Paper : ICSE Class X Important Questions : English (2005)

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 1and 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:-

1. Imagine a situation in which a character from your favourite book comes alive. Write an imaginary account of a day spent with this character.
2. 'The commercialization of festivals has eroded their real significance.' Express your views either for or against this statement. 
3. You have returned to your city after spending five years in a foreign country. The city has changed during your absence. Describe the changes that have affected the life of people in the city. Give your personal views regarding the changes.
4. Write an original short story that concludes with the sentence, 'After it was all over, I realised that every cloud has a silver lining.'

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

1. Write a letter to the Director of the Archaeological Survey of India complaining about the damage caused to a historical monument in your city due to negligence. Suggest steps that the civic authorities should take to preserve the monument.
2. Your pen-friend from Japan plans to visit your school and attend classes and activities for the duration of a month. Write a letter briefing him/her on your school routine. Give any other information that you think your friend may need.

Question 3
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:-

The story of Robinson Crusoe, few people know, is based on a real life incident. The son of a cobbler, Alexander Selkirk was a wayward young man, with little respect for authority. Abject conditions at sea and the cruelty of the captains made the sailors miserable in those days. It was not surprising that Alexander became rebellious and malevolent when he became a sailor. 5

In 1704, he was Sailing Master on a ship; when it anchored for repairs near the desolate island of Juan Fernandez about 650 kilometres west of Chile. They were looking for gold, which they often got by plundering other ships. In the days that followed, Alexander hatched a conspiracy.

He instigated the other sailors to leave the ship and remain on the island. They would declare 10 a mutiny. Perhaps, Alexander reasoned, that the Captain would accept their demands if he believed that his men would refuse to sail otherwise. Unfortunately for Alexander, the crew played the Judas. The Captain, getting to know of Alexander's part in the planned mutiny, left him behind on the island as he was a bad influence on the men. He was provided with a few necessities, among them, a copy of the Bible. 15

Alexander, marooned on an island populated only by wild cats and goats became adept at hunting and his food soon comprised of fish, turtles and meat. He also made clothes with goat skin. Although a cobbler's son, he could not make shoes. Running barefoot after goats had hardened the soles of his feet. He read the Bible again and again and slowly took to reading it aloud. He spoke and sang to the cats and learnt to milk goats.

Once, during his stay on the island, a Spanish ship anchored near the island and the crew rowed in. Alexander was petrified and hid in the thick foliage. In those days Spain and England were at daggers drawn. Fortunately the Spaniards left after a brief rest.25

In February, 1709, two English ships sailed in to collect fresh water and shoot goats. Alexander rushed to them for succour. He looked strange with his unkempt hair, beard and goat skin clothes. His rescuers understood him with great difficulty. His speech had changed a great deal. His vocabulary had shrunk and he had to grope for words. They did, however, manage to understand his story finally.30

Alexander took a job as a sailor on one of the ships and reached London in 1711. He returned home with a large fortune. However, he ran out of his fortune in two years and had to return to sea. Alexander's adventure became well-known.

Eight years later, Daniel Defoe gave the story a new shape with many twists, calling it The 35 Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. It was now the story of a man who was shipwrecked on an island and lived alone for an unbelievable twenty eight years.

(a) Three words from the passage are given below. Give the meaning of each word as used in the passage. One word answers or short phrases will be accepted.(3)

1. instigated (line 9)
2. marooned (line l6)
3. unkempt (line 28)

1. Explain the phrase, 'with little respect for authority.'
2. Why did Alexander become reckless and malevolent when he became a sailor?
3. What was the conspiracy that Alexander hatched? Why did he do so? [2]
4. How did the crew play the Judas? [2]
5. Why was Alexander petrified when the crew of the Spanish ship rowed in?[2]
6. Mention two points of difference between Alexander's actual story and Defoe's version. [2]
7. In about 60 words of your own, give an account of Alexander's adventure on the island. [8]
8. Give a title to your summary in 3(c). Give a reason to justify your choice.[2]

Question 4

In the following passage, fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets.

Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.(4)

Example:
(0) returned.
After Christopher Columbus (0) _______ (return) from his famous voyage across the Atlantic, the King of Spain (1) _______ (wish) to celebrate the great event and do honour to the man who (2) _______ (make) himself a national hero. He (3) _______ (do) so by holding a banquet in honour of the explorer. To this banquet he (4) _______ (invite) many of the nobles of the King's Court. Some of them (5) _______ (be) jealous of the success Columbus (6) _______ (achieve). One of them sat next to Columbus. He turned towards Columbus and said, "Of course you (7) _______ (be) a brave man but it doesn't take much intelligence to do what you have done. After all, anyone can take a ship and sail on and on till he (8) _______ (reach) land."

(b) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:- (4)

1. The safari parks of South Africa abound _______ wild animals.
2. (ii) The young man excels _______ both music and dance.
3. (iii) She is a diligent student, worthy _______ praise.
4. (iv) I saw _______ his plan and realized that he was going to cheat us.
5. (v) I was _______ the impression that the meeting had been cancelled.
6. (vi) Always be true _______ yourself.
7. (vii) The villagers lodged a complaint _______ the corrupt officials.
8. (viii) I can rely _______ my sister for help.

(c) Explain the difference in meaning between the pairs of sentences given below:- (4)

1. (a) She must have repainted the car.
   (b) She must have the car, repainted.
2. (a) "The girl," said the boy, "was ugly."
   (b) The girl said the boy was ugly.

(d) Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary; but do not change the meaning of each sentence. (8)

1. Jasdeep has probably forgotten his mother's birthday.
   (Begin: in...........................................)
2. (ii) Mr Sharma advised the children not to go out in the cold.
   (End with: ".......................................", said Mr Sharma)
3. (iii) For more information please contact the secretary of the club.
   (Begin: Should.....................................)
4. (iv) He could not take part in the singing competition as he had a sore throat.
   (Use: prevented)
5. (v) Ritika returned to school a week ago.
   (Begin: It has been...................................)
6. (vi) She was beautiful and humble.
   (Begin: Not only..............................)
7. (vii) Both the players are not adequately prepared for the tournament.
   (Begin: Neither...........................)
8. (viii) A fragrant flower is the loveliest creation of nature.
   (Begin: No other......................................)