ICSE English-II sample paper by www.targeticse.co.in. ICSE Sample Paper.
English Paper II (Literature in English). Full Marks 80. Time 2 Hrs. You will not be
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ICSE English-II sample paper by www.targeticse.co.in ICSE Sample Paper English Paper II (Literature in English) Full Marks 80
Time 2 Hrs
You will not be allowed to write during the first two 15 minutes. This time is to be spent in reading the question paper. The time given at the head of this paper is the time allowed for writing the answers. Attempt five questions in all. You must attempt one question from each of the Sections A, B and C and any two other questions. Section A- DRAMA Julius Caesar: Shakespeare Q.1 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Calphurnia: When beggars die there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princess. Caesar:
i) ii) iii) iv) v)
Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when will it come. What is the context of Calphurnia’s concern? 2 Where are the speakers at the time of this conversation? Who enters after Caesar’s words are spoken? 2 What news is brought by this person? What is the impact of the news on the speakers? 3 What is Caesar’s interpretation of death? 3 What strange things have happened on the previous night? 4
Q.2 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Brutus:
Thou hast describ’d A hot friend cooling. Ever note, Lucilius, When love begins to sicken and decay It useth an enforced ceremony. There are no tricks in plain and simple faith; But hollow men, like horses hot at hand, Make gallant show and promise of their mettle; But when they should endure the bloddy spur,
ICSE English-II sample paper by www.targeticse.co.in They fall their crests, and like deceitful jades Sink in the trial. i) ii) iii)
Where is Brutus at the time of the speech? What prompts him to speak these words? 3 Who is described as “a hot friend cooling”? Why is the friendship cooling? 3 Explain the meaning of the following lines: 4 But hollow men, like horses hot at hand, Make gallant show and promise of their mettle; But when they should endure the bloddy spur, They fall their crests, and like deceitful jades Sink in the trial.
iv) v)
Describe what happens when Brutus meets the person referred to as “hot friend” ? 3 What is the outcome of the meeting? 3
The Winslow Boy: Terrence Rattigan. Q.3 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Arthur: Catherine: Arthur:
Catherine: Arthur: i) ii) iii) iv) v)
(wearily) Oh, Kate, Kate! Are we both mad, you and I? What’s the matter father? I don’t know. I suddenly feel suicidally inclined. (bitterly) A father’s fight for his little boy’s honour. Special appeal to all women. Photo inset of Mrs.Winslow’s curtains! Is there any hope for the world? (smiling) I think so, father. Shall we drop the whole thing, Kate?
What are the prime concerns of Arthur and Catherine at this point of time? Why does Arthur say that he feels suicidally inclined? 4 What is referred to by “a father’s fight for his little boy’s honour”? What has caused the little boy to lose his honour? 3 What does Arthur mean by “Shall we drop the whole thing”? 3 What kind of filial relationship exists between Arthur and his son? 3 Who come to meet the “little boy” a little later and why? 3
Q.4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Have you been sacked? ( Ronnie nods) Bad luck. What for? Ronnie: I didn’t do it. Dickie:
ICSE English-II sample paper by www.targeticse.co.in Dickie: (reassuringly) No of course you didn’t. Ronnie: Honestly I didn’t. Dickie: That’s alright, old chap. No need to go on about it. I believe you. Ronnie: You don’t. Dickie: Well, I don’t know what it is they’ve sacked you for yet.— i) ii) iii) iv) v)
Where does this conversation takes place? Why has Ronnie been sacked? 3 What is the relationship between Ronnie and Dickie in the play? 3 How did Dickie come to know of Ronnie’s expulsion? How does he react to the situation? 3 What is written in the letter that Ronnie has been given by the Commissioners of Admiralty? 3 Compare and contrast the characters of Ronnie and Dickie? 4
Section B- POETRY Whispers of Immortality Q.5 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers, From the seas and streams; I bear light shade for the leaves when laid In their noonday dreams. From my wings are shaken the dews that waken The sweet buds everyone, When rocked to rest on their moher’s breast, As she dances about the sun. i) ii) iii) iv) v)
Who is “I”? How does “I” bring fresh showers? What do the leaves do at noon? What does “I” do to help the leaves? Describe two activities of “I” that are not mentioned in the given stanza? Mention with examples two figures of speech in the above stanza. Name the poem and the poet.
3 3 4 4 2
Q.6 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Beyond yon straggling fence that skirts the way With blossomed furze unprofitably gay, There, in his noisy mansion, skilled to rule, The village master taught his little school. i)
Name the poem and the poet.
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ICSE English-II sample paper by www.targeticse.co.in ii) iii) iv) v)
What does the phrase “straggling fence” signify? 2 What is the meaning of “blossomed furze”? Why is it said to be “unprofitably gay”? 4 What is referred to as the “noisy mansion” and why? 3 In what light does the poet portray the character of the village master? What is the relationship between the master and his students? 5
Section B- PROSE An Anthology of Short Stories Q.7 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Shall we not wake him? repeated the lady persuasively. “The coach is ready, sir”, said a servant behind. The old couple started, reddened, and hurried away. i) ii) iii) iv) v)
Who is referred to as “him”? What was he doing and why? 3 Who were the old couple and why had they stopped by? What information is given by the author about the old couple? 3 Why did the lady want to “wake him”? 2 Why do you think the old couple “started reddened and hurried away”? 3 Who came to the scene immediately after the old couple had left? What is the author’s observation at the end of the story? 5
Q.8 How does Khushwant Singh portray the character of his grandmother in the story “The Portrait of a Lady”? 16
The Village by the Sea: Anita Desai. Q.9 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: When he thought of all his troubles- his drunken father, Mr. De Silva’s insult, the lack of work an money- Hari wished he too could soar up into the sky and disappear instead of being tied to the earth here, trudging round the temple which was not even a pretty one. It was only a little cell of bricks with a painted idol of Krishna and his cows in it. Looking at it through the open door without going in, Hari remembered the shepherd he had just seen and wondered if he, too, played a flute like Krishna. Everything belonged here, everything blended together- except for himself. With his discontent, his worries and his restlessness, he could not settle down to belonging.
ICSE English-II sample paper by www.targeticse.co.in i) What were the troubles in Hari’s life? 3 ii) What prompts Hari’s desire to disappear? 3 iii) Why does Hari feel that he did not belong to this place? 3 iv) In what way is the mythological reference to Krishna significant in the context of the story? 3 v) What does Hari decide to do to end his troubles? 4
Q.10 Give an account of the character of Mr.Panwallah and illustrate his role in Hari’s life. 16
Three Men in a Boat: Jerome K Jerome. Q11. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: The whole lobby was a perfect pandemonium, and the din was terrific. A crowd assembled outside in the Haymarket, and asked, who was being murdered, and why? Men came with poles and ropes, and tried to separate the dogs and the police were sent for. i) How was the pandemonium created? 3 ii) What was the state of the lobby before the pandemonium? 3 iii) How did the main cultprit of the pandemonium behave once his owners arrived? 3 iv) What accusations did the owner of the cultprit make? 3 v) What opinion did J. nurture about fox-terriers? 4 Q12. How does the author expose the follies of Victorian England in the novel?
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