Class 9 English Test – Chapter 1 and Poem 1 | Active and Passive Voice | CBSE PAPER | Detailed Solution and Marking Scheme

 

VEDANT SKILL ASSESSMENT SERIES - ACADEMIC YEAR 2026-27

CLASS: IX SUBJECT: ENGLISH (LITERATURE & GRAMMAR) MAX. MARKS: 30 TIME: 1 HOUR PATTERN: CBSE 2026-27 (COMPETENCY-BASED) ***

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read all questions carefully before answering. - Misreading the question and then blaming the paper will not increase your marks.

2. Show proper steps wherever required. - “Sir, answer toh yahi aana tha” is not an accepted mathematical method.

3. Write neatly and clearly. - If your handwriting requires a decoder machine, checking may become an adventure.

4. Manage your time wisely. - Spending 45 minutes on one question and calling the rest “optional” is not a strategy.

5. If you do not know the answer, you may cry silently. - Loud crying, emotional speeches, and negotiations for hints are strictly prohibited.

SECTION A: GRAMMAR (Tenses & Determiners) [10 × 1 = 10 Marks]

Q1. Choose the correct option to complete the passage on modern literacy. By the time the government initiates the new rural adult education drive next month, the volunteer group __________ mapping the illiterate pockets of the village for over half a year. A. will map

B. will have been mapping

C. has been mapping

D. is mapping

Q2. Read the dialogue between a teacher and a student and complete the sentence. > Teacher: Why haven't you finished your grammar assignment yet? > Student: Sir, I faced some conceptual doubts while studying determiners yesterday. The teacher asked the student why he hadn't finished his grammar assignment yet, to which the student replied that he __________ some conceptual doubts while studying determiners the previous day.

A. faced

B. had faced

C. has faced

D. was facing

Q3. Identify the error in the given sentence from a standard library notification and supply the correction: "Each books borrowed from the reference section must be returned within forty-eight hours to avoid a penalty." | Error | Correction | | :--- | :--- | | __________ | __________ |

Q4. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option. Real-life application of socio-economic schemes reveals that __________ information is available regarding adult illiteracy rates in remote hilly terrains, making comprehensive planning highly challenging. A. few

B. a few

C. little

D. many

Q5. Complete the statement by picking the appropriate determiner. __________ candidate who appeared for the interactive adult literacy mentoring program was handed a unique diagnostic assessment module to track individual learning graphs. A. Every

B. All

C. Much

D. Both

Q6. Read the historical timeline excerpt and fill in the blank with the appropriate tense form. Before Subramania Bharati published his revolutionary patriotic poems in 'Swadesamitran', he __________ as a court poet in Ettayapuram for a brief duration. A. serves

B. was serving

C. had served

D. has served

Q7. Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb. If Triveni's novel 'Kashi Yatre' __________ not published serially in the weekly magazine 'Karmaveera', the grandmother Krishtakka would never have developed such a profound psychological attachment to the protagonist's journey. A. is

B. was

C. had been

D. has been

Q8. Question number 8 consists of Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Choose the correct option from the standard set given below. Assertion (A): The sentence "The sun rises in the east and sets in the west" always takes the simple present tense.

Reason (R): Simple present tense is strictly mandated to express universal truths, scientific facts, and habitual actions that remain invariant over time.

A. Both A and R are true, R is correct explanation of A

B. Both A and R are true, R is not correct explanation of A

C. A is true, R is false

D. A is false, R is true

Q9. Question number 9 consists of Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Choose the correct option from the standard set given below. Assertion (A): In the sentence, "There are any structural flaws in your literary essay," the determiner 'any' is used correctly.

Reason (R): The determiner 'any' is conventionally utilized in negative sentences and interrogative formulations, rather than standard affirmative declarations.

A. Both A and R are true, R is correct explanation of A

B. Both A and R are true, R is not correct explanation of A

C. A is true, R is false

D. A is false, R is true

Q10. Complete the paragraph using the appropriate pair of determiners. The village panchayat has allocated __________ funds for structural library repairs; however, __________ interest has been shown by the younger demographic in maintaining the facility. A. many, few

B. some, little

C. any, much

D. each, several

SECTION B: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (30–50 words) [3 × 2 = 6 Marks]

Q11. In 'How I Taught My Grandmother to Read', the grandmother Krishtakka correlates her inability to read the alphabet with a deep sense of absolute helplessness. Evaluate how this dependency compromises her dignity, referencing her psychological state when her granddaughter was away at a wedding. [2 Marks]

Q12. Literature often reflects socio-cultural constraints. Based on Sudha Murty’s narrative, analyze why Krishtakka did not go to school during her childhood. What does this reveal about the prevailing patriarchal or structural mindset regarding female education in rural India during that era? [2 Marks]

Q13. In the poem 'Bharat Our Land', Subramania Bharati lists various geographical, spiritual, and cultural attributes of the motherland. Discuss how the poet establishes a sense of historical superiority and cultural continuity over other contemporary civilizations. [2 Marks]

SECTION C: LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (80–100 words) [2 × 4 = 8 Marks]

Q14. "Age is a state of mind, and determination can dismantle any structural barrier to education." Justify this statement with a thorough competency analysis of Krishtakka's character arc in 'How I Taught My Grandmother to Read'. Highlight her shift from absolute despair to empowerment, culminating in her bowing at the feet of her young guru. [4 Marks]

Q15. Imagine a structured real-life panel discussion where Subramania Bharati ('Bharat Our Land') and the grandmother Krishtakka ('How I Taught My Grandmother to Read') meet to discuss 'The Ideal Transformation of Indian Society'. Draft a detailed analytical response outlining how both texts collectively suggest that true national progress relies equally on geopolitical pride, literary pursuit, and gender empowerment. [4 Marks]

SECTION D: POETIC DEVICES / REFERENCE TO CONTEXT [1 × 6 = 6 Marks]

Q16. Read the extract given below from the poem 'Bharat Our Land' and answer the questions that follow: > "The mighty Himavant is ours—there’s no equal on this earth! > The generous Ganga is ours—which other river can match her grace? > The sacred Upanishads are ours—what scriptures else to name with them? > This sunny golden land is ours—she’s peerless, let’s praise her!" (i) Identify and analyze the primary poetic device used by Bharati in the phrase "generous Ganga". How does this device reinforce the thematic sanctity of the river? (1 Mark)

(ii) What specific emotional and nationalist tone does the repetitive use of the possessive determiner "ours" evoke in the minds of the citizens during the pre-independence era? (1 Mark)

(iii) Explain the phrase "sunny golden land" through a contemporary socio-economic or ecological perspective. What does it signify about India's intrinsic wealth? (1 Mark)

(iv) How does the mention of the "sacred Upanishads" establish India's unique contribution to global philosophical and intellectual thought? (1 Mark)

(v) Choose the correct synonym for the word 'peerless' as used in the given poetic context: (1 Mark)

A. Ordinary

B. Unparalleled

C. Dependent

D. Vulnerable

(vi) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE based on the extract: (1 Mark)


VEDANT SKILL ASSESSMENT SERIES - ACADEMIC YEAR 2026-27

ANSWER KEY & MARKING SCHEME

CLASS: IX | SUBJECT: ENGLISH | TOTAL: 30 MARKS | TIME: 1 HOUR

SECTION A: GRAMMAR (Tenses & Determiners) [10 × 1 = 10 Marks]

• Q1. Correct Option: B. will have been mapping

  • Justification: The time marker sentence structure "By the time the government initiates..." combined with the duration indicator "for over half a year" mandates the use of the Future Perfect Continuous Tense to indicate an ongoing action that will reach a specific point of completion in the future.

• Q2. Correct Option: B. had faced

  • Justification: In accordance with the standard structural rules of reported speech, a simple past tense event ("faced") within direct speech shifts into the Past Perfect Tense ("had faced") when converted into indirect narration.

• Q3. Correct Evaluation:

  • Error: books | Correction: book

  • Justification: The distributive determiner 'Each' must always be paired directly with a singular countable noun within a standard subject-verb agreement framework.

• Q4. Correct Option: C. little

  • Justification: 'Information' is an uncountable noun. Because the sentence carries a distinctly negative tone ("making comprehensive planning highly challenging"), the non-assertive/negative determiner 'little' is required to indicate insufficient availability.

• Q5. Correct Option: A. Every

  • Justification: The singular noun form ("candidate") and singular auxiliary verb ("was handed") restrict choice to a distributive singular determiner. 'All' would require a plural construction ("All candidates").

• Q6. Correct Option: C. had served

  • Justification: When evaluating two sequential past actions, the action that was completed prior to the other must be framed using the Past Perfect Tense ("had served") relative to the secondary simple past baseline ("published").

• Q7. Correct Option: C. had been

  • Justification: This follows the grammatical rules of a Type-3 Conditional Clause (unfulfilled past condition). The presence of "would never have developed" in the main clause necessitates a past perfect structure in the condition clause.

• Q8. Correct Option: A. Both A and R are true, R is correct explanation of A

  • Justification: The reason accurately states that the simple present tense is structurally mandatory for universal/scientific truths, thus explaining why the statement in the assertion is correct.

• Q9. Correct Option: D. A is false, R is true

  • Justification: The assertion is false because 'any' is incorrectly deployed in a standard affirmative declaration; it should properly be replaced with 'some'. The reason provides an accurate rule for the conventional use of 'any' in negative or interrogative parameters.

• Q10. Correct Option: B. some, little

  • Justification: 'Some' is the appropriate quantifier for positive allocations of resources, while the contrastive indicator word "however" demands a restrictive determiner like 'little' to show a lack of active interest.

Marking Scheme Note: Award 1 mark for each completely accurate option selection. No partial marks or negative marks apply for this section.

SECTION B: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (30–50 words) [3 × 2 = 6 Marks]

• Q11. Core Competency Solution:

  • Krishtakka connects her illiteracy directly with a loss of individual autonomy. During her granddaughter's absence, her inability to read the text of Kashi Yatre independently transforms her into a passive observer dependent on external help. This dependency causes deep humiliation, showing how missing functional literacy compromises personal dignity.

  • Marking Scheme: 1 Mark for identifying psychological distress/helplessness linked to dependence; 1 Mark for connecting it to the specific textual event (the granddaughter's absence).

• Q12. Core Competency Solution:

  • Krishtakka was denied a formal school education because contemporary rural socio-economic systems prioritized male child investment and early marriages for young girls, viewing female literacy as economically unproductive. This reflects a structural, patriarchal bias that confined women entirely to domestic boundaries.

  • Marking Scheme: 1 Mark for providing explicit historical reasons (domestic prioritization/early marriage); 1 Mark for critical evaluation of the social structure or mindset.

• Q13. Core Competency Solution:

  • Subramania Bharati uses strong comparative expressions, explicitly asserting that the physical monuments of India ("Himavant", "Ganga") have absolutely no equal across the earth. By aligning these geographical features with mature philosophical landmarks like the Upanishads, he establishes a narrative of uninterrupted cultural and intellectual superiority over other nations.

  • Marking Scheme: 1 Mark for explaining the literary technique used to compare India to the rest of the world; 1 Mark for explaining how spiritual/geographical points show continuity.

SECTION C: LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (80–100 words) [2 × 4 = 8 Marks]

• Q14. Core Competency Solution:

  • Krishtakka’s character arc provides an inspiring example of overcoming structural social barriers. Initially constrained by generation-wide exclusion and experiencing intense grief over her functional illiteracy, she refuses to fall into passive resignation. Instead, she demonstrates great determination by setting a strict timeline (the Dasara festival) to master the alphabet.

  • Her evolution from dependency to self-reliance marks a successful reclamation of personal agency. Her final action—bowing down to touch the feet of her young granddaughter—is a striking inversion of traditional age hierarchies. It demonstrates that an empowered learner values knowledge and the teacher above all else, proving that age is merely a state of mind when one is driven by purpose.

  • Marking Scheme: 1.5 Marks for tracking her path from despair to setting targets; 1.5 Marks for evaluating the breakdown of traditional age hierarchies; 1.0 Mark for structural clarity, vocabulary, and keeping within the word limit.

• Q15. Core Competency Solution:

  • A synthesis of both texts indicates that comprehensive national progress requires an intentional balance between macro-level patriotic identity and micro-level social justice. Subramania Bharati’s 'Bharat Our Land' builds a macro-narrative of collective national pride, highlighting grand geography and deep philosophical thought. However, a grand country concept cannot be sustained without individual empowerment.

  • Sudha Murty’s narrative addresses this gap at the micro-level through Krishtakka’s struggle, illustrating that a nation cannot genuinely claim global greatness if its citizens remain marginalized by systemic illiteracy. Therefore, Bharati’s vision of a 'peerless land' is fully realized only when basic barriers are dismantled, allowing individual minds to access that heritage. True development requires both shared cultural pride and equal access to education.

  • Marking Scheme: 1.5 Marks for explaining Bharati's macro-perspective on national heritage; 1.5 Marks for evaluating Sudha Murty's micro-perspective on individual literacy; 1.0 Mark for combining both ideas to show how they are necessary for true nation-building.

SECTION D: REFERENCE TO CONTEXT / POETIC DEVICES [1 × 6 = 6 Marks]

• Q16. Evaluative Criteria & Solutions:

  • (i) Device: Alliteration ("generous Ganga") or Personification (granting the human quality of generosity to the river). This device reinforces her sanctity by presenting her not merely as a body of water, but as a living, benevolent mother-deity who selflessly sustains life and civilization along her banks. (1 Mark)

  • (ii) The repetitive use of the possessive determiner "ours" instills a powerful sense of collective ownership, patriotic unity, and shared destiny. In the pre-independence era, this language directly challenged colonial efforts to diminish Indian identity by restoring a sense of cultural dignity. (1 Mark)

  • (iii) Through an ecological lens, the phrase "sunny golden land" points to India's high biodiversity, solar energy access, and agricultural fertility. It highlights natural resources that provide long-term economic independence and sustainability. (1 Mark)

  • (iv) The mention of the 'sacred Upanishads' highlights India’s foundational contribution to global philosophical and psychological inquiry, showing that sophisticated systems for understanding human consciousness existed here long before modern civilizations emerged. (1 Mark)

  • (v) Correct Option: B. Unparalleled (1 Mark)

  • (vi) Statement Assessment: FALSE. The poet uses a rhetorical question to state that the Upanishads are unmatched, implying that no other global texts can equal their philosophical depth. (1 Mark)