Students must start practicing the questions from CBSE Sample Papers for Class 9 English with Solutions Set 8 are designed as per the revised syllabus.
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 9 English Set 8 with Solutions
Time Allowed : 3 hours
Maximum Marks : 80
General Instructions
Read the instructions very carefully and strictly follow them.
- This question paper is divided into three sections.
- This question paper has 11 questions. All questions are compulsory.
- Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
Section – A
Reading Skills (20 marks)
Question 1.
Read the following passage carefully. (10)
(1) Technology plays an essential role in decision-making. It helps humans use information and knowledge properly to make suitable decisions for their organisation and innovations. Humans are producing large volumes of data, and to make it efficient, firms are adopting and using AI and kicking humans out of using the data. Humans think they are getting benefits and saving time by using AI in their decisions. But it is overcoming the human biological processors through lowing cognition capabilities.
(2) It is a fact that AI technologies and applications have many benefits. Still, AI technologies have severe negative consequences, and the limitation of their role in human decision-making is one of them. Slowly and gradually, AI limits and replaces the human role in decision-making. Human mental capabilities like intuitive analysis, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving are getting out of decision-making. Consequently, this will lead to their loss as there is a saying, use it or lose it. The speed of adaptation of AI technology is evident from the usage of AI in the strategic decision-making processes, which has increased from 10 to 80% in five years.
(3) Walmart and Amazon have integrated AI into their recruitment process and make decisions about their product. And it’s getting more into the top management decisions. Organisations use AI to analyse data and make complex decisions effectively to obtain a competitive advantage. Although AI is helping the decision-making process in various sectors, humans still have the last say in making any decision. It highlights the importance of humans role in the process and the need to ensure that AI technology and humans work side by side. The hybrid model of the human-machine collaboration approach is believed to merge in the future.
(4) The role of AI in decision-making in educational institutions is spreading daily. Universities are using AI in both academic and administrative activities. From students searching for program admission requirements to the issuance of degrees, they are now assisted by AI personalisation, tutoring, quick responses, 24/7 access to learning, answering questions, and task automation are the leading roles AI plays in the education sector.
(5) In all the above roles, A! collects data, analyses it, and then responds, i.e., makes decisions. It is necessary to ask some simple but essential questions: Does AI make ethical choices? The answer is AI was found to be racist, and its choice might not be ethical. The second question is, does AI impact human decision-making capabilities? While using an intelligent system, applicants may submit their records directly to the designer and get approval for admission tests without human scrutiny. One reason is that the authorities will trust the system; the second may be the laziness created by task automation among the leaders.
(6) Similarly, in keeping the records of students and analysing their data, again, the choice will be dependent on the decision made by the system, either due to trust or due to the laziness created by task automation among the authorities. Almost in every task, the teachers and other workers lose the power of cognition while making academic or administrative decisions. And their dependency increases daily on the AI systems installed in the institution.
To summarise the review, in any educational organisation, AI makes operations automatic and minimises staff participation in performing various tasks and making decisions. The teachers and other administrative staff are helpless in front of AI as the machines perform many of their functions. They are losing the skills of traditional tasks to be completed in an educational setting and consequently losing the reasoning capabilities of decision-making.
Answer the following questions based on the above passage.
(i) According to Paragraph 5, does AI make ethical choices? (1)
Answer:
It was found that the AI might not always make the ethical choice. It has been found to be racist in many instances.
(ii) Complete the following with the correct option from the two given. (1)
The usage of AI in the strategic decision-making processes, which has increased from in five years.
(A) 10% to 90%
(B) 10% to 80%
Answer:
(B) 10% to 80%
(iii) What is the role of AI in decision-making in educational institutions? (2)
Answer:
The role of AI in decision making in universities is very vast. They are using AI for academic and administrative purposes. Students can access AI models online that can help them find program requirements, personalise their search with keywords, find answers to their assignments, all time access to class modules, etc. Even the issuance of degrees can now be assisted by AI.
(iv) AI makes operations automatic and minimises staff participation in performing various tasks and making decisions. (1)
Answer:
(a) Automatic
(v) Which word in the above line is the opposite for ‘physical’?
(a) Automatic
(b) Minimise
(c) Performing
(d) Decisions
Answer:
(a) Automatic
(v) State whether the following statement is True or False with reference to the given extract.
Teachers are becoming dependent on the AI systems installed in their institutions. (1)
Answer:
True
(vi) What approach does the author suggest is the best way to manage AI’s involvement in human decisions? (1)
(a) AI should be given free reign in making decisions.
(b) Humans should follow the opposite of AI suggestions or decisions.
(c) AI should not be involved in the decision making process at all.
(d) AI and humans should work side by side to make decisions.
Answer:
(d) AI and humans should work side by side to make decisions.
(vii) What will be an appropriate title for the above article? Why? (2)
Answer:
(viii) Fill in the blank with the correct option from those given (1)
Humans are producing large volumes of data. But to make analysing data efficient, companies are using AI. This has led to ……….
(a) kicking humans out of using data
(b) bringing humans to use data
(c) using data itself
(d) misuse of data
Answer:
(a) kicking humans out of using data
Question 2.
Read the following .passage carefully. (10)
(1) Severe mental health conditions cost the US economy $193.2 billion in lost revenue each year. In 2022, around $280 billion were spent on mental health services, with Medicaid providing approximately a quarter of these funds. Meanwhile, the global mental health market was valued at $381.31 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $537.91 billion by 2030.
(2) Suicide is a serious public health concern and one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. It j occurs across all age, economic, social, racial and ethnic groups and certain risk factors vary by factors like age, gender and ethnic group. It’s important to keep in mind that suicide is preventable. Family and community support and access to mental health care can decrease suicidal thoughts and behaviours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
(3) Here’s a look at how suicide impacts individuals and communities in the US.
(4) Over four times as many men as women die by suicide in the US Suicide rates increased by ! 36% between 2000 to 2021. Suicide accounted for 48,183 deaths in 2021, which is j approximately one death every 11 minutes. An estimated 12.3 million adults in the US j seriously considered suicide in 2021, with 3.5 million planning a suicide attempt and 1.7 million attempting suicide.
Provisional data suggests that nearly 50,000 people in the US ! died by suicide in 2022, which is. a 3% increase from 2021. Suicide rates declined for men ages \ 34 and younger in 2022 and increased in males ages 35 and older. For women, suicide rates j declined for those aged 24 and younger in 2022 and increased for those 25 and older. In 2022, j suicide rates increased for nearly all races and Hispanic-origin groups. Suicide rates for people in age groups 10 to 14,15 to 24 and 25 to 34 fell by 18%, 9% and 2% respectively from 2021 to 2022. However, rates increased 3% to 9% for all age groups 35 and older.
Suicide Rates by Age
(5) If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health condition, help is available and accessible. You can call or text ‘988’ (or chat online on 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s website) for free, confidential, and immediate help. You can also call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to access the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24/7 helpline.
Answer the following questions based on the above passage.
(i) Which of the following is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S? (1)
(a) Suicide
(b) Mental health problems
(c) Diabetes
(d) Economic Disbalance
Answer:
(a) Suicide
(ii) Select the option that is true for the Assertion and Reason given below. (1)
Assertion Suicide is a serious public health concern and a leading cause of death. Reason It is unpreventable.
(a) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(d) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.
Answer:
(c) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
(iii) In the given chart, for which age groups the suicide rates have increased between years 2021 and 2022?
Answer:
The age groups for which the suicide rates have increased between years 2021 and 2022 are 35-44, 45- 54, 55-64, 65-74 and 75+.
(iv) In 2022, around $280’billion were spent on mental health services in the US. How much of it was paid by Medicaid?
Answer:
Quarter of $280 billion was paid by Medicaid in 2022 on mental health services in US.
(v) Read the prompt and select the correct option in the bracket to fill in the blank.
Men die ……….. (four times/ten times) more than women die by suicide in the US.
Answer:
four times
(vi) What is the full form of CDC? According to CDC, what can help reduce suicidal behaviours? (2)
Answer:
CDC stands for Center for Disease Control and Prevention. According to CDC, family, community support and easy access to mental health facilities can decrease suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
(vii) Complete the sentence suitably.
Suicide accounted for 48,183 deaths in 2021. It is approximately
Answer:
One death in every 11 minutes.
(viii) How can the people in US access help if they are feeling suicidal thoughts? 12
Answer:
In US, people can call or text ‘988’- 988 is a suicide and crisis lifeline and website available for free services and immediate help. They keep your information confidential, and are trustworthy.
You can also call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to access the US’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline. It is a 24/7 service.
Section B
Grammar and Creative Writing Skills (20 Marks)
Question 3.
Complete any ten of the following twelve tasks, as directed.
(i) Identify the error and supply correction for these sentences.
Negative election campaigning can lead to the disengagement of the voters of the election process. –
Use the given format for your response.
| Error | Correction |
Answer:
| Error | Correction |
| Of the election | From the election |
(ii) Read the following conversation carefully.
Mr Bose I see. Can you manage the post of a Public Relations Executive?
Rohit I’m sure I will be able to do the job competently.
Select the options to complete the reporting of the above dialogue.
Mr Bose looked at the candidate Rohit and asked him Rohit assured Mr Bose that he would be able to do the job competently.
(a) he can manage the post of a Relations Executive
(b) he could manage the post of a Relation
(c) whether he could manage the post of a Public Relations Executive
(d) if he should manage the post of a Public Relations Executive
Answer:
(c) whether he could manage the post of a Public Relations Executive
(iii) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket.
Arun ……….. (read) the newspaper when he came across a comic. The comic showed penguins discussing pollution.
Answer:
was reading
(iv) Identify the error and supply correction for these sentences.
Your school goes to be closed for the summer vacation for next Monday. Hence, you will have a lot of time at your disposal.
Use the given format for your response.
| Error | Correction |
Answer:
| Error | Correction |
| Goes to be closed | Will be closed |
| For next Monday | From next monday |
(v) Complete the given sentence by filling in the blank with the correct option. (1)
He used to visit us every week, but he now.
(a) comes rarely
(b) is coming rarely
(c) has come rarely
(d) will not come rarely
Answer:
(a) comes rarely
(vi) Fill in the blank to complete the sentence.
The children said to me,”We will go out in the rain”.
The children told me that they ……… in the rain.
Answer:
would go out
(vii) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option.
Greenpeace operates internationally and governments and large oil companies through feats of direct action which attract public sympathy.
(a) could have embarrassed
(b) would embarrass
(c) is able to embarrass
(d) should be embarrassed
Answer:
(c) is able to embarrass
(viii) Identify the error and supply correction for the below sentence.
Agra is a old historical city. It has many monuments of the Mughals. A Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful monument of the world.
Use the given format for your response.
| Error | Correction |
Answer:
| Error | Correction |
| A old | An old |
| A Taj Mahal | The Taj Mahal |
| monument | monuments |
(ix) Convert the below sentence into reported speech.
My mother said, “I will update my credit card details within two days”.
Answer:
(x) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction.
So it attracts people of all ages without making him even pause to think about its harmful effects.
| Options | Error | Correction |
| (a) | all | Few |
| (b) | its | Him |
| (c) | Him | Her |
| (d) | Him | them |
Answer:
| Option | Error | Correction |
| (d) | him | them |
Writing
Note : All details presented in the questions are imaginary and created for assessment purposes.
Question 4.
Attempt any one from (A) and (B) given below.
(A) One day you were commuting in a DTC bus. Unfortunately, your wallet was left at home. The conductor gave you the ticket for free. You are moved by his gesture. Describe the incident in 100-200 words.
Answer:
One day I was commuting on a DTC bus. When I saw the bus conductor approaching towards my seat, I instinctively started to reach for my wallet in my pocket. But after searching I couldn’t find it. Suddenly I realised that I left my wallet on my bedside table. I had no money to buy the ticket. Every moment the conductor got near, it was adding to my anxiety. The conductor asked me for the ticket.
I broke dpwn and had an emotional outburst. I told him how I was running late today and must have left my wallet at home. After knowing the truth, he calmed me down and offered me the ticket for free. I looked at him in surprise and asked him if he was sure. He just smiled and left. The conductor was a warm-hearted man. He understood my problem. He could have fined me but he didn’t. When I de-boarded the bus, I thanked him for his generosity.
I was moved to tears by his kindness. It was an unforgettable experience of my life.
(B) You recently visited the city of Jaipur. It is famous for places like Hawa Mahal, palaces and forts. You also went shopping and it was an exciting experience as you found many things to buy. Write a description of the place in 100-200 words.
Answer:
Jaipur, is the capital of Rajasthan. It is also referred to as ‘the Pink City’. It is a colourful city with many beautiful monuments, good food and lots of places to shop. By road, it is about a four hour drive from Delhi.
By air, it takes about 45 minutes from Delhi. Being a desert, it is a hot place. The best months to visit are December to February as the weather is cooler and nicer.
The Hawa Mahal is one of the most well-known monuments in Jaipur. It is made of pink stone. It also has many palaces and forts constructed by kings that are marvels of architecture. It takes you about three days to explore all the palaces and forts.
Apart from monuments, shopping in Jaipur is also very exciting. Everything is reasonably priced. Marble carvings and objects made out of stone are Jaipur’s speciality. The art of tie and dye is also very famous in Rajasthan. You can find fabric, dresses or sarees made out of this material at nominal prices. In all, Jaipur is a beautiful place to vacation in.
Question 5.
Attempt any one from (A) and (B) given below. (5)
(A) A candlelight protest march was organised at Jantar Mantar to draw the attention of the government towards ‘Crime Against Women’ this evening. You also participated in this protest march. You are Rajan/Rajni, a student of Class IX. Taking ideas from the clues given below, write a Diary Entry in 100-120 words.
- today was a red-letter day for me
- huge number of youth present
- silent march for victims
- march organised by an NGO
- felt happy on being a part of this march
Answer:
Thursday, 20th June, 20XX 10:00 pm
Dear Diary
Today was a red-letter day for me. I participated in a huge candlelight protest at the historic monument in Delhi, Jantar Mantar. Young students and people from all over the country were present. It was a silent and peaceful march to pray for the poor souls who were the victims of various crimes such as dowry, harassment, rape, domestic violence and other similar issues. This march was organised by a well-known NGO who also works for these causes. I was happy to see the awareness among the boys and men who also participated in the march. I returned home with a feeling that our government will listen to us and take strict action against the offenders. I was proud of being a part of this march.
Rajini
(B) Write a story in 100-200 words with the help of the following clues.
- Rohit alone in house . telephone rang
- enquiry about parents
- sudden disconnection
- knocking on the front door
- burly heavy man
- break the door
- police called
- burglars nabbed
Answer:
One night, Rohit was alone at home. His parents had gone out to attend a family function. To pass the time, Rohit was watching television in his room. Suddenly, the telephone started ringing. Rohit hesitated but as there was no one at home, he eventually picked up the phone.
He picked up the phone and said, “Hello”!
No response from the other side. He kept the phone down and went back to his room.
After a few minutes, the telephone bell rang again.
Rohit picked up the phone again and said, “Hello”?
This time a man with a heavy voice responded and asked if Ravi’s father was at home. The man did not give his identity but kept on asking questions about Rohit’s parents.
Rohit got suspicious. When he refused to tell the caller anything about his parent’s whereabouts, the phone got disconnected. Rohit felt alarmed but decided to brush it off.
After some time, someone knocked at the front door. As Rohit approached the front door, he-saw three men trying to break the door through the window. He immediately called the police and narrated the whole incident to them. Within 10 minutes, the police arrived. The burglars tried to run away but were caught by the police. Rohit’s vigilance and quick action helped him save himself.
Section C
Literature (40Marks)
Question 6.
Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (A) or (B).
(A) Margie was scornful. “School? What’s there to write about school? I hate school.” Margie always, hated school, but now she hated it more than ever. The mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in geography and she had been doing worse and worse until her mother had shaken her head sorrowfully and sent for the County Inspector.
(i) What do you think is the opposite of the word ‘scornful’ as given in the following line. ‘Margie was scornful’. Choose the most suitable option.
(a) Appreciative
(b) Handy
(c) Contemptuous
(d) Probable
Answer:
(a) Appreciative
(ii) Why was Margie feeling scornful?
Answer:
Margie was feeling scornful as she hated school because her teacher was very harsh on her. She was not doing very well in her geography subject and she didn’t enjoy her classes or writing assignments.
(iii) Fill in the blank with the correct option from the bracket.
Margie was not doing well in subject ………… (Geography/History).
Answer:
Geography
(iv) What is the meaning of ‘mechanical teacher’?
Answer:
‘Mechanical teacher’ means automated, personalised learning machines made to adapt to individual learning style.
(v) State whether the following statement is True or False.
Margie’s mother had to send for the County Inspector as Margie was very ill and feverish.
Answer:
False
(B) While Einstein was solving the most difficult problems in physics, his private life was unraveling. Albert had wanted to marry Mileva right after finishing his studies, but his mother was against it. She thought Mileva,who was three years older than her son, was too old for him. She was also bothered by Mileva’s intelligence. “She is a book like you”, his mother said. Einstein put the wedding off.
(i) The word ‘unraveling’ does not correspond with
(a) to work out
(b) to simplify.
(c) to unveil
(d) to sort.
Answer:
(c) to unveil
(ii) Mileva belonged to which country? Why did Einstein put the wedding off?
Answer:
Mileva belonged to Serbia. Einstein put his wedding with Mileva off as his mother disapproved of her. She found Mileva and Einstein too similar – too knowledgeable and bookish.
(iii) Fill in the blank with the correct option from the bracket.
The line ‘Einstein put the wedding off’ shows that he his mother, ……….. (respected/scomed)
Answer:
respected
(iv) Which word from the extract is opposite of ‘manageable’?
Answer:
difficult
(v) State whether the following statement is True or False.
Albert’s mother thought Mileva was too knowledgeable and bookish like him.
Answer:
True
Question 7.
Read the following extracts and answer the questions for any one of the given two, (A) or (B).
(A) I shall be telling this with a sigh.
Somewhere ages and ages hence.
Two roads diverged in a wood and
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
(i) What does the word ‘sigh’ mean in the above extract?
Answer:
The word ‘sigh’ means to breathe out slowly. It expresses the poet’s tiredness, sadness, pleasure and other emotions that the poet might feel about his choices.
(ii) Fill in the blank with one word.
choice.
Answer:
the future
(iii) Who is I in the above lines?
Answer:
The poet
(iv) Select the option the best represents the theme of the poem.
(a) The various roads we travel in life
(b) The various things we do in life
(c) The various problems we face in life and the choices we make
(d) The small problems we face in life and the choices we make
Answer:
(c) The various problems we face in life and the choices we make
(v) State whether the following statement is True or False.
In the above poem, the poet was feeling regretful and he could not travel on both roads.
Answer:
True
(B) As she used in years agone,
To regard the darling dreamers
Ere she left them till the dawn:
O! I feel her fond look on me
As I list to this refrain
(i) What does the word ‘agone’ refer to in the first line of the extract?
Answer:
(i) The word ‘agone’ in the first line means that the poet’s mother used to do something in the past. It suggests the poet is reminiscing about his mother who he feels, is watching him.
(ii) Complete the following suitably.
The sound of the rain reminded the poet of …………….
Answer:
his childhood
(iii) What does the phrase ‘darling dreamers’ refer to?
Answer:
The poet and his siblings.
(iv) The rhyming scheme in the above poem is …………..
(a) abcbdefe
(b) abccdeef
(c) abcbdee
(d) abbcddef
Answer:
(a) abcbdefe
(v) State whether the following statement is True or False. If False, correct the below sentence.
In the above lines of the poem, the poet is feeling sorrowful after seeing the rain.
Answer:
False. In the above lines of the poem, the poet is feeling excited and nostalgic after seeing the rain.
Question 8.
Answer any four of the following five questions in 40-50 words each.
(i) What harm does the wind do when it blows hard?
Answer:
When the wind blows very hard, it creates a lot of damage. It breaks the glasses or shutters of the windows. It also scatters the papers on the floor. It also makes the books fall down from the shelf. It can also lead to uprooting the trees.
(ii) Explain the reason behind Santosh Yadav’s success?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav was a woman who had strong will power, great physical health and remarkable mental endurance. Her hard worker and sincerity helped her overcome hurdles and helped her emerge as a winner. Her determination and dedication made her never give up on her dreams and was the reason behind her success.
(iii) How does Gerrard convince the intruder to follow his plan?
Answer:
Gerrard convinced the intruder by telling him that he himself was a criminal. He was planning to run away the same night and told the intruder that he could accompany him if he liked. He also adds that, if the intruder feels like he is being deceived, he can take both the car and the gun with him.
(iv) What did Bismillah Khan say after receiving the Bharat Ratna award?
Answer:
After receiving the Bharat Ratna award, Bismillah advised Indians to value their music and culture. He further remarked that Indian music was so rich that even the West is trying to learn this art form now. He encouraged Indians to teach this art to their children. He also encouraged youngsters to learn this art form.
(v) What did Kezia’s father do daily after coming back from office?
Answer:
After coming back from the office, Kezia’s father ordered Kezia’s mother to bring tea into the drawing room. He also asked her to bring his slippers and the newspaper. He would then ask Kezia to remove his boots, while enquiring if she had been a good girl that day or not.
Question 9.
Answer any two o/the following three questions in 40-50 words each.
(i) What was the second thing that amazed the guru and the disciple after arriving at the kingdom of fools?
Answer:
The second thing that amazed the guru and the disciple on arriving at the kingdom of fools was that everything in the kingdom had the same cost of one duddu. Whether it was gold or a bunch of bananas, everything had the same value. This kind of market was folish and limiting in the guru’s opinion.
(ii) What does the swallow notice when it flies over the city in the story ‘The Happy Prince’?
Answer:
When the swallow flew over the city, he saw the great disparity between the rich and the poor. He observed that the rich men were enjoying their life and were unaware of the plight of the poor people who lived near them. On the other hand, the poor people were even denied proper sleep by the policemen patrolling around the city.
(iii) Where did grandfather and the narrator hide Toto? What did he do there?
Answer:
Grandfather and the narrator hid Toto in a little closet opening in the bedroom wall of the narrator. They tie him securely by a rope. Toto however, released himself. He pulled the peg to which the rope was tied. He removed the ornamental paper that was fixed on the wall and tore the narrator’s school blazer.
Question 10.
Answer any one of the following two questions in 100-120 words each.
(i) When Sivasubramania told Kalarn, ‘Once you decide to change the system, such problems have to be confronted’. What system was he referring to? What values was he trying to teach Kalam?
Answer:
Sivasubramania Iyer was a rebel. He was against the system of segregation by social barriers like religion, gender, etc. Instead he wanted people from varying backgrounds to mingle easily. When he invited his student, Abdul Kalam to his home, his wife, keeping up with the prevailing system, refused to serve him food as he was a Muslim.
But, Iyer didn’t hesitate to not only serve Kalam but also invited him again next week. He told Abdul Kalam that when one decides to go against the old social barriers, one may have to face many problems. He proved that if we are determined to face our problems and change the system, we can succeed in doing so. He also taught him that sometimes it is good to rebel if we are doing it for the right reasons or to achieve higher goals in life.
(ii) It has grown slowly
Slowly consuming the Earth
Rising out of it, feeding
Upon its crust, absorbing
Years of Sunlight, air water.
Based on the above lines, describe the relationship the tree has with the Earth.
Answer:
A tree has a profound relationship with the Earth. It owes its very existence to the earth. The seed germinates in the womb of the Earth and the plant sprouts over the surface of the Earth. The tree draws nutrients from the soil and the Earth gives it support to stand tall. It protects it from falling down. The Earth gives a firm grip to its roots and ground to grow, helping in becoming a larger size. The Earth keeps the roots of the tree concealed.
It protects it from exposure of the sunlight and the air which can be very injurious to its existence. Thus, the Earth helps a tree from its birth to its natural end.
Question 11.
Answer any one of the following two questions in 100-120 words each.
(i) “I looked into the mirror and smiled”, says the doctor. A little later he says, “I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself”. What is the doctor’s opinion about himself when he smiles first and then later? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?
Answer:
The doctor rated his appearance quite high and smiled at his image whenever he looked into the large mirror on his table. He says that the first time he looked into the mirror and smiled, his opinion about himself was full – of self-admiration. He thought that he was very handsome and had to stay well-groomed.
However, on the second occasion, his opinion about himself was filled with humility. His thoughts changed as he tells the listeners that he forgot the danger he faced and smiled weakly at himself. He had realised that he had been vain, foolish and stupid. His encounter with the deadly snake had exposed his shortcomings to him. He realised that in spite of being a doctor, he did not have any medicine for an emergency like a snake-bite.
His good looks became irrelevant when he came face to face with death. His only thoughts in his mind then were about God. The feeble smile indicated his acceptance of the idiocy and vanity that had so far dictated his life.
(ii) ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink’. Justify the proverb with reference to the story ‘The Beggar’.
Answer:
The story ‘The Beggar’justifies the proverb ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink’. The beggar, Lushkoff, is a drunkard. He begs as he is not willing to work. Sergai tries to help him by giving him a job of cutting wood at his home. Sergai hoped that he would change Lushkoff’s thinking. However, Lushkoff had no intention to change or work.
His work was done by Olga, Sergai’s cook. He came to Sergai’s house to get money without doing any work. However, when Lushkoff sees Olga’s concern for him and the unconditional help she provides him, that act changes his thinking. He instantly makes an effort to stop drinking and starts to work hard. So, no one’s request or force was able to change his ways. His own will power makes him quit drinking and becomes a better person.
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