ICSE Class 9 English Language Sample Paper with Solutions Set 01

ICSE Board
Class IX English Language
Sample Paper - 1

Question 1

Write a composition (350 - 400 words) on any one of the following: [25]

(a) "Men and women should be treated as equal."

Answer:
History has shown that women have always been treated as gentle and fragile. A woman is supposed to be beautiful and attractive, but also motherly, docile and soft-spoken. On the other hand, the society always expects men to be rich, independent and charming, but also intelligent, chivalrous, and kind. If we come across an independent woman and a docile man, it is immediately assumed that they are misfits in the so called normal world. In my opinion, the only way to treat men and women as equal is to stop stereotyping them.

A man can be soft-spoken and a woman can be physically stronger. A male classical dancer needs to be elegant with his moves while a female army officer needs to be agile and strong. Possessing different characteristics makes them unique and praiseworthy, not a misfit in the society.

With a remarkable improvement in the standard of living, both men and women have started moving out of their comfort zones to earn for a decent living. A woman is no longer confined to her home, and neither is it only the man's responsibility to earn money for the family. More and more women are taking over the reins of organizations. Families that have working women should volunteer to look after the family instead of blaming the women of being greedy and ambitious. On the other hand, men too are seen coming out in the spotlight as successful individuals in unconventional professions; areas that were once women-oriented. They should not be mocked at or effeminised. Treating men and women equal means allowing them to flourish the way they want to.

The perception that men receive favorable treatments cuts across generations, and is true to a great extent. In many parts of India, a girl child is still deprived of basic needs so that her brothers live a better life. A wife is expected to be meek and submissive because the husband likes her to be so. If we want both the genders to be treated fairly, we must stop discrimination at every level and allow men and women to live first as human beings, and treat each other with mutual respect.

Teacher's Note:
a) Ensure the essay maintains a consistent tone and a well-structured argument supporting gender equality without relying on clichés.
b) Check for word count discipline (350 - 400 words) and grammatical accuracy throughout the paragraphs.

(b) You had to stay one night in a five-star hotel after a rail accident cancelled the train you were going to board. Share your experience at the hotel.

Answer:
It was in the dead of the night that I heard a loud noise from inside the railway station. I was in the waiting room, waiting for my late night train to Goa. As we all rushed to see what had happened, we saw that the railway engine had crashed into the platform after breaking the emergency brakes line. The area was being evacuated and we all were escorted outside the station premises for safety.

It was shortly announced that all the out-station trains were cancelled after the accident. I was beginning to think how miserable my wait would be, especially since I had bought my ticket after standing in the queue for four hours. The smelly corners of the waiting room, the uncertainty of the services being resumed; all this made me very upset. However, something unexpectedly pleasant happened. The station manager came to us and asked us to gather in the other waiting room. Then, he said that the authorities had decided to give us free accommodation in the nearby hotels till the train services resumed. I sighed and imagined a dingy hotel room being allotted to me and was almost sure that I would have to share it with at least one more passenger. Suddenly my phone rang. It was my boss. He had come to know about my train cancellation. He asked me not to worry as he had already made arrangements for my accommodation. He told me to step outside the station premises and look for taxi number 5678, which would drive me to my hotel.

The taxi driver was waiting for me a few meters away from the station. He greeted me politely and helped me with my luggage. Barely after five minutes of driving, the taxi halted. The driver got out of the taxi and started unloading my luggage. I started following him and as I looked what lied ahead of me, I was flabbergasted. "Where are we going?" I asked him anxiously. "Your boss has asked me to take you to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Sir," he replied.

I was warmly welcomed by the hotel staff even at that odd hour and taken to my room in no time. My room had a sea view, and was appropriately air conditioned. There was a complimentary gift basket with a note from my boss: I know you should have been home celebrating Christmas, but you still came here in Mumbai for our meeting. Until we arrange for your return journey, please enjoy your stay!

I was so touched by his warm gesture. I could have never checked into the Taj Hotel on my own. The hotel boasts of a diverse collection of paintings and works of art from around the world. The huge Belgian chandeliers that I saw as I was escorted to my room left me amazed. The Goan-Christian artifacts, the Mughal-inspired Jali designs and the contemporary sculptures in the hotel made the place so magnificent and made me feel that the hotel has managed to incorporate a myriad of artistic styles and tastes.

The following day, my dining experience was unforgettable. The exotic fruit platter was a pleasant morning in-room surprise. Lunch was a treat to the senses with Chef Oberoi's nine-course meal in Casablanca, one of the hotel's restaurants. I was taken to The Chambers Terrace, for a personalised 7 course dinner and a personal butler. The panoramic view of the Mumbai harbor from the restaurant left me mesmerised.

I stayed at the hotel for a day before my boss arranged for me to go home to my family for Christmas. Those 24 hours were the most memorable moments of my life.

Teacher's Note:
a) Narrative essays require a clear chronological sequence of events, starting from the incident to the resolution and final reflection.
b) Descriptive details regarding the ambiance and emotions enhance the narrative quality; students must avoid abrupt endings.

(c) It is better to allow children to work than to encourage their begging on streets.

Answer:
One day while I was waiting at the bus stop, I saw a small girl with a basket of toys. She was apparently asked to sell the toys by an older person standing across the signal, as I could see children going and giving him the money received after selling their wares. A few meters away, two children of about the girl's age were begging at the traffic signal. This scene forced me to think if it was better to allow child labour than to see them begging on the streets.

I personally feel that since poor families lead a hand to mouth existence, there is no harm in providing children of such families with an opportunity to use their skills to earn some income. Children of a specific age should be allowed to work under supervision because it is better than leading a humiliating life of a beggar. If a child starts earning money at a young age, he is likely to understand the value of money and know how to use his skills to survive. On the other hand, a child who is used to receiving alms will always lead a dependent and a miserable life.

Millions of children in India are forced to beg on the streets. Begging is a big racket that operates like a mafia. Children are kidnapped from good families forced to beg. They are also lured in the name of employment in the cities from poor households and sold off to the begging mafia. Often, children are even made handicap by inflicting temporary or permanent injuries on their bodies, as people give alms to innocent looking handicap children begging helplessly on the streets.

A child who chooses to work over begging shows a high level of self-esteem and a determination to rise above his circumstances. However, responsible elders should supervise the activities of working children and ensure that they do not fall prey to bad company and illegal activities. The lives of children who roam around begging on the streets are futile and directionless, and a sign that these little human beings have surrendered to their fate and have chosen to be at the mercy of other people for the rest of their life.

Teacher's Note:
a) Discursive or argumentative essays must present a balanced viewpoint while strongly defending the chosen perspective with logical arguments.
b) The essay should maintain formal diction and avoid overly emotional language while addressing serious social issues.

(d) Study the picture given below. Write a short story or description or an account of what the picture suggests to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or you may take suggestions from it; however, your composition must have a clear connection with the picture.

[Figure: An urban street heavily flooded with rainwater, where people are wading through knee-deep water, cars are partially submerged, and traffic is disrupted, with buildings and shops visible in the background.]

Answer:
A lot has been reported by the media about the recent deluge in Chennai. The capital of Tamil Nadu recorded unprecedented rainfall in the last week of November 2015, surpassing a hundred-year record. Rains continued to lash the city even in early December, throwing normal life out of gear. The government announced holiday for schools and colleges while most of all the factories and offices too remained closed.

In 2005, Mumbai, along with some other regions in Maharashtra, was drowned due to torrential downpour in late July. Innumerable people were stranded on the roads and several lost their homes. Millions of gallons of water was discharged into rivers causing heavy water logging in the cities. It took weeks for the city to come back to its normal strength and vigor.

Not very far away from the deluged cities of Mumbai and Chennai, the drought-stricken regions of India have been regularly witnessing farmer suicides. Families are merely at the mercy of the rain God, as there has been scanty rainfall since 2012 in Maharashtra. In 2015, the Government declared drought in more than 14,000 villages. Thousands of farmers have committed suicide out of helplessness. The problems of scarce rainfall, aridity, infertility and negligence of the government are only increasing every year.

The disparity between the rain hit cities and the drought stricken regions leads to a simple but grave question: Can't rain water from the water-logged regions be harvested for the drought hit regions of India?

There are many ways of harvesting rainwater. It can be collected into natural reservoirs or tanks with the help of a technique called rainwater harvesting. If concerned authorities can transport this water to areas that don't receive adequate rainfall, many farmers will be able to sow and reap peacefully. No farmer will kill himself under the burden of having failed to give his family a good life. Trees will be used to make swings for children and not a noose to end lives. If cloud seeding is taken seriously in the country, regions where agriculture is the main occupation will not have to worry about rains every year. Cloud seeding is an intentional weather modification to induce rainfall. If water from the seas can be desalinated for irrigation or consumption, many people can benefit from the technique of desalination.

Man has done enough harm by aggravating global warming. If only he can now realize the gravity of the situation, there will be just about enough time to salvage the situation. If we fail to act now, the world is going to either drown in a devastating flood or wither away due to a terrible drought. The decision, is ours.

Teacher's Note:
a) Picture-based compositions must establish a direct and clear link to the visual stimulus provided in the question paper.
b) Students can weave a narrative, a description, or an essay reflecting upon the theme depicted, ensuring smooth transitions between paragraphs.

Question 2

Select one of the following: [10]

(a) Children are not allowed to play in the compound of your society as car owners are afraid that they might damage the vehicles.
Write a letter to your society's secretary requesting him to allot a separate area for parking. Give reasons for your request and explain why it is important for children to play nearer to their homes.

Answer:
Prakash Amte
C/45, Darshan Society
S.V. Road
Mahim, Mumbai 400 028
5th January 2015

To
The Secretary
Darshan Society
Mahim

Subject: Allotting a separate area for parking cars

Dear Sir,

With due respect, I, Prakash Amte, residing in C/45 would like to request you to allot a separate space for parking cars as we children are not allowed to play in the compound anymore.

Since the number of cars has increased in the past year, children are left with no space to play. In fact, many car owners ask us to go to the playground which is far away from our society. The playground is at least 15 minutes away from our homes and our parents wouldn't allow us to play there beyond 6 o'clock in the evening. We go for our classes after school and return only at 6, which means children will not be able to play at all.

I am aware that a vacant plot is available in our society's south end. If this could be allotted for parking, children could continue playing downstairs where their parents can keep a watch on them.

Your understanding in this regard will be greatly appreciated. I look forward to your reply.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,
Prakash Amte

Teacher's Note:
a) Formal letters must strictly adhere to the standard block format, including sender's address, date, receiver's designation, subject line, and formal salutation/subscription.
b) The body of the letter should be clear, concise, and persuasive, addressing all points specified in the prompt.

(b) You were rewarded by an elderly woman whom you helped one day on your way home from school. Write a letter to your cousin brother/sister describing your experience. Be sure to include details of the reward that you received.

Answer:
Sarita Swami
A/508, Gokul Nivas
Tilak Road, Pratap Nagar
Vasai, Mumbai 400 020
5th November 2015

Dearest Shivani,

I am eager to share an experience with you. The other day I saw an old woman while going back home from school. She was very old, barely able to walk, but was carrying two big carry bags in her hands. She laboured as she trudged along the lonely street in the afternoon. It was very hot, and she was visibly inconvenienced. I stopped her and took the two bags from her hands. I offered to accompany her till her home with the bags. She hesitated at first, but later agreed. We walked a good twenty minutes before reaching her house. As I started walking away after keeping her bags at the doorstep, she urged me to come inside and rest for sometime as we had walked quite a bit. As I entered her house, I realised that she was probably living alone. I asked her where her family was. She said she had no family. She asked me to sit on the couch and offered me water and some cookies. I told her that I should hurry up home as my mother would get worried. She smiled at me and asked me to wait for a minute. She went inside and came back with a black bag. She handed it over to me and said that she knew I loved playing cricket. She said she would be happy if I took her grandson's cricket kit as he longer used it.

When I came back home and told mother about what happened, she immediately recognised the old woman as Mrs Ahuja, whose husband, son, daughter-in-law, and grandson had died in a freak accident last year. Mother said that it was a wonderful gesture to offer her grandson's cricket kit as she was letting go. "You must keep the kit carefully and call her for your matches," Mother said.

Shivani, I was really touched by Ahuja Aunty's gesture. I now go to meet her regularly and also accompany her to the market if I can. This incident taught me the importance of helping someone in need. Have you experienced such a thing in life?
Do write to me if you can!

Yours truly,
Sarita

Teacher's Note:
a) Informal letters require a warm, conversational tone while maintaining proper structure with sender's address, date, and affectionate salutation.
b) The narrative must clearly incorporate the initial act of kindness, the interaction with the elderly woman, and the specific reward received.

Question 3

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

The Lord was the creator of good teachers. It was His sixth day of 'overtime' and He knew that this was a tremendous responsibility for teachers who would touch the lives of so many impressionable young children. An angel appeared to Him and said, "You are taking a long time to figure this one out.""Yes," said the Lord," but have you read the specs on this order?"
TEACHER: Teacher must stand above all students to be at their level. He must be able to do 180 additional things which are not related to their taught subject. Teacher must have to run on coffee. He must be able to communicate as per his vital knowledge to all students daily. Teacher must have more time for others than for herself/himself.
"Six pair of hands," said the angel, "that's impossible!"
"Well," said the Lord, "it is not the hands that are the problem. It is the three pairs of eyes that are presenting the most difficulty!"
The angel looked incredulous, "Three pairs of eyes...on a standard model?"
The Lord nodded His head, "One pair is to see whether a student for what he is and not what others have labeled him as. The Second pair is the pair of eyes which is at the back of the teacher's head to watch what should not be seen, but what must to be known. The eyes in the front are only to look at the child as he/she 'acts out' in order to reflect.
"Lord," said the angel, "this is a very large project and I think You should work on it tomorrow."
"I can't," said the Lord, "for I have come very close to creating something much like Myself. I have one that comes to work when he/she is sick teaches a class of children that do not want to learn has a special place in his/her heart for children who are not his/her own understands the struggles of those who have difficulty never takes the students for granted"
The angel looked closely at the model the Lord was creating.
"It is too soft-hearted," said the angel.
"Yes," said the Lord, "but also tough, you cannot imagine what this teacher can endure or do, if necessary".
"Can this teacher think?" asked the angel.
"Not only think," said the Lord, "but reason and compromise."
The angel came closer to have a better look at the model and ran his finger over the teacher's cheek.
"Well, Lord," said the angel, Your job looks fine but there is a leak. I told you that You were putting too much into this model. You cannot imagine the stress that will be placed upon the teacher."
The Lord moved in closer and lifted the drop of moisture from the teacher's cheek. It shone and glistened in the light.
"It is not a leak," He said, "It is a tear."
"A tear? What is that?" asked the angel, "What is a tear for?"
The Lord replied with great thought, "For the joy and pride watching a child accomplishes even it's the smallest task to do. It is done for the loneliness of children who have a hard time to fit in it to compassionate feelings of their parents. This has been done when a teacher had to leave the class and to say good bye to his students and get ready to welcome a new class."
"My, "said the angel," The tear thing is a great idea...You are a genius!!"
The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."

(a) Give the meaning of each of the following words as used in the passage. One word answers or short phrase will be accepted. [3]

(i) tremendous [1 Mark]

Answer: immense / huge / great

Teacher's Note:
a) Vocabulary questions require precise synonyms appropriate to the context of the passage.
b) Short phrases or single words are accepted as per instructions.

(ii) vital [1 Mark]

Answer: important / essential / crucial

Teacher's Note:
a) Ensure the meaning aligns with how the word is used in the text.
b) Avoid writing antonyms or unrelated meanings.

(iii) compromise [1 Mark]

Answer: adjustment / settlement / concession

Teacher's Note:
a) The context refers to reasoning and making adjustments.
b) Check spelling carefully.

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

(i) When were teachers created by God and why is this creation a huge responsibility? [2 Marks]

Answer:
God created teachers on His sixth day of overtime. This creation was a huge responsibility because teachers would touch the lives of many impressionable young children.

Teacher's Note:
a) Answers must be written in the student's own words based on the passage.
b) Ensure all parts of the question are addressed for full marks.

(ii) State the specifications for a teacher? [2 Marks]

Answer:
A teacher must stand above all students to be at their level, perform 180 additional non-teaching tasks, run on coffee, communicate vital knowledge daily, and have more time for others than for themselves.

Teacher's Note:
a) Extract key specifications accurately from the text provided.
b) Concise bullet points or well-framed sentences are recommended.

(iii) What is most difficult according to God? Why does a teacher want three eyes? [2 Marks]

Answer:
According to God, the three pairs of eyes present the most difficulty. A teacher needs three pairs of eyes to see a student for who they are beyond others' labels, to watch from the back of the head what must be known, and to look at the child in the front as they act out in order to reflect.

Teacher's Note:
a) Explain both parts clearly: the difficulty and the specific functions of the three pairs of eyes.
b) Direct references from the text support comprehension.

(iv) What is the reason for the teacher's tear? [2 Marks]

Answer:
The teacher's tear is for the joy and pride of watching a child accomplish even the smallest task, for the loneliness of children who have a hard time fitting in, and for the parting moment when a teacher has to say goodbye to students and welcome a new class.

Teacher's Note:
a) Capture all emotional facets of the teacher's tear as described by God in the conclusion.
b) Maintain clarity and coherence in expression.

(c)

(i) Write a summary of the given passage in your own words [8 Marks]

Answer:
God was working tirelessly on His sixth day of overtime to create teachers, recognising the immense responsibility of shaping young minds. When an angel questioned the complex specifications required for a teacher, such as having multiple hands, enduring stress, and managing numerous non-teaching tasks, God explained the necessity of having three pairs of eyes to understand, observe, and guide students with empathy. God designed the teacher to be compassionate yet resilient, capable of thinking, reasoning, and compromising. Finally, God revealed that the tear on the teacher's cheek was not a flaw, but a manifestation of deep love, pride in students' achievements, empathy for lonely children, and the bittersweet sorrow of parting with students at the end of a term.

Teacher's Note:
a) Summaries must be concise, capturing the central theme and essential points without minor details or direct dialogue quotes.
b) Ensure the summary is written in the student's own words and stays within recommended length limits.

(ii) Give a fitting title for your summary and justify the choice of the title. [2 Marks]

Answer:
Title: The Creation of a Teacher
Justification: This title aptly captures the central theme of the narrative, which depicts God meticulously crafting the ideal attributes, challenges, and emotional depth of a teacher.

Teacher's Note:
a) The title must be relevant and concise.
b) The justification should clearly connect the title to the main idea of the passage.

Question 4

(a) Do as directed. [4]

1. Why did the teacher take an extra class? (Change the voice) [0.5 Marks]

Answer: Why was an extra class taken by the teacher?

Teacher's Note:
a) Convert active voice interrogative sentence into passive voice while retaining the question format.
b) Check auxiliary verb placement.

2. "Did you collect your book from the librarian?" Rohit asked Sana. (Rewrite in the indirect speech) [0.5 Marks]

Answer: Rohit asked Sana if she had collected her book from the librarian.

Teacher's Note:
a) Change direct interrogative speech (Yes/No question) to indirect speech using 'if' or 'whether'.
b) Shift tense appropriately from simple past to past perfect.

3. He snatched the leash from her and pushed Willy into the cage. (Rewrite using not only... but also) [0.5 Marks]

Answer: He not only snatched the leash from her but also pushed Willy into the cage.

Teacher's Note:
a) Place correlative conjunctions correctly before the corresponding verbs or actions.
b) Ensure parallel structure in the joined sentence.

4. The officer was too tired to save himself from the gun shots. (Rewrite using so... that) [0.5 Marks]

Answer: The officer was so tired that he could not save himself from the gun shots.

Teacher's Note:
a) Replace 'too... to' construction with 'so... that' followed by a negative clause.
b) Check verb tense consistency.

5. This is one of the best films I have seen about espionage. (Rewrite in the positive degree) [0.5 Marks]

Answer: Few films about espionage are as good as this one.

Teacher's Note:
a) Transform superlative degree into positive degree using 'Few... as good as'.
b) Retain the exact meaning of the original sentence.

6. Though he was a skilled artist, he was poor and unemployed. (Rewrite using despite) [0.5 Marks]

Answer: He was poor and unemployed despite being a skilled artist.

Teacher's Note:
a) Replace concessive clause with prepositional phrase using 'despite'.
b) Ensure proper punctuation and clause arrangement.

7. As soon as the match got over the crowd dispersed. (Rewrite using hardly had) [0.5 Marks]

Answer: Hardly had the match got over when the crowd dispersed.

Teacher's Note:
a) Use inversion with 'Hardly had' followed by past participle and 'when' for the second clause.
b) Check correct correlative pairing ('Hardly... when').

8. As soon as we sat down for dinner, it started thundering. (Rewrite using no sooner... than) [0.5 Marks]

Answer: No sooner did we sit down for dinner than it started thundering.

Teacher's Note:
a) Use inversion with 'No sooner did' followed by base verb and 'than' for the second clause.
b) Ensure correct correlative pairing ('No sooner... than').

(b) Fill up the following blanks by using the correct form of verb given in the brackets. Do not copy the paragraph write only your answer of the blank. [5]

Answer:
1. to visit
2. lived
3. came
4. was
5. prayed

Teacher's Note:
a) Analyze the tense and context of each sentence in the narrative paragraph.
b) Write only the requested answers corresponding to the blank numbers.

(c) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. [5]

(i) She has learnt calligraphy. She is yet to get her certificate as a professional calligrapher. [1 Mark]

Answer: Although she has learnt calligraphy, she is yet to get her certificate as a professional calligrapher.

Teacher's Note:
a) Combine sentences using subordinating conjunctions like 'Although' or 'Even though'.
b) Avoid using forbidden connectors ('and', 'but', 'so').

(ii) Ratan stayed back in the cottage. Her master wasn't feeling too well. [1 Mark]

Answer: Ratan stayed back in the cottage because her master wasn't feeling too well.

Teacher's Note:
a) Express cause and effect using 'because' or 'since'.
b) Check grammatical accuracy.

(iii) She worked extra hours. She wanted to buy a bicycle for her son on his birthday. [1 Mark]

Answer: She worked extra hours as she wanted to buy a bicycle for her son on his birthday.

Teacher's Note:
a) Use appropriate conjunctions indicating purpose or reason.
b) Ensure pronoun consistency.

(iv) Gunjan opened her backpack. She found the food packets missing. [1 Mark]

Answer: When Gunjan opened her backpack, she found the food packets missing.

Teacher's Note:
a) Link the two actions using a time clause with 'When' or 'On opening'.
b) Maintain sentence flow.

(v) Ashwin reached college late. He had to accompany his grandfather to the clinic in the morning. [1 Mark]

Answer: Ashwin reached college late as he had to accompany his grandfather to the clinic in the morning.

Teacher's Note:
a) Combine clauses to show reason using 'as' or 'because'.
b) Verify adherence to negative constraints.

(d) Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions. [10]

Answer:
1. in
2. inside
3. at
4. for
5. from
6. after
7. in
8. to
9. from
10. in

Teacher's Note:
a) Prepositions must be chosen according to standard idiomatic usage and phrasal verb rules.
b) Check context carefully for spatial, temporal, or relational prepositions.