Paper : ICSE Class X Important Questions : English (1998)

General Instructions

1. Attempt all four question.
2. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets].
3. You are advised to spend not more than 35 minutes in answering Question 1 and 20 minutes in answering Question 2.

Question 1
(Do not spend more than 35 minutes on this question.)
Write a composition (350-400) words) on any one of the following: [30]

(a) What, in your opinion, best contributes to the making of a happy and successful school?

(b) You are sleeping in your bedroom. Someone knocks at your doom You wake up and see a bay standing. He says that he has come from outer space. You are thrilled. Write an account of what he tells you about his life in space.

(c) Set out briefly but clearly the arguments for and against animals being used in public and street performances.

(d) You had a remarkable train journey. You detected a bomb in the compartment evacuated and rescued the passengers and in the confusion lost your baggage. Give a detailed account of your adventure.

(e) Study the picture given below. Write a story or description or an account of what the picture suggests to you composition may be about the subject of the picture or may take suggestions from it, but there must be clear connection between the picture and the composition.

Question 2
(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.)
Select one of the following: [20]

(a) A relative of yours has suggested that you leave school in order to work with him and later become a partner in his firm. you, however would prefer, to stay at school and later enter a college for further education. Write a letter thanking him for his suggestion and outlining your future plans.

(b) Write a letter to the manager of your local bus depot, pointing out that there are very few buses on your route in the morning and these are invariably late, thereby causing great inconvenience to many daily passengers.

Question 3
Read the passage given below and then answer the questions (a), (b) and (c) that follow: [5]

An elephant's scene is acute, but his vision poor. It was not till the hyenas were in the camp that Gajpati saw them. The sight made him rage angrily, straining his bonds. He stepped back and then lunged froward at a fast stride. Slam-bang went the chain as it squeaked a groove into the bark of the tree etc. Into the leg too. Raw wood began to show, and also flesh. The elephant grumbled 5 and blew

All this time he knew exactly where the baby was, beneath him, sometimes under his belly, and sometimes between his forelegs. The hyenas were nonplussed. One sat down out of reach and fixed his bulging nocturnal eyes on the child. The others began to circle round behind. 10 Gajpati wheeled to face this lot, and the sitting one edged a little closer.

In sudden exasperation, the elephant put his forehead against the tree, and braced the whole of his giant strength against it to break it down. It was a big wild mango with a noble girth, and he did not succeed, but the tree groaned at the roots. 15

Gajpati swung back and made for the sitting encroaching hyena, which sprang smartly away.

The ones behind him darted at the baby, so he wheeled towards .them instead. They jumped out of reach again. Ah, if he had not been tethered. 20

He attacked the tree again. It shrieked as he strove against it, but now the baby was yelling too, at the top of his lungs, and blindly trying to crawl away anywhere, so Gajpati gave it up, He backed and shook his head, and gathered the baby to him.

Changing his tactics, he then stood perfectly still, close to the now leaning 25 tree and watched. He struck his trunk on the ground with a sound of coins as wild elephants do to warn of danger.

The hyenas were hungry, bold, and not prepared to play this game all night. They began to close in.

They were watching the elephant with respect, but they did not interpret the 30 lifted foreleg, nor the muscles tightening inside the loose skin. They did not allow for the slack of the chain.

Next moment Gajpati struck. Although so huge and slow, he moved like lightning, and in a moment he'd got one hyena fighting under his forefeet. Almost at once the struggle was over, the body stamped to a pulp. With a squeal 35 of triumph and rage, Gajpati threw the smelly carcass aside.

It scattered the others, who made off, leaving elephant and baby in peace for an hour or two.

Pillowed in dust, and exhausted by hunger, the little boy lay half-sleeping, half-sobbing, and sucked at the stub of sugarcane which Gajpati had again 40 offered him. He swallowed the syrup, dust and all. Then, warmed by the elephant's sweet breath, he slept.

Gajpati relaxed above him. False peace reigned around them - the centre of the storm. An elephant sleeps mostly standing, and a little after midnight Gajpati dozed. 45

Presently - the baby stirred sat up, and began to crawl away. He was already out - of reach when the elephant also woke. In the grey of early morning, Gajpati saw the hyenas coming back, and the baby several yards away.

He forged out to the full length of his range. Iron links into his flesh 50 where he had already worn it raw, Blood poured down. The hyenas saw their chance and darted in.

At the same moment the great tree gave, and with the crack of parting tendons, it smashed down upon elephant and baby together. Breaking branches rushing leaves obliterated them both. 55

The violence and destruction sent the hyenas off in a flash. Pink twilight was warming into day and they did not return. When Karim and his wife ran gasping into camp, they saw only the fallen tree and Gajpati under it. 60

Their baby?

They tore their way into the leaves and branches. Beneath it all, the child lay sleeping in the curl of the e1ephant's trunk; and his mother, in tears, snatched him up.

Question 3
(a) Five words or phrases are given below Give the meaning of each as used in the passage. one word answers or short phrases will be accepted:

1. nocturnal (line.10)
2. exasperation (line.12)
3. encroaching (line.16)
4. the slack of the chain (line.32)
5. gave (line 53)

(b)

1. List TWO characteristics of elephants that the author mentions in the passage. [4]
2. How did Gajpati strike and kill a hyena? [2]
3. The word 'nonplussed means 'puzzled' What do you think, puzzled the hyenas? [2]
4. What did Gajpati offer the little boy? How did he consume it? [2]
5. Why does the author describe the 'peace' in line 43 a 'False' peace? [2]
6. Where was the baby when the hyenas came back? [2]
7. When Karim and his wife returned, where did they find their baby? [2]

(c) Describe, in not more than 60 words of your own, how Gajpati finally saved Karim's baby from the hyenas when they returned "in the grey of early morning." [10]

Question 4
(a) Rewrite the following sentences correctly according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of each sentence. [10]

1. Amazing discoveries have been made by explorer.
   (BEGIN : Explorers .................. )
2. The team consisted of six batsmen, four bowlers and a wicket keeper.
   (USE : 'comprised')
3. Unfortunately, he failed in the first attempt.
   (USE 'succeed' instead of failed)
4. This should be of the greatest value to mankind.
   (BEGIN : Nothing .................... )
5. The boy was ill. He went to school.
   (Combine both the sentences using ‘though’)
6. Do they believe in the existence of God?
   (End with : 'exists')
7. Who replaced the player after he was injured?
   (Use 'substitute' instead of 'replaced')
8. It has not only lengthened life but it has deepened its quality.
   (BEGIN : Besides : ......................... )
9. She said, "I am never going to believe you again.”
   (BEGIN : She said that ...................... )
10. The price of milk has risen recently.
    (End with : 'milk')

(b) In each of the following sentences there is a blank space which can be filled in by a SINGLE word. Fill in each blank with the word which is appropriate. (Do Not write the sentences): [5]

1. She is a year older _______ I am.
2. They could not elicit any information _______ the prisoner.
3. She did not play the piano, because _______ a septic thumb.
4. A basket was provided _______ the disposal of waste paper.
5. This fabric is superior _______ that one.

(c) Complete each of the following sentences with a suitable form of the word given in brackets: [5]

1. If he _______ the money, he would buy it now. (have)
2. He has always _______ faithful to me. (be)
3. The storm which had been _______ since mid-day, at last broke with great fury. (threat).
4. A man of high principles never _______ his word. (break)
5. She _______ her homework before she left for the film show. (finish)