CLASS IX - ANNUAL EXAMINATION ENGLISH LANGUAGE ENGLISH Paper - 1. (Two hours) Answers to this Paper must be written on the paper provided separately. You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes. This time is to be spent in reading the question paper. The time given at the head of this Paper is the time allowed for writing the answers. Attempt all five questions. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ J. You are advised to spend not more than 30 minutes in answering Question 1 and 20 minutes in answering Question 2, Question 1 {Do not spend more than 30 minutes on this question.) 20} Write a composition (300 - 350 words) on any one of the following: (a) Write an original short story entitled, ‘The Photograph’. (b) ‘The overloaded school bag is @ necessary evil.” Express your views either for or against this statement. ()_ You were punished for something you did not do. Write an account of what happened and how it was resolved. What did you learn from the experience? (4) You were waiting at the bus stop one Monday morning. Write a description of what you saw and heard as you waited at the crowded spot. ~ This Paper consists of 7 printed pages. NH19 011 Turn Over © Copyright ReservedCLASS IX (e) Study the picture given below. Write a short 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. Question 2 [10] (Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.) Select any one of the following: {a) Write a letter to the Secretary of your local club requesting permission to hold a pet show in the club premises. Give him / her some details of the event and state why you think a pet show is important for the club. {b) Your Grandmother will be turning seventy this year and you wish to organise a small family get together to celebrate the occasion. Write a letter to your cousin inviting her/him to be present. Say what special plans you have made, and tell him / her about the surprise gift you have for your Grandmother. NH19 011CLASS IX Question 3 (a) Your school is organising an Inter-House One-Act Play Competition (5] Write a notice to invite entries for the event. (b) Write an e-mail to the Principal of the neighbouring school requesting him / (5) her to send three teachers to judge the competition. Question 4 Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: The Geography Master was absent and the boys of the First A had a free period between three and three forty-five on Wednesday. Somehow Swaminathan had missed his friends and found himself alone. He wandered along the corridor of the kindergarten section. To Swaminathan, who did not really stand over four feet, the children of the kindergarten seemed ridiculously tiny. He felt vastly superior and old, He was filled with contempt when he saw them dabbling in wet clay, trying to shape models. It seemed such a meaningless thing to do at school! Why, they could as well do those things resembling elephants, mangoes and snakes, in the backyards of their houses. Why did they come all the way to a school to do this sort of 10 tl 1g? Schools were meant for more serious things like Geography, Arithmetic, Science and English In one room he found all the children engaged in repeating simultaneously the first two letters of the Tamil alphabet. He covered his ears and wondered how the teacher was able to stand it. He passed on. In another room he found an ill-clad, noisy crowd of children. The noise that they made, sitting on their benches and swinging their legs got on his nerves. He wrinkled his brow and twisted his mouth in the hope of making the teacher feel his resentment but unfortunately, the teacher was sitting with his back to Swaminathan. NHi9 011 3 Turn OverCLASS IX He paused at the foot of the staircase leading to the senior classes - the 20 second and the t forms. He wanted to go up and inspect those classes which he eagerly looked forward to joining. He took two or three steps up, and changed his mind. The Headmaster might be up there, he always handled those classes. The teachers too were formidable, not to speak of the boys themselves, who were snobs and bullies. He heard the creak-creak of sandals far off and recognized the footsteps of the Headmaster. He did not want to be caught there - that would mean a lot of unsatisfactory explanations. He was happily surprised when he stumbled upon his own gang whom he had thought was not at school. Except Rajam and Mani all the rest were there. They were playing some game under the huge tamarind tree. Swaminathan 30 joined them with a low, ecstatic cry. Their response disappointed him. They turned their faces to him with a forced smile, and returned to their game. What surprised Swaminathan most was that even the genial Somu was grim. Something seemed to be wrong somewhere. {a) Give the meaning of the following words as used in the passage: Bl One word answers or short phrases will be accepted. (i) contempt (line 6) (ii) simultaneously (line 13) (iii) genial (line 33) (b) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words. (i) Why did the boys of First A have a free period? a (ii) Which phrase in the passage tells you that the noise of the children Ql irritated Swaminathan? (iii) Why could the teacher in the classroom not feel Swaminathan’s (2) resentment? NH19 011CLASS IX (iv) Why did Swaminathan change his mind about inspecting the second and (2) third forms? (v) What made Swaminathan realise that something was wrong? (2) {c)__ In not more than 50 words, describe what was Swaminathan’s response to [8] the kindergarten children and their activities. Question 5 {a) Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given (4 in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space. Example: (0) was In the entire village, Raki (0) (be) the first to get up. Even the dog, a large black mongrel (1) (call) Raja, was asleep in a corner of the dark room, (2) (curl) up near the embers of last night's fire. Raki’s tousled head (3) (emerge) from his blanket. He (4) (rub) the sleep from his eyes and (5) (sit) up. Then he (6) (crawl) towards the loud ticking that (7) (come) from his little alarm clock that (8), (stand) on the shelf in the wall. {b) Fill in each blank with an appropriate word: 41 (i) The little girl burst tears of joy when her kitten was found. (il) One should not put with bad manners. (ili) Shankar waited the bus stop for over an hour. (iv) The thief jumped the wall and escaped NH49 011 5 Turn OverCLASS IX (v) Soma sat her two friends during the morning assembly. (vi) The mouse hid the floor boards. (vil) Shanti came _ many new recipes in the Cookery book that her aunt gave her. (viii) The twins were tired of being mistaken each other. (c)__ Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using (4) and, but or so: (i) Sundar cannot do the sum. You have to help him. (ii) The trunk was very full. it was impossible to shut it. ) The children finished their lunch. The bell rang (iv) Sam enjoys reading. He also enjoys watching movies. (d)_Re-write the following sentences according to the instru each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of each sentence. (i) As soon as Harish was called on stage his friends began to applaud. (Begin: No sooner. (ii) ‘What a lot of homework | havel’ complained Aditya. (Begin: Aditya complained about... ) If Sharmila spends more time reading books, her language skills will improve. (Rewrite: Using ‘unless’) (iv) My father rarely spends his evenings at home. (Begin: SeldoMnnnnnnns) (v)_ Akshay is not as tall as Firoza. (Rewrite: Using ‘taller’) NH19 011. 6CLASS IX (vi) The masons are building the house. (End with: .the masons) (vii) | would rather finish my homework than go out to play. “) (Begin: | prefer. (viii)in spite of being warned about the storm, the fishermen went out to sea. (Begin: Despite.... NH19 011 7