Grade 9 Non-Textual Reading Comprehension

Passage 1

Children in India live in diverse circumstances and have diverse needs and rights. Along with their need to be educated, healthy and skillful, they need, and have rights to adequate nutrition, to live in a safe and supportive environment, have opportunities to reach their optimal potential and generally lead healthy, joyful and fulfilling lives so that they can be productive and well adjusted citizens of tomorrow.

Children in our country face many challenges. Many of them are first generation learners and face myriad problems throughout their schooling. They, due to the socio-economic and cultural determinants, may be vulnerable in many ways. Peer pressure and lack of positive role models may prompt them to make unsafe and unhealthy choices. Anxiety and depression amongst the students, to the point of turning them suicidal, have been a cause of concern in the recent past.

Girls are more vulnerable and face discrimination at many levels from being unwelcome since birth to being pulled out of school for a variety of reasons. Dropping out of school, low motivation for academics and general disinterest in sports and physical activities too are some of the problems that need to be addressed. Child malnutrition is rampant in most parts of the country. This has an adverse bearing on their cognitive capacities, learning performance and physical capacity.

Our children have a right to age appropriate education, skills building, a safe and supportive environment, positive role models, empowerment, and friendly health services and counseling. Well informed and skilled children are likely to make better decisions concerning not only their careers and relationships, habits, physical and mental health, but will be successful and an asset to the society.

They also need to understand and deal with emerging issues like newly available career choices, pollution, water and energy conservation, global warming, protection of environment, terrorism and disasters. Dealing with anxiety and depression, negative peer pressure, violence, accidents, are some other significant issues that impact individuals' health and also the social, economic and health indicators of the country. Gender sensitivity, prevention of female infanticide and good parenting are some important social issues that all children need to understand. Children require guidance and assistance - both covert and overt- from their Parents, Teachers, and peers and society in general to complete the various "tasks" of development and deal with such issues.

1. On the basis of your reading of the passage answer the following questions:

(i) What makes girls’ lives more challenging?

(ii) How does malnutrition affect the children?

(iii) How are well informed children better than the other children?

(iv) What are the social issues which the children have to deal with?

2. Identify the meaning of the word :- ‘a great number’

(i) Vulnerable, (ii). Determinant, (iii). Myriad (iv). Peer pressure

3. Identify a word which means same as “easily hurt”

(i)Vulnerable (ii). Discrimination (iii) Malnutrition (iv) Motivation

4. Identify a word which means the same as ‘a valuable person or thing’

(i)Appropriate (ii) Asset (iii).Adverse (iv). Cognitive

5. Identify a word which means the opposite of ‘covered’

(i) Covert (ii). Overt (iii) Energy (iv) Conservation.

ANSWERS:

1.(i) Girls are face discrimination at many levels from being unwelcome since birth to being pulled out of school for a variety of reasons.

(ii) Malnutrition has an adverse bearing on their cognitive capacities, learning performance and physical capacity.

(iii) They are likely to make better decisions concerning not only their careers and relationships, habits, physical and mental health, but will be successful and an asset to the society.

(iv) Newly available career choices, pollution, water and energy conservation, global warming, protection of environment, terrorism and disasters.

2. Myriad

3. Vulnerable

4. Asset

5. Overt

Passage 2

You have seen several kinds of plants and animals. However, there are other living organisms around us which we normally cannot see. These are called microorganisms or microbes. For example, you might have observed that during the rainy season moist bread gets spoiled and its surface gets covered with greyish white patches. These microorganisms or microbes are so small in size that they cannot be seen with the unaided eye. Some of these, such as the fungus that grows on bread, can be seen with a magnifying glass. Others cannot be seen without the help of a microscope. That is why these are called microorganisms or microbes. Microorganisms are classified into four major groups. These groups are bacteria, fungi, protozoa and some algae. Viruses are also microscopic but are different from other microorganisms. They, however, reproduce only inside the cells of the host organism, which may be a bacterium, plant or animal.

Common ailments like cold, influenza (flu) and most coughs are caused by viruses. Serious diseases like polio , chickenpox and Covid are also caused by viruses. Diseases like dysentery and malaria are caused by protozoa (protozoans) whereas typhoid and tuberculosis (TB) are bacterial diseases. Friendly Microorganisms Micro-organisms are used for various purposes. They are used in the preparation of curd, bread and cake. They are also used in cleaning up the environment. For example, the organic wastes (vegetable peels, remains of animals, faeces, etc.) are broken down into harmless and usable substances by bacteria. Recall that bacteria are also used in the preparation of medicines. In agriculture they are used to increase soil fertility by fixing nitrogen. Curd contains several microorganisms. Of these, the bacterium, Lactobacillus promotes the formation of curd. It multiplies in milk and converts it into curd.Bacteria and yeast are also helpful for fermentation of rice idlis and dosa batter.

1. What are micro-organisms ?

a) Tiny organisms can’t be seen with naked eyes

b) Tiny living organisms seen with naked eyes.

c) Big organisms

d) None of the above.

2. Why are they called microorganisms ?

a) because they are tiny.

b) They can be seen under the microscope.

c) They are microbes

d) All of the above.

3. What are they classified into ?

a) three groups .

b) Four groups

c) Five groups

d) No groups at all.

4. What are the diseases caused by Viruses ?

a) Malaria

b) Coughs and common cold, Influenza

c) Polio, Chickenpox and Covid

d) Both b)&c)

5. How do bacteria clean the environment ?

a) by breaking down the waste organic matter into harmless and usable substances

b) By removing oxygen

c) By killing microbes

d) None of the above

6. How are bread, cake and curd made?

a) keeping warm.

b) Keeping in cool conditions

c) Bacteria and Yeast help in making curd, bread and cake.

d) All of the above.

7. Diseases like Dysentery and Malaria are caused by..........................

a) virus

b) Protozoa

Q7(b) Curd is prepared by.......................................

a) virus

b) Lactobacill

8. Write synonyms of :

i) To make it big...........

        a) solidify        b) Magnify

ii) To ready...............

        a) formation    b) Preparation

Q9- write plural or singular 

i) bactria

        a) bactria        b) bacterium

ii) patch 

        a) patchs        b) patches.

Q10) Write the correct spelling of-

        a) mtonfierenat.

                    a. fermentation                b. fomentation

b) ochug

                    a. couhg                            b. cough

Answers

1.a) Micro organisms are other living organisms around us which we normally cannot see

with our naked eyes.

2- b) They cannot be seen without the help of a microscope that is why they are called

microorganisms.

3- b)Micro organisms are classified into four major groups. These groups are bacteria, fungi,

protozoa and some algae.

4- b & c) Common ailments like cold, influenza (flu) and most coughs are caused by viruses.

Serious diseases like polio , chickenpox and Covid are also caused by viruses.

5-. a) Bacteria are used in cleaning up the environment. For example, the organic wastes

(vegetable peels, remains of animals, faeces, etc.) are broken down into harmless and usable

substances by bacteria..

6- C)- Bacteria and yeast are also helpful for making bread, cake and curd.

7-b) Protozoa             b )Lactobacillus

8- a) Magnify            b. preparation.

9- b) bacterium.        b) patches.

10-à) fermentation.   b) cough

Passage 3

Educating boys and girls together has always been an important and stressful issue. Many parents believe that the educational process can be more effective if the classes are divided according to the gender of the students. Although same-sex schools are considered too conservative and strict in today’s times. Nevertheless, there are still supporters of this manner of education. Some parents are not in favour of a co-educational system as they feel that the presence of the opposite gender distracts the attention of students and prevents them from concentrating on studies.

On the other hand, supporters of co-education feel that as boys and girls are different, it is a valuable experience for both genders to communicate with each other. Moreover, the earlier boys and girls begin to communicate, the sooner they acquire social skills, which are crucial to communicating freely in the world. Further, if there are girls in the class, boys may well possibly try to behave better in order not to lose face in front of the girls.

Apart from all that has been mentioned above, educating boys and girls together helps them understand and mutually respect each other from an early stage in life. This can possibly help in building a generation that doesn’t suffer from gender bias and is open to healthy competition even between the two genders.

A) Why, according to the writer, are some parents not in favour of the co-education system?

B) Why are socializing skills important?

C) Same-sex schools are considered

D) What according to the writer helps girls and boys develop mutual respect?

E) Find words from the passage that mean

a. traditional

b. paying attention

c. vital

d. unfairness

F) Rearrange the spellings to make meaningful words

a. Ventspre –

b. Catieduon –

Answers

A) According to the writer, some parents are not in favor of the co-education system because they feel that the presence of the opposite gender distracts the attention of students and prevents them from concentrating on studies.

B) Socializing skills are important because they help individuals communicate freely with others and develop the ability to interact effectively in the world.

C) Same-sex schools are considered too conservative and strict in today's times.

D) According to the writer, educating boys and girls together helps them develop mutual respect for each other.

E) Synonyms for the given words in the passage:

        a. traditional - conservative

        b. paying attention - concentrating

        c. vital - crucial

        d. unfairness - gender bias

F) Rearranged spellings to make meaningful words:

        a. Ventspre - Prevents                b. Catieduon - Education

Passage 4

Valley of Flowers is a national park in Uttarakhand, India. Nestled in the Western Himalayas, the valley is located at an altitude of 3,600 meters above sea level and is famous for charming meadows of alpine flowers. Myriad alpine flowers stretched across 87.5 sq km. make this place a colourful paradise. The beautiful valley is also a world heritage site with its pristine beauty and mystical surroundings attracting nature lovers, photographers and botanists. Valley of Flowers is bifurcated by Pushpawati River. The locals believe that the valley was once inhabited by fairies.

It is one of the famous trekking destinations in India. One cannot stay at the Valley of Flowers, therefore, Ghangaria, the base camp for the trek to the Valley of Flowers, remains an ideal place to relax and sleep.

The Valley of Flowers is a 3-km climb from Ghangaria. The Brahmakamal, the Blue Poppy and the Cobra Lily are some flowers that bloom in the valley. The Himalayan Balsam is the most predominant flower of the valley. The valley is covered with snow for most of the year. The valley opens on 1st June every year for visitors. There are huge glaciers in the Valley of Flowers in June.

At this time, snow starts melting and the seeds of last year’s plants start germinating. By July, all the flowers are in full bloom. One can find the maximum number of flowers until mid-August. Snowfall starts in October, and the valley is closed officially to the public.

1.Where is the Valley of Flowers located?

2.Based on your reading of the passage, complete the following sentences.

        a.The Valley of Flowers is stretched across ...............................

        b. The valley attracts ...................................

3 Name some flowers found in the valley and the best time to visit the place.

4.Why do visitors have to stay in Ghangaria?

5.Find words from the passage that mean

            a. unspoiled            b. fascinating            c.growing            d. elevation

6. Rearrange the spellings to make meaningful words.

            a.LOROLCF                b.GINKKERT