IDEAL INDIAN SCHOOL, DOHA

TERM -1 EXAMINATION
ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE (184)

Class: IX SAMPLE PAPER Max Marks: 80

Date: 08.10.2024 Duration: 3 hrs

General Instructions:
∙ The question paper contains three sections:
SECTION A: READING (20 MARKS)
SECTION B: GRAMMAR & WRITING SKILLS (20 MARKS)
SECTION C: LITERATURE (40 MARKS)
∙ Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION A - READING SKILLS (20)

1. Read the following passage:

1.In the summer of 1967, when I was ten years old, my father caved into my
persistent pleas and took me to get my own dog. Together we drove in the family
station wagon far into the Michigan countryside to a farm run by a rough-hewn
woman and her ancient mother. The farm produced just one commodity dog.
Dogs of every imaginable size and shape and age and temperament. They had
only two things in common: each was a mongrel of unknown and distinct
ancestry, and each was free to a good home.

2. I quickly decided the older dogs were somebody else’s charity case. I
immediately raced to the puppy cage. “You want to pick one that’s not timid,” my
father coached. “Try rattling the cage and see which ones aren’t afraid.”

3. I grabbed the chain-link gate and yanked on it with a loud clang. The dozen or
so puppies reeled backward,collapsing on top of one another in a squiggling
heap of fur. Just one remained. He was gold with a white blaze on his chest, and
he charged at the gate, yapping fearlessly. He jumped up and excitedly licked my
fingers through the fencing. It was love at first sight.
4. I brought him home in a cardboard box and named him Shaun. He was one of
those dogs that give dogs a good name. He effortlessly mastered every
command I taught him and was naturally well-behaved. I could drop a crust on
the floor and he would not touch it until I gave the okay.

5. Relatives would visit for the weekend and returned home determined to buy a
dog of their own, so impressed were they with Shaun-or “Saint Shaun,” as I came
to call him. Born with the curse of an uncertain lineage, he was one of the tens of
thousands of unwanted dogs in America. Yet by some stroke of almost
providential good fortune, he became wanted. He came into my life and I into
his-and in the process, he gave me the childhood every kid deserves.

6. The love affair lasted fourteen years, and by the time he died I was no longer
the little boy who had brought him along on that summer day. I was a man, out of
college and working across the state in my first real job. Saint Shaun had stayed
behind when I moved on. It was where he belonged. My parents, by then retired,
called to break the news to me. My mother would later tell me, “In fifty years of
marriage, I’ve only seen your father cry twice. The first time was when we lost
Mary Ann”-my sister, who was stillborn. “The second time was the day Shaun
died.”
7. Saint Shaun was the companion of my childhood. He was a perfect dog. At
least that’s how I will always remember him. It was Shaun who set the standard
by which I would judge all other dogs to come.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i. Why does the writer say that he ‘grabbed the chain-link and yanked on it with a
loud clang’? (1)
(a) Because all the other dogs didn’t attract him.
(b) Because that was the standard procedure to select a dog.
(c) Because he wanted to pick the dog who was afraid of him.
(d) Because he wanted to see which of the dogs in that cage were timid.

ii. “It was Shaun who set the standard by which I would judge all other dogs to
come.” What is the tone of the writer in the given lines from paragraph 7?
Rationalise your response in about 40 words. ( 2)

iii. Complete the sentence appropriately. ( 1)

The author’s anointing his dog as ‘Saint Shaun’ is the ultimate honour he could
bestow on his pet
because _____.

iv. The passage includes some words that occur as companions with each other.
From the sets (a)-(e) below,
identify two sets of word-companions. ( 1)
(a) unknown and distinct ancestry
(b) dozen and so
(c) age and temperament
(d) size and shape
(e) stayed behind and moved on

v. Complete the sentence appropriately. (1)

For the author, Shaun became a benchmark for a good pet. It is evident from this
statement _____.

vi. Based on the reading of the passage, examine, in about 40 words, how the
passage is as much a tribute to the author’s dog as is to his father too.
( 2)

vii. Select the option that corresponds to the underlined phrasal verb in the
statement. (1)
“In the summer of 1967, when I was 10 years old, my father caved into my
persistent pleas and took me
to get my own dog.” (Paragraph 1)
(a) He made his father succumb to his demand.
(b) He made persistent demands on his father for a pet.
(c) He consistently requested his father.
(d) His father withstood his pleas.

viii. Complete the lines from a famous poem by supplying the missing
word/words taking cue from the word given in brackets. (1)
...Among the laurel bushes
And snagging goose-grass and rabbit holes,
I found what I _____ (forget), hidden Under a wide oak
2. Read the following text. (10)
1. Through the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), the countries of the world
have resolved to achieve universal access to safe drinking water and adequate
sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030. The aim is
to ensure the consumption of safe drinking water and practise safe sanitation and
hygiene, resulting in lower exposure to a contaminated environment, resulting in
lower morbidity and mortality, especially
amongst children.
2. The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched by the Government of India on 2nd
October, 2014 to achieve the vision of ‘Swachh Bharat’ by 2nd October, 2019.
The Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin-SBM (G)
endeavours to accelerate rural sanitation coverage, reduce open defecation and
improve the management of solid and liquid wastes in rural areas. The
implementation of SBM (G) is the responsibility of the
Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS). The MDWS, while issuing
guidelines for Open Defecation Free (ODF) verification stressed on “safe
technology option which aimed at no contamination
of surface soil, groundwater or surface water; excreta management inaccessible
to flies or animals; no human handling of fresh excreta and freedom from odour
and unsightly condition”. Over the past 4
years, over 92 million new households have received access to household toilets
and by the end of the SBM (G) programme, all 16.5 million rural households will
have such access. However, the issue is of usage and thus, the goal is to create
ODF communities and villages, with no one defecating in the open.

3. The status of ODF villages published on the website of MDWS indicates that
as of 01.04.2019, over 99% of rural HHs in India have toilet access. The declared
ODF villages at all India levels accounted for 556,824 spreading over 247,723
Gram Panchayats, 6,031 Blocks and 616 Districts.

4. UNICEF in India accords high priority to the provision of safe sanitation and
water services to people in rural areas and has over the past many years aided
through catalytic technical support to MDWS,
the Government of India and 15 state governments in the implementation of the
various sanitation programmes and since 2014, specifically to the SBM (G). With
the progress of the SBM (G) and the
declaration of ODF communities, there is an emerging question on whether the
campaign to eliminate open defecation and create ODF communities is resulting
in a decrease in faecal contamination in the
environment.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
i. Complete the following analogy appropriately. (1)
There will be a decrease in faecal contamination in the environment because
_______________________

ii. Fill the blank with appropriate word. ( 1)

The passage provides data that proves that over 99% of rural households have
access to______________________

iii. Describe the purpose of the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission (G). Answer in
about 40 words. (2)

iv. According to the passage, who is responsible for the progress of the Swachh
Bharat Mission? ( 1)

v. Suggest a suitable title for the passage. (1)

vi. Select the option that the given sentence refers to “Over the past 4 years, over
92 million new households have received access to household toilets.”
(1)
(a) There is an increase in the usage of toilets among rural households.
(b) There is an increase in the construction of community-shared toilets.
(c) There is an increase in the building of toilets inside households.
(d) There is an increase in access to toilets but are not being used by the
villagers.

vii. Which international organisation is helping in providing sanitation and how?

(Answer in about 40 words) ( 2)

viii. Why is the government successful in providing access to toilets to over 99%
of rural households? (1)
(a) Government is giving false data.
(b) Villagers also want to have access to toilets to minimise the negative impact
of open defecation.
(c) Villagers are cooperative.
(d) Rural households have become educated .

SECTION B - GRAMMAR & WRITING SKILLS 20

GRAMMAR 10
3. Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed.
i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the sentence.
(1)
A school of fish _____ spotted in the lake.
(a) are
(b) have
(c) has
(d) was

ii)Report the dialogue between Meenu and Mayank by completing the

narration :
Meenu : Will you attend Pamela’s birthday party? (1)
Mayank : My father will not give me permission.
Meenu : But why?
Mayank : He wants me to prepare for tomorrow’s test.
Meenu asked Mayank if he would attend Pamela’s birthday party, to which
Mayank replied that ___________________________

iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank. (1)

You _____ use mobile phones inside the aircraft.
(a) had to
(b) can
(c) could
(d) mustn’t

iv) Anand shared some information with Anil about football. Report Anil’s
question. (1)
Do you play football?
v) Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. (1)
1) The old furniture ______________ put on sale.
a) are
b) were
c) is
d) have

vi) Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue
between mother and daughter. (1)
Mother: Why are you looking so worried?
Daughter: My exam is approaching.
Mother asked her daughter why she was looking very worried. The daughter
replied that __________________.
a) her exam is approaching.
b) her exam was approaching.
c) my exam is approaching.
d) my exams are approaching.

vii) Identify the error and supply the correction. (1)

Rajdhani train are a fully air-conditioned train.
Use the given format for your response.
:
ERROR CORRECTION

viii). Fill up the blank to complete the sentence with the correct options.
(1)
Rosemary often _____ to work by bus, but she _____.to work by taxi yesterday.
(a) got, went (b) went, went
(c) gets, got (d) has been going, reached

ix) Complete the given sentence, by filling in the blank with the correct
option : ( 1)
I bought a new car last year, but I _____ my old car yet, so at present I have two
cars.
(a) sell (b) have not sold
(c) sold (d) did not sell

x) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket.
Neither you nor your sister should _____ (talk) to them. (1)

xi). Report the dialogue between Sanjay and Madan, by completing the
sentence : (1)
Sanjay: I am surprised to see you here in Delhi. When did you come?
Madan: I came here yesterday. I have been offered a job here.
Sanjay told Madan that he was surprised to see him there in Delhi and asked
when he had come. Madan replied that he had come there the previous day and
added that ___________________________.

xii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a
health magazine. (1)
When a mosquito ____________ a person, the microbes enter into the
bloodstream of the person
a) Biting
b) Bites
c) Bite
d) Bitten

SECTION – B WRITING (10)

Iv) Attempt any one from A and B given below: (5 marks)

A) You recently visited a Children’s Park, a favourite place in your city. Write a
description of the park in about 100 to 120 words.
OR

B).Festivals bring joy and excitement.You recently celebrated a festival with your
family members and relatives. In about 100 to 120 words bring out your
experience.
IV). Attempt any one from A and B (5)
A. Write a page in your diary in about 100 to 120 words on an accident that you
witnessed.
OR
B. Complete the story titled ‘The foolish Man’.
Suraj was a very foolish man. He was often seen doing the silliest of things. He
earned his livelihood by ....................................................... .

SECTION C Literature(40)

VI. Attempt any one of two extracts given. (5)

A) A headmaster once told his father that what Einstein chose as a
profession wouldn’t matter because “he’ll never make a success at
anything.” Einstein began learning to play the violin at the age of six
because his mother wanted him to
a) What did Einstein’s father hear from the headmaster? 1
b) Did the words of the headmaster come true? 1
c) Why did Einstein learn to play the violin? 1
d) Why did Einstein go to the High school in Munich? What did he hate about this
school? (2)
OR
B)A flower -seller hawked,”A garland of gulmohur, a garland of gulmohur!”
The child seemed irresistibly drawn.He went towards the basket where the
flowers lay heaped and half murmured,”I want that garland.” But he knew
his parents would refuse to buy him those flowers.
a) Where was the child? (1)
b)Why couldn’t he get a garland of flowers for himself? (1)
c)Who was willing to offer him all that he wanted?Why? (2)
d)Which sentence from those given below uses the word “drawn”as it has been
used in the given extract? (1)
i) His illness left him looking pale and drawn.
ii)Recent actions by a number of sporting bodies show where they think the line
should be drawn.
iii)The management was evidently drawn by his behaviour.
iv)The students draw a line.
 vii)Attempt any one of two extracts given. (5)
A.) peace comes dropping slow
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow
a)What does the poet expect to find in Innisfree? (1)
b) What do you think “comes dropping slow from the veils of the morning?” (1)
c) What does “to where the cricket sings” mean? (1)
d)How does the poet describe’ midnight and noon? (2)
OR

B)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 it if I should ever come back

a).Which road does the poet choose ? (1)

b)Why was the poet doubtful about the first road ? (1)

c)Find a word from the extract that means ‘crushed’. (1)

d)Identify the poetic device used in the first two lines,

Explain its impact on the reader. (2)

VIII. Answer any four of the following in about 30 to 40 words: (3 x 4 = 12)

1.When do the ‘thousand dreamy fancies’ begin to weave in the poet’s mind?
What do they do?
2. ‘Kezia’s birthday present for her father proved to be a disaster for her’ –
elucidated.
3. What message does the poem “The Road Not Taken” – convey.
4. What does the wind symbolize?
5. What made the doctor say, ‘Death lurked four inches away”?

IX). Answer any two of the following in about 30 to 40 words. (2 x 3 = 6)

1..Describe Iswaran’s capability to make even the simplest incident interesting.
2..How did Toto behave with the other animals?
3. How was the kingdom of fools different from other places?
‘.
X.) Answer any one of the following in about 100 to 200 words. (6)
1. Einstein was not only a great scientist but a great visionary, a campaigner of
world-peace and democracy – Give a reasoned answer.

2. ‘Greed leads to graves’. Explain this statement in the context of the story. In
the ‘Kingdom of Fools’

XI). Answer any one of the following in about 100 to 120 words. (6)
1.The poet is a great lover of mankind.Justify with reference to the poem ‘Wind’
2.What does the lake isle of Innisfree stand for the poet? Is it merely an escapism or a
revolt against the superficiality of urban life?

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