9th English - 2nd Mid Term Exam 2024 - Original Question Paper | Thanjavur District

9th English - Second Mid Term Test 2024
Solved Question Paper

Complete Solutions

Part - I (7 X 1 = 7)

Choose the appropriate synonym for the underlined words.

1. The voice in his head asked the narrator to eat the evidence.

a) proof

2. on one side was visible a sea of billowing sand.

c) wafting

Choose the appropriate Antonym for the underlined words:

3. On the other side by one of the greatest most fertile and densely populated areas.

a) barren

4. He locked me up.

c) opened

5. Choose the correct meaning for idiom used in the following line.
The old man was to be in deep water in the city.

a) difficult situation

Choose the appropriate phrasal verb for the following.

6. The little boy ......... his bad habits.

c) gave up

Choose the correct Tense form.

7. She ........ (live) in the street for five years.

b) has been living

Part-II (5 X 2 = 10)

Section I

Answer any Two of the following questions in a sentence or two.

8. Why did the Narrator call Clem Jones a careful planner?

The Narrator called Clem Jones a careful planner because Clem meticulously planned his "accident" by placing a banana skin at a strategic spot on the pavement and waited for a witness (the narrator) to be present before he slipped on it to claim compensation.

9. Who was Pongo?

Pongo was the narrator's aunt's mischievous and humorous pug dog.

10. What are some measures that are used to prevent soil erosion?

Some measures to prevent soil erosion are afforestation (planting of trees), constructing bunds and dams, terraced farming in hilly areas, and contour ploughing.

Section II

Read the following sets of poetic lines and answer any two of the following:

11. O'er the yellow pebbles dancing
Through the flower and foliage glancing

a) How does the river flow?

The river flows by dancing over the yellow pebbles.

b) What is meant by foliage?

Foliage means a mass of leaves, or the leaves of plants and trees.

12. Oh! no, no, 'said the little fly', kind sir, that cannot be
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see.

a) Is the fly willing to enter the Spider's Pantry?

No, the fly is not willing to enter the Spider's Pantry.

b) Can you guess what was in the Pantry?

The pantry likely contained the remains of the spider's previous victims, such as other dead flies and insects, trapped in its web.

13. And now dear little children, who may this story read
To idle, silly flattering words I Pray - you ne'er give heed

a) Who does 'I' refer to?

'I' refers to the poet, Mary Botham Howitt.

b) What is the advice given to the readers?

The advice given to the readers is to never pay attention to or believe idle, silly, and flattering words, as they can lead to danger.

Section III

Answer any one of the following.

14. Identify the correct Tense form

a) The children had waited for the bus.

Past Perfect Tense.

b) Ashwin will be completing MBA in another two years.

Future Continuous Tense.

15. Punctuate the following:

will you walk into my parlour said the spider

"Will you walk into my parlour?" said the spider.

Part - III (5 X 5 = 25)

Section I

Answer any one of the following:

16. Describe the confrontation between the Narrator and Pongo.

The confrontation began when the narrator, after two years of hard work, completed his masterpiece, a lengthy treatise on metaphysics. He left the manuscript on his study table. When he returned, he found Pongo, his aunt's pug dog, sitting calmly on the stack of papers. The narrator was horrified and enraged. He shouted at Pongo, but the dog merely grinned, which infuriated the narrator further. He tried to pull the manuscript from under Pongo, but the dog resisted, treating it as a game. This "battle of wills" was a mix of the narrator's extreme frustration and Pongo's innocent, playful mischief, ultimately leading to a comical but infuriating situation for the narrator.

17. How does CV Raman show that water is the real elixir of life?

Sir C.V. Raman argues that water is the true "elixir of life." He dismisses the age-old search for a mythical divine amrita for immortality, stating that the most common liquid, plain water, is the real elixir. He supports this by highlighting the stark contrast between a life-sustaining, fertile area and a barren desert. The only difference between them is the presence or absence of water. He points to the Nile Valley in Egypt, which is one of the most fertile and densely populated areas on Earth, created entirely by the river flowing through a vast desert. This demonstrates that water is the fundamental substance that creates, sustains, and nourishes all forms of life, from agriculture and vegetation to animal and human civilizations, making it the true elixir.

Section II

Answer any One of the following:

18. Write a character Sketch of the Spider.

The spider in the poem "The Spider and the Fly" is a cunning, deceitful, and predatory character. He is a master of flattery and manipulation, using sweet and persuasive words to trap his victims. He presents his home as a charming "parlour" and himself as a gentle host, offering comfort and delicious treats. However, his intentions are purely evil. He patiently praises the fly's beauty—her "gauzy wings" and "brilliant eyes"—to appeal to her vanity. When his initial attempts fail, he changes tactics, feigning affection to finally lure her into his deadly web. The spider symbolizes the dangers of deceit and the evil that often hides behind a charming and flattering facade.

19. Read the following stanza and answer the question given below.

Bright you sparkle on your way
O'er the yellow pebbles dancing
Through the flowers and foliage glancing
Like a child at play.

(i) Pick out the rhyming words from the above lines.

way – play; dancing – glancing

(ii) Write the Rhyme scheme of the given stanza.

The rhyme scheme is aabb.

(iii) Pick out the alliterating word in the third line.

The alliterating words are: flowers and foliage.

(iv) Mention the figure of speech used in the last line.

The figure of speech is a Simile ("Like a child at play").

Section III

20. Re arrange the following sentences in coherent order:

1. The pain killer triggered adverse reaction on Peter.
2. But, Tom gave that Pain Killer to the cat Peter.
3. So Aunt Polly tried different types of remedies.
4. Since all her methods failed, finally she gave him a pain-killer.
5. Tom was dull and depressed.

The correct order is: v, iii, iv, ii, i

1. (v) Tom was dull and depressed.
2. (iii) So Aunt Polly tried different types of remedies.
3. (iv) Since all her methods failed, finally she gave him a pain-killer.
4. (ii) But, Tom gave that Pain Killer to the cat Peter.
5. (i) The pain killer triggered adverse reaction on Peter.

Section IV

21. Prepare an attractive advertisement using the hints given below:

Home made taste – Hygiene – Family Restaurant – Fresh juice – available – Free home delivery – cards accepted.

Welcome to Grandma's Kitchen!

Taste of Home, Made with Love & Care

Experience the authentic taste of homemade food in a perfectly hygienic environment. The ideal spot for your family outings!

• Authentic Home-Made Taste
• 100% Hygiene Guaranteed
• Perfect Family Restaurant
• Fresh & Healthy Juices Available
• Quick & FREE Home Delivery
• All Credit/Debit Cards Accepted

Dine-in or Order Now! Call: 98765 43210

Section V

22. Quote From Memory:

River ....................................... at play

River, river, little river!
Bright you sparkle on your way;
O'er the yellow pebbles dancing,
Through the flowers and foliage glancing,
Like a child at play.

Part - IV (1 X 8 = 8)

23. Write a paragraph of about 150 words by developing the following hints:

Little Cyclone – grizzly cub – mother killed – Brother escaped from captor – Cyclone rescued by zoological Park – met resisted all bears who attacked – behaved dignified – proved – fight – any bear – second's notice.

Little Cyclone: The Unchallenged King

Little Cyclone was a formidable grizzly cub from Alaska whose life began with tragedy. His mother was killed by a captor, and though his brother escaped, Cyclone was captured. He was rescued and brought to the New York Zoological Park, where his true nature emerged. Despite his small size, he was incredibly fierce. He met and resisted every bear that attacked him, quickly establishing his dominance. No matter the size or age of his opponent, Cyclone would emerge victorious, earning the respect and fear of all other bears. He behaved with a dignified air, never starting a fight but always finishing one decisively. He proved that he could and would fight any bear at a "second's notice," living up to his powerful name. His story is a testament to the untamable spirit of the wild, even within the confines of a park.