Class 9 Sample Paper 2026 English

2026
SAMPLE / MODEL
PAPERS
NCERT BASED
PRACTICE PAPERS
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FOR
CBSE BOARD
AND
STATE BOARDS

ANNUAL EXAM PRACTICE PAPER (2025-26)

CLASS: IX

SUBJECT: ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE (184)

Time Allowed: 3 Hours Maximum Marks: 80

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Read the instructions given carefully and strictly follow them:

(i) This question paper comprises 11 questions. All questions are compulsory.

(ii) The question paper contains THREE sections:

 Section A: Reading
 Section B: Grammar and Creative Writing Skills
 Section C: Literature

(iii) Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

Section A: Reading 20 Marks

Q1. Read the passage given below: 10

I. In today’s interconnected world, the media plays a central role in shaping how people
think, feel, and act. From newspapers and radio to television and social media
platforms, the media has evolved rapidly, influencing every aspect of modern life. Yet,
while it informs and connects society, it also raises serious questions about accuracy,
bias, and impact.
II. The traditional forms of media—print, radio, and television—once served as the
primary sources of information. Newspapers offered detailed reporting and

encouraged reading habits, while radio and television brought sound and visuals to
millions, making news and entertainment more accessible. These forms of media have
a certain credibility because information is usually checked and verified before
publication or broadcast. They also provide shared experiences: for instance, watching
a national event live on television or reading the morning newspaper together fosters a
sense of community.
III. However, the rise of digital media has transformed how information is produced and
consumed. With smartphones and the internet, people can now access news instantly
from anywhere. Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and
YouTube allow individuals not just to consume content but also to create and share it.
This democratization of media has given voice to many who were previously unheard.
Local issues can gain global attention, and social campaigns can bring real social
change. For instance, online movements have raised awareness about environmental
protection and gender equality more effectively than traditional campaigns ever could.
IV. Yet, this very freedom has its drawbacks. The speed of digital media often comes at
the cost of accuracy and accountability. False information, rumours, and biased
reporting can spread faster than verified facts. The competition for attention
sometimes leads to sensationalism rather than substance. Moreover, overexposure to
media—especially social media—can create echo chambers, where people only see
opinions similar to their own, reducing open-minded discussion and critical thinking.
V. On the other hand, media can be a powerful tool for education and empowerment
when used wisely. Educational channels, podcasts, and digital libraries provide free
learning opportunities. Media literacy programs now teach students to question
sources and identify misinformation. As the line between the creator and the consumer
blurs, understanding how media works becomes essential.
VI. In conclusion, the media, in all its forms, remains a double-edged sword. It has the
potential to inform, inspire, and unite—but also to mislead, divide, and manipulate.

The challenge for society is not to reject media, but to engage with it responsibly.
Whether print or digital, the true power of media lies in how wisely we choose to use
it.
(Source: created only for academic use/430 words approximately)

Based on your reading of the passage, answer the following questions:

I. Complete the following with reference to paragraph 1: (1)
The biggest shift in the world of communication has come from ________________.
II. How have social media platforms changed participation in news and information
sharing? Give an example. (1)
III. List any two advantages of traditional forms of media mentioned in the passage.
(2)
IV. Fill in the blanks suitably with reference to paragraph 3: (2)
According to the passage, digital media can create __________ and limit __________
when people only see opinions similar to their own.
V. Substitute the underlined phrase with the correct word from paragraph 2: (1)
Social media allows ordinary people to create and spread their own content instantly.
(a) broadcast
(b) collect
(c) compare
(d) respond
VI. What concern does the writer express about the speed of digital media? (1)
VII. According to the passage, what educational benefit does media provide when
used wisely? (1)
VIII. Complete the sentence with the correct response: (1)

The writer’s tone in the passage is __________________________.
(a) appreciative and balanced
(b) humorous and casual
(c) angry and critical
(d) indifferent and vague

Q2. Read the passage given below: 10

I. In recent years, cities across the world have begun turning their rooftops into
vibrant green spaces to fight rising temperatures and pollution. Known as green
roofs, these specially designed rooftops are covered with soil, grass, and plants.
According to the World Green Infrastructure Report 2024, over 35% of new
buildings in major global cities now include some form of rooftop vegetation,
compared to just 8% a decade ago. The rise is driven by increasing awareness about
climate change and the urgent need for sustainable urban solutions.
II. Green roofs offer several benefits backed by scientific data. Studies by the Urban
Ecology Centre show that buildings with green roofs can stay up to 5°C cooler
during summer. They can also reduce air-conditioning costs by 20%–25%.
Additionally, one square metre of rooftop greenery can absorb up to 1.5 kg of
carbon dioxide every year. Many cities—such as Singapore, Toronto, and
Copenhagen—have introduced policies making green roofs mandatory for
commercial buildings above a certain size.
III. These roofs are not only good for the environment but have become exciting spaces
for people. Some schools use green rooftops as outdoor classrooms. In Tokyo, over
120 schools maintain vegetable gardens on rooftops, teaching students sustainable
farming and biodiversity. Birds, butterflies, and bees also return to these green
pockets, creating miniature ecosystems in the middle of busy cities.
IV. However, experts warn that green roofs require regular maintenance. Without
proper watering systems or structural support, they may not survive harsh weather.
Still, environmentalists believe that widespread adoption of green roofs could

significantly improve air quality and reduce the effects of urban heat islands in the
future.
(Source: created only for academic use/270 words approximately)

Based on your reading of the passage, answer the following questions:
I. What does the rise from 8% to 35% of buildings with green roofs suggest? (1)
(a) Green roofs are becoming less popular
(b) More cities are adopting sustainable building practices
(c) Green roofs are only used for decoration
(d) Most cities have stopped using technology
II. Select the option that is true for the Assertion and Reason given below: (1)
Assertion (A): Green roofs help reduce air-conditioning costs.
Reason (R): Plants on rooftops keep the buildings cooler.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, R is false.
(d) A is false, R is true.
III. State any two environmental benefits of green roofs. (2)
IV. Pick the option closest in meaning to “adoption” as used in paragraph 4. (1)
(a) rejection
(b) disagreement
(c) acceptance
(d) delay
V. According to the passage, why are some cities making green roofs mandatory? (1)
VI. Complete the following sentence: (1)

Buildings with green roofs can stay up to __________ cooler during summer.
VII. What evidence shows that green roofs can support biodiversity? (1)
VIII. Complete the following suitably: (1)
According to the passage, experts warn that green roofs may fail if ____________.
IX. Name one city mentioned in the passage that has policies promoting green roofs.
(1)

SECTION-B (GRAMMAR & CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS) 20 Marks

Q3. Complete ANY TEN of the twelve following tasks, as directed: (10x1=10)

(i) Supply the correct form of the verb in the following sentence:

Riya __________ (finish) her homework before going out to play.

(ii) Choose the most suitable modal to complete the sentence meaningfully:

You _______ (should/may/must) check the weather forecast before travelling.

(iii) Identify the error and correct it:
He have completed the project on time.

Error Correction

(iv) Read the dialogue and choose the correct reported speech:

Teacher: “Why are you late today?”
Student: “I missed the school bus.”

The teacher asked the student why he was late and the student replied that _______.
(A) he misses the bus
(B) he had missed the school bus
(C) he has missed the bus
(D) he missed the school bus yesterday

(v) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction:
My cousins lives in a big house near the lake.
Options:

S.No. Error Correction
A cousins cousin
B lives live
C house houses
D near nearly

(vi) Report the dialogue by completing the sentence:
Father: “Don’t forget to lock the door.”

Daughter: “Okay, I won’t.”

The father reminded his daughter ____________.

(vii) Identify the error and supply the correction:
Each of the players were given a certificate.
Error Correction

(viii) Complete the sentence with the correct option:
By the time we reached the station, the train ________.
(A) has left
(B) had left
(C) will leave
(D) leaves

(ix) Fill in the blank with the appropriate option:
There are not ______ chairs for all the guests.
(A) many
(B) much
(C) few
(D) little

(x) Fill in the blank with the correct modal:

You ______ practise regularly to improve your handwriting. (should/might)

(xi) Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option:
Either of the solutions ______ acceptable.
(A) are
(B) were
(C) is
(D) have

(xii) Identify the error and supply the correction:
The team have won the match after a tough fight.
Error Correction

Creative Writing Skills (10)
Q4(A). You recently attended your school’s Annual Day / Sports Day. The campus
was decorated, students were performing or participating in events, and parents were
present to cheer.
Using the verbal cues given below, write a descriptive paragraph in 100–120 words:
CUES:
festive decorations/ announcements/excited students/ performances / races/
cheering parents/chief guest’s address/sense of pride and teamwork/what you
learnt/ how you felt

OR

Q4(B). Study the visual cue described below and write a descriptive paragraph (100–
120 words): (5)
VISUAL CUE DESCRIPTION:
A busy city market at 6 p.m.: rows of shops lit with bright lights, vendors calling out,
people carrying bags, fruit stalls, children eating ice cream, traffic on the main road, a
street musician playing the flute, the smell of roasted corn and snacks filling the air.
(Write a descriptive paragraph capturing the sights, sounds, and mood of the scene)

Q5(A). You recently gave your first stage performance during the school Annual Day.
You were nervous at first but gradually gained confidence. Write a diary entry in 100–
120 words describing: (5)
 how you prepared
 what happened on stage
 audience reaction
 how the experience changed you

OR

Q5(B). Write a story (100–120 words) based on the title: “The Lost Backpack”
You may use the cues given bellow:
A school picnic → suddenly realises bag is missing → important things inside →
searches anxiously → unexpected helper → surprising ending.

SECTION: C (LITERATURE) 40 Marks

Q6. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two given:
(5)
I look at the flute seller standing in a corner of the square near the hotel. In his hand is
a pole with an attachment at the top from which fifty or sixty bansuris protrude in all
directions, like the quills of a porcupine. They are of bamboo: there are cross flutes
and recorders. From time to time, he stands the pole on the ground, selects a flute and
plays for a few minutes. The sound rises clearly above the noise of the traffic and the
hawkers’ cries.
(Kathmandu)

i. What does the narrator’s choice to observe the flute seller in detail suggest
about their state of mind? (1)
ii. Based on the extract, what can be inferred about the flute seller’s relationship
with his craft? (1)
(a) He plays only to attract customers.
(b) He seems to enjoy playing the flute as much as selling it.
(c) He is uninterested in music and focuses only on sales.
(d) He struggles to play because of the noise around him.
iii. Fill in the blank using an inference from the passage:
The comparison of the flutes to “the quills of a porcupine” highlights the __________
of the flute seller’s display. (1)
iv. How does the author use contrast in the extract to draw attention to the flute seller’s
music? (2)
Or
One Sunday afternoon, not long after I had started high school, I was sitting at home
at our dining-room table doing homework. It was a cold and windy fall day, and we
had a fire going in our fireplace. As usual, my red tabby cat was lying on top of all my

papers, purring loudly and occasionally swatting at my pen for entertainment’s sake.
She was never far from me. I had rescued her when she was a kitten, and somehow
she knew that I was the one responsible for giving her ‘the good life’
(A House is not a Home)
i. What does the cat’s behaviour—lying on the narrator’s papers and swatting at
the pen—suggest about her personality? (1)
ii. What can be inferred about the relationship between the narrator and the cat?
(1)
(a) The cat prefers being alone
(b) The narrator finds the cat irritating
(c) There is a strong bond of affection between them
(d) The cat is afraid of the narrator
iii. Fill in the blank using a phrase that reflects the narrator’s feelings:
The narrator believes the cat stayed close to her because she knew that he/she
had given her ____________________. (1)
iv. How does the author use the cat’s actions to symbolise their bond with the
narrator? (2)

Q7. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two given:
(5)
‘A slumber did my spirit seal—
I had no human fears.
She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years’

i. What does the phrase “A slumber did my spirit seal” suggest about the poet’s
emotional state? (1)
ii. What can be inferred about “she” from the lines of the stanza? (1)
(a) She was afraid of growing old

(b) She appeared untouched by time
(c) She lived in constant fear
(d) She tried to escape reality
iii. Fill in the blank:
The poet suggests that “she” seemed beyond the reach of ____________. (1)
iv. How does the poet use contrast between “human fears” and the idea of being
untouched by time to convey deeper meaning? (2)
Or
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.
(The Lake Isle of Innisfree)
i. What does the poet’s repeated resolve “I will arise and go now” reveal about his
state of mind? (1)
ii. What can be inferred about the poet’s longing from the sounds he describes?
(1)
(a) He imagines the lake only in dreams
(b) The sounds of the lake haunt him unpleasantly
(c) His desire to return to nature is constant and deeply felt
(d) He wants to escape the city because it is unsafe
iii. Fill in the blank:
The poet hears the sound of the lake water not just with his ears but in his
_______________. (1)
iv. How does the contrast between the “roadway” and the lake’s “low sounds”
highlight the theme of the poem? (2)

Q8. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions in about 50 words each.
(4×3=12)

a) Maria Sharapova’s journey to success was filled with sacrifices. Explain how
her determination and emotional strength helped her reach the top. (REACH
FOR THE TOP)
b) Describe two incidents from Kalam’s early life that highlight the values he
learnt from his parents. How did these values influence his later life? (MY
CHILDHOOD)
c) Explain how the theme of mistaken identity shapes the events of the play.
How does Gerrard use this to his advantage? (IF I WERE YOU)
d) How did Einstein’s approach to learning differ from that of a typical student?
What does this reveal about the nature of genius? (A TRULY BEAUTIFUL
MIND)
e) The arrival of the snake transformed the doctor’s view of both beauty and fear.
Explain how the incident became a turning point. (THE SNAKE AND THE
MIRROR)

Q9. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions in about 40-50 words each.
(2×3=6)

a) What changes take place in the Swallow as he spends time with the Happy
Prince? How does their relationship transform both characters? THE HAPPY
PRINCE
b) Describe the transformation in Johnsy’s attitude after seeing the last leaf.
What lesson does she learn? (THE LAST LEAF)
c) Why was Toto considered both a “naughty” and an “entertaining” pet?
Describe with examples from the text. (THE ADVENTURES OF TOTO)

Q10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 100-120 words.
(1×6=6)

“The story suggests that technology can never fully replace human teachers.”

Do you agree? Use detailed references from the story to discuss the disadvantages of
Margie’s robotic learning environment and why she longs for real classrooms. (THE
FUN THEY HAD)

Or

“Sometimes, a single moment can completely change our understanding of a
person.”

Explain how the night when Kezia sleeps with her father after her nightmare
becomes a turning point in their relationship. What does Kezia realise, and how does
the author use this moment to convey a deeper message? (THE LITTLE GIRL)

Q11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 100-120 words.
(1×6=6)

How does the strange justice system, the selection of the disciple for execution, and
the guru’s final solution contribute to the humour and deeper meaning of the story?
(IN THE KINGDOM OF FOOLS)

Or

What incidents mark his turning points, and what does the story suggest about the
power of kindness and second chances? (THE BEGGAR)

****