LITERATURE (BEEHIVE)

PROSE
Lesson- 1
THE FUN THEY HAD Isaac Asimov
Value Points
• Margie and Tommy aged 11 and 13 are students of future schools.
• Tommy finds an old book about school in the attic. They turn yellow,
crinkly pages of the book and are surprised to see still words in the
book, They were used to only moving words of telebooks.
• They thought it to be wastage of resources, as it was to be thrown after
reading once only. Whereas telebooks last longer and contain many
books together.
• Margie hated school as her teacher (a computer) gave her test after and
she performed badly in Geography.
• She hated the slot for putting homework and test papers.
• Margie's mother called county inspector who came with all his
equipment and repaired it in an hour.
• Margie wasn't happy as she thought he would take the teacher for a few
days for repair work and she would have off from school.
• County Inspector told her mother that Margie's bad performance in
Geography was due to faulty setting of her teacher (Computer)
• As Margie hated school, she thought why would anyone write about
school. Tommy explained that centuries ago the school were not like
theirs. They had a man as a teacher who taught students different
subjects, asked questions and gave Homework also.
• Margie couldn't believe man to be smart enough to have knowledge
about different subjects.
• Tommy told her that the school was in a special building and students
would go there and children of same age group studied same things.
• But Margie's mother had told her that every child has to be taught
according to individual needs and children studied together in old
school.
• Now Margie was interested in reading about those old funny schools.
But mother called her to attend the school next to her bedroom.
• Tommy and Margie attended school at a fixed time from Monday to
Friday.
• While submitting homework to her 'teacher'. She thought about the old
schools where kids had a lot of fun studying together and playing,
helping each other in studies, sharing caring for each other.
• Computer screen of her 'teacher' was flashing new chapter in arithmetic
on the addition of proper fractions. But Margie was lost in the thoughts
of old school.

46 Class IX - English
ACTIVITY

47 Class IX - English
 COMPREHENSION PASSAGE

1 He was a round little man with a red face and a whole box of tools with
dials and wires. He smiled at Margie and gave her an apple, then took
the teacher apart.
a) Who is 'He' and 'the teacher' in the above lines?
b) Why did he take the teacher apart?
c) How did he try to be friendly with Mange?
d) 'Apart' means.................... .
2. Tommy screamed with laughter "You don't know much, Margie. The
teacher didn't live in the house. They had a special building and all the
kids went there."
a) Which teachers are being referred to here?
b) Where did these teacher teach?
c) How were the teachers mentioned above different from teacher
Tommy knew?
d) Give the verb form of 'Laughter'.
3. 'Gee', said Tommy, "What a waste when you're through with the book,
you just throw it away. I guess?"
a) Name the lesson from which the above lines are taken?
b) Which book is being referred here?
c) What might have readers done when they read it?
d) Find a word from the above passage which means the same as
'finish'.

Short Questions
1. What did Tommy find and where?
2. Why did Tommy & Margie find the printed book strange?
3. How were the schools in the book different from Margie's School?
4. What kind of books did Margie and Tommy read?
5. Did Margie have classmates?
6. Where was Margie's School?

48 Class IX - English
7. 'Even the Mechanical teachers are not perfect.' Give example from the
story "The fun they had".
8. Which school did Margie find better and why?
9. What did Margie hate the most about the mechanical teacher?
10. Why did Margie fail to do good in Geography?
11. What did the County Inspector do to improve Margie's performances?

Long Questions
1. Compare and contrast the human teachers and the mechanical
teachers. (The fun they had )
2. Tele-books and e-books are need of the hour especially when we have to
save trees, paper and other resources. Comment, taking examples from
the lesson "The fun they had".
3. On the basis of the description of future schools in the chapter 'The Fun
They Had', compare and explain difference between the present
schools and future schools.

49 Class IX - English
 Lesson 2
THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Part-I)
Evelyn Glennie
Value Points
• A seventeen year old girl had decided to make music her life, though
being completely deaf.
• This aspiring musician feels the vibration of an approaching train, she
has been selected for training at the prestigious Royal Academy of
Music in London. Evelyn Glennie feels nervous yet excited on the first
day of her training.
• Glennie started losing her hearing power gradually from the age of eight
due to nerve damage.
• She was advised to be sent to school for deaf. But Evelyn was
determined to lead a normal life and pursue her interest in music.
• Most of the people discouraged her but percussionist Ron Forbes
noticed her potential and motivated her to feel music in different parts of
her body.
• He took two large drums for tuning. Evelyn immediately realized higher
drum from the waist up and lower drum from the waist down. Forbes
repeated the exercise.
• Now Evelyn could feel certain notes in different parts of her body.
• During her 3 years course in Royal Academy of Music, Evelyn scored
highest marks in the history of Academy, got most of the top awards and
started giving solo-performances.
• She is now one of the top multi-percussionists in the world with a mastery
of some thousand instruments.
• According to her, "If you work hard and know where you are going, you'll
get there."
• It is fascinating to watch Evelyn working without much effort. She speaks
clearly as she could listen till the age of eleven. During conversation she
watches lip movement, face and specially eyes.
• She had learnt French and basic Japanese.
• While playing instruments, she remained barefoot on wooden platform,
so that the vibrations pass through her barefeet and up her legs. She
could feel music through every part of her body i.e. skin, cheekbones
and even hair. She felt the echo of sound flowing into her body by leaning
against the drums.
• She has been a workaholic and has been rewarded enormously. Royal
Philharmonic society's prestigious 'Soloist of the year' was presented to
her in 1991.
• Besides regular concerts she has given free concerts in prisons and
hospitals. Teaching young musicians is her top priority.
• She has placed percussion in front of the orchestra.

50 Class IX - English
 ACTIVITY

Ques. Read the following newspaper clipping.

Now, Name some differently abled people who are successful despite their
handicap.
Ex. Surdas Poet
1. Stephen Hawking
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

51 Class IX - English
 COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. But by the time she was eleven her marks had deteriorated and her
headmistress urged her parents to take her to a specialist.
a) Who is 'she' referred to here?
b) Why did her marks deteriorate ?
c) What did the headmistress urge her parents for?
d) Find a word from the passage that means the same as "strong
advice".
2. Most of the teachers discouraged her but percussionist Ron Forbes
spotted her potential. He began by tuning two large drums to different
notes.
a) Why did most of the teachers discourage her?
b) Why did Ron Forbes decide to teach her?
c) How did he try to teach her?
d) Find a word from the passage that means the same as "ability".
3. She is a shining inspiration for deaf children. They see that there is
nowhere that they cannot go.
a) Who is 'she' being referred to here?
b) What was her achievement?
c) How did she motivate other deaf children?
d) 'Inspiration' has 'tion' as suffix. Make any two words with the same
suffix.

Short Questions
1. At what age was Evelyn's initial hearing weakness discovered?
2. Why did Ron Forbes encourage her?
3. How does she feel sound while playing on the xylophone?
4. Why does she remove her shoes on the wooden platform?
5. Which important award was presented to Evelyn in 1991?

52 Class IX - English
6. Which languages has she managed to learn?
7. Being hearing impaired, how does Evelyn communicate with others?
8. How many instruments can she play?
9. How has she inspired other physically challenged people?
10. Apart from being a good musician, Evelyn is also a good human being .
Justify giving one example.

Long Questions
1. What values of Evelyn's character make her achieve the target despite
her handicap? Explain.
2. What qualities helped Evelyn to overcome her physical challenge and
achieve her goal?
3. Role of a teacher is very important in guiding and shaping a child.
Elaborate taking examples from the lesson in context of Evelyn Glennie.

53 Class IX - English
 Lesson 2
THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Part-II)
The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan
Value Points
• Bismillah Khan was a great Shehnai Player. He belonged to a family of
professional musicians.
• He was attracted towards Shehnai at the age of three and through his
hard work brought it on to the classical stage.
• A story goes on about the origin of Shehnai — Pungi a musical
instrument was banned by EmperorAurangzeb for its shrill, unpleasant
sound.
• A barber of a family of musicians, having access to the royal palace also,
decided to improve tonal quality of Pungi. He took a hollow pipe longer
than Pungi and made seven holes on it. When he played on it, sweet and
soft sounds were produced. When it was played before king, he was
impressed by this new instrument. Since it was played in the Shah's
Chamber and was played by a nai (barber), it was named 'Shehnai'.
• The sound of Shehnai is considered auspicious. The Shehnai was part
of the 'Naubat' (group of nine traditional musical instruments) found in
the royal courts. It was played only in temples and weddings.
• Ustad Bismillah Khan brought it on to the classical stage. He invented
many ragas and played them on Shehnai.
• Bismillah Khan was born on March 21, 1916 in a musician family of
Rasool Bux Khan, Shehnai Nawaz of Bhojpur King's court in Dumraon,
Bihar. Father Paigamber Bux was also great Shehnai player.
• His maternal uncle All Bux gave him Shehnai lessons. He practised
playing Shehnai at Balaji and Mangla Maiya Temple and on the bank of
river Ganga.
• At the age of 14 he played Shehnai with his uncle at Allahabad Music
Conference and was appreciated by Ustad Faiyaz Khan. He often
played Shehnai atAll India Radio, Lucknow, since its opening in 1938.
• Bismillah Khan was the first Indian to greet the nation, with his Shehnai
on 15th August 1947 in Raag Kafi.
• Impressed with his Shehnai, Film director Vijay Bhatt named a film 'Gunj
Uthi Shehnai'. Bismillah Khan composed a hit song "Dil Ka Khilona Hai
Toot Gaya..........." and Kannada Film 'Sanadhi Apanna'. But artificiality
and glamour of films could not attract him for long.

54 Class IX - English
Awards and Recognition
• King Zahir Shah of Afghanistan presented priceless gifts after his
performance.
• First Indian to be invited to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Centre Hall
in the USA.
• Took part in the World Exposition in Montreal, Cannes Art Festival and in
the Osaka Trade Fair.
• An auditorium in Teheran was named after him — Tahar Mosiquee Ustad
Bismillah Khan.
• The Padamshri, the Padma Bhushan, the Padma Vibhushan and in
2001, India's highest civilian award, the 'Bharat Ratna'.
• He is fond of Benaras and his native village Dumraon.
• He was once offered to head a Shehnai school in USA by his student
who promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras. But he refused
asking if he could transport River Ganga also.
• Through though a devout Muslim, he could naturally play the Shehnai at
the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
• His life is a perfect example of the rich cultural Heritage of India. He died
at the age of ninety on 21 August 2006.

ACTIVITY

Look at the picture given below :

Q. Which instrument is he playing?
Q. Write the names of five musical
instruments.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

55 Class IX - English
 (Part-II)
Comprehension Passages
I. "Work hard and you shall make it". With the opening of the All India Radio
in Lucknow in 1938 came Bismillah's big break. He soon became an
often heard Shehnai player on Radio.
Questions
a) What is required for success, according to Bishmillah Khan?
b) What was Bismillah Khan's big break?
c) What made him popular among the people?
d) Give antonym of 'seldom' from the above passage.
II. "All I would like to say is : Teach your children music, this is Hindustan's
richest tradition; even the west is now coming to learn our music."
Questions
a) Who is 'I' here?
b) Why does he want children to learn Hindustani Music?
c) Give one example to show that Hindustani music is popular in west
too.
d) Give the comparative degree of 'richest.'
III. Till recently it was used only in temples and weddings. The credit for
bringing this instrument onto the classical stage goes to Ustad
Bismillah Khan.
Questions
a) What is 'it' here?
b) Where was it used earlier?
c) What special credit goes to Ustad Bismillah Khan?
d) The word classical has 'al' as suffix. Make a word with the same
suffix.

Short Questions
1. Which musical instrument was banned by Aurangzeb and why?
2. When and where was Ustad Bismillah Khan born?
3. What was Bismillah Khan's family background?

56 Class IX - English
4. What reward would he get for singing Bhojpuri 'Chaita' in the temple
when he was five years old?
5. From whom did Bismillah Khan learn to play Shehnai and where did he
live?
6. Which film was named after Bismillah Khan? Which was his Kannada
Venture? Which hit hindi song was composed by him?
7. His first abroad trip was to..........Impressed by his music, King
Zahir Shah gifted him................
8. Name two places where Bismillah Khan performed.

Long Questions
1. Describe the life and character of Ustad Bismillah Khan with emphasis
on his contribution to Indian culture.
2. Describe the transformation of Pungi to Shahnai.
3. How was Bishmillah Khan associated with films?

57 Class IX - English
 Lesson 3
THE LITTLE GIRL
Katherine Mansfield

Value Points
• Kezia is a little girl, having both parents working, left in loving grandma's
care.
• Kezia has formal relations with mother and father. She is afraid of her
strict father so she stammered while talking to him. She thought him to
be giant sized.
• On Sundays Grandma sent her to spend time with parents but Kezia
found her father lying down on the sofa to relax, mother busy reading.
• They did not show affection and care.
• One day Kezia was at home because of cold and grandma, to keep her
busy, suggested her to prepare a gift for father's birthday.
• Kezia prepared a pin cushion with beautiful yellow silk cloth, needed
scrap to fill it.
• Took some papers from father's room and tore them up to stuff them in
pin cushion.
• It was father's important speech for the port authority. When found
missing, searched, servants, Kezia questioned. Finally innocently Kezia
admitted. She had torn them for her surprise gift.
• Father beat her with a ruler, cries bitterly. Kezia clung to grandma as she
consoles her.
• Next door neighbour Mr. Macdonald plays with his children in the
evening. After watching him, Kezia concludes that all fathers are not like
hers.
• One day mother got admitted to the hospital, she was alone at home.
The cook Alice took care of her in the day but at night she was alone.
Father sleeping in another room. Old nightmare haunts Kezia — a
butcher with knife in his hand. Too much afraid of it.
• Father comes to her room hugs her, carries her to his room to comfort
her. She realises he is not so bad, he is too busy to express his love.
Hence, she realises her father has a big heart.

58 Class IX - English
 ACTIVITY

Q. Write a few words describing :

MR. MACDONALD

59 Class IX - English
 COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. To the little girl he was a figure to be feared and avoided. Every morning
before going to work he came into her room and gave her a casual Kiss,
to which she responded with "Goodbye, Father".
Questions
a) Name the lesson.
b) Whom did the little girl fear and avoid?
c) What did the father do before leaving for his work?
d) Which word in the above passage means the same as 'reacted'.
2. She never stuttered with other people — had quite given it up — but only
with father, because then she was trying so hard to say the words
properly.
Questions
a) Who is 'she' here?
b) With whom did she stutter?
c) Why did she shutter?
d) Find the words/phrase from the above passage that means the
same as 'left'.
3. And she was dragged down to where father was pacing to and fro, hands
behind his back. "well"? he, said sharply. Mother explained. He stopped
and stared at the child. "Did you do that?" "N-No", She whispered.
Questions
a) Who was dragged down?
b) What did the mother explain to the father?
c) Why did the father stare at the child ?
d) Find the antonym of "roared" from the above passage.

SHORT QUESTIONS
1. How did Kezia feel when her father left for office and why?
2. How did Kezia make a pin cushion for her father?
3. How did Kezia feel when her father beat her?

60 Class IX - English
4. Why did Kezia's father punish her?
5. What did Kezia feel after seeing the McDonald family?
6. What nightmare did Kezia often have and who helped her?
7. How did Kezia's father treat her when she had the same nightmare?

LONG QUESTIONS
1. Father in the beginning of the story is a dreadful figure to Kezia. What
makes Kezia change her feelings towards her father in the end ?
2. "Cruel and harsh attitude is not enough to inculcate values and discipline
among the children." Justify this statement in context of the lesson. "The
Little Girls."
3. "That night there was a hue and cry in the house." Why did her father get
agitated?

61 Class IX - English
 Lesson 4
A TRULY BEAUTIFUL MIND

Value Points
• Albert Einstein, born on March 14, 1879 in the German City of Ulm, could
not talk for about two and a half years. So mother thought him to be
abnormal.
• He could not mix up with his playmates, they called him brother boring.
• He especially loved mechanical toys so on looking at his newborn sister
he asked, "Where are her wheels" ?
• At the school his headmaster told that the boy would never make a
success at anything.
• He learnt to play the violin at the age of six and later became a gifted
amateur violinist.
• He scored good marks in almost every subject in high school in Munich.
Where his parents had moved when he was 15 months old.
• Einstein felt suffocated in the strict discipline of school so at the age of 15
yrs he convinced his parents, after long discussion, to continue his
education in German-speaking Switzerland.
• Einstein was highly gifted in Mathematics and Physics. He graduated
from the University of Zurich. In 1902 he finally got a job as a technical
expert in the patent office in Bern. While doing his job, he was
developing his own ideas in secret.
• During graduation he fell in love with a fellow, intelligent student Mileva
Maric. He wanted to marry her, but his mother was against it as she was
an intelligent girl and three years older than Albert. The pair finally
married in 1903 and had two sons.
• In 1905 his papers on special theory of relativity described the world's
most famous formula. It described the relationship between mass and
energy E=mc2.
• After a few years the marriage became weak. Mileva started losing her
intellectual ambition and became an unhappy housewife.
• In 1919 the couple finally divorced and he married his cousin Elsa the
same year.
• In 1915, he had published his general Theory of Relativity. It gave a new
meaning to the word 'Gravity'. An eclipse of the sun in 1919 brought
proof that his theory was accurate.
• Newspapers called his work as a scientific revolution.

62 Class IX - English
• He received Nobel Prize in 1921 for Physics. He was praised for his work
all over the world.
• In 1933 Nazis came to power in Germany So he emigrated to the US.
• Five years after the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin, American
physicists were very upset. They were afraid the Nazis could build and
use an atomic bomb.
• On the request of a colleague, he wrote a letter to the American
President Roosevelt warning him that "A single bomb exploded in port
might very well destroy some of the surrounding territory".
• America secretly developed that atomic bomb and dropped it on the
Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• Einstein was very disturbed by the extent of destruction. He again wrote
a letter, this time to the United Nations to form a World Government.
• Einstein got politically involved in the next ten years, protesting to end
arms build up. He campaigned for peace and democracy.
• This scientific genius died in 1955 at the age of 76. He was celebrated as
a visionary and world citizen.

ACTIVITY
1. Name the famous Indian Scientist associated with the picture.

2. Name five scientists and their achievements.

1. ................................................................

2. ................................................................

3. ................................................................

4. ................................................................

5. ................................................................

63 Class IX - English
 COMPREHENSION PASSAGE

1. When he finally did learn to speak, he uttered everything twice. Einstein

did not know what to do with other children and his playmates called him
"Brother Boring".
Questions
a) Who is 'he' here?
b) What was unusual about Einstein ?
c) Why was he called 'Brother Boring' ?
d) Find a word from the above passage that means the same as
said/spoke'.
2. After prolonged discussion, Einstein got his wish to continue his
education in German speaking Switzerland, in a city which was more
liberal than munich.
Questions
a) What was the discussion about?
b) What was Einsteins wish ?
c) Why did he prefer Switzerland over Munich for education ?
d) Find the antonym of 'short' from the above passage.
3. But over the next decade, Einstein got more involved in politics -agitating
for an end to the arms building and using his popularity to compaign for
peace and democracy.
Questions
a) Name the lesson from which the above passage is taken?
b) What did Einstein work for as a politician ?
c) How did Einstein use his popularity ?
d) Decade is a period of................................ .

Shorts Questions:
Q1 When was Albert Einstein born ? At what age did he start talking ?
Q2 When did Einstein learn to play the Violin ?

64 Class IX - English
Q3 Where did Albert start his degree education ?
Q4 Where was Einstein employed first ? What work was to be done by
him?
Q5 What made Einstein migrate to the United States ?
Q6 Einstein in his childhood showed no sign of genius. Explain.
Q.7 Why didn't Einstein's playmates like him?
Q.8 What was Einstein's theory of relativity?

Long Questions:
Q.1 "Einstein was deeply shaken by the extent of destruction during the
second world war." What does it show about him? What efforts did he
made to promote peace and democracy?
Q.2 Describer Albert Einstein's childhood.
Q.3 Why did Einstein have special interest in Mileva Meric. Why was his
mother against his marriage with her?
Q.4 Albert Eienstein is called a scientific genius. Write down his
achievements and comment on his genius.

65 Class IX - English
 Lesson 5
THE SNAKE AND THE MIRROR
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer

Value Points
• A bachelor Homeopathy doctor lived in a non-electrified rented room
with his few belonging and visiting rats.
• On a hot summer night the doctor came back to his room after dinner and
heard a noise, when he opened the door. Noise, being a familiar one, he
did not pay any attention to it and lay down on his bed but could not
sleep.
• Took out a book opened it on the table.
• He looked into the large mirror kept on the table and admired himself as a
young, handsome, unmarried doctor.
• Heard the sound from above again but wasn't serious about it as rats
also used to make such sounds.
• While looking into the mirror he analysed that growing thin moustache
and a smile on his face would make him more attractive.
• A lovely thought of marrying a rich woman doctor with plenty of money
and had good medical practice. His wife must be fat so that if he
committed some silly mistake and needed to run away she might not be
able to run after him and catch him.
• He sat on the chair opposite mirror. Suddenly he heard a thud and before
he could see the object, a fat snake wriggled over the back of the chair
and landed on his shoulder their coiled itself around his left arm. The
hood was spread out hardly four inches away from his face.
• Death lurked (hanged) four inches away from him but he could do
nothing. He sat as a statue, motionless, but his mind was every active.
• Suddenly the snake turned its head and saw its own reflection in the
mirror. It unwound itself from his arm and slowly creeping the table and
moved towards the mirror.
• Taking advantage, he got up from the chair and quietly went out through
the door and ran as fast as he could and reached a friend's house.
• Next morning, accompanied by his friends, he came to his room to take
away his things from there. But there was hardly anything left for him to
• carry. Some thief had stolen most of his things, except the dirty vest.

66 Class IX - English
 ACTIVITY

1. Write the names of few types of snakes. If possible paste the pictures of
different of snakes.

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

67 Class IX - English
 COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. The house was not electrified; it was a small rented room. I had just set
up medical practice and my earnings were meagre.
Questions
a) Who is 'I' here?
b) What kind of house did the speaker live in ?
c) How did the speaker earn his living ?
d) Find a word from the passage that means the same as "very little"
2. Suppose it struck, what was the medicine I had to take ? There were no
medicines in the room.
Questions
a) Name he lesson from where the above passage has been is
taken?
b) What is 'it' here ?
c) What is the speaker worried about?
d) Give the first form of 'struck'
3. There was some pain my arm. It was as if a thick leaden rod - no, a rod
made of molten fire was slowly but powerfully crushing my arm.
Questions
a) Why did the speaker feel pain in his arm ?
b) What is 'leaden rod' here ?
c) How did the leader rod affect his arm.
d) Find the antonym of 'thin' from the above passage?

Short Questions:
Q 1. What things were there in the Suitcase ?
Q 2. Why wasn't the doctor serious about the noise ?
Q 3. What happened to the doctor while he was sitting in his chair?
Q4. The snake has been compared to three objects in the story. What are
they?

68 Class IX - English
Q 5. Why did the narrator smile when death hung just four inches away?
Q 6. Which medical book did the doctor take out?
Q 7. What two important and Earth shaking decisions did the doctor take
while he was looking into the mirror?

Long Questions:
Q1 The humour in the story overshadows the frightening incident. Discuss
with reference to "The Snake and the Mirror".
Q2 It was the doctor's presence of mind that helped him escape safely
from the dreaded snake. Comment/Justify.
Q3 There always remains a gap between what we wish and what we
achieve. Discuss with reference to the doctor in the story "The Snake
and the Mirror".
Q4 "I was but a poor, foolish and stupid doctor." Justify the statement in the
light of the story, "The snake and the mirror."

69 Class IX - English
 Lesson 6
MY CHILDHOOD
APJ Abdul Kalam

Value Points
• Kalam — born in a middle class big Tamil Muslim family in Island town of
Rameshwaram.
• He had a materially and emotionally secure childhood. Parents
Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma very generous, kind, believed in the life of
necessities.
• Inherited honesty and self discipline from father and faith in goodness
and deep kindness from mother.
• Earned little money during I Ind World War by collecting and selling
tamarind seeds to the provision shop as a child. Later earned his first
wages as a help for catching newspaper for his cousin Samsuddin.
• He had three close childhood friends — Ramanadh Shastri, Aravindan
and Sivaprakasan who used to sit together with Kalam in the front row.
• When he was in class V a new teacher saw them sitting together and
asked Kalam to more to back bench because of his religion
• Ramanadh's father (Laxman Sastry) asked the teacher not to spread the
poison of inequality and intolerance ultimately the teacher had to
apologize for his act.
• Kalam's science teacher— Shiv SubramaniaAyyar once took him home
for dinner, but his orthodox, conservative wife refused to serve him food
as he was a muslim. Mr. Subramania served him food and invited him
next week also.
• Mr. Subramania motivated him for higher studies.
• After completing elementary education Kalam asked his father for
permission to leave Rameshwaram for higher studies. He agreed to
send him to study at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram. To
convince his mother, his father gave the example of a seagull who flies
across the sun alone and without a nest.
ACTIVITY
Write a few examples of communal harmony that you watch in the society. It
can be a religious, social or sports activity.
Ex. Kite Flying
1.
2.
3.
4.

70 Class IX - English
 COMPREHENSION PASSAGE

1. I was one of the many children — a short boy with rather undistinguished
looks, born to tall and handsome parents.
Questions
a) Who is the narrator here?
b) How did the narrator look?
c) How was he different from his parents?
d) Find a word from the above lines that means the same as
"ordinary".
2. Samsuddin helped me earn my first wages. Half a century later, I can still
feel the surge of pride in earning my own money for the first time.
Questions
a) Who helped the narrator?
b) How did the narrator earn his first wages?
c) How did that narrrator feel?
d) Find a word from the passage that means the same as 'rise'.
3. One day he invited me his home for a meal. His wife was horrified at the
idea of a Muslim boy being invited to dine in her ritually pure kitchen.
Questions
a) Who invited the narrator?
b) Why was the woman horrified?
c) What do we learn about the woman in above passage?
d) Find a word from above lines that means the same as 'shocked'.

Short Questions
Q1 What qualities did he acquire from his parents?
Q2 How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
Q3 What happened when Abdul Kalam and his friend narrated the action
of the new teacher to their parents?
Q4 Who was Sivasubramania lyer? What did he wantAbul to do?
Q5 How did Sivasubramania lyer's wife behave the first and the second
time?

71 Class IX - English
Q6 How does Abul Kalam's father react when he sought permission to
leave Rameshwaram to study further?
Q7 How did Kalam's family contribute to the annual Shri Sita Ram
Kalyanam Ceremony.?

Long Questions
1. Compare and contrast the role of two different teachers in Abdul
Kalam's life in influencing him in terms of social and communal
intolerance.
Or
The two teachers in Kalam's life had different attitude towards social
and communal tolerance. Which attitude do you think is right and
why?
2. Discuss the role of Abdul Kalam's parents in his life.
3. Explain Kalam's experience at the science teacher's house.

72 Class IX - English
 Lesson 7
PACKING
Jerome K. Jerom

Value Points
• Three friends George, Harris and Jerome are preparing for a journey.
They collect necessary articles for journey.
• Author Jerome who prides himself on his packing offers to pack the
goods.
• Both his friends agreed and George sat on easy chair and Harris put his
legs on table and lit a ligar.
• Actually Jerome meant to boss the packing work, instructing his friends.
But his friends left the whole work to him and relaxed.
• He got irritated. But he however packed the bag and strapped it. Then
Harris asked if he would put the boots in. He did not remind about boots
while he was packing. George laughed at him which angered him.
• He opened the bag, packed the boots in and was going to strap it again.
Suddenly he recalled if he had packed his toothbrush which was very
important for him.
• He unpacked the whole bag and searched for it ultimately it was found
inside a boot. He repacked the whole bag. again.
• When he had repacked it George asked if soap was packed. Jerome got
irritated and said he didn't care but noticed that he had packed his
tobacco-pouch in it so had tore open it. He finally packed it at 10:05 p.m.
• Harris was the worst packer according to Jerome. Many things like
plates, cups, bottles, pies, tomatoes etc. were to be packed in hampers.
• With the packing of hampers by George and Harris an exciting scene
started.
• Packing started with breaking of a cup, strawberry jam was packed on
tomato by Harris and squashed it, tomato picked out with a spoon.
• Jerome didn't comment on this, just watched them, sitting on the edge of
the table. It irritated them and made them nervous & excited.
• They smashed the pies by putting heavy things on them. They upset salt
over everything.

73 Class IX - English
• George trampled the butter, removed it from his slipper and tried to put it
in the kettle, but couldn't. After scraping it put it on a chair. Harris
unknowingly sat on it. It stuck to him and they searched for it blaming
each other. Arguing and staring at one another, they went round the
room searching for it. At last George found it sticking at the back of
Harris. After getting it off. They packed it in the teapot.
• Montmorency was their naughty pet dog. He was always ready for
mischief. He was present where he was not wanted. He put his damp
nose in the articles to be packed, put his leg into the jam. Thinking
lemons as rats he killed (spoiled) three of them.
• Harris blamed Jerome for encouraging the dog for mischief. But it was
his natural habit.
• At last packing was completed at 12:50. Harris sat on the big hamper and
hoped nothing would be found broken.
• Due to shortage of beds they tossed and finally Harris slept with Jerome.
• Harris wanted to wake up at seven but Jerome said six finally agreed on
half past six.
• They asked George to wake them up at 6:30 but he didn't answer. They
found that he was asleep. Both the naughty friends put the bathtub
where he could tumble into it on getting out in the morning.
• Finally they went to bed after this.

ACTIVITY

Suppose you are going for a picnic. What articles would you like to pack in
your bag? Make a list.

74 Class IX - English
 COMPREHENSION PASSAGE

1. They began in a light hearted spirit, evidently intending to show me how

to do it. I made no comment.
Questions
a) Who are 'they' here?
b) What were 'they' doing?
c) How did the narrator behave?
d) 'Evidently' has 'ly' as suffix. Make two words with same suffix.
2. They did scrape it out at last, and put it down on a chair, and Harris Sat on
it, and it stuck to him, and they went looking for it all over the room.
Questions
a) What is 'it' here?
b) Where did it disappear?
c) How did they try to find it?
c) Give the present tense of 'Stick'.
3. He put his leg into jam, and he worried the teaspoons, and he pretended
that the lemons were rats, and got into the hamper and killed three of
them.
Questions
a) Who is 'he' here?
b) What did he do with the teaspoons?
c) Why did he spoil the lemons?
d) Find a word in above passage that means the same as 'disturbed'.

Short Questions
Q1 What was the effect of Jerome's presence when George and Harris
started packing hampers?
Q2 What things were to be packed by George and Harris? What was their
fate?
Q3 How did Montmorency trouble them while packing?

75 Class IX - English
Q4 When was the packing finished?
Q5 What time was decided for waking up?
Q6 What irritated Jerome to a great extent?
Q7 What was Jerome's real intentions when he offered George and Haris
to pack?
Q8 Why could the another not find his tooth brush easily in his bag?

Long Questions
Q 1. Humour in this story adds life to an other wise boring topic like packing.
Discuss with reference to the incidents in the lesson 'PACKING'.
Q 2. How many times did the narrator reopen the bag while packing things
and why?
Q 3. How did George and Harris make a mess of things while packing?
Explain.
Q 4. What is the role of montmorency in packing?

76 Class IX - English
 8. Reach for the Top-I
Santosh Yadav

Value points
• Santosh Yadav is the only woman in the world to scale Mt. Everest twice.
• She was born in the small village of Joniyawas of Rewari district in
Haryana, in a traditional conservative family.
• Her parents were traditional, prosperous landlords and she was the
youngest and the only sister of five brothers.
• Contrary to her name 'Santosh' was not satisfied with the traditional way
of life.
• To start with, she did not wear traditional dresses in her childhood and
preferred shorts. She studied in the village school.
• She was pressurised by her parents as she turned sixteen, to get married.
Usually in her village girls got married at this age. But Santosh threatened
her parents to never marry if she did not get a proper education.
• She left home and got herself enrolled in a Delhi school. When her
parents refused to pay for her education, she politely informed them that
she would earn working part time to pat her fee. Then her parents agreed
to pay for her education.
• After passing high school exam, she joined Maharani College in Jaipur,
her room in Kasturba Hostel faced the Aravalli Hills.
• From the room, she used to watch people climbing hills then
disappearing. Curious to find the reason, one day she went these and
found only a few mountaineers.
• She asked if she could join them. They not only agreed but motivated her
to take to climbing.
• She started saving money and enrolled herself in a course at permission
and later apologised for it.
• Instead of going back home, she went straight for the training. She went
on an expedition every year after that.

77 Class IX - English
• In just four years her climbling skills matured and she developed
remarkable resistance to cold and the attitude.
• As a result of her hard work, sincerity, Iron will, physical endurance and
amazing mental toughness, she conqured Mt. Everst in 1992.
• Her seniors were impressed by her climbing skills, physical fitness and
mental strength, caring & cooperative nature.
• During the 1992 everest Mission she saved the life of a fellow climber by
sharing her oxygen but despite the special care by her she could not
save another dying climber at the south col.
• She scaled Everest for the second time within 12 months of her first
success, being a member of Indo-Napalese Women's expedition.
• She set a record as the only and youngest woman to have scaled the
Everest twice.
• The Indian government conferred on her the 'Padmashri', one of the
nation's top honours, in recognition of her achievements.
• She not only unfurled the Indian tricolor on the Everest but collected and
brought down 500 kgs. of garbages from the Himalayas, being a true
environmentalist.

ACTIVITY
Match the names with their feat
1. First everest climber to reach the Summit - Bachendri Pal
2. The First Indian to climb Mt. Everest - Malavattr Poorna
3. Three times climber of Mt. Everest - Sdmund Hillary and
and Tenzing Norgay
4. The First Indian woman to reach the summit - Avtar Singh Cheema
of Mt. Everest.
5. The youngest Indian to climb mount Everest - Saurabh Singh
Shekhawat

78 Class IX - English
 COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. But to everyone's surprise, the unborn child's grandmother, who was
standing close by, told him that they did not want a son. The holy man'
was also surprised.
Questions
a) Name the Lesson.
b) Why was everyone surprised?
c) What blessings did the holy man give earlier?
d) Find the synonym of 'near by' from the above lines.
2. She began living life on her own terms from the start, where other girls
wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts.
Questions
a) Who is 'she' here?
b) How was she different from other village girls?
c) What does it show about her?
d) 'On her own terms' here means.
3. A marriage as early as that was the last thing on her mind. She threatened
her parents that she would never marry if she did not get a proper
education.
Questions
a) What did Santosh's parents want?
b) What was her response to her parents wish?
c) How did she try to convince her parents for education?
d) Find a phrase from the above lines which means the same as "the
least important".
4. One day I decided to check it out myself I found nobody except a few
mountaineers. I asked If i could join them.
Questions
a) Who is 'I' in these lines?
b) What did the speaker want to check?
c) Whom did the speaker join?
d) Find the phrase from the above lines that means the same as "find
out the truth."

79 Class IX - English
5. Then I unfurled the Indian tricolor and held it aloft on the roof of the world,
The feeling is indescribable.
Questions
a) Who is the speaker here?
b) What does the 'roof of the world' refer to?
c) How did the speaker show her patriotism?
d) Find the word from the above lines that means the same as 'cannot be
explained.'

Short Questions
Q.1 What motivated Santosh to climb mountains? Why did Santosh take
to climbing?
Q.2 How did Santosh convince her parents about her wish to study "a bit
more"?
Q. 3 How did Santosh help her fellow climbers during the 1992 Everest
Mission?
Q. 4 "........then I unfurled the Indian Tricolor and held it alot on the roof of
the world." How did Santosh feel when she was at the summit of the
Everest?
Q. 5 Santosh's concern for environment is no less. How can you say that?
Q. 6 Can you list two reasons for which Santosh Yadav got into the record
books twice?
Q. 7 In what ways Santosh did not like the traditional life in her village?
Q. 8 What do you know about the early life of Santosh?

Long Question:
Q.1 "From the very beginning I was quite determined that If I choose a
correct and rational path, the others around me had to change not
me" what traits and values you admire in her that made her a
successful woman despite from a orthodox, conservative, traditional
society.
Q.2 What skills and qualities did Santosh develop after she took up
climaxing as a career?
Q.3 How did Santosh come to be a member of an Indo Nepalese women's
Expedition?
Q.4 How did Santosh get inspiration to become a moutaineer?

80 Class IX - English
 8. Reach for the Top-II
Maria Sharapova

Value points
• Maria Sharapova the fashionable, glamorous Russian girl reached to the
world's number one position in women's tennis on 22nd August 2005.
• Born to Yuri and Yelena Sharapova in Siberia, she was sent to Florida.
USA with father for tennis-training at the age of nine.
• Due to visa-restictions mother could not accompany them. But Maria
learnt an important lesson in life- that tennis excellence would only come
at a price.
• Father also worked extra hours to pay for her tennis training and could not
stay with her. She had to tolerate this separation from mother for two
years.
• Being so young, just nine, she went to bed at 8 p.m. The other tennis
players used to come at 11p.m. and after waking her up, asked her to
clean the room.
• But instead of being depressed, she was becoming more determined and
mentally tough to achieve her target. Instead of quitting she steadfastly
pursued her dream.
• Four years' hard work and strong determination and sacrifice that she
made, resulted in bagging women's singles tennis trophy in 2004 and in
2005 world's no.1 position.
• The key to her success is being competitive, hard working and no place for
sentiments.
• Though trained in US, she is proud to be a Russian and ready to play for
Russia if offered.
• Her hobbies are fashion, singing and dancing. She loves to read novels of
Arthur Canan Doyle. She loves sophisticated evening gowns and eating
pancakes with chocolate spread and fizzy orange drinks.
• Her Hardwork, strong determination, mental toughness and sacrifices
have earned her not only success but ample money also.
• She admits that money was a motivation for her but the most important
thing was to become number one in the world.

81 Class IX - English
 ACTIVITY
Name the sportsperson and the game they are associated with-Saina Nehwal,
M a r i a S h a r a p o v a , H a r b h a j a n S i n g h , S a n i a M i r z a , Vi r a t K o h l i ,
Sushil Kumar.

82 Class IX - English
 COMPREHENSION PASSAGE
1. Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was
packed off to train in the United States.
Questions
a) How old Maria was when she left her country?
b) Which country did Maria leave for ?
c) How did she travel?
d) Find a phrase from the above lines that means the same as "to send"
some away".

2. The nine year old girl had already learnt an important lesson in life-that
tennis excellence would only come at a price.
Questions
a) Who is the 'girl' here?
b) How did is the girl?
c) What price did she pay for tennis training?
d) Give the adjective form of 'excellence'.

3. That toughness runs through Maria even today. It was the key to her
bagging the women's singles crown at Wimbledon in 2004 and to her
meteoric rise to the world number one spot the following year.
Questions
a) What quality helped Maria in all her achievements?
b) What was Maria' first big achievement?
c) When did she rise to world number one Position?
d) Find a word from the above passage which means the same as
"sudden".

Short Questions:
Q.1 Why did Maria have to stay away from her mother? What were Maria's
feelings during this time?
Q.2 What were the difficulties/hardships that Maria faced in the hostel?

83 Class IX - English
Q. 3 Describe the grit and determination with which Maria faced all the
humiliations while training for tennis.
Or
What made Maria carry on inspite of the tough conditions that she
faced?
Q. 4 What is Maria's Mantra for success?
Q. 5 What, other than tennis, are Maria's hobbies?
Q. 6 What is the role of Maria's parents in her success?

Long Questions
Q.1 Compare and contrast Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova in items
of their birth, the families they were born into, their education, parental
support, training, struggles and their achievements.
Q. 2 Describe Maria's journey to the pinnacle in women's tennis.

84 Class IX - English
 9. The Bond of Love
Kenneth Anderson

• A sloth bear cub was found by the author accidentally. When author was
passing through sugarcane fields, while driving away the wild pigs, one of
his companions shot a sloth bear. A baby bear was riding on the back of
mother bear when it was shot dead. Baby bear was making miserable
sounds running around the mother. Author felt pity for it.
• Author captured it with the help of his friends to take it home and put it in a
gunny bag.
• He presented the bear cub to his wife on reaching Bangalore, his home,
She was so happy that she instantly put a ribbon around its neck on finding
it to be a male named it Bruno and lovingly called it "Baba".
• Bruno Learnt drinking milk from a bottle. In a few days he started eating
and drinking everything estable even spicy things, beer, alcoholic liqour
etc.
• In his younger days he was left free and became friendly with two Alsatian
dogs and children of the tenants. Bruno had access to kitchen and even
slept in the beds of family members.
• One day author put down poison (Barium Carbonate) in the library to kill
rats, but Bruno entered the library as usual and ate some of the poison.
• Bruno got paralysed but somehow he dragged himself to author's wife.
She called him and he took him to vet.
• It was an uncommon case of barium carbonate poisoning of a bear
• But Bruno was saved.
• Bruno grew bigger in size and author decided to give it to the Zoo.
• Author's wife consented after great persuasion.
• But cried later, went to meet him to the Zoo.
• Both cried, wanted to taken Baba back.
• With great efforts taken back, Island created for Baba in the house.
• Story tells that bear also has a-sense of affection, memory and individual
characteristics.
ACTIVITY
Name some of the stories at least three about human-animal love. There may
be a story telling Session.

85 Class IX - English
 COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. "I must see Baba, either you take me by car, or I will go myself by bus or
train." So I took her by car.
Questions
a) Who wants to meet Baba?
b) Where does the speaker want to go?
c) How did the speaker convince others for her wish?
d) Make a sentence using "Either/or".

2. My wife cried bitterly, Baba cried bitterly, even the hardened curator and
the keepers felt depressed. As for me, I had reconciled myself to what I
knew was going to happen next.
Questions
a) Why did the author's wife Baba cry bitterly?
b) What was the reaction of the curater and the Keepers ?
c) What did the author's estimate about future?
d) 'Bitterly' has '-ly-as suffix. Make another word which has the same
suffix.

3. He was getting too big to keep at home. After weeks of such advice she at
last consented. Hastily and before she could change her mind a letter was
written to the curator of the zoo.
Questions
a) Who was getting too big?
b) Who is 'she' in above lines?
c) What did she consent to ?
d) Find a word from the above passage that means the same as
'quickly?

Short Questions:
Q.1 Where did the author find the bear cub?
Q.2 How did the author's wife react when she first met the baby bear?
Q. 3 What happened to Bruno in the library?

86 Class IX - English
Q. 4 "We all missed him greatly : but in a sense we were relieved" says the
author. Why does he say so?
Q. 5 How did Bruno react or what did Bruno do when the author's wife
reached the zoo to meet him?
Q. 6 How was the bear transported back to Bangalore?
Q. 7 What happened to Bruno when he was sent to the zoo?
Q. 8 What arrangement were made when Baba was brought back to
another's house?
Q. 9 Describe Bruno's toys and games.

Long Question
Q. 1 ‘Animals also feel the pleasure of love and the pains of separation’
Discuss this statement with reference to the story. 'The bond of Love.'
Q. 2 'Love is mutual,' Justify this statement with reference to the story. 'The
Bond of Love.'
Q. 3 Bruno was a loving and playful pet. Still he was sent to the Zoo. Give
reasons.

87 Class IX - English
 10. KATHMANDU

–Vikram Seth
• The author visits Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal and hires a cheap room
in the centre of town and sleeps for hours.
• Next morning accompanied by Mr. Shah's son and nephew he visits the
most sacred Hindu temple, Pashupatinath on the bank of Bagmati river.
• The atmosphere in and around the temple is completely chaotic. There
are priests, devotees, hawkers, tourists, cows and monkeys etc.
• a sign board announces entry for the Hindus only. People are jostling to
go to the front. A policeman is not allowing saffron clad westerners to
enter. Monkeys and dogs are roaming freely there.
• The author is amused to see two monkeys fighting with each other,
chasing and one jumps on to a Shivalinga.
• A corpse is being cremated on the bank of the river, washerwomen are
busy doing their work, children bathing in it. A basket of old offerings is
thrown from a balcony into the river.
• A small shrine half protrudes from the stone platform on the river bank. It's
belived that when it emerges fully, the goddess inside will escape and the
evil period of Kaliyug will end on earth.
• In contrast Baudhnath Stupa is very calm. Its white dome is surrounded
by a road, small shops surround it, no crowds, shops, mainly owned by
Tibetan immigrants selling bags, jewellery, etc.
• Kathmandu is described as lively, commercial and religious place having
busy, narrow streets.
• Kathmandu market has fruit and flute sellers, hawkers, shops selling
western cosmetics, chocolates, antiques, filmrolls etc.
• Noises of film songs, car horns, vendors shouting, cows roaming freely
here and there.
• Author buys eatables and coca cola etc. for himself.
• He thinks of two plans to go back home, one by bus and train to Patna and
then sailing up the Ganges and Yamuna. But being homesick he stick to
the second one, buy's a next day ticket for direct flight to home.

88 Class IX - English
• The author is fascinated by a flute seller standing in a corner of the
Square near his hotel.
• He has a pole on which many flutes are stuck like quills of a porcupine. He
plays flutes whose sound is clearly audiable in the traffic and hawker's
noise. He doesn't have to shout for his product; Occasionally sells a flute,
plays melodious tunes which impress the author.
• Flute is present in different cultures with different names with its specific
fingering and compass. But author finds the commonality of all mankind
in flute music.
• He observes that as we have to breathe to live, its playing also needs to
pause and breathe to produce music.
• The melodious tunes of bansuri had never left him spell bound earlier.

ACTIVITY
Elaborating with drawings/pictures, describe the place you have visited. It
may be a,
Market place
Monument
Religious place.

89 Class IX - English
 COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. There are so many worshippers that some people trying to get the
priest's attention are elbowed aside by others pushing their way to the
front.
Questions
a) Name the lesson?
b) Which place is being talked about here?
c) Why were the people elbowed aside by each other?
d) Make a sentence using the word 'worship' in your own words.

2. But I am too exhausted and homesick; today is the last day or August. Go
home, I tell myself; move directly towards home. I enter a Nepal airlines
office and buy a ticket for tomorrow's flight.
Questions
a) Who is 'I' in the above lines?
b) Why does the speaker want to "move directly towards home?"
c) How does the speaker decide to travel?
d) Give the verb for the word "flight".

3. I find it difficult to tear myself away from the square. flute music always
does this to me; it is at once the most universal and most particulars of
sounds.
Questions
a) Who is 'I' referred to here?
b) Why couldn't the speaker tear himself away from the sqaure?
c) What is 'it' here?
d) Write the comparative degree of the word 'difficult.'

Short Questions
Q. 1 What is the belief associated with the half immersed shrine in the
river Bagmati ? What does it tell us?
Q. 2 What is the author attracted to while standing in a corner of the
square? Why?

90 Class IX - English
Q. 3 How is the flute-seller different from other hawkers and vendors?
Q. 4 What is the effect of flute music on the author?
Q. 5 Who is struggling for permission to enter the Pashupatinath Temple
and why?
Q. 6 Why does the author decide to take a direct flight back home?
Q. 7 Why does the author call Baudhnath stupa a haven of quietness?

Long Question
Q.1 The holy river 'Bagmati' is used for different social customs and is
badly polluted. How can the sacredness of the holy rivers be
maintained?
Q. 2 What is the difference between the atmosphere at Pashupatinath
Temple and Baudhanath Stupa?

91 Class IX - English
 11. IF I WERE YOU

–Douglas James
• Gerrard, a play wright, lives alone in a lonely cottage.
• After talking to someone on phone, he starts packing his travelling bag.
• Suddenly an intruder enters the cottage with a revolver in this hand,
Gerrard smiles surprisingly.
• Gerrard tries to be calm. Intruder wants to know some facts about his life.
When Gerrard tries to be humorous while answering his questions, he
threatens to hurt him, if he would not answer.
• Gerrard tries to know his name but he is too clever to tell it, Instead he asks
Gerrard's christian name.
• Intruder inquires if he drives car and the people who often visit him.
Though intruder has collected a lot of information about Gerrard, still he
wants to confirm the facts.
• Gerrard tells him that only a few people-the baker, the green grocer and a
quite charming milkman visit him.
• Again Gerrard again in a tricky way tries to know about him. Intruder asks
him not to be smart he has a special motive and it would surprise him.
• Gerrard asks him what particular line of crime he embraces and intruder
tells that his speciality is jewel robbery.
• During conversation Gerrard says that there are few jewels to rob in the
Essex's forests. Intruder say that cops are also few. So he can comfortably
relax.
• Gerrard amusingly tells him that he was not invited to live with him.
Intruder says that his big surprise is that he is not going to live for long he
will kill him soon.
• Intruder sarcastically tells him that he is sorry to kill him but he has to as he
is wanted in a murder and police is behind him. If he kills Gerrard he
cannot be hanged twice for double murder.
• After killing Gerrard he will take on his identity and live comfortably. He has
learnt Gerrard's style of talking and he will dress up like him with Gerrard's
clothes.
• After listening all this Gerrard says to intruder that he cannot kill him
instead he will let him go and thank God for not killing him earlier.
• Now intruder is eager to know the reason and unintentionally tells Gerrard
that he was doing a job in the town. Things went wrong and he killed a cop.
since then he has been dodging. Intruder further tells that he came to
Aylesbury where he saw and listened to his conversation with two people.

92 Class IX - English
 He says that Gerrard seems mysterious to him. He is the right person to
take on his identity.
• Gerrard tries to explain the mystery but intruder is no more interested in
listening. He is paying much attention to Gerrard's way of talking. Style of
walking etc.
• He tells intruder that if he shoots, he will be surely hanged if not s him self
then as Vincent Charles Gerrard.
• Gerrard tells him that it was his surprise for him. If he is a criminal. He is
also not a gentleman. He says that his game is also over. Circumstances
were not favourable so he ran away after firing bullets but one of his
accomplice was captured. He is also expecting trouble that night. So his
bag is packed and intruder finds in his bag, along with other things, false
must aches etc. Which Gerrard says are for disguise outfit.
• Gerrard offers him lift in his car to run away. To make him believe his words
he shows disguise outfit in the bag as a proof.
• Gerrard tells the intruder that he has posted a man who will ring up on
seeing police. Then bell rings and he instructs intruder to follow him as
police has come.
• Gerrard opens the door and steps away. Intruder leans forward, to inspect
whether he is speaking truth, with side towards Gerrard, but revolver
ready. As he turns his head and reach as near the cupboard, Gerrard
pushed the intruder into the cupboard, knocking the revolver out of his
hand and locks it from outside. Now Gerrard goes to the phone and calls
the policeman (sergeant).

ACTIVITY
Following words are associated with the personality of the characterrs of
this play.' If I were you.' Write the words at the correct place, matching the
personality.
GERRARD INTRUDER

Smart, Sarcastic, quick witted, sense of humor, talkative, clever, flashy,

confident, spectacles, observant, nonchalant, reserved, planned, short-
tempered, bold, intelligent, well-dressed, serious, brave, Medium built.

93 Class IX - English
 COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. "I m not taking if for fun, I've been hunted long enough. I'm wanted for murder
already and they can't hang me twice.
Questions
a) Who does 'I refer to?
b) Why has he been hunted long enough?
c) What punishment may be given to him ?
d) Find a word from the passage which means the same as 'sought after'.

2. "I've got freedom to gain. As for myself, I am a poor hunted rat. As Vincent
Charles Gerrard I am free to go places and do nothing".
Questions
a) Name the lesson from where the above passage has been taken?
b) Who has been referred to as "a poor hunted rat" here?
c) How does the speaker want to gain freedom?
d) Find the opposite of 'lose' from the above lines.

3. "Unfortunately they got one of my men and found things the fool should have
burnt. Tonight I'm expecting trouble."
Questions
a) Who are 'they' here?
b) Who is the speaker?
c) Why is the speaker expecting a trouble?
d) 'Unfortunately' has 'un' as prefix. Make any two words using the same
prefix.

Short Questions :
Q.1 Where does Gerrard live ? What had happened to him, where was he a
child ?
Q. 2 Why has the intruder been hunted long enough ?
Q. 3 What will the intruder gain by killing Gerrard ?
Q. 4 Where did the intruder see Gerrard ? Why did he select him (Gerrard) only
to take on his identity after killing him ?
Q. 5 As told to the intruder, what had Gerrard done and with what result.

Long Question
Q.1 Gerrard saved himself with his presence of mind. What are the
essentials to face a problem successfully ?
Q.2 Why did the intruder break into Gerrard's cottage?
Q. 3 What is Gerrard's profession? How does his speech and words reveal
this?

94 Class IX - English
 POETRY
(BEEHIVE)
1. THE ROAD NOT TAKEN by Robert Frost

Value Points
• The poet Robert Frost tells us about the struggle an individual faces
while he/she makes decisions in life.
• The person in the poem has to decide whether to follow the crowd or
to travel by the road much travelled by.
• He chooses the road not many people had taken before.
• He also wonders about the road that he had not taken that is he
thinks about the choice that he left and also what would have
happened if he had made a different choice.
STANZA FOR COMPREHENSION
1. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
a) Name the poem and the poet.
b) Who is 'I' in these lines?
c) What is he sorry about?
d) Find any two rhyming words from the stanza.
2. Then took the other, just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same
a) What was 'just as fair'?
b) Why did it have a better claim?
c) Find the rhyme scheme of the given stanza
d) Write a similar word for 'perhaps'.

95 Class IX - English
3. And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black,
Oh! I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
a) What lay in front of the poet?
b) Why is the poet in doubt?
c) Explain 'way leads on to way'.
d) Give the rhyme scheme of this stanza.
4. I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence,
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less travelled by,
And the has made all the difference
a) Who is 'I' in the above lines?
b) What will the poet tell with a sigh?
c) Find a word in the stanza same opposite in meaning to "converged."

96 Class IX - English
 2. WIND Subramania Bharti

The poet Subramania Bharati advises us to be strong in mind as well as

body. The wind symbolises the difficulties and challenges that we face ion
our life. The poet suggests that we should face them boldly, and stay firm in
difficult situations.

Comprehension Stanzas
1. Wind come softly.
Don't break the shutters of the windows.
Don't scatter the papers.
Don't throw down the books on the shelf.
Questions :
a) Name the poem and the poet.
b) What did the wind do with the windows?
c) Why did the books on the shelf fall down?
d) Write the opposite of 'gather' from the above lines.
2. You are very clever at poking fun at weaklings Frail crumbling houses,
crumbling doors, crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling lives,
crumbling hearts, the wind God winnows and crushes them all.
Questions :
a) Who is very clever?
b) What does the wind God do weaklings?
c) Why does the wind winnow and crush others?
d) Find the opposite of 'strong' from the above lines.
3. So, come, let's build strong homes,
Let's joint the doors firmly.
Practice to firm the body.
Make the heart steadfast.
Do this, and the wind will be friends with us.
a) Name the poem and the poet.
b) What does the poet ask people to do ?
c) What will happen if people do what the poet says?
d) Find the word which means same as 'unwavering'.
4. The wind blows out weak fires.
He makes strong fires roar and flourish.
His friendship is good.
We praise him everybody.
a) What does the wind do with weak fires?
b) What does the wind do with strong fires?
c) Why does the poet say that his friendship is good?
d) Find and write any two adjectives from the above lines.

97 Class IX - English
 3. THE RAIN ON THE ROOF Coates Kinney

• The poet lays on his bed and hears the sound of clouds and rain
drops.
• The rain on the roof creates beautiful sound which echoes in the
heart of the poet.
• Memories, both sweet and sad, surround him.
• The sound of rain makes the poet happy and puts him in a state of
bliss.
COMPREHENSION STANZAS
1. When the humid shadows hover
Over all the starry spheres
And the melancholy darkness
Gently weeps in rainy tears,
What a bliss to press the pillow
Of a cottage – chamber bed
And lie listening to the patter
of the soft rain overhead
Questions :
a) Which season is being talked about here?
b) What are 'humid shadows' here?
c) What does the poet like to do in this season?
d) Name the figure of speech used in the following lines :
"And the melancholy darkness
Gently weeps in rainy tears."
e) Who weeps in the form of rainy tears ?
f) Find the opposite of 'bliss'.
2. Every tinkle on the shingles
Has an echo in the heart;
And a thousand dreamy fancies
Into busy being start

98 Class IX - English
 And a thousand recollections
Weave their air-threads into woof,
As I listen to the patter
of the rain upon the roof
Questions :
a) Name the poem and the poet.
b) How does the sound of the falling rain affect the poet?
c) Explain "a thousand recollection...............woof"?
d) Give the noun form of dreamy.
3. Now in memory comes my mother,
As she used in years agone,
To regard the darling dreamers
Ere she left them till the dawn;
O! I feel her fond look on me
As I list to this refrain
Which is played upon the shingles
By the patter of the rain.
Questions :
a) Whom does the poet remember ?
b) Who are "darling Dreamers" here?
c) How does the poet's mother look at him ?
d) Write the noun form of 'feel'.

99 Class IX - English
 4. THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE William Butter Yeats

• The poet wishes to go to Innisfree, which is an island of Ireland.

• He thinks of living in natural surroundings, by building a hut and living in it.
• The poet thinks he will find peace there.
• He desires to enjoy the slow pace of country-side living.
• The poet lives in a crowded city, still is attracted by the rural sounds of
Innisfree.
• He imagines hearing the sound of the Lake water, Lapping by the shore.
Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow :
1. I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
Questions :
a) Where does the poet wish to go?
b) What all will he do at Innisfree?
c) Explain 'the bee - loud glade.'
d) Write the synonym of 'cabin'.
2. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to
Where the cricket sings ;
Questions :
a) Name the poem and the poet?
b) Where does the poet want to go ?
c) What does the poet expect to get there ?
d) Find out the word / phrase in which repitition device has been used.
3. There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evenings full of the linnet's wings.
Questions :
a) Which place is described in the above stanza?
b) How is the midnight and noon of this place?
c) What is a 'Linnet'.
d) Find a word that means the same as dim light.
4. I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear the lake water lapping with low sounds
by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavement grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.
Questions :
a) What does the poet always hear?
b) Which figure of speech is used in the second line?
c) Where does the poet hear lake water sounds?
d) Find a word from the above lines that means the same as 'footpath'.

100 Class IX - English

 5. A LEGEND OF THE NORTHLAND Phoebe Cary

• The poem puts forward the idea that one should not be selfish, but
always try to be helpful towards the needy.
• A selfish person has no satisfaction in life.
• The poem is about the Northland, which is a very cold region, where
nights are longer to days.
• Once Saint Peter stopped at an old Lady's cottage because he was
feeling hungry.
• The lady was baking cakes son the hearth. When Saint Peter asked
for one of cakes, the lady tried to make a tiny cake for him. But being
selfish, she couldn't give it to him.
• Her greedy behaviour annoyed the hungry saint.
• He cursed her and transformed her into a woodpecker.
• All her clothes except her scarlet cap were burnt, as she went up the
chimney and flew out of the top.

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow :
1. Where they harness the swift reindeer
To the sledges, when it snows;
And the children look like bear's cubs
In their funny, furry clothes :
Questions :
a) About which place is the poet talking?
b) Why do they harness reindeer there?
c) What kind of clothes do the children wear?
d) Which figure of speech is used here?
2. And being faint with fasting,
For the day was almost done
He asked her, from her stores of cakes,
To give him a single one.
Questions :
a) Who is 'he' in this extract?

101 Class IX - English

 b) Why is he about to faint?
c) What does he want?
d) Find a word from the above extract that means the same as
'hunger'.
3. And he said, "you are for too selfish
To dwell in a human farm,
To have both food and shelter,
And fire to keep you warm.
Now, you shall build as the birds do,
And shall get your scanty food
By boring, and boring and boring.
Questions :
a) Name the poem and the poet?
b) Why did Saint Peter get angry?
c) How did he punish the little woman?
d) Which figure of speech is used in the last line of the stanza?

102 Class IX - English

 6. NO MEN ARE FOREIGN James Kirkup

• Poet says that all men on this earth are same

• Our body is same, we all have two hands, two eyes, we eat the
same food.
• Love binds us all.
• War bereaves everyone.
• So why do we hate each other in the name of religion, caste, creed
etc.
• We should not defile our own earth.

COMPREHENSION STANZAS
1. "Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign.
Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes like ours : the land our
brothers walk upon. Is earth like this, in which we shall lie.
a) Name the poem and poet.
b) What does the poet want everyone to remember ?
c) According to the extract in which two ways all we all alike.
d) Which word here means the same as 'under'?

2. "It is the human earth that we define our hells of fire and dust
outrage the innocence of air that is everywhere our own.
Remember, no men are foreign and no countries strange."
a) How do human being spoil the earth.
b) Which figure of speech is used in "our hells of fire"?
c) How does our hatred affect the human earth?
d) Which word in the passage means the same as an act of
violence?

103 Class IX - English

 7. The Duck and the Kangaroo Edward Lear

• Humorous poem, Duck feels that Kangaroos can hop and roam
about the world.
• Duck's life is boring as she remains in the same pond.
• Duck requests the Kangaroo to give her a ride on its back.
• Kangaroo has an objection that Duck's wet feet can give him
roomatiz.
• Duck has an idea of buying woolen socks, cloak and smoking a
cigar.
• Finally they go for a ride and take three rounds of the world.

COMPREHENSION STANZAS
1. My life is a bore in this nasty pond, And I long to go out in the world
beyond.
a) Name the poem and the poet?
b) Who are 'I' and 'You' here?
c) What was the speaker's reaction?
d) What does the speaker wish?
2. "This requires some little reflection, perhaps on the whole it might
bring me luck, and there seems but one objection your feet are
unpleasantly wet and cold, And would probably give me the
roomatiz.
a) How can one say that the Kangaroo does not at once says
yes to the duck's idea of a ride?
b) What was Kangaroo's objection to this ride?
c) Why did the Kangaroo say that it required some reflection?
d) Find and write a pair of rhyming words in this extract.
3. Said the duck, "As I sat on the rocks I have thought over that
completely, And I bought four pairs of worsted socks, which fit my
webbed feet neatly.
And to keep out the cold I've bought a cloak and everyday a cigar I'll
smoke.
a) Where does the Duck sit and think about her problem?
b) What preparations has the duck made for the ride?
c) What concern did Duck have for Kangaroo?
d) Give two pairs of rhyming words used in this extract.

104 Class IX - English

 8. On Killing a Tree -Gieve Patel

• Poet Says that to kill a tree, it is not sufficient to cut it, because then it
will grow again.
• To kill it, a tree should be pulled out from the earth, expose the roots.
• Let it dry and wither in air and sun.
• Then it will die.
• Negatively trying to ask readers to save trees.
COMPREHENSION STANZAS
1. It takes much time to kill a tree,
Not a simple Jab of the knife
Will do it, it has gown
Slowly consuming the earth.
Years of sunlight, air, water.
a) Is it possible to kill a tree with a simple Jab of the Knife?
b) Why does it take much time to kill a tree?
c) How does a tree grow out of the earth?
d) Which word in the extract means the same as 'sudden rough
blow'?

2. So hack and chop.

But this alone won't do it.
Not so much pain will do it.
The bleeding bark will heal.
And from close to the ground
Will rise curled green twigs
a) What alone will not kill the trees?
b) Which parts of the tree help it to revive even after cutting?
c) Explain the Irony used in these lines.
d) Find a word from the passage which means the same as
'bent'.

3. No, the root is to be pulled out.

Out of the anchoring earth.
It is to be roped, tied.
And pulled out, snapped out.
a) Why has the poet used 'No' the beginning of this stanza?
b) What will happen if the root is pulled out?
c) Why does the poet called the earth as 'anchoring earth?'
d) Write a similar meaning used as chopped out from this
stanza.

105 Class IX - English

 9. The Snake Trying By W.W.E ROSS

• The Poet has described the beautiful and graceful movements of

the snakes.
• A Man chases the snake with a stick though it was harmless.
• Small, green snake, poet urges to let him go without hurt.

COMPREHENSION STANZAS
1. "How beautiful and graceful are his shapes.
He glides through the water away from the stroke".
Questions:
a) Name the poet.
b) Whose' graceful shapes' are being talked about here?
c) Why does he glide through the water?
d) Here are two words with -'ful' as the suffix. Make two words
with 'less' as the suffix.
2. Along the sand
He lay until observed
And chased away, and now
he vanished in the ripples
Among the green slim reeds.
a) Where does 'he' lay?
b) What chased him away?
c) Where does 'he' vanish?
d) Give the synonym of 'vanish'

3. "O let him go over the water

into the reeds to hide
Without hurt. Small and green.
He is harmless even to children."
a) Who is 'he' in the above lines?
b) What does 'the' poet want him to do?
c) Where is 'he' going to hide?
d) Give the antonym of 'harmless'.

106 Class IX - English

 10. A Slumber Did my Spirit Seal
By William Wordsworth

• Poet's beloved has died and he feels that his spirit is in a deep
slumper now.
• She cannot be seen or heard.
• She has become a part of the earth.
• She rolls along with the trees, rocks and stones.

COMPREHENSION STANZAS
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follows:
1. A slumber did my spirit seal
I had no human fears
She seemed a thing that could not feel.
The touch of earthly years.
a) What has sealed the speaker's spirit?
b) Why has he no human fears?
c) Why does the ' a slumber' here mean?
d) Write is the rhyming scheme used here?

2. No motion has she now, no force

She neither hears nor, sees,
Rolled round in earth's divrnal course
With rocks and stones and trees.
a) Why has ' she' become motionless and without force?
b) What is the mood of the speaker?
c) Explain 'she neither hears nor sees?
d) Which word here means the same as 'earth's daily rotation.'

107 Class IX - English

 Answer Key
Beehive
Lesson-1 The Fun They Had
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. a) County inspector and the teacher is mechanical teacher computer.
b) To check if the mechanical teacher was functioning properly.
c) Smiled at Margie and gave her an apple
d) Away

2. a) human teachers
b) Separate building or school.
c) Tommy had mechanical teacher which taught him at home. The
teachers in above lines were human and taught in a separate
building.
d) laugh

3. a) The fun they had

b) The old book that Tommy Found
c) Would throw the book away.
d) through.

Long Questions (Value Points)

1. Human teacher
• Special building to teach
• Could understand and adjust to the need of the learners.
Mechanical Teacher
• Regular, taught at fired hours.
• at home only
• Could cause problem as happened in case of Margie.

2. Margie and Tommy had telebooks

• Millions available on same computer
• Saved paper, time and money
• More durable.
• A way to save trees and environment.
3. Values learnt in the present schools.
• Co-operation
• Patience
• Respect for elders
• Sharing and caring
• Discipline

108 Class IX - English

 Lesson-2 The Sound of Music
Part-1 Evelyn Glennie

COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. a) Evelyn Glennie
b) Because she was deaf
c) to take her to a specialist
d) Urge

2. a) because she was deaf

b) after identifying her potential
c) be tuning two large drums to different notes.
d) Potential.

3. a) Evelyn Glennie
b) She was one of the leading percussionist in the world despite
being deaf.
c) by Motivating them that they could also achieve anything.
d) - inventing
- Creation
- Any other

Long Questions (Value-Points)

1. • Strong Determination
• Hard Work
• Positive Approach etc.
2. • Confidence
• Determination
• Hard-Work
• Focussed Approach
3. • Ron Forbes an excellent teacher
• Understood the special needs of Evelyn
• Innovative
• Hard-Working
• Encouraged and motivated Evelyn

109 Class IX - English

 Part-II
Bismillah Khan
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. a) hard-work
b) Was given a chance to play on All india Radio in Lucknow in
1938.
c) Shehnai on all India Radio.
d) Often

2. a) Bismillah Khan
b) because it is our richest tradition.
c) Even the west is coming to learn our music
d) Richer

3. a) Shehnai
b) in Temples and Weddings.
c) To bring it to classical stage.
d) National/any other

Long Questions (Value Points)

1. • Great Shehnai Player
• Awarded with greatest civilian award "Bharat Ratna"
• Patriot
• No Desire to Settle abroad
• Dedication
• Motivation
• Secular

110 Class IX - English

 Lesson-3
The Little Girl
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. a) The Little Girl
b) Her Father
c) Went to her room and gave her a casual kiss.
b) responded

2. a) Kezia
b) her Father
c) • because she tried so hard to say the words properly
• she was afraid of her father.
d) 'given it up'

3. a) Kezia
b) that Kezia tore the papers to fill in the pin cushion
c) to enquire if she has torn the papers
d) whispered.

Long Questions (Value Points)

1. • Kezia scared of father
• Father very strict and harsh.
• never spent time with her.
• showed affection and care when Kezia was scared.
• Kezia's feelings change

2. • Guidance and counselling more imp affection

• Should provide congenial and understanding environment
• Kezia's father harsh
• Wanted to force discipline and values.
• Never shared feelings and time with her.
• Beat her up for tearing up his papers.
• Did not try to understand Kezia's feelings.

111 Class IX - English

 Lesson-4
A Truly Beautiful Mind
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. a) Einstein
b) Spoke everything twice
c) Did not know what to do with other children.
d) Uttered.

2. a) to continue his education in Switzerland

b) to continue his education in German speaking Switzerland.
c) because Switzerland was more liberal than Munich.
d) Prolonged.

3. a) A truly Beautiful Mind

b) agitating to end arms build up.
c) to campaign for peace and democracy.
d) ten years.

Long Questions (Value Points)

1. • Einstein contributed a lot in the field of science.
• Use of atom bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• Mass destruction-moved Einstein's heart.
• He agitated for an end to arms build up.
• Used his popularity to campaign for peace & democracy.
• His tireless efforts to save humanity earned him the status of world
citizen.

112 Class IX - English

 Lesson-5
The Snake and the Mirror
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. a) A young doctor
b) A small, rented room
c) With medical practice
d) Meagre

2. a) The snake and he mirror.

b) a thick snake.
c) If the snake struck, no medicine was available.
d) strike.

3. a) because a thick snake has coiled round his arm.

b) a black cobra
c) was slowly but strongly crushing his arm
d) thick.

Long Questions (Value Points)

1. • The Lesson deals with a frightening incident.
• A Cobra coiled itself around the narrator's arm.
• Narrator frightened yet described the incident in a light hearted
manner.
• The feelings, the language used was enough to dilute the fright
effect.
• The way Cobra was drawn towards the mirror.
• The description of the Cobra being a male/femal very humorous.

2. • A thick Cobra coiled around the narrator's arm.

• Death only four inches away.
• Sat there motionless without speaking.
• Mind was active.
• As soon as the snake left ran outside.
• Presence of mind and patience helped.
3. • Irony important aspect in the lesson.
• Used irony as technique of humous.
• Author proud to be a doctor, young and handsome one later curses
himself for being foolish enough for not keeping any medicine.
• Wanted to marry a fat woman who could not run much but was
married to a thin person with a sprinter's gift.

113 Class IX - English

 Lesson-6
My Childhood
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. a) APJ Abdul Kalam
b) Short and Ordinary
c) Parent were taller and good-looking
d) Undistinguished

2. a) Samsuddin
b) by distributing newspaper in Rameshwram.
c) Proud
d) Surge

3. a) Science Teacher
b) For serving a Muslim boy in her kitchen.
c) She was orthodox.
d) Horrified.

Long Questions (Value Points)

1. • Abdul got the first taste of social and communal separation in his fifth
grade.
• a New teacher asked him to sit on the last bench because he was a
Muslim.
• While his science teacher invited him to his home for a meal despite
resistance from his wife.
• While one was rigid and orthodox the other was liberal.

2. • Abdul Kalam's parents did not have much formal education

• Abdul Kalam inherited nobility, generosity, honesty from his parents.

Father
• A man of confidence
• Very wise
• Kept away from luxuries and comforts
Mother
• Noble and kind-hearted
• Fed a number of people
• Faith in goodness

114 Class IX - English

 Lesson-7
Packing
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. a) George and Harris
b) Packing
c) Made no comment
d) Any Two

2. a) Butter
b) it stuck to Harris's back
c) looking all over the room
d) stick

3. a) Montmorency
b) disturbed them
c) thinking them as rats
d) hamper

Long Questions (Value Points)

1. • Packing a tedious job.
• made the narration interesting by the way it was described.
• The characters also added to humour.

2. • Should make a list of things to be packed.

• the things should be collected at a place.
• some assistance may be taken
• should not do all packing at a time.
• last minute packing should be avoided.

115 Class IX - English

 Lesson-8 Reach for the Top
Part-1 Santosh Yadav

COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. a) Reach for the tap
b) the grandmother wanted a blessing for daughter
c) for the birth of a son
d) close by

2. a) Santosh Yadav
b) Wore short's instead of traditional dresses
c) rebellious from the very beginning.
d) on her conditions.

3. a) to marry
b) marriage was the last thing an her mind.
c) threatened she would never marry
d) last thing

4. a) Santosh Yadav
b) What was on the other side of the mountain.
c) a group of mountaineers
d) Check out

5. a) Santosh Yadav
b) Mount Everest
c) Unfurled the tricolors on Mount Everest.
d) Indescribable.

Long Questions (Value Points)

1. • Determined from the beginning that others around had to change
• her aim was decided
• hard-working and sincere
• Courageous to challenges the established system
• adventurous, considerate and resourceful
• Loved life on her own terms.

116 Class IX - English

 Lesson-8 Reach for the Top
Part-2 Maria Sharapova

COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. a) nine years old
b) United States
c) by train
d) Packed off

2. a) Maria Sharapova
b) nine years old
c) separation from mother and isolation
d) excellent

3. a) toughness
b) women's singles crown at Wimbledon
c) in 2005.
d) Meteoric.

Long Question (Value Points)

1. • Father worked hard to pay for training and could not see her
regularly.
• sacrifice of parents made her more determined
• sacrifice and hard-work of parents make children determined to be
successful
• make children more responsible to fulfil parents dream.
• self discipline, patience and tolerance, mental toughness and hard-
work help achieve the target.

2. Santosh Yadav
• Parents were affluent
• always wished to study and achieve her ambition against parents
wishes.
• equipped with iron-will, physical endurance and an amazing mental
toughness.

3. Maria Sharapova
• Father worked hard to keep her training going.
• family not so affluent.
• parents were with her to achieve her excellence in Tennis.
• was equipped with physical and mental toughness.
• hard working, determined and sincere.

117 Class IX - English

 Lesson-9 Bond of Love
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. a) Mrs. Anderson
b) to see Baba
c) said that she would go herself if others didn't take her there.
d) any sentence.

2. a) got emotional after seeing each other/ closely attached.

b) got depressed
c) had to take Baba back to home
d) clearly/(any other)

3. a) Baba
b) Ms. Anderson
c) to Send him to Zoo
d) hastily.

Long Question (Value Points)

1. • The author's wife loves her pet Burno deeply.
• Ties a coloured ribbon around his neck, cooks variety of disches for
thim, changes his name.
• Bruno also performs many playful tricks which give pleasure to her.
Both enjoy each other's company.
• She misses him greatly when he is sent to zoo.
• Both keep sitting together in the cage for three hours.
• When reunited, both feel relieved.
• All sadness wades away.
• So love is mutual.

118 Class IX - English

 Lesson-10 Kathmandu
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. a) Kathmandu
b) Pashupatinath Temple
c) To go to the front
d) any sentence

2. a) The author (Vikram Seth)

b) Feeling exhausted and home-sick
c) by Nepal Airlines
d) Fly

3. a) Vikram Seth
b) The flute music attracts him
c) flute
d) more difficult

Long Question (Value Points)

1. • not to use rivers for throwing waste.
• no bathing of animals/washing clothes.
• no cremation of corpses.
• Water resources must be used wisely.

119 Class IX - English

 Lesson-11 'If I were You'
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. a) The intruder
b) For a murder
c) may be hanged/deathpenalty
d) hunted

2. a) If I were you
b) The Intruder
c) by killing Vincent Charles Gerrard and taking on his identity.
d) gain

3. a) Police
b) Gerrard
c) One of his men was caught by Police and Police may reach Gerrard
anytime
d) Unimportant, unclear/(any other)

Long Question (Value Points)

1. • one needs to be patient, vigilant.
• should grab the opportunity to save oneself.
• should be quick and have positive approach
• should keep cool and be alert
• Able to assess the situation.

120 Class IX - English

 POETRY (ANSWERS)
Poem- The Road not Taken
1) a) The Road not Taken by Robert Frost
b) The poet
c) That he could not travel both roads
d) i) Wood- Stood- Could
ii) both- Growth

2. a) The second road

b) was grassy and less used
c) a baab
d) hopefully/ may

3. a) two roads
b) both roads looked equal that day
c) once taken a road turning back not possible
d) abaab

4. a) The Poet
b) The Choice of his second road less chosen by others made all the
difference.
c) diverged.

Poem- Wind
1) a) Wind, Subramania Bharti
b) break their shutters
c) because of strong wind
d) scatter

2) a) wind
b) makes fun of weaklings
c) because wind is stronger
d) weaklings

3) a) wind, Subramania Bharti

b) to be stronger
c) the wind will not be able to harm them
d) steadfast.

4. a) Blows out
b) roar and flourish
c) makes us stronger, determined and steadfast
d) • weak
• strong
• good

121 Class IX - English

 Poem- The Rain on the Roof
1) a) rainy season
b) dark clouds
c) lie on his chamber bed listening to the patter of rain.
d) metaphor.

2) a) The rain on the Roof, Coates Kinney

b) Echoes in his heart.
c) thousand of memories take shape in his mind.
d) Dream

3) a) his mother
b) the poet and his siblings who were sleeping
c) lovingly/affectionately/fondly
d) feeling (s)

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

1) a) Innisfree
b) make a hut, grow beans around it and have a bee-hive there.
c) a clean or open space full of sounds o buzzing bees.
d) hut.

2) a) The lake Isle of Innisfree, W.B. Yeats.

b) Innisfree
c) Peace
d) Peace & drooping

3) a) Innisfree
b) midnight is having dim light of the moon and the afternoon has a burning
sun.
c) a bird
d) glimmer

4) a) Lake water lapping by the share

b) Alliteration
c) in a city
d) Pavement

122 Class IX - English

 Poem- The Legend of the Northland
1) a) the North Land
b) because it can walk on the snow
c) Furry
d) Similie

2) a) Saint Peter
b) because of fasting too long
c) a cake
d) fasting

3) a) The legend of the North Land, Phoebe Cary

b) Because of the selfish attitude of the woman
c) by turning her into a woodpecker.
d) Alliteration

No Men Are Foreign

1) a) Poem - No men are foreign
Poet - James Kirkup.

b) That no men are strange and no country is foreign.

c) i) A single body breathes under different uniforms, and (ii) there is the
same land everywhere ever we all walk.
d) Beneath

2) a) Human begins spoil he earth through hatred.

b) Metaphor
c) Our hatred causes wars which pollute the air and craete differences.
d) outrage.

123 Class IX - English

 The Duck and the Kangaroo
1) a) Poem- The Duck and the Kangaroo.
Poet- Edward Lear
b) 'I' stands here for the Duck and 'You' stands for the Kangaroo.
c) The speaker found life in the pond a bore.
d) The speaker wishes to hop like Kangaroo.
2. a) Because Kangaroo has objections.
b) Wet and Cold feet of the duck would make him sick.
c) He needed to think about it.
d) Bold -Cold
3. a) On the rocks.
b) Bought socks & cloak & Cigar
c) That he should get any disease.
d) Thought-Bought
Rocks-Socks.

On Killing a Tree
1) a) No, it is not possible a well grown up tree with a simple jab of the
knife.
b) It takes much time to kill a tree because roots carrot be pulled out
very easily.
c) Feeding upon its crust, absorbing years of sunlight, air and water, it
rises out of the earth.
d) Jab.
2) a) Hacking and chopping can wound a tree but it cannot kill a tree.
b) The bleeding bark.
c) In these lines tree is compared with human body. When there is a
wound, it bleeds but it heals in the due course of the time.
d) curled.

3) a) Here the word 'No' means a shift in the argument offered. It bleeds
after being cut but heals itself slowly.
b) If the root is pulled out, It is unable to get nourishment and finally
meets its end.
c) Anchoring earth' here refers that root of the tree held it securely in
the earth.
d) snapped out.

124 Class IX - English

 The Snake Trying
1. a) Poem-The Snake Trying
b) Snake
c) In Order to escape death, he glides through the water.
d) Careless/any other word
Fearless

2. a) Along the Sand.

b) He has been seen by people and they chased him away.
c) he vanishes in the green reeds.
d) disappear.

3. a) Snake
b) The poet does not want to hurt the snake.
c) 'He' is going to hide in the green reeds.
d) harmful

A Slumber did my Spirit Seal

1. a) The death of the beloved one has sealed the speaker's spirit.
b) He has no human fear because his soul has been closed off with
grief.
c) a great sleep.
d) Abab

2. a) She became motionless and without force because she is dead.

b) The Poet is in deep grief.
c) It means she has died.
d) Earth's diurnal course.

125 Class IX - English

 MOMENTS
Lesson 1
THE LOST CHILD Mulk Raj Anand

Value Points
• It is a short story of a child, his aspiration, demands and realisation.
• The child is being taken to the fair by his parents.
• There are many attractions in the fair for the child like balloons, merry go
round, toys and eatables.
• The child asks for these things from his parents.
• Parents have no desire to purchase things for the child.
• The crowd is thick that's why the parents are holding the hand of the child.
• At one point the child is slipped out of his parents' hand.
• The child starts crying asking for his father and mother.
• A kind person picks up the child and tries to console him.
• The person offers him balloons and other things which he wanted earlier.
• But now the child does not want anything.
• He keeps crying and saying "I want my father, I want my mother."

ACTIVITY 1

The things
that
attracted the
child in the
fair

126 Class IX - English

 ACTIVITY 2

The feelings of
a child
when he/she is
separated from
his / her parents

127 Class IX - English

 COMPREHENSION PASSAGE
1. It was the festival of spring. From the wintry shades of narrow lanes
and alleys emerged gaily clad humanity. Some walked, some rode
on horses, other sat, being carried in bamboo and bullock carts.
Questions :
a) Name the Lesson?
b) Which season is being celebrated here?
c) How did the people travel to the village fair?
d) Find a word that means the same as 'happily'.
2. "I want that toy," he pleaded. His father looked at him red-eyed, in his
familiar tyrant's way.
Questions :
a) What did the little boy request?
b) How did the father react to his demand?
c) What does it show about the father?
d) 'Red-eyed' means .....................
3. The child wept more bitterly than ever now and only cried, I want my
mother, I want my father.
Questions :
a) Why did the little child cry?
b) Name the lesson.
c) What did the child want ?
d) Present form of 'wept' is .....................

Short Questions
Q 1. Where were most of the village people going and why?
Q 2. Why did the child hesitate in asking anything from his parents?
Q 3. Give an example to show that the child was drawn by the nature.
Q 4. What were the things the child noticed and wanted in the fair?
Q 5. When did the child come to know that he was lost and where did
he look for his parents?
Q 6. Who rescued the lost child? How did he try to make the child
happy?
Q 7. Why did the child not accept the things offered by the man?

128 Class IX - English

 Long Answers Questions
Q1. On the basis of your reading of the story 'The Lost Child' write a
paragraph on the topic : ‘Teachers are second parents to
children’.
Q 2. The Child is fascinated to the things in the fair and demands
them. He takes interest in the things around. What does it
reflect about 'joys of childhood'?
Q. 3 Describe the journery made by the child to the fair.
Q 4. Describe the scene the in the fair.
Q 5. In the fair, the child wanted many things. What are they?

129 Class IX - English

 Lesson 2
THE ADVENTURES OF TOTO Ruskin Bond

Value Points
• This story describes how author's grand father was fond of animals.
• Grand father bought Toto a monkey from a tonga driver for five rupees.
• Toto was a pretty monkey.
• Toto's arrival in the house was kept a secret from grand mother.
• Toto was very naughty and disturbing.
• Once he was to accompany grand father to Saharanpur in a canvas kit
bag.
• He poked his head out from the bag and came to notice of ticket collector,
therefore grand father had to pay three rupees as a fine.
• Toto was finally accepted in the home.
• He was given a comfortable home in the stable.
• He kept troubling Nana, the family donkey in the stable.
• He always enjoyed warm water bath in cold winter evening.
• The family members found it difficult to adjust with him.
• Finally, grand father returned him back to the Tonga driver for three
rupees.
ACTIVITY
Q. Write as many activities / incidents you can think about Toto.

Toto

130 Class IX - English

 COMPREHENSION PASSAGE
1. The poor man was taken aback; but with great presence of mind and
much to Grandfather's annoyance, he said, "Sir, you have a dog with
you. You'll have to pay for it accordingly."
Questions :
a) Who is the poor man referred to here?
b) Why was he taken aback?
c) Why is grandfather annoyed?
d) Find the phrase / words form the above lines that mean the
same as 'shocked'.
2. Even grandfather realised that. We were not well-to-do, and could
not afford the frequent loss of dishes, clothes, curtains and
wallpaper. So Grandfather found the tonga driver and sold Toto back
to him – for only three rupees.
Questions :
a) What did the Grandfather realise?
b) Why could they not afford this frequent loss?
c) How did the grand father dispose off Toto.
d) Find a word in the passage that means the same as 'rich'.
3. His presence in the house still a secret, Toto was now transferred to
a big cage in the servants quarters where a number of Grandfather's
pets lived very. Sociably together – a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a
tame squirrel and, for a while, my pet goat.
Questions :
a) Why was Toto's presence at the house kept a secret?
b) Where was Toto transferred?
c) How can you say that the grandfather was an animal lover?
d) Find a word in the passage that means the same as 'shifted'.

Short Questions
1. Toto was an attractive moneky. Comment.
2. Why did Grandfather keep Toto as a secret from Grandmother?
3. Give an example to show that Toto was clever.
4. Why was Grandfather impressed with Toto?
5. Why was Toto shifted with Nana?

131 Class IX - English

6. Why did crowd gather at the railway station?
7. Why was the ticket collector annoyed with Grandfather and how
did he take revenge?
8. What did Toto do with the dish of pullao?
9. Toto and Nana never became friends. Why?

Long Answer Questions

1. Give examples to show that Toto was a mischievous pet.
2. How was Toto an Expensive deal for grand father?
3. Describe author's grand father in the story.

132 Class IX - English

 Lesson 3
ISWARAN THE STORY TELLER R.K. Laxman

Value Points
• This story is narrated to Ganesh by a young man Mahendra who was a
supervisor in a firm.
• His job was to keep an eye on the activities at the work site.
• As he was a bachelor, he always had, his cook Iswaran with him.
• Iswaran used to read the popular Tamil thrilling stories.
• His own description was greatly influenced by Tamil Stories.
• He weaved endless stories and played a role of "the television in
Mahendra's life.
• He narrated the tale of a Tusker, which destroyed everything on the way
and how he made him collapse in the end with a small cane.
• Iswaran linked the auspicious full moon night to the story of a female ghost.
• Mahendra did not believe and rebuked him explaining such stories
baseless .
• One night Mahendra heard some sound near his window.
• Mahendra saw a cloudy figure holding a bundle.
• This affected Mahendra very much and he could not sleep properly.
• Next morning Iswaran greeted him and asked him about the last night
experience.
• Mahendra resolved to leave the haunted place the very next day.

ACTIVITY 1
Describing the scene when any animal created problem in your locality as
Tusker the elephant had done.
The Scene that was created by a stray Bull
• One day in our locality a stray bull made ........................
• He came on the main road side and ........................
• He hit two small children who were ........................
• A young boy tried to save them but he ........................
• Crowd gathered there some one phoned ........................
• A team of Police and MCD came with ........................
• It seemed the bull had become ........................
• Any how he was tied with ........................
• then the MCD Department took ........................
• It was ........................ scene I never ........................

133 Class IX - English

 COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. When he was narrating even the smallest of incidents, he would try to work
in suspense and a surprise ending into the account.
Questions :
a) Name the Lesson from where the above passage is taken
b) Who is 'he' in the above lines?
c) How did he make his story narration interesting?
d) Give the comparative degree of 'smallest'?
2. Whether the story was credible or not, Mahendra enjoyed listening to it
because of the inimitable way in which it was told.
Questions :
a) Name the lesson from which the above passage has been taken.
b) What did Mahendra Enjoy?
c) Why did Mahendra enjoy listening to it.
d) Find a word from the above passage which means the same as
'believable'.
3. There, not too far away, was a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle.
Mahendra broke into a cold sweat and fell back on the pillow, panting.
Questions :
a) Name the lesson from where the above passage is taken?
b) What did Mahendra see at night?
c) Why was he scared?
d) Find a word that means "breathing quickly and loudly".

Short Questions
Q 1. What did Iswaran do when Mahendra left for work?
Q 2. Where did Iswaran get the ideas of his stories from?
Q 3. Why did Iswaran make special dinner one day?
Q 4. What did Mahendra see on full moon night and how did he feel?
Q. 5 Why did Mahendra have to move from place to place?
Q. 6 What was the routine of Mahendra and Ishwaran?

Long Answer Questions

Q 1. More than a cook Ishwaran was a constant companion and friend for
Mahendra. He entertained him and made his life very lively. Based on
your reading the story write a note on the topic :
'The need for good friends in life'.
Q 2. As in the story Iswaran was a good story teller. How a child can adopt
the qualities to be a good story teller. Write the steps that support you to
be a good story narrator.
Q. 3 Describe the ghost incident. What was its impact on Mahendra's mind?
Q. 4 How did Mahendra tackle the elephant in the school building?

134 Class IX - English

 Lesson 4
IN THE KINGDOM OF FOOLS A.K. Ramannujan

Value Points
• In the kingdom of fools the king and his minister were idiots, they changed
the day into night and the night into day.
• Anybody who violated the rule would be punished, so people slept during
the day and worked at night.
• One day a guru and his disciple came, they were surprised to see this
strange scene. They came to know they can buy anything for a single
duddu.
• The guru realised that it will be good to leave this place while the disciple
remained there.
• One night a thief died when he was stealing as the wall fell on him.
• The incident was investigated and finally the rich merchant was ordered to
death by the king.
• The stake did not fit therefore the king ordered to find a fat man for the
execution, the soldiers captured the disciple.
• The disciple remembered his guru and prayed to save him.
• Guru befooled both the king and his minister by saying that who so ever
would die first he would become the king in next birth.
• Both the king and minister agreed to die. After their death people begged
the guru and his disciple to be their king and minister.
• They accepted this and announced that now the day would be the day and
the night would be night and nothing would cost a single duddu.

135 Class IX - English

 ACTIVITY
Difference between a normal state and the state of fools.

STATE
NORMAL
OF
STATE
FOOLS

Normal State State of Fools

COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. They finally agreed to rule the kingdom of the foolish king and the silly
minister, on the condition that they could change all the old laws.
Questions :
a) Who are 'they' in the above lines?
b) What happened to the king and his minister?
c) What were the old laws of the kingdom?
d) Find synonym of the word 'unwitty' from the above passage.

2. We're sick of our ascetic life. It would be nice to enjoy ourselves as king
and minister for a while. Now keep your word, My Lord, and put us to
death.
Questions :
a) Who is the speaker of the above lines?
b) Who is he talking to?
c) What did the speaker demand?
d) What do you mean by the phrase "Keep your word"?

3. The two strangers were amazed by what they saw around them and
wandered around town till evening, when suddenly the whole town woke
up and went about its nightly business.

136 Class IX - English

 Questions
a) Name the lesson from where the above passage is taken.
b) Who are the 'two strangers'?
c) Why were they amazed?
d) Give the adjective for 'business'.

4. The two men were hungry. Now that the shops were open, they went to buy
some groceries. To their astonishment, they found everything cost the
same, a single duddu.
Questions :
a) Who are they 'two men' here?
b) Why did they visit the shops.?
c) Why were they astonished ?
d) Give the synonym for 'astonishment'.

Short Questions
Q1. What impressed the disciple to stay in the kingdom of fools?
Q 2. Why did the thief's brother go to the court?
Q 3. Why did the king punish the merchant?
Q 4. When did the disciple remember the warnings of his guru?
Q 5. What happened to the kingdom when the king and the minister
died?
Q 6. How were the king and the minister? What did they want to do?
Q 7. How does the Guru manage to save his disciple's life?
Q 8. Why were the two strangers i.e the guru and the disciple amazed?
Q 9. How was the kingdom of fools different from other places.

Long Answer Questions

1. On the basis of your reading give your views – ‘Wisdom is worshipped
every where when foolishness is our greatest enemy.’
2. As in the story 'In the kingdom of fools' due to foolishness of the king and
his minister everything was opposite and abnormal. How can peace and
harmony be established in a state?
3. How was life different in the kingdom of fools?
4. The disciple has done nothing wrong. Why was he arrested.
5. Greed leads to Grave. Explain this statement in the context of the story, 'In
the Kingdom of Fools.'
6. 'Now justice had come in full circle.' Explain.

137 Class IX - English

 Lesson 5
THE HAPPY PRINCE Oscar Wilde

Value Points
• The Happy Prince in the story is a statue of a dead Prince decorated with
gold leaves and precious stones.
• The Happy Prince feels sad because he is unable to help the people in
misery.
• Happy Prince decides to help his subjects (people) with his gold leaves
and precious sapphires and ruby.
• The little swallow acts as his messenger distributes all his wealth,
sapphires, ruby.
• The little swallow was going to Egypt, happy Prince persuaded him to stop;
Stay a night to help the poor.
• The little swallow could not go back and died due to cold. He lost his life in
helping the poor.
• The swallow's death broke the Prince's heart.
• The Mayor and Town councillors pulled down the statue because it looked
shabby.
• They melted the statue but could not melt the leaden heart.
• One day God asked one of his Angels to bring two precious things from
earth. The Angel brought the leaden heart of happy Prince and the dead
swallow.

ACTIVITY
How can we lead a Happy and healthy life.

138 Class IX - English

 COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off ? He said, "I must
look for a good chimney pot," and he was determined to fly away.
Questions :
a) Who is 'he' here?
b) Where was he staying?
c) Why did he decide to fly away?
c) Give the past form of the verb "keep".

2. "I am covered with fine gold" said the Prince, "You must take it off leaf by
leaf, and give it to the poor; the living always think that gold can make them
happy."
Questions :
a) Who is the speaker here?
b) With whom is the speaker talking to?
c) Why did he want gold leaves to be removed?
d) Make an adjective using word "gold".

3. Leaf after leaf of the fine gold the swallow picked off, till the Happy Prince
looked quite dull and grey. Leaf after leaf of the give gold he brought to the
poor and the children's faces grew rosier and they laughed and played in
the street. We have bread now! they cried.
Questions :
a) Why did the Happy Prince look dull and grey?
b) Why were the children happy?
c) How would they use the gold leaves?
c) Find the antonym of 'bright' from the above passage.

Short Questions
Q 1. Where did the swallow take shelter at night?
Q 2. Why does he call it 'golden bedroom'?
Q 3. Why was the Happy Prince crying?
Q 4. How did Happy Prince help the seamstress?
Q 5. Why did he give a sapphire to the playwright?

139 Class IX - English

Q 6. Why was the match girl crying? How did Happy Prince make her
happy?
Q 7. Why did the Happy Prince ask the swallow to take off the gold leaves
from his statue?
Q 8. Why did the angel bring the leaden heart and the dead bird to the
paradise?
Q 9. What happened when the little swallow prepared to go to sleep?
Q. 10 Why did the Happy prince ask the swallow to slay?

Long Questions
Q 1. God received the leaden heart of Happy Prince and the dead swallow
as the 'two precious things' in Heaven and welcomed such good deed
as they had done. Based on your reading write a paragraph on the
topic "True Happiness in doing a good deed."
Q 2. Describe the 'Swallow' as a 'nice bird.'
Q 3. The two most precious things in the city were the Happy Prince and the
Swallow. Discuss.
Q 4. How did the little swallow carry out the wishes of the Happy Prince.

140 Class IX - English

 Lesson 6
Weathering the Storm in Ersama Harsh Mander

Value Points
• Weathering the storm in Ersama' is a description of the brave acts of
courageous boy named Prashant. He guided the Victims of flood in
Orissa.
• Prashant visited Ersama to meet one of his friends.
• There was a super cyclone (Storm) on the evening of 27 October, 1999.
• The storm was very destructive, many people lost their lives and the
houses were washed away.
• Prashant went back to his village, water was flowing every where.
• Prashant became the leader of the village. He appointed a group of
volunteers to help the victims.
• He suggested people to lay down to tie empty utensils on their stomach to
communicate that they need food.
• Prashant handed over the orphans to those who had lost their children.
• He organised a programme 'Food for work' with the help of an NGO.

Activity
1. Paste the pictures of natural disasters and write two sentences of
each.

(1) (2) (3) (4)

141 Class IX - English

2.

Effect of Disasters

COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
1. For the next two days Prashant sat huddled with his friend's family in the
open on the rooftop. They froze in the cold and incessant rain; the rain
water washed away Prashant's tears.
Questions
a) What happened to Prashant and his friend's family while they sat
in the open on the roof top?
b) What thought flashed through Prashant's mind.
c) Find a word from the passage which is similar in meaning to
'Continous.'
d) Where has Prashant gone?
2. By the next morning, as he took in the desperate situation in the shelter,
he decided to get a grip over himself. He realized a deathly grief setting
upon the 2500 strong crowd in the shelter. Eighty six lives were lost in the
village. All the ninety six houses had been washed away.
Questions
a) Name the Lesson.
b) Who is he referred to here?.
c) How did the Cyclone affect the village?
d) Give a word from the above lines similar in meaning to 'felt'.

142 Class IX - English

3. Prashant found that a large number of children had been orphaned. He
brought them together and put up a polythene shelter for them. women
were mobilised to look after them, while the men secured food and
materials for the shelter.
Questions
a) What did Prashant do for Orphaned children?
b) What were the duties assigned to men and women of the village?
c) Find a word from the above lines which means same as
'activated.'
d) Write one word to describe Prashant.

SHORT QUESTIONS
Q.1 Where had Prashant gone when the storm hit Orissa?
Q. 2 How did the Fallen tree prove a blessing for Prashant and his friend's
family.?
Q. 3 What according to Prashant's family was the miracle in the house?
Q. 4 Do you think young people should come ahead to help people during
natural calamities? Discuss with reference to Prashant's role in
helping others in need.
Q. 5 Describe the scene after storm and heavy rain. When did the rain
cease? What was its result?
Q. 6 What did Prashant and his friend do to save their lives?
Q. 7 Why was it difficult for Prashant to travel back to his village?
Q. 8 What were the two important things Prashant did after deciding to be
the leader of the village?
Q. 9 How did Prashant help the women & children get over their grief?
Q. 10 Why should orphans and widows not be sent to separate institutions?

LONG QUESTIONS
Q.1 As Prashant adopted some methods and gave warning to his villagers
to clean the place and reach a safe place because of spreading
epidemic. What precautions should we adopt during disasters?
Q. 2 Write a character sketch of Prashant.
Q. 3 How did Prashant improve the condition of the shelter?
Q. 5 Narrate the storm in Ersama.

143 Class IX - English

 Lesson 7
The Last Leaf : O Henry
Value Points
• In this story 'The last leaf' the author tells us that our positive
thoughts work as a remedy for our illness.
• Sue and Johnsy were two friends and shared a small flat.
• Johnsy suffered from Pneumonia, medicines did not act upon her
illness.
• Johnsy thought that she would die with the fall of the last leaf on the
creeper.
• Sue suggested her not to think so and informed an old artist
Behrman about Johnsy's illness.
• Behrman painted an artificial leaf on the wall.
• Johnsy peeped out through the window to see whether the last leaf
has fallen or not, the leaf was still on the exeeper.
• She said that the leaf had become green and healthy and hence it
would never fall.
• Johnsy also started thinking positively and started recovering.
• But Behrman had died due to cold on that night.

144 Class IX - English

 Activity

1. As Behrman wanted to paint a masterpiece as

what is our aim of life ? What steps should we
have to travel to achieve our aim?

Activity -1

2. As Johny has made a negative approach and started

to break her health. As well all have positive and
Negative emotions. What are they?

Activity -2

Negative Emotions Positive Emotions

145 Class IX - English

 COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
To take Johnsy's mind off her illness, she whistled while working.
1. Suddenly Sue heard Johnsy Whisper something. She quickly
rushed to bed and heard Johnsy counting backwords.
Questions
a) Name the Lesson
b) What illness is Johnsy suffering from?
c) What is she counting backwards?
d) Find a word from the passage that means the same as 'say
something in a very low voice.'
2. The Doctor said, Johnsy it seems, has made up her mind that she
is not going to get well. If she doesn't want to live, medicines will
not help her."
Questions
a) Who is the doctor talking to ?
b) What was Johnsy's disease?
c) Why does the doctor say,"..........medicines will not help her.
d) Use the phrase "make one's mind" in a sentences of your
own.
3. "I am not hungry....Now there are only four leaves left. I want to see
the last one fall before it gets dark. Then I will sleep forever."
Questions
a) Who is the speaker in the given lines?
b) What does the speaker want to do ?
c) How many leaves were left?
d) What is meant by 'Sleep forever'?
4. "I have known this for the last three days."
"Oh, that's nonsense, "Replied sue. " What have oldivy leaves to
do with your getting well?"
Questions
a) Who is 'I' in the above lines?
b) What has the speaker known for the last three days.
c) Who is not getting well?
d) Pick out a word which means "answered".

146 Class IX - English

 SHORT QUESTIONS
Q.1 How can you say that Sue was a true and caring friend?
Q. 2 Why were Medicines not working on Johnsy?
Q. 3 Justify the title 'The Last Leaf'.
Q. 4 How was the last leaf a masterpiece of Behrman?
Q. 5 What efforts did Sue make to keep Johnsy cheerful?
Q. 6 How did Behrman react to Johnsy's fancy? What sacrifice did he
make for her.
Q. 7 Why did the last leaf not fall?

LONG QUESTIONS
Q. 1 'The Last Leaf' is a story of supreme Sacrifice Explain.
Q. 2 What is the role of our thoughts to make our life happy?
Q. 3 Write a character sketch of Behrman.
Q. 4 Describe the role of Sue in saving her friend’s life.

147 Class IX - English

 Lesson 8
A House is Not a Home
Value Points
• In the story 'A house is not a home' the author tells us to encounter the
challenges and problems of our life boldly.
• After leaving his high school the author was sent to a new school and in
that new school, the author felt isolated and sad.
• The house of the author caught fire and everything in the house was burnt.
• The author's mother had to borrow money from author's grand father.
• The author rented an apartment and used to go to his house, hoping that
he would find his cat.
• His class mates in new school helped him in many ways as with text books
and other ususal things.
• Author's new neighbours helped him.
• After a few days a woman came to him with his cat.
• Now the author felt happy and regained a new life.

Activity
1. Mention the things that are essential to make a house a home.
Activity -1

House è Home

148 Class IX - English

2. What do we feel when we look any tragic incident as the author felt
when his house has been burnt.
Activity -1

è
nt

Our
de

Feelings
ci
In
c
gi
a
Tr

COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. I didn't want to grow up, change or have to handle life it was going
to be this way. I just wanted to curl up and die.
Questions
a) Who is the speaker here?
b) What is the mood of the speaker? Is the speaker optimistic or
pessimistic here?
c) Use the phrase 'grow up' in a sentence of your own.
d) Name the lesson.

2. People who had never spoken to me before were coming up to me

to introduce themselves. I got all kinds of invitations to their
houses. Their genuine outpouring or concern really touched me.

149 Class IX - English

 Questions
a) Who is the speaker in the above lines?
b) Why is he getting ' all kinds of invitations ?
c) Give the opposite of 'genuine'.
d) How is the speaker feeling now.

3. "It always seems that bad news spreads quickly, and in my case it
was no different. Everyone in high school, including the teachers,
were aware of my plight.
Questions
a) What was the 'bad news'?
b) What was the author's plight?
c) Provide a word from the passage that means the same as
'sad condition'
d) Name the lesson.

SHORT QUESTIONS
Q.1 Why did the author often visit his old school?
Q. 2 How did the People in the new school behave when he visited
school after fire in his house ?
Q. 3 What made the author regain his confidence and come back to
life?
Q. 4 How was the author reunited with his cat?
Q. 5 What did the author and his mother do on seeing the fire?
Q. 6 Why did the mother rush back to the house again?
Q. 7 Why did the author keep visiting the remains of the house?
Q. 8 What did the author get from his new schoolmates?

150 Class IX - English

 LONG QUESTIONS
Q. 1 On the basis reading the lesson 'A House is not a home' give your
views on the topic. 'How we encounter the challenges and
problems of life?
Q. 2 Write a diary entry expressing your feelings when you lost your
pet.
Q. 3 Describe author's love for his cat.
Q. 4 Describe the title. 'A House is not a Home.'

151 Class IX - English

 Lesson 9
The Accidental Tourist
Bill Bryson
• The given story is about a clumsy man. Who panics a lot. It teaches us that
we should inculcate the value of self control.
• The author describes that he is easily confused.
• Due to his confusion he forgets the lavatory in a cinema many times. He
also forgets the number of his hotel room.
• The author had to face a problem on a trip to England.
• He forgot to zip his pants.
• While travelling he knocked the glass of cold drink twice on the lady, sitting
beside him.
• The worst incident occured when he was travelling and writing something.
He took his pen in his mouth and the ink leaked, making his teeth navy
blue.
• While travelling to Australia he forgot his name. He told the clerk W. Bryson
instead of B. Bryson.

152 Class IX - English

 Activity
List the things that are essential for a Journey

Hea
lthy

Foo
Ta

d
st
y

Sp
icy

Delicious
Sw

Ea
ee

ta
t

bl
es

153 Class IX - English

 COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. My particular speciality is returning to hotel desks two or three

times a day and asking what my room number is. I am, in short,
easily confused.
Questions
a) Who is the speaker here?
b) What do the lines show about the speaker?
c) Make adjective form of word 'speciality'?
d) Name the lesson.

2. The Lady looked at me with the stupefied expression you would

expect to receive from someone whom you have repeatedly
drenched.
Questions
a) Name the lesson.
b) Who is the speaker of these lines?
c) Why did the lady give a stupfied expression to the narrator?
d) Find a word that means the same as 'to make wet'.

3. 'Take the lids off the food for Daddy' or 'put your hoods up, children.
Daddy's about to cut his meat'.
Questions
a) Who is the speaker in above lines?
b) What instructions are given to the children?
c) Give a rhyming word of 'lid'.
d) What was daddy about to do?

SHORT QUESTIONS
Q.1 How can you say that Bill Bryson was a confused traveller?
Q.2 What was the narrator’s worst experience on a flight?

154 Class IX - English

Q.3 What did the writer not do while travelling alone and why?
Q.4 Why didn't Bill Bryson get the benefit of his air miles?
Q. 5 Why does Bell Bryson fill with wonder?
Q. 6 Where did the trouble start with the author?

LONG QUESTIONS
Q.1 Bill Bryson created a lot of chaos while travelling. On the basis of
reading the lesson, write what precautions should one follow while
travelling, so as to not create any problem for others.
Q. 2 'Travelling is a source of joy', write a paragraph telling how we can
gain a lot of joy if we travel properly and carefully.
Q. 3 Why does the author never get his frequent flier miles?
Q. 4 Write the character sketch of Bill Bryson.
Q. 5 How did the zip create trouble for the author while travelling in an
aeroplane?

155 Class IX - English

 Lesson 10
The Beggar Anton Chekhov

• This a moral story in which an arrogant lawyer thinks that he has saved the
life of a beggar by teaching him how to work for living.
• Advocate Sergei met a beggar who told a lie that he had been a school
teacher.
• Sergei recognised that he had met him in Sadovya Street, few days ago
and introduced himself as a student. Sergei warned him.
• Finally the beggar admitted that he was lying and told that he wants to
work. But nobody offered.
• The advocate gave him some work and asked to chop the wood.
• Olga the maid of Sergei helped Lushkoff the beggar in chopping the wood.
• Once Sergei sent him to work to his friend but the beggar never returned.
• The beggar met Sergei after two years in the Cinema hall. He told him now
he is working as a notary and earning good.
• The beggar told Sergei that Olga had actually saved him she became his
inspiration then he got success.

Activity
Complete the Sentences - Activity
1. The beggar pretended to be a.......................................(teacher/doctor)
2. The beggar wanted............................................(to work/to sing/to hide)
3. The beggar avoided to .................................................(work/hide/chop)
4. The beggar was not ............................................(healthy/hungry/weak)
5. The beggar went with Sergei for..................................(work/food/wood)
6. The beggar was..............................................(teacher/drunk/laborious)
7. The beggar did not want.............................................(to work/to sleep)
8. The beggar changed into.........................(better/lawyer/business man)
9. The beggar told Sergei Olga.............................(Made a reform in him)
(lawyer/he)
10. The beggar became .................................(notary/teahcer/doctor)

156 Class IX - English

 COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. The advocate, Sergei, looked at the sagged fawn coloured

overcoat of the suppliant, at his dull drunk eyes, at the red spot on
either cheek and it seemed to him as if he had seen this man some
where before.
Questions
a) Name the lesson
b) What kind of man did Sergei meet?
c) What did he feel after seeing that man?
d) Find the word which means the same as 'one who makes the
request.'

2. It was obvious from his gait that he had consented to go and chop
wood not because he was hungry and wanted work but simply
from pride and shame and because he bad been trapped by his
own word.
Questions
a) Who is 'he' in these lives?
b) Why was the beggar compelled to work?
c) Give the adjective of 'pride'.
3. I can't tell you, how much misery she suffered, how many tears she
shed for my sake. But the chief thing was she used to chop wood
for me.
Questions
a) Who is 'she' in the above lines?
b) How did she suffer?
c) How did she help the beggar.
d) Find a word from the passage that means the same as 'pain.'

SHORT QUESTIONS
Q.1 Why did Sergei offer a job to the beggar?

157 Class IX - English

Q.2 Why was the beggar embarrassed ?
Q. 3 How did Olga change Lushkoff?
Q. 4 Sergei and Olga had different ways of dealing with Lushkoff.
Whom do you think Lushkoff gives most of the credit?

LONG QUESTIONS
Q.1 Society has the power to reform a man' explain this on the basis of
your reading of the lesson "The Beggar".
Q.2 "Begging is an anti-social activity". Write how we can eradicate this
evil from our society.
Q.3 Write a note on Lushkoff's personality.
Q. 4 Write character sketch of Sergei.
Q. 5 Write down Sergei's contribution for Lushkoff.

158 Class IX - English

 ANSWER KEY
Moments
Lesson-1 The Lost Child
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. a) The Lost child

b) spring
c) some walked, some rode on horses, some by bamboo and
bullock carts.
d) gaily
2. a) for a toy
b) looked at him angrily
c) strict
d) angrily
3. a) because he was lost
b) The host child
c) his parents
d) weep

LONG QUESTIONS (VALUE POINTS)

1. • polite behaviour attracts child
• A child spends 5-6 hours with teachers during the week days and
are involved in lots of activities
• A teacher is the best guide.
• A teacher can mould the personality of his students by instilling a
lot of qualities into them.
• A teacher is a role model
• Influences children the most.
2. • Childhood, the most significant time
• Happiest time without any responsibility
• No stress and no burden
• Life carefree
• no targets and expectations
• innocence
• delights in everything around.

159 Class IX - English

 Lesson-2 The Adventures of Toto
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. a) the ticket collector

b) looking at Toto all of a sudden
c) was mode to pay for the monkey.
d) taken a back.
2. a) they could not keep Toto as pet for long
b) as they were not well to do.
c) by selling it back to the Tonga driver.
d) Well-to-do
3. a) because the grandmother made a fuss whenever a new pet was
brought.
b) to a big cage in servants quarter.
c) had many pets at home
d) transferred

LONG QUESTIONS (VALUE POINTS)

1. • tried to escape by making a rope.
• disturbed other pets.
• imitated the narrator in taking bath
• broke many things, tore the curtains.

2. • Animals too feel happy and safe in their natural habitat

• Freedom is precious.
• should not be captured or killed for amusement
• are important in maintaining ecological balance
• Should love and respect them as other living beings.

3. • try to understand animals and their behaviour

• They also reciprocate the same way
• need to be sympathetic and kind towards them
• Love is mutual.

160 Class IX - English

 Lesson-3 Iswaran the Storyteller
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. a) Iswaran the storytellers

b) Iswaran
c) Would try to work in Suspense and had a surprise ending to his
stories.
d) smaller
2. a) Iswaran the storyteller
b) Listening

LONG QUESTIONS (VALUE POINTS)

1. • Important to all stages of life.
• We can rely upon them, share our feelings, interest and time
• Good listeners, guides and supporters
• influence and imprise us
• We enjoy their company
• Friend in need is a friend indeed.
2. • Story-telling an art
• Good reader equipped with many idea.
• creativity also contributes
• Has to be a good observer
• right expression and body language
• a good speaker and performer
• a good sense of humour an additional advantage.

161 Class IX - English

 Lesson-4 In the Kingdom of Fools
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. a) The Guru and his Disciple

b) The king and his minister were dead
c) sleep during the day and work at night everything costs one
duddu
d) Foolish and silly.
2. a) The Guru
b) The King
c) to put his disciple and him to death.
d) to fulfil the promise
3. a) In the Kingdom of Fools
b) The Guru and his disciple
c) To find everyone sleeping during the day and awake at night
d) Amazed
4. a) The Guru and his disciple
b) to buy some groceries
c) to find everything cost some-one duddu
d) surprise

LONG QUESTIONS (VALUE POINTS)

1. • Wisdom enables to discern and decide between right and wrong.
• equips to tackle difficulties in a better way
• command respect
• Can use knowledge to grow and rise
• Open avenues for success.
2. • By maintaining law and orders
• Need of discipline
• Follow constitution
• A fair governing body
• No corruption and greed
• Good experience of governance
• Strict punishment and penalty for defaulters

162 Class IX - English

 Lesson-5 The Happy Prince
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. a) The Swallow
b) Under the statue of Happy Prince
c) The statue did not protect him from rain
d) kept
2. a) The happy Prince
b) The Swallow
c) to make Poor happy
d) Golden
3. a) had nothing precious left with him
b) to get leaves of gold
c) To buy bread
d) dull

LONG QUESTIONS (VALUE POINTS)

1. • humanity above all
• one needs to be selfless
• should share joys and sorrows
• man being social animal must contribute towards society and
community
2. • gives us satisfactions
• creates a deep sense of inner peace and solace
• the happiness of others make us happy too.
• money and other material things transitory
• real satisfaction and gain in serving others.
• One gain respect and love from other
• Leads one to be better being.

163 Class IX - English

 Lesson-6 Weathering the Storm in Ersama
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. a) They froze in cold.

b) He thought of his family.
c) Incessant
d) To his friend's house at Ersama

2. a) weathering the storm in Ersama

b) Prashant
c) 86 lives were lost & all 96 houses were washed away.
d) realized

3. a) He brought them together and put a polythene sheet shelter for

them.
b) Women looked after the children, men secured food and
materials for shelter.
c) Mobilised
d) Active, Brave, Helpful

LONG QUESTIONS (VALUE POINTS)

1. • Helps the victims, specially women and children
• Helps orphans form faster families
• Pursue people to work as volunteers
• Make efforts to save lives
• Take victims to safe places
• Injured to hospitals.
• Collects Money, food items, clothes, medicines etc.
• Donate Blood.

2. • Vacate the place immediately

• Arrange for First Aid
• Help Women and children
• Arrange Shelter, Water etc.

164 Class IX - English

 Lesson-7 The Last Leaf
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. a) The Last Leaf

b) Pneumonia
c) She is counting the falling leaves
d) Whisper
2. a) Doctor is talking to Sue.
b) Pneumonia
c) Because she has made up her mind that she is not going to get
well.
d) He has made his mind to shift to Delhi.

LONG QUESTIONS (VALUE POINTS)

1. • Behrman's supreme sacrifice.
• Poor old artist, had a dream to paint a masterpiece
• Johnsy linked her life to the falling ivy leaves
• Behrman decided to paint the leaf
• Painted a real-looking leaf
• saved Johnsy's life but he himself died.

2. • Thought shape our action.

• Person with good thoughts enjoys life.
• Pessimistic and negative thoughts ruin life
• Makes our life depressing
• Positive thoughts make us happy.
• Lead us to the right path.

165 Class IX - English

 Lesson-8 A House is not a Home
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. a) The boy (narrator)

b) Pessimistic
c) We should grow up and listen to others
d) A house is not a home

2. a) The boy (narrator)

b) To visit to the houses of his newly-made friends
c) Fake
d) He is feeling touched.

3. a) That their house was burnt.

b) He had no clothes, books, shoes or any other thing
c) plight
d) A house is not a home.

LONG QUESTIONS (VALUE POINTS)

1. • We shouldn't lose patience
• Think about solutions peacefully.
• Try to consult friends and family members
• Share our problems
• Make efforts to find solution

2. • Feels sad on losing a pet

• Cannot forget it
• Realize its value and importance
• Look at its old photos
• Feel sad, disturbed
• No Peace of mind

166 Class IX - English

 Lesson-9 The Accidental Tourist
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. a) Bill Bryson
b) He is a confused person
c) special
d) The Accidental Tourist

2. a) The Accidental Tourist

b) Bill Bryson
c) Because he had repeatedly drenched her
d) drenched

3. a) Bill's wife
b) Take the lids off for Daddy/Put you hoods up
c) Hid
d) Daddy was about to cut his meat

LONG QUESTIONS (VALUE POINTS)

1. • Maintain calm and self control
• Sit, Stand, walk carefully and continuously
• Carry minimal luggage
• Carry ID Cards, tickets etc. properly
• Take care of route, hotel bookings etc.
• Do not talk to strangers.

2. • Travelling gives immense joy

• Great stress buster
• Travel in Groups
• Carry Minimal Luggage
• Follow rules, norms
• Be Polite, Friendly and helpful

167 Class IX - English

 Lesson-10 The Beggar
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. a) Th Beggar
b) Dull Drunk, Beggar
c) He felt hat he had seen him before
d) Suppliant

2. a) The Beggar
b) Chopping Wood
c) Because he was trapped in his words
d) Shame

3. a) Olga
b) She shed many tears
c) She chopped wood for him
d) Misery

LONG QUESTIONS (VALUE POINTS)

1. • Man a social animal, driven by circumstances
• Depends on Social Environment
• Kind of company
• Good ones show right path
• Can reform with compassion and trust

2. • Counselling them to work instead of Begging

• Giving them works
• Hearing their problems/ providing solutions
• Giving some financial support
• Contacting NGOs

168 Class IX - English

 Solved Sample Question Paper No.1
English (Language & Literature)
Class : IX

Time : 3 Hrs. M. M. : 80
General Instructions :
(i) The question paper has been divided into three sections :
Sections A : Reading 20 marks
Sections B : Writing & Grammar 30 marks
Section C : Literature/ Textbooks 30 marks
(ii) All questions are compulsory.
(iii) Marks are indicated against each question.

SECTION ‘A’ : READING (20 MARKS)

1. Read the following passage and answer the questions that
follow : 1X8=8
Heavy rain in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand since
Friday claimed 27 lives, even as rivers continued to be in spate in
Bihar. Fifteen deaths were reported in Madhya Pradesh since
Friday evening as the Met department predicted more showers
and sounded heavy downpour alert for some districts on Sunday.
Three Indian Air Force aircraft dropped food packets and
medicines and flooded areas of Rewa district, Collector Rahul
Jain said. Seven people, including a woman and four minors,
were killed and three others were injured when a house collapsed
in Rahatgarh area of Sagar district on Saturday.
Two people, including an old woman, were also killed and
seven others were injured when a newly constructed building
collapsed due to incessant rains at Maihar in Satna district. A jeep
carrying two persons was swept away in the swollen Betwa river
as it attempted to cross a bridge in Raisen district. Three bodies
were recovered from a nullah on Saturday in Chhattarpur district.
The victims were travelling in a car that was washed away off a
bridge on the flooded nullah on Friday.
In Rajasthan, five people were killed when their house
collapsed in Phool Baroda village in Baran district due to
incessant rains since Saturday morning that created a flood like
situation in several parts of the state. Several people are feared

169 Class IX - English

 stranded in Chabra, Chipabarode, Kawai, Harnavadashahaji
areas as the Parvan, Parwati, Ujjad and other rivers are
overflowing after the rains.
Seven members of a family were killed when their hose was
razed to the ground by huge boulders that rolled down the hill
following a cloudburst in Pauri district of Uttrakhand on Saturday.
The Army was called in to the flood affected areas of Saran district
as senior officials also rushed to the spot. At least 24 people were
airlifted in Baran district and nearby areas. Several villages
remained inundated after water entered buildings, houses and a
private power plant in Baran.
(a) How many lives have been lost in heavy rain?
(b) What happened in Satna district?
(c) Who was the collector of Rewa district?
(d) Why was a jeep swept away?
(e) In which district does Phool Baroda village lie?
(f) How many people died in Rahatgarh area?
(g) Which rivers are overflowing after rains?
(h) Who rescued the lives of people in Baran district?
Q.2. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
( 2*4+1*4=12 marks)
One more Olympics has gone by. A total of 974 medals were won by 87
countries; 54 countries won at least one Gold. The U.S flew home with the best
medal tally of all time for that country with 121 medals. Notwithstanding the
individual brilliance and the face-saving medals of P.V.Sindhu and Sakshi
Malik, India's performance is the poorest among all big countries.
The discourse on this is an unhappy one: there has been a lot of hand-
wringing, blame on the Sports Ministry and sports administrators, complaints
about lack of facilities, grumbles about corruption being the villain, and so on.
India says the same things, once in four years, during and after every
Olympics. It should instead look for simple lessons, develop a strategy to win
medals and execute it diligently. No, I don't believe that India should be
planning for the Olympics scheduled eight or twelve years from now. While
long-term thinking is good, any leader will tell you that it is too slow. We should
aim to win a lot more medals in Tokyo in 2020. But how?
The final medals tally by country tells all sorts of stories. The top 22 countries
— those with a double —digit medals tally with a minimum of three gold
medals — took home a total of 702 medals, or 72 per cent of all medals. The
top ten suggests that only the established West (the U.S., Great Britain,

170 Class IX - English

Germany, France, Italy and Australia) along with Russia, Japan and SJuth
Korea will continue to dominate. The emergence of China is explained as "you
know the Chinese can dictate anything, so they are not comparable." It is often
implied that wealth and size are the reasons for the success of these
countries. They have the facilities and programmes in place. They are bound
to win. So goes the argument and acceptance.
This logic should be probed further. Olympics medals are won by people
between the ages of 15 to 29, with a few exceptions on either side of this age
band. I looked at the number of medal wins in relation to the population in the
age group 15 to 29 in each country, for which data is available. This was
juxtaposed with medals won, to calculate the numbers of medals won per lakh
of population in this age group. The story changes dramatically.
(a) What was the result of Olympics?
(b) How can India stand at the strong position in Olympics?
(c) How do the other countries dominate in Olympics?
(d) What are the short comings for the poor position in Olympics?
(e) Identify the word which means the same as 'a plan of action'(Para2)
(i) discourse (ii) wringing
(iii) complain (iv) strategy
(f) Identify the word which means the same as 'carry out'.(Para2)
(i) strategy (ii) execute
(iii) grumbles (iv) diligently
(g) Identify the word which means the same as 'suggested'.(Para3)
(ii) implied (ii) established
(iii) dominate (iv) explained
(h) Identify the word which means the same as
'investigated'.(Para4)
(i) exception (ii) juxtaposed
(iii) calculate (iv) probed

( SECTION 'B' : Writing and Grammar) :30 marks

Q.3 You visited an 'Old Home' with your friends . Using the hints given below
together with your own ideas, make a diary entry of what you saw and
experienced there. (8 marks)
Hints: Old Home — People mostly above Sixty years- a residence-
Peaceful surroundings-Spacious- good sanitation- regular medical
check up- feeling of co-operation- means of creation-A home away from
home

171 Class IX - English

 OR
"A man's manners are a mirror in which he shows his portrait". The quote
highlights the importance of good manners in life. Write an article for
school Magazine on 'Good Manners'. You may use the following hints
with your own ideas. ( 8 marks )
Hints: First step to success — need for good manners — makes life
easy with politeness — creates goodwill — use words like thank you,
please, sorry — important words — well mannered people liked by all.
Q.4 Write a story in 150-200 words based on the clues given below:
(10marks)
A boy was waiting for the bus on the bus stop. He saw an old man who
was just crossing the road. Suddenly a car was coming towards him from
the opposite side. Then he rushed to ...
OR

You are Poonam. You wanted to write a story but could not go beyond a
line or two. Taking help from the hints given below complete the story and
supply a suitable title and moral to it.

Mr. Vijay was a wealthy businessman. One day he was alone sitting at
his dining table when.......
Hints: entry of thief---Mr.Vijay thanked---to give company---------in the
evening----enjoyed food and drink----------gave a purse full of silver and
gold coins---------fortune changed---Vijay became poor---living alone ---
no food and drinks---a man emerged---recognised---the old thief ----a
bag full of money
Q.5. Read the sentence given below and fill in the blanks by choosing the
most appropriate options from the ones that follow: (1*4=4 marks)
He was (a)________at the news (b)_______the success of(c)______poor
candidate (d)______ got the highest votes in Bihar election.
(a) (i) surprising
(ii) surprise
(iii) surprised
(iv) having surprised
(b) (i) of
(ii) for
(iii) to
(iv) by

172 Class IX - English

 (c) (i) a
(ii) an
(iii) the
(iv) both
(d) (i) which
(ii) whose
(iii) whom
(iv) who
Q.6 The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each
line against which a blank has been given. Write the incorrect word 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. (1*4=4 marks)
Incorrect word Correction
Research is an detailed study of a eg. An a
subject undertaking on a systematic (a) ________ _______
basis in order to increase a stock of (b) ________ _______
knowledge, including knowledge for man, (c) ________ _______
culture and society, that the use of this stock ( d ) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_______
of knowledge to devise new applications.
Q.7 Rearrange the jumbled words and phrases into meaningful
sentences.
(1*4=4 marks)
(a) in/the cactus/very hot,/grows/dry places/and
(b) Do not/leaves/have/they/but/spiny needles.
(c) Flowers/are/and/bloom/some of them/Cactus/at night/big,
(d) Absorb/from fog/water/in the air/Cacti can/in the desert

SECTION 'C'(Literature /Textbooks:30 Marks)

Q.8. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
(1*4=4marks)
Margie went into the schoolroom. It was right next to her bedroom, and
the mechanical teacher was on and waiting for her. It was always on at
the same time every day except Saturday and Sunday, because her
mother said little girls learned better if they learned at regular hours.

173 Class IX - English

 (a) Where was Margie's schoolroom?
(b) Who was waiting for Margie?
(c) What did Margie's mother say?
(d) Which days of the week Margie had no school?
OR
Then the matter
Of scorching and choking
In sun and air,
Browning, hardening'
Twisting, withering,
And then it is done.
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) How is the tree uprooted?
(c) What does 'it is done' refer to here?
(d) Find out the word from the passage which means 'causing to
become dry and discoloured'.
Q.9. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each. (2*5=10 marks)
(a) What message does Evelyn Glennie leave for the people about
music?
(b) Why did the poet not take the first road?
(c) How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?
(d) Why did the child lose interest in the things that he wanted earlier?
(e) How did Olga treat Lushkoff in the beginning?
Q.10 "Kezia's efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very
much." How did this happen? (8 marks)
OR
How did Bruno become an integral part of the narrator's family?
Q.11. How did the prince and the swallow help the poor? (8 marks)
OR
Justify the title 'The Last Leaf'.

174 Class IX - English

 Marking Scheme
English (Language & Literature)
Class-IX
General Instructions:
1. The Marking Scheme provides general guidelines to reduce subjectivity
and maintain uniformity. The answer given in the marking scheme are the
best suggested answers.
2. Marking be done as per the instructions provided in the marking scheme.
(It should not be done according to one's own interpretation or any other
consideration).
3. Alternative methods be accepted. Proportional marks be awarded.
4. If a question is attempted twice and the candidate has not crossed any
answer, only first attempt be evaluated and 'EXTRA' be written with the
second attempt.
5. In case where no answers are given or answers are found wrong in this
Marking Scheme, correct answers may be found and used for valuation
purpose.

SECTION - A (Reading : 20 Marks)

Q.1. (a) 27 lives ( 1*8=8 mark)
(b) a newly constructed building collapsed due to incessant rains at
Maihar in Satna district.
(c) Rahul Jain
(d) the swollen Betwa river as it attempted to cross a bridge
(e) Baran district
(f) Seven people, including a woman and four minors, were killed
(g) the Parvan, Parwati, Ujjad, Betwa and other rivers are overflowing
after the rains
(h) the Army
Q.2. (a). A total of 974 medals were won by 87 countries; 54 countries won at
least one Gold. The U.S flew home with the best medal tally of all
time for that country with 121 medals. ( 2 mark)
(b) India should develop a strategy to win medals and execute it
diligently. Facilities should be provided to the players. They should
work hard and take a training honestly. (2 mark)
(c) It is often implied that wealth and size are the reasons for the
success of the other countries. They have the facilities and
programmes in place. They are bound to win. The age of most of the
players lies between 15 — 29. ( 2 mark)

175 Class IX - English

 (d) There has been a lot of hand-wringing , blame on the Sports
Ministry and sports administrators, complaints about lack of
facilities, grumbles about corruption being the villain, lack of
strategy and so on. 2 marks
(e) (iv) strategy 1
(f) (ii) execute 1
(g) (ii)implied 1
(h) (iv) probed 1

( Section 'B' — Writing and Grammar : 30 marks)

Q.3 DIARY ENTRY
Format- 1 mark
Content- 4 mark
Expression- 3 mark
Answer.
Haridwar
21 May 2018
Monday, 10:00 pm
Dear Diary,
It has become a fashion of nuclear family where the old people find
themselves deserted and alone. They are not looked after by their
children. The concept of 'Old homes' is for such old people. I decided to
visit such a place at Haridwar. The Home is situated at a peaceful place.
The building is simple but spacious and clean. It seems to be an ideal
place for those who are above sixty.
A doctor visits the Home daily to check up the senior citizens. A
nurse was also employed to look after and give them medicine on time.
The Home has a good library and several means of recreation. They
work together and show their love to one another. What a rewarding visit
it was!
Hardik
OR
GOOD MANNERS
BY______________
Good Manners refers to polite, humble, courteous, respectful and
well cultured social behaviour. It means behaving nicely and conducting
oneself appropriately according to the circumstances.
Good Manners are important. They demonstrate respect for other
people. Further, a well —mannered man is respected and esteemed
wherever he goes and esteemed in whatever condition of life he may be.
A rich man without good manners is hated in an ideal society whereas a

176 Class IX - English

 poor man, with tattered clothes, having good manners is sure to attract
everyone's attention and win everybody's liking. Manners are observed
in every walk o life. At home we should respect our elders and love
youngers. We should co-operate each other in the society. We should
maintain discipline in the class and treat all as equals.
Good Manners are important for success at workplace. The Boss
wants subordinates to have good etiquette and use the words like
'please' and thank you.
It has been rightly said that 'manners make a man'. Good manners
differs from country to country. But one thing is common that well
mannered people are liked by people.
Q.4 STORY WRITING 10 Marks
Title and Moral - 1 mark
Content - 4 mark
Expression - 5 mark

The Return Gift

Mr. Vijay was a very wealthy business man. One day he was sitting alone
at his dining table. Suddenly he heard someone's footsteps coming to
him. He knew there was a thief there. He asked him to come in. He also
thanked him for coming to his house on his birthday. He served the thief
food and drinks. The thief was starving and impressed with his
hospitality. Mr. Vijay gave him a bag containing silver and gold coins.
Years rolled by, his fortune changed. Vijay was a very poor man now. His
business was ruined.
It was his 60th birthday. He was alone reflecting over his good old days.
Suddenly the bell rang. He went to the door to open the gate. A person in
new suit with a lovely bouquet of red roses appeared. But he could not
recognise at first sight. He asked, "I am your old thief." With the money
you gave me I did some business. Now I am rich business man. Let's
celebrate your birthday, he said. He gave a bag to Mr .Vijay. It was full of
new currency .
Moral : A good behaviour and kindness brings one to the new life.
Q.5. (a) (iii) surprised ( 1 * 4= 4 marks)
(b) (i) of
(c) (i) a
(d) (iv)who
Q.6. (a) undertaking — undertaken
(b) a — the
(c) for — of
(d) that — and ( 1 * 4= 4 marks)

178 Class IX - English

Q. 7. (a) The Cactus grows in very hot and dry places. (1 * 4=4marks)
(b) They do not have leaves, but spiny needles.
(c) Cactus flower are big, and some of them bloom at night.
(d) Cacti can absorb water from fog in the air in the desert.

SECTION'C' (Literature Textbook :30 Marks)

Q.8. (a) right next to her bedroom (1 * 4=4marks)
(b) the mechanical teacher
(c) her mother said little girls learned better if they learned at regular
hours.
(d) Saturday and Sunday
OR
(a) Poem - On Killing a Tree
Poet - Gieve Patel
(b) The Tree is uprooted when it is left in the sun and dry air.
(c) The job of killing of a tree is done.
(d) withering
Q.9. (a) Evelyn was keenly interested in music since childhood. Evelyn's
strong determination and hard work brought her good result. She
says, " If you work and know where you are going, you will get
there." (2 Marks)
(b) The poet did not take the first road because it was much trodden
and taken by most of the people. He wanted to do something
different from others. He chose the challenging path. (2 Marks)
(c) Santosh wanted to climb the Aravalli Hills. She went there and met
a few mountaineers. They let her join them. Then she began
climbing mountains. (2 Marks)
(d) because he lost his parents who were his world. The child cannot
live without his parents who care and look after him. (2 Marks)
(b) Olga treated Lush koff in the beginning very badly. She called him
drunkard, a dog etc. She also rebuked him. She would look into his
face and weep. (2 Marks)
Q.10 * Kezia's grandmother told her to make a nice pin-cushion for
the father.
* made some efforts and took some papers lying on the table.
* filled these papers after tearing into small piece in her cushion.
* paper contained father's speech for the Port Authority .
* knowing the work of Kezia mother became angry and was dragged
her to the father.
* father beat her with a ruler and could not hear her explanation.
OR

179 Class IX - English

 Bruno was riding on his mother's back when she was killed by the
narrator's friend.---------
After her death he caught him and brought to his wife as a present-----
The narrator's wife treated him as her child and attached to him.---------
Bruno became a friend of the pets----------
fell ill all worried about him-----------
sent to zoo, the narrator's wife left the food and wept like a child----------
Bruno back into their lives ----it was bond of love.
Q.11. The Prince saw the people suffering in his city after his death-----wanted
to do something for his people ---requested the swallow to stay with him
requested him to fly over the city and report what he saw------The Happy
Prince worked on his report and decided to help them with gold----told
the swallow to take off gold from his body and give it to the poor like the
seamstress, the match girl and the play wright------He made supreme
sacrifice. God appreciated his services and welcomed him in
Paradise. 8 Marks
OR
Johnsy and Sue had a similar taste and lived in the same flat---suffered
with Pneumonia---------developed a foolish superstition that she would
die the moment the last ivy leaf fell down from the front wall-------had
given up the will to live.......Sue was worried about her-----took wise
decision ----went to Behrman and discussed the matter------Behrman
painted a leaf------was a masterpiece-------saved Johnsy life- ---she
realised her mistake--------regained the will to live-------it was due to the
painted leaf which neither shook nor fell down. In this way the last leaf is
an apt and appropriate title of the story. The story spins round the last
leaf.

180 Class IX - English

 Solved Sample Question Paper No.2
English (Language & Literature)
Class : IX

Time : 3 Hrs. M. M. : 80
General Instructions :
(i) The question paper has been divided into three sections :
Sections A : Reading 20 marks
Sections B : Writing & Grammar 30 marks
Section C : Literature/ Textbooks 30 marks
(ii) All questions are compulsory.
(iii) Marks are indicated against each question.

SECTION ‘A’ : READING (20 MARKS)

1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions
that follow. 1X8=8
1. Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. When areas in and
around Leh began to experience water shortages, life didn't grind to a
halt. Why? Because Chewang Norphel, a retired civil engineer in the
Jammu and Kashmir government came up with the idea of artificial
glaciers.
2. Ladakh, a cold desert at an altitude of 3,000-3,500 metres above sea
level, has a low average annual rainfall rate of 50mm. Glaciers have
always been the only source of water. Agriculture is completely
dependent on glacier melt unlike the rest of river/monsoon-fed India.
But over the years with increasing effects of climate change, rainfall
and snowfall patterns have been changing, resulting in severe
shortage and drought situations. Given the severe winter conditions,
the window for farming is usually limited to one harvest season.
3. It is located between the natural glacier above and the village below.
The one closer to the village and lowest in altitude melts first,
providing water during April/May, the crucial sowing season. Further
layers of ice above melt with increasing temperature thus ensuring
continuous supply to the fields. Thus, farmers have been able to
manage two crops instead of one. It costs about Rs.1,50,000 and
above to create one.
4. Fondly called the "glacier man", Mr. Norphel has designed over 15
artificial glaciers in and around Leh since 1987. In recognition of his

181 Class IX - English

 pioneering effort, he was conferred the Padma Shri by President
Pranab Mukherjee, in 2015.
5. There are few basic steps followed in creating the artificial glacier.
6. River or stream water at higher altitude is diverted to a shaded area of
the hill, facing north, where the winter sun is blocked by a ridge or a
mountain range. At the start of winter/November , the diverted water
is made to flow onto sloping hill face through distribution channels.
Stone embankments are built at regular intervals which impede the
flow of water, making shallow pools and freeze, forming a cascade of
ice along the slope. Ice formation continues for 3-4 months resulting
in a large accumulation of ice which is referred to as an "artificial
glacier". (349 words)
1.1 Attempt any eight of the following questions on the basis of the
passage : (1X8=8Marks)
i. Who was Chewang Norphel?
ii. What kind of land form is Ladakh?
iii. Why have Glaciers been the only source of water for Ladakh?
iv. Why has the pattern of snowfall and rainfall changed?
v. How are Glaciers significant for irrigation?
vi. How do farmers manage to grow two crops instead of one?
vii. In which year did President Pranab Mukherjee confer Padma
Shri to Mr. Norphel?
viii. How many months does the ice formation continue for?
ix. Find the word in the paragraph 6 which means the same as
'gathering'?

Q2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Have you ever failed at something so miserably that the thought of
attempting to do it again was the last thing you wanted to do?
2. If your answer is yes, then you are "not a robot." Unlike robots, we
human beings have feelings, emotions, and dreams. We are all
meant to grow and stretch despite our circumstances and our
limitations. Flourishing and trying to make our dreams come true is
great when life is going our way. But what happens when it's not?
What happens when you fail despite all of your hard work? Do you
stay down and accept the defeat or do you get up again and again

182 Class IX - English

 until you are satisfied? If you have a tendency to persevere and keep
going then you have what experts call, grit.
3. Falling down or failing is one of the most agonizing, embarrassing,
and scariest human experiences. But it is also one of the most
educational, empowering, and essential parts of living a successful
and fulfilling life. Did you know that perseverance (grit) is one of the
seven qualities that have been described as the keys to personal
success and betterment in society? The other six are: curiosity,
gratitude, optimism, self-control, social intelligence, and zest.
Thomas Edison is a model for grit for trying 1,000 plus times to invent
the light bulb. If you are reading this with the lights on in your room,
you know well he succeeded. When asked why he kept going despite
his hundreds of failures, he merely stated that what he had been not
failures. They were hundreds of ways not to create a light bulb. This
statement not only revealed his grit but also his optimism for looking
at the bright side
4. Grit can be learned to help you become more successful. One of the
techniques that helps is mindfulness. Mindfulness is a practice that
helps the individual stay in the moment by bringing awareness of his
or her experience without judgement. This practice has been used to
quiet the noise of their fears and doubts. Through this simple practice
of mindfulness, individuals have the ability to stop the self-
sabotaging downward spiral of hopelessness, despair, and
frustration.
5. What did you do to overcome the negative and self-sabotaging
feelings of failure? Reflect on what you did, and try to use those same
powerful resources to help you today.
2.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following
questions in about 30-40 words each . (2x4=8)
i. According to the passage, what are the attributes of a human?
ii. What is perceived as grit?
iii. How is 'failing' an educational and empowering part of human
life?
iv. How does mindfulness help?
2.2 On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the
following:1x4=4
i. While inventing the light bulb, Thomas Edison had failed____
a. 1000 times b. 10000 plus times
c. 1000 plus times d. 10000 times

183 Class IX - English

 ii. Failure is a part of_______ life.
a. normal b. common
c. human d. ordinary
iii. In paragraph 2, __________means continue.
a. robots b. satisfied
c. persevere d. flourishing
iv. _________helps in preventing individuals from going down the
lines of despair.
a. success b. fear
c. doubt d. mindfulness

SECTION B : ( WRITING AND GRAMMAR) 30 MARKS

Q3 The climate throughout the world is changing. It has already
disturbed weather patterns by increasing rainfall in some areas and
decreasing it in others. The temperature is increasing day by day. It
results as frequent hurricanes , tornadoes, floods, tsunamis, etc.
Write an article in about 100-120 words for your school magazine on
the topic 'Global Warming : A Threat to the Life' . 8 marks
(Hints : Global warming; Rise in avg. temperature, Melting of
glaciers, Due to pollution & human activities)
Q4 Develop a short story with the help of the given Starting line .Give a
suitable title to your story . (150-200 words) 10 marks
It was an amazing day , full of fun and frolic . We all stood amazed to
see a strange flying object over our heads . We started
guessing.....
Q5 Fill in the blanks choosing the most appropriate option from the ones
given in the box. ( 1 x 4 = 4 marks )
1. Butterflies are abundant( a)____the Central African Republic
2. It (b)_____home to nearly 600 identified species.
3. Many butterflies are brilliantly coloured and small ______( c)
some are as big as saucers.
4. My favourite hobby, since my childhood, is ______(d)
butterflies.
1.(a ) ( i) in (ii ) from (iii) for (iv) into

184 Class IX - English

 2.(b ) (i) has (ii) is (iii) was (iv) are
3.(c ) (i) if (ii) therefore (iii) so (iv ) while
4.(d) ( i) catch (ii ) caught (iii) catching (iv) has been catching
Q 6. In the following passage one word has not been edited in each line.
Write the incorrect word along with the correct word in the space
provided . ( 4 marks )
incorrect correct
In Himalayas ,the desert is turning green . e.g. the a
Climate change in a Indian region of a)______ _____
Ladakh has shrunk glaciers or has made rainfall
b)______ _____
and temperature unpredictable. Water has c)______ _____
needed to irrigating the fields . d)______ _____
Farmers may require aid from the government.
Q7. Rearrange the following word or phrases to make meaningful
sentences. (4 marks )
i. enters / millions tons / the/ every year / of / ocean /plastic
ii. population / middle-class / increasing / is / coastlines / along
iii. trash/ increase/ has led / waste management/lack/of/in / to
iv. close/like/ others/ helping/my/friends

SECTION C LITERATURE (30 MARKS)

Q8 Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that
follow. (1x4= 4marks)
Her mother remembers noticing something was wrong when the
eight-year old Evelyn was waiting to play the piano. They called her
name and she didn't move.
A. What was wrong with Evelyn?
B. Who noticed something wrong with Evelyn?
C. How was the wrong noticed?
D. Explain this line : They called her name and she didn't move.'
OR

185 Class IX - English

 So the swallow plucked out the Prince's eye, and flew away to the
young man's garret. It was easy enough to get in, as there was a hole
in the roof. Through this he darted, and came into the room. The
young man had his head buried in his hands, so he did not hear the
flutter of the bird's wings, and when he looked up he found the
beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets.
i. Why did the swallow pluck the Prince's eye?
ii. Why could the young man not hear the flutter of the bird's wings?
iii. What did the young man find after waking up?
iv. What is meant by the word 'withered'?
Q9. Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words :
(2X5 =10 marks)
I. Who decided to improve on the quality of the 'Pungi' ? Did he
succeed in his endeavour?
II. What pleasure does one gain from the rain falling on the roof?
III. When the Swallow died, what unusual thing happened?
IV. When does the disciple remember the words of his Guru?
V. How did Santosh develop a liking for climbing?
Q10. Answer one of the questions in about (100-150) words)
(8 Marks)
A fearful situation makes us lose our senses. Express your views with
reference to 'The Snake and the Mirror' on the doctor's reaction in not
more than 80-100 words.
OR
How did Maria Sharapova overcome the challenges, humiliations
and insults to become number 1 in women's tennis ?
Q11. Attempt any one out of two long answer type questions in (100-
150 words) 8 marks
Johnsy could not get better despite the doctor and her friend Sue's
ministrations. Describe the negative feeling that keep one ailing and
also the values which remove such feelings and Infuse a person with
a desire to live.
OR
How does the behaviour of the child before and after his separation
from the parents show that he has great love for his parents?

186 Class IX - English

 Marking Scheme
English (Language & Literature)
Class-IX
General Instructions:
1. The Marking Scheme provides general guidelines to reduce subjectivity
and maintain uniformity. The answer given in the marking scheme are the
best suggested answers.
2. Marking be done as per the instructions provided in the marking scheme.
(It should not be done according to one's own interpretation or any other
consideration).
3. Alternative methods be accepted. Proportional marks be awarded.
4. If a question is attempted twice and the candidate has not crossed any
answer, only first attempt be evaluated and 'EXTRA' be written with the
second attempt.
5. In case where no answers are given or answers are found wrong in this
Marking Scheme, correct answers may be found and used for valuation
purpose.

SECTION - A (Reading : 20 Marks)

Q.1. i. a retired civil engineer 1X8=8
ii. cold desert
iii. Ladakh is a cold desert at 3000-3500 meters ,annual rainfall rate of
50mm
iv. climate change
v. Glaciers provide water in the months of April/May which is crucial
for irrigation
vi. Glaciers and their layers close to the village melt and provide water
vii. 2015
viii. 3-4 months
ix. Accumulation
Q2
2.1 2X4=8
i. feelings, emotions, and dreams; meant to grow ;flourishing and
trying to make our dreams come true is great when life is going our
way
ii. If you have a tendency to persevere and keep going then you have
what experts call grit.

187 Class IX - English

 iii. Failing teaches how to be perseverant and keep going for ones
goals. Each failure makes one understand what to do and what not
to do.
iv. Do not accept defeat; effort to overcome limitations; not to stay
down.
v. Mindfulness is a practice that helps the individual stay in the
moment by bringing awareness of his or her experience without
judgement. This practice is a technique that many have used to
quiet the noise of their fears and doubts.
2.2 1X4=4
i. 1000 plus
ii. human
iii. Persevere
iv. agonising
v. Mindfulness

SECTION C WRITING AND GRAMMAR SECTION ( 30 MARKS )

Q. 3 LETTER WRITING 8 MARKS
FORMAT 1 Mark
CONTENT 4 Marks
ACCURACY 1.5 Marks
FLUENCY 1.5 Marks
Q.4 STORY WRITING 10 Marks
TITLE
CONTENT 4 Marks
ACCURACY 2.5 Marks
FLUENCY 2.5 Marks
Q.5 GAP FILLING 1 x 4 = 4 Marks
a) (i) in
b) (ii) is
c) (iv) ) but
d) (iv) finds
e) (iii) catching
Q6. EDITING 4marks
Incorrect Correct
(a) a the
(b) or and

188 Class IX - English

 (c) has is
(d) irrigating irrigate
Q7 SENTENCE RE- ORDERING 4 MARKS
a) Millions tons of plastic enters the ocean every year .
b) Sightings of junk filled waters are common .
c) Middle — class population is increasing along coastlines .
d) Lack of waste management has led to increase in trash .
e) My close friends like helping others.

SECTION-C LITERATURE (30 Marks)

Q8 1X4=4MARKS
A. Evelyn was deaf and dumb
B. Her mother
C. When her mother called she did not move.
D. This line means that when Evelyn was called, she didn't respond
OR
i. The Swallow did what he was told to by the Prince. It was to help the
young playwright.
ii. He was so tired of hunger and cold that he was unconscious of the
bird's presence.
iii. Beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets.
iv. Faded
Q9. (1 for content)
(1 for grammatical accuracy)
I. A barber decided to improve the tonal quality of the 'pungi'. After
improving the body of the pipe he played the instrument before
royalty and everyone was impressed. (2)
II. One enjoys a blissful warmth of a cozy bed and listen to the rain's
music. (2)
III. Leaden heart of the Prince broke with dreadful curious cracking
sound due to grief and shock. (2)
IV. When arrested by servants of the king to be executed as he fitted
the new stake.
V. Santosh got to spend some time witnessing the wonderful nature
around the Aravali Hills . she used to watch the villagers going up
the hills and then suddenly vanishing. it inspired her to explore the

189 Class IX - English

 hills. She met the Mountaineering group. The mountaineers
allowed her to join them and encourage her to take up climbing.
Q.10 8marks
(4 for Content + 2 for Fluency + 2 for Grammatical Accuracy )
– Live a contented life,
– Best quoted phrase is 'Honesty is the best policy'
– Simple living and high thinking,
– we should not run after materialistic world
– we must not think beyond our limits.
OR
– Maria Sharapova had to pay a price to reach the to reach the top
– The Tennis excellence came only at a price the world of tennis was
highly competitive
– Little Mario was not even 10 when she was packed off to a train in
the United States
– That trip to Florida with her father Uri put her on the path to success
and stardom
– She also got a heart wrenching separation from her mother for 2
years
– Her senior pupils insulted her and make her work hard
– She learnt how to take care of herself
– She continued pursuing her dream she won the women's single
Crown at Wimbledon in 2004
– The greatest honour came to her in 2005 she goes to the world
number one in the following year
Q 11. 8MARKS
(4 for Content + 2 for Fluency + 2 for Grammatical Accuracy )
– Johnsy was suffering from pneumonia went into depression
– Her long treatment made her think that she would not survive
– From the window of a room she could see a creeper which was
gradually shedding its leaves
– Despair set in making her imagine the worst
– She started associating her life with the leaves
– each day she counted the leaves and decided that the day the last
leaf would shed, she too would die
– She lost her will to recover and stopped responding to the treatment
– She became convinced for an impending death

190 Class IX - English

– It reveals how a negative state of mind can block hope and recovery
– When German painted relief of the creeper which did not fall in spite
of the storm its give her hope
– Hope replaced negative thoughts by positive ones. It revived her
will to live. She started responding to the treatment
OR
– The child look happy when I entered th the fair.
– He was fascinated by all the things he saw, like garland of
gulmohar, balloons, sweets
– The child key to keen interest in the music played by the snake
charmer
– When he was separated from his parents, his mood was totally
different.
– He was filled with fear and restlessness. Tears started rolling down
his cheeks. A kind hearted man lifted him up.
– He took him to the roundabout and offered him other things but the
child had no interest in all these things.
– He wanted to go back to his parents
– Thus, his behaviour shows that he had great love for his parents

191 Class IX - English

 Sample Question Paper
English (Language & Literature)
(Unsolved)
Class : IX
Time : 3 Hrs. M. M. : 80
SECTION ‘A’ : READING (20 MARKS)
1. Read the passage given below and complete the sentence
that follow : 1X8=8
There is a story about a lioness, who was big and young
going about in search of pray. Seeing a flock of sheep, she jumped
upon them. She died in effort and a little baby lion was born,
motherless. It was taken care of by the sheep. The sheep brought
it up. It grew up with them, ate grass and bleated like sheep. And in
time it became a big full grown lion, thinking it to be a sheep.
One Day another lion came in search of prey and was
astonished to find that in the midst of this flock of sheep was a lion,
fleeting like sheep at the approach of danger. He tried to get near
the sheep lion to tell it that it was not a sheep but a lion, but the
poor animal fled at this approach. However he watched his
opportunity and one day found the sheep-lion sleeping. He
approached it and said."You are a lion." "I am a sheep," cried the
other lion and could not believe the contrary, but bleated. The Lion
dragged him towards a lake and said, "Look here, here is my
reflection and yours." Then came the comparison. He looked at
the lion and then at his own reflection and in a moment came the
idea that he was a lion. The lion roared, the bleating was gone.
Questions :
(a) The big and young lioness jumped upon a flock of sheep
because......
(b) The sheep took care of the baby lion because......
(c) The another lion was surprised to see.......
(d) The other lion dragged the sheep-lion to a lake because.....
(e) The word in the passage which mean the same as 'animal
hunted' is.......

192 Class IX - English

 (f) The lion wanted other lion to know the..........
(g) The sheep...........while the lion.......
Q.2 Read the passage given below:-
Cardamom, the queen of all spices, has a history as old as the
human race. It is the dried fruits of a herbaceous perennial plant.
Warm humid climate, loamy soil rich in organic matter, distributed
rainfall and special cultivation and processing methods all
combine to make Indian cardamom truly unique in aroma, flavour,
size and it has a parrot green colour.
Two types of cardamom are produced in India. The first type is the
large one, which has not much significance as it is not traded in the
future market. It is cultivated in North-Eastern area of the country.
The second type is produced in the Southern states and these are
traded in the future market. These are mainly cultivated in Kerala,
Tamilnadu and Karnataka. As per the future market rules, only
7mm quality was previously traded in exchanges. But later, it
relaxed its norms, and now 6mm quality is also traded in the
exchanges.
Cardamom is an expensive spice, second only to safforn. Indian
cardamom is known in two main varieties : Malabar cardamom
and Mysore Cardamom. The Mysore variety contains levels of
cineol and limonene and hence is more aromatic.
India was the world's largest producer and exporter of cardamom
till the 1980s. By 1990s Guatemala emerged as the leading
producer and exporter of cardamom.
The main harvest season of cardamom in India between August-
February. Cardamom reaches yielding stage two years after
planting. The primary physical markets of cardamon are kumily,
Vandenmodu, Jhekkady, Puliyarmala in Kerala and
Bodynaikkanur and Cumbum in Tamil Nadu.
Kerala is the main producer of cardamom and contributes up to
60% in total production. Karanataka produces around 25%
cardamom of the total production. Ooty is the main producer of
cardamom in Tamil Nadu and contributes around 10-15% of the
total production.
Besides India, Guatemala also produces around 2, 200 ton

193 Class IX - English

 cardamom. On the other hand India produces nearly 1,000 - 2,000
ton cardamom per year. Due to low quality of cardamom from
Guatemala, it remains available at cheaper rates.
On the basis of your reading of the above passage answer the
following questions :- (2 x 4 = 8 marks)
a) Why is Indian Cardamon unique?
b) What is the special about the Mysore quality of cardamom ?
c) What role does Guatemala play in the Indian market ?
d) Write two sentences on the harvesting of cardamom.
(B) Find words from the options given below which mean the
same as : ( 1 x 4 = 4 marks)
e) permanent
i) unique ii) perennial iii) exotic iv) old
f) fragrance
i) herbaceous ii) loamy iii) aroma iv) humid
g) earlier
i) substitute ii) exported iii) main iv) previously
h) make poor is quality lay adding another substances
i) adulterated ii) emerged iii) contribute iv) remain

SECTION B (Writing and Grammar) (30 marks)

3. You had the most difficult examination today, but you did it easily
and are happy about it. Write a diary entry about it in about 100-200
words. Remember to mention the subject and the initial anxiety
you had felt prior to the paper.
OR
Write an article for your school magazine about "the problems and
stress faced by the teenagers". 8 marks
4. Your uncle was badly hurt in a road accident and had to be

194 Class IX - English

 hospitalised. Narrate your experience in the form of a story in 200-
250 words with an apt title.
OR
Write out a story making use of the given outlines : ( 200-250
words)
A house near Ganges ............ father goes to another village
.............. son incharge of the house .......... the river in flood
............... water everywhere .............. mother and sister in danger
a boat near the house .................. saves the family.
5. Choose the most appropriate option from the ones given below to
complete the following passage. 4 marks
Since the beginning of human existence, people (a) ......................
over the world have expressed their emotions and idea (b)
...................... the medium of dance. The word 'folk' mean people.
Folk dances express the moods and feelings of (c) .................
common people. Different regions (d) ...................... India have
their own dances (e) .................. dance is accompanied by music
and songs of the region to (f) ................... it belongs (g) ................
recent times folk dances have gained (h) ........................
popularity, partly because of films and television shows.
a) i) all b) i) in
ii) whole ii) into
iii) much iii) through
iv) more iv) of
c) i) the d) i) at
ii) a ii) of
iii) an iii) for
iv) some iv) from
e) i) each f) i) what
ii) all ii) which

195 Class IX - English

 iii) whole iii) who
iv) Many iv) whose
g) i) of h) i) great
ii) for ii) for
iii) in iii) much
iv) until iv) many
6. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in
each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction in the
answer sheet as given below :
Often these days we hear and speak of conquered a) ............... .............
in nature, the timing of a river, the war against insect b) ............... .............
and so on. Often these phrases being used without consciously c) ...............
.............
attaching any value of them, but those have an d) ............... .............
underlying attitude of hostile towards nature and nature's e) ............... .............
creatures, a viewpoint which seeming to assume f) ............... .............
Nature as an enemy that need to be vanquished. g) ............... .............
Alternatively, Nature is seen merely as the 'resource' to be h) ............... .............
'exploited'.

7. Look at the word and phrases below, Rearrange them to form

meaningful sentences in your answer sheet. 4 marks
i) a clever/a/prisoner/planned/escape/once.
ii) of rubbish/he/every week/noticed/a lorry/arriving/inside
iii) a big dustbin/he/one day/hid/himself/inside
iv) escaped/with/he/the/dustbin/one day

SECTION C : LITERATURE TEXTBOOKS (30 marks)

8. Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow :4 marks
Two road diverged in a yellow wood.
And sorry I could not travel both

196 Class IX - English

 And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
Questions
a) Where were the two roads going into ?
b) What did the poet do when he reached the junction
c) Why does the poet feel sorry ?
d) What do you understand by 'diverged' ?
OR
"I used to watch villagers from my room, going up the hill and
suddenly vanishing after a while. One day I decided to check it out
myself. I found nobody except a few mountaineers. I asked if I
could join them. To my pleasant surprise, they answered in the
affirmative and motivated me to take to climbing."
Questions
a) Who is 'I' here ? Where was she ?
b) What does she see from her room ?
c) Who motivated her to take to climbing?
d) Find a word from the passage which mean opposite to
'negative'.
9. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each :
(2 x 5 =10 marks)
a) How did Evelyn lose her hearing capacity ?
b) Who was Albert Einstein ? Why is he famous ?
c) How did Harris and George irritate Jerome ?
d) What happened when Prashant had gone to visit his friend in
Ersama ?
e) How did Iswaran pass his free time ?

197 Class IX - English

10. Answer one of the following questions in about 100-150 words.
(8 marks)
The author depicts the need for a good interpersonal relationship
in the grandfather's Zoo. Do you agree ?
OR
Why did Kezia's father punish her ? Was the punishment well-
deserved ? Why/Why not ? Give reasons for your answer.
11. Answer one of the following questions in about 100 -150
words. ( 8 marks)
' A friend in need is a friend indeed ; Discuss with reference in Sue.
or
Sergei told Lushkoff that he had given him a push in the right path
but what Lushkoff told him came as a surprise to him. What did
Lushkoff tell Sergei about his change of heart ?

198 Class IX - English