ICSE Examinations 2008 and 2009 Grammar Questions and Answers

Posted by: icseenglish on: February 18, 2010

• In: and Answers | Grammar Questions | ICSE Examinations 2008 and 2009 English
• Leave a Comment

ICSE Examinations Grammar Questions from 2008
Question 4
(a)    In the following passage, 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.
Example:        (0) was.
There (0)    (be) some confusion in the doorway. A man (1)     (get) into the compartment (2) _    (stammer) an apology. Then the door (3)    (bang) and the world was (4)     (shut) out again. I (5)     (return) to my berth. The
guard (6)    (blow) his whistle and we (7)    (move) off. Once again I (8)    (has) a game to play.                             

0. was 1. got 2. stammering 3 banged. 4. shut 5 returned 6. blew 7. moved 8. had

(b)    Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:-
(i)        The   elderly   man  prepared   himself  for a   life of retirement. 

(ii)       Do you take his word  against mine?
(iii)     Rohini is very concerned   of/about her father’s health.
(iv)      Altaf had many books and papers scattered all over the room.
(v)       The Phoenix is a legendary bird that rises from its ashes.
(vi)      The police pulled the briefcase from   under the table.
(vii)     The mob rushed onto the pavement, everyone seemed angry with everyone else.
(viii)    The old woman looked inside the cupboard, searching for the photograph.                                            [4]
[c] Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so.
(i)    The heart attack was mild. Mr. Bose stayed in bed for three weeks.

Although the heart attack was mild, Mr.Bose stayed in bed for three days.

(ii)   The men went out to see if anyone was missing. The women stayed behind to care for the injured.

While the men went out to see any one was missing , the women stayed behind to take care of the injured.

(iii)  Her mother warned her not to talk to strangers. She told her not to accept gifts from people she did not know.

Not only did her mother warn her not ot talk to strangers but also not to accept gifts from them

(iv)      Everyone was drenched wet by now. The rain had come down harder.                                                    [4] As the rain had come down harder, everyone was drenched wet by now.
[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,

(i)        “Have you walked alone, this long distance today?” he asked Sumita. (Begin: He asked Sumita if.    )

He asked Sumita if she had walked alone that long distance on that day.
(ii)       The detective interrogated the suspect closely for over three hours. (Begin: The suspect   ………..)

The suspect was  closely interrogated by the detective for over three hours.

(iii)       I suddenly realized that the room was too small for the three of us to share. (Begin: I suddenly realized that the room was so    )

I suddenly realised that the room was so small that the three of us could not share it.

(iv)      Inspite of all her efforts, Susan did not succeed. (Begin: Despite    )

Despite all her efforts, Susan did not succeed
(v)       As soon as the bell rang, the children rushed out of class. (Begin: No sooner    )

No sooner did the bell ring than the children rushed out of the class.
(vi)      Sachin stood first in class and he also excelled at debate. (Begin: Not only    )

Not only did Sachin stand first in the class but also excelled at the debate.
(vii)     She was the only person capable of being House Captain. (Use: capability)

She was the only person who had the capability to be the a House Captain.

(viii)    Rohan was the tallest boy in the basketball team. (Rewrite using: taller)    [8]

Rohan was taller than any other boy in the basket ball team.

ICSE Examinations Grammar Questions from 2009
Question 4
(a)    In the following passage, 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.
Example: (0)    spoke.
As she (0)    (speak) 1(1)     (rise) and (2)     (go) to the centre blackboard, 1(3)    (find) the chalk (4)    (write) in block letters the title of the book. Then 1 (5)     (put) the chalk down and went to (6)     (sit), beside her, to (7)    (hold) her hand.

The day had barely (8)     (begin).                                                                                                       [4]
1. rose 2. went 3. found 4, wrote 5. put 6. sit 7. hold 8. begun

(b)    Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:-
(1)    I prevailed upon    him to join the gymnasium.
(ii)      The curious child eagerly begged for   an answer to the riddle.
(iii)     He was bent  on  coming first in the examinations.
(iv)     The theory exam was followed by    a group discussion.
(v)      1 ran across    my teacher at the show last night.
(vi)     She is extremely anxious about  an interview next week.
(vii)     What a contrast   between  the two siblings!
(viii)  The brothers fought over their  father’s property.                                                                                                   

(c)  Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so:
(i)    Swarna asked me a question. I was unable to answer it.

I was unable to answer the question Swarna asked me.
(ii)    You helped Tania. She will always be grateful.

Tanya  will always be grateful for your help.

(iii)    I heard you won a prize. I am extremely delighted.

I am extremely delighted to hear that you won a prize.
(iv)    There was heavy traffic. We reached the stadium on time.                       

Inspite of the heavy traffic, we reached the stadium on time.                                                        [4]
(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.
(i)       Study hard now or you will regret it.  (Begin: Unless    )

Unless you study hard , you will regret.
(ii)       The boy asked, ‘Why are you lying on the road in this manner?’ (Begin: The boy asked why he    )

The boy asked why I was/ we were lying on the road in that manner.
(iii)      Megha is too tall to crawl under the table. (Begin: Megha is so    )

Meghana is so tall that she cannot crawl under the table.
(iv)      He arrived in school on time even though he stopped for a bite on the way. (Use ‘in spite of instead of even though)

In spite of stopping for a bite on the way, he arrived in School on time.

(v)       She opened the kitchen door and a cockroach ran out. (End with ‘cockroach’.)

When she opened her kitchen roar, out ran a cockroach.

vi)     Arjun was a better speaker than his brother. (Begin: His brother    )

His brother is not as good a speaker as as Arjun.
(vii)     Asha missed her examination because of her illness. (Begin: Her illness    )

Her illness caused Asha to miss her examination.
(viii)    As soon as the curtain came down the applause rang out. (Begin: No sooner    )  

No sooner did the curtain come down than the applause started.

Thanks