Sample paper - Analysis

ICSE SEMESTER 1 EXAMINATION SPECIMEN

QUESTION PAPER
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
English Paper - 1

Maximum Marks: 40
Time allowed: One hour (inclusive of
reading time)
ALL QUESTIONS ARE COMPULSORY.
The marks intended for questions are
given in brackets [ ].
 Select the correct option for each of
the following questions.

Question 1 Read the following passage carefully

and answer the questions that follow:

Father was standing in the small courtyard,

wearing a dhoti and a banian, the dress which, for
its very homeliness. Swaminathan detested to see
him in; it indicated that he did not intend going
out in the near future.
“Where are you going?”
“Nowhere.”
“Where were you yesterday at this time?”
“Here.”
“You are lying. You were not here yesterday. And
you are not going out now.”
“That is right,”
Mother added, just appearing from somewhere,
“there is no limit to his loafing in the sun. He will
die of sunstroke if he keeps on like this.”
Father would have gone on forever without
Mother’s encouragement. But now her words
spurred him to action. Swaminathan was asked to
follow him to his ‘room’ in his father’s dressing-
room.

“How many days is it since you have touched your

books?” Father asked as he blew off the fine layer
of dust on Swaminathan’s books, and cleared the
web that an industrious spider was weaving
between a corner of the table and the pile of
books.
Swaminathan viewed this question as a gross
breach of promise.
“Should I read even when I have no school?”
“Do you think you have passed the B.A.?” Father
asked.
“I mean, Father, when the school is closed, when
there is no examination, even then should I read?”
“What a question! You must read.”

“But Father, you said before the examinations that

I needn’t read after they were over. Even Rajam
does not read.” As he uttered the last sentence, he
tried to believe it; he clearly remembered Rajan’s
complaining bitterly of a home tutor who came
and pestered him for two hours a day thrice a
week.
Father was apparently deaf to Swaminathan’s
remarks. He stood over Swaminathan and set him
to dust his books and clean his table.
Swaminathan vigorously started blowing off the
dust from the book covers. He caught the spider
carefully, and took it to the window to throw it
out. He held it outside the window and watched it
for a while. It was swinging from a strand that
gleamed in a hundred delicate tints.
“Look sharp! Do you want a whole day to throw
out the spider?” Father asked. Swaminathan
suddenly realized that he might have the spider as
his pet and that it would be a criminal waste to
throw it out. He secretly slipped it into his pocket
and, after shaking an empty hand outside the
window, returned to his duty at the desk.
“Look at the way you have kept your English text!
Are you not ashamed of yourself?” Swaminathan
picked up the oily red-bound Fourth Reader,
opened it, and banged together the covers in
order to shake off the dust, and then rubbed
violently the oily covers with his palm.

“Get a piece of cloth, boy. That is not the way to

clean things. Get a piece of cloth, Swami,” Father
said, half kindly and half impatiently.

Swaminathan looked about and complained, “I

can’t find any here, father.”
“Run and see.”
This was a welcome suggestion. Swaminathan
hurried out. He first went to his grandmother.
“Granny, get me a piece of cloth, quick.”
(a) For each word given below choose the correct
meaning (as used in the passage) from the options
provided:

1. Detested
a. detention
b. detained
c. hateful
d. hated
(a) For each word given below choose the correct
meaning (as used in the passage) from the options
provided:

1. Detested
a. detention
b. detained
c. hateful
d. hated
2. Pestered
a. tiny insect
b. botheration
c. annoyed
d. annoyance
2. Pestered
a. tiny insect
b. botheration
c. annoyed
d. annoyance
3. violently:
a. Cruelly
b. with great energy
c. loudly
d. with a lot of noise
3. violently:
a. Cruelly
b. with great energy
c. loudly
d. with a lot of noise
(b) (i) What did father’s clothes show?
1. He was relaxed.
2. It was a holiday.
3. He was planning to stay at home.
4. He was planning to leave shortly.
(b) (i) What did father’s clothes show?
1. He was relaxed.
2. It was a holiday.
3. He was planning to stay at home.
4. He was planning to leave shortly.
(ii) How did mother encourage father?
1. By appearing suddenly.
2. By following father to his room.
3. By complaining about Swami.
4. By calling Swami in from the outside.
(ii) How did mother encourage father?
1. By appearing suddenly.
2. By following father to his room.
3. By complaining about Swami.
4. By calling Swami in from the outside.
(iii) What did the dust on Swami’s books indicate?
1. The house was dusty.
2. Swami had not touched his books.
3. The books were old.
4. Swami had forgotten to pack it in his school
bag.
(iii) What did the dust on Swami’s books indicate?
1. The house was dusty.
2. Swami had not touched his books.
3. The books were old.
4. Swami had forgotten to pack it in his school
bag.
(iv) What is meant by “breach of promise?”
1. To go back on one’s promise.
2. To make a promise.
3. To keep a promise.
4. Never to promise.
(iv) What is meant by “breach of promise?”
1. To go back on one’s promise.
2. To make a promise.
3. To keep a promise.
4. Never to promise.
(v) What is father’s tone when he says, “Do you
think you have passed your B.A.?”
Father’s tone was:
1. jovial.
2. angry.
3. sarcastic.
4. tired.
(v) What is father’s tone when he says, “Do you
think you have passed your B.A.?”
Father’s tone was:
1. jovial.
2. angry.
3. sarcastic.
4. tired.
(vi) In what way was Rajam situation similar to
that of Swami’s?
1. Rajam had gone on holiday.
2. Rajam’s tuition teacher had taken a holiday.
3. Rajam’s father also scolded him.
4. Rajam had tuition during the holidays.
(vi) In what way was Rajam situation similar to
that of Swami’s?
1. Rajam had gone on holiday.
2. Rajam’s tuition teacher had taken a holiday.
3. Rajam’s father also scolded him.
4. Rajam had tuition during the holidays.
(vii) What attracted Swami to the spider?
1. Its web.
2. Its colour.
3. The colour of the thread.
4. The dust on the spider.
(vii) What attracted Swami to the spider?
1. Its web.
2. Its colour.
3. The colour of the thread.
4. The dust on the spider.
(viii) What does Swami do with the spider?
1. He shook it.
2. He hid it in the book.
3. He hid it outside the window.
4. He hid it in his pocket.
(viii) What does Swami do with the spider?
1. He shook it.
2. He hid it in the book.
3. He hid it outside the window.
4. He hid it in his pocket.
(ix) What was Swami ordered to do?
1. Get a cloth.
2. Free the spider.
3. Throw the spider.
4. Call grandmother.
(ix) What was Swami ordered to do?
1. Get a cloth.
2. Free the spider.
3. Throw the spider.
4. Call grandmother.
(x) The author says the father spoke “half kindly
and half impatiently”.
This indicates that:
1. he was really angry.
2. he was complaining.
3. he really wanted to free the spider.
4. he was not really angry.
(x) The author says the father spoke “half kindly
and half impatiently”.
This indicates that:
1. he was really angry.
2. he was complaining.
3. he really wanted to free the spider.
4. he was not really angry.
(xi) Swami hurried out. Why did he do so?
1. He wanted to meet his grandmother.
2. He wanted to dust the table.
3. He wanted to check on the spider.
4. He wanted to run out and play.
(xi) Swami hurried out. Why did he do so?
1. He wanted to meet his grandmother.
2. He wanted to dust the table.
3. He wanted to check on the spider.
4. He wanted to run out and play.
(c) How did Swami deal with the spider?
(i) First, he:
1. dusted the books.
2. lifted the cover.
3. wiped the books vigorously.
4. caught the spider.
(c) How did Swami deal with the spider?
(i) First, he:
1. dusted the books.
2. lifted the cover.
3. wiped the books vigorously.
4. caught the spider.
(ii) Then he:
1. took it to the window.
2. put it in his pocket.
3. hid the spider.
4. got frightened
(ii) Then he:
1. took it to the window.
2. put it in his pocket.
3. hid the spider.
4. got frightened
(iii) He wanted to:
1. keep the spider.
2. hide the spider.
3. throw the spider.
4. kill the spider.
(iii) He wanted to:
1. keep the spider.
2. hide the spider.
3. throw the spider.
4. kill the spider.
(iv) But he:
1. held the spider.
2. squeezed the spider.
3. dusted the spider.
4. hid the spider.
(iv) But he:
1. held the spider.
2. squeezed the spider.
3. dusted the spider.
4. hid the spider.
(v) And he:
1. watched the spider.
2. swung the spider.
3. held the spider.
4. killed the spider.
(v) And he:
1. watched the spider.
2. swung the spider.
3. held the spider.
4. killed the spider.
(vi) He decided to:
1. keep the spider as his pet.
2. put the spider into the dustbin.
3. throw the spider out of the window.
4. tame the spider and teach it tricks.
(vi) He decided to:
1. keep the spider as his pet.
2. put the spider into the dustbin.
3. throw the spider out of the window.
4. tame the spider and teach it tricks.
Question 2
(a) Choose the correct option to fill in the blanks:
(i) He was frightened so he hid _________ the
cupboard.
1. into
2. behind
3. across
4. toward
Question 2
(a) Choose the correct option to fill in the blanks:
(i) He was frightened so he hid _________ the
cupboard.
1. into
2. behind
3. across
4. toward
(ii) They built a bridge ________ a turbulent
stream.
1. across
2. in
3. into
4. against
(ii) They built a bridge ________ a turbulent
stream.
1. across
2. in
3. into
4. against
(iii) His intelligence will carry him_______ all his
difficulties.
1. through
2. above
3. towards
4. against
(iii) His intelligence will carry him_______ all his
difficulties.
1. through
2. above
3. towards
4. against
(iv) She called ________ her teacher to help her to
sort out her difficulties.
1. in
2. to
3. up
4. over
(iv) She called ________ her teacher to help her to
sort out her difficulties.
1. in
2. to
3. up
4. over
(b) Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the
words provided after the passage:

When Ranji (0) ____________ (see) the pool, he did

not hesitate to (i) ____________ (get) into it. He
had often (ii) ____________ (go) swimming, alone
or with friends, when he had (iii) ____________
(live) with his parents in a thirsty town in the
middle of the Rajputana Desert. There, he had (iv)
____________ (know) only sticky muddy pools
where buffaloes wallowed and women washed
clothes.
Example: (0) saw
(i)
1. get
2. gets
3. got
4. gots
(i)
1. get
2. gets
3. got
4. gots
(ii)
1. goes
2. gone
3. go
4. got
(ii)
1. goes
2. gone
3. go
4. got
(iii)
1. lives
2. living
3. lived
4. live
(iii)
1. lives
2. living
3. lived
4. live
(iv)
1. know
2. knows
3. knowing
4. known
(iv)
1. know
2. knows
3. knowing
4. known
(c) Choose the correct option to join the following
sentences without using ‘and’, ‘but’ or ‘so’:
(i) He plays cricket. He plays tennis.
1. He plays not only cricket but also tennis.
2. He plays either cricket or tennis.
3. He plays cricket as well as tennis.
4. He plays neither cricket nor tennis.
(c) Choose the correct option to join the following
sentences without using ‘and’, ‘but’ or ‘so’:
(i) He plays cricket. He plays tennis.
1. He plays not only cricket but also tennis.
2. He plays either cricket or tennis.
3. He plays cricket as well as tennis.
4. He plays neither cricket nor tennis.
(ii) Submit your project. Only then can you appear
for the test.
1. Until you submit your project you can appear for
the test.
2. Until you appear for the test you cannot submit
your project.
3. Unless you submit your project you can appear
for the test.
4. Unless you submit your project you cannot
appear for the test.
(ii) Submit your project. Only then can you appear
for the test.
1. Until you submit your project you can appear for
the test.
2. Until you appear for the test you cannot submit
your project.
3. Unless you submit your project you can appear
for the test.
4. Unless you submit your project you cannot
appear for the test.
(iii) The man was running fast. The police caught
him.
1. Although the man was running fast, the police
caught him.
2. The police caught the man in spite he was
running fast.
3. Despite his running fast the man caught the
police.
4. The man was running fast although the police
caught him.
(iii) The man was running fast. The police caught
him.
1. Although the man was running fast, the police
caught him.
2. The police caught the man in spite he was
running fast.
3. Despite his running fast the man caught the
police.
4. The man was running fast although the police
caught him.
(iv) Sheena drew a picture. Her mother put it up on
the fridge.
1. Her mother put a picture on the fridge that
Sheena drew.
2. Sheena drew a picture that her mother put on
the fridge.
3. He mother drew a picture that Sheena put on
the fridge.
4. Her mother put on the picture that Sheena
drew.
(iv) Sheena drew a picture. Her mother put it up on
the fridge.
1. Her mother put a picture on the fridge that
Sheena drew.
2. Sheena drew a picture that her mother put on
the fridge.
3. He mother drew a picture that Sheena put on
the fridge.
4. Her mother put on the picture that Sheena
drew.
(d) Read each sentence with its instructions.
Choose the correct answer from the options
provided beneath each:
(i) He came to the party. (Add Question tag)
1. Isn’t it?
2. Didn’t he?
3. Wasn’t it?
4. Wasn’t he?
(d) Read each sentence with its instructions.
Choose the correct answer from the options
provided beneath each:
(i) He came to the party. (Add Question tag)
1. Isn’t it?
2. Didn’t he?
3. Wasn’t it?
4. Wasn’t he?
(ii) The teacher said, “Akhtar, why were you absent
yesterday?” (Begin: The teacher asked Akhtar…)
1. The teacher asked Akhtar why he was absent
yesterday.
2. The teacher asked Akhtar why were you absent
yesterday.
3. The teacher asked Akhtar why are you absent
yesterday.
4. The teacher asked Akhtar why he had been
absent the previous day.
(ii) The teacher said, “Akhtar, why were you absent
yesterday?” (Begin: The teacher asked Akhtar…)
1. The teacher asked Akhtar why he was absent
yesterday.
2. The teacher asked Akhtar why were you absent
yesterday.
3. The teacher asked Akhtar why are you absent
yesterday.
4. The teacher asked Akhtar why he had been
absent the previous day.
(iii) In spite of the waterlogging the traffic was
heavy. (Begin: Despite…)
1. Despite the water logging the traffic was heavy.
2. Despite of the waterlogging the traffic was
heavy.
3. Despite the traffic being heavy there was water
logging.
4. Despite of water logging there was heavy traffic.
(iii) In spite of the waterlogging the traffic was
heavy. (Begin: Despite…)
1. Despite the water logging the traffic was heavy.
2. Despite of the waterlogging the traffic was
heavy.
3. Despite the traffic being heavy there was water
logging.
4. Despite of water logging there was heavy traffic.
(iv) As soon as the whistle blew, the game
stopped. (Begin: No sooner…)
1. No sooner did the whistle blow, the game
stopped.
2. No sooner than the whistle blew, the game
stopped.
3. No sooner did the whistle blew, than the game
stopped.
4. No sooner did the whistle blow, than the game
stopped.
(iv) As soon as the whistle blew, the game
stopped. (Begin: No sooner…)
1. No sooner did the whistle blow, the game
stopped.
2. No sooner than the whistle blew, the game
stopped.
3. No sooner did the whistle blew, than the game
stopped.
4. No sooner did the whistle blow, than the game
stopped.
(v) Mother was too angry to argue with the
shopkeeper. (Remove ‘too’.)
1. Mother was too angry so that she could not
argue with the shopkeeper.
2. Mother was so angry to argue with the
shopkeeper.
3. Mother was so angry that she could not argue
with the shopkeeper.
4. Mother was so angry not to argue with the
shopkeeper.
(v) Mother was too angry to argue with the
shopkeeper. (Remove ‘too’.)
1. Mother was too angry so that she could not
argue with the shopkeeper.
2. Mother was so angry to argue with the
shopkeeper.
3. Mother was so angry that she could not argue
with the shopkeeper.
4. Mother was so angry not to argue with the
shopkeeper.
(vi) Everybody put up their hands. (Begin: There
was nobody…)
1. There was nobody who put up their hands.
2. There was nobody who did not put up their
hands.
3. There was nobody whom put up their hands.
4. There was nobody who should put up their
hands.
(vi) Everybody put up their hands. (Begin: There
was nobody…)
1. There was nobody who put up their hands.
2. There was nobody who did not put up their
hands.
3. There was nobody whom put up their hands.
4. There was nobody who should put up their
hands.
(vii)We celebrated grandfather’s hundredth
birthday. (Begin: Grandfather…)
1. Grandfather’s hundredth birthday was
celebrated by us.
2. Grandfather celebrated his hundredth birthday.
3. Grandfather was celebrated on his hundredth
birthday.
4. Grandfather celebration was on his hundredth
birthday.
(vii)We celebrated grandfather’s hundredth
birthday. (Begin: Grandfather…)
1. Grandfather’s hundredth birthday was
celebrated by us.
2. Grandfather celebrated his hundredth birthday.
3. Grandfather was celebrated on his hundredth
birthday.
4. Grandfather celebration was on his hundredth
birthday.
(viii)Kaushik has the best handwriting in the class.
(Begin: No one…)
1. No one has the better handwriting than Kaushik
in the class.
2. No one has the better handwriting in the class
than Kaushik.
3. No one in the class has better handwriting than
Kaushik.
4. No one’s handwriting in the class is better than
Kaushik.
(viii)Kaushik has the best handwriting in the class.
(Begin: No one…)
1. No one has the better handwriting than Kaushik
in the class.
2. No one has the better handwriting in the class
than Kaushik.
3. No one in the class has better handwriting than
Kaushik.
4. No one’s handwriting in the class is better than
Kaushik.
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