ICSE Class 10 English Literature Board Exam Question Paper 2022 with Solutions

ICSE Class 10 English Literature Board Exam Question Paper with Solutions

SECTION A

Question 1.
Choose the correct answer to the questions from the given options. (Do not copy the question. Write the correct answer only.) [20]

(i) What did Abou Ben Adhem see in his bedroom when he awoke one night? [1 Mark]
(A) A fairy writing in a book of gold.
(B) An angel sitting on his bed
(C) A fairy sitting on his bed
(D) An angel writing in a book of gold.

Answer: (D) An angel writing in a book of gold.

Abou Ben Adhem woke up to see an angel making it rich in a book of gold in his moonlit room.

Teacher's Note:
a) Note the exact option details; the poem explicitly mentions a presence making a book of gold shine bright.
b) Students often confuse fairies or general spirits with the specific heavenly messenger described in Leigh Hunt's poem.

(ii) Which of the following lines from the poem 'Nine Gold Medals' tells us that the poem describes an international sporting event? [1 Mark]
(A) The athletes had come from so many countries.
(B) And nine young athletes stood there determined.
(C) The eight other athletes stopped in their tracks.
(D) To run for the gold, for the silver and bronze.

Answer: (A) The athletes had come from so many countries.

Participants arriving from various nations signifies the international character of the Special Olympics.

Teacher's Note:
a) Diversity of origin points directly to a global gathering of athletes.
b) Do not mistake the mention of medals or determination for an indicator of geographical scale.

(iii) In the poem that Margot wrote, (in Ray Bradbury's story, 'All Summer in a Day'), she compares the sun to a................. [1 Mark]
(A) Penny
(B) clock
(C) flower
(D) lemon

Answer: (C) flower

Margot's poem described the sun as a flower that blooms for just one hour.

Teacher's Note:
a) Recall Margot's poetic lines about the sun resembling a flower which blooms for only a short span.
b) Students frequently confuse her description with the other children's comparison of the sun to a coin or a penny.

(iv) "Aw, you didn't write that!" Who said these words and to whom? [1 Mark]
(A) Margot to one of the boys.
(B) Margot to William
(C) The teacher to Margot
(D) One of the boys to Margot.

Answer: (B) Margot to William

William taunts Margot regarding her authorship of the poem about the sun.

Teacher's Note:
a) William challenges Margot's poetic abilities out of jealousy and malice.
b) Pay close attention to dialogue attributions in prose extracts to avoid confusion between bullies and victims.

(v) Jesse Owens says that Hitler had kept him (Luz Long) 'under wraps'. What does the phrase 'under wraps' mean? [1 Mark]
(A) Wrapped in a blanket
(B) Gift wrapped
(C) A carefully concealed secret
(D) Beneath a wrapper

Answer: (C) A carefully concealed secret

Hitler kept Luz Long hidden from public speculation to promote his Aryan supremacy theory.

Teacher's Note:
a) Idiomatic usage of 'under wraps' implies keeping something hidden or confidential.
b) Literal interpretations like blankets or gift wrapping are common distractor traps.

(vi) Which Olympic event was Jesse Owens confident of winning? [1 Mark]
(A) The one hundred metres race
(B) The four hundred metres race
(C) The high jump
(D) The running broad jump

Answer: (D) The running broad jump

Owens held the world record and expected an effortless victory in the broad jump.

Teacher's Note:
a) Owens was heavily favored in the broad jump before the trials.
b) Students must remember that his anxiety spiked during the preliminary trials due to foul lines.

(vii) The Duke refers to Shylock as a 'stony adversary in the opening lines of Act 4 of 'The Merchant of Venice'. What does the phrase 'stony adversary' mean? [1 Mark]
(A) An enemy made of rock
(B) A hard-hearted enemy
(C) A difficult enemy
(D) A dangerous enemy

Answer: (B) A hard-hearted enemy

The Duke highlights Shylock's unyielding, cruel, and merciless nature.

Teacher's Note:
a) 'Stony' acts metaphorically to signify a lack of human compassion or pity.
b) Avoid literal translations when evaluating Shakespearean metaphors.

(viii) "My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, the penalty and forfeit of my bond." Who says these words and to whom? [1 Mark]
(A) Portia to Antonio
(B) Shylock to Portia
(C) Bassanio to Portia
(D) Antonio to Shylock

Answer: (B) Shylock to Portia

Shylock demands strict adherence to the law and insists on taking his pound of flesh.

Teacher's Note:
a) Shylock accepts full moral and legal responsibility for his relentless pursuit of vengeance.
b) Attribute quotes carefully by mapping speaker intent to character motivations.

(ix) Why does a quarrel break out between Nerissa and Gratiano in the final Act of 'The Merchant of Venice'? [1 Mark]
(A) Gratiano admits that he had given away the ring which Nerissa had given to him.
(B) Nerissa admits that she had accompanied Portia to Venice disguised as a lawyer's clerk.
(C) Gratiano is annoyed with Nerissa for giving away his ring to a stranger in Venice.
(D) Nerissa is angry with Gratiano for leaving for Venice on the very day they were married.

Answer: (A) Gratiano admits that he had given away the ring which Nerissa had given to him.

Gratiano parted with his wedding ring to the young clerk, sparking Nerissa's feigned fury.

Teacher's Note:
a) The ring plot creates comic relief in Act 5 through misunderstandings.
b) Ensure clarity regarding who gave away which ring to whom.

(x) How does Lorenzo recognize Portia even before he sees her when the two young women return from Venice? [1 Mark]
(A) by the clothes she wears.
(B) by the sound of her voice.
(C) by the perfume she uses.
(D) by her touch.

Answer: (B) by the sound of her voice.

Lorenzo identifies Portia by her distinctive voice cutting through the night air.

Teacher's Note:
a) Lorenzo remarks on the distinct quality of Portia's voice in Belmont.
b) Sensory details in Shakespearean plays often serve as recognition cues.

SECTION B

Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Antonio:
Commend me to your honourable wife; Tell her the process of Antonio's end; Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death; And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge Whether Bassanio had not once a love, Repent not you that you shall lose your friend, And he repents not that he pays your debt;
For, if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
I'll pay it instantly with all my heart.

(i) Who was Bassanio's 'honourable wife'? Why were the two men unaware that she was present in the room with them? [2 Marks]

Answer:
1. Bassanio's 'honourable wife' was Portia.
2. They were unaware of her presence because she was disguised as Balthazar, a young male doctor of laws.

Teacher's Note:
a) Identify Portia by name and mention her disguise as the legal expert.
b) Emphasize that neither Antonio nor Bassanio recognized her due to the clever disguise and official robes.

(ii) What did Antonio urge Bassanio to tell his wife? [2 Marks]

Answer:
1. Antonio urged Bassanio to narrate the full story of his death and how deeply Antonio loved him.
2. He asked Bassanio to let Portia judge whether Bassanio had ever possessed a true friend.

Teacher's Note:
a) Highlight Antonio's selfless devotion and desire to be remembered fondly.
b) Mention that Antonio wanted Portia to witness the magnitude of their bond.

(iii) What 'debt' was Antonio referring to in the above extract? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Antonio was referring to the bond he signed with Shylock for three thousand ducats.
2. Since he defaulted on the repayment due to the loss of his merchant ships at sea, the forfeit was a pound of his flesh.
3. He considers shedding his blood as paying off Bassanio's debt with his own life.

Teacher's Note:
a) Link the debt directly to the fatal bond signed to help Bassanio win Portia.
b) Explain Antonio's fatalistic willingness to pay with his flesh.

(iv) What does Bassanio say in response to these words of Antonio's? What do their words tell us of the nature of the relationship between the two men? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Bassanio responds by declaring that he would sacrifice his wife, his life, and all he possesses to deliver Antonio from Shylock's hands.
2. Their words reveal an extraordinary, self-sacrificing, and profound friendship that transcends worldly possessions and life itself.
3. Each man is willing to die for the other, highlighting the central theme of loyalty and deep male bonding in the play.

Teacher's Note:
a) Quote or reference Bassanio's hyperbole about sacrificing Portia to save Antonio.
b) Emphasize the unconditional nature of their platonic devotion.

Question 3.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Lorenzo:
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!
Here will I sit, and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears:

(i) To whom are these words addressed? What message has just been delivered to Lorenzo? [2 Marks]

Answer:
1. These words are addressed to Jessica, Lorenzo's beloved wife.
2. A messenger named Stephano has just arrived to announce that Portia is returning home to Belmont before daybreak.

Teacher's Note:
a) Correctly identify Jessica as the listener on the moonlit bank.
b) State the exact message delivered by Stephano regarding Portia's impending arrival.

(ii) Where is this scene set? Why are Lorenzo and his companion at this place? [2 Marks]

Answer:
1. The scene is set in the avenue leading to Portia's house in Belmont.
2. Lorenzo and Jessica are waiting there to welcome Portia and Bassanio back home from Venice.

Teacher's Note:
a) Mention the setting as Belmont outside Portia's mansion.
b) Clarify their role as hosts awaiting the master and mistress.

(iii) How does Lorenzo describe the powerful effect of music on wild animals to his companion? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Lorenzo explains that even wild and uncultivated animals will stand stock still, attentive and subdued by the power of music.
2. He notes that passionate or fierce creatures will lose their savage wildness and drop their heads when touched by harmony.
3. Music possesses a divine power that can tame any beast, symbolizing the harmony of creation.

Teacher's Note:
a) Summarize Lorenzo's poetic discourse on the magical influence of melody.
b) Mention how even untamed beasts respond to musical notes.

(iv) Portia and Nerissa arrive on the scene shortly after this. What reason does Portia give for their absence from home? What does she instruct Nerissa to do immediately after their arrival? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Portia explains that she and Nerissa have been praying at various holy crosses for their husbands' safe return.
2. She instructs Nerissa to whisper to no one that they have been away from home.
3. She also tells Nerissa to order the servants to give no sign that they had ever left Belmont.

Teacher's Note:
a) Note Portia's cover story involving holy shrines and prayers.
b) Emphasize the secrecy she maintains regarding her secret mission to Venice.

SECTION C

Question 4.
Read the extract from Ray Bradbury's short story, 'All Summer in a Day' given below and answer the questions that follow :
The girl standing in the open, held out her hand
"Oh look, look," she said, trembling.
They came slowly to look at her opened palm.. In the center of it, cupped and huge, was a single raindrop, she began to cry, looking at it. They glanced quietly at the sun. "Oh, Oh"

(i) How old were 'they'? What had they been doing until the girl called their attention to the raindrop? [2 Marks]

Answer:
1. 'They' were children of nine years old living on the planet Venus.
2. Until the girl noticed the raindrop, they had been joyfully playing, running, shouting, and basking in the glorious warmth of the long-awaited sun.

Teacher's Note:
a) Specify their age as nine years old.
b) Contrast their playful happiness with the sudden dread caused by the returning rain.

(ii) Why does the girl begin to cry when she looks at the raindrop? [2 Marks]

Answer:
1. The girl begins to cry because the single raindrop signals the end of the brief summer.
2. It reminds her that the relentless, gloomy rain is returning and the sun is disappearing after only one hour of light.

Teacher's Note:
a) Connect the raindrop directly to the tragic end of their rare daylight.
b) Highlight the emotional devastation of the children on Venus.

(iii) Describe the dramatic change in the weather immediately after the raindrop fell. [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. A cold wind began to blow around them as the raindrop fell.
2. Lightning flashed sharply across the sky, followed by a loud crash of thunder.
3. Instantly, a heavy storm broke out with a massive downfall of rain and mist, plunging the world back into darkness.

Teacher's Note:
a) Trace the rapid escalation from a single drop to thunder, lightning, and a gale.
b) Note the abrupt transition from summer warmth back to perpetual rain.

(iv) What feeling do 'they' experience at the end of the story? What had they done earlier that made them feel this way? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. At the end of the story, the children experience deep shame, remorse, and guilt.
2. Earlier, driven by cruelty and jealousy, they had locked Margot in a windowless underground closet.
3. Because of this malicious act, Margot missed the only hour of sunlight in seven years, leaving the children burdened with remorse.

Teacher's Note:
a) Identify the core emotion as crushing guilt and shame.
b) Remind students of the cruel bullying inflicted on Margot before the sun came out.

Question 5.
Read the extract from 'My Greatest Olympic Prize' by Jesse Owens given below and answer the questions that follow:
Suddenly all the tension seemed to ebb out of my body as the truth of what he said hit me. Confidently, I drew a line a full foot in back of the board and proceeded to jump from there. I qualified with almost a foot to spare.

(i) What was the 'truth' that Luz Long had just pointed out to Owens? [2 Marks]

Answer:
1. Luz Long pointed out that Owens only needed to jump a few inches from behind the foul line to qualify safely.
2. He advised Owens to stop worrying about breaking records in the preliminaries and simply secure a legal jump.

Teacher's Note:
a) State Luz Long's practical advice clearly.
b) Explain how this strategic advice relieved Owens's performance anxiety.

(ii) Earlier in the narrative Owens admits to feeling angry. What had caused him to feel this way? [2 Marks]

Answer:
1. Owens was angry because Hitler had recently annexed Austria and was heavily promoting his theory of Aryan supremacy.
2. Furthermore, Owens had fouled on his first two trial jumps and was on the verge of elimination, aggravating his frustration.

Teacher's Note:
a) Include both the political context (Hitler's racial propaganda) and the athletic failure.
b) Show how external pressure affected his mental composure.

(iii) How did the two athletes spend their time together that night? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. That night, Jesse Owens went to Luz Long's quarters in the Olympic village.
2. They spent hours talking together about sports, politics, and their personal lives.
3. They forged a deep friendship that transcended national rivalries and political ideologies.

Teacher's Note:
a) Mention their late-night conversation in the Olympic village.
b) Highlight the germination of a lifelong international friendship.

(iv) What action of Luz Long's at the finals proved that he was a true sportsman? What made his behaviour remarkable? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Luz Long publicly congratulated Owens, shook his hand warmly, and advised him even while competing against him in the finals.
2. His behavior was remarkable because he did this right in front of Adolf Hitler, defying Nazi ideology.
3. He exemplified Pierre de Coubertin's ideal that the most important thing in the Olympics is not winning but taking part.

Teacher's Note:
a) Focus on Long's courage in supporting his rival under intense political scrutiny.
b) Reinforce the moral lesson of true sportsmanship.

SECTION D

Question 6.
Read the following extract from the poem 'Abou Ben Adhem' by Leigh Hunt and answer the questions that follow :
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace.

(i) What does the poet mean by the words, 'may his tribe increase!'? [2 Marks]

Answer:
1. The poet means that there should be more righteous, loving, and God-fearing people like Abou Ben Adhem in the world.
2. It is a blessing expressing a wish for his lineage, followers, or noble-hearted people like him to multiply.

Teacher's Note:
a) Explain the phrase as a benediction celebrating Abou's virtuous character.
b) Note that 'tribe' refers broadly to kind and compassionate human beings.

(ii) Mention any two words which the poet uses in this poem that are no longer in common use. [2 Marks]

Answer:
1. 'Awike' (archaic past tense used in the poem or terms like 'Nay').
2. 'Lowly' or archaic pronouns like 'Thee' and 'Thine' (or words like 'Abou' / 'Gleaming').
*(Note: Any two archaic terms from the text such as 'Nay' or 'Awoke' are accepted by the board).*

Teacher's Note:
a) Identify archaic vocabulary typical of 19th-century poetic style.
b) Award marks for any valid archaic words found in Leigh Hunt's classic poem.

(iii) Three different name lists are mentioned in the poem. The Angel speaks of two and Abou Ben Adhem mentions the third. What are they? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. The first list is the book of gold containing the names of those who love the Lord.
2. The second list is the one containing those whose names were led by Abou Ben Adhem as lovers of their fellow men.
3. The third list is Abou's own personal list of friends or fellow men that he asks the angel to add his name to.

Teacher's Note:
a) Distinguish clearly between the heavenly book of God-lovers and the book of men who love their fellows.
b) Include Abou's request to be written as one who loves his fellow men.

(iv) What important lesson did Abou Ben Adhem learn in his second encounter with the Angel? What message does the poet convey to us through this? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. Abou learned that those who love their fellow human beings are blessed by God and placed highest in His grace.
2. The poet conveys the powerful message that true worship of God is demonstrated through active love, service, and kindness toward humanity.

Teacher's Note:
a) Emphasize the theological theme that humanitarian love is divine love.
b) Connect Abou's inclusion at the head of the divine book to the core moral of the poem.

Question 7.
Read the extract from David Roth's Poem, 'Nice Gold Medals' given below and answer the questions that follow :
That's how the race ended, with nine gold medals
They came to the finish line holding hands still
And the banner above and nine smiling faces
Said more than these words ever will.
Said more than these words ever will.

(i) How exactly did the race end? [2 Marks]

Answer:
1. The race ended with all nine disabled athletes crossing the finish line together hand in hand.
2. Instead of competing fiercely against each other, they finished as a united group and were awarded nine gold medals.

Teacher's Note:
a) Highlight the unique, collaborative conclusion of the Special Olympics track event.
b) Emphasize the shared victory of all nine participants.

(ii) Who were 'they'? How do we know that they had put in a great deal of effort to qualify for the games? [2 Marks]

Answer:
1. 'They' were the nine young athletes participating in the Special Olympics 100-yard dash.
2. We know they worked hard because the poem states they had trained for months and years to build their skills for the event.

Teacher's Note:
a) Identify 'they' as the nine contestants.
b) Reference their rigorous preparation and long training mentioned earlier in the poem.

(iii) Why were they holding hands and smiling when they reached the finish line? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. They held hands because one runner had stumbled and fallen, prompting the others to stop and abandon their race to help him.
2. They smiled because they chose empathy, compassion, and human solidarity over winning a medal.
3. They transformed a competitive race into a profound demonstration of brotherhood and sportsmanship.

Teacher's Note:
a) Connect their action to the fall of the youngest runner.
b) Explain the emotional and symbolic value of their unity.

(iv) What did the banner over them say? Why does the poet consider these words an appropriate description of this particular event? [3 Marks]

Answer:
1. The banner overhead read 'Special Olympics'.
2. The poet considers it appropriate because the event transcended ordinary athletic competition to celebrate human dignity, compassion, and true sportsmanship.
3. The name 'Special' aptly described both the differently-abled participants and the extraordinary display of love and empathy they demonstrated.

Teacher's Note:
a) State the exact words on the banner.
b) Explain why the actions of the athletes made the word 'special' deeply meaningful.