CBSE 9 MLQB - English Language & Literature

In accordance with the latest syllabus prescribed by the
Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi.
CBSE QUESTION BANK

chapterwise & categorywise
CLASS IX
English
(language & literature)
2024
EXAMINATION
Competency Focused Questions Included
Complete Guide for Self-Study
Multiple Choice Questions Included
Extract Based Questions Included
NCERT Questions Incorporated
Author Revised By
Malvika Srivastava Suparna Das
M.A., B.Ed. (English Literature) M.A. English, B.Ed.
Former PGT English Dayalbagh Education Institute
Jankidevi Public School Deemed University, Agra
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Oswal – Gurukul’s Most Likely CBSE Question Bank series is up-to-date with
the latest syllabus given by the Central Board of Secondary Education.
This title highlights the knowledge-based and skill-based goals of the Bloom’s
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teaches them ways to apply their subjective knowledge to get their best academic
results.
In this book, the questions are arranged section-wise so that the students can
revise the whole syllabus in less time and develop the ability of prioritising and
categorising topics for effective learning. It covers all probable types of questions
that can be asked in the exams.
The series is an attempt to instil confidence in students to face the board

examination. The language used is simple, to the point and questions cover all
the important topics as per the weightage given to them by the board.
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SYLLABUS
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
(SECTION-WISE WEIGHTAGE)
Sections Weightage
A Reading Skills (40 periods)* 20 Marks
B Writing Skills and Grammar (40 periods)* 20 Marks
C Language through Literature (50 periods)* 20 Marks
* This is a suggestive number.
Section A
Reading Skills
I. Reading Comprehension through Unseen Passage 20 Marks
1. Discursive passage of 400-450 words. (10 marks)
2. Case-based factual passage (with visual input- statistical data/chart etc.) of 200-250 words. (10 marks)
(Total length of two passages to be 600-700 words).
Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions/Very Short Answer Questions will be asked to assess
comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation and vocabulary.
Section B
Writing Skills and Grammar
II. Grammar (10 marks)
• Determiners
• Tenses
• Modals
• Subject – verb concord
• Reported speech
o Commands and requests
o Statements
o Questions
3. The courses at the secondary level seek to cement high professional grasp of grammatical items and levels
of accuracy. Accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar will be assessed through Gap Filling/
Editing/Transformation exercises. Ten out of twelve questions will be attempted.
III. Writing Skills (10 marks)
4. Writing a Descriptive Paragraph (word limit 100-120 words), describing a person / event / situation, based
on visual or verbal cue/s. One out of two questions to be answered. (5 marks)
5. Writing a Story (on a given cue/title)/Diary Entry, in 100-120 words. One out of two questions is to be
answered. (5 marks)
Section C
Language through Literature (40 marks)
IV. Reference to the Context (5 + 5 = 10 marks)
6. One extract out of two, from Drama / Prose.
7. One extract out of two, from poetry.
Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions will be asked to assess interpretation, analysis, inference,
evaluation, appreciation and vocabulary.
V. Short and Long Answer Questions
8. Four out of Five Short Answer Type Questions to be answered in 40-50 words from the book BEEHIVE to
assess interpretation, analysis, inference and evaluation. (4 × 3 = 12 marks)
9. Two out of Three Short Answer Type Questions to be answered in 40-50 words from the book MOMENTS
to assess interpretation, analysis, inference and evaluation.. (3 × 2 = 6 marks)
10. One out of two Long Answer Type Questions from BEEHIVE to be answered in about 100-120 words to
assess creativity, imagination and extrapolation beyond the text and across the text. This can also be a
passage-based question taken from a situation/plot from the text. (6 marks)
11. One out of two Long Answer Type Questions from MOMENTS, on theme or plot involving interpretation,
extrapolation beyond the text and inference or character sketch to be answered in about 100-120 words.
(6 marks)
Prescribed Books: Published by NCERT, New Delhi
Beehive
Prose
1. The Fun They Had 6. My Childhood
2. The Sound of Music 7. Reach For The Top
3. The Little Girl 8. Kathmandu
4. A Truly Beautiful Mind 9. If I were You
5. The Snake and the Mirror
Poems
1. The Road Not taken 5. A Legend of The Northland
2. Wind 6. No Men Are Foreign
3. Rain on the Roof 7. On Killing a Tree
4. The Lake Isle of Innisfree
8. A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal
Moments
1. The Lost Child 5. The Happy Prince
2. The Adventures of Toto 6. The Last Leaf
3. Iswaran the Storyteller 7. A House is not a Home
4. In the Kingdom of Fools 8. The Beggar
3. WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS – I (WORKBOOK FOR CLASS IX) – Units 1 to 6 and Units 8, 10 & 11
Note: Teachers are advised to:
(i) encourage classroom interaction among peers, students and teachers through activities such as role play, group
work etc.
(ii) reduce teacher-talk time and keep it to the minimum,
(iii) take up questions for discussion to encourage pupils to participate and to marshal their ideas and express and
defend their views.
Besides measuring learning outcome, texts serve the dual purpose of diagnosing mistakes and areas of non-
learning. To make evaluation a true index of learners’ knowledge, each language skill is to be assessed through
a judicious mixture of different types of questions.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Listening and Speaking Competencies—30 Periods
Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills will be for 05 marks.
It is recommended that listening and speaking skills should be regularly practiced .
Art-integrated projects based on activities like Role Play, Skit, Dramatization etc. must be used.
Please refer to the Circular no. Acad-33/2020 dated 14th May, 2020 at the
http://cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/Circulars/2020/33_Circular_2020.pdf for details.
Guidelines for the Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills are given at Annexure I.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

CLASS IX
(Code No. 184)
Marks : 80
Sections Competencies Total marks
Reading Comprehension Conceptual understanding, decoding, analyzing, inferring, 20
interpreting and vocabulary
Writing Skills and Grammar Creative expression of an opinion, reasoning, justifying, 20
illustrating, appropriacy of style and tone, using appropriate
format and fluency.
Applying conventions, using integrated structures with accuracy
and fluency
Language through Literature Recalling, reasoning, appreciating, applying literary conventions 40
illustrating and justifying etc. Extract relevant information,
identifying the central theme and sub-theme, understanding the
writers’ message and writing fluently.
Total 80
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‘Shiksha Sadan’, 17, Rouse Avenue, Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110002
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READING
1. Discursive Passages 11 – 24
2. Case Based Factual Passages 25 – 38
CREATIVE WRITING
1. Descriptive Paragraphs 41 – 43
2. Diary Entry and Story Writing 44 – 52
3. Letter Writing 53 – 56
4. Article Writing 57 – 62
GRAMMAR
1. Tenses 65 – 72
2. Modals 73 – 78
3. Subject-Verb Concord 79 – 83
4. Reported Speech 84 – 90
5. Reported Speech–Commands and Requests 91 – 94
6. Reported Speech–Statements 95 – 98
7. Reported Speech–Questions 99 – 102
8. Determiners 103 – 106
9. Integrated Grammar Exercises 107 – 124
BEEHIVE–PROSE
1. The Fund They Had Isaac Asimov 127 – 133
2. The Sound of Music
I. Evelyn Glennie Deborah Cowley 134 – 136
II. The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan 137 – 142
3. The Little Girl Katherine Mansfield 143– 148
4. A Truly Beautiful Mind 149– 154
5. The Snake and the Mirror Vaikom Muhammad Basheer 155– 160
6. My Childhood A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 161– 167
8. Reach for the Top
I. Santosh Yadav 168 – 172
II. Maria Sharapova 172 – 176
10. Kathmandu Vikram Seth 177 – 182
11. If I Were You Douglas James 183 – 188
BEEHIVE–POETRY
1. The Road Not Taken Robert Frost 191 – 195
2. Wind Subramania Bharati 196 – 200
3. Rain on the Roof Coates Kinney 201 – 204
4. The Lake Isle of Innisfree William Butler Yeats 205 – 208
5. A Legend of the Northland Phoebe Cary 209 – 212
6. No Men Are Foreign James Kirkup 213 – 216
8. On Killing A Tree Gieve Patel 217 – 220
10. A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal William Wordsworth 221 – 224
MOMENTS
1. The Lost Child Mulk Raj Anand 227 – 231
2. The Adventures of Toto Ruskin Bond 232 – 236
3. Iswaran the Storyteller R.K. Laxman 237 – 241
4. In the Kingdom of Fools Kannada Folktale (ed.) A.K. Ramanujan 242 – 246
5. The Happy Prince Oscar Wilde 247 – 252
7. The Last Leaf O. Henry 253 – 257
8. A House Is Not a Home Zan Gaudioso 258 – 263
10. The Beggar Anton Chekhov 264 – 268
WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS (Workbook)

Unit–1 271– 274
Unit–2 275 – 276
Unit–3 277 – 278
Unit–4 279 – 281
Unit–5 282 – 284
Unit–6 285 – 287
Unit–8 288 – 290
Unit–10 291 – 292
Unit–11 293 – 294
Reading
Chapter
Discursive Passages 1
On the basis of your understanding of the passage
Passage–1
given above, answer the following questions.
Read the passage given below. (i) According to the author, what, from the following,
1. Gypsies have long been among the most mysterious, is the most suitable description of the Gypsies?
exotic people on earth. They have been described as (a) ancient ancestors of India.
a race of nomads, who have no home to call theirs. (b) exotic race of nomads.
Gypsies do have their own language, Romani, and (c) wandering thieves and nuisance.
they identify themselves as Romani people. Gypsies (d) Egyptians who settled in Europe.
came to Europe long ago from India. Ans. (b) exotic race of nomads.
2. Gypsy history remained unknown for centuries, (ii) Select the option that suitably completes the
largely because they had no written language dialogue with reference to paragraph 5.
and strangely enough, they had forgotten where Lisa: I haven’t seen that banjara who roams in my
they came from. Gypsies generally claimed to be area settled anywhere. I am pretty sure he fled after
Egyptians— hence the name “Gypsy.” Europeans committing some crime in secret.
eventually discovered that the Romani language is Ajit: Let’s not be so quick to judge, we should ________.
related to certain dialects of India and from there (a) form stereotypes about other communities in
Gypsy history was gradually put together. our head.
3. Gypsies made their living as wandering musicians and (b) hand him over to the police if we see him and let
singers in India. In the year 430, Gypsy musicians, them handle.
(12,000 of them) from the tribe of India known as Jat (c) be compassionate about other communities too.
(called Zott by Persians) were given as a gift to the (d) remove all the minorities from our community to
Persian King Bahram V. Large numbers of them were avoid menace.
captured by the Byzantines in Syria, where they were Ans. (c) be compassionate about other communities too.
lauded as great acrobats and jugglers, they were (iii) Choose the option that best conveys the message
about 855 in number. in - ‘no home to call theirs.’
4. Gypsies are noted in the twelfth-century history of (a) Gypsies settle at a place after some time
Constantinople as bear keepers, snake charmers, (b) Gypsies call far East as their home
fortune tellers and sellers of magic amulets to ward (c) Gypsies cannot remain in homes as per their
off the evil eye. Balsamon warned the Greeks to avoid customs
these “ventriloquists and wizards” who he said were (d) Gypsies are travelling nomads
in league with the Devil.
Ans. (d) Gypsies are travelling nomads
5. Settled people are usually suspicious of rootless, (iv) What bigotry did the Gypsies face when they were
masterless wanderers with no fixed address. The in Europe throughout history? Choose one option
Gypsies travelled about Europe as did no other from the following:
people, so they knew more than most about what was
(a) Xenophobia, homophobia and financial loss.
happening in various countries and the activities of
(b) Lack of jobs and being forced to do menial labour.
their inhabitants. This led to rumours that Gypsies
were being used as spies. (c) Discrimination, xenophobia and execution.
(d) Being pushed into slavery and used as spies.
6. In 1497, the Diet (legislature) of the Holy Roman
Empire issued a decree that expelled all Gypsies Ans. (c) Discrimination, xenophobia and execution.
from Germany for espionage. In 1510, Switzerland (v) Select the option with the underlined words that
followed suit and added the death penalty. A Swiss can suitably replace espionage (paragraph 6).
chronicler denounced Gypsies as “useless rascals (a) They were all afraid of the immigrants infiltrating
who wander about in our day, and of whom the most their jobs and daily sources of income.
noteworthy occupation is theft, for they live solely for (b) I caught him last night spying on his elder sister
stealing.” when she was having a conversation.
12 | CBSE Question Bank English – IX
The Roman Catholic Church is known to Ans. (a)
(c) The danger of mono-culturalism begins with
excommunicate anyone who defies their laws. hostility and aggression towards a certain group
(d)
Theft is often dealt with harsh and severe of people. — Sunday Adelaja
punishment in Gulf countries. (xi) What punishment did Switzerland add in 1510 to
Ans. (b) I caught him last night spying on his elder sister the decree regarding the Gypsies?
when she was having a conversation. (a) enslavement (c) banishment
(vi) A Consonance is a literary device that shows the (b) imprisonment (d) death penalty
repetition of identical or similar consonants in Ans. (d) death penalty
neighbouring words whose vowel sounds are
(xii) How many Gypsies did the Byzantines capture in
different. From the options given below, select a
Syria?
Consonance that appears in the para 4.
(a) 885 (c) 430
(a) ventriloquists and wizards
(b) 855 (d) 1200
(b) bear keepers
Ans. (c) 855
(c) fortune tellers
(d) magic amulets Passage–2
Ans. (a) ventriloquists and wizards Read the passage given below.
(vii) Select the qualities from paragraph 3, that the
author states about the Gypsies. 1. The choices we make on a daily basis—wearing a
seatbelt, lifting heavy objects correctly or purposely
Being:
staying out of any dangerous situation—can either
(1) dancers
ensure our safety or bring about potentially harmful
(2) snake charmers circumstances.
(3) jugglers
2. You and I need to make a decision that we are going
(4) musicians
to get our lives in order. Exercising self-control, self-
(5) acrobats
discipline and establishing boundaries and borders in
(a) (1), (2) and (5) (c) (2), (3) and (5)
our lives are some of the most important things we
(b) (1), (4) and (5) (d) (3), (4) and (5) can do. A life without discipline is one that’s filled with
Ans. (d) (3), (4) and (5) carelessness.
(viii) Which of the following did the Swiss chronicler say
3. We can think it’s kind of exciting to live life on the
for Gypsies?
edge. We like the image of “Yeah! That’s me! Living
(a) rascal relentless murderers. on the edge! Woo-hoo!” It has become a popular way
(b) useless roaming snake charmers. to look at life. But you see, even highways have lines,
(c) cunning wandering thieves. which provide margins for our safety while we’re
(d) sellers of magic amulets. driving. If we go over one side, we’ll go into the ditch.
Ans. (c) cunning wandering thieves. If we cross over the line in the middle, we could get
(ix) What does Balsamon warn the Greeks about the killed. And we like those lines because they help to
Gypsies, in paragraph 4? keep us safe. Sometimes we don’t even realise how
(a) Gypsies were in league with the Devil. lines help to keep us safe.
(b) avoid these ventriloquists and fortune tellers. 4. I’m not proud of this, but for the first 20 years of
(c) Gypsies were being used as spies by Germany. my life at work, I ignored my limits. I felt horrible,
(d) they were exceptional bear keepers. physically, most of the time. I used to tell myself “I
know I have limits and that I’ve reached them, but
Ans. (a) Gypsies were in league with the Devil.
I’m going to ignore them and see if or how long I can
(x) Choose the option that lists the quote best get by with it.” I ran to doctors, trying to make myself
expressing the central idea of the passage. feel better through pills, vitamins, natural stuff and
(a) The danger of mono-culturalism begins with anything I could get my hands on. Some of the doctors
hostility and aggression towards a certain group would tell me, “It’s just stress.” That just made me
of people. —Sunday Adelaja mad. I thought stress meant you don’t like what you
(b) Extreme poverty anywhere is a threat to human do or can’t handle life, and I love what I do. But I kept
security everywhere. —Kofi Annan pushing myself, traveling, speaking engagements and
(c) An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest so on— simply exhausting myself.
and most fatal ailment of all republics. —Plutarch 5. Finally, I understood I was living an unsustainable life
(d) Even God doesn't propose to judge a man till his and needed to make some changes in my outlook and
last days, why should you and I? —Dale Carnegie lifestyle.
Discursive Passages | 13
6. You and I don’t have to be like everyone else or keep (2) Living on the edge is our choice.
up with anyone else. Each of us needs to be exactly (3) It alerts us from falling into a ditch.
the way we are, and we don’t have to apologise for (4) Crossing in the middle would be an end to life.
it. We’re not all alike and we need to find a comfort
(5) It is safe to ignore the lines.
zone in which we can enjoy our lives instead of
(a) (1), (3) and (4) (c) (1), (2) and (5)
making ourselves sick with an overload of stress and
pressure. (b) (2), (3) and (5) (d) (1), (2) and (4)
Ans. (a) (1), (3) and (4)
On the basis of your understanding of the passage
given above, answer the following questions. (vi) On what principle does the narrator say should be
our decision?
(i) The purpose of the narrator speaking of living
standards quotes _____. Choose the correct option. (a) Enjoy life to the fullest.
(b) Get our lives in order.
(a) Life with discipline is one that’s filled with
carelessness (c) Enjoy a competitive life.
(b) Life without discipline is one that’s filled with (d) Enjoy life unthoughtful of your health.
responsibility Ans. (b) Get our lives in order.
(c) Life without discipline is one that’s filled with (vii) In this passage the narrator concludes that each
carelessness one must_______.
(d) Life with discipline is one that’s filled with Select the correct option.
responsibility (a) Enjoy life with competition
Ans. (c) Life without discipline is one that’s filled with (b) Enjoy life with luxury
carelessness (c) Enjoy life best suited to their happiness
(ii) Select the option that is true for the two statements (d) Enjoy life with stress and pressure
given below. Ans. (c) Enjoy life best suited to their happiness
(1) Some of the doctors would tell me, “It’s just (viii) Choose the correct option which describes the
stress.” characteristics of the narrator to answer the
(2) ignored my limits. I felt horrible following:
(a) (1) is the result of (2) According to paragraph IV “I know I have limits
(b) (1) is the reason for (2) and that I’ve reached them, but I’m going to ignore
them and see if or how long I can get by with it.”?
(c) (2) is independent of (1)
(a) Thoughtless and Heedless.
(d) (1) contradicts (2)
(b) Patient and Reckless.
Ans. (a) (1) is the result of (2)
(c) Thoughtless and considerate.
(iii) Select the option that gives the correct meaning of
(d) Considerate and Heedless.
the following statement.
Ans. (a) Thoughtless and Heedless.
“Living on the edge!”
(ix) What is the tone of the author in this passage?
(a) Living a luxurious life.
(a) rebuke (c) advice
(b) Living a life with cautious.
(b) question (d) help
(c) Living a life in a favorable position.
Ans. (c) advice
(d) Living a life with many dangers and risks.
(x) The author used colloquial words such as “yeah”
Ans. (c) Living a life in a favourable position. and “woo-hoo!”. Which of the following is NOT a
(iv) According to the narrator wearing a seatbelt colloquial word?
ensures_______. (a) Hooked (c) Guy
(a) The person’s concern for others. (b) Stuff (d) Apologise
(b) The person’s concern for life and Safety. Ans. (d) Apologise
(c) To attract the crowd (xi) The author was the example of ________ to explain
(d) Reckless driving. the importance of discipline and boundaries in our
Ans. (b) The person’s concern for life and Safety. lives.
(v) Select the option listing what the given sentence (a) road accidents
refers to. (b) traffic rules
‘Sometimes we don’t even realize how lines help to (c) safe driving
keep us safe’. (d) lines on the highway
(1) Highways have lines for our safety. Ans. (d) lines on the highway
creative Writing
Chapter
Descriptive Paragraphs 1
1. Write a descriptive paragraph in about 100-120 picturesque Red Square—walking tours to Moscow
words describing the wedding you attended during Metro and Kremlin—wish to go back some day again
the lockdown.
Ans. Last week, our team of 15 chosen students went to
Introduction—Lockdown scenario—how all the Moscow, Russia, as a part of the cultural exchange
arrangements were made possible—many people programme of our school. We were all very excited
couldn’t attend the marriage—maintaining lockdown upon our arrival at the Domodedovo International
protocols during marriage—your feelings Airport, Moscow. The city is situated on the Moskva
Ans. It was the month of November, the month of my river in the Central Federal District of European
brother’s marriage. When it comes to marriage and Russia. We visited the picturesque Red Square on the
that too in India, loud music, all the relatives, family, second day of our visit. It is the former royal citadel
friends, scrumptious food, fancy clothes, shopping and now the official residence of the President of
and what not come to our minds. Russia. We were all flabbergasted by the beauty,
cleanliness and architectural details of the buildings.
But the scene during lockdown was totally opposite
It was very cold. We went on walking tours to Moscow
and pathetic. I was feeling very bad because my
Metro and Kremlin. We learned that Moscow has a
brother’s marriage was happening during lockdown
rich history and Russia has a very friendly ties with
due to which I was unable to buy best dresses to be
India. I enjoyed it thoroughly and wish to go back
worn in the marriage. As a brother of Groom, I have
some day again.
to look stylish but due to lockdown I can’t look smart
even because I hadn’t set my hair in my brother’s 3. Write a descriptive paragraph in about 100-120
wedding. It was so because my favourite barber shop words describing on Rabindranath Tagore with the
was closed. And I was also upset because most of help of the following cues:
my friends were not coming in that wedding, some Rabindranath Tagore, most famous poet, novelist of
were scared due to Covid-19 and some were not Bengali Literature—Wrote short stories in 1890s
allowed by their parents. For some time I was sad published in periodicals—Sadhana 36 of his stories
in the wedding but later I understood the condition appeared—He directed and edited Sadhana —
and started cooperating with my family. I was also Published many stories, including Kabuliwala and
wondering a different type of wedding for the first Hungry Stone—His short stories criticism—Lack of
time in my whole life. In my brother’s wedding only 40 translators—Weakened some stories in translation—
members were involved including my family. That was Left out details of Indian life—Too foreign to non-
a memorable wedding of my life. Though it was a new Indian readers
phase of my brother’s life yet I wasn’t happy whole
heartedly. Ans. Rabindranath Tagore is one of the most celebrated
novelists and poets of the Bengali literature. The
To follow the rules for the marriages during the
writer wrote most of his short stories in the 1890s
lockdown was a mixture of emotions. I really want a
which were published in many periodicals like
magic wand to make the situation normal. Let’s cross
Sadhana. The periodical Sadhana had 36 of his
our fingers for the same.
stories in it. Rabindranath himself edited Sadhana
2. Write a descriptive paragraph in about 100-120 and also published several of his best known stories,
words describing your experience on how you including Kabuliwala. Many of his short stories got
received an opportunity to visit Russia through your a lot of criticism from several writers and readers in
school’s cultural exchange programme. Describe the beginning. Rabindranath made some of his stories
your experience with the help of the given cues. weaker in translation when he decided to leave out
Cultural exchange programme held—15 students finer details of Indian life which he believed would
went to Russia arrived at the Domodedovo be too foreign and hard to understand to non-Indian
International Airport, Moscow—visited the readers.
4. Write a descriptive paragraph in about 100-120 would love to take up science in future and become a
words describing on Swami Vivekananda. botanist or ornithologist.
6. You wanted to celebrate after your final exams but
it did not go as you planned. Describe the event in
100-120 words using the given cues.
You plan a get together with your friends—An
unexpected event forces you to change plans—You
manage everything at the last minute—A very unique
and memorable day.
Ans. Final examinations were so hectic this year. I was
relieved now that they were over. So, I decided to
celebrate. I told my mum that I’d be taking my friends
out for lunch next day to celebrate. She agreed and
I called everyone to finalise the plan. The next day it
Ans. Swami Vivekananda was born on 12th January wouldn’t stop raining. I was so distressed that all my
1863. His father was Vishwanath Datta and mother plans were now ruined. My mum took pity on my
was Bhubaneswari Devi. He was a social reformer. condition and suggested I throw a lunch party at my
His early name was Narendranath Datta. He was place. She prepared some snacks; I took out board
associated with the Brahmo movement. At the games and we both cleared the drawing room to
same time, Swami Vivekananda also established create some space. Luckily my friends lived near my
Ramakrishna mission named after his teacher, and home so they all came immediately. It was all so last
under his guidance, he made rapid strides on the minute but worth it in the end. It would always live
spiritual path. He went on a pilgrimage walk all over rent-free in my head as my best memory.
the country, studying the conditions of the people 7. You saw a homeless child picking and eating food
wherever he went. His magnetic personality created from the garbage bin of a restaurant. Describe the
a great impression. He decided to attend the world situation in 100-120 words using the visual cue
parliament of religions in order to spread his message provided.
in the west. This was held at Chicago in 1893. His
speeches at the world’s parliament of religions made
him famous as an orator and as a messenger of Indian
wisdom to the western world. For three years, he
spread the philosophy of Vedanta in England and
then returned to India. He breathed his last on 4th
July 1902, leaving behind an immortal legacy.
5. Butterflies are beautiful insects who fascinate
everyone. Write a descriptive paragraph in about
100-120 words describing how excited you were
to see and learn about them.
Colourful wings—Beautiful and enchanting—Your
research about butterflies—How your research has Ans. I was returning home after celebrating my friends’
inspired you to form—Your future goal. birthday. We smacked each other’s faces with cake
and had so much fun. There were still some cake
Ans. The colourful and delicate wings of a butterfly have
bits stuck in my hair and I was plucking them as I was
always enchanted me since my childhood. Today, I
walking down the street. I walked past the restaurant
could not take my eyes off the beautiful creatures,
and I saw a homeless child of about five years,
which were so rich in colour, when they came flying
rummaging through the trash in the garbage bin. He
into my garden. I felt so good and decided to research fished out a half-eaten nann and quickly stuffed it in
more about them. So, while researching, I found that his mouth. I was horrified at the sight and my heart
they belong to an order of insects called Lepidoptera. sank. I quickly ran to the kid and bought him fresh
I remember my teacher telling me that their life-spans food from the restaurant. I felt ashamed of myself
is four stages, namely-eggs, larve, pupa and butterfly. for having wasted food when there were starving
Butterflies are polymorphic and they make use of kids like him who would go to any lengths to feed
camouflage, mimicry and aposematism to evade their themselves. Suddenly the cake smashing did not feel
predators. I like to research about insects a lot so, I so much fun.
Descriptive Paragraphs | 43
5. Given below is a picture showing a quarrel between
Practice Exercise two boys in your school. Narrate the incident in
100-120 words describing how the quarrel began,
1. Childhood is the time when adequate nutrition is what happened and how it was brought to an end.
very essential for healthy growth. Improper diet at You may take help from the visual cue given below.
this age may result in heart disease, diabetes, and
several other diseases. Based on the visual cue
below, write a descriptive paragraph on ‘Healthy
Lifestyle for Children’ in about 100-120 words.
6. Read the statement given below.

2. Write a short description of your favourite place in Social media is a useful platform for many teenagers as
your house – the drawing room. Taking help from it exposes them to news and helps them interact with
the given visual cue, write a descriptive paragraph people across the globe. It also gives them a platform to
in about 100-120 words. be creative.
Sofa set – Telephone – Table lamp – Centre table Write a paragraph in about 120 words analysing
the given argument. You can think about what
alternative explanations might weaken the given
conclusion and include rationale/evidence that
would strengthen/counter the given argument.
Newspapers should go online completely and we should
do away with printed copies. Printing newspapers wastes
ink and paper in a digital age where most people get
information from the internet.
Write a paragraph in about 120 words analysing
3. With the help of the following cues, write a the given argument. You can think about what
descriptive paragraph in about 100-120 words : alternative explanations might weaken the given
conclusion and include rationale/evidence that
A fire – burning huts – people ran out – a child trapped
would strengthen/counter the given argument.
inside – you/your friends – deeply moved – risky but
decided to save – succeeded – bravery award.
Many students do not participate in classroom
4. Write a descriptive paragraph on ‘The Annual Day discussions, whereas some students contribute valuable
of Your School’ or ‘The Prize Distribution in Your points. The curriculum should allot some marks for
School’ in about 100-120 words. You may take participation so that students are motivated to share in
help from the following cues : discussions.
preparations – on the Annual Day – arrangements– Write a paragraph in about 120 words analysing
who was chief guest - welcoming of guests – annual the given argument. You can think about what
report by Principal – cultural programmes – prize alternative explanations might weaken the given
distribution – speech by chief guest – a light conclusion and include rationale/evidence that
refreshment – your feeling about the function. would strengthen/counter the given argument.

Grammar
Chapter
Tenses 1
Tenses and Uses 3. With “always, forever, constantly”, to describe and
The Tense verbs may be categorised into the following emphasise a continuing series of repeated actions
according to the time frame: to express annoyance .
1. Present Tense e.g. You are always interrupting me when I’m
2. Past Tense talking.
3. Future Tense Present Perfect : It is used when an action that
They may also be categorised according to the action happened in the past continues to have a strong connection
described by the verb. There are four aspects of it: in the present.
 Indefinite or simple 1. If the subject is singular,
 Continuous or progressive e.g. He has finished his work.
 Perfect 2. If the subject is plural,
 Perfect continuous e.g. They have finished their work.
Simple Present : The simple present tense in English is Uses :
used to describe an action that is regular, true or normal. 1. To indicate completed action in the immediate
1. If subject is singular, past.
e.g. Alex sells cakes. e.g. He has just taken his dinner. ( Now he is full, he
2. If subject is plural, cannot take anything).
2. To express past action whose time is not defined,
e.g. Children perform on the stage.
e.g. Anita has gone to Japan for a project.
Uses :
3. To express a past action, the effect of which still
1. To express a habitual action.
continues,
e.g. I take buttermilk after lunch every day.
e.g. I have lost my wallet. (I don’t have my wallet
2. To express universal truth.
now; can you help me find it?)
e.g. Water is the lifeline of living beings.
Present Perfect Continuous : This tense is used to
3. To express an action taking place in the immediate
talk about an action or actions that started in the past and
present.
continued until recently or that continue into the future:
e.g. The pickup van arrives within five minutes.
4. To indicate the present period. 1. If subject is singular,
e.g. Simran teaches in DAV Public School. e.g. She has been teaching for four hours,
5. To express a future fixed action. 2. If subject is plural,
e.g. The national news telecasts at 7 in the evening. e.g. They have been teaching for four hours.
Present Continuous : The Present Continuous is Uses :
mainly used to express the idea that something is happening 1. For an action which began at some point of time in
at the moment of speaking. The Present Continuous also the past and still continues,
describes activities generally in progress. e.g. Sunayan has been studying since 4 am,
1. If subject is singular, 2. For an unfinished action,
e.g. He is drinking milk. e.g. I’ve been waiting for him for 30 minutes and
2. If subject is plural, he still hasn’t arrived.
e.g. They are drinking milk. Simple Past : The simple past is used to talk about
(‘am’ is used with ‘I’ ; ‘ is’ is used with ‘ he/ she’; ‘are’ is a completed action. The time of the action can be in the
used with ‘we/ they/ you’) recent past or in the distant past.
Uses : Whether the subject is singular or plural, rule remains
1. For an action in progress at the time of speaking, the same.
e.g. My father is watching a movie. e.g. John bought two chairs.
2. To talk about activities happening in the near Uses :
future, especially for planned future events. 1. To indicate an action completed,
e.g. Susan is coming for dinner tomorrow. e.g. I went to meet my friend,
2. For past habits or repeated actions. 3. Used in third conditional sentences,
e.g. He always fought for pretty matters. e.g. If it hadn’t been raining, we would have gone to
Past Continuous : It is used to express a continued or the park.
ongoing action in past, an ongoing action which occurred in Simple Future : The simple future tense refers to a
past and completed at some point in past. time later than now and expresses facts or certainty.
1. If subject is singular, Whether the subject is singular or plural, rule remains the
e.g. He was eating fruits. same.
2. If subject is plural, e.g. She will go there in the evening.
e.g. They were flying kites. Uses :
Uses : 1. To predict a future event,
1. To denote an action going on at some time in the e.g. It will be a holiday tomorrow.
past. 2. To express a spontaneous decision,
e.g. Ridhi was weeping bitterly when the result e.g. I’ll pay for the tickets by credit card.
was declared. 3. To express willingness and in the negative form, to
2. We use past continuous tense to describe a past express unwillingness,
action over a period of time. e.g. I’ll cook dinner for everyone.
e.g They were practicing for the event all day. The baby won’t sleep in the cradle.
3. We use past continuous to say that an action in the 4. To make a suggestion,
past was temporary. e.g. Shall we go for shopping ?
e.g. They were living in a small house for a year. Future Continuous : The future continuous refers to
Past Perfect : The past perfect tense refers to a time an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a
earlier than before now. It is used to make it clear that one time later than now.
event happened before another in the past. It does not Whether the subject is singular or plural, rule remains the
matter which event is mentioned first. The tense makes it same.
clear which one happened first. e.g. The boys will be running tomorrow.
Whether the subject is singular or plural, rule remains Uses :
the same. 1. For an action that lasts a period of time in the
eg. He had killed the snake. future.
Uses : e.g. His father will be working the whole day
1. A completed action before something else in the tomorrow.
past. 2. For an action that has been planned.
e.g. When we arrived, the film had started. e.g. They will be going to London for vacation this
(= first the film started, then later we arrived) summer.
2. To explain or give a reason for something in the 3. To express an action that will be in progress at a
past. certain or specified time in the future.
e.g. I’d eaten dinner so I wasn’t hungry. e.g. We will/shall be sleeping by the time you
return.
It had snowed in the night, so the bus didn’t arrive.
4. To ask for information.
3. As part of the third conditional.
e.g. Will you be joining the drinking session
e.g. If I had known you were ill, I would have visited
tonight?
you.
Future Perfect : The future perfect tense refers to a
Past Perfect Continuous : The past perfect continuous completed action in the future. When we use this tense
tense shows that an action that started in the past continued we are projecting ourselves forward into the future and
up to the another time in the past. looking back at an action that will be completed sometime
Whether the subject is singular or plural, rule remains the later than now. It is most often used with a time expression.
same. Whether the subject is singular or plural, rule remains the
eg. They had been talking for over an hour. same.
Uses : e.g. Jane will have finished the work.
1. Duration of a Past Action, Uses :
e.g. The maids had been quarrelling for half an 1. Talks about future actions that will be finished
hour when we arrived home. before some specified point in the future.
2. Showing Cause, e.g. Before they come, we will have cooked the
e.g. The road was wet because it had been raining. dinner.
Tenses | 67
2. Talks about actions which will last after a given Future Perfect Continuous : It refers to the events or
point in the future. actions in a time between now and some future time which
e.g. Simran will have lived in USA for 10 years by are unfinished. It is most often used with a time expression.
2016. Whether the subject is singular or plural, rule remains the
3. To express conviction that something happened in same.
the near past. Jane will have been dancing on the stage tomorrow.
e.g. Our relatives will have arrived at the hotel by Below is a recap of the tense table :
now. (I’m sure our relatives have arrived at the Example : Verb ‘go’ in Active Voice.
hotel.)
Tense Simple (Indefinite) Continuous Perfect Perfect Continuous
Present Tense go am going has gone has been going
goes is going have gone have been going
are going
Past Tense went was going had gone had been going
were going
Future Tense will go will be going will have gone will have been going
shall go shall be going shall have gone shall have been going
8. Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise–1 (a) When I woke up, he has already eaten breakfast.
(b) When I woke up, he had already eaten breakfast.
Choose the correct option:
(c) When I had woken up, he had already ate
1. Every boy and girl __________ in the class today. breakfast.
(a) are present (c) have present (d) When I had woken up, he has already ate breakfast.
(b) is present (d) had present Ans. (b) When I woke up, he had already eaten breakfast.
Ans. (b) is present 9. Each of the four army soldiers __________ for the
2. By the next month, we shall ________the project. mission.
(a) has completed (c) completed (a) were ready (c) was ready
(b) completing (d) have completed (b) are ready (d) have been ready
Ans. (d) have completed Ans. (c) was ready
3. He was only joking, as he _____many times before. 10. The thief and the eye-witness __________.
(a) is doing (c) has doing (a) has escaped (c) was escaping
(b) are done (d) had done (b) has been escaping (d) have escaped
Ans. (d) had done Ans. (d) have escaped
4. Sudha or her brothers __________ to be blamed. 11. The quality of products __________ over time.
(a) is (c) are (a) are degrading
(b) has (d) was (b) has been degrading
Ans. (c) are (c) have degrading
5. The wise leader and politician____ assassinated. (d) were degraded
(a) are (c) have been Ans. (b) has been degrading
(b) has been (d) have had been 12. Choose the sentence with the future perfect tense.
Ans. (b) has been (a) They shall have arrived by then.
6. The news __________ not updated timely. (b) They shall be arriving by then.
(a) were (c) is (c) They shall arrive by then.
(b) have (d) are (d) They shall have been arriving by then.
Ans. (c) is Ans. (a) They shall have arrived by then.
7. Mr Yew ______ Jessie good advice but Jessie did not 13. I __________ working all afternoon and have just
take his advice. finished the assignment.
(a) has given (c) are given (a) have been (c) shall be
(b) had given (d) have given (b) had been (d) am
Ans. (b) had given Ans. (b) had been
Beehive-prose
Chapter
The Fun They Had
– Isaac Asimov 1
Summary
The story is set in the future where books and schools are not the same as they are now. Margie, an eleven-year-old girl
has written a diary entry on 17th May, 2157 in which she tells that Tommy, her friend, has found a very old book in his
storeroom. The pages are folded and yellow in colour. She and Tommy are surprised to see the still words. But Tommy thinks
that books are a waste, as once read, they are thrown away. The book is about a school which Margie hates.
Margie is doing worse day-by-day in her geography tests given by her mechanical teacher. So, her mother sends for the
County Inspector who corrects the teacher and slows it down to an average ten-year-old level. The mechanical teacher is
actually a computer screen. Margie doesn’t like to read about the old schools in the book. Tommy tells her that the old kind
of schools consisted of a building as well as a human teacher unlike theirs. He adds that all the kids of the same age learned
the same lessons. While they are discussing all this, Margie’s mother calls her and tells her that it’s time for school which is
next to her bedroom in her house. She has classes daily at the same time except on Saturdays and Sundays. She is taught by
a mechanical teacher who asks her to submit her homework. She thinks about the old schools and its students and the fun
they must have had together.
Word Meanings
(1) crinkly—with many folds or lines, (2) telebooks—records, (3) attic—a space just below the roof used as a storeroom,
(4) scornful—contemptuous, (5) slot—a place assigned to something in schedule, (6) punch—code, (7) patted—touched
gently with the flat of the hand, (8) geared—a set of wheels working together to change the speed of machinery,
(9) loftily—in a superior way, (10) betcha—‘I bet you’, (11) dispute—disagree or argue with, (12) screamed—shouted,
(13) nonchalantly—not showing enthusiasm, (14) tucked—put under something to conceal or hide, (15) insert—put into
something else, include or enclose, (16) sigh—a long deep breath given out audibly in sadness, (17) flashing—cause to shine
briefly.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Margie’s mother has sent for the ____________ (b) looking forward to continuing reading the book
when the mechanical teacher kept giving Margie with Tommy
geography tests. (c) bored of her lessons with the mechanical teacher
(a) School Inspector (d) surprised how children were able to learn
(b) County Inspector together in schools
(c) District Inspector Ans. (c) bored of her lessons with the mechanical teacher

(d) Country Inspector 4. Why did Margie find the book strange?
Ans. (b) County Inspector (a) It was old and crinkly
(b) The words were still on the page and not moving
2. On which day did Margie write in her diary about
(c) There were no pictures in the book
finding the book on schools?
(d) It was printed on paper
(a) 17 March, 2156 (c) 17 March, 2157
Ans. (b) The words were still on the page and not moving
(b) 17 May, 2157 (d) 17 May, 2156
5. Margie was disappointed because:
Ans. (b) 17 May, 2157
(a) she had to learn arithmetic
3. Margie did so with a sigh. This meant that Margie (b) the County Inspector took the mechanical
was __________. teacher away
(a) excited about her new lesson with the mechanical (c) the County Inspector did not take the mechanical
teacher teacher away
(d) she had not completed her homework (a) Literature (c) History
Ans. (c) the County Inspector did not take the mechanical (b) Arithmetic (d) Geography
teacher away Ans. (d) Geography
6. How did the County Inspector help Margie? 11. Which section was deleted completely from
(a) He changed the teacher Tommy’s computer?
(b) He changed the syllabus (a) Literature
(c) He changed the module (b) Arithmetic
(c) History
(d) He reset the teacher to Margie’s level
(d) Geography
Ans. (d) He reset the teacher to Margie’s level
Ans. (c) History
7. “Just the same they didn’t do it that way then. If you
don’t like it, you don’t have to read the book.” Who 12. The County Inspector had a whole box of:
said this? (a) tools and chocolates
(a) Margie’s Mother (c) Margie (b) tools and dials and wires
(c) pens
(b) Tommy (d) County Inspector
(d) both (b) and (c)
Ans. (b) Tommy
Ans. (b) tools and dials and wires
8. Where did Tommy find a real book?
13. How old is Margie?
(a) In the library
(a) 9 years
(b) It was given to him by his grandfather (b) 12 years
(c) In the attic (c) 13 years
(d) He bought it from a shop (d) 11 years
Ans. (c) In the attic Ans. (d) 11 years
9. In the lesson ‘The Fun They Had’, who is the 14. What made Tommy and Margie start to have a
mechanical teacher being contrasted with? discussion about school?
(a) Old teachers (a) They were curious by nature
(b) Human teachers (b)
They were asked to do research on that topic by
their teacher
(c) Robot teachers
(c) They found an old book on schools in the olden
(d) Other teachers days
Ans. (b) Human teachers (d) None of the above
10. In which subject test was Margie failing Ans. (c) They found an old book on schools in the olden
continuously? days
Extract Based Questions
Read the following extract and answer the questions that (d) About the e-book
follow by choosing the most appropriate response from Ans. (b) About the real book
the choices given below:
(ii) The pages were __________.
15. Margie even wrote about it that night in her diary. On the (a) flat (c) brown
page headed 17 May 2157, she wrote, “Today Tommy
(b) crinkly (d) white
found a real book!” It was a very old book. Margie’s
grandfather once said that when he was a little boy his Ans. (b) crinkly
grandfather told him that there was a time when all (iii) For Margie, the real book was fascinating because
stories were printed on paper. They turned the pages, she always read___________.
which were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny (a) comic books (c) text books
to read words that stood still instead of moving the way
(b) story books (d) telebooks
they were supposed to — on a screen, you know. And then
when they turned back to the page before, it had the same Ans. (d) telebooks
words on it that it had when they read it the first time. (iv) The funniest part of the book was that the words
(i) What did Margie write in her diary? were ___________.
(a) About the virtual book (a) moving (c) fluctuating
(b) About the real book (b) still (d) blurred
(c) About the Robotic teacher Ans. (b) still
The Fun They Had | 129
(v) In the story ‘The Fun They Had’ the word_________ (a) replace
is used in place of the synonym ‘creased’. (b) set right
(a) wrinkly (c) crinkly (c) put it together again
(b) curly (d) crackly (d) rebuild
Ans. (c) crinkly Ans. (c) put it together again
17. The Inspector had smiled after he was finished and patted
16. He was a round little man with a red face and a whole
Margie’s head. He said to her mother, “It’s not the little
box of tools with dials and wires. He smiled at Margie and
girl’s fault, Mrs. Jones. I think the geography sector was
gave her an apple, then took the teacher apart. Margie
geared a little too quick. Those things happen sometimes.
had hoped he wouldn’t know how to put it together again,
I’ve slowed it up to an average ten-year level. Actually, the
but he knew how all right, and, after an hour or so, there it
overall pattern of her progress is quite satisfactory.” And
was again, large and black and ugly, with a big screen on
he patted Margie’s head again. Margie was disappointed.
which all the lessons were shown and the questions were
She had been hoping they would take the teacher away
asked. That wasn’t so bad. The part Margie hated most
altogether. They had once taken Tommy’s teacher away
was the slot where she had to put homework and test
for nearly a month because the history sector had blanked
papers. She always had to write them out in a punch code
out completely.
they made her learn when she was six years old, and the
mechanical teacher calculated the marks in no time. (i) The attitude of the Inspector was _______.
(i) ‘A round little man’ in this extract refers to _______. (a) strict (c) stern
(a) Electrician (b) friendly (d) hostile
(b) Robotic teacher Ans. (b) friendly
(c) Virtual teacher (ii) The Inspector told Mrs. Jones that Margie was
__________ because the machine had errors.
(d) County Inspector
(a) the cause (c) faultless
Ans. (d) County Inspector
(b) blameworthy (d) guilty
(ii) Margie had to write her homework and test papers
Ans. (c) faultless
in ___________.
(iii) What was the problem with the Geography sector?
(a) pin codes (c) pinch codes
(a) It was running very fast
(b) punch codes (d) boring codes
(b) It was set slow
Ans. (b) punch codes
(c) It was showing incorrect results
(iii) What was the role of the County Inspector? (d) It stopped working
(a) To mend the calculators. Ans. (a) It was running very fast
(b) To mend the mechanical teacher. (iv) How much time was taken to repair. Tommy’s
(c) To dismantle the mechanical teacher. teacher?
(d) To carry away the mechanical teacher. (a) 15 days (c) 30 days
Ans. (b) To mend the mechanical teacher. (b) two months (d) 25 days
(iv) The County Inspector is _______________. Ans. (c) 30 days
(a) an architect (c) a mechanic (v) In the story ‘The Fun They Had’, another word for
(b) an electrician (d) a plumber ‘erased’ used in the extract is___________.
Ans. (c) a mechanic (a) written off (c) blanked
(v) In the extract, the word ‘mend’ is the synonym of (b) blacked (d) washed away
__________. Ans. (c) blanked
Textbook Questions
Thinking about the Text: 20. Had Margie ever seen a book before?
I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple Ans. No, Margie had never seen a book before. Her
of sentences each. grandfather once told her that when he was a boy, all
18. How old are Margie and Tommy ? the stories were printed on paper.
Ans. Margie is eleven years old and Tommy is thirteen- 21. What things about the book did she find strange?
year-old. Ans. The strange things that Margie found about the book
19. What did Margie write in her diary? were that the words were not moving; they were
Ans. Margie wrote about the real book that Tommy had still. So, on turning back to the page before, it had the
found in the attic of their house. same words they had read for the first time.
Beehive-poetry
Chapter
The Road Not Taken
– Robert Frost 1
Summary
The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost deals with the choices one makes in life and those choices matter a lot in the long term.
The poet is standing at the point where two roads diverge into different directions and he is confused about which road
is to be taken. He looks at both of them. One seems to be less travelled than the other. So, he chose the less travelled one
because it wanted 'wear’. But this choice makes a lot of difference in his life. He thinks of taking the other path next time.
There is an irony in the situation that after selecting a road, he wants to return back to the road which he wants to go on the
next time. Once a decision has been taken, it can’t be changed. In future, only he would be able to tell whether his decision
is right or wrong.
Word Meanings
(1) diverged—separate and go in different directions (2) bent—become curved (3) under-growth—thick growth of shrubs
and bushes under trees (4) claim—demand as one’s right (5) wear—damaged by use (6) worn—damaged by use (7) wanted
wear—had not been used (8) trodden—press or crush under feet (9) lead—go in front and cause to follow one (10) sigh—
long deep breath given out in sadness (11) hence—here, in the future.
1. Which season is denoted by the phrase “Yellow 5. Why does the author doubt that he would not
Wood” come back and try the other way?
(a) Autumn (c) Monsoon (a) Because time is limited
(b) Winter (d) Summer (b) Because the second path will reach him to the
Ans. (a) Autumn first path eventually
2. What is the poem all about? (c) Because he will get his destination by walking on
(a) The mistakes we make creates our destiny the other path
(b) The choices we make have their consequences
(d) One path will take him to other path and may not
(c) Every decision is important let him back.
(d) The choices we make shape our lives Ans. (d) O
ne path will take him to other path and may not
Ans. (d) The choices we make shape our lives let him back.
3. “Grassy and Wanted Wear”- what does the phrase 6. The title of the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’
suggest? suggests:
(a) Less competitive want more participants (a) The poet’s acceptance of taking the other way
(b) Unique and want to remain so (b) The poet’s regret of not taking both ways
(c) Creative and more compelling (c) The poet relieves that his choice of road has
(d) New and want more people to walk on it made the difference in his life
Ans. (d) New and want more people to walk on it (d) The poet has seen no result walking on his
4. “Way leads on to way”- What does the poet mean selected path
by the phrase? Ans. (c) The poet relieves that his choice of road has
(a) A decision has an immediate consequence made the difference in his life
(b) One path takes to another path 7. What does the poet regret in the poem?
(c) There is no way of moving back (a) He has only one path to walk on
(d) One can not go back and choose the other way (b) He made a wrong decision walking on the first
Ans. (b) One path takes to another path path
(c) He was forced to walk on the other path (b) Between two forests
(d) He cannot choose both the paths (c) Near the forest
Ans. (d) He cannot choose both the paths (d) At the end of the forest
8. “In leaves no step had trodden back”- what is meant Ans. (a) Where the forest forked into two
by the phrase? 11. “Had worn them really about the same”- What
(a) Grasses are left to grow faster does the line express?
(b) Grasses are not trampled upon very much (a) Walking on any path would have same result
(c) Grasses are soft to walk upon (b) Both tracks will bring different results
(d) Leaves have just fallen from the trees (c) Both paths are walked upon by the people
Ans. (b) Grasses are not trampled upon very much (d) One is as same as the other by nature
9. Which road did the poet leave? Ans. (c) Both paths are walked upon by the people
(a) The First one 12. ‘Both that morning equally lay’. What is actually
(b) The Other One meant by the poet?
(c) The difficult one (a) Both the paths will throw challenges
(d) The one that is travelled by many people (b) Sunlight falls on both the path equally
Ans. (d) The one that is travelled by many people (c) In the morning both the paths are looking alike
10. Where is the poet standing? (d) Both paths are easy and straight
(a) Where the forest forked into two Ans. (c) In the morning both the paths are looking alike
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions (iv) What does the poet realise after walking for
that follow. sometime?
(a) That the road was newly constructed.
13. Then took the other, as just as fair,
(b) The grasses here are new.
And having perhaps the better claim,
(c) It has been travelled and worn down like the
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
other road.
Though as for that the passing there
(d) The road is blocked.
Had worn them really about the same,
Ans. (c) It has been travelled and worn down like the
(i) Why did the poet take the other road? other road.
(a) He was unsure of the other road. (v) Why do you think the poet chose this path?
(b) There were yellow rotten leaves on the other (a) The grass was greener.
road
(b) The road was quieter.
(c) He felt not too many walked on it. (c) He wanted to spend alone time.
(d) He wanted to feel unique. (d) He thought it must be a better path.
Ans. (c) He felt not too many walked on it. Ans. (d) He thought it must be a better path.
(ii) What is meant by “better claim”? 14. And both that morning equally lay
(a) The road is clean In leaves no step had trodden black.
(b) Better option Oh, I kept the first for another day!
(c) The road is grassy Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
(d) The road is shady I doubted if I should ever come back.
Ans. (b) Better option (i) What did the poet find that morning?
(iii) Why is it a better claim according to the poet? (a) There were no leaves.
(a) It makes the poet think he is unique. (b) The leaves were no more green
(b) It helps the poet feel confident (c) The leaves were still green
(c) Helps the poet to keep quiet and remain an (d) No one has walked on the roads.
introvert Ans. Both (c) and (d)
(d) The poet feels this path was not walked over by (ii) “Oh, I kept the first for another day!”, what does the
many people. poet wish here?
Ans. (d) The poet feels this path was not walked over by (a) To stop walking.
many people. (b) To resume walking another day.
The Road Not Taken | 193
(c) To walk the road he left, in future. (b) He realises that he cannot reverse his decision.
(d) To go back where he was before. (c) He is an opportunist so he wants to walk both the
Ans. (c) To walk the road he left, in future. roads.
(d) He is simply an overthinker.
(iii) What does the poet realise here?
Ans. (b) He realises that he cannot reverse his decision.
(a) That he made a mistake
(v) What does he mean when he says “I doubted if I
(b) That he cannot go back to the other path
should ever come back”?
(c) That he was lost (a) He doubts if he can ever go back to his decision.
(d) That he wants to stop walking. (b) He doubts if he would return alive.
Ans. (b) That he cannot go back to the other path (c) He doubts if he can find his way.
(iv) What is the poet’s mood in this extract? (d) He doubts walking on this path.
(a) He regrets his decision Ans. (a) He doubts if he can ever go back to his decision.
Textbook Questions
Thinking about the Poem: (e) After choosing the less travelled road, the poet
promises himself to travel the other one later.
I.15. Where does the traveller find himself? What
But he knows that it would hardly be possible for
problem does he face?
him to revise his choice because in the journey of
Ans. While going on his way, the traveller found himself life, one way leads to the other and one cannot
across a path which was diverging into two roads. revert to the start.
Now, he was in a dilemma to choose a road to continue
17. Is there any difference between the two roads as
his journey.
the poet describes them :
The poem actually discusses about one of the major
(a) in stanzas two and three?
problems of making the right choices in life and taking
the right decisions. The two roads symbolise the (b) in the last two lines of the poem?
confusion of choice-making and only the future can Ans. (a) No, there is no difference between the two roads
decide whether the decision was right or not. as the poet describes them in the second stanza.
16. Discuss what these phrases mean to you. He stands before the path that was diverged
(a) a yellow wood into two roads, one is the grassy one and the
other one is much travelled. The poet chooses
(b) it was grassy and wanted wear
the grassy one after making up his mind firmly. In
(c) the passing there the morning, he discovers that no one has walked
(d) In leaves no step had trodden black over either of the two roads the previous day as
(e) how way leads on to way the fallen leaves lay uncrushed there. The two
Ans. (a) It refers to the forest in which the trees bear roads are as it is as they were before.
decomposed and decayed leaves which have (b) The last two lines of the poem signifies that the
turned yellow and due to which the whole forest poet sighs on his decision to travel by the less
seems yellow. It also refers to the age-old world travelled road. He wonders what would have
where people have been living. happened or where he would have been, if he
(b) The traveller is in a dilemma so as to which road had chosen the first road. He is dissatisfied with
he must choose. One is more travelled and weary his decision as his life would have been entirely
but the other is less travelled and overgrown with different from what it is now if he had taken the
grass and less worn out. So the poet is inclined to other road. The roads actually symbolise the
choose the other road as it is less walked over. opportunities and choices one avails and makes
(c) By ‘passing there’, the poet means that the other in life
road was travelled by a large number of people 18. What do you think the last two lines of the poem
and their passing by that road had worn it. It was mean? (Looking back, does the poet regret his
not as grassy as the other road. choice or accept it ?)
(d) The other day also, the poet is determined to Ans. The last two lines of the poem suggest that the poet
choose the less travelled road and he finds that is full of regret over his choice as the result is not
both the roads lay equally untrodden. It is clear satisfying. He thinks that had he chosen the other
from the fact that the fallen leaves on the road road, his life would have been totally different and all
are not crushed by any footsteps. his ambitions would have been fulfilled. Now, he does
moments
Chapter
The Lost Child
– Mulk Raj Anand 1
Summary
The story depicts the joy and cheerfulness on the face of a small boy who goes to a fair with his parents in the festival of
spring season. The child is extremely happy as he runs after the colourful dragonflies in the golden mustard field. He is
attracted by the little insects and worms. He gets busy in collecting the falling petals in the grove and following the dove. His
parents take a narrow path leading to the fair through the mustard fields. He wants to buy many things like ‘burfi’, garland
of gulmohar, colourful balloons, etc. but he knows that his parents wouldn’t purchase anything. He then pleaded boldly to
go on the roundabout but finds his parents nowhere. He runs crying everywhere to look for them but all goes in vain. Tears
come out of his eyes. The crowd is very thick and the poor child tries to find his way between their feet. A man hears his cry
and lifts him up in his arms. He tries to calm him down but the child only wants his parents. He takes him to all the places and
offers him to buy the things that he wanted earlier but the child only wants his parents.
Word Meanings
(1) alleys—narrow streets, (2) gaily—merrily, (3) clad—clothed, (4) brimming—the edge, (5) lagged—fall behind,
(6) fascinated—attracted, (7) lingering—staying longer, (8) receding—moving backward, (9) tyrant—dictator,
oppressor, (10) tender—gentle, (11) bustling—hurried, full of life, (12) gaudy—colourful, (13) intercepting—
interrupting, (14) fluttering—beating, flapping, (15) flapping—moving up and down, (16) abreast—side by side,
(17) grove—orchard, (18) capers—jump friskily, (19) throngs—crowd, (20) whirlpool—current, (21) repelled—drive
away, (22) murmur—a low continuous sound, (23) heeded—pay attention to, (24) irresistibly—uncontrollably,
(25) overwhelming—overcome completely, (26) rippling—flowing, moving, (27) forbidden—prohibited, (28) dizzy—
faint, (29) convulsed—trembled, (30) hither and thither—here and there, (31) intently—closely, carefully, (32) shrine—
sacred place, (33) jostled—pushed, (34) hefty—heavy, (35) surging—rushing, (36) steered—directed, (37) soothe—pacify,
(38) persuasively—convincingly, (39) reiterated-—repeated, (40) disconsolate—gloomy that he lags behind.
1. What did the child see first at the fair, in “The Lost II. The man asked him to put a garland around his
Child”? neck.
(a) Sweets (c) Toys III. The man took him to the balloon seller.
(b) Balloons (d) None of these IV. The man took him to the snake-charmer.
Ans. (c) Toys
(a) I, II, IV, III (c) IV, III, II, I
2. Which sweet was the child’s favourite?
(b) II, III, IV, I (d) III, IV, I, II
(a) Gulab-jamun (c) Rasgulla
Ans. (c) IV, III, II, I
(b) Burfi (d) Malpua
5. The child lagged behind his parents…..
Ans. (b) Burfi
3. _________ was there at the entrance of the fair. (a) Because he was annoyed with them.
(a) A toy shop
(b) Because of the stops he took to look closely at his
(b) A balloon shop favourite things and enjoy them.
(c) A sweetmeat shop (c) Because he was walking slow.
(d) A flower shop
(d) Because he was crying.
Ans. (c) A sweetmeat shop Ans. (b) B
ecause of the stops he took to look closely at his
4. Arrange the incidents in the proper sequence of favourite things and enjoy them.
their happening. 6. When did the child realise that he was lost?
I. The man tried to lure him with sweets. (a) While watching the children on the swings.
(b) When he didn’t get any response to his demand 9. The flowering mustard-field looked pale like
to have a ride. melting gold. Which literary device is used here?
(c) When he was near the balloon-seller. (a) Metaphor
(d) When he went to the temple. (b) Assonance
Ans. (b) When he didn’t get any response to his demand (c) Humour
to have a ride.
(d) Simile
7. What is the mood of the child, as he walks along
with the parents? Ans. (d) Simile
(a) Happy and gay 10. What does the child’s refusal to all the attractive
(b) Sad and aggressive things show towards the end?
(c) Frowning (a) Child seems disinterested
(d) None of these (b) Child’s stubbornness
Ans. (a) Happy and gay (c) Bond of love between child and parents is above
8. The people dressed ___________ for the festival. everything.
(a) shabbily (c) carelessly (d) None of the above
(b) gaily (d) scantily Ans. (c) B
ond of love between child and parents is above
Ans. (b) gaily everything.
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions (c) He was lost and could not find his parents
that follow. (d) All of the above
11. “The man took him near the balloons, thinking the bright Ans. (c) He was lost and could not find his parents
colours of the balloons would distract the child’s attention (v) Which word means “to cry and gasp”?
and quieten him. “Would you like a rainbow coloured (a) Persuade (c) Yell
balloon?” he persuasively asked. The child turned his (b) Quieten (d) sob
eyes from the flying balloons and just sobbed, “I want my
Ans. (d) sob
mother, I want my father!”
12. “Come, child, come!” they called to the child, who had
(i) Who is this man? now gone running in wild capers round the banyan tree,
(a) The man is the one who kidnaped him and gathering him up they took the narrow, winding
(b) The man is the one who offered him sweets footpath which led to the fair through the mustard fields.
As they neared the village the child could see many other
(c) The man is the one who found him crying
footpaths full of throngs, converging to the whirlpool of
(d) None of the above the fair, and felt at once repelled and fascinated by the
Ans. (c) The man is the one who found him crying confusion of the world he was entering.
(ii) Why did he ask for his parents when he was offered A sweetmeat seller hawked, “gulab-jamun, rasagulla,
balloons? burfi, jalebi,” at the corner of the entrance and a crowd
(a) He didn't like them now pressed round his counter at the foot of an architecture of
many coloured sweets, decorated with leaves of silver and
(b) He already got one earlier
gold.
(c) He got lost and now he wanted only his parents
(i) Which of the following sweets is not mentioned in
(d) None of the above the passage?
Ans. (c) He got lost and now he wanted only his parents (a) rasagulla (c) jalebi
(iii) Which word means “to try to convince someone, (b) burfi (d) gulabjal
tempting someone”? Ans. (d) gulabjal
(a) Distract (c) Quieten (ii) What is the word ‘throngs’ in the passage referred
(b) Persuasive (d) All of these to?
Ans. (b) Persuasive (a) a building
(iv) Why do you think the child did not pay even the (b) a terrace
least attention to balloons? (c) a large crowd of people
(a) He did not like the current stock of balloons (d) a box
(b) He had no money Ans. (c) a large crowd of people
The Lost Child | 229
(iii) How was the child feeling when he entered in the (c) the sweetmeat seller
fair? (d) the child’s mother
(a) Emotional Ans. (b) the child’s parents
(b) Irritating (v) Which word in the passage is a synonym of
(c) Fascinated ‘irresistible’?
(d) Confused (a) overpowering
Ans. (c) Fascinating (b) repulsive
(iv) “Come, child, come!” Who said this? (c) avoidable
(a) the man (d) overdone
(b) the child’s parents Ans. (a) overpowering
Textbook Questions
Think About It: children are all enjoying its whirling motion. They
are bursting into laughter. The child watches all this
13. What are the things the child sees on his way to the
and makes a bold request for a ride from his parents.
fair? Why does he lag behind?
But he gets no reply. He turns back and finds them
Ans. The child sees many things in the spring fair which
nowhere. He looks on both the sides and starts
spellbound him. He sees flowering mustard field,
crying in panic. He runs in all directions crying loudly.
dragon flies, black bees, butterflies, little insects,
Tears rolled down his cheeks and his cries turned
worms and raining petals in the grove. The main
into sobbing. He is now full of fear and rushes to a
attraction among them are the toys in the shops that
crowded shrine in search of his parents.
lined the way and he is so fascinated by them that he
16. Why does the lost child lose interest in the things
lags behind.
he had wanted earlier?
14. In the fair he wants many things. What are they?
Why does he move on without waiting for an Ans. The lost child loses interest in all the things he wanted
answer? earlier because he is now worried and afraid. When
Ans. In the fair, there are many things that the child wants he doesn’t find his parents, the things that fascinated
like burfi at the sweetmeat seller, garland of gulmohar him once are of no use anymore. His only concern is
from the flower seller, colourful balloons and listening his parents whom he wants to reunite desperately.
to the music of flute at the snake charmer. But he He cries, sobs and runs in fear with his panic-stricken
moves without waiting for an answer because he face and his turban unties and clothes get dirty.
knows that his parents wouldn’t allow him for any of 17. What do you think happens in the end? Does the
them. child find his parents?
15. When does he realise that he has lost his way? How Ans. In the end, I think the child is able to find his parents.
have his anxiety and insecurity been described? The man, who held him in his arms and tried to soothe
Ans. The child comes across many charming and attractive him must have helped the child in looking for his
things in the fair of spring festival. One of them is parents and they too on the other hand might be
roundabout which is in full swing. Men, women and looking for him. This would surely be a happy reunion.
Additional Questions
I. Short Answer Type Questions: [40-50 words] 19. How did the child respond when he did not see his
parents around?
18. What were the things to which the child was drawn Ans. The child was stricken with panic when he could not
and describe his cravings? How did his parents see his parents around. Tears rolled out of his eyes
respond to his cravings? naturally when he found himself lost.
20. Why was he not happy to have lost his parents,
Ans. The child was drawn to the varied attractions in
given that they never bought him anything he
the fair like toys, sweets, flowers, balloons and was
asked for?
engulfed by the desire to possess each of them.
Ans. He was not happy because parents are synonymous
His father responded with fiery eyes and suppressed with security to every kid. Fancy items can bring
his desires with violent looks. His mother distracted momentary joy to them but their lives are dependent
him mildly towards mustard flowers in order to do on their parents. The emotional connection is much
the same. more stronger than any fancy item.
words and expression
(workbook)
Unit 2
Answer 2.
Let’s Begin Beethoven, a strong willed person, lost his hearihg ability
over a period of time. So for the first thirty years of his life
Answer 1. he could listen to and play music effortlessly as a result of

(b) Classical which he became adept at the nuances of music. During
Answer 2. his process of loss of hearing too, he honed his skill of

(c) Canada hearing to his compositions by sawing off the legs of his
Answer 3. piano and listening to the high notes of his compositions

(a) 6 with the help of vibrations on the floor. This, along with
his determination and ‘never give up’ attitude enabled him
Answer 4.
to become a famous composer.

(a) a trio
Answer 3.
Answer 5.
The realisation of‘never giving up’ attitude of his character

(c) pa
strengthened him. It made him come to terms with his
Answer 6. deafness in a dynamic and constructive way and he

(b) fa continued his passion for music with more determination
and became a famous composer.
Reading Comprehension Answer 4.
(d) genius
Text-I Text-III
Answer 1. Answer 1.
(b) Soothing music (a) reaps (g) breaks
Answer 2. (b) valley (h) ask someone
(b) Endorphins (c) stop (i) battles
Answer 3. (d) welcoming (j) suffering
(a) concentration (e) wanderers (k) theme
Answer 4.
(f) spring-time (l) bear
(a) rejuvenate
Answer 5.
• It relaxes people both physically and mentally.
Vocabulary
• It releases endorphins, the natural painkillers in our
brain, which relieve us from the sense of pain. Answers.
• It thus normalises our heart rate and blood pressure, Text-I
reduces anxiety and stress. 1. (c) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (e) 5. (b)
• It helps in enhancement of concentration and Text-II
memory of students.
6. (j) 7. (f) 8. (k) 9. (h) 10. (g)
• It helps in overcoming fatigue, boredom and negative
traits of our personality such as anger. 11. (i)
• It is a therapy which soothes, relaxes and rejuvenates Text-III
one’s mind, body and soul. 12. (n) 13. (r) 14. (m) 15. (q) 16. (t)
Text-II 17. (s) 18. (z) 19. (p) 20. (o)
Answer 1. Answer 2. A.
(a) False (F) (1) Tabla (6) Drum
(b) True (T) (2) Piano (7) Flute
(c) False (F) (3) Xylophone (8) Dholak
(d) False (F) (4) Sitar (9) Veena
(e) True (T) (5) Sarod (10) Shehnai
Answer 2. B.
(a) Xylophone player (d) Veena Speaking
(b) Tabla (e) Shehnai
(c) Flute (f) Sarod. Answer 1.
Do it yourself.
Grammar
Writing
Answer 1. A.
(a) louder (e) more serious Answer 1.
(b) the highest (f) better International music has its style, genre, and cultural
(c) the coldest (g) more peaceful background that cannot be compartmentalised to a
particular language, culture, society or a nation. Probably
(d) most reliable (h) the most important
it symbolises the true aspect of ‘transcendental music’
Answer 1. B. which touches the chord of human emotions across
(a) the most crowded (d) the cheapest national boundaries. However, despite its popularity, it
(b) the coldest (e) The oldest is still without any iota of doubt that it draws inspiration
from different cultural backgrounds across the world.
(c) the most interesting (f) the most melodious
The loser is ultimately the original sources the traditional
Answer 2. music and the meditative quality that it carries along
(1) He offered to help her with it. Traditional music presents a beautiful panorama
(2) a visit of tradition, values, and rich historical aspects of society.
(3) to eat as she didn’t have an appetite Therefore, to keep the essence of true identity, it is also
necessary to preserve traditional music.
(4) to post the letter
(5) to participate Answer 2.
The legendary music director, A.R. Rehman (Allah Rakha
Editing Rahman) was born in Chennai on January 6, 1967, as A.S
Dileep Kumar. At the age of eleven years, he joined the
Answer 1. musical troupe of Ilaiyaraaja. Later he graduated from
the Trinity College at Oxford University, with a degree
The following words were written on the tomb of an
in Western classical music. His first grand success came
Anglican Bishop of Westminster Abbey. When I was
with his music composition for the movie Roja, in 1991.
young and free and my imagination had no limits, I
After that, he never looked back. He has worked with all
dreamt of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I
leading directors and personalities in Bollywood as well as
discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my
in South Indian film. It includes famous names like Javed
sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.
Akhtar, Mehboob, Gulzar, Vairamuthu, Anand Bakshi,
But it too seemed immovable. As I grew into my twilight Vaali and P.K Mishra.
years, in one last “desperate attempt, I settled for changing
He is well known for integrating Indian classical style with
only my family, those closest to me, but alas, I couldn’t.
electronic music, international genres, and traditional
And now as I lay on my deathbed, I suddenly realise: If I
orchestra. It is due to his wonderful music that he is an
had only changed myself first, then by an example I could
internationally acclaimed composer, singer, songwriter,
have changed my family.
music producer and philanthropist. He is one of the
From their inspiration and encouragement, I could then best-selling recording artists with a record-breaking 200
have been able to better my country and, who knows, I million copies of his music sold all over the world.
may have even changed the world.
In recognition of his work, he has bagged six National
Film Awards, fifteen ‘Filmfare Awards’ for his music.
Listening Besides this, he has also received prestigious awards
like the ‘Padmashri’, and the ‘Padma Vibhushan’. At an
Answer 1. international level, he bagged two Oscars and a ‘Golden
(a); (b); (c); (d) Globe Award’.

Unit 11
• v iolation – the act of going against or refusing to
Let’s Begin obey a law, an agreement, etc.
• surveillance – close observation, especially of a
suspected spy or criminal.
Answer 1.
• insurance – an agreement made with a company
Do it yourself. or the Government that provides a guarantee of
compensation for specified loss, damage, illness, or
Reading Comprehension death in return for payment of a specified premium.
• ambiguous – open to more than one interpretation;
not having one obvious meaning.
Text-I
• forge – to make an illegal copy of somethng in order
Answer 1. to deceive.
Private Detective. • sinister looking – suggestive evil or harm.
Answer 2. • scandal – an action or event regarded as morally or
(a) examined the place carefully. legally wrong and causing general public outrage.
Answer 3. Answer 2.
(c) to carry guns (a) a shelter; a safe place
Answer 4. (b) refuge
Patience, ability to plan, and willingness to make sacrifices.
(c) a holy building
These qualities ensure that the person is serious and (d) a place of protection
sincere about his job.
(e) reserve for birds and wildlife
Answer 5.
Answer 3.
The PI should have the name with the exact spelling, the
(a) Ranjeet preferred to have a hot coffee instead of the
DOB if known, the social security number, and official
cold drink.
address where he/she has lived within the past 15 years.
(b) Whatever looks beautiful from outside may turn out
Answer 6.
to be ugly from inside.
(b) shade
(c) Instead of proving smart, Vinay proved himself a
Text-II foolish to them.
Answer 1. (d) The lonely plot of Mr. Arun is located far away from
(b) Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay the busy town.
Answer 2. (e) The great King Shibi sacrificed to save the little bird.
(d) All of the above (f) It is better to live and fight misfortunes than to die
Answer 3. fearing them.
(a) True (c) True
(b) True
Answer 4.
(d) False
Grammar
Ajit is the narrator of the stories. He is also a companion
of Byomkesh Bakshi. In some stories Ajit also investigates Answer 1.
in the absence of Byomkesh. (a) There was no member who did not like the
Answer 5. programme.
(a) artificial (d) continued (b) Delhi is not as cold as Amritsar.
(b) fiction (e) absence
(c) I have no constraint to go places and do anything.
(c) actively (f) traditional
(g) concerned (d) The farmer was not so strong to walk.
(e) She never comes late.
Vocabulary (f) The intruder was not smart to let Gerrard stop.
Answer 2.
(a) to clear off (f) to stay
Answer 1. (b) to assist (g) to pay
• database – a structured set of data held in a (c) to team up (h) to phone up
computer, especially one that is accessible in various (d) to help
ways. (e) to change
Editing Writing
Answer 1. Answer 1.
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional private detective, the first I am an introvert. I enjoy keeping to myself. People call
scientific detective, created by British author, Sir Arthur me “enigmatic”, “dreamy” and even a ‘fool’. But I know I
Conan Doyle. He is a ‘consulting detective’ in the stories am not any of these kind. I am a self-learner and always
written by Sir Doyle. Holmes is known for his skills of have a quest for knowledge. For me, spending time in idle
observation, knowledge of forensic science, and logical talk with others is a waste. As long as we are alive in this
reasoning. He employs all these while investigating cases world, we need to acquire knowledge. However, I don’t
for a wide variety of clients. Sir Doyle’s four novels and also like to share my knowledge with others, unless asked
56 short stories, excluding one, are set in the Victorian for. This is because, I feel that the other person may differ
or Edwardian eras, between about 1880 and 1914. Most from me. Even if I am sure about a thing, I do not like to
are narrated by Dr Watson, Holmes’s friend. He is also his establish my stance.
biographer and usually accompanies Holmes during his
investigations and often shares quarters with him at the For, people in general, always have the pride that they
address of 221B, Baker Street, London, where many of know everything and that they are the best. Yes, there
the stories begin. are a few people who like to come to me for clarification.
They do accept my stance for they know that I am well
Sherlock Holmes is arguably the best known fictional informed.
detective, with Guinness World Records listing him as the
‘most portrayed movie character’ in history. The stories As far as my favourite pastimes are concerned, I enjoy
have been adapted into stage and radio plays, television reading books, listening to music and infact like to compose
films, video games, and other media for over one hundred music. Now a days there are computer apps which give us
years. Many have believed Holmes to be not a fictional this opportunity. Working on such apps gives me peace of
character but a real individual because of his popularity mind, and immense satisfaction of having listened to my
and fame. Widely considered a British cultural icon, soul’s needs. As long as I am a student, my responsibilities
the character and stories have had a profound and lasting are restricted only to studies.
effect on mystery writing and popular culture as a whole. I have no specific plan or idea about my future yet, because
I am still in school. Considering the fact that there are
Listening numerous job openings and opportunities to try our hand
at, I think I can sit back and relax. I only need to be smart
Answer 1. enough to prune my skills and keep looking for a suitable
They feared that King Shibi might take away their opening.
kingdoms because he had immense power. Answer 2.
Answer 2.
I stopped my scooter in front of an old and dilapidated
The eagle was angry because the king gave shelter to the
building. A haggard, skinny old man with drooping
dove which was the eagle’s prey.
shoulders came towards me. “Don’t go in, Sir”, he
Answer 3. whispered. “It is dangerous…” I had no other option but to
The eagle demanded the king’s flesh equal to the weight stop. But the word “dangerous” put me in a deep thought.
of the dove. The old man was begging for some food. I was disturbed.
Answer 4. I took the old man into my confidence. I took him away
Yes, the eagle who was Lord Indra in disguise was assured from the place to a tea shop. I got him some snacks and
of the King’s righteousness. tea. After draining these, the man folded his hands to me
Answer 5. as a mark of respect, I then asked him about the “goings
Indra, the king of Gods and Agni, the God of Fire were on” in the building. He said that he was long before the
indisguise of the eagle and the dove. owner of the building.
Answer 6. His only son was then away from this city. After the
Benevolence and greatness. death of the old man’s wife, the son had got the house
in his name. He had also kept the old man in his house.
Speaking But after a few months, the son killed his father and got
the property. The old man, since then had been begging
for food and roaming around his house, which he owned
Answer 1. once. The old man requested me not to reveal this to
Do it yourself. anyone. But by then my feet turned numb, my face grew
Answer 2. pale and my whole body became cold. The old man was
Do it yourself. standing right in front of me.


CBSE 9 MLQB - English Language & Literature

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CBSE 9 MLQB - English Language & Literature

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In accordance with the latest syllabus prescribed by the

Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi.

CBSE QUESTION BANK

The series is an attempt to instil confidence in students to face the board

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

^f'k{kk lnu* ]17 jkÅt+ ,osU;w ]baLVhV~'kuy ,fj;k] ubZ fnYyh&110002

फ़ ोन /Telephone: 011-23212603,23233227 व े ब स ाइ ट /Website :h�p://www.cbseacademic.nic.in ई -म े ल /e-mail: mailto:directoracad.cbse@nic.in.

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS (Workbook)

6. Read the statement given below.

8. Choose the correct sentence.

Multiple Choice Questions

Extract Based Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

Extract Based Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

Extract Based Questions

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CBSE 9 MLQB - English Language &amp; Literature

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CBSE 9 MLQB - English Language &amp; Literature

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

In accordance with the latest syllabus prescribed by the

Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi.

CBSE QUESTION BANK

The series is an attempt to instil confidence in students to face the board

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

^f'k{kk lnu* ]17 jkÅt+ ,osU;w ]baLVhV~'kuy ,fj;k] ubZ fnYyh&110002

फ़ ोन /Telephone: 011-23212603,23233227 व े ब स ाइ ट /Website :h�p://www.cbseacademic.nic.in ई -म े ल /e-mail: mailto:directoracad.cbse@nic.in.

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS (Workbook)

6. Read the statement given below.

8. Choose the correct sentence.

Multiple Choice Questions

Extract Based Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

Extract Based Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

Extract Based Questions

You might also like

CBSE 9 MLQB - English Language & Literature

CBSE 9 MLQB - English Language & Literature