Page 1 Sample Paper 17 CBSE X English

Class IX Exam 2024-25

English Language and Literature (184)
Time Allowed : 3 Hrs. Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:
1. The Question Paper contains THREE sections READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and
LITERATURE.
2. Attempt question based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION A - READING SKILLS 20

Reading Comprehension Through Unseen Passages

1. Read the following text. 10

1. A piano teacher described an interesting encounter she had with a young lady who came to inquire about
music lessons. The young lady asked her, “How long will this course take? My father tells me that it is
in fashion now to be able to play musical instruments and that I should learn one quickly. I want
something that will be quick, fast and easy like, like....” When the amused teacher explained that it would
take a lifetime of meticulous practice to learn music, her face fell and needless to say, she never came
back.
2. The single most important factor that distinguishes those of us who succeed in any venture and those of
us who don’t is this ‘instant coffee’ attitude. Most of us want results quickly. We want to reach the top
immediately and get worked up when things go wrong. Perseverance and patience are forgotten words.
We get upset, frustrated and angry when a skill or activity requires us to put in a lot of effort and time.
We get dejected and want to give it up.
3. But such thinking serves no good. For, it doesn’t solve the problem.
4. Life is tough for those with an ‘instant coffee’ attitude. Success, real success and happiness come to
those who have a ‘bread-making’ attitude. Those who are willing to knead the dough, wait for hours for
it to rise, only to punch it down and knead some more, wait for another couple of hours for it to rise
again, and then bake it before it is ready to be eaten. Nothing is instantaneous. For every endeavour-
whether in the area of career, academics, music, sports, relationships, physical fitness or even in
spirituality-it is a long arduous journey.
5. Only if we are willing to put in the time, painstaking effort and have faith, can we get results. If we don’t
accept this difficult-but-true fact of life, our lives will be far from being happy and fulfilling. For we
may not make that extra effort which can change the course of life dramatically, for the good.
6. The major problem with these ‘instant coffee’ solutions is that they are invariably short-lived. If we
stubbornly refuse to give up this search for quick solutions, all we do is end up on the wrong track.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
i. Why did the young lady wishing to learn piano not go back to her teacher? 1
(a) Because the teacher told her that piano learning would take a lifetime of practice.
(b) Because the young lady wanted to learn guitar.

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Page 2 Sample Paper 17 CBSE X English
(c) Because the teacher was incompetent.
(d) Because she did not have enough money.
ii. Explain the ‘bread-making’ attitude. Why does success and happiness come to those with this attitude?
Answer in about 40 words. 2

iii. Complete the sentence appropriately. 1

The author supports _____ .

iv. The passage includes some words that are opposites of each other. From the sets (a)-(e) below, identify
a set of antonyms. 1
(a) Amused and upset
(b) Quickly and immediately
(c) Dejected and happiness
(d) Punch and knead
(e) Effort and instant

v. Complete the sentence appropriately. According to the passage, the biggest problem with ‘instant coffee’
solutions is that _____ . 1

vi. The writer uses the phrase instant coffee attitude. What does it consist of? Answer in about 40 words. 2

vii. Select the inappropriate reason for negating the instant coffee attitude. 1
(a) Presence of mistakes (b) Ineffective
(c) Frustrating (d) Short-lived

viii. Who according to the author are the people who succeed in life? How are they different from the rest?
1

2. Read the following text. 10

1. Obesity has been defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m , with extreme obesity
2

defined as a BMI greater than 40 kg/m2. Obesity is rapidly becoming the leading cause of preventable
death in the United States, with obesity-related deaths projected to soon surpass deaths related to tobacco
abuse. The incidence of obesity has doubled in the United States since 1960, with one-third of the adult
population currently obese. Perhaps more alarming is the increase in overweight children; over the past
25 years, this rate has risen from 6% to 19%.
2. Obesity is the next major epidemiologic challenge facing today’s doctors, with the annual allocation of
healthcare resources for the disease and related comorbidities projected to exceed $150 billion in the
United States. The incidence of obesity has risen in the United States over the past 30 years; 60% of
adults are currently either obese or overweight. Obesity is associated with a higher incidence of a number
of diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Consumption of fast food, Trans Fatty
Acids (TFAs), and fructose-combined with increasing portion sizes and decreased physical activity-has
been implicated as a potential contributing factor in the obesity crisis.

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Page 3 Sample Paper 17 CBSE X English
3. The use of Body Mass Index (BMI) alone is of limited utility for predicting adverse cardiovascular
outcomes, but the utility of this measure may be strengthened when combined with waist circumference
and other anthropomorphic measurements. Certain public health initiatives have helped to identify and
reduce some of the factors contributing to obesity.
4. In New York City and Denmark, for example, such initiatives have succeeded in passing legislation to
reduce or remove TFAs from residents’ diets. The obesity epidemic will likely change practice for
gastroenterologists, as shifts will be seen in the incidence of obesity-related gastrointestinal disorders,
disease severity and the nature of comorbidities. The experience gained with previous epidemiologic
problems such as smoking should help involved parties to expand needed health initiatives and increase
the likelihood of preventing future generations from suffering the consequences of obesity.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i. Complete the following sentence with appropriate words. 1

60% of the adult population in the USA is either _____ or _____ .

ii. Fill in the blanks with appropriate option from those given in brackets. 1
The annual allocation of budget in the US for obesity and related diseases is _____ (projected to decrease

by $150 million/projected to exceed $150 Billion) iii. What problems are caused by obesity in the United

States? Answer in about 40 words. 2

iv. Based on your understanding of the passage, infer one medical problem caused by obesity. 1

v. Which initiative has been taken in New York City and Denmark? 1

vi. Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the option that lists medical problems caused by
obesity. 1
1. Heart diseases
2. Diabetes
3. Lung diseases
4. Cancer
5. Thyroid
6. Hormonal disorders

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Page 4 Sample Paper 17 CBSE X English
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 3 and 4
(c) 5 and 6 (d) All of these

vii. How will the obesity epidemic change practice for gastroenterologists? Answer in about 40 words. 2
viii. Which of the following is not true as per passage? 1
(a) Obesity is the most common amongst late teenagers in America.
(b) Obesity is defined in terms of the Waist Hip ratio.
(c) Obesity has been termed as an epidemic.
(d) Obesity is related to smoking.

SECTION B - GRAMMAR & WRITING SKILLS 20 GRAMMAR 10

3. Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed. 1 10 10# =

i. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete a report on road accidents in India. 1
Today, road accidents _____ India a dubious distinction. She has the worst road traffic accident rate.
(a) are earning (b) have earned
(c) earn (d) might have earned
ii. Read the conversation between a mother and her daughter. Complete the sentence by reporting the
mother’s question correctly. 1
Mother : Why are you looking so worried?
Daughter : My exams are approaching.
The mother looking at her daughter’s anxious face asked _____ to which the daughter replied that her
exams were approaching.
iii. Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a health magazine. 1 As per the
advisory issued by the government, proper distancing, regular service of the buses and their proper
disinfection _____ be ensured.
(a) ought (b) must
(c) need to (d) have to

iv. Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line, from a story.
He would not be sad at the loss of money, but for the loss of trust. 1
Option No. Error Correction
(a) would will
(b) be remain
(c) at for
(d) for about
v. Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option. 1
She felt that her pet _____ survive, if he did not see her daily.
(a) did not (b) shall not

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Page 5 Sample Paper 17 CBSE X English
(c) cannot (d) would not

vi. Fill in the blank by using the correct word/s, for the given portion of a letter. 1
I would _____ your attention to the violation of advisory on getting the booster dose for Covid-19.
vii. Report the dialogue between a mother and her sons, by completing the sentence. 1 The mother
waved her hand and said sadly, “It looks like the Gods have abandoned us”.
The eldest son said, “Gods reside in you, mother. Until you are around, Gods are around”.
In response to their mother’s lament that the Gods had abandoned them, the eldest son assured her that
_____.

viii. Identify the error in the given sentence, from a story published in a popular magazine and supply the
correction. The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain over his
body, and when he returned, he was thoroughly wet. 1

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

ix. Anil shared some information with Tariq about a holiday on a cruise. Report Tariq’s question. 1
Did you enjoy sailing the sea on a cruise?

x. Read the following last line from an article on the rights of women published in a national daily. Identify
the error and supply the correction. 1
Stand up for your rights because nobody else would Use
the given format for your response.
Error Correction

xi. Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between Shelly and her friend
Tanvi. 1
Shelly said to Tanvi, “Can you solve this particularly tough question in linear equations?”
Tanvi, “It would be a shame if I can’t because I have been taking tuition all summer vacations.” Shelly
asked Tanvi if she could solve that particularly tough question in linear equations. Tanvi answered that
it would be a shame if she _____ tuition all summer vacations.
(a) can’t because she had been taking
(b) can’t because she has been taking
(c) couldn’t because she had been taking
(d) couldn’t because she was taking

xii. Identify the error on a shop’s hoarding and supply the correction, for the following sales offer. 1
Loose weight in just a month!
“A WONDER DIET comes to your rescue... A privilege available for
only a few!”

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Page 6 Sample Paper 17 CBSE X English
Use the given format for your response.
Error Correction

WRITING 10
Note : All details presented in the questions are imaginary and created for assessment purpose.

4. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5

A. You are Reena/Raju of 85, Ramesh Nagar, New Delhi. You have come across a poster promoting social
distancing.

Write a diary entry in 100-120 words based on the above picture.

Or
B. You are Anshul/Anshika, a student of class XII wants to be a choreographer but her dream scattered
because of her parents. Write a diary entry about her feelings .

5. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5

A. Aradhna started writing a story of ‘Two Boys in a Jungle’. Due to the pressure of heavy
engagements, you gave up, after writing a line or so. Taking help from the input given below and
basing on the introduction Aradhna made, develop a complete story.
Or
B Sneha wanted to write a story but could not go beyond a line or two. Taking help from ,the
information given below along with the lines Sneha wrote a complete story.
SECTION C - LITERATURE 40

6. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 5

A. To the little girl he was a figure to be feared and avoided. Every morning before going to
work he came into her room and gave her a casual kiss, to which she responded with 'Good
Bye Father'. And oh, there was a glad sense of relief when she heard the noise of the carriage
growing fainter and fainter down the long road!

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Page 7 Sample Paper 17 CBSE X English

i.What was the daily routine of the father?

(ii) When did the daughter feel relieved?
(iii) What kind of relationship did the girl share with her father?
(iv) When does the father give Kezia a casual kiss?
Or
C. Albert Einstein was born on 14 March 1879 in the German city of Ulm, without
any indication that he was destined for greatness. On the contrary, his mother thought
Albert was a freak. To her, his head seemed much too large. At the age of two-and-a-half,
Einstein still wasn't talking. When he finally did learn to speak, he uttered everything
twice. Einstein did not know what to do with other children, and his playmates called
him "Brother Boring".
i. When was Einstein born?
ii. Why did Einstein's mother think that he was a freak?
iii. When did Einstein learn to speak?
iv. Einstein's playmates called him 'Brother Boring' because he didn't know :

7. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 5
A. Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign
Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes
Like ours: the land our brothers walk upon
Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie.
i. Can we consider people strangers? Why?
ii. Can we consider countries other than ours foreign?
iii. How are we one despite living in different countries?
iv. What message is conveyed here?
Or
B. A slumber did my spirit seal—
I had no human fears.
She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years.
i. What does the poet mean by "A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal"?
ii. Which human fears does the poet talk about?
iii. What did the poet feel about his loved one?

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Page 8 Sample Paper 17 CBSE X English
iv. Which slumber is the poet talking about?
8. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 40-

50 words. 4* 3= 12

i. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug?

ii. How old was Abdul Kalam when the Second World War broke out?

iii. What crime had the intruder committed?

iv. Why was Kezia afraid of her father?

v. At what age did Albert leave the school?

9. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words. 2 *3= 6

i. What happened to the Prince’s heart? Why?

ii. Has Lushkoff become a beggar by circumstance or by choice?
iii. How did the author feel in the new high school?

10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. 1* 6 =6

A. Which values does the life of Einstein teach you?

Or
B. Santosh “decided to fight the system in her own quiet way when the right moment
arrived”. Elaborate.

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Page 9 Sample Paper 17 CBSE X English
11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. 1 * 6 =6

A. A. Science can be a terrible master, it is good till the man does not become a slave to it and uses it for
fulfilment of mean desires. Analyse this in detail, with reference to the character of Griffin of ‘Footprints
Without Feet’.

Or
B. Describe the last meeting between Sergei and Luslikoff. How did Olga help
Lushkoff to be a real man?

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