ICSE Total English Class 10 Solution : Chapter 3

Question 1

(i) Write a story in which passion, patience and persistence play an important role.

Answer:- At fourteen, Hitoshi discovered his passion for volleyball during a school sports day. Though his small rural school had no team or proper court, he began practicing alone every day after class, using the cracked wall of the community center as his opponent. The rhythmic sound of the ball striking concrete became the soundtrack of his determination.

When Hitoshi finally joined a proper club in the neighboring town, reality struck hard. Standing just 165 cm, coaches told him he was too short for competitive volleyball. Teammates laughed when his serves flew out of bounds. But Hitoshi’s passion wouldn’t be extinguished. He arrived early and stayed late, diving for impossible saves until his knees were permanently bruised and his elbows scarred.

For three long years, Hitoshi remained a benchwarmer while taller players received all the playing time. Instead of growing bitter, he studied the game with quiet patience, analyzing every movement of the starting libero. During rainy seasons, he practiced receives in the mud; in winter, he trained until his fingers turned blue. His persistence eventually caught the attention of a retired coach who saw potential in his relentless spirit.

The breakthrough came during a crucial tournament when the team’s star libero was injured. Thrust into the spotlight, Hitoshi stunned everyone with his lightning reflexes and perfect defensive plays. By tournament’s end, scouts were fighting to recruit the player fans called “The Flea” for his incredible ability to cover the entire court despite his small stature.

Today, Hitoshi stands among Japan’s volleyball legends, his defensive techniques studied by players worldwide. When young athletes ask about his journey, he shows them his calloused hands and says, “Passion lights the fire, patience keeps it burning, and persistence makes it unstoppable.” His story proves that with enough determination, even our greatest weaknesses can transform into our most powerful strengths.

(II) Narrate an incident in which somebody challenged you and you accepted it. What was the outcome?

Answer:- It began with a quiet challenge slipped into my notebook during math class—”Chess match after school Thursday? -Shreya”. I smirked. Shreya, the silent girl who sat near the window, barely spoke three words daily. Meanwhile, I was the reigning chess champion of our grade.

When Thursday came, we set up the board in the library corner. A small crowd gathered—whispers about how quickly I’d defeat her buzzed around us. I opened with my signature Queen’s Gambit, expecting to checkmate her within twenty moves. But by move fifteen, my fingers began drumming the table. Shreya’s calm demeanor unsettled me; she took three full minutes per move while I responded within seconds.

Disaster struck on move twenty-three. In my haste to pressure her king, I left my rook undefended. Shreya’s hand hovered—then snatched it with a quiet “Sorry”. The spectators gasped. My ears burned as I realized the trap she’d been setting for ten moves. I started making reckless attacks, while she methodically advanced her pawns. When she whispered “Checkmate” forty minutes later, my king was surrounded by her lowly pawns—pieces I’d arrogantly ignored.

The walk home that evening felt endless. My backpack straps dug into my shoulders like the weight of my humiliation. Yet, lying awake that night, I replayed every move. Shreya hadn’t won by being better—she’d won by being present. While I focused on flashy strategies, she paid attention to the whole board.

Next morning, I found her at the library chessboard. “Rematch?” I asked, sliding a notebook toward her—this time with my phone number scribbled below the words “Teach me to play slowly?” She smiled. That afternoon, as sunlight striped the chessboard through window blinds, I learned more about patience from her in sixty minutes than I had in six years of tournaments. Now when I play, I still hear her whisper-reminder: “The board doesn’t rush. Why should you?”

(III) ‘School students should not be allowed to use social networking sites’ Express your views either for or against this statement.

Answer:- 

For the statement: Social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok may seem harmless, but they pose serious risks to school students. While these sites claim to connect people, they often do more harm than good when used by young, impressionable minds.

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First, social media is designed to be addictive. Features like endless scrolling, notifications, and “likes” trigger dopamine releases in the brain, creating dependency. Students find themselves wasting hours mindlessly browsing instead of studying, playing sports, or engaging in real-world interactions. This addiction directly impacts academic performance and mental health.

Against the statement: In today’s digitally connected world, social networking sites have emerged as vital platforms that offer students far more than just entertainment. These platforms have fundamentally transformed how young people communicate, learn, and engage with the world around them. Far from being mere distractions, when used responsibly, they serve as powerful tools for education, self-expression, and global connection. 

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Social media bridges distances in ways previously unimaginable, allowing students to maintain meaningful relationships with family members abroad and collaborate with peers across different schools and countries. Through video calls, instant messaging, and shared online spaces, students can nurture friendships and family ties despite geographical separation. These platforms have also become extensions of the classroom, where students exchange ideas, work on group projects, and access educational content beyond their textbooks.

(IV) Describe an occasion when everything went according to your plan. Explain how your planning took care of all emergencies and how you felt at the end.

Answer:- For months, I had secretly planned the ultimate surprise birthday party for my best friend Riya’s eighteenth birthday. As someone who had always celebrated my birthdays with grand gestures, I wanted to return the favor in the most spectacular way possible.

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That night, as we danced under the stars to 90s hits, I felt a profound sense of satisfaction. Every backup plan remained unused, every detail had fallen perfectly into place. The joy on Riya’s face made the weeks of secret planning worthwhile. As she hugged me tightly at the end of the night, whispering “Best birthday ever,” I realized that perfect moments don’t happen by accident – they’re created through careful thought, preparation, and most importantly, love.

(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.

Answer:- The rhythmic jingling of metal announced his arrival before the old bicycle came into view. Raghuveer, the neighborhood keymaker, pedaled slowly through the narrow lanes, his bicycle laden with tools that had weathered decades of use. The worn leather pouch hanging from his handlebars contained blank keys of every size, while the basket carried his simple filing tools and oil cans – the entire universe of his fading trade.

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