Games and Sports
Last Updated: August 2026
What you get on this page
Complete solutions for every textbook exercise in Reading I The First Olympic Games and Reading II Popularity of Different Sports in the World. Answers are in the answer key sections.
Grammar explanations on present perfect and passive voice with rule formulas, tables of forms, worked examples and traps.
Writing format guides for the favourite player paragraph and the dialogue. 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: Present Perfect
Rules · formula · examples
Grammar II: Passive Voice
Rules · formula · examples
Reading I Answers
The First Olympic Games · solutions
Reading II Answers
Popularity of Sports · solutions
Writing I: Paragraph
Answer
Writing II: Dialogue
Answer
Practice Questions
SEE format · answers not included
Complete solutions for Class 10 English Unit 10 Games and Sports. This page covers Reading I The First Olympic Games and Reading II Popularity of Different Sports in the World with all textbook exercises, grammar on present perfect and passive voice and writing tasks for SEE 2083.
What this unit is really testing
Unit 10 pairs a myth about the origin of the Olympic Games with an informational article on why different sports are popular. The myth is not history. It is a story the ancient Greeks told to explain why the games existed. The article is not a myth. It is a survey of facts and numbers. The exam pairs them to test whether a student can move between fiction and nonfiction in a single unit.
The tricky part of Reading I is separating character from cause. Pelops did not plan for the king to die. The stable boy did. The exam may ask whose actions caused the death and whose intentions did not match the outcome. Read carefully before answering.
The tricky part of Reading II is remembering that popularity is measured by numbers, not by importance. Football has four billion fans. Golf has 450 million. Football is more popular, but golf is not less important. The exam tests whether you can read the ranking without adding your own judgment.
Exam weight of this unit. Present perfect and passive voice appear in the grammar section. The paragraph and dialogue belong to Free Writing I. Both carry six marks each.
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 myth or an informational article can appear here. Reading 4 includes vocabulary items.
Grammar (11 marks). Present perfect and passive voice appear in the transformation section and in the multiple choice in context section.
Writing. The paragraph and the dialogue belong to Free Writing I (6 marks each, about 150 words).
What to remember from this unit
Reading I in one sentence. A myth about a chariot race explains the origin of the Olympic Games.
Memory device for Reading I. Tantalus. Pelops. Hippodamia. The wax pins. The king's death. The funeral feast. The four year decree.
Reading II in one sentence. Different sports attract different numbers of fans and each has a specific origin story.
Memory device for Reading II. Football four billion. Cricket 2.5 billion. Hockey two billion. Tennis one billion. Volleyball 900 million. Table tennis 875 million. Basketball 825 million. Baseball 500 million. Rugby 475 million. Golf 450 million.
Errors seen in real SEE scripts
- Confusing the myth with history. The Olympic Games did not begin at a funeral feast in real history. The story is a myth. The exam tests whether you can tell the difference.
- Blaming Pelops for the king's death. The stable boy replaced the pins. Pelops won fairly from his side. The exam may ask who caused the death.
- Mixing up the horse speeds. Pelops' horses ran faster than the wind. The king's horses ran faster than lightning. Lightning is faster. The race was won by trick, not by speed.
- Mixing up the Olympic flame origin. The flame is lit from the rays of the sun on the fields of Olympia in Greece. Not carried from Greece to the host country by plane. Lit in Greece, then carried.
- Using present perfect for a specific past time. Present perfect is not used with yesterday, last week, in 2020. Use simple past with those.
- Forgetting the past participle in passive voice. The passive form is be plus past participle. Not be plus past simple. "The bridge was built" not "the bridge was build".
- Using by in passive voice when the doer is unknown. "The bridge was built" is correct when we do not know who built it. Adding "by people" adds nothing.
- Writing dialogue without speaker tags. Every line must name the speaker. Without speaker names the dialogue loses marks on clarity.
Grammar I: Present Perfect
Present perfect describes an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past and has a result in the present. It also describes an action that started in the past and continues to now. Form is have or has plus the past participle.
Rule formula
Subject + have/has + past participle + object.
Example: She + has + finished + her homework.
Present perfect continuous: Subject + have/has been + verb + ing.
Example: It + has been + rain + ing.
Table of uses
| Use | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Past action, present result | Action finished, result remains | She has broken her leg. |
| Life experience | Something that happened at some point | I have visited Pokhara twice. |
| Action continuing to now | Started in past, still going | They have lived here for ten years. |
| Present perfect continuous | Action in progress over a period | It has been raining all day. |
Time markers
| Marker | Meaning |
|---|---|
| already, just, yet | Recent completion or expected completion |
| ever, never | Life experience |
| for, since | Duration continuing to now |
| so far, up to now | Between past and present |
Worked example
Sentence: "Siddhartha ___ to drive just in ten years!" The action is completed with a present result. Just means very recently. The correct form is has learnt.
Sentence: "It ___ all summer. There are floods." The action started in the past and continues. All summer signals duration. The correct form is has been raining.
Common traps
- Do not use present perfect with a specific past time. "I have gone yesterday" is wrong. "I went yesterday" is correct.
- Do not confuse for with since. For gives duration. Since gives starting point. "For ten years" and "since 2015".
- Do not use present perfect continuous with stative verbs. Know, like, want take present perfect, not continuous.
Grammar II: Passive Voice
Passive voice moves the focus from the doer of the action to the action itself. It is used when the doer is unknown, unimportant or obvious. Form is be plus the past participle.
Rule formula
Active: Subject + verb + object.
Passive: Object + be + past participle + (by subject).
Example: People built the bridge last year. becomes The bridge was built last year.
Table of passive forms
| Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Simple present | She writes a letter. | A letter is written by her. |
| Simple past | She wrote a letter. | A letter was written by her. |
| Present continuous | She is writing a letter. | A letter is being written by her. |
| Present perfect | She has written a letter. | A letter has been written by her. |
| Future | She will write a letter. | A letter will be written by her. |
| Modal | She must write a letter. | A letter must be written by her. |
Worked example
Active: "We ought to break down the building before it collapses." Passive: the object becomes the subject. Add ought to be plus past participle. Result: The building ought to be broken down before it collapses.
Active: "Does he always sing songs in the party?" Passive: keep the question word order. Result: Are songs always sung by him in the party?
Common traps
- Do not use simple past in place of past participle. "The bridge was build" is wrong. "The bridge was built" is correct.
- Do not add by when the doer is unknown. "The bridge was built" not "the bridge was built by people" when we do not know who built it.
- Keep the tense the same. If the active is present perfect, the passive is present perfect. Not simple past.
Paragraph about a Favourite Player
Slot. Free Writing I. Marks. 6. Length. About 150 words.
Topic sentence. One sentence that states who the player is and why they matter. The main idea of the paragraph.
Supporting sentences. Three to five sentences giving facts. Achievements, awards, playing style, contributions. Each sentence adds one new point.
Concluding sentence. One sentence that sums up the player's significance. Restates the topic in a slightly different way.
Tone. Warm but factual. Praise with evidence, not adjectives alone.
Common mistake. Listing achievements without a topic sentence. The examiner needs to know from the first line what the paragraph is about.
Dialogue
Slot. Free Writing I. Marks. 6. Length. About 150 words.
Speaker names. Every line begins with the speaker's name followed by a colon. No exceptions.
Opening line. One speaker starts the conversation. A question or a statement.
Turn taking. Two speakers alternate. No speaker speaks twice in a row unless there is a reason.
Content. The conversation must cover the topic given. Every bullet point in the prompt must appear naturally.
Closing line. One speaker ends the conversation with a natural sign-off. See you, good luck, let us meet tomorrow.
Common mistake. Forgetting the speaker names. A dialogue without names loses marks on format.
Reading I: The First Olympic Games
The story is about the origin of the Olympic Games. A man named Tantalus, who was half man and half god, was invited to Mount Olympus for dinner with the gods. To return the invitation, he did a terrible thing. He chopped up his son Pelops and served him as a stew to the gods. The gods were furious and sent Tantalus to the underworld. They brought Pelops back to life and gave him a chariot with snow white horses that could run faster than the wind. Pelops went to find a kingdom and learned about Princess Hippodamia of Elis. To marry her, he had to win a chariot race against her father. The stable boy replaced the bronze pins of the king's chariot wheels with pins made of candle wax. During the race, the wax pins melted and the king was thrown to his death. Pelops won the race and married Hippodamia. They organised a great funeral feast in honour of the king. Pelops decreed that such games should be held every four years on the fields of Olympia. These games became known as the Olympic Games.
Glossary
Q. no. A
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | stew |
| b. | underworld |
| c. | embroidered |
| d. | furious |
| e. | exquisite |
| f. | inherited |
| g. | rejoicing |
| h. | mounted |
| i. | decreed |
| j. | lush |
Q. no. B
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | Not Given |
| b. | Not Given |
| c. | False |
| d. | True |
| e. | False |
| f. | False |
| g. | True |
Q. no. C
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | Tantalus was a man who was half man and half god. His father was the great Greek god Zeus. |
| b. | The gods were angry with him because he chopped up his son Pelops and served him as a stew to the gods. |
| c. | The gods sent Tantalus down to the underworld where he had to stand in water up to his neck forever. |
| d. | Pelops' horses could run faster than the wind while the king's horses could run faster than lightning. |
| e. | The risk was that if a suitor lost the chariot race against the king, he would get his head chopped off. |
| f. | The stable boy helped Pelops win the race by replacing the bronze pins of the king's chariot wheels with pins made of candle wax. |
| g. | The king died when the wax pins melted in the heat, the wheels flew off and he was thrown from the chariot. |
| h. | Pelops and Hippodamia organised a feast in honour of the king who had died in the race. |
| i. | The events became the origin of the modern Olympics when Pelops decreed that such games should be held every four years on the fields of Olympia. |
| j. | The Olympic torch is lit from the rays of the sun on the Olympic fields in Greece. |
Q. no. D
The Olympic Games hold great significance in the world today. They bring athletes from all over the world together to compete in a spirit of peace and friendship. The games promote unity among nations and encourage people to set aside their differences. They also inspire people to pursue excellence in sports and motivate young people to stay healthy and active. The games are held in different countries which promotes cultural exchange. The Olympic flame symbolises hope and continuity. It connects the modern games to their ancient origins. In conclusion, the Olympic Games represent peace, friendship, unity and the pursuit of excellence.
Grammar I: Answer Key
Q. no. A
Kaski, Pokhara
21 August
Hi Nima!
Just a quick note from Pokhara. We have been here for two days now. We have been staying in a hotel in Lakeside since we arrived. By now we have already visited many places of interest here. I feel really excited to be here. We have not been to Sarangkot yet. We plan to go there too. I have always wished to go paragliding. I have convinced my parents for this.
How have you been spending your holidays? I guess you have visited your grandparents. Please have a great time. We will have great fun back at school.
With love,
Nirjala
Q. no. B
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | has learnt |
| b. | has been raining |
| c. | have been reading / have not finished |
| d. | have you been cooking |
| e. | have promised |
| f. | have been preparing |
| g. | Have you watched |
| h. | has been painting / has not finished |
| i. | have fixed |
| j. | have been working |
Writing I: Answer Key
Topic sentence. Lionel Messi is one of the most popular and talented footballers in the world.
Supporting sentences. He became famous while playing for FC Barcelona where he won numerous titles and awards. He is known for his incredible dribbling skills, accurate passing and brilliant goal scoring ability. Messi has won the Ballon d'Or award multiple times which proves his excellence in the sport. He also led Argentina to win the Copa America and the FIFA World Cup. His humble nature and dedication to the game have earned him millions of fans around the world.
Concluding sentence. Even after achieving so much, Messi remains a humble and inspiring figure for young footballers everywhere.
Reading II: Popularity of Different Sports in the World
Sports are popular for many reasons. People play sports to keep healthy and for recreational purposes. Many others love being spectators. Football is the most popular sport in the world with about four billion fans. Cricket has a fan base of 2.5 billion. Hockey has a following of two billion people. Tennis has about one billion followers. Volleyball has a following of 900 million. Table tennis has an estimated following of 875 million. Basketball has 825 million. Baseball has 500 million. Rugby has 475 million. Golf has 450 million.
Glossary
Q. no. A
The crossword puzzle requires the specific clue set from the textbook page. The words tested in this section are largely drawn from the glossary above.
Q. no. B
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | ii. football and basketball |
| b. | iii. India, Pakistan and Australia |
| c. | ii. the number of players |
| d. | i. baseball and cricket |
| e. | iii. the Netherlands |
| f. | ii. hockey and volleyball |
Q. no. C
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | Sports are popular because they help people keep healthy and they are done for recreational purposes. |
| b. | Historical evidences say that football originated in England in the 19th century. They also point to people playing similar games as far back as two thousand years, beginning in China. |
| c. | The main difference is that in cricket the ball is thrown to a batsman on a long rectangular pitch at the center of the field, while in baseball the ball is thrown from a mound at the center of a diamond facing a batter at home plate. |
| d. | Regular volleyball is played with six players on each team. Two teams, each on one side of a raised net, try to volley a ball onto the ground of the opposing team's side for points. |
| e. | James Naismith, a Canadian teaching at a school in the US, originated basketball in the late 19th century. |
| f. | The risk involved in rugby is that it is a contact sport involving a lot of tackling and rugby players wear very little protection. |
Q. no. D
Ranking in order of preference: 1. Football, 2. Cricket, 3. Volleyball, 4. Basketball, 5. Tennis, 6. Table Tennis, 7. Hockey, 8. Baseball, 9. Rugby, 10. Golf.
Grammar II: Answer Key
Q. no. A
A man who was wanted to buy an ass went to market. Coming across a likely-looking beast, he arranged with the owner that he should be allowed to take him home on trial to see what the beast was like. When the man reached home, he put the beast into his stable along with the other asses. The newcomer looked around and immediately went and chose a place next to the laziest and greediest beast in the stable. When the master saw this, he put a halter on him at once and led him off and handed him over to his owner. The latter was surprised to see him back so soon. He inquired, "Why, do you mean to say you have tested him already?" "I don't want to put him through any more tests," replied the other. "I could see what sort of beast he is from the companion he chose for himself."
Q. no. B
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | admire |
| b. | hurt his leg |
| c. | Their children are very badly dressed. |
| d. | someone has broken two of my dinner plates |
| e. | will be forgotten |
| f. | must be answered |
| g. | the boys have eaten |
| h. | people built the bridge last year |
| i. | are ploughing the field |
| j. | How do people trap a tiger |
| k. | we will be helped |
| l. | we should preserve the tiger |
| m. | a nest has been built |
Q. no. C
| Q.no. | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. | The noise of explosion could be heard from a distance. |
| b. | The building ought to be broken down before it collapses. |
| c. | Has the book been translated in any other language? |
| d. | I like being driven to my home. |
| e. | Can this problem be solved by anybody? |
| f. | The ticket had to be booked in advance because of the festive season. |
| g. | By whom might your bicycle have been stolen? |
| h. | I didn't notice that the class was being recorded by you. |
| i. | Are songs always sung by him in the party? |
| j. | The painting will be drawn beautifully by her. |
| k. | Let my bike be repaired by the mechanic. |
| l. | It is believed that the Mahabharata was fought in the 10th century BCE. |
| m. | What is being instructed to them by you now? |
Writing II: Answer Key
A Dialogue About the Upcoming Sports Week
Saurav: Hi Rohit! Are you excited about our school's Sports Week starting next Monday?
Rohit: Yes, I am very excited! The events will be held at our school playground from 9 am every day. There will be running races, long jump, high jump, football, volleyball and table tennis.
Saurav: That sounds great! Who can participate and have you registered for any event?
Rohit: Students from all classes can participate after registering with their class teacher. I have registered for table tennis and high jump. What about you?
Saurav: I have registered for the 100 metre race and football. Do you know anything about the prize distribution?
Rohit: Yes. The closing ceremony will be on Friday afternoon. The chief guest will distribute medals and certificates to the winners. There will also be a trophy for the best house.
Saurav: That is exciting! I hope our team wins. Let us give our best and enjoy the Sports Week.
Rohit: Yes, let us do our best. See you at school tomorrow for practice. Good luck!
Questions beyond the textbook exercises
These questions follow the SEE paper format. All content is drawn from Unit 10 only. Answers are not provided.
True or False
- Tantalus was the son of Zeus.
- The king's horses could run faster than the wind.
- Pelops won the chariot race because his horses were faster.
- Football has the largest fan base in the world.
- Golf originated in Scotland in the 15th century.
Fill in the Gaps
- The gods sent Tantalus to the __________ as punishment.
- The stable boy replaced the bronze pins with pins made of __________.
- Football has an estimated fan base of __________ billion.
- Basketball was invented by __________ in the late 19th century.
- Rugby originated in __________.
Short Answer
- Why did the gods punish Tantalus?
- How did the stable boy help Pelops?
- Why is football the most popular sport in the world?
- What is the main difference between rugby and American football?
Grammar: Present Perfect
- She __________ (live) in Kathmandu for ten years.
- They __________ (already finish) their project.
- I __________ (never visit) Lumbini.
- How long __________ you __________ (study) English?
- It __________ (rain) since morning.
Grammar: Passive Voice
- People speak English all over the world. (Change to passive)
- The chef is cooking dinner. (Change to passive)
- Someone has stolen my bag. (Change to passive)
- The mechanic repaired the car. (Change to passive)
- They will build a new school here. (Change to passive)
Writing Task
Write a short dialogue between two friends about joining a sports club.
- Write in about 150 words.
- Include speaker names and at least six exchanges.