Here are discursive unseen passages specifically designed for Class 9 students. This page presents the discursive texts, providing a variety of examples, detailed analyses, and answers to enhance students’ reading and analytical skills. From unseen passages to structured questions, Set – 2 is tailored to empower students with the tools needed for academic success in English comprehension.
Table of Contents
Unseen Passage for Class 9 with Answers Downloadable pdf Exercise – 1
1. Caged behind thick glass, the most famous dancer in the world can easily be missed in the National Museum, Delhi. The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro is that rare artifact familiar to even school children. Our school textbooks communicate a wealth of our 5,000-year heritage of art. One must be alert to her existence there, amid terracotta animals, to rediscover this bronze image.
2. Most of us have only seen her in photographs or sketches, thus the impact of actually seeing her in person is magnified a million times over. One discovers that the dancing girl has no feet. She is small, a little over 10 cm tall, about the length of a human palm, yet she surprises us with the power of great art, the ability to communicate across centuries.
3. A series of bangles made of shell, ivory, or thin metal adorns her left upper arm, extending all the way down to her fingers. A necklace with three pendants bunched together and a few bangles above the elbow and wrist on her right hand exhibit an almost modern art sensibility.
4. She speaks to the undaunted, ever-hopeful human spirit. She reminds us of the importance of visiting museums in our country to experience the impact that a work of art can have on our senses, and to find among all the treasures one particular vision of beauty that speaks to us alone.
Question-1 Why is the Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro considered unique in the passage?
A. Its large size
B. Its historical significance
C. Its modern art style
D. Its recent discovery
Question-2 What does the passage suggest about the impact of seeing the Dancing Girl artifact in person?
A. It’s underwhelming
B. It’s unchanged from photos
C. It’s greatly magnified
D. It’s confusing
Question-3 According to the passage, what aspect of the Dancing Girl statue is most surprising?
A. Its material
B. Its size
C. Its age
D. Its color
Question-4 What message does the Dancing Girl convey, as interpreted in the passage?
A. Artistic complexity
B. Ancient mythology
C. Human resilience
D. Technological advancement
Question-5 Complete the sentence based on the passage: “The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro is notable for its ________.”
Question-6 What does the Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro symbolize about ancient art and culture, based on the passage?
Question-7 True or False: According to the passage, the Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro is often overlooked due to its placement among other larger artifacts in the National Museum, Delhi.
Question-8 The passage includes some words that are opposites of each other. From the sets (a)-(e) below, identify two sets of antonyms:
(1)Famous and Missed (2) impact and magnified
(3) Small and Great (4) behind and thick
(5) shell and ivory
(a) Option 1 and 3 (b) Option 2 and 4
(c) Option 3 and 5 (d) Option 1 and 5
(e) Option 4 and 5
Question-9 Which of the following titles would be the most appropriate for the passage?
A. “The Hidden Treasures of the National Museum”
B. “The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro: An Artistic Marvel”
C. “Ancient Artifacts in Modern Museums”
D. “The Evolution of Indian Sculpture”
Question-10 State whether the following line from the passage is an example of historical insight, artistic appreciation, factual description, or cultural critique.
“The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro is that rare artifact that even school children are familiar with.”
Solution
Answer-1: B. Its historical significance
Answer-2: C. It’s greatly magnified
Answer-3: B. Its size
Answer-4: C. Human resilience
Answer-5: artistic expression or similar
Answer-6: The Dancing Girl symbolizes the richness and depth of ancient art and culture, demonstrating timeless artistic expression and historical significance.
Answer-7: True.
Answer-8: (a) Option 1 and 3
Answer-9: B. “The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro: An Artistic Marvel”
Answer-10: Artistic appreciation.
Also Read :
Discursive Passage Explained: Meaning | Examples | Practice for Students | Set – 1
Unseen Passage for Class 9 with Answers Downloadable pdf Exercise – 2
Read the following unseen passage to test your comprehension passage reading skills:
1. The choices we make on a daily basis—lifting heavy objects correctly or dangerous situation—can either ensues potentially harmful circumstances.
2. You and I need to nuke a decision that our Ines in order. Exercising self-control establishing boundaries and borders in outlives most important things we can do. A life withal that’s tilled with carelessness.
3.We can think it’s kind of exiting to live life on the edge. We like images of ‘yeath’ That’s me Living on the edge Woo boo It is become a popular way too look at life. But if you see, even for our safety while we’ll go into the ditch. If we could get killed. And we like those lines because they help to keep us safe. Sometimes we, do not realise how lines help to keep us safe.
4. I am not proud of this but for the first 20 years of my life at work, , physically, most of the time. blow I have limits and that I’ve reached to ignore them and see if or how long I can I ran to doctors, trying to make myself feel better vitamins, natural stuff and anything I could get my et Some of the doctors would tell mc. “It’s just stress.- Just made me mad. I thought stress meant you don’t like u do or can’t handle life, and I love what I do. But I kept postbag myself, travelling, doing speaking engagements and so on—amply exhausting myself.
5. Finally, I understood I was living an unsustainable life and needed to make some changes in my outlook and lifestyle. You and I don’t have to be like everyone else or keep up with anyone else. Each of us needs to be exactly the way we are, and we don’t have to apologise for it. We’re not all alike and we need to find a comfort zone in which we can enjoy our lives instead of making ourselves sick with an overload of stress and pressure.
Based on your comprehension of this unseen passage in English, answer the following questions:
1.The reason why living on the edge has become popular, is because of the:
(i) constant need for something different
(ii) population being much younger
(iii) exhausting effort to make changes
(iv) strong tendency to stay within our limits
2.Choose the option that best captures the central idea of the passage from the given quotes.
(i) Option (1)
(ii) Option (2)
(iii) Option (3)
(iv) Option (4)
3. Which of the characteristics are apt about the writer in BM following context: “I know I have limits and that I’ve them, but I’m going to ignore them and see if or long I can get by with it.”
- Negligent
- Indecisive
- Spontaneous
- Reckless
- Purposeless
- Patient
(i) 2 and 5
(ii) 3 and 6
(iii) 1 and 4
(iv)2 and 3
4.Which of the following will be the most appropriate title for the passage?
(i) Much too soon
(ii) Enough is enough
(iii) How much is too much’
(iv)Have enough to do”
5.The phrase “potentially harmful circumstances” refers to circumstances that can:
(i) certainly be dangerous
(ii) be fairly dangerous
(iii) be possibly dangerous
(iv)seldom be dangerous
6. Select the option that makes the correct use of “unsustainable”, as used in the passage, to fill in the blank space.
(i) In the long run, the………… officials followed emergency procedures.
(ii) Emergency procedures were …… by the officials.
(iii) Officials reported an ,………….set of events during the emergency.
(iv)Officials admit that the emergency system is…………in the longer run.
7. The author attempts to the readers through this write-up.
(i) rebuke
(ii) question
(iii) offer aid to
(iv)offer advice to
8. The author uses colloquial words such as “yeah” and “Woo-hoo. Which of the following is NOT a colloquial word?
(i) Hooked
(ii) Guy
(iii) Stuff
(iv)Stress
9. What does the author mean when he says, “to get our lives in order?
(i) To resume our lives
(ii) To organise our lives
(iii) To rebuild our lives
(iv) To control our lives
10. Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘outlook’, as used in the passage.
1. A person’s evaluation of life
2.A person’s experiences in life
3.A person’s point of view towards life
4.A person’s regrets in life
5.A person’s general attitude to life
(i) 1 and 4
(ii) 2 and 3
(iii) 3 and 5
(iv)4 and 5
11.The author explains the importance of discipline and boundaries in our lives using the example of:
(i)road accidents
(ii) traffic rules
(iii) lines on the highway
(iv)safe driving
12.What is the messages conveyed in the last paragraph of the passage?
(i) Love what you do
(ii) Love yourself to love others
(iii) Be the best version of yourself
(iv)Be yourself
Answers:-
| 1.(i) constant need for something different. |
| 2. (iv) Option (4) |
| 3. (iii) 1 and 4 |
| 4. (iii) How much is too much’ |
| 5. (iii) be possibly dangerous |
| 6. (iv) Officials admit that the emergency system is……..in the longer run |
| 7. (iv) offer advice to |
| 8. (iv) stress |
| 9. (ii) To organise our lives |
| 10. (iii) (3) and (5) |
| 11. (iii) lines on the highway |
| 12. (iv) Be yourself |
Unseen Passage with Questions and Answers for Class 9 pdf Exercise – 3
Read the following unseen passage to test your comprehension passage reading skills:
1. Overpowering prey is a challenge for creatures that do not possess venom like Russell’s viper. Some, such as rat snakes, use a non-chemical method—they push their prey against the ground with enough power to crush them to death. However, the distinction between snakes is not neatly divided into poisonous and non-poisonous categories.
2. Even species listed as non-poisonous aren’t completely free of toxins. The common Sand Boa, for instance, produces secretions that are poisonous to birds. So, this species doesn’t take any chances. It crushes its prey and also injects poison as an extra measure.
3. Do vipers need poison powerful enough to kill hundreds of rats with just one drop? After all, they typically eat only one or two at a time.
4. While hunting, animals try their best to kill efficiently, and their prey use any trick to avoid becoming a meal, such as developing immunity to poison. For instance, Californian ground squirrels are resistant to the poison of the Northern Pacific rattlesnake.
5. Competition with prey is not the only factor driving snakes to evolve more deadly venom. Snakes also struggle to avoid becoming prey themselves.
6. Some snake predators have partial immunity to venom. Famously, mongooses are highly resistant to cobra venom, and with their speed and agility, they kill snakes fearlessly. It would spell the end for cobras as a species if they didn’t evolve more potent venom to deter mongooses.
7. Venom has another important role. It acts as an extreme meat softener; specific enzymes break down the insides of the prey. Normally, a reptile depends on the sun’s warm rays to aid digestion.
8. But I wonder if we cannot use venom to our advantage. In remote parts of India, local hospitality often involves serving leather-tough meat. I chew and chew until my jaws ache. If I were to spit it out or refuse, it would offend our hosts. I swallow like a python ingesting a deer and hope I don’t choke. If only I had venom.
Question-1 What does the passage imply about non-poisonous snakes like the Sand Boa?
A. They are completely harmless.
B. They still have some form of toxin.
C. They are not effective hunters.
D. They rely only on constriction.
Question-2 Why do vipers have such potent venom, according to the passage?
A. To kill as many prey as possible.
B. For defense against predators.
C. To compensate for their slow speed.
D. As an evolutionary adaptation for efficient hunting.
Question-3 What is the primary reason for snakes to evolve more deadly venom, as suggested in the passage?
A. To compete with other snakes.
B. To respond to prey’s resistance.
C. To attract mates.
D. To diversify their diet.
Question-4 According to the passage, what additional role does snake venom serve beyond immobilizing prey?
A. As a signaling mechanism.
B. To soften the prey’s meat.
C. To attract other prey.
D. To mark territory.
Question-5 Complete the following sentence based on the passage: “In the dynamic between snakes and their prey, snakes have evolved more deadly venom because ________.”
Question-6 Based on the passage, how does the relationship between snakes and their prey demonstrate the concept of evolutionary adaptation?
Question-7 True or False: According to the passage, snakes like the Rhesus monkey and mongooses have evolved to develop partial immunity to snake venom.
Question-8 The passage includes some words that are opposites of each other. From the sets (a)-(e) below, identify two sets of antonyms:
(1) Temporary and Permanent (2) Poisonous and Harmless
(3) Resistance and Susceptibility (4) Predator and Prey
(5) Evolution and Stagnation
(a) Option 1 and 2 (b) Option 2 and 3
(c) Option 3 and 4 (d) Option 1 and 5
(e) Option 4 and 5
Question-9 Which of the following titles would be the most appropriate for the passage?
A. “Snake Venom Evolution”
B. “Snake-Prey Dynamics”
C. “Snake Hunting Methods”
D. “Venomous Adaptations”
Question-10 State whether the following line from the passage is an example of a scientific explanation, an observational fact, a hypothetical scenario, or an ecological insight.
“For instance, Californian ground squirrels are resistant to the poison of the Northern Pacific rattlesnake.”
Solution
Answer-1: B. They still have some form of toxin.
Answer-2: D. As an evolutionary adaptation for efficient hunting.
Answer-3: B. To respond to prey’s resistance.
Answer-4: B. To soften the prey’s meat.
Answer-5: their prey have developed immunity or similar
Answer-6: The relationship shows evolutionary adaptation as snakes develop stronger venom in response to their prey’s increasing resistance, illustrating a natural arms race.
Answer-7: False.
Answer-8: (c) Option 3 and 4 – “Resistance and Susceptibility” and “Predator and Prey”
Answer-9: B. “Snake-Prey Dynamics”
Answer-10: Scientific explanation.
Unseen Passage for Class 9 with Answers Downloadable pdf Exercise – 4
Read the following unseen passage to test your comprehension passage reading skills:
1. A youngster quit Facebook in December after spending over three years on the social networking site. With that one act, he silently bid adieu to more than 300 contacts that he had added to his account during that period. Last week, a new feature on Facebook called Timeline forced him to reconsider the pros and cons of being on the networking site. “Everyone has some skeletons in their closet, and I am just not comfortable with Facebook digging out and displaying all the facts of my life on a bulletin board,” says this youngster, who joined the network in July 2007 when he was in class XI.
2. Facebook had compressed the time he spent on the site and arranged it in chronological order. While he initially liked the new neatly organized scrapbook-like feature, he wasn’t happy to reveal posts from the past that, until recently, were hidden under layers of recent updates. Just clicking on a date on the timeline could transport his friends back in time and enable them to view every embarrassing comment, link, or photo he had posted on his profile.
3. “I think it’s a recipe for disaster,” he says. “In 2007, I had some wild posts, which seemed appropriate at that time, but now, after a lapse of four years, I have moved on and don’t want them to be openly displayed for all to see.” And he is not alone. Many users, worried about how Facebook activity could possibly affect their offline lives, are choosing to commit ‘Facebook suicide.’
4. While some have privacy concerns, others feel that the site, meant to bring them closer to their friends, actually does the opposite — it reduces their friendships to something superficial. “Poking and liking are not enough to keep a friendship going,” says a business analyst. Having quit Facebook three years ago, she prefers meeting her ‘real’ friends face-to-face, instead of reading their trite posts online. “On Facebook, people hype everyday issues, including what they ate and where they went on a daily basis,” says this analyst who continues to use Twitter.
5. “Facebook has become a time sink, and I could not justify the time I spent on it,” he says. “I spend more time calling up friends or relatives over the phone now. I also go out and meet people whenever possible and have a good offline life. I do not regret the change.” Today, Facebook has 800 million users, of which 37 million are in India. The site has become an online identity for most, and many of those who decide to quit cannot overcome the withdrawal symptoms and return. Facebook, fully aware of its addictive powers, facilitates this return by allowing users to ‘deactivate’ their accounts but continues to store information on its servers, so that they can return from their break whenever they wish.
Question-1 Why did the youngster decide to leave Facebook?
A. Privacy concerns
B. Lack of friends
C. Technical issues
D. Lost interest
Question-2 What does the Timeline feature on Facebook reveal, causing discomfort to some users?
A. Future plans
B. Personal messages
C. Past posts
D. Friend lists
Question-3 According to the passage, why do some people find Facebook friendships superficial?
A. Lack of in-person interaction
B. Too many friends
C. Inability to share photos
D. Frequent advertisements
Question-4 What does the passage suggest about Facebook’s user deactivation policy?
A. It’s irreversible
B. Data is deleted
C. It’s temporary
D. It’s discouraged
Question-5 Complete the following sentence based on the passage: “Many users are leaving Facebook due to concerns over ________.”
Question-6 Based on the passage, what are the potential impacts of social media features like Facebook’s Timeline on a user’s personal life?
Question-7 True or False: According to the passage, the majority of Facebook users are comfortable with the Timeline feature revealing their past posts.
Question-8 The passage includes some words that are opposites of each other. From the sets (a)-(e) below, identify two sets of antonyms:
(1) Public and Private (2) Joining and Leaving
(3) Comfortable and Uncomfortable (4) Revealing and Concealing
(5) Superficial and Deep
(a) Option 1 and 2 (b) Option 2 and 3
(c) Option 3 and 4 (d) Option 1 and 5
(e) Option 4 and 5
Question-9 Choose the best title for the passage:
A. “The Rise of Facebook”
B. “Privacy Concerns on Social Media”
C. “Facebook’s User Growth”
D. “Online Friendships”
Question-10 State whether the following line from the passage is an example of a personal opinion, a factual statement, a social observation, or a technological critique.
“On Facebook, people hype everyday issues including what they ate and where they went on a daily basis.”
Solution
Answer-1: A. Privacy concerns
Answer-2: C. Past posts
Answer-3: A. Lack of in-person interaction
Answer-4: C. It’s temporary
Answer-5: privacy and public display of past activities or similar
Answer-6: Social media features like Facebook’s Timeline can inadvertently reveal private past activities, leading to concerns over privacy and personal image.
Answer-7: False.
Answer-8: (c) Option 3 and 4 – “Comfortable and Uncomfortable” and “Revealing and Concealing”
Answer-9: B. “Privacy Concerns on Social Media”
Answer-10: Social observation.
Class 9 MCQ passage in pdf Exercise – 5
Read the following unseen passage to test your comprehension passage reading skills:
1. The road to success is not straight: there is a curve called failure, a loop called confusion, speed bumps called friends, caution lights called family, and you will have flats called jobs. But if you have a spark called determination, an engine called perseverance, insurance called faith, and a driver called God, you will make it to a place called success!
2. In spite of all our planning and preparation, unexpected challenges are certain to arise. The bumps in the road are unavoidable, but you’ll never get to your destination if you aren’t willing to drive over them. The difference between disaster and triumph lies in whether you’re prepared and willing to weather the storm. If you’re ready, those bumps will become stepping stones.
3. The key thing to realize is that working harder is not the same as working smarter. How do you work smarter? You just need to have the right skills. People want improved circumstances and a better life without improving themselves. They want victory without paying the price or making efforts. It really cannot happen one without the other. Any improvements that have not been generated by self-improvement are superficial and short-lived. If you want a better future, you have to change yourself. Stop worrying about the various challenges that will come your way. Just believe in yourself and use them as stepping stones.
4. Success is getting whatever you want out of life without violating the rights of others. It is not an accident. Success is the result of our attitude, and our attitude is a choice. Hence, success is a matter of choice, not chance.
5. Today, success represents a holistic and positive attitude towards life. Attitude is everything. Success is not restricted within some kind of brick and mortar premises. It assumes the individuality of complete acts executed with perfection; material achievements do not define life. We don’t remember sports stars for the products they endorse, but for the spirit of achievement they represent. In the abundance of a positive attitude lies the grandeur of a truly rewarding and rich life.
6. Success can be measured from two standpoints—external and internal. Externally, it is the measure of a job well done and recognition. Internally, it is the feeling of achievement and wholeness derived from the completion of a task or the fulfillment of a desire.
Question-1 What does the passage suggest about the nature of success?
A. It’s easily achievable.
B. It’s a straightforward journey.
C. It involves overcoming various challenges.
D. It’s solely based on luck.
Question-2 According to the passage, what role does attitude play in achieving success?
A. Minimal impact
B. Negative influence
C. Fundamental role
D. Occasional importance
Question-3 What is implied about the relationship between self-improvement and success?
A. They are unrelated.
B. Success leads to self-improvement.
C. Self-improvement is key to success.
D. Success is hindered by self-improvement.
Question-4 How does the passage describe the external measure of success?
A. Financial status
B. Social media presence
C. Recognition for accomplishments
D. Number of friends
Question-5 Complete the following sentence based on the passage: “Success is not just about external recognition, but also involves ________.”
Question-6 Based on the passage, how do obstacles and challenges contribute to the journey towards success?
Question-7 True or False: According to the passage, success can be achieved without facing any challenges or making personal changes.
Question-8 The passage includes some words that are opposites of each other. From the sets (a)-(e) below, identify two sets of antonyms:
(1) Success and Failure (2) External and Internal
(3) Preparation and Neglect (4) Triumph and Disaster
(5) Choice and Chance
(a) Option 1 and 3 (b) Option 2 and 4
(c) Option 3 and 5 (d) Option 1 and 4
(e) Option 2 and 5
Question-9 Choose the best title for the passage:
A. “The Easy Path to Success”
B. “Navigating Life’s Challenges”
C. “The Role of Attitude in Success”
D. “Avoiding Obstacles in Life”
Question-10 State whether the following line from the passage is an example of a metaphor, a literal statement, a philosophical viewpoint, or a scientific fact.
“The road to success is not straight: there is a curve called failure, a loop called confusion, speed bumps called friends, caution lights called family, and you will have flats called jobs.”
Solution
Answer-1: C. It involves overcoming various challenges.
Answer-2: C. Fundamental role
Answer-3: C. Self-improvement is key to success.
Answer-4: C. Recognition for accomplishments
Answer-5: internal satisfaction or similar
Answer-6: Obstacles and challenges, as described in the passage, act as stepping stones that build resilience and character, essential for achieving success.
Answer-7: False.
Answer-8: (d) Option 1 and 4 – “Success and Failure” and “Triumph and Disaster”
Answer-9: B. “Navigating Life’s Challenges”
Answer-10: Metaphor.
