ICSE Class 10 English Language Sample Paper 2023 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 Marks]
(i) Write an original short story entitled: 'Lost and Found'.
(ii) Imagine a situation where your mother has been unwell and you had to help her. Explain what you did to help. What did you learn from the experience?
(iii) 'Democracy cannot survive without education'. Express your views either for or against this statement.
(iv) You are a regular traveller in your school bus. Describe what you see on your way home from school each afternoon. Give details of the familiar sights and sounds you experience each day.
(v) Study the picture given below. Write a story or a description or an account of what it suggests to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or you may take suggestions from it; however, there must be a clear connection between the picture and your composition.

[Figure: A group of young children and a woman sitting outdoors on a dirt ground, eating a meal served on large green leaves laid out before them.]

Answer:
(Model Essay for Option (i) - Lost and Found)
The rain drummed a relentless tattoo against the windowpanes of the bustling railway station, mirroring the chaos inside my head. I clutched my mother's old silver pocket watch tightly in my coat pocket, the only heirloom I had left, as the announcement for the final train echoed through the speakers. In the mad rush of commuters seeking shelter from the sudden downpour, I had managed to lose sight of my younger brother, Aarav. Panic, cold and sharp, gripped my chest.

I retraced my steps frantically, calling out his name over the din of chugging engines and hurried footsteps. Every face in the sea of umbrellas looked unfamiliar. Ten agonizing minutes stretched into an eternity. I remembered his love for model trains and recalled the antique stall near platform number four where we had stopped briefly earlier. With my heart hammering against my ribs, I sprinted towards the stall.

There he sat, curled up behind a stack of old luggage trunks, examining a dusty toy locomotive with wide, tear-filled eyes. Relief washed over me in a tidal wave. As I rushed forward and scooped him into a tight embrace, the anxiety melted away, replaced by profound gratitude. In that moment of distress and subsequent recovery, I realized the true value of presence of mind and the irreplaceable bond of family.

Teacher's Note:
a) Ensure the composition adheres strictly to the word limit of 300 to 350 words while maintaining a clear beginning, middle, and end.
b) Pay close attention to descriptive vocabulary, narrative coherence, and correct punctuation to secure top marks in ICSE composition.

Question 2
(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.)
Select any one of the following: [10 Marks]
(i) Your friend has been unwell and unable to attend school for two weeks. An interschool drama competition took place during this period. Write a letter to your friend telling him/her about the event and your role in it.
(ii) Break time at your school is only for a duration of fifteen minutes. Write a letter to your Principal requesting for an extension in the break-time from fifteen minutes to half an hour. Give reasons for your request and explain in what way an extended break would make a difference to you as a student.

Answer:
(Model Letter for Option (i))
15, Park Street
Kolkata - 700016
15th May 2025

My dear Rohan,

I was so sorry to hear that you have been unwell and unable to attend school for the past two weeks. I hope you are recovering well and resting properly. We all missed you very much in class.

I am writing to tell you all about the interschool drama competition that took place last Friday while you were away. It was a grand event held in our school auditorium, with teams participating from six different schools across the city. Our school presented a play titled 'The Merchant of Venice', adapted into a modern setting.

To my great excitement, I was chosen to play the lead role of Shylock. Rehearsing for it was quite challenging, especially managing lines alongside our regular studies, but it was an incredible experience. On the day of the event, the applause when the curtains fell was unforgettable. Our school managed to secure the second runners-up trophy!

We really missed your creative inputs on set design. Do take complete rest and get well soon so we can catch up on all the fun notes. Looking forward to seeing you back in school.

Yours affectionately,
Aarav

Teacher's Note:
a) Informal letters must follow the correct format including sender address, date, proper salutation, and an affectionate subscription.
b) Students must maintain a warm, conversational tone while clearly covering all points required by the prompt.

Question 3
(i) Your school is hosting an interschool music competition. Write a notice informing your school about the event. [5 Marks]

Answer:
ST. MARY'S HIGH SCHOOL, KOLKATA

NOTICE

16th May 2025

INTERSCHOOL MUSIC COMPETITION

This is to inform all students that our school is hosting the Annual Interschool Music Competition on 5th June 2025 in the school auditorium from 9:00 AM onwards. Renowned classical vocalist Pandit Sharma will grace the occasion as our Chief Guest. Students from classes 6 to 12 who wish to participate in solo singing, instrumental, or choir categories must submit their names to their respective house wardens latest by 25th May 2025. For further details, contact the undersigned.

Ananya Roy
Cultural Secretary

Teacher's Note:
a) A notice must include a clear heading, date, event title, body detailing who, what, when, where, and why, and the name and designation of the issuing authority.
b) Keep the notice strictly within a box and ensure the word limit and format guidelines of the ICSE board are followed.

(ii) Write an e-mail to the Principal of a neighbouring school informing him/her of the event and requesting him/her to send a team to participate. [5 Marks]

Answer:
Subject: Invitation to participate in Interschool Music Competition

Respected Sir / Madam,

Greetings from St. Mary's High School!

We are pleased to inform you that our institution is hosting the Annual Interschool Music Competition on 5th June 2025 at our school auditorium, commencing at 9:00 AM.

Music fosters harmony and brings young talents together. We would be honoured if your esteemed school could send a team of talented students to participate in the various categories, including solo vocal and instrumental performances.

Kindly confirm your participation by 25th May 2025 so that we can make the necessary arrangements.

Warm regards,

Ananya Roy
Cultural Secretary
St. Mary's High School

Teacher's Note:
a) The e-mail format requires a clear subject line, formal salutation, concise body containing all necessary invitation details, and a formal sign-off.
b) Ensure proper e-mail etiquette with polite language and correct spelling throughout.

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

He would have gone on worrying and worrying in this way if an unexpected distraction had not arrived in the form of a heavily loaded car bumping over the grassy bank, dodging between the coconut trees and raising a cloud of dust in the narrow path before it came to a standstill in front of Mon Repos, the white bungalow that stood empty most of the year. It was the de Silvas, the family that came from Bombay to spend an occasional holiday in it and bring it suddenly to life for a few days. They had bought Mon Repos a year ago from the Vakils who had been one of the first Bombay families to build holiday cottages on the Thul beach. But they had grown too old and frail to come often and, after the house has stood empty for several years, sold it to the de Silvas who were young and energetic and seemed heartily to enjoy life on the beach. Whenever they came, life changed for the family and the little hut, too. Immediately there was a hubbub, all kinds of excitement and expectations, and of course work to be done, employment to be had and wages.

Hari, Bela and Kamal stood by their door under the frangipani tree, tense with excitement watching and holding Pinto back as he barked at the unfamiliar sight of a car and stranger till his voice was quite hoarse. There was a commotion in the marshy creek that separated the hut from the house, too - herons, egrets, kingfishers and moorhens all flapping into the dense greenery of the pandanus, the casuarina and the bhindi trees for shelter.

'Do you think they have come for good?' Bela whispered.

'Hunh - who would live here if he had a house in Bombay?' Hari scoffed.

'But look how much luggage they've brought - it can't be just for a few days,' Bela said, and it was true that an unbelievable number of boxes and bags and baskets were being taken out of the car, out of the boot and off the luggage carrier so that anyone would have thought they had come to stay forever.

Village by the Sea
Anita Desai

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided: [3 Marks]
1. distraction (line 2)
(a) something that stops you from thinking about something else
(b) something that helps you to think about something else
(c) something that you use for weight-training
(d) something that helps you to not be distracted
2. frail (line 9)
(a) strong
(b) funny
(c) fast
(d) weak
3. dense (line 19)
(a) stupid
(b) very thick
(c) a kind of tree
(d) sparse

Answer:
1. (a) something that stops you from thinking about something else
2. (d) weak
3. (b) very thick

Teacher's Note:
a) Vocabulary questions require understanding context from the passage rather than general dictionary definitions alone.
b) Verify each option against the specific line reference given in the question text.

(ii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.
(a) Who were the Vakils? [2 Marks]

Answer:
The Vakils were one of the first Bombay families who had built holiday cottages on Thul beach and were the previous owners of Mon Repos before selling it to the de Silvas.

Teacher's Note:
a) Ensure the answer is written concisely in your own words as instructed.
b) Check that key details about their background as early cottage builders are included.

(b) Why was the house more suited to the de Silvas? [2 Marks]

Answer:
The house was more suited to the de Silvas because they were young, energetic, and heartily enjoyed life on the beach, unlike the Vakils who had grown too old and frail to visit often.

Teacher's Note:
a) Compare the traits of the two families as described in the text.
b) Award marks when both youth and enthusiasm for beach life are mentioned.

(c) Who was Pinto? [1 Mark]

Answer:
Pinto was the dog belonging to Hari, Bela, and Kamal that barked at the arrival of the car.

Teacher's Note:
a) Identify Pinto directly as the pet dog from the context of barking at strangers.
b) Keep this answer brief since it carries only one mark.

(d) What effect did the noise have on the natural surroundings? [2 Marks]

Answer:
The noise created a commotion in the marshy creek, causing herons, egrets, kingfishers, and moorhens to flap away into the dense greenery of the trees for shelter.

Teacher's Note:
a) Locate the specific mention of the marshy creek and birds in the second paragraph.
b) Mention both the disturbance to the birds and their flight into the trees.

(e) From Hari's answer to Bela's question what opinion does Hari have of Bombay? [2 Marks]

Answer:
Hari's scoffing remark implies that he views Bombay as a grand and desirable place to live, making it unthinkable that anyone who owns a house there would choose to live anywhere else.

Teacher's Note:
a) Interpret Hari's rhetorical question regarding living in Bombay.
b) Ensure the tone of disbelief and high regard for Bombay is captured accurately.

(iii) In not more than 50 words describe how the arrival of the de Silvas changed life for the family in the little hut. [8 Marks]

Answer:
The arrival of the de Silvas brought sudden life, excitement, and a bustling hubbub to the quiet area. For the family in the little hut, their presence meant active employment, expectations of work, and much-needed wages, transforming their daily routine completely.

Teacher's Note:
a) Summarize the changes specifically mentioned in paragraph one regarding excitement, work, and wages.
b) Strictly adhere to the word limit of 50 words to avoid negative marking.

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 Marks]
Example:
(0) I ______ (slow) the car as I saw the new house.
Answer: slowed

I ______ (1) (pull) up into the driveway ______ (2) (observe) the way they had ______ (3) (build) up the balcony. I ______ (4) (forgot) that the bricks of the house ______ (5) (be) chocolate brown. The new people ______ (6) (make) the tiny balcony into a study room. I ______ (7) (stare) at this house, ______ (8) (remember) my childhood there.

Answer:
(1) pulled
(2) observing
(3) built
(4) had forgotten
(5) were
(6) have made
(7) stared
(8) remembering

Teacher's Note:
a) Students must check tense consistency throughout the passage.
b) Only write the serial number and the corresponding correct form of the verb.

(ii) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words. [4 Marks]
(a) Please wash ______ the curry stain from your dress.
(b) She turned ______ the offer to work at the factory.
(c) The burglars broke ______ the house when the family was away.
(d) I shall compete ______ him.
(e) She agreed ______ my proposal.
(f) She would like to come ______ foot.
(g) The Vishwas group of companies has taken ______ the cosmetic market completely.
(h) He agreed to carry ______ the manager's orders.

Answer:
(a) off
(b) down
(c) into
(d) against (or with)
(e) to
(f) on
(g) over
(h) out

Teacher's Note:
a) Prepositions and phrasal verbs change meaning significantly based on the particle used.
b) Verify standard idiomatic pairings like 'turned down', 'broke into', and 'carry out'.

(iii) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. Choose the correct option. [4 Marks]
1. The delegates arrived. The meeting started immediately.
(a) No sooner did the delegates arrive than the meeting started.
(b) No sooner did the delegates arrive, the meeting started.
(c) No sooner did the delegates arrived than the meeting started.
(d) The delegates arriving, the meeting started.

Answer: (a) No sooner did the delegates arrive than the meeting started.

'No sooner ... than' correctly joins the two clauses in inverted order without using and, but, or so.

Teacher's Note:
a) Ensure the auxiliary verb structure 'did' is followed by the base form of the verb ('arrive').
b) Check for the correct correlative conjunction pairing 'than'.

2. We lost our ticket. We lost our luggage.
(a) We lose our ticket as well as our luggage.
(b) Having lost our ticket we lost our luggage.
(c) We lost our ticket as well as our luggage.
(d) We lost our ticket and we lost our luggage.

Answer: (c) We lost our ticket as well as our luggage.

'As well as' successfully combines the two sentences without using and, but, or so.

Teacher's Note:
a) Options (a) and (c) are identical in the question paper; (c) is accepted as the correct combination.
b) Watch out for forbidden connector words specified in the prompt.

3. He cultivates orchids. He displays them at the flower show.
(a) He cultivates orchids to display at the flower show.
(b) He cultivates orchids for displayed at the flower show.
(c) He cultivates orchids to play with at the flower show.
(d) He cultivates orchids, but displays them only at the flower show.

Answer: (a) He cultivates orchids to display at the flower show.

An infinitive phrase 'to display' expresses purpose and combines the sentences cleanly.

Teacher's Note:
a) Infinitives are effective tools for combining sentences indicating purpose.
b) Eliminate options containing grammatical errors or forbidden conjunctions.

4. He ran away. He had seen the Principal coming.
(a) No sooner did he see the Principal coming, he ran away.
(b) He ran to see the Principal coming.
(c) By seeing the Principal coming, he ran away.
(d) Seeing the Principal coming, he ran away.

Answer: (d) Seeing the Principal coming, he ran away.

A participial phrase 'Seeing' correctly links the cause to the main clause.

Teacher's Note:
a) Participles are ideal for combining sentences showing cause and effect without conjunctions.
b) Ensure correct punctuation with a comma separating the participial phrase from the main clause.

(iv) Re-write the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of each sentence. Choose the correct options. [8 Marks]
1. The captain said, "It gives me great pleasure to be here this evening".
(Begin: The captain......)
(a) The captain said that it was giving him great pleasure to be there that evening.
(b) The captain said that it gives me great pleasure to be there this evening.
(c) The captain said that it gave him great pleasure to be here this evening.
(d) The captain said that it gave him great pleasure to be there that evening.

Answer: (d) The captain said that it gave him great pleasure to be there that evening.

Direct to indirect speech conversion requires changing present tense to past tense ('gives' to 'gave', 'here' to 'there', 'this evening' to 'that evening').

Teacher's Note:
a) Check proper backshifting of tenses and change of time/place markers in reported speech.
b) Ensure pronouns align correctly with the speaker.

2. Unless the train arrives on time, we shall miss the concert.
(Begin: If......)
(a) If the train arrives on time, we shall miss the concert.
(b) If the train does not arrive on time, we shall miss the concert.
(c) If the train arrived on time, we shall not miss the concert.
(d) If the train does not arrive on time, we shall not miss the concert.

Answer: (b) If the train does not arrive on time, we shall miss the concert.

'Unless' means 'if not', so replacing it requires adding a negative in the conditional clause.

Teacher's Note:
a) Remember that 'unless' inherently carries a negative conditional meaning.
b) Verify that the main clause remains unchanged when transforming the condition.

3. He has applied many times. He has never been selected.
(Begin: In spite......)
(a) In spite of applying many times, he had never been selected.
(b) In spite applying many times, he has never been selected.
(c) In spite of applying many times, he has never been selected.
(d) In spite never being selected, he has applied many times.

Answer: (c) In spite of applying many times, he has never been selected.

'In spite of' must be followed by a gerund ('applying') and retain the present perfect tense ('has never been selected').

Teacher's Note:
a) The phrase 'in spite of' must always be followed by 'of' before a gerund or noun.
b) Check tense consistency with the original sentences.

4. Very few managers are as honest as James.
(End: ...... managers)
(a) James is more honest than other managers.
(b) James is more honest than most other managers.
(c) James is honest than many other managers.
(d) James is most honest among other managers.

Answer: (b) James is more honest than most other managers.

Degree transformation from positive ('very few') to comparative requires 'most other managers'.

Teacher's Note:
a) 'Very few' in positive degree corresponds to 'most other' in comparative degree.
b) Ensure the comparative adjective 'more honest' is used correctly.

5. I accept your offer.
(Use: acceptable)
(a) Your offer is acceptable to me.
(b) Your offer was acceptable to me.
(c) Your offer is acceptable.
(d) Your offer acceptable came to me.

Answer: (a) Your offer is acceptable to me.

Transforming the sentence using the adjective 'acceptable' preserves the present tense and meaning.

Teacher's Note:
a) Ensure the required target word is integrated grammatically into the sentence.
b) Maintain the original tense ('is' instead of 'was').

6. As soon as he finishes his work, he starts playing.
(Begin: Hardly......)
(a) Hardly his work is finished, he starts playing.
(b) Hardly he finishes his work, he starts playing.
(c) Hardly he has finished his work and he starts playing.
(d) Hardly does he finish his work, when he starts playing.

Answer: (d) Hardly does he finish his work, when he starts playing.

'Hardly' requires inversion ('does he finish') and is paired with the conjunction 'when'.

Teacher's Note:
a) Remember the correlative structure: Hardly... when / Scarcely... when / No sooner... than.
b) Inversion of subject and auxiliary verb is mandatory after negative introductory adverbs.

7. My father gave me a pen.
(Begin: A pen......)
(a) A pen had been given to me by my father.
(b) A pen was given to me by my father.
(c) My father was gave me a pen.
(d) A pen was given by me to my father.

Answer: (b) A pen was given to me by my father.

Active to passive voice conversion of simple past tense ('gave') requires 'was given'.

Teacher's Note:
a) Check subject-verb agreement and correct positioning of objects in passive voice.
b) Ensure tense remains unchanged during voice transformation.

8. I have never seen Mr. Joe lose his temper.
(Begin: Never......)
(a) Never I have seen Mr. Joe lose his temper.
(b) Never did I see Mr. Joe lose his temper.
(c) Never have I seen Mr. Joe losing his temper.
(d) Never ever did I see Mr. Joe lose his temper.

Answer: (c) Never have I seen Mr. Joe losing his temper.

Inversion with 'Never' requires 'have I seen' followed by the present participle 'losing'.

Teacher's Note:
a) Watch for inversion when sentences begin with negative adverbs like 'Never'.
b) Maintain the aspect and nuance of the original sentence.