CLASS IX POST MID TERM EXAM 2023-24

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE SET A

Name: Class:_____ Roll No.____
Time allowed: 3Hrs. Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions;
1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading.
2. The Question Paper contains 3 sections- Reading, Grammar &Writing and
Literature.
3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
Section A –Reading Skills 20
I. Read the passage given below. 10
Mind Your Manners on Social Media
Recently, the US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy in a new advisory has warned
about risks associated with social media use in teenagers, and said that social media
can have “profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and
adolescents.” The advisory says that at this time, there isn’t enough evidence to
determine if social media is sufficiently safe for children and adolescents but we
“must acknowledge the growing body of research about potential harms, increase our
collective understanding of the risks associated with social media use, and urgently
take action to create safe and healthy digital environments that minimise harm and
safeguard children’s and adolescents’ mental health and wellbeing during critical
stages of development.”
One of the ways to build safe spaces online is to follow a strict guideline of
netiquette – or etiquette for all things internet. As you enter teenage and are eligible
to have your own social media profile, knowing some unwritten rules but ones that
are synonymous with good manners is important. These are the building blocks of
‘courteous communication’ when you are texting, posting, sharing . It will make
social media a healthy space for you and your friends.
SENSIBLE HANDLES Your social media handle is your calling card nowadays.
And as much as you are tempted to be called Loverboy15, know that these names
can embarrass you and your family later on. Stick to simple names as account
handles that are professional and or are a clever or creative play of words or your
name. Keep it real. Also don’t have handles like @cutegirlfrombandra that give out
location – it can actually attract stalkers.
SAY POSITIVE THINGS It’s very easy to be a keyboard warrior nowadays as you
can hide behind an anonymous handle and say whatever you want to. The golden
rule is to not say anything online that you wouldn’t say to someone’s face. Don’t use
anyone’s account as a venting space. If you have issues with someone, it’s always
better to discuss it in person. Cryptic posts where you are alluding to an issue that
you are going through with a person is an immature form of communication and
should be avoided.
DOUBLE-CHECK Before you hit ‘send’, reread everything to check the length,
language and tone of your post. Try to cut the use of slang if you are writing to
someone older and don’t use foul language. The good tip is that social media posts
usually have an ‘edit’ option to correct any typos or errors. Use it. Follow this rule
even while replying or thanking a message.
 RESPECT PRIVACY In the online universe – photos, texts, and videos can be
posted, copied, downloaded, and Photoshopped before you can blink your eyes. If
someone has shared a secret with you on your personal WhatsApp or the like, don’t
forward their messages to your other friends. Respect the privacy of people – the way
you would want yours to be respected.
BE KIND Speak kindly to people on social media, even the ones you don’t know
well or a complete stranger. Do try and remember that what looks like a screen is a
channel of online communication with people and hiding behind a screen and trolling
people (including celebs) is bad behaviour and shouldn’t be done. Besides being
rude, it can also get you in trouble as legal complaints can be made against people
indulging in abusive language or threats. In short, don’t be a troll. (TOI 28 Oct.
2023)
Answer the following questions.
i. Choose the Incorrect option. 1
a) Cryptic posts are immature. b) Account handles should be simple and real.
c) Trolling is advisable. c) Issues should be discussed in person.
ii. ‘It’s very easy to be a keyboard warrior nowadays.’ Give one reason. 1
iii. From the third paragraph, infer the meaning of ‘social media handle’. 1
iv. ________ can attract stalkers. 1
v. Select the word that can replace ‘alluding’ used in para 4. 1
a) discussing b) proposing c) introducing d) hinting
vi. Avoid the use of ‘slang’ with __________. 1
vii. ‘In the online universe – photos, texts, and videos can be posted, copied, 1
downloaded, and Photoshopped before you can blink your eyes.’ State any one
inference/conclusion.
viii. Select the option that makes the correct use of ‘trolling’ as used in para 7. 1
a) Serving food this bad is just trolling.
b) Trolling through the files revealed a photograph of me drinking coffee in the
office.
c) Eager to secure the company’s future, he started trolling for merger partners.
d) Many of his friends had larger boats, and they frequently travelled together
trolling for mackerel.
ix. How can we make social media a healthy space for ourselves? 2
II. Read the passage given below. 10
Happiness is not something far away and unattainable. Happiness does not depend on
circumstances or objects. It is an inseparable part of our consciousness, of our
essence, but hidden and covered from sight by our thoughts, desires and worries. We
all seek happiness but few, very-few, indeed, get it. We are unhappy partly because
we desire much more than what we can hope to attain.
Our countless desires are hard to be satisfied. And that is what makes us so sad in
life. The secret of happiness lies in the simplification of life. Simple living
encourages high thinking. It leads to contentment. Contentment gives us inner
wealth, the wealth of the mind and of the soul.
A contented man devotes himself to virtues; a man can feel true happiness. I do not
mean that for simplification of life, a man should become an ascetic. The happiness
of a sadhu is of a negative kind. I want positive kind of happiness. For this I must
 live in the midst of life and faithfully carry out my responsibilities to my home and
my country. But all this should be done in the spirit of selfless service.
A man, who wants to lead a happy life, should also make others happy. In making
others happy he will taste real and lasting happiness. There is a kind of joy in serving
others with virtuous motives, in sacrificing what one has for the good of others. An
act of goodness is of itself an act of happiness. The secret of perfect happiness lies in
renunciation.
Wealth may give us joy for a while and fame may provide us with fleeting
excitement. But they cannot give us permanent happiness. Kings have everything to
make them happy and yet they feel unhappy. It is because they do not practise
renunciation. There is a sense of joy in doing one’s work honestly and efficiently. A
research-worker feels joy in research and a journalist in writing.
In doing one’s duty sincerely, one feels peace of mind which is an important essence
of happiness. It is only by cultivating spirit of renunciation, self-sacrifice,
contentment and science work that one can really be happy. The strings of
misfortune spare none but they will not cow such a person.
Happiness is like the sun, it is often hidden by the clouds of thoughts, worries and
desires. We have to scatter and dissolve them to experience happiness. You don’t
have to create happiness. All you have to do is calm your mind, because when there
is a quiet mind and inner peace, there is happiness.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
i. Which of the following is the correct chain of things, as mentioned in the passage, 1
leading to happiness?
(a) contentment, high thinking, simple living, inner wealth
(b) simple living, high thinking, inner wealth, contentment
(c) high thinking, simple living, inner wealth, contentment
(d) simple living, high thinking, contentment, inner wealth
ii. What does a contented man do? 1
(a) He assimilates the basic virtues of life.
(b) He faces boldly the adversities of life.
(c) He encounters the strings of misfortunes.
(d) He gives up bad habits effortlessly.

iii. What, according to the passage, is a positive kind of happiness? 1

(a) Keeping our motives and feelings under control.
(b) Love for life and a country.
(c) Leading a simple life of an ascetic.
(d) Carrying out all worldly activities in the spirit of selfless service
iv. A man who wants to live a happy life should:
(a) make others happy. (b) master the art of renunciation.
(c) pursue wealth and fame. (d) inculcate the virtues of life.

v. Choose the option that best captures the central idea of the passage from the given 1
quotes.

a) “Life is about creating and living experiences that are worth sharing.”
 -Steve Jobs
b) “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”- -Albert Einstein

c) “Happiness is not something readymade; it comes from your own actions.”

—Dalai Lama
d)“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve
it.” —Paulo Coelho
vi. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE in the context of the passage? 1
(a) One feels peace of mind in doing one’s duty sincerely.
(b) Renunciation is the result of perfect happiness.
(c) Multiplicity of desires make us unhappy.
(d) Making others happy makes one happy.
vii. The phrase “cow a person” refers to get someone: 1
(a) spared (b) caught (c) scared (d) provoked
viii. Doing one’s work sincerely hardly makes one happy. (True/False) 1
ix. Select the option that makes the correct use of “unattainable”, as used in para 1. 1
(a) Unattainable development implies a long-term perspective.
(b) Keep goals small so they are more easily unattainable.
(c) Diabetes is unattainable but not curable.
(d) Some economists think that 100% employment in India is an unattainable goal.
x. The antonym of ‘permanent’ as given in para 4 is………… . 1
Section B- Grammar 10
III. Answer ANY TEN out of the twelve questions given below.
i. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete an online update.

The climate control comment by an activist _________ on social media yesterday.

A. blow up B. blew up C. is blown D. will be blown

ii. Read the conversation between a doctor and his patient. Complete the sentence by
reporting the patient’s reply correctly.
Doctor: Do you feel down from time-to-time Mr. Gopalan?
Patient: Yes, I do not stay in a good mood.

The doctor, while trying to figure out his patient’s ailment, asked about his well-
being, to which, the patient affirmed_________________.
iii. Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a health
magazine.
The advertisement read, ‘If you smoke, statistically your story end 15% before
it should’.
A. must B. should C. will D. ought to
iv. Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
following line, from a news report:
Last week a child was not allowed to board the plane at Ranchi airport.

Option No. Error Correction

(a) child children
(b) last previous
(c) the a
(d) at in
v. Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option:

As I was standing on the dock, looking out at the lake for the last time, a feeling of
emptiness _________ over me like darkness.
A. will wash
B. had washed
C. will have washed
D. washed
vi. Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter:
Subject: Request for Approval
Dear Sir
This is to respectfully submit that I ______ (seek) approval for organising a tree
plantation drive to be undertaken by the club.
vii. Report the dialogue between a grandson and his grandfather, by completing the
sentence:
Grandson: Grandpa, who are your superheroes?
Grandpa: Anyone who shows kindness and compassion to others.
In response to the question about his superheroes, grandfather says that it is _______.

viii. Identify the error in the given sentence, from a school magazine report and supply
the correction.
In order to balancing the sentiments of the Eagles and the Hawks, the Student
Council suggested a rematch between the teams.

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

ix. Change into indirect speech.

Tariq said to Sunil, “Did you enjoy travelling by sea?”

x. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the slogan by the
Ministry for Child Welfare.
________ WE AFFORD TO NEGLECT CHILDREN? THINK TWICE!!

A. WILL B. MAY C. NEED D. CAN

xi. Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between Latha
and her father.
Father: Why ask so many questions, Latha?
Latha: I believe that if you don’t know the answer, keep asking till you do!
Father asked Latha the reason for the many questions she was asking. Latha
exclaimed good-humouredly that in 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.
xii. Identify the error on a shop’s hoarding and supply the correction, for the following
sales offer:
Gumnaam & Daughters Pvt. Ltd. Bindapur, Jharkhand

Massive discount for all senior citizen vaccinated with the precautionary dose.

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

Section B- Writing Skills 10

IV.1 Attempt any one from A and B given below. 5
A. Your older brother sent you photos from his army training camp describing the
challenges and enthusiasm involved in becoming a soldier. Write a diary entry about
how you felt when you saw the photographs and read about his experience as an
army cadet/trainee.
OR
B Write a story in about 100 to 120 words ending with the following.

......... And that is when he understood the importance of being punctual.

IV.2 Attempt any one from A and B given below. 5
A. One day you were commuting in a DTC bus. Unfortunately, your wallet was left at
home. The conductor gave you the ticket for free. You are moved by his gesture.
Describe him in 100-120 words.
OR
B. The International Women’s Day was celebrated in all parts of the world with great
gusto. As part of the celebrations, women achievers were given awards by the Rotary
Club of your city. Write about the event in 100-120 words.
Section C- Literature 40
V. Reference to the context 10
V.1 Attempt any one of two extracts given below. 1X5 5
A. On Sunday afternoons Grandmother sent her down to the drawing room to have a
‘nice talk’ with Father and Mother. But the little girl always found Mother reading
and Father stretched out on the sofa, his handkerchief on his face, his feet on one of
the best cushions, sleeping soundly and snoring. She sat on a stool, gravely watched
him until he woke and stretched and asked the time, then look that her.
i. Who was the girl afraid of?
a) Her father b) Her mother c) Her grandmother d) Her neighbour
ii. Which literary device has been used in ‘she sat on a stool’?
a) refrain b) alliteration c) anaphora d) simile
iii. How would the parents deal with the little girl?
a) They would leave all her all their work and play with her.
b) They would leave all their work and start talking to her.
c) They would turn their blind eye and do what interested them.
d) All of these
iv. What does the word ‘gravely’ mean?
a) casually b) calmly c) seriously d) happily
v. Why does Grandmother want her to have a ‘nice talk’ with Father and Mother?
OR
B. “My austere father used to avoid all inessential comforts and luxuries. However, all
necessities were provided for, in terms of food, medicine or clothes. In fact, I would
say mine was a very secure childhood, both materially and emotionally.”
i. In what way was Kalam’s childhood ‘secure’?
ii. What does Kalam mean by ‘material security’?
iii. What is ’emotional security’, according to Kalam?
iv. Who provided Kalam with material and emotional security?
v. What does these lines tell you about Kalam’s father?
V.2 Attempt any one of two extracts given below. 1X5 5
Let us remember, whenever we are told
To hate our brothers, it is ourselves
That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn.
Remember, we who take arms against each other
i. Who is the poet of this poem?
ii. The poet discourages _________.
a) spreading love and brotherhood b) equality among humans
c) shallow thinking of hatred and discrimination d) the diverge thinking
iii. The poet believes in ________.
a) betrayal with fellow beings
b) condemnation of people with diverse opinions
c) separating borders of this vast land known as earth
d) oneness among all men
iv. The meaning of ‘betray’ is ________.
a) distrust b) punish c) treat d) deceive
v. The line ‘it is ourselves that we shall dispossess’ means___________.
a) if we hate others, we hate ourselves b) we need to shed our prejudices
c) we needn’t change the way we think d) both (a) and (b)
OR
B. So hack and chop Will rise curled green twigs,
But this alone won’t do it. Miniature boughs
Not so much pain will do it. Which if unchecked will expand again
The bleeding bark will heal To former size.
And from close to the ground
i. Who is the poet of this poem?
ii. What does ‘this’ and ‘it’ in the second line refer to?
iii. What is ‘bleeding bark’?
iv. The word ‘boughs’ means _______.
v. What will rise from the bark close to the ground?
VI. Answer any four of the following in about 40-50 words each. 4X3 12
i. How did the ‘shehnai’ get its name?
ii. How did Einstein fare in high school? Why did he leave the school?
iii. What kind of a woman did the doctor decide to marry and why?
iv. Do you like rain? What do you do when it rains steadily or heavily as described in
the poem?
v. Why does the poet want to go to Innisfree? What are the three things that the poet
would like to do when he goes back to Innisfree?
vi. ‘And surely such a woman was enough to provoke a saint.’ Who was the lady and
how did she provoke the saint?
VII. Answer any two of the following in about 40-50 words each. 2X3 6
i. How did Toto take a bath? Where had he learnt this from?
ii. Why did the swallow want to go to Egypt? Why did he stay back?
iii. Why was the disciple reluctant to leave the kingdom of fools? What did his guru
advise him?
VIII Answer any one of the following in about 100-120 words. 1X6 6
i. Determination and correct choice of path always lead to success. Do you agree?
Elaborate with reference to the success story of Santosh Yadav.
OR
ii. What obstacles did Maria Sharapova face in her journey to stardom? What qualities
in her enabled her to overcome them?
IX. Answer any one of the following in about 100-120 words. 1X6 6
i. Based on your reading of the story ‘The Last Leaf’, write a character sketch of Sue.
OR
ii. Justify the title ‘A House is Not a Home’.