Sample Paper ICSE Class 10 English Literature Set J

Sample Papers

Students can refer to the following Sample Paper ICSE Class 10 English Literature Set J with Answers provided below based on the latest syllabus and examination guidelines issued for ICSE English Literature. All specimen papers have been prepared covering all chapters given in ICSE English Literature book for Class 10. You should also refer to ICSE Class 10 English Literature Solutions.

Sample Paper ICSE Class 10 English Literature Set J with Answers

Subject: English Literature

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 five questions in all from only three text books.
You must attempt at least one question from each of the Sections A, B and C
and not more than two other questions from the same books you have already
compulsorily chosen. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].
This paper has 5 printed sides.

Sample Paper ICSE Class 10 English Literature Set J
Section A
Drama – The Merchant of Venice

Question 1
         Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
Salarino: Come the full stop.
Salanio: Ha, what sayest thou? Why, the end is, he hath lost a ship.
Salarino: I would it might prove the end of his losses.
Salanio: Let me say amen betimes, lest the devil cross my prayer, for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew.
(i)    Where are the speakers? What news did Salarino give before the extract? [3]
(ii)   What was Salanio’s response to the news? Why did he want to say Amen?[3]
(iii)  What does Shylock accuse the two of? How do they respond? [3]
(iv)  What does Shylock say about Antonio? What warning does he give to  Antonio?[3]
(v)   How does Shylock’s speech reverberate with the injustice against him? How does he react to this injustice?[4]

Question 2
      Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
 Lorenzo:    O dear discretion, how his words are suited!
                      The fool hath planted in his memory
                      An army of good words: and I do know
                      A many fools, that stand in better place,
                     Gamish’d like him, that for a tricksy word
                     Defy the matter – How cheer’st thou, Jessica?
                     And now, good sweet, say thy opinion,
                     How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio’s wife?
 (i)    Where are Lorenzo and Jessica? Explain the circumstances that led them there? Why were they still here?[3]
 (ii)   Earlier, why had they decided to elope? How did the two elope? [3]
(iii)  What is Jessica’s opinion of Portia? What does she say about Bassanio in this context?[3]
(iv)  About whom is Lorenzo speaking? What prompted Lorenzo to say the above words?[3]
(v)   What are the similarities and differences in the characters of Jessica and Portia?[4]

Question 3
      Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
Bassanio:   And many Jasons come in quest of her
                      O my Antonio, had I but the means.
                      To hold a rival place with one of them.
                      I have a mind presages me such thrift:
                      That I should questionless be fortunate!
(i)   How does Bassanio describe Portia before this extract? [3]
(ii)   Explain the childhood game Bassanio refers to, to show how he could make up for the financial losses he has incurred?[3]
(iii)  What three changes was Gratiano willing to make in his behaviour in order to accompany Bassanio on his trip to Belmont?[3]
(iv)  When did Bassanio and Portia meet? What opinion do Nerissa and Portia have Bassanio?[3]
(v)  The Prince of Morocco was one of the suitors who came to court Portia. Describe his character and enlist the brave deeds that he declares he is capable of undertaking.[4]

Section B Poetry – Treasure Trove A Collection of Poems and Short
Stories
Answer one or more questions from this Section.

Question 4
      Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
            Alack, it was I who leaped at the sun
            To give it my loving friends to keep!
            Nought man could do, have I left undone:
            And you see my harvest, what I reap
            This very day, now a year is run.
           (The Patriot – Robert Browning)
(i)   Explain the reference to a Greek myth in the extract. How is it similar to the narrator’s condition?[3]
(ii)   How was everything a year ago? [3]
(iii)  Where are all the people now? What is the ‘best of sight’ that they await for?[3]
(iv)  How is the walk humiliating for him? [3]
(v)  Do you think the patriot is innocent or guilty? What is his state of mind in the end?[4]

Question 5
     Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
           With fire and sword the country round
           Was wasted far and wide,
           And many a chiding mother then,
           And new-born baby died:
           But things like that, you know, must be
           At every famous victory.
          (After Blenheim – Robert Southey)
(i)  Describe the setting of the poem. How does it sharply contrast with the images projected in this extract? [3]
(ii)  Who sis the link and source of information between the past and present? What object triggered off the narrative?[3]
(iii)  What strong images are created by the poet in the extract? How effective are the images in portraying a realistic picture of war?[3]
(iv)  What effect did the war have on the narrator’s family? What is his attitude to the war? How is it ironic? [3]
(v)  How does the poem become an example of a ballad? What is the message conveyed by the poet?[4]

Question 6
    Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
         So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
         Go throw your TV set away,
         And in its place you can install
         A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
         Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
         Ignoring all the dirty looks,
         The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,
         And children hitting you with sticks.
         Fear not, because we promise you
         (Televison – Roald Dahl)
(i)  What books did the children living long ago read? Give any three examples of such books.[3]
(ii)  Why would the children react the way it is described in the extract?[3]
(iii)  What will they do after some time? [3]
(iv) How do the children behave under the influence of television? How will they change if they are made to read instead?[3]
 (v)  How does the poet describe television? Do you agree with the poet’s views? Why?[4]

Section C Prose – Treasure Trove A Collection of Poems and
Short Stories
Answer one or more questions from only ONE of the following
books that you have studied: A Collection of Short Stories or
Animal Farm or The Call of the Wild

Question 7
        Read the following extract from R K Narayan’s short story ‘A Horse and Two Goats’ and answer the questions that follow:
        Meanwhile the foreigner cried, “Marvellous!” again, nodding his head. He paced round the statue with his eyes fixed on it. Muni sat frozen for a while, and then fidgeted and tried              to edge away. Now the other man suddenly pressed his palms together, smiled and said, “Namaste! How do you do?”
(i)  Why did the foreigner come to meet Muni? How was he dressed?[3]
(ii)  Why was Muni there? How did Muni spend his day by the roadside?[3]
(iii)  Describe the status of the horse that the foreigner was interested in. According to Muni, what was the significance of the statue?[3]
(v)  Why did the foreigner want to buy the statue? Was he Successful in his venture?[3]
(v)  How does the story end? What has appealed to you in the story? [4]

Question 8
         Read the following extract and answer the following questions with
         reference to Hans Christian Anderson’s short story, ‘The Little Match Girl’.
 It was bitterly cold, snow was falling and darkness was gathering, for it 
was the last evening of the old year – it was New Year’s Eve. In the cold 
and gloom a poor little girl walked…
(i) What is said about a poor girl in the story? [3]
(ii) What did she carry in her apron? How was he the very picture of misery?[3]
(iii) What could she see in all the windows? Where did she settle down? Why couldn’t she go home?[3]
(iv) Why did she light the match? What was the vision that she saw? [3]
(v) What was the second vision seen by the little girl? What happened to the little girl in the end?[4]

Question 9
       Answer the following questions with reference to Ernest Hemingway’s short story, ‘Old man at the bridge’.
(a) Describe the setting of the story with close reference to the Text.
(b) How does the narrator try to relieve the old man of his worries? [4]
Does he prove successful? Support your answer with instances from the story.
(c) Explain the symbolism in the story? [8]