Here is the practice question paper designed according to your specifications, strictly following the board style format with the required difficulty levels and cognitive weightage.

Section A: Short Answer Type Questions (2.5 Marks Each) - 15 Nos

1. Who is the narrator of the story and where did he meet the young girl for the first time? (କାହାଣୀର ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନାକାରୀ କିଏ ଏବଂ ସେ ପ୍ରଥମ ଥର ପାଇଁ ଛୋଟ ଝିଅଟିକୁ କେଉଁଠାରେ ଭେଟିଥିଲେ?)

Answer: The narrator of the story is Mr. Gupta, an Indian gentleman. He met the young English girl for the first time in a crowded vegetarian restaurant in London.

2. What did the young girl ask the cashier before leaving the restaurant? (ରେଷ୍ଟୁରାଣ୍ଟ ଛାଡିବା ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଛୋଟ ଝିଅଟି କ୍ୟାସିୟରଙ୍କୁ କ’ଣ ପଚାରିଥିଲା?)

Answer: Before leaving the restaurant, the young girl asked the cashier in a low voice if the gentleman (the narrator) sitting at the corner table was an Indian.

3. Why did the narrator choose to sit at the corner table? (ଲେଖକ କୋଣରେ ଥିବା ଟେବୁଲରେ ବସିବାକୁ କାହିଁକି ବାଛିଲେ?)

Answer: The vegetarian restaurant was very crowded with people eating and drinking. To find a place to sit and skim through his newspaper peacefully, the narrator chose a corner table.

4. What crucial information did the waiter provide about the young girl's visits? (ଯୁବତୀଙ୍କ ଆସିବା ବିଷୟରେ ୱେଟର କେଉଁ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସୂଚନା ପ୍ରଦାନ କରିଥିଲେ?)

Answer: The waiter informed the narrator that the girl only came to have lunch at the restaurant on Saturdays, because Saturday was her pay day, implying she was quite poor.

5. How did the narrator finally initiate a conversation with Maggie on the following Saturday? (ପରବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ଶନିବାର ଦିନ ଲେଖକ ଶେଷରେ ମ୍ୟାଗି ସହିତ କିପରି କଥାବାର୍ତ୍ତା ଆରମ୍ଭ କଲେ?)

Answer: On the following Saturday, the narrator approached her, sat in the chair opposite hers, wished her a good afternoon, and made a few brief remarks to smoothly start the conversation.

6. Who was Franky and what was his profession? (ଫ୍ରାଙ୍କି କିଏ ଥିଲା ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କର ପେଶା କ’ଣ ଥିଲା?)

Answer: Franky was Maggie's only brother and the sole guardian of the family. He was serving as a soldier in the British army, posted in the Punjab region of India.

7. Describe Mrs. Bethy's condition and activity when the narrator first met her. (ଲେଖକ ଯେତେବେଳେ ପ୍ରଥମେ ମିସେସ୍ ବେଥିଙ୍କୁ ଭେଟିଲେ ସେତେବେଳେ ତାଙ୍କର ଅବସ୍ଥା ଏବଂ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକଳାପ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କର।)

Answer: When the narrator first met her, Mrs. Bethy was in the narrow kitchen making cakes. She looked like an anxious, aging, widowed mother, and her hands were covered in flour.

8. Why did Mrs. Bethy refuse to shake hands with the narrator initially? (ମିସେସ୍ ବେଥି ପ୍ରଥମେ ଲେଖକଙ୍କ ସହ ହାତ ମିଳାଇବାକୁ କାହିଁକି ମନା କଲେ?)

Answer: Mrs. Bethy refused to shake hands initially because she was busy making cakes for Saturday night festivities, and her hands were completely covered with flour.

9. What did the ring look like and who had sent it? (ମୁଦିଟି କିପରି ଦେଖାଯାଉଥିଲା ଏବଂ ଏହାକୁ କିଏ ପଠାଇଥିଲା?)

Answer: It was a seemingly ordinary ring with a small glass piece set in it. It was sent to Mrs. Bethy by her son, Franky, from India.

10. What magical property did Mrs. Bethy associate with the ring? (ମିସେସ୍ ବେଥି ମୁଦି ସହିତ କେଉଁ ଯାଦୁକରୀ ଗୁଣ ଯୋଡିଥିଲେ?)

Answer: She believed that the ring was miraculous and that if a true Indian concentrated and looked into it, they could see the distant past and future of the person who sent it.

11. Why did the narrator choose not to shatter Mrs. Bethy's illusion about the ring initially? (ଲେଖକ ପ୍ରଥମେ ମୁଦି ବିଷୟରେ ମିସେସ୍ ବେଥିଙ୍କର ଭ୍ରମକୁ ନ ଭାଙ୍ଗିବାକୁ କାହିଁକି ସ୍ଥିର କଲେ?)

Answer: He saw how much hope and comfort the mother derived from the ring regarding her son's safety. He did not have the heart to shatter her dream by telling her it was just an ordinary ring.

12. What led to Mrs. Bethy falling seriously ill? (ମିସେସ୍ ବେଥି ଗୁରୁତର ଅସୁସ୍ଥ ହେବାର କାରଣ କ’ଣ ଥିଲା?)

Answer: Several months passed without any letter or news from Franky in India. This prolonged silence aggravated Mrs. Bethy's constant anxiety and fear for her son, leading to a severe illness.

13. What desperate request did Maggie make to the narrator to save her mother? (ନିଜ ମାଙ୍କୁ ବଞ୍ଚାଇବା ପାଇଁ ମ୍ୟାଗି ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ କେଉଁ ଅନୁରୋଧ କରିଥିଲେ?)

Answer: Seeing her mother nearing death, Maggie desperately requested the narrator to look into the ring and tell a comforting lie that Franky was alive and well, to give her mother the will to live.

14. Why did the narrator feel guilty and ashamed after returning from the hospital? (ଡାକ୍ତରଖାନାରୁ ଫେରିବା ପରେ ଲେଖକ କାହିଁକି ଦୋଷୀ ଓ ଲଜ୍ଜିତ ଅନୁଭବ କଲେ?)

Answer: He felt guilty because he calculated the dates and realized that when he told Mrs. Bethy that Franky was safe, the young soldier had already been dead for several days in a frontier war.

15. What was the 'priceless gift' Maggie gave the narrator at the end? (ଶେଷରେ ମ୍ୟାଗି ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ କେଉଁ 'ଅମୂଲ୍ୟ ଉପହାର' ଦେଇଥିଲେ?)

Answer: The priceless gift was a single shilling, earned through her hard work. She gave it to the narrator, asking him to buy flowers and place them on her brother's grave in Punjab.

Section B: Long Answer Type Questions (5 Marks Each) - 7 Nos

16. Describe the author's initial observations of the young girl in the vegetarian restaurant and how he gathered information about her. (ଶାକାହାରୀ ରେଷ୍ଟୁରାଣ୍ଟରେ ଯୁବତୀଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ ଲେଖକଙ୍କର ପ୍ରାଥମିକ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟବେକ୍ଷଣ ଏବଂ ସେ ତାଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ କିପରି ସୂଚନା ସଂଗ୍ରହ କରିଥିଲେ ତାହା ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କର।)

Answer: When the narrator first visited the crowded vegetarian restaurant, his attention was drawn to a very young girl looking at him with large, sad eyes. He observed her poverty-stricken appearance and anxious expression. What intrigued him most was her asking the cashier in a low voice whether he was an Indian. Driven by curiosity about her strange behavior, the narrator later inquired with the waiter. The waiter provided the crucial detail that she was a poor girl who only came to the restaurant on Saturdays because it was her pay day. This information painted a picture of a struggling, mysterious girl, prompting the narrator to approach her the following week.

17. Discuss the role of the 'ring' in the story. How does it reflect the innocence and desperation of Maggie's family? (କାହାଣୀରେ 'ମୁଦି'ର ଭୂମିକା ବିଷୟରେ ଆଲୋଚନା କର। ଏହା ମ୍ୟାଗିର ପରିବାରର ନିରୀହତା ଏବଂ ନିରାଶାକୁ କିପରି ପ୍ରତିଫଳିତ କରେ?)

Answer: The ring sent by Franky serves as a central symbol of hope and emotional connection in the story. Mrs. Bethy naively believed in a superstition that an Indian could look into the ring's glass and see the past and future. This belief highlights their innocence, lack of education, and stereotypical views about India being a land of miracles. Moreover, it reflects their sheer desperation. Living in constant fear for Franky's life in a distant, supposedly dangerous country, they clung to the ring as a magical lifeline. The narrator’s hesitation to tell them the truth shows how deeply their emotional well-being was tied to this false, yet comforting, belief.

18. Analyze the circumstances under which the narrator was forced to tell a lie. Was his action justified? (ଯେଉଁ ପରିସ୍ଥିତିରେ ଲେଖକ ମିଛ କହିବାକୁ ବାଧ୍ୟ ହୋଇଥିଲେ ତାହା ବିଶ୍ଳେଷଣ କର। ତାଙ୍କର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଯଥାର୍ଥ ଥିଲା କି?)

Answer: The narrator was forced to lie when Mrs. Bethy fell critically ill due to intense anxiety over Franky's prolonged silence. Her condition was deteriorating rapidly, and she was on the verge of death. Maggie, desperate to save her mother, pleaded with the narrator to gaze into the ring and assure her that Franky was safe, even though it was a lie. The narrator, despite knowing Indians highly value truth, prioritized saving a human life over a moral absolute. His action was entirely justified under the circumstances; it was a noble lie born out of deep compassion and empathy, and it successfully, albeit temporarily, miraculously cured the dying mother.

19. How does Maggie's character evolve from a shy, mysterious girl to a symbol of immense sacrifice? (ମ୍ୟାଗିର ଚରିତ୍ର ଏକ ଲାଜକୁଳା, ରହସ୍ୟମୟ ଝିଅରୁ ଏକ ମହାନ୍ ତ୍ୟାଗର ପ୍ରତୀକ ଭାବରେ କିପରି ବିକଶିତ ହୁଏ?)

Answer: Initially, Maggie appears as a shy, anxious, and mysterious girl who timidly inquires about the narrator's nationality. As the story progresses, she reveals her deep love and sense of responsibility toward her family. She acts as a pillar of support for her mother, navigating their poverty with resilience. Her ultimate evolution is seen at the end when she visits the narrator in mourning clothes. Despite her extreme poverty, she hands him a hard-earned shilling to buy flowers for her brother's grave in India. This act elevates her from a mere struggling girl to a profound symbol of selfless love and immense sacrifice, moving the narrator to tears.

20. Justify the title "The Priceless Gift". Why is a mere shilling considered invaluable by the narrator? ("ଅମୂଲ୍ୟ ଉପହାର" ଶୀର୍ଷକର ଯଥାର୍ଥତା ପ୍ରତିପାଦନ କର। କେବଳ ଗୋଟିଏ ଶିଲିଂ ଲେଖକଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଅମୂଲ୍ୟ ବୋଲି କାହିଁକି ବିବେଚନା କରାଯାଏ?)

Answer: The title "The Priceless Gift" is highly appropriate and emotionally resonant. A shilling is a small denomination of money with very little material value. However, the narrator considers it priceless because of the profound emotion and sacrifice attached to it. Maggie, a poverty-stricken girl, earned that coin through intense physical toil. She chose to forego her own basic needs to offer it as a tribute to her dead brother. The shilling ceases to be mere currency; it becomes a physical manifestation of a sister's pure, selfless love, grief, and supreme sacrifice. The joy and emotional weight of this gesture made the gift truly beyond any monetary price.

21. Describe the bond between the narrator and Maggie's family. How did he become an integral part of their emotional journey? (ଲେଖକ ଏବଂ ମ୍ୟାଗିର ପରିବାର ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଥିବା ସମ୍ପର୍କ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କର। ସେ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ଭାବନାତ୍ମକ ଯାତ୍ରାର ଏକ ଅବିଚ୍ଛେଦ୍ୟ ଅଙ୍ଗ କିପରି ହେଲେ?)

Answer: The bond started with simple curiosity but quickly deepened into profound empathy. The narrator was initially a stranger, but his Indian identity made him a figure of hope and mysticism for Maggie and Mrs. Bethy. By treating them with respect and listening to their fears, he gained their trust. He became deeply invested in their lives, visiting their humble home and understanding their struggles. His decision to lie to save Mrs. Bethy’s life proved his deep emotional commitment to them. Finally, by accepting Maggie's shilling and promising to visit Franky's grave, he transcended the role of an acquaintance, becoming a trusted bearer of their grief and love.

22. Based on the story, illustrate the struggles of a poverty-stricken family living in London during that era. (କାହାଣୀ ଉପରେ ଆଧାର କରି, ସେହି ଯୁଗରେ ଲଣ୍ଡନରେ ରହୁଥିବା ଏକ ଦାରିଦ୍ର୍ୟ-ପ୍ରପୀଡ଼ିତ ପରିବାରର ସଂଘର୍ଷକୁ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କର।)

Answer: The story vividly portrays the harsh realities of poverty through Maggie and Mrs. Bethy. Maggie's worn-out clothes and anxious expression immediately signal her deprived state. Their dire financial situation is highlighted by the fact that Maggie can only afford to eat at the cheap vegetarian restaurant once a week, on her pay day. They live in a cramped house with a narrow kitchen in a poor neighborhood. Furthermore, their complete financial and emotional dependence on Franky, a low-ranking soldier in a distant land, underscores their vulnerability. The climax, where Maggie sacrifices her hard-earned shilling—a coin gained through immense "toil"—brilliantly encapsulates the painful daily sacrifices poverty demands.