Get textual answers, explanations, solutions, notes, extras, MCQs, PDF of Chapter 6: ICSE Class 9 English Language/Grammar (Total English) solved which comprises The Sequence ofTenses, Picture Composition, Comprehension Words In Context, Practice Paper-6. However, the educational materials should only be used for reference, and students are encouraged to make necessary changes.
Video tutorial
The Sequence of Tenses
Assignment
Fill in the blanks with the correct tenses of the verbs given in brackets:
1. Uma finished first though she……………..(begin) late.
Answer: began
2. She believed that God…………….. (be) everywhere.
Answer: is
3. The garden is now better kept than it………….(be) last year.
Answer: was
4. I am sorry that you…………….(keep) waiting so long yesterday.
Answer: were kept
5. Her face lighted up as he…………..(turn) towards her.
Answer: turned
6. I asked him where he……………..(leave) the book.
Answer: had left
7. Amit told me that he………….(will) come.
Answer: would
8. He would die before he…………….(lie).
Answer: lied
9. We all knew that sugar………………(produce) from sugarcane.
Answer: is produced
10. She cannot read unless she………….(wear) glasses.
Answer: wears
20. He…………….(work) for the company for ten years.
Answer: has been working
Picture Composition
Study the picture given below. Write a story or description or an account of what the picture suggests to you.
[Total English – Image Description – A road on which people are driving motorcycles. There are few people walking on the footpath. A man is covering his nose. In the background, there are industries that are releasing thick black smoke, causing pollution. There are trees too, but the trees seem like they are stooping to the ground.]
Answer: The picture vividly depicts a grim scenario of industrial pollution overshadowing urban life. Factories with towering chimneys dominate the background, releasing thick black smoke into the sky, forming dense clouds of pollution. This contrasts sharply with the lush greenery of the nearby trees and bushes. The road in the foreground is bustling with activity as motorbikes, scooters, and pedestrians make their way along the busy street. However, the dark, polluted sky looms over the scene, signifying an impending environmental crisis.
The image suggests a world where industrial progress has taken precedence over environmental health. The people on the road seem oblivious to the pollution, perhaps representing how normalised such a dire situation has become in urban areas. The trees appear to fight a losing battle, as the choking smoke overshadows their presence.
This picture is a stark reminder of the cost of industrialisation. It urges us to reflect on the importance of balancing development with sustainability. Without immediate action, the air we breathe and the environment we depend upon could be irreparably damaged, affecting not just nature but human health and quality of life as well.
Comprehension Words In Context
Assignment
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
For the fifth day in succession, I set out on the wearisome search for a house. My husband had been very ill and the doctor was insistent that we must give up living in the town. It was essential for him to breathe the purer air of the country, if he was to get strong again. So, I was feverishly house-hunting.
Of course, I had seen innumerable houses, but there was something wrong with all of them. Some were too large, some too small. Some were surrounded by too much land and some had so little garden that it was practically non-existent. Some could never have been repaired since they were built: roof tiles were missing, walls and ceilings were cracked, woodwork was rotting, paint peeling. It would require a fortune to make them habitable. Some were so ugly outside that I made no attempt to penetrate to the interior.
I was sure that one house was haunted. I could feel a ghostly presence following me from room to room and hear the swish of skirts that I could not see. I have never been afraid of ghosts, but I did not want to share my home with one. I have heard too many tales of the tricks that spirit occupants of houses can get up to, if they are offended by the living owners. It would be uncomfortable to be on bad terms with a companion who was alive, but intolerable with a dead one.
The morning of the fifth day brought no better result, and I was so disappointed that I very nearly gave up looking at anything more that week. However, something impelled me to go on after lunch; and I found exactly what I wanted.
(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided
1. wearisome (line 1)
(a) forceful
(b) tiresome
(c) worn-out
(d) current
Answer: (b) tiresome
2. innumerable (line 5)
(a) countless
(b) numbered
(c) hundred
(d) single
Answer: (a) countless
3. impelled (line 19)
(a) hinted
(b) wanted
(c) urged
(d) nudged
Answer: (c) urged
(ii) For each word given below choose the correct antonym from the options provided
1. habitable (line 10)
(a) sustainable
(b) unlivable
(c) comfortable
(d) endurable
Answer: (b) unlivable
2. offended (line 15)
(a) praised
(b) defamed
(c) taunted
(d) distressed
Answer: (a) praised
3. disappointed (line 18)
(a) frustrated
(b) discontented
(c) depressed
(d) gratified
Answer: (d) gratified
(iii) For each word given below choose a word from the passage (given as an option) that is opposite in meaning to the word
1. Hesitant
(a) insistent
(b) essential
(c) surrounded
(d) non-existent
Answer: (a) insistent (line 2)
2. Undecayed
(a) missing
(b) cracked
(c) rotting
(d) peeling
Answer: (c) rotting (line 10)
3. Calmly
(a) practically
(b) ugly
(c) feverishly
(d) ghostly
Answer: (c) feverishly (line 7)
4. Endurable
(a) essential
(b) habitable
(c) haunted
(d) intolerable
Answer: (d) intolerable (line 16)
Practice Paper-6
Question 1
Write a composition (300-350 words) on any one of the following:
1. Write an original story to illustrate the truth of the statement, ‘A garden is a grand teacher.’
Answer: Lessons from the Garden: A Summer of Growth
Maya had always been a city girl. Tall skyscrapers, honking cars, and bustling crowds were all she had ever known. When her grandparents invited her to spend the summer at their countryside home, she reluctantly agreed, thinking she would be bored. What could a quiet life in the countryside offer her, a teenager used to the fast pace of city life?
Her grandparents’ garden was the centerpiece of their home. It stretched far and wide, filled with a variety of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. On her first morning, her grandmother handed her a small trowel and told her she’d be helping out in the garden. Maya groaned but had no choice.
At first, the work felt endless. Her hands got dirty, her back ached, and the sun seemed relentless. But as the days passed, Maya began to notice the tiny details in the garden. The way a seed pushed through the soil, reaching for the sun. The delicate balance of watering just enough to nurture growth but not so much as to drown it. She marveled at the caterpillars transforming into butterflies, the bees tirelessly flitting between flowers, and the vibrant colors of ripe tomatoes and bell peppers.
One evening, her grandfather joined her in the garden. He explained how each plant had its season and how patience was key to a successful harvest. “Gardens teach us the rhythm of life,” he said. “They remind us that growth takes time, and care is essential.” Maya found herself thinking about how these lessons applied to her own life—her studies, her relationships, even her dreams.
By the end of the summer, the garden had transformed Maya. She learned resilience from the hardy weeds that refused to be uprooted, humility from the fragility of blossoms, and gratitude for the food it provided. As she said goodbye to her grandparents, Maya realized the truth of the saying: a garden is indeed a grand teacher.
(iv) If you were asked to choose between money and a peaceful life, what would you choose and why?
Answer: In a world increasingly defined by material pursuits, the dilemma between choosing money and a peaceful life is both universal and deeply personal. If faced with this choice, I would undoubtedly choose a peaceful life. While money can provide comfort and opportunities, true peace is an irreplaceable treasure that nurtures the mind, body, and soul.
A peaceful life fosters mental and emotional well-being. In today’s fast-paced world, stress and anxiety are often fueled by the relentless pursuit of wealth. However, a life rooted in tranquility allows for self-reflection, clarity, and emotional balance. Peace grants the opportunity to cherish life’s simple pleasures—spending time with loved ones, enjoying nature, or pursuing hobbies that bring joy. These moments create lasting happiness that money alone cannot buy.
Moreover, a peaceful life encourages healthier relationships. Often, the pursuit of wealth comes at the expense of meaningful connections. Time spent chasing financial gain can lead to neglect of family and friends. On the other hand, a life focused on peace prioritizes relationships, building trust, love, and mutual respect. Such bonds are invaluable and contribute to a fulfilling existence.
While it is undeniable that money plays a significant role in providing necessities such as food, shelter, and education, an excessive focus on accumulating wealth can lead to dissatisfaction. The desire for more can be insatiable, leaving little room for contentment. A peaceful life, by contrast, thrives on contentment and gratitude, emphasizing quality over quantity.
Furthermore, peace enhances physical health. Studies have shown that stress caused by financial pressures can lead to serious health issues, including heart disease and hypertension. Choosing a peaceful life reduces these risks, promoting longevity and a higher quality of life.
In conclusion, while money is essential for basic needs, it should never come at the cost of inner peace. A peaceful life offers the stability, joy, and fulfillment that wealth cannot guarantee. Given the choice, I would prioritize peace over money, as it forms the foundation of a truly meaningful and happy existence.
(v) Study the picture given below. Write a story or a description or an account of what it suggests to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or you may take suggestions from it; however, there must be a clear connection between the picture and your composition.
[Total English – Image description- People of different ages doing yoga in front of Mysore Palace]
Answer: The Palace of Serenity
The grand Mysore Palace stood tall against the clear morning sky, its majestic silhouette framing a scene of peace and harmony. On the sprawling lawn in front of the historic monument, hundreds of individuals had gathered, their yoga mats spread out like colourful patches on a green canvas. The rhythmic hum of a mantra filled the air as the participants settled into their meditation pose.
This was no ordinary day. It was International Yoga Day, a celebration of India’s ancient tradition of physical and spiritual well-being. People of all ages had come together to experience unity through yoga. Some were seasoned practitioners, their postures reflecting years of discipline, while others, perhaps participating for the first time, fumbled slightly but smiled through their efforts.
The serene atmosphere was punctuated only by the chirping of birds and the occasional breeze that rustled the nearby trees. The sun, still rising, cast a golden glow on the participants, making the palace’s ornate domes glisten like jewels. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, as everyone became a part of this collective effort to connect with themselves and the universe.
The event organisers, dressed in simple white uniforms, moved around ensuring everything was in order. Bottles of water were distributed to those who needed it, but otherwise, the organisers maintained a quiet, almost reverent atmosphere. This was not just an exercise session; it was a spiritual experience.
Among the participants was a young girl, no older than twelve, sitting beside her grandmother. While the grandmother effortlessly settled into her lotus pose, the girl struggled to match her stillness. Her curious eyes darted around, taking in the grandeur of the palace, the multitude of people, and the calm faces around her. Slowly, she closed her eyes and mimicked her grandmother’s posture. In that moment, generations bridged the gap, united in a shared experience of mindfulness.
The scene was a powerful reminder of how traditions like yoga could transcend age, language, and culture. It was more than just an event; it was a symbol of resilience and unity in a fast-paced, ever-changing world. And as the participants slowly moved into their next pose, the palace stood as a silent witness, a timeless guardian of India’s cultural heritage.
Question 2
1. Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper highlighting the necessity of creating awareness among the poor and needy about the various schemes initiated by the Government to help them.
Answer:
To
The Editor,
The Times of India,
Mumbai.
Subject: Need for Awareness of Government Schemes
Dear Sir/Madam,
Through your esteemed newspaper, I wish to highlight the need for creating awareness among the poor about government welfare schemes like Ayushman Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Many beneficiaries remain unaware due to poor dissemination of information and the digital divide.
Traditional modes like public announcements, street plays, and the involvement of NGOs can help bridge this gap. Your newspaper can contribute by publishing simplified information and success stories. Such efforts will ensure these schemes reach the needy and fulfil their purpose.
Yours sincerely,
Rajesh Gupta
(ii) Recently you had gone with your school on a trip to Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This National Park is famous for its Royal Bengal Tigers and is a natural hub of White Tigers. Write a letter to your cousin describing your experience of seeing the wildlife from such close quarters.
Answer:
Dear Riya,
I hope this letter finds you well. I can’t wait to share the incredible experience I had during my recent school trip to Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh. It was an adventure of a lifetime!
The park is breathtaking, with dense forests and vast grasslands, home to a variety of wildlife. The highlight of our visit was spotting a majestic Royal Bengal Tiger in its natural habitat. Seeing the tiger up close, moving gracefully through the trees, was a moment I’ll never forget. We also learned that Bandhavgarh is known for its White Tigers, though they are rarely seen in the wild today.
During the jeep safari, we saw herds of spotted deer, langurs swinging from trees, and a variety of colourful birds. The guides were knowledgeable and told us fascinating stories about the park’s history and its efforts in tiger conservation. The serene environment made me appreciate the beauty of nature and the need to protect it.
I wish you could have been there with me to witness this incredible spectacle. Do let me know if you’d like to plan a visit someday; I’d love to go again.
Take care and write back soon!
Love,
Ananya
Question 3
Question 4
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Before my arrival, strict orders had been widely published by the mission at Lambarene that only the most serious cases were to be brought to me during my first few days, so that I might have time to settle in. Naturally little attention was paid to these orders and sick people appeared at every hour of the day. Practical work was difficult. The interpreter I had engaged by letter before leaving Europe had not turned up and I had to rely on anyone I could find in the compound, however imperfect he might be. Worse still, although orders had been given for medical supplies, these had not arrived and I had no drugs, instruments or bandages apart from those I had brought in my trunk.
Late one dark night my wife and I heard the whistle of the steamer, and the following morning we learned that our cases had been unloaded, not at our landing stage as arranged but at the Catholic mission station, which lies on the opposite bank of the main river. The captain had refused to risk entering our narrow twisting branch stream with his ship, and could not wait for daylight as he was already behind schedule. We went hurriedly across to make sure that all seventy cases had arrived. Amongst them was a huge metal-lined case containing my organ. This weighed over a ton and none of the available canoes could carry that weight. However, the next morning two missionaries arrived from Ngomo with ten of their workers in an old canoe which they had borrowed from a store there. It had been hollowed out from an enormous tree-trunk and could carry up to three tons of cargo. The organ and several other boxes were brought over on the first crossing, and by the end of the day, after six more trips, everything was stacked on the river below the mission.
It took two more days of sweat and toil to carry the cases up the hill to the mission. Then we began unpacking, and met our next problem. I had been promised a corrugatediron building as a hospital, but not even the framework was standing when I arrived. There were simply no spare labourers to be had; for months the timber trade had been very good and the traders offered wages with which the mission could not compete. There was consequently no proper space to store all our medical equipment and supplies, and we had to make do with some shelves put up in my sitting room, where the most important drugs were put.
I was worried at having no place in which to examine and treat the sick. Being unable to do this in my own room for risk of infection, I treated and bandaged the sick in the air. But when the usual evening storm came on, everything had to be hastily carried open indoors. It was also very tiring to treat the patients in the sun. I, therefore, decided to promote to the rank of hospital the small windowless building which the doctor before me had used for many years as a chicken house. I soon found that the air became thick in the single room where I had little place to move after a cupboard and an old camp-bed had been put in. The work in the shade was a relief; and I always felt happy as Iwent on bandaging my patients while the rain rattled on the roof.
(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from options provided:
1. Enormous (line 18)
(a) huge
(b) unusual
(c) great
(d) abnormal
Answer: (a) huge
2. Stacked (line 20)
(a) solid
(b) organised
(c) piled up
(d) unfairly constructed
Answer: (c) piled up
(ii). Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word straight?
(a) serious
(b) settle
(c) practical
(d) twisting
Answer: (d) twisting
(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.
(a) How did the narrator deal with the patients before the medical supplies arrived?
Answer: The narrator treated and bandaged the patients in the open air, often under the sun, and moved indoors hurriedly during storms to avoid infection in his own room.
(b) State why the cases had been unloaded on the opposite bank of the river and why they had been unloaded before it was daylight.
Answer: The cases were unloaded on the opposite bank because the captain did not want to risk navigating the narrow, twisting branch stream. They were unloaded before daylight as the captain was behind schedule and could not wait.
(c) Why did the narrator not get a corrugated iron building as a hospital?
Answer: The corrugated iron building was not available because no spare labourers could be hired; the timber trade offered better wages than the mission could pay, leaving no workers to build the hospital.
(d) What problem did the narrator face in the absence of an adequate building for a hospital? How did he solve the problem?
Answer: The narrator struggled to treat patients in the sun and faced challenges during storms when he had to move everything indoors. To solve the problem, he converted a small, windowless building, previously used as a chicken house, into a makeshift hospital.
(e) In your opinion, what kind of a doctor did the narrator prove to be? Give a reason to justify your answer.
Answer: The narrator proved to be a resourceful and dedicated doctor. He adapted to difficult circumstances by using improvised facilities and persevered in treating patients despite inadequate resources and challenging conditions.
(iv) In not more than 50 words, summarise the problems faced by the narrator.
Answer: The narrator faced issues such as serious cases ignoring treatment prioritization, lack of an interpreter, delayed medical supplies, improper unloading of cargo, no hospital building, insufficient storage, exposure to weather during treatments, and working in cramped, makeshift conditions, including converting a chicken house into a hospital.
Question 5
1. Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space. [4]
A healthy diet, enough exercise and sufficient sleep; it does not sound …….. (complicate). But still many people consider it as a difficult task. This is because of a ….1…. (combine) of factors….2… (influence) our lifestyle. It is ….3…. (large) a societal problem. We do less exercise because more and more people spend all day ….4…. (sit) before a computer. And as long as most of what is sold or on special offer at the supermarket falls outside the guidelines for a healthy diet, it is difficult for people to make …5…. (health) food choices. Food choices are nearly always based on ….6…. (establish) habits ………. (prompt) by the environment. A healthier diet is not simply a question of ….8….. (choose) something else. It requires people to swim against the tide.
Answer: complicated
- combination
- influencing
- largely
- sitting
- healthy
- established
- prompted
- choosing
(ii) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words
(a) Radha was amused………….his joke.
(b) The teacher has great influence………….his pupils.
(c) The victim will bleed………..death.
(d) Cut the cake…………..small pieces.
(e) He was deprived…………..his money.
(f) They rejoiced……………their success.
(g) Ravi rushed…………….the room.
(h) They congratulated him…………his success.
Answer
(a) Radha was amused at his joke.
(b) The teacher has great influence on his pupils.
(c) The victim will bleed to death.
(d) Cut the cake into small pieces.
(e) He was deprived of his money.
(f) They rejoiced in their success.
(g) Ravi rushed into the room.
(h) They congratulated him on his success.
(iii) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. Choose the correct option.
1. Who has snatched the boy’s laptop? The police will soon find out.
(a) The police will soon find who has snatched the boy’s laptop.
(b) The police will soon find out who snatched the boy’s laptop.
(c) The police would soon find out the snatcher of the boy’s laptop.
(d) The police will soon find out the boy’s laptop.
Answer: (b) The police will soon find out who snatched the boy’s laptop.
2. This book is very simple. Even a child can read it.
(a) The book is simple for a child can read it.
(b) The book being too simple that even a child can read it.
(c) The book is so simple that even a child can read it.
(d) The book is very simple if a child can read it.
Answer: (c) The book is so simple that even a child can read it.
3. He might not be sure about it. In that case, he would not agree to it.
(a) If he is not sure about it, he would not agree to it.
(b) Unless he is sure about it, he would agree to it.
(c) If he might be sure about it, he would agree to it.
(d) In case of his being not sure about it he would agree to it.
Answer: (a) If he is not sure about it, he would not agree to it.
4. They should hurry up. Otherwise, they will miss the bus.
(a) They should hurry up for they will miss the bus.
(b) They should hurry up unless they will miss the bus.
(c) They should hurry up as not to miss the bus.
(d) Unless they hurry up they will miss the bus.
Answer: (d) Unless they hurry up they will miss the bus.
(iv) Choose the correct option to rewrite the following according to the instructions given after each sentence.
1. Ravi is the cleverest pupil in the class. (Use: clever …)
(a) No other pupil in the class is as clever as Ravi.
(b) Ravi is more clever to all the pupils.
(c) Ravi is as clever as the cleverest pupil in the class.
(d) Ravi is the most clever of all the pupils.
Answer: (a) No other pupil in the class is as clever as Ravi.
2. The new regulation made the people happy. (End: …to the people.)
(a) The new regulation was happiness to the people.
(b) The regulation was new happiness to the people.
(c) Happiness was the new regulation brought to the people.
(d) The new regulation brought happiness to the people.
Answer: (d) The new regulation brought happiness to the people.
3. There are eleven players in a football team. (Begin with: A)
(a) A football team comprises of eleven players.
(b) A football team comprises with eleven players.
(c) A football team comprises eleven players.
(d) A football team comprises for eleven players.
Answer: (c) A football team comprises eleven players.
4. She examined the document carefully. (End: … with care.)
(a) She examined the document with care.
(b) She examined over the document with care.
(c) She examined into the document with care.
(d) She examined through the document with care.
Answer: (a) She examined the document with care.
5. She was in such a terrible state that I will never forget. (End: … state she was)
(a) I had not forgotten the terrible state she was in.
(b) I can never forget what terrible state she is in.
(c) I will never forget what a terrible state she was in.
(d) I will never forget that terrible state she was in.
Answer: (c) I will never forget what a terrible state she was in.
6. The little boy hid himself so that he might not be seen. (Use: otherwise)
(a) The little boy hid himself otherwise he would have been seen.
(b) Had he not hid himself otherwise the little boy must have been seen.
(c) The little boy was himself hidden otherwise he was being seen.
(d) The little boy hid otherwise he might not be seen.
Answer: (a) The little boy hid himself otherwise he would have been seen.
7. “Have lunch with me on Friday,” Puneet said to us. (Use: invited)
(a) Puneet invited for lunch with him on Friday.
(b) Puneet invited us lunch for him on Friday.
(c) Puneet invited us for lunch on Friday.
(d) Puneet invited us so that we could have lunch on Friday.
Answer: (c) Puneet invited us for lunch on Friday.
8. I shall go to the play if you come. (End: ….unless you)
(a) I will go to the play unless you come.
(b) I shall go to the play unless you do not come.
(c) I will not go to the play unless you can come.
(d) I shall not go to the play unless you come.
Answer: (d) I shall not go to the play unless you come.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.
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