DON BOSCOSCHOOL, PARK CIRCUS

ICSE PRE BOARD

EXAMINATION 2024-25
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
TIME: 2 HOURS
FULLMARKS:80

Maximum Marks: 80
Time allowed: 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 ofthis 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 30 minutes in answering Question 1 and 20 minutes
in

answering Ouestion 2.

Question 1:

(Do not spend more than 30 minutes on this question)

Write a composition (within 300-350 words) on any ONE of the following:- (20)
speak
i)Write an original short story that successfully brings out the truth of the statement "Actions
louder than words."
into that
ii) Think of atime when you found yourself in an embarrassing situation. Narrate how you got
situation., how you dealt with it and the lesson you learnt from it.

ii) "Only people who earn a lot of money are said to be successful today." Express your view either for
or against this statement.
iv) Describe an early morning walk through your city in winter. Give details of the smells, sights, sounds
and feelings you experienced.
v) Study the picture given below. Write a story 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 a clear connection between the picture and your composition.

This question paper consists of 6 printed pages Page

 Question 2: (10)

(Do not spend more than 20 minutes an this question)

Select any one of the following:
)Write a letter to your sister describing the medical camp which was organised in your school for an
annual health check up and the advice given to you about the lifestyle changes required to lead a healthy
life.

ofcyber crimes. Write a letter to the editor

ii) You want to raise awareness about the rising incidences
measures to prevent such
of Cyber magazine Info News", highlighting the issue and suggesting
happenings.
Question 3:
the month of December. As the
i)The Science club of your school will organise a science exhibition in
board informing the students about it
President of the Science club write a notice for the school notice
and mentioning all the required details about the participation. (5)

ii) Write an email to the Principal of a neighbouring school inviting him/her along with a group of five
thereafter fill in a feedback
science enthusiasts from his/her school to come and view the exhibition and
form at the exit counter of the exhibition venue. (5)

Question 4:

Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:
This is a legend current arnong the South American Indians.
God, say they, at first made men so that they had no need to work: they needed neither houses , nor clothes,
nor food, and they all lived till they were ahundred and did not know what illness was.
When, after some time, God looked to see how people were living, he saw that instead of being hapPy n
their lives, they quarrelled with one another, and, each caring for himself , had brought matters to suen d
pass that far from enjoying life, they cursed it.

This cuSestion naper consists nrinted nage

Page 2
 fhen God said to himself: This comes of their living separately, cach for
of things, God sO arranged matters that it became impossible himself" And to change this state
for
suffering from cold and hunger, they were now obliged to build people to live without working. To avOld
grow and gather fruits and grain. dwellings, and to dig the ground, and to
Work will bring them together," thought God.
timber, build their houses, sow and gather their They cannot make their tools , prepare and transport ther
harvests, spin and weave, and make their clothes
alone by himself." eaen oe
"It will make them understand that the more heartily they
better they will live; and this will unite them." work together, the mnore they will have and the
*Time passed on, and againGod came to see how men were living, and whether they
he found them living worse than before. They worked were now happy. But
together ( that they could not help doing), but not all
together, being broken up into little groups and each group tried to snatch work from other
hindered one another, wasting time and strength in their struggles , so that things went ill withgroups and they
them all.
Having seen that, this too, was not well, God decided so as to arrange things that man should not
time of his death but might die at any moment; and he announced this to them. know the
Knowing that each of them may die at any moment, thought God, they will not, by grasping at gains that
may last so shorta time , spoil the hours of life allotted to them.
"But it turned out otherwise. When God returned to see how people were living , he saw that their life was
as bad as ever.

Those who were strongest, availing themselves of the fact that men might die at any time, subdued those
who were weaker, killing somne and threatening others with death. And it came about that the strongest and
their descendants did no work and suffered from the weariness of idleness, while those who wereweaker
had to work beyond their strength and suffered from lack of rest. Each set of men feared and hated the other.
And the life of men became yet more unhappy.
Having seen all this, God, to mend matters, decided to make use of one last means ; he sent all kinds of
sickness among men. God thought that when men were exposed to sickness, they would understand that
those who are well should have pity on those who are sick, and should help them, that when they themselves
fall ill, those who are well might in turn help them.

And again God went away;but when He came back to see how men lived now that they were subject to
sickness, he saw that their life was worse than before. The very sickness that in Gods purpose should have
united men, had divided them more than ever. Those men who were strong enough to make others work
forced them also to wait on them in times of sickness: but they did not, in their turn, look after others who
were ill. And those who were forced to work for others and to look after them when sick, were so worn with
work that they had no time to look after their own sick, but left them without attendance. That the sight of
the sickfolk might not disturb the pleasures of the wealthy, house were arranged in which these poor people
suffered and died, far from those whose sympathy might have cheered them, and in the arms of the hired
people who nursed them without compassion, or even with disgust. Moreover, people considered many of
the illnesses infectious, and, fearing to catch them, not only avoided the sick, but even separated themselves
from them who attended the sick.
Then God said to himself: If even this means will not bring men to understand wherein their happiness lies,
let them be taught by suffering.' And God left men to themselves.
(Adapted from Work, Death and Sickness by Leo Tolstoy)
i) For each word given below, choose the correct meaning(as used in the passage) from the options
provided: (2)

1) dwellings- (line 9)
 a) buildings
b) offices
c) houses
d) markets
2) Subdued- (line 26)
a) suppressed
b) aroused
c) awakened
d) barren

ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word facilitated"? ()
a) allotted
b) hated
c) considered
d) hindered

ii) Answer the questions given below in your own words:

a) What were the conditions when God created men? (2)

b) After some time of creation how did men behave?(2)
c) What remedy did God give to solve the problem of men quarrelling with one another? (1)
(2)
d) What did God do when work failed to bring men together?
men could lead a happy life? Why?
What was the last measure introduced by God so that
e)
(2) subjected to sickness. (8)
In not more than 50 words, explain what happened when men were
iv)

Question 5 in brackets. Do
the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given
Fill in each of or phrase appropriate to the
i)
not copy the passage but write in correct serial order the word (4)
blank space:
Example:
disappeared grey. The wind (1) (pick) up
(0) (disappear) behind the clouds and the sky turned (close) the
The sun (0)
roof. Jose (2) (run) inside and (3)
old
and a few drops of rain fell on thewhat tin
(come) in through the cracks in the door
door and all the windows. Using little light that (4) (place) it on the
around until he found the lamp and (6)
and the windows, he (5) (fumble)
match and held it against the wick. It took a
table. With (7) (shake) hands, he (8) (light) a
moment to light up, but finally caught on.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:- (4)

a) The gift came a birthday card.
b) He swam the lake.
c) Bruce did not fare well his examination.
d) The scientist looked the microscope.
e) He will have to atone his misdeeds.
f) The climate is not conducive good health.
my crutches.
g) Iam now recovering well and have managed to dispense. Page 4

This question paper consists of 6 printed pages

 his subordinates.,
h) The employer exercises complete authority
Combine the sentences without 'and', 'but' or "so':- (4)
ii)
1) It was very hot last night. Icould not sleep.
a) It was too hot last night for me to not sleep.
b) It was so hot last night that I could not sleep.
c) I could not sleep last night because it was very hot.
d) Icould not sleep last night as it was hot.

2) He drew his sword. He rushed to the enemy.

a) Having drawn his sword, he rushed to the enemy.
b) Having drawn his sword he rushed to the enemy.
c) Having drawn his sword, he rushed to enemy.
d) Having drawn the sword, he rushed to his enemy.

3) The police arrived. The crowd disappeared.

a) As soon as the police arrived, the crowd, disappeared.
b) No sooner did the police arrive, than the crowd disappeared.
c) As soon as the police arrived, the crowd disappeared.
d) No sooner did the police arrive than the crowd dissappeared

4) Ileft my purse somewhere. Do you know where it is?

a) Do you know where I had left my purse?
b) Do you know where my purse was left behind?
c) Do you know where I left my purse?
d) Do you know where I would have left my purse?

Choose the correct option to rewrite the following according to the instructions given after
iv)
each sentence: (8)
1) Raju did not complete the exercise on time.
(End with a question tag)
a) Raju did not complete the exercise on time, didn't he?
b) Raju did not complete the exercise on time, hasn't he?
c) Raju did not complete the exercise on time, did he?
d) Raju did not complete the exercise on time, has he?

2) Though Reema got an expensive gift, she was not happy.

(Begin: Inspite..)
a) In spite of getting an expensive gift, Reema was not happy.
b) In spite of Reema getting an expensive gift, she was happy.
c) In spite of an expensive gift, Reema was not happy.
d) In spite of having received an expensive gift, Reema was not hapny

3) Why were you absent yesterday?" the man asked the servant.
(Begin with: The man asked the servant why...)
 a) The man asked
b) The man the servant why was he absent the day before.
asked the servant why he was absent the day
C) The man asked the before.
d) The man asked the servant why he had been absent the day before.
servant why he had been absent day
before.
4) This summer has
been the warmest in the last ten
(Rewrite using 'warm' ) years.
a) No other
summer has beenin the last ten vears as warm as
b) No other
summer has been as warm as this summer in the thus
last
one.
c) No other
summer had been as warm as this one in the last ten ten years.
d) No other
summer has been warm like this one in the last ten years.
years.
5) The last time I
spoke to her was in May.
(Begin: I...)
a) Ispoke to her in May last.
b) I spoke to her in May for the last time.
c) I last spoke to her in May.
d) I last spoke in May to her.

6) Work hard so that you do not fail.

(Use: lest)
a) Work hard, lest you should not fail.
b) Work hard lest you should fail.
c) Work hard, lest you should fail.
d) Work hard lest you should not fail.

7) The performance didn't give me any amusement.

(Use: amused)
a) I wasn't amused at the performance at all.
b) The performance amused me not in the least.
c) Iwasn't amused at all at the performance.
d) I wasn't amused by the performance at all.
8) The book was so interesting that I could not put it down.
(Begin: The book was too..)
a) The book was too interesting to put it down.
b) The book was too interesting for me to put it down.
c) The book was too interesting not to put it down.
d) The book was too interesting for me not to put it down.