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🇮🇳 CBSE Class 9 · subject
CBSE Class 9 English Syllabus
The English syllabus for CBSE Class 9 in full: 3 chapters and 6 topics, every one listed below, plus 50 English flashcards with answers.
English syllabus: all 3 chapters
Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.
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Beehive
2 topics- The Fun They Had
- The Sound of Music
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Moments
2 topics- The Lost Child
- The Adventures of Toto
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Words and Expressions
2 topics- Reading Comprehension
- Writing Skills
CBSE Class 9 English flashcards — 50 questions with answers
In 'The Fun They Had', who wrote a real book made of paper that Tommy found?
Tommy found an old printed book; it is not named, but it described schools of centuries past where children were taught by human teachers in school buildings.
Who is the author of 'The Fun They Had'?
Isaac Asimov.
In 'The Fun They Had', what are the names of the two main child characters?
Margie and Tommy.
On what date does Margie's diary entry begin in 'The Fun They Had'?
17 May 2157.
What did children use instead of human teachers in 'The Fun They Had'?
Mechanical (robot) teachers that taught them at home through a telebook screen.
Why did Margie hate school in 'The Fun They Had'?
The mechanical teacher kept giving her test after test in geography, and she did badly, so the County Inspector had to come and fix it.
What was wrong with Margie's mechanical teacher, and who fixed it?
The geography sector was geared too quick (too fast); the County Inspector slowed it to the average ten-year level.
In 'The Fun They Had', how did students of the old days submit their homework and tests?
They wrote homework and test answers by hand on paper and handed them to a human teacher.
What is the central theme/message of 'The Fun They Had'?
It contrasts impersonal, isolated future home-schooling with the social fun of old schools, suggesting human teachers and shared learning are valuable.
What did Margie imagine about the old schools that made her think kids 'must have loved it'?
That children learned together, played and laughed together, helped one another with homework, and went home together.
Who is the author of 'The Sound of Music' (Part I about Evelyn Glennie)?
Deborah Cowley.
Who is Evelyn Glennie and what is remarkable about her?
A world-famous Scottish multi-percussionist who is profoundly deaf yet performs by sensing vibrations through her body.
At what age did Evelyn Glennie's hearing begin to fail, and by what age was she profoundly deaf?
Her hearing began deteriorating at age 8 (gradual nerve damage); she was profoundly deaf by age 11.
How does Evelyn Glennie 'hear' music despite being deaf?
She feels the vibrations through her body — through her hands, cheekbones, hair, skin, and bare feet.
Which teacher recognised Evelyn Glennie's talent and encouraged her to feel music?
Percussionist Ron Forbes, who tuned two large drums to different notes and told her to sense the music through her body rather than her ears.
Which prestigious institution did Evelyn Glennie study at and what award did she win there?
The Royal Academy of Music in London, where she won most of the top awards..
Who is the subject of Part II of 'The Sound of Music', and what instrument is he linked with?
Ustad Bismillah Khan, master of the shehnai.
What is the shehnai, as described in 'The Sound of Music'?
A reeded wind (pipe) instrument with a flared end, traditionally considered auspicious and played at temples, weddings, and royal courts in India.
Who is credited with improving the pungi and what new instrument resulted from it?
A barber of a royal court in earlier times improved the pungi, eventually leading to the shehnai.
At which historic event did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on India's first Independence Day?
He played from the Red Fort on 15 August 1947, ushering in the country's independence with his music.
Show the other 30 English flashcards
Which highest civilian award of India was conferred on Bismillah Khan?
The Bharat Ratna (12001).
Which holy city was Bismillah Khan deeply attached to and refused to leave?
Varanasi (Benares), along with the river Ganga; he refused offers to settle abroad.
Who is the author of 'The Lost Child'?
Mulk Raj Anand.
At what setting does the story 'The Lost Child' take place?
At a spring village fair/festival to which the child goes with his parents.
In 'The Lost Child', name three things the child desires at the fair but his parents deny or he passes by.
Sweets (burfi), a garland of gulmohur, a balloon-seller's balloons, a flowering mustard field/cobra, and a roundabout (merry-go-round) ride.
How does the child get lost in 'The Lost Child'?
Wanting a ride on the roundabout, he turns to ask his parents but they have moved on; in the crowd he is separated and lost.
After getting lost, how does the child react to all the things he earlier wanted in 'The Lost Child'?
He refuses every one of them — sweets, balloons, the ride — and only cries for his mother and father.
What is the main theme of 'The Lost Child'?
A child's love for and dependence on his parents outweighs all material desires; once lost, only his parents matter.
Who helps the lost child in 'The Lost Child'?
A kind man lifts him up, comforts him, and tries to console him by offering the very attractions the child had earlier wanted.
Who is the author of 'The Adventures of Toto'?
Ruskin Bond.
What kind of animal is Toto in 'The Adventures of Toto'?
A small, mischievous monkey.
From whom did the narrator's grandfather buy Toto in 'The Adventures of Toto'?
From a tonga-driver (who kept the monkey tied to a feeding-trough) for the sum of five rupees.
Why did Grandfather keep Toto's presence hidden initially in 'The Adventures of Toto'?
Because Grandmother disapproved of keeping more pets, so Grandfather hid Toto in a closet.
Describe one act of mischief Toto commits in 'The Adventures of Toto'.
He tears wallpaper/clothes, breaks dishes, and once nearly boiled himself in a kettle of hot water by stepping into warm then hot water.
What happened when Toto was put in a bag/basket on the train journey in 'The Adventures of Toto'?
Toto poked his head out; the ticket-collector classed him as a 'dog' and charged a three-rupee fare for him.
How was the Toto-and-kettle incident resolved in 'The Adventures of Toto'?
Toto first enjoyed the warm water, but when it grew hot he tried to jump out; he was rescued before being scalded.
Why did Grandfather finally sell Toto back to the tonga-driver in 'The Adventures of Toto'?
Toto was too mischievous and expensive to keep; the family could not afford to keep a 'budget' upset by such a troublesome pet, so he was sold back for three rupees.
In reading comprehension, what is 'skimming'?
Reading a passage quickly to get the general idea or main gist, without focusing on every detail.
In reading comprehension, what is 'scanning'?
Reading quickly to locate specific information (a name, date, figure, or fact) without reading the whole text.
What is an 'inference' question in reading comprehension?
A question whose answer is not stated directly; you must deduce it from clues and implied meaning in the passage.
When answering a reading comprehension question 'in your own words', what should you do?
Paraphrase the idea using your own vocabulary rather than copying the exact sentences from the passage.
What is the difference between a 'factual' and an 'inferential' comprehension question?
A factual question's answer is directly stated in the text; an inferential question's answer must be worked out from implied meaning.
How should you find the meaning of an unfamiliar word in a comprehension passage?
Use context clues — the surrounding words and sentences — to infer the word's meaning.
What is the recommended first step before answering reading comprehension questions?
Read the passage carefully (at least once for gist), then read the questions, then re-read relevant parts to locate answers.
In writing skills, what are the standard parts of a formal letter?
Sender's address, date, receiver's address/designation, subject, salutation, body, complimentary close, and sender's name/signature.
What salutation and closing are used in a formal/official letter?
Salutation: 'Dear Sir/Madam'; Closing: 'Yours faithfully' (or 'Yours sincerely' if the name is known).
What are the three main parts of the body of a formal letter?
Introduction (purpose), main content (details/explanation), and conclusion (action expected or closing remark).
What essential elements should a story-writing answer include?
A title, characters, setting, a clear beginning–middle–end plot, conflict/climax, and a moral or satisfying conclusion.
What is a 'diary entry' format in writing skills?
Begin with day, date and time, a salutation 'Dear Diary', then personal reflections/feelings written in the first person, ending with the writer's name.
What should a descriptive paragraph contain in writing skills?
A topic sentence stating the main idea, supporting sentences with vivid details/sensory description, and a concluding sentence, all in one coherent paragraph.
CBSE Class 9 English FAQ
What is in the CBSE Class 9 English syllabus?
CBSE Class 9 English is split into 3 chapters: Beehive, Moments and Words and Expressions. Together they contain 6 topics.
How many chapters are in CBSE Class 9 English?
3 chapters, containing 6 topics. The largest chapter is Beehive, with 2 topics.
Are there flashcards for CBSE Class 9 English?
Yes — a 50-card English deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.