b) 260 (d) 280

40. A trader wants a 20% profit on the selling price. His expenses are 10% of
sales. What should be his markup percentage on an article costing 500?

(a) 25% (c) 40%

(b) 33.33% (d) 50%

41. The selling price of 15 articles is equal to the cost price of 12 articles.
The loss percentage is:

(a) 15% (c) 25%

(b) 20% (d) 30%

42. A person bought two watches for 4000 each. He sold one at a loss of 15%
and the other at a profit of 20%. His overall profit/loss is:

(a) Loss of 200 (c) Loss of 400

(b) Profit of 200 (d) Profit of 400

43. If the difference between compound interest and simple interest on a

certain sum for 2 years at 10% per annum is 500, the sum is:

(a) 10,000 (c) 30,000

(b) 20,000 (d) 50,000

44. An investment grows at 20% compound interest per annum. In how

many years will it become 1.728 times the principal?

(a) 2 years (c) 4 years

(b) 3 years (d) 5 years

45. A sum of money at compound interest amounts to thrice itself in 3

years. In how many years will it amount to 27 times itself?

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 (a) 6 years (c) 12 years
(b) 9 years (d) 15 years

46. A started a business with 6000 and B joined after 4 months with 8000.
If the profit at the end of the year was divided in the ratio 3:2, B joined
after:

(a) 4 months (c) 6 months

(b) 5 months (d) 7 months

47. A garrison has provisions for 60 days. After 15 days, the garrison is
reinforced by 300 men and the provisions now last for only 30 more days.
The original number of men in the garrison was:

(a) 600 (c) 900

(b) 800 (d) 1000

48. If 12 workers can build a wall in 10 days, how many workers are needed
to build the same wall in 8 days?

(a) 14 (c) 16
(b) 15 (d) 18

49. If 15 men can reap a field in 28 days, how many days will 20 men take to
reap the same field?

(a) 21 (c) 23
(b) 22 (d) 24

50. A boat takes twice as long to travel upstream as to travel downstream.

If the speed of the boat in still water is 12 km/h, the speed of the
current is:

(a) 2 km/h (c) 4 km/h

(b) 3 km/h (d) 6 km/h

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Subjective (2 marks each)
(a) A convex lens forms an image three times the size of the object on a
screen. If the distance between the object and the screen is 80 cm,
find the focal length of the lens. What is the nature of the image
formed?

(b) Why does a pencil appear bent when dipped in water? Will the
apparent bending be more or less if we replace water with
glycerine? Explain.

(c) Three resistors of 2 , 3 and 5 are connected in parallel. The

combination is connected to a battery of emf 6 V and negligible
internal resistance. Calculate: (i) The current through each resistor
(ii) The total current drawn from the battery

(d) A compound microscope has an objective of focal length 1 cm and

an eyepiece of focal length 2.5 cm. The lenses are separated by 14
cm. If the final image is formed at the near point (25 cm), calculate
the magnifying power of the microscope.

(e) A ray of light passes from air into a liquid. The angle of incidence is
45° and the angle of refraction is 30°. Calculate the refractive index
of the liquid. What is the speed of light in the liquid? (Speed of
light in air = 3 × 108 m/s)

(f) Balance the following chemical equation and identify the type of
reaction:
F e2 O3 + Al → Al2 O3 + F e

(g) What happens when zinc granules are added to sodium hydroxide
solution? Write the chemical equation for the reaction.

(h) A student has two solutions A and B. Solution A has pH = 1 and

solution B has pH = 5. Which solution is more acidic and by how
many times?

(i) Explain the cleansing action of soap with the help of a diagram of
micelle formation.

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 (j) A metal carbonate X on heating gives a metal oxide and carbon
dioxide. When 5 g of X is heated, 3.2 g of metal oxide is obtained.
Calculate the mass of carbon dioxide evolved.

(k) Find the sum of all two-digit numbers which leave remainder 2
when divided by 5.

(l) The sum of the first n terms of an AP is given by Sn = 3n2 + 5n.

Find the 10th term of the AP.
1 2 4
(m) Solve for x: x+1
+ x+2
= x+4
, where x ̸= −1, −2, −4

(n) The difference between the compound interest and simple interest
on a certain sum for 2 years at 5% per annum is 25. Find the sum.

(o) A boat takes 4 hours to travel 20 km upstream and 6 hours to

travel the same distance downstream. Find the speed of the boat in
still water and the speed of the current.

(p) The ratio of incomes of A and B is 5:4 and the ratio of their
expenditures is 3:2. If each saves 2000, find their incomes.

(q) A rectangular park is 50 m long and 30 m wide. A path 2.5 m wide

is constructed outside the park. Find the area of the path.

(r) The mean of 25 numbers is 40. If one number is excluded, the mean
becomes 38. Find the excluded number.

(s) A bag contains 5 red, 4 blue and 6 green balls. Two balls are drawn
at random. Find the probability that: (i) Both are red (ii) One is
blue and one is green

(t) The volume of a right circular cone is 1232 cm3 and its height is 24
cm. Find its curved surface area.

(u) The sum of the digits of a two-digit number is 9. The number

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obtained by reversing the digits is 14 times the original number.
Find the original number.

(v) A train crosses a pole in 15 seconds and a platform 200 m long in

35 seconds. Find the length and speed of the train.

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(w) If a : b = 3 : 4 and b : c = 5 : 6, find a : b : c.

(x) 15,000 is divided among A, B and C such that A gets 52 of what B

and C get together, and B gets 13 of what A and C get together.
Find C’s share.

(y) 45% of 320 + ?% of 450 = 225

(z) Find the sum of all natural numbers between 100 and 200 which are
divisible by 6.

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