NCERT Textbook: Unit 6 | English Class 9 PDF Download

 Page 1


Unit
6
 A. Photographs of the Presidents of India are chronologically given below. Can 
you identify them?
 B. Discuss in pairs and write down their names. 
 C. Why is the President of India known as the First Citizen of the country? 
L E T’ S B EG I N
PRESIDENTS OF INDIA
Unit 6.indd   80 1/7/2019   10:10:41 AM
2024-25
Page 2


Unit
6
 A. Photographs of the Presidents of India are chronologically given below. Can 
you identify them?
 B. Discuss in pairs and write down their names. 
 C. Why is the President of India known as the First Citizen of the country? 
L E T’ S B EG I N
PRESIDENTS OF INDIA
Unit 6.indd   80 1/7/2019   10:10:41 AM
2024-25
Unit 6 81
Notes Reading Comp Rehension 
Read the following passages and answer the questions that 
follow.
Text I
I must have been about seven when my father left Porbandar 
for Rajkot to become a member of the Rajasthanik Court. 
There I was put into a primary school, and I can well recollect 
those days, including the names and other particulars of the 
teachers who taught me. As at Porbandar, so here, there is 
hardly anything to note about my studies. I could only have 
been a mediocre student. From this school I went to the 
suburban school and thence to high school, having already 
reached my twelfth year. I do not remember having ever 
told a lie, during this short period, either to my teachers 
or to my school-mates. However, I used to be very shy and 
avoided all company. My books and my lessons were my sole 
companions. To be at school at the stroke of the hour and 
to run back home as soon as the school closed — that was 
my daily habit. There is an incident which occurred at the 
examination during my first year at high school and which 
is worth recording. Mr Giles, the educational Inspector, had 
come on a visit of inspection. He had set us five words to 
write as a spelling exercise. One of the words was ‘Kettle’. 
I had misspelt it. The teacher tried to prompt me with the 
point of his boot, but I would not be prompted. It was beyond 
me to see that he wanted me to copy the spelling from my 
neighbour’s slate, for I had thought that the teacher was 
there to supervise us against copying. The result was that 
all the boys, except myself, were found to have spelt every 
word correctly. I could never learn the art of ‘copying’. Yet 
the incident did not in the least diminish my respect for my 
teacher. I was by nature, blind to the faults of elders. Later 
I came to know of many other failings of this teacher, but 
my regard for him remained the same. Two other incidents 
belonging to the same period have always clung to my 
memory. As a rule I had distaste for any reading beyond 
my school books. The daily lessons had to be done, because 
I disliked being taken to task by my teacher as much as I 
disliked deceiving him. Therefore I would do the lessons, 
prompt: cause someone to 
take a course of action
deceive: give a mistaken 
impression
Unit 6.indd   81 30-05-2018   11:55:47
2024-25
Page 3


Unit
6
 A. Photographs of the Presidents of India are chronologically given below. Can 
you identify them?
 B. Discuss in pairs and write down their names. 
 C. Why is the President of India known as the First Citizen of the country? 
L E T’ S B EG I N
PRESIDENTS OF INDIA
Unit 6.indd   80 1/7/2019   10:10:41 AM
2024-25
Unit 6 81
Notes Reading Comp Rehension 
Read the following passages and answer the questions that 
follow.
Text I
I must have been about seven when my father left Porbandar 
for Rajkot to become a member of the Rajasthanik Court. 
There I was put into a primary school, and I can well recollect 
those days, including the names and other particulars of the 
teachers who taught me. As at Porbandar, so here, there is 
hardly anything to note about my studies. I could only have 
been a mediocre student. From this school I went to the 
suburban school and thence to high school, having already 
reached my twelfth year. I do not remember having ever 
told a lie, during this short period, either to my teachers 
or to my school-mates. However, I used to be very shy and 
avoided all company. My books and my lessons were my sole 
companions. To be at school at the stroke of the hour and 
to run back home as soon as the school closed — that was 
my daily habit. There is an incident which occurred at the 
examination during my first year at high school and which 
is worth recording. Mr Giles, the educational Inspector, had 
come on a visit of inspection. He had set us five words to 
write as a spelling exercise. One of the words was ‘Kettle’. 
I had misspelt it. The teacher tried to prompt me with the 
point of his boot, but I would not be prompted. It was beyond 
me to see that he wanted me to copy the spelling from my 
neighbour’s slate, for I had thought that the teacher was 
there to supervise us against copying. The result was that 
all the boys, except myself, were found to have spelt every 
word correctly. I could never learn the art of ‘copying’. Yet 
the incident did not in the least diminish my respect for my 
teacher. I was by nature, blind to the faults of elders. Later 
I came to know of many other failings of this teacher, but 
my regard for him remained the same. Two other incidents 
belonging to the same period have always clung to my 
memory. As a rule I had distaste for any reading beyond 
my school books. The daily lessons had to be done, because 
I disliked being taken to task by my teacher as much as I 
disliked deceiving him. Therefore I would do the lessons, 
prompt: cause someone to 
take a course of action
deceive: give a mistaken 
impression
Unit 6.indd   81 30-05-2018   11:55:47
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 82
Notes but often without my mind in them. Thus, when even the 
lessons could not be done properly, there was of course no 
question of any extra reading. But somehow my eyes fell on 
a book purchased by my father. It was Shravana Pitribhakti 
Nataka. I read it with intense interest. One of the pictures I 
was shown was of Shravana carrying, by means of slings fitted 
for his shoulders, his blind parents on a pilgrimage. The book 
and the picture left an indelible impression on my mind. 
(An excerpt from The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Mohandas 
Karamchand Gandhi)
1. Choose the correct option from the bracket and fill in 
the blanks.
(a) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a/an 
__________________________ student. ( average, poor, 
intelligent)
(b) As a boy, Mohandas used to be very _______________
and avoided all company. (timid, fearful, 
outspoken)
(c) The teacher tried to ______________________________
him with the point of his boot. (suggest, force, 
instruct)
(d) Young Mohandas________________________________ 
any reading beyond his school books. (disliked, 
liked, hated)
(e) He read Shravana Pitribhakti with ________________
interest. (great, least, little)
2. Answer the following questions in brief. (30 words)
(a) Where did Mohandas complete his primary 
education?
 _________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________
On time / In time
On time: At the planned 
time, neither early nor late
In time: With time to spare, 
before something happens
Examples:
The flight arrived on time. 
We arrived in time to check 
in. 
I reached the station just  
in time to catch the train. 
If you are not on time, the 
teacher won’t let you enter 
the classroom. 
Fun fact
indelible: not able to be 
forgotten
Unit 6.indd   82 30-05-2018   11:55:47
2024-25
Page 4


Unit
6
 A. Photographs of the Presidents of India are chronologically given below. Can 
you identify them?
 B. Discuss in pairs and write down their names. 
 C. Why is the President of India known as the First Citizen of the country? 
L E T’ S B EG I N
PRESIDENTS OF INDIA
Unit 6.indd   80 1/7/2019   10:10:41 AM
2024-25
Unit 6 81
Notes Reading Comp Rehension 
Read the following passages and answer the questions that 
follow.
Text I
I must have been about seven when my father left Porbandar 
for Rajkot to become a member of the Rajasthanik Court. 
There I was put into a primary school, and I can well recollect 
those days, including the names and other particulars of the 
teachers who taught me. As at Porbandar, so here, there is 
hardly anything to note about my studies. I could only have 
been a mediocre student. From this school I went to the 
suburban school and thence to high school, having already 
reached my twelfth year. I do not remember having ever 
told a lie, during this short period, either to my teachers 
or to my school-mates. However, I used to be very shy and 
avoided all company. My books and my lessons were my sole 
companions. To be at school at the stroke of the hour and 
to run back home as soon as the school closed — that was 
my daily habit. There is an incident which occurred at the 
examination during my first year at high school and which 
is worth recording. Mr Giles, the educational Inspector, had 
come on a visit of inspection. He had set us five words to 
write as a spelling exercise. One of the words was ‘Kettle’. 
I had misspelt it. The teacher tried to prompt me with the 
point of his boot, but I would not be prompted. It was beyond 
me to see that he wanted me to copy the spelling from my 
neighbour’s slate, for I had thought that the teacher was 
there to supervise us against copying. The result was that 
all the boys, except myself, were found to have spelt every 
word correctly. I could never learn the art of ‘copying’. Yet 
the incident did not in the least diminish my respect for my 
teacher. I was by nature, blind to the faults of elders. Later 
I came to know of many other failings of this teacher, but 
my regard for him remained the same. Two other incidents 
belonging to the same period have always clung to my 
memory. As a rule I had distaste for any reading beyond 
my school books. The daily lessons had to be done, because 
I disliked being taken to task by my teacher as much as I 
disliked deceiving him. Therefore I would do the lessons, 
prompt: cause someone to 
take a course of action
deceive: give a mistaken 
impression
Unit 6.indd   81 30-05-2018   11:55:47
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 82
Notes but often without my mind in them. Thus, when even the 
lessons could not be done properly, there was of course no 
question of any extra reading. But somehow my eyes fell on 
a book purchased by my father. It was Shravana Pitribhakti 
Nataka. I read it with intense interest. One of the pictures I 
was shown was of Shravana carrying, by means of slings fitted 
for his shoulders, his blind parents on a pilgrimage. The book 
and the picture left an indelible impression on my mind. 
(An excerpt from The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Mohandas 
Karamchand Gandhi)
1. Choose the correct option from the bracket and fill in 
the blanks.
(a) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a/an 
__________________________ student. ( average, poor, 
intelligent)
(b) As a boy, Mohandas used to be very _______________
and avoided all company. (timid, fearful, 
outspoken)
(c) The teacher tried to ______________________________
him with the point of his boot. (suggest, force, 
instruct)
(d) Young Mohandas________________________________ 
any reading beyond his school books. (disliked, 
liked, hated)
(e) He read Shravana Pitribhakti with ________________
interest. (great, least, little)
2. Answer the following questions in brief. (30 words)
(a) Where did Mohandas complete his primary 
education?
 _________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________
On time / In time
On time: At the planned 
time, neither early nor late
In time: With time to spare, 
before something happens
Examples:
The flight arrived on time. 
We arrived in time to check 
in. 
I reached the station just  
in time to catch the train. 
If you are not on time, the 
teacher won’t let you enter 
the classroom. 
Fun fact
indelible: not able to be 
forgotten
Unit 6.indd   82 30-05-2018   11:55:47
2024-25
Unit 6 82 83
(b) Who were Mohandas Gandhi’s sole companions in 
his childhood?
 _________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________
(c) Which incident given in the passage reflects  
Mohandas’s honesty?
 _________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________
(d) Which two things did Mohandas dislike the most? 
 _________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________
(e) What did the picture of Shravana convey to  
Mohandas Gandhi? 
 _________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________
(f) Pick out five qualities and traits which young 
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi had. One is done 
for you.
Absolutely non-judgemental, couldn’t see the bad qualities 
of his teacher. 
__________________________________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________
Common Error
Incorrect: 
Are you a saler, Raju?
Correct: 
Are you a salesman, Raju?
Fun fact
Unit 6.indd   83 30-05-2018   11:55:47
2024-25
Page 5


Unit
6
 A. Photographs of the Presidents of India are chronologically given below. Can 
you identify them?
 B. Discuss in pairs and write down their names. 
 C. Why is the President of India known as the First Citizen of the country? 
L E T’ S B EG I N
PRESIDENTS OF INDIA
Unit 6.indd   80 1/7/2019   10:10:41 AM
2024-25
Unit 6 81
Notes Reading Comp Rehension 
Read the following passages and answer the questions that 
follow.
Text I
I must have been about seven when my father left Porbandar 
for Rajkot to become a member of the Rajasthanik Court. 
There I was put into a primary school, and I can well recollect 
those days, including the names and other particulars of the 
teachers who taught me. As at Porbandar, so here, there is 
hardly anything to note about my studies. I could only have 
been a mediocre student. From this school I went to the 
suburban school and thence to high school, having already 
reached my twelfth year. I do not remember having ever 
told a lie, during this short period, either to my teachers 
or to my school-mates. However, I used to be very shy and 
avoided all company. My books and my lessons were my sole 
companions. To be at school at the stroke of the hour and 
to run back home as soon as the school closed — that was 
my daily habit. There is an incident which occurred at the 
examination during my first year at high school and which 
is worth recording. Mr Giles, the educational Inspector, had 
come on a visit of inspection. He had set us five words to 
write as a spelling exercise. One of the words was ‘Kettle’. 
I had misspelt it. The teacher tried to prompt me with the 
point of his boot, but I would not be prompted. It was beyond 
me to see that he wanted me to copy the spelling from my 
neighbour’s slate, for I had thought that the teacher was 
there to supervise us against copying. The result was that 
all the boys, except myself, were found to have spelt every 
word correctly. I could never learn the art of ‘copying’. Yet 
the incident did not in the least diminish my respect for my 
teacher. I was by nature, blind to the faults of elders. Later 
I came to know of many other failings of this teacher, but 
my regard for him remained the same. Two other incidents 
belonging to the same period have always clung to my 
memory. As a rule I had distaste for any reading beyond 
my school books. The daily lessons had to be done, because 
I disliked being taken to task by my teacher as much as I 
disliked deceiving him. Therefore I would do the lessons, 
prompt: cause someone to 
take a course of action
deceive: give a mistaken 
impression
Unit 6.indd   81 30-05-2018   11:55:47
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 82
Notes but often without my mind in them. Thus, when even the 
lessons could not be done properly, there was of course no 
question of any extra reading. But somehow my eyes fell on 
a book purchased by my father. It was Shravana Pitribhakti 
Nataka. I read it with intense interest. One of the pictures I 
was shown was of Shravana carrying, by means of slings fitted 
for his shoulders, his blind parents on a pilgrimage. The book 
and the picture left an indelible impression on my mind. 
(An excerpt from The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Mohandas 
Karamchand Gandhi)
1. Choose the correct option from the bracket and fill in 
the blanks.
(a) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a/an 
__________________________ student. ( average, poor, 
intelligent)
(b) As a boy, Mohandas used to be very _______________
and avoided all company. (timid, fearful, 
outspoken)
(c) The teacher tried to ______________________________
him with the point of his boot. (suggest, force, 
instruct)
(d) Young Mohandas________________________________ 
any reading beyond his school books. (disliked, 
liked, hated)
(e) He read Shravana Pitribhakti with ________________
interest. (great, least, little)
2. Answer the following questions in brief. (30 words)
(a) Where did Mohandas complete his primary 
education?
 _________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________
On time / In time
On time: At the planned 
time, neither early nor late
In time: With time to spare, 
before something happens
Examples:
The flight arrived on time. 
We arrived in time to check 
in. 
I reached the station just  
in time to catch the train. 
If you are not on time, the 
teacher won’t let you enter 
the classroom. 
Fun fact
indelible: not able to be 
forgotten
Unit 6.indd   82 30-05-2018   11:55:47
2024-25
Unit 6 82 83
(b) Who were Mohandas Gandhi’s sole companions in 
his childhood?
 _________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________
(c) Which incident given in the passage reflects  
Mohandas’s honesty?
 _________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________
(d) Which two things did Mohandas dislike the most? 
 _________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________
(e) What did the picture of Shravana convey to  
Mohandas Gandhi? 
 _________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________
(f) Pick out five qualities and traits which young 
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi had. One is done 
for you.
Absolutely non-judgemental, couldn’t see the bad qualities 
of his teacher. 
__________________________________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________
Common Error
Incorrect: 
Are you a saler, Raju?
Correct: 
Are you a salesman, Raju?
Fun fact
Unit 6.indd   83 30-05-2018   11:55:47
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 84
Notes 3. Locate words from the passage with similar meaning:
(a) reduce   __________________________    
(b) only one   __________________________   
(c) dupe   __________________________ 
(d) permanent effect __________________________    
Text II
Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi is an Indian American business 
executive. She is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 
of Pepsico. She is one among the world’s most powerful 
women. She delivered the following speech at the Rashtrapati 
Bhawan on 14 December 2013. She was named one of the 
25 Greatest Living Legends by NDTV, and was awarded 
by the then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee at the 
Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Read the speech delivered by Indra Nooyi and answer the 
questions that follow.
Mr President and NDTV, thank you very much for this 
incredible honour.
Malcom Gladwell in his book, Outliers says: “Who you 
are cannot be separated from where you came from.”
I left India 35 years ago, went to the USA and had 
tremendous success in the meritocracy. But none of that 
could have happened if I would not have had wonderful 
upbringing very much here in India. So I have a lot to 
thank India for. Now my three lessons I would like to share  
with you.
First, please be a lifelong student. You know when we 
were kids, we used to ask questions like “Why is the sky 
blue?”, “Why the birds flying so high?” But for some reasons, 
as we get older, that curiosity goes away. And if we are 
happy with the knowledge we have, then we are actually 
going to atrophy. So, please remain a lifelong student, don’t 
lose that curiosity.
Second, whatever you do, throw yourself into it, throw 
your head, heart and hands into it. I look at my job not as a 
meritocracy: a ruling or 
influential class of educated 
or able people
atrophy: gradual decline in 
effectiveness or vigour due 
to underuse or neglect
Unit 6.indd   84 30-05-2018   11:55:47
2024-25