MASTERMIND ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL

CLASS IX (CAMBRIDGE)
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
PRACTICE WORKSHEET - 04
(03-05-2020 – 07-05-2020)

A. COMPOSITION / CREATIVE WRITING

Description: Describe your life under lockdown.

General Instructions: The descriptive essay should have excellent images, ideas and details.
Pay special attention to spelling, punctuation, grammar, vocabulary and paragraphing. Use your
school copy to answer the question.

OR

Argument: All young school students should be involved in volunteer work or activities. How
far do you agree with the statement? Give reasons and examples to support your views.

General Instructions: You are free to agree or disagree with the statement and may present a
variety of arguments. Make sure your ideas are logical and well developed. Pay special
attention to spelling, punctuation, grammar, vocabulary and paragraphing. Use your school
copy to answer the question.

B. COMPREHENSION (READING FOR MEANING)

NEW ENGLISH FOURTH by Rhodri Jones (pages : 216 - 217)

General Instructions: This is a comparatively big and complex text. You should have the
patience to go through the text to enjoy it. There are several questions given at the end of the
text. Please read all the questions and figure out the answers. Now, we will be learning a
number of words and their meanings from the text. These words are also important for your
own words questions.
C. VOCABULARY (OWN WORDS QUESTIONS)

Samuel glared at him (line 14) – to look at somebody in an angry way

The boy shrugged his bony shoulders as if he was pleading innocence (lines 15-16) – skinny; to
state that you are not guilty

The boy seemed to have a genius for driving him over the edge of exasperation (lines 17-18) –

a special skill; infuriation / great anger / extreme annoyance

Mrs Haddow said apprehensively, trying to sound casual and businesslike (lines 31-32) – in an
anxious or worried manner/concerned; working in an efficient and organized way

Her manner merely underlined her anxiety to avoid an outbreak of Samuel’s temper (line 33) –
to give importance to something / emphasized / stressed / underscored; starting something
unpleasant suddenly

Mrs Haddow said testily (line 39) – in a bad tempered way / irritably

Appeasing the monster (line 52) – to make somebody calmer or less angry / pacify / placate

It was so transparent that a grin twitched at Samuel’s mouth (line 53) – a wide smile; making a
small sudden movement

She had read it somewhere and its beautiful simplicity had started her like a revelation of a
Light (lines 63 - 65) – a surprising fact that was a secret and is now made known / disclosure / a
message from God

The derision of his voice was a mere ingrained custom (line 74) – when you treat someone as
stupid or silly / mocking someone / scorn; firmly established and difficult to change / deep-
rooted; habit

Peter said in a thoughtful, yah-yah voice (line 77) – quiet, because you are thinking

Julie, ten years old, came into the living room, skinny and self-contained (line 80) – not needing
or depending on other people / independent

She swooped on him as if he had created him (line 89) – to visit or attack somebody suddenly
and without warning

Peter finished, and his father grinned at him triumphantly (line 117-118) – in a victorious way /
jubilantly
The omission nagged at him (line 122) – not including somebody / something or not doing
something; to worry or irritate somebody continuously

He was unbearably embarrassed (line 116) – intolerably / unendurable; ashamed / mortified

D. LEARNING IDIOMS (CONTINUATION)

In Practice Worksheet 2 we learned some idioms starting with the letter ‘L’; in this worksheet we will be
learning some more idioms.

 larger than life – looking or behaving in a way that is more interesting or exciting than other people /
flamboyant
Ex - The Indian cricket captain seems to be a larger than life character.

 mind / watch your language – to be careful about what you say in order not to offend someone
Ex - You will be in trouble if you do not watch your language.

 to the letter – doing or following what somebody / something says

Ex - I followed my parents’ instructions to the letter.

 do / try your level best – to do as much as you can to try to achieve something
Ex - I will do my level best to help you.

 lie in wait – to hide, waiting to attack or catch somebody

Ex - The mugger was lying in wait for his prey.

 bring somebody / something to life - to make somebody / something more interesting or exciting
Ex - The teacher brought the lessons to life.

 Cast / shed / throw light on something – to make a problem, etc. easier to understand
Ex - She was able to shed some light on the situation.

 in line with – similar to something

Ex - Pensions will be increased in line with inflation.

 (put something) on the line – at risk

Ex - She knew that her future was on the line.

 on everyone’s lips – everyone is talking about

Ex - The virus is on everyone’s lips.
 there is no love lost between A and B – they do not like each other
Ex - There is no love lost between her and her in-laws.

 be lost for words – to be so surprised, confused, etc. that you do not know what to say
Ex - For once in her life, she was lost for words.

 broke loose – people suddenly become noisy and angry

Ex - Journalists woke us with the news of coronavirus, and all hell broke loose.

 lock horns (with somebody) (over something) – to get involved in an argument, or a disagreement
with somebody
Ex - The mayor and his deputy locked horns over plans for the new road.

 be living proof of something / that – to show that something is true or exists by being a clear
example of it
Ex - He is a living proof that anyone can succeed through perseverance.

BEST OF LUCK !