SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER

English
Class IX (2024-25)

Time Allowed: 3 hours Maximum Marks: 80

General Instructions:
Read the instructions very carefully and strictly follow them :
1. This question paper comprises 11 questions. All questions are compulsory.
2. The question paper contains THREE sections -
Section - A : Reading Skills
Section - B : Grammar and Creative Writing Skills
Section - C : Literature Text Book
3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
Section A Reading
1. Read the passage given below:
[10]
1. If you’re like most kids, you may love snow. Not only can it get you out of
school, but it’s also fun to play with. Who doesn’t love to sled and build
snowmen? Snow can also be dangerous, too. You may have heard your parents
talk about how difficult it can be to drive in snow. Car accidents aren’t the only
dangers created by snow. If you’re ever skiing in the mountains, you’ll want to
be aware of avalanches. An avalanche is a sudden flow of snow down a slope,
such as a mountain. The amount of snow in an avalanche will vary based on
many things, but it can be such a huge pile that it can bury the bottom of a slope
in dozens of feet of snow.
2. Avalanches can be caused by many things. Some of them are natural. For
example, new snow or rain can cause built up snow to loosen and fall down the
side of a mountain. Earthquakes and the movement of animals have also been
known to cause avalanches. Artificial triggers can also cause avalanches. For
example, snowmobiles, skiers, gunshots and explosives have all been known to
cause avalanches. Avalanches usually occur during the winter and spring,
when snowfall is greatest. As they are dangerous to any living beings in their
path, avalanches have destroyed forests, roads, railroads and even entire towns.
3. Warning signs exist that allow experts to predict - and often prevent -
avalanches from occurring. When over a foot of fresh snow falls, experts know
 to be on the lookout for avalanches. Explosives can be used in places with
massive snow build-ups to trigger smaller avalanches that don’t pose a danger
to persons or property. When deadly avalanches do occur, the moving snow
can quickly reach over 80 miles per hour. Skiers caught in such avalanches can
be buried under dozens of feet of snow. While it’s possible to dig out of such
avalanches, not all are able to escape.
4. If you get tossed about by an avalanche and find yourself buried under many
feet of snow, you might not have a true sense of which way is up and which
way is down. Some avalanche victims have tried to dig their way out, only to
find that they were upside down and digging themselves farther under the snow
rather than to the top ! Experts suggest that people caught in an avalanche try to
“swim” to the top of the moving snow to stay close to the surface. Once the
avalanche stops, do your best to dig around you to create a space for air, so you
can breathe easier. Then, do your best to figure out which way is up and dig in
that direction to reach the surface and signal rescuers.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given
below: (10)
i. Complete the sentence by choosing an appropriate option: Avalanche can
be caused by (1)
a. new snow or rain.
b. heavy winds.
c. high altitude.
d. global warming.
ii. Comment on warning signs exist which allow experts to predict avalanches in
two sentences. (2)
iii. Mention two reasons which destroyed the natural scenery. (2)
iv. Select the option that conveys the opposite of ‘massive’: (1)
a. tiny
b. lengthy
c. bulky
d. extensive
v. The writer will agree with one of the given statements (paragraph 4) (1)
a. People caught in the Avalanche can try to swim to the top.
b. Put on an oxygen Mask.
 c. Digging is not possible.
d. Should not come close to the surface.
vi. Select the option that corresponds to the following relation below:
You may not have an idea of which way is up and which way is down. (1)
a. The crowd will gather at Gate No. 1 and disperse from Gate No. 2.
b. Due to the torrential rain, there was a heavy flooding.
c. The guest felt uneasy and uncomfortable watching the child’s performance.
d. The more the effort, the bigger the gain.
vii. Fill in the blank with a suitable text:
The major causes which do not trigger an avalanche is (1)
viii. Explosives can be used in places . (complete the sentence) (1)

2. Read the extract given below: [10]

1. The National Education Policy 2020 proposes the revision and revamping of all
aspects of education, including the educational structure, regulations and
governance, to create a new system which is aligned with the aspirational goals
of 21st century students. According to the policy, by 2025, at least 50 % of
learners through the school and higher education system shall have exposure to
skill education, for which a clear action plan with targets and timelines are to
be developed.
2. The policy aims to overcome the social status hierarchy associated with skill
education and integration of skill education into mainstream education in all
educational institutions in a phased manner. Beginning with skill exposure
at early ages in middle and secondary school, quality skill education will be
integrated smoothly into school and higher education.
3. Every child will learn at least one skill and is exposed to several more.
This would lead to emphasizing the dignity of labour and importance of
various vocations involving Indian arts and artisanship.
4. The development of skill capacities will go hand-in-hand with the development
of 'academic' or other capacities. To achieve this objective, secondary schools
will have to collaborate with Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Polytechnics,
Local Industry, etc. Skill labs will also be set up and created in the schools in a
Hub and Spoke model, which will allow other schools to use the facility.
Higher education institutions will offer skill education either on their own or in
partnership with industry and other institutions.
 For visually challenged students only:
Percentage of students in Skill Education in various countries is as follows:
India - 5%
Egypt - 30%
Denmark - 50%
USA - 52%
Germany - 75%
South Korea - 96%
Based on your understanding of the extract, answer the questions given
below: (10)
i. Based on the reading of the extract, list 2 objectives of NEP 2020. (2)
ii. Fill in the blank with appropriate option from those given in the brackets, based
on the understanding of paragraph 4.
The statement:
"The development of skill capacities will go hand-in-hand with the
development of academic or other capacities" is a / an (fact /
opinion) because it is a / an (subjective judgement / objective detail)
(1)
iii. Select the option that corresponds to the meaning of the statement given below:
"According to the policy, by 2025, at least 50% of learners through the school
and higher education system shall have exposure to skill education." (1)
A. Maximum 50% learners shall have exposure to technical education.
B. Minimum 50% learners shall have exposure to technical education.
C. Minimum 50% learners shall have exposure to skill education.
D. Maximum 50 % learners shall have exposure to skill education.
iv. Based on the understanding of the passage, complete the following statement
appropriately: (1)
The benefit of the hub and spoke model will be
 v. Complete the following analogy correctly with a word / phrase from paragraph
3.: (1)
Racism: condemn:: : respect
vi. As per the Global Scenario which country has the maximum percentage of
students in Skill Education and what can be the possible reason (2)
vii. Fill in the following blank choosing the most appropriate option from the ones
given below:
As per NEP 2020, skill exposure will begin at . (1)
A. middle and secondary school
B. primary school
C. higher school
D. senior secondary school
viii. Justify the statement - 'The NEP will create an awareness and appreciation
of Indian arts and artisanship.' (1)

Section B Grammar
3. Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed [10]

(i) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the [1]
given portion of a letter:
As very little information is available about this course, I (be)
extremely grateful if you could send me detailed information about it.
(ii) Identify the error and supply the correction, for the following: [1]
Nagar Van’ are being established for the objective to make the cities pollution free.

Use the given format for your response.

error correction

(iii) Read the conversation and complete the sentence by reporting the [1]
reply correctly.
Ranbir: Sir, can I be excused this once?
Policeman: I hope you'll remember the lesson you learned today.
 Ranbir requested the policeman to excuse him that once. The policeman hoped
.

(iv) Ritu bumped into an ex-colleague (Gautam) at a party. They discussed their [1]
current job profile. Report what Gautam asked Ritu.
Do you work from home?

(v) She got her license without problems. [1]

a) every b) some

c) any d) All

(vi) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the [1]
following line, from a news report:
Education plays a important role in building an individual’s identity and
personality.
Option no. Error Correction
A plays play
B a an
C in for
D an the

(vii) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the words of Pablo [1]
Picasso.
Inspiration does exist, but it find you working.

a) must b) will

c) may d) can

(viii) I expect you from school by this time next year and for a [1]
job.

a) graduate / will have been b) will have graduated / will be

looking looking
c) are graduating / have d) have graduated / will
been looking have looked
 (ix) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option. [1]
We not really change a man's mind and heart with money.

a) may b) might

c) could d) can

(x) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the Verb in the bracket, for the [1]
given portion of a letter:
Subject: (seek) Recommendation for ‘Serving Citizens’
Award’ Nominations.

(xi) The boy who won the two medals a friend of mine. [1]

a) is b) have

c) are d) had

(xii) Many students made the same mistake. [1]

a) have b) is

c) are d) has

Section B Writing
4. You recently visited the Children’s Park, a favourite place for all children, in
your city. Write a description.

OR
Write a paragraph about your favorite fictional character. Explain their personality, how
they face challenges, and why you find them relatable or inspiring. [5]

OR

5. Write a diary entry about how you helped an old woman who was travelling [5]
by herself in the bus.
 OR
Complete the story with the following beginning. Also, give it a suitable title. Liza is
Tina's constant companion. She met her on the train in a very unusual way when ...

Section C Literature
6. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the [5]
two, given.
(i) After school, we went home and told our respective parents about the incident.
Laxman Shastri summoned the teacher, and in our presence, told the teacher that he
should not spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance in the
minds of innocent children. He bluntly asked the teacher either to apologize or to quit
the school and Island.
(i) Who are "we" in the first line?
a. Kalam and his father
b. Kalam and Ramnandha Shastri
c. Kalam and his class-mates
d. Kalam and his neighbours
(ii) Why did Laxman Shastri summon the teacher?
a) The teacher was not teaching sincerely
b) He was brutally punishing the children
c) He was very rude and harsh
d) He tried to divide them on the basis of religion
(iii) What do these lines tell us about Laxman Shastri?
a) He was a great scholar
b) He didn't believe in communalism and social inequality
c) He didn't respect teachers
d) He was biased towards his son
(iv) What was the effect of this incident on the teacher?
a) He left the school
b) He continued his behaviour of division
c) He reformed himself and became a changed person
d) He wasn't affected by the incident
(v) What is meaning of "summoned"?
a. Directed (B) Diverted (C) Called up (D) None of the above
 Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
A. After school, we went home and told our respective parents about the incident. Laxman
Shastri summoned the teacher, and in our presence, told the teacher that he should not spread the
poison of social inequality and communal intolerance in the minds of innocent children. He
bluntly asked the teacher either to apologize or to quit the school and Island. (i) Who are "we" in
the first line? 1 (A) Kalam and his father (B) Kalam and Ramnandha Shastri (C) Kalam and his
class-mates (D) Kalam and his neighbours (ii) Why did Laxman Shastri summon the teacher? 1
(A) The teacher was not teaching sincerely (B) He was brutally punishing the children (C) He
was very rude and harsh (D) He tried to divide them on the basis of religion 7 (iii) What do these
lines tell us about Laxman Shastri? 1 (A) He was a great scholar (B) He didn't believe in
communalism and social inequality (C) He didn't respect teachers (D) He was biased towards his
son (iv) What was the effect of this incident on the teacher? 1 (A) He left the school (B) He
continued his behaviour of division (C) He reformed himself and became a changed person (D)
He wasn't affected by the incident (v) What is meaning of "summoned"? 1 (A) Directed (B)
Diverted (C) Called up (D) None of the above
(ii) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: [5]
I took off my black coat, white shin, and not-so-white vest and hung them up. I
opened the two windows in. the room. It was an outer room with one wall
facing the open yard. It had a tiled roof with long supporting gables that rested
on the beam over the wall. There was no ceiling. There was regular traffic of
rats to and from the beam. I made my bed and pulled it closer to the wall. I lay
down but I could not sleep. I got up and went out to the veranda for a little air,
but the Wind God seemed to have taken time off.
a. What inference would you draw from the doctor's description of his
surroundings? (1)
b. Which celestial entity appeared to be absent when the narrator sought some
fresh air in the veranda? (1)
i. The Sun
ii. The Moon
iii. The Wind
iv. The Rain
c. The doctor's approach towards describing his surroundings was highly
effective and had slight humour. Elaborate in about 40 words, with
reference to the extract (2)
d. Which phrase would correctly substitute ' taken time off.', in the
given sentence from the extract? (1)
I got up and went out to the veranda for a little air, but the Wind God
seemed to have taken time off.
7. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two giv
 en. [5]
(i)
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. [5]
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
 And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
a. The color yellow symbolizes the season. (1)
b. What is the cause of the poet's feelings of sorrow? (2)
c. What was the emotional state of the poet in the provided lines? (1)
i. he was confused
ii. he was indifferent
iii. he was agitated
iv. he was excited
d. What does the phrase 'long I stood' reflect about the poet? (1)

(ii) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. [5]
No motion has she now, no force-
She neither hears nor sees,
Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course
With rocks and stones and trees.
a. 'Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course' What does the poet intend to
say in the given line? (1)
b. She can’t see and hear because she is . (1)
c. What is she incapable of doing? (2)
d. Which part of speech is represented by diurnal? (1)
i. adjective
ii. adverb
iii. verb
iv. pronoun

8. Answer the following questions, in about 40-50 words [12]

(i) Why did Albert Einstein leave his school?

(ii) What shows that the poet loved his mother? Write your answer in the context
of the poem, 'Rain on the Roof'.
(iii) How did Iswaran describe the uprooted tree?
 (iv) Why does the poet say that the hours of the day are few? Write your
answer in the context of A Legend Of the Northland.
9. Answer the following two questions, in about 40-50 words. [6]

(i) Who was Behrman? What was his masterpiece?

(ii) W hy was there never an end to Iswaran’s tales?

10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. [6]

(i) How did Evelyn Glennie fight with her physical disability?

(ii) How did Santosh carve her own destiny?

11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. [6]

(i) The Disciple in the story didn't look into the depth of the matter and took a
hasty decision of not leaving the kingdom of fools. What light does the
story throw on the importance of good decision-making in one's life?
(ii) What changes do you notice in the behaviour of the child, once he is separated
from his parents in the story The Lost Child?