Solving ICSE Class 10 English Language Previous Year Question Papers ICSE Class 10 English Language Question Paper 2017 is the best way to boost your preparation for the board exams.
ICSE Class 10 English Language Question Paper 2017 Solved
Question 1.
(Do not spend more than 35 minutes on this question.) [25]
Write a composition (350-400 words) on any one of the following:
(a) Write an original short story that begins with the words: “It was raining hard that night. In my hurry to get into the house, I didn’t notice the black car parked across the road. I realized something was wrong when ”
(b) “School days are the happiest days of our lives.” Express your views either for or against this statement.
(c) Narrate an incident from your own experience when you helped a friend who was in trouble. Explain what happened. What did you do to make the situation better ?
(d) There has been heavy rain in your city/town. You went to school but found that it was closed because of the rain. Describe the sights and sounds near the school and narrate how you finally reached home and spent the rest of the day.
(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.
Answer:
(a) Value Points
- came home quite late at night
- casually glanced, a black car was
- heard a scream, something was wrong
- came out, saw the car leaving
- entered the neighbour’s house
- Mrs. Sareen, lying in pool of blood, stabbed
- jewellery and cash looted
- police informed, Mrs. Sareen taken to hospital, life saved
(b) Value Points
- school days, the best period of life, happiest days
- full care and protection from parents, teachers
- carefree life, no tension, no worry
- friends, loved more than brothers/sisters
- happiest news of unexpected holiday
- memories of school days, school friends, never forgotten
(c) Value Points
- Naresh, my best friend, very shy, modest
- didn’t see him for a month, went to his residence
- father seriously ill, treatment going on at home
- doctor advised, be admitted in hospital
- Naresh unwilling to do it, would not tell the reason
- didn’t have money, encouraged him
- sold my gold bracelet, gave him money, stayed with him in hospital
- father remained in hospital, three days, recovered
(d) Value Points
- continuous rainfall, twenty four hours
- school closed, heavy rains, disturbed the life
- pools of water, here and there, road badly damaged
- vegetable shop closed, canvas sheet fell down, two huts near it submerged in water
- stray animals, hungry, roaming on the road
- deep pits on the road, difficulty in driving bike
- reached home with difficulty
- kept thinking about the fury of excessive rains
(e) Value Points
- animal lovers, like to keep animals, some keep elephants
- elephant huge eater, elephant keepers move about with elephants
- ask for alms to feed the elephant, provide a joy ride to children
- the girl, daughter of some elephant keeper, loves it
- elephant grown old in the family, like a family member
- recognizes the affectionate touch of the family members
Question 2.
(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.) [10] Select any one of the following:
(a) A number of loose electric wires are hanging from a lamp post near the main gate of your school. Write a letter to the Municipal Commissioner explaining the problem, the danger it poses and suggest a quick solution.
(b) You were a part of an organizing committee for an interschool event which was very successful. You and the other committee members were congratulated and praised at the school assembly by the Principal. Write a letter to your grandmother telling her about the event and your feelings at being recognized and praised in front of the school.
Answer:
(a) 154, Swam Park
Ludhiana
March 23, 20….
The Municipal Commissioner
Ward No. 38
Sir
I am writing this to draw your attention to a very serious problem. Near the main gate of our school (Little Blossoms Model School, Swam Park), a number of loose electric wires are hanging from a lamp post. May be some of them are ‘live’ wires. After the school time when groups of students come out of the school, feet of some students get entangled in these wires. I have a grave apprehension that these loose wires may become the cause of some accident if they are not attended to immediately.
I would, therefore, like to request you to take help of the electricity department and, please, get these loose wires disposed off.
Yours Sincerely
Pawan Sharma
(b) Girl’s Hostel
KRM Public School
Nakodar
Jan. 27, 20 …
Dear Grandma
I hope everything is fine at your end. I am going to share with you a piece of good news. You will be glad t to know that I was highly praised and congratulated by the principal of our school today. My joy knew no bounds. I was one of the members of an organising committee.
We organised an inter-school declamation contest in our school last week. It was a grand success. My duty was to invite students from different schools and to provide them refreshment in the school canteen. I played my part so well that all the guest speakers Went back happily. Today in a meeting the principal praised all the members of the organizing committee. He made a special mention of my name. After the meeting my friends also congratulated me. More when I come home.
Yours affectionately
Neerja
Question 3.
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Every Monday, on his way back from work, Bipin Chowdhury would drop in at New Market to buy books. He had to buy at least five at a time to last him through the week. He lived alone, was not a good mixer, had few friends, and didn’t like spending time in idle chat. Those who called in the evening got through their business quickly and left. Those who didn’t show signs of leaving would be told around eight o’clock by Bipin Babu that he was under doctor’s orders to have dinner at eight-thirty. [10]
After dinner he would rest for half an hour and then turn in with a book. This was a routine which had persisted unbroken for years.
Today, Bipin Babu had the feeling that someone was observing him from close quarters. He turned round and found himself looking at a round-faced, meek-looking man who now broke into a smile. [20]
‘I don’t suppose you recognize me.’
Bipin Babu felt ill at ease. It didn’t seem that he had ever encountered this man before. The face seemed quite unfamiliar.
‘Have we met before?’asked Bipin Babu.
The man looked greatly surprised. ‘We met every day for a whole week. I arranged for a car to take you to the Hudroo falls. My name is Parimal Ghose.’
‘Ranchi ?’
Now Bipin Babu realized this man was making a mistake. [30]
Bipin babu had never been to Ranchi. He smiled and said,
‘Do you know who lam?’
The man raised his eyebrows, and said, ‘Who doesn’t know Bipin Chowdhury?’
Bipin Babu turned towards the bookshelves and said, “You’re making a mistake, I’ve never been to Ranchi.’
The man now laughed aloud. [40]
What are you saying, Mr. Chowdhury? You had a fall in Hudroo and cut your right knee. I brought you iodine. I had fixed up a car for you to go to Netarhat the next day, but you couldn’t because of the pain in the knee. Can’t you recall anything? Someone else you know was also in Ranchi at that time. Mr. Dinesh Mukherjee. You stayed in a bungalow. You said you didn’t like hotel food. I’ll tell 50 you more: you always carried a bag with your books in it on your sightseeing trips. Am I right or not?’ [50]
Bipin Babu spoke quietly, his eyes still on the books.
‘Which month in Nineteen fifty- eight are you talking about?’
The man said, ‘October.’
‘No, sir,’ said Bipin Babu. ‘I spent October Nineteen fifty- eight with a friend in Kanpur. You’re making a 60 mistake. Good day.’ [60]
But the man didn’t go, nor did he stop talking.
‘Very strange. One evening I had tea with you on the veranda of your bungalow. You spoke about your family. You said you had no children, and that you had lost your wife a decade ago.
When Bipin Babu had paid for the books and was leaving the shop, the man was still looking at him in utter disbelief.
Bipin Babu’s car was safely parked in Bertram Street. He told the driver as he got into the car, ‘Just drive by the Ganga, will you, Sitaram.’ Driving up the Strand Road, Bipin Babu regretted having paid so much attention to the intruder. He had never been to Ranchi. He had an excellent memory.
Unless he was losing his mind!
(a) Give the meaning of the following words as used in the passage: [3]
One word answers or short phrases will be accepted.
- persisted (line 14)
- decade (line 66)
- intruder (line 75)
Answer:
- continued
- ten years
- unwanted person who interferes
(b) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words. (z) How did Bipin Chowdhury find time to read five books a week ? [2]
(ii) How did he get rid of visitors who stayed late ? [2]
(iii) Which sentence tells you that Bipin Babu was uncomfortable ? [2]
(iv) What strong argument did Bipin Babu give to prove that he was not in Ranchi at that time ?
(v) What does Bipin Babu regret? [2]
(vi) What are Bipin Babu’s feelings at the end of the passage? [2]
Answer:
(i) Bipin found time to read five books a week because he lived alone, had few friends and didn’t waste time in idle chat.
(ii) He told them plainly that he was under doctor’s orders to have dinner at eight thirty. Thus he got rid of them.
(iii) Bipin Babu felt ill at ease.
(iv) Bipin Babu told him that in October, nineteen fifty eight, he was in Kanpur, so the question of his being in Ranchi does not arise.
(v) Bipin Babu’s regret was that he had paid so much attention to the intruder unnecessarily.
(vi) At the end of the passage Bipin has the feeling that perhaps he is losing his mind.
(c) (i) What memories of the trip does Parimal Ghose evoke to prove that Bipin Babu was indeed in Ranchi ? Answer in not more than 60 words. [8]
(ii) Give a title to your summary in 3(c)(i). Give a reason to justify your choice of the title. [2]
Answer:
(i) Parimal Ghose reminds Bipin that while in Ranchi he had a fall in Hudroo and had cut his right knee. Parimal had brought him iodine. He had also fixed up a car to take Bipin to Netarhat the next day, but he had not been able to go due to pain in the knee. Parimal also mentions the name of Mr. Dinesh, Bipin’s acquaintance, he was also in Ranchi then. Parimal also told Bipin that he always carried a bag with books even on sight-seeing trips and he didn’t like hotel food.
(ii) Bipin’s Trip to Ranchi
This title is appropriate because the whole passage contains what happened in Ranchi when Bipin went there.
Question 4.
(a) Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correctform 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]
Example:
Answer: (0) started
My mother (0) _________ (start) school when she (1) _________ (be) six and (2) _________ (stop) the same term. She was unusual in the village as she had a father and brother who (3) _________ (encourage) her to go to school. She was the only girl in a class of boys and claims she was brighter than the boys. But every day she (4) _________ (will) leave behind her girl cousins (5) _________ (play) at home and she (6) _________ (envy) them. There (7) _________ (seem) to be no point in (8) _________ (go) to school just to end up doing housework. [4]
Answer:
(1) was
(2) stopped
(3) encouraged
(4) would
(5) playing
(6) would envy
(7) seemed
(8) going
(b) Fill in each blank with an appropriate word: [4]
- She shouted angrily _________ the disobedient boy.
- I asked them to provide us _________ a guide.
- The tree grew at a dangerous slant and had to be cut _________
- My daughter believes _______ fairies.
- He drew a beautiful diagram _________ the board.
- She battled her way _________ the crowd.
- We were asked to gather _________ the teacher.
- They had to climb _________ the steep pathway to reach the top.
Answer:
- at
- with
- down
- in
- on
- through
- round
- up
(c) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so : [4]
(i) This is the hospital. I was born here.
Answer:
This is the hospital where I was born.
(ii) The children have been sick for a week. They were unable to go to school.
Answer:
Having been sick for a week, the children were unable to go to school.
(iii) Mrs. Kumar has been a teacher for thirty years. She will now retire.
Answer:
Mrs. Kumar who has been a teacher for thirty years will now retire.
(iv) We have had no respect for nature. Now we are suffering from the effects of global warming.
Answer:
As we have had no respect for nature, we are now suffering from the effects of global warming.
(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: [8]
(i) Not many people read for pleasure these days.
(Begin : Few ………………)
Answer:
Few people read for pleasure these days.
(ii) Since her childhood Meera has been good in Mathematics.
(End: ………………… childhood.)
Answer:
Meera has been good in Mathematics since her childhood.
(iii) “We have had no rain since January”, Ramu said.
(Begin : Ramu said that they ………………..)
Answer:
Ramu said that they had no rain since January.
(iv) It is dangerous as well as illegal to drive a motorcycle without a helmet.
(Begin : It is not ……………..)
Answer:
It is not only dangerous but also illegal to drive a motorcycle without a helmet.
(v) He had plenty of wealth but he was not happy.
(Begin : In spite ………………)
Answer:
In spite of having plenty of wealth he was not happy.
(vi) He was so tired that he could not stand.
(Use: too)
Answer:
He was too tired to stand.
(vii) Everyone of them was an experienced mountaineer.
(Begin : There was no …………………)
Answer:
There was no inexperienced mountaineer among them.
(viii) I have never seen a film as bad as this.
(Begin : This is …………………..)
Answer:
This is the worst film that I have ever seen.