Teachers recommend solving Kerala Syllabus 9th Standard Question Papers and Answers English Set 1 to improve time management during exams.
Kerala Syllabus Std 9 English Model Question Paper Set 1
Time : 2½ hrs.
Score : 80 Marks
Instructions:
- 15 minutes is given as cool-off time. This time is to be used for reading the question paper.
- Attempt the questions according to the instructions.
Questions 1 – 5:
Read the following extract from the story, ‘Haifa Day’ and answer the questions that follow. (1 × 5 = 5)
“I took a few steps, then stopped and looked, but saw nothing. Then the faces of boys and girls came into view. I did not know a single one of them. None of them knew me. I felt I was a stranger who had lost his way. But glances of curiosity were directed towards me, and a boy approached’and asked, “Who brought you?”
“My father,” I said.
“My father’ dead,” he said quite simply.
Question 1.
Who is the “I” mentioned at the beginning of the extract?
(A) The father
(B) The Teacher
(C) The friend of the boy
(D) The narrator
Answer:
(D) The narrator
Question 2.
“I did not know a single one of them.” This means
(A) The narrator knew one of them.
(B) The narrator did not know anyone of them.
(C) The narrator could not see properly.
(D) The narrator was afraid to look at them.
Answer:
(B) The narrator did not know anyone of them.
Question 3.
“I felt as a stranger.” This means he felt like:
(A) a person with whom one is not familiar.
(B) a person who knew everyone there.
(C) a person who wanted to be a friend of everyone.
(D) a person who felt stronger than others.
Answer:
(A) a person with whom one is not familiar.
Question 4.
“But glances of curiosity were directed towards me.” This means:
(A) The boys and girls who were standing there were looking at the narrator.
(B) The boys and girls turned away their faces.
(C) The boys and girls were disinterested in the narrator.
(D) The boys and girls did not like the narrator.
Answer:
(A) The boys and girls who were standing there were looking at the narrator.
Question 5.
Whose father is dead?
(A) The narrator’s father.
(B) The father of the boy who came and talked with the narrator.
(C) The father of one the teachers.
(D) None of the above.
Answer:
(B) The father of the boy who came and talked with the narrator.
Questions 6 -10.
Read the following extract from the poem, ‘Nothing Twice’ and answer the questions that follow. (1 × 5 = 5)
“Why do we treat the fleeting day
with so much needless fear and sorrow?
It is in its nature not to stay:
Today is always gone tomorrow.”
Question 6.
The first two lines imply that:
(A) We are not worried about the passing day.
(B) We are much worried about the passing day.
(C) We are indifferent towards the passing day.
(D) We are very happy that the day has passed.
Answer:
(B) We are much worried about the passing day.
Question 7.
“It is in its nature not to stay.” This means
(A) We do not want to stay in nature.
(B) Nature does not want to stay.
(C) It is natural for the day to pass.
(D) None of these.
Answer:
(C) It is natural for the day to pass.
Question 8.
The word “fleeting” means:
(A) which passes slowly.
(B) which passes quickly.
(C) which remains stagnant.
(D) which does not go away.
Answer:
(B) which passes quickly.
Question 9.
What do these lines teach us?
(A) To be worried and sorrowful as time goes away.
(B) To think about tomorrow.
(C) To think about yesterday.
(D) Nothing happens twice.
Answer:
(D) Nothing happens twice.
Question 10.
The poet Maria Wislawa Anna Szymborska is a famous citizen.
(A) British
(B) American
(C) Russian
(D) Polish
Answer:
(D) Polish
Read the following lines from the poem “Success” by H W Longfellow and prepare an appreciation focussing on its theme, imagery and poetic devices. (5 × 1 = 5)
Question 11.
We have not wings, we cannot soar;
But we have feet to scale and climb
By slow degrees, by more and more,
The cloudy summits of our time.
The mighty pyramids of stone
That wedge-like cleave the desert airs,
When nearer seen and better known,
Are but gigantic flights of stairs.
The distant mountains, that uprear
Their solid bastions of the skies,
Are crossed by pathways that appear
As we to higher levels rise.
Answer:
Success is a fine lyric poem by the famous American-poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The poem starts by saying that we human beings do not have wings and so we can’t fly. But we can use our feet to move and climb. By steady climbing we can reach the heights we want to reach. The mighty stone pyramids divide the desert atmosphere like a wedge. But when we go near them and look at them they look like huge flights of stairs or steps of a ladder. The distant mountains that back up the skies above are crossed by pathways that appear as we rise to higher levels. The heights reached and kept by great people were not attained by a sudden flight. But they were working upward in the night when their friends were sleeping. Success is not something that comes suddenly to people but it is the result of their continued hard work.
“Success” is a 4-stanza poem. It is in rhyme. The rhyming scheme is abab. It has fine images. We can see the birds flying and the men climbing. We see the great pyramids. We see the distant mountains. We can also see the hardworking people steadily climbing the stairs of success while their companions are sleeping.
We have find similes in the poem. The pyramids are compared to wedges that cleave the desert airs. We can also find metaphors. The pyramids are gigantic flights of stairs. The mountains are bastions of the skies.
The poem gives a fine message especially to the young who aspire to do great things. Success does not come overnight. To be. successful one has to work hard. We all know that Rome was not built in a day. We also know that “Slow and steady wins the race.” If you are looking for success, be ready to sweat for it. The poem has a didactic tone as it teaches the importance of hard work.
Questions 12-16:
Read the following extract from the story, ‘The Toilet’ and answer the questions that follow. (1 × 5 = 5)
“Sometimes I wanted to give up and be a good girl who listened to her elders. Maybe I should have done something like teaching or nursing as my mother wished. People thought that these professions were respectable but I knew I wanted to do something different, though I was not sure what. I thought a lot about acting. My mother said that it had been a waste of money educating me because I did not know what to do with the knowledge I had acquired I’d come to Johannesburg (Jo’burg) for the December holidays after writing my matric exams and then stayed on hoping to find something to do.”
Question 12.
The narrator always listened to her elders. This statement is:
(A) True
(B) False
(C) It is not clear from the context.
(D) None of these
Answer:
(B) False
Question 13.
The narrator’s mother wanted her to do something like:
(A) Teaching or nursing
(B) Spending time at home.
(C) Acting
(D) Singing
Answer:
(A) Teaching or nursing
Question 14.
Which professions did the people consider respectable according to the passage?
(A) Acting and Singing
(B) Engineering and Medicine
(C) Being housewives and taking good care of the children
(D) Teaching and nursing
Answer:
(D) Teaching and nursing
Question 15.
The narrator’s mother said that it had been a waste of money educating her. She said like that because:
(A) The narrator did not know what to do with the knowledge she acquired.
(B) The mother did not like her.
(C) The mother wanted her to make money by acting.
(D) The mother did not want her to be a teacher or a nurse.
Answer:
(A) The narrator did not know what to do with the knowledge she acquired.
Question 16.
Johannesburg is a city in:
(A) China
(B) England
(C) America
(D) South Africa
Answer:
(D) South Africa
Questions 17-18:
Answer any ONE of the following. (7 × 1 = 7)
Question 17.
In “Waiting for the Rain’ how does the poet, Anita Nair, describe the behaviour of the monsoon and the feelings of the villages about the delayed monsoon?
Answer:
Monsoon was playing hide and seek. It should have come to Kerala in the month of June, but even after the middle of July it has not come. It
is behaving like a rich relative who comes to a house which was expecting him eagerly. The inmates of the house expect a lot of things from the rich relative. They think he will make them happy by giving them various presents and taking them for films or musical programmes. But then his arrival turns into a joyless anti-climax. The inmates feel completely disappointed as their expectations are not fulfilled at all. In the same way we see grey skies, rumbling thunder and stillness in the air, but no steady rain to make the people happy.
The villagers said that the summer drought had been very intense. It has been almost two decades since they saw the well and canals dry up and the wafer table fall so low. Nothing is as it was. The constructions of concrete monstrosities, tiling the front yards and large scale cutting down of the trees have changed the climatic conditions. Mindless industrialization and urbanization are playing havoc with the earth and the climate. Now monsoon comes and goes as it likes and the people are in great trouble as their time table for sowing and harvesting are completely upset.
Question 18.
Prepare a character sketch of the narrator of the story “Half a Day” based on his experience, thoughts, and interactions throughout the story. Describe the narrator’s personality traits, emotions, motivations and how they evolve over time.
Answer:
Questions 19-21.
Answer any TWO of the following questions. (5 × 2 = 10)
Question 19.
Selma Lager of has arrived at Stockholm to receive the Nobel Prize in.Literature. You are assigned the task of introducing and welcoming her to receive the Award. Write the text of the announcement.
Answer:
As you are well aware that we all have assembled here to witness the awarding of the most popular writer Selma Lagerlof the 1909 Nobel Prize in Literature. We should specially congratulate her as she is the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. She was born on 20 November 1858 in Sweden. After her education at The Royal Advanced female Teacher’s Seminary in Stockholm, she taught .io.s.hjsib.scbonl.farpirls Har first notable novel was “The Story of Gosta Berling” published when she was 33 years old. This made her very popular not only in Sweden but all over the world. Another famous novel by her was
“The Invisible Links” published in 1894. She has thrilled her readers by her fine novels, intricate plots, fine twists, and her excellent characterization.
From among many candidates for the 1909 Nobel Prize in Literature Selma was chosen to be the recipient of the Prize by the Swedish Academy. We welcome her in all joy and happiness. The Secretary of the Academy will speak further about her achievements and her influence in the field of literature.
Thank you.
Question 20.
Your social media friend, an Australian, sends you an e-mail expressing his wish to visit Kerala during the forthcoming monsoon season. Draft your reply to the email.
Answer:
To: allensmith@gmail.com
Subject: Visit to Kerala during the forthcoming monsoon.
Thank you Allen for your mail. Good to know that you are interested in coming to Kerala during the forthcoming monsoon season. In Kerala the south-west monsoon is usually between June and August. The heaviest rains come in July. There will be thunder and lightning during the rains. So, one has to be careful. Kerala is a land of many rivers. We have 44 rivers here. In the monsoon season most of them will be flooded. Boat-riding in the flooded rivers is adventurous and enjoyable. You ought to be a good swimmer if you intend to enjoy boat rides.
Kerala is often called God’s own country. The lush green landscape with tall coconut palms and different kinds of fruit trees like mango, jackfruit and others makes it a paradise on earth. I will be glad to welcome you to our paradise. Let me know when you are coming. I will be there at the airport.
Please convey my regards to your parents.
Sincerely yours,
Gopikrishnan
Question 21.
Read the passage given below and prepare Five Questions based on it.
The dabbawalas are unique to Mumbai. No other city in the world has them. Many employees in Mumbai can’t live near the place of their work because of the high cost of land and rent for flats. Mumbai, like a magnet, draws people from all over Indi(A) Each one has his dietary likes and dislikes. Eating in an eatery becomes very expensive. Indians are not used to sandwiches, salads and cold food in general. Most of the Mumbai workers have only two options. One option is to starve through the working day. The other option is think of someone to deliver your hot, home-cooked meal at your office. The second option is possible because of the dabbawalas.
We see these dabbawalas hurrying into the commuter trains and getting out at terminuses and rushing through crowded roads, carrying coffin-sized crates laden with lunches. They are an integral part of the Mumbai scene.
Answer:
Questions 22- 25:
Answer any TWO of the following questions. (6 × 2 = 12)
Question 22.
Gcina Mhlope has a conversation with her sister (Irene) on her horrifying experience of her encounter with the dogs. Write the likely conversation.
Answer:
- Irene: Gcina, what are you doing on the street? Gcina: Oh, my sister, something terrible has happened.
- Irene: What? What are you saying?
- Gcina: Sister, I had been waiting for you in the park until 6.30. But since I did not see you, I thought you had gone to your room. So I went there, but the room was locked. So I sat in front of the room in a corner, reading a copy of the Drum Magazine.
- Irene: Then?
- Gcina: Two dogs were playing in front of me and suddenly they saw me. They looked surprised. I too was surprised. Then they began to bark. Hearingfthe barking of the dogs, Madam came out to investigate why the dogs were barking. She called out loudly “Ireeeeeeene!” But I could not answer; neither could I move. I knew if I moved the dogs would tear me into pieces. Then Madam came near me and asked me when I had come.
- Irene: Oh my God! What did you say?
- Gcina: I said that I had come to meet you but you were not there.
- Irene: And then?
- Gcina: Madam told me that I should go home and she would tell you that I had wanted to see you. That is why I am here on the street. When I think of the fierce dogs, my blood chills!
Question 23.
Imagine you are one of the women who took part in the freedom struggle. Prepare a write-up on the hardships faced by your friends and yourself.
Answer:
Gandhiji’s call to the women of India brought me out of the four walls of my home. I realised that getting freedom was not a task only of the men but also the women. I was impressed by the concept of non-violence propagated by Gandhiji. He showed us that bravery is not matter of physical strength. I was impressed when he said to people, “Killing and getting killed in a battle are acts of bravery. But to stand the blows of your enemies and not to hit back is a greater form of bravery”. We decided to fight against the White rulers.
We made our heart strong. We took part in the processions. We defied the law and bore the lathi blows without showing any resistance. The heads of many of us were broken and were bleeding profusely. But we encouraged one another to bear the pain and not hit back. Not hitting back is the essence of non-violence. When the freedom fighting organizations were banned and the male leaders were sent to jail, we came to the forefront. We remained unflinching in our resolve. Many of us were sent to jail. But we were ready to make sacrifices to make our people free.
Gandhi was our inspiration. We continued to fight for freedom till we got it and I am glad to say the mighty British Raj had to leave India giving us freedom on 15 August 1947.
Question 24.
You are tasked with writing a character sketch of one of the Dabbawalas featured in Hugh and Colleen Gantzer’s account. Choose a specific Dabbawala and describe his background, personality traits, and the impact of his role as a Dabbawala on the community.
Answer:
Question 25.
Imagine you are Mahadev Desai addressing a gathering of students about the transformative power of Mahatma Gandhi’s principles as depicted in “Dreams Realised” by Mahadev Desai. Prepare a speech highlighting Gandhi’s key philosophies and their relevance in today’s world, drawing examples from the book.
Answer:
Question 26.
Prepare a profile of Ruskin Bond using the details given below:
| Born | 19 May 1934 Kasauli, British India (Now in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, India) |
| Occupation | Author, poet |
| Language | English |
| Alma mater | Bishop Cotton School |
| Notable works | The Room on the Roof Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra A Flight of Pigeons The Blue Umbrella Granny’s Tree Climbing Angry River |
| Notable awards | John Llewellyn Rhys Prize (1957), Sahitya Akademi Award (1992) Padma Shri (1999) Padma Bhushan (2014) |
Answer:
Ruskin Bond was boron 19 May 1934 at Kasauli, British India. Now the place is in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, India. He is a well known writer and also a poet. He wrote in English. His education was in Bishop Cotton School Shimla, graduating in 1951. He won several writing competitions in the school including the Irwin Divinity Prize and the Hailey Literature Prize. He wrote one of his first short stories, “Untouchable”, at the age of sixteen in 1951. Some of his notable works are: “The Room on the Roof’, “Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra”, “A Flight of Pigeons”, “The Blue Umbrella”, “Granny’s Tree Climbing”, and “Angry River”. He has received .many prestigious Awards and Honours whrch include John Llewellyn Rhys Prize (1957), Sahitya Akademi Award (1992), Padma Shri (1999), and Padma Bhushan (2014).
Since 1963 he has lived as a freelance writer in Mussoorie, a town in the Himalayan foothills in Uttarakhand where he lives with his adoptive family in Landour, Mussoorie’s Ivy Cottage, which has been his home since 1980. Asked what he likes the most about his life, he said, “That I have been able to write for so long. I started at the age of 17 or 18 and I am still writing. If I were not a professional writer who was getting published I would still write.”
Questions 27-31:
Read the table below showing India’s population for the years from 2020 to 2024 and answer the questions that follow: (1 × 5 = 5)
| Year | Population in crores |
| 2020 | 139.63 |
| 2021 | 140.75 |
| 2022 | 141.71 |
| 2023 | 142.86 |
| 2024 | 144.17 |
Question 27.
From 2020 to 2024 how by many crores has the population increased?
Answer:
By 4.54 crores
Question 28.
In the table shown, does the population decrease in any year compared to the previous years?
Answer:
No, it does not.
Question 29.
From which year to which year has the maximum increase occurred?
Answer:
From 2023 to 2024.
Question 30.
From which year the which year has the least increase occurred?
Answer:
from 2021 to 2022.
Question 31.
By going through the table, what is your prediction for 2025? Will the population increase or decrease?
Answer:
It will increase.
Question 32.
Complete the paragraph using appropriate forms of the phrasal verbs given in brackets. (1 × 5 = 5)
(turn down, set out, call on, put off, crop up)
My friend (a) _________ me the other day and asked me to join him on a trip to Ooty. I could not (b) _________ his request as he was my closest friend. We (c) _________ on our journey on a Friday. We reached Ooty in the evening and we stayed at a hotel. Unfortunately a problem soon (d) _________. My friend had a stomach problem and so we had to (e) _________ our sightseeing for a day.
Answer:
(a) called on me 1
(b) turn down
(c) set out
(d) cropped up
(e) put off
Question 33.
Read the dialogue given below and complete the report by transforming the sentences into reported speech. (1 × 4 = 4)
Lilly : Do you know how to make fish curry?
Rosy : I don’t like making any dish with fish.
Lilly : Why do you say so? ‘
Rosy : I say so because I dislike the smell of fish.
Answer:
Lilly asked Rosy if she knew how to make fish curry. Rosy replied that she did not like making any dish with fish. Lilly wanted to know why it was so. Rosy said that she did not like the smell of fish.
Question 34.
Edit the passage given below. There are mistakes in it. (1 × 5 = 5)
A few day ago I was sitting in a train going to Stockholm. It was early evening. It was dark. My fellow passengers was dozing. I thought of the other times I came to Stockholm. Usually I went there to pass examinations. Now I was coming to recieve the Prize in Litarature. Inside, I was happy to get the Prize. I thought of the people who would be happy at my getting the Prize. Most important of them were my old mother.
Answer:
A few days ago I was sitting in a train going to Stockholm. It was early evening. It was dark. My fellow passengers were dozing. I thought of the other times I came to Stockholm. Usually I went there to pass examinations. Now I was coming to receive the Prize in Literature. Inside, I was happy to get the Prize. I thought of the people who would be happy at my getting the Prize. Most important of them was my old mother.
Question 35.
Identify the noun phrase in the subject position and the verb phrase from the sentences given below. (1 × 2 = 2)
A. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “Success” is an excellent piece of writing.
B. The repetition of the word Success throughout the poem emphasises its central theme.
Answer:
A: Noun Phrase: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “Success”
Verb Phrase: is an excellent piece of writing.
B : Noun Phrase: The repetition of the word Success throughout the poem
Verb Phrase: emphasises its central theme.
Question 36.
Fill in the blanks with suitable options given in the brackets. (1 × 4 = 4)
Swedish author Selma Lagerlof has been awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize (a) _________ Literature. The announcement, made yesterday (b) _________ the Nobel Committee in Stockholm, marks a significant milestone not only for Lagerlof but (c) _________ for the recognition of Scandinavian literature on (d) _________ global stage. Selma Lagerlof, renowned (e) _________ for her profound storytelling and poignant narratives, clinched the Nobel Prize for her exceptional contributions to literature.
(also, for, in, by, the)
Answer:
(a) in
(b) by
(c) also
(d) the
(e) for