ICSE Class 10 English Language Pre Board Question Paper 2026: Important Questions for High Marks

Particulars

Details

Conducting Body

Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

Examination Name

ICSE Class 10 English Language Exam 2026

Category

Board Examination

Exam Date

Tuesday, 17 February 2026

Exam Time

11:00 AM

Total Marks

100 Marks

Exam Duration

2 Hours

Total Marks

100 Marks

External Marks

80 Marks

Internal Assessment

20 Marks

Exam Mode

Offline (Pen and Paper)

Question Paper Type

Pre Board/Prelim Question Paper

Official Website

cisce.org 

Question Number

Questions

Marks

1

Select any one of the following. 

(i) Recently, your mother bought some fruits from the market, which looked quite fresh and attractive. But when your mother was washing them, you saw the fruits bleed colour in water. It was then you realised that they were artificially coloured. Write a letter to the commissioner of the Department of Food Safety, expressing your concern about the sale of artificially dyed fruits and their harmful impact on the health of consumers.

(ii) You spent two weeks in a village, located in a hilly region. There you lived in a cottage without any modern amenities. During your stay, you went on long treks and learned skills such as mountaineering and river rafting. Write a letter to your cousin describing your trip.

(10)

2

(i) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words

a) I am so sorry ____ disturbing you at such an odd hour.
b) He was robbed ____ his watch.
c) As she fell ____ debt she sold her house and began to live in a small hut.
d) He abstains ____ smoking.
e) This is the man I was referring ____.
f) Janaki escorted her daughter to the cinema theatre as she was anxious ____ her safety.
g) The woman was seen standing ____ him.
h) The poor man is afflicted ____ arthritis.

(ii) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence and, but or so. Choose the correct option. (4)

a) This book is very simple. Even a child can read it.
A. The book is simple for a child can read it.
B. The book being too simple that even a child can read it.
C. The book is so simple that even a child can read it.
D. The book is very simple if a child can read it.

b) The lawyer was clever. We hired the lawyer.
A. The lawyer we hired was clever.
B. Clever as he was, we hired the lawyer.
C. The lawyer hired by us was clever.
D. We hired the lawyer as he was clever.

c) The brakes could have failed. How would you have stopped the car then?
A. Supposing the brakes had failed, how would you have stopped the car?
B. If the brakes fail, how would you have stopped the car?
C. If the brakes had failed, how would you stop the car?
D. How would you have stopped the car when the brakes had failed?

d) The teacher liked the card. John made it for her.
A. The teacher liked the card which John made for her.
B. The teacher liked the card because John makes it for her.
C. The teacher liked the card make by John for her.
D. The teacher liked the card since John made it for her.

(iii) Re-write the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of the sentences. Choose the correct options. (8)

a) He requested Vinay to wait there till he returned. (End: … till I return.)
A. He said to Vinay, “You will have to wait here till I return.”
B. He said to Vinay, “Wait here till I return.”
C. He said to Vinay, “Wait there till I return.”
D. He said to Vinay, “You wait here till I return.”

b) The roof is not worth repairing. (Begin: It is pointless)
A. It is pointless for that roof to be repaired.
B. It is pointless that the roof be repaired.
C. It is pointless if we cannot repair that roof.
D. It is pointless to repair that roof.

c) Usain Bolt is the fastest runner in the Olympics. (Begin: No other)
A. No other runner in the Olympics is fastest as Usain Bolt.
B. No other runner can run as fast as Usain Bolt in the Olympics.
C. No other runner in the Olympics is as fast as Usain Bolt.
D. No other runner in the Olympics is faster to Usain Bolt.

d) The migrant was bidden to leave the country by the authority. (End: … leave the country)
A. The authority bid the migrant to leave the country.
B. The authority bids the migrant to leave the country.
C. The authority bade the migrant to leave the country.
D. The authority bidded the migrant to leave the country.

e) He did not know where Judy was and I did not either. (Begin: Neither…)
A. Neither he or I knew where Judy was.
B. Neither did he nor I know where Judy was.
C. Neither he and I knew where Judy was.
D. Neither he nor I knew where Judy was.

f) My dog is too old to learn new tricks. (Begin: My dog is so old…)
A. My dog is so old to learn new tricks.
B. My dog is so old for it to learn new tricks.
C. My dog is so old that it cannot learn new tricks.
D. My dog is so old, therefore, to learn new tricks.

g) Nobody in the world can sing as melodiously as Lata. (Begin: Lata is)
A. Lata is melodious than more singers in the world.
B. Lata is more melodious than few other singers in the world.
C. Lata is the most melodious singer in the world.
D. Lata is more melodious than most of the singers of the world.

h) If Umesh apologizes, he will be set free. (Use: unless)
A. Unless Umesh apologizes, until then, he will not be set free.
B. Unless Umesh apologizes, he will not be set free.
C. Unless Umesh apologizes, he will need to be imprisoned.
D. Unless Umesh has to apologize, he will not be set free.

(iv) 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 the correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.

Example: (0) medicinal

The aloe vera plant has been used for its …0… (medicine) qualities since ancient times and …1… (continue) to be …2… (recommend) by experts for a variety of conditions. The gel-like substance inside the aloe vera plant leaves is packed with a range of medicinal properties, including antioxidants such as vitamins and minerals. While its skin-healing ability is …3… (know), aloe vera may also be effective for joint pain. Though not a cure for these conditions, aloe vera gel, at a dosage of not more than one tablespoon, …4… (dilute) in water and consumed first thing in the morning …5… (reduce) joint pain. …6… (cause) by osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and gout. However, pregnant women and people …7… (suffer) from kidney problems or intestinal issues, should avoid …8… (take) aloe vera.

(20)

3

Write a composition (300–350 words) on any one of the following.

(i) Write an original short story which clearly illustrates the friendship between a young boy and his dog.

(ii) Stranded on an empty, lonely street, you wandered deeper into the unknown and stumbled upon a haunted mansion. Describe the eerie sights that greeted you and the chilling emotions that surged through you as you stood before this ominous structure.

(iii) “Fast food is essential for our fast-paced life.” Express your views either for or against the topic.

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

(v) “Neither be a lender nor a borrower be.” Narrate an experience, when borrowing money from a friend strained the relationship between your friend and you.

(30)

4

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

Man’s dependence on animals and plants cannot be ignored. Animals are killed for meat and skin; trees are cut down for timber and paper; plants are uprooted for food and medicine. If we go on using nature as thoughtlessly as we have been doing, nothing worthwhile in nature will be left for our posterity. Against this background, many countries have passed protective laws in order to safeguard wildlife. There are more than 1,200 national parks, wildlife reserves and similar protected areas throughout the world, to ensure that rare wild animals and precious trees are saved from extinction.

One group of animals which has become extinct is dinosaurs. The records show that they died out completely around a hundred million years ago. The reason for their extinction is not known. However, people guess that this is because of the change in the environment. New mountains were born; the sea overflowed the land; the climate changed with the environment. The dinosaurs could not adapt themselves to the new environment and, as a result, perished.

The saving of certain wild animals from extinction has for many years been a problem for zoologists and other specialists, but more recently the problem has become so acute and has received so much publicity, that most people are now concerned about it. This may at first seem strange because one of the most gratifying developments of the last years has been the passing of strict laws to protect wild animals and the consequent decline in the hunting of big game for sport. Why is it, then, that some rare wild animals are still threatened with extinction and even some of the less rare ones are rapidly declining in numbers? One reason is the “march of civilisation.” When an area is wholly cleared of vegetation to make room for new towns, factory sites and hydroelectric plants, the natural home of several species is destroyed. The displaced animals must either migrate to another area or perish. Even the clearing of land for a road or an airfield may involve “pushing back” the jungle, and the smaller the area in which the wild animals compete for a living, the smaller the number which can survive.

Civilisation brings too, swift and easy transport and so assists those who are determined to break the various protective laws. Thieves can elude the game wardens, shoot an elephant for its tusks, a rhinoceros for its horn, or a deer for its meat, and be miles away from the site of the crime before the dead or dying victim is even discovered. It is sad to reflect that the civilisation which can bring so many benefits to people who have previously known only hunger and misery, brings also facilities for the heartless criminal who for material gain slaughters some harmless animal and threatens the disappearance of its kind from the earth forever.

(i) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word ‘increasing’ 

a) increasing
A. using
B. gratifying
C. declining
D. pushing

(ii) In not more than 50 words, state the problem as well as the solution for safeguarding wild animals. Draw a grid.

(iii) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided.

a) posterity
A. past
B. rear
C. strength
D. future

b) elude
A. reduce
B. escape
C. weaken
D. capture

(iv) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words

a) In what way is man dependent on nature? What steps have some nations taken to protect wildlife?
b) What is meant by the ‘march of civilization’? How does this march threaten wild animals with extinction?
c) What do some people think is the reason for the extinction of dinosaurs?
d) What is the connection between ‘pushing back’ the jungles and the wild animals?
e) Why does the author call the man who kills big game for material gain, a heartless criminal?

(20)

5

(i) Write an email to a famous theatre artist requesting him or her to be the guest of honour at the inauguration of the theatre festival.

(ii) Your school is organizing a theatre festival on the occasion of World Theatre Day. Write a notice for the school informing the students of the event.

ICSE Class 10 English Language Pre Board Question Paper 2026

Day/Date

Time

Subject

Tuesday, 17 February

11:00 AM

English Language – Paper 1

Component

Word Limit / Details

Marks

Composition Writing

300–350 words (Narrative, Descriptive, Argumentative, Story, or Picture-based)

20 Marks

Letter Writing

Formal (e.g., complaint, application) OR Informal (e.g., friendly).

10 Marks

Notice & E-mail Writing

(a) Write a Notice (concise format). 

(b) Write a corresponding Email (formal tone).

10 Marks

Unseen Passage

Comprehension of a 500-word passage (Short Q/A, Vocabulary, and 50-word Summary).

20 Marks

Functional Grammar

Transformation of sentences, synthesis, prepositions, tenses, etc. (Objective/MCQ format).

20 Marks