Students can refer to the following Sample Paper ICSE Class 10 English Literature Set D with Answers provided below based on the latest syllabus and examination guidelines issued for ICSE English Literature. All specimen papers have been prepared covering all chapters given in ICSE English Literature book for Class 10. You should also refer to ICSE Class 10 English Literature Solutions.
Sample Paper ICSE Class 10 English Literature Set D with Answers
Class – X English Literature M.M. – 80
NOTE :- Attempt five questions from these three groups. You must attempt at least one question from each of the section A, B and C.
Section – A
1. Shylock: Is that the law?
Portia : Thyself shalt see the Act;
For, as thou urgest justice, be assured
Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest.
Gratiano : O, learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned judge!
Shylock : I take this offer, then; pay the bond thrice,
And let the Christian go.
a. What is the law as interpreted by Portia just before this extract? [3]
b. ‘Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest.’ What kind of justice is Shylock going to have? [3]
c. Why does Gratiano rejoice by repeating the words, ‘ O learned judge’? [3]
d. When the money is being offered by Bassanio, what does Portia say by declining the offer? [3]
e. After the extract, what loophole in the bond is highlighted by Portia? How does Shylock’s emotions change at the end of this scene?
2. Jessica : Farewell, good Launcelot.
Alack, what heinous sin is it in me
To be ashamed to be my father’s child!
But though I am a daughter to his biood,
I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife,
Become a Christian, and thy loving wife!
a. Give reasons for Launcelot’s leaving Jessica’s house? [3]
b. Give the meaning of : [3]
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not his manners.
c. Explain Jessica’s relationship with her father as shown in the scene. [3]
d. Which promise has Lorenzo to keep? Describe the strife that Jessica is going to end? [3]
e. Why does Jessica regret being the daughter of Shylock? What is the ‘heinous sin’ referred
to in the context? Is it really ‘sin’? Give reason to justify your answer. [4]
3. Shylock :
[Aside] How like a fawning publican he looks!
I hate him for he is a Christian;
But more, for that in low simplicity
He lends out money gratis and brings down
The rate of usance here with us in Venice.
If I can catch him once upon the hip,
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He hates our sacred nation; and he rails,
Even there where merchants most do congregate, ….
a. What is mean by ‘a fawning publican’? Give three reasons why Shylock hates Antonio. [3]
b. Write the meaning of the following in your own words: [3]
If I can catch him once upon the hip,
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
c. What does the ‘sacred nation’ refer to? What insult has Antonio heaped upon Shylock? [3]
d. How does Shylock plan to get the money immediately? What light does this extract throw on Shylock’s character? [3]
e. Antonio is a big merchant. What is the need for Antonio to borrow money from his enemy? Why is Shylock prepared to lend money to Antonio?
Section – B
4. Bangle sellers are we who bear
Our shining loads to the temple fair …
Who will buy these delicate, bright
Rainbow-tinted circles of light?
Lustrous tokens of radiant lives,
For happy daughters and wives.
a. Who is the speaker ? Who all are its prospective buyers? What is being referred to as ‘shining loads’? [3]
b. Bangle sellers could sell their goods anywhere. Why do they choose to sell them at the temple fair?
[3]
c. Which figure of speech is used in the line, “Rainbow-Tinted circles of light”? Explain what is linked to the happiness of daughters and wives. [3]
d. What role do the bangle sellers play in a traditional Indian set-up, according to this extract? [3]
e. Explain how the poet uses her descriptive skills to present facts. Give two examples from the context.
5. He plants cool shade and tender rain
And seed and bud of days to be,
And years that fade and flush again,
He plants the forest’s heritage;
The harvest of a coming age;
The joy that unborn eyes shall see…
a. Enumerate any three benefits of planting trees as suggested by the poet in this extract. What do the plants do to provide cool shade? [3]
b. The water evaporates, condenses and falls as rain. What role do the trees play in this process of producing rain? [3]
c. How do the last two lines of the extract explain the process of regeneration? How does the man plant the forest’s heritage? [3]
d. How do the trees provide for the harvest of the following years? In what way a nation’s growth depends on planting trees? [3]
e. What does the expression unborn eyes indicate? What will they see that would bring them joy?[4]
6. The most important thing we’ve learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set-
Or better still, just don’t install
The idiotic things at all.
a. What is the most important thing that the poet has learnt? [3]
b. What is referred to as ‘idiotic thing’ in the extract? Why do you think the poet advices not to install it? [3]
c. Describe what the poet sees at every house with television. Why is he upset with what he has seen? [3]
d. Explain the figure of speech used in the line: [3]
( last week in someone’s place we saw A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)
e. How does television prove to be useful and convenient for the parents?
Section – C
7. He did not look like a shepherd nor a herdsman and I looked at his black dusty
clothes and his grey dusty face and his steel rimmed spectacles and said, “What animals were they?”
a. Who is referred to as ‘He’ in the extract above? In what condition is he? [3]
b. What all animals did he own? What kind of relationship did he share with them? [3]
c. What was he doing in the San Carlos? What forced him to leave San Carlos? [3]
d. Why doesn’t the old man cross the bridge and escape to a safer place? [3]
e. What do the incidents in the story show about the consequences of the war? How does war affect the old man and his animals in the story? [4]
8. A light shining through the little chamber windows was the first object that attracted Joe’s attention on turning towards the house: it was a good omen.
a. Who was Maggie? How had she become a ‘sick brat’? [3]
b. Why did Joe leave his wife alone with the child? What did Joe see when he came back home from his shop? [3]
c. Why did Joe consider light shining through the windows as a good omen? [3]
d. Compare and contrast briefly the characteristics of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Thompson. [3]
e. What had transform Mrs. Jane Thompson completely? Explain transformation of Jane Thompson from a selfish woman to selfless and affectionate motherly figure. [4]
9. “It’s Miss Fairchild” he said with a smile. “I’ll ask you to excuse the other hand; “it’s otherwise engaged just at present.”
a. Who said, “It’s Miss Fairchild”? Which hand of his was engaged? How? [3]
b. Why did young lady’s look change to bewildered horror? What changes were seen in her due to the horror? [3]
c. What did the glum-faced man say about the marshal? As per the context here where was the glum-faced man being taken? Why? [3]
d. With reference to question (c) above explain what happened in reality. [3]
e. Explain the significance of ‘hearts’ and ‘hands’ in the story. What role do the eavesdroppers play in the story?