ICSE 10th Literature in English Sample Paper 08 Page 1

Sample Paper 08
ICSE Class X 2024-25
Literature in English
English Paper - 2
Time: 2 Hours Max. Marks: 80
General Instructions:
1. Answer to this Paper must be written on the paper provided separately.
2. You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes.
3. This time is to be spent in reading the question paper.
4. The time given at the head of this Paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.
5. The paper has four Sections.
6. Section A is compulsory-All questions in Section A must be answered.
7. You must attempt one question from each of the Sections B, C and D and one other question from any
Section of your choice.
8. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].

SECTION - A
(Attempt all questions from this Section)

QUESTION 1.
Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options.
(Do not copy the question, write the correct answers only)

(i) What tokens does Portia, disguised as lawyer, ask from Antonio and Bassanio?
(a) Gloves and Ring (b) Diamonds and Rubies
(c) A letter of thanks (d) Boots and Ring

(ii) How thick was the hide of the crocodile in The Blue Bead?
(a) Two inches thick (b) Three inches thick
(c) Around one inch thick (d) Around one and a half inches thick

(iii) In Act III Scene IV, why does Portia say that Nerissa and she will see “our husbands/before they think of
us”?
(a) She plans to disguise herself and Nerissa as men and follow their husbands
(b) She is planning a surprise for them
(c) They will come back very soon
(d) All of the above

(iv) In the story All Summer in a Day which city did Margot live in when she inhabited Earth?
(a) Osaka (b) Dallas
(c) New York (d) Ohio

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(v) In the poem Abou Ben Adhem, how does Adhem speak to the angel?
(a) With humility (b) With sarcasm
(c) With pride (d) In sleepy voice

(vi) In the story An Angel in Disguise Mr. Joe Thompson can rightly be called _____.
(a) kindness incarnate (b) fatherly figure
(c) sympathy incarnate (d) love incarnate

(vii) Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
1. Jesse Owens reaches Berlin, Germany.
2. Jesse Owens goes to Luz Long’s room.
3. Jesse Owens came to know about Luz Long.
4. Jesse Owens fouls in his first two attempts in the trial.
(a) 1, 4, 3, 2 (b) 1, 3, 4, 2
(c) 2, 4, 1, 3 (d) 4, 3, 2, 1

(viii) As Act IV ends, where does Portia send Nerissa?

(a) To Shylock’s house (b) Back to Belmont
(c) To find Bassanio (d) To find Antonio

(ix) Select the option that shows the correct relationship between statements (1) and (2) from ‘The Little Match
Girl’.
1. The little match girl list the match stick to get some warmth.
2. The little match girl did not want to go back to her house.
(a) 1 is the cause of 2 (b) 1 is an example of 2
(c) 1 is independent of 2 (d) 1 is a contradiction of 2

(x) In the poem Nine Gold Medals the poet presents which of the following moral?
(a) It is okay to fall down in a while
(b) Compassion is more important than competition
(c) Winning is not very important
(d) All of the above

(xi) The mood described in the opening stanza of the poem The Patriot is _____.
(a) noisy
(b) celebratory
(c) glory
(d) filled with anger

(xii) Shylock says, ‘I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes?’ What theme is explored in his speech?
(a) People are tolerant of other religions and belief systems
(b) Jews are superior to Christians
(c) The treatment of the religions is hypocritical
(d) Revenge is completely unacceptable

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(xiii) In the poem I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the free bird demonstrates freedom and power when it
(a) stalks down its narrow cage (b) sings with a fearful trill
(c) shouts on a nightmare scream (d) claims the sky

(xiv) When she is disguised as Balthazar, what argument does Portia make for Shylock showing mercy?
(a) Mercy is a blessing (b) Shylock will earn respect
(c) It is the law (d) None of these

(xv) In the poem Daffodils “A poet could not be but gay, in such a jocund company!” Here ‘jocund company’
refers to the _____.
(a) waves (b) friends of the poets
(c) daffodils (d) stars

(xvi) Where does Portia tell Lorenzo that she has been?
(a) ‘Praying for our husbands’ welfare’ (b) ‘In the courtroom in Venice’
(c) ‘Tending to the work of a wife’ (d) ‘Visiting mine uncle in Padua’

SECTION - B
(Answer one or more questions from this Section)

DRAMA
The Merchant of Venice
By William Shakespeare

QUESTION 2.
Read the following extract from Act III Scene II of the Merchant of Venice and answer the questions that follow.
... But now I was the lord
of this fair mansion, master of my servants,
Queen o’er myself. And even now, but now, This house, these servants and this same myself, Are yours,
my lord’s : I give them with this ring, Which when you part from, lose, or give away, Let is presage the
ruin of your love,
And be my vantage to exclaim on you.

(i) Why was Bassanio in Belmont?

(ii) “I was the lord of this fair mansion.” Explain with reference to the above line.

(iii) Where are Portia and Bassanio? What has just taken place which makes Portia speak these words? What
inscription was given in the lead casket?

(iv) Why is Bassanio’s happiness multiplied ? What promises does he make? Does he keep his promise?

(v) Why did Bassanio become completely speechless? Is his happiness short lived? If yes, then why?

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QUESTION 3.
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.
Shylock : What judgement shall I dread, doing no wrong?
You have among you many a purchased slave,
Which-like your asses and your dogs and mules-
You use in abject and in slavish parts,
Because you bought them. Shall I say to you,
Let them be free! Marry them to your heirs!
Why sweat they under burdens? Let their beds
Be made as soft as yours and let their palates
Be seasoned with such viands? You will answer,
“The slaves are ours.” So do I answer you.
The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,
Is dearly bought. ‘Tis mine and I will have it.

(i) What reason does Shylock give to justify his refusal to accept the loan amount?

(ii) What offer does Bassanio put forth to save Antonio? How does Shylock react to it?

(iii) What does the Duke tell Shylock?

(iv) What is Shylock’s reaction to the Duke’s statement?

(v) How does Shylock’s reason his stance regarding the bond?

SECTION - C
(Answer any one or more questions from this Section)

PROSE : Short Stories

(Treasure Trove – A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories)

QUESTION 4.
Read the given extract from All Summer in a Day and answer the questions that follow.
‘Ready’
‘Ready’
‘Now?’
‘Soon.’
‘Do the scientists really know? Will it happen today, will it?’
‘Look, look; see for yourself!’
The children pressed to each other like so many roses, so many weeds, intermixed, peering out for a look at
the hidden Sun.
It rained.

(i) What are the scientists expected to know? Who are questioning the scientists?

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(ii) The story opens with the question ‘Ready?’ What are the characters getting ready for?

(iii) Why do you think the Sun is hidden? When is it expected to come out?

(iv) Why are the children peering out? Why had they not seen it before?

(v) Compare the knowledge of the children in the extract about the Sun with that of Margot. Who is correct
and why?

QUESTION 5.
Read the following extract from Hans Christian Andersen’s story The Little Match Girl and answer the questions
given below.
“She drew another match against the wall: it was again light, and in the lustre there stood the old
grandmother, so bright and radiant, so mild and with such an expression of love”.

(i) Describe the condition of the girl.

(ii) Why was the little girl lighting matches?

(iii) What is significant about the match she lit in the extract?

(iv) What do you think was the girl’s reaction upon seeing her grandmother?

(v) Why did the girl see the vision of her grandmother? Why did this vision prove to be the last one for her?

SECTION - D
(Answer one or more questions from this Section)

POETRY
(Treasure Trove : A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories)

QUESTION 6.
Read the following extract from the poem I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou and answer the
questions that follow.
The caged birds sings with a fearful trill,
of things unknown but longed for still
And his true is heard on the distant hill for
The caged bird sings of freedom

(i) What similarity can be drawn between the poet’s feelings and that of the cage bird?

(ii) What is meant by ‘a fearful trill of things unknown’ ?

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(iii) What song is the bird singing? Why?

(iv) What is the encaged bird fearful of?

(v) What does the caged birds’ song signify with the reference to the poet’s life?

QUESTION 7.
Read the following extract from the poem Nine Gold Medals by David Lee Roth and answer the questions that
follow.
The athletes had come from so many countries
To run for the gold, for the silver and bronze
Many weeks and months in training
All building up to the games.

(i) What sports event is taking place?

(ii) What event was going to begin? How many participants were a part of this event?

(iii) Why had the ‘athletes’ mentioned in the above lines gathered?

(iv) What do you think was the mood of the spectators?

(v) Do you think that the title of the poem is justified? Elaborate.

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