ENGLISH LANGUAGE (Paper-1)

Date: Full Marks:80

Class: IX Time: 2 hours

Answers to this Paper must be written on the paper provided separately.

You will not be allowed to write for the first 15 minutes.
This time is to be spent in reading the question paper.
The time given at the head of the Paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.

Attempt all four questions.

The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ]
You are advised not to spend more than 35 minutes in answering Question 1
and 20 minutes in answering Question 2.
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Question 1
(Do not spend more than 35 minutes on this question.)
Write a composition (300-350 words) on any one of the following: [20]

(i) Write a story which justifies the theme: 'Once bitten twice shy’.
(ii) You were an eyewitness to a heated argument which turned into a big fight. Narrate what you
felt and did at that time.
(iii) ‘Only people who earn a lot of money are said to be successful today’. Express your views
either for or against this statement.
(iv) You and your family travelled by bus to a village to attend a wedding. Describe a humorous
incident that occurred during the journey.
(v) Study the picture given below. Write a story or a description or an account of what it suggests
to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or you may take suggestions
from it; however, there must be a clear connection between the picture and your composition.

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Question 2
(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.)

Select one of the following: [10]

a) Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper expressing your concern about the harmful effects
of the junk food being sold by the hawkers in the streets and markets.
b) You have just acquired an unusual pet. Write a letter to your friend, telling him/her about it.
Give details about the care you have to take in looking after and feeding the pet.

Question 3 [5+5]

a) You are the President of the Debating Club in your school. Your school is going to organise
an Interschool Debate Competition next week. Write a notice for the school notice board to
invite students to participate.
b) Write an email to the Principal of your neighbouring school asking him/her to send
participants to represent their school in the upcoming Interschool Debate Competition.

Question 4

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Robinson Crusoe, few people know, is based on a real-life incident. The son of a cobbler,
Alexander Selkirk was a wayward young man, with little respect for authority. Abject conditions at
sea and the cruelty of the captains made the sailors miserable in those days. It was not surprising
that Alexander became rebellious and malevolent when he became a sailor.

In 1704, he was Sailing Master on a ship; when it anchored for repairs near the desolate island of
Juan Fernandez about 650 kilometres west of Chile. They were looking for gold, which they often
got by plundering other ships. In the days that followed, Alexander hatched a conspiracy. He
instigated other sailors to leave the ship and remain on the island. They would declare a mutiny.
Perhaps, Alexander reasoned, that the Captain would accept their demands if he believed that his
men would refuse to sail otherwise. Unfortunately for Alexander, the crew played the Judas. The
Captain getting to know of Alexander's part in the planned mutiny, left him behind on the island as
he was a bad influence on the men. He was provided with a few necessities, among them, a copy of
the Bible.

Alexander, marooned on an island populated only by wild cats and goats, became adept at hunting
and his food soon comprised fish, turtles and meat. He also made clothes with goats skin. Although
a cobbler’s son, he could not make shoes. Running barefoot after goats had hardened the soles of
his feet. He read the Bible again and again and slowly took to reading it aloud. He spoke and sang
to the cats and learnt to milk goats.

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Once, during his stay on the island, a Spanish ship anchored near the island and the crew rowed in.
Alexander was petrified and hid in the thick foliage. In those days Spain and England were at
daggers drawn. Fortunately, the Spaniards left after a brief rest.

In February,1709, two English ships sailed in to collect fresh water and shoot goats. Alexander
rushed to them for succour. He looked strange with his unkempt hair, beard and goat skin clothes.
His rescuers understood him with great difficulty. His speech had changed a great deal. His
vocabulary had shrunk and he had to grope for words. They did, however, manage to understand his
story finally.

Alexander took a job as a sailor on one of the ships and reached London in 1711. He returned home
with a large fortune. However, he ran out of his fortune in two years and had to return to sea.
Alexander's adventure became well-known.

Eight years later, Daniel Defoe gave the story a new shape with many twists, calling it The
Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. It was now the story of a man who was shipwrecked on an island
and lived alone for an unbelievable twenty-eight years.

(i) For each word given below, choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options
provided. [2]
1. instigated (line 8)
(a) encouraged (b) provoked (c) promoted (d) prevailed

2.marooned (line 14)

(a) strained (b) stained (c) quarrelled (d) stranded

(ii) Which word in the passage is opposite of credible? [1]

(a) incredible (b) mind-blowing (c) unbelievable (d) unconvincing

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:

(a) Explain the phrase, 'with little respect for authority'. [2]

(b) Why did Alexander become reckless and malevolent when he became a sailor? [2]

(c) What was the conspiracy that Alexander hatched? Why did he do so? [2]

(d) How did the crew play the Judas? [1]

(e) Why was Alexander petrified when the crew of the Spanish ship rowed in? [2]

(iv) In about 50 words of your own, give an account of Alexander's adventure on the island. [8]

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Question 5

(i) Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets.
Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate
to the blank space. [4]

Example: (0) saw

One morning I (0) ____(see) the python curled up on the dressing table. It was (1)
____(gaze) at its own reflection in the mirror. I (2) ____(go) for grandfather but by the
time we (3) ____(return) to the room, the python (4) ____ (move) on. He was seen in the
garden and once the cook saw him (5) ____(crawl) up the ladder to the roof. Then we (6)
___ (find) him on the dressing table again (7) ____ (admire) himself in the mirror. “He’s
trying to look better for Aunt Mabel” I said. I (8) ____(regret) this remark immediately
because grandmother overheard and held up my pocket money for the rest of the week!

(ii) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words: [4]

(a) Truth always prevails ____ the long run.

(b) Sujata stood ___ the river and saw the ship pass by.
(c) She took some money ___ her father to buy a video game.
(d) Shilpa gave me a rare gift ____ my birthday.
(e) Deepak was very upset ______ me.
(f) Michelle is longing ____ meet me.
(g) It has been a long time ____ I met my sister.
(h) The worker asked ____ his wages.

(iii) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence to make one complete
sentence without using and, but or so. Choose the correct option. [4]
1. I was wrong. My teacher said this.
(a) My teacher said that I was wrong.
(b) My teacher said that I am in wrong
(c) My teacher says that I am wrong.
(d) My teacher says that I was at wrong.

2. He waited a little. Then the candidates were ready for the instructions.
(a) He waited until the candidates were ready for the instructions.
(b) He waited unless the candidates were ready for the instructions.
(c) Though the candidates were ready for the instructions, he waited.
(d) He waited for the candidates to get ready for the instructions.

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 3. The suspect may hide anywhere. The police will find him.
(a) The police will find the suspect hidden anywhere.
(b)The police will find him anywhere the suspect may hide.
(c) The police will find the suspect wherever he may hide.
(d)The police will find him wherever the suspect be hidden.

4. A fisherman saved her. Otherwise she would have drowned.

(a) If the fisherman had not saved her, she would have drowned.
(b) The fisherman saved her to be drowned.
(c) She would have drowned, although the fisherman saved her.
(d) She would have drowned until saved by the fisherman.

(iv) Choose the correct option to rewrite the following according to the instructions given after each
sentence. [8]
1. As soon as the teacher entered the class, the students opened their books.
(Begin with: No sooner ...)
(a) No sooner the teacher entered the class, the students opened their books.
(b) No sooner than the teacher enter the class, the students opened their books.
(c) No sooner the teacher had entered the class, the students opened their books.
(d) No sooner did the teacher enter the class, than the students opened their books.

2. Our secret plan has been discovered. (Begin with: Someone ...)
(a) Someone has discovered our secret plan.
(b) Someone have discovered our secret plan.
(c) Someone is discovered our secret plan.
(d) Someone's secret plan has been discovered.

3. I think you should come back tomorrow. (Begin with: You had….)
(a) You had to come back tomorrow.
(b) You had tomorrow to come back.
(c) You had to think to come back tomorrow.
(d) You had better come back tomorrow.

4. "Are you going for the picnic tomorrow?" Uma asked him.
(Begin with: Uma asked him ...)

(a) Uma asked him if he was going for the picnic the next day.
(b) Uma asked him that if he is going for the picnic the next day.
(c) Uma asked him if he is going for the picnic tomorrow.
(d) Uma asked him to go for the picnic the next day.

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 5. My father was very generous to all. (Begin with: My father treated…….)
(a) My father treated all by generosity.
(b) My father treated everyone with generous nature.
(c) My father treated everyone to be generous.
(d) My father treated everyone generously.

6. Stephen is wearing a black suit and he is my brother. (Use: who)

(a) Stephen is wearing a black suit, is my brother.
(b) Stephen, who is wearing a black suit, is my brother.
(c) Stephen, my brother, who is wearing a black suit.
(d) My brother, who is wearing a black suit, is Stephen?

7. As soon as I arrived, I had a sandwich (Begin with: Upon….)

(a) Upon arriving soon I had a sandwich.
(b) Upon arriving I had a sandwich.
(c) Upon the arrival, I had a sandwich.
(d) Upon that I had arrived, I had a sandwich.

8. Not only did he treat him well, but also helped him. (Begin with: Besides……)
(a) Besides that he treated him well, he also helped him.
(b) Besides treating him well, he helped him.
(c) Besides treating him well, he was helping him too.
(d) Besides also treating him well, he helped him.
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