CBSE Class 9 English Reading Assignment

READING

Q1. Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

It was all about individual brilliance then; now it is just teamwork. Inflated egos ruled the dressing room then; now, it is genuine camaraderie. It was exuberant emotionalism then; now, it is refined professionalism. The Indian Hockey Team that won the gold in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games and the one that won gold in the Indian games on October 2 are poles apart.

The 1990s was a team of mega stars-Dhanraj Pillay, Mukesh Kumar, Ashish Ballal, Baljit Singh Dhillon. Their fight often went beyond the field among themselves, with the federation. It is not that the current team does not have stars. Captain Sardar Singh is among the most capped players in the world. Then there are veterans like Gurbaj Singh, Danish Mujtaba and SV Sunil. But the rockstar among them is goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who saved two penalty shots in the final against Pakistan. The team celebrated the victory with a quiet dinner at a local restaurant. Then they went back to the althletes’ village and retired to their rooms.

For all of them it was the first ‘real gold medal’. In fact, India had not won any big events since the Bangkok games. One man who was present then and now is the coach, Maharaj Krishan Kaushik. The current coaching team is led by high performance director Roelant Oltmans, chief coach Terry Walsh and coaches Kaushik and Jude Felix.

QUESTIONS

1. The 1990s was a team of mega stars in Indian Hockey team. Who are they?
2. Which two victories are poles apart for the Indian Hockey Team?
3. Who leads the current coaching team?
4. Who is PR Sreejesh?
5. Give another word for the following words from the passage:
a. cheerful : __________________________________
b. sociability: _________________________________
c. enlarge :___________________________________

Q2. Read the following passage carefully to answer the following question.

The tiny village of Ulapur was the postman’s first posting. There was an indigo plantation nearby. The manager of the plantation, an Englishman, had after a deed of effort, managed to get a post office started there.

Our postmaster was from Kolkata. He felt like a fish out of water in his farflung village. His office consisted of a tumbledown shack beside an algaecovered pond with tangled overgrowth on all sides. The plantation workers were busy all day.

Our postmaster, being city-bred, did not find it easy to mix the village folk. He had found a lot of time on his hands as there wasn’t much work. He tried to spend some of it writing poems which said how happy he would be if he could spend the rest of his day gazing at the tumbling leaves and the passing clouds. But the truth was that, if a genie from the Arabian Nights were suddenly to descend there, remove all the trees in a single night, and set the place up with rows of houses that blocked out from view the clouds in the sky, it would have given our hero a new lease of life.

QUESTIONS

1. The postmaster was first posted in which village?
2. What was planted in the nearby area?
3. What does the phrase ‘like a fish out of water in his far flung village’ means?
4. Why was it difficult for the postmaster to mix up with the village folks?
5. How did the postmaster wish to spend his time but what did he wish of the place to become?
6. Give another word for the following.
a. come down: _______________________
b. damaged : ________________________
c. a dwelling place : ___________________
d. twist together : _____________________

READING

Q1. Read the following passage carefully to answer the questions on the basis of your reading.

National Highways connect all the major cities. Though they constitute only about 2% of the total road length of India , they carry more than 40% of the total traffic. There are 77 national highways in India. These are the primary road grids and are the direct responsibilities of the Central Government. The development of National Highways in the country aims towards providing hassle-free transport and it is a priority of the Government of India.

In fact, an official of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) claims that a lot has been achieved in term of the addition to the national highway system. In the past, only 50 km were added in an entire year. Today, about 10 kms are being added every single day, especially with development works progressing rapidly in the Golden Quadrilateral. Isn’t that just fantastic!

State Highways (SH) are the main arteries of commercial and passenger transport in the individual states. They connect every town with the state capital, the national highways and other commercially important centers. The development and maintenance of the state highways is under

jurisdiction of the respective state governments. 70% of the state highways are single-lane roads, of which, 2300 km of the roads are unsurfaced. The funds for the construction and maintenance of the state highways are raised through state allocation and loans by financial institutions.

QUESTIONS

(a) The traffic of India carried by National Highways is ________________
(b) There is rapid progress in the development of national highways as________________
(c) The main aim of NHAI is to provide _____________________________
(d) The word for money related matter is ____________________________

READING

Q1. Read the following passage carefully to answer the questions based on your reading.

The tiny village of Ulapur was the postmaster’s first posting. There was an Indigo plantation nearby. The manager of the plantation, an Englishman, had after a great deal of effort, managed to get a post office started here.

Our postmaster was from Kolkata. He felt like a fish out of water in this far-flung village. His office consisted of a troubledown shack beside an algae-covered pond with tangled overgrowth on all sides. The plantation workers were busy all day.

Our postmaster, being city-bred, did not find it easy to mix with the village folk. He had found a lot of time on his hands as there wasn’t much work. He tried to spend some of it writing poetry/poems which said how happy he would be if he could spend the rest of his days gazing at the trembling leaves and the passing clouds. But the truth was that, if a jinn from the Arabian up with rows of houses that blocked out from view the clouds in the sky, it would have given our hero a new lease of life

QUESTIONS

(a) Where did the postmaster get his first posting?
(b) Which plantation was nearby?
(c) Describe his office.
(d) What did he do in his spare time?
(e) Find the word for ‘descend’.(para 3)

READING

Read the following passage to answer the questions carefully.

Subal Chandra’s son was called Sushil Chrandra, but people always aren’t true to their names. Which is why perhaps Subal (whose name means ‘the strong one’) was actually quite weak and Sushil, which means gentle and quite, was just the opposite.
The son Sushil drove the entire neighbourhood mad with his antics, and this made his father itch to punish him. Unfortunately, the father suffered from rheumatism while the son could run like a deer. So, most of the intended to slaps missed their target. But on the rare occasions when his father managed t catch him. Sushil really had a bad time. The day on which this story begins was a Saturday and school would be over by two in the afternoon. But Sushil was in no mood to go to school for a number of reasons. To start with, it was the day of the dreaded geography test.
Secondly, there was to be a display of fireworks at the Bose’s that evening which everyone was looking forward to. Sushil, too, longed to spend the day watching every bit of the preparation.
After thinking long and hard about it Sushil jumped into bed just when it was time to go to school. Sushil looked at him in surprise and asked him, “Why are you still in bed? Aren’t you going to school”?
“I’ve a terrible stomach ache” said Sushil promptly, “I can’t go to school today”. Subal saw through the trick at once and said to himself,
“Very well I know how to teach him a lesson”

Questions

Q1. Who was Sushil Chandra?
Q2. Mention one difference between father and son.
Q3. What did Sushil long to do?
Q4. Who was suffering from Stomach ache?
Q5. Give the meaning of the word, ‘planned’.

READING

Q1. Read the following passage carefully to answer the questions correctly.

The Egyptian pyramids are ancient pyramid-shaped masonry structures located in Egypt, on the west bank of the Nile. There are 138 pyramids discovered in Egypt as of 2008. Most were built as tombs for the country’s Pharoahs and their consorts during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods.

The earliest known Egyptian pyramids are found at Saqqara, northwest of Memphis. The earliest among these is the Pyramid of Djoser (constructed 2630 BCE-2611 BCE) which was built during the third dynasty. This pyramid and its surrounding complex were designed by the architect

Imhotep, and are generally considered to be the world’s oldest monumental structures constructed of dressed masonry. The estimate of the number of workers to build the pyramids range from a few thousand to a million.

The most famous Egyptian are those found at Giza on the outskirts of Cairo. Several of the Giza pyramids are counted among the largest structures ever built. The Pyramids of Khufu at Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid. It is the only of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence.

The shape of a pyramid is thought to be representative of the descending rays of the sun, and most pyramids were faced with polished, highly reflective white limestone, in order to give them a brilliant appearance when viewed from a distance. Pyramids were often also named in ways that

referred to solar luminescence. While it is generally agreed that pyramids were burial monuments, there is continued disagreement.

The Egyptians believed the dark area of the night sky around which the stars appear to revolve was the physical gateway into the heavens, one of the narrow shafts that extend from the main burial chamber through the entire body of the great Pyramids points directly towards the center of this part of the sky. This suggests the pyramids may have been designed to sever as a means to magically launch the deceased pharaoh’s soul directly into the abode of the gods.

QUESTIONS

1. Why were the pyramids constructed?
2. Which is the earliest known Egyptian pyramid?
3. Which of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World still exists?
4. What does the design of the pyramids suggest?
5. Which word from the passage means ‘partners’ or ‘associates’?

Q2. Read the following passage to answer the questions correctly.

God organized a bird festival. All the birds were invited. God’s messenger made the announcement. “It will not only be a day of fun, it will also be a day when you will get special gifts”, he said. At last the day dawned. And God’s almighty presence filled the entire forest. Soon it was time for the gifts. The Lord had an enormous bag filled with gifts. As each bird came to the Lord, he or she received a gift.

The Lark came late. She flew in breathless and painting. “Lord, I’m late”, she stammered. “Oh no; the gifts are all given away”, said the Lord with a sigh. “Please Lord, may be a little something” said the Lark, pleading, “I’m sorry; you can see for yourself, the bag is empty”, the Lord said. Every bird cocked its head to look at the Lark sadly. “It’s okay then, Lord”, the Lark said with a heavy heart.’ “She stopped to free my foot from the bramble”, said a tiny squirrel, running up to the Lord. “I know”, said the Lord very quietly.

When the Lark looked up, she felt something stirring in her throat; the Lord was smiling. When she tried to clear her throat, her voice broke into a song crystal clear and sweet, it resounded in the woods. “Awesome!” cried the creatures of the forest. Every creature --- especially the Lark, knew and believed that the Lord had rewarded the Lark for her kindness.

QUESTIONS

1. Why was Lark late in arriving for the festival?
2. How did God know about it?
3. What was in the bag?
4. What were birds looking at sadly?
5. Find words from the passage which mean the same as:
a. moving: _______________________________
b. echoed: _______________________________

READING

Q1. Read the following passage carefully to answer the questions correctly.

Massage can be a natural tranquillizer. It has been used in virtually every culture throughout history to relieve aches and pains, unknot tense muscles, and help the body—and the mind—to relax. There are several types of massage, but the most popular are Orient massage and Swedish massage. The chief difference between them is that some of the strokes in Swedi sh massage are designed to stimulate rather than to relax the body.

It is unfortunate that many people who might benefit from massage never try it, dismissing it as a specialized treatment for athletes or disabled people or as an unjustified indulgence. If you think this way, you are missing out on something enjoyable. Any one can learn to give massage. It is a simple extension of warm human care and touch.

Professional masseurs and masseuses offer the benefit of both skill and experience. They should be trained in anatomy and physiology so that they can identify muscles that are in spasm or painful knots that have been built up by misuse of the body. Experienced professionals generally understand the requirements of various body types and are able to choose strokes that are beneficial for the individual. During a typical one-hour session the routine builds subtly in intensity and subsides.

QUESTIONS

1. Name the two most popular types of massage.
2. Why do people associate massage with pleasure?
3. What the chief difference between the two types of massage?
4. Why should professional masseurs and masseuses be trained in anatomy and physiology?
5. Give the correct word for the following:
a. Antonym of ‘fortunate’ : _______________________
b. a drug used to distress: ________________________
c. wear off : ___________________________
d. high level or degree : ______________________

Q2. Read the following passage carefully to answer the questions correctly.

“War is near”, Krishna said, “your sons will fight against your cousins. There will be much bloodshed.” Kunti was deeply disturbed. The Pandavas would fight against the Kauravas and Karna was on Duryaodhana’s side! Karna would fight against his brothers, perhaps kill them or be killed himself. He was her precious first born whom she had never acknowledged, never fondled with a mother’s love. Despair came to her eyes. Kunti made up her mind to tell Karna the truth.

That was the only way to persude him to leave Duryodhana to fight on the side of the Pandavas. With Karna gone, Duryodhana would be weakened in forces and in spirit. The Pandavas would be able to vanquish him with ease. This was the right time for Karna to learn the secret of his birth. Kunti hurried to the banks of the river Ganga, where she knew Karna would be at his morning prayers. Karna was at the river bank, as Kunti had expected. Hewas facing East, where the sun had just risen, with his eyes closed. Kunti waited. Karma opened his eyes. He was surprised to see kunti.

QUESTIONS

1. What the reason for Kunti’s despair?
2. What did Kunti want to persuade Karna for and why?
3. What was the truth that Kunti had hidden from Karna?
4. Give another word for the following.
a. touch in a loving manner: ___________________________
b. win approval of: ______________________________
c. come out better in a competition: ______________________

READING

Q1. Read the following passage carefully to answer the following questions correctly.

Science is a great blessing to mankind. Nothing better has happened in the history of man than the advent of science in his life. The world into which science came was a world of ignorance, suffering and hardship. Science has come to relieve us of suffering, to remove our ignorance and to lighten our toil. Science is a faithful servant. It severs us in all walks of life. Gone are the days when only the rich could afford luxuries. Science has made them cheaper and brought them within the reach of everybody. It helps in producing goods on a large scale. They are sold at cheap rates in every market. Books, music and all other forms of entertainment have been brought to our doors. Radio, television and cinema entertain us. So, the life of a common man is quiet different from what it used to be.

It also acts as our faithful medical attendant. It cares for our health. It has helped us in curing many diseases. No longer is smallpox, cholera and plague the ravages of mankind. Science has given us the power to kill germs which spread these diseases. It has worked miracles in the field of education. With the help of the printing press, thousands of books are printed in the twinkling of an eye, thus making the published material easily available and cheap.

However, there is another side of the picture as well. Science has done great disservices to mankind in the field of armament. The invention of gunpowder which was hailed as an achievement has been used and perfected into a hundred thousand destructive weapons of war. As such, science, meant for man’s happiness is employed by man for his own destruction. It is not the fault of science, but the fault of mankind.

QUESTIONS

1. Why is science a reason for happiness as well as terror for mankind?
2. What are the discoveries of science?
3. How has the advent of science made human life easy?
4. How was the invention of printing press a turning point for mankind?
5. Give another word for the following:
a. lack of knowledge: ____________________________
b. a destructive action: ____________________________
c. a very short time: ______________________________
d. a act of help turned out to be wrong: _______________________________
e. arrival: ______________________________________

Q2. Read the following passage to answer the questions correctly.

All though Harold was fond of eating, he was quiet willing to share his food with me, sometimes pushing delicacies into my mouth with his great beak. I did not mind sharing a banana with him -he loved banana- but I drew the line at accepting grasshoppers and beetles, which he snapped up in the garden or on the veranda.

Eating was a serious business for Harold. If there was a delay at mealtimes he would summon us with raucous barks and vigorous bangs of his bill on the nearest door. He loved eating balls of boiled rice, prepared specially for him by Grandmother. I would throw him the rice balls, and he would catch them in his beak, toss them into the air and let them into his open mouth. Later Grandfather trained him to catch tennis ball thrown from a distance of ten meters or so. Harold would have made a great fielder in a cricket match, especially in the slips. 

Harold gave a great deal of time and thought to his personal appearance. Once fully grown, he carried a make up kit on his person. This kit was a small gland situated above the roots of his tail feathers which produced a rich yellow fluid. He would dip into this from time to time and then rub colour over his feathers and back of his neck.

QUESTIONS

1. Which food items did Harold offer the narrator?
2. How did Harold summon the narrator at mealtime and why?
3. What did Grandfather and Grandmother do for Harold?
4. What was Harold’s make up kit and did he use it?
5. Give another word for the following:
a. catch up : __________________________
b. unpleasantly loud and harsh: __________________________
c. forceful and energetic action: _________________________