THE SECOND COMPARATIVE EXAMINATION 2024-25

Class X (ICSE)
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 1and 20 minutes in
answering Question 2.

Question 1

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

Write a composition (300 – 350 words) on any one of the following topics: [20]

(i) Write an original short story in which a curator, a gypsy and a museum play an
important role.

(ii) You had set aside an evening to prepare yourself for an examination on the
following morning. Your plans were disrupted when your aunt and uncle called in
to visit your parents who had gone to the cinema. Narrate how you entertained the
guests and coped with your studies.

(iii) ‘Animals have the same basic rights as humans.’

Express your views either for or against this statement.

(iv) Describe a book fair you had visited. Write what you saw and heard there, and
how you enjoyed the fair. What was the most interesting thing you experienced
there?

This paper consists of Nine printed pages Turn over

 (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
(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.) [10]
Select any one of the following:
(i) Write a letter to your Principal expressing your concern about the harmful effects
of the junk food being sold by the school canteen. Also request him/her to
introduce some healthy food instead of junk food for the benefit of students.

(ii) Your cousin plays games on his/her mobile phone for two to three hours each day.
Write a letter convincing him/her not to waste time in such idle pursuit and utilise
this time playing some outdoor games.

(2)
Question 3 [5+5]
(a) Your school is organising an Inter-House Declamation Contest. Write a notice
informing the students at your school about the event and inviting them to
participate in the contest.
(b) Write an e-mail to the Principal of your neighbouring school requesting him/her to
send a team of three teachers to judge the event.

Question 4(a)
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Long ago there lived in a village a man and his wife with their little son. They were
extremely poor.
Due to severe strain of labour and the poor quality of food, the man died after sometime.
After the funeral, the widow was left almost destitute. She realized the absolute necessity
of making up her mind at once as to her course of action. Soon a scheme came to her 5
mind. It must be the secret of her life, which not even her own son should ever know.
After selling her cottage, she moved away to a quiet suburb outside the city. She discarded
her woman’s attire and dressed herself as a man. To support herself and her child. She
took up the job of a porter and used to carry as heavy a load as any of the men.
The years went by, and her little son grew up to be a fine young man and a scholar. One 10
day her son came back home in an excited mood. “Father,’’ he cried, “the great desire of
your heart and of mine has been granted. I have passed, with honours, and my name
stands at the very top of the list. And now, my beloved father, there will be no more hard
work for you.
All the time her son was talking, the mother’s face shone with delight, for the hopes and 15
wishes of a lifetime had come. The young fellow did not notice the deadly pallor that
spread over his mother’s face as he was speaking. She was a true and noble woman, with a
high ideal of what a woman’s life ought to be, and she dared not to face the opinion of the
world when it was discovered that she had lived as a man.
Next morning, when the son entered his father’s room, he found him lying upon his bed, 20
dead, but dressed in a woman’s clothes. The story spread rapidly. The universal feeling
was one of intense admiration for the devotion and heroism of the mother. The Emperor
issued an edict with an inscription carved upon the arch with the words. ‘The Wonderful
Man.’
(i) For the word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from
the options provided . [1]
1. destitute (line 4)
(a) rich
(b) disrespect
(c) penniless
(d) idolize

(3) Turn over

 (ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word ‘bored’? [1]
(a) excited
(b) pallor
(c) dared
(d) realised

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

(a) What was the secret scheme planned by the lady ? Which job did she take up to
make both ends meet?? [2]
(b) What was the reason for the deadly pallor on the mother’s face? [2]
(c) What did the son see when he entered his father’s room? [2]
(iv) In not more than 50 words, summarise how the mother received the honour of being
‘The Wonderful Man’. [6]

Question 4(b)
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Tom lay thinking. Presently it occurred to him that he wished he was sick; then he could
stay home from school. Here was a vague possibility. He canvassed his system. No
ailment was found, and he investigated again. This time he thought he could detect
colicky symptoms and he began to encourage them with considerable hope. But they soon
grew feeble and presently died wholly away. He reflected further. Suddenly, he 5
discovered something. One of his upper front teeth was loose. This was lucky ; he was
about to begin to groan, as a “starter,” as he called it, when it occurred that if he came into
court with the argument, his aunt would pull it out, and that would hurt. So, he thought he
would hold the tooth in reserve for the present, and seek further. Nothing offered for some
little time and he remembered hearing the doctor tell about a certain thing that laid up a 10
patient for two or three weeks and threatened to make him lose a finger. So, the boy
eagerly drew his sore toe from under the sheet and held it up for inspection. But now he
did not know the necessary symptoms. However, it seemed worthwhile to chance it, so he
fell to groaning with considerable spirit.
But Sid slept on unconscious. 15
Tom groaned louder, and fancied that he began to feel pain in the toe.
No result from Sid.
Tom was panting with his exertions by this time. He took a rest then swelled himself up
and fetched a succession of admirable groans.

(4)
(i) For the word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from
the options provided. [1]
feeble (line 5)
(a) storing
(b) weak
(c) intense
(d) persistent

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word ‘terrible’? [1]
(a) admirable
(b) considerable
(c) threatened
(d) groan

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

(a) How does Mark Twain use Tom’s imagination to explore the human tendency to
avoid unpleasant tasks? [2]
(b) Imagine you had to convince someone to believe in an excuse, like Tom does
with Sid. What creative approach would you take to make your excuse
believable, without pretending to be sick? [2]

Question 5
(a) 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:
A healthy diet, enough exercise and sufficient sleep; it does not sound (0)______
(complicate).
Answer: complicated

(5) Turn over

 A healthy diet, enough exercise and sufficient sleep; it does not sound (0)______
(complicate). But still many people consider it as a difficult task. This is because of
a (1)_______ (combine) of factors (2)_________ (influence) our lifestyle. It is
(3)________(large) a societal problem. We do less exercise because more and more
people spend all day (4) ________(sit) before a computer.
And as long as most of what is sold or on special offer at the supermarket falls
outside the guidelines for a healthy diet, it is difficult for people to make_______(5)
(health) food choices. Food choices are nearly always based on
(6)________(establish) habits (7)_________(prompt) by the environment. A
healthier diet is not simply a question of (8)_______(choose) something else. It
requires people to swim against the tide.

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

(i) I mistook the old bearded man_______an author.
(ii) The Tata group of companies has taken______the cosmetic market by storm.
(iii) The country folk loved reading __________their local legends.
(iv) He shrieked the last words_________ the top of his voice.
(v) The cake was distributed __________all the children in the class.
(vi) They have been waiting __________morning.
(vii) She was born__________ rich parents.
(viii) Skill comes____________ regular practice.

(c) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and,
but or so, Choose the correct option. [4]
1. Pull the chain. The train will stop.
(a) Pull the chain when the train will stop.
(b) The train will stop to pull the chain.
(c) The train will stop if you pull the chain.
(d) The train stops after pulling the chain.

(6)
 2. It is a very costly calculator. However, it is not useful.
(a) This is a very costly calculator to be useful.
(b) It is a useful calculator as it is very costly.
(c) Though it is a very costly calculator, nonetheless it is not useful.
(d) This calculator is very costly rather useful.

3. I have completed my studies. I am looking for a job.

(a) I have completed my studies because I am looking for a job.
(b) I have completed my studies to look for a job.
(c) Having completed my studies, I am looking for a job.
(d) Upon completing of my studies, I will be looking for a job.

4. A fisherman saved her. Otherwise she would have drowned.

(a) If the fisherman had not saved her, she would have drowned.
(b) The fisherman saved her to be drowned.
(c) She would have drowned, although the fisherman saved her.
(d) She would have drowned until saved by the fisherman.

(d) Choose the correct option to rewrite the following according to the instructions
given after each sentence. [8]
1. As soon as the teacher entered the class, the students opened their books.
(Begin with: No sooner ………)
(a) No sooner the teacher entered the class, the students opened their books.
(b) No sooner than the teacher enter the class, the students opened their books.
(c) No sooner the teacher had entered the class, the students open their books.
(d) No sooner did the teacher enter the class than the students opened their books.

(7) Turn over

2. “Are you going for the picnic tomorrow?” Uma asked him.
(Begin with : Uma asked him………)
(a) Uma asked him if he was going for the picnic the next day.
(b) Uma asked him that if he is going for the picnic the next day.
(c) Uma asked him if he is going for the picnic tomorrow.
(d) Uma asked him to go for the picnic the next day.

3. Not only did he treat him well, but also helped him.
(Begin with: Besides ………)
(a) Besides that he treated him well, he also helped him.
(b) Besides treating him well, he helped him.
(c) Besides treating him well, he was helping him too.
(d) Besides also treating him well, he helped him.

4. If you do not complete the syllabus, you will suffer.

(Begin with: Unless ………)
(a) Unless you do not complete the syllabus, you will suffer.
(b) Unless you complete the syllabus, you will suffer.
(c) Unless you complete the syllabus, until then you will suffer.
(d) Unless you complete the syllabus, you will not suffer.

5. There is no point in taking my car if I cannot find a place to park it.

(Begin with: What is ………)
(a) What is the point to take my car if I cannot find the place to park it?
(b) What is the point in taking my car if i cannot find a place to park it?
(c) What is to be the point to taking my car if I cannot find a place to park it?
(d) What is the point if I take my car to not find a place to park it?

(8)
6. The witness agreed to sign the document only after much persuasion.
(Begin with: Only………)
(a) Only the witness agreed to sign the document after much persuasion.
(b) Only after much persuasion did the witness agree to sign the document.
(c) Only document was signed by the witness after much persuasion.
(d) Only the persuaded witness signed the document.

7. He did not know where Judy was and I did not either.
(Begin with: Neither ………)
(a) Neither he or I know where Judy was.
(b) Neither did he nor I know where Judy was.
(c) Neither he and I knew where Judy was.
(d) Neither he nor I knew where Judy was.

8. Nobody in the world can sing as melodiously as Lata.

(Begin with: Lata ………)
(a) Lata is more melodious than any singer in the world.
(b) Lata is melodious than any singer in the world.
(c) Lata is the most melodious singer in the world.
(d) Lata is more melodious than singers of world.

(9)