Solving ICSE Class 10 English Language Previous Year Question Papers ICSE Class 10 English Language Question Paper 2021 Semester 1 is the best way to boost your preparation for the board exams.
ICSE Class 10 English Language Question Paper 2021 Solved Semester 1
Maximum Marks: 40
Time Allowed: One hours
General Instructions :
- You will not be allowed to write during the first 10 minutes.
- This time is to be spent in reading the question paper.
- ALL QUESTIONS ARE COMPULSORY
- The marks intended for questions are given in brackets [ ].
- Select the correct option for each of the following questions.
Section – A
(Attempt all questions)
Question 1.
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
No one had ever seen Bonku Babu get cross. To tell the truth, it was difficult to imagine what he might say or do, if one day he did get angry.
It was not as if there was never any reason for him to lose his temper. For the last twenty-two years, Bonku Babu had taught Geography and Bengali at the Primary School. Every year, a new batch of students replaced the old one, but old or new, the tradition of teasing poor Bonku Babu continued among all the students.
Some drew his picture on the black-board; others put glue on his chair, or, on the night of Kali Puja, they lit a ‘chasing-rocket’ and set it off to chase him. Bonku Babu did not get upset by any of this. Only sometimes, he cleared his throat and said, ‘Shame on you, boys! ’
One of the reasons for maintaining his calm was simply that he could not afford to do otherwise. If he did lose his temper and left his j ob in a fit of pique, he knew how difficult it would then be to find another, at his age. Another reason was that in every class, there were always a few good students, even if the rest of the class was full of pranksters.
Teaching his handful of good boys was so rewarding that, to Bonku Babu, that alone made life as a teacher worth living. At times, he invited those boys to his house, offered them snacks and told them tales of foreign lands and exciting adventures. He told them about life in Africa, the discovery of North Pole, the fish in Brazil that ate human flesh, and about Atlantis, the continent submerged under that sea. He was a good storyteller, he had his audience enthralled.
During the weekend, Bonku Babu went to the lawyer, Sripati Majumdar’s house, to spend the evenings with other regulars. On a number of occasions, he had come back thinking, ‘Enough, never again!’ The reason was simply that he could put up with the pranks played in the boys in his school, but when grown, even middle-aged men started making fun of him, it became too much to bear. At these meetings that Sripati Babu hosted in the evenings, nearly everyone poked fun at Bonku Babu, sometimes bringing his endurance to breaking point.
Only the other day – less than two months ago – they were talking about ghosts. Usually, Bonku Babu kept his mouth shut. That day, for some unknown reason, he opened it and declared that he was not afraid of ghosts. That was all.
[From ‘Bonku Babu s Friend’by Satyajit Ray]
(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided :
Question 1.
calm: [1]
(a) piece of mind
(b) attitude of mind
(c) peace of mind
(d) character
Answer:
(c) peace of mind
Question 2.
submerged: [1]
(a) drowning
(b) drowned
(c) sublime
(d) subsumed
Answer:
(b) drowned
Question 3.
endurance: [1]
(a) tolerance
(b) toll
(c) bravery
(d) bearing
Answer:
(a) tolerance
(ii) Answer the following questions by choosing the correct answer from the options given below :
Question 1.
Why was it difficult to imagine what Bonku Babu might say or do. [1]
(a) He was never cross
(b) He was cross.
(c) No one has ever seen him mark a cross.
(d) There was reason for him to be cross.
Answer:
(a) He was never cross.
Question 2.
Which tradition was continued by the school ? [1]
(a) The tradition of drawing on the blackboard.
(b) The tradition of teasing Bonku Babu.
(c) The tradition of lighting crackers.
(d) The tradition of new students replacing old ones.
Answer:
(b) The tradition of teasing Bonku Babu.
Question 3.
Which sentence tells us that sometimes Bonku Babu did get upset? [1]
(a) “Bonku Babu did not get upset by any of this.”
(b) ‘Only sometimes he cleared his throat and said Shame on you boys! ’
(c) “He told them about his life in Africa.”
(d) “He told them, I have been to the North Pole.”
Answer:
(b) ‘Only sometimes he cleared his throat and said Shame on you boys!’
Question 4.
What happened on Kali Puja night ? [ 1 ]
(a) The boys lit fireworks.
(b) The boys put glue on his chair.
(c) The boys lit a chasing rocket and set it off to chase him.
(d) Bonku Babu continued teaching.
Answer:
(c) The boys lit a chasing rocket and set it off to chase him.
Question 5.
What indication is there that Bonku Babu was conscious of his age ? [1]
(a) He knew it would be difficult to find another job.
(b) He did not lose his temper.
(c) There were good students in his class.
(d) He has memories of his past.
Answer:
(a) He knew it would be difficult to find another job.
Question 6.
Apart from the consciousness about his age, what reason did Bonku Babu have for staying on ? [1]
(a) He invited boys home.
(b) He told them stories.
(c) He served them snacks.
(d) There were a few good students.
Answer:
(d) There were a few good students.
Question 7.
How did Bonku Babu spend the weekends ? [ 1 ]
(a) He went to resolve some legal matters.
(b) He put up with the pranks of the boys.
(c) He kept his mouth shut.
(d) He went to the lawyer’s house to spend the evenings with others.
Answer:
(d) He went to the lawyer’s house to spend the evenings with others.
Question 8.
What used to happen there ? [ 1 ]
(a) Even there, everyone made fun of him.
(b) Even there he met middle aged men.
(c) Even there he told stories.
(d) Even there he had his audience enthralled.
Answer:
(a) Even there, everyone made fun of him.
Question 9.
What effect did the attitude of the people at these meetings have on Bonku Babu ? [1]
(a) He was happy.
(b) He was excited.
(c) He was brought to breaking point.
(d) He was broke.
Answer:
(c) He was brought to breaking point.
Question 10.
What unusual thing happened that day ? [ 1 ]
(a) He kept his mouth shut.
(b) He kept his mind closed.
(c) He spoke up.
(d) He refused to reply.
Answer:
(c) He spoke up.
Question 11.
What impression do you have of Bonku Babu’s character? [1]
(a) Afraid of his students.
(b) A good Geography teacher.
(c) Patient and Kindly.
(d) Liked gatherings.
Answer:
(c) Patient and Kindly.
(iii) How did Bonku Babu respond to the good students ?
Question 1.
Firstly: [1]
(a) He felt like rewarding them.
(b) He received an award.
(c) He gave them awards.
(d) He felt rewarded.
Answer:
(d) He felt rewarded.
Question 2.
They also: [1]
(a) Made his teaching alive.
(b) Lived through his teaching.
(c) Made life worth living.
(d) Made him a living.
Answer:
(c) Made life worth living.
Question 3.
So, he : [1]
(a) invited him to his classes.
(b) invited them to his classes!
(c) invited them to his home.
(id) held his classes at home.
Answer:
(c) invited them to his home.
Question 4.
There he: [1]
(a) wrote books for them.
(b) served them snacks.
(c) gave them tuitions.
(d) told them ghost stories.
Answer:
(b) served them snacks.
Question 5.
Then: [1]
(a) They played pranks on him.
(b) He played pranks on them.
(c) He told the stories.
(d) He told them stories.
Answer:
(d) He told them stories.
Question 6.
He was a good storyteller and so his audience was : [1]
(a) Thrilled
(b) Enthralled
(c) Trolled
(d) Enrolled
Answer:
(b) Enthralled.
Question 2.
(i) Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the word from the options provided after each. The first one has been done for you.
A farmer (i) lived (live) on the same farm all his life. It (1) ………………….. (be) a good farm. As the years (2) ………………….. (pass) the farmer (3) ………………….. (begin) to tire and he (4) ………………….. (long) for change for something better.
1. [1]
(a) is
(b) was
(c) are
(d) on
Answer:
(b) was
2. [1]
(a) passed
(b) passinf
(c) past
(d) pass
Answer:
(a) passed
3. [1]
(d) begins
(b) begun
(c) began
(d) beginning
Answer:
(c) began
4. [1]
(a) longs
(b) longed
(c) longing
(d) longingly
Answer:
(b) longed
(ii) Choose the correct option to fill in the blanks :
Question 1.
Many species of insects were wiped …………… when the jungle was cleared. [1]
(a) of
(b) out
(c) away
(d) off
Answer:
(b) out
Question 2.
You can obtain the answer ………………… adding. [1]
(a) by
(b) to
(c) on
(d) in
Answer:
(a) by
Question 3.
On hearing the siren, I pulled ……………. stopped the car. [1]
(a) in
(b) up
(c) down
(d) over
Answer:
(a) in
Question 4.
I intend to visit my parents …………….. this weekend [1]
(a) during
(b) on
(c) at
(d) in
Answer:
(b) on
(iii) Choose the correct option to join the following sentences without using ‘and’, ‘but’ or ‘so’:
Question 1.
He will be late. It is certain. [1]
(a) He is certainly late.
(b) It is late he will be certain.
(c) He is certain to be late.
(d) He is certain that he will be late.
Answer:
(d) He is certain that he will be late.
Question 2.
She keeps her money in the purse. This is the purse. [1]
(a) She keeps the purse with the money.
(b) This is the purse where she keeps her money .
(c) This is the money which she keeps in the purse.
(d) The money in the purse is here.
Answer:
(b) This is the purse where she keeps her money.
Question 3.
He said something. I did not hear. [1]
(a) I hear he said something.
(b) I heard something what he said.
(c) I did not hear what he said.
(d) I did hear what he said.
Answer:
(c) I did not hear what he said.
Question 4.
He may be blunt. He is at least honest. [1]
(a) Although he is blunt, he is at least honest.
(b) He may be blunt and honest at least.
(c) He is blunt and at least honest.
(d) He is at least blunt and honest.
Answer:
(a) Although he is blunt, he is at least honest.
Question 3.
(i) Read each sentence with its instructions, choose the correct answer from the options provided beneath each.
Question 1.
The news has been brought to us by him. [ 1 ]
(Begin: He ……………)
(a) He brought us the news.
(b) He was brought the news to us.
(c) He has brought us the news.
(d) He bought us the news.
Answer:
(c) He has brought us the news.
Question 2.
The National Anthem began when I reached school. [1]
(Begin: No sooner ……………)
(a) No sooner had the National Anthem began then I reached school.
(b) No sooner had I reached school than the National Anthem began.
(c) No sooner does the National Anthem begin than I reached school.
(d) No sooner had I reached school then the National . Anthem began.
Answer:
(b) No sooner had I reached school than the National Anthem began.
Question 3.
Rajiv is too weak to walk. [1]
(Begin: Rajiv is so.)
(a) Rajiv is so weak so he cannot walk.
(b) Rajiv is so weak to walk.
(c) Rajiv is so weak that he cannot walk.
(d) Rajiv is so weak that he can walk.
Answer:
(c) Rajiv is so weak that he cannot walk.
Question 4.
It is dangerous as well as illegal to ride a motorcycle without a helmet. . [1]
(Begin : It is not…….)
(a) It is not dangerous but illegal to ride a motorcy-cle without a helmet.
(b) It is not only dangerous but also illegal to ride a motorcycle without a helmet.
(c) It is not only dangerous and also illegal to ride a motorcycle without a helmet.
(d) It is not only dangerous and illegal to ride a mo-torcycle without a helmet.
Answer:
(b) It is not only dangerous but also illegal to ride a motorcycle without a helmet.
Question 5.
Nima would rather read a book than watch a movie. [1]
(Rewrite using ‘Prefer )
(a) Nima would rather prefer the movie to the book.
(b) Nima would prefer reading a book to watching a movie.
(c) Nima would prefer watched a movie to reading a book.
(d) Nima would prefer the book to watching a movie.
Answer:
(b) Nima would prefer reading a book to watching a movie.
Question 6.
He said, “Will you listen to such a man?” [1]
(Begin : He asked…)
(a) He asked them to listen to such a man.
(b) He asked them would you listen to such a man.
(c) He asked them whether they would listen to such a man.
(d) He asked them not to listen to such a man.
Answer:
(c) He asked them whether they would listen to such a man.
Question 7.
If you tell me the truth, I shall not punish you. [ 1 ]
(Use: ‘unless)
(a) Unless you tell me the truth, I shall punish you.
(b) Unless I punish you, you shall not tell me the truth.
(c) Unless I punish you, you shall tell me the truth.
(d) Unless you tell me the truth, I shall not punish you.
Answer:
(a) Unless you tell me the truth, I shall punish you.
Question 8.
In spite of repeated warnings Anshul paid no heed. [1]
(Use: ‘Despite)
(a) Despite paying repeated warnings Anshul does not heed.
(b) Despite repeated warnings Anshul paid no heed.
(c) Despite paying no heed Anshul has been repeat-edly warned.
(d) Despite of repeated warning Anshul paid no heed.
Answer:
(b) Despite repeated warnings Anshul paid no heed.