ST.

XAVIER’S SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL, DELHI – 110 054

Std. 9 Time : 3 hrs.
24-2-2024 Final Examination in ENGLISH Max. Marks : 80

General Instructions:
i) 15-minutes prior reading time is allotted for question paper reading.
ii) The Question Paper contains THREE sections-READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING
and LITERATURE.
iii) Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

Section – A : Reading Skills (20 marks)

1. Read the following text. (10 marks)

1 The difference in the ways of thinking and perception in the people of two different generations,
with behavioural differences and sometimes, conflict among them is usually called generation
gap.
2 Generation gap is generally seen in the family between parents and their children. It is not only
because of the gap in age, but also because of the way some parents react to a particular
situation. Children being very young and immature do not understand the way of thinking of their
parents. In many cases, the parents, even if they are mature, do not empathise with the changing
values and thinking patterns of the modern world. This creates a communication gap between
these two generations.
3 Generation gap is also caused by increased life expectancy, rapid changes in society and mobility
of the society. The biggest difficulty arises as a result of mental gap in terms of thinking style
and the current trends. Children feel that they have become adults and that the time for them to
be self sufficient. Similarly, in today’s world things are rapidly changing and this makes the older
generation feel bad as they cannot update themselves like the new generation. Younger and the
elders share psychological and emotional gaps which give rise to a lot of highs and lows between
them.
4 Changes in technology have also led to the generation gap in this modern world. Children tend
to spend most of their time with their digital devices and are so busy with social media, that they
do not discuss their problems with their parents. The internet provides solutions to most of the
worldly problems. So children, instead of contacting their own parents, seek the help of internet
in case of any problem, thus again reducing the communication, leading to a generation gap
between them.
5 The generation gap has greatly increased these days because the time is changing fast and people
find it difficult to cope up with this change. To overcome this problem, parents should show
interest in all matters of their children and deal with them positively. Giving time to the children,
having open communication, and allowing the child to feel free and not in any kind of pressure,
will eventually reduce the generation gap to a tolerable extent.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above:
1.1 What is the biggest difficulty that arises due to the mental gap in the above passage? 1
A. Lack of communication B. Thinking style
C. Ignorance D. Awareness
1.2 What do you mean by ‘generation gap'? 1
1.3 Why do older generations feel inferior? 1
1.4 The passage includes some words that are similar in meaning to each other. From the sets
i-v below, identify two sets of synonyms: 2
(i) thinking and conflict (ii) general and particular
(iii) ultimately and eventually (iv) tolerating and reducing
(v) usually and generally
1.5 Complete the sentence appropriately.
Some children do not spend quality time with their family because _______ . 1
1.6 Infer two reasons why children are responsible for the generation gap. (Para 4) 2
1.7 What has also led to the generation gap in the modern world? 1
A. Social media B. Age group
C. Work load on parents D. Changes in technology
1.8 The problem of generation gap can be resolved by _________. (any one reason) 1
Std. 9 page 2 ENGLISH

2. Read the following passage: (10 marks)

1 Children in India live in diverse circumstances and have equally diverse needs and rights. Along
with their need to be educated, healthy and skilful, they need, and have rights to adequate
nutrition, to live in a safe and supportive environment, have opportunities to reach their optimal
potential and generally lead healthy, joyful, and fulfilling lives so that they can become
productive and well-adjusted citizens of tomorrow.
2 Children in our country face many challenges. Peer pressure and lack of positive role models
may prompt them to make unsafe and unhealthy choices. Anxiety and depression amongst the
students, to the point of turning them suicidal, have been a cause for concern in the recent
past.
3 Child malnutrition is rampant in most parts of the country. This has an adverse bearing on their
cognitive capacities, learning performance and physical capacity. India is one among the many
countries where child malnutrition is severe. Malnutrition is a major underlying cause of child
mortality in India. Trends in various nutritional indicator values and Under 5 mortality rate from
2000 to 2018 are shown in the figure below:

1. Prevalence of stunting in children

under five years (%).
2. Proportion of undernourished in
the population (%).
3. Prevalence of wasting in children
under five years (%).
4. Under-five mortality rate (%).

4 Our children have the right to have a good quality education, skill-building facilities, a safe and
supportive environment, positive role models, empowerment, and friendly health services and
counselling. Well-informed and skilled children are likely to make better decisions concerning
their careers and relationships, habits, physical and mental health, and also will be successful
and an asset to the society.
5 They also need to understand and deal with emerging issues like newly available career choices,
pollution, water and energy conservation, global warming, protection of the environment,
terrorism and disasters. Dealing with anxiety and depression, negative peer pressure, violence,
and accidents are some other significant issues that impact an individual's health and also the
social, economic and health indicators of the country. Children require guidance and assistance
- both covert and overt from their parents, teachers, peers and society in general to complete
the various tasks of development and deal with such issues.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
2.1 What is the percentage of under-five mortality rate in the year 2000? 1
2.2 Fill the blanks with the appropriate option from those given in brackets, based on your
understanding of the passage. 2
The aim of good education is to make students _____ (unaware/aware) about the ______
(better/worse) choices for themselves and for the world.
2.3 Complete the sentence appropriately.
Well-informed children prove to be better than other children because _______. 1
2.4 In which year the stunting among the children under five was the most prevalent? 1
2.5 Select the option that correctly replaces the word ‘generally' in the passage. 1
A. Restrained B. Limited
C. Controlled D. Usually
2.6 What rights do the children have? 1
2.7 The passage presents the observation that: 1
A. Children should be subjected to education.
B. Children's problems should not be a major concern.
C. Children's growth should be the major concern for the society.
D. Children should not be given a new environment of growth.
2.8 What kind of challenges do children face in our country? (any two) 2
Std. 9 page 3 ENGLISH

SECTION – B : WRITING SKILLS and GRAMMAR (20 marks)

GRAMMAR
3. Attempt ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks as directed. (1 x 10 = 10)
3.1 Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option.
The package ______ tomorrow at nine in the morning.
A. will arrive B. would arrive
C. arrive D. cannot arrive
3.2 Read the conversation between Vipin and Vikas. Complete the narration correctly.
Vipin: Where are you going?
Vikas: I am going to Mumbai to attend a seminar.
Vipin asked Vikas where he was going. Vikas informed that ________.
3.3 There’s never ____ petrol left after Rehaan uses the car.
A. much B. many C. little D. some
3.4 Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between Ananya and Maanya:
Ananya: Why ask so many questions, Maanya?
Maanya: I believe that if you don’t know the answer, keep asking till you do!
Ananya asked Maanya the reason for the many questions she was asking. Maanya exclaimed good
humouredly that in the event of not knowing the answer one should ______ .
A. keep asking till one does B. kept asking till one does
C. keep asking till one do D. kept on to ask till one do
3.5 Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the verb in the bracket.
I _______ (write) the letter before he arrived.
3.6 Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line.
The boy _____ under the bed when his parents came.
A. has been hiding B. was hiding
C. have hid D. had hidden
3.7 Identify the error in the given sentence:
Clean air was vital to human health and fitness.
ERROR CORRECTION

3.8 Select the option which identifies the error and supply the correction for the following line:
She told him that she will meet him later.
OPTION ERROR CORRECTION
A later latest
B will would
C told told to
D that if

3.9 Change the following sentence into indirect speech.

Ashu said to Amit, “Do not go to the park today.”
3.10 Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the conversation.
By the time we reach the school the bell _____.
A. will be ringing B. will have rung
C. would have been ringing D. would have rung
3.11 Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket.
Has dinner _____ (prepare) by the cook?
3.12 Rice and curry _____ (is/are) my favourite dish.
Std. 9 page 4 ENGLISH

WRITING
NOTE: All the names and addresses used in the questions are fictitious. Resemblance,
if any, is purely coincidental.
4A. Read the cues and write a descriptive passage of the person in 100-120 words: 5
HINTS: Thomas Edison - February 11, 1847- October 18, 1931 - inventor and businessman -
America’s greatest inventor - developed electric power generation, mass communication, sound
recording and motion pictures - established the first industrial research laboratory - married twice
- six children - died 1931 - complications of diabetes.
(OR)
4B. You are Neha/Naitik. You recently watched the successful landing of ‘Chandrayaan-3’ on the
moon on the television. You are really proud and inspired by the success of your country.
Write a diary page expressing your feelings in 100-120 words. 5
5A. Write a short story in 100-120 words by using the following hints. Give a suitable title to
the story. 5

One day Rohit was playing in the garden - an old woman fainted - sought help -
called ambulance - used first aid - saved her life.
(OR)
5B. Complete the given story in 100-120 words. Also give a suitable title to the story. 5
It was a freezing cold night. Sneha and her elder brother were alone at home. The doorbell rang.
When Sneha opened the door she found two young homeless boys standing at the doorstep …

SECTION – C : LITERATURE (40 marks)

6. Read the two given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two. 5
A. “I just can’t come to terms with the artificiality and glamour of the film world,” he says with
emphasis. Award and recognition come thick and fast. Bismillah Khan became the first Indian
to be invited to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Centre Hall in the United States of America’.
(Sound of Music)
i) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word ‘thick and fast’
as used in the extract. 1
A. The games are coming thick and fast.
B. My mind is growing thick and fast.
C. The invitations are coming thick and fast.
D. She picked up the language thick and fast.
ii) Explain, ‘I just can’t come to terms with the artificiality and glamour of the film world.’ 2
iii) Replace the underlined word with its right synonym contextually.
Reena won one of the most esteemed awards in her field of creativity. 1
A. minor B. prestigious C. humble D. lowly
iv) From the given extract we can infer that Bismillah Khan was a great _____________. 1
(OR)
B. “Actually, the overall pattern of her progress is quite satisfactory.”
And he patted Margie’s head again. He said that Margie was learning at a good pace.
He again patted Margie’s head in order to cheer her up. Margie was disappointed.
(The Fun They Had)
i) What was the county inspector’s observation about Margie’s progress ? 2
Std. 9 page 5 ENGLISH

ii) “... And he patted Margie’s head again.” This action indicates that _________. 1
A. she was disappointed.
B. he wanted to ensure that Margie should continue to study and play.
C. he wanted to cheer her up.
D. he wanted to encourage her pace of learning.
iii) Why was Margie disappointed? 1
iv) Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the extract.
progress : deteriorate :: ______ : wicked 1
7. Read the two given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two. 5
A. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
(The Road Not Taken)
i) Which option supports the ideas in the extract? 1
a) The problems of human life.
b) Common but complex experiences of human life.
c) The optimistic side of life.
d) Walking ahead in life.
ii) Explain the metaphor used in the given extract. 2
iii) Pick an option that best fits the usage of the word ‘diverged’ as used in the extract. 1
a) The two friends diverged due to misunderstanding between them.
b) The street diverged in a crossing near the main circle.
c) Students can easily be diverged from their goals through little distractions.
d) Both the boys diverged in their opinion.
iv) The synonym of undergrowth is ________ . 1
a) stand still b) dirty c) uncover d) underwood
(OR)

B. A slumber did my spirit seal-

I had no human fears.
She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years.
No motion has she now, no force-
She neither hears nor sees,
Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course
With rocks and stones and trees.
(A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal)
i) According to the poem, what caused the poet to be numb and how did he feel
after that? 2
ii) Identify the poetic device used in the lines: 1
‘Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course
With rocks and stones and trees’.
1. Alliteration 2. Repetition 3. Simile 4. Anaphora
a) 1, 2 b) 1, 4 c) 2, 3 d) 3, 4
Std. 9 page 6 ENGLISH

iii) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE: 1

‘Earth’s diurnal course’ means the rotation of the earth on its axis.
iv) Identify the option that has the same rhyme scheme as these 4 lines. 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. The people along the sand b. Behold her, single in the field,
All turn and look one way. Yon solitary Highland Lass!
They turn their back on the land. Reaping and singing by herself;
They look at the sea all day. Stop here or gently pass!
c. I celebrate myself, and sing myself, d. Let me fetch sticks,
And what I assume you shall assume, Let me fetch stones,
For every atom belonging to me Throw me your bone,
As good belongs to you. Teach me your tricks.

8. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions in about 40-50 words. (4 x 3 = 12)
i) How did the doctor feel when the snake had coiled around his left arm?
(The Snake and the Mirror)
ii) State the difference between the scene outside the Hindu temple with that of the
outside of the Buddhist shrine of Kathmandu? (Kathmandu)
iii) ‘Lakshman Shastry reformed the new teacher at the school.’ How? (My Childhood)
iv) ‘Einstein is remembered as a global citizen.’ Why? (A Truly Beautiful Mind)
v) How does the poet experience complete bliss in his cottage? (Rain on the Roof)
9. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions in about 40-50 words. (2 x 3 = 6)
i) ‘Certain human virtues are the essence of every human life.’ What human virtues
are highlighted in the story ‘The Last Leaf’?
ii) What helped the narrator adapt his new life after the fire incident?
(A House is Not a Home)
iii) ‘Iswaran and Mahendra shared a great bond.’ Explain. (Iswaran the Storyteller)
10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 100-120 words . 6
A. ‘Intelligence, smartness, presence of mind and calmness helps to overcome any situation in life.’
Elucidate the statement with reference to ‘If I Were You’.
(OR)
B. ‘On Killing a Tree’ is a poem which symbolises values in some ways and also has sarcasm
in it. Explain.
11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 100-120 words . 6
A. ‘Olga’s empathy and compassion and not pity for Lushkoff brought a positive change in Lushkoff.’
Justify the statement with reference to the character of Olga in the chapter “The Beggar”.
(OR)
B. ‘The guru with his wisdom was able to save his disciple.’ Based on the statement given,
describe the character of the guru. (In the Kingdom of Fools)

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