Class 9 Sample Paper English (Half Yearly)

SAMPLE
PAPER
Half Yearly Examination

Prepared For
NCERT BASED SYLLABUS
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HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION
SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER

Class - IX Subject – English
Time – 3 Hours Maximum Marks- 80

General Instructions:

1. This paper is divided into three Sections A, B and C. All the sections are compulsory.
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. Read these
instructions very carefully and follow them.
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

Section-A (20 Marks)

READING
1. Read the passage given below:

1. Overpowering prey is a challenge for creatures that do not have limbs. Some species like
Russell's Viper inject poison, some others opt for an alternative non chemical method - Rat Snakes, for
instance, catch and push their prey against the ground, while Pythons use their muscle power to crush
their prey to death. But snakes can't be neatly divided into poisonous and non-poisonous categories.

2. Even species listed as non-poisonous aren't completely free of poison. The common Sand Boa,
for instance, produces secretions particularly poisonous to birds. So, the species doesn't take any chance-it
crushes its prey and injects poison as an extra step.

3. Do Vipers need poison powerful enough to kill hundreds of rats with just one drop? After all,
they eat only one or two at a time.

4. While hunting animals try their best to kill most efficiently, their preys use any trick to avoid
becoming a meal, such as developing immunity to poison. For instance, Californian Ground Squirrels are
resistant to Northern Pacific Rattle Snake poison.

5. Competition with prey is not the only thing driving snakes to evolve more and more deadly
poison. Snakes also struggle to avoid becoming prey themselves.

6. Some snake killers have partial immunity to poison. Famously, Mongooses are highly resistant
to Cobra poison and with their speed and agility, kill snakes fearlessly. It would be the death of Cobras as
a species if they didn't evolve a more deadly poison to stop Mongooses.

7. Poison has another important role. It is an extreme meat softener, specific enzymes break up the

insides of the prey. Normally, a reptile depends on the sun's warm rays to aid digestion.

8. But I wonder if we cannot use venom in our favour. In remote parts of India, local hospitality

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often involves leather-tough meat. I chew and chew until my jaws ache. If I spit it out or refuse, our hosts
would be offended, I swallow like a python stuffing a deer down its throat and hope I don't choke. If only
I had poison.

AnswerANY TEN of the following questions based on your reading of the passage:

(1x10=10 Marks)

I. Short Answer Type Questions

(i) What does a Rat Snake do to overpower its prey?

(ii) Which species of snake injects poison into its prey as an extra step?

(iii) Which species uses muscle power to kill its prey?

(iv) How many Rats does the viper eat at a time?

(v) Which animal is immune to Rattle Snake poison?

(vi) Why are snakes evolving more and more deadly poison?

II. Objective Type Questions

(vii) The synonym of the word ‘alternative’ is:
(a) exact (b) same (c) different (d) new

(viii) Poison…………meat.
(a) hardens (b) softens (c) enhances taste of (d) breaks down

(ix) The synonym of the word 'deadly’ is:
(a) cruel (b) violent (c) lethal (d) brutal

(x) The antonym of the word ‘resistant’ is:
(a) opposing (b) defiant (c) yielding (d) susceptible

(xi) The antonym of the word ‘remote’ is:
(a) distinct (b) isolated (c) hear (d) unknown

(xii) While hunting animals try their best to kill:
(a) easily (b) efficiently (c) particularly (d) fearlessly

2. Read the passage given below:

1. On 24 June 1859, Emperors Napoleon III and Franz Joseph I were engaged in the Battle of Solferino,
commanding a combined total of about 2,70,000 troops onto the field for a single day of battle. Nearly
40,000 people were either dead, injured or missing and many of them were simply left to die on the
battlefield. Later, spectators crowded the fields, looking for loved ones, searching for items they could

sell or for simply taking in the horrors of the battle. A Swiss businessman and social activist Jean Henri
Dunant, who was travelling in Solferino, witnessed all this.

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2. Jean Henri Dunant witnessed the atrocities of war as well as the helplessness of the countries not prepared
or equipped to ease the suffering of those who had been injured in the Battle of Solferino. Dunant
collected a group of volunteers to help bring water and food to the injured, to assist with medical
treatment or to write letters to the families of those who were dying. He also urged the public to create an
organisation which would assist the wounded, regardless of which side they fought for during the times of
war. From that moment, he wrote the book, A Memory of Solferino. His writing inspired countless others
to rally behind him in the creation of the International Federation of the Red Cross.

3. The modern day Red Cross began by devoting itself largely to the acts of disaster relief and epidemic
treatment. This effort continues to this day. One of the easiest ways you can help the Red Cross is to
make sure you are able to donate blood and make an appointment at the Red Cross website. But donating
blood isn't the only way you can help out-the Red Cross also encourages you to donate your time if you
can. This is what the Red Cross wants everyone to know.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer ANY TEN of the following questions:

(1x10=10 Marks)

I. Short Answer Type Questions

(i) When was the battle of Solferino fought?

(ii) What does the given passage intend to tell us about?

(iii) Who was the Swiss Businessman and social activist?

(iv) Whom did Dunant collect?

(v) Which book was written by Dunant?

(vi) What does the modern day Red Cross devote itself to?

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II. Objective Type Questions

(vii) What is the meaning of the word ‘engaged’ as used in the passage?

(viii) You can donate your blood and...............to the RedCross.

(ix) The meaning of the word 'spectators' as used in the passage is:

(a) people who work

(b) people who loot

(c) people who steal

(d) people who watch

(x) The modern day Red Cross does not deal with:

(a) blood donation

(b) writing a book

(c) disaster relief

(d) epidemic treatment

(xi) The antonym of 'discourage' is:
(a) devote (b) disaster (c) encourage (d) promote

(xii) The antonym of 'modern' is:
(a) ancient (b) present (c) current (d) middle

Section-B (20 Marks)

GRAMMAR AND WRITING
3. A) Study the given instructions and complete the paragraph that follows by filling up the gaps with
the most appropriate option from those given below. (1x5=5 Marks)

 Instructions for Driving a Car :
 Check if the vehicle is in neutral gear
 Start the engine with a key
 Press the clutch and move the car into first gear
 Remove the pressure from the clutch slowly and at the same time press the accelerator
 Change the gear while driving
 Use the brake to stop the vehicle

When driving a car, one should (i)……………..if the vehicle is in neutral gear. Then use the key to start
the engine. The car needs to be (ii).................... to first gear with the help of the gearstick while pressing
the (iii).................... After this, one should (iv).................. the pressure from the clutch

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(v)………....while pressing the accelerator at the same time. One needs to remember to change the gear
when driving and press the brake to stop the car.

(i) (a) see (b) check (c) determine (d) scan

(ii) (a) put (b) shift (c) parked (d) moved

(iii) (a) clutch (b) brake (c) accelerator (d) gearstick

(iv) (a) adjust (b) remove (c) separate (d) move

(v) (a) rapidly (b) quickly (c) steadily (d) slowly

B) The following passages have not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the incorrect
word and the correction against the correct question number. Remember to underline the word
you have supplied.(1x5=5 Marks)

Incorrect Correct

A good quality education helps children reach there there their

full potential; however, after millions of children and (a) ---------- ----------

youth at low-income countries, it is beyond reach. (b) ---------- ----------

Although more children through the world are going (c) ---------- ----------

to school then ever before, many are not learning (d) ---------- ----------

basic skills like read once they get there. (e) ---------- ----------

4.(i) Attempt any one

A) Rabindranath Tagore was one of the famous poets and writers of India. His poems and stories
have been immensely appreciated and he has inspired many to follow his footsteps. Write a
descriptive paragraph about this famous personality in 100-120 words. You can use the following
hints: (1x5=5 Marks)

Kabiguru- Poet- Philosopher- Artist- Shanti Niketan- Where the Mind is Without Fear-
Nobel Prize- Written National Anthem of India and Bangladesh

OR

B) In your locality, ’Tree Plantation’ was organized. Write a descriptive paragraph in 100-120
words.You can use following hints:

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World Environment Day- Planned to plant trees of medicinal values- People gathered-
Some one thousand plants of different kinds- Senior citizens and children took part- a
kind of celebration- a motivational speech by a retired headmaster of a school

(ii) Attempt any one:

A) You have won the Inter School General Knowledge Quiz competition. Make a diary entry
expressing your feeling, in 100-120 words.(1×5=5 Marks)

OR

B) Look at the following words and construct your own story in 100 - 120 words giving a suitable
title:
[ Burglars- Darkness- Suspects- House- Horrified- Attacks- Policeman- Stairs]

Part-C (40 Marks)

LITERATURE

5.i) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

A) Rush hour crowds jostle for position on the underground train platform. A slight girl, looking
younger than her seventeen years, was nervous yet excited as she felt the vibrations of the
approaching train. It was her first day at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London and
daunting enough for any teenager fresh from a Scottish farm. (1x5=5 Marks)

(i) The girl referred to here is………
(a) Evelyn Glennie

(b) Isabel Glennie
(c) Jane Blades
(d) Ann Richlin

(ii) Where was she going?
(a) She was going to give her audition at Royal Academy of Music.

(b) She was going to attend her first day at Royal Academy of Music.

(c) She was going to meet Ron Forbes at Royal Academy of Music.

(d) She was going to the concertat Royal Academy of Music.

(iii) The given extract shows that the girl is feeling
(a) excited

(b) nervous

(c) joyful

(d) Both (a) and (b)
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(iv) The word 'daunting' in the extract means........
(v) Why was it daunting for the young girl to be at the Royal Academy of Music, London?

OR

B) To her, his head seemed too large. At the age of two-and-a-half, Einstein still wasn't talking. When
he finally did learn to speak, he uttered everything twice. Einstein did not know what to do with
other children, and his playmates called him 'Brother Boring'.
(i) To whom does 'her' refer to?
(a) Einstein's cousin

(b) Einstein's teacher

(c) Einstein's mother

(d) Einstein's grandmother

(ii) What does she think about him?
(a) He was dumb.

(b) He was too intelligent.

(c) He was very innocent.

(d) He was a freak.

(iii) What abnormality did Einstein suffer from in his childhood?
(a) Learning disability

(b) Speaking disability

(c) Walking disability

(d) Social disability

(iv) Why was he called 'Brother Boring'?

(v) What did Einstein do instead of playing with other children?

5.ii) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (1x5=5 Marks)

A) Then took the other, just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for passing there

Had worn them really about the same

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(i) Who is the poet of the given extract?
(a) Subramania Bharati

(b) Willam Lloyd

(e) Gieve Patel

(d) Robert Frost

(ii) Which word in the extract is the opposite of ‘haulting’?
(a) Passing

(b) Worn

(c) Grassy

(d) Claim

(iii) “Just as fair” in the extract means………..
(a) the second road was as beautiful as the first one

(b) the second road was less beautiful than the first one

(c) the second road was more beautiful than the first one

(d) the second road was as long as the first one

(iv) Which road did the poet choose?

(v) Why did the second road present a better claim than the first one?

OR

B) Every tinkle on the shingles

Has an echo in the heart;

And a thousand dreamy fancies

Into busy being start,

(i) What does ‘tinkle' mean?
(a) The sound of bell

(b) The shining of stars

(c) The sound of falling rain

(d) The beautiful memories

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(ii) How does the heart echo?
(a) With sound sleep
(b) With the rain
(e) With peace and happiness
(d) All of the above
(iii) How does the poet's mind get busy?
(a) With ideas
(b) With dreams
(c) With music
(d) With peace
(iv) What does 'dreamy fancies' mean?

(v) Which Poetic Device is used in the last line of the given extract ?

6.i) Answer ANY FOUR questions in 40 – 50 words (3x4=12 Marks)

A) Would you like to be taught by a mechanical or a human teacher? Why? Explain with reference to the
chapter ‘The Fun They Had.’
B) What was the profession of Ustad Bismillah Khan’s paternal ancestors?
C) How did Kezia’s grandmother console her after she was punished by her father?
D) Memories hold importance in the poet’s life. Is it true? Explain with reference to the poem,‘Rain on the
Roof’.
E) Why did Einstein have to get involved in politics? What did he try to do?

6. ii) Answer ANY TWO questions in 40 – 50 words ( 3x2=6 Marks)
A) Did Toto get along with other animals? Give reasons for your answer.
B) How did Iswaran tackle the elephant in the school building?
C) What did the king and his minister decide in secret? Why?

6. iii)Answer ANY ONE question in 100 – 120 words ( 1X6=6 Marks)
A) The autobiographical account of ‘My Childhood’ embodies the theme of Harmony. How did Kalam’s
parents and teachers inculcate values in him?

OR
B) How is ‘Wind’ a symbolic poem? What life lesson are we supposed to learn from it?

6. iv) Answer ANY ONE question in 100 – 120 words ( 1X6=6 Marks)
A)‘The relationship between the parents and the children is very strong. Material things cannot weaken it’.

Discuss with reference to ‘The Lost Child.’

OR
B) When did the disciple realize his mistake? Who came to his rescue and how?
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