Students can refer to the following Sample Paper ICSE Class 10 English Language Set A with Answers provided below based on the latest syllabus and examination guidelines issued for ICSE English Language. All specimen papers have been prepared covering all chapters given in ICSE English Language book for Class 10. You should also refer to ICSE Class 10 English Language Solutions.
Sample Paper ICSE Class 10 English Language Set A with Answers
STD: X
Total marks: 80
Sample Paper ICSE Class 10 English Language Set A
Paper 1
(Two hours)
Answers to this Paper must be written on the paper provided separately.
You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes.
This time is to be spent in reading the question paper.
The time given at the head of this paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.
Attempt all five questions
The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].
You are advised to spend not more than 35 minutes in answering Question 1 and 20 minutes in answering Question2.
Question 1
(Do not spend more than 35 minutes on this question.)
Write a composition (300 – 350) words on any one of the following: [20]
a.) Write a story which brings out the truth of the saying – “Leopards cannot change their spots”.
b.) „Co-education schools are better equipped to teach gender equality than single-sex schools‟. Express your views either for or against this statement.
c.) Describe a scene at the airport when an aeroplane lands.
d.) You have gone on a school picnic by bus. While returning home your bus broke down. Narrate what happened after that and how you managed to reach home late at night.
e.) Study the picture given below. Write a story or an account of what the picture suggests to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or may take suggestions from it.
Question 2. Select one of the following: [10]
(a.) Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper expressing your concern for the safety of women in your state.
(b.) Write a letter to your cousin, who has gone abroad for pursuing higher studies, giving her information about what you are planning to do for your grandparent‟s 50th marriage anniversary.
Question 3 [5 +5]
(a) Your school is organising a Summer Camp for the students of classes I to VIII from June 15 to 25, 2021 in which students will be taught a number of activities like making best out of waste, music, dance, self-defence and horse riding. As the Head Boy/Head Girl of your school, write a notice for your school asking the students interested in joining the camp to submit their names to you.
(b) Write an e-mail to a famous celebrity, requesting him to be the Guest of Honour at the inauguration of the Summer Camp.
Question 4. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband‟s death. It was her sister Josephine who gave her the news in broken sentences. Her husband‟s friend, Richards was there, too, near her. It was he who had been in the newspaper office when intelligence of the railroad disaster was received, with Brently Mallard‟s name leading the list of the „killed‟. 5
Mrs. Mallard sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite motionless. She was beginning to recognize one thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will. When she abandoned herself to her fate, a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under the breath: “free, free, free!” The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it 10 went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.
She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, was grey and dead. But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of freedom for years to come that would 15 belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome. There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature.
And yet she had loved him, sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! What 20 could love count for in the face of this possession of self- assertion which she suddenly recognised as the strongest impulse of her being! “Free! Body and soul free!‟‟ she kept whispering. Josephine was kneeling before closed door with her lips to the keyhole, imploring for admission. “Louise, open the door! I beg; open the door – you will make yourself ill. What are you doing, Louise? For heaven‟s sake open the door.‟‟ 25
Louise arose at length and opened the door to her sister‟s call. There was a feverish triumph in her eyes and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory. She clasped her sister‟s waist and together they descended the stairs. Richards stood waiting for them at the bottom. Someone was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack ….. 30
and umbrella. He had been far from the scene of the accident, and did not even know there had been one. He stood amazed at Josephine‟s piercing cry; and at Richard‟s quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife.
When the doctors came, they said Louise had died of heart disease – one of the excessive joys that kill.
(a.) Give the meaning of each word as used in the passage. One word answer or short phrases will be accepted. [3]
(b.) Answer the following questions:
(i) What was the one thing that was approaching to possess Mrs. Mallard? What sudden change was noticed in Mrs. Mallard‟s appearance? [2]
(ii) What were Mrs. Mallard thoughts on her husband‟s death and about the future? [2]
(iii) How did Mrs. Mallard appear, when she opened the door at her sister‟s call? [1]
(iv) Explain in your own words the cause of Louise‟s death? [2]
(v) What surprising element and its impact were brought about at the end of the passage? [2]
(c.) In not more than 50 words, state the impact of the news of Brently Mallard‟s death on Mrs. Mallard. [8]
Question 5
(a) Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order, the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space. [4]
No matter how good technology 0……….. [become] you can‟t beat instinct, especially if it is the case of Anny, a young detective dog, fresh out of training. It was routine (i)……….. (prance) around Mumbai Airport for her when she suddenly (ii) …………. (sniff) something that(iii) …………(make) her sit up. In seconds she (iv) …………. (run) towards a woman with such force that her handler fell. The woman on Anny‟s radar was a tourist who (v)………..(alight) from an International Airlines flight at 4.00 a.m. The haul, Anny detected amounted to Rs. 3.2 crore. The drug (vi) …………. (conceal) in cardboard boxes wrapped so well in (vii)……..(embroider) lace that they would never have appeared suspicious but for Anny‟s sense of smell. This was Anny‟s first catch after a three month‟s (viii) ………..(train) at the BSF Institute near Gwalior.
- 0. becomes
- i ………………………………. ii ……………………………….
- iii………………………….. iv………………………………
- v …………………………… vi ………………………………
- vii………………………….. viii……………………………..
(b) Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word. [4]
(i) Smita has just come………a fortune.
(ii) My neighbour is too miserly to…………..money.
(iii) We couldn‟t help laughing………………… the child‟s antics.
(iv) The ship appeared…………………. the horizon.
(v) My scooter is always breaking………………….
(vi) Courage will carry him…………………difficulties.
(vii) The principal called………written explanation.
(viii) Rita felt offended……his remarks.
(c) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. [4]
(i) He is very ill. He can‟t walk to the bathroom.
(ii) It rained heavily. We could not play football.
(iii) My friend went abroad. Six months have passed.
(iv) He finished his work. He went to play.
(d) Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of each sentence. [8]
(i) In spite of the heavy rain, a large number of students were present.
(Begin: though)…………..
(ii) If you wear thin clothes you will feel cold.
(Use: unless…….)
(iii) No other planet is as big as Jupiter.
(Use: bigger…………………)
(iv) Call the fire brigade before the fire destroys everything.
(Begin: we had…………….)
(v) Although he was selected for the post, he did not join the office.
(Begin: Despite………….)
(vi) Since children have problems, schools have counsellors.
(Begin: Schools…………)
(vii) Only a prince can afford to live such a life of luxury.
(Use: except…………….)
(viii) Apparently, it is a good proposal.
(Use: appears…………..)