FIRST MID TERM TEST - 2024
ENGLISH - 9th Standard
Time: 1.30 Hrs.
MARKS: 50
Part - I 7 x 1 = 7
I. Choose the appropriate synonyms for the underlined words.
- I evolved a way of wrapping the kitbag around me.
- He muted to himself.
Choose the appropriate antonyms for the underlined words.
- The schedule was rigorous.
- Going round and round until he was quite dizzy.
Varia
- Form a derivative by adding the right suffix to the word 'child'.
- Write an anagram for the word 'elbow'.
- Choose the appropriate preposition for the following.
The cricket ball was hidden ______ leaves.
Part - II
(Section I) 2 x 2 = 4
Answer any two of the following questions in a sentence or two.
- Who were Sachin's favourite players?
- What did Achrekar advise Sachin?
- When did the visitor actually hide the iron cross?
(Section II) 2 x 2 = 4
Read the following sets of poetic lines and answer any two of the following.
-
"He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow" -
"And it grew both day and night
Till it bore an apple bright." -
"My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farm house near"
(Section III) 1 x 2 = 2
Answer any one of the following.
- Mango is the sweetest fruit. (Change into positive degree)
- Punctuate the following:
oh nothing very valuable marbles id won
Part - III
(Section I) 1 x 5 = 5
III. Answer any one of the following in a paragraph.
- Achrekar was a senior coach. Substantiate.
- Describe the bond of friendship that spruced up between the visitor and the little girl.
(Section II) 1 x 5 = 5
Answer any one of the following.
- Justify the title of the poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening".
- Read the following stanza and answer the questions given below.
And I water'd it in fears
Night and morning with my tears
And I sunned it with smiles
And with soft deceitful wiles
(Section III) 1 x 5 = 5
- Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Tommy found a real book. It was very old and had belonged to his grandfather. The pages were yellow and crinkly; the words stood still without moving as they would on a computer screen. And then when turned back to the page before, it had the same words on it that it had earlier.
(Section IV) 1 x 5 = 5
- Look at the following picture and express your views on it in a paragraph of five sentences.
(Image shows a Kabaddi match. A raider is trying to tag opponents while they try to capture him.)
(Section V) 1 x 5 = 5
- Quote from memory.
Whose woods .................... it queer.
Part - IV 1 x 8 = 8
IV. Write a Paragraph of about 150 words by developing the following hints.
- Old couple - honest and kind - loved their dog - dug a hollow - found treasure - neighbours wicked borrowed dog - dug - filth - angry - killed the dog - dog appeared in dream buried under pine tree - mortar - ground rice - gold - wicked neighbour - borrowed - turned into the filth - burnt - ashes sprinkled on trees - revive - flowers bloomed - wicked couple - tried - fallen - shared their wealth.
Solutions
Part - I
- c) covering
- a) whispered
- d) careless
- c) happy (This is the best available option, representing a state of well-being opposite to the unwell feeling of dizziness.)
- a) hood (child + hood = childhood)
- Answer: below
- d) among
Part - II
(Section I)
- Sachin's favourite players were Sunil Gavaskar and the West Indian legend, Viv Richards.
- Achrekar advised Sachin not to waste his time playing insipid games with other kids and to practice seriously every day if he truly wanted to play cricket for the country.
- The visitor actually hid the iron cross back in the clock when the little girl was not looking, just as he was about to leave.
(Section II)
- a) Who does 'he' refer to?
'He' refers to the owner of the woods.
b) What is the season mentioned in this poem?
The season mentioned is winter, as indicated by the word "snow". - a) What does 'apple' signify?
The 'apple' signifies the poet's suppressed anger and hatred, which has grown into a poisonous fruit of revenge.
b) What grew both day and night?
The poet's wrath (anger) grew both day and night. - a) Who is the speaker?
The poet, Robert Frost, is the speaker.
b) Why should the horse think it queer?
The horse would think it is queer (strange) to stop in a dark, desolate place between the woods and a frozen lake, with no farmhouse nearby.
(Section III)
- Positive Degree: No other fruit is as sweet as a mango.
- Punctuated Sentence: Oh, nothing very valuable, marbles I'd won.
Part - III
(Section I)
- Achrekar as a Senior Coach
Achrekar was a senior coach who played a pivotal role in shaping Sachin Tendulkar's career. His seniority is evident from his strict discipline and farsightedness. He recognized Sachin's potential and insisted on a rigorous training schedule, which a less experienced coach might not have enforced. He would make Sachin play practice matches all day and cleverly placed a one-rupee coin on the stumps, challenging bowlers to get him out to win it. This unique motivational technique, combined with his stern advice not to waste time on trivial games, proves he was a seasoned coach who knew exactly how to nurture a world-class talent. - The Bond Between the Visitor and the Girl
A beautiful bond of friendship blossomed between the visitor and the little girl, built on innocence, trust, and quiet understanding. The visitor, a German spy, found an unexpected moment of peace and humanity with the girl. Their interaction revolved around a simple game with the old clock, where the girl believed he was a 'clock-mender'. The girl's complete trust and her offering of milk showed her pure heart. The visitor, moved by her innocence, acted with kindness and gentleness, ultimately deciding to hide the crucial 'iron cross' back in the clock to protect her from the harsh realities of war. Their friendship was a brief, gentle interlude in a world of conflict.
(Section II)
- Justification of the Title
The title "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is perfectly justified as it encapsulates the poem's central theme and setting. The poem is about a traveller who momentarily pauses his journey to appreciate the serene beauty of a dark, snow-covered forest. The title literally describes this core action: 'stopping by woods'. The phrase 'on a snowy evening' immediately establishes the poem's atmosphere—quiet, cold, and beautiful—and sets the time as winter. It grounds the reader in the specific, tranquil moment of reflection that forms the heart of the poem, making it an apt and descriptive title. - a) Rhyming words: `fears` and `tears`; `smiles` and `wiles`.
b) Rhyme scheme: aabb
c) Alliterating words: `sunned` and `smiles`.
d) Figure of speech: Metaphor. The poet's anger is being compared to a plant that is 'water'd' with fears and 'sunned' with smiles.
(Section III)
- a) What did Tommy find?
Tommy found a real, old book.
b) Describe the book.
The book was very old, with yellow and crinkly pages, and the words on it stood still.
c) Did the words on the book move?
No, the words on the book stood still.
d) Was the book old or new?
The book was very old.
e) Where had Tommy found the book?
The provided passage does not specify where Tommy found the book. (In the full story "The Fun They Had," he found it in the attic).
(Section IV)
- Picture Composition
The picture captures the raw energy and excitement of a Kabaddi match, a popular sport in rural India. In the dusty arena, a determined raider from one team is deep in the opponent's territory, his arm outstretched, attempting to tag a defender and score a point. The defenders, a formidable chain of players, are poised and focused, coordinating their movements to trap the raider before he can retreat to his side. The intensity is visible on the players' faces, reflecting a mix of concentration, strategy, and physical prowess. This vibrant scene showcases not just a sport, but a display of strength, agility, and teamwork deeply rooted in local culture.
(Section V)
- Quote from Memory
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.
My little horse must think it queer
Part - IV
- The Story of the Honest Couple
Once, an honest and kind old couple lived with their beloved dog. One day, while the dog was digging, it helped them find a hollow place filled with treasure. Their wicked neighbours, seeing this, grew jealous and borrowed the dog, hoping for similar fortune. They forced the dog to dig, but it only uncovered filth. In a fit of anger, they killed the poor dog. The dog then appeared in the old man's dream, instructing him to make a mortar from the pine tree under which it was buried. When the couple ground rice in the mortar, it turned into gold. The wicked neighbour borrowed the mortar, but for them, it produced only filth. Furious, they burnt the mortar. The dog's spirit again guided the old man in a dream to sprinkle the ashes on withered trees. When he did, the trees revived and bloomed beautifully. The wicked couple tried the same, but the ashes blew into their eyes. The good couple shared their wealth and lived happily, while the greedy neighbours faced the consequences of their actions.