ICSE Total English Class 10 Solution : Chapter 5

Write a composition (300 – 350 words) on any one of the following: [20]

(i)Write a short story which begins with ‘I do not believe in ghosts…….’

Answer:- I do not believe in ghosts. At least, I didn’t until last Tuesday night.

It was past midnight when I took the deserted forest road to save time. The headlights barely cut through the thick fog when I saw her – an elderly woman standing motionless in the middle of the road. My brakes screeched as I stopped inches from her frail figure.

Before I could speak, she tapped on my window. “Please,” her voice trembled, “my son’s in the hospital. Can you give me a lift?” Something about her hollow eyes made my skin crawl, but I couldn’t refuse.

As we drove, she clutched a wicker basket of fruits and an envelope. “My boy needs surgery,” she explained, stroking the envelope containing ₹50,000. The hospital lights finally appeared through the trees. “Take these to Room 157,” she insisted when I parked. “I’ll join you after freshening up.”

The receptionist directed me to the third floor. Room 157’s occupant, a pale young man, stared blankly when I entered. “Your mother sent these,” I said, placing the basket on his bedside table.

His hands shook as he opened the envelope. “This…this is the exact amount I need for tomorrow’s operation.” Then he showed me a framed photo. “But my mother died last Diwali.”

My blood turned to ice. The woman in the photograph wore the same red bangles that had glinted in my car’s dim light. I sprinted back to the parking lot, but my passenger seat was empty except for the faint scent of jasmine and a single red bangle resting where she had sat.

That envelope saved the young man’s life. The doctors called it a miracle. Now when I drive past that stretch of road at night, I turn my high beams on. Because while I still don’t fully believe in ghosts, I know some loves are too strong to die.

(II)Write about the joy you had when you achieved something extraordinary, which you had never expected in your life. Narrate the details of the experience and say why it has become memorable.

Answer:- The joy I experienced when I achieved something truly unexpected is a memory I will cherish forever. It all began when my English teacher encouraged me to participate in an inter-school speech competition. I had never spoken in front of a large audience before and had no confidence in my public speaking skills. But her faith in me gave me the courage to give it a try. I prepared a speech on the topic “Youth and the Power of Change.” I practised in front of the mirror, my friends, and my parents, but deep inside, I never thought I would win anything.

The competition day arrived, and I was both nervous and excited. When I saw students from other reputed schools, many of them fluent and confident, my nervousness increased. I sat quietly, waiting for my turn, with my heart pounding loudly. When my name was called, I took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage. The first few lines were shaky, but slowly, I found my rhythm. The audience responded with encouraging nods and smiles, and I spoke with more confidence. When I finished, there was a huge round of applause.

After all the speeches were over, the results were announced. I was not even looking at the stage when they called out the winner. To my complete shock, they had said my name! I couldn’t believe it. I walked up to the stage with trembling hands and tears in my eyes. Holding the first prize trophy felt like a dream. My teacher and parents were beaming with pride. That moment made me realise that sometimes, we are capable of much more than we believe.

This experience taught me the value of trying, believing in oneself, and stepping out of our comfort zones. It has become one of the most memorable moments of my life.

(III) ‘Present day teenagers are quite smart. They should be allowed more freedom’. Express your views either for or against this statement.

Answer:- For the View: Today’s teenagers are far more capable and mature than previous generations, making a strong case for allowing them greater freedom. Growing up in the digital age has equipped them with unprecedented access to information, making them more aware and responsible than we often acknowledge. 

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Today’s teenagers have proven they can handle more responsibility than we typically allow. By giving them appropriate freedom, we don’t just respect their growing maturity—we help them become capable, confident adults ready to contribute meaningfully to society. The smartest thing adults can do is recognize and nurture this potential.

Against the View: While modern teenagers appear more informed than previous generations, granting them excessive freedom can lead to disastrous consequences. Despite their technological savviness, adolescents lack the life experience and emotional maturity required to make sound judgments, making parental guidance and supervision absolutely essential.

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Rather than assuming today’s teenagers don’t need limits, we should recognize that their complex world makes parental involvement more crucial than ever. Some freedoms can certainly expand with age, but abandoning proper supervision during these formative years risks permanent damage to their future. Wisdom isn’t measured by smartphone proficiency, but by the guidance received while the brain finishes developing.

(IV) Give an interesting description of a place, known for its beautiful scenery, which you visited recently with your classmates.

Answer:- Our class trip to the Taj Mahal began in the pre-dawn darkness, the anticipation thick as we approached the gates. As the first hints of sunrise painted the sky, the iconic marble mausoleum emerged like a vision – its perfect symmetry and ivory-white facade glowing softly in the morning light. The collective gasp from my classmates echoed my own wonder.

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As we left, the Taj’s reflection shimmering in the long water channel, I understood why it’s called a monument to love. That magical night, when history, architecture and nature combined to create perfection, bonded our class in shared awe – a memory as enduring as the Taj itself.

(V) 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.

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