class IX English Language and literature for PA 1

                                            PERIODIC TEST - I (2025-26)

                                           CLASS IX

                                           ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE 

                                   SECTION A: READING

Q1--Read the passage given below:

1. The choices we make on a daily basis, like wearing a seatbelt, lifting heavy objects, correctly or

purposely staying out of any dangerous situation- can either ensure our safety or bring about

potentially harmful circumstances. You and I need to make a decision that we are going to get

our lives in order. Exercising self-control, self-discipline and establishing boundaries and borders

in our lives. Are these some of the most important things we can do? Our life without discipline

is one that is filled with carelessness.

2. We can think it's kind of exciting to live life on the edge. We like the image of "Yeah! That's

me! Living on the edge! Woo-hoo!" It has become a popular way to look at life. But if you sec,

even highways have lines, which provide margins for our safety while we are driving. If we go

over one side, we will go into the ditch. If we cross over the line in the middle, we could get

killed. And we like those lines because they help to keep us safe.

3. Sometimes we don't even realize how lines help to keep us safe. I am not proud of this, but for

the first 20 years of my life at work, I ignored my limits. I felt horrible, physically, most of the

time. I used to tell myself "I know I have limits and that I have reached them, but I am going to

ignore them and see if or how long I can get by with it." I ran to doctors trying to make my sleep

feel better through pills, vitamins and anything I could get my hands on. Some of the doctors

would tell me, "It is just stress". That made me mad. I thought stress meant you don't like what

you do, or you can't handle life, and I love what I do. But I kept pushing myself, travelling, doing

engagements and so on, simply exhausting myself.

4. Finally, I understood I was living an unsustainable life. I needed to make some changes in my

outlook and lifestyle. You and I don't have to be like everyone else or keep up with anyone else.

Each of us needs to be exactly the way we are, and we don't have to apologize for it. We are not

all alike and we need to find a comfort zone, in which we can enjoy our lives, instead of making

ourselves sick with an overload of stress and pressure.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below:

(i) The reason why living on the edge has become popular, is because of the

     A. constant need of doing something different           B. Population is much younger

    C. exhausting effort to make changes                         D. strong tendency to stay within our limits

(ii)  Which of the following characteristics are apt about the writer in the given context (para 3)

I know I have limits and that I have reached them, but I am going to ignore them and see if or how

long I can get by with it."

     1. Negligent   2. Indecisive   3.Spontancous   4. Reekless   5. Purposeless   6. Patient

        A. 2 and 5       B. 2 and 3   C. 3 and 6     D. I and 4

(iii) Select the option that makes the correct use of 'unsustainable' as used in para 4.

        A. In the long run, the unsustainable officials followed emergeney procedures.

        B. Emergency procedures were unsustainable by the officials.

       C. Officials reported an unsustainable set of events during the emergency.

       D. Officials admit that the emergeney system is unsustainable in the long run

(iv) What is the significance of road lines as mentioned in the passage? (2)

(v) What does the author mean when he says, "to get our lives in order"? (Para 1)

      A. to resume our lives     B. to reflect on our lives

     C. to organise our lives    D. to control our lives

(vi) Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of 'outlook', as used in para 4.

       1. A person's evaluation of life       2. A person's point of view towards life

3. A person's gencral attitude towards life              4. A person's regrets in life

    A. I and 2      B. 2 and 3     C. 3 and 4        D. 4 only

(vii) The author attempts to................the readers through this write up.

        A. rebuke      B. question        c. scare        D. advise

(viii) What misunderstanding did the author have about stress? (2)

                                SECTION B: GRAMMAR AND WRITING

Q2. Attempt ANY FIVE of the following questions:

(i) Identify the error and supply the correction in the sentence.

Research in renewable energy sources have gained significant momentum in recent years.

ERROR       CORRECTION

(ii) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option.

Always check the forecast so that you can be prepared for weather changes. Temperature may drop

and pressure may decrease as you.........higher.

A. climb      B. will climb      C. climbed       D. climbing

(iii) Identify the error and supply the correction.

  This guide describe features that are common to many products. Some features may be available on

the computer.

ERROR       CORRECTION

iv) Read the conversation between a teacher and a student. Complete the sentence by

reporting the student's dialogue.

       Teacher: Why have you not completed your homework

       Student: There was a long power cut in my locality.

On being asked the reason for not completing his homework, the student replied.........

(v) Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option to complete the part of a notice, posted on

the school notice board.

The Students Council election of the school for the current session......held on 10 July 2025.

A. will be      B. should bc      C. might be         D. could be

(vi) Complete the flight attendant's dialogue using reported speech.

Sameer: At what time are we landing in Mumbai?

Flight Attendant: Sorry for the inconvenience sir, the flight will be delayed by a few hours.

The flight attendant apologised for the inconvenience and further added that................

Q3. A. Write a descriptive paragraph about a person that you admire the most in about 100-

120 words

                     OR

B. You recently attended a workshop on 'The Art of Public Speaking' in your school. Write a

descriptive paragraph on the same in about 100-120 words using the hints given below. (5)

Hints: Purpose of workshop              Chief Guest     Key Learnings    Size of audience

                                         SECTION C: LITERATURE

Q4. Do any ONE of the following:

A. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveller, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

i. The tone of the poet in the above lines can be best described as:

   A. angry and bitter          B. reflective and thoughtful   

   C. joyful and carefree     D. sarcastic and humorous

ii. What does the traveller's long pause before choosing a road suggest?

    i. It shows that the traveller is unsure where to go.

    ii. It reflects the careful thought and hesitation before making a significant decision.

    iii. It shows the journey is simple.

     iv. It shows the poet's indifference in choosing the road.

A. (i) and (ii)           B. (ii) and (iv)         C. (ii) and (iii)     D. (iii) and (iv)

iii. Which poetic device has been used in line 2, 3 and 4?

A. Simile      B. Personification    C. Inversion   D. Anaphora

iv. What do the two roads symbolise?

                                       OR

B. And for all this, Evelyn won't accept any hint of heroic achievement. "If you wotk hard and

know where you are going, you will get there", It is intriguing to watch Evelyn function so

effortlessly without hearing. In our two-hour discussion she never missed a word. "Men with

bushy beards give me trouble," she laughed. It is not just watching the lips, "it's the whole

face, especially the eyes". She speaks flawlessly with a Scottish lilt. "My speech is elear

because I could hear till I was eleven," she says. But that doesn't explain how she managed to

learn French and master basic Japanese.                                                                                   (5)

i. Complete the sentence:

It has always been..............to see Evelyn perform............although she cannot hear.

A. shocking, timidly  B. comforting, swiftly      C. pleasure, hesitantly  D. fascinating, smoothly

ii. Evelyn's ability to learn French and basic Japanese shows that Evelyn

    A. values communication and is eager to learn.

    B. relics on translators in all situations.

    C. prioritises music over other skills.

    D. finds learning languages easy due to her hearing loss.

iii. Select the most appropriate option for statements 1 and 2.

    1. Evelyn emphasises hard work and having clear goals as the key to success.

    2. Evelyn believes talent alone is enough to achieve success.

    A. 1 is true and 2 is false.                        B. 1 is false and 2 is truc

    C. 1 and 2 both are true                           D. Both 1 and 2 cannot be inferred from the extract.

iv. Why did Evelyn say, "Men with bushy beards give me trouble"?                         (2)

Q5. Answer any THREE of the following in 40-50 words:

a) What is the significance of the title 'The Fun They Had"?                                     (3x3=9)

b) What message do we get from poem 'Wind'?

c) How and why did Grandfather hide Toto from Grandmother?

d) Why did Bismillah Khan leave the celluloid world after two films?

                                     OR

Discuss Bismillah Khan's contribution to the Indian Classical music.

Q6. Answer any ONE of the following in 100-120 words:                                            (6)

a) 'No worldly pleasures can substitute the comfort of being with loved ones.' Elaborate the

statement with reference to the lesson 'The Lost Child'.

                                 OR

b) Evelyn was deaf, yet her determination enabled her to become a successful musician. How

did she prove 'Where there is a will, there's a way'?