PUNJAB SCHOOL EDUCATION BOARD
CLASS 9 ENGLISH GUESS PAPER (MARCH 2026)
Time: 3 hrs. | Theory: 80 marks | INA: 20 marks | Total: 100 marks
Section A: Reading Comprehension (8 Marks)
1. (a) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: (4x1=4 marks)
Bears live in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. They have strong bodies, short tails, and thick legs. People think bears only eat meat, but they eat many things like nuts, berries, honey, fish, and insects. Polar bears mainly eat fish and seals. In zoos, bears eat a variety of foods like meat, vegetables, fruits, grains, and even bread. Bears are not as scary as people think. They try to avoid humans and usually only attack when they feel threatened or when they're protecting their babies. Like other animals, they don't want to fight. Bears have good eyesight and a strong sense of smell that helps them find food and stay safe. They're also excellent climbers and swimmers. Bears like to live alone and have their own space. They're active at night and sleep during the day. In winter, some bears hibernate, which means they sleep for months to stay warm and safe.
i. Where do bears primarily live?
A) only in North America B) only in Europe C) in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America D) only in Australia
ii. Why do bears usually attack humans?
A) when they're hungry B) when they feel threatened or are protecting their babies C) when they're bored D) when they're sleeping
iii. What do some bears do during winter?
A) They migrate to warmer places. B) They hibernate. C) They change their diet. D) They become more aggressive.
iv. Find the synonym of ‘frightening’ from the given passage.
A) hibernate B) scary C) bear D) amazing
1. (b) Look at the poster on "Air Pollution" and answer the questions: (4x1=4 marks)
(Assume the poster displaying Air Pollution causes is presented here)
i. The poster is about____________.
A) air pollution B) soil pollution C) water pollution D) none of these
ii. What do you mean by Smog?
A) mix of smoke and fog B) polluted smoke C) mix of fog and water D) mix of air and water
iii. What are the main causes of Acid rain?
A) power plants and cars B) trees and plants C) forests and mountains D) none of these
iv. According to the given poster,_________ and __________ cause 1/3 of pollutions.
A) cars and trucks B) trees and plants C) smog and acid rain D) none of these
Section B: Objective Type Questions (6 Marks)
2. Answer the following objective type questions: (6x1=6 marks)
i. What should Lincoln’s son be steered away from?
A) envy B) kind people C) generosity D) none of these
ii. Money makes the ______________ go.
iii. Name the two astronauts who landed on the moon.
iv. Who gave three coins to the boy in 'The Magic Violin'?
v. Johnsy was suffering from ____________.
vi. The author hid the money in an old trunk. (True / False)
Section C: English Textbooks (29 Marks)
3. English Main Course Book: Prose
(a) Answer any THREE of the following short answer type questions: (3x3=9 marks)
i. Why does Lincoln not want his son to be cuddled?
ii. What could the Crescograph measure?
iii. Why must one be punctual?
iv. How did Sher Singh carry his brother?
v. What request did Duryodhana make to Drona?
(b) Answer any ONE of the following long answer type questions: (1x4=4 marks)
i. What is Jagdish Chandra Bose’s contribution to science?
ii. Write a short note on the teachings of Sri Satguru Ram Singh Ji.
4. English Main Course Book: Poetry
(a) Read the stanza and answer any TWO of the questions: (2x2=4 marks)
Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign
Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes
Like ours, the land our brothers walk upon
Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie
i. Name the poem and the poet.
ii. What should we remember?
iii. What breathes under all uniforms?
(b) Answer ONE of the following: (1x3=3 marks)
i. Write the central idea of the poem "No Men are Foreign".
ii. Write the central idea of the poem "Open Thy Eyes and See Thy God".
5. English Supplementary Reader
Answer any THREE of the following short answer type questions: (3x3=9 marks)
i. Why did the boy go to the farmer?
ii. What happened to Subalchandra after his wish was granted?
iii. Why did Chenna Paraya not want to leave his hut?
iv. Why did Lencho become unhappy after the storm?
v. How did the king return the dog to the right owner?
Section D: Vocabulary (4 Marks)
6. Do as directed: (4x1=4 marks)
i. Choose the correct word: It is my __________(principal, principle) not to lend money to anyone.
ii. Choose the correct word: The ________ (fare, fair) of buses may go up by 10% next month.
iii. Choose the correct word: I have bought a new _________ (pair, pare) of shoes.
iv. Choose the correct word: The ________( weather, whether) has suddenly turned cold.
Section E: Grammar, Translation and Composition (33 Marks)
7. (a) Translate any THREE of the following sentences from English to Punjabi/Hindi: (3x1=3 marks)
i. Steer him away from envy. ii. This is a big order. iii. Time and tide wait for none. iv. She did not weep. v. The sky blazed with stars.
7. (b) Translate any THREE of the following sentences from Punjabi/Hindi to English: (3x1=3 marks)
i. ਮੈਂ ਅੰਗ੍ਰੇਜੀ ਬੋਲ ਸਕਦੀ ਹਾਂ। / मैं अंग्रेज़ी बोल सकती हूँ।
ii. ਤੁਹਾਨ ੰ ਆਪਣਾ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਨਨਭਾਉਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹ।ੈ / तुम्हें अपना वादा निभाना चाहिए।
iii. ਸ ਰਜ ਪੁਰਬ ਨਵੱਚੋਂ ਨਨਕਲਦਾ ਹ।ੈ / सूर्य पूर्व से निकलता है।
iv. ਕੰਧਾਂ ਦ ੇਵੀ ਕੰਨ ਹੁੰ ਦ ੇਹਨ। / दीवारों के भी कान होते हैं।
v. ਚਾਹ ਨਤਆਰ ਹ।ੈ / चाय तैयार है।
8. Grammar: Do as directed: (10x1=10 marks)
i. Fill in the blank with a suitable determiner: My friend is_________ teacher.
ii. Fill in the blank with an appropriate modal: She________ speak English when she was hardly four. (can/could)
iii. Fill in the blank with a suitable preposition: Agra is famous_________ its historical buildings.
iv. Fill in the blank with a suitable connector: Though he is poor,_________ he is honest.
v. Change the Voice: He killed the lion.
vi. Change the Voice: I can drive a car.
vii. Change the Narration: The girl said, “Rose is a beautiful flower.”
viii. Fill in the blank with a Non-Finite verb: ______________ is a good exercise. (swim)
ix. Fill in the blank with the correct verb: Oil and water________________ mix. (does not, do not)
x. Fill in the blank with the correct verb: Mathematics ____________ my favourite subject. (is, are)
9. Composition
(a) Message / Notice Writing (Attempt any one): (3 marks)
Suppose you are Surjit Pal Singh. Write an email to your friend Vipin Goyal inviting him to watch a play. OR Suppose you are Varsha. Write an email to your friend Ashna regarding your visit to South India.
(b) Advertisement / Note-making (Attempt any one): (3 marks)
Read the passage carefully and write the main points in the form of notes: There are three types of American rice. Long grain is slender and the grains remain separate when cooked... (truncated for space, use your original text here).
(c) Paragraph Writing (Attempt any one): (4 marks)
Write a paragraph on the Golden Temple or Lohri based on the hints provided.
(d) Letter writing (1 out of 2): (7 marks)
Write a letter apologizing for not attending a birthday party OR complaining about an inferior electric iron.
