Students must start practicing the questions from CBSE Sample Papers for Class 9 English with Solutions Set 2 are designed as per the revised syllabus.
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 9 English Set 2 with Solutions
Time Allowed : 3 hours
Maximum Marks : 80
General Instructions:
- The Question Paper contains THREE sections-READING SKILLS, GRAMMAR & WRITING SKILLS and LANGUAGE THROUGH LITERATURE.
- Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
Section – A : Reading Skills (20 marks)
Question 1.
Read the following text.
1. “Who doesn’t know how to cook rice? Cooking rice hardly takes time,” said my father. So, I challenged myself. I switched from news to You Tube and typed, “How to cook rice?” I took one and a half cups of rice. Since 1 didn’t have access to a rice cooker, I put the rice in a big pot. Firstly, the rice has to be washed to get rid of dust and starch. I thought I won’t be able to drain the rice and that it will fall out of the pot. I observed the chef as I swirled the rice around and used my dexterous hands to drain it, not once, not twice, but three times. I looked down at the sink and saw less than 50 grains that made their way out of the pot. Suffice to say, I was up to the mark.
2. The video stated that the key to perfect rice is equal amount of rice and water. I have heard that professionals don’t need to measure everything; they just know what the right amount is. But as this was my first time in the kitchen, 1 decided to experiment by not measuring the water needed for boiling the rice. I wanted the rice to be firm when bitten, just like pasta. I don’t enjoy the texture of mushy rice. It has to have that chutzpah; it has to resist my biting power just for a bit before disintegrating.
3. After what seemed like 10 minutes, all the water disappeared. I went in to give it a good stir. To my surprise, some of the rice got stuck to the pot. I tried to scrape it off but to no avail. At the same time, there was a burning smell coming from it. I quickly turned the stove off. “What have you done to the kitchen?” My mother shouted while coming towards the kitchen. I managed to ward her off.
4. Finally, when the time came to taste my creation, I was surprised! It wasn’t bad at all. The rice had the desired consistency. Sure, a little more salt would’ve been better, but I just added that while eating. The experience was fairly rewarding and memorable. It taught me a new sense of respect for those who cook food on a regular basis at home or are engaged in gourmet creations professionally. (SQP 2020-2021)
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
(i) Father’s question to the narrator, about knowing how to cook rice, was intended to
(A) criticise the narrator’s lack of abilities.
(B) make the process sound simple.
(C) encourage the narrator to take up cooking.
(D) showcase his own expertise in cooking rice.
Answer:
(B) make the process sound simple.
(ii) How did the narrator describe the desired texture of the cooked rice? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer:
The narrator wanted the rice to be firm when bitten, resembling the texture of pasta, before disintegrating.
(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
After observing the rice draining process, the narrator felt confident because __________.
Answer:
After observing the rice draining process, the narrator felt confident because they managed to drain the rice without losing more than 50 grains.
(iv) In the given passage, the word “dexterous” is used to describe the hands used to drain the rice. Which word can be a synonym for “dexterous”?
Answer:
Skilful
(v) While cooking rice for the first time, the author encountered a challenging situation when some of the rice got stuck to the pot. The’ tried to scrape it off but failed, and a ________ smell filled the kitchen.
Answer:
burning
(vi) Based on the reading of the passage, what lesson did the author learn from their experience of cooking rice for the first time? Explain in about 40 words.
Answer:
The author learned a new sense of respect for those who regularly cook food at home or professionally. The experience was rewarding and memorable, teaching them the importance of understanding the process and having appreciation for the efforts put into cooking.
(vii) Which option represents the correct ratio of water to rice for cooking ‘perfect rice’?
(A) Image 1
(B) Image 2
(C) Image 3
(D) Image 4
Answer:
(A) Image 1
Question 2.
Read the following text. 10
1. A survey was conducted on student preferences with respect to the most popular means of communication among them. Surprisingly, the students didn’t seem much interested in traditional means of communication. Only 7% were interested in writing letters to their friends or kins as compared to those who preferred
e-mails.
2. However, the chief competition is between users of Instant Messenger and those of emails. The users of fax line as a medium of communication are only marginal. There are supporters of text messaging also. Overall, the survey had a mixed response from the students.
3. The students informed that out of the choices given in the survey questionnaire, they have indicated the most preferred option. But, most of the students are of the view that video calling needs to be mentioned in the questionnaire as it is the most effective and most popular means of communication. Further, voice messages are the second most preferred means of communication.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
(i) Complete the sentence appropriately.
According to the survey, the students indicated that the most preferred option of communication was ________.
Answer:
According to the survey, the students indicated that the most preferred option of communication was not mentioned in the passage.
(ii) Fill in the blanks with an appropriate response.
Among the given options in the survey questionnaire, the students suggested that ________ should be included as it is the most effective and popular means of communication.
Answer:
Among the given options in the survey questionnaire, the students suggested that video calling should be included as it is the most effective and popular means of communication.
(iii) Justify the following statement: “Students in the survey showed a preference for modern means of communication over traditional ones.”
Answer:
The statement can be justified based on the information provided in the passage where it is mentioned that only 7% of the students showed interest in writing letters, while a higher number preferred e-mails and other modern forms of communication like instant messaging and text messaging. This indicates a clear preference for modern means of communication among the surveyed students.
(iv) According to the chart, which means of communication is liked by exactly one-tenth of the students?
Answer:
Fax
(v) What can be inferred about the level of interest in traditional means of communication among students based on the survey results?
Answer:
The survey results suggest that students have a limited interest in traditional means of communication, with only 7% indicating a preference for writing letters compared to e-mails.
(vi) What is the correct order of the medium of communication in decreasing order of preference?
(A) Voice message, Text message, Instant Messenger, Fax
(B) Text message, Instant Messenger, Voice message, Fax
(C) Instant Messenger, Fax, Voice message, Text message
(D) Text message, Instant Messenger, Fax, Voice message
Answer:
(A) Voice message, Text message, Instant Messenger, Fax
(vii) What were the two most popular means of communication among the students according to the survey, and how did they compare in terms of preference?
Answer:
According to the survey, the two most popular means of communication among the students were video calling and voice messages. Video calling was indicated as the most preferred option, while voice messages ranked as the second most preferred means of communication.
(viii) Choose the correct option for Competition : Compete.
(A) Competition – Noun / Compete – Adjective
(B) Competition – Adverb / Compete – Verb
(C) Competition – Noun / Compete – Verb
(D) Competition – Adverb / Compete – Noun
Answer:
(C) Competition – Noun / Compete – Verb
Section – B : Grammar & Writing Skills (20 marks)
GRAMMAR (10)
Question 3.
Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed. (1 × 10)
(i) As the days passed, I ________ his shadow.
(A) become
(B) will become
(C) have become
(D) became
Answer:
(D) became
(ii) Read the following conversations and complete the passages given below:
Grasshopper : Please give me grain.
Ant : What were you doing in summer?
A grasshopper appealed to an ant to give him grain. The ant wanted to know from him ________.
Answer:
what he had been doing in summer.
(iii) We ________ disturb the committee for such a trivial matter.
(A) dare not
(B) can not
(C) should not
(D) will not
Answer:
(C) should not
(iv) Identify the error in the given sentence.
| Error | Correction | |
| I can swim across the river when I was young. |
Answer:
Error – can
Correction – could
(v) My brother will go to watch a movie when his friend ________.
(A) has come
(B) comes
(C) come
(D) will come
Answer:
(B) comes
(vi) Fortunately, ________ of the children were hurt. (Fill in the blank with a Determiner)
Answer:
none
(vii) Read the following conversations and complete the passages given below:
Mother : Have you finished your homework?
Son : Sorry mother, I fell asleep.
The mother asked the son if he had finished his homework. The son apologised and said ________.
Answer:
that he had fallen asleep
(viii) Select the word which should be edited in the following sentence to make them grammatically correct: . Harry lent Iris book to me on yesterday.
(A) lent
(B) on
(C) to
(D) yesterday
Answer:
(B) on
(ix) Read the following conversations and complete the passages given below:
Mohit: When will your second unit tests start?
Ankita : My second unit tests will start in the second week of August. Mohit asked Ankita ________.
Answer:
When her second unit tests would start
(x) The class is dismissed. You ________ leave now.
(A) should
(B) can
(C) need to
(D) ought to
Answer:
(B) can
(xi) Read the conversation below and choose the correct option to complete the paragraph that follows:
Wife : Our son picks up money wherever I hide it.
Husband : Hide it in his books. He will never find it there.
A worried wife told her husband that ________ wherever she hid it.
(A) their son has picked up money
(B) their son have picked up money
(C) their son picked up money
(D) their son had picked up money
Answer:
(C) their son picked up money
(xii) Select the word which should be edited in the following sentence to make them grammatically correct: I have wrote this song yesterday.
(A) this
(B) have
(C) yesterday
(D) none of these
Answer:
(B) have
WRITING – (10)
Question 4.
Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5
(A) With the help of the given clues, write a short description of A.R. Rahman in 100 – 120 words:
| Born | January 6, 1966, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, rises to success as A.R. Rahman, music director and singer |
| Family | Loses father at an early age, mother’s indulgence great |
| Trained Under | Master Dhanraj, Ilaiyaraaja |
| Education | Graduates in Western classical music from Trinity College of Music |
| Significant Year | 1992 sets up recording studio; film career begins |
| Achievements | Awards fourteen Filmfare, four National Film, two Grammy, two Academy, etc. Padma Bhushan in 2010 |
| Contribution to Music | Immense, national icon |
Answer:
A. R. Rahman
A.R. Rahman, born on January 6, 1966, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is a name synonymous with musical brilliance. Rising to success as A.R. Rahman, he is renowned as a music director and singer. Despite losing his father at a young age, Rahman found solace in his mother’s unwavering support and encouragement. Under the guidance of Master Dhanraj and Ilaiyaraaja, Rahman honed his musical skills. He further pursued his passion by graduating in Western classical music from Trinity College of Music.
The year 1992 marked a significant turning point in his career as he established his own recording studio, embarking on a successful journey in the world of cinema. Rahman’s achievements in the field of music are unparalleled. He has been honoured with numerous prestigious awards, including fourteen Filmfare Awards, four National Film Awards, two Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards, and many more. In 2010, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, a testament to his immense contribution to the world of music.
A.R. Rahman’s impact on the music industry is immeasurable, earning him the status of a national icon. His melodies have touched hearts and transcended borders, making him a global sensation. Rahman’s creative genius and dedication to his craft have solidified his place as one of the greatest musicians of our time.
OR
(B) You were on a school trip and were on your way back to the hotel late one night when your school bus, full of children, broke down in a lonely area. Write a descriptive paragraph on the above given situation in 100 – 120 words.
Answer:
It was a late night on our school trip when our bus came to an abrupt halt in a desolate and unfamiliar area. Panic and unease filled the air as we realised we were stranded in ‘ an isolated location. The darkness seemed to engulf us, accentuating the eerie silence that surrounded us. Our tired faces reflected worry, but amidst the apprehension, a sense of unity emerged among the students. Teachers took charge, ensuring everyone stayed together and remained calm. The flickering headlights of the bus illuminated the shadows, casting an uncertain glow on the scene. Time seemed to stretch as we anxiously awaited help, relying on each other for support. In those tense moments, we bonded, finding solace in the presence of our classmates and teachers. It was a test of resilience and solidarity, a night etched in our memories as a reminder of our strength in adversity.
Question 5.
Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(A) You met your old friend in the market today after five years. Write a diary entry in 100-120 words expressing your thoughts and emotions on the meeting.
Answer:
Saturday
24 March, 20XX
10:00 PM
Dear Diary
Today was an extraordinary day, filled with unexpected joy and nostalgia. As I ventured into the bustling market, I suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar face. It took me a moment to register, but there he was, my old friend, whom I hadn’t seen in five long years. Emotions surged through me like a tidal wave as we locked eyes. Excitement and disbelief intertwined, creating a whirlwind of emotions within me. Time seemed to stand still as we rushed towards each other, embracing in a long-awaited reunion.
In that moment, it felt as if no time had passed at all. We eagerly caught up on years of missed conversations, sharing stories of our separate journeys and reminiscing about our shared memories. Laughter echoed through the air, and my heart swelled with happiness.
Seeing my old friend again reminded me of the beautiful bond we once had, a connection that transcended distance and time. Our encounter was a gentle reminder of the power of friendship and the ability to pick up right where we left off.
As I bid farewell to my dear friend once again, my heart was filled with gratitude for this unexpected encounter. The world felt a little brighter, and my spirits were lifted. Today, I am reminded of the preciousness of friendships and the joy that comes from rekindling old connections.
Until next time, dear diary.
Yours sincerely
[Your Name]
OR
(B) Write a story with the help of the given hints in 100 – 120 words. Also give a suitable title.
“Going to Mumbai by train to attend the marriage of a friend ________ got stuck in a traffic jam ________ reached the railway station late ________ boarded a wrong train ________ realised after two hours ________ now you ________”
Answer:
A Serendipitous Journey
Heading to Mumbai by train to celebrate the wedding of a dear friend, my excitement was palpable. However, fate had a peculiar way of turning a straightforward journey into an unforeseen adventure. Trapped in an unyielding traffic jam, time slipped away, and I arrived at the railway station much later than intended.
Anxiously scanning the platform, I hurriedly boarded a train without verifying its destination. Unbeknownst to me, I had embarked on the wrong journey. It took me two long hours to realise the gravity of my mistake.
Stranded amidst unfamiliar landscapes and faces, I initially felt disheartened. Yet, in that moment of despair, destiny intervened. A fellow passenger, sensing my predicament, offered his assistance. Together, we disembarked at the next station, determined to find a way back to Mumbai.
Though I missed the wedding festivities, this unexpected detour became a delightful experience. It taught me the value of embracing the unknown and finding solace in the kindness of strangers. In the end, what seemed like a mishap turned into a serendipitous journey, leaving me with newfound wisdom and unforgettable memories.
Section – C : Language Through Literature (26 marks)
Question 6.
Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.
(A) There is something disarming about Maria Sharapova, something that odds with her ready smile and glamorous attire. And that something in her lifted her on Monday, 22 August 2005 to the world number one position in women’s tennis. All this happened in almost no time. Poised beyond her years, the Siberian born teenager took just four years as a professional to reach the pinnacle.
(i) Which quality/qualities of Maria Sharapova is/are mentioned here?
(A) her ready smile and her glamorous attires
(B) her simple attires
(C) her richness and ready smile
(D) her powerfulness
Answer:
(A) her ready smile and her glamorous attires
(ii) How much time did she take as a professional to reach the pinnacle?
(A) 1 year
(B) 6 years
(C) 4 years
(D) 7 years.
Answer:
(C) 4 years
(iii) What is the meaning of “poised beyond her years”?
Answer:
She is far too mature and responsible than her actual age.
(iv) Where was she born?
Answer:
Siberia
OR
(B) “A small shrine half protrudes from the stone platform on the riverbank. When it emerges fully, the goddess inside will escape, and the evil period of the Kalyug will end on earth.”
(i) Where is the small shrine situated?
(A) Inside the temple
(B) Near temple
(C) On the bank of river Bagmati
(D) Near the Ganga River
Answer:
(D) Near the Ganga River
(ii) Where does the holy Bagmati river flow?
(A) Just below the Pashupatinath temple
(B) In the middle of the temple
(C) A little away from the temple
(D) It is not there
Answer:
(A) Just below the Pashupatinath temple
(iii) Find a word from the passage which means ‘thrust forward’.
Answer:
protrude
(iv) According to the legend, when will Kalyug end?
Answer:
When the stone platform emerges from the river bank and the goddess inside it escapes.
Question 7.
Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.
(A) 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.
(i) What realisation dawns on the poet?
(A) His loved one’s body has no movement and no life.
(B) His loved one’s body has become as hard as stones and trees.
(C) His loved one is not inclined to talk with him.
(D) None of the above.
Answer:
(A) His loved one’s body has no movement and no life.
(ii) Which words from the poem describe death?
(A) ‘No motion’, ‘no force1 and ‘neither hears nor sees’.
(B) ‘Rocks’, ‘stones’ and ‘trees’.
(C) ‘Rolled’, diurnal’ and ‘course.
(D) None of the above.
Answer:
(A) ‘No motion’, ‘no force1 and ‘neither hears nor sees’.
(iii) Why does the poet compare his loved one to “rocks, stones, and trees’?
Answer:
Being now a part of the earth, the poets loved one rotates with the earth as rocks, stones and trees do.
(iv) Find a word from the passage which is opposite to ‘static’.
Answer:
Motion
OR
(B) “So, hack and chop
But this alone won’t do it
Not so much pain will do it.
The bleeding bark will heal.”
(i) If ‘hack and chop’ won’t do it, what would be able to do it?
(A) Burning the tree
(B) Relocating the tree
(C) Killing its roots
(D) Infesting it with pests
Answer:
(C) Killing its roots
(ii) Which literary device is used in the line ‘the bleeding bark will heal’?
(A) Simile
(B) Metaphor
(C) Alliteration
(D) Refrain
Answer:
(C) Alliteration
(iii) What do these given lines tell us about humans?
Answer:
It can be inferred that humans are merciless, thoughtless and callous.
(iv) Which characteristics of the tree are mentioned in the given lines?
Answer:
The act of restoring features of trees are mentioned.
Question 8.
Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 40 – 50 words. (3 × 4 = 12)
(i) Why did Margie feel that the kids in the old days must have loved school?
Answer:
Because the students used to sit together in the classroom. They enjoyed, laughed and shouted in the schoolyard. Children needed company to enhance their skills.
(ii) Why are the devotees so eager to enter the Pashupatinath temple?
Answer:
The devotees are so eager to enter the Pashupatinath temple to get the priest’s attention. They wanted the priest to give their offerings to their God and hence were pushing, elbowing and shoving each other.
(iii) Why did the poet want the tree to be snapped out?
Answer:
The poet suggests another method to kill a tree completely. He states that to kill a tree its roots must be pulled out and snapped from the deep hide inside the earth.
(iv) What is the special distinction of Santosh Yadav as a mountaineer?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav is the only woman in th world who has conquered Mt Everest twice She is a woman who got this distinction risin: up from a rural background.
(v) How did Gerrard behave on seeing a gun-toting stranger in his cottage?
Answer:
Gerrard kept his cool and remained absolutely unruffled when he saw the gun-toting stranger in his cottage. There was neither any panic nor any ring of tension in his voice. He remained his normal self and talked to him casually.
Question 9.
Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40 – 50 words. (3 × 2 = 6)
(i) How did Sue try to revive Johnsy’s interest in things around her?
Answer:
Sue talked about clothes and fashions to draw Johnsy’s interest in things around her. She also moved her drawing-board to Johnsy’s room and whistled as she painted, to keep Johnsy’s mind off her illness.
(ii) What did the fireman do when they got author’s mother out?
Answer:
The author’s mother inhaled a little smoke when she ran into the burning house. She was rescued by the firemen who put an oxygen mask on her after bringing her out.
(iii) Describe the physical appearance of Lushkoff when Sergei observes him in his yard.
Answer:
Sergei observed Lushkoff closely when the latter came to his yard asking for alms. At that time, Lushkoff had a ragged appearance. He had worn a fawn-coloured overcoat and his eyes were dull and drunken. There was a red spot on either cheek.
Question 10.
Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100 – 120 words. (6 × 1 = 6)
(A) How did Gerrard befool the intruder to be able to save himself?
Answer:
Gerrard told the intruder that he could make a mistake if he shot him. Gerrard showed him as disguise outfit and false moustaches. He also told him that he (Gerrard) had posted a man on the main road. He would ring up if he saw the police but he didn’t want to leave it as late as that. Again Gerrard phoned to someone. He showed to the intruder that he was not an ordinary man.
Whenever the intruder decided to kill him, Gerrard misguided him and he got indulged in suspicion whether he should kill Gerrard or not. In this way, he knitted a story to trap the intruder. And also last time, the intruder decided to kill Gerrard. Gerrard advised him not to be a fool, and to look for himself. Gerrard opened the door and stopped away. The intruder leaned forward to inspect it with his sight(eye-sight) towards Gerrard but with his revolver ready. As turned his head, Gerrard gave him a push and trapped him in the cupboard.
OR
(B) Throw light on the central theme of the poem ‘A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal’ in your own words.
Answer:
The central theme of William Wordsworth’s poem “A slumber did my spirit seal” revolves around the profound impact of death and its ability to create emotional detachment. The “slumber” that seals their spirit serves as a metaphor for the speaker’s experience of losing someone, which is explored in the poem. The idea of death as a transformational force that separates the living from the dead and causes a sense of estrangement is prevalent.
The speaker’s spirit is cut off from the outside world and unable to feel the same emotions as previously, and memories of the lost person become blurry and distant. The theme focuses on the long-lasting impacts of loss and the speaker’s ongoing absence, illuminating the profound nature of death and its effects on the human spirit.
Question 11.
Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. (6 × 1 = 6)
(A) What is the meaning of “My cat was back and so was I” ? Had the author gone any-where ? Why does he say that he is also back ? [NCERT]
Answer:
The fire had destroyed everything. The author was feeling very gloomy after the fire incident especially because his cat was found missing after that. Zan felt his cat had died in the incident because there was no news about its whereabouts. The author had lost interest in everything. When the narrator lost everything in the fire he did not cry but when he realised that his cat was missing he broke down in tears. The firemen wanted them to leave the house but he wanted to know about his cat.
He used to visit this place daily hoping to see his missing cat. He kept on thinking only about her. A month later when a lady contacted him and gave him back the missing cat, he leapt up and cried out. He forgot all the loss caused by the fire and remarked, “My cat was back and so was I.”
OR
(B) Describe the last meeting between Sergei and Lushkoff. How did Olga help Lushkoff to be a real man?
Answer:
One day, after two years, Sergei came across Lushkoff standing at the ticket window of a theatre, paying for a seat. He was wearing a coat collar of curly fur and a sealskin cap. Sergei recognised him Lushkoff told him that now he was a notary and was paid thirty-five roubles a month. Sergei was pleased to hear this. He congratulated Lushkoff for standing on his own feet in life. At this, Lushkoff disclosed something to him. He said that it was not because of him, but his maidservant Olga that he had reformed himself.
When he used to come to his house to chop wood, he could not do so because he was weak and inexperienced. Then Olga would take pity on him and chop the wood for him. He told Sergei that he never chopped a single stick. It was all done by Olga. Her kindness transformed him. He stopped drinking and started earning his living by hard work. In this way, Olga’s kindness had changed his life.