ICSE Total English Class 10 Solution : Chapter 9

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

(i) Write an original short story by continuing the following: ‘We set of in the silence of early morning…’

Answer:- We set off in the silence of the early morning when everybody in the house was fast asleep. My younger brother Rohan and I tiptoed out, clutching a rusty shovel and a faded botanical guide. Our mission: to find the elusive Sanjeevani plant deep in the forbidden woods behind our village—the only thing that could save Grandmother.

The forest was alive with whispers. Moonlight barely pierced the dense canopy as we navigated thorny bushes, our bare feet scratched and bleeding. Grandmother’s frail voice echoed in my mind: “That plant… it bloomed the day your grandfather proposed. When it withers, so shall I.” Hers was the last surviving Sanjeevani in the village, now reduced to three yellowing leaves.

For hours, we combed the forest—behind waterfalls, under banyan roots—but found nothing. As dawn approached, Rohan’s lip trembled. “We failed her,” he mumbled. Just as we turned back, a faint golden glow caught my eye. There, atop a termite mound, stood a lone Sanjeevani, its petals shimmering with dew like liquid hope.

We dug carefully, preserving every root. Rohan tore his shirt to cradle the plant as we sprinted home, the rising sun at our backs. By the time Mother called us for chores, the new Sanjeevani stood proudly in the courtyard, its vibrant green leaves a stark contrast to the dying original.

That evening, Grandmother shuffled to the courtyard. Her gasp made us freeze. “But… this isn’t mine,” she murmured, touching the fresh leaves. Then she smiled—a real smile for the first time in months. “This one’s stronger.”

Within days, color returned to her cheeks. The village priest claimed it was a miracle; the doctor called it coincidence. But Rohan and I knew the truth—we’d gambled with the forest’s wrath and won.

Years later, when Grandmother passed peacefully at ninety, her Sanjeevani still thrived. And when monsoon winds howl through our village, I still hear the forest whispering its secret: Some cures aren’t found in roots or leaves, but in the love that dares to seek them.

(II) You had gone to the railway station to receive your uncle who was coming from Mumbai. Since the train was late by two hours, you had to wait for the arrival of the train. Narrate what you saw and experienced during these two hours of waiting at the railway platform.

Answer:- The station clock showed 3:15 PM when I arrived, unaware that Mumbai Rajdhani would take two agonizing hours to appear. Platform No. 5 buzzed with the peculiar energy unique to Indian railway stations – a microcosm of humanity in constant motion.

Near pillar number 3, a family had created a temporary camp. Their steel tiffin boxes lay open, the aroma of homemade aloo parathas mingling with the station’s antiseptic smell. The grandmother fanned a sleeping child while the father nervously checked his watch every three minutes. A young couple nearby stood locked in a silent embrace, her tear-stained face pressed against his shoulder – a goodbye I wasn’t meant to witness.

Vendors wove through the crowd with practiced agility. One balanced a pyramid of styrofoam cups shouting “Chai-garam!” while another dragged a squeaking cart of peeled cucumbers and oranges. I watched a blind beggar navigate the platform effortlessly, his bamboo stick tapping a familiar path to regular commuters who dropped coins into his tin without breaking conversation.

The announcement system crackled intermittently, each update about the delayed train met with collective groans. A group of college students turned this frustration into entertainment, singing Bollywood songs with increasing volume. Their energy attracted a stray dog that wagged its tail hopefully at their snack-filled backpacks.

As twilight painted the station’s Victorian arches golden, the platform transformed. Office workers replaced families, their polished shoes clicking against the stone floor. The tea vendor’s business tripled as evening commuters sought caffeine fixes. When the “Train Approaching” announcement finally came, the platform erupted into organized chaos – coolies materialized, passengers formed queues that instantly disintegrated, and anxious receivers like myself craned our necks to spot familiar faces.

Just as the train’s headlights appeared, I noticed the blind beggar being helped onto a compartment by the college students, his usual spot now empty except for a single forgotten coin glinting under the platform lights. In those two hours, I’d witnessed more life stories than in months of routine existence – a reminder that journeys matter as much as destinations.

(III) ‘Animals should not be used for drug development or medical research.’ Express your views either for or against this statement.

Answer:- For the View:

While the ethical concerns surrounding animal testing are understandable, the practice remains an essential component of medical research and drug development. The use of animals in scientific studies has led to countless medical breakthroughs that have saved millions of human lives and improved global health standards.

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Ethical Considerations
The scientific community follows strict ethical guidelines to minimize animal suffering. The “3Rs” principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) ensures that researchers use the minimum number of animals required, seek alternatives when possible, and refine procedures to reduce pain and distress. Animal research facilities maintain high standards of care under regular inspections.

Against the View: The use of animals in medical research represents an outdated and morally indefensible practice that modern science should abandon. While historically justified as necessary for human progress, advancements in technology and growing ethical awareness have rendered animal testing both unnecessary and cruel.

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As a society that values both scientific progress and ethical responsibility, we must invest in humane, human-relevant research methods. The lives of millions of laboratory animals and the safety of medical consumers depend on this crucial evolution in how we develop treatments. True medical advancement should not come at the cost of unnecessary suffering.

(IV) Describe what you saw and did at a religious festival celebrated in your colony. Also state your feelings on being a part of the festivities.

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(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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