NCERT class 9 English chapter 3 solutions Words and Expressions solutions are provided here . Boost your English knowledge from here.
Reading Comprehension
Read the following text and answer the question that follow.
Text 1
This is an extract Harper Lee’s To kill a Mocking Bird. After supper, Atticus sat down with the paper and called, “Scout, ready to read?”. I ran crying, went to the front porch. Atticus followed me. “Something wrong, Scout?” I told Atticus I didn’t feel very well and didn’t think I’d go to school any more if it was alright with him. Atticus sat down in the swing and crossed his legs. His fingers wandered to his watch pocket; he said that was the only way he could think. He waited in amiable silence, and I sought to
reinforce my position: “You never went to school and you do alright, so I’ll just stay home too. You can teach me like Granddaddy taught you ‘n’ Uncle Jack.” “No I can’t”, said Atticus. “I have to make a living. Besides, they’d put me in jail if I kept you at home. Now what’s the matter? Bit by bit, I told him the day’s misfortunes. “And the teacher said you taught me all wrong, so we can’t ever read any more,
ever. Please don’t send me back, please Sir.” Atticus stood up and walked to the end of the porch. When he completed his examination of the wisteria vine he strolled back to me. “First of all”, he said, “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-” “Sir?” “-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. “But if I keep on goin’ to school, we can’t ever read any more…” “That’s really bothering you, isn’t it?” “Yes sir.” When Atticus looked down at me I saw the expression on his face that always made me expect something. “Do you know what a compromise is?”, he asked. “Bending the law?” “No, an agreement reached by mutual concessions. It works this way”, he said. “If you’ll concede the necessity of going to school, we’ll go on reading every night just as we always have. Is it a bargain?” “Yes sir!”
“We’ll consider it sealed without the usual formality”, Atticus said, when he saw me preparing to spit.
As I opened the front screen door Atticus said, “By the way, Scout, you’d better not say anything at school about our agreement”. “Why not?” “I’m afraid our activities would be received with considerable disapprobation by the more learned authorities.” My brother and I were accustomed to our father’s
diction, and we were at all times free to interrupt Atticus for a translation when it was beyond our understanding. “Huh, Sir?” “I never went to school”, he said, “but I have a feeling that if you tell Miss Caroline we read every night she’ll get after me, and I wouldn’t want her after me”.
1. Why was Scout, the little girl upset? _______________________________________________________________________.
(a) She didn’t like being told what to do.
(b) She didn’t want to read with her father.
(c) She didn’t want to stop reading with her father.
(d) She didn’t want to read with her teacher.
2. How did Atticus, her father, react to her outburst?___________________________________________________.
(a) He was angry.
(b) He was patient.
(c) He was annoyed.
(d) He was sad.
3. What little advice did Atticus give to his little girl to cope up with situations that might upset her?
(a) to know and understand that life isn’t fair.
(b) to stay calm and then run away from the problem.
(c) to try and see from the other person’s point of view.
(d) to face her fears by expressing how she felt.
4. How was the matter eventually resolved? ___________________________________________________________.
(a) Atticus agreed to allow her to learn from home.
(b) Atticus agreed to continue reading as before.
(c) Atticus agreed to speak to her teacher.
(d) Atticus agreed to allow only the teacher to teach
her
5. “I’m afraid our activities would be received with considerable disapprobation by the more learned authorities.” In this context, the word ‘disapprobation’ might mean __________________________________.
(a) disapproval
(b) disturbance
(c) disgrace
(d) disorientation
6. Atticus decided to come to a compromise and to read to Scout but asked her not to mention it to her teacher because _______________________________________.
(a) he respected the wishes of the teacher yet didn’t want to disappoint his daughter.
(b) he might get into trouble with the teacher who might come after him.
(c) he only cared for his daughter and thought the teacher was incorrect.
(d) he was afraid that the teacher may not like it and Scout might get into trouble.
7. The word ‘reinforce’ means the following—fortify, brace, stiffen, strengthen, underpin.
Find the contextual meaning of ‘reinforce’ in the passage. _____________________________________________.
Answers:
- Why was Scout, the little girl upset?
She didn’t want to stop reading with her father.
(c) She didn’t want to stop reading with her father. - How did Atticus, her father, react to her outburst?
He was patient.
(b) He was patient. - What little advice did Atticus give to his little girl to cope up with situations that might upset her?
To try and see from the other person’s point of view.
(c) To try and see from the other person’s point of view. - How was the matter eventually resolved?
Atticus agreed to continue reading as before.
(b) Atticus agreed to continue reading as before. - “I’m afraid our activities would be received with considerable disapprobation by the more learned authorities.” In this context, the word ‘disapprobation’ might mean
disapproval.
(a) disapproval - Atticus decided to come to a compromise and to read to Scout but asked her not to mention it to her teacher because
he respected the wishes of the teacher yet didn’t want to disappoint his daughter.
(a) He respected the wishes of the teacher yet didn’t want to disappoint his daughter. - The word ‘reinforce’ means the following—fortify, brace, stiffen, strengthen, underpin.
Find the contextual meaning of ‘reinforce’ in the passage.
Strengthen her argument or position.
Text II
Read the poem and answer the question given below. You can recite too to appreciate the idea in the poem.
Poem at Thirty-Nine
How I miss my father.
I wish he had not been
so tired
when I was
born.
Writing deposit slips and cheques
I think of him.
He taught me how.
This is the form,
he must have said:
the way it is done.
I learned to see
bits of paper
as a way
to escape
the life he knew
and even in high school
had a savings
account.
He taught me
that telling the truth
did not always mean
a beating;
though many of my truths
must have grieved him
before the end.
How I miss my father!
He cooked like a person
dancing
in a yoga meditation
and craved the voluptuous
sharing
of good food.
Now I look and cook just like him:
my brain light;
tossing this and that
into the pot;
seasoning none of my life
the same way twice; happy to feed
whoever strays my way.
He would have grown
to admire
the woman I’ve become:
cooking, writing, chopping wood,
staring into the fire.
—Alice Walker
1. What made Alice Walker open a savings account in
High School?
2. What lesson did her father give her on telling the truth?
3. Tick the correct answer.
What does ‘dancing in yoga meditation’ mean in the poem?
(a) To cook relaxedly with full concentration.
(b) To cook while doing yoga exercises.
(c) To cook food after doing yoga meditation.
(d) Take lessons in cooking by joining class on yoga
meditation.
4. Fill in the blank to complete the following statement.
Alice Walker becomes nostalgic for her father and wishes, had he been alive he would have admired her
for ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Why do think the title of the poem is ‘Poem at Thirty-Nine?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Answers:
- What made Alice Walker open a savings account in high school?
Her father taught her how to handle money, such as writing deposit slips and cheques. This practical knowledge led her to open a savings account in high school as a way to escape the life her father knew. - What lesson did her father give her on telling the truth?
Her father taught her that telling the truth did not always mean a beating, even though many of her truths might have caused him grief. - Tick the correct answer.
What does ‘dancing in yoga meditation’ mean in the poem?
(a) To cook relaxedly with full concentration. - Fill in the blank to complete the following statement.
Alice Walker becomes nostalgic for her father and wishes, had he been alive, he would have admired her for
the woman she has become: cooking, writing, chopping wood, and staring into the fire. - Why do you think the title of the poem is ‘Poem at Thirty-Nine’?
The title suggests that the poet is reflecting on her life and her relationship with her father at the age of thirty-nine. It marks a moment of looking back on the lessons she learned from her father and how they shaped the person she has become.
Vocabulary
1. Look at the words—see, watch, look at, view, observe, catch, glimpse. These are all synonyms. Fill in the
blanks with appropriate words. You can change the tense where it is required.
(a) We ________________________a television programme on tourism in India. It was very informative.
(b) Somebody is keeping a ______________ over the tower.
(c) The ___________________from the cliff is panoramic.
(d) You can’t afford to fall sick again,_____ your diet.
(e) She ______________________________the amazing view and drew a picture.
(f) If you are able to ________________________a _________ of dancing dolphins, you are lucky.
3. Study the use girl of the word ‘little’ in the following sentence:
To the little girl he was a figure to be feared.
Here, little means small in size.
Now, consult a dictionary and find out the meaning of little in the following sentences. The first one has ben done for you.
My little sister – young or younger sister
(a) I was a bodyguard for a little while: ___________________________________________________________________
(b) This little car does have a few problems: ______________________________________________________________
(c) We got a little help from a training scheme: ____________________________________________________________
(d) I have little doubt of their identity: ____________________________________________________________________
Answers:
(a) We watched a television programme on tourism in India. It was very informative.
(b) Somebody is keeping a watch over the tower.
(c) The view from the cliff is panoramic.
(d) You can’t afford to fall sick again, watch your diet.
(e) She observed the amazing view and drew a picture.
(f) If you are able to catch a glimpse of dancing dolphins, you are lucky.
Study the use of the word ‘little’ in the following sentences:
(a) I was a bodyguard for a little while: for a short period of time.
(b) This little car does have a few problems: small in size.
(c) We got a little help from a training scheme: a small amount of help.
(d) I have little doubt of their identity: not much doubt.
Grammar
1. Read the following passage and underline the reporting verbs.
(i) Anu’s mother agreed that Anu could go to the party but cautioned her not to have too many sweets. The dentist has advised her not to eat too many sweets.
(ii) Anita reminded Leena to buy milk and keep it in the fridge because Vrinda wanted to have coffee in the evening. Leena insisted that she would only make coffee. Anita agreed to her request.
(iii) We decided to go to our village near Goa on holiday. Mona recommended going to the beach. The coast guard advised us against going into the water. He also warned us about the weak bridge. He warned
the children not to cross the bridge there. We thanked him and went back.
(iv) The teacher explained the functioning of the heart with the help of a model. He wished us good luck for our practical exam. He also reminded us that the classes would resume from Tuesday.
Answers:
(i) Anu’s mother agreed that Anu could go to the party but cautioned her not to have too many sweets. The dentist has advised her not to eat too many sweets.
(ii) Anita reminded Leena to buy milk and keep it in the fridge because Vrinda wanted to have coffee in the evening. Leena insisted that she would only make coffee. Anita agreed to her request.
(iii) We decided to go to our village near Goa on holiday. Mona recommended going to the beach. The coast guard advised us against going into the water. He also warned us about the weak bridge. He warned the children not to cross the bridge there. We thanked him and went back.
(iv) The teacher explained the functioning of the heart with the help of a model. He wished us good luck for our practical exam. He also reminded us that the classes would resume from Tuesday.
Editing
1. Use capital letters, full-stops, commas and inverted commas wherever necessary in the following paragraph. Rewrite the paragraph in the space given below.
My little 10 years daughter Sarah was born with a muscle missing in her foot and wears a brace all the time. she came home jumping up and down one beafutiful spring day to tell me that she had competed in “field day”- that’s where they have lots of races and other competitive events because of her leg support my mind raced as I tried to think of encouragement for my sarah i wanted to tell some hard facts of life not letting this to get her down But, before I could get my word out, she said, Daddy, I won two of the
races! I couldn’t believe that! and then Sarah came out with a declaration, I had an advantage. Ah, i knew it. i thought she must have been given a head start, some kind of physical advantage. but again, before I could say anything, she said, Daddy, i didn’t get a head start… my advantage was that i didn’t give in i had to try harder!
That’s my Sarah.
2. Rearrange each set of words to make sentences. Use appropriate punctuation marks.
(a) a resident of Noida near Delhi/is visually impaired/ George Abraham.
(b) confidence and competitive spirit/and infuses discipline among the participants/ it provides
(c) he has helped/the brain behind the World Cup Cricket/the disable to dream
(d) to the blind school in Delhi/it was a chance visit/ that changed his life
Answers:
My little 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, was born with a muscle missing in her foot and wears a brace all the time. She came home jumping up and down one beautiful spring day to tell me that she had competed in the “Field Day” — that’s where they have lots of races and other competitive events. Because of her leg support, my mind raced as I tried to think of encouragement for my Sarah. I wanted to tell her some hard facts of life, not letting this get her down. But, before I could get my words out, she said, “Daddy, I won two of the races!” I couldn’t believe that! And then Sarah came out with a declaration, “I had an advantage.” Ah, I knew it. I thought she must have been given a head start, some kind of physical advantage. But again, before I could say anything, she said, “Daddy, I didn’t get a head start… my advantage was that I didn’t give in. I had to try harder!” That’s my Sarah.
(a) George Abraham, a resident of Noida near Delhi, is visually impaired.
(b) It provides confidence and competitive spirit, and infuses discipline among the participants.
(c) He has helped the disabled to dream, and he is the brain behind the World Cup Cricket.
(d) It was a chance visit to the blind school in Delhi that changed his life.
Listening
Listen to the song twice. Answer the questions that follow. Then sing the song together.
Que Sera, Sera
When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother
What will I be
Will I be pretty?
Will I be rich?
Here’s what she said to me
Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be
When I grew up and fell in love
I asked my sweetheart
What lies ahead
Will we have rainbows?
Day after day
Here’s what my sweetheart said
Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be
Now I have Children of my own
They ask their mother
What will I be?
Will I be handsome?
Will I be rich?
I tell them tenderly
Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be
Que Sera, Sera
(It is a popular song written by the song writing team of
Jay Livingston and Ray Evans in 1956.)
1. What are the questions the poet asked her mother when she was a little girl?
2. What was her mother’s reply?
3. She asked a question to her sweetheart. What was it?
4. What was his answer? Was it simillar to that of her mother’s?
5. Now the poet has become a mother. What questions do her children ask her?
6. What is her answer to her children?
Answers:
1. What are the questions the poet asked her mother when she was a little girl?
The poet asked her mother:
What will I be?
Will I be pretty?
Will I be rich?
2. What was her mother’s reply?
Her mother’s reply was:
“Que sera, sera, Whatever will be, will be, The future’s not ours to see.”
3. She asked a question to her sweetheart. What was it?
She asked her sweetheart:
“What lies ahead? Will we have rainbows? Day after day?”
4. What was his answer? Was it similar to that of her mother’s?
His answer was also:
“Que sera, sera, Whatever will be, will be, The future’s not ours to see.”
Yes, his answer was similar to that of her mother’s.
5. Now the poet has become a mother. What questions do her children ask her?
Her children ask her:
“What will I be?
Will I be handsome?
Will I be rich?”
6. What is her answer to her children?
Her answer to her children is:
“Que sera, sera, Whatever will be, will be, The future’s not ours to see.”
Speaking
Look at the questions given below. Discuss with your partner. Jot down the points and make an oral presentation in the class.
1. Do you have questions about your future?
2. Whom do you discuss them with?
3. How often do you discuss your worries or queries
with your parents?
4. Whom do you feel most comfortable sharing them with?
Your Points –
Answers:
1. Do you have questions about your future?
Yes, I do have questions about my future, such as:
What career path should I follow?
Will I be successful in the job I choose?
Will I be happy and fulfilled in my future life?
2. Whom do you discuss them with?
I usually discuss my questions about the future with:
My parents, because they offer valuable advice based on their experiences.
Close friends or mentors, as they can offer different perspectives.
Sometimes, I discuss with teachers or colleagues who have been through similar situations.
3. How often do you discuss your worries or queries with your parents?
I discuss my worries with my parents frequently:
When I am unsure about my studies, career choices, or any personal challenges.
Generally, I talk to them about my future plans when I feel anxious or need guidance.
These discussions happen at least once a week, but more often when I am going through a significant decision-making phase.
4. Whom do you feel most comfortable sharing them with?
I feel most comfortable sharing my future worries with:
My parents, as I trust their wisdom and experience.
A close friend who understands me well and doesn’t judge me.
A mentor or someone I admire who provides helpful and constructive advice.
Writing
Write a letter to your parents appreciating them for all the little things they do. You appreciate them, but have never had or taken the time to express it to them.
Here’s a letter appreciating your parents for all they do:
Shalu Rani
House 8 Street 12
Muzaffarnagr, Uttar Pardesh,
12-Jauary- 2025
Dear Mom and Dad,
I hope you both are doing well. I’ve been meaning to write this letter for a while, but I never really found the right time or words to express what’s been on my mind. I’ve realized that I don’t tell you often enough how much I appreciate all the little things you do for me. You always go out of your way to make sure I have everything I need, and even the things I don’t always notice.
From the way you always make sure I’m taken care of, whether it’s packing my lunch, reminding me about important things, or making my favorite meals after a long day, these things mean so much to me. It’s not just the big sacrifices, but the small gestures—the quiet acts of love that make all the difference.
I know I can sometimes get busy with my own life, but I want you to know that I notice and I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done and continue to do. You’ve both given me a safe place, unwavering support, and a sense of peace that has allowed me to grow into who I am today. I could never fully express how much it means to me, but I wanted to take a moment to let you know that I love you and appreciate you deeply.
Thank you for being my rock, my guide, and the people who have always made me feel valued. You have given me so much, and I will always be thankful for the love you’ve shown me, every day.
With all my love and gratitude,
Shalu Rani
Project
1. Conduct an Interview with your parents and find out how things have changed over time. Your project must contain a minimum of 10 questions.
Some ideas/topics you could include in the questionnaire are:
(i) What they thought was a really fun thing to do.
(ii) The music they listened to.
(iii) They movies they liked.
(iv) And the television shows they enjoyed.
(v) Why they liked these things back then?
(vi) When my parents were my age, what were they not allowed to do?
(vii) Why were they not allowed to do those things?
(viii) What did their parents believe in?
(ix) What did they disagree with their parents about?
(x) How much money did they have for themselves as pocket money?
(xi) What was the maximum amount they were allowed to spend on?
(xii) In what ways are your parents like their parents? In what ways are they different?
(xiii) Who were the people your parents admired when they were teenagers?
(xiv) What were some things they worried about?
2. Write the interview in the form of a newspaper article. You could submit it to your school’s newspaper or website, or in audio or video form which can be posted on your school’s website.
3. Share key moments and insights from the interview, and then discuss ways to bridge the generation gap and find common ground.
Answers:
1. Interview Questions for Your Parents:
- What did you think was a really fun thing to do when you were my age?
- What kind of music did you listen to when you were a teenager?
- What were your favorite movies back then?
- What television shows did you enjoy watching?
- Why did you like those things back then?
- When you were my age, what were you not allowed to do?
- Why were you not allowed to do those things?
- What did your parents believe in strongly that you also agreed with?
- Were there any things you disagreed with your parents about?
- How much pocket money did you get, and how often?
- What was the maximum amount of money you were allowed to spend on something?
- In what ways do you feel you are like your parents? In what ways are you different from them?
- Who were the people you admired when you were a teenager?
- What were some things you worried about growing up?
2. Writing the Interview in the Form of a Newspaper Article:
Title: Bridging the Generation Gap: A Heart-to-Heart with My Parents
Introduction: I recently had the chance to sit down with my parents to learn more about their lives when they were my age. It was a journey of discovery that helped me better understand the changes that have taken place over time. Here’s a peek into the past through their eyes.
Body of the Article:
The Fun Times:
When my parents were teenagers, they had a very different idea of fun. They didn’t have mobile phones or social media. According to my mother, her favorite pastime was playing outdoor games with friends, while my father enjoyed reading books and playing sports. These activities gave them joy in ways I can’t completely relate to today.
Music and Movies:
My parents were huge fans of old Hindi songs and the golden era of Bollywood. The music of Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar filled their homes. They loved watching movies that focused on family values and emotions, such as “Sholay” and “Mughal-e-Azam.”
Television Shows and Entertainment:
Back then, television was a luxury, and they would often watch shows like “Ramayan” and “Mahabharat.” These were events in their household, with everyone gathering together to watch them.
Parental Restrictions:
As a teenager, my parents were not allowed to stay out late or hang out with friends without supervision. The rules were stricter, and they often felt like they couldn’t go out to movies or parties, unlike me today.
The Money Matter:
My parents didn’t have the kind of pocket money that kids get now. They were given small amounts of money to spend on necessities, and anything beyond that required permission. My mother shared that they had to work hard for every little thing they wanted, and there was no such thing as spending money freely.
Conclusion:
The generation gap, I realized, is often about circumstances and available resources. Despite all the changes in technology, entertainment, and lifestyle, some things remain the same. My parents cherished their relationships, music, and outdoor activities, just like we value our friendships and entertainment today.
3. Bridging the Generation Gap and Finding Common Ground:
To bridge the generation gap, it’s essential to respect each other’s values, experiences, and the context in which we grew up. While technology has drastically changed how we live, some core human experiences like family time, values, and enjoying simple pleasures remain unchanged. By discussing the past and present openly, we can find common ground and understand that each generation’s challenges and joys are unique, yet similar in many ways.
Insights:
- We both enjoy bonding over stories—whether it’s sharing the past or looking forward to the future.
- While we may have different ways of having fun, both generations value leisure time and connecting with loved ones.
- The core values around family and hard work are still deeply embedded in both their generation and mine.
This interview not only brought back memories for my parents but also allowed me to appreciate the differences and similarities that define us. I plan to carry these insights forward in my own life, respecting both the old and the new ways of living.