NCERT Textbook: Unit 2 | English Class 9 PDF Download

 Page 1


1. What kind of music is Ravi Shankar famous for?
(a) Jazz
(b) Classical
(c) Pop
2. Which country was Justin Beiber born in?
(a) USA
(b) India
(c) Canada
3. How many strings does a guitar have?
(a) 6
(b) 7
(c) 8
4. What is a group of three musicians called?
(a) a trio
(b) a duet
(c) a quartet
5. What is the next note after sa-re-ga-ma?
(a) dha
(b) ni
(c) pa
6. What is the next note after do-re-mi?
(a) ti
(b) fa
(c) so
Unit
2
L E T’ S B EG I N
Take this quiz to check your knowledge of music and musicians.
Unit 2.indd   21 1/7/2019   10:01:22 AM
2024-25
Page 2


1. What kind of music is Ravi Shankar famous for?
(a) Jazz
(b) Classical
(c) Pop
2. Which country was Justin Beiber born in?
(a) USA
(b) India
(c) Canada
3. How many strings does a guitar have?
(a) 6
(b) 7
(c) 8
4. What is a group of three musicians called?
(a) a trio
(b) a duet
(c) a quartet
5. What is the next note after sa-re-ga-ma?
(a) dha
(b) ni
(c) pa
6. What is the next note after do-re-mi?
(a) ti
(b) fa
(c) so
Unit
2
L E T’ S B EG I N
Take this quiz to check your knowledge of music and musicians.
Unit 2.indd   21 1/7/2019   10:01:22 AM
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 22
Notes Reading Comp Rehension In this section, you will read three texts on music in different 
perspectives. The first one will enlighten you about the 
effective role of music in our lives, the second reflects on the 
life of the famous music composer, Ludwig van Beethoven, 
and the third is a poem by William Wordsworth where he 
appreciates the melody of a song. 
Read the texts carefully and answer the questions that 
follow.
Text I
Role of m usi C in l ife Today, we are rushing through life and everyone seems to 
be pressurised and stressed about one or the other thing.  
Stress has become an inescapable part of our lives. Many 
of our illnesses are a result of stress, and to deal with it, we 
need certain ways to relax our body and mind.  Listening to 
music, particularly gentle, calming and melodious music, 
relaxes people both physically and mentally. Music releases 
endorphins, the natural painkillers in our brain, 
which relieve us from the sense of pain. Music 
can normalise heart rate and blood pressure. 
The common occurrences of fatigue and boredom 
decrease when we listen to music. It diverts 
our attention from everyday anxieties, thereby 
reducing the stress caused by such concerns.  
While meditating, listening to music helps us to 
connect with our soul. Students can improve their 
concentration and boost their memory by listening 
to soft music. Soothing music, when played at 
night, helps us to rest and relax for a good night’s 
sleep. Listening to good music helps in overcoming 
negative traits such as anger or worry, thereby 
improving our personality. It creates positive 
energy and happiness. Every cell in the body 
becomes energetic with increased peace of mind.
Music is a therapy for everyone — plants, 
birds, animals and human beings — to flourish 
and rejuvenate. It certainly plays an important 
part in making the world better for all living beings. 
inescapable: unable to be 
avoided or denied
Unit 2.indd   22 30-05-2018   11:41:15
2024-25
Page 3


1. What kind of music is Ravi Shankar famous for?
(a) Jazz
(b) Classical
(c) Pop
2. Which country was Justin Beiber born in?
(a) USA
(b) India
(c) Canada
3. How many strings does a guitar have?
(a) 6
(b) 7
(c) 8
4. What is a group of three musicians called?
(a) a trio
(b) a duet
(c) a quartet
5. What is the next note after sa-re-ga-ma?
(a) dha
(b) ni
(c) pa
6. What is the next note after do-re-mi?
(a) ti
(b) fa
(c) so
Unit
2
L E T’ S B EG I N
Take this quiz to check your knowledge of music and musicians.
Unit 2.indd   21 1/7/2019   10:01:22 AM
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 22
Notes Reading Comp Rehension In this section, you will read three texts on music in different 
perspectives. The first one will enlighten you about the 
effective role of music in our lives, the second reflects on the 
life of the famous music composer, Ludwig van Beethoven, 
and the third is a poem by William Wordsworth where he 
appreciates the melody of a song. 
Read the texts carefully and answer the questions that 
follow.
Text I
Role of m usi C in l ife Today, we are rushing through life and everyone seems to 
be pressurised and stressed about one or the other thing.  
Stress has become an inescapable part of our lives. Many 
of our illnesses are a result of stress, and to deal with it, we 
need certain ways to relax our body and mind.  Listening to 
music, particularly gentle, calming and melodious music, 
relaxes people both physically and mentally. Music releases 
endorphins, the natural painkillers in our brain, 
which relieve us from the sense of pain. Music 
can normalise heart rate and blood pressure. 
The common occurrences of fatigue and boredom 
decrease when we listen to music. It diverts 
our attention from everyday anxieties, thereby 
reducing the stress caused by such concerns.  
While meditating, listening to music helps us to 
connect with our soul. Students can improve their 
concentration and boost their memory by listening 
to soft music. Soothing music, when played at 
night, helps us to rest and relax for a good night’s 
sleep. Listening to good music helps in overcoming 
negative traits such as anger or worry, thereby 
improving our personality. It creates positive 
energy and happiness. Every cell in the body 
becomes energetic with increased peace of mind.
Music is a therapy for everyone — plants, 
birds, animals and human beings — to flourish 
and rejuvenate. It certainly plays an important 
part in making the world better for all living beings. 
inescapable: unable to be 
avoided or denied
Unit 2.indd   22 30-05-2018   11:41:15
2024-25
Unit 2 22 23
Complete the following statements by selecting the most 
appropriate options given below.
1. ________________ helps in relaxation of our body and 
mind.
(a) Pop music
(b) Soothing music
(c) Jazz music
(d) Rock music
2. The natural painkillers released in our brain are 
________________.
(a) Insulin
(b) Endorphins
(c) Endocrine
(d) Glycerin
3.  Music is helpful in improving the _____________ of 
students.
(a) concentration
(b) emotion
(c) relaxation
(d) anxiety
4. Which word from the passage means the same as ‘to 
renew’? _______________________________
(a) rejuvenate
(b) enhance
(c) release
(d) relieve
5. List the benefits of music mentioned in the passage. 
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Common suffixes that 
make nouns 
- ment 
agree — agreement
move — movement
- y
monarch — monarchy
discover — discovery
Fun fact
Unit 2.indd   23 30-05-2018   11:41:15
2024-25
Page 4


1. What kind of music is Ravi Shankar famous for?
(a) Jazz
(b) Classical
(c) Pop
2. Which country was Justin Beiber born in?
(a) USA
(b) India
(c) Canada
3. How many strings does a guitar have?
(a) 6
(b) 7
(c) 8
4. What is a group of three musicians called?
(a) a trio
(b) a duet
(c) a quartet
5. What is the next note after sa-re-ga-ma?
(a) dha
(b) ni
(c) pa
6. What is the next note after do-re-mi?
(a) ti
(b) fa
(c) so
Unit
2
L E T’ S B EG I N
Take this quiz to check your knowledge of music and musicians.
Unit 2.indd   21 1/7/2019   10:01:22 AM
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 22
Notes Reading Comp Rehension In this section, you will read three texts on music in different 
perspectives. The first one will enlighten you about the 
effective role of music in our lives, the second reflects on the 
life of the famous music composer, Ludwig van Beethoven, 
and the third is a poem by William Wordsworth where he 
appreciates the melody of a song. 
Read the texts carefully and answer the questions that 
follow.
Text I
Role of m usi C in l ife Today, we are rushing through life and everyone seems to 
be pressurised and stressed about one or the other thing.  
Stress has become an inescapable part of our lives. Many 
of our illnesses are a result of stress, and to deal with it, we 
need certain ways to relax our body and mind.  Listening to 
music, particularly gentle, calming and melodious music, 
relaxes people both physically and mentally. Music releases 
endorphins, the natural painkillers in our brain, 
which relieve us from the sense of pain. Music 
can normalise heart rate and blood pressure. 
The common occurrences of fatigue and boredom 
decrease when we listen to music. It diverts 
our attention from everyday anxieties, thereby 
reducing the stress caused by such concerns.  
While meditating, listening to music helps us to 
connect with our soul. Students can improve their 
concentration and boost their memory by listening 
to soft music. Soothing music, when played at 
night, helps us to rest and relax for a good night’s 
sleep. Listening to good music helps in overcoming 
negative traits such as anger or worry, thereby 
improving our personality. It creates positive 
energy and happiness. Every cell in the body 
becomes energetic with increased peace of mind.
Music is a therapy for everyone — plants, 
birds, animals and human beings — to flourish 
and rejuvenate. It certainly plays an important 
part in making the world better for all living beings. 
inescapable: unable to be 
avoided or denied
Unit 2.indd   22 30-05-2018   11:41:15
2024-25
Unit 2 22 23
Complete the following statements by selecting the most 
appropriate options given below.
1. ________________ helps in relaxation of our body and 
mind.
(a) Pop music
(b) Soothing music
(c) Jazz music
(d) Rock music
2. The natural painkillers released in our brain are 
________________.
(a) Insulin
(b) Endorphins
(c) Endocrine
(d) Glycerin
3.  Music is helpful in improving the _____________ of 
students.
(a) concentration
(b) emotion
(c) relaxation
(d) anxiety
4. Which word from the passage means the same as ‘to 
renew’? _______________________________
(a) rejuvenate
(b) enhance
(c) release
(d) relieve
5. List the benefits of music mentioned in the passage. 
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Common suffixes that 
make nouns 
- ment 
agree — agreement
move — movement
- y
monarch — monarchy
discover — discovery
Fun fact
Unit 2.indd   23 30-05-2018   11:41:15
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 24
Notes Text II
Beating the o dds The musical accomplishments of composer Ludwig van 
Beethoven have been all the more remarkable for the 
fact that he lost his hearing ability from an early age. He 
developed the symptoms of tinnitus, a constant sound of 
ringing in his ears that made it difficult for him to hear. He 
is compared to Mozart for his genius, and is considered the 
most eminent musician after Mozart. 
Although his formal education never went beyond the 
elementary level, he trained in music under Joseph Haydn. 
He has always been acclaimed as a brilliant piano maestro. 
His father and grandfather were the court musicians of a 
German prince. Young Ludwig was often made to perform for 
his father’s drinking companions in the middle of the night, 
and was even beaten if he protested. 
For the first thirty years of his life, Beethoven could listen 
to and play music effortlessly. As a result, he understood 
sounds of musical instruments and the pitch of the singing 
voices. He knew the harmony between music and singing 
before he became completely deaf. His deafness was not 
sudden, but a gradual decline. This slow process of losing his 
hearing activated his mind to imagine 
how his compositions would sound 
like. When he became completely deaf, 
he started to observe the vibrations of 
the piano. The observations helped him 
realise that he could not hear the high 
notes of the piano. To be able to hear 
his own compositions, he sawed off the 
legs of his piano. The piano touched 
the floor, and Beethoven would press 
his ear to the floor, banging the piano 
keys to listen to the high notes in his 
compositions.
The most significant aspect of 
Beethoven’s character was that he 
did not give up. With a brave heart, 
he confronted the greatest challenge 
beating the odds: to succeed 
despite not having a good 
chance of succeeding
Unit 2.indd   24 30-05-2018   11:41:15
2024-25
Page 5


1. What kind of music is Ravi Shankar famous for?
(a) Jazz
(b) Classical
(c) Pop
2. Which country was Justin Beiber born in?
(a) USA
(b) India
(c) Canada
3. How many strings does a guitar have?
(a) 6
(b) 7
(c) 8
4. What is a group of three musicians called?
(a) a trio
(b) a duet
(c) a quartet
5. What is the next note after sa-re-ga-ma?
(a) dha
(b) ni
(c) pa
6. What is the next note after do-re-mi?
(a) ti
(b) fa
(c) so
Unit
2
L E T’ S B EG I N
Take this quiz to check your knowledge of music and musicians.
Unit 2.indd   21 1/7/2019   10:01:22 AM
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 22
Notes Reading Comp Rehension In this section, you will read three texts on music in different 
perspectives. The first one will enlighten you about the 
effective role of music in our lives, the second reflects on the 
life of the famous music composer, Ludwig van Beethoven, 
and the third is a poem by William Wordsworth where he 
appreciates the melody of a song. 
Read the texts carefully and answer the questions that 
follow.
Text I
Role of m usi C in l ife Today, we are rushing through life and everyone seems to 
be pressurised and stressed about one or the other thing.  
Stress has become an inescapable part of our lives. Many 
of our illnesses are a result of stress, and to deal with it, we 
need certain ways to relax our body and mind.  Listening to 
music, particularly gentle, calming and melodious music, 
relaxes people both physically and mentally. Music releases 
endorphins, the natural painkillers in our brain, 
which relieve us from the sense of pain. Music 
can normalise heart rate and blood pressure. 
The common occurrences of fatigue and boredom 
decrease when we listen to music. It diverts 
our attention from everyday anxieties, thereby 
reducing the stress caused by such concerns.  
While meditating, listening to music helps us to 
connect with our soul. Students can improve their 
concentration and boost their memory by listening 
to soft music. Soothing music, when played at 
night, helps us to rest and relax for a good night’s 
sleep. Listening to good music helps in overcoming 
negative traits such as anger or worry, thereby 
improving our personality. It creates positive 
energy and happiness. Every cell in the body 
becomes energetic with increased peace of mind.
Music is a therapy for everyone — plants, 
birds, animals and human beings — to flourish 
and rejuvenate. It certainly plays an important 
part in making the world better for all living beings. 
inescapable: unable to be 
avoided or denied
Unit 2.indd   22 30-05-2018   11:41:15
2024-25
Unit 2 22 23
Complete the following statements by selecting the most 
appropriate options given below.
1. ________________ helps in relaxation of our body and 
mind.
(a) Pop music
(b) Soothing music
(c) Jazz music
(d) Rock music
2. The natural painkillers released in our brain are 
________________.
(a) Insulin
(b) Endorphins
(c) Endocrine
(d) Glycerin
3.  Music is helpful in improving the _____________ of 
students.
(a) concentration
(b) emotion
(c) relaxation
(d) anxiety
4. Which word from the passage means the same as ‘to 
renew’? _______________________________
(a) rejuvenate
(b) enhance
(c) release
(d) relieve
5. List the benefits of music mentioned in the passage. 
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Common suffixes that 
make nouns 
- ment 
agree — agreement
move — movement
- y
monarch — monarchy
discover — discovery
Fun fact
Unit 2.indd   23 30-05-2018   11:41:15
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 24
Notes Text II
Beating the o dds The musical accomplishments of composer Ludwig van 
Beethoven have been all the more remarkable for the 
fact that he lost his hearing ability from an early age. He 
developed the symptoms of tinnitus, a constant sound of 
ringing in his ears that made it difficult for him to hear. He 
is compared to Mozart for his genius, and is considered the 
most eminent musician after Mozart. 
Although his formal education never went beyond the 
elementary level, he trained in music under Joseph Haydn. 
He has always been acclaimed as a brilliant piano maestro. 
His father and grandfather were the court musicians of a 
German prince. Young Ludwig was often made to perform for 
his father’s drinking companions in the middle of the night, 
and was even beaten if he protested. 
For the first thirty years of his life, Beethoven could listen 
to and play music effortlessly. As a result, he understood 
sounds of musical instruments and the pitch of the singing 
voices. He knew the harmony between music and singing 
before he became completely deaf. His deafness was not 
sudden, but a gradual decline. This slow process of losing his 
hearing activated his mind to imagine 
how his compositions would sound 
like. When he became completely deaf, 
he started to observe the vibrations of 
the piano. The observations helped him 
realise that he could not hear the high 
notes of the piano. To be able to hear 
his own compositions, he sawed off the 
legs of his piano. The piano touched 
the floor, and Beethoven would press 
his ear to the floor, banging the piano 
keys to listen to the high notes in his 
compositions.
The most significant aspect of 
Beethoven’s character was that he 
did not give up. With a brave heart, 
he confronted the greatest challenge 
beating the odds: to succeed 
despite not having a good 
chance of succeeding
Unit 2.indd   24 30-05-2018   11:41:15
2024-25
Unit 2 24 25
a musician can face, and continued living his dream of 
composing music. Deafness could not deter him from 
achieving the pinnacle of musical success. He fought against 
the greatest obstacle and won.
His quality of ‘never giving up’ strengthened him. It 
made him come to terms with his deafness in a dynamic 
and constructive way. These qualities led him to become a 
famous composer.
1. Read the following statements and write true (T) or  
false (F).
(a) Although he composed a lot of music, Beethoven 
never learned to play music himself. (T/F)
(b) His deafness was not a sudden loss of hearing. 
(T/F)
(c) He composed most of his music early in his life, 
before he became deaf. (T/F)
(d) His musical skills were compared to Haydn. (T/F)
(e) Beethoven cut down the legs of his piano to hear 
the notes of the keys from the floor. (T/F)
2. How could Beethoven compose music despite his loss 
of hearing?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3. What realisation made Beethoven continue his passion 
for music with more determination?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Common Spelling Errors
It’s “tomorrow”, not “tommorrow”.
It’s “noticeable”, not “noticable”.
Fun fact
pinnacle: the most 
successful point
Unit 2.indd   25 30-05-2018   11:41:15
2024-25