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ICSE 10 Comprehension: Four Parts and Summary Grid

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English LanguageICSE Class 10 · Comprehension and Summary

ICSE Class 10 Comprehension and Summary: The Four Parts, Inference and the Summary Grid

Updated 18 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Question 4 is an unseen passage of about 500 words for 20 marks: word meanings as used in the passage (2), an opposite from the passage (1), five short answers in your own words (9, including an inference and one exact quotation) and a summary in not more than 50 words (8: six content points and two for expression). Read twice, answer from the text and plan the summary in a grid.

Notice that short answers and the summary carry 17 of the 20 marks, so plan your time: read for 5 minutes, answer for 15, summarise for 10.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Board Comprehension: Four Parts, Inference, Quotation and Summary Grid (ICSE Class 10)

The four parts. The chapter page shows the pattern for the 2027 specimen and the 2025 paper: (i) two meanings (2 marks), (ii) an opposite (1), (iii) five short answers, marked 2+2+2+1+2 in the specimen (9), (iv) a summary of a named part (8).

Meanings and opposite. Go to the line, read the whole sentence, substitute each option and pick the one that fits. For the opposite, decide the meaning of the given word, then choose its reverse in the same part of speech.

Short answers. Answer only what is asked, from the passage, in your own words. A 2-mark answer usually needs two points. The paper tags questions as understanding, recall and analysis, so expect a "Why do you think..." inference: give a reason that rests on evidence in the passage.

Quotation. For "Which sentence in the passage tells us..." copy exactly one complete sentence with its original punctuation, including a question mark.

Summary. The question names exactly what to summarise. Find those lines only, list the main points in order in a rough grid (point number and key words), leave out examples, descriptions and repetition, and aim for six points. Draft, count, and trim: delete decoration, replace phrases by single words and join points with conjunctions. Keep articles and prepositions: dropping them is an error that examiners have reported.

Time. Roughly five minutes to read, fifteen to answer, ten to write the summary. The skill is the same for every passage: go back to the text.

Board Comprehension: Four Parts, Inference, Quotation and Summary Grid (ICSE Class 10): key facts

Parts and marks
  • Meanings 2
  • Opposite 1
  • Short answers 9
  • Summary 8
Total 20.
Summary marks
Content points 6 | Expression 2
Not more than 50 words.
Grid
  • Point number
  • Key words
  • Lines
One point per row.
Quotation
  • One sentence
  • Exact words
  • Same punctuation
Never two.

How to answer Board Comprehension: Four Parts, Inference, Quotation and Summary Grid (ICSE Class 10) questions

Use this for the unseen passage.

  1. 1Read the passage once for the gist, then the questions.
  2. 2Answer the meaning and opposite items by substitution.
  3. 3Answer each short question from the lines, in your own words, with points matching the marks.
  4. 4For the quotation item, copy one complete sentence exactly.
  5. 5Build a six-row grid for the summary, draft it, count the words and trim.

Board Comprehension: Four Parts, Inference, Quotation and Summary Grid (ICSE Class 10) in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Reporting a meeting to a parent

Suppose a student attends a long school meeting and has to tell a parent in three sentences what was decided about the picnic.

Which skill is it and what must be left out?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Find what was decided, not who said what.
  2. List decisions in order.
  3. Join them in connected sentences.

Answer: It is summary: keep the decisions and the order and drop examples, jokes and repetition.

Memory hook: Decisions only.

Tricks to remember Board Comprehension: Four Parts, Inference, Quotation and Summary Grid (ICSE Class 10)

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • Marks equal points

    2 marks, two points.

    Use it when: Short answers.

  • Grid then trim

    Six rows, draft, count, trim.

    Use it when: Summary.

  • One sentence, exact

    Copy one complete sentence.

    Use it when: Quotation.

Board Comprehension: Four Parts, Inference, Quotation and Summary Grid (ICSE Class 10): solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Meaning in context · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

In "She gave a terse reply and left", terse most nearly means:
(a) long and polite (b) short and abrupt (c) loud (d) hesitant

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Substitute each option (0.5)
  2. Option b fits (0.5).

Answer: (b) short and abrupt.

Example 2: Opposite word (1 mark) · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

The word diminished has the opposite meaning of:
(a) grew (b) shrank (c) faded (d) vanished

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Diminished means reduced (0.5)
  2. Opposite is grew (0.5).

Answer: (a) grew.

Example 3: Inference (3 marks) · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

From a passage: "Nina read the letter twice, folded it carefully, and said nothing for the rest of the evening." Why do you think Nina said nothing?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Possible reason (1)
  2. Evidence (1)
  3. Own words (1).

Answer: She was probably deeply affected, even upset, by the news. Her reading it twice and her long silence suggest she needed time to take it in.

Example 4: Quotation (2 marks) · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

From a passage: "The rain stopped by noon. Was anyone still waiting at the gate? He ran to see." Which sentence shows that he wondered about someone?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Choose one sentence (1)
  2. Exact copy (1).

Answer: "Was anyone still waiting at the gate?"

Example 5: Summary with a grid (8 marks) · 8 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Passage: "The old library was damp and dark. Volunteers repaired the roof, painted the walls and donated books. Within a year children queued at the door on Saturdays." Summarise how the library changed, in not more than 40 words.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Condition: damp, dark (1)
  2. Repairs (1)
  3. Painting (1)
  4. Books donated (1)
  5. Result: children queue (1)
  6. Order kept (1)
  7. Own words, within limit (2).

Answer: Though the library was once damp and dark, volunteers repaired the roof, painted the walls and donated books. As a result, children now queue at its door every Saturday.

Where students lose marks in Board Comprehension: Four Parts, Inference, Quotation and Summary Grid (ICSE Class 10)

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Copying long chunks

    The answer should be in own words.

    Wrong working

    Whole lines from the passage.

    Right working

    Two points in own words.

    Do this: Paraphrase.

    Usually costs: 1 mark

  • Mistake: Misquoting

    Punctuation lost.

    Wrong working

    Did anyone see the child

    Right working

    "Did anyone see the child?"

    Do this: Copy exactly.

    Usually costs: 1 mark

  • Mistake: Summary of whole passage

    The question names a part.

    Wrong working

    Everything.

    Right working

    Only the named idea.

    Do this: Bracket the lines.

    Usually costs: Content marks

Exam tips

  • Substitute each option into the sentence.
  • Give points equal to the marks.
  • Copy one sentence exactly for a quotation item.
  • Build a six-row grid for the summary.
  • Keep articles and count words.

Practice questions on Board Comprehension: Four Parts, Inference, Quotation and Summary Grid (ICSE Class 10)

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    The summary is for how many marks?
    (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 8 (d) 10

    Hint

    See the chapter page.

    Answer

    (c) 8.

  2. Q2 · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

    Name two ways of reducing words in a summary without dropping articles. (2 marks)

    Hint

    Replace phrases, remove decoration.

    Answer

    Replace a phrase by a single word (in spite of the fact that becomes although) and delete adjectives that only decorate.

  3. Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    From a passage: "Karan checked his pocket three times and still walked back to the shop." Why do you think Karan went back? (3 marks)

    Hint

    Evidence for inference.

    Answer

    He probably felt he had lost something, perhaps money, since he had searched his pocket repeatedly and still returned.

  4. Q4 · 6 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Passage: "The village road floods every monsoon. Buses stop, shops close and patients cannot reach the clinic. The council has now promised a raised road and drains." Summarise the problem and the remedy in not more than 30 words. (6 marks)

    Hint

    Cause, effect, remedy.

    Answer

    The road floods every monsoon, stopping buses, shutting shops and blocking patients from the clinic. The council has promised a raised road with drains.

  5. Q5 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    A candidate quotes two sentences for a "Which sentence" item and also changes one to indirect speech. Explain two reasons this loses the mark. (2 marks)

    Hint

    Think of exactness.

    Answer

    Only one complete sentence is wanted, and it must be copied exactly in its original form; indirect speech and extra text violate that.

  6. Q6 · 4 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

    A student writes a 60-word summary that includes examples and a quotation, and omits articles to save words. Identify three faults and show how to repair the first sentence "Library old, damp; volunteers repair." (4 marks)

    Hint

    Think of limit, content and expression.

    Answer

    Faults: over the limit, examples included, note style without articles. Repair: The old library was damp, but volunteers repaired it.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Marks?Show answer

    20.

  2. 2.Short-answer marks?Show answer

    9.

  3. 3.Summary limit?Show answer

    Not more than 50 words.

  4. 4.Summary marks?Show answer

    Six content, two expression.

  5. 5.Passage length?Show answer

    About 500 words.

  6. 6.What does the summary question name?Show answer

    The exact idea to summarise.

Board Comprehension: Four Parts, Inference, Quotation and Summary Grid (ICSE Class 10): frequently asked questions

Is a title required?

Not for the summary; follow the question.

Can I use my own words in the quotation?

No; copy exactly.

How many sentences in the summary?

Connected sentences within the limit.