First Mid Term Test - 2024
Standard - IX | ENGLISH | Marks: 50
Question Paper
Part - I (10×1=10)
I. Choose the appropriate Synonyms for the underlined words:
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1) He would talk to me about the nuances of batting.
a) importance b) advice c) chances d) subtle changes
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2) I wanted to pursue cricket seriously.
a) handshake b) play c) follow d) give
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3) She ran towards him with a rusty old medal.
a) waste b) beautiful c) ancient d) worthy
II. Choose the appropriate Antonyms for the underlined words:
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4) He remembered his grandmother's saying.
a) forgot b) forgive c) told d) asked
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5) A blessing rests on the house, where the shadow of the tree falls.
a) fearing b) troubling c) cursing d) hurrying
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6) Don't waste your time playing insane games.
a) wise b) silly c) balanced d) mental
Choose the most appropriate option for the following:
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7) Choose the most appropriate preposition.
The burglar found the keys ____ the pot in the balcony.a) on b) in c) under d) at
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8) Choose the suitable prefix to the word ____ conscious.
a) pre b) dis c) sub d) re
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9) Attach a suitable suffix to the word: Virtual____
a) or b) er c) ian d) ly
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10) Choose the Anagram for the word 'EARTH'.
a) thear b) Heart c) heat d) tearh
Part - II
I. Answer any three of the following in one or two sentences: (3×2=6)
- 11) What sort of conversations did Ajit and Sachin have while travelling?
- 12) What acted as a safety valve?
- 13) Does the visitor still live in the house?
- 14) When did the visitor actually hide the Iron cross?
Answer any one of the following paragraphs: (1×5=5)
- 15) 'Achrekar was a Sincere Coach' - Substantiate.
- 16) It is said "The choices made by one, shape one's destiny". Ponder on the thought and write a paragraph.
- 17) The man who came to the house gave the cross as a gift to the girl. Why did he do this? What do you think would have happened if he had taken back the cross with him?
Part - III
II. Read the following lines and answer the questions given below: (2×2=4)
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18) I was angry with my friend
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.a) Whom does 'I' refer to?
b) How did the anger of the poet come to an end? -
19) And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an 'apple' bright.a) What does apple signify?
b) What grew both day and night?
Read the following stanza and answer the questions given below: (5 Marks)
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20) He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.a) Pick out the rhyming words from the above lines. (2)
b) Identify the rhyming scheme of the above stanza. (1)
c) What is the figure of speech used in the first line. (1)
d) Pick out the alliterated words in the third line. (1)
Quote from memory: (5 Marks)
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21) Whose woods .................... think it queer
Part - IV (3×5=15)
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22) Prepare an attractive advertisement using the hints given below:
Zenscart - comfort glasses - save eyes - from cell phone radiation - clear vision - keeps cool - good for online classes - change your personality - Madurai. -
23) Write a letter to your friend who lives in another town/city has won his/her championship trophy in the recent sports meet. Write a letter congratulating them.
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24) Read the following passage and answer the question below:
The old people thought that there must be something nice to eat under the ground. So they brought a spade and began digging, when, lo and behold!, The place was full of gold pieces and silver, and all sorts of precious things, which had been buried there. So they gathered the treasure and after giving alms to the poor, bought themselves rice fields and corn fields and become wealthy people. Now in the neighbouring house there dwelt a covetous and stingy old couple, who when they heard what had happened came and borrowed the dog.Questions:-
a) What did the old people think?
b) Who dwelt in the neighbouring house?
c) What were buried there?
d) What did they do with the treasure?
e) Who borrowed the dog?
Solutions
Part - I
I & II. Synonyms, Antonyms, and Grammar
- 1) The correct synonym for nuances is d) subtle changes.
- 2) The correct synonym for pursue is c) follow.
- 3) The correct synonym for rusty, in the context of an old medal, is c) ancient.
- 4) The correct antonym for remembered is a) forgot.
- 5) The correct antonym for blessing is c) cursing.
- 6) The correct antonym for insane is a) wise.
- 7) The correct preposition is b) in. "The burglar found the keys in the pot..."
- 8) The correct prefix is c) sub, which forms the word "subconscious".
- 9) The correct suffix is d) ly, which forms the word "virtually".
- 10) The correct anagram for 'EARTH' is b) Heart.
Part - II
I. Short Answers
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11) What sort of conversations did Ajit and Sachin have while travelling?
While travelling on the bus, Ajit and Sachin would discuss the nuances of batting. Ajit would give Sachin technical inputs and feedback about his performance, which helped Sachin understand the game better.
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12) What acted as a safety valve?
The single set of cricket clothes that Sachin had acted as a safety valve. The routine of washing them every day as soon as he returned from the nets was a necessary, disciplined activity that taught him self-reliance and kept him grounded.
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13) Does the visitor still live in the house?
No, the visitor does not live in the house anymore. The visitor is implied to be a spirit or a memory from the past, who has returned to the place that was once his home.
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14) When did the visitor actually hide the Iron cross?
The visitor, a soldier, hid the Iron Cross during a war. He buried it for safekeeping to prevent it from being taken by enemies, hoping to retrieve it one day.
II. Paragraph Writing
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15) 'Achrekar was a Sincere Coach' - Substantiate.
Ramakant Achrekar was an exceptionally sincere and dedicated coach who played a pivotal role in shaping Sachin Tendulkar's career. His sincerity was evident in his strict discipline; he would not tolerate lateness and insisted on rigorous practice schedules. He possessed the foresight to see Sachin's potential and personally drove him on his scooter to practice sessions to ensure he never missed a day. Achrekar was not just a technical instructor but a mentor who taught his students the values of hard work, discipline, and commitment. His method of placing a one-rupee coin on the stumps to reward bowlers who could dismiss Sachin shows his innovative and motivating coaching style. This unwavering dedication and personal investment in his student's growth truly prove that Achrekar was a sincere coach.
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16) "The choices made by one, shape one's destiny". Ponder on the thought and write a paragraph.
The statement, "The choices made by one, shape one's destiny," is a profound truth that governs our lives. Every decision, whether big or small, sets in motion a chain of events that leads us toward a particular future. A student choosing to study diligently over watching television is making a choice that shapes an academic destiny. Similarly, choosing honesty over deceit, kindness over cruelty, or perseverance over giving up, are all critical forks in the road. These choices compound over time, building our character, skills, and relationships, ultimately creating the life we lead. Destiny is not a predetermined path but the destination we arrive at by navigating the journey of life through our conscious choices. Therefore, it is essential to be mindful and wise in our decisions, as they are the very tools with which we sculpt our future.
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17) The man who came to the house gave the cross as a gift to the girl. Why did he do this? What do you think would have happened if he had taken back the cross with him?
The man, likely a ghost of a soldier, gave the Iron Cross to the girl as a symbolic gesture of passing on his legacy and finding peace. He saw in the girl's innocence and respect for the house a worthy keeper of his most cherished memory. By giving it to her, he was letting go of his earthly attachment and the painful memories of war associated with the cross, allowing his spirit to finally move on. If he had taken the cross back with him, he might have remained bound to the physical world, forever tied to his past and unable to find rest. The girl would have also lost a tangible connection to the history of her home, and the poignant, silent story of the soldier would have remained untold and unresolved.
Part - III
Poetry Comprehension
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18) From "I was angry with my friend..."
a) 'I' refers to the poet, William Blake, or the speaker of the poem.
b) The anger of the poet came to an end because he expressed his anger and talked about it with his friend.
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19) From "And it grew both day and night..."
a) The 'apple' signifies the beautiful but poisonous fruit of his suppressed anger (wrath), which he uses to deceive and harm his enemy.
b) The poet's wrath (anger) for his foe grew both day and night.
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20) From "He gives his harness bells a shake..."
a) Rhyming words: shake, mistake, flake.
b) Rhyming scheme: AABA.
c) Figure of speech: Personification. The horse is given the human quality of asking a question.
d) Alliterated words: sound's the sweep.
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21) Quote from memory:
The question seems to be a prompt for the first stanza of "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening."
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
Part - IV
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23) Congratulatory Letter
15, Park Avenue,
Chennai - 600028.25th October 2024.My dear [Friend's Name],
I was absolutely thrilled when I read in the newspaper today that you won the Inter-City Championship Trophy in badminton! My heartiest congratulations to you on this magnificent victory. I know how much this means to you.
I still remember the long hours you used to spend on the court, practicing relentlessly while the rest of us were just relaxing. Your hard work, dedication, and unwavering focus have finally paid off in the most spectacular way. This trophy is a testament to your talent and perseverance, and you deserve every bit of this success.
All our friends and your family must be so proud of you. I am already planning a small celebration for when you return. Can't wait to see the gleaming trophy in your hands!
Once again, a huge congratulations, my champion friend! Keep shining.
With lots of love and best wishes,
Yours lovingly,
[Your Name] -
24) Reading Comprehension
a) What did the old people think?
The old people thought that there must be something nice to eat under the ground.b) Who dwelt in the neighbouring house?
A covetous and stingy old couple dwelt in the neighbouring house.c) What were buried there?
Gold pieces, silver, and all sorts of precious things were buried there.d) What did they do with the treasure?
After giving alms to the poor, they bought themselves rice fields and corn fields and became wealthy.e) Who borrowed the dog?
The covetous and stingy old couple from the neighbouring house borrowed the dog.