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ISC Class 12 Comprehension: Vocabulary and Summary

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English LanguageISC Class 12 · Comprehension

Vocabulary, Inference Questions and the Grid Summary (ISC Class 12 English Language)

Updated 18 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Question 4 (20 marks) sets a passage of about 700 words: three one-word replacements (3), three same-word-different-meaning choices (3), three short answers in your own words (6) and a summary of the named paragraphs in about 100 words, written in grid form (8). Match meaning and form for replacements, reject same-meaning and changed-form options, answer inference briefly in your own words, and summarise only the paragraphs named.

Notice that the summary and inference bars are longest, so they carry the most marks (14 of 20); spend your 50 minutes accordingly.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Vocabulary, Inference Questions and the Grid Summary

1. Pattern. (i)(a) three single words from the passage that exactly replace underlined words in new sentences [3]; (i)(b) three words with four sentences each: choose the sentence that uses the word unchanged in spelling but with a different meaning [3]; (ii) three short answers as briefly as possible in your own words [2 + 2 + 2]; (iii) a connected summary of a named range of paragraphs in about 100 words, in grid form [8]. The advised time for the question is not more than 50 minutes.

2. One-word replacement. The answer must fit the new sentence in part of speech, tense and number. Work out the meaning and part of speech of the underlined words, then scan the passage for a word of that type. Examiners reported phrases, misspelt words, wrong forms and near-synonyms with a different shade of meaning.

3. Same word, different meaning. Choose the sentence with the word unchanged in spelling and with a different meaning from that in the passage. Traps: a sentence with the same meaning; a changed form (alarmed, wickets); an idiom with a related meaning. Write the option letter or the sentence, not all the options.

4. Inference questions. Answer in your own words, briefly, giving the reason or implied meaning, not copying lines. A two-mark question needs two points or one point with its reason.

5. The grid summary. Summarise only the named paragraphs, as a connected passage, in about 100 words. The syllabus says the summary must be done in grid form and that abbreviations and contractions are not accepted: one word per box so that the examiner can count at a glance. Failure to keep within the word limit is penalised. The marking schemes list eight points, so a point is worth about one mark.

*Method.* Underline the main ideas of each named paragraph; join them with connectors; drop examples and repetition; rewrite in your own words in the third person and in the tense of the passage; count words.

6. Word-count practice (imaginary). If the named paragraphs contain 8 points and you write 100 words, each point can take about 100 / 8 = 12.5 words. If your first draft has 126 words, you must cut 26 words, about 21% of the draft (26 / 126).

Vocabulary, Inference Questions and the Grid Summary: key facts

Question 4 marks
  • Replacement 3
  • Homonym 3
  • Short answers 6
  • Summary 8
Total 20.
Homonym test
  • Same spelling
  • Different meaning
  • Not a changed form
  • Not an idiom of the same meaning
Reject three of four options.
Summary rules
  • About 100 words
  • Named paragraphs only
  • Grid form
  • No abbreviations
Eight points.

How to answer Vocabulary, Inference Questions and the Grid Summary questions

Use this routine on a comprehension passage.

  1. 1Read the passage twice; mark the paragraph numbers for the summary.
  2. 2For replacements, find the part of speech and meaning, then scan for a fitting word.
  3. 3For homonyms, test each option for meaning and form.
  4. 4Answer inference questions in your own words with the reason.
  5. 5Summarise the named paragraphs in about 100 words, in grid form, and count.

Vocabulary, Inference Questions and the Grid Summary 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.

Homonym trap

Suppose the passage uses 'post' to mean a job, and the options are: the post of manager; a ball hitting the goal post; a post for an accountant; the postman.

Which option uses 'post' with a different meaning?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The first and third use job, the same meaning.
  2. The fourth changes the form.
  3. The goal post is a different meaning.

Answer: The sentence about the ball hitting the goal post.

Memory hook: Same spelling, new meaning.

Cutting a summary

Imagine a first draft has 126 words and the limit is about 100.

How many words must be cut, and what should go first?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. 126 - 100 = 26 words.
  2. Examples, repetition and descriptive detail go first.

Answer: 26 words; examples and repetition first.

Memory hook: Keep ideas, cut illustrations.

Tricks to remember Vocabulary, Inference Questions and the Grid Summary

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

  • Form fits, meaning fits

    A replacement must fit the sentence in form and in meaning.

    Use it when: One-word replacement.

  • Same spelling, different sense

    Reject options with the same meaning, changed form or a related idiom.

    Use it when: Homonym choice.

Vocabulary, Inference Questions and the Grid Summary: solved examples

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

Example 1: Marks check · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

In Question 4 of English Paper 1 the summary carries:
(a) 4 marks
(b) 6 marks
(c) 8 marks
(d) 10 marks

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The question is 3 + 3 + 6 + 8 = 20, so the summary is 8.

Answer: (c)

Example 2: Reading questions on a passage · 3 marks · Source-basedBoard level

Passage: 'The old lighthouse at Cape Marren had guided ships for ninety years. Its keeper, Mr Halden, climbed the 112 steps every evening to light the lamp. When automatic lights arrived, the authorities decided that the keeper was no longer needed, and Halden was told to leave within a month. The villagers protested, arguing that a machine could not warn them of a sudden fog or call for help when a boat was in trouble. After weeks of debate the authorities relented, though only partly: the keeper would stay, but his post would be called caretaker. Halden accepted without complaint. A lamp can shine without me, he said, but only a person can notice when a boat does not return.' (a) Find one word from the passage for: 'gave way after first refusing'. (b) Why did the villagers object? (2)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (a) The past-tense verb meaning to yield after resisting is 'relented'.
  2. (b) They argued that a machine could not warn them of a sudden fog or call for help when a boat was in trouble.
  3. Answer (b) in your own words, with both points.

Answer: (a) relented. (b) They felt that an automatic light could neither warn them of sudden fog nor summon help for a boat in trouble.

Example 3: Homonym from the passage · 1 mark · MCQHarder board level

In the lighthouse passage 'post' means a job. Choose the sentence in which 'post' has a different meaning: (A) He was offered the post of manager in the Delhi branch. (B) The ball struck the post and bounced away. (C) The company advertised a post for an accountant. (D) The postman delivers letters at nine.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (A) and (C) use post as a job: same meaning.
  2. (D) is postman, a changed form.
  3. (B) post as an upright pole: different meaning.

Answer: (B)

Example 4: Inference in own words · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

In the lighthouse passage, what did Halden mean by 'A lamp can shine without me, but only a person can notice when a boat does not return'? Answer in about 30 words in your own words.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Machine: can give light but cannot notice absence.
  2. Person: can sense that something is wrong and raise the alarm.

Answer: He meant that a machine can only provide light, but it cannot notice that a boat is missing and raise the alarm; human care and attention are still needed to protect seafarers.

Example 5: Summary in grid form · 8 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Summarise the lighthouse passage in about 55 words in a connected passage. State the points you will include, and how the grid form changes your writing.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Points: lighthouse guided ships for ninety years; keeper lit the lamp daily; automatic lights made him redundant; villagers protested that machines cannot warn or help; authorities partly relented; he stayed as caretaker; he accepted; his remark about human attention.
  2. Model: The keeper of Cape Marren's lighthouse lost his duties when automatic lights were introduced, and he was told to leave. Villagers protested, saying machines could neither warn them of fog nor summon help. The authorities partly gave way and kept him as caretaker. He accepted, saying only a person notices a missing boat.
  3. Grid form: one word per box, no abbreviations or contractions (write 'did not', not 'didn't'), and the count must be visible.
  4. Remove examples such as the exact number of steps; keep ideas.

Answer: A connected summary of about 55 words covering the main points, written in grid form without contractions.

Where students lose marks in Vocabulary, Inference Questions and the Grid Summary

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

  • Mistake: Summarising the whole passage

    Only the named paragraphs are to be summarised.

    Wrong working

    Summary includes paragraphs 1 to 3 as well.

    Right working

    Summary of paragraphs 8 to 14 only, if so named.

    Do this: Mark the range first.

    Usually costs: Content marks.

  • Mistake: Choosing a changed form in the homonym question

    The word must be unchanged in spelling.

    Wrong working

    Choosing 'postman'.

    Right working

    Choosing the sentence with 'post' in a new meaning.

    Do this: Check the spelling and meaning.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Copying lines in the inference answer

    The question asks for your own words.

    Wrong working

    Copying a sentence from the passage.

    Right working

    Giving the reason in your own words.

    Do this: Rephrase.

    Usually costs: Marks for expression.

Exam tips

  • Spend not more than 50 minutes on Question 4.
  • Check the form of the replacement word in the new sentence.
  • Write the option letter, not all the options, in the homonym question.
  • Count the words of the summary and stay near 100.

Practice questions on Vocabulary, Inference Questions and the Grid Summary

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 · Very short answerBoard level

    State the word limit of the summary in Question 4.

    Hint

    About a hundred.

    Answer

    About 100 words.

  2. Q2 · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

    Why are abbreviations and contractions not accepted in the summary?

    Hint

    Grid form.

    Answer

    The syllabus says the summary is done in grid form and that abbreviations and contractions will not be accepted, so every word must be written in full and be countable.

  3. Q3 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Why is 'descends' a poor replacement for 'subsides' in a sentence about a storm calming down?

    Hint

    Meaning shade.

    Answer

    'Descends' means moves downwards, whereas 'subsides' means becomes less intense; the replacement must match the exact meaning, not just a related idea.

  4. Q4 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    A summary of paragraphs 4 to 9 has 8 points. The first draft has 142 words and the limit is about 100. Compute the words to cut, the percentage of the draft, and the average words per point in the final version.

    Hint

    Subtract, then divide.

    Answer

    Cut = 142 - 100 = 42 words. Percentage = 42 / 142 x 100 = 29.6%. Average per point = 100 / 8 = 12.5 words.

  5. Q5 · 4 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

    A student's summary includes the two examples from paragraph 3, which was not among the named paragraphs, and uses contractions such as 'didn't'. Evaluate it against the rules.

    Hint

    Named paragraphs and grid.

    Answer

    The summary must cover only the named paragraphs, so material from paragraph 3 is irrelevant and wastes words; examples should be dropped to keep the main ideas. Contractions are not accepted in grid form, so 'did not' must be written. Both faults lose marks and may break the word limit.

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.How long is the passage?Show answer

    About 700 words.

  2. 2.How many marks for the short answers?Show answer

    6 (three questions of two marks).

  3. 3.What form must the summary take?Show answer

    Grid form, with no abbreviations or contractions.

  4. 4.How many points does the scheme list for the summary?Show answer

    Eight.

Vocabulary, Inference Questions and the Grid Summary: frequently asked questions

Can I write the summary in points?

No; it must be a connected passage in grid form.

Are numbers counted as words?

Check the grid instructions; write numbers as words if unsure.

Where do grammar items appear?

In Question 3, covered under grammar, structure and usage.