DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL ONGC, NAZIRA

Name………………………………… Class: IX Roll No. ….

Sub: English (184) Sample Paper M.M : 80 Time: 3 hrs.
General Instructions:
*This Question paper is based on the latest guidelines (40% Competency + 20% Objective + 40% Subjective)
*The Question Paper contains three sections -READING, WRITING & GRAMMAR, LITERATURE
*Section A – Reading (20 Marks) + Section B - Writing Skill & Grammar (20 Marks)+ Section C - Literature (40 Marks)
*Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
Section: A
Reading Skills (20 marks)
1. Read the text carefully: 10
We have but one method of acquiring knowledge. From the lowest man to the highest yogi, all have to use the
same method, and that method is called concentration. Concentration implies, first, an ability to release one's
thoughts and emotions from all other interests and involvements, and second, an ability to focus them on a
single object or state of awareness. Concentration may assume various manifestations, from a dynamic
outpouring of energy to perfectly quiescent perceptions. On every level of mental activity, it is the
concentration that is the key to success. What is not generally known is that a concentrated mind succeeds not
only because it can solve problems with greater dispatch, but also because problems have a way of somehow
vanishing before its focused energies, without even requiring to be solved. A concentrated mind often attracts
opportunities for success that, to less focused individuals, appear to come by sheer luck. The chemist who
works in his laboratory concentrates all the powers of his mind, brings them into one focus, and throws them on
the elements, and the elements stand analyzed, and thus his knowledge comes. The astronomer also
concentrates the powers of his mind and brings them into one focus and then throws them on to objects through
his telescope and stars and systems roll forward and give up their secrets to him, So, it is in every case —with
the professor in his chair, the students and his books—with every man who is working to know.
The more this power of concentration is, the more is the knowledge acquired, because this is the one and the
only method of acquiring it. Even the lowest shoeblack, if he pays more concentration, will polish shoes better,
the cook with his concentration will focus all his attention on the work at hand and will cook a better meal. In
making money or in worshipping God, or in doing anything, the stronger the power of concentration, the better
will be that work is done.
Even though concentration is the key to acquiring knowledge—Concentration itself is not easy to attain. It is a
skill that can he developed only through a lot of patience and practice. He who masters it is real 'yogi'. To
control our senses and to gather all our awareness into one focus is by no means an easy task. Life itself is
complex and there are invariably several issues vying for our attention which makes it even more difficult to
focus on only one thing. Even if we try to concentrate fully on the work in hand, our subconscious mind is
scattered in varied directions and soon drags our conscious mind along, without even our realizing it. It,
therefore, requires a lot of discipline, will power and self-control to focus or concentrate.
However, the effort is worth it and pays rich dividends in the form of accomplishment of our goals. This is the
one call, the one knock which opens the gate of nature, and lets out floods of light.
Answer the following questions:
i What is the pre-requisite for acquiring knowledge?
a. Focus b. Concentration c. Confidence d. Energy
ii. What comes easily to a concentrated mind than to less focussed individuals?
a. Opportunities for success b. Problems
c. State of Awareness d. Luck
iii. How does a concentrated mind succeed?
a. Solves problems quickly b. Problems vanish before its focused energies
c. Both of the above d. None of the above
iv. What examples of professionals, who use their powers of concentration are cited in the passage?
a. Chemist b. Astronomer
c. Cook d. Only (a) and (b)
v. The only method of acquiring knowledge according to the passage is
a. Start studying with focus b. Take help from professor and books
c. Use the power of concentration d. There is not only one method of acquiring knowledge
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 vi. How can concentration be developed?
a. By losing control of our senses b. By focusing on many things at a time
c. By thinking in varied directions d. By patience and practice
vii. What are the key factors to develop focus or concentration?
a. Discipline b. Will Power c. Self-Control d. All of the above
viii. How does being concentrated help us in our lives?
a. We accomplish our goals b. We fall down the ladder of success
c. We become a yoga guru d. We get a lot of money
ix. Which word in the passage means ‘successful achievement of a task’?
a. invariably b. varied c. accomplishment d. various
x. Find from the passage the antonym of ‘gathered’.
a. directions b. concentrate c. focus d. scattered

2. Read the text carefully and answer the questions that follow: 10
Fear of failure is an attitude problem. All of us postpone things. We procrastinate. We rationalize. We make
excuses. We foolishly believe that to be creative and to have a positive attitude and to simply do things, we
have to have all kinds of preconditions. You can find several excuses for waiting to be more creative. But
scratch the surface of these smooth and logical rationalizations, and if you're honest, you'll see the face of a
little demon, the fear of failure, hiding there.
Zig Ziglar reminds us that this is nothing but an attitude problem: The future can be depressing or magnificent
- it is not correlated to the present or the past, past failures or successes. It is only our attitude towards these
failures or successes which determines our future." You can change yourself by changing your attitude without
fear of error. Problems cause stress and stress reduce our effectiveness. So it is very logical that once we solve
our problems, we should be able to increase our efficiency and effectiveness. Incidentally, we can't eliminate
problems unless we opt for the final exit—the very thought of this itself is stressful!
What causes our problems? Well, roughly speaking one-third of our problems are there because we are alive
and kicking; another one-third of our problems are created by ourselves, and the remaining one-third of our
problems exist because of greed and ego. There is always a silver lining in any gloomy situation, provided you
starve the problems and feed the opportunities. For every problem, there could be several solutions, and
solutions point towards opportunities.
Apply the MISER concept to solve problems. MISER where M stands for Merge, I for Improve, S for Simplify,
E for Eliminate and R for Reduce. MISER is an excellent conceptual sieve that helps in reducing many
problems to a very few ones.

Answer the following questions:

i. We can find several excuses to be:
a. more rationalised b. more attractive c. more lazy d. more creative
ii. Our future is determined by:
a. past failure b. success in the present
c. efforts in future d. attitude towards past failures or success
iii. Our effectiveness gets reduced as:
a. problems multiply b. depressing time is painful
c. stress is caused by problems d. problems dishearten us
iv. We can't eliminate problems because:
a. we are alive and kicking b. we are inactive
c. we are afraid of final exit d. we postpone actions
v. You can change yourself by changing your attitude
a. to defer it for some time b. to seek the help of a friend
c. to think of an easy solution d. without fear of error
vi. The word 'procrastinate' in Para 1 means:
a. obtain with difficulty b. natural tendency to do something bad
c. delay or postpone action d. start a court case
vii. Antonyms of ‘simplify’ in the last Para:
a. unravel b. clarify c. untangle d. complicate
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viii, How should we be able to increase our efficiency and effectiveness?
a. by reducing attitude b. by solving our problem
c. by postponing our problem d. by removing our greed
ix. Full form of MISER:
a. Merge Improve Simplify Eliminate Reduce b. Merge Improve Signify Eliminate Reduce
c. Merge Improve Simplify Eliminate Reuse d. Miser Improve Simplify Eliminate Reduce
x. Synonym of ‘gloomy’ in the 3rd para:
a. bright b. happy c. dark d. reduce

Section B (WRITING SKILL & GRAMMAR)

Grammar :10 Marks (Attempt any Ten out of Twelve)
3. Read the passage given below. Fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate words from the given
options: 4
Rosemary School, Meerut, organized Cleaning Day Drive in neighbouring areas (a) _______. Participants
raised slogans(b) _______ Hindi and English while visiting the areas. The drive (c) _______ generous praise
and appreciation from shopkeepers and residents of neighbouring colonies. The students actively (d) _______.
a.(i) recent (ii) recipient (iii) recently (iv) recentness
b.(i) on (ii) about (iii) by (iv) in
c.(i) earns (ii) earning (iii) to earn (iv) earned
d.(i) danced (ii) participated (iii) sang (iv) laughed.

4. The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a blank has been
given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. 4
Error Correction
If your children is overweight, (a) ________ ________
avoids fruits but vegetables, (b) ________ ________
and prefers computer games than real (c) ________ ________
ones, you should being concerned. (d) ________ ________

5. Read the following dialogue and then complete the paragraph by choosing the correct options. Write your
answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank numbers. 4
Interviewer: Was shooting in Kashmir challenging?
Santosh: Filming in any place is difficult but in Kashmir, it was even more difficult.
Interviewer: How did the locals react to it?
Santosh: Many assisted us during the making of the film. I am thankful to the local residents.
The interviewer asked Santosh (i) ________ challenging in Kashmir. Santosh replied that (ii)________ but in
Kashmir (iii) ________ more difficult. The interviewer wanted to know (iv)________ to it. Santosh told him
that many had assisted them and he was thankful to the local residents.
i. The interviewer asked Santosh ________ challenging in Kashmir.
a. if shooting could be b. if shooting will be
c. if shooting had been d. if shooting has been

ii. Santosh replied that ________

a. filming in any place is difficult b. filming in any place were difficult
c. filming in any place was difficult d. filming in any place could be difficult

iii. but in Kashmir ________ more difficult.

a. it was been even b. it will be even c. it has been even d. it had been even

iv. The interviewer wanted to know ________ to it.

a. how the locals has been reacting b. how the locals will react
c. how the locals had reacted d. how the locals has reacted

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 Writing Skill - 10 Marks
6. Write a paragraph in about 100-120 words on the topic 'A Visit to a museum'. 5
OR
Write a paragraph on the topic “OUR VILLAGE” using the visual cue provided below. 5

7. You dislike the behaviour of some of your friends. Write a diary entry about your feelings in about 100-120
words. 5
OR
Today, you saw a street dog being hit by a speeding car when you were waiting for your school bus. You saved
the dog by giving it first aid and took it to veterinary hospital. Now, the dog is out of danger. Write a diary
entry expressing your feelings in about 100-200 words. 5
Section C : Language through Literature (40 Marks)
8. Read the text carefully and answer the questions: 5
She never looked back from that point onwards. She toured the United Kingdom with a youth orchestra and by
the time she was sixteen, she had decided to make music her life. She auditioned for the Royal Academy of
Music and scored one of the highest marks in the history of the academy. She gradually moved from orchestral
work to solo performances. At the end of her three-year course, she had captured most of the top awards. And
for all this, Evelyn won't accept any hint of heroic achievement. If you work hard and know where you are
going, you'll get there. And she got right to the top, the world's most sought after multi-percussionist with a
mastery of some thousand instruments, and hectic international schedule.
i. She toured the United Kingdom with a youth orchestra and by the time she was ________.
a.16 b.14 c.15 d.17
ii. What was life for Evelyn?
a. nature b. music c. dance d. all of these
iii. Where was the Royal Academy of Music?
a. U.S. b. Paris c. London d. Birmingham
iv. She scored one of the highest marks in ________.
a. Royal Academy of Music b. Royal Art and Drama
c. Royal British Academy d. Royal Institute of Music
v. At the end of her ________ course she had captured most of the top awards.
a. three year b. two year c. five year d. four year
OR
Read the text carefully and answer the questions: 5
"What I'l do if I have a nightmare?" she asked. "I often have nightmares and then Grannie takes me into her
bed-I can't stay in the dark-it gets' all whispery'..." "You just go to sleep, child," said Alice, pulling off her
socks, "and don't you scream and wake your poor Pa." But the same old nightmare came - the butcher with a
knife and a rope, who came nearer and nearer, smiling that dreadful smile, while she could not move, could
only stand still, crying out, "Grandma! Grandma!" She woke shivering to see Father beside her bed, a candle in
his hand. "What's the matter?" he said. Oh, a butcher - a knife - I want Grannie." He blew out the candle, bent
down and caught up the child in his arms, carrying her along the passage to the big bedroom. A newspaper was
on the bed.
He put away the paper, then carefully tucked up the child. He lay down beside her. Half asleep still, with the
butcher's smile all about her it seemed, she crept close to him, snuggled her head under his arm, held tightly to
his shirt.
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i. What changed Kezia's perception about her father?
a. the night she got a nightmare he comforted her b. her mother
c. her grandmother d. his scolding

ii. Why did Kezia start feeling lonely?

i. because of her father ii. her father scolded her
iii. because her mother fell sick iv. none of these
a. option (iv) b. option (ii) c. option (i) d. option (iii)

iii. Where was the butcher?

a. in her bedroom b. in her house c. in her dream d. none of these

iv. What was the State of Kezia?

a. She was sad. b. She was trembling with fear.
c. She was scared. d. All of these

v. Shake in fear and cold means ________.

a. hesitation b. shivering c. scared d. None of these

9. Read the text carefully and answer the questions: 5

There, look what you did - you threw them all down.
You tore the pages of the books.
You brought rain again.
You are very clever at poking fun at weaklings.
i. Who brought the rain?
a. ocean b. plants c. wind d. None of these
ii. Who are made fun of by the wind?
a. people b. strong c. things d. weak
iii. Find a word in the extract which is the antonym of foolish?
a. clever b. cunning c. wise d. all of these

iv. Who tore the page of the books?

a. children b. wind c. monkey d. none of these
v. What is the moral of this poem?
a. request the wind b. be firm and strong and never be defeated by any obstacle
c. don't be weak d. pray to the wind
OR
Read the text carefully and answer the questions: 5
Every tinkle on the shingles
Has an echo in the heart;
And a thousand dreamy fancies
Into busy being start,
And a thousand recollections
Weave their air-threads into woof,
As I listen to the patter
Of the rain upon the roof
i. Who are darling dreamers in the poem?
a. hard working mothers b. poet's memories
c. mothers d. children who miss their mothers

ii. What tinkles on the shingles?

a. brass-bell b. silver bangles c. raindrops d. hailstones
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iii. What makes an echo in the poet's mind?
a. his success b. the music of pattering rain
c. his poverty d. none of these

iv. Where is rain making a noise?

a. in the garden b. on the roof c. in the lanes d. in the room

v. Trace a word from the extract that means memories

a. Threads b. Patter c. Recollections d. Shingles

10. Answer any four of the following questions in 40-50 words each: 3x4=12
i. Justify the title „The Road Not Taken‟.
ii. What did Tommy tell Margie about the old school? Write in brief.
iii. How did Kezia's grandmother help her to have a better relation with her father?
iv. Where and when was the Shehnai played traditionally?
v. Who helped Evelyn to continue with music? What did he do and say?

11. Answer any two of the following questions in 40-50 words each: 3x2=6
i. Toto was a pretty monkey. In what sense is Toto pretty?
ii. Why were the guru and his disciple surprised? Write your answer in the context of In the Kingdom of Fools.
iii. Describe Iswaran‟s capability to make even the simplest incident interesting.

12. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100-120 words: 6x1=6
Kezia decides that there are different kinds of fathers. What kind of father was Mr. Macdonald, and how was he
different from Kezia‟s father?
OR
“Music has no religion.” How did Bismillah Khan‟s Shehani prove it?

13. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100-120 words: 6x1=6
Describe the journey made by the child to the fair? Write your answer in the context of The Lost Child.
OR
How did the Guru and his disciple become the king and the minister of the kingdom?

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