English 1 (English Language) 2015-2016 (English Medium) ICSE Class 10 Question Paper Solution

Write a composition (350 - 400 words) on the following:

Write an original short story that begins with the words : “The day started off well enough, whoever thought it would ……….”

Write a composition (350 - 400 words) on the following:

Narrate an incident from your own experience when you expected to do very well, but for some reason were unable to do so. Explain what happened and why it happened. What lesson did you learn from it? 

Write a composition (350 - 400 words) on the following:

“The use of Mobile Phones must be allowed in schools.” Express your views either for or against the statement.

You walk home from school one afternoon to find the door unlocked and on entering you are shocked to see the house in total disarray. You call out but get no answer. Describe in detail what you saw, the reason behind your house being in total disarray and how you found your family. Mention also how the experience ended and what impact it had on your life.

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. 

Your class wants to visit a well-known historical monument in a nearby town. Write a letter to your Principal seeking permission and say why you would benefit from the visit. 

Your school recently held a jubilee celebration. Write a letter to your friend who was unable to attend, giving details of the function and your role in it. 

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
For some time Mother had greatly envied us our swimming, both in the daytime and at night, but as she pointed out when we suggested she join us, she was far too old for that sort of thing. Eventually, however, under constant pressure from us, Mother paid a visit into town and returned to the villa coyly bearing a mysterious parcel. Opening this she astonished us all by holding up an extraordinary shapeless garment of black cloth, covered from top to bottom with hundreds of frills and pleats and tucks.
‘Well, what do you think of it?’ Mother asked.
We stared at the odd garment and wondered what it was for.
‘What is it?’ asked Larry at length.
‘It’s a bathing-costume, of course,’ said Mother. “What on earth did you think it was?’ ‘It looks to me like a badly-skinned whale,’ said Larry, peering at it closely.
You can’t possibly wear that, Mother,’ said Margo, horrified, Shy, it looks as though it was made in nineteen-twenty.’
‘What are all those frills and things for?’ asked Larry with interest.
‘Decoration, of course,’ said Mother indignantly.
‘What a jolly idea! Don’t forget to shake the fish out of them when you come out of the water.’
‘Well, I like it, anyway,’ Mother said firmly, wrapping the monstrosity up again, ‘and I’m going to wear it.’
‘You’ll have to be careful you don’t get waterlogged, with all that cloth around you,’ said Leslie seriously.
‘Mother, it’s awful; you can’t wear it,’ said Margo. ‘Why on earth didn’t you get something more up to date?’
‘ When you get to my age, dear, you can’t go around in a two-piece bathing suit… you don’t have the figure for it.’
‘I’d love to know what sort of figure that was designed for,’ remarked Larry.
‘You really are hopeless, Mother,’ said Margo despairingly.
‘But I like it… and I’m not asking you to wear it,’ Mother pointed out angrily.
‘That’s right, you do what you want to do,’ agreed Larry; ‘don’t be put off. It’ll probably suit you very well if you can grow another three or four legs to go with it.’
Mother snorted indignantly and swept upstairs to try on her costume. Presently she called to us to come and see the effect, and we all trooped up to the bedroom. Roger the dog, was the first to enter, and on being greeted by this strange apparition clad in its voluminous black costume rippling with frills, he retreated hurriedly through the door, backward, barking ferociously. It was some time before we could persuade him that it really was Mother, and even then he kept giving her vaguely uncertain looks from the corner of his eye. However, in spite of all opposition, Mother stuck to her tent-like bathing- suit, and in the end we gave up.
In order to celebrate her first entry into the sea we decided to have a moonlight picnic down at the bay, and sent an invitation to Theodore, who was the only stranger that Mother would tolerate on such a great occasion. The day for the great immersion arrived, food and wine were prepared, the boat was cleaned out and filled with cushions and everything was ready when Theodore turned up.

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. 

Example:
(0) He had been (0) ……… (sit) on the bank of a small irrigation canal.
Answer: sitting

He was (1) ………. (gaze) at a couple of herons (2) ……… (fish) in the muddy water, when he (3) ……… (feel) something bumps his elbow. (4) ……… (look) around, he (5) ………. (find) at his side a little goat, jet black and soft as velvet with lovely grey eyes. Neither her owner nor her mother (6) ……… (be) around. She continued to (7) ……… (nudge) Mukesh, so he (8) ……… (look) in his pocket for nourishment. 

Fill in the blank with an appropriate word:   

There was a steep rise ……… onion prices. 

Fill in the blank with an appropriate word:

Air pollution is responsible for the spread ……… bronchitis. 

Fill in the blank with an appropriate word:

He was …….. pressure to complete the work. 

Fill in the blank with an appropriate word:   

Joan jumped ………. the river to rescue the child.

Fill in the blank with an appropriate word: 

His teacher is very pleased ……… him.

Fill in the blank with an appropriate word:

Ali took ……… his cap and wiped his face.

Fill in the blank with an appropriate word:    

The old woman could not get ……… the shock. 

Fill in the blank with an appropriate word:

He should not get ……… with such rudeness.

Join the following sentence to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. 

My grandfather is very old. He is very active.

Join the following sentence to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. 

Mala is not in the classroom. Mala is not in the library.

Join the following sentence to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so.

She was so excited about her performance. She could not sleep at night.

Join the following sentence to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. 

Mumbai is densely populated. It is one of the major cities in the country.

The book was so interesting that I could not put in down.
(Begin : The book was too ……………… )

The Principal said, “All the prizes will be distributed tomorrow.”
(Begin : The Principal said that ……………. )

Last night’s dinner was cooked for us by father.
(Begin : Father …………… )

If Mary catches the first bus, she will be on time for school.
(Begin : Unless …………….)

Inspite of having high fever the girl came to school...
(Begin: Despite ……………..)

I prefer going out with friends to staying alone at home.
(Begin : I would rather ………….)

Hardly had the teacher left the room, when all the children started making a noise.
(Begin : No sooner ………..)

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