ICSE Class 10 English Language

Question Paper Solution 2016

ENGLISH LANGUAGE
ENGLISH PAPER – 1
Question 1 [25]
(Do not spend more than 35 minutes on this question.)
Write a composition (350 - 400 words) on any one of the following:
(a) Write an original short story that begins with the words: “The day started off well
enough, whoever thought it would ……….”
(b) Narrate an incident from your own experience when you expected to do very well, but
for some reason were unable to do so. Explain what happened and why it happened.
What lesson did you learn from it?
(c) “The use of Mobile Phones must be allowed in schools.” Express your views either
for or against the statement.
(d) You walk home from school one afternoon to find the door unlocked and on entering
you are shocked to see the house in total disarray. You call out but get no answer.
Describe in detail what you saw, the reason behind your house being in total disarray
and how you found your family. Mention also how the experience ended and what
impact it had on your life.
(e) Study the picture given below. Write a story or a description or an account of what it
suggests to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or you may
take suggestions from it; however, there must be clear connection between the picture
and your composition.

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Comments of Examiners
(a) The most common mistake that candidates made Suggestions for teachers
was not using the opening sentence in its entirety.
Many of those who did were not able to ‘link’ the  Students must be taught the
opening sentence with the rest of the story. There importance of writing original
was no logical connection between the first sentence content.
and the rest of the story. A serious issue that  They must be cautioned on the
emerged was the large number of candidates who dangers of plagiarism.
‘lifted’ substantially from the ICSE text – Doctor’s  Students must learn the constituents
Journal Entry and Journey by Night. of a short story: plot, character,
(b) This is a I Person account. Most candidates fared conversation, description. A regular
well, however, some of them failed to report practice from class VIII onwards
incidents that were within the plausible experience must be ensured.
of a 15-year-old. Strangely, a number of candidates  Re-emphasise the difference between
from various centres described identical a short story and a I person account.
experiences (It was mainly attempts to find out  Advise students to avoid the use of
important questions for an upcoming exam – guide books and market notes.
candidate finds that none of the predicted questions  Conducting oral debates in class is
feature in the actual exam). very helpful for this exercise.
(c) A large number of candidates opted for this topic.  Students should be advised to write
Evidently this is something that has touched their logical points in favour for/ against
lives. Candidates who scored averagely spoke in the topic. This can be started as early
favour of banning mobile phones. However, as class VI.
candidates who fared well took a more liberal  Students must be taught to address
overview and spoke cogently on why mobile phones every part of the question and
must be allowed. Some candidates strayed into the preferably follow the sequence as in
use of internet being allowed or disallowed in the question.
schools. As always there were several candidates  Picture compositions can be started at
who did not take a definite stand and therefore lost the primary level and encourage
marks. students to attempt this question.
(d) A popular choice, however, the emotions of fear and
anxiety, the impact were not narrated. It was a mere
description of events – largely burglary, kidnap, murder.
(e) Those candidates who attempted the picture composition have either produced very perceptive and
sensitively written pieces while a few were barely able to describe the picture at a very basic level.

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MARKING SCHEME
Question 1.
(a) The story must be original and must begin with the given sentence. The story may take any
form but should convey the sequence of events where the day which started off well turned out
to be either better or worse. There must be a clear difference between the beginning of the day
and its close.
(b) This is a first person account and the candidate must write from his/her own view point. The
composition should express aspiration, hope followed by disappointment and failure. The
composition should also explain the cause of the failure and what was the lesson learnt from it.
(c) Views for or against the motion are to be accepted. The child should take a clear stand and give
valid reasons for whatever stand he/she takes.
(d) A clear description is essential with the sequence of events in proper order. The child should
use his/her imagination to narrate the fear/confusion on finding the house in a mess. It is
essential for the narrative to have a proper conclusion as to how the child survived the
experience and its impact on the child.
(e) Accept a broad interpretation but keep in mind that there must be a clear connection between
the picture and the composition.

Question 2 [10]
(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.)
Select any one of the following:
(a) Your class wants to visit a well-known historical monument in a nearby town. Write a
letter to your Principal seeking permission and say why you would benefit from the visit.
(b) Your school recently held a jubilee celebration. Write a letter to your friend who was
unable to attend, giving details of the function and your role in it.

Comments of Examiners
Suggestions for teachers
(a) A majority of candidates are still not trained to write
the correct format of letter writing. Common  This must be done extensively as drill
mistakes in format were: Respected Sir/ Yours work. Since this format has remained
unchanged for several decades, it
obediently/ XYZ/ Principle (in place of Principal).
should not be too difficult to reorient
Common mistakes in Body were: Candidates did not
their lessons to include this.
name the historical monument/ the town.  Train students to underline the salient
(b) Most candidates are still not being taught the correct points of what is being asked in the
format of letter writing. Candidates did not mention question.
which jubilee was being celebrated.

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MARKING SCHEME
Question 2.
Formal Letter:
From Address
Date
To Address
Salutation [Sir/ Madam/]
Subscription. Yours faithfully
Name + surname/initial
Informal letter:
Address (Home/school)
Date
Salutation- Dear/My dear [-name]/female relative
Subscription- Yours lovingly, /Yours affectionately, /Your loving, /affectionate...
First name
Ensure that the format is correct and that the following points of each letter are clearly brought
out:
(a) Formal Letter (format, content, expression)
Name of historical building
Name of town
The benefit for visiting that monument
There must be a correlation between the essay grade and the letter expression.
(b) Informal Letter (format, content, expression)
Name of the jubilee celebration
Any two details e.g. function, date, time, chief guest, cultural event, competition, exhibition etc.
The candidate’s role in the celebration any two e.g. announcing, decorating, taking part in the
dance, play etc.
Expression
There must be a correlation between the essay grade and the letter expression.

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Question 3
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
For some time, Mother had greatly envied us our swimming, both in the daytime
and at night, but as she pointed out when we suggested she join us, she was far too old
for that sort of thing. Eventually, however, under constant pressure from us, Mother
paid a visit into town and returned to the villa coyly bearing a mysterious parcel.
Opening this she astonished us all by holding up an extraordinary shapeless garment of
black cloth, covered from top to bottom with hundreds of frills and pleats and tucks.
‘Well, what do you think of it?’ Mother asked.
We stared at the odd garment and wondered what it was for.
‘What is it?’ asked Larry at length. 10
‘It’s a bathing-costume, of course,’ said Mother. ‘What on earth did you think
it was?’
‘It looks to me like a badly-skinned whale,’ said Larry, peering at it closely.
‘You can’t possibly wear that, Mother,’ said Margo, horrified, ‘why, it looks as
though it was made in nineteen-twenty.’
‘What are all those frills and things for?’ asked Larry with interest.
‘Decoration, of course,’ said Mother indignantly.
‘What a jolly idea! Don’t forget to shake the fish out of them when you come
out of the water.’ 20
‘Well, I like it, anyway,’ Mother said firmly, wrapping the monstrosity up
again, ‘and I’m going to wear it.’
‘You’ll have to be careful you don’t get waterlogged, with all that cloth around
you,’ said Leslie seriously.
‘Mother, it’s awful; you can’t wear it,’ said Margo. ‘Why on earth didn’t you
get something more up to date?’
‘When you get to my age, dear, you can’t go around in a two-piece bathing
suit… you don’t have the figure for it.’
‘I’d love to know what sort of figure that was designed for,’ remarked Larry.
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‘You really are hopeless, Mother,’ said Margo despairingly.
‘But I like it… and I’m not asking you to wear it,’ Mother pointed out angrily.
‘That’s right, you do what you want to do,’ agreed Larry; ‘don’t be put off. It’ll
probably suit you very well if you can grow another three or four legs to go with it.’
Mother snorted indignantly and swept upstairs to try on her costume. Presently
she called to us to come and see the effect, and we all trooped up to the bedroom. Roger
the dog, was the first to enter, and on being greeted by this strange apparition clad in 40
its voluminous black costume rippling with frills, he retreated hurriedly through the
door, backwards, barking ferociously. It was some time before we could persuade him

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 that it really was Mother, and even then he kept giving her vaguely uncertain looks
from the corner of his eye. However, in spite of all opposition, Mother stuck to her tent-
like bathing-suit, and in the end we gave up.
In order to celebrate her first entry into the sea we decided to have a moonlight
picnic down at the bay, and sent an invitation to Theodore, who was the only stranger
that Mother would tolerate on such a great occasion. The day for the great immersion 50
arrived, food and wine were prepared, the boat was cleaned out and filled with cushions
and everything was ready when Theodore turned up.
(a) Give the meaning of the following words as used in the passage:
One word answers or short phrases will be accepted.
(i) peering (line 13)
(ii) ferociously (line 41)
(iii) immersion (line 49) [3]
(b) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.
(i) Why did mother not join the swimming in the beginning? [2]

(ii) Briefly describe her swimming costume. [2]

(iii) What did Larry think it was? [2]

(iv) Which sentence tells you that Margo thought it was old fashioned? [2]

(v) What was Leslie’s concern? [2]

(vi) Why did mother think it was suitable? [2]

(c) (i) In not more than 60 words describe what happened after mother went upstairs to [8]
try on her costume.
(ii) Give a title to your summary in 3 (c) (i). Give a reason to justify your choice. [2]

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Comments of Examiners
(a) Most candidates were unable to write the correct Suggestions for teachers
meaning of the words with only a few answering all
 Students must be trained to draw the
correctly.
meaning from the context and be able
(b) Questions (i), (ii), (iii), (v) and (vi) were easily
to use the correct form in the answer
understood and answers from the passage were
word as in the question word. This
correctly written. In Question 3(b) (iv) – many
can be solved to a large extent by
candidates lost 2 marks in this question as they
putting the answer word into the
paraphrased the text – a few quoted verbatim from
blank created by the question word in
the passage.
the passage.
(c) A majority of candidates did not keep to the word
 Insist that students write in their own
limit and hence were unable to answer this question
words, but also be able to
correctly, however a few wrote creative or intuitive
differentiate when a question
answers.
requires a direct quote from the
passage.
 Drawing a grid with only one word
per cell is a good practice for precis
writing. Practice narrating an
episode in correct sequential/ linear
order. Rearranging jumbled
sentences in a correct sequence at the
middle school level would also
encourage linear thinking.

MARKING SCHEME
Question 3.
(a) (i) Peering: looking closely, staring, looking with concentration, scrutinizing, examining
closely.
(ii) Ferociously: angrily, wildly, fiercely, viciously, violently
(iii) Immersion: dip in water, soaking

(b) (i) Mother pointed out that she was far too old / for that sort of thing.
(ii) An extraordinary shapeless garment / black cloth / covered from top to bottom / hundreds, frills,
pleats and tucks.
(iii) It looked to him / badly skinned whale.
(iv) Candidate must quote exactly ‘You can’t possibly wear that, Mother,’ said Margo, horrified,
‘why, it looks as though it was made in nineteen-twenty.’
(v) Leslie was concerned that fish / would get trapped in it.
(vi) Mother thought it was suitable because it went with her age / figure.

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(c) (i) Points to look for:
1. Mother called us to come and see the effect.
2. We all trooped into the bedroom.
3. Roger the dog retreated hurriedly.
4. Went backwards barking ferociously.
5. Despite reassurance, kept giving her vague uncertain looks.
6. We gave up.
Expression
(ii) Any suitable title dealing only with the precis.
Reasonable justification.

Question 4
(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.
Example:
(0) He had been (0) ______ (sit) on the bank of a small irrigation canal.
Answer: sitting
He was (1) ______ (gaze) at a couple of heron (2) ______ (fish) in the muddy water,
when he (3) ______ (feel) something bump his elbow. (4)______(look) around, he (5)
______ (find) at his side a little goat, jet black and soft as velvet with lovely grey eyes.
Neither her owner nor her mother (6) ______ (be) around.
She continued to (7) ______ (nudge) Mukesh, so he (8) ______ (look) in his pocket for [4]
nourishment.
(b) Fill in each blank with an appropriate word:
(i) There was a steep rise ______ onion prices.
(ii) Air pollution is responsible for the spread ______bronchitis.
(iii) He was ______ pressure to complete the work.
(iv) Joan jumped ______ the river to rescue the child.
(v) His teacher is very pleased ______ him.
(vi) Ali took ______ his cap and wiped his face.
(vii) The old woman could not get ______ the shock.
(viii) He should not get ______ with such rudeness. [4]

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(c) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or
so:
(i) My grandfather is very old. He is very active.
(ii) Mala is not in the classroom. Mala is not in the library.
(iii) She was so excited about her performance. She could not sleep at night.
(iv) Mumbai is densely populated. It is one of the major cities in the country. [4]

(d) Re-write 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.
(i) The book was so interesting that I could not put in down.
(Begin: The book was too ……..…………………………)
(ii) The Principal said, “All the prizes will be distributed tomorrow.”
(Begin: The Principal said that …………………………….)
(iii) Last night’s dinner was cooked for us by father.
(Begin: Father …………………………….)
(iv) If Mary catches the first bus, she will be on time for school.
(Begin: Unless …………………………...)
(v) Inspite of having high fever the girl came to school.
(Begin: Despite ……………………….)
(vi) I prefer going out with friends to staying alone at home.
(Begin: I would rather …………………………….)
(vii) Hardly had the teacher left the room, when all the children started making a
noise.
(Begin: No sooner …………………………….)
(viii) This is the funniest movie I have ever seen. [8]
(Begin: Never ……………………………)

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Comments of Examiners
(a) Most candidates answered the question correctly. Suggestions for teachers
(b) Answered correctly by most candidates.
(c) Most candidates answered correctly in (i), (ii) and  There must be insistence on
developing listening and speaking
(iii). However, they failed to score marks in (iv)
skills at the Pre-Primary and Primary
because they saw ‘Mumbai densely populated’ and levels.
‘Major cities densely populated’ as causally related.  Extensive drill work beginning at
(d) Most candidates answered incorrectly. Areas to class VII level is the only solution.
improve are Direct/ indirect; Active/passive and  The grammar syllabus is concentric
Degrees of comparison. and spiralling, hence must be
practiced extensively at initial levels
that later needs to be reinforced.

MARKING SCHEME
Question 4
(a)
1. gazing 2. fishing 3. felt 4. looking
5. found 6. was 7. nudge 8. looked
(b)
(i) in (ii) of (iii) under (iv) into
(v) with (vi) off (vii) over (viii) away
(c) (i) Although my grandfather is very old, he is very active.
(ii) Mala is neither in the classroom nor in the library.
(iii) She was so excited about her performance that she could not sleep at night.
(iv) Mumbai, which is densely populated, is one of the major cities in India.
(d) (i) The book was too interesting for me to put down.
(ii) The Principal said that all the prizes would be distributed the next day / the following day.
(iii) Father cooked last night’s dinner for us.
(iv) Unless Mary catches the first bus she will not be on time for school / she will be late for school.
(v) Despite having high fever, the girl came to school.
(vi) I would rather go out with friends than stay alone at home.
(vii) No sooner had the teacher left the room than all the children started making a noise.
(viii) Never have I seen the funnier movie than this / Never have I seen a movie funnier than this.

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Topics found difficult:
 Candidates were unable to deal with the argumentative composition and were unable to express their thoughts
convincingly.
 Candidates were unsure on the Precis Writing that showed a limited practice of the same.
 Poor reading is reflected in the comprehension passage where candidates are unable to comprehend unseen
passages without a teacher’s explanation.
 Grammar being a high scoring area witnessed candidates committing errors in the prepositions to be filled in
the blanks and open ended sentences.

General Comments:
Teachers and students should ensure the following at all levels.
1. Use of the school library / class library.
2. The creation of wall newspapers and bulletin boards.
3. Using music and singing as tools in language learning.
4. Morning assemblies must give opportunities to children for oratory and self-expression.
5. Intra and inter-class level story-telling, elocution, play-reading/ writing/ enacting and debating.
activity will go a long way in developing listening and speaking skills.

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