SHATABDI PUBLIC SCHOOL MOHIUDDINPUR, MEERUT

HALF YEARLY EXAMINATIONS (2024-25)

CLASS 9TH
SUBJECT- ENGLISH
Max. Marks:80 Time: 3 hours
General Instructions:
Read the instructions very carefully and strictly follow them:
1. This question paper comprises 11 questions. All questions are compulsory.
2. The question paper contains THREE sections – Section – A: Reading Skills Section – B: Grammar and Creative Writing
Skills Section – C: Literature Textbook
3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each Part.
SECTION A
READING SKILLS (20 marks)
1. Read the following text. 10
Around 194 million birds and 29 million mammals are thought to be killed each year on European roads, according to a new
study that has ranked the most vulnerable species. The research has found that the species killed most often were not
necessarily the endangered species. This means action to preserve wildlife when new roads are built risks being
targeted at the wrong species based on current methods. Road densities in Europe are among the world’s highest,
with 50% of the continent within 1.5 km of a paved road or railway. Roads are therefore a significant threat to
wildlife and evidence shows deaths on them could even cause some species to disappear completely.
Despite this, the long-term protection of species is not currently considered when assessing the impact of new
roads on wildlife, meaning we risk giving support to only the endangered species, doing nothing to help those most at risk.
A better understanding of which species are most vulnerable to roads is therefore important if we are to take a more
effective action of protection.
A research team based in Lisbon calculated road-kill rates for 423 bird species and 212 mammal species. They found that
small animals with high population densities and which mature at an early age were most likely to be killed on roads.
Nocturnal mammals and birds with a diet of plants and seeds were also shown to have higher death rates.
The study also used the road-kill surveys to rank the bird and mammal species whose long-term survival was most
threatened by road-kill. The hazel grouse and ground squirrel were found to be the most at risk of local extinction. Both are
common in Europe but are classified as species of Least Concern Red List of Threatened Species.
The most vulnerable animals classified as threatened by IUCN were the red-knobbed Coot, Balcan mole and
Podolian mole. The study revealed that road-kill hotspots were not the areas with the highest population of
endangered species. For example, house sparrows had a high road-kill rate (2.7 per km/year) but were ranked 420th of 423
bird species for vulnerability. Conversely, the hazel grouse had a low predicted road kill-rate (0.2 per km/year) but
was most vulnerable of all birds studied.
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer the questions that follow:
(i)Justify in about 40 words that the roads are considered a major threat to animals. (2)
(ii)Study the following statements: (1)
(a)Roads have covered 50% of land in Europe.
(b)Road traffic causes a great risk to wild life.
(c)Some species can survive all kinds of traffic on roads.
(A)(a) is correct and (b) is false. (C)(c) is correct and (a) is false.
(B)(b) is correct and (c) is false. (D)Both (a) and (b) are false.
(iii)What is the message in the given paragraph? (2)
(iv)On what does the number of road-kills depend? (1)
(v)What is the main purpose of the study? (1)
(vi)Hazel grouse and ground squirrel are classified as species of least concern. (1)
The statement is:
(A) a logical conclusion. (C) ironical.
(B) a piece of good news. (D) a pleasant surprise.
(vii) The purpose of the study is: (1)
(A) how to prevent road-kills. (C) how to plan better roads.
(B) to see who is more at risk on the roads. (D) to estimate the number of road accident victims
(viii) Complete the following: (1)
The term given to a place of significant activity is ________________.
2. Read the passage given below:
Kausani is situated at a height of 6,075 feet in the central Himalayas. It is an unusually attractive little town. It covers just
about 5.2 sq. km. It lies to the north of Almora in Uttarakhand’s picturesque Kumaon region.
Kausani provides the 300 km. wide breathtaking view of the Himalayas. It is the most striking aspect of this place. Snow-
capped peaks are spread in a stately row. They stare at you in silvery-white majesty. The most famous peak on view is
Nanda Devi, the second highest mountain in India. It is situated at a height of 25,645 feet and is 36 miles away as the crow
flies. The other famous peaks on view are Choukhamba (23,420 feet) and Trishul (23,360 feet). Then there are also
Nilkanth, Nandaghunti, Nandaghat and Nandakot. On a clear day, the blue of the sky makes a splendid background to these
peaks. At sunrise and at sunset, when the colour of the sky changes to a golden orange, the scene gets etched in your
memory.
Kausani, a small village of Uttarakhand is well-known for its scenic beauty and panoramic view of the Himalayan peaks. It
is located in the northern hemisphere and the average rainfall here is 73.2 inch or 1860 mm per annum. The wettest month
of Kausani is July where on November is known to be the driest month. There is a lot of rainfall in the months of July,
August and September.
When Gandhiji visited this place in 1929, its scenic beauty held him spellbound. He named it the ‘Switzerland of India’. He
prolonged his two-day stay to fourteen days, making time to write a book, ‘Anashakti Yoga’. The place where he was
staying was originally a guest house of a tea estate. It was renamed ‘Anashakti Ashram’ after the book.
Kausani is the birthplace of Sumitranandan Pant, India's poet laureate. Its natural surroundings inspired, many of his poems.
its tea gardens ingle with dense pine forests and fruit orchards. The area is also host to many fairs and religious ceremonies.
If Uttarakhand is the abode of Gods, Kausani is God's own backyard. There is no traffic, no one is in a hurry. If serenity
could be put on a canvas, the picture would resemble Kausani.
Answer the following questions based on the text:
(i) Complete the statement appropriately: (1)
Kausani is situated ____________.
(ii) What is the most striking aspect of Kausani? (1)
(iii) Fill in the blank: (1)The most famous peak on view is ___________.
(iv) Which of the statement given below is true, according to the passage? (1)
(A) Uttarakhand is the abode of people. (C) Switzerland is known as the abode of God
(B) Kausani is known as the abode of Gods (D) Almora is the Switzerland of India
(v) Select the image that appropriately represents the trend of rainfall in Kausani. (1)

(vi) Select the option that correctly displays what 'denx' signifies (Reference– Paragraph 5). (1)

(vii) How did Kausani influence Sumitranandan Pant? Justify your response in about 40 words. (2)
(viii) What makes Kausani a calm and quiet place? Give your response in about 40 words. (2)
 Section - B (20 marks)
(Grammar & Writing)
Grammar
3. Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following task, as directed: [1 × 10 = 10]
(i) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given portion fo a letter.
Dear Sir
This is to inform you that there is a leakage in the main pipeline of the colony which __________ (lead) to a huge waste of
water.
(ii) Read the given sentence. Identify the error and supply the correction in the sentence.
Most of the tourists come on package tours but are refusing the facilities which are mentioned in their package.
Use the given format for your response.
ERROR CORRECTION

(iii) Sumit and Neha had a conversation. Report Sumit's question.

Why don't you join me for dinner today?
(iv) Read the dialogue between Ramesh and the peon, regarding a meeting with the Principal.
Ramesh: What are the meeting hours of the Principal?
Peon: It is 9 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.
Select the correct option to complete the reporting of the above dialogue.
Ramesh asked the peon ___________. The peon replied that it was 9 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.
(A) What were the meeting hours of the Principal (C) What the meeting hours of the Principal were
(B) What are the meetiong hours of the Principal (D) What the meeting hours of the principal were
(v) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line on a Save The Environment poster.
Keep the environment clean. Do not litter.
You __________ follow rules. (should/ must/ will)
(vi) Identify the error and supply correction for the given sentence.
Two out of every ten school going children didn't have a healthy BMI these days.
Use the given format for your response.
ERROR CORRECTION

(vii) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the given statement.
Despite rising taxes and restrictions against smoking in India, there are also 260 million smokers in the country.
(viii) Complete the given sentence, by filling the blank with the correct option.

Some people __________ evidences to support their observations of unidentified flying objects.
(A) will given (B) gives (C) has given (D) have given
(ix) Report the dialogue between Ganesh and Dr. Gautam, by completing the sentence:
Ganesh: Dr. my wife is unwell. May I know what will be the total expenses for her treatment? Dr. Gautam: Well, you will
have to pay only six lacs for her treatment.
Ganesh told Dr. Gautam that his wife was unwell and asked if he might know what would be the total expenses for her
treatment. The doctor replied that __________ for her treatment.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the given sentence.
Last year, I ________ to visit Chandigarh during the summer vacation.
(A) decide (B) decided (C) decide (D) will decide
(xi) Complete the line from the poem 'Snake' by filling the blank with the correct option
And rested his throat upon the stone bottom
And where the water had ________ from the tap,
in a small clearness,
He sipped with his straight mouth
(A) dripped (B) will drip (C) drip (D) dripping
 (xii) Identify the error and supply the correction for the given sentence.
Every being with a will to live has the right to live free from exploiting and suffering.
Use the given format for your response
ERROR CORRECTION

Writing 10 marks
Note: All details presented in the questions are imaginary and created for assessment purpose.
3. Increase in the number of private vehicles coupled with lack of civic sense has led to several road accidents in your city.
Write a letter in 100-120 words to the editor of a local daily urging people to use public transport and to have patience
while driving. You are Ram/Rama, 4 Raja Road, Karnal.
OR
You are Pranab, a member of the student council at your school. Your school is organising a mock United Nations
session for various schools in your district. In 100–120 words, write a letter to your local stationery shop giving a bulk
order for note books and pens.
5. Attempt any one from (a) and (b) given below : 5
(a) A survey was conducted to find out the main reasons for land degradation in the world. The pie chart below shows
the main reasons why agricultural land becomes less productive. On the basis of the pie chart, evaluate the causes of
worldwide land degradation and write an analytical paragraph based on it, in 120 words.
OR

(b) There has been a visible impact of solar energy in the Indian energy scenario during the last few years. Solar energy-based
decentralized and distributed applications have benefitted millions of people in Indian villages by meeting their cooking,
lighting and other energy needs in an environment-friendly manner. On the basis of the bar graph given below, write an
analytical paragraph on Solar Energy in India in 100 – 120 words.
 SECTION C
Literature And Supplementary Reading Text 40 marks
6. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (a) and (b) : 5
(a)
7. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (a) and (b) : 5
(a)
8. Answer any four of the following five questions in 40 – 50 words each : 4*3=12
(i)
9. Answer any two of the following three questions in 40 – 50 words each : 2*3=6
(i)
10. Answer any one of the following two questions in 100 – 120 words : 6
(a)
11. Answer any one of the following two questions in 100 – 120 words : 6
(a)