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ICSE Guess > ICSE Papers > Question Bank > Class X > 1997 > English

General Instructins

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) The advantages and disadvantages of being young.

(b) Write an original story in which a photographer; a suitcase and a soldier play an important part.

(c) Give an account of the ways in which advertising has affected modern life.

(d) 'There is no scope for adventure in the modern world.' Give your views for or against this statement.

(e) Study the picture given below. Write a story or a description or an account of what the picture suggests to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or may take suggestions from it, but there must be a 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 friend, living abroad, has written to you asking for information about a particular school in your city which he or she intends to join. Write a letter giving details of the institution which you consider may be useful to your friend.

(b) Your club plans to hold a youth festival in the city. As President of club write a letter to the Managing Director of any well-known company, giving details of how you intend to organise the festival and requesting him to sponser it.

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

"My aunt will be down, presently, Mr. Nuttel,” said a self—possessed young lady of 15. "In the meantime you must put up with me." Framton Nuttel endeavoured to say the correct thing to flatter the niece without unduly discounting the aunt. Privately he doubted whether these formal visits on total strangers, would help the nerve cure which he was supposed to be understanding in this rural retreat."I'll give you letters to everyone I know there," his sister had said, "Or else you'll bury yourself and not speak to a soul, and your nerves will be worse than ever from moping" "Do you know many people around here?" asked the niece when she judged they had have sufficient silent communion.

"Hardly a soul," said Framton.-"My sister visited here four years ago, and she gave me letters of introduction." "Then you know practically nothing about my aunt?" pursued the young lady.

"Only her name and address." "Her great tragedy happened just three years ago," said the child,

"That would be since your sister's time." "Her tragedy? " asked Framton. Somehow in this restful spot tragedy seemed out of place. "You may wonder why we keep that window open so late in the year, " said the niece, indicating the large French window that opened onto a lawn. " Out through that window, three years ago to a day, her husband and two young brothers went off for their day's shooting. In crossing the moor they were engulfed in a treacherous bog Their bodies were never recovered."

Here the child's voice faltered. 'Poor aunt always thinks that they'll come back some day, they and the little brown spaniel that was lost with them, and walk in at the window. That is why it is kept open every evening till dusk. You know, sometimes on still evenings like this, I get a creepy feeling that they will all walk in through that window ..............' She broke off with a little shudder. It was a relief to Framton when the aunt bustled into the room with a whirl of apologies for being late.

"I hope you don't mind the open window," she said, "My husband and brothers will be home from shooting, and they always come in this way." She rattled on cheerfully about the prospects for duck in the winter. Framton made a desperate effort to turn the talk on to a less ghastly topic, conscious that his hostess was giving him only a fragment of her attention, and that her eyes were constantly straying past him to the open window. "'I`he doctors order me a complete rest from mental excitement and physical exercise" announced Framton, who laboured under the widespread delusion that total strangers are hungry for the last detail of one's infirmities.

"Oh?" responded Mrs. Sappleton, vaguely. Then she suddenly brightened into alert attention - but not to what Framton was saying. "Here they are at last!" she cried. "In time for tea." Framton shivered slightly and turned towards the niece with a look of sympathetic comprehension. The child was staring through the open window with dazed horror in her eyes. Framton swung round and looked in me same direction. In the deepening twilight three figures were walking noiselessly across the lawn, a tried brown spaniel close at their heels. They all carried guns. Framton grabbed his walking stick; the hall door and the gravel drive were dimly noted stages in his headlong retreat.

"Here we are, my dear" , said Mr. Sappleton, coming in through the window. "Who was that who bolted out as we came up?" "A Mr. Nuttel,’ said Mr. Sappleton, "who dashed off without a word of apology when you arrived. One would think he had seen a ghost." "I expect it was the spaniel," said the niece calmly. "He told me he had a horror of dogs. He was once hunted into a cemetery on the banks of the Ganges by a pack of dogs, and had to spend the night in a newly dug grave with the creatures snarling and foaming above him. Enough to make anyone lose their nerve." Romance at short notice was her speciality.

(a) Five words or phrases are given below. Give the meaning of each as used in the passage. One word answer or a short phrase will be accepted.

1. Put up with
2. broke off
3. fragment
4. delusion
5. infirmities

(b) Answer the following question in your own words: [1]

1. Why had Mr Nuttel been advised to reside in the country side?
2. How did Framton's sister endeavour to help him make friends in his new abode?
3. Why was the sister keen that the brother make friends?
4. What reason did the niece give for the French window being left open?
5. Quote two questions that the niece asked Nuttel ensure that he would not disbelieve her story.
6. Why did Nuttel react the way he did when he saw the hunters returning?
7. The niece was skilled at inventing stories on the spur of the moment. Quote the sentence in the passage which suggests this.

(c) In not more than 60 words describe why Nuttel was gripped with fear shortly after he entred Mrs. Sappleton's house and what eventually caused him to flee. [10]

Question 4
(a) Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each and making other changes that may be necessary without changing the meaning of each sentence. [10]

1. I was not sure that it was you.
   (Use doubtful instead of sure).
2. She complained that the room was too hot.
   (Begin : She complained of ................. )
3. He couldn't seem to get out of the habit.
   (Begin : He seemed ....................)
4. What long hair you have?
   (End with : ............... is)
5. Please read this and see if there are any mistakes.
   (Use go in place of read.)
6. The station bus is coming.
   (end with : ............ bus.)
7. I don't know how you tolerated him for so long.
   (Use put instead of tolerated.)
8. "How do you dare to remain absent without leave?" said
   the teacher to the boy.
   (Begin : The teacher asked the boy how ............... )
9. He has refused to help me.
   (Rewrite using said.)
10. You have nothing to complain of.
    (End with : ................. complain.)

(b) In each of the following sentences there is blank 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. Children often quarrel _______ their toys.
2. The waiter laid the table _______ dinner.
3. She was annoyed _______ being disturbed.
4. He was anxious to be popular _______ everyone.
5. . It was kind _______ him to be so helpful.

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

1. Even if you _______ you would not catch the train. (hurry)
2. I would buy a bicycle if I the money. (have)
3. I shall be very surprised if it _______ anymore. (rain)
4. If I had _______ you were coming, I would have baked a cake. (know)
5. Even if she goes there at once, he would have left by the time she _______. (arrive)