english icse class x

7/25/2019 English icse class x

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English 2

Literature in English

(Two hours)

Answer to this Paper must be written on the paper provided separately.You will not be

allowed to write duringthe 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

Attemptonequestion each from Section A, B and Cand any othertwo questions.

You should answer five questions in all. All the questions carry equal marks

Section A Drama The Merchant of Venice: William Shakespeare

Question 1

Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

Nerissa

Your father was ever virtuous; and holy men at their

Death have good inspirations: therefore the lottery,

That he hath devised in these three chests of gold,

Silver and lead, whereof who chooses his meaning

Chooses you, will, no doubt, never be chosen by any

Rightly but one who shall rightly love. But what

Warmth is there in your affection towards any of

These princely suitors that are already come?

(a) How does Portia respond to these words of Nerissa?

(b) Depict the lottery discussed in the extract.

(c) Give the responses of Portia and that of Nerissa to the lottery.

(d) Portia is melancholic in the opening of the scene so also is Antonio in the earlier scene.

Bring out the difference between Antonios melancholy and that of Portia.

(e) This scene expresses a mood of melancholy, anxiety and suspense. Discuss.

Question 2


Shylock

[Aside] how like a fawning publican he looks!

I hate him for he is a Christian,

But more for that in low simplicity

He lends out money gratis and brings down

The rate of usance here with us in Venice.

If I can catch him once upon the hip,

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.He hates our sacred nation, and he rails,

Even there where merchants most do congregate,

On me, my bargains and my well-won thrift,

Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe,

If I forgive him!

(a) Why does Shylock hate Antonio and call him a fawning publican?

(b) Explain:If I can catch him once upon the hip,

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.

(c) What ancient resentment does Shylock have against Antonio?

(d) What is the sacred nation refer to here? What are the insults Antonio had piled upon

Shylock?

(e) What is Shylocks plan to get hold of the money immediately? Comment on the character

of Shylock based on his plan.


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Section B Poetry

Question 3


The Sun in the heaven was shining gay,

All things were joyful on that day;

The sea-birds screamd as they wheeld round,

And there was joyaunce in their sound.

The buoy of the Inchcape Bell was seen

A darker speck on the ocean green;

Sir Ralph the Rover walkd his deck,

And fix'd his eye on the darker speck.

He felt the cheering power of spring,

It made him whistle, it made him sing;

His heart was mirthful to excess,

But the Rovers mirth was wickedness.

His eye was air the Inchcape Float;

Quoth he, My men, put out the boat,

And row me to the Inchcape Rock,

And Ill plague the Abbot of Aberbrothok.(a) Explain with reference to context the above lines.

(b) Give a character sketch of Sir Ralph the Rover.

(c) Who was the Abbot? What does he symbolise in the poem? Why?

(d) Why was the Rover jealous of the Abbot? What did he do to plague the Abbot?

(e) Comment on the theme of the poem.

Question 4


He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sounds the sweepOf easy wind and downy flake.

(a) Explain with reference to context the above stanza.

(b) How does the signal of the horse that he wanted to move ? What does it reveal of its

nature?

(c) Why did the poet say that the horse might think there was a mistake?

(d) Comment on the form and structure of the poem.

(e) Discuss the central idea of the poem.

Section C Short Stories

Question 5Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

But the Princess September ran through all the rooms of the palace, singing like a lark,

while the little bird flew round and round her, singing like a nightingale, which indeed it

was. Things went on like this for several days and then the eight Princesses put their heads

together.

(a) Why did Princess September sing like a lark? Who is the other singer in the story?

(b) What is the significance of singing in the context of the story?

(c) Explain the comparisons being made in these lines.

(d) What did the eight princesses do when they put their heads together? Why?

(e) Were the eight princesses successful in their plan? Substantiate.

Question 6

The short story The Lost Dollar by Stephen Leacock is highly humorous. Discuss.


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ENGLISH

Paper 1(Two Hours)

Answer 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 the paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.

Attempt all four questions. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given

in brackets [ . You are advised to spend not more than !5 minutes in answering "uestion 1

and #$ minutes in answering "uestion #.

Question 1

%&o not spend not more than !5 minutes on this "uestion.' [#5

(rite a composition %!5$)*$$ words' on any one of the following+

%a' ,ne of your childhood dreams have become a reality. &escribe graphically the dream

you had and narrate your e-perience when it became a reality.

%b' unk food is nowadays the preferred food of the young generation which is a matter of

serious health concern. &escribing the eating habits of the new generation/ suggest a

few remedial measures which can help to create a healthy eating habit among them.

%c' 0ell phones are a boon as well as a bane of the modern society. &iscuss.

%d' (rite a short story on the theme+ ine words do not feed a man.

%e' 2tudy the picture given below. (rite a story or a description or an account of what the

picture suggests to you. Your composition may be about the sub3ect of the picture or

you may take suggestions from it4 but there must be a clear connection between the

picture and your composition.


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Question 2

%&o not spend not more than #$ minutes on this "uestion.' [1$

2elect ,6 of the following+

%a' The modern children prefer computer games and social networking on the internetto reading books. (rite a letter to one of your friends about this dismal state of

affairs and suggest a few novel methods which can ignite and inculcate the spirit of

reading habit among the children.

OR

%b' (rite a letter to the 0ommissioner of 7olice of your city appealing to take the

necessary measures to control the menace of the pickpockets in your city.

Question 3

8ead the following passage carefully and answer the questions a/ b/ c and d that follow+

6ducation/ if looked at beyond its conventional boundaries/ forms the very essence of all

our actions. (hat we do is what we know and have learned/ either through instructions or

through observation and assimilation. (hen we are not making an effort to learn/ our mind

is always processing new information or trying to analyse the similarities as well as the tiny

nuances within the conte-t which makes the topic stand out or seem different. 9f that is the

case then the mind definitely holds the potential to learn more/ however/ it is us who stop

ourselves from e-panding the hori:ons of our knowledge with self)doubt or other social/

emotional/ or economic constraints.

(hile most feel that education is a necessity/ they tend to use it as a tool for reaching a

specific target or personal mark/ after which there is no further need to seek greater

education. onetheless/ the importance of education in society is indispensable and

binding/ which is why society and knowledge cannot be ever separated into two distinct
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units. ;et us find out more about the role of education in society and how it affects our

lives.

8eceiving a good education helps empower you/ thus making you strong enough to look

after yourself in any given situation. 9t keeps you aware of your given surrounding as well

as the rules and regulations of the society you


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%determine' that increased concentration of greenhouse gases resulting from human activity

CCBCC %amplify' the natural greenhouse effect/ causing global warming.

b' ill in the blanks with appropriate words+ [*

1. &o you agree C.. this suggestion@

#. (e alighted C.. the bus.

!. This seat has been allotted C.. the guest. *. The actress was very angry C.. the director.

5. The students reported C.. the venue in time.

. The Finister assured the villagers of a hospital.

E. 9 found the key C.. the door.

B. The ne-t unit begins C.. page 5$.

c' 6-plain the difference in meaning between the pairs of sentences given below. [*

1. i. The nurse complained the patient was stubborn.

ii. GThe nurseH complained the patient Gwas stubborn.H

#. i. The tourists arrived late to catch the flight.

ii. The tourists arrived to catch the late flight.

d' 8ewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each of them/

Fake other changes necessary/ but do not change the meaning of the sentence. [B

1. 2a3ana e-claimed that ?yderabad is a very crowded city. [0hange narration

#. Annette is the best seamstress in our town. [Iegin+ o otherC

!. Jeenath said/ K(hy donLt you apply for the post/ asmine@L [Iegin+ asmine C.

*. To my surprise/ the train was not running late. [Mse+ find

5. The crowd started pelting stones at the politician. 9nstantly the police arrived.

[Mse+ o soonerC.

. The play is so dull that 9 will not recommend it to anyone. [Mse+ too

E. 8oberto is the best player/ but he was not included in the team. [Iegin+ &espiteC

B. 9f ?emant had listened to the doctorLs advice/ he would have been cured of the illness.

[Iegin+ ?adC.


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Engis! Paper I

(Two !ours)

Answer to this Paper must be written on the paper provided separately.You will not be

allowed to write during the first 15minutes.This time is to be spent in reading the questionpaper.The time given at the head of this Paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.

Attempt all fourquestions. The intended marks for the questions or parts of questions are

given in bracket [ ].You are advised to spend not more than 35 minutes in

answering Question 1and 20minutes in answering Question 2.

Question 1

"rite a #o$position o% a&out 3' wors on an* oneo% t!e %oowing+ ,2'-

(Do not spend more than 35 minutes on this question)

a' A feared criminal was caught on a bus in which you were travelling. =ive a description of

the incident and what happened afterwards.

b' You have recently won a cash pri:e 8s. 5$$$>) in a competition. =ive a write up on the

competition/ the hard work you have done to e-cel in the competition/ and what you did

with the pri:e.

c' 2chool life plays a prominent role in the shaping the personality and character of a student.

&iscuss.

d' (rite a short story based on the theme+ the ill)effects of rumour.

e' 2tudy the picture given below. (rite a story or a description or an account of what it

suggests to you. Your composition may be about the sub3ect of the picture or may take

suggestions from it+ however/ there must be a clear connection between the picture and

your composition.


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Question 2

See#t an* oneo% t!e %oowing. ,1-

a' (rite a letter to your uncle describing your visit to a place of historical importance.

OR

b' (rite a letter to the 6mployment ,fficer of your city asking for information about the

career of your choice. You should include all the relevant details about yourself which will

help the officer to advise you.

Question 3

Rea t!e %oowing passage an answer t!e /uestions a0 &0 # an t!at %oow.

9 have heard about the three 9ndian mystics. obody knows their names. They were known

only as the GThree ;aughing 2aintsH/ because they never did anything else4 they simply

laughed. They moved from one town to another/ laughing. They would stand in the market

place and have a good belly laugh. The whole market)place would surround them. All thepeople would come/ shops would close and customers would forget for what they had

come. These three people were really beautiful)laughing and their bellies waving. And then

it would become an infection and others would start laughing. Then the whole market)place

would laugh.

They had changed the quality of the market. And if somebody would say/ K2ay something

to us/L they would say/ K(e have nothing to say. (e simply laugh and change the quality.L

(hen 3ust a few moments before/ it was an ugly place where people were thinking only of

money)hankering for money/ greedy/ money and the only milieu around)suddenly these

three mad people came and they laughed and changed the quality of the whole market)

place. ow nobody was a customer. ow they had forgotten that they had come to

purchase and sell. obody gathered about greed. They were laughing and they weredancing around these three mad people. or a few seconds a new world opened.

They moved all over 9ndia/ from place to place/ from village to village4 3ust helping people

to laugh. 2ad people/ angry people/ greedy people/ 3ealous people+ they all started laughing

with them. And many felt the key)you can transform.

Then/ in one village it happened that one of the three died. Nillage people gathered and

they said/ Low there will be trouble. ow we have to see how they laugh. Their friend has

died4 they must weep/L Iut when they came/ the two were dancing/ laughing and celebrated

the death. The village people said/ Kow this is too much. This is unmannerly. (hen a man

is dead it is profane to laugh and dance.L They said/ Kyou donLt know what has happenedO

All three of us were always thinking of who was going to die first. This man has won4 we

are defeated. The whole life we laughed with him. ?ow can we give him the last send off

with anything else@ )) we have to laugh/ we have to en3oy/ we have to celebrate. This is the

only farewell that is possible for the man who has laughed his whole life. And if we donLt

laugh/ he will laugh at us and he will think/ GYou foolsO 2o you have fallen again into the

trap@H K(e donLt see that he is dead. ?ow can laughter die/ how can life die@L
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;aughter is eternal/ life is eternal/ celebration continues. Actors change/ but the drama

continues. (aves change/ but the ocean continues. You laugh/ you change and somebody

else laughs/ but laughter continues. You celebrate/ somebody else celebrates/ but

celebration continues. 6-istence is continuous/ it is a container. There is not a single

momentLs gap in it. Iut the village people could not understand and they could not

participate in the laughter that day.

Then the body was to be burned/ and the village people said/ K(e will give him a bath as

the ritual prescribes.L Iut those two friends said/ Ko our friend has said/ G&onLt perform

any ritual and donLt change my clothes and donLt give me a bath. You 3ust put me as 9 amon the burning pyre.H 2o we have to follow his instructions.L

And then/ suddenly there was a great happening. (hen the body was put on the fire/ that

old man had played the last trick. ?e had hidden many fireworks under his clothes/ and

suddenly there was &iwaliO Then the whole village started laughing. These two mad friends

were dancing/ then the whole village started dancing. 9t was not death/ it was a new life.

a' Three words from the passage are given below. =ive the meaning of each word as used

in the passage. ,ne word answers or short phrases will be accepted. [!

1. Filieu.

#. Transform.

!.

8itual.b' Answer the following questions briefly in your own words+

[1#

1. (hy did the people start laughing at the market)place@

#. (hat was the peopleLs reaction when one of the saints died@

!. ?ow did they accept their fellowLs death@

*. (hy were the last rituals not performed on his body@

5. (hat happened when his body was put on fire@

. (hat is the moral of the story@

c' &escribe in not more than $ words what happened after the death of one of the in one

village it happened that one of the Three ;aughing 2aints died in a village. [Bd' =ive a title to your summary. 2tate a reason to 3ustify your choice. [#

Question 4

a) !oose one wor %or ea#! spa#e+ o not #op* t!e passage+ "rite *our answers

wit! t!e #orre#t nu$&er o% t!e &an+ Rea t!e passage an #!e# t!at ea#!

wor *ou !ae written own $aes goo sense+ ,'-

=rammar is ........1....... %general' thought to be a set of rules specifying the correct

ordering of words at the sentence level. The ;ongman &ictionary of Applied

;inguistics.....#..... %define' it as/ Ga description of the structure of a language and

the way in which units such as phrases and words .......!.......... %combine' to produce

sentences in the language.H2entences........*...... %accept' if they follow the rules set out by the grammar of the

language. or e-ample/ in 6nglish/ one rule ........5....... %state' that Ga

sub3ect ............ %follow' by a verb followed by an ob3ectH is grammatical. The

sentence GThe letter the man wroteH is ungrammatical because it .......E.........

%violate' this rule/ where as GThe man wrote the letterH is acceptable because

it ........B........ %obey' this rule. Therefore/ how can we define grammar@

&) 5i in t!e &ans wit! t!e $ost suita&e wors. ,4-

1. The student was cautioned CC..spreading rumours.

#. 9 did not find it difficult to cope CC Fathematics.

!. The prisoner acquitted CC.. the charges for lack of evidence.

*. 2ome people quarrel CCC. silly matters.


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#) o as ire#te+ o not #!ange t!e $eaning o% an* o% t!e senten#es+ ,6-

1. 9 have never heard such a lot of nonsense before. %Iegin+ ever beforeC'

#. ?e was e-hausted but still he kept going. %Iegin+ &espiteC'

!. ?e said/ G9f 9 were you/ =eorge/ 9 would start immediately.P %Iegin+ ?e advisedC.'

*. 9 had scarcely finished the speech when 8a3iv 3umped to his feet.

%Iegin+ o soonerC' 5. The tourists were the only ones who witnessed the capture of the elephants.

%Iegin+ o one'

. 9 did not meet him/ so 9 could not give him your message. %Iegin+ 9f 9 hadC'

E. The thief got in because you did not lock the door properly. %Mse+ since'

B. 2amira wishes that she had studied her lessons well in advance. %Mse+ regrets'

Order placed successfully, Order reference no. is 847876 &

Application no. 33347909

english icse class x

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