SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER - 4
Communicative English (101)
Class IX (2024-25)
Time Allowed: 3 hours Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:
Read the following instructions very carefully and strictly follow them:
1. This question paper has 10 questions. All questions are compulsory.
2. This question paper contains three sections: Section A: Reading Skills, Section B:
Writing Skills Section C: Grammar Section D: Literature Textbook
3. Attempt all questions based on specific instructions for each part. Write the correct
question number and part thereof in your answer sheet.
4. Separate instructions are given with each question/part, wherever necessary.
5. Adhere to the prescribed word limit while answering the questions
SECTION A : READING SKILLS (20 marks)
1. Read the text carefully and answer the questions: [10]
Lines Written in Early Spring
I heard a thousand blended notes,
While in a grove I sate reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.
To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.
Through primrose tufts, in that green bower
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And 'tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.
The birds around me hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure:-
But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.
The budding twigs spread out their fan,
To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.
If this belief from heaven be sent,
If such be Nature's holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What man has made of man?
-William Wordsworth
(i) The poet is sitting ________.
a) in a small wood b) in his office
c) in his house d) in the garden
(ii) The poet finds the ________ hopping and playing.
(iii) In the line, What man has made of man the mood of the poet is ________.
a) thoughtful b) excited
c) surprised d) happy
(iv) According to the poet, Nature's message to all living beings is _________.
(v) The word lament here means that the poet is ________.
(vi) The meaning of the word sate is ________.
a) Mourn b) Little clumps
c) clumsy d) An old-fashioned way of
saying "sat"
(vii) The rhyming scheme of the poem is ________.
a) abba b) aabb
c) aabc d) abab
(viii) Which of the following poetic device is used in the line What man has made of
than?
(ix) What does the poet mean by the lines In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
- Bring sad thoughts to the mind?
a) His happy thoughts actually b) The poet is enjoying the
remind him of some sad spring bliss.
things.
c) None of these. d) The spring turned made him
mourn.
(x) Name the literary device used in the lines, And
'tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.
2. Read the text carefully and answer the questions: [10]
1. Most of the myths and stories are heroic in conception and teach adherence to
truth and the pledged word, whatever the consequences, faithfulness unto death
and even beyond, courage, good works and sacrifice for the common good.
Sometimes the story is pure myth, or else it is a mixture of fact and myth, an
exaggerated account of some incident that tradition preserved. Facts and fiction
are so interwoven together as to be inseparable, and this amalgam becomes an
imagined history, which may not tell us exactly what happened but does tell us
something that is equally important - what people believed had taken place,
what they thought their heroic ancestors were capable of, and what ideals
inspired them. So, whether fact or fiction, it became a living element in their
lives, ever pulling them up from the drudgery and ugliness of their everyday
existence to higher realms, ever pointing towards the path of endeavour and
right living, even though the ideal might be far off and difficult to reach.
2. Goethe is reported to have condemned those who said that the old Roman
stories of heroism, of Lucretia and others, were spurious and false. Anything,
he said, that was essentially false and spurious could only be absurd and
unfruitful and never beautiful and inspiring, and that ‘if the Romans were great
enough to invent things like that, we at least should be great enough to believe
them’.
3. Thus, this imagined history, mixture of fact and fiction, or sometimes only
fiction, becomes symbolically true and tells us of the minds and hearts and
purposes of the people of the particular epoch. It is true also in the sense that it
becomes the basis for thought and action, for future history.
(i) What teaches us to follow truth and respect the pledged word?
(ii) What opinion did Goethe have about the old Roman stories of heroism of Lucretia
and others?
(iii) What is the conception of most of the myths?
(iv) What becomes an imagined history?
(v) ... it becomes the basis for thought and action ... . What does it refer to here?
(vi) We do not believe in the old Roman stories because they were:
a) false b) spurious
c) all of these d) uninspiring
(vii) A truth lover does not think about:
a) sacrifice b) consequences
c) courage d) hardships
(viii) A story or myth often teaches us to:
a) lead a happy life b) neither walk on the path of
endeavour nor lead a happy
life
c) both walk on the path of d) walk on the path of
endeavour and lead a happy endeavour
life
(ix) Facts and fictions are inseparable in our ________.
(x) It is symbolically true that the imagined history may be a mixture of fact and
fiction.
a) True b) False
SECTION B : WRITING SKILLS (24 marks)
3. You are Ankit/Anita. You have planned a 2-week course to be arranged to help the [4]
children of your group Housing Society at Patna acquire the communication skills.
Prepare a notice for the society’s notice board, stating the objectives of the course,
giving necessary details of the course and requesting the children of the Society to
join the course.
4. Complete the dialogue given below. Write your answers against the correct blank [5]
numbers.
Son: Father, I had a very bad experience with Mr. Mathur today.
Father: (a) _________, my son
Son: Well, (b) ________ his car right in front of our entrance and (c) ________.
Father: remove it. (d) ________ and shouted at me.
Son: (e) ________.
5. Look at the following visual which brings out how the heat wave can be dealt with [7]
if we follow some simple precautions in our lifestyle. Using these inputs and ideas
of your own, write a letter in about 150-200 words to your friend on how you are
taking care of yourself despite the month-long temperatures being about 43° C.
OR
You will soon have to make a decision about the subjects that you wish to study in
classes XI and XII. Write a letter to your grandfather telling him about the subjects that
you plan to take up. Be sure to explain the reason for your choice and how you think
these subjects would help you in the future.
6. Write a paragraph on A Policeman in about 100-150 words. [8]
OR
Use the notes given below to write a paragraph.
The Visit to a Historical Place (Agra)
Built in the memory of Shahjahan's beloved wife.
A great centre of art and architecture.
Fort of Agra.
Akbar's majestic palace.
40 km to the South West of Agra-Fatehpur Sikri.
Tajmahal on the banks of river Yamuna.
SECTION C : GRAMMAR (10 marks)
7. Complete the tasks, as directed. [10]
(i) Fill in the blanks (a)-(d) with the appropriate option from those in the brackets. [3]
Sadao had taken this (a) ________ (in, into, at) his mind as he did (b)
________ (nothing, everything, all) his father said, his father who never joked
(c) ________ (and, or, else) played with him.
(ii) The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. [4]
Write the incorrect word and the correction in the space provided against the
correct blank number:
Error Correction
Her duties for the day were over. e.g. for of
She had scrub the floor of the kitchen, (a) ________ ________
washed the vessels and put them on a (b) ________ ________
shining row on an wooden shelf, returned (c) ________ ________
the short scrubbing broom to it’s corner and closed
(d) ________ ________
the kitchen window.
(iii) Do as directed.
i. Rearrange the following jumbled words/phrases in the given dialogue to [1]
create a meaningful sentence.
Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano in Tanzania./ Mount Kilimanjaro
in Tanzania is a dormant volcano. It is the highest mountain in Africa.
has been/many/it/the subject of/studies/scientific
ii. Read the conversation given below. Based on your reading, fill in the [2]
blanks appropriately.
Mrs. Grover: Where are the memos I had left yesterday?
Kundan: I am sorry! I have thrown them away by mistake.
Mrs. Grover: What a silly thing to do! Have you taken any photocopies
of them at least?
Kundan: Yes, I have put them in a file.
Mrs. Grover asked Kundan where the memos she had left on the previous
day were. Kundan answered that he was sorry (a) ________. Mrs. Grover
told him that was a silly thing to do. She also asked if he had taken any
photocopies of them at least. Kundan replied that he had and (b)
________.
SECTION D : LITERATURE TEXTBOOK (26 marks)
8. Read the given excerpts and answer the questions briefly, for ANY TWO [8]
excerpts, of the three, given.
(i) Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow: [4]
No nightingale did ever chant
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of Travellers in some shady haunt.
Among Arabian Sands
A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard
In spring-time from the cuckoo-bird.
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.
a. Where do the nightingales usually sing welcome notes?
b. What is the effect of the song of the cuckoo-bird?
c. When does the cuckoo-bird sing?
(ii) Read the extract given below and answer the questions follow: [4]
I am not in the least surprised. It is a most delightful little place. Its appearance
is modest, but it has a charm of its own. I can tell by just looking at you that it
would suit you admirably, as you suit it, if you permit me to say so.
a. Who is speaking these lines and to whom?
b. Of what is the speaker not surprised?
c. Why does the speaker speak in a flattering tone?
(iii) Read the following extract and answer the questions briefly: [4]
Suddenly over the babble of voices, Chuck heard the screech of brakes outside.
Instinctively, he looked for Duke.
a. When did Chuck hear the babble of voices?
b. What does the screech of brakes indicate?
c. Explain : Instinctively, he looked for Duke.
9. Answer ANY SIX of the following seven questions in about 30- 40 words each [12]
(i) Why was the poet’s conscience got pricked? [2]
(ii) How does the brook behave like a human being? [2]
(iii) How is the falling of rain like a welcome song? [2]
(iv) Why did Bill think Harold would die of shame? [2]
(v) Why is John A. Pescud so critical of best-sellers of the present day? [2]
(vi) How did Private Quelch respond to mistakes made by his colleagues in the [2]
army training camp in the story The Man Who Knew Too Much?
(vii) The Bishop treats the convict as a guest. Give three instances from the play to [2]
prove the above statement.
10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 120 words [6]
(i) Compare and contrast the characters of the Bishop and Persome in The [6]
Bishop's Candlesticks.
(ii) Highlighting her oldness, vision and determination to get an education. Give a [6]
character sketch of the narrator’s grandmother Krishtakka as drawn in How I
Taught My Grandmother to Read.
Solution
SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER - 4
Communicative English (101)
Class IX (2024-25)
SECTION A : READING SKILLS (20 marks)
1. Read the text carefully and answer the questions:
Lines Written in Early Spring
I heard a thousand blended notes,
While in a grove I sate reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.
To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.
Through primrose tufts, in that green bower
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And 'tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.
The birds around me hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure:-
But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.
The budding twigs spread out their fan,
To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.
If this belief from heaven be sent,
If such be Nature's holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What man has made of man?
-William Wordsworth
(i) (a) in a small wood
Explanation:
The poet is sitting in a grove.
(ii) 1. birds
(iii)(a) thoughtful
Explanation:
The poet sinks into deep thoughts wondering how nature lives in harmony in contrast to
man.
(iv)1. to live in peace and harmony
(v) 1. regretful
(vi)(d) An old-fashioned way of saying "sat"
Explanation:
In old English, ’sate’ means sat
(vii)(d) abab
Explanation:
In the first line, ’notes’ rhymes with 'thoughts' and 'reclined' rhymes with 'mind'. Thus,
abab is the rhyme scheme here. This continues in all the paragraphs.
(viii)
Alliteration.
The consonant sound of 'm’ is repeated pleasantly
(ix)(a) His happy thoughts actually remind him of some sad things.
Explanation:
Sometimes, happy thoughts bring sad memories. The poet is talking about that mood.
(x) Personification
2. Read the text carefully and answer the questions:
1. Most of the myths and stories are heroic in conception and teach adherence to truth and
the pledged word, whatever the consequences, faithfulness unto death and even beyond,
courage, good works and sacrifice for the common good. Sometimes the story is pure
myth, or else it is a mixture of fact and myth, an exaggerated account of some incident
that tradition preserved. Facts and fiction are so interwoven together as to be
inseparable, and this amalgam becomes an imagined history, which may not tell us
exactly what happened but does tell us something that is equally important - what
people believed had taken place, what they thought their heroic ancestors were capable
of, and what ideals inspired them. So, whether fact or fiction, it became a living element
in their lives, ever pulling them up from the drudgery and ugliness of their everyday
existence to higher realms, ever pointing towards the path of endeavour and right living,
even though the ideal might be far off and difficult to reach.
2. Goethe is reported to have condemned those who said that the old Roman stories of
heroism, of Lucretia and others, were spurious and false. Anything, he said, that was
essentially false and spurious could only be absurd and unfruitful and never beautiful
and inspiring, and that ‘if the Romans were great enough to invent things like that, we
at least should be great enough to believe them’.
3. Thus, this imagined history, mixture of fact and fiction, or sometimes only fiction,
becomes symbolically true and tells us of the minds and hearts and purposes of the
people of the particular epoch. It is true also in the sense that it becomes the basis for
thought and action, for future history.
(i) Myths and stories teach us to follow truth and respect the pledged word.
(ii) Goethe was of the opinion that the old Roman stories of heroism of Lucretia and others
were false.
(iii)Most of the myths and stories are heroic in conception.
(iv)Facts and fictions are inseparable and this amalgam becomes an imagined history.
(v) Here ‘it’ refers to ‘myth’.
(vi)(c) all of these
Explanation:
all of these
(vii)(c) courage
Explanation:
courage
(viii)
(c) both walk on the path of endeavour and lead a happy life
Explanation:
both walk on the path of endeavour and lead a happy life
(ix)1. myths
(x) (a) True
Explanation:
True
SECTION B : WRITING SKILLS (24 marks)
2 Oct. 20XX
NOTICE
IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS
A two-week course on communication skills is being organised for the children of our
Group Housing Society as per details given below:
Date : 15 Oct. - 30 Oct. 20xx
Timings : 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Venue : Community Hall, Jyoti Group Housing Society, Patna
Fee : ₹ 599
The students interested in improving the communication skills may contact the
undersigned for further details.
Ankit/Anita
Secretary
3. 68B, K.M.P. Society, Patna
4. a. What happened.
b. he had parked.
c. I told him to
d. He refused
e. I will talk to him today.
5. 413 L, Saroj Nagar
Ludhiana
May 20, 2022
Dear Amisha
I hope everything is fine at your end. You know we all are undergoing great stress and
troubles due to incense heat this year. This is all due to the month-long temperatures being
about 43°C. This is due to global warming. Climate changes are taking place due to
continuous urbanization, deforestation and burning of fossil fuel. This has become a
problem at the international level. But if we take some precautions we can keep ourselves
free from the impact of this hot season.
Wear loose and light-coloured cotton clothes, as they act as coolers to the body. Go
swimming and take a shower whenever you feel the heat. Eat fruit salad and summer
season fruits like melons and watermelons. Nimbu paani and aam panna can help us face
the hot season. Wear slippers or sandals instead of shoes. Wear a solar hat or cap on your
head to ward off heat, and take an umbrella over your head when you go out. Read books,
watch TV, or play indoor games to ward off lethargy during summer.
I am sure that if we take these steps we can make our summer not a sad and bad
experience. I hope you’ll like these things and adopt them.
Yours sincerely
Kamna
OR
B-19, Govind Heights
Govind Puri
Delhi
6th July 20XX
Dear Grandpa
I received your letter yesterday and was happy to know that you have recovered from your
ailment and are back from the hospital.
I really admire your concern about my future, since, in your letter you have inquired about
the stream and subjects I wish to take in XI and XII. You know quite well that I have
always wanted to become a famous scientist, like you. You have always inspired me to
come up in life. I want to take science stream in order to fulfill my aim of becoming a
scientist.
The subjects that I wish to study are Math, Chemistry, Physics, along with Computer
Science.
Moreover, you are always there to guide and assist me for my future endeavours. I am
sure, I will do very well and fulfill my ambition soon.
Thanking you for always being there for me.
Your loving granddaughter
Rajnish
6. A policeman is a very important public servant. He is an instrument of enforcing law and
order. He serves many roles. The primary role of a policeman is to maintain law and order.
Human society is never free from some anti-social elements. Thieves break into houses
and run away with cash and money. Robbers and dacoits rob people of money. Some
others indulge in kidnappings and rapes. A policeman at once comes into action the
moment a report is launched at the police station. He is always on the run in his uniform
and heavy boots. He is generally very strong, smart and bold. Nothing escapes (from) his
searching eyes. Sometimes he encounters pick-pockets, thieves, snatchers, eve-teasers and
gamblers. He uses his baton and sometimes even his gun. He is ready to lay down even his
life to maintain law and order in society. He takes risks and encounters dangers to make
our life peaceful and safe.
OR
The Visit to a Historical Place (Agra)
Agra is great centre of art and architecture. This city has the famous wonder of the world-
The Taj Mahal, which was built in the memory of Shahjahan's beloved wife Mumtaz
Mahal. It is build on the banks of river Yamuna. There are many other worth-seeing places
in Agra, like the Agra Fort and the majestic palace of Akbar's wife-Jodha Bai which is
around 40 kms to the southwest of Agra in Fatehpur Sikri. Agra is a well known historical
place. Many tourists visit it every year to see the epitome of love-The Taj Mahal.
SECTION C : GRAMMAR (10 marks)
7. Complete the tasks, as directed.
(i) (a) into, (b) everything, (c) or
(ii) Error Correction
(a) scrub scrubbed
(b) on in
(c) an a
(d) it's its
(iii)Do as directed.
i. It has been the subject of many scientific studies.
ii. (a) but he had thrown them away by mistake, (b) that he had put them in a file.
SECTION D : LITERATURE TEXTBOOK (26 marks)
8. Read the given excerpts and answer the questions briefly, for ANY TWO excerpts, of the
three, given.
(i) a. They sing among Arabian deserts.
b. The song breaks the silence of the seas among the farthest island named Hebrides.
c. It sings in spring time.
(ii) a. The speaker of these lines is Juliette. She speaks these words to Jeanne.
b. Jeanne tells her that the Villa is good and its first impression is ‘excellent’. Hearing
this Juliette says that she is not surprised as she knows it is.
c. The speaker speaks in a flattering tone because she wants that Gaston and Jeanne
should buy the Villa. It is more so as till now it has not been sold.
(iii)a. Chuck heard ‘the babble of voices’ on the evening of October 12, 1957.
b. 'The screech of brakes’ indicates that the vehicle applied brakes all of a sudden. It
also indicates that some serious accident could have occurred. To avoid that brakes
had been applied.
c. Chuck had an instinctive feeling that Duke had been involved in an accident.
9. Answer ANY SIX of the following seven questions in about 30- 40 words each
(i) The poet was fond of chewing toffees, licking lollies and eating candies. All these
things led to tooth decay, cavities and fillings. She realised the gravity of the situation
rather late. But the moment she realised it, her conscience got pricked. She was filled
with remorse. But it was too late. Now she couldn’t escape the disastrous effects of her
liking for sweets, toffees, candies and lollies.
(ii) The brook behaves like a human being while flowing. It gets angry in flowing in curves
by its banks. It creates noises in flowing by fields and uncultivated lands. It flows
angrily by land edges that extend into it. Chattering, it joins the brimming river.
(iii)Falling of rain is like a welcome song. It is a blessing for the parched and needy earth.
It spreads joy and freshness all around. It beautifies, adorns and rejuvenates fields, trees
and flowers, and spreads vitality everywhere. It cements the relationship of love
between fields and the clouds. It ties the earth and the heaven in a spiritual bond.
(iv)Mr. Bramble was a professional boxer and had been proud of his fame but ever since
Harold was born, he had kept this a secret. Harold was told that his father was a
commercial traveller. Mr. Bramble, who had thrived on his feats in the boxing ring,
trembled to see his name in print now. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bramble were secretly a little
afraid of their son and did not wish to fall in his esteem. So they took great care that
Harold did not know his father's profession otherwise they felt that he would die of
shame.
(v) John A. Pescud tries to give an impression that he believes in middle class values and
pragmatism. He is quite critical of the modern best-sellers because they are far removed
from reality and real life. They present a highly idealistic, exaggerated and romantic
version of life. They describe an American hero falling in love with a royal princess
from Europe. In real life, when people marry they choose their life-partners who belong
to the same background or status.
(vi)Private Quelch responded to mistakes made by his colleagues in the army training camp
quickly. He had an inherent quality to bring exactness to everything. He added more
correct information to the lectures of the instructors. He had also correct information
about the aeroplanes etc and corrected the things as he thought.
(vii)The Bishop is a generous and credulous priest. He has immense faith in the convict. He
serves the convict with cold pie, wine and bread. The Bishop gives him a coverlet to
keep him warm. The caring priest even asks him to sleep in his house.
10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 120 words
(i) The Bishop was a compassionate, selfless man always willing to assist others,
regardless of the time of day. His generous and benevolent nature was evident when he
sold his salt cellars to help Mere Gringoire and offered solace to anyone in need. His
interaction with the convict showcased his kindness and gentle demeanor. Despite the
convict having stolen the candlesticks and being brought back by the Sergeant, the
Bishop claimed to have given them willingly, highlighting his forgiving and trusting
character. In contrast, Persome was a short-tempered, suspicious woman who sought
perfection in everything. She deeply cared for her brother and worried about his safety
in bad weather but was fearful and distrusting of the convict. Therefore, the Bishop and
Persome displayed contrasting personalities.
(ii) Krishtakka is depicted as a sixty-two-year-old grandmother who is determined and
possesses a strong desire to learn how to read. Despite her old age, she shows great
enthusiasm and determination to acquire an education. She is not discouraged by her
lack of literacy and is willing to put in the effort to learn. Being a humble and selfless
individual she played a role of a good housewife and devoted her time to her family.
She is open-minded and receptive to new ideas. She is not ashamed to admit her lack of
knowledge and seeks guidance from her granddaughter.
Krishtakka's determination to learn is evident in her consistent efforts to practice
reading. She is diligent and perseveres through challenges, displaying her strong
willpower. She values education and understands its importance. Krishtakka recognizes
that learning to read will empower her and open up new opportunities for personal
growth. Grandmother's character reflects resilience and a thirst for knowledge. She
serves as an inspiration, showcasing that age is not a barrier to learning and personal
development.
Overall, Krishtakka is portrayed as a determined, selfless, and open-minded individual
who defies societal expectations and embraces the opportunity to learn and grow,
regardless of her age.