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

Class 9 Second Mid Term Test 2024 - English Question Paper with Solutions

PART - I

Choose the appropriate synonym for the italicized words.

1. You concealed them in your pocket.

• a) buried
• b) hid
• c) broke
• d) exposed

Answer: b) hid

2. The availability of electric power would make a tremendous difference to the life.

• a) great
• b) small
• c) still
• d) vanish

Answer: a) great

Choose the appropriate antonym for the italicized word.

3. Clem Jones was ordered to open the box.

• a) prepared
• b) arranged
• c) forced
• d) requested

Answer: d) requested

4. The water can flow with rapidly gathering momentum.

• a) classically
• b) actively
• c) slowly
• d) fast

Answer: c) slowly

Choose the correct plural form of child from the following.

5. Plural of child.

• a) childs
• b) childles
• c) childrens
• d) children

Answer: d) children

Choose the correct expansion of the abbreviation ISRO.

6. ISRO

• a) International Space Research Organisation
• b) Indian Space Research Orientation
• c) Indian Space Research Organisation
• d) Indian Space Reward Organisation

Answer: c) Indian Space Research Organisation

Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositional phrase from the given options.

7. I would like to order coffee ____ tea.

• a) instead of
• b) instead from
• c) instead to

Answer: a) instead of

PART - II

SECTION - A

Answer any TWO of the following questions in a sentence or two. (2x2=4)

8. What was Clem Jones carrying in the box?

Answer: Clem Jones was carrying a black box with the name 'Pongo' written on it. Inside the box was the mummified head of a gorilla.

9. Who is Pongo?

Answer: Pongo was the name given to the mummified head of a gorilla that Clem Jones was carrying in a black box.

10. What did the narrator do to get rid of the evidence?

Answer: To get rid of the evidence (Pongo's head), the narrator threw it into the river.

SECTION - B

Read the following set of poetic lines and answer any ONE of the following. (1x2=2)

11. "The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I've many curious things to show when you are there"

a) How to reach the spider's parlour?

Answer: One can reach the spider's parlour by going up a winding stair.

b) What will the fly get to see in the parlour?

Answer: The fly will get to see many curious things in the parlour.

12. "Sweet creature!" said the spider, "You're witty and you're wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!"

a) List the words used by the spider to describe the fly.

Answer: The words used by the spider to describe the fly are sweet, witty, wise, handsome, and brilliant.

b) Why does the spider say that the fly is witty?

Answer: The spider says that the fly is witty to flatter and deceive it, making it feel proud and less cautious, so it can be easily trapped.

SECTION - C

Answer any ONE of the following. (1x2=2)

13. a) Fill in the blank with correct present tense form.
A good student always ______ hard.

Answer: b) works

b) Fill the blank with correct past tense form.
Lakshana ______ a new bicycle last week.

Answer: b) bought

14. Fill the blank with appropriate modals. [will, shall, would, should, can, could, may]

We ______ be very careful while selecting our food items because there are chances that these ______ be adulterated.

Answer: We should be very careful while selecting our food items because there are chances that these may be adulterated.

SECTION - D

15. A stranger wants to go to the Post Office. Guide him to reach his destination.

Directions:

1. Go straight along Green Street until you reach Mount Road.
2. At Mount Road, take a left turn.
3. Walk straight on Mount Road. You will pass a bank on your Right.
4. Turn Right on to North Street.
5. Continue walking on north Street for a short distance and you will reach The Post Office on your left, at the North Street.

PART - III

SECTION - A

Answer any ONE of the following. (1x5=5)

16. Narrate the clever strategy followed by Clem Jones to deceive Pongo.

Answer: Clem Jones employed a clever psychological strategy to deceive the frightening gorilla, Pongo. When confronted, instead of showing fear, Clem acted as if he was in control of a more dangerous creature inside the box. He claimed it contained a rare spitting cobra from Africa, known for its deadly venom that could kill a man instantly. He vividly described how the cobra could spit venom accurately into its victim's eyes, causing blindness and death. By tapping on the box and speaking to the imaginary snake, he made his story more believable. This performance terrified Pongo, who was more afraid of the unseen, venomous snake than of Clem. The fear of the cobra made Pongo panic, ultimately leading to the car crash that allowed Clem to escape.

SECTION - B

Answer any ONE of the following. (1x5=5)

18. Write a character sketch of the spider.

Answer: The spider in the poem "The Spider and the Fly" is a cunning, patient, and manipulative villain. He is a master of flattery, using sweet and complimentary words to lure the innocent fly into his trap. He praises the fly's wisdom, wit, handsome wings, and brilliant eyes, appealing to its vanity. The spider is deceitful, hiding his evil intentions behind a mask of hospitality and friendship. He invites the fly into his "parlour" and "little bed," pretending to offer rest and comfort, while his true aim is to make the fly his prey. His persistence and clever use of psychological tricks reveal his predatory nature, making him a symbol of wickedness and deception that preys on the naive.

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

"Sweet creature!" said the spider, "You're witty and you're wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!"
I've a little looking glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself".

a) Pick out the rhyming words.

Answer: wise - eyes; shelf - yourself.

b) Write the rhyme scheme of the given stanza.

Answer: aabbcc

c) Identify the figure of speech employed in the second line.

Answer: Apostrophe (The spider directly addresses the fly). Also, repetition ("how").

d) Pick out the alliterating words.

Answer: "Sweet creature!" said the spider; "you're witty and you're wise".

SECTION - C

Answer any ONE of the following. (1x5=5)

20. Rearrange the following sentences in coherent order.

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

Correct Order:

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

21. Make notes or write a summary of the following passage:

Notes on Tree Conservation

Title: The Importance of Tree Conservation
1. Definition & Trend

• 1.1. Preservation & mgmt. of forests/trees.
• 1.2. A principle, policy, & practice.
• 1.3. Popular since late 20th/early 21st cent.

2. Value of Forests

• 2.1. Great value to civilization, wildlife, ecosystems.
• 2.2. Influences climate.
• 2.3. Conserves other natural resources.

3. Conflicts of Interest

• 3.1. At odds with for-profit companies.
• 3.2. Conflicts with land clearing for agri. & other uses.

4. Primary Goal & Reasons

• 4.1. Goal: Preserve & protect forests.
• 4.2. Reasons:
  • a. Preserve wildlife habitat.
  • b. Prevent soil erosion.
  • c. Preserve beauty for future generations.

SECTION - D

Answer any ONE of the following. (1x5=5)

22. Quote from memory.
River River ...... impetuous youth.

Answer:
"River, River, brimming River,
Broad and deep, and still as time;
Seeming still, yet still in motion,
Tending onward to the ocean,
Just like mortal prime."

Note: The prompt in the paper seems to have a mismatch. I have provided the stanza following the one ending in "impetuous youth." The requested line likely refers to the first stanza of the poem "The River".

23. a) The Eco club of your school is organizing Dengue Awareness Program. Design an attractive poster giving relevant details.

Dengue Awareness Poster

STOP THE BITE! FIGHT DENGUE!

Join the Dengue Awareness Program

Protect yourself and your family. A small bite can be deadly!

PREVENTION IS THE BEST CURE:

• ✓ Keep your surroundings clean.
• ✓ Do not let water stagnate in coolers, pots, or tyres.
• ✓ Use mosquito nets and repellents.
• ✓ Cover all water containers.

BEWARE OF SYMPTOMS: High Fever, Severe Headache, Joint & Muscle Pain, Rashes.

Organised by: The Eco Club, [Your School Name]

PART - IV

Answer any ONE of the following. (1x8=8)

24. Tom Sawyer -felt sad-Becky Thatcher-stopped coming-school-Aunt Polly-try various remedies the pain killer-cat-adverse effect-Aunty Polly-realized-mistake.

Tom Sawyer's Melancholy
Tom Sawyer felt sad and miserable because Becky Thatcher had stopped coming to school after falling ill. His heart was full of sorrow, and he lost interest in all his usual activities, including playing war and pirates. Seeing his depressed state, Aunt Polly became worried. Believing he was physically sick, she decided to try various remedies on him. She gave him hot baths, cold showers, and a range of strange medicines, but nothing worked. Finally, she tried a popular medicine called 'Pain-killer'. Tom disliked it and, in a moment of mischief, gave a dose to the cat, Peter. The pain-killer had a dramatic and adverse effect on Peter, who began to leap and dash around the room wildly. Seeing this chaotic reaction, Aunty Polly realized her mistake. She understood that Tom was not physically ill but was suffering from a broken heart, and her remedies were not what he needed.

25. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below.

In 1977, Mr. Nicholas Scotti, a journalist from San Francisco, flew from America to Italy to visit his cousins. The plane stopped for an hour in JFK Airport in New York. Mr. Scotti thought he was at Rome Airport and got off the plane. Of course, his cousins were not there to meet him. Mr. Scotti spent two days in New York believing he was in Rome. In their letters, his cousins always talked about the traffic problems and the famous building in Rome. Mr. Scotti decided to find their home without their help. On his journey round the city, Mr. Scotti asked a policeman to tell him the way to the bus station in Italian. Luckily, the policeman was an Italian from Naples, Italy and could reply in the same language. On the next day, after 12 hours of travelling round by buses, Mr. Scotti was surprised that the policemen and drivers speak in English. A policeman tried to tell him that he was in New York, but Mr. Scotti didn't believe it and even got angry.

a) Where did Mr. Nicholas Scotti fly?

Answer: Mr. Nicholas Scotti flew from America to Italy.

b) What did the policeman try to tell Mr. Scotti?

Answer: The policeman tried to tell Mr. Scotti that he was in New York, not Rome.

c) How many days did Mr. Scotti spend in New York believing he was in Rome?

Answer: Mr. Scotti spent two days in New York believing he was in Rome.

d) What did his cousins talk about in their letters?

Answer: In their letters, his cousins always talked about the traffic problems and the famous buildings in Rome.