Current Affairs and Issues
Last Updated: August 2026
What you get on this page
Complete solutions for every textbook exercise in Reading I How Driverless Cars Will Change Our World and Reading II Open Letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Answers are in the answer key sections.
Grammar explanations on reported speech and reported questions with rule formulas, tables of forms, worked examples and traps.
Writing format guides for the newspaper article and the formal letter. Every required part explained.
Practice questions in the SEE paper format. Answers not included.
Jump to what you need
Teacher's Insight
What the unit is really testing
Grammar I: Reported Speech
Rules · formula · examples
Grammar II: Reported Questions
Rules · formula · examples
Reading I Answers
Driverless Cars · solutions
Reading II Answers
Open Letter · solutions
Writing I: Article
Answer
Writing II: Letter
Answer
Practice Questions
SEE format · answers not included
Complete solutions for Class 10 English Unit 1 Current Affairs and Issues. This page covers Reading I How Driverless Cars Will Change Our World and Reading II Open Letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with all textbook exercises, grammar on reported speech and reported questions and writing tasks for SEE 2083.
What this unit is really testing
Unit 1 pairs two texts about the future. The first is a technology feature on driverless cars. The second is an open letter from children to the UN Secretary-General on climate change. Both texts deal with the same question from different angles. What does progress look like and who decides how it happens.
The tricky part of Reading I is the difference between potential and reality. The writer says driverless cars could make roads safer and reduce carbon. He also says the technology cannot yet handle human drivers who speed or break rules. The exam tests whether you can hold both the promise and the limitation in the same answer without overselling either side.
The tricky part of Reading II is the tone. The letter congratulates the Secretary-General first, then states its disappointment. This is a formal diplomatic structure. The complaint comes after the praise. The exam may ask why the writers use this order. The answer is that formal complaints work better when respect is offered first.
Exam weight of this unit. Reported speech appears in the grammar section across both transformation and multiple choice items. The newspaper article and the formal letter belong to Free Writing II. Each carries eight marks.
Where this unit's content types appear in the SEE paper
Reading 1 (5 marks). A short extract from either passage with one comprehension question type. Length about 100 words.
Reading 2 (10 marks). A short extract from either passage with two comprehension question types. Length about 200 words.
Reading 3 (10 marks) and Reading 4 (15 marks). Unseen passages of the same text types. A technology feature, an opinion piece or a formal letter can appear here. Reading 4 includes vocabulary items.
Grammar (11 marks). Reported speech appears in the transformation section and in the multiple choice in context section.
Writing. The newspaper article and the formal letter both belong to Free Writing II (8 marks each, about 200 words).
What to remember from this unit
Reading I in one sentence. Driverless cars are becoming real in cities like Phoenix, but the technology still cannot handle unpredictable human drivers.
Memory device for Reading I. Waymo One. Sensors. Empty driver seat. Voice greeting. Low carbon. Fewer accidents. Insurance problem. Human drivers problem. Mcity test facility.
Reading II in one sentence. A group of children wrote to the UN Secretary-General to ask for children under 18 to be included in the Youth Advisory Group on climate change.
Memory device for Reading II. Congratulations first. Disappointment second. Greta's solo protest. Fabrizio from Peru. COP26. The demand. The closing lesson.
Errors seen in real SEE scripts
- Overselling driverless technology. The text says the technology could reduce accidents. Not that it has. Students who write "driverless cars have made roads safer" contradict the passage.
- Missing the two-sided promise. The writer lists many benefits and many obstacles. A strong answer holds both. A weak answer picks one side.
- Reading the letter as a complaint only. The letter congratulates first. This is formal diplomatic writing. Ignoring the praise loses the tone question.
- Mixing up Greta and Fabrizio. Greta Thunberg started the movement. Fabrizio is a 16 year old from Peru who spoke about the future of children.
- Using said without backshifting the tense. When the reporting verb is past, the reported verb usually shifts back. "I am tired" becomes "she said she was tired".
- Forgetting to change time words in reported speech. Tomorrow becomes the following day. Yesterday becomes the day before. Now becomes then. Today becomes that day.
- Reporting questions with if or whether incorrectly. Yes or no questions take if or whether. Wh questions do not.
- Writing the newspaper article as an essay. The article needs a headline, a lead sentence and short paragraphs. Not a long flowing essay.
Grammar I: Reported Speech
Reported speech is used to tell someone what another person said without quoting their exact words. The reporting verb is usually said or told. When the reporting verb is in the past, the reported verb shifts back one tense. Time and place words also change.
Rule formula
Direct: Subject + reporting verb + "exact words".
Reported: Subject + said (that) + shifted clause.
Example: She said, "I am tired." becomes She said that she was tired.
Tense shift table
| Direct | Reported |
|---|---|
| Simple present | Simple past |
| Present continuous | Past continuous |
| Present perfect | Past perfect |
| Simple past | Past perfect |
| Will | Would |
| Can | Could |
| May | Might |
| Must | Had to |
Time and place word changes
| Direct | Reported |
|---|---|
| now | then |
| today | that day |
| tomorrow | the following day |
| yesterday | the day before |
| next week | the following week |
| last week | the week before |
| here | there |
| this | that |
| these | those |
Worked example
Direct: Tshering said, "I will surely meet you this Saturday." Reported: the reporting verb is past, so will becomes would. This Saturday becomes that Saturday. The pronoun I becomes he. The result is: Tshering promised me to meet that Saturday.
Direct: The agent said, "The bus leaves at six." Reported: the bus timetable is a fixed fact, so the verb can stay in simple present or shift to simple past. Both are accepted. Common form: The agent informed us that the bus left at six.
Common traps
- Do not change the tense if the reporting verb is present. "She says she is tired" keeps is, not was.
- Do not change the tense for universal truths. "The teacher said the earth revolves around the sun" keeps revolves.
- Change the pronouns to match the new speaker. I becomes he or she. We becomes they.
- Reported speech does not use quotation marks.
Grammar II: Reported Questions
Reported questions follow the same tense shift as reported statements but the word order changes. Reported questions do not keep the question word order. They become statements.
Rule formula
Yes or no question: reporting verb + if or whether + subject + verb.
Wh question: reporting verb + wh word + subject + verb.
Example: She asked, "Are you coming?" becomes She asked if I was coming.
Example: He asked, "Where do you live?" becomes He asked where I lived.
Word order change table
| Direct | Reported |
|---|---|
| Do you like tea? | He asked if I liked tea. |
| Are you busy? | She asked whether I was busy. |
| Where do you work? | He asked where I worked. |
| Why did you leave? | She asked why I had left. |
| What time is it? | He asked what time it was. |
Worked example
Direct: "Do you speak French?" she asked. Reported: yes or no question, so use if. The word order becomes statement order. Do you speak becomes I spoke. Result: She asked if I spoke French.
Direct: He asked, "When does the train leave?" Reported: wh question. No if. The word order becomes statement order. Does the train leave becomes the train left. Result: He asked when the train left.
Common traps
- Do not keep the question mark. Reported questions end with a period.
- Do not keep the auxiliary do or does. "Do you work?" becomes "if I worked". Not "if I did work".
- Yes or no questions take if or whether. Wh questions never take if.
- Reported questions shift the tense the same way reported statements do.
Newspaper Article
Slot. Free Writing II. Marks. 8. Length. About 200 words.
Headline. A short title that names the topic. Written in capital letters or title case. Example: Challenges Brought by the Advancement of AI.
Lead sentence. The first sentence of the article. Answers who, what and when. Sets the tone for the rest.
Body paragraphs. Three to four short paragraphs. Each one carries one idea. Short sentences. Facts and examples.
Closing line. A short concluding sentence. States the takeaway or a recommendation.
Byline. Optional. Writer's name at the top or bottom.
Common mistake. Writing it as an essay. A newspaper article is not a school essay. Short paragraphs. Direct language. No flowery phrases.
Formal Letter
Slot. Free Writing II. Marks. 8. Length. About 200 words.
Sender's address. Top right corner. Place name, then date on the next line.
Receiver's address. Left side below the sender's address. Include title and full address.
Salutation. Dear Sir or Dear Madam if the name is unknown. Dear Mr Sharma if known.
Subject line. One short line naming the topic. Optional but useful in formal letters.
Body. Three paragraphs. Introduce yourself. State the reason. Request action.
Closing. Yours sincerely or Yours faithfully. Then your signature and name.
Common mistake. Writing the letter in informal language. Formal letters use no contractions. No slang. No emotional phrases.
Reading I: How Driverless Cars Will Change Our World
The article is about Waymo One, a driverless robotaxi service in Phoenix, Arizona. The car uses sensors to navigate, has no driver, and greets passengers over the sound system. Driverless technology could make travel safer, reduce carbon emissions and take people out of risky jobs. The World Health Organization says more than 1.3 million people die in road accidents every year. Automation could reduce that number. But many obstacles remain. Driverless cars must learn to handle human drivers who speed or break rules. Insurance companies are still deciding who is liable when there is no human driver. Cities must rethink their infrastructure. The Mcity Test Facility in Michigan is a mini-town built for testing driverless cars in complex scenarios such as children playing in the street or two cars merging at a junction.
Glossary
Q. no. A
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | glare → an intense blinding light |
| b. | curb → a stone edging to a pavement or raised path |
| c. | hail → to describe somebody or something as being very good or special |
| d. | commute → to travel regularly between workplace and home |
| e. | serene → calm and peaceful |
| f. | liability → the state of being legally responsible for something |
| g. | deploy → to use something effectively |
| h. | autonomous → a vehicle that has the technology to drive itself |
| i. | perception → a belief or an image about how you see or understand something |
Q. no. B
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | They have their own voice to welcome people into them. |
| b. | The USA |
| c. | It reduces carbon production. |
| d. | It cannot deal with human drivers. |
| e. | Its safety from the human environment. |
| f. | Partly trustworthy. |
Q. no. C
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | Three features of the driverless car are that it uses active sensors which radiate a low hum to navigate, it has a green and blue light glowing from the windscreen, and it can park itself and greet passengers through its sound system. |
| b. | Driverless technology can transform how people commute and travel long distances. It can take people out of dangerous work environments and make industries more efficient. It also helps lower carbon emissions and supports more sustainable ways of living. |
| c. | According to Camilla Fowler, the special advantage of automated vehicles is that they can provide safer roads and fewer deaths from traffic accidents. |
| d. | In David Hynd's views, the problem with driverless vehicles is that they must be able to handle human drivers who speed or break road rules. Not every human driver will behave calmly around an automated car. |
| e. | Scientists are testing driverless cars at special facilities like the Mcity Test Facility. This place is like a small town where they can test how cars react to children playing or cars merging at junctions. |
| f. | Yes, I think driverless technology can be safer because human drivers get tired, distracted and emotional which causes accidents. Machines stay focused all the time and can react faster to dangers on the road. |
Q. no. D
Artificial intelligence is used in healthcare, finance and education. In healthcare, AI helps doctors find diseases early by reading X-rays and scans faster and more accurately than humans. This saves lives and reduces mistakes. In finance, AI watches for unusual transactions to stop fraud before it happens. It also helps people manage their money better through smart banking apps. In education, AI creates personalized lessons for students based on their learning speed. It helps teachers grade papers faster so they can spend more time teaching.
Grammar I: Answer Key
Q. no. A
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | Khushi said that she went to school every day by bus. |
| b. | Karma apologised for coming late. |
| c. | Susan says that she will leave for Bhanu the following week. |
| d. | Tshering promised me to meet that Saturday. |
| e. | The agent informed us that the bus left at six. |
| f. | She said that she had already finished her project work. |
| g. | Yanjal said that he worked from home those days. |
Q. no. B
| Q.no. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| a. | admitted | confession of a mistake |
| b. | advised | recommendation for someone's benefit |
| c. | warned | caution about a consequence |
| d. | offered | willingness to help |
| e. | informed | giving factual information |
| f. | thanked | expression of gratitude |
| g. | promised | commitment to a future action |
| h. | vowed | strong promise with determination |
| i. | apologised | expression of regret |
Writing I: Answer Key
Newspaper Article: Challenges Brought by the Advancement of AI in Technology
Challenges Brought by the Advancement of AI in Technology
Artificial Intelligence is changing the world very fast. It makes our phones smarter and helps businesses run better. But this new technology also brings many challenges that we cannot ignore.
One big challenge is keeping our personal information safe. AI systems need lots of data to learn and work well. If these systems are not protected properly, our private details could be stolen or misused. Another problem is that AI can make mistakes that humans would not make. A self-driving car might not understand a hand signal from a traffic officer. AI also lacks feelings and moral judgment which can lead to unfair decisions.
Money is another challenge. Building and running AI systems costs a lot. Only big companies can afford the best technology which creates inequality. Also AI learns from data and if that data is wrong or biased, the AI will make wrong decisions. This is dangerous in areas like healthcare or hiring people for jobs.
We need to find ways to use AI responsibly. Companies must focus on security and fairness. Governments need to create rules for how AI should be used. If we do this carefully, AI can help us without causing harm.
Reading II: Open Letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
Save the Children and Child Rights Connect wrote an open letter to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on 7 August 2020. The letter congratulates him on the recent announcement of seven young climate leaders between the ages of 18 and 28 for the Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. The writers appreciate the focus on bringing young leaders into decision-making. They then state their disappointment that children under 18 were not included. Millions of children took part in school strikes for climate action in 2019 and early 2020. Greta Thunberg sparked the movement with a solo protest in 2018. Fabrizio, a 16 year old from Peru, spoke about how the future of children is at stake. The letter asks the Secretary-General to include children and adolescents younger than 18 in the group and to give children a safe space at COP26. The closing line reminds the reader that children, armed with information and a sense of purpose, have a unique role in solving crises.
Glossary
Q. no. A
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | corporate |
| b. | tackle |
| c. | catalyse |
| d. | expertise |
| e. | net-zero |
| f. | at stake |
| g. | outrage |
Q. no. B
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | Not Given |
| b. | False |
| c. | True |
| d. | True |
| e. | Not Given |
| f. | True |
Q. no. C
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | The office of the UN Secretary-General is in New York at the United Nations Secretariat. |
| b. | The purpose of writing this letter to Antonio Guterres is to request that children younger than 18 years old be included in the Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. |
| c. | The Youth Advisory Group was announced to advise the UN Secretary-General regularly on how to speed up global action against the worsening climate crisis. |
| d. | Children have organized school strikes and street protests. They have used social media to raise awareness and push leaders to act faster on climate change. |
| e. | Greta Thunberg started the global climate movement with a solo protest in 2018. Fabrizio has spoken about how the future of children is at risk and called for a green recovery. |
| f. | The final demand of the children is that the Youth Advisory Group include children under 18 years old and that they be given a safe space to influence important climate meetings like COP26. |
Q. no. D
As a student, I can do several things to help control climate change. First, I can save electricity at home and school by turning off lights and fans when not needed. Second, I can reduce waste by using fewer plastic items and recycling paper and bottles. Third, I can plant trees in my community and care for them as they grow. Fourth, I can talk to my friends and family about why climate change matters and what they can do. Fifth, I can walk or use a bicycle for short trips instead of asking for a car ride. Small actions by many people add up to big change.
Grammar II: Answer Key
Q. no. A
| Q.no. | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| a. | witnessed | past reporting verb, shifts present to past |
| b. | revolves | universal truth, keeps present tense |
| c. | can't | present reporting verb, tense does not shift |
| d. | loves | present reporting verb, tense does not shift |
| e. | had completed | past reporting verb, shifts present perfect to past perfect |
| f. | is | universal truth, keeps present tense |
| g. | wanted | past reporting verb, shifts present to past |
Q. no. B
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | Raima said that they had to cross the river and go ahead. |
| b. | Smarika told her friends that she would meet them the following day. |
| c. | Chandani said that she could not come to school the following day. |
| d. | Dorje apologized and said that he could not lend me any money that day. |
| e. | The teacher said that then we could solve the remaining problems ourselves. |
| f. | The police said that the incident probably had taken place the day before. |
| g. | I told him that I lived in Changunarayan those days. |
| h. | They told us that they would like to join us too. |
| i. | The Science teacher said that coal gives off thick smoke. |
| j. | Resham said that she had never seen such a strange animal anywhere else. |
| k. | The father said that he loved his children more than wealth. |
Writing II: Answer Key
Letter to the Mayor
Pokhara
March 3, 2023
To
The Mayor
Pokhara Metropolitan City
Pokhara, Nepal
Dear Sir,
I am writing to ask you to include children in decisions that affect their lives in our city.
Children are the future of our community. Yet when decisions are made about parks, schools, or public safety, children rarely get a chance to speak. This is not fair because these choices affect children the most.
Climate change is a good example. Young people will face the worst effects of a warming planet. They have shown through protests and school strikes that they care deeply about this issue. Their energy and fresh ideas should be welcomed, not ignored.
Having child representatives would also teach young people about civic responsibility. They would learn how local government works and feel more connected to their community. Their ideas might even lead to better solutions that adults have not thought of.
I request that you create a children's advisory group or invite student representatives to relevant meetings. This small step would show that our city values every voice regardless of age.
Thank you for considering this request.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Questions beyond the textbook exercises
These questions follow the SEE paper format. All content is drawn from Unit 1 only. Answers are not provided.
True or False
- Waymo One is a driverless robotaxi service in Phoenix.
- The driverless car has a human backup driver in the passenger seat.
- The World Health Organization estimates that 1.3 million people die in road accidents each year.
- The Youth Advisory Group included children under 18 years old.
- Greta Thunberg started the climate movement with a solo protest in 2018.
Fill in the Gaps
- Driverless cars use __________ to navigate the road.
- The Mcity Test Facility is located at the University of __________.
- The UN Secretary-General's office is on __________ Street in New York.
- Fabrizio is a 16 year old boy from __________.
- The letter asks for a safe space for children at __________.
Short Answer
- Why is liability a major concern for driverless cars?
- What makes the Mcity Test Facility different from normal roads?
- Why do the writers of the letter congratulate the Secretary-General before stating their complaint?
- What does Fabrizio mean when he says the future of children is at stake?
Grammar: Reported Speech
- She said, "I will call you tomorrow." (Change to reported speech)
- "I have finished the work," he said. (Change to reported speech)
- The teacher said, "The sun rises in the east." (Change to reported speech)
- He said, "I am going to Pokhara next week." (Change to reported speech)
- She said, "I can drive a car." (Change to reported speech)
Grammar: Reported Questions
- He asked, "Are you coming to the party?" (Change to reported speech)
- She asked, "Where do you live?" (Change to reported speech)
- They asked, "What time does the bus leave?" (Change to reported speech)
- He asked, "Did you finish your homework?" (Change to reported speech)
- She asked, "Why are you late?" (Change to reported speech)
Writing Task
Write a formal letter to your local ward chairperson asking for a new library in your community.
- Write in about 200 words.
- Include sender's address, receiver's address, salutation, body and closing.