ICSE Class 10 English Language Question Paper Solution 2020

Students can find the ICSE Class 10 English Language Question Paper Solution here. They must solve the ICSE English Language 2020 Question Paper to understand the exam’s difficulty level and the kind of questions asked in the paper. Then they should match their answer sheet with the solution pdf provided further on this page and evaluate their performance. By doing so, they can easily figure out the areas where extra effort is required, so as to improve their performance in the board exam.

Download ICSE Class 10 English Language Question Papers Solutions 2020 PDF

The ICSE Class 10 English Language 2020 exam was conducted on 27th Feb 2020. The exam started at 11 am, and students were allotted 2 hours to complete the paper. They can download the ICSE Class 10 English Language Question Paper Solution 2020 PDF from the link below.

Students can have a look at the ICSE Class 10 English Language Question Paper Solution 2020 below. They can also access the year wise ICSE Class 10 English Language Solved Previous Year Question Papers for more practice.

Difficult Topics of ICSE Class 10 English Language 2020 Question Paper

Below we have listed down the topics which students found difficult while attempting the ICSE 2020 English Language Question Paper.

1) Essay writing:

To compose a creative composition in 300-350 words was beyond the powers of many candidates. Consequently, the weaker candidates resorted to either copying parts of the comprehension passage in the middle of the essay or copied the passage in its entirety. Many candidates found it difficult to express their thoughts in English and therefore used words in their mother tongue to express their views.

2) Letter writing:

In the formal letter, the consequences of wastage of water were not understood by many candidates. The idea/concept of waste of water was misconstrued by many. Candidates took it for wastage of water in homes.

3) Notice and Email:

(i) The connection between the two was not understood by some. In some centres, incorrect format was used.

(ii) The event/purpose behind hosting the carnival and who the host was/ who the letter was addressed to was not understood by some candidates.

4) Comprehension:

− Most of the candidates got confused with the meanings of the words. They could not bring out the sense given in the passage.

− All questions based on analysis/ understanding were not understood by many candidates. Many of the answers in part (b) seemed to centre around the idea of independent study – it was as if the candidates could not move past that one main idea.

− The Summary was disappointing – candidates seemed not to have been able to grasp which portion of the text was required to be referred to for the answer.

5) Grammar:

The rules of grammar were not clear to many candidates.

ICSE Class 10 English Language Question Paper 2020 With Solutions

Question 1: Write a composition (300 – 350 words) on any one of the following:

(a) Write an original short story entitled ‘The Secret’.

(b) ‘A family without pets is an incomplete family’. Express your views either for or against this statement.

(c) Which do you prefer – morning, afternoon, evening or night? Describe your favourite time of the day. What are the sights, sounds, smells and feelings that you associate with your favourite time of the day? Why do you like this part of the day better than the others.

(d) Have you ever said or done something that changed the life of another person? Give an account of your words or actions that led to this change and describe how the

experience made you feel.

(e) 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.

Answer:

(a) The short story must be centred around something that was kept a secret for a long time and

was later revealed. The revelation should include an element of surprise or suspense. A touch of humour must be given merit.

(b) Argumentative essay: Views for or against the motion are to be accepted. Credit is to be given for a cohesive, well-constructed, logical argument, ideas and reasoning based on

personal experience. Candidates must establish why pets are or are not important for the wellbeing and happiness of the family. Examples should be given to prove their argument. Candidates must take a clear stand and give valid reasons for their opinion. [2 to 3 points]

(c) This is descriptive composition, and the candidate must choose the best part of the day. A brief description of the time and reasons for the choice must be given.

(d) A brief account of words or actions. The impact on the other person, the effect on the narrator. This is a first-person account. ‘I’ must be the protagonist. [Action/impact can be positive or negative]

(e) Picture Composition: Accept a wide interpretation. Any relevant ideas taken from the picture should be accepted. However, a mere itemization / listing / description of the picture is to not to be given credit.

Question 2:

(a) You have changed your school recently. Write a letter to your friend in your old school telling him / her what you like about your new school but also what you miss about your old school.

(b) Some taps in your locality are left open all day resulting in a tremendous waste of water. Write a letter to the Municipal Commissioner of your town / city, complaining about the problem. Suggest ways in which this waste of water can be prevented.

Answer:

(a) Informal Letter: Format, Content, Expression

Body

Two or three reasons about why you like the new school.

Two or three reasons why you miss the old school.

Explanatory Note:

1. Friend’s name should be mentioned in the salutation.

2. In the content there must be a total of five points between like and dislike.

(b) Formal Letter: Format, Content, Expression

Complaints: water wastage / dirty / slippery / unhealthy / stagnant water / causes severe

shortages. (Any two complaints)

Suggestions: Call the plumber / repair / install tank / change valve / frequent monitoring /shut off the mains / helpline/ any other suggestions. (Any two suggestions)

Explanatory Note: Designation and name of the city should be mentioned in the ‘To’ address.

Question 3:

(a) Your school is organising a fete / carnival to raise funds for victims of the recent floods in your State. Write a notice to be put up on the school notice board giving details of the event.

(b) Write an email to the Principal of a neighbouring school, inviting him/ her to send their candidates to attend the fete / carnival.

Answer:

(a) Creative Title – e.g. Carnival, Fun time, Care and Share, Helping hands, etc. [English words only.]

…School helps flood victims.

Date – Any date in March (date + month + year)

Time – accept any time – a.m./am/A.M

Venue – smaller to bigger place

Invite participation, to whom to apply to, etc. [Target audience]

(b) E-mail – id [No name to be used in the email id]

Subject: Invitation + for the event

Salutation [As in formal letter]

Opening sentence

Closing sentence

Subscription [As in formal letter]

Expression – All details of the notice are to be included in full sentences in the email. [Date/time/venue should be included.]

Question 4: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Attending classes inside a railway carriage seemed unusual enough, but the seating arrangements turned out to be unusual, too. At Totto-chan’s previous school each pupil was assigned a specific desk. But here they could sit anywhere they liked at any time.

The most unusual thing of all about this school, however, was the lessons themselves. Schools normally schedule one subject, for example history, during the first period, when everyone in the class just did history; then say, arithmetic in the second period, when you just did arithmetic. But here it was quite different. At the beginning of the first period, the teacher made a list of all the problems and questions in the subjects to be studied that day. Then she would say, “Now, start with any of these you like.”

So, whether you started on history or arithmetic or something else didn’t matter at all. Someone who liked composition might be writing something, while behind you someone who liked chemistry might be boiling something in a flask over an alcohol burner.

This method of teaching enabled the teachers to observe — as the children progressed to higher grades — what they were interested in as well as their way of thinking and their character. It was an ideal way for teachers to really get to know their pupils.

As for the pupils, they loved being able to start with their favourite subject, the fact that they had all day to cope with the subjects they disliked meant they could usually manage them somehow. So, study was mostly independent, with pupils free to go and consult the teacher whenever necessary. Then pupils would be given further exercises to work at alone. It was study in the truest sense of the word, and it meant there were no pupils just sitting inattentively while the teacher talked and explained.

The first-grade pupils hadn’t quite reached the stage of independent study, but even they were allowed to start with any subject they wanted. Some copied letters of the alphabet, some drew pictures, some read books, and some even did physical exercises.

Just then the boy sitting behind her got up and walked toward the blackboard with his notebook, apparently to consult the teacher. Totto-chan stopped looking around the room and fixed her eyes on his back as he walked. The boy dragged his leg, and his whole body swayed from side to side. Tottochan wondered at first if he was doing it on purpose, but she soon realized the boy couldn’t help it.

The boy said brightly, “My name’s Yasuaki. What’s yours?”

She was so glad to hear him speak that she replied loudly, “I’m Tottochan.”

• Adapted from Totto-chan

(a) Give the meaning of the following words as used in the passage:

One-word answers or short phrases will be accepted.

(i) assigned (line 3)

(ii) ideal (line 19)

(iii) independent (line 24)

(b) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(i) What was unusual about the seating arrangement?

(ii) How did the method of teaching help the teacher?

(iii) Why did the pupils enjoy their lessons at this school?

(iv) What different things did the first-grade pupils do?

(v) Which sentence in the passage tells us that the boy had difficulty in walking like other children?

(c) In not more than 50 words, describe how the children were taught.

Answer:

(a) Give the meaning of the following words as used in the passage. One-word answers or short phrases will be accepted.

(i) assigned allotted, to give for a particular purpose, given, allocated

(ii) ideal perfect, the best possible, appropriate, flawless most appropriate, most suitable, excellent

(iii) independent- free, not needing or wanting help, separate, self-directed, without any help, self-reliant, without assistance.

(b) (i) The children were allowed to sit / anywhere they liked.

(ii) Enabled the teacher to observe / what were they interested in / their way of thinking / their character.

(iii) They loved starting with their favourite subject / had all day to cope with what they didn’t like / could work independently.

(iv) They copied letters of the alphabets / drew pictures / read books / did physical exercises.

(v) “The boy dragged his leg and his whole body swayed from side to side.” (Entire sentence to be quoted exactly).

(c) Points to look for:

How the children were taught

1. Teacher makes a list

2. Children could choose to do first what they liked to best/choose favourite subject/ start with any subject. (Any one point)

3. Would do later (cope up with) what they disliked

4. Children worked independently

5. They could approach/consult the teacher when they needed help / free to go to. (Any one point)

6. Further exercises were given as homework. /to work at (alone)

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.

Example:

(0) taught

By the time she was three, Matilda had (0) ____________ (teach) herself to read by (1) ____________ (study) newspapers and magazines that (2) ____________ (lie) around the house. At the age of four, she could (3) ____________ (read) fast and well and she naturally began (4) ____________ (hanker) after books. The only book in the whole of this enlightened household was something called Easy Cooking (5) ____________ (belong) to her mother, and when she had read this from cover to cover and had (6) ____________ (learn) all the recipes by heart, she (7) ____________ (decide) she (8) ____________ (want) something more interesting.

(b) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

(i) It has been raining __________ two hours.

(ii) He just scraped __________ his examination.

(iii) Mrs. Kapoor was bent __________ attending the meeting.

(iv) She is proud and looks __________ on her colleagues.

(v) Rahul plays football __________ his grandfather.

(vi) The mother was sitting ____________ the sick child all night.

(vii) Monica is leaning ____________ the wall.

(viii) Rosie is very good ____________ art and craft.

(c) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so:

(i) Sarah and Tyra are twins. They look exactly alike.

(ii) Rohan does not like to play cricket. He does not like to play hockey either.

(iii) Sania pushed as hard as she could. The door would not open.

(iv) The school bus drove through the gate. The clock was striking eight at that moment.

(d) Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of each sentence.

(i) The librarian orders books for the school library every year.

(Begin: Books…)

(ii) No one will deny that the children have worked very hard this year.

(Begin: Everyone…)

(iii) As soon as the teacher enters, she is greeted by her candidates.

(Begin: No sooner….)

(iv) She is so busy that she finds no time to entertain her friends.

(Rewrite using ‘too’)

(v) In spite of the very hot weather, Kevin stepped out to buy some bread.

(Begin: Despite.…)

(vi) Sheela will be selected for the competition only if she goes for the auditions.

(Begin: Unless….)

(vii) I would rather eat fruit than a lot of unhealthy junk food.

(Begin: I prefer….)

(viii) The tree was cut down ruthlessly.

(Begin: They…)

Answer:

(a) 0. taught

1. studying

2. lay

3. read

4. hankering / to hanker

5. belonging

6. learnt/learned

7. decided

8. wanted

(b) (i) for

(ii) through

(iii) on/upon

(iv) down

(v) with

(vi) beside / with / near / by

(vii) against

(viii) at / in

(c) (i) Sarah and Tyra who are twins look exactly alike.

Sarah and Tyra are twins who look exactly alike.

Sarah and Tyra, who look exactly alike, are twins.

(ii) Rohan neither likes to play cricket nor hockey.

Rohan likes to play neither cricket nor hockey.

Rohan does not like to play either cricket or hockey.

(iii) Although / Though / Even though Sania pushed as hard as she could, the door

would not open.

In spite of/ Despite Sania pushing the door as hard as she could, it would not open.

Sania pushed as hard as she could,[yet/ however/still/nevertheless] the door would not

open.

(iv) The clock was striking eight when the school bus drove through the gate./

The school bus drove through the gate when the clock was striking eight./

When the clock was striking eight the school bus drove through the gate./

When the school bus drove through the gate, the clock was striking eight at that moment.

(d) (i) Books are ordered for the library every year by the librarian. / Books are ordered by the librarian for the library every year.

(ii) Everyone will agree/admit/affirm/ accept that the candidates have worked very hard this year.

(iii) No sooner does the teacher enter, than she is greeted by her candidates.

(iv) She is too busy to find time to entertain her friends.

(v) Despite the very hot weather Kevin stepped out to buy some bread.

Despite the weather being very hot, Kevin stepped out to buy some bread.

Despite the fact that the weather was very hot, Kevin stepped out to buy some bread.

(vi) Unless Sheela goes for the auditions she will not be selected for the competition.

(vii) I prefer eating fruit to a lot of unhealthy junk food.

(viii) They cut down the tree ruthlessly. / They ruthlessly cut down the tree.

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