ICSE Class 10 English Language Board Exam Question Paper 2026 with Solutions

ICSE Class 10 English Language Board Exam Question Paper with Solutions

Question 1
(Do not spend more than 30 minutes on this question.)
Write a composition (300 - 350 words) on any one of the following: [20]

(i) Write an original short story beginning with the words: It was midnight and the doorbell rang...

Answer:
It was midnight and the doorbell rang, sharp and persistent, cutting through the heavy silence of the old house. I sat up in bed, my heart hammering against my ribs. Everyone else was fast asleep. Who could possibly be at the door at this ungodly hour? Pulling a shawl tightly around my shoulders, I crept down the creaking wooden stairs, every shadow in the hallway seeming to stretch and take shape.

I reached the front door and peered through the peephole. Outside, illuminated by the pale moonlight, stood a terrified-looking boy of about ten, shivering in the cold drizzle. I slowly unlatched the heavy bolts and pulled the door open. He clutched a wet, mud-stained envelope in his trembling hands and whispered, "Please, are you Dr. Arcot? My mother said only you could help us."

I explained gently that I was not a doctor, but my father was, though he was away on a medical emergency. The boy's face crumpled in despair, tears mixing with the raindrops on his cheeks. He thrust the envelope into my hand and stammered, "They are trapped at the old mill bridge... the flash flood... please!"

Instantly, fear vanished, replaced by a sense of urgency. I did not hesitate. Rousing my father's friend who lived next door, we grabbed flashlights, ropes, and our car keys. As we drove furiously through the storm towards the old mill bridge, I gripped the damp envelope, realizing that sometimes midnight interruptions are not meant to frighten us, but to test our courage and humanity.

Teacher's Note:
a) The story maintains a suspenseful tone right from the opening sentence and builds up to a clear, meaningful climax within the word limit.
b) Students must ensure their narrative stays within the 300 to 350-word limit and develops characters logically.

(ii) If you could change one period in your school timetable, which one would you choose? Why do you think it needs to be changed and with which subject or activity would you replace it?

Answer:
If I were given the opportunity to change one period in our weekly school timetable, I would undoubtedly replace the second post-lunch period on Wednesdays, currently designated for traditional textbook-based Social Studies, with a dedicated Mindfulness and Practical Life Skills workshop.

Adolescence is a phase filled with academic pressure, peer expectations, and constant anxiety about the future. The post-lunch slot on a Wednesday is universally known as the lowest point of energy for students, where everyone struggles to stay awake over historical dates and geographical facts. Replacing this with mindfulness exercises, basic financial literacy, emotional intelligence training, or collaborative community projects would breathe new life into the school day.

Such a session would not be about rote learning or examinations. Instead, it would teach us how to cope with stress, practice yoga or meditation, learn basic first aid, and understand personal budgeting. These are vital survival skills that standard academic curriculums often overlook. By transforming this dull academic hour into an interactive wellness period, students would return to their remaining classes feeling refreshed, focused, and mentally resilient. Education must prepare us not just for college entrance tests, but for the practical realities of life.

Teacher's Note:
a) A discursive or reflective essay must present a clear personal viewpoint with strong, logical arguments supporting the proposed change.
b) Avoid excessive informal slang and maintain a balanced, persuasive tone throughout.

(iii) You and your family enjoy eating out. Give a description of your favourite restaurant or food stall, and the sights and smells that attract you to the place. Explain why you like eating here.

Answer:
Tucked away in a vibrant corner of the old city market is our family's absolute favourite weekend retreat: Sharmaji's Authentic Street Chaat and South Indian Corner. It is not a lavish, air-conditioned fine-dining restaurant, but rather a bustling, unpretentious food stall that has been serving culinary magic for over three decades.

The moment you approach the stall, your senses are greeted by an irresistible symphony of aromas. The sharp, tangy fragrance of tamarind chutney mixed with roasted cumin, the rich buttery scent of crispy dosas roasting on a massive iron griddle, and the earthy aroma of fresh coriander leaves immediately stimulate your appetite. Visually, the place is a riot of vibrant colours - golden-brown golgappas stacked in pyramids, bright red garlic chutneys, and bowls of glistening yellow sev. The rhythmic clanging of metal ladles against large tavas creates a lively background score to the chatter of happy customers.

We love eating here not just because the food is extraordinarily delicious and hygienic, but because of the warmth and nostalgia attached to the place. Mr. Sharma greets every regular customer by name, remembering their spice preferences. Sharing a plate of piping hot, crispy masala dosa or crisp sev puri with my parents while standing under the warm street lights provides a simple, genuine joy that expensive restaurants can never replicate.

Teacher's Note:
a) Descriptive compositions rely heavily on sensory details - sights, sounds, smells, and tastes - to create a vivid picture for the reader.
b) Ensure the essay flows smoothly from the description of the location to the personal emotional connection.

(iv) 'Homework is a necessary evil.' Express your views either for or against this statement.

Answer:
I strongly agree with the statement that homework is a necessary evil. While spending hours hunched over textbooks after a grueling seven-hour school day often feels burdensome and exhausting, assignments outside the classroom play a vital role in reinforcing learning and building essential life skills.

On one hand, excessive homework can rob children of their childhood, cutting into playtime, physical exercise, and family bonding. It frequently leads to burnout and turns learning into a mechanical chore rather than an enjoyable discovery. However, looking at the other side, homework acts as a bridge between classroom instruction and independent mastery. Concepts taught by teachers often remain hazy until students sit down to solve problems on their own. Homework teaches crucial virtues such as time management, self-discipline, and accountability. When a student struggles through a difficult math problem or researches an essay topic independently, they develop problem-solving skills that passive listening in class cannot provide.

Therefore, homework is 'evil' only when it is excessive, mindless, or used as punishment. When assigned in moderation with a clear purpose, it becomes an indispensable tool for academic growth. Like bitter medicine, it is unpalatable in the moment, but ultimately essential for our intellectual health.

Answer:
Ten-year-old Kabir and his younger sister Meera possessed something far more valuable than the most expensive plastic toys in the city: boundless imagination. In their dusty courtyard, an discarded metal milk canister and two humongous worn-out tractor tyres did not look like trash. To them, it was the sleekest, most powerful racing motorcycle in the universe.

Every evening after finishing their chores, Kabir would take the driver's seat, his hands gripping the imaginary handlebars with fierce concentration, while Meera sat tightly behind him, holding onto his waist with a giggle. The cylindrical milk can was their roaring V8 engine, and the black rubber tyres were heavy-duty racing wheels capable of conquering any terrain on Earth.

As the evening sun cast long shadows across the yard, Kabir would make a low, rumbling sound through his lips - *vroom, vroom* - and lean sharply to the left as he navigated an imaginary hairpin bend on the highway to Ladakh. Meera would squeal with delight, shouting warnings about imaginary bumps and oncoming trucks. They did not need a PlayStation or imported gadgets. Their laughter was genuine, their joy untainted by material desires. Looking at them, one realized that poverty of things cannot crush a child's spirit as long as their creativity is alive. In that broken courtyard, those two children were kings of the open road.

Teacher's Note:
a) The picture-prompt composition must establish an unmistakable, clear link to the visual elements presented in the question paper.
b) Creativity and emotional depth carry high weightage; ensure the narrative brings the static image to life effectively.

Question 2
(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.)
Select any one of the following: [10]

(i) Your examinations are drawing near, and you would like to form a study group. Write a letter to one of your classmates inviting him or her to join it. Give details of how you plan to revise and explain why it would be helpful.

Answer:
Examination Hall
ABC School
15th March 2026

Dear Rohan,

I hope this letter finds you in the best of health and spirits. With the final examinations drawing closer by the day, I know we are all feeling the pressure of completing our revision syllabi.

I am writing to propose that a few of us form a focused study group to tackle our preparation together. My plan is to meet thrice a week - every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - at my place for two hours in the evening. We can dedicate each session to a specific subject, starting with Physics and Chemistry numericals, followed by History and Literature discussions. We can divide topics among ourselves, prepare concise revision notes, and quiz each other on difficult concepts.

Forming this study group would be immensely helpful because it prevents procrastination, allows us to clarify each other's doubts instantly, and makes revision far less monotonous. Explaining concepts to one another is also one of the best ways to test our own understanding.

Do let me know by this weekend if you would like to join us. I am sure working together will boost our confidence and our scores!

Yours sincerely,
Aarav

Teacher's Note:
a) This is an informal letter addressed to a classmate; hence, a warm, friendly tone must be maintained throughout.
b) Check for proper format: sender's address, date, correct salutation, well-structured body paragraphs, and appropriate closing.

(ii) The drainage system in your locality needs repair. Write a letter to the Municipal Commissioner stating the problems caused due to this. Expert solutions to improve the situation.

Answer:
To,
The Municipal Commissioner,
Municipal Corporation, Sector 14,
New Delhi - 110001.

15th March 2026

Subject: Urgent repair of broken drainage system and severe waterlogging in Green Park locality.

Respected Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you on behalf of the residents of Green Park to draw your immediate attention to the alarming state of the underground drainage system in our area, which is in dire need of urgent repair.

For the past month, the main sewer lines have been choked and overflowing onto the streets. The stagnant, foul-smelling water has created pools across residential lanes, making pedestrian movement impossible. Furthermore, this stagnant water has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, resulting in a sharp spike in dengue and malaria cases among children and elderly residents. The unbearable stench has made daily life miserable.

To permanently resolve this critical situation, I would like to suggest the following measures:
1. Immediate desilting and thorough flushing of all main and secondary pipelines using heavy-duty suction machines.
2. Repairing broken manhole covers and replacing damaged, rusted cement pipes with high-capacity HDPE pipelines.
3. Deploying municipal sanitation teams for regular weekly fogging and anti-larval spraying in the affected lanes.

We earnestly request you to direct the engineering department to inspect the site and take prompt remedial action at the earliest.

Yours faithfully,
Sunita Sharma
(President, Residents Welfare Association, Green Park)

Teacher's Note:
a) This is a formal, official letter; ensure the tone is polite yet firm, addressing the grievance directly with actionable suggestions.
b) Check for complete formal format including sender's details, recipient's designation, clear subject line, and formal subscription.

Question 3

(i) Your school is organising an Inter House Non-Flame Cooking Competition. Write a notice informing the students about the event. [5]

Answer:
ST. MARY'S HIGH SCHOOL, PUNE
NOTICE
15th MARCH 2026
INTER HOUSE NON-FLAME COOKING COMPETITION

This is to inform all students that the Cultural Club is organizing an Inter-House Non-Flame Cooking Competition for classes 8 to 10. The details of the event are as follows:
- Date: 28th March 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
- Venue: School Multipurpose Hall
- Theme: Healthy and Innovative Snacks

Participants must bring their own ingredients, utensils, and presentation materials. Cooking with fire or electrical heating appliances is strictly prohibited. Each house may enter a maximum of two teams comprising two members each.

Interested students must give their names to their respective House Captains latest by 22nd March 2026. For further details, contact the undersigned.

Rhea Sen
(Secretary, Cultural Club)

Teacher's Note:
a) Notices must be enclosed within a box and contain all key details: event name, date, time, venue, eligibility, and deadline.
b) Keep the language crisp, direct, and formal.

(ii) Write an email to a famous chef, inviting him/her to judge the event. [5]

Answer:
To: chef.vikram@culinaryarts.com
Subject: Invitation to judge Inter-House Non-Flame Cooking Competition at St. Mary's High School.

Dear Chef Vikram,

I hope this email finds you well.

On behalf of the Cultural Club of St. Mary's High School, Pune, I have the distinct honor of inviting you to be the esteemed Chief Judge for our upcoming Inter-House Non-Flame Cooking Competition.

The event is scheduled for 28th March 2026 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon in our school auditorium. Our students have chosen the theme 'Healthy and Innovative Snacks' for this year, and we believe your immense expertise and pioneering work in healthy cuisine would be a tremendous source of inspiration for our young culinary enthusiasts.

We would be deeply privileged if you could spare a couple of hours from your busy schedule to evaluate the participants and share a few words of wisdom with them.

Kindly let us know if your schedule permits this engagement. We look forward to a positive response.

Warm regards,

Rhea Sen
(Secretary, Cultural Club)
St. Mary's High School, Pune

Teacher's Note:
a) An email format must clearly show the recipient's email address, a crisp subject line, polite formal body paragraphs, and professional sign-off.
b) Avoid informal abbreviations and maintain a respectful, inviting tone suited for a professional expert.

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

"This is your teacher today. He's going to show you all sorts of things." With that the headmaster introduced a new teacher. Totto-chan took a good look at him but he wasn't dressed like a teacher at all. He wore a striped cotton jacket and he had a towel hanging around his neck. His trousers were of dyed cotton and were full of patches. Instead of shoes, he wore thick socks, while on his head was a rather dilapidated straw hat.

The children were all assembled by the pond at the temple.

As she stared at the teacher, Totto-chan thought that she had seen him before.

"Where?" she wondered. His kindly face was sunburnt and full of wrinkles. She suddenly remembered!

"Aren't you the farmer who works in the field by the stream?" she asked him, delighted.

"That's right," said the 'teacher', with a smile wrinkling up his face. "You pass my place every time you go to the village!"

That's my field. That one over there full of mustard blossoms."

"Wow! So you're going to be our teacher today," cried the children excitedly.

"No!" said the man, waving his hand in front of his face. "I'm not a teacher! I'm just a farmer. Your headmaster just asked me to do it, that's all."

"Oh yes, he is, he's your farming teacher," said the headmaster, standing beside him. "He very kindly agreed to teach you how to plant a field."

At an elementary school, anyone who taught the children anything would probably have to have teaching qualifications, but the headmaster didn't worry about things like that. He thought it important for children to learn by actually seeing things done.

"Let's begin then," said the farming teacher.

The farming teacher told the children to get spades and other tools from the car and started them on weeding. He told them all about weeds: how hardy they were; how some grew faster than crops and hid the sun from them; how weeds were good hiding places for bad insects; and how weeds could be a nuisance by taking all the nourishment from the soil. He taught them one thing after another. And while he talked, his hands never stopped pulling out weeds. The children did the same. Then the teacher showed them how to dig, how to make furrows; how to spread fertilizer; and everything else you had to do to grow things in a field, explaining as he demonstrated.

A little snake put its head out and nearly bit the hand of Ta-chan, one of the older boys, but the farming teacher reassured him, "The snakes here are not poisonous, and they won't hurt you if you don't hurt them."

Besides teaching the children how to plant a field, the farming teacher told them interesting stories about insects, birds, and butterflies, about the weather, and about all sorts of other things.

[Adapted from 'Totto-chan - The Little Girl at the Window' by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi]

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided: [2]

1. dilapidated (line 6)
(A) faded and yellow
(B) new and shining
(C) tightly wrapped
(D) old and ragged

Answer: (D) old and ragged

Dilapidated means in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect.

Teacher's Note:
a) Vocabulary questions require understanding contextual meanings from the passage.
b) Option (D) correctly reflects the worn-out state of the hat.

2. elementary (line 21)
(A) primary
(B) special
(C) secondary
(D) village

Answer: (A) primary

Elementary refers to the primary stage of education.

Teacher's Note:
a) 'Elementary school' corresponds directly to primary schooling.
b) Students must verify contextual synonyms carefully.

(ii) Which word in the passage is the opposite of 'boring'? [1]
(A) important
(B) nuisance
(C) nourishment
(D) interesting

Answer: (D) interesting

The word 'interesting' appears in the final paragraph when describing the stories the teacher told.

Teacher's Note:
a) Antonyms must be selected directly from the options corresponding to the passage text.
b) 'Interesting' is the direct antonym of 'boring'.

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:

(a) How was the new teacher dressed? [2]

Answer:
The new teacher wore a striped cotton jacket, a towel hanging around his neck, dyed cotton trousers full of patches, thick socks instead of shoes, and a dilapidated straw hat.

Teacher's Note:
a) Candidates must extract all descriptive details accurately from the opening paragraph.
b) Ensure all points mentioned in the text are covered to secure full marks.

(b) Which sentence in the passage tells us that Totto-chan had seen the new teacher before? [2]

Answer:
The sentence is: "Aren't you the farmer who works in the field by the stream?"

Teacher's Note:
a) Quote the exact sentence or provide the exact textual evidence indicated in the story.
b) Double-check quotation marks when copying direct speech from the text.

(c) Why do you think the headmaster had to correct the farmer about his role? [2]

Answer:
The farmer insisted he was not a teacher and only a farmer, so the headmaster corrected him to reassure the children that he was indeed their farming teacher who had agreed to teach them practical agriculture.

Teacher's Note:
a) Answers should be written in your own words based on the interaction between the headmaster and the farmer.
b) Explain the distinction between the farmer's self-perception and his assigned educational role.

(d) Why was the headmaster right in inviting the new teacher to take a class? [2]

Answer:
The headmaster was right because he believed that children learn best through practical, hands-on experience rather than mere traditional schooling qualifications.

Teacher's Note:
a) Highlight the educational philosophy of the headmaster as mentioned in the passage.
b) Focus on experiential learning.

(e) What did the farmer say that proved that he knew a lot about snakes? [1]

Answer:
The farmer stated: "The snakes here are not poisonous, and they won't hurt you if you don't hurt them."

Teacher's Note:
a) Extract the exact reassurance given by the farmer when Ta-chan encountered the snake.
b) Keep the answer concise and faithful to the text.

(iv) In not more than 50 words, give an account of what the farmer taught the children that day. [8]

Answer:
The farmer taught the children practical farming skills, including how to weed, dig, make furrows, and spread fertilizer. He explained the harmful nature of weeds and shared fascinating stories about insects, birds, butterflies, weather, and local wildlife, teaching them through hands-on demonstration.

Teacher's Note:
a) Summary writing requires strict adherence to the word limit (under 50 words) while capturing all essential points.
b) Avoid lifting long sentences directly; synthesize the information concisely.

Question 5

(i) 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. [4]
Example: The road northwards through Tanganyika was narrow and often deeply rutted. And once I (0) ______ (see) a very large brown cobra.
Answer: saw

It (1) ______ (glide) slowly over the ruts in the road ahead of me. It was seven or eight feet long and (2) ______ (hold) its flat spoon-shaped head six inches up in the air. I (3) ______ (stop) the car smartly as not (4) ______ (run) over it. To be truthful, I was so (5) ______ (frighten), I (6) ______ (go) quickly into reverse and (7) ______ (keep) backing away. The fearsome thing (8) ______ (disappear) into the undergrowth.

Answer:
(1) glided
(2) holding
(3) stopped
(4) to run
(5) frightened
(6) went
(7) kept
(8) disappeared

Teacher's Note:
a) Check narrative tense consistency (simple past tense narration).
b) Ensure participles and infinitives are correctly placed in blanks (4) and (2).

(ii) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words. [4]

(a) He acted according ______ my instructions.

Answer: to

Teacher's Note:
a) Prepositional phrase 'according to'.
b) Common preposition usage.

(b) They scaled up the wall ______ means of a rope.

Answer: by

Teacher's Note:
a) Phrase 'by means of'.
b) Standard preposition rule.

(c) Gina has a passion ______ music.

Answer: for

Teacher's Note:
a) Noun 'passion' takes preposition 'for'.
b) Check correct collocation.

(d) Father patted Jai ______ his back for his good results.

Answer: on

Teacher's Note:
a) Phrasal action 'patted on his back'.
b) Check physical prepositions.

(e) I have not seen Sonia ______ last May.

Answer: since

Teacher's Note:
a) Present perfect tense with a point in time uses 'since'.
b) Distinguish between 'for' (duration) and 'since' (point of time).

(f) They worked ______ the night to complete the project on time.

Answer: through

Teacher's Note:
a) Working continuously through a time period uses 'through'.
b) Contextual preposition test.

(g) Ms. Sharma refused to buy a new car because the cost was ______ her means.

Answer: beyond

Teacher's Note:
a) Idiomatic expression 'beyond one's means'.
b) Financial limitations.

(h) Saif knew nothing about the event since it had happened ______ he was born.

Answer: before

Teacher's Note:
a) Temporal preposition indicating prior occurrence.
b) Logical contextual reading.

(iii) Choose the correct option to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. [4]

1. He picked up the bundle. He walked away.
(A) He picked up the bundle and walked away.
(B) Packing up the bundle, he walked away.
(C) Picking up the bundle, he walked away.
(D) He walked away by picking up the bundle.

Answer: (C) Picking up the bundle, he walked away.

Using a participle phrase combines the two independent clauses without conjunctions.

Teacher's Note:
a) Rule out option (A) as it uses 'and'.
b) Option (C) correctly uses a present participle phrase.

2. Ravi is not a technician. Ravi is not a musician.
(A) Ravi is both a technician also a musician.
(B) Ravi is neither a technician nor a musician.
(C) Besides not being a technician, Ravi is a musician.
(D) Ravi is not a musician but a technician.

Answer: (B) Ravi is neither a technician nor a musician.

Correlative conjunction 'neither... nor' combines negative statements correctly.

Teacher's Note:
a) Check negative correlative structures.
b) Option (B) maintains grammatical accuracy and meaning.

3. Tanya is extremely polite. We like her.
(A) Tanya is extremely polite but we like her.
(B) We like Tanya despite her being extremely polite.
(C) Tanya's extremely polite ways make us like her.
(D) We like Tanya because she is extremely polite.

Answer: (D) We like Tanya because she is extremely polite.

The cause-and-effect relationship is correctly joined using 'because'.

Teacher's Note:
a) Avoid conjunctions like 'and', 'but', or 'so'.
b) Option (D) correctly uses a subordinating conjunction of cause.

4. The construction started on time. It was delayed due to the bad weather.
(A) Although the construction started on time, it was delayed due to the bad weather.
(B) Since the construction started on time, it was delayed due to the bad weather.
(C) The construction started on time, so it was delayed due to the bad weather.
(D) The construction started on time, as well as got delayed due to the bad weather.

Answer: (A) Although the construction started on time, it was delayed due to the bad weather.

Concession is expressed correctly using 'Although'.

Teacher's Note:
a) Check for contrasting clauses.
b) Option (A) is grammatically sound and avoids forbidden conjunctions.

(iv) Choose the correct option and rewrite the sentence according to the instruction given after each: [8]

1. Samudragupta was one of the greatest of the Indian kings.
(End with: ...Samudragupta.)
(A) No other king is as great as Samudragupta.
(B) All other kings are greater than Samudragupta.
(C) Very few Indian kings were as great as Samudragupta.
(D) Some Indian kings are greatest as Samudragupta.

Answer: (C) Very few Indian kings were as great as Samudragupta.

Degree transformation from superlative to positive degree ending with the proper noun.

Teacher's Note:
a) 'One of the greatest' converts to positive degree starting with 'Very few'.
b) Ensure the sentence ends precisely with Samudragupta.

2. One should keep one's promises.
(Begin with: Promises ...)
(A) Promises should keep one.
(B) One's promises are not meant to be kept.
(C) Promises should be kept.
(D) Promises are one's to keep.

Answer: (C) Promises should be kept.

Active to passive voice transformation.

Teacher's Note:
a) Modal verb passive structure: modal + be + past participle.
b) Drop the indefinite agent 'one' in passive voice.

3. He said, "I have passed the examination."
(Begin with: He said that.........)
(A) He said that he had passed the examination.
(B) He said that he passed the examination.
(C) He said that he has passed the examination.
(D) He said that he will pass the examination.

Answer: (A) He said that he had passed the examination.

Direct to indirect speech tense backshift rule (present perfect shifts to past perfect).

Teacher's Note:
a) Check reporting verb past tense backshift.
b) Option (A) is grammatically accurate.

4. He finished his exercise and put his books away.
(Begin: Having ......)
(A) Having his books put away, he exercised.
(B) Having put his books away, he finished his exercise.
(C) Having finished his exercise, he put his books away.
(D) Having to finish his exercise, he put his books away.

Answer: (C) Having finished his exercise, he put his books away.

Perfect participle clause construction.

Teacher's Note:
a) Perfect participle indicates an action completed prior to another action.
b) Match the sequence of events from the original sentence.

5. Unless she practises every day, she will not be able to meet her goal.
(Begin with: If...)
(A) If she practises every day, she will be able to meet her goal.
(B) If she practises every day, she will not be able to meet her goal.
(C) If she does not practise every day, her goal will be met.
(D) If she practises every day, her goal will not be met.

Answer: (A) If she practises every day, she will be able to meet her goal.

Conditional sentence transformation from negative condition ('Unless') to affirmative condition ('If not / If').

Teacher's Note:
a) 'Unless' means 'if not'. Replacing 'unless' with 'if' reverses the negativity of the clause and the outcome.
b) Verify logical coherence.

6. Rashmi was too late to hear the first speech.
(Use: ...so...that...)
(A) Rashmi was so late for the first speech.
(B) Rashmi was so late that she could hear the first speech.
(C) Rashmi is so late that she cannot hear the first speech.
(D) Rashmi was so late that she could not hear the first speech.

Answer: (D) Rashmi was so late that she could not hear the first speech.

Transformation of 'too... to' into 'so... that... not' maintaining past tense.

Teacher's Note:
a) Ensure tense consistency ('was' requires 'could not').
b) Option (D) accurately captures the negative consequence.

7. There is a slight difference between the two shades.
(Use: 'different')
(A) The slight difference is between two shades.
(B) The two shades are slightly different.
(C) The slightly different shades are between two.
(D) The two different shades are slightly different.

Answer: (B) The two shades are slightly different.

Adjectival form transformation using the target word 'different'.

Teacher's Note:
a) Rephrase noun phrase into subject-adjective construction.
b) Option (B) is concise and natural.

8. Dr. Shetty is a professor and a research scientist.
(Begin with: Not only......)
(A) Not only was Dr. Shetty a professor but also a research scientist.
(B) Not only is Dr. Shetty a professor as well as a research scientist.
(C) Dr. Shetty is both a professor and research scientist.
(D) Not only is Dr. Shetty a professor but also a research scientist.

Answer: (D) Not only is Dr. Shetty a professor but also a research scientist.

Correlative correlative inversion structure using present tense verb 'is'.

Teacher's Note:
a) 'Not only' at the beginning of the sentence triggers subject-verb inversion (Not only is Dr. Shetty...).
b) Watch out for tense errors in distractors (option A uses 'was' incorrectly).