Class 9 Question Paper 2024-25 English (Half Yearly)

HALF YEARLY EXAM

QUESTION
PAPER
ORIGINAL EXAM PAPERS

HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION, 2024
2024-25
ENGLISH
Time – 3:00 Hrs. Class – IX M.M. : 80
Date – 18.09.2024 (Wednesday)
Name of the student _______________________________________________Section _____
General Instructions:
1. The Question Paper contains THREE sections – A, B and C.
2. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
• SECTION A : READING SKILLS
• SECTION B : GRAMMAR & WRITING
• SECTION C : LITERATURE
3. Read the instructions very carefully while answering.
SECTION – A (READING – 20 marks)
Q.1 Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Mind management is a way to control one’s mind. To do this, we need to be cautious about our
thinking process and also need a high level of understanding and meditation as well.
Understanding is wisdom – 80 percent of people are knowledgeable, while 20 per cent are wise.
Knowledgeable men take sides without reason. They feel sad seeing deprived people but jealous
when they see happy people. They work in the guidance of others’ inspiration, take unnecessary
responsibility to keep themselves disturbed.
A wise person does not stand for or against any idea without concrete reason. He works
according to the situation and capacity. He looks at everything intellectually. To him, failure is a
stepping stone for future success. So, depression and conflict are not seen. Like the phrase ‘Stop,
Look, Go’, first one should see, and this needs patience. Meditation is necessary to control and
manage mind which then becomes an easy task.
Unless we control or manage our mind, it is difficult to achieve success and peace. Psychologists
say every interest is first born in the mind as a seed. Then it continues to grow. Later it takes its
real form which everybody can see. The interest that first appears in the mind remains weak for
the first three minutes and it becomes strong within the next five minutes. All the negative
aspects should be deleted within the first three minutes. If not taken out, they would become
stronger later and you can never throw them out. After taking control over the mind, we can
control passion, interest and unrest. Mind management is essential for a peaceful, successful
and healthy life.
The age of computers has thrown us on the escalator of aspirations but has robbed us of simple
charms like falling asleep. The compulsions of hectic schedules burden the mind and cause
stress. However, the joys that elude us can be regained by practising power meditation. It
creates tranquillity, simplifies life and cleanses the mind. It helps control indolence, ego and
anger and builds confidence and patience. With power meditation, negative thoughts
get dissipated and a sense of happiness is achieved.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below:
i) Mind management is essential ______________________. (1)
a) for a peaceful, successful, and a healthy life b) to remain fit
c) for a wealthy life d) to dominate others

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ii) Traits exhibited by knowledgeable people are ___________________. (1)
a) they take sides without reason b) they are sympathetic to the deprived people
c) they are jealous of happy people d) all of the above
iii) We can control ___________. (1)
a) passion b) unrest c) interest d) all of these
iv) _________ percent of people are knowledgeable and _________ percent are wise. (1)
a) 60; 40 b) 90; 10 c) 80; 20 d) 50; 50
v) Choose the trait of a wise man. (1)
a) feels jealous seeing happy people b) takes sides without reason
c) works according to the situation d) takes unnecessary responsibility
vi) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “based on facts, not on ideas”. (1)
(Para 2)
a) soft b) concrete c) different d) difficult
vii) How is a knowledgeable man different from a wise man? (2)
viii) How does meditation help us? (2)
Q2. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
1. Experts say that what customers buy in the name of herbal cosmetics is often the same synthetic
cosmetic with a herb or two added, which works to lure customers. A product that says it is
100% natural may be misleading in the sense that it's difficult to stabilize a fully natural base and
is always quite expensive, requiring advanced technology. The desired shelf life of a product is
expected to be at least two years, but that of a purely herbal product would be restricted to
about six months. Also, the products have to include synthetic base ingredients to balance the
formula.
2. Herbal ingredients might also cause allergies as they may contain a large number of constituents
which may be allergic to that user. Thus, the concept of using 'total extracts' may be harmful,
because there are several other ingredients going into the product. Also, things like pH need to
be considered before using it.
3. According to the law experts, customers suing someone is considered extreme. Given the legal
system in India and the long- drawn litigation process, customers tend to pursue legal action
against manufacturers/distributors in the event of any problem. However, with the dawn of
consumer forums and more effective laws protecting the interest of the consumers, the trend is
slowly moving towards this direction.
4. At times it is not just manipulative manufacturers and passive consumers but sometimes weak
and absent rules regarding the process of manufacturing can also get fake production licenses.
Also one cannot make a generalisation that synthetics are safe while naturals are harmful. I
would say that the difference is that if one is a known devil (synthetic) the other is unknown.
Unlike the case of synthetic cosmetic, herbal cosmetics are still in a nascent stage. You don't
have well- defined standards for the use of raw materials in the production of herbal cosmetics.
5. Finally, customers can also check out their cosmetics by using the 'Cosmetics ingredients
dictionary, a database of 19,000 ingredients. It claims to help users check out what chemical
compounds they use daily. This App lets you feed the names of the ingredients written on the
container into the app and then get the reading about it.
(a) Read the given questions and write the answer in about 30 - 40 words. (2x2=4)
(i) Why is it misleading when a product is labelled as 100% natural?
(ii) Mention two drawbacks of natural products.
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(b) On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following: (1)
(i) As per the passage, customers in India don't easily sue someone because ___________.
a. legal systems are pathetic b. legal systems are long-drawn
c. clients lose the time and money d. all of the above
(ii) The desired shelf life of a purely herbal product is about _________. (1)
a. eight months b. six months c. nine months d. one year
(iii) The Cosmetics ingredients dictionary is a dictionary about cosmetics. (True/false) (1)
(iv) Find the word from the passage that is antonym of ‘developed’. (para 4) (1)
(v) Why is taking recourse to legal action gaining momentum? (1)
a. due to the emergence of consumer forums
b. emergence of more effective laws to protect the interest of consumers
c. only a
d. both a & b
(vi) What is cosmetics ingredients dictionary? (1)
a. an app / device with a database of 19,000 names of ingredients
b. a dictionary containing definitions of cosmetics
c. a book that doesn’t define different ingredients
d. none of the above
SECTION B: WRITING & GRAMMAR (34 marks)
Q.3 Imagine you are Shridhar Bose, the school captain of Holy Family Convent School, Mumbai.
Your school has planned an educational tour to Science City, Kolkata. Write a notice inviting all
the students of class XI - XII to participate in the tour (within 60 words). (4)
Q.4 You are Sheena/Samay. You recently visited Gir National Park in Gujarat. It is famous for the
Asiatic Lions. You were lucky to have spotted a mother lioness with her cub. Write an email in
about 120 words to your friend Geeta/Geet about your visit and experience. (5)
Q.5 Last night your family went to watch a movie. You were alone at home preparing for the
approaching tests. A thief entered your house but was caught by you. Write a diary entry on
how you caught the thief red-handed that night. (within 120 words) (7)
Cues: normal August evening – studying for exams – disturbed by commotion – cupboards
ransacked – movement behind curtain.
Q.6 (A) You are Tara/Tilak. You are weak in Science and need extra help to understand the
concepts. Write a letter to your friend requesting him/her to help you prepare for the
forthcoming exam. (within 150 words) (8)
OR
(B) You are Rupesh/Rupali who has shifted to a new city along with your mother. You got
yourself enrolled at a very reputed school. Write a letter to your father describing your new
school. (within 150 words)
Q.7 Fill in the blanks as indicated. (3)
a. Choose the correct form of verb that is provided in the brackets to fill in the blanks:
I am sorry the phone is not available any longer. It ________ to my friend.
(had sold/ has been sold/ has sold)
b. Fill in the blanks using appropriate modals.
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Times have changed. Nowadays, you ________ rush off to travel agent to book tickets for a
journey. (mustn’t / needn’t / can’t)
c. Fill in the blanks using an appropriate determiner.
________ work is required to restore the building to its old glory. (Many / Any / Much)
Q.8 In the following passage, one word has been omitted in each line. Write the missing word
along with the words before and after against the correct blank number. (4x1=4)
before missing after
Twenty years ago, kids in school never even heard school had never
of the internet. The internet is vast resource A _____ _____ _____
to types of information. It is like a giant bulletin board B _____ _____ _____
that the whole world uses.
But anyone can put anything on the internet, you have to C _____ _____ _____
careful.
You must use your best judgement while browsing it.
And you can’t rely what strangers you ‘meet’ on the D _____ _____ _____
internet, to tell you either.
Q.9 (i) Rearrange the following to form meaningful sentences. (2)
(a) when the communications/not matter/were slow/it did/between different/parts of the world
(b) for a/our times/feel the need/but people in/common language
(ii) Choose the correct passive voice for the given statement. (1)
The scientists discovered a new species of plant.
(a) A new species of plant is discovered by the scientists.
(b) A new species of plant was discovered by the scientists.
(c) A new species of plant has been discovered by the scientists.
(d) A new species of plant had been discovered by the scientists.
SECTION C : LITERATURE (26 marks)
Q.10 Read the extracts and choose the appropriate option of the given questions. (ATTEMPT ANY
TWO EXTRACTS) (2x4=8)
(A) ‘Finally, they decided to bring Duke home. Chuck said he wanted to be standing when Duke
came in, so they stood him up. Duke’s nails were long from four months’ confinement, and
when he spied Chuck he stood quivering like 5000 volts; then he let out a bellow, spun his long-
nailed wheels, and launched himself across three metres of air. He was a 23-kilo missile of joy.’
i) Why did Chuck want to be standing when Duke came home?
a) He wanted to be ready for Duke’s enthusiastic greeting.
b) He wanted to appear strong and dependent to Duke.
c) He wanted to surprise Duke with his ability to stand.
d) He wanted to demonstrate his dominance over Duke.
ii) What does “stood quivering like 5000 volts” suggest about Duke’s emotional state?
a) He was terrified and wanted to run away.

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b) He was excited and eager to see Chuck.
c) He was confused and unsure of the situation.
d) He was angry and aggressive towards Chuck.
iii) What does the phrase “23-kilo missile of joy” convey about Duke’s personality?
a) He is gentle and loving. b) He is loyal and protective.
c) He is intelligent and well-trained. d) He is playful and energetic.
iv) Why had Duke taken up a post beside his master’s bed around the clock?
a) He was only interested in being rewarded for his behaviour.
b) He felt obligated to obey Chuck’s every command.
c) He was concerned about Chuck’s well-being and wanted to be available.
d) He was seeking comfort and security from Chuck.
(B) “Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.’
i) What does the phrase “having perhaps the better claim” suggest about the second path?
a) It was more well-known than the first path.
b) It was more challenging than the first path.
c) It was more likely to lead to the desired destination.
d) It was more appealing than the first path.
ii) What is the significance of the word “fair” in this stanza?
a) It means “just” or “equitable”.
b) It refers to the physical appearance of the path.
c) It creates a sense of beauty and tranquility.
d) It suggests the speaker is being sarcastic.
iii) What is the main conflict in this stanza?
a) The speaker must choose between two paths. b) The speaker is lost in the forest.
c) The speaker is tired and wants to rest. d) The speaker is scared of the dark.
iv) What is the tone of the stanza?
a) Reflective and Contemplative b) Optimistic and Sarcastic
c) Regretful and Curious d) Curious and Optimistic
(C) ‘But your parents would take possession of it, every year from the beginning of spring until the
end of September. What’s more they would bring the whole tribe of your sister’s children with
them.’

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i) Who is speaking to whom?
a) Gaston is speaking to Jeanne. b) Gaston is speaking to Juliette.
c) Gaston is speaking to Mrs Al Smith. d) Jeanne is speaking to Gaston.
ii) What has the listener asked the speaker to do?
a) To buy a painting b) To sell a painting c) To buy a villa d) To sell a villa
iii) What does the speaker mean by ‘take possession’?
a) Her parents would stay with them for a long time.
b) Juliette's sister has many children.
c) Gaston does not like children.
d) Juliette's sister's children are incorrigible.
iv) What do these lines reveal about the speaker’s character?
a) He is an opportunist. b) He is selfish.
c) He is a hypocrite. d) He is a straight forward person.
Q.11 Answer any FIVE questions in about 40 words each: (5x2=10)
i) How did the grandmother succeed in accomplishing her desire to read?
ii) What problems did Chuck present when he returned to the company headquarters?
iii) What did the Professor mean by ‘intelligent reading’?
iv) What does the poet want to convey by using the words ‘steal’ and ‘slide’ in the poem ‘The
Brook’?
v) Describe the two roads that the poet comes across.
vi) Why did Jeanne want to buy the villa?
Q.12 Answer any ONE question in detail: (150 words) (1x8=8)
i) Gaston was indeed a clever businessman. Comment. (Villa for Sale)
OR
ii) The language of music is universal. Justify with reference to ‘The Solitary Reaper.’

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Study Materials
Notes

Model Papers Class 6 Notes

Sample Papers Class 7 Notes
Half Yearly Sample Papers Class 8 Notes

Class 9 Notes
Important Resources
Class 10 Notes
Periodic Table
Class 11 Notes
Writing Skills / Formats

Maps of India / World Class 12 Notes

Books and Solutions

NCERT Books
NCERT Book Solutions
HC Verma Chapter Wise Solutions
RD Sharma Solutions
CGBSE Solutions