Standard 9 English - Solved Paper
This is a fully solved version of the Virudhunagar District Common First Mid-Term Test for Standard 9 English, held in 2024. Find all the questions followed by detailed, easy-to-understand solutions.
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.
- heavy
- erase
- difficult
- effortless
2) It helped Sachin to build up physical and mental stamina.
- courage
- endurance
- weakness
- inability
3) He did not look very prosperous.
- surprise
- liveliness
- spotless
- jealous
II. Choose the correct antonyms for the italicized words: (3×1=3)
4) It was up to Achrekar to decide who to accept.
- refuse
- agree
- reprove
- approve
5) She was silent for a while.
- calm
- quiet
- noisy
- dumb
6) He did not look very prosperous.
- lucky
- fortunate
- thriving
- unlucky
Grammar Section (2×1=2)
7) Add a suffix to the word 'covet':
- -ty
- -cy
- -ous
- -ly
8) Choose the appropriate preposition to complete the sentence:
She was born ______ the 5th July.
- on
- in
- when
- with
III. Short Answer Questions (2×2=4 + 2x2=4 + 1x2=2)
Answer ANY TWO of the following questions:
9) What was coach Achrekar's first impression on Sachin?
10) Who were Sachin's favourite players?
11) What was the old house built with?
Answer ANY TWO of the following appreciation questions:
12) My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
- Who is the speaker?
- Did the horse think it queer?
13) I was angry with my friend
I told my wrath my wrath did end
- Whom does 'I' refer to?
- To whom didn't the poet express his wrath?
14) And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles,
- Which sunned it?
- What does 'deceitful wiles' mean?
Convert the following sentence as directed:
15) Rose is one of the most fragrant flowers. (into comparative degree)
Punctuation: (1x2=2)
16) mother cant get home from mrs brants
IV. Long Answer and Comprehension (1×5=5 + 1x5=5 + 1x5=5)
Answer ANY ONE in utmost 10 lines:
17) Achrekar was a sincere coach. Substantiate.
18) Write a paragraph on 'I can't climb trees any more'.
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.
- Pick out the rhyming words.
- Identify the rhyme scheme of the given lines.
- Pick out the alliterated words.
- Identify the figure of speech.
Quote from memory:
20) "Whose woods .................... think it queer".
V. Developing Skills (2×5=10)
Answer ANY TWO of the following:
21) Mobile Galaxy - smart phones - accessories - SIM cards - Recharge - free power banks on mobile purchase - No. 1, Toll gate, Trichy. (Create an Advertisement)
22) Write a letter to the Headmistress / Headmaster of your school requesting a Bonafide certificate.
23) Picture Description: Describe the process of Rainwater Harvesting shown in the picture.
VI. Paragraph Writing (1×5=5)
Write a paragraph of about 100 words by developing the following hints:
24) An honest - luck - the dog - pine tree - mortar - treasure - neighbour borrowed the mortar - ashes over - The Prince - punished him - neighbour's own riches.
Solved Answers
I. Synonyms
1) ease: d) effortless
2) stamina: b) endurance
3) prosperous: b) liveliness
(Note: Prosperous means wealthy or successful. While 'liveliness' is not a direct synonym, it is the most fitting option among the choices, as a prosperous person can be seen as full of life and energy.)
II. Antonyms & Grammar
4) accept (antonym): a) refuse
5) silent (antonym): c) noisy
6) prosperous (antonym): d) unlucky
7) Suffix for 'covet': c) -ous (The word becomes 'covetous').
8) Preposition: She was born a) on the 5th July. (The preposition 'on' is used for specific dates).
III. Short Answers, Appreciation & Conversion
Short Answers
9) What was coach Achrekar's first impression on Sachin?
Coach Achrekar's first impression was that Sachin was too young and small to attend the coaching camp. He did not think Sachin had the potential to make it at first.
10) Who were Sachin's favourite players?
Sachin's favourite players were Sunil Gavaskar and the West Indian legend Viv Richards.
11) What was the old house built with?
The old house was built with traditional materials like mud for the walls and a thatched roof made of straw or palm leaves.
Poetry Appreciation
12) a) Who is the speaker?
The speaker is the poet/traveler who is riding the horse.
12) b) Did the horse think it queer?
Yes, according to the speaker, the horse must think it is strange (queer) to stop in the middle of the woods, far from any farmhouse, on a dark evening.
13) a) Whom does 'I' refer to?
'I' refers to the speaker of the poem.
13) b) To whom didn't the poet express his wrath?
The poet did not express his wrath to his foe (enemy). He kept it hidden, which allowed it to grow.
14) a) Which sunned it?
The speaker's fake smiles and cunning, deceitful tricks ("soft deceitful wiles") sunned his hidden anger ('it').
14) b) What does 'deceitful wiles' mean?
'Deceitful wiles' means sly, cunning, and tricky actions used to mislead or trap someone.
Sentence Conversion
15) Convert to comparative degree:
Original (Superlative): Rose is one of the most fragrant flowers.
Answer (Comparative): Rose is more fragrant than most other flowers.
Punctuation
16) Punctuate the sentence:
Original: mother cant get home from mrs brants
Answer: Mother can't get home from Mrs. Brant's.
IV. Long Answer and Comprehension
17) Achrekar was a sincere coach. Substantiate.
Ramakant Achrekar was an exceptionally sincere and dedicated coach who shaped Sachin Tendulkar's career. His sincerity is evident in several actions. Firstly, he was a strict disciplinarian who did not tolerate indiscipline. For instance, he once punished Sachin for missing net practice to watch an inter-school match, teaching him the importance of commitment. Secondly, he pushed Sachin to his limits by making him practice tirelessly from morning to evening. To ensure Sachin got maximum match practice, Achrekar would drive him on his scooter from one match to another across Mumbai. Most importantly, he used a unique motivational technique: he would place a one-rupee coin on the stumps and challenge bowlers to get Sachin out. If Sachin survived the session, the coin was his. This method honed Sachin's concentration and skill under pressure. These examples clearly prove that Achrekar was a sincere coach who invested his time, effort, and wisdom in his student's future.
19) Stanza Analysis
a) Rhyming words: shake, mistake, flake
b) Rhyme scheme: aaba
c) Alliterated words: The words with the same starting sound are sounds the sweep and he gives his harness.
d) Figure of speech: Personification. The horse is given the human quality of 'asking' a question ("To ask if there is some mistake").
20) 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"
V. Developing Skills
21) Advertisement Writing
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No. 1, Toll Gate, Trichy.
22) Letter for a Bonafide Certificate
From [Your Name], Standard 9, [Your Section], [Your School Name], [Your City]. To The Headmaster / Headmistress, [Your School Name], [Your City]. Date: [Date of Writing] Respected Sir/Madam, Subject: Request for a Bonafide Certificate I am a student of Standard 9, Section [Your Section], in your esteemed school. My admission number is [Your Admission No.]. I require a bonafide certificate to apply for a [mention reason, e.g., scholarship programme, passport, sports event]. The certificate is needed to prove that I am a genuine student of this institution. I kindly request you to issue the certificate at your earliest convenience. I have attached a copy of my school ID card for your reference. Thank you for your consideration. Yours obediently, [Your Name]
23) Picture Description: Rainwater Harvesting
The picture illustrates the simple yet effective process of rainwater harvesting. It shows a house with a sloping roof designed to collect falling rain. The rainwater flows from the roof into gutters and then is directed through a pipe system. This system channels the collected water away from the house and into an underground storage tank or a well. This method allows the precious rainwater, which would otherwise be wasted, to be saved for future use or to recharge the groundwater level. The presence of green trees and clouds suggests a healthy, eco-friendly environment that values water conservation.
VI. Paragraph Writing
24) The Story of Honesty and Greed
Once there lived an honest old couple who had a pet dog. By a stroke of luck, the dog led them to a spot where they found a great treasure. Their greedy neighbour, hearing of this, borrowed the dog, hoping for the same fortune. When the dog found nothing, the wicked neighbour killed it in a rage. The spirit of the dog then appeared in the old man's dream and instructed him to make a mortar from the pine tree growing over its grave. When the old man used the mortar, it magically produced gold coins. The neighbour borrowed this mortar too, but it gave him only filth, so he broke and burned it. Again, the dog's spirit told the old man to collect the ashes. When the old man sprinkled these ashes over a withered cherry tree, it bloomed instantly. The Prince, who was passing by, saw this miracle and rewarded the old man with his own riches. When the greedy neighbour tried to do the same, the ashes blew into the Prince's eyes. The Prince was furious and had him punished for his wickedness, proving that honesty is always rewarded while greed leads to ruin.