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Science (086) — AI-generated practice question

AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.

Q1. [3] medium thorough-understanding
When a student accidentally steps on a nail, she withdraws her foot instantly but feels the pain a moment later. Using your understanding of the nervous system, explain why the withdrawal happens before the pain is consciously felt, and identify the structures involved in each part of this sequence.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 01:03 · grounding rag
Model Answer

When the student steps on a nail, the pain signal travels to the spinal cord, where a reflex arc is completed — the input nerve connects directly to the output nerve in the spinal cord itself, causing the foot to withdraw instantly, without waiting for the brain.

Simultaneously, the signal also travels upward to the fore-brain, but this takes longer due to the complex neural processing involved. The pain is consciously felt only after the fore-brain interprets the sensory impulse.

Structures involved:

Source: Chapter 6, Section 6.1.1 (Reflex Actions); Section 6.1.2 (Human Brain)

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Explanation

Examiners look for two distinct parts: (1) the reflex arc in the spinal cord causing withdrawal, and (2) the brain (fore-brain) causing conscious pain perception after. The key phrase to use is "reflex arc formed in the spinal cord" — this directly answers why withdrawal is faster. Name the structures in sequence for full marks. Avoid vague terms like "nervous system" without specifics.

Previous-year CBSE Grade 10 board exam questions, organised by subject and chapter, each with a model answer — free to read and print.