Solving ICSE Class 10 English Literature Previous Year Question Papers ICSE Class 10 English Literature Question Paper 2022 Semester 2 is the best way to boost your preparation for the board exams.
ICSE Class 10 English Literature Question Paper 2022 Solved Semester 2
Maximum Marks: 40
Time allowed: One and a half hours
Answers to this Paper must be written on the paper provided separately.
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.
- The time given at the head of this Paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.
- Attempt all questions from Section A.
- You must attempt one question from each of the Sections B, C and D.
- The intended marks far questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].
Section -A
(Attempt all questions.)
Question 1.
Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options. (Do not copy the questions. Write the correct answer only.) [10]
(i) What did Abou Ben Adhem see in his bedroom when he awoke one night ?
(a) A fairy writing in a book of gold
(b) An angel sitting on his bed
(c) A fairy sitting on his bed
(d) An angel writing in a book of gold
Answer:
(d) An angel writing in a book of gold.
(ii) Which of the following lines from the poem, ‘Nine Gold Medals ’tells us that the poem describes an international sporting event ?
(a) The athletes had come from so many countries
(b) And nine young athletes stood there determined
(c) The eight other athletes stood in their tracks
(d) To run for the gold, for the silver and bronze
Answer:
(a) The athletes had come from so many countries.
(iii) In the poem that Margot wrote, (in Ray Bradbury’s story, ‘All Summer in a Day ’), she compares the sun to a ……..
(a) penny
(b) clock
(c) flower
(d) lemon
Answer:
(c) flower
(iv) “Aw, you didn’t write that! ” Who said these words and to whom ?
(a) Margot to one of the boys
(b) Margot to William
(c) The teacher to Margot
(d) One of the boys to Margot
Answer:
(d) One of the boys to Margot.
(v) Jesse Owens says that Hitler had kept him (Luz Long) ‘under wraps ’. What does the phrase ‘under wraps ’ mean?
(a) Wrapped in a blanket
(b) Gift wrapped
(c) A carefully concealed secret
(d) Beneath a wrapper
Answer:
(c) A carefully concealed secret.
(vi) Which Olympic event was Jesse Owens confident of winning ?
(a) The one hundred metres race
(b) The four hundred metres race
(c) The high jump
(d) The running broad jump
Answer:
(d) The running broad jump.
(vii) The Duke refers to Shylock as a ‘stony adversary’ in the opening lines of Act 4 of ‘The Merchant of Venice’. What does the phrase ‘stony adversary ’ mean ?
(a) An enemy made of rock
( b) A hard-hearted enemy
(c) A difficult enemy
(d) A dangerous enemy
Answer:
(b) A hard-hearted enemy.
(viii) “My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, the penalty and forfeit of my bond. ” Who says these words and to whom ?
(a) Portia to Antonio by Shylock to Portia
(c) Bassanio to Portia
(d) Antonio to Shylock
Answer:
(A) Shylock to Portia
(ix) Why does a quarrel break out between Nerissa and Gratiano in a final Act of ‘The Merchant of Venice ’ ?
(a) Gratiano admits that he had given away the ring which Nerissa had given to him.
(b) Nerissa admits that she had accompanied Portia to Venice disguised as a lawyer’s clerk.
(c) Gratiano is annoyed with Nerissa for giving away his ring to a stranger in Venice.
(d) Nerissa is angry with Gratianofor leaving for Venice on the very day they were married.
Answer:
(a) Gratiano admits that he had given away the ring which Nerissa had given to him.
(x) How does Lorenzo recognize Portia even before he sees her when the two young women return from Venice ?
(a) by the clothes she wears
(b) by the sound of her voice
(c) by the perfume she uses
(d) by her touch
Answer:
(b) by the sound of her voice
Section – B
(Attempt any one question from this Section)
Drama
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare – Acts 4 and 5)
Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Antonio: Commend me to your honourable wife
Tell her the process of Antonio’s end.
Say how I loved you. speak me fair in death ;
And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge
Whether Bassanio had not once a love.
Repent not you that you shall lose your friend,
And he repents not that he pays your debt ;
For, if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
I’llpay it instantly with all my heart.
(i) Who was Bassanio s ‘honourable wife ’ ? Why were the two men unaware that she was present in the room with them ? [2]
Answer:
Bassanio’s ‘honourable wife’ was Portia. The two men were unaware that Portia was present in the room because she was dressed as a lawyer.
(ii) What did Antonio urge Bassanio to tell his wife ? [2]
Answer:
Antonio urged Bassanio to tell Portia the manner in which he met his end. He should also tell her that Antonio loved him very much.
(iii) What ‘debt ’ was Antonio referring to in the above extract ? [3]
Answer:
The debt referred to in the above extract is the loan of three thousand ducats taken by Antonio from Shylock to fulfil the urgent need of Bassanio. Bassanio wanted to go to Belmont as a royal suitor but he did not have money. So Antonio borrowed money to help him.
(iv) What does Bassanio say in a response to these words of Antonio s ? What do their words tell us of the nature of the relationship between the two men ? [3]
Answer:
In response to the words of Antonio, Bassanio says that he is married to a woman whom he loves very, much. But he is ready to sacrifice his life, his wife and all the world to save the life of Antonio from the clutches of Shylock.
Question 3.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Lorenzo: How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here will I sit, and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears :
(i) To whom are these words addressed ? What message has just been delivered to Lorenzo ? [2]
Answer:
These words are addressed to Jessica. Message has been delivered to Lorenzo through Stephano that their mistress Portia is at hand and she will reach there before morning.
(ii) Where is this scene set ? Why are Lorenzo and his companion at this place ? [2]
Answer:
The scene is set in Belmont in the house of Portia. Lo-renzo and Jessica are sitting in an Avenue of Portia’s house. Lorenzo and her companion are here because they have been asked by Portia to be caretaker of her house in her absence.
(iii) How does Lorenzo describe the powerful effect of music on wild animals to his companion ? [3]
Answer:
Music has a powerful effect even on wild animals. If they hear the sound of trumpet or any musical sound they stand still. Their wild eyes become quiet and modest.
(iv) Portia and Nerissa arrive on the scene shortly after this. What reason does Portia give for their absence from home? What does she instruct Nerissa to do immediately after their arrival? [3]
Answer:
Portia says that they had been praying for their husband’s healths. She is happy that their prayer’s have been heart and their husbands are likely to return soon.
Portia instructs Nerissa to give order to the servants that they should give no indication that Portia and Nerissa had been absent from their house.
Section – C
(Attempt any one questions from this Section)
Prose – Short Stories
(Treasure Trove-A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories)
Question 4.
Read the extract from Ray Bradbury’s short story, ‘All Summer in a Day’ give below and answer the questions that follow:
The girl standing in the open, held out her hand
“Oh look, look, ” she said, trembling.
They came slowly to look at her opened palm.
In the center of it, cupped and huge, was a single rain-drop. She began to cry, looking at it. They glanced quiet¬ly at the sun.
“Oh, Oh’’
(i) How old were ‘they ’ ? What had they been doing until the girl called their attention to the raindrop ? [2]
Answer:
They were all nine years old. They had been running wildly until the girl called their attention.
(ii) Why does the girl begin to cry when she looks at the raindrop ? [2]
Answer:
The girl begins to cry, because she feels that the clouds have come and the sun is going to disappear. Their brief summer is over.
(iii) Describe the dramatic change in the weather immediately after the raindrop fell. [3]
Answer:
There was a big change. The sun faded behind the stir of mist. A cold wind began to blow.
(iv) What feeling do ‘they ’experience at the end of the story ? What had they done earlier that made them feel this way ? [3]
Answer:
At the end of the story children feel very sad. Their smiles disappear. They had seen the sun for the first time in their life. They had breathed the fresh air and listened to the silence. They had enjoyed for a brief period.
Question 5.
Read the extract from ‘My Greatest Olympic prize’by Jesse Owens given below and answer the questions that follow:
Suddenly all the tension seemed to ebb out of my body as the truth of what he said hit me. Confidently, I drew a line a full foot in back of the board and proceeded, to jump from there. I qualified with almost a foot to spare.
(i) What was the ‘truth ’ that Luz Long hadjust pointed out to Owens ? [2]
Answer:
Luz Long had just pointed out to Owens that it did not matter at all if he was not first in the qualifying trials. These trials did not matter much. What was important was the next day’s performance.
(ii) Earlier in the narrative Owens admits to feeling angry. What had caused him to feel this way ? [2]
Answer:
Having seen the tall boy i.e., Luz Long for the first time Owens felt that Hitler had intentionally kept him under wraps. He felt that Hitler had hoped to win the jump with Luz Long. This had made him feel angry.
(iii) How did the two athletes spend their time together that night ? [3]
Answer:
That night Owens walked over to Luz Long’s room to thank him for his valuable suggestion. The two athletes talked over for two hours about track and field and the world situation. This meeting brought them closer and they became good friends.
(iv) What action of Luz Long’s at the finals proved that he was a true sportsman ? What made his behaviour remarkable ? [3]
Answer:
Luz Long’s congratulating Jesse Owens proved that he was a true sportsman. He did this even when Hitler was glaring at them. This shows that for Luz Long, taking part in sports and doing one’s best was more important than victory or defeat.
Question 6.
Read the following extract from the poem ‘Abou Ben Adhem ’ by Leigh Hunt and answer the questions that follow:
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase !)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
(i) What does the poet mean by the words, ‘may his tribe increase!’? [2]
Answer:
The words ‘may his tribe increase!’ mean that the number of noble persons like Abou Ben Adhem may increase.
(ii) Mention any two words which the poet uses in this poem that are no longer in common use. [2]
Answer:
The following two words used by the poet are no longer in common use.
(a) cheerly
(b) Nay
(iii) Three different name lists are mentioned in the poem. The Angel speaks of two and Abou Ben Adhem mentions the third. What are they? [3]
Answer:
The following are the name lists mentioned in the poem.
- List containing the names of those who love the lord.
- List of those who love their fellow men.
- List of those whom love of god had blessed.
(iv) What important lesson did Abou Ben Adhem learn after his second encounter with the Angel ? What message does the poet convey to us through this ?
Answer:
After his second encounter with the Angel Abou learnt that God is pleased when we love our fellow beings. The poet conveys the message that we should cultivate fellow feelings and do everything to serve our fellow human beings.
Question 7.
Read the extract from David Roth’s poem ‘Nine Gold Medals ’ given below and answer the questions that follow:
That’s how the race ended, with nine gold medals
They came to the finish line holding hands still
And the banner above and nine smiling faces
Said more than these words ever will
Said more than these words ever will.
(i) How exactly did the race end ? [2]
Answer:
The race ended on a note of joy. Each participant was awarded a gold medal. All were thus rewarded for a rare act of empathy.
(ii) Who were ‘they ’ ? How do we know that they had put in a great deal of effort to qualify for the games ? [2]
Answer:
They were differently abled athletes who had come to participate in various sports events. They knew that the competition had to be tough. So they had put in a lot of their time in preparation and training.
(iii) Why were they holding hands and smiling when they reached the finish line ? [3]
Answer:
They were holding hands and smiling when they walked to the finishing line. This shows that they did not compete against one another out of empathy for the fallen athlete.
(iv) What did the banner over them say ? Why does the poet consider these words an appropriate description of this particular event ? [3]
Answer:
The banner over them said ‘The Special Olympics’. The poet considers these words an appropriate description because the special Olympics became really special when each participant was declared to be a winner and awarded a gold medal.