Vikram’s English Academy (ICSE)

ENGLISH Paper- 1
Set C
I. Give the meaning of the following words: (2)
a) puncture- a small hole in a tyre resulting in an escape of air.
b) captivity- being captured or imprisoned

II. Answer the following questions:

a) What were the adventures that the cousins were boasting about? (2)
Ans. One cousin had stolen mangoes from an aunt’s garden, another ‘borrowed’ an uncle’s car
and gone for a spin around the countryside and a third, the narrator had sneaked away to the
Big Banyan while the grownups were sleeping. He had also seen a big water snake on the
way at the water tank.

b) Why was the narrator getting famous as the Protector of Snakes? (2)
Ans. The narrator had become interested in snakes and took every opportunity to preach how
useful they were, and how they shouldn’t be killed which is why he was getting famous in his
family as the great Protector of Snakes.

c) Mention the different strange sounds. (2)

Ans. The strange sounds seemed to be like a small steam engine or like air being let out from one
of those blow up toys. Or may be passing truck having a bad attack of puncture but it was
none of the above, but a large Russell’s viper was sitting in the bush, speaking its mind.

d) How or why did the narrator become brave once more? (2)
Ans. When Reema asked the narrator if he was going to catch the snake, he looked like a brave
snake-catcher. But fortunately, the snake came to the narrator’s rescue and suddenly shot off
into the vegetation and disappeared and the narrator got brave once more.

e) What made her feel very small? (2)

Ans. When the gardener came looking for the snakes, the narrator started with her speech about
Snake Protection. But the gardener had no time for all that. He said that they slept on a bed, in
a room free of snakes while the villagers on the ground in open. The narrator felt small
because he was right. It is one thing to be indoors at night and another to be sharing ground
space with snakes.

III. In not more than 50 words, write a summary of how the author felt about snakes. (8)

The narrator was interested in

snakes and took every opportunity
to preach how useful they
were for the environment and
that they should not be
killed. She felt that snakes
had the right to be
around just like other animals.
Being fond of snakes, she
was known as snake protector.
Question 5
a. 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]

(0)- decide
At times, the Mahal ladies (0) ________ (decide) to go shopping. On one occasion, I remember,
there was much excitement in the palace with everyone (1) ________ (dress) up and (2)
________ (put) their money in bags. The slaves and maids (3) ________ (bustle) about getting
palanquins and (4) ________ (call) soldiers to escort them. The soldiers (5) ________ (ride) off
first to the main bazaar and they (6) ________ (make) all the people (7) ________ (leave) so that
the Mahal women (8) ________ (can) shop.

1. dressed
2. putting
3. were bustling
4. called
5. rode
6. made
7. leave
8. could
b. Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word: [4]
i. There was a little house amongst/among the trees.
ii. He had traded his old horses for young ponies.
iii. He betrayed the confidence reposed on him.
iv. The belt was studded with jewels.
v. He waved the beggar off with an angry gesture.
vi. They set out to the hill station.
vii. The fanatics want to stamp down liberal values.
viii. She let out shriek of pain.

c. Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so:
[4]
i. Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal. He was a rich king.
Ans. Taj Mahal was built by a rich king, Shah Jahan.
Shah Jahan who was a rich king, built the Taj Mahal.
A rich king named Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal.

ii. He is weak. He cannot walk.

Ans. As/Since he is weak, he cannot walk.
He cannot walk because he is weak. (for/therefore)
Being weak, he cannot talk.
He cannot walk due to weakness.

iii.The sun set. His uncle did not come.

Ans. His uncle did not come before the sun set.
His uncle did not come till the sun set.
Though/Although/ Even though the sun set, his uncle did not come.
The sun set, however/still/yet his uncle did not come.

iv. The boy broke the bookshelf in the library. He was punished.
Ans. The boy was punished because he broke the bookshelf in the library.
(As/Since/for/therefore)
d. 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. [8]

i. You will lose marks and you will be punished as well. (Begin: Not only… but also)
Ans. Not only will you lose marks but also you will be punished.

ii. If my ears have been perfect, I would’ve heard the roar. (Begin: Had)
Ans. Had my ears been perfect, I would’ve heard the roar.

iii.Few poets write as well as Tennyson (Change the degree)

Ans. Tennyson doesn’t write better than few poets.

iv. His voice irritates me sometimes. (Begin: I….)

Ans. I am irritated by his voice sometimes.
I am sometimes irritated by his voice.

v. The child disappeared as soon as the bus stopped. (Begin: Hardly….)

Ans. Hardly had the bus stopped when the child disappeared.

vi. Please teach me to cycle she asked her brother. (Rewrite in Direct form)
Ans. She said to her brother, “Please teach me to cycle.”

vii. Rachel is so adamant that she will not listen to any advice. (Rewrite using ‘too’)
Ans. Rachel is too adamant to listen to any advice.

viii. Only a coward could commit such a crime. (Begin: None…)

Ans. None but a coward could commit such a crime.
None except a coward could commit such a crime.
None other than a coward could commit such a crime.