ICSE Class 10 Question Paper 2024 English Language

ICSE
QUESTION
PAPER
2024

U DY MA
S TE
E
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S

IA
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE
(ENGLISH PAPER – 1)

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 of this 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
Question 2.

Question 1

(Do not spend more than 30 minutes on this question.) [20]

Write a composition (300 - 350 words) on any one of the following:

(i) Write an original short story entitled ‘A Strange Visitor’.

(ii) Narrate an incident from your experience in which your parents had entrusted
you with a difficult task. Give details of the task, how you carried it out and
your feelings at the end.

(iii) Describe how you spend your time on a holiday afternoon. Why do you think
it is necessary to have these times of quietness and solitude?

(iv) Express your views either for or against the statement ‘Junk food should be
banned’.

This paper consists of 8 printed pages.
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© Copyright reserved.

(v) 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 a clear
connection between the picture and your composition.

Question 2 [10]
(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.)
Select any one of the following:
(i) Your friend was absent from school on a day when an unfortunate incident
took place for which you were blamed. Write a letter to your friend giving
details about the incident, your role in it and how the matter was finally
resolved.

(ii) You wish to stage a play to create awareness about the importance of saving
electricity. Write a letter to the Manager of a nearby shopping
mall/supermarket requesting permission to use the space in front of the
shopping mall/supermarket to stage the play. Give him/her details about your
requirements and state why the play will be beneficial to the shoppers.

Question 3

(i) Your school is hosting an Inter School Dance Competition. Write a notice to [5]
be put up on your school notice board informing the students about the event.

(ii) Write an email to the Principal of a neighbouring school to request him/her to [5]
send their dance teacher to act as a judge for the competition.

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Question 4
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Ashamanja Babu lived in a small flat in Bhowanipore. A clerk in the registry
department of Lajpat Rai Post Office, Ashamanja Babu was fortunate as he
could walk to his office in seven minutes flat without having to fight his way
into the buses and trains of Calcutta. He lived a rather carefree life as he was
not the kind of person to sit and brood about what might have been had Fate
been kinder to him. On the whole, he was quite content with his lot. Two Hindi
films and fish twice a week – these were enough to keep him happy. The only
thing that perturbed him at times was his lack of companionship. A bachelor
with few friends and relatives, he often wished he had a dog to keep him
company. It need not be a huge Alsatian like the one owned by the Talukdars, 10
who lived two houses down the lane; it could be any ordinary little dog which
would follow him around morning and evening, wag its tail when he came
home from work and obey his orders faithfully. Ashamanja Babu’s secret
desires were that he would speak to his dog in English. ‘Stand up’, ‘Sit down’,
‘Shake hands’ – how nice it would be if his dog obeyed such commands! That
would make him really happy.

On a cloudy day marked by a steady drizzle, Ashamanja Babu went to the
market in Hashimara to buy some oranges. At one end of the market, beside a
stunted kul tree, sat a man. As their eyes met, the man smiled. Was he a
beggar? His clothes made him look like one. Ashamanja Babu noticed at least 20
five sewn-on patches on his trousers and jacket. But the man didn’t have a
begging bowl. Instead, by his side was a shoe-box with a little pup sticking its
head out of it.

‘Good morning!’ said the man in English. Ashamanja Babu was obliged to
return the greeting.

‘Buy dog? Dog buy? Very good dog.’ The man had taken the pup out of the
box and had put it down on the ground. ‘Very cheap. Very good. Happy dog.’

The pup shook the raindrops off its coat, looked at Ashamanja Babu and
wagged its minuscule two-inch tail. Ashamanja Babu moved closer to the pup,
crouched on the ground and stretched out his hand. The pup gave his ring 30

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finger a lick with its pink tongue. Nice, friendly dog.

‘How much? What price?’

‘Ten rupees.’

A little haggling and the price came down to seven rupees. Ashamanja Babu
paid the money, put the pup back in the shoe-box, closed the lid to save it from
the drizzle, and turned homewards, forgetting all about the oranges.

— Ashamanja Babu’s Dog by Satyajit Ray

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the [2]
passage) from the options provided:

1. perturbed (line 8)

(a) frightened

(b) unsettled

(c) confused

(d) mocked

2. stunted (line 19)

(a) prevented from growing

(b) prepared for tricks

(c) prevented from taking action

(d) allowed to do stunts

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word ‘expensive’? [1]

(a) carefree

(b) ordinary

(c) cheap

(d) haggling

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:

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(a) What kept Ashamanja Babu happy? [2]

(b) What does this tell you about him? [2]

(c) What is that one other thing he needed to complete his happiness? [1]

(d) Why did Ashamanja Babu think the man was a beggar? [2]

(e) Why did Ashamanja Babu forget about his oranges? [2]

(iv) In not more than 50 words, narrate the series of events from the time the puppy [8]
was taken out of the box till it was paid for.

Question 5

(i) Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in [4]
brackets. Do not copy the passage but write in correct serial order the word or
phrase appropriate to the blank space.

Example:

Next day my uncle (0) __________ (spend) a lot of time.

Answer: (0) spent

He (1) __________ (select) clothes for me, and my aunt (2) __________
(give) my face a scrub and (3) __________ (groom) me. My uncle
(4) __________ (follow) me about (5) __________ (utter) several pieces of
advice before (6) __________ (let) me out. ‘You must never scowl even if the
sun (7) __________ (hit) you in the eyes. You must try (8) __________ (look)
pleasant.’

(ii) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words. [4]

(a) There’s a black cat sitting __________ the wall.

(b) The horse jumped __________ the hedge.

(c) Mother goes __________ the market every day.

(d) Several people have climbed Mount Everest __________ recent years.

(e) I often go to school __________ my friend.

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(f) I have left my keys __________ home.

(g) Instead of talking, prove your worth __________ doing something.

(h) I have not slept __________ yesterday.

(iii) Choose the correct option to make one complete sentence without using and, [4]
but or so.

1. The magician took pity on the mouse. He turned it into a cat.

(a) Showing pity on the mouse he turned it into a cat.

(b) Taking pity on the mouse he turned it into a cat.

(c) The magician turned the mouse into a cat by taking pity.

(d) Taking pity on the mouse the magician turned it into a cat.

2. This work must be completed. There is a deadline.

(a) Since this work must be completed, there is a deadline.

(b) This work must be completed because there is a deadline.

(c) This work must be completed though there is a deadline.

(d) This work must be completed when there is a deadline.

3. He fled somewhere. His pursuers could not follow him.

(a) He fled where his pursuers could not follow him.

(b) He pursued somewhere his followers could not flee.

(c) He fled somewhere when his pursuers could not follow him.

(d) He fled where his pursuers cannot follow him.

4. He began late. He finished first.

(a) He finished first and began late.

(b) He began first but finished late.

(c) Though he finished late, he began first.

(d) Though he began late, he finished first.

(iv) Choose the correct option and rewrite the sentence according to the instruction [8]

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given after each.

1. Arun and Nikhil had climbed the mountain.
(Add a question tag)

(a) Arun and Nikhil had climbed the mountain, didn’t they?

(b) Arun and Nikhil had climbed the mountain, had they?

(c) Arun and Nikhil had climbed the mountain, hadn’t they?

(d) Arun and Nikhil had climbed the mountain, did they?

2. The children have broken the window pane.
(Begin: The window pane…………)

(a) The window pane had been broken by the children.

(b) The window pane has been broken by the children.

(c) The window pane has not been broken by the children.

(d) The window pane had not been broken by the children.

3. The apples are so cheap that they cannot be good.
(Use: ‘too’)

(a) The apples are too cheap and good.

(b) The apples are too cheap as well as good.

(c) The apples are too good to be cheap.

(d) The apples are too cheap to be good.

4. She is very clever and beautiful.
(Use: ‘not only’)

(a) Not only is she very clever but also beautiful.
(b) Not only was she beautiful and she was also clever.
(c) Not only is she clever she was also very beautiful.
(d) Not only was she very beautiful but is also clever.

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5. I prefer a simple vanilla ice cream to fancy desserts.
(Begin: I would rather……)

(a) I would rather have a simple vanilla ice cream to fancy desserts.
(b) I would rather have a simple vanilla ice cream than fancy desserts.
(c) I would rather prefer a simple vanilla ice cream than fancy desserts.
(d) I would rather have a vanilla ice cream than a fancy dessert.

6. He asked, “When do you intend to make the payment?”
(Begin: He asked ……)

(a) He asked when he did intend to make the payment.

(b) He asked when she is intending to make the payment.

(c) He asked when I intended to make the payment.

(d) He asked when they are intending to make the payment.

7. If the rain does not stop, Mariam will not be able to do the laundry.
(Begin: Unless….)

(a) Unless the rain does not stop, Mariam will not be able to do the
laundry.
(b) Unless Mariam does the laundry, the rain will not stop.
(c) Unless the rain stop, Mariam will not be able to do the laundry.
(d) Unless the rain stops, Mariam will not be able to do the laundry.

8. This is the best movie I have ever seen.
(Begin: Never….)

(a) Never had I seen a good movie than this.

(b) Never I have seen a better movie than this.

(c) Never have I seen a better movie than this.

(d) I have never seen a good movie as this.

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CISCE STUDY MATERIAL

ICSE ISC

INFORMATION CLASS STUDY MATERIAL

1 Time Table 9 Specimen Paper
10 Specimen Paper
2 Result
11 Specimen Paper
3 Syllabus 12 Specimen Paper

OTHER RESOURCES
10 Question Paper
Maps of India, Maps of World
Writing Skill Formats 12 Question Paper
Periodic Table
9/10 Lab Manuals
BOOKS 11/12 Lab Manuals
ICSE Class 10 Prescribed Books
ISC Class 12 Prescribed Books
ISC Class 12 Project Work

ENTRANCE EXAMS

JEE Main CLAT CUET UG
JEE Advanced NEET UG Fashion & Design