INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL-RIYADH

ACADEMIC YEAR, 2022-2023

HALF YEARLY WORKSHEET

SUBJECT: ENGLISH CLASS: IX

SECTION- A
READING COMPREHENSION

Read the passage given below:

1. During our growing up years we as children were taught–both at home and school–to
worship the photos and idols of the gods of our respective religions. When we grow a little
older, we were I holy books like The Bhagwad Gita, Bible and Quran; we were told that
there are a lot of life lessons to be learnt from these holy books. We were then introduced to
stories from ou mythologies which taught us about ethics and morality–what is good and
what is bad. I also learnt to be respectful towards my parents who made my life comfortable
with their hard work, love and care, and my teachers who guided me to become a good
student and a responsible citizen. Much later in life, I realised that though we learn much
from our respective holy books, there is a lot to learn from our surroundings. This realisation
dawned upon me when I learnt to enquire and explore. Everything around us–the sun, the
moon, the stars, rain, rivers, stones, rocks, birds, plants and animals–teach us many valuable
life lessons.

3. No wonder that besides the scriptures in many cultures nature is also worshipped. The
message that we get is to save our environment and maintain ecological balance. People are
taught to live in harmony with nature and recognise that there is God in all aspects of nature.

4. Nature is a great teacher. A river never stops flowing. If it finds an obstacle in its way in
the form of a heavy rock, the river water fights to remove it from its path or finds an
alternative path to move ahead. This teaches us to be progressive in life, and keep the lighting
spirit alive.

5. Snakes are worshipped as they eat insects in the field that can hurt our crops, thus
protecting the grains for us. In fact, whatever we worship is our helper and makes our lives
easy for us. There are many such examples in nature, but we are not ready to learn a lesson.
Overcome with greed, we are destroying nature. As a result, we face natural disasters like
drought, flood and landslides. We don’t know that nature is angry with us.

6. However, it is never too late to learn. If we learn to respect nature the quality of our life
will improve.
2.1. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions in 30–
40 words each:

(a) What are we taught in our childhood and growing up years?

b) Why should we respect our parents and teacher

(c) What message do we get when we worship nature?
(d) How does a river face an obstacle that comes in its way?

2.2. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer of the following:

(a) In para 5, the synonym of ‘catastrophe’ is ………………………….. .

(i) overcome
(ii) greed
(iii) disaster
(iv) drought

(b) In para 3, the antonym of ‘discordance’ is ………………………….. .

(i) scriptures
(ii) harmony
(iii) recognise
(iv) discomfort

(c) When we worship nature, the message we get is to save our environment and maintain
ecological balance. (True/False)

(d) The stories from our mythologies taught us about …

Read the following passage carefully:

1. What is Discipline? Is it absolute freedom to do what a person wants? Is freedom

regardless of consequences? Does it mean corrective action after a problem occurs or a
wrong is done? Is it imposition? Is it abuse? Does it take away freedom?

2. The answer is none of the above. Discipline does not mean that a person takes a belt and
beats up kids. That is madness. Discipline is loving firmness. It is direction. It is prevention
before a problem arises. It is harnessing and channelising energy for great performance.
Discipline is not something you do to but you do for those you care about.

3. Discipline is an act of love. Sometimes you have to be unkind to be kind: Not all medicine
is sweet, not all surgery is painless, but we have to take it. We need to learn from nature. We
are all familiar with that big animal, the–giraffe. A mama giraffe gives birth to a baby giraffe,
standing. All of a sudden, the baby falls on a hard surface from the cushion of mama’s womb,
and sits on the ground. The first thing mama does is to get behind the baby and give him a
hard kick. The baby gets up, but his legs are weak and Wobbly and the baby falls down.
Mama goes behind again and gives him one more kick. The baby gets up but sits down again.
Mama keeps kicking till the baby gets on its feet and starts moving. Why? Because mama
knows that the only chance of survival for the baby in the jungle is to get on its feet.
Otherwise it will be eaten up by wildcats and become dead meat.

4. Children brought up in a loving, disciplined environment end up respecting their parents

more and become law–abiding citizens. The reverse is just as true. Good parents are not
afraid of momentary dislikes by children to enforce the subject. Allowing a child to eat a box
of chocolate could lead to sickness. At the same time, the discipline of eating one or two
pieces a day can be an enjoyable experience for a longer time. Our instinct makes us do
whatever we want regardless of the consequences. Freedom is not procured by a full
enjoyment of what is desired but controlling the desire.

1. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions in 30–
40 words each:

(a) ) What according to the writer is not discipline?

(b) How can we prevent a problem from Surfacing?
(c) Why do you think a mama giraffe kicks her baby immediately after birth?
(d) What is the role played by parents in creating law–abiding citizens?

2. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer of the following:

(a) In para 1, the word ‘corrective’ means ……………………….. .

(i) improve
(ii) remedial
(iii) medicinal
(iv) therapeutic

b) In para 4, the opposite of ‘incapacity is ……………………….. .

(i) enforce
(ii) procured
(iii) instinct
(iv) controlling

(c) Discipline means not only absolute freedom but also a corrective action after a problem
occurs. (True/False)
d) Discipline brings true freedom by ……………………….. .

SECTION – B

WRITING AND GRAMMAR

1. Write a story in about 150-200 words with the following beginning and give a
suitable title to it.

Rahul was alone at home. Suddenly the phone rang …………………….

2. Write a story in about 150-200 words with the following beginning and give a
suitable title to it.

It had been over two hours waiting for the train. Ruhi was getting restless. Suddenly
she………………………

3. The traits of a musician are given in the box overleaf. Use these and write a short
biography in about 100 -150 words. You may collect more information from the
Internet, books in the library and other sources.

A.R. Rahman: Indian composer, singer, songwriter, music producer, musician and

philanthropist; born.in Chennai on 6 January 1967; graduated from Trinity College, Oxford

University; famous in integrating Indian classical music with electronic music, world music

and traditional orchestral arrangements; recipient of the Padmashri and the Padma Vibhushan

awards; two Oscars and a Golden Globe; a notable humanitarian and philanthropist; donates

and raises money for a number of causes and charities.

4. You happen to visit Bhallard in the foothills of Kumaon. You collected details about this
place. Write a descriptive paragraph on the basis of the following inputs in 100-150 words.
You Head To Bhallard, In The Kumaon Foothills

Fact File

 Nearest Airport : New Delhi

 Nearest Railway Station : Kathgodam (KKDM). Tickets are always in demand and need to
be booked well in advance. By
 Road : From Delhi, NH 24 to Moradabad and Rampur and NH 87 to Kathgodam; via
Bhimtal to Ramgarh and from there to Nathuakhan via Talla (lower) Ramgarh; From
Nathuakhan, 4 km on the road towards Hartola is Bhallard village.
 Facilities : Tourist attractions abound in several places : Nainital, Bhimtal, Sattal, Ramgarh,
Almora. A few home-stay options are available and need to be “identified”.
 Attractions : Natural beauty is witnessed in its abundance in this region. Lakes with boating
facilities abound : for example Nainital, Bhimtal and Sattal. The Kumaon hills are wonderful for
trekkers, bird watchers, nature enthusiasts and many an unspoilt hill-path beckons you. Orchards
and fruit-laden trees abound in the Nathuakhan/Bhallard area.
 Aah ! Himalaya home-stay : The Aah ! Himalaya home-stay package (including breakfast,
lunch, dinner and laundry) costs ?4,000/- for a couple per night. Up to two children (under 12)
go free; children, older than 12 are charged a supplementary fee of ?500 per night. Single home-
stays are charged at ?2500 per night, Home-Stays are always pre-arranged with the owner!

5. You are Niah. You happened to go to Agra on a crowded bus on a hot summer day.

Record your experience in 100-150 words in your diary.

6. You are Ameya / Ram . You won the Best Student Award this year. Make a diary entry in

100-150 words expressing your feelings.

GRAMMAR
1. Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences.
The first one has been done as an example for you.

other species/ human species/the/of/ many/ the/ very existence/ is threatening.

The human species is threatening the very existence of many other species.

I. of nature/biodiversity/the/is/variety of life forms/interact to support/ that/ and sustain/

balance/ the

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II.consumed/as/grows,/ more and more of / Earth’s/ the / resources/ are/ human population/the

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II. extinction/ crisis / explosive/ an/ consumption / had led / growth and / an

III. that have/ Earth’s history/ mass extinctions / the/ threatens/ periodically during/ occurred/
the/and to surpass

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IV. one everyday/ scientists/ that/ estimate/ rate off species are disappearing/ the / at

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Choose one suitable word from the given options to complete the paragraph:

It’s in (a)_____middle of (b)_____night on (c)_____edge of the world. On the fringes of

civilization, where man and beast have barely left (d) _____mark, 12 people are sleeping in small
nylon tents pitched in the scant shelter of (e)_____mountains. The camp is at (f)_____mercy of
the elements, (g)_____are volunteers who have set up camp to help gather (h)_____ information
on (i)_____the snow leopard population. These conservationists have had very (j)_____or no
scientific training. They, along with (k)_____guides intend to assess (l)_____ snow leopards
habitat in (m)_______ Altai region, Siberia.

a) (i) X
(ii) a
(iii) an
(iv) the

b) (i) the
(ii) some
(iii) a
(iv) one

(c) (i) a
(ii) an
(iii) the
(iv) X

(d) (i) their’s

(ii) their
(iii) his
(iv) our

(e) (i) a
(ii) X(iii) the
(iv) some

(f) (i) X
(ii) a
(iii) an
(iv) the

(g) (i) This

(ii) There
(iii) That
(iv) These

(h) (i) some

(ii) few
(iii) X
(iv) a few
(i) (i) X
(ii) a
(iii) an
(iv) the

(j) (i) a little

(ii) few
(iii) some.
(iv) little

(k) (i) there

(ii) their
(iii) they’re
(iv) these

l) (i) the
(ii) a
(iii) an
(iv) X

(m) (i) an
(ii) a
(iii) X
(iv) the

3. Complete the following passage with the most appropriate words from the options
given.

An ATM, or Automated Teller is (a) …………………….. (a, an, the, no word) simple
machine which (b) ……………. (acting, acted, acts, is acted) as an extension of a bank
even (c) …………….. (as, which, when, where) the bank is closed. The machine (d)
…………… (was, is, has been, should be) usually placed (e) …………….. (at, of, in, on) a
small room with a security guard stationed outside. You can (f) ……………… (withdraw,
withdrawal, withdrawn, withdrew) money from your account, deposit cheques, order (g)
…………….. (a, an, the, no word) cheque book, get (h) ………………….. (my, our,
somebody’s, your) account statements etc. The ATMs work round the year 24 hours a day.

4. Read the following sentences. Each sentence has four words underlined.
Select one underlined word that is incorrect and write it in the space
provided. The first one has been done as an example:

5. Rearrange the jumbled words to form meaningful sentences. Rewrite the sentences
using appropriate punctuation marks:
(a) in 2004 / the Nobel Peace prize / Dr. Wangari Maathai / was awarded
_______________________________________________

(b) towards sustainable development / the award / was in / her service / recognition of
_______________________________________________

(c) Nairobi’s Uhuni Park / in 1989 / saved / single-handedly / she

_______________________________________________

(d) which is an NGO / she is / the Green Belt Movement / the founder of
_______________________________________________

(e) at the grassroots / environmental issues / the Green Belt Movement / works / on
various/ level

(f) has earned / Dr. Wangari Maathai / “Tree Mother of Africa” / the title
_______________________________________________

6. Look at the notes given below and complete the paragraph that follows by
choosing the correct option from the choices given:
Kamala Das also (a)_______________ is (b)_______________She (c)_____________
‘My Story’ when she was 42 years old. Her autobiography (d)________________ into
many foreign languages.
(a) (i) called as Kamala Suraiyya
(ii) known by Kamala Suraiyya
(iii) known as Kamala Suraiyya
(iv) said as Kamala Suraiyya

(b) (i) famous Indian writer

(ii) a famous Indian writer
(iii) the famous Indian writer
iv) famous as an Indian writer

(c) (c) (i) published her autobiography titled

(ii) published an autobiography titled
(iii) published an autobiography as
(iv) published an autobiography as
(d) (d) (i) is being translated
(ii) will be translated
(iii) have been translated
(iv) has been translated

SECTION- C
LITERATURE READER

BEEHIVE
LESSON -1 THE FUN THEY HAD

I. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. He was around the little man with a red face and a whole box of tools with dials
and wires. He smiled at Margie and gave her an apple, then took the teacher apart.
Margie had hoped he wouldn’t know how to put it together again,

Questions
(i)Who is ‘he’ here?
(ii) Why did the man have a box of tools?
(iii) Why did he take the teacher apart?
(iv) What was Margie’s hope?

2. The Inspector had smiled after he was finished and patted Margie’s head. He said to her
mother, “It’s not the little girl’s fault, Mrs Jones. I think the geography sector was geared a
little too quick”.
Questions
(i)Why did the Inspector pat Margie’s head?
(ii)Who was Mrs Jones?
(iii) What did the Inspector say to Mrs Jones?
(iv) Why did Margie not do good in geography?

II. ANSWER EACH OF THESE QUESTIONS IN A SHORT PARAGRAPH. (30-40

WORDS)

1. What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have?

2. Why was Margie doing badly in Geography? What did the County Inspector do to help
her?
3. How does Tommy describe the old kind of school?

III. ANSWER EACH OF THESE QUESTIONS IN TWO OR THREE PARAGRAPHS

(100-150 WORDS)

1. Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have
been fun?
2. What are the main features of the mechanical teachers and the school rooms that
Margie and Tommy have in the story?
THE SOUND OF MUSIC -PART 1
EVELYNN GLENNIE – DEBORAH COWLEY
Read the extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow;
1.Forbes repeated the exercise, and soon Evelyn discovered that she could sense certain
notes in different parts of her
body. "I had learnt to open my mind and body to sounds and vibrations.” The rest was
sheer determination and hardwork.

a.Who was Forbes?

b. Why did Ron Forbes repeat the exercise?

c.What did Evelyn learn after the exercise?

d.Pick out a word from the passage which means the same as 'willpower.
.....

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Which train was Evelyn waiting for on the underground train platform? How did
she feel when she sensed the train approaching?

2. When was Evelyn’s deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?

Or
How did Evelyn’s parents come to discover her deafness?

3.Who wiped Evelyn to continue with music? What did he do and say?

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Describe Evelyn’s achievements. What helped her overcome her problems?
2. How does Evelyn acknowledge her success? How is she a source of inspiration for
the handicapped? What do you learn from her life?

THE SOUND OF MUSIC PART-II

THE SHEHNAI OF BISMILLAH KHAN

READ THE FOLLOWING EXTRACTS CAREFULLY AND ANSWER THE

QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW:

1. Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of a musical instrument called pungi in the
royal residence for it had a shrill unpleasant sound. Pungi became the generic name
for dreaded noisemakers. Few had thought that it would one day be revived.
a. Pungi was banned for its……….
b. …………… tried to improve the tonal quality of Pungi.
c. Write true or fallse
Pungi became a very common name and was often associated with people who were
great characters.
d. In the above lines the word ………. means same as ‘restored to lifge or
consciousness’.

2. Ustad Bismillah Khan’s life is a perfect example of the rich cultural heritage of
India.
a. Write true or false.
Ustad Bismillah Khan’s life is exemplary.
b. His life depicts ………….
c. The word that is the same as ‘ inheritance’ is …………
d. The opposite of the word ‘imperfect’ is ………………
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. How did Shehnai different from Pungi?
2. Why did Bismillah Khan stop scoring music for movies?
3. What was Bismillah Khan’s achievement when he was just five-years old?
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Describe in brief the early life of Bismillah Khan, his achievements and the
various awards that were conferred on him in later years.
2. Strong determination, motivation and right direction helped Bismillah Khan in
being what he was. Do you agree? How important are these characteristic traits
in our life?

THE LITTLE GIRL

EXTRACTS

1. And she was dragged down to where Father was pacing to and fro, hands behind his
back.
“Well?” he said sharply.

(i) Who is ‘he’ here?

a. Kezia’s father b. servant c. Father’s assistant
(ii) Why was she making a ‘pin-cushion’?
a. She is making it present for mother on her birthday.
b. She is preparing it to present her father on his birthday.
c. She is making it for her grandmonther.
(iii) Why were the servants questioned by her father?
a. Because his purse was missing.
b. Because his great speech was missing.
c. Because his things have misplaced.
(iv) What quality of her is reflected in the above lines?
a. She had a great love for her father.
b. She had a great love for her mother.
c. She is stubborn.
2. Slowly the girl would slip down the stairs, more slowly still across the hall, and push
open the drawing-room door.
By that time he had his spectacles on and looked at her over them in a way that was
terrifying to the little girl.

Questions
(i) Name the lesson.
a. The Little Girl b. The Lost Child c. The Fun They Had
(ii) What did the little girl’s mother tell her?
a. She told her to come down and take off her father’s boots.
b. She told her to come down for dinner.
c. She told her to com down and clean the room.
(iii) Where was her father?
a. He was in the bedroom.
b. He was in the drawing room.
c. He was in the courtyard.
iv) Why was her father’s look terrifying for her?

a. Her father’s look was terrifying for her because she was afraid of him.
b. Her father’s look was terrifying for her because she hates him.
c. Her father’s look was terrifying for her because he is strict.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. What was Kezia’s father’s routine before going to office and after coming back in
the evening?

2. What was the nightmare that Kezia had?

3. Why did Kezia always stutter while talking to her father?

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Why did kezia like Mr. Macdonald and hate her father?

2. Do you think Kezia was at fault when she tore up the important papers of her
father? Why/ Why not?
A TRULY BEAUTIFUL MIND

EXTRACTS

1. Albert Einstein was not a bad pupil. He went to high school in Munich, where
Einstein’s family had moved when he was 15 months old, and scored good marks in
almost every subject. Einstein hated the school’s regimentation, and often clashed
with his teachers. At the age of 15, Einstein felt so stifled there that he left the school
for good.

i. Why did Albert hate his school?

a. Due to school’s discipline
b. Owing to his teachers
c. Owing to the traditional methods
d. All of these
ii. What does the phrase ‘For good’ mean?
a. For few days
b. For some days
c. For ever
d. None of these
iii. How was Albert Einstein at studies at school?
a. Good
b. Better than others
c. The best
d. None of these

2. Einstein was deeply shaken by the extent of the destruction. This time
he wrote a public missive to the United Nations. In it he proposed the
formation of a world government. Unlike the letter to Roosevelt, this
one made no impact. But over the next decade, Einstein got ever more
involved in politics agitating for an end to the arms buildup and using
his popularity to campaign for peace and democracy.

i. What does the word ‘missive’ mean?

a. Report
b. Article
c. Letter
d. All of these
ii. At what age did Albert Einstein die?
a. 74
b. 75
c. 76
d. 77
iii.
What did Albert promote during his politics career?
a. Peace
b. Democracy
c. To end the arms build up
d. All of these
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS.

1. Who is a ‘freak’ ? Why did Einstein’s mother think him to be a freak?

2. Why did Einstein’s playmates call him ‘Brother Boring’?
Or
Why did Einstein play all alone when he was a child?
3. What was the opinion of the school headmaster about Einstein?

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Write a short note on Einstein’s education from school to university?

2. Which values does the life of Einstein teach you?

THE SNAKE AND THE MIRROR

EXTRACTS

1. I got up, paced up and down the room. Then another lovely thought stuck me.
I would marry. I would get married to a woman doctor who had plenty of
money and a good medical practice. She had to be fat; for a valid reason. If I
made some silly mistake and needed to run away she should not be able to run
after me and catch me!

i. What lovely thought came to the mind of the narrator?

ii. What educational qualification the narrator wanted his wife to have?
iii. Which physical attribute the narrator wanted her wife to possess?
iv. Which word in the extract is antonym of ‘wise’?

2. Death lurked four inches away. Suppose it struck, what was the medicine I
had to take? There were no medicines in the room. But I was a poor, foolish
and stupid doctor. I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself.

i. To whom does the word ’it’ refer to?

ii. What medicine the narrator is referring to?
iii. Please write three adjectives narrator has used for himself.
iv. Why did the narrator smile at himself?

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Why did the doctor lives in a small, poor house?
2. “The sound was a familiar one.” What sound did the doctor
hear? What did he think it was? How many times did he hear it?
When and why did the sounds stop?

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Did the doctor find his encounter with the snake humorous or
frightening or both? What aspects- of human nature are revealed
here?
2. Why did the doctor, according to you, keep on looking into the
mirror? How important is appearance in your opinion? Should we
spend time in making ourselves look handsome?

MY CHILDHOOD

READ THE EXTRACTS CAREFULLY AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT

FOLLOW;

1. Lakshmana Sastry 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 to either apologise or quit
the school and the island. Not only did the teacher regret his behavior, but the strong
sense of conviction Lakshmana Sastry conveyed ultimately reformed this younger
teacher.

i. Why did Lakshmana Sastry lambast the teacher?

a. For creating equality among children.

b. For spreading love among children
c. For creating discrimination among students
d. All of these

ii. What does the word ‘apologise’ mean?

a. To feel proud
b. To feel sorry
c. To feel sad
d. To feel angry
iii. Who was Lakshmana Sastry?
a. Junior priest of Rameswaram temple
b. High priest of the Rameswaram temple
c. High priest of the Tirupati Balaji temple
d. None of these

iv. How did the new teacher react to the lesson taught by the high priest?

a. He rebelled
b. He regreted his way of dealing with students
c. He decided to go against the high priest
d. All of these

EXTRACT -2

He told me as if thinking aloud, ‘Abul ! I know you have to go away to grow. Does the
seagull fly across the sun, alone and without a nest?’ He quoted Khalil Gibran to my
heststant mother. ‘Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of
Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you. You may give them
your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts”.

i. By what name Abdul Kalam’s father call him?

a. Abdul
b. Abdul Kalam
c. Abul
d. None of these

ii. What did Abdul Kalam’s father believe in ?

a. Autocracy
b. Freedom
c. Slavery
d. None of these

iii. What does the adverb ‘aloud’ mean?

a. To say slowly
b. To say quickly
c. To say hastily
d. None of these

iv. Who was hesitant to send Abdul Kalam away?

a. His mother
b. His father
c. His friends
d. His brother

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Kalam’s childhood was a secure one both materially and emotionally. Illustrate.

2. How does Abdul Kalam describe his mother?

3. How did the Second World War give Abdul Kalam the opportunity to earn his first
wages?

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Narrate the incident of new teacher’s behaviour in the classroom. Was his action
appropriate? What values did the new teacher learn after that incident?

2. Why did the narrator’s father say, “Does the seagull not fly across the sun, alone
and without a nest”?

POEMS
THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

READ THE EXTRACTS CAREFULLY AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

THAT BFOLLOW:

1. “Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,”

(a) How was the other road?

(b) Why did the second road present a better claim than the first?

(c) What is the rhyme scheme of the given lines?

(d) What does the poet mean by ‘as just as fair’?

e )How do you understand the expression ‘grassy and wanted wear’?

(e) In which sense were the two roads similar?

f) Identify the poetic device used in the expression ‘wanted wear’.

2. Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less travelled by
And that has made all the difference.

a. What will the narrator tell “with a sigh”?

b. Why does the narrator say, “And that has made all the difference”?
c. What did the poet wish to do when he takes the road that he has not been
able to do?
d. Which poetic device defines the roads in the wood?

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Discuss “ leaves no step had trodden black”.

2. Where does the two roads diverge? What was the difficulty?

3. “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood’. Explain the phrases ‘yellow wood’
and ‘two roads’.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Discuss the title of the poem “The Road Not Taken”. Is it appropriate
for the poem?

2. What is the moral presented by the poet in the poem ‘The Road Not
Taken’?

WIND

EXTRACTS
1. There, look what you did – you threw them all down.

You tore the pages of the books.

You brought rain again.
You’re very clever at poking fun at weaklings.

a. Whom does the poet address as ‘you’?

b. What does ‘them’ refer to?
c. How have the pages of the books been torn? How does the wind bring rain?

d. How does the wind deal with the weaklings?

2. He won’t do what you tell him.

So, come, let’s build strong homes,
Let’s joint the doors firmly.
Practise to firm the body.
Make the heart steadfast.

a) Who is ‘he’ in the first line?

(b) According to the poet, what preparations should be made to face the fury of the
wind?

(c) What is his attitude towards people?

(d) Why should the houses and doors be made strong?

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. How does the poet describe the wind in the poem “Wind”?
2. ‘Practise to firm the body. Make the heart steadfast’. Explain.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. What kind of destruction can be caused by violent wind?

2. Why does the poet suggest to the people that they have to be strong? Write
your answer in the context of the poem, ‘Wind’.
RAIN ON THE ROOF

EXTRACTS

When the humid shadows hover

Overall the starry spheres
And the melancholy darkness
Gently weeps in rainy tears,
What a bliss to press the pillow
Of a cottage-chamber bed
And like listening to the patter
Of the soft rain overhead!

a. What does the poet imply by “humid shadow?

b. What does the phrase “starry spheres” refer to?

(c) What does the poet consider to be a ‘bliss’ in the rainy season?
(d) Which poetic device has been used in “lie listening”?

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. “And a thousand dreamy fancies int6o busy heart”, When does the “thousand
dreamy fancies’ begin in the poet’s heart?
2. How does the poet describe the falling rain in the poem ‘Rain on the Roof’?

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. How does the rain affect the poet? Describe.

2. How does the poet react to the sound of the rain falling on the roof?
Or
What is the effect of the sound of the rain on the heart and mind of the poet?

THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE

EXTRACTS
1. I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee- loud glade.

i) Name the poem and the poet.

ii) Where does the poet wish to go?
(iii) What sort of house will the poet build there?
(iv) What will the poet do for the honeybee?
(iv) Who else will live with the poet there?

2. I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in deep heart’s core.

a. The poet hears the low sounds of ……………. its shore.

i. Ocean water lapping ii. Lake water lapping

b. The figure of speech in line 2 is ……………..

i. Repetition ii. Alliteration iii. Anaphoraa

c. Write true or false

The low sound attracts him towards the lake.

d. The word ……………. in the stanza means the same as ‘ striking’.

i. Arise ii. Lapping iii. Pavements

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Why does the poet hear the music of the waves standing on the roadway?

2. What pictures do the words expressing sights and sounds, as used by the poet,
create in your mind?

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. How does the poet capture the sights and sounds of the Lake Isle of Innisfree?
2. How can we make our lives enjoyable? Discuss with reference to the poem
“The Lake Isle of Innisfree”.

A LEGEND OF THE NORTHLAND

EXTRACTS

1. Away, away in the Northland,

Where the hours of the day are few.
And the nights are so long in winter,
That they cannot sleep them through;

a. The place being talked aboujt is ………..

b. In this region days are short and the nights are………..
c. In line 4 ‘they’ refers to the people who live in this region.
d. A synonym for ‘away, away’ can be ………………….

2. Once, when the good Saint Peter

Lived in the world below,
And walked about it, preaching,
Just as he did, you know,

a. The above line talks about………

b. That time he used to ………… in this world.
c. Write true or false
He used to roam around giving religious sermons to the people.
d. Name the poem and the poet.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. How was the woman punished by St. Peter?

2. ‘And the children look like bear’s cubs.’ What have the children been
compared to? Why?

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Briefly narrate the legend of old woman and St. Peter.

2. What is the message of the poem ‘ A Legend of the Northland’?
NO MEN ARE FOREIGN

READ THE EXTRACTS CAREFULLY AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT

FOLLOW.

1. They, too, aware of sun and air and water,

Are fed by peaceful harvests, by war’s long winter starv’d
Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read
A labour not different from our own.

a. People of all countries are dependent on sun, air and water for their………
b. Each and everyone has seen periods of ………. And periods of war.
c. Write true or false

The division of labour is just superficial. Inside , we all are one in spirit and soul.

d. The word ……………. in the above stanza means the same as ‘tranquil’.

2. Let us remember, whenever we are told

To hate our brothers, it is ourselves
That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn
Remember , we who take arms against each other

a. What does the word ‘dispossess’ mean?

b. How do we cheat ourselves according to the poet?
c. What are the aftereffects of war according to the poet?
d. What does the word ‘ betray’ mean?

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. How do all human beings live and suffer the same?

2. How does the poet compare life with others in stanza III of the poem ‘No Men Are
Foreign’?

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. .In the James Kirkup’s poem “No Men Are Foreign” explain the poet’s use of the
word uniform.

2. How are all men our brothers?

SUPPLEMENTARY READER – MOMENTS

LESSON-1 THE LOST CHILD
SHORT QUESTIONS:
1. What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair?
2. Why does the child lag behind?
3. When does the child realize that he had lost his way?
4. How was the boy’s reaction to the attractions of the fair different after getting
separated from his parents?

LONG QUESTIONS:
1. Do you think the title of the story is appropriate?
2. Describe the character of the child as depicted in the story.

LESSON-2 ADVENTURES OF TOTO

SHORT QUESTIONS:
1. How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo?
2. Why could not Toto and Nana become friends?
3. How did Toto solve for taking bathe almost led to his being half-boiled?
4. Why did the grandfather return Toto?

LONG QUESTIONS:

1. ‘’Toto was not good enough to be kept at home’’.Do you agree to this
statement? Why/ Why not?
2. Grandfather was a great lover of pet. Elaborate.

LESSON-3 ISWARAN THE STORY TELLER

SHORT QUESTIONS:
1. Who was Mahendra? What did he do?
2. How did Iswaran manage to make even the simplest incident interesting?
Give anexample?
3. How did Iswaran add a prologue to his story of an elephant?
4. Why did Mahendra decide to leave the haunted place the very next day?

LONG QUESTIONS:
1. How was Iswaran more than a cook to Mahendra?
2. Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination? What happens to
him on a full moon night?
LESSON-4-IN THE KINGDOM OF FOOLS

SHORT QUESTIONS:
1. What things were different in the kingdom of fools?
2. Who was finally blamed for the crime and why?
3. Why was it decided to execute the disciple?
4. How did the king and his minister die in place of the guru and his disciple?

LONG QUESTIONS:
1. Why did the disciple decide to stay in the kingdom of fools? Was this a good idea?
What does it reveal about his character?
2. What were the guru’s words of wisdom? When does the disciple remember them?

LESSON-5- THE HAPPY PRINCE

SHORT QUESTIONS:
1. Why was the statue called ‘’The Happy Prince’’?
2. Why did the happy prince request the swallow to stay with him for the night?
3. How did the swallow give comfort to the son of the seamstress?
4. What did the swallow do when he realized that he was going to die?

LONG QUESTIONS:
1. Why is the frost called a ‘’dreadfully hard frost’’?
2. Comment on the title of the story. Was the prince really happy?

Lesson -6 – A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME

SHORT QUESTIONS:
1. Why did the narrator feel awkward during his first year of high school?
2. Why did the narrator’s mother run back into the burning house?
3. What surprised the narrator in school the day after his house burnt down?
4. Why had the woman been trying to contact the writer?

LONG QUESTIONS:
1. What are the changes observed in the writer’s attitude from the time her house is
burnt , till it is rebuilt?
2. What is the meaning of the sentence ‘’My cat was back, and so was I’’? Had the
writer gone somewhere? Why does she say that she is also back?