9th Standard English | ஆங்கிலம் - First Mid Term Exam 2025 - Question Papers, Answer Keys Official Original QP | Virudhunagar | Mr. G. Sivaramachandran

Standard 9 English Mid-Term Test 2024 - Questions and Solutions

Standard 9 English - Mid-Term Test 2024

Virudhunagar District | Common First Mid-Term Test | Marks: 50

Question Paper

I. Choose the correct synonyms for the italicized words: (3×1=3)

  1. I felt more at ease and soon started to hit the ball well.
    • a) heavy
    • b) erase
    • c) difficult
    • d) effortless
  2. It helped Sachin to build up physical and mental stamina.
    • a) courage
    • b) endurance
    • c) weakness
    • d) inability
  3. He did not look very prosperous.
    • a) surprise
    • b) liveliness
    • c) spotless
    • d) jealous

II. Choose the correct antonyms for the italicized words: (3×1=3)

  1. It was up to Achrekar to decide who to accept.
    • a) refuse
    • b) agree
    • c) reprove
    • d) approve
  2. She was silent for a while.
    • a) calm
    • b) quiet
    • c) noisy
    • d) dumb
  3. He did not look very prosperous.
    • a) lucky
    • b) fortunate
    • c) thriving
    • d) unlucky

Add a suffix to the word 'covet': (1x2=2)

    • a) -ty
    • b) -cy
    • c) -ous
    • d) -ly

Choose the appropriate preposition to complete the sentence: (1x2=2)

  1. She was born ____ the 5th July.
    • a) on
    • b) in
    • c) when
    • d) with

III. Answer ANY TWO of the following questions: (2×2=4)

  1. What was coach Achrekar's first impression on Sachin?
  2. Who were Sachin's favourite players?
  3. What was the old house built with?

Answer ANY TWO of the following appreciation questions: (2×2=4)

  1. My little horse must think it queer
    To stop without a farmhouse near
    1. Who is the speaker?
    2. Did the horse think it queer?
  2. I was angry with my friend
    I told my wrath my wrath did end
    1. Whom does 'I' refer to?
    2. To whom didn't the poet express his wrath?
  3. And I sunned it with smiles,
    And with soft deceitful wiles,
    1. What sunned it?
    2. What does 'deceitful wiles' mean?

Further Questions:

  1. Convert the following sentence as directed: (1x2=2)
    Rose is one of the most fragrant flowers. (into comparative degree)
  2. Punctuation: (1x2=2)
    mother cant get home from mrs brants

IV. Answer ANY ONE in utmost 10 lines: (1×5=5)

  1. Achrekar was a sincere coach. Substantiate.
  2. Write a paragraph on 'I can't climb trees any more'.
  3. Read the following stanza and answer the questions given below:
    He gives his harness bells a shake
    To ask if there is some mistake
    The only other sounds the sweep
    Of easy wind and downy flake.
    1. Pick out the rhyming words.
    2. Identify the rhyme scheme of the given lines.
    3. Pick out the alliterated words.
    4. Identify the figure of speech.

Quote from memory: (1x5=5)

  1. "Whose woods .................. think it queer".

V. Answer ANY TWO of the following: (2×5=10)

  1. Create an advertisement for: Mobile Galaxy - smartphones - accessories - SIM cards - Recharge - free power banks on mobile purchase - No. 1, Toll gate, Trichy.
  2. Write a letter to the Headmistress / Headmaster of your school requesting a Bonafide certificate.
  3. Picture Description: Describe the process of Rainwater Harvesting shown in the picture.

VI. Write a paragraph of about 100 words by developing the following hints: (1×5=5)

  1. An honest man - luck - the dog - pine tree - mortar - treasure - neighbour borrowed the mortar - ashes over - The Prince - punished him - neighbour's own riches.

Solutions

I. Synonyms

  1. Answer: d) effortless
    The word 'ease' means absence of difficulty or effort. 'Effortless' is the closest synonym.
  2. Answer: b) endurance
    'Stamina' refers to the ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort, which is the definition of 'endurance'.
  3. Answer: b) liveliness
    'Prosperous' means successful, flourishing, or wealthy. None of the given options are direct synonyms. However, 'liveliness' (being full of life and energy) can be associated with a flourishing state.
    Note: This is likely a flawed question, as 'thriving' would be a better synonym. Among the choices, 'liveliness' is the most plausible intended answer.

II. Antonyms & Grammar

  1. Answer: a) refuse
    The antonym (opposite) of 'accept' is to 'refuse'.
  2. Answer: c) noisy
    The antonym of 'silent' (making no sound) is 'noisy' (making a lot of sound).
  3. Answer: d) unlucky
    The antonym of 'prosperous' (successful and wealthy) is 'unlucky' or unfortunate.
  4. Answer: c) -ous
    The suffix '-ous' is added to 'covet' to form the adjective 'covetous', which means having a great desire to possess something belonging to someone else.
  5. Answer: a) on
    The preposition 'on' is used for specific dates.

III. Short Answers & Appreciation

  1. Achrekar's first impression on Sachin:
    Coach Achrekar's first impression was not very positive. He thought Sachin was too young to attend the camp. During the trial, Sachin became nervous and did not bat well, getting out without scoring. Achrekar did not see the spark he was looking for initially.
  2. Sachin's favourite players:
    Sachin Tendulkar's favourite players were Sunil Gavaskar and the West Indian legend Viv Richards.
  3. What the old house was built with:
    The text (likely from "A House Is Not a Home") focuses more on the emotional value of the house than its materials. It was a wonderful, big house that the author had lived in since he was five, filled with memories. The question asks what it was built with, which isn't the story's focus. A general answer is that it was a typical house, likely built of wood, brick, and mortar, but its true substance was the love and memories it held.
    1. Who is the speaker?
      The speaker is the poet/traveller who is riding his horse through the woods on a snowy evening.
    2. Did the horse think it queer?
      Yes, the horse thought it was queer (strange) to stop in a dark, deserted place with no farmhouse nearby, as indicated by it shaking its harness bells.
    1. Whom does 'I' refer to?
      'I' refers to the speaker of the poem ("A Poison Tree" by William Blake).
    2. To whom didn't the poet express his wrath?
      The poet did not express his wrath to his foe, or enemy.
    1. What sunned it?
      The speaker's hidden anger or "wrath" was sunned with his fake smiles.
    2. What does 'deceitful wiles' mean?
      'Deceitful wiles' means cunning, dishonest tricks and pretence used to mislead someone. In the poem, it refers to the speaker's false smiles and feigned friendliness towards his enemy.
  7. Comparative Degree:
    Rose is more fragrant than most other flowers.
  8. Punctuation:
    "Mother can't get home from Mrs. Brant's."

IV. Paragraphs & Stanza Analysis

  1. Achrekar as a Sincere Coach:
    Ramakant Achrekar was an incredibly sincere and dedicated coach who played a pivotal role in shaping Sachin Tendulkar's career. His sincerity is evident in his strict discipline and foresight. He recognised Sachin's potential despite a poor first trial and agreed to coach him. He was a strict taskmaster; once, he punished Sachin for skipping net practice to watch a match by publicly scolding him, teaching him the importance of dedication. Achrekar would personally drive Sachin on his scooter to different practice matches across the city, ensuring he got maximum exposure. He would place a one-rupee coin on the stumps and challenge bowlers, rewarding Sachin's focus and skill. This combination of strict discipline, personal effort, and motivational techniques proves his deep sincerity and commitment as a coach.
  2. 'I can't climb trees any more':
    The old banyan tree in my grandmother's yard stands as a silent witness to my fleeting youth. I remember the rough bark under my small hands, the thrill of hoisting myself up, branch by branch, until the world below shrank to a patchwork of green and brown. Up there, hidden in a canopy of leaves, I was a king in my own leafy castle. But now, my joints ache with the memory of those climbs. My hands, now wrinkled and frail, lack the old grip, and my legs protest at the mere thought. The spirit is willing, but the body reminds me that some adventures belong to the past. I can't climb trees any more, but I can still sit under this old friend and remember a time when I could touch the sky.
    1. Rhyming words: `shake`, `mistake`, `flake`.
    2. Rhyme scheme: aaba
    3. Alliterated words: `sounds the sweep` (repetition of the 's' sound).
    4. Figure of speech: Personification. The horse is given the human ability to "ask if there is some mistake."
  4. Quote from memory:
    The question prompt is ambiguous. It likely intends for the student to quote the first two stanzas of "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost.
    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
    To stop without a farmhouse near
    Between the woods and frozen lake
    The darkest evening of the year.

V. Writing Skills

  1. Advertisement:
  2. Letter for Bonafide Certificate:
    [Your Name]
    Class 9, Section [Your Section]
    [School Name],
    [City].

    [Date]

    The Headmaster / Headmistress,
    [School Name],
    [City].

    Subject: Request for a Bonafide Certificate

    Respected Sir/Madam,

    I am [Your Name], a student of Class 9, Section [Your Section] in your esteemed school. My roll number is [Your Roll Number].

    I require a bonafide certificate for the purpose of [mention purpose, e.g., applying for a scholarship, opening a bank account, etc.]. This document is necessary to complete my application process.

    I would be very grateful if you could kindly issue me the certificate at your earliest convenience. I have been a diligent student and have enclosed a copy of my school ID for your reference.

    Thank you for your consideration.

    Yours obediently,
    [Your Signature]
    [Your Name]
  3. Picture Description: Rainwater Harvesting
    The picture illustrates a simple and effective system of rainwater harvesting at a house. Rain falls from the clouds onto the roof of the house. The collected water flows through gutters and down a pipe into a filtration tank. This tank likely contains layers of sand and gravel to clean the water by removing impurities. The purified water then flows into a large underground storage tank or well. This stored water, which is called harvested water, can then be used for various household purposes like gardening, cleaning, or, after further purification, even for drinking. This method is an excellent way to conserve water and recharge groundwater levels.

VI. Paragraph/Story Writing

  1. Story from Hints:
    Once there lived an honest old man with his wife and their beloved dog. One day, the dog led the man to a spot under a pine tree. When the man dug there, he found a trove of treasure. To show their gratitude, they made a mortar from the wood of the pine tree to make rice cakes for their neighbours. The mortar magically produced treasure. Their envious neighbour, hearing of this luck, borrowed the mortar. When it produced only filth for him, he burned it. The honest man took the ashes, and when he sprinkled them over withered trees, they bloomed beautifully. The Prince saw this and rewarded him. When the greedy neighbour tried the same, the ashes blew into the Prince's eyes, who then punished him severely for his wickedness, leaving him with only his own meagre riches.