VIBGYOR HIGH

Sample Paper
2023-2024
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Grade: X Max. Marks: 80
Date: Time Allowed: 2 hours

INSTRUCTIONS:

 Answers to this Paper must be written on the paper provided separately.

 You will not be allowed to write during the first 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 writ-
ing theanswers.
 This paper has four Sections.
 Section A is compulsory – All questions in Section A must be answered.
 You must attempt one question from each of the sections B, C and D
and oneother question from any Section of your choice.
 The intended marks for the questions or parts of questions are given
alongsidethe questions in brackets [ ].
 This question paper consists of 9 printed pages.

________________________________________________________________________
Section A
(Attempt all questions from this section)

Question 1 Read the following questions and choose the most appropriate [16]
response from the choices given below (Please do not copy
the question- simply write out in correct serial order the
appropriate word or phrase)
(i) Identify the imagery in the given line taken from the short story ‘The [1]
Little Match Girl.’
‘….a roast goose stuffed with prunes, and apples, streaming
deliciously….’
(a) Visual Imagery

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 (b) Tactile Imagery
(c) Auditory Imagery
(d) Olfactory Imagery

(ii) Why was the little match girl afraid to go home? [1]
(a) She did not dare to go home because she had lost her mother’s

slippers.
(b) Her father would beat her for she had sold no matches.
(c) Her naked feet were red and blue with the cold and she could

walk no more.
(d) She had lit all the matches and she was scared of being alone at
home.

(iii) Arrange the following events in chronological order that best [1]
describe what Joe Thompson saw when he returned from his shop.
1. Maggie’s eyes were intently fixed upon his wife.
2. Maggie lay, a little raised on the pillow with the lamp shining
on her face.
3. There was a light shining through the little chamber window.
4. Mrs. Thompson was sitting by the bed, talking to the child.

(a) 1 2 3 4
(b) 2 3 4 1
(c) 3 2 1 4
(d) 3 2 4 1

(iv) Select the option that shows the correct relationship between [1]
statements (1) and (2) from The Blue Bead
1. The woman screamed, dropped both brass pots with a
clatter on the boulder, from whence they bounced to
the water.
2. Oh, the two good vessels gone.
(a) 1 is the cause for 2
(b)
1 is an example of 2

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 (c)
1 is independent of 2
(d)
1 is a contradiction of 2

(v) ‘I was no exception.’ [1]

What does ‘I’ mean by these words?

(a) Like all angry athletes ‘I’ made mistakes and fouled.
(b) He was confident of winning the Olympic event hands down.
(c) He was nervous and worried whether he had come so far to
make Der Fuhrer angry.
(d) He was sure that he would be able to easily qualify with his eyes
closed.

(vi) When does the free bird demonstrate freedom and power? [1]
(a) when it stalks down the narrow cage
(b) when it sings with a joyous trill
(c) when it claims the sky to be its own
(d) when it shouts on a nightmare scream

(vii) Which lines from the poem show that the caged bird has never been [1]
free?
(a) his tune is heard on the distant hill
(b) The caged bird sings of freedom
(c) The caged bird sings.
(d) trills of things unknown but longed for still

(viii) What did the poet William Wordsworth not think of when he gazed [1]
and gazed?
(a) the jocund company of the clouds
(b) the wealth the show to him had brought
(c) the continuous stars that shine
(d) innumerable daffodils that tossed their heads

(ix) In the line ‘And you see my harvest what I reap’, the patriot [1]

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 expresses his
(a) anger
(b) pride
(c) regret
(d) wonder

(x) Why had the Patriot said, “I am safer so.” even after he was [1]
sentenced to death?
(a) He has already reaped the benefits in this life.
(b) He has God on his side.
(c) He is sure God will save his life.
(d) He knows God will reward him in heaven for his work here.

(xi) ‘Scant this excess.’ [1]

What does this statement reveal of Portia?
(a) She is experiencing excessive joy.
(b) She is feeling sad and depressed.
(c) She is worried and anxious about her future.
(d) She is ecstatic for Gratiano and Nerissa.

(xii) ‘Came you from Padua, from Bellario?’ [1]

Who says this to whom?
(a) Gratiano to Nerissa
(b) Duke to Nerissa
(c) Duke to Portia
(d) Bassanio to Portia

(xiii) On what grounds had Nerissa promised to give her heart to her [1]
suitor?
(a) Nerissa would marry Gratiano only if he wooed her and promised
her eternal love.
(b) Nerissa promised to marry Gratiano if he agreed to take her to
Venice.
(c) Nerissa vowed to marry Gratiano provided Bassanio’s fortunes

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 achieved her mistress.
(d) Nerissa vowed to marry Gratiano if he kept the ring safely and
securely.

(xiv) Which of the following statements is most relevant with regards to [1]
Portia's hold over the law?
(a) She believes that Jews are capable of showing mercy and
Shylock will too.
(b) She is cleverly trapping Shylock into insisting on justice so that
she can use the law against him later on in the trial.
(c) She is emphasising that Christians differ from Jews and the latter
will suffer for being cruel.
(d) She wants Bassanio to offer the money and let Antonio be
acquitted.

(xv) Why does Portia wish to find out where the Jew’s house is once [1]
the trial is over?

(a) She has been invited to dinner for all that she has done to save
Antonio.
(b) She has to return all the jewels and ducats that Jessica had
stolen from her father, the Jew.
(c) She must leave for Belmont immediately, and be there before the
husbands’ return.
(d) She wants to give him the deed and let him sign it.

(xvi) How does Nerissa respond when Gratiano delivers the ring to
Portia?
(a) She says she will outswear and out-smart him.
(b) She says that she will try to get Gratiano to give up his ring too.
(c) She starts to rail against him and accuses him of breaking
promises.
(d) She is happy for her mistress Portia.

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 SECTION B - Drama
The Merchant of Venice: Shakespeare

(Answer one or more questions from this section)

Question2 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that [16]
follow:
Nerissa, and the rest, stand all aloof. —
Let music sound while he doth make his
choice;
(i) ‘I pray you, tarry;’ [3]
Naming the speaker, state what is the reason to ‘tarry’? What does
it reveal about the speaker?
(ii) Mention the significance of the music ‘while he doth make his [3]
choice’.
(iii) ‘The world is still deceived with ornament.’ [3]
Mention any three pieces of evidence given by Bassanio to prove
the above statement.’
(iv) ‘This is the fool that lent out money gratis:’ [3]

Name the speaker and the ‘fool’ in the above line. State the
sentence that is repeated by the speaker again and again here.
What does it reveal of the speaker?
(v) Nerissa: Shall they see us? [4]

Portia: They shall, Nerissa;

but in such a habit,
That they shall think
we are accomplished
With that we lack.
Who are ‘they’? What does Portia reveal of her ‘whole device’ to
Nerissa?

Question 3 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that [16]
follow:
That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee

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 thy life…
(i) Naming the speaker, describe the ‘difference of our spirit’ that the [3]
speaker has pointed out. Who is referred to as ‘our’?
(ii) What would happen if Shylock was denied his ‘purpose’? What was [3]
Bassanio’s plea to Portia to ‘curb this cruel devil of his will? How
had Portia reacted to his plea immediately after?
(iii) ‘You may as well do anything most hard, [3]
As seek to soften that—than which what's harder?—
(iv) Mention two examples stated by Antonio to prove the above
statement. What does it reveal of him?
(v) ‘For herein Fortune shows herself more kind [3]

Than is her custom:’

How did Antonio explain and elaborate upon the above?
(vi) At last, it is the law that saves Antonio and makes Shylock fall into [4]
the pit that he has dug.

Explain how Portia uses the law to save Antonio from the clutches
of Shylock. What are your feelings for Shylock at this point in the
play?

Section C – Prose
Treasure Trove: A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short
Stories
(Answer one or more questions from this section)
Question 4 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that [16]
follow:

I was in for a surprise. When the time came for the broad-jump
trials, I was startled to see a tall boy hitting the pit at almost 26 feet
on his practice leaps!
(i) Name the ‘tall boy’ referred to in the excerpt and state his [3]
nationality.
What had the narrator been told about him?
(ii) ‘I wasn’t too worried about all this.’ [3]

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 What was ‘I’ not worried about? What did ‘I’ guess when he saw the
‘tall boy’ during the practice leaps? What was his resolve
consequently?
(iii) On which attempt had the ‘tall boy’ qualified for the finals? How was [3]
the narrator’s performance a contrast to this?
(iv) What was unusual about the tall boy? Describe his appearance as [3]
perceived by the narrator.
(v) How is the story a depiction of the true spirit of sportsmanship? [4]
Explain with reference to the text.

Question 5 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that [16]
follow:

“What is to be done with the children?” That was the chief question
now. The dead mother would go underground, and be forever
beyond all care or concern of the villagers.
(i) What had led to the death of the mother? [3]
‘Death touches the spring of our common humanity.’- How was it
relevant in the case of the ‘dead mother’?
(ii) Name and describe the three children in detail. [3]

(iii) What was the fate of the two elder children? How was it different for [3]
the third child and why?
(iv) Who was Joe Thompson? How did he respond when the youngest [3]
‘cried out’? What does this prove about him?
(v) The story portrays the redeeming power of love through the [4]
character of Mrs. Thompson.
Justify with reference to the transformation of her character
depicted in the story, ‘An Angel in Disguise’.

Section D – Poetry
Treasure Trove: A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short
Stories
(Answer one or more questions from this section)

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Question 6 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that [16]
follow:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:
(i) What ‘company’ is the poet referring to in the above extract? [3]
Where did he see the ‘jocund company’?
(ii) Describe the effect of the ‘company’ on the poet when he was in a [3]
vacant and pensive mood.
(iii) What did the poet compare himself to at the beginning of the [3]
poem? Why do you think he did so?
(iv) How did the poet convey to the reader how vast the ‘company’ [3]
was? How many did he see ‘at a glance’?
(v) How has the poet brought out the influence of nature on man? [4]
Explain with reference to instances from the poem.

Question 7 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that [16]
follow:

A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
(i) What do the words ‘leap’ and ‘float’ denote? What do the free bird [3]
and the caged bird represent?
(ii) Describe the contrast observed in the condition of the other bird. [3]
(iii) Describing the ‘trill’, state what it portrays of the singer. [3]
(iv) What did the free bird think of? What does the expression ‘grave [3]
of dreams’ denote?
(v) The poem ‘I Know why the Caged Bird Sings’ is an [4]
autobiographical poem. Explain with reference to the metaphors
employed by Maya Angelou.

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