ICSE 2013 English Language Question Paper for Class 10

About this paper

This is the ICSE Class 10 English Language paper (English Paper I) from the 2013 board examination, with model answers printed after each question. It has four compulsory questions: a 350–400 word composition from five choices, including a story opening with "In the background I could hear an awful commotion", a debate on boarding versus day schools and a picture prompt; a letter, either to a grandfather about subject choices for Classes XI and XII or to a newspaper editor about the need for a neighbourhood playground; a comprehension passage about Bisnu, his walk to school, the langoors and a wounded panther, with a 60-word summary; and grammar exercises on verb forms, prepositions, joining sentences and transformation.

Exam

ICSE Class 10

Subject

English Language

Year

2013

Questions

4

Pages

11

Answers included

Yes

Paper pattern

• Question 1

  25 marks

  Composition of 350–400 words on one of five topics (35 minutes suggested)

• Question 2

  10 marks

  Informal or formal letter, one of two (20 minutes suggested)

• Question 3

  25 marks

  Comprehension passage: word meanings, six short answers, a 60-word summary and a title

• Question 4

  Grammar: verb forms in a passage, prepositions, joining sentences and sentence transformation

Topics covered

• Composition and story writing
• Argumentative and descriptive writing
• Informal letter writing
• Letter to the editor
• Reading comprehension and vocabulary
• Summary writing
• Tenses and verb forms
• Prepositions
• Joining and transformation of sentences

Questions from this paper

1. Boarding schools are far better than day schools for the all-round education of a child. Express your view either for or against this statement.
2. Teaching someone else how to do something can be a rewarding experience. Narrate the events that made up the process of teaching a skill you helped someone develop, and say what made the experience memorable for you.
3. The children in your neighbourhood are forced to play on the street for want of a proper play area. Write a letter to the Editor of a popular newspaper pointing out the need for a playground in your neighbourhood.
4. Why did the panther become a cattle-lifter?
5. In not more than 60 words, describe what the narrator tells us about the behaviour of the langoors.
6. Join the following sentences without using and, but or so: He escaped from the prison. He looked for a place where he could hide.