NCERT Textbook: Unit 4 | English Class 9 PDF Download

 Page 1


Picture of different 
personalities
Quotes
“It is very simple to be happy, but it is very 
dif?cult to be simple.”
“Weakness of attitude becomes the 
weakness of character.”
“The best and the most beautiful things 
in the world cannot be seen or even 
touched – they must be felt with the heart.”
“One individual may die for an idea, but 
that idea will, after his death, incarnate 
itself in a thousand lives.”
Unit
4
Look at the pictures and identify who they are. Write their names in the given 
spaces. The quotes against each picture may also help you recognise them.
L E T’ S B EG I N
Unit 4.indd   54 1/7/2019   10:05:19 AM
2024-25
Page 2


Picture of different 
personalities
Quotes
“It is very simple to be happy, but it is very 
dif?cult to be simple.”
“Weakness of attitude becomes the 
weakness of character.”
“The best and the most beautiful things 
in the world cannot be seen or even 
touched – they must be felt with the heart.”
“One individual may die for an idea, but 
that idea will, after his death, incarnate 
itself in a thousand lives.”
Unit
4
Look at the pictures and identify who they are. Write their names in the given 
spaces. The quotes against each picture may also help you recognise them.
L E T’ S B EG I N
Unit 4.indd   54 1/7/2019   10:05:19 AM
2024-25
Unit 4 55
Notes •	 How 	 do	 the	 quotes	 reflect 	 the	 beautiful	 mind	 of	 the	
personalities 	 mentioned?	 Discuss 	 in 	 pairs	 of	 four,	 jot	
down 	your	points,	 and	then 	present	to 	the	class.
Reading Comp Rehension Read 	 the 	 passage 	 below	 and 	 answer 	 the	 questions	 that	
follow. 	
Text I
The Wo Rld as i s ee i T
In	 my	 opinion, 	 the 	 present 	 symptoms	 of	 decadence 	 are 	
explained 	 by	 the	 fact 	 that	 the	 development	 of 	 industry 	 and 	
machinery 	 has	 made 	 the 	 struggle	 for	 existence	 very 	 much 	
more severe, greatly to the detriment of the free development 
of 	 the	 individual. 	 But 	 the 	 development	 of	 machinery	 means	
that less and less work is needed from the individual for the 
satisfaction 	 of	 the	 community’s	 needs.	 A 	 planned	 division 	
of 	 labour 	 is	 becoming	 more 	 and	 more 	 of	 a	 crying	 necessity	
and 	 this 	 division	 will	 lead 	 to	 the	 material 	 security	 of 	 the 	
individual. 	 This	 security	 and	 the	 spare	 time	 and 	 energy 	
which 	 the 	 individual 	 will	 have 	 at	 his	 command	 can	 be 	 made	
to	 further 	 his 	 development. 	 In	 this	 way	 the 	 community 	 may	
regain its health, and we will hope that future historians will 
explain	 the 	 morbid 	 symptoms 	 of 	 present-day	 society	 as	 the 	
childhood 	 ailments 	 of 	 an	 aspiring	 humanity,	 due	 entirely 	 to 	
the	excessive 	 speed	 at 	 which 	 civilisation	was	 advancing.
(An 	extract	from 	The World As I See It by 	A.	Einstein)
1.	 What 	 is	 responsible	 for 	 the 	 present	 degradation	 of	
individual development?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2.	 What 	 is	 the	 meaning 	 of	 development	 in	 relation 	 to 	
individuals?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
decadence: moral or 
cultural decline as 
characterised by excessive 
indulgence in pleasure or 
luxury 
detriment: the state of 
being harmed or damaged
Unit 4.indd   55 30-05-2018   11:50:58
2024-25
Page 3


Picture of different 
personalities
Quotes
“It is very simple to be happy, but it is very 
dif?cult to be simple.”
“Weakness of attitude becomes the 
weakness of character.”
“The best and the most beautiful things 
in the world cannot be seen or even 
touched – they must be felt with the heart.”
“One individual may die for an idea, but 
that idea will, after his death, incarnate 
itself in a thousand lives.”
Unit
4
Look at the pictures and identify who they are. Write their names in the given 
spaces. The quotes against each picture may also help you recognise them.
L E T’ S B EG I N
Unit 4.indd   54 1/7/2019   10:05:19 AM
2024-25
Unit 4 55
Notes •	 How 	 do	 the	 quotes	 reflect 	 the	 beautiful	 mind	 of	 the	
personalities 	 mentioned?	 Discuss 	 in 	 pairs	 of	 four,	 jot	
down 	your	points,	 and	then 	present	to 	the	class.
Reading Comp Rehension Read 	 the 	 passage 	 below	 and 	 answer 	 the	 questions	 that	
follow. 	
Text I
The Wo Rld as i s ee i T
In	 my	 opinion, 	 the 	 present 	 symptoms	 of	 decadence 	 are 	
explained 	 by	 the	 fact 	 that	 the	 development	 of 	 industry 	 and 	
machinery 	 has	 made 	 the 	 struggle	 for	 existence	 very 	 much 	
more severe, greatly to the detriment of the free development 
of 	 the	 individual. 	 But 	 the 	 development	 of	 machinery	 means	
that less and less work is needed from the individual for the 
satisfaction 	 of	 the	 community’s	 needs.	 A 	 planned	 division 	
of 	 labour 	 is	 becoming	 more 	 and	 more 	 of	 a	 crying	 necessity	
and 	 this 	 division	 will	 lead 	 to	 the	 material 	 security	 of 	 the 	
individual. 	 This	 security	 and	 the	 spare	 time	 and 	 energy 	
which 	 the 	 individual 	 will	 have 	 at	 his	 command	 can	 be 	 made	
to	 further 	 his 	 development. 	 In	 this	 way	 the 	 community 	 may	
regain its health, and we will hope that future historians will 
explain	 the 	 morbid 	 symptoms 	 of 	 present-day	 society	 as	 the 	
childhood 	 ailments 	 of 	 an	 aspiring	 humanity,	 due	 entirely 	 to 	
the	excessive 	 speed	 at 	 which 	 civilisation	was	 advancing.
(An 	extract	from 	The World As I See It by 	A.	Einstein)
1.	 What 	 is	 responsible	 for 	 the 	 present	 degradation	 of	
individual development?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2.	 What 	 is	 the	 meaning 	 of	 development	 in	 relation 	 to 	
individuals?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
decadence: moral or 
cultural decline as 
characterised by excessive 
indulgence in pleasure or 
luxury 
detriment: the state of 
being harmed or damaged
Unit 4.indd   55 30-05-2018   11:50:58
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 56
3.	 What 	 is 	 the 	 ‘planned 	 division	 of 	 labour’? 	 How	 will	 it	 be	
helpful in human development?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
4.	 What 	 does 	 the	 phrase	 ‘symptoms 	 of 	 decadence’	 mean 	
in the opening line?
(a)	 diagnosis 	 of	degradation
(b)	 warning	signs	 of	depravity
(c)	 signs 	of 	prosperity
(d)	 diagnosis	 of	indifference	
5.	 The 	 phrase	 ‘crying	 necessity’	 in 	 the	 opening	 paragraph	
means:
(a)	 urgent 	need
(b)	 weeping	 need
(c)	 sad 	need
(d)	 average	need 	
6.	 Circle 	the	odd	one	out
(a)	 presence,	distance,	existence,	being,	alive
(b)	 possible,	 feasible, 	 probable, 	 unthinkable, 	 obtainable
(c)	 violence, 	assault,	roughness,	passivity,	fierceness
(d)	 conflict, 	contest,	 contention, 	 rivalry, 	accord
(e)	 consolation, 	 compassion, 	 annoyance, 	 sympathy,	
support
Text II
Read	the	following	 text	and 	answer	 the	questions.
When e ins Tein WRo Te To g andhi In	 1931,	 Albert	 Einstein	 wrote	 the 	 following	 short 	 letter	
of	 admiration	 to	 another	 of	 the 	 world’s 	 greatest	 minds,	
Mohandas	 Gandhi. 	 Despite	 their 	 intentions,	 the 	 pair	 never 	
met	in	person. 	
Respected Mr. Gandhi,
I use the presence of your friend in our home to send 
you these lines. You have shown through your words, that it 
Did You Know?
The sentence “the quick 
brown fox jumps over the 
lazy dog” uses all the letters 
of the alphabet in the English 
language.
Fun fact
Unit 4.indd   56 30-05-2018   11:50:58
2024-25
Page 4


Picture of different 
personalities
Quotes
“It is very simple to be happy, but it is very 
dif?cult to be simple.”
“Weakness of attitude becomes the 
weakness of character.”
“The best and the most beautiful things 
in the world cannot be seen or even 
touched – they must be felt with the heart.”
“One individual may die for an idea, but 
that idea will, after his death, incarnate 
itself in a thousand lives.”
Unit
4
Look at the pictures and identify who they are. Write their names in the given 
spaces. The quotes against each picture may also help you recognise them.
L E T’ S B EG I N
Unit 4.indd   54 1/7/2019   10:05:19 AM
2024-25
Unit 4 55
Notes •	 How 	 do	 the	 quotes	 reflect 	 the	 beautiful	 mind	 of	 the	
personalities 	 mentioned?	 Discuss 	 in 	 pairs	 of	 four,	 jot	
down 	your	points,	 and	then 	present	to 	the	class.
Reading Comp Rehension Read 	 the 	 passage 	 below	 and 	 answer 	 the	 questions	 that	
follow. 	
Text I
The Wo Rld as i s ee i T
In	 my	 opinion, 	 the 	 present 	 symptoms	 of	 decadence 	 are 	
explained 	 by	 the	 fact 	 that	 the	 development	 of 	 industry 	 and 	
machinery 	 has	 made 	 the 	 struggle	 for	 existence	 very 	 much 	
more severe, greatly to the detriment of the free development 
of 	 the	 individual. 	 But 	 the 	 development	 of	 machinery	 means	
that less and less work is needed from the individual for the 
satisfaction 	 of	 the	 community’s	 needs.	 A 	 planned	 division 	
of 	 labour 	 is	 becoming	 more 	 and	 more 	 of	 a	 crying	 necessity	
and 	 this 	 division	 will	 lead 	 to	 the	 material 	 security	 of 	 the 	
individual. 	 This	 security	 and	 the	 spare	 time	 and 	 energy 	
which 	 the 	 individual 	 will	 have 	 at	 his	 command	 can	 be 	 made	
to	 further 	 his 	 development. 	 In	 this	 way	 the 	 community 	 may	
regain its health, and we will hope that future historians will 
explain	 the 	 morbid 	 symptoms 	 of 	 present-day	 society	 as	 the 	
childhood 	 ailments 	 of 	 an	 aspiring	 humanity,	 due	 entirely 	 to 	
the	excessive 	 speed	 at 	 which 	 civilisation	was	 advancing.
(An 	extract	from 	The World As I See It by 	A.	Einstein)
1.	 What 	 is	 responsible	 for 	 the 	 present	 degradation	 of	
individual development?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2.	 What 	 is	 the	 meaning 	 of	 development	 in	 relation 	 to 	
individuals?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
decadence: moral or 
cultural decline as 
characterised by excessive 
indulgence in pleasure or 
luxury 
detriment: the state of 
being harmed or damaged
Unit 4.indd   55 30-05-2018   11:50:58
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 56
3.	 What 	 is 	 the 	 ‘planned 	 division	 of 	 labour’? 	 How	 will	 it	 be	
helpful in human development?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
4.	 What 	 does 	 the	 phrase	 ‘symptoms 	 of 	 decadence’	 mean 	
in the opening line?
(a)	 diagnosis 	 of	degradation
(b)	 warning	signs	 of	depravity
(c)	 signs 	of 	prosperity
(d)	 diagnosis	 of	indifference	
5.	 The 	 phrase	 ‘crying	 necessity’	 in 	 the	 opening	 paragraph	
means:
(a)	 urgent 	need
(b)	 weeping	 need
(c)	 sad 	need
(d)	 average	need 	
6.	 Circle 	the	odd	one	out
(a)	 presence,	distance,	existence,	being,	alive
(b)	 possible,	 feasible, 	 probable, 	 unthinkable, 	 obtainable
(c)	 violence, 	assault,	roughness,	passivity,	fierceness
(d)	 conflict, 	contest,	 contention, 	 rivalry, 	accord
(e)	 consolation, 	 compassion, 	 annoyance, 	 sympathy,	
support
Text II
Read	the	following	 text	and 	answer	 the	questions.
When e ins Tein WRo Te To g andhi In	 1931,	 Albert	 Einstein	 wrote	 the 	 following	 short 	 letter	
of	 admiration	 to	 another	 of	 the 	 world’s 	 greatest	 minds,	
Mohandas	 Gandhi. 	 Despite	 their 	 intentions,	 the 	 pair	 never 	
met	in	person. 	
Respected Mr. Gandhi,
I use the presence of your friend in our home to send 
you these lines. You have shown through your words, that it 
Did You Know?
The sentence “the quick 
brown fox jumps over the 
lazy dog” uses all the letters 
of the alphabet in the English 
language.
Fun fact
Unit 4.indd   56 30-05-2018   11:50:58
2024-25
Unit 4 56 57
Notes is possible to succeed without violence even with those who 
have not discarded the method of violence. We may hope that 
your example will spread beyond the borders of the country, 
and will help to establish an international authority, respected 
by all, that will take decisions and replace war conflicts.
With sincere admiration
Yours
(Signed, ‘A. Einstein’)
I hope that I will be able to meet you face to face someday.
Gandhi’s response
LONDON,
October 18, 1931
DEAR FRIEND,
I was delighted to have your beautiful letter sent through 
Sundaram. It is great consolation to me that the work I am 
doing finds favour in your sight. I do indeed wish that we 
could meet face to face and that too in India at my Ashram.
Yours Sincerely
(Signed, ‘M.K Gandhi’)
(Source:	Letters of Note, Volume 2 , 	by	Shaun	Usher)
1.	 Albert 	 Einstein 	 admired 	 M.	 K.	 Gandhi	 because:	 [tick	 (
?
)	
the right answer]  
(a)	 Gandhi 	 discarded 	the 	method 	of	violence.	
(b)	 Gandhi 	 showed 	 that	 it	 is	 possible	 to	 succeed	 without 	
violence	 wit h 	 those 	 who	 have 	 discarded 	 the	 method 	
of 	violence.
(c)	 Gandhi 	 showed 	 that	 it	 is	 possible	 to	 succeed	 without 	
violence	 only 	 with 	 those	 who	 have	 discarded 	 the 	
method 	of 	violence.
(d)	 Gandhi 	 showed 	 that	 it	 is	 possible	 to	 succeed	 without 	
violence	 with 	 all 	 irrespective	 of	 whether	 they 	 have 	
continued 	 or	discarded	the 	method	of	violence.
2.	 Where 	 did	 Gandhi 	 wish 	 to 	 meet	 Einstein?	 [tick	 (
?
) 	 the 	
right answer]  
(a)	 his 	 residence	in 	London
(b)	 his 	 Ashram	in 	India
(c)	 his 	 Ashram	in 	London
(d)	 during 	 his 	 tour	to 	London
Unit 4.indd   57 30-05-2018   11:50:58
2024-25
Page 5


Picture of different 
personalities
Quotes
“It is very simple to be happy, but it is very 
dif?cult to be simple.”
“Weakness of attitude becomes the 
weakness of character.”
“The best and the most beautiful things 
in the world cannot be seen or even 
touched – they must be felt with the heart.”
“One individual may die for an idea, but 
that idea will, after his death, incarnate 
itself in a thousand lives.”
Unit
4
Look at the pictures and identify who they are. Write their names in the given 
spaces. The quotes against each picture may also help you recognise them.
L E T’ S B EG I N
Unit 4.indd   54 1/7/2019   10:05:19 AM
2024-25
Unit 4 55
Notes •	 How 	 do	 the	 quotes	 reflect 	 the	 beautiful	 mind	 of	 the	
personalities 	 mentioned?	 Discuss 	 in 	 pairs	 of	 four,	 jot	
down 	your	points,	 and	then 	present	to 	the	class.
Reading Comp Rehension Read 	 the 	 passage 	 below	 and 	 answer 	 the	 questions	 that	
follow. 	
Text I
The Wo Rld as i s ee i T
In	 my	 opinion, 	 the 	 present 	 symptoms	 of	 decadence 	 are 	
explained 	 by	 the	 fact 	 that	 the	 development	 of 	 industry 	 and 	
machinery 	 has	 made 	 the 	 struggle	 for	 existence	 very 	 much 	
more severe, greatly to the detriment of the free development 
of 	 the	 individual. 	 But 	 the 	 development	 of	 machinery	 means	
that less and less work is needed from the individual for the 
satisfaction 	 of	 the	 community’s	 needs.	 A 	 planned	 division 	
of 	 labour 	 is	 becoming	 more 	 and	 more 	 of	 a	 crying	 necessity	
and 	 this 	 division	 will	 lead 	 to	 the	 material 	 security	 of 	 the 	
individual. 	 This	 security	 and	 the	 spare	 time	 and 	 energy 	
which 	 the 	 individual 	 will	 have 	 at	 his	 command	 can	 be 	 made	
to	 further 	 his 	 development. 	 In	 this	 way	 the 	 community 	 may	
regain its health, and we will hope that future historians will 
explain	 the 	 morbid 	 symptoms 	 of 	 present-day	 society	 as	 the 	
childhood 	 ailments 	 of 	 an	 aspiring	 humanity,	 due	 entirely 	 to 	
the	excessive 	 speed	 at 	 which 	 civilisation	was	 advancing.
(An 	extract	from 	The World As I See It by 	A.	Einstein)
1.	 What 	 is	 responsible	 for 	 the 	 present	 degradation	 of	
individual development?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2.	 What 	 is	 the	 meaning 	 of	 development	 in	 relation 	 to 	
individuals?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
decadence: moral or 
cultural decline as 
characterised by excessive 
indulgence in pleasure or 
luxury 
detriment: the state of 
being harmed or damaged
Unit 4.indd   55 30-05-2018   11:50:58
2024-25
 Words and Expr Essions 1 56
3.	 What 	 is 	 the 	 ‘planned 	 division	 of 	 labour’? 	 How	 will	 it	 be	
helpful in human development?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
4.	 What 	 does 	 the	 phrase	 ‘symptoms 	 of 	 decadence’	 mean 	
in the opening line?
(a)	 diagnosis 	 of	degradation
(b)	 warning	signs	 of	depravity
(c)	 signs 	of 	prosperity
(d)	 diagnosis	 of	indifference	
5.	 The 	 phrase	 ‘crying	 necessity’	 in 	 the	 opening	 paragraph	
means:
(a)	 urgent 	need
(b)	 weeping	 need
(c)	 sad 	need
(d)	 average	need 	
6.	 Circle 	the	odd	one	out
(a)	 presence,	distance,	existence,	being,	alive
(b)	 possible,	 feasible, 	 probable, 	 unthinkable, 	 obtainable
(c)	 violence, 	assault,	roughness,	passivity,	fierceness
(d)	 conflict, 	contest,	 contention, 	 rivalry, 	accord
(e)	 consolation, 	 compassion, 	 annoyance, 	 sympathy,	
support
Text II
Read	the	following	 text	and 	answer	 the	questions.
When e ins Tein WRo Te To g andhi In	 1931,	 Albert	 Einstein	 wrote	 the 	 following	 short 	 letter	
of	 admiration	 to	 another	 of	 the 	 world’s 	 greatest	 minds,	
Mohandas	 Gandhi. 	 Despite	 their 	 intentions,	 the 	 pair	 never 	
met	in	person. 	
Respected Mr. Gandhi,
I use the presence of your friend in our home to send 
you these lines. You have shown through your words, that it 
Did You Know?
The sentence “the quick 
brown fox jumps over the 
lazy dog” uses all the letters 
of the alphabet in the English 
language.
Fun fact
Unit 4.indd   56 30-05-2018   11:50:58
2024-25
Unit 4 56 57
Notes is possible to succeed without violence even with those who 
have not discarded the method of violence. We may hope that 
your example will spread beyond the borders of the country, 
and will help to establish an international authority, respected 
by all, that will take decisions and replace war conflicts.
With sincere admiration
Yours
(Signed, ‘A. Einstein’)
I hope that I will be able to meet you face to face someday.
Gandhi’s response
LONDON,
October 18, 1931
DEAR FRIEND,
I was delighted to have your beautiful letter sent through 
Sundaram. It is great consolation to me that the work I am 
doing finds favour in your sight. I do indeed wish that we 
could meet face to face and that too in India at my Ashram.
Yours Sincerely
(Signed, ‘M.K Gandhi’)
(Source:	Letters of Note, Volume 2 , 	by	Shaun	Usher)
1.	 Albert 	 Einstein 	 admired 	 M.	 K.	 Gandhi	 because:	 [tick	 (
?
)	
the right answer]  
(a)	 Gandhi 	 discarded 	the 	method 	of	violence.	
(b)	 Gandhi 	 showed 	 that	 it	 is	 possible	 to	 succeed	 without 	
violence	 wit h 	 those 	 who	 have 	 discarded 	 the	 method 	
of 	violence.
(c)	 Gandhi 	 showed 	 that	 it	 is	 possible	 to	 succeed	 without 	
violence	 only 	 with 	 those	 who	 have	 discarded 	 the 	
method 	of 	violence.
(d)	 Gandhi 	 showed 	 that	 it	 is	 possible	 to	 succeed	 without 	
violence	 with 	 all 	 irrespective	 of	 whether	 they 	 have 	
continued 	 or	discarded	the 	method	of	violence.
2.	 Where 	 did	 Gandhi 	 wish 	 to 	 meet	 Einstein?	 [tick	 (
?
) 	 the 	
right answer]  
(a)	 his 	 residence	in 	London
(b)	 his 	 Ashram	in 	India
(c)	 his 	 Ashram	in 	London
(d)	 during 	 his 	 tour	to 	London
Unit 4.indd   57 30-05-2018   11:50:58
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 Words and Expr Essions 1 58
3. 	 Why 	 does	 Einstein	 want 	 Gandhi’s 	 example 	 to 	 go 	 beyond 	
India?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
4.	 You 	 have	 read	 the	 chapter 	 and 	 the	 exchange 	 of	 letters 	
between	 A.	 Einstein	 and	 M. K.	 Gandhi. 	 What	 similarities 	
do	you 	 find 	in 	 the	ideas	of	 both	the 	personalities? 	
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
5.	 Find 	 the 	 opposites 	 of	 the	 words	 given 	 below 	 from 	
Einstein’s 	letter.
	 (a)	 impossible_________________________
(b)	 fail_______________________________ __
(c)	 peace______________________________
(d)	 absence_________________________ ___
(e)	 enemy_____________________________
6.	 In 	 the	 context 	 of	 Gandhi’s	 response 	 to	 Einstein’s	 letter,	
‘finds 	favour	 in	your	sight’ 	 means:
(a)	 satisfied 	you
(b)	 delighted	you
(c)	 appreciated 	by 	you
(d)	 not	 accepted 	by 	you
Text III
If
If	you	 can	keep	your	head	when 	 all 	 about	 you
	 Are 	 losing	theirs	 and 	blaming 	it	on 	you;
If	you	 can	trust	yourself	 when 	all	men 	 doubt 	 you,
	 But 	make	allowance 	 for	their 	doubting 	 too;
If	you	 can	wait	 and	not 	be 	 tired 	by 	 waiting,
	 Or, 	 being	lied 	about,	don’t 	deal	in 	lies,
Conjunctions to 
remember
and  because
but   contrary to
if   before
then  besides
when  even though
as well as  also
although  despite
while  however
after  nevertheless
in addition to so
Fun fact
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