Class IX - English Sample Paper - 2 - Practice for Everyone

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Time Allowed: 3 hours Maximum Marks: 80

General Instructions:

i. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading.

ii. The Question Paper contains THREE sections-READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and LITERATURE.

iii. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION – A

READING

I. Read the passage given below.

(1) An escalating epidemic of overweight and obesity is affecting many countries in the world; more than 300 million people are overweight or obese. Obesity could be region specific. In India, some people tend to be overweight because of their high calorie diet and lack of physical activity. In the United States, obesity is more prevalent in lower economic groups. Obesity is now well recognized as a disease in its own right. Though, obesity commonly means very overweight, it is defined as an excess amount of body weight that includes muscles, bone, fat and water. ‘Obesity’ specifically refers to an excess amount of body fat. Some people such as body builders or other athletes with a lot of muscle, can be overweight without being obese.

(2) A certain amount of body fat is needed for stored energy, heat insulation, shock absorption and other functions. Generally, women have more body fat than men. Usually men with more than 25% body fat and women more than 30% body fat are regarded as obese. Obesity tends to run in families suggesting a genetic cause. Environmental factors mean lifestyle behaviour such as what a person eats and his or her level of physical activity. Although you cannot change your genetic makeup, you can change your eating habits and levels of activity. You can learn how to choose more nutritional meals which are low in fat to become more active.

(3) Then there are psychological factors. Negative emotions such as boredom, sadness or anger, respond to people who overeat. There is also ‘binge eating’ i.e. when people eat large amounts of food thinking that they cannot control how much they are eating. Those with the most severe binge eating problems are also likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem. These people may have more difficulty in losing weight and keeping it off, than people without binge eating problems.

(4) Obesity is more than a cosmetic problem; it is a health hazard. Several serious medical conditions have been linked to obesity, including type-2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and heart stroke. Obesity is also linked to higher rates of certain types of cancer. Other diseases and health problems linked to obesity include gall bladder disease and gallstones, liver disease and osteoarthritis which leads to deterioration of joints and gout which also affect the joint and reproductive problems in women.

(5) As the trend is to equate attractiveness with slimness, especially for women, obesity makes people feel unattractive. There are many methods of treatment but, the benefits of exercise are much more than any other way of losing weight. Not only does exercise help you lose weight but also improves your fitness and flexibility and improves skin texture. Exercises are also free from the side effects of crash dieting, slimming capsules and the heat treatment used by slimming centres.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

(i) Obesity is more prevalent in lower income group in ____________

(a) India

(b) throughout the world

(d) none of the above

View Answer

Ans. (c) United States

(ii) More than ……………. million people in the world are obese making it an epidemic.

View Answer

Ans. 300

(iii) What among the following are considered as obese?

(a) men with 35% body fat

(b) women with 25% body fat

(d) women with 30% body fat

View Answer

Ans. (d) women with 30% body fat

(iv) …………….an be the cause of a person being obese.

(a) Environmental factors

(b) Heredity

(d) All the above

View Answer

Ans. (d) All the above

(v) ……………………..considered as negative emotions.

View Answer

Ans. boredom, sadness and anger

(vi) People with binge-eating problem may have …………… also.

View Answer

Ans. depression and low self esteem

(vii) Obesity can be taken as ……..

(a) pandemic

(b) endemic

(d) none of these

View Answer

Ans. (c) epidemic

(viii) Exercises are free from the side effects of _____________

(a) crash dieting

(b) cold treatment used by slimming centres

(d) binge eating

View Answer

Ans. (a) crash dieting

(ix) Find a word in para, which is the antonym of ‘abundance’.

View Answer

Ans. lack

(x) The synonym of ‘intense’ in para 3 is _________

View Answer

Ans. severe

II. Read the passage given below.

The Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest. It covers an area of nearly 2.8 million square miles, which is about the size of the continent of Australia. The Amazon rainforest gets its life from the majestic Amazon river, the world’s second largest river, which runs directly through the heart of the region. The rainforest itself is simply the drainage basin for the river and its many tributaries. The vast forest itself consists of four layers, each featuring its own ecosystem and specially adapted plants and animals. The forest floor is the lowest region. Since only two per cent of the sunlight filters through the top layers to the understory, very few plants grow here. The forest floor, however, is rich with rotting vegetation and the bodies of dead organisms, which are quickly broken down into nutrients and integrated into the soil. Tree roots stay close to these available nutrients and decomposers such as millipedes and earthworms use nutrients for food.

The understory is the layer above the forest floor. Much like the forest floor, only about 2-5 per cent of the sunlight reaches this shadowy realm. Many of the plants in the understory have large, broad leaves to collect as much sunlight as possible. The understory is so thick that there is very little air movement. As a result, plants rely on insects and animals to pollinate their flowers.

The layer above the understory is the canopy. This is where much of the action in the rainforest occurs. Many canopy leaves have specially adapted leaves which form “drip tips”. Drip tips allow water to flow off the leaves which prevents mosses, fungi, and lichens from occupying the leaves. Leaves in the canopy are very dense and filter about 80 per cent of the sunlight. The canopy is where the wealth of the rainforest’s fruits and flowers grow. Bromeliads-cup-like plants, provide drinking pools for animals and breeding locations for tree frogs.

On the basis of your reading the above passage, answer the questions that follow.

(i) The Amazon is the world’s………….. largest river.

(a) first

(b) second

(d) fourth

View Answer

Ans. (b) second

(ii) Which of the following is not true about the Amazon rainforest?

(a) It covers an area about the size of the continent of Australia.

(b) It gets its life from Amazon River.

(d) Very few plants grow in the forest.

View Answer

Ans. (c) The Amazon forest consists of three layers.

(iii) _________percent of world’s plant species are found in the Amazon rain forest.

(a) 33%

(b) 43%

(d) 20%

View Answer

Ans. (d) 20%

(iv) According to the information given above, some of the animals found in the Amazon rainforest are:

(a) Vampire bat, bear

(b) tigers, fox

(d) anaconda, walking palms

View Answer

Ans. (c) jaguars, vampire bats

(v) The plants in the understory have…………………

(a) small

(b) thin & small

(d) tiny

View Answer

Ans. (c) large and broad

(vi) Leaves in the canopy, filter eighty percent of……….. in the Amazon rainforest.

(a) sunshine

(b) air

(d) rain

View Answer

Ans. (a) sunshine

(vii) Why is there very little air movement in the understory?

(a) It is the layer above the forest floor.

(b) Very few plants grow here.

(d) 2.5 percent of the sunlight reaches this shadowy realm.

View Answer

Ans. (c) The understory is very thick and also covered with large, broad leaves.

(viii) What is the layer above the understory called?

(a) top layer

(b) canapy

(d) None of the above

View Answer

Ans. (c) canopy

(ix) How are bromeliads useful for animals and tree frogs?

(a) Allow water to flow off the leaves

(b) Provide drinking pools

(d) Filters about 80 per cent of the sunlight

View Answer

Ans. (b) Provide drinking pools

(x) Find the word from the passage which means ‘grand’.

(a) miles

(b) majestic

(d) None of the above

View Answer

Ans. (b) majestic

SECTION – B

GRAMMAR & WRITING

1. Read the dialogue and complete ANY THREE of the passage given below by choosing the correct option from those given:

Manu: Is there any problem with the car?

Woman: I’ve a flat tyre, but I just don’t know how to change the tyre.

Manu: Let me give you a helping hand. I will try to do it.

Woman: Oh! that very nice of you, thanks so much indeed, you were a great help.

Manu: It was my pleasure

Manu saw a woman standing near her car by the road. He asked her ….(i)…… The woman replied …..(ii)….. but ……(iii)…… . Manu offered to the lady a helping hand. The woman thanked him and said ……(iv)…….. The Manu replied that it was his pleasure to be of help.

(i) (a) is there any problem with the car

(b) that there was any problem with the car

(d) if there is any problem with the car

View Answer

Ans. (c) if there was any problem with the car

(ii) (a) that she had a flat tyre

(b) she had a flat tyre

(d) that she is having a flat tyre

View Answer

Ans. (a) that she had a flat tyre

(iii) (a) she is not knowing how to change it

(b) that she doesn’t know how to change it

(d) she just didn’t know how to change it

View Answer

Ans. (d) she just didn’t know how to change it

(iv) (a) that he had been a great help

(b) that he has been a great help

(d) that he was a great help

View Answer

Ans. (d) that he was a great help

2. Read the passage given below and fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate words from the given options.

Sir Winston Churchill was a British statesman, painter and writer …..(i)……. some have labelled

as the greatest man ever to speak English language. But many call him the greatest English man ……(ii)……. the present century. While in India, he thought himself to write good prose and he ……(iii)……. a grand masterly style which captured the greatness of his times.

(i) (a) who

(b) which

(d) whose

View Answer

Ans. (a) who

(ii) (a) and

(b) of

(d) nor

View Answer

Ans. (b) of

(iii) (a) develops

(b) develop

(d) developing

View Answer

Ans. (c) developed

3. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a blank is given.

Write the error and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank number as given in the example. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied.

Error Correction

Could you did something for me?

e.g. did do I have left mine blue bag on the (a)_________ table at the drawing room (b)______. Please go till my house tomorrow and (c)________ got it from my mother. (d) __________

View Answer

Ans. (a) mine my

Here possessive pronoun ‘my’ should be used because it is followed by (adjective+) noun. In case of noun being already referred, i.e., I have taken your bag but left ‘mine’ could be used

(b) at in

Here preposition of place/location ‘in’ should be used, showing the exact point of place.

(c) till to

Preposition of movement ‘to’ should be used to indicate a goal or direction of movement as well as a place of arrival.

(d) got get

In imperative sentences, present tense is used.

IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE of the following in 100-120 words:

(A) Write a short descriptive paragraph on the famous Indian scientist Sir CV Raman in 100-150 words on the basis of the following inputs.

Born on 7 November 1888 in Madras-Physician by profession-worked in the field of light scattering the discovery is known as ‘Raman Effect-won Nobel Prize in 1930 for his discovery- elected Fellow of the Royal Society’ in 1924-in 1954 India honoured him with its highest civilian award ‘Bharat Ratna-breathed his last on 21 November 1970.

View Answer

Ans. Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman born on 7 November 1888, in the former Madras Province of India (presently Tamil Nadu) was an Indian physician who carried out ground-breaking work in the field of light scattering. He discovered that when light traverses a transparent material. Some of the deflected light changes wavelength. This phenomenon of “Raman effect” earned him the 1930 Nobel Prize for Physics. Raman was honoured with a large number of honorary doctorates and memberships of scientific societies. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society early in his career in 1924 and knighted in 1929. He later resigned from the fellowship in 1968 for reasons unrecorded, the only Indian FRS ever to do so. In 1954, India honoured him with its highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna and celebrates National Science Day on 28 February of every year to commemorate the discovery of the Raman effect in 1928. Raman breathed his last on 21 November 1970. School trips are a part and parcel of school curricular activities. It gives us lessons each time It was in the year 2010 when I was studying in VII class, our school took us to Jaipur. On reaching there, we visited Amer Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and City Palace. The city was very beautiful and we had lots of fun. We sat in our buses in evening. We had to reach back by 10 o’clock. We hardly travelled for one hour or so when the bus broke down at around 8 o’clock. We were stuck in a deserted place, and there was sand outstretched on both the sides. It was an eerie feeling.

(B) You were on a school trip and were on your way back to the hotel late one night when your school bus, full of children, broke down in a lonely area. Write a descriptive passage on the above given situation

View Answer

Ans. The driver along with the conductor got down to examine but to no avail. It was totally dark and cold too. Our teachers were all worried, but they kept their cool and asked us to remain quiet and not to make any noise, lest we should draw the attention of anti-social elements.

At a distance of about 200 metres, we saw some tents. The little light guided us to that place. When we approached nearer to the tents, we saw some camels tied outside. They were Rajasthani (Banjaras). Our teachers and driver narrated them the whole tragedy, they were a bit suspicious but agreed to help us. They took all the students to their tents They gave us some food. And they entertained us by singing and dancing around the bonfire. We went to sleep afterwards.

Next morning, our bus was repaired and we were able to get back on our way to home. It was a fun trip and I know adventure would be cherished lifelong

2. Attempt ANY ONE of the following in 100-120 words:

(A) Write a short story on the basis of the given clues:

Robert Bruce, king of Scotland – often fought for the freedom of the country – no success – hiding in a cave – dejected – a spider drops by its thread from the ceiling – tries to get back to its web – again drops – succeeds in ninth attempt – inspired by the example, Bruce tries again.

View Answer

Ans.

INSPIRATION

Robert Bruce, the King of Scotland was both brave and wise. He fought many battles with England. He even led his army to fight for the freedom of his country. He never gained success. At last his army was driven out and was forced to hide in the woods. They took shelter in a cave. Robert was tired and sick of heart, ready to give up hope. As he lay thinking, he noticed a spider over his head which was getting ready to weave its web. He watched it as it worked slowly and with great care. For eight times it reached its web but every time it was unsuccessful. But the spider did not lose hope. With still more care and dedication its reached its web in the ninth attempt. This inspired and motivated Robert Bruce and he in turn motivated his army. He collected his army and led them to the battle field and this time the battle was fought and the King of England was forced to retreat back to his country and Bruce was made the rightful king of independent Scotland.

(B) Make an entry in your diary on your hesitation to speak in English and you wish to improve your English speaking skills.

View Answer

Ans.

‘CUT’

Tuesday

March 07, 20XX

10.00 PM

Dear Diary,

A person is known by his company, what type of friends he has and how he reacts before them.

I am fortunate enough to have a good circle of friends. They are extremely helpful and good-natured people but sometimes I feel quite embarrassed because they all have a good command over English while I do not have as I have done my schooling from a Telugu medium school.

Therefore, I hesitate to speak in English before them. It is my heartfelt desire to improve my English speaking skill. Now, I want to end this hesitation and move forward in getting fluent in it. In order to increase proficiency in learning the skill of English speaking, one needs to maintain the use of the language. The best way to improve and enhance any skill is that, regular practice should be initiated. The best way to acquire the language is to use it with friends, family and others continuously. With regular and continuous practice, the language becomes accessible and fluent. Dear Diary! I promise you that I will improve my English speaking skills very soon. Good Night Diary.

XYZ

Section – C

Literature

V. 1. Read the extract given below and attempt ANY ONE by answering the questions that follow:

(A) A headmaster once told his father that what Einstein chose as a profession wouldn’t matter, because “he’ll never make a success at anything. “Einstein began learning to play the violin at the age of six, because his mother wanted him to; he later became a gifted amateur violinist, maintaining this skill throughout his life.

(i) The headmaster’s opinion about Einstein was that he would…………..in life.

(a) be successful

(b) not fail

(d) rise

View Answer

Ans. (c) never be successful

(ii) How long did he maintain his skill as a violinist?

(a) 2 years

(b) 8 years

(d) 10 years

View Answer

Ans. (c) Throughout his life

(iii) Find a word from the passage that means ‘having great natural ability’.

(a) success

(b) gifted

(d) profession

View Answer

Ans. (b) gifted

(iv) Einstein learnt to play violin at the age of ________

(a) five

(b) six

(d) eleven

View Answer

Ans. (b) six

(v) The word which means the same as ‘doing something as a hobby and not job’ is. __________

(a) amateur

(b) profession

(d) success

View Answer

Ans. (a) amateur

(B) But it was for your b-b-birthday.” Down came the ruler on her little, pink palms. Hours later, when Grandmother had wrapped her in a shawl and rocked her in the rocking-chair, the child clung to her soft body.” What did God make fathers for?” she sobbed.

(i) Who is responding in first line and to whom?

(a) Kezia to grandmother

(b) Grandmother to father

(d) Kezia to mother

View Answer

Ans. (c) Kezia to father

(ii) ‘She sobbed’. Who is ‘She’?

(a) Mother

(b) Kezia

(d) both (b) and (c)

View Answer

Ans. (b) Kezia

(iii) Find a word from the passage that means ‘wept.

(a) palms

(b) wrapped

(d) clung

View Answer

Ans. (c) sobbed

(iv) Kezia was……………. of her father.

(a) scared

(b) nervous

(d) affectionate

View Answer

Ans. (a) scared

(v) ‘Down came the ruler on her little, pink palms.’ Why did this happen?

(a) Kezia had misbehaved.

(b) Kezia had torn the bedsheet.

(d) Kezia was an indisciplined child.

View Answer

Ans. (c) Kezia had torn an important document.

2. Read the extracts given below and attempt ANY ONE by answering the questions that follow:

(A) They tell them a curious story –

I don’t believe ’tis true.

And yet you may learn a lesson

If I tell the tale to you.

Once, when the good Saint Peter

Lived in the world below,

And walked about it, preaching,

Just as he did, you know

(i) What did Saint Peter do during his travels around the world?

(A) He looked after the poor and the rich.

(B) He preached the people.

(D) He begged for food.

View Answer

Ans. (B) He preached the people.

(ii) Is it a true story?

(A) Yes

(B) No

(D) May be

View Answer

Ans. (B) No

(iii) What does the poetess say about the story?

(A) She believes the story to be true.

(B) She does not believe the story to be true.

(D) She was in dilemma.

View Answer

Ans. (B) She does not believe the story to be true.

(iv) Where did Saint Peter live then?

(A) He lived on the earth below.

(B) He lived on the cloud.

(D) None of these

View Answer

Ans. (A) He lived on the earth below.

(v) The poem A legend of the Northland’ was written by:

(A) Robert Frost

(B) Phoebe Cary

(D) Coates Kinney.

View Answer

Ans. (B) Phoebe Cary

(B) He came to the door of a cottage,

In travelling round the earth,

Where a little woman was making cakes,

And baking them on the hearth.

(i) What request did ‘he’ make to the woman?

(a) To give him shelter.

(b) To give him something to eat.

(d) To give him clothes.

View Answer

Ans. (b) To give him something to eat.

(ii) Why was the little woman punished?

(a) She was greedy and mean.

(b) She made cake as thin as a water

(d) Both (a) and (c)

View Answer

Ans. (d) Both (a) and (c)

(iii) Give a word from the passage that means ‘fireplace’.

(a) cottage

(b) hearth

(d) None of the above

View Answer

Ans. (b) hearth

(iv) The rhyme scheme of these lines……………….

(a) aabb

(b) abcb

(d) abab

View Answer

Ans. (b) abcb

(V) Name the poet?

(a) Phoebe Cary

(b) Gieve Patel

(d) James Kirkup

View Answer

Ans. (a) Phoebe Cary

VI. 1. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.

(i) Describe the central idea of the poem, “Wind”.

View Answer

Ans. The poem ‘Wind’ inspires us to face the challenges thrown at us with grit and firm determination. We should be strong enough to face all the hardships of life with courage. Wind symbolizes problems and obstacles that we all face and go through at some point time in our lives.

(ii) Why did emperor Aurangazeb ban the playing of Pungi in the royal residence?

View Answer

Ans. Aurangzeb banned the playing of the Pungi in the royal residence because of its shrill and unpleasant sound. It was regarded more as a noise maker than a musical instrument.

(iii) Is the poet, Coates Kinney, able to enjoy the rain or he reminisces at the lost time?

View Answer

Ans. The poet is appreciating rain, especially when he hears it from a cosy bed in a lovely cottage. The rain and its sound have resurrected the fondest memory of the poet’s mother in his mind. As the rain continues, the poet tries to recollect all that caused him pain, yet at the same time lifted his spirits.

(iv) How did Second World War give opportunity to Kalam to earn his first wages?

View Answer

Ans. Kalam’s cousin was a news paper distributor agent. The train halt at Rameshwaram station was suspended. So, the newspapers were bundled up and thrown out from a moving train. Kalam helped his cousin to catch the bundles. He was given money for it.

(v) Describe the person, the place or the things brought vividly to life by the poet, with reference to the poem the Lake Isle of Innisfree.

View Answer

Ans. The Lake Isle of Innisfree by W. B. Yeats vividly describes a lake island in Innisfree. The island is an incredibly peaceful place. The island is also a place of great natural beauty. Yeats describes many different aspects of its appeal, from the various birds and insects to the striking light at different times of day. This is a landscape that has not been damaged or diminished by human interference.

2. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each.

(i) How did the child react when there was no sign of his parents?

View Answer

Ans. The child was very innocent. He got confused and panic-stricken on not seeing his parents. He felt lonely without his parents amidst so much of crowd. The man who tried to console the child also did not achieve any success as the boy only needed his parents and no monetary benefit.

(ii) Who is the real culprit according to the king? Why does he escape from the punishment?

View Answer

Ans. The rich merchant was the real culprit. He had inherited everything from his criminal father. He was too thin to be properly executed on the newly made stake. The worried king started searching foolishly for a fat man to fit the stake and the merchant escaped the punishment.

(iii) Why does Sue rush down to meet Mr. Behrman?

View Answer

Ans. Sue rushes down to meet Mr. Behrman, an old painter to pour out her worries regarding Johnsy. She told him about Johnsy’s strange fancy how she was convinced that she would die when the last leaf falls.

3. Answer ANY ONE of the following in 100-120 words:

A. Does the poem, The Road Not Taken, symbolise or reveal a meaning or aspect of freedom or responsibility?

View Answer

Ans. The poem reveals the complex nature of a seemingly simple decision. The narrator is conflicted as he thinks about which road to take. Even after some deliberation and the fact that usage ‘Had worn them really about the same, he cannot help wondering, but then expressing the doubt by saying ‘if I should ever come back. He is even trying to convince himself that he has made the best choice because when he looks back ‘Somewhere ages and ages hence, he is sure that he will be able to say that he made the best choice and that it has made all the difference’.

This poem highlights the fact that freedom (of choice in this instance) brings with it, its own set of responsibilities. The poem also, perhaps, indicates the futility of over-thinking in some situations. If, even trivial decisions require so much thought, how can anyone ever make life-changing decisions. Apparently for the narrator, this is life-changing. At least the choice is what he has to make.

B. What incident took place at the Rameshwaram Elementry School when a new teacher came to the class?

View Answer

Ans. Kalam used to wear a cap and Ramanandha Sastry wore a sacred thread which marked him to be a Brahmin. When the new teacher came, he could not tolerate a Hindu priest’s son sitting with a Muslim boy. He ordered Kalam to go and sit on the back bench. This made Ramanandha sad. Abdul started sitting in the last row but it left a bad impression on Abdul. Both the kids narrated the incident to their parents. As a result the teacher was rebuked and reprimanded for spreading communalism and hatred among children.

4. Answer any one of the following in 100-120 words:

A. The cat and the author are very fond of each other. How has this been shown in A House is Not a Home?

View Answer

Ans. The author loved a kitten and it was his pet. He loved her very much. They were very fond of each other. They had a bond of love for each other. When the narrator lost everything in the fire he did not cry but when he realised that his cat was missing, he broke down in tears. The firemen wanted them to leave the house but he wanted to know about his cat. He used to visit this place daily hoping to see his missing cat. He kept on thinking only about her. A month later when a lady contacted him and gave him back the missing cat, he leapt up and cried out. He forgot all the loss caused by the fire and remarked, “My cat was back and so was I.“

B. Explain why Sergie is extremely delighted to see Lushkoff at the theatre.

View Answer

Ans. Lushkoff, the beggar was offered some work. Sergei asked him to go to his friends. They gave him some copying work as he could write. Sergei was happy that he had put the man on the right track. Two years went by. One evening standing at a ticket window of a theatre Sergei saw the man again. Lushkoff told him that he was a notary and was paid 35 roubles a month. He thanked Sergei for what he had done for him. He said that if he had not helped him he would still have been telling lies. This was the reason why Sergei was extremely delighted to see him at the theatre.

Class IX – English Sample Paper – 2