SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT I (2011)
ENGLISH COMMUNICATIVE - Class IX
SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER

Maximum Marks: 90
Time: 3 hours

The question paper is divided into four sections.
Section A: Reading 20 marks
Section B: Writing 25 marks
Section C: Grammar 20 marks
Section D: Literature 25 marks

SECTION A  - (READING – 20 MARKS)

Q1. Read the following passage carefully: (10 marks)

School used to be all about writing, whether it was the exercise books we wrote in or the notes we passed around. But not any more. Now it’s all about typing. Learning your QWERTY is almost as important as learning your ABC.

So, when my daughter came home last year with cursive handwriting homework, I was nonplussed. Cursive writing was originally developed to make it easier for children to write with a quill. By joining up the letters, it kept the quill on the parchment and minimized ink blots. But my daughter writes with a laptop. I explained as much to her teacher at the next parents’ day.

But the teacher explained that research suggests that the process of writing information down on paper, by hand, has a more direct effect on the formation of memories in the learning process than typing. Taking notes in class is still the most effective way to learn. It’s a better way to store the skills for written language in a child’s brain than pressing keys.

She went on to say, “But that doesn’t mean that one should ditch computers. Children should be taught to touch-type early on. She just feels that learning is aided by the physical act of writing. Authors often write their first draft by hand. Whether it’s to do with the pace of thought, or some kind of stimulation the physical act has, we don’t know. But it’s a fact.”

The French would doubtless agree. They love their handwriting. Teachers in France believe that fluency with a pen ‘unlocks the mind’ and they spend more time on writing than reading between the ages of three and eight.

We teach children the formation of letters and the appropriate joining strokes. But after a few years we leave them on their own devices, just as the written workload starts to increase. That’s when the bad habits set in.

But as proper writing becomes rarer, spending some time improving your handwriting is a good investment. In the future, sending a handwritten letter will be a display of affluence and class, which is why the sale of fountain pens is reviving.

I Answer the following questions briefly: (6 marks)

1. Today handwriting is not given much importance as_____________________ .
2. The author was nonplused when his daughter came home with cursive handwriting homework as he felt that _______________________________ .
3. The teacher felt differently because ______________________________ .
4. Cursive writing was introduced as it ________________________________ .
5. Although children are taught to write at an early age, they do not have legible handwriting when they grow older as _____________________________ .
6. Learning your QWERTY means _________________________ .

II Fill in the blanks with ONE word only: (2 marks)
The point the author is trying to make here is that the importance of the computer cannot be (a) ____________ , but handwriting is (b) ______________ important as, not only does it (c) ____________ the learning, it also displays (d) ____________ .

III. Find a word in the passage that means the following: (2 marks)

a) taken aback / surprised
b) feather

Q2. Read the following poem carefully: (5 marks)

Once upon a time, son
They used to laugh with their hearts
And laugh with their eyes;
But now they laugh only with their teeth,
While their ice-block-cold eyes
Search behind my shadow.

There was a time indeed
They used to shake hands with their hearts;
But that’s gone, son.
Now they shake hands without their hearts
While their left hands search
My empty pockets.

“Feel at home”, “Come again,”
They say, and when I come
Again and feel at home, once,
Twice, there will be no thrice –
For then I find doors shut on me.

So, I have learnt many things, son.
I have learnt to wear many faces
Like dresses – home-face,
Office-face, street-face, host-face,
Cocktail-face, with all their conforming smiles
Like a fixed portrait smile.

And I have learnt, too.
To laugh with only my teeth
And shake hands without my heart.
I have also learnt to say ‘Goodbye’
When I mean ‘Good – riddance’;
To say ‘Glad to meet you’
Without being glad; and to say ‘It’s been
Nice talking to you’, after being bored.

Believe me, son
I want to be what I used to be
When I was like you. I want
To unlearn all these muting things.
Most of all I want to relearn
How to laugh, for my laugh in the mirror
Shows only my teeth like a snake’s bare fangs!

So show me, son
How to laugh; show me how
I used to laugh and smile
Once upon a time when I was like you.

Gabriel Okara

Answer the following questions by choosing an appropriate option from those given below:

1. The father also ‘wears many faces’ as he:
a. wants to imitate others b. wants to hide his feelings
c. wants to wear a portrait smile d. doesn’t like the face he has

2. The father yearns to laugh like
a. a child b. his son
c. other people d. he used to when he was young

3. The father appeals to his son as
a. he doesn’t laugh anymore
b. his laughter does not reflect his feelings
c. he is old and can no longer laugh like a child
d. he has forgotten how to laugh

4. The poem clearly conveys that
a. appearances are deceptive b. people are actors
c. children teach adults d. when you grow up you have to relearn things

5. The human behaviour being discussed here is
a. dishonesty b. benevolence
c. hypocrisy d. friendliness

Q3. Read the following passage carefully: (5 marks)

By the time our delayed train reached and I disembarked with my father and baby Lavanya, it was well past midnight. It was cold, dark and foggy. My husband, Manas, who was to receive us, was nowhere in sight, Soon the platform became deserted.

Then, a burly man approached us and offered to carry our bags. He wasn’t wearing the usual porter’s red shirt and tag, and though I was wary, my father decided to hire him. Leaving Lavanya and me with the man, my father went to look for Manas. I took a closer look at the man and felt apprehensive. He was big and hairy, his face was pock-marked and his eyes looked bloodshot.

Just then Lavanya, who had been sleeping in my arms, awoke, and turned to look at the porter. He gave her a playful smile and held out his arms. I thought she’d start crying and held her closer. But she smiled back and twisted herself out of my arms into his.

Now I was really scared. What if he ran away with my baby? He must have sensed my fear and, even before I reached out to take Lavanya back, he handed her to me. Turning around, he mumbled that though everyone was scared of him, yet my innocent baby had accepted him. His eyes had tears in them. I didn’t know what to say.

At that moment my father returned with Manas. The man picked up our bags and walked towards the car park. As we followed him, I asked Manas to pay him a little extra. But, having put our luggage in the car, the man refused to take payment from us. Coming up to me, he placed his hand on my baby’s head for a moment as if to say, ‘God bless you!’ and walked away.

Answer the following questions by choosing an appropriate option from those given below:

1. The author was apprehensive when a man approached her as
a. he was scary looking b. her father was not with her
c. he was drunk with bloodshot eyes d. her husband was nowhere  in sight

2. The man refused payment because
a. the money offered was less b. he was not a porter
c. he sensed the woman’s fears d. the baby had come to him

3. The man handed the baby back to the lady as
a. he feared the baby would start crying
b. she reached out for the baby
c. he realized that she was scared
d. his eyes had suddenly filled up with tears

4. This incident made the author realize that one should
a. not be scared of strangers
b. only take the services of a regular porter
c. not allow strangers to handle their children
d. not judge people by their appearances

5. ‘Apprehensive’ means
a. appreciative b. fearful
c. happy d. sad

SECTION B  (WRITING – 25 MARKS)

Q4. You are the president of the Environment Club of your school. The club is organizing a three day trip to Jim Corbett Park. In about 50 words write a notice for the students of Std. IX informing them about the trip. Also give other necessary details. (4 marks)

Q5. A well dressed gentleman came to meet your father but he was not at home. He did not give his name. All he said was that he and your father had studied together in college, and had not met for the last 15 years. He promised to come again tomorrow.

In about 100 words, give a description of this gentleman to your father to help him identify his old friend. (6 marks)

 

Q6. You travelled for the first time in a train and that too alone. Write an e-mail to a friend in about 120 words describing your experience. (7 marks)

From:
To:
Subject:
My dear Ashu

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Love :
Sunit Sehgal:

Q7. There was a storm brewing outside and you were all alone at home. Suddenly the lights went out…..
In about 150 words, write a story. You could use some of the phrases given below. (8 marks)

jumped in fright              disappeared in a flash
screamed in horror         scared the daylight out of me
to my relief                     touched something eerie

SECTION C (GRAMMAR – 20 MARKS)

Q8. Complete the passage by choosing the correct option from those given in brackets: (1/2 x 8 = 4 marks)

The city police (a) ________ decided to (b) ________ stern action against drivers (c) _________ attempt to overtake (d) _____________ the left (e) _____________ city roads. All drivers who (f) _________ this rule will be punished. The first offence will (g) _________ penalty. The second will incur (h) _________ of the driving license.

a. (i) had (ii) has (iii) have (iv) is
b. (i) take (ii) taking (iii) too (iv) taken
c. (i) whose (ii) who (iii) which (iv) those
d. (i) in (ii) to (iii) over (iv) from
e. (i) in (ii) over (iii) on (iv) by
f. (i) vitiate (ii) violate (iii) violent (iv) violence
g. (i) inviting (ii) invitation (iii) invite (iv) invited
h. (i) cancelling (ii) cancellation (iii) cancel (iv) cancelled

Q9. Complete the conversation by choosing the correct option from those given below: (4 marks)

Tourist: Hello. I wish to know the tours your company offers.
Travel agent: Hello, Sir. Could you tell me which (a) _____________________?
Tourist: Bangalore and Mysore.
Travel agent: (b) _________________________________ Sir?
Tourist: No, I prefer a 3 - 4 day trip.
Travel agent: Please go through this brochure and see what you like.
Tourist: Thank you. (He goes through the brochure and asks) (c) ________?
Travel agent: Rupees eight thousand, Sir.
Tourist: (d) _________________________________ include travel expenses?
Travel agent: No Sir, we provide only accommodation.

a. (i) places you would like to visit. (ii) places you are liking to  visit.
(iii) places you are likely to visit. (iv) places you are to visit.

b. (i) For a week (ii) From a week
(iii) for how long (iv) For how many days

c. (i) Tell me the cost of the trip (ii) What should be the cost  of the trip
(iii) What would be the cost of the trip (iv) Cost please

d. (i) Should that (ii) Could that
(iii) Would that (iv) Can that

Q10. The following passage has not been edited. There is ONE error in each of the first nine lines. Write the incorrect word and the correction as given in the example against the correct blank number in your answer sheets. Also underline the correct word you have supplied. (1/2 x 4 = 4 marks)

Error Correction

eg. Singapore is located in a highest strategic highest highly
area in South-East Asia. It lay on an a. …………… …………..
important trade route. Trade was its life b …………… . …………
line. It is a major port. Goods from every c …………… …………...
East Asian countries flow in Singapore d …………… …………...
on their way for ports in Western Asia, e …………... …………...
Africa and Europe. From a Singapore docks f …………... …………..
ships carry rubber, copper, timber and spices g …………... …………..
sail to other countries. Other ships bring out h …………... …………... manufactured goods and machinery from the industrial countries of the world.

Q11. Complete the following passage by filling in the blanks with ONE word only. (4 marks)

The Annual Sports Day function of Agra Public School was (a) ___________ with great enthusiasm. The Director of Sports was the chief guest (b) ______________ the occasion. He was (c) __________ by the principal and staff, as well as the Head boy and Head girl. The prizes were given (d) ________ by the chief guest’s wife.

Q12. Rearrange the following words and phrases to make meaningful sentences. The first one has been done as an example. (4 marks)

Eg. feared by / snakes are / in our / worshipped / and / many / country
Ans. Snakes are worshipped and feared by many in our country.

i. of the / are venomous / only / 300 out / species / 2700 known
j. which is / yellow liquid / water / snake venom / 90% / is a
k. expelled / poison gland / that is / it is / from the / a substance
l. of thick / are / connective / these glands / made / tissue

SECTION D - (LITERATURE – 25 MARKS)

Q13.A Read the given extract and answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate option. (3 marks)
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

1. The poet ‘looked down one’ as far as he could because he
i) was trying to see where it ended
ii) wanted to take that road
iii) was deciding which road to take
iv) was unhappy that he could not take that road too

2. The tone of the poet is one of
i) apology ii) regret iii) despair iv) anxiety
3. The roads represent the
i) difficulties one faces in life
ii) paths one takes while travelling in a forest
iii) choices in life
iv) profession one chooses

B. Read the given extract and answer the following questions. (3 marks)
By mid-April neighbours saw a daily struggle in front of Marcy’s house. Out on the side walk they saw the dog pull his leash taut, then stand and wait.
a. What was the struggle the neighbours witnessed?
b. Why did the dog stand and wait?
c. What was the final outcome of the struggle?

C. Read the given extract and answer the following questions. (3 marks)
Jeanne: What on earth have you done?
Gaston: I? Made a hundred thousand francs and a Carot!
1. How has Gaston made a hundred thousand francs?
2. Mention any two characteristics displayed by Gaston when he made a hundred thousand francs.
3. What is the Carot being referred to here?

Q14. Answer any FOUR of the following questions in about 30 – 40 words each.  (2 x 4 = 8 marks)
1. How do we know that Lord Ullin forgave his daughter for eloping with her lover?
2. What are the guesses the poet makes with regard to the Solitary Reaper’s song?
3. Why was Sudha Murty surprised when her grandmother touched her feet?
4. Which road does Robert Frost choose and why?
5. How and why does the Brook ‘bicker’?

Q15. After Duke’s death, Marcy was asked to write an article for the local newspaper. She decides to write on the topic – ‘A dog is a man’s best friend’. Write it for her in about 150 words.

OR

You are Juliette. You feel duped and cheated by Gaston. You decide to take legal action against him. Write a letter to your friend in about 150 words, sharing this incident and the action you plan to take against him. (8 marks)

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Courtesy: CBSE.NIC.IN