English Practice
By Maneesh Rastogi
Question 1
Rewrite as directed without changing the meaning:
1. People grew a lot of rubber in Malaysia. [Begin: A…]
2. He tried harder and harder but achieved less and less. [Begin: The….]
3. “Shall I ask her to wait,” said Pamela. [Change into Reported Speech]
4. It was so late that I could not attend the class. [Use: too]
5. Prizes were being given by the Minister when the lights went out. [Change the voice]
An Approach to ICSE
English
6. If you had not advised me, I would have fallen into the trap. [Begin: But….]
7. I am coming with you. [Provide a suitable question tag]
8. This is the biggest elephant I have ever seen. [Use: big]
9. As soon as Rama starts to run the race, the crowd cheers her. [Begin: No sooner …]
10. Both the answers are wrong. [Begin: Neither….]
11. Neither John nor his friends ……… to blame. [Use: is/are]
12. The United Nations have its headquarters in U.S.A. [Correct the sentence]
13. He is a principled man. [Use: principle]
14. But for my help, she would not have succeeded. Begin: Had…]
15. If he apologizes, he will be pardoned. [Use: Unless…]
16. The teacher asked, “Will you confess your mistake?” [Change into indirect speech]
17. Let the child not be disturbed. [Change into active voice]
18. Very few Prime Ministers are as scholarly as our Prime Minister. [Change into superlative]
19. He is so ill that he cannot not attend the meeting. [Use: too]
20. The task was not pleasant. It was not easy either. [Combine the two sentences]
21. The Principal is calling everyone from this class. [Begin: Everyone…]
22. How kind a person Anurag is! [Begin: What…]
23. It was wrong on the part of the management to dismiss him. [Use: ought]
24. Tokyo is the most expensive city in the world. [Begin: No other…]
25. There were only a few coins in the purse that Seema lost. [Begin: The purse…]
26. “I do not think I can finish the work by today”, said the plumber. [Change the narration]
27. There is nothing more beautiful than the sunset. [Begin: Is….]
28. If you do not mend your ways, you will get into trouble. [Begin: Mend…]
29. He is not a reckless driver. [End: recklessly]
30. She exclaimed that Kolkata is a very congested city. [Change into direct speech]
31. Very few foods are as healthy as milk. [Change into superlative]
32. Andrew is the best cobbler in our town. [Change into positive]
33. Hyderabad is one of the cleanest cities in India. [Use: clean]
34. A deer does not run as fast as a cheetah. [Begin: A cheetah…]
35. No other poet is as popular as Shakespeare. [Use: most]
36. Mr. Ram came last of all for the meeting. [Change into positive]
37. Some monuments are perhaps more beautiful than the Taj. [Use: most]
38. ‘Why don’t you sing a song, Rita?’ said Suresh. (Rita)
39. To Iqbal’s surprise, the office was closed. (find)
40. The play I saw last week was better than this one. (good)
Letter Writing and Comprehension Passage
By Maneesh Rastogi
Question 1
You are the Secretary of the School Arts Club. Write a letter to of your District Collector requesting him/her to inaugurate a Painting Exhibition to be held in your school next week.
Question 2
You attended a party when you were away on a vacation. On your return, your friends are eager to know how you spent your holidays. Tell them about someone you met at the party who appeared strange to you, bringing out his unusual characteristics and his odd personal appearance.
Question 3
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
Martin Luther King, one of the greatest men ever to walk on this earth, started the defence force with which the American Blacks got their rights and gained freedom from the distressing racial discrimination.
Martin was born on January 15, 1929. His family lived on the outskirts of Atlanta. The fact that he could not play with White children, or that he had to offer a seat in the bus to a White, disturbed him. When he was eight years old, his father a Baptist pastor, told the family a sad story: Bessie Smith, a great singer, met with an accident. An ambulance rushed her to the nearest hospital, but she was not admitted because she was a Black. The ambulance took her from one hospital to another, but she could not find a place for herself because these hospitals were only for the Whites. She died for want of blood. From that day, Martin Luther King dreamt of becoming a liberator of the Blacks.
King completed his studies at More House College, and then earned a doctor’s degree in theology at Boston University. In 1955, King married Alabama Soprano Coretta Scott. That very year he became a pastor and preached his first sermon in the Baptist Church of Atlanta. As a young man, he was greatly impressed by Mahatma Gandhi’s success in the political field and the power of ahimsa. King decided to follow the path of non-violence and get millions of Blacks their due. He felt that the Blacks had immensely contributed towards the building of America, and there was no reason why they should not be treated with respect. King drew national attention in 1956. Since the Blacks were not permitted to sit in the same buses as the Whites, he led a boycott of public buses in Montgomery. A year later, after many arrests and threats, the US Supreme Court gave a ruling that racial segregation of public transport was unlawful. This victory taught the Blacks the power of non-violence. After 1957, King began visiting various places to deliver lectures. Soon he became a powerful orator, drawing the attention of people the world over.
King continued the fight, a peaceful fight, demanding the rights of the Blacks. In 1964, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1967, King led many peaceful demonstrations against the Vietnam War and in 1968 he declared a Poor People s Campaign on April 4 of that very year, while planning a demonstration of striking sanitation workers, he was shot dead by an assassin. (421 words)
a) Give the meaning of:
1. segregation
2. campaign
b) Answer the following briefly:
1. Who was Martin Luther King?
2. What inspired King to dream of becoming the liberator of American Blacks?
3. What taught the Blacks the power of non-violence?
4. How did King die?
c) Write a brief summary of about 60 words about Martin Luther King’s struggle for the American Blacks.
d) Give a suitable title to the summary and justify the choice of the title.
By Maneesh Rastogigopakumar menon on: December 2, 2009
Question I
Rewrite as directed:
1. Rama said to me, “I shall complete this work as soon as I can.”
(Begin with: Rama told….)
2. Meena is one of the tallest girls in the class.
(Use: “taller”)
3. My father told me that he had been working all day.
(Begin with: My father said……)
4. Shakespeare was the greatest dramatist of the world.
(Use: ‘great’)
5. Sudarshan said, “Mother, I have taken dinner”.
(Begin with: Sudarshan told…….)
6. Harry Potter is the most popular character of child fiction.
(Use: ‘more’)
7. He said to me, “Time and tide waits for none.”
(Begin with: He reminded……)
8. No other hill station in India is as beautiful as Darjeeling.
(Use: ‘most beautiful’)
9. Robert said to his friend, “I have brought apples for you.”
(Begin with: Robert told……)
10. The stranger said to the policeman, “Please show me the way to the medical store.”
(Change into reported speech)
11. Put your tools away, people may fall over them.
(Use: lest)
12. Although she was too young, they appointed her.
(Begin: In spite……………..)
13. “How beautiful the sunset looks tonight!” said Neelam.
Begin: Neelam exclaimed …………..)
14. She could not afford to buy the computer as she was poor.
(Begin with: Being…)
15. We have difficulty in saving money.
(Begin: It ……..)
Question 2
Fill in each blank with the word which is appropriate.
1. His system of working is different ……………… yours.
2. I congratulated him ……………. his success.
3. The army must inquire ………… the matter.
4. The students quarreled ……….. themselves.
5. They have been with us ………… a long time.
6. Water is convertible …………vapour.
7. The responsibility is ……………. my shoulders.
8. He has many advantages …………… you.
9. He was so amusing that all laughed ……. Him.
10. Carelessness may result……… many deaths
English Paper I Grammar and Composition Model Paper
By Maneesh Rastogigopakumar menon on: December 1, 2009
English Paper I
Grammar and Composition
(Two hours)
Answer 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 four questions
The intended marks for the questions or parts of questions are given in bracket [ ].
You are advised to spend not more than 35 minutes
in answering Question 1 and 20 minutes in answering Question 2.
Question 1
(Do not spend more than 35 minutes on this question) Write a composition (350-400 words) on any one of the following: – [25]
(a) Book reading, particularly, among the children is a lost habit. Why is it so? How can the reading habit be improved? Discuss with relevant examples.
(b) Imagine a situation in which a character from one of your favourite books comes alive. Write an imaginary account of a day spent with this character.
(c) While you were waiting, at the railway station of your home town, to receive a friend there was a sudden explosion. Describe the scene elaborately and also narrate your actions and feelings related to the incident.
(d) Write an original short story in which a small boy, a detective, an angel and a cache of diamonds play a prominent role.
(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 may take suggestions from it: however, there must be a clear connection between the picture and your composition.
Question 2
Select any ONE of the following: [10]
(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question)
(a) A friend who has failed in an examination plans to run away from home and has written to you seeking advice and help. Write a letter in reply sating why he/she should not leave home and suggest how you might be able to help him/her.
(b) Write a letter to the Director of the Archaeological Survey of India complaining about the damage caused to an historical monument in your city due to negligence. Suggest steps that the civic authorities should take to preserve the monument.
Question 3
Read the following passage and answer the questions a, b, c and d that follow:
A list of articles lost by railway travelers and now on sale at a great London station has been published and many people who have read it have been astonished at the absentmindedness of their fellows. If statistical records were available on the subject, however, I doubt whether it would be found that absentmindedness is common. It is the efficiency rather than the inefficiency of human memory that compels my wonder. Modern man remembers even telephone numbers, addresses of his friends, the dates of good vintages. He remembers appointments for lunch and dinner. His memory is crowded with the name of actors and actresses and cricketers and footballers and murderers. In his ordinary life, again, he remembers almost everything that he is expected to remember. How many men in all London forget a single item of their clothing when dressing in the morning? Not one in a hundred. How many of them forget to shut the front door when leaving the house? Scarcely anyone. And so it goes on through the day, almost everybody remembering to do the right thing at the right moment till it is time to go to bed and then the ordinary man seldom forgets to turn off the lights before going upstairs.
There are, it must be admitted, some matters regard to which, the man works with less than his usual perfection. It is only a very methodical man, I imagine. Who can always remember to take medicine his doctor has prescribed for him. This is more surprising because medicine should be one of the easiest things to remember. As a rule, it is supposed to be taken before, during or after meals, and the meal itself should be a reminder of it. The fact remains, however, that few but the moral giants remember to take their medicines regularly. Certain psychologists tell us that we forget things because we wish to forget them and it may be that it is because of their antipathy to pills and potions that many people fail to remember them at all the appointed hours.
The commonest form of forgetfulness, I suppose, occurs in matters of posting letters. Anyone who asks me to post a letter is a poor judge of character. Even if I carry the letter in my hand, I am always past the first pillar-box before I remember that I ought to have posted it. Weary of holding it in my hand, I then put it for safety into one of my pockets and forgets about it.
As for leaving articles in trains and taxis, I am no great delinquent in such matter. I can remember everything except books and walking-sticks. I can often remember even book. Walking-sticks, I find it quite impossible to keep. I dare not carry an umbrella for fear of losing it.
Few of us, however, have lost much property in our travels through forgetfulness. The ordinary man arrives at his destination with all his bags and trunks safe. The list of article lost in trains during the year suggests that it is the young rather than the adults who forgets things and that sportsmen have worse memories than their ordinary serious-minded fellows. A consider number of footballs and cricket bats were forgotten. This is easy to understand, for boys, returning from the games, have their imagination filled with the vision of the playing-field and their heads are among the stars- or their hearts in their boots – as they recall their exploits or their errors. They are abstracted from the world outside.
(Robert Lynd)
a) Three words or phrases are given below. Give the meaning of each word as used in the passage. One word answers or short phrases will be accepted. [3]
1. Crowded with.
2. Antipathy.
3. Heart in their boots.
b) Answer the following questions in your own words: [10]
1. What surprises Robert Lynd more with regard to man’s memory?
2. Quote the sentence from the passage which indicates that man remembers well in his ordinary life.
3. What is the opinion of some psychologists on forgetting?
4. What are the two things that Lynd is liable to forget most?
5. Why do cricket or football teams leave their things in transit?
c) Summarise the passage in not more than 60 words. [10]
d) Give a suitable title to the passage and justify the choice of the title. [2]
Question 4
a) Rewrite the following sentences correctly according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes necessary without changing the meaning of any sentence. [10]
1) Hearing their father’s footsteps, the boys ran away. (Begin: The boys…)
2) Only the brave deserve the reward. (Begin: None……)
3) He owed his success to his teachers. (Begin: It….)
4) It was so late that I could not attend the meeting. (Use: too)
5) The librarian said, “How can you forget to return your books?” [Change the narration)
6) Start now or you will not arrive on time. (Begin: Unless...)
7) It can be very interesting to listen to the radio. (Begin: Listening…)
8) The thorn was removed. It was an extremely painful process. (Combine into a sentence)
9) As soon as the goal was scored, the team celebrated it. (Begin: No sooner…)
10) Rohan was taller than many other boys in the Basketball team. (Begin: Very few…..)
b) In the following passage fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. [4]
There ……1…… (be) some confusion in the doorway. A man ……2…… (get) into the compartment……3…… (stammer) an apology. Then the door……4…… (bang) and the world was ……5…… (blank) out again. The Guard ……6…… (blow) his whistle and we ……7…… (move) off. Once again, I ……8…….. (go) to my berth.
b) Fill in the blanks with the appropriate prepositions. [6]
i. He sent her a letter of appreciation …….. mistake.
ii. The old generator often goes out …… order.
iii. She had been suffering from Pneumonia …………. last week.
iv. The doctor cured her ……. The illness.
v. He is not entitled ……… rent and profit.
vi. Do you prefer books …………films?
========================================================
Grammar Exercise: Active Voice and Passive Voice
By Maneesh Rastogigopakumar menon on: November 27, 2009
Change the Voice:
1. He was promised by all help by us.
2. May God bless you with success.
3. The strike has been called off.
4. No one can understand him so soon.
5. They will not agree to this proposal.
6. The rose smells sweet.
7. It is time to close the shops.
8. The teacher is calling the roll.
9. What cannot be cured must be endured.
10. God helps those who help themselves.
11. I will not answer any question now.
12. She has to do cooking and washing for me.
13. A rolling stone gathers no moss.
14. The way to heaven is paved with good deeds.
15. Trust in God and do the right.
16. Nip the evil in the bud.
17. A stitch in time saves nine.
18. Those living in glass houses must not throw stones at others.
19. I was shocked at the sad news.
20. The court proclaimed him an offender.
English I Model Question Paper English Paper I Model Paper
By Maneesh Rastogigopakumar menon on: November 19, 2009
Class X English Paper 1
Grammar and Composition
(Two hours
Answer 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 four questions
The intended marks for the questions or parts of questions are given in
bracket [ ].
You are advised to spend not more than 35 minutes in answering
Question 1
and 20 minutes in answering Question 2.
Question 1
Write a composition (350-400 words) on any one of the
following: - [25]
(Do not spend more than 35 minutes on this
question)
1.You feel sad and disgusted as you find so many children working in
shops, hotels, and factories. In spite of the government’s best efforts to give
them education, the situation has become very dismal. Evaluate the pathetic
situation of child labour with a few examples from daily life.
2.Which in your opinion is more important a healthy body or a healthy
mind? Substantiate your answer.
3.Imagine a situation in which a character from your favourite book
comes alive and visits you. Write an imaginary account of a day spent with this
character.
4.Write a short story with an alien, a business man and a film actor as
its characters.
5.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; but there must be clear
connection between the picture and your composition.
Question 2
Select any one of the following: [Do not spend more than 20 minutes
on this question] [10]
a) You come across an advertisement of an American student
inviting pen-friends from India. You decide to write a letter to him. Write a
letter describing your age, family, education, hobbies and interests.
OR
Note: Bear with me for the faulty alignment.
b) Write an application in response to the following
advertisement:
Teachers in English Wanted Immediately
Free Recruitment
Barons School of Communications, a USA institution,
invites applications for Teachers to work in the Middle School Section.
A Masters Degree [M.Ed] and 3-4 years experience preferred.
Excellent remuneration.
Apply within 10 days to
Post Box 2729
Times of India,
New Delhi-110001
Question 3
Isaac Newton, a name that may still be seen today cut into the wood of a
window-sill at King’s School,Grantham, where he studied Grammar and Latin. At
first, Isaac Newton seemed to be rather a dull boy, and not very good at his
lessons. But he liked to use his hands, and used to make little machines, such
as wind-mills. He caught mice and compelled them to drive some of his
little machines.
One day at school, Newton was kicked by a bigger boy who was
higher up in the class than he was himself. The kicking made Newton very angry
and he turned on the bigger boy and gave him a good beating. He also decided to
beat him at lessons, and this made him start work harder. After that, he
improved at his studies, and so perhaps the big boy who kicked Newton did a
service to the world.
Newton went to Cambridge University where he studied Mathematics
and Science. He started to make discoveries in Mathematics while still at
College. However, Newton did not confine his studies to Mathematics. He
became very interested in the nature of light, and he showed that sunlight,
which appears to us as white light, can be split up into the colours of the
rainbow.
One day, it is said, Newton watched an apple as it fell from a
tree to the ground. He began to wonder why it moved towards the earth, and not
upwards towards the sky. After a great deal of thought on this subject, he
produced his gravitation theory and published it in his great book ‘Principal’.
He showed that every body attacks every other body. The sun and the earth
attract each other, and so we do not fly away from the sun into the darkness and
coolness of outer space; the moon and the earth also attract each other, which
is why the moon stays near us and does not speed away, leaving us in darkness
every night.
Newton’s head was usually so full of ideas and problems that he was often
quite lost in thought. Many stories are told of his absent mindedness. Once,
when he was entering some guests at dinner, he went out of the room to fetch
some more wine. For a long time his friends awaited his return, but neither host
nor wine appeared. At last they went to look for him, and found him hard at work
in his study. The wine, the dinner, and his guests were all
forgotten.
On another occasion, he invited one of his friends to dinner, but when the
man arrived, the great philosopher was not there. The guest sat down to wait and
repeatedly looked hungrily at the dinner table not far away. Two places were
laid and everything seemed ready for an excellent meal.
After having waited a long time, the guest could wait not longer. He sat down
at the table and enjoyed splendid dinner alone after which he returned to
his other chair and sat down once more to wait for his host.
host.
At last Newton came in. He looked at his friend in a puzzled manner and
realized that he had entirely forgotten him. After shaking his hand and
apologizing, he turned to the dinner table.He noticed that someone had already
dined.
“I’m sorry,” he said, apologizing once again.
“I see that I have eaten my dinner. I certainly ought to have
waited for you.”a)Three words from the passage are given Give the meaning of
each as used in the passage. One word answers or short phrases are
accepted.
compelled (line 5)
confine (line 13)
splendid (line 35)
(b) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:-
How did Newton spend his early days at
school?
What was Newton’s immediate reaction when he was kicked by a bigger
boy?
Why is it said that the boy who kicked Newton did a service to the
world?
What other discovery did Newton make besides the theory of
gravitation?
Why was Newton referred to as a ‘great
philosopher’?
4.Quote the line from the passage which illustrates Newton’s theory
of 5.Use
the word ‘light’ in a sentence of your own such that it has a meaning different
from that used in the
passage.
[1]
(c) In not more than 60 words of your own , show how Newton was truly
absent minded. [8] (d) Give a title to your summary in 3(c) above
and give a reason to justify your choice. [2]
Question 4
a) Rewrite the following sentences as according to the
instructions given after each.Make other changes that may be necessary but do
not change the meaning of any of the
sentence. [10]
My father said to me” Let us go to the club.” [Change into indirect speech]
No other empire in the world was as powerful as the Roman empire. [Use:
most]
As soon as he wins the race, he prostrates on the track. [Begin: No sooner…]
The Principal disagreed with the proposal of the students, didn’t he? [ Use:
agree]
Who replaced the player after he was injured? [ Use substitute
instead of replaced]
Jasper has probably forgotten his mother’s birthday. [Begin: In…]
For more information, please, contact the receptionist of the hotel. [Begin:
if…]
He could not participate in the race as he had an injured foot. [ Use:
’prevented’]
Those that are helpless deserve our pity. [Begin: The helpless…]
The reason of her failure is not known. [ Rewrite using ‘why’ in the
sentence]
b) Complete each of the following sentences with a suitable
form of the word given in brackets: [5]
She was ….. that she won a prize. [please]
As the weather was bad, we …… at home. [stay]
He ……. that he was innocent. [declare]
I was surprised when I …… him talk so. [hear]
A good name which can …….. can never be recovered. [ be, lose]
c) Fill in the blanks with appropriate
prepositions.
[5] />
Let us begin …….. the first poem.
I do not approve……. Your action in the matter.
He is seldom attentive ….. his lessons.
He was cured …. his disease.
I am very angry …… his misconduct.
By Maneesh Rastogigopakumar menon on: November 13, 2009
Select one of the following:-
(a) You have been requested to judge a One Act Play Competition. However, you are unable to do sodue to unavoidable circumstances.Write a letter of regret to the Principal of the host school, declining the invitation.
(b) Recently your class was sent to participate in a Science exhibition organized by the State Education Department at the district headquarters. Write your uncle living in Singapore, explaining two salient features of the exhibition.
By Maneesh Rastogigopakumar menon on: November 10, 2009
Question 1
During your holidays you stayed with your Uncle’s family.Write a letter thanking him for the stay and tell him what
you liked the
most. [10]
Question 2
Rewrite as directed: [10]
1. She came to my house in August last year.
(Begin: The last…)
2. This is the wisest man I have ever seen.
(Begin: Never…)
3. The soldiers continued marching.
(Change into a negative sentence)
4.To avoid punishment, he ran away.
(End…..punishment)
5. Intelligent though he is, he acts childishly.
(Begin: He is…..)
Sophia says, “It is warmer today than yesterday.”
(Change into reported speech)
7. Mohammed settled in the village where he was born.
(Change into a simple sentence)
8. She did all she could do to persuade her husband to stop drinking but to no avail.
(Begin: Nothing…)
9. Even as a young gifted artist, Annette did not neglect her studies.
(Use: when)
10. Cassius does not know the reason for Caesar’s success.
(Use: why)
Question 3
Fill
in the blanks with the correct form of word in the
bracket. [5]
1. I will complete the work if I am……well ( pay)
2. You better start ……..as your examination are at hand. (revise)
3. He had a …….. escape.(miracle)
4. They ……. in Chandigarh for five years. (live)
5. I shall be surprised, if it does……today.( rain)
By Maneesh Rastogigopakumar menon on: October 12, 2009
ENGLISH (01)
Aims:
1. To develop and integrate the use of the four
language skills i.e. listening, speaking, reading
and writing.
2. To enhance the ability of the candidates to express
their ideas and feelings in their own words and for
them to understand the use of current English.
3. To provide candidates with exposure to good and
appropriate literature in English.
4. To develop an interest in the appreciation of
literature.
5. To use English effectively and appropriately.
There will be two papers: Paper 1. English Language;
Paper 2. Literature in English.
Each of these papers will be of two hours duration.
Paper 1: English Language (80 Marks)
Internal Assessment (20 Marks)
Paper 2: Literature in English (80 Marks)
Internal Assessment (20 Marks)
PAPER 1 — ENGLISH LANGUAGE
(Two hours) – 80 marks
Four questions will be set, all of which will be
compulsory.
Question 1: Candidates will be required to write a
composition from a choice of subjects which will test
their ability to: organise, describe, narrate, report,
explain, persuade or argue, present ideas coherently,
compare and contrast ideas and arrive at conclusions,
present relevant arguments and use correct style and
format. The subjects will be varied and may be
suggested by language or by other stimuli such as
pictures. The subjects will be so chosen so as to allow
the candidates to draw on first hand experience or to
stimulate their imagination.
With one subject, a number of suggestions about the
content of the composition will be given, but the use
of the suggestions will be optional and a candidate
will be free to treat the subject in any way that he/she
chooses.
The organisation of subject matter, syntax,
punctuation, correctness of grammatical constructions
and spelling will be expected to be appropriate to the
mode of treatment required by the subject.
Question 2: Candidates will have to write a letter
from a choice of two subjects requiring either a formal
or an informal mode of treatment. Suggestions
regarding the content of the letter may be given. The
layout of the letter with address, introduction,
conclusion, etc., will form part of the assessment.
Candidates will be expected to be familiar with the
use of appropriate salutation, format and style for
letters.
Question 3: An unseen passage of prose of about 500
words will be given. Uncommon items of vocabulary,
or structure will be avoided. One question will be set
to test vocabulary. Candidates will be required to
show that they understand the words/phrases in the
context in which they have been used. A number of
questions requiring short answers will also be asked
on the passage. These questions will test the
candidates’ ability to understand the explicit content
and organisation of the passage and to infer
information, intentions and attitudes from it.
The last question will consist of a summary that will
test the candidates’ ability to distinguish main ideas
from supporting details and to extract salient points to
re-express them in the form of a summary. Candidates
will be given clear indications of what they are to
summarise and of the length of the summary.
Question 4: There will be a number of short answer
questions to test the candidates’ knowledge of
functional grammar, structure and usage of the
language. All the items in this question will be
compulsory. They will consist of sentence completion,
multiple choice or other short answer type of
questions.
PAPER 2 — LITERATURE IN ENGLISH
(Two hours) – 80 marks
Candidates will be required to answer five questions
from at least three of the prescribed textbooks, one of
which must be drama, one prose and one poetry.
Prose and Drama
Questions set will be central to the text. Candidates
will be required to show that they have understood the
passage and are able to clearly give their interpretation
of the questions set, which should be in their own
words and relevant to the text.
Excerpts may be given from the prose and drama texts
leading to questions on the specific book.
12
Poetry
A poem, or passages from poems, will be given and
questions will be set to test the candidates’ response to
the poem. The questions will focus on the content,
understanding and the personal response of
candidates to the poem as a whole.
NOTE: The Class X – ICSE examination paper will
be set on the entire syllabus prescribed for the
subject.
The Class IX internal examination is to be
conducted on the portion of this syllabus that is
covered during the academic year.
The Council has not prescribed bifurcation of the
syllabus for this subject.
Note: For list of prescribed text-books see
Appendix- II.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Paper 1 – English Language
Class IX: A total of three assignments need to be
undertaken, which should include creative writing and
aural assignments.
Class X: A total of two assignments need to be
undertaken, which should include a piece of creative
writing and an oral assignment.
Creative Writing (IX & X) – The assignments
should be of approximately 300 to 400 words each.
Aural and Oral (IX / X) – Assignments should be of
reasonable length/ duration which is to be decided by
the teacher.
Paper 2 – Literature in English
Class IX: Two or three assignments of approximately
300 to 400 words each.
Class X: Two or three assignments of reasonable
length (not exceeding 1500 words in total).
SUGGESTED ASSIGNMENTS
Paper 1 – English Language
Class IX: Creative Writing: Students are to write
short compositions, the stimuli being: i) a piece of
recorded music; ii) a recorded series of sound; iii) a
picture/photograph; iv) an opening sentence or phrase;
v) a newspaper/magazine clipping or report; one piece
of factual writing which should be informative or
argumentative; one piece of expressive writing which
is descriptive and imaginative; preparation of
film/book review.
Aural: Listening to a conversation/talk/reading of a
short passage and then writing down the relevant or
main points in the specified number of words and
answering the given questions.
Class X: Oral: Prepared speech/declamation;
impromptu speech/debate/discussion; report/interview;
elocution; role-play / general conversation on selected
topics.
Creative Writing: Students are to write short
compositions, the stimuli being: i) a piece of recorded
music; ii) a recorded series of sound; iii) a
picture/photograph; iv) an opening sentence or phrase;
v) a newspaper/magazine clipping or report; one piece
of factual writing which should be informative or
argumentative; one piece of expressive writing which
is descriptive and imaginative; preparation of
film/book review.
It is also suggested that students be made aware of
contemporary forms of written communication, such
as fax, memo, etc.
Paper 2 – Literature in English- Classes IX and X
Assignments should be based on the prescribed
textbooks on the following lines:
(i) Character/thematic analysis;
(ii) Socio-economic, cultural, historical relevance /
background;
(iii) Summary / paraphrase.
The texts selected for Class IX for Internal
Assessment would be different from those selected for
Class X.
EVALUATION
The assignments/project work are to be evaluated by
the subject teacher and by an external examiner.
(The External Examiner may be a teacher nominated
by the Principal, who could be from the faculty, but
not teaching the subject in the section/class. For
example, a teacher of English of Class VIII may be
deputed to be an External Examiner for Class X,
English projects.)
The Internal Examiner and the External Examiner will
assess the assignments independently.
Award of marks (20 Marks)
Subject Teacher (Internal Examiner) 10 marks
External Examiner 10 marks
The total marks obtained out of 20 are to be sent to the
Council by the Principal of the school.
The Head of the school will be responsible for the
entry of marks on the mark sheets provided by the
Council.
13
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE – GUIDELINES FOR MARKING WITH GRADES-CREATIVE WRITING
(CLASSES IX & X)
Grade Content/Analysis of Idea,
Thought/ Feeling.
Expression/ Effective
Expression of Idea
Structure/ Organisation of
Material
Vocabulary/ Use of
Words, Phrases
Originality/
Imaginative/
Innovative
Marks
I The candidate analyses the ideas,
feelings and experiences
effectively. Reasoning is logical
and effective.
The candidate expresses
the ideas, thoughts and
feelings effectively.
The work is very well
structured with a sense of
beginning, middle and
conclusion, paragraphing
and appropriate sentence
structured.
The use of vocabulary
exhibits a high level of
competence in handling
language.
The work is
imaginative
interesting and
engrossing.
4
II The candidate analyses the ideas,
feelings and experiences with well
defined explanations, reasoning is
logical and persuasive.
The candidate expresses
the ideas thoughts and
feelings well and with
clarity.
The work is very well
structured with some sense
of conclusion and of
paragraph lengths.
The vocabulary exhibits
competence of word
usage; correctness of
grammar and spelling.
The candidate’s
work is quite
interesting and
engrossing.
3
III The candidate analyses the idea,
feelings and experiences with a
fair degree of detail and
explanation. Reasoning is fairly
logical and persuasive.
The candidate expresses
the ideas, thoughts and
feelings fairly well and
with a fair degree of
clarity.
The work is fairly well
structured;
candidate follows simple
paragraphing .
The candidate uses
straightforward
vocabulary and fairly
good pattern of spellings.
The candidate
demonstrates the
ability to sustain the
interest of the
reader.
2
IV The candidate attempts to analyze
ideas, feelings and experiences
with simple explanation and detail.
Reasoning and arguments are not
very convincing.
The candidate expresses
the idea, thoughts and
feelings intelligibly and
in simple language.
The work shows some
understanding of
paragraphing and structure.
The candidate’s
vocabulary is limited and
the spelling, punctuation
and grammar is
sometimes poor.
The candidate is, to
some extent, able to
sustain the interest
of the reader.
1
V The candidate attempts a basic
analysis of ideas, feelings and
experiences with few simple
explanations and few details. Is
unable to present proper
arguments.
The candidate is unable
to expresses the ideas,
thoughts and feelings,
uses simple language and
work is not very
intelligible.
The candidate does not
display an understanding of
structure, paragraphing.
There is consistent
weakness in spelling,
punctuation and
grammar.
The candidate is
unable to sustain the
interest of the
reader.
0
14
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE-GUIDELINES FOR MARKING WITH GRADES – AURAL ASSIGNMENT
(CLASS IX)
Grade Understanding/ Comprehension
Main Idea, Central Theme
Recall Vocabulary Context/ Correlation to Other
Areas
Marks
I The candidate accurately
understands the central idea of the
passage as well as the relevant
points in the selected passage/
talk.
The candidate recalls all the
important points made (written/
verbal).
The candidate uses appropriate
and correct vocabulary while
recalling the points made.
The candidate clearly understands
the context and can widely
correlate the passage to the other
areas.
3
II The candidate gives ideas fairly
close to the central / main idea of
the passage as well as understand
some of the relevant points heard
in the selected passage/ talk.
The candidate recalls some of the
important points made (written/
verbal).
The candidate uses correct but
simple vocabulary while recalling
the points made.
The candidate can moderately
understand the context of the
passage and can moderately
correlate the passage to the other
areas.
2
III The candidate cannot fully
comprehend the passage and
gives only a few ideas related to
the central theme of the passage.
The candidate recalls very few of
the important points made
(written/verbal).
The candidate makes various
errors in vocabulary while
recalling the points made.
The candidate can only faintly
understand the context of the
passage and relate it to the other
areas.
1
IV The candidate is neither able to
understand the central/main idea
of the passage; nor able to
understand relevant points heard
in the passage/talk.
The candidate is unable to recall
the important points made
(written/verbal)
The candidate uses incorrect
vocabulary while recalling the
points made.
The candidate is unable to
understand the context of the
passage and is unable to correlate
the passage to the other areas.
0
15
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE – GUIDELINES FOR MARKING WITH GRADES – ORAL ASSIGNMENT
(CLASS X)
Grade Fluency of Language Subject Matter Organization Vocabulary/
Delivery
Understanding Gesture Marks
I Speaks with fluency and
has full operational
command over the
language.
Matter is relevant,
rich in content and
original.
Content is well
sequenced and well
organized.
Uses appropriate
vocabulary and
pronounces words
correctly.
While speaking, the
candidate emphasizes
the important points.
Uses natural and
spontaneous
gestures that are
not out of place.
3
II The candidate speaks
with fairly good fluency
and has reasonable
operational command of
the language.
The subject matter
is mostly relevant,
consisting of a few
original ideas.
The content is
satisfactorily
sequenced and well
organized.
The candidate
pronounces most
words correctly and
uses simple
vocabulary.
While speaking the
candidate emphasizes
most important points.
Uses some natural
gestures.
2
III The candidate speaks
with poor fluency and
does not communicate
except for the most basic
information.
The subject matter
is irrelevant and
lacks originality.
The subject content is
very poor and lacks
organisational
structure.
The candidate
pronounces many
words incorrectly and
uses inappropriate
vocabulary.
While speaking, the
candidate emphasizes
some important points.
Uses very few
natural gestures.
1
IV The candidate cannot
communicate even the
most basic information.
The subject matter
is negligible.
The subject content
comprises of mere
words with no
structured sentences.
The candidate is
unable to correctly
pronounce most words
and has a limited
vocabulary.
While speaking, the
candidate is unable to
emphasize important
points.
Uses no natural
gestures.
0
16
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN ENGLISH LITERATURE -GUIDELINES FOR MARKING WITH GRADES (CLASSES IX & X)
Grade Understanding of Text
(Narrative)
Examples from Text Understanding of text-
Interpretation and
Evaluation
Appreciation of
Language,
Characterization
Critical Appreciation -
Personal Response
Marks
I The candidate
demonstrates expertise in
giving an appropriate
account of the text, with
well-chosen reference to
narrative and situation.
The account is suitably
supported by relevant
examples from the text.
The candidate understands
the text with due emphasis
on interpretation and
evaluation.
The candidate appreciates
and evaluates significant
ways (structure, character,
imagery) in which writers
have achieved their
effects.
The candidate is able to
effectively reflect
personal response (critical
appreciation) to the text.
4
II The candidate
demonstrates a high level
of competence in giving
an account of the text,
with appropriate
references to the narrative
and situation.
The account is supported
by examples from the text.
The candidate understands
text with some emphasis
on interpretation and
evaluation.
The candidate appreciates
and evaluates significant
ways in which writers
have achieved their
effects.
The candidate is able to
reflect a personal response
to the text.
3
III The candidate
demonstrates competence
in giving an account of the
text with some reference
to the narrative and
situation.
The candidate understands
the text and shows a basic
recognition of the theme
and can support it by a
few examples.
The candidate recognizes
some aspects of the text
used by authors to present
ideas.
The candidate recognizes
some of the significant
ways in which the writers
have used the language.
The candidate is able to
communicate a personal
response, which shows
appreciation.
2
IV The candidate gives a
broad account of the text
with reference to the
narrative and situation.
The candidate understands
the basic meaning of the
text.
The candidate relates the
text to other texts studied.
The candidate recognizes
differences in the way
authors write.
The candidate
communicates a
straightforward personal
response to the text.
1
V The candidate is unable to
demonstrate an
understanding of the basic
events in the text.
The candidate is unable to
understand the text or
support it with any
examples.
The candidate is unable to
relate the text to the other
texts studied.
The candidate is unable to
recognize the differences
in the way authors write.
The candidate is unable to
give a personal view of
the text studied.