CBSE Class 9 English Communicative Sample Paper Set Z

SECTION A

(READING: 25 Marks)

INDIAN MUSIC

Indian music has a special appeal not only within the country but also throughout the world. The traditional pattern of Indian music has survived throughout the centuries of modern civilization and entertained not only the common people in this country but lovers of music and art throughout the world. Although there are regional styles in Indian music but the basic unity, i.e., of Ragas and Talas concept is uniformly prevalent. Indian music is based on melody. In spirit it is individualistic and the content of the phrases, in the past, was largely devotional. There are two major systems of classical music, the Hindustani system and the Karnatak system. The differences between them are more in practice than their theoretical foundation, as both derive their rules from the same treatise of which the most famous are Bharat’s Natya Shastra and Sarangdeva’s Sangeet Ratnakar.

The most famous Indian instrument, however, is the Veena, which is celebrated in the epics and other ancient books. It has been described as the companion of Saraswati, the Goddess of learning. Among the other string instruments are the Sitar with its feminine grace, believed to have been devised by the poet. Amir Khusroo in the 14th century; the Sarod (played with a mizrab of plectrum) with its deep and vibrant notes.

The musical history of India is quite glorious and inspite of some western influences in both instrumental and vocal, the Indian music will be ever shining because of the qualities of its content and structure.

On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the following questions :

Q. 1. Indian music has entertained ____________.

a) people all over the world b) Indians only

c) Western people only d) North Indians only

Q. 2. Which are the two basic units of Indian Music ?

a) sur ; tall b) raag ; tala

c) sur ; raag d) laec ; raag

Q. 3. Which is the most famous instrument of India ?

a) sitar b) tabla

c) veena d) sarangi

Q. 4. Which are the two major systems of classical music ?

a) Hindustani ; Tamil b) Tamil ; Karnatak

c) Hindustani ; Marathi d) Hindustani ; Karnatak

Q. 5. SHAMEFUL is an antonym for ___________ .

a) celebrated b) glorious

c) prevalent d) vibrant

2. Read the following passage carefully.

Rome was not built in a day. Rome, the magnificent city, required many years and thousands of workers to construct it. Tremendous amount of resources, human labour, money and time were involved in erecting the city that became the envy of the world. In the same way, all great and brilliant works cannot be achieved in a day. Slow progress must not make us impatient. Every great work requires time and energy. Patience combined with perseverance is the key to succeed in life.

It is the nature of a task that determines the length of time it would take to be accomplished. Some people are in the habit of getting impatient when a task takes a little longer than usual to complete. They do not understand or rather deliberately forget the nature of the task and start losing heart. This maxim is used to tell the impatient people that great works are not accomplished overnight. Such things require requisite time, patience and continuous effort. It is applicable not only in the case of studies, but also in the case of success in life itself. Neither science nor technology is the result of the efforts of one individual or a single experiment. It is because hundreds of people zealously worked for generations together that we now enjoy easy and comfortable life.

Choose the most appropriate answer from the alternatives given :

(a) The city of Rome became the envy of the world __________ .

(i) because of its magnificent buildings

(ii) because it is a wonder of the civilized world

(iii) because it is part of history

(iv) because it is in Italy

(b) ‘Impatient’ should not be put into practice if __________ .

(i) labour is less

(ii) time is less

(iii) we cannot keep up to the deadline

(iv) progress is slow

(c) The nature of the task determines the __________ .

(i) duration (ii) quality

(iii) appearance (iv) quantity

(d) Easy and comfortable life is the effort of __________ .

(i) zealous scientists (ii) people

(iii) patience (iv) consistent hardship

(e) Find the correct synonym for the word ‘zealously’ from the given options.

(i) greatly (ii) energy

(iii) same (iv) enthusiastically

3. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

Once there lived a monk in a monastery of Egypt. He was short tempered and was very difficult to live with. The least provocation would trigger out an abusive behavior. Life for those who lived with him became more and more difficult and unbearable. One day this monk decided to leave the monastery and live in a forest, alone, so that he could get rid of his temper, and hurt no one. He decided to be all by himself- along with God, spending all his time in meditation and prayer.

His search led him to a dark cave inhabited by stray animals at night. He decided to stay in this cave. He would live on wild fruits. He had an earthen pot to collect water for his needs from a nearby stream. Days passed by, and the monk began to feel happy that he was not treading on the toes of others with his temper.

Then, one fine day, after he had collected water from the stream in his earthen pot, the pot toppled and the water that he had been collecting for over an hour was lost. The monk once again began collecting water from the stream. Unfortunately the pot toppled once again as he laid it on the ground, and all the water was spilt. The angry monk kicked the pot and broke it into smithereens! His short-temper had once again conquered him!

The monk realized that no one was responsible for his temper but he himself, and returned to the monastery completely sobered.

Complete the following sentences :

(a) People found it difficult to live with the monk because __________.

(b) The monk decided to live in a forest so that __________.

(c) He started living in a __________.

(d) The toppling of the pot and the monk breaking it taught him a lesson that __________.

(e) The word in the passage which means the same as ‘introspection’ is_________.

4. Read the given poem carefully.

COLOURED RAINBOWS

Dare to dream of coloured rainbows

And fine “castles in the air”-

And a sun that shines so brightly

Making cloudy days seem rare!

When you aim to find a purpose

Then your life becomes worthwhile.

You will dazzle those about you-

When you show your own true style!

Our dreams are not for keeping-

Simply barrowed for a while;

To console us in adversity

And teach us how to smile!

Dreams again of coloured rainbows

And of bluebirds flying high.

You will overcome the obstacles

Once you decide to try!

(1) Based on the given poem, complete the summary by filling in one word in each blank :

The poet conveys that we must (a) _________ big and have a (b) _________ to make our life worthwhile. Once we decide to (c) _________ we can overcome all (d) _________ of life.

2. What is meant by the phrase ‘castles in the air’?

SECTION B

(WRITING & GRAMMAR: 25 Marks)

5.  You have recently been to Jaisalmer, Rajasthan to stay with a friend at his place during your vacations. Write a letter to your friend Riya/Ashutosh thanking her/him and her/his family for their wonderful hospitality and unforgettable experience of understanding their lifestyle and culture. You are Puneet from Bangalore. (Word limit 120-150 words)

6.   As a student of literature you are extremely dismayed at the second-hand treatment meted out to the subject. In the race to master subjects like Mathematics and Sciences, Literature has been given a back seat. Write an article for a leading national daily in about 120 words on ‘Literature reflects the spirit of the Age’.

7.   Nargis recently attended a ‘Film Festival on films with a Social Message’. On her return she was asked to write a newspaper report on it. (80-100 words) You may use the following notes:

¶ Include her experience, chance to meet eminent celebritics of art films like Om Puri, Shabana Azmi, Pankaj Kapoor etc.

¶ Importance of films with a local message, especially for the youth of today

¶ Need for such films to be released at prominent theatres

¶ Tax free tickets to encourage a large section of people to watch them

8. Choose the most appropriate option from the ones given below to complete the following passage.

Water is an integral part of life on this planet. It is (a) _____ odorless, tasteless, substance that covers more than three-fourths of the Earth’s surface. Most of (b) _____ water on Earth, 97% to be exact, is salt water. We (c) _____ remove salt from the ocean water, but the process is very expensive.

a) __ (i) the (ii) an (iii) not (iv) highly

b) __ (i) its (ii) that (iii) this (iv) the

c) __ (i) can (ii) will (iii) must (iv) should

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