ICSE 2015 English Literature Question Paper for Class 10

About this paper

This is the ICSE Class 10 Literature in English (English Paper 2) question paper from the 2015 examination, paper code T15 012. It gives two hours of writing time after 15 minutes of reading time. Candidates answer five of the twelve questions, including at least one from each of Section A (Drama), Section B (Poetry) and Section C (Prose). The drama texts are The Merchant of Venice and Galsworthy's Loyalties; the poems are Southey's The Inchcape Rock and Sarojini Naidu's In the Bazaars of Hyderabad; and the prose covers a story about Baldeo the watchman, Chekhov's The Bet, Animal Farm and To Sir, With Love. Extract-based questions have five parts worth 3, 3, 3, 3 and 4 marks, and Questions 8, 10 and 12 are 16-mark essays. Questions only.

Exam

ICSE Class 10

Subject

English Literature

Year

2015

Paper code

T15 012

Time allowed

2 hours + 15 min reading

Questions

12

Pages

6

Answers included

No, questions only

Paper pattern

• Section A – Drama

  Questions 1–4: extract-based questions on The Merchant of Venice (Questions 1–2) and Loyalties (Questions 3–4), 16 marks each

• Section B – Poetry

  Questions 5–6: extract-based questions on The Inchcape Rock and In the Bazaars of Hyderabad, 16 marks each

• Section C – Prose

  Questions 7–12: an extract and a 16-mark essay question each on the short stories, Animal Farm and To Sir, With Love

Topics covered

• The Merchant of Venice
• Loyalties
• The Inchcape Rock
• In the Bazaars of Hyderabad
• The Bet
• Animal Farm
• To Sir, With Love

Questions from this paper

1. What test had Portia's father devised for her suitors? What oath did the suitors have to take before making their choice?
2. Why does the Duke call Shylock 'inhuman'? What does the Duke expect Shylock to do?
3. Why had the Abbot of Aberbrothok hung a bell on the Inchcape Rock?
4. With close reference to the story 'The Bet' by Anton Chekhov, mention the clauses of the bet as laid down between the young lawyer and the old banker. Give an account of the events that follow the bet.
5. Give an account of how lies were spread against Snowball after his expulsion, in order to paint him as a traitor.
6. Which courtesies did Braithwaite ask his class to observe, and how did the students react to these 'new rules'?