NCERT Textbook: Unit 5 | English Class 9 PDF Download

 Page 1


READING COMPREHENSION
Read the passage given below and answer the questions 
that follow.
Text I
THE MIRACULOUS ESCAPE 
I had been very wealthy and prosperous and was leading 
a very comfortable life. I had all the worldly pleasures with 
me. But soon I became bored of my idle life. The urge to go 
on a voyage became stronger and stronger day by day. It 
haunted me like anything. So one day I boarded a ship and 
went trading from island to island with other merchants.
When we started, the weather was ?ne and the sea was 
calm. But on the fourth day of our voyage, our ship was 
caught in a terri?c/terrible hurricane and we wandered 
from our set course. The tempest continued for several 
days and drove us near an island. The captain of the ship 
Unit
5
You have read the story ‘The Snake and the Mirror’. Now read the poems given 
in the textbook, Beehive, ‘The Snake Trying’ (page 125) and ‘Green Snake’ (page 
126). 
• Note the actions of these three snakes.
• Note the reactions of the story writer and the poets. What do they feel?
• Do you think any of the snakes wanted to do any harm?
• What is the human behaviour towards them?
Discuss all these points with your partner and together share with your other 
friends.
L E T’ S B EG I N
Unit 5.indd   67 1/7/2019   10:06:19 AM
2024-25
Page 2


READING COMPREHENSION
Read the passage given below and answer the questions 
that follow.
Text I
THE MIRACULOUS ESCAPE 
I had been very wealthy and prosperous and was leading 
a very comfortable life. I had all the worldly pleasures with 
me. But soon I became bored of my idle life. The urge to go 
on a voyage became stronger and stronger day by day. It 
haunted me like anything. So one day I boarded a ship and 
went trading from island to island with other merchants.
When we started, the weather was ?ne and the sea was 
calm. But on the fourth day of our voyage, our ship was 
caught in a terri?c/terrible hurricane and we wandered 
from our set course. The tempest continued for several 
days and drove us near an island. The captain of the ship 
Unit
5
You have read the story ‘The Snake and the Mirror’. Now read the poems given 
in the textbook, Beehive, ‘The Snake Trying’ (page 125) and ‘Green Snake’ (page 
126). 
• Note the actions of these three snakes.
• Note the reactions of the story writer and the poets. What do they feel?
• Do you think any of the snakes wanted to do any harm?
• What is the human behaviour towards them?
Discuss all these points with your partner and together share with your other 
friends.
L E T’ S B EG I N
Unit 5.indd   67 1/7/2019   10:06:19 AM
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 68
was reluctant to cast anchor at the port as it was a much 
dreaded place. 
The violent waves of the sea had exhausted us. We were 
all tired and hungry so we went in search of food and water. 
We were fortunate enough to find fruit trees and a stream of 
fresh and cool water which gave us strength and energy and 
relieved us from hunger. 
It had started getting dark. As we were tired we went to 
sleep but were soon startled by a rustling noise which came 
from a very long and huge python like serpent gliding swiftly 
towards us. We ran to save our lives but the serpent was 
quick enough to swallow one of my companions. We kept 
running till we had covered a good enough distance from the 
serpent. We felt a bit relieved but at the same time sad as we 
had lost a friend of ours. We took shelter on the top of a tree 
and thought ourselves to be safe.
But we were mistaken for we had hardly slept a little 
time when we heard a hissing sound which alarmed and 
frightened us. Coiling itself round the tree, the serpent 
reached my other companion who was positioned somewhat 
lower than me on the tree. It swallowed him and went away. 
Terror stricken I clung to the branch of the tree tightly 
and I did not know when I fell asleep. It was daylight when 
I awoke. I climbed down. It seemed to me that I had no 
courage left. It took me no time to realise that if I would not 
think of a way to escape soon, I would be a dead man. It was 
just a matter of time when I would also be swallowed like my 
two other companions. The instinct to prevent one’s life is 
greater than any fear or frustration.     
I thought I should spare no means to save myself. I 
collected a lot of dry wood and bushes and tied them into a 
bundle with reeds. I arranged them in a circular structure 
round the tree and tied some of them with the branches of 
the tree. In this way I made a tent like structure in which 
I sat after dusk and securely tied from within. I had the 
satisfaction that whatever I could do I did it to prevent 
myself. This time when the serpent arrived he crept round 
the tree but he could not penetrate the defensive structure I 
had made around me. It just sat and waited the whole night 
like a cat that waits for the mouse to emerge out of its hole.
rustle: make a soft, muffled 
crackling sound like that 
caused by the movement of 
dry leaves or paper
alarm: a warning of danger
penetrate: force a way into 
or through
Unit 5.indd   68 30-05-2018   11:52:48
2024-25
Page 3


READING COMPREHENSION
Read the passage given below and answer the questions 
that follow.
Text I
THE MIRACULOUS ESCAPE 
I had been very wealthy and prosperous and was leading 
a very comfortable life. I had all the worldly pleasures with 
me. But soon I became bored of my idle life. The urge to go 
on a voyage became stronger and stronger day by day. It 
haunted me like anything. So one day I boarded a ship and 
went trading from island to island with other merchants.
When we started, the weather was ?ne and the sea was 
calm. But on the fourth day of our voyage, our ship was 
caught in a terri?c/terrible hurricane and we wandered 
from our set course. The tempest continued for several 
days and drove us near an island. The captain of the ship 
Unit
5
You have read the story ‘The Snake and the Mirror’. Now read the poems given 
in the textbook, Beehive, ‘The Snake Trying’ (page 125) and ‘Green Snake’ (page 
126). 
• Note the actions of these three snakes.
• Note the reactions of the story writer and the poets. What do they feel?
• Do you think any of the snakes wanted to do any harm?
• What is the human behaviour towards them?
Discuss all these points with your partner and together share with your other 
friends.
L E T’ S B EG I N
Unit 5.indd   67 1/7/2019   10:06:19 AM
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 68
was reluctant to cast anchor at the port as it was a much 
dreaded place. 
The violent waves of the sea had exhausted us. We were 
all tired and hungry so we went in search of food and water. 
We were fortunate enough to find fruit trees and a stream of 
fresh and cool water which gave us strength and energy and 
relieved us from hunger. 
It had started getting dark. As we were tired we went to 
sleep but were soon startled by a rustling noise which came 
from a very long and huge python like serpent gliding swiftly 
towards us. We ran to save our lives but the serpent was 
quick enough to swallow one of my companions. We kept 
running till we had covered a good enough distance from the 
serpent. We felt a bit relieved but at the same time sad as we 
had lost a friend of ours. We took shelter on the top of a tree 
and thought ourselves to be safe.
But we were mistaken for we had hardly slept a little 
time when we heard a hissing sound which alarmed and 
frightened us. Coiling itself round the tree, the serpent 
reached my other companion who was positioned somewhat 
lower than me on the tree. It swallowed him and went away. 
Terror stricken I clung to the branch of the tree tightly 
and I did not know when I fell asleep. It was daylight when 
I awoke. I climbed down. It seemed to me that I had no 
courage left. It took me no time to realise that if I would not 
think of a way to escape soon, I would be a dead man. It was 
just a matter of time when I would also be swallowed like my 
two other companions. The instinct to prevent one’s life is 
greater than any fear or frustration.     
I thought I should spare no means to save myself. I 
collected a lot of dry wood and bushes and tied them into a 
bundle with reeds. I arranged them in a circular structure 
round the tree and tied some of them with the branches of 
the tree. In this way I made a tent like structure in which 
I sat after dusk and securely tied from within. I had the 
satisfaction that whatever I could do I did it to prevent 
myself. This time when the serpent arrived he crept round 
the tree but he could not penetrate the defensive structure I 
had made around me. It just sat and waited the whole night 
like a cat that waits for the mouse to emerge out of its hole.
rustle: make a soft, muffled 
crackling sound like that 
caused by the movement of 
dry leaves or paper
alarm: a warning of danger
penetrate: force a way into 
or through
Unit 5.indd   68 30-05-2018   11:52:48
2024-25
Unit 5 68 69
At dawn the serpent crept back but I dared not come 
out of my fortress. I lay there half dead and almost 
suffocated.
When the Sun began to shine, I came out of my wooden 
fortress. I was so desperate that I ran towards the seashore. 
When I was about to jump into the sea, I saw a ship sailing 
at some distance. I shouted wildly, I took off my shirt and 
waved it too, which attracted the sailors on the ship and 
a rescue boat was immediately sent for me. This was my 
miraculous escape from the deadly serpent. 
(Source: Anonymous)
Discuss what effect did the story have an you? What would 
you have done, if you were in the narrator’s place? Does it 
teach you how to save yourself from danger? Now based on 
your reading of the story, answer the questions that follow. 
You may read the story again. 
1. What made the narrator go on a voyage?
(a) He was rich and satisfied with his life.
(b) He felt bored of his life.
(c) He had urge to go on a voyage.
(d) He was adventurous.
2. How did the narrator and his friends feed themselves?
(a) They ate fish.
(b) They could not find anything to eat.
(c) They ate fruits to survive.
(d) They ate the food they had brought with themselves.
3. The narrator and his companions were on the tree. The 
serpent swallowed his companion but not the narrator. 
Why?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Common  Suffixes that 
make nouns
-ation 
inform — information
transform  —  transformation
-ness 
ill  — illness
kind — kindness
Fun fact
wildly: uncontrolled; 
unrestrained; very 
enthusiastic or excited
Unit 5.indd   69 30-05-2018   11:52:48
2024-25
Page 4


READING COMPREHENSION
Read the passage given below and answer the questions 
that follow.
Text I
THE MIRACULOUS ESCAPE 
I had been very wealthy and prosperous and was leading 
a very comfortable life. I had all the worldly pleasures with 
me. But soon I became bored of my idle life. The urge to go 
on a voyage became stronger and stronger day by day. It 
haunted me like anything. So one day I boarded a ship and 
went trading from island to island with other merchants.
When we started, the weather was ?ne and the sea was 
calm. But on the fourth day of our voyage, our ship was 
caught in a terri?c/terrible hurricane and we wandered 
from our set course. The tempest continued for several 
days and drove us near an island. The captain of the ship 
Unit
5
You have read the story ‘The Snake and the Mirror’. Now read the poems given 
in the textbook, Beehive, ‘The Snake Trying’ (page 125) and ‘Green Snake’ (page 
126). 
• Note the actions of these three snakes.
• Note the reactions of the story writer and the poets. What do they feel?
• Do you think any of the snakes wanted to do any harm?
• What is the human behaviour towards them?
Discuss all these points with your partner and together share with your other 
friends.
L E T’ S B EG I N
Unit 5.indd   67 1/7/2019   10:06:19 AM
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 68
was reluctant to cast anchor at the port as it was a much 
dreaded place. 
The violent waves of the sea had exhausted us. We were 
all tired and hungry so we went in search of food and water. 
We were fortunate enough to find fruit trees and a stream of 
fresh and cool water which gave us strength and energy and 
relieved us from hunger. 
It had started getting dark. As we were tired we went to 
sleep but were soon startled by a rustling noise which came 
from a very long and huge python like serpent gliding swiftly 
towards us. We ran to save our lives but the serpent was 
quick enough to swallow one of my companions. We kept 
running till we had covered a good enough distance from the 
serpent. We felt a bit relieved but at the same time sad as we 
had lost a friend of ours. We took shelter on the top of a tree 
and thought ourselves to be safe.
But we were mistaken for we had hardly slept a little 
time when we heard a hissing sound which alarmed and 
frightened us. Coiling itself round the tree, the serpent 
reached my other companion who was positioned somewhat 
lower than me on the tree. It swallowed him and went away. 
Terror stricken I clung to the branch of the tree tightly 
and I did not know when I fell asleep. It was daylight when 
I awoke. I climbed down. It seemed to me that I had no 
courage left. It took me no time to realise that if I would not 
think of a way to escape soon, I would be a dead man. It was 
just a matter of time when I would also be swallowed like my 
two other companions. The instinct to prevent one’s life is 
greater than any fear or frustration.     
I thought I should spare no means to save myself. I 
collected a lot of dry wood and bushes and tied them into a 
bundle with reeds. I arranged them in a circular structure 
round the tree and tied some of them with the branches of 
the tree. In this way I made a tent like structure in which 
I sat after dusk and securely tied from within. I had the 
satisfaction that whatever I could do I did it to prevent 
myself. This time when the serpent arrived he crept round 
the tree but he could not penetrate the defensive structure I 
had made around me. It just sat and waited the whole night 
like a cat that waits for the mouse to emerge out of its hole.
rustle: make a soft, muffled 
crackling sound like that 
caused by the movement of 
dry leaves or paper
alarm: a warning of danger
penetrate: force a way into 
or through
Unit 5.indd   68 30-05-2018   11:52:48
2024-25
Unit 5 68 69
At dawn the serpent crept back but I dared not come 
out of my fortress. I lay there half dead and almost 
suffocated.
When the Sun began to shine, I came out of my wooden 
fortress. I was so desperate that I ran towards the seashore. 
When I was about to jump into the sea, I saw a ship sailing 
at some distance. I shouted wildly, I took off my shirt and 
waved it too, which attracted the sailors on the ship and 
a rescue boat was immediately sent for me. This was my 
miraculous escape from the deadly serpent. 
(Source: Anonymous)
Discuss what effect did the story have an you? What would 
you have done, if you were in the narrator’s place? Does it 
teach you how to save yourself from danger? Now based on 
your reading of the story, answer the questions that follow. 
You may read the story again. 
1. What made the narrator go on a voyage?
(a) He was rich and satisfied with his life.
(b) He felt bored of his life.
(c) He had urge to go on a voyage.
(d) He was adventurous.
2. How did the narrator and his friends feed themselves?
(a) They ate fish.
(b) They could not find anything to eat.
(c) They ate fruits to survive.
(d) They ate the food they had brought with themselves.
3. The narrator and his companions were on the tree. The 
serpent swallowed his companion but not the narrator. 
Why?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Common  Suffixes that 
make nouns
-ation 
inform — information
transform  —  transformation
-ness 
ill  — illness
kind — kindness
Fun fact
wildly: uncontrolled; 
unrestrained; very 
enthusiastic or excited
Unit 5.indd   69 30-05-2018   11:52:48
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 Words and Expr Essions 1 70
4. How did the narrator save himself from the serpent?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
5. Find the words in the story which mean the nearest to 
the words given below.
(a) rich (First para) __________________________________
(b) moved (Second para) _____________________________
(c) tired (Third para) ________________________________
(d) scared (Fifth para) _______________________________
(e) urge (Fifth para) _________________________________
6. Now find words in the story which mean the opposite of 
the given words.
(a) poor (First para) _________________________________
(b) weak (Third para) ________________________________
(c) enforce (Third para) ______________________________
(d) insecurely (Sixth para) _________________________
(e) offensive (Sixth para) ____________________________
 Vocabulary 1. The story of Miraculous Escape has a number of words 
which describe the narrator’s feeling of fear and getting 
tired of the journey.  List the words of the two feelings 
and experiences.
Fear  Getting tired
Terrific, ____________________, 
____________,________________,
____________,________________,
____________,________________,
Exhausted, __________________, 
____________,________________,
____________,________________,
____________,________________, 
Common Error
Incorrect:
 Arti is living far away with 
India.
Correct:
 Arti is living far away from 
India.
Fun fact
Unit 5.indd   70 30-05-2018   11:52:48
2024-25
Page 5


READING COMPREHENSION
Read the passage given below and answer the questions 
that follow.
Text I
THE MIRACULOUS ESCAPE 
I had been very wealthy and prosperous and was leading 
a very comfortable life. I had all the worldly pleasures with 
me. But soon I became bored of my idle life. The urge to go 
on a voyage became stronger and stronger day by day. It 
haunted me like anything. So one day I boarded a ship and 
went trading from island to island with other merchants.
When we started, the weather was ?ne and the sea was 
calm. But on the fourth day of our voyage, our ship was 
caught in a terri?c/terrible hurricane and we wandered 
from our set course. The tempest continued for several 
days and drove us near an island. The captain of the ship 
Unit
5
You have read the story ‘The Snake and the Mirror’. Now read the poems given 
in the textbook, Beehive, ‘The Snake Trying’ (page 125) and ‘Green Snake’ (page 
126). 
• Note the actions of these three snakes.
• Note the reactions of the story writer and the poets. What do they feel?
• Do you think any of the snakes wanted to do any harm?
• What is the human behaviour towards them?
Discuss all these points with your partner and together share with your other 
friends.
L E T’ S B EG I N
Unit 5.indd   67 1/7/2019   10:06:19 AM
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 68
was reluctant to cast anchor at the port as it was a much 
dreaded place. 
The violent waves of the sea had exhausted us. We were 
all tired and hungry so we went in search of food and water. 
We were fortunate enough to find fruit trees and a stream of 
fresh and cool water which gave us strength and energy and 
relieved us from hunger. 
It had started getting dark. As we were tired we went to 
sleep but were soon startled by a rustling noise which came 
from a very long and huge python like serpent gliding swiftly 
towards us. We ran to save our lives but the serpent was 
quick enough to swallow one of my companions. We kept 
running till we had covered a good enough distance from the 
serpent. We felt a bit relieved but at the same time sad as we 
had lost a friend of ours. We took shelter on the top of a tree 
and thought ourselves to be safe.
But we were mistaken for we had hardly slept a little 
time when we heard a hissing sound which alarmed and 
frightened us. Coiling itself round the tree, the serpent 
reached my other companion who was positioned somewhat 
lower than me on the tree. It swallowed him and went away. 
Terror stricken I clung to the branch of the tree tightly 
and I did not know when I fell asleep. It was daylight when 
I awoke. I climbed down. It seemed to me that I had no 
courage left. It took me no time to realise that if I would not 
think of a way to escape soon, I would be a dead man. It was 
just a matter of time when I would also be swallowed like my 
two other companions. The instinct to prevent one’s life is 
greater than any fear or frustration.     
I thought I should spare no means to save myself. I 
collected a lot of dry wood and bushes and tied them into a 
bundle with reeds. I arranged them in a circular structure 
round the tree and tied some of them with the branches of 
the tree. In this way I made a tent like structure in which 
I sat after dusk and securely tied from within. I had the 
satisfaction that whatever I could do I did it to prevent 
myself. This time when the serpent arrived he crept round 
the tree but he could not penetrate the defensive structure I 
had made around me. It just sat and waited the whole night 
like a cat that waits for the mouse to emerge out of its hole.
rustle: make a soft, muffled 
crackling sound like that 
caused by the movement of 
dry leaves or paper
alarm: a warning of danger
penetrate: force a way into 
or through
Unit 5.indd   68 30-05-2018   11:52:48
2024-25
Unit 5 68 69
At dawn the serpent crept back but I dared not come 
out of my fortress. I lay there half dead and almost 
suffocated.
When the Sun began to shine, I came out of my wooden 
fortress. I was so desperate that I ran towards the seashore. 
When I was about to jump into the sea, I saw a ship sailing 
at some distance. I shouted wildly, I took off my shirt and 
waved it too, which attracted the sailors on the ship and 
a rescue boat was immediately sent for me. This was my 
miraculous escape from the deadly serpent. 
(Source: Anonymous)
Discuss what effect did the story have an you? What would 
you have done, if you were in the narrator’s place? Does it 
teach you how to save yourself from danger? Now based on 
your reading of the story, answer the questions that follow. 
You may read the story again. 
1. What made the narrator go on a voyage?
(a) He was rich and satisfied with his life.
(b) He felt bored of his life.
(c) He had urge to go on a voyage.
(d) He was adventurous.
2. How did the narrator and his friends feed themselves?
(a) They ate fish.
(b) They could not find anything to eat.
(c) They ate fruits to survive.
(d) They ate the food they had brought with themselves.
3. The narrator and his companions were on the tree. The 
serpent swallowed his companion but not the narrator. 
Why?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Common  Suffixes that 
make nouns
-ation 
inform — information
transform  —  transformation
-ness 
ill  — illness
kind — kindness
Fun fact
wildly: uncontrolled; 
unrestrained; very 
enthusiastic or excited
Unit 5.indd   69 30-05-2018   11:52:48
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 70
4. How did the narrator save himself from the serpent?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
5. Find the words in the story which mean the nearest to 
the words given below.
(a) rich (First para) __________________________________
(b) moved (Second para) _____________________________
(c) tired (Third para) ________________________________
(d) scared (Fifth para) _______________________________
(e) urge (Fifth para) _________________________________
6. Now find words in the story which mean the opposite of 
the given words.
(a) poor (First para) _________________________________
(b) weak (Third para) ________________________________
(c) enforce (Third para) ______________________________
(d) insecurely (Sixth para) _________________________
(e) offensive (Sixth para) ____________________________
 Vocabulary 1. The story of Miraculous Escape has a number of words 
which describe the narrator’s feeling of fear and getting 
tired of the journey.  List the words of the two feelings 
and experiences.
Fear  Getting tired
Terrific, ____________________, 
____________,________________,
____________,________________,
____________,________________,
Exhausted, __________________, 
____________,________________,
____________,________________,
____________,________________, 
Common Error
Incorrect:
 Arti is living far away with 
India.
Correct:
 Arti is living far away from 
India.
Fun fact
Unit 5.indd   70 30-05-2018   11:52:48
2024-25
Unit 5 70 71
2. Can you now add suffix which can mean or relate to the 
word ‘fear’? First one has been done for you.
Fear
(a) fearsome
(b) fear ______________________
(c) fear ______________________
(d) fear ______________________
(e) fear _________________                                    
(f) fear _________________
(g) fear _________________
(h) fear _________________
Grammar Reported Speech: Reporting questions
1.  You have learnt how to report questions from direct to 
indirect speech.  Here is a paragraph with direct speech 
questions. Read them carefully and report into indirect 
speech. Rewrite the paragraph in the space given below.
 Once an old man asked a young boy, “Who do you 
think are the most intelligent people?” The young man said 
in return, “Who do you think so?” The old man said, “How 
can sons and daughters be intelligent without learning from 
their parents?” The young man said, “How did you as a 
parent learn?” The old man said, “Why are you hijacking 
my question by asking me back?” The young man said, 
“Didn’t you know that you as a parent, now have learnt all 
the things on your own?” The old man said, “How do you say 
that we all learnt from others?” The young man said, “Why 
do you ask me about how to operate electronic gadget all 
the time?” The old man said, “Why can’t I ask you because I 
have paid for the gadget you use?”
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
It’s / Its
Incorrect: 
I do believe its her hard work. 
Correct: 
I do believe it’s her hard 
work.
Incorrect: 
The dog is waving it’s tail.
Correct: 
The dog is waving its tail.
Fun fact
Unit 5.indd   71 30-05-2018   11:52:48
2024-25