KARNATAKA ICSE SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION

ICSE STD. X Preparatory Examination 2024

Subject: ENGLISH LANGUAGE
(ENGLISH PAPER – 1)

Maximum Marks: 80 Time Allowed: Two hours Date: 17/01/2024

___________________________________________________________________________
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 1 and 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: [20]
(i) You have recently been to a holiday resort and found the service to be excellent. Describe
your experience at the resort, the surroundings, its natural beauty, the games you played and
what you liked best in and around the resort.
(ii) Narrate an incident in detail where you found yourself in great difficulty when a miracle
helped you come out of it.
(iii) Home food can never replace hotel food or fast food. Give your views either for OR
against the statement.
(iv) Write an original short story which begins with the line: It happened that at dusk we were
passing the deserted house when …………..

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 KARNATAKA ICSE SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION
ICSE STD. X Preparatory Examination 2024
Subject: ENGLISH LANGUAGE
(ENGLISH PAPER – 1)

Maximum Marks: 80 Time Allowed: Two hours Date: 17/01/2024

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

Question 2
[Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question]
Attempt any one of the following: [10]
(i) An open space in your locality used by the children as a playground is being turned into a
rubbish dump. Write a letter to the Mayor of your city pointing out the nuisance, danger
and health hazards of this. Request that action be taken to stop this immediately.
(ii) You are a boarder in a different city. Write a letter to your mother describing a school
concert you are a part of. Describe your feelings, your learnings and changes before and
after the concert.

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 KARNATAKA ICSE SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION
ICSE STD. X Preparatory Examination 2024
Subject: ENGLISH LANGUAGE
(ENGLISH PAPER – 1)

Maximum Marks: 80 Time Allowed: Two hours Date: 17/01/2024

Question 3
(i) You are the Head Girl/Head Boy of your school. Write a Notice to students inviting them to
join the Summer Camp to be held in your school - for drama, cricket and swimming during
the summer holidays. Give all other necessary details. [5]
(ii) Write an email for the same summer camp to your Principal, updating him / her with details
of the plans that have been chalked out. [5]

Question 4
Read carefully the passage given below and then answer, as far as possible, in your own words, the
questions (i), (ii) and (iii) that follow.
A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She
poured the change out on the floor and counted carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly
perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the
cap, she slipped out from the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall’s Drug Store with the
big Red Indian Chief sign above the door. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some
attention but he was too busy at this moment. [line 6]
Tess shifted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most
disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally, she took a quarter from her jar and clanged it
on the glass counter. That did it!
“And what do you want?” the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. “I am talking to my
brother from Chicago whom I haven’t seen in ages,” he said without waiting for a reply to his question.
“Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,” Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. “He’s
really, really sick ….. and I want to buy a miracle.”
“I beg your pardon?” said the pharmacist. [line 14]
“His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a
miracle can save him now. So, how much does a miracle cost?”

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 KARNATAKA ICSE SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION
ICSE STD. X Preparatory Examination 2024
Subject: ENGLISH LANGUAGE
(ENGLISH PAPER – 1)

Maximum Marks: 80 Time Allowed: Two hours Date: 17/01/2024

“We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry but I can’t help you,” the pharmacist said, softening
a little. “Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how
much it costs.”
The pharmacist’s brother was a well – dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, “What
kind of a miracle does your brother need?” [line 21]
I don’t know,” Tess replied with her eyes welling up. I just know he is really sick and Mommy says
he needs an operation. But my Daddy can’t pay for it, so I want to use my money.”
“How much do you have? asked the man from Chicago. “One dollar and eleven cents,” Tess
answered barely audibly.
“And it’s all the money I have but I can get some more if I need to.”
“Well, what a coincidence,” smiled the man. “A dollar and eleven cents ----- the exact price of a
miracle for little brothers.” He took her money in one hand and with the other he clasped her hand and
said, “Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have
the miracle you need.” [line 30]
That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The
operation was completely free of charge and it wasn’t long until Andrew was home again and doing
well.
Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.
“That surgery,” her Mom whispered, “was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?”
Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost ….. one dollar and eleven cents …… plus
the faith of a little child. [line 37]

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the
options provided: [2]
(1) muster (line 8)
(a) gather
(b) summon
(c) collect
(d) assemble

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 KARNATAKA ICSE SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION
ICSE STD. X Preparatory Examination 2024
Subject: ENGLISH LANGUAGE
(ENGLISH PAPER – 1)

Maximum Marks: 80 Time Allowed: Two hours Date: 17/01/2024

(2) barely (line 25)

(a) sufficiently
(b) hardly
(c) weakly
(d) faintly

(ii) The word annoyed in the passage can be substituted by which word from among the
following: [1]
(a) frustrated
(b) irritated
(c) vexed
(d) envied

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

(a) Where was the glass jelly jar and what did it contain? Where did Tess go straight? [2]
(b) What were the efforts made by Tess to attract the attention of the pharmacist? [2]
(c) Who was the man from Chicago? [2]
(d) What miracle did the man from Chicago perform? What happened as a result? [2]
(e) What was the cost of the miracle? [1]
(iv) In not more than 50 words, summarize the given passage. [8]

Question 5
(i) 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 the correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the
blank space:
Example: (0) was [4]
One of the world’s greatest music composers, George Frederick Handel, ____(0)____ (be) the
son of a man who _______(1)_____( disapprove) music. Handel, however had an, aunt, who
____(2)_____ (teach) him to sing and gave him a clavichord, a musical instrument like piano,
to play secretly in the attic. In due course of time, Handel’s father ______(3)_____ (appoint)
as a surgeon to the court of Duke John Adolph I.

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 KARNATAKA ICSE SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION
ICSE STD. X Preparatory Examination 2024
Subject: ENGLISH LANGUAGE
(ENGLISH PAPER – 1)

Maximum Marks: 80 Time Allowed: Two hours Date: 17/01/2024

One day _____(4)_____ (learn) that Handel played his musical instrument, the Duke’s
organist invited him ____(5)____ (play) the great court organ. The organist ____(6)____
(amaze) to hear what young Handel could do and ______(7)_____ (take) him to play for the
Duke. At the end of the ____(8)____ (perform), the Duke called in Handel’s father and
suggested that his son should study music. A suggestion from the Duke was very much a
command. Thus, the composer of The Messiah began a great career in music.

(ii) Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word: [4]

(a) She was the heir _________ the throne.
(b) He was bent _________ coming first in the examination.
(c) Sam was ________ pressure to perform well.
(d) The revolt was put _________ with a strong hand.
(e) The brothers fell _________ over their property dispute.
(f) The Municipality pulled _______ the illegal constructions along the road.
(g) The children crawled ________ a cave.
(h) Heavy penalties deter drivers ________ speeding.

(iii) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so.
Choose the correct option. [4]
1. Lata is innocent. This is my belief.
(a) That Lata was innocent is my belief.
(b) I believe in Lata’s innocence.
(c) Lata being innocent is my belief.
(d) My belief is that Lata is innocent.

2. This is the garden. The finest roses grow here.

(a) This is the garden of finest roses.
(b) This is the garden where the finest roses grow.
(c) The finest roses grow here in this garden.
(d) This is the garden where the finest roses grow here.

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 KARNATAKA ICSE SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION
ICSE STD. X Preparatory Examination 2024
Subject: ENGLISH LANGUAGE
(ENGLISH PAPER – 1)

Maximum Marks: 80 Time Allowed: Two hours Date: 17/01/2024

3. Karmu was fined. He was jailed for one year.

(a) Karmu was not only fined but also jailed for one year.
(b) Karmu was either fined or jailed for one year.
(c) Karmu was fined for he was jailed for one year.
(d) Besides being fined, Karmu was jailed for one year.

4. He cannot die in peace. He is a sinner.

(a) He cannot die in peace for being a sinner.
(b) He, being a sinner, cannot die in peace.
(c) He can die in peace if he is not a sinner.
(d) He is a sinner and so, cannot die in peace.

(iv) Choose the correct option to rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions
given after each sentence. [8]
(1) The teacher said to Tom, “Why did you act in this manner yesterday?”
(Begin with: The teacher asked …………….)
(a) The teacher asked Tom why he acted in this manner yesterday.
(b) The teacher asked Tom why he acted in that manner yesterday.
(c) The teacher asked Tom why he had acted in this manner the day before.
(d) The teacher asked Tom why he had acted in that manner the previous day.

(2) The lady is very honourable. She will not break her promise.
(End with: ……………to break her promise.)
(a) The lady is so honourable to break her promise.
(b) It is difficult for the honourable lady to break her promise.
(c) The lady is too honourable to break her promise.
(d) The lady is very honourable and therefore will not break her promise.

(3) No sooner did she hear the shocking news than she fainted.
(Begin with: Hardly …………… )
(a) Hardly had she heard the shocking news when she fainted.
(b) Hardly when she heard the shocking news, she fainted.
(c) Hardly did she heard the shocking news when she fainted.
(d) Hardly as the shocking news was heard, she fainted.

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 KARNATAKA ICSE SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION
ICSE STD. X Preparatory Examination 2024
Subject: ENGLISH LANGUAGE
(ENGLISH PAPER – 1)

Maximum Marks: 80 Time Allowed: Two hours Date: 17/01/2024

(4) Anil is one of the swiftest runners in the school.

(Begin with: Very few runners ……………)
(a) Very few runners in the school are as swift as Anil.
(b) Very few runners in the school were as swift as Anil.
(c) Very few runners are as swift as Anil.
(d) Very few runners in the school ran as swiftly as Anil.

(5) Cut the cake.

(Use Let and rewrite.)
(a) Let us cut the cake.
(b) Let the cake be cut.
(c) Let him cut the cake.
(d) Let the cake be cut by them.

(6) He is successful in business but he is not helpful.

(Begin with: Despite ……………)
(a) Despite of being successful in business, he is not helpful.
(b) Despite not being helpful, he is successful in business.
(c) Despite his success in business, he is helpful.
(d) Despite being successful in business, he is not helpful.

(7) We parked our car and went in.

(Begin with: Having ……………)
(a) Having parked our car, we went in.
(b) Having parking the car, we went in.
(c) Having been parked our car, we went in.
(d) Having had our car parked, we went in.

(8) One should be kind to the poor.

(Use the noun form of kind.).
(a) Be kind to the poor.
(b) One should show kindness to the poor.
(c) One should treat the poor kindly.
(d) People should show kindness to the poor.

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