English Medium Class 9 - CBSE Question Bank Solutions for English - Communicative

Exchange information with another group and record it. Then in groups of four discuss the results of the following: 
• Do boys and girls spend the same amount of time at the computer? 
• Do their tastes and preferences change as they grow older? 
• Are the number of hours spent at the computer/studying at home/leisure/ internet different between boys and girls? 
• Do the number of hours per week spent at the computer/studying at home/ internet/ leisure activities change as students grow up? 

Reporting verbs

Did you know?
Sometimes it is not necessary to report everything that is said word for word. It may be better to use “reporting verbs” which summarise what was communicated. Below are some of the most commonly used verbs of this kind.

Now listen to two speakers debating on the topic, 'School Uniforms should be Banned'. The script is given at page no 177 to 180. two student can be designated for this task 

Did you notice the phrases used by debaters to emphasise/negate certain points? Given below are certain expressions that might be used by debaters. 

1. I'd like to raise a/the question/ argue ___ 
2. In my opinion ___
3. Nothing could be more illogical than ____
4. I feel very strongly that ___
5. I would like to draw attention to ___
6. I fail to understand ____
7. I thinkyou are being unreasonable in suggesting ___
8. I submit that ____
9. My first/ next/ final argument against/ in favour of ____
10. I support the motion that_____
11. My knowledgeable opponent has submitted that ____
12. May l ask ___ 
13. I strongly oppose/ support the view that ___
14. On the contrary ___
15. It is unrealistic to say that ____
16. I disagree ____
17. I firmly reject ____
18. I wholeheartedly oppose/ support____

Fill in the empty bubbles in Column C with reports of what was said in Column A, as in the box given above.

Study the following graph and the accompanying report. 

Our study of the time spent by students at the computer and studying at home in three countries has revealed some interesting facts. 

First, the majority of boys and girls in the age groups of 14-16 in these countries spend more time at the computer than studying at home. Children in these countries spend an average of20-30 hours per week in comparison to 10-15 hours of studying at home. The only exception is Burland where girls spend more time studying at home than at the computer. 

Secondly it is evident that in all three countries, time spent at the computer is having a serious impact on the number of hours spent studying at home. In fact, the greater the number of hours spent at the computer, the fewer number of hours are being spent studying. For example, boys in Burland spend an average of 32 hours at the computer while they spend about 8 hours studying at home. 

Interactive practice
Individually, write down four sentences as in column A in 3.

Allen of MES Indian school has been asked to interview the Minister for Environment and Forests about the world's first zero - carbon city. Here is an extract of the taped interview. Write a short report in the given space.

Allen : It’s remarkable! A city of fifty thousand people and no cars!
Minister : I agree with you. Masdar city in Abu Dhabi will be the world’s first zero- carbon city.
Allen : How will you achieve this?
Minister : Our city will soon run entirely on renewable energy, including solar panels to trap the abundant resources offered by the desert sun.
Allen : So, you will be a shining model for other Governments. Congratulations, Sir.
Minister : Thank you. We are investing in our future. You may wonder how people would go about the city, don’t you?
Allen : I have wondered about it, Sir.
Minister : Our futuristic city will have people moving about in automated pods.
Allen : It’s unbelievable. Forgive me if I find it so fantastic.
Minister : Our Government assures you that this unique city will be ready for people to settle in by 2015. It will have a light railway line, transport pods and no carbon footprints.
Allen : We need air conditioners, don’t we? It’s impossible to live without them here.
Minister : Masdar city will take full advantage of the sea breezes. The city will have a perimeter wall that will protect it from the hot air.
Allen : I wish other countries could plan their expansion in this way.
Minister : In addition to what I have mentioned earlier, the city will be protected from the noise of the nearby Abu Dhabi Airport.

Uae plans futuristic city
by Allen Kuwana

The Zero-Carbon City Project, initiated by the government of the United Arab Emirates, is a milestone in mankind’s efforts to save its planet from the ravages of climate change. The Minister for Environment and Forests, Abu Dhabi, assures our readers that __________________

Now prepare a graph based on the students' response to the survey you conducted in Question 2. Then write a report for the newspaper taking the help of Question 5, Question 3 and Question 6. You may follow this pattern: 

Paragraph 1 : A suitable introduction as in B.4. 
Paragraph 2 : Hours per week spent on different activities - classes VI, IX and XI compared. 
Paragraph 3 : How extra time would be used - Classes VI, IX and XI compared. 
Paragraph 4 : Boys and girls compared - Classes VI, IX and XI 
The following words and phrases will be useful to you: 

To express proportion 
Most __
Many __ 
The majority of ___ 
A large number of ___ 
A small number of ___
Very few ____
Only a few ___ 
To express frequency 
Most of the time ___ 
Frequently ___
Occasionally ___ 
Often ____
At times ___ 
To express comparison and contrast 
__ compared with __
On the other hand, ___ 
In contrast, ___ 
By comparison, ___
___ however, ___
____ in comparison with ___ 
You may also find some of the phrases from B.5 useful. 

This is a meeting of the school's Parent-Teacher Association. Some student representatives have also been invited to participate to discuss the role that Information Technology I Computers play in the growth and development of children. 

Reporting 'Questions' and 'Requests'
The words in these sentences have been mixed up. Put them in the correct order. Direct questions (?) are followed by reported questions ( • ). Study the examples first.

Your seat comfortable is (?)
Is your seat comfortable?
Seat he if asked your comfortable was (•)
He asked if your seat was comfortable.

feeling are you better (?)
___________________________
she if feeling better were asked you (•)
___________________________
did kalias live where the (?)
___________________________
asked he the kalias where lived (•)
___________________________
they will be leaving when (?)
___________________________
asked be he when they leaving would (•)
___________________________
can open the please you window (?)
___________________________
you open asked window could she whether the (•)
___________________________
model how have finished that quickly so you (?)
___________________________
that model quickly so how had finished they asked you (•)
___________________________

You will now hold an actual class debate on the topic 'Computers and Children: A Boon or a Bane'. 

In groups of four decide whether your group is FOR or AGAINST the motion. Then draft your debate. Each member of the group must participate in the written as well as the spoken matter. The spoken matter can be divided thus 
• One introduces the topic 
• One discusses points favouring the motion 
• One argues the opponent's points 
• One concludes 

Divide yourselves into groups and collect information on the use of computers from three students, each from classes VI, IX and XI. Compile and summarise your answers to the questions above in the following table 

Report the following questions. (Use if/whether or why, as appropriate.)

1. Have you met my sister?
   She asked _________________ (use you and her)
2. Do you want a drink?
   He asked _________________ (use you)
3. Why didn’t you study for the Unit test?
   She asked _________________ (use he)
4. Can you help me with my homework this evening?
   He asked _________________ (use she)
5. Have you had lunch yet?
   They asked _________________ (use he)

SAID and TOLD
Be careful with the use of said and told. Look at these examples.

(a) He told me to stop work.
They told us they had four children.
She said (that) they were finished.
We said (that) we were leaving at 6 o’clock.

What would you use when ordering somebody to do something: told or said?

(b)

Fill in the blanks using said or told.
Add any other words that you think are necessary.

1. He ________ to sit down and I did.
2. She ________ the weather would be hot and it was.
3. They ________ about the disaster and we listened carefully.
4. He ________ to go away and they did.
5. She ________ there was no other way to do it.

In pairs, choose one topic from the table in Question 3. Imagine that you and your parents are expressing your views on the topic. Use your notes from the table and write the dialogue that would take place. Make it funny! Share your dialogue with the rest of the class. 

Ravi has a problem, so he asks his friends for advice. Read the conversation below and underline the expressions that are used for giving advice. (This could be done as role-play) 

Ravi : My neighbours play very loud music, which disturbs me when I'm studying. 
Mohan: Why don't you try persuading them to turn down the volume? 
Shiela: If that doesn't work you could think of changing your study time. 
Rahim: Why should Ravi have to do that? He really ought to report such antisocial behaviour to the police. 
Shiela: Before taking drastic action like that, I would advise you to sort it out amicably with your neighbours. 
Rahim: If l were you, I would play my music even louder! 
Mohan: That won't solve his problem. Ravi, I think you should ask your father to take it up with your neighours. 

Thinking about changes in Reported Speech.
Look at the cartoon and read the dialogue.

Now read the following paragraph, which reports what happened in the cartoon.

A customer walked into a bakery and complained that the bread he had bought the previous day had too much baking powder in it. The man at the counter told him that that was because they only served those people who wished to rise and shine.

Note the choice of tense in reported speech.

bought (simple past) → had bought (past perfect)

In the box below list the words that have been changed

List the two verbs of speaking that have been added.

1. __________ that …..
2. __________ that ….

Reported speech in Extended practice.

Read the dialogue between Mr Coomer (Mr C), the British Scholarship Officer, and an applicant, Miss Reena Banerjee (R).

Mr C : Come in, Miss Banerjee.
R : Thank you.
Mr C : Please sit down. Can I get you a cup of coffee or a cold drink?
R : Yes thank you. A cold drink, please.
Mr C : I’m just going to ask you a few questions. How long have you been studying English?
R : I’ve had private as well as school lessons for 14 years.
Mr C : Just as background information, what do you do in your spare time?
R : I’ve always enjoyed drama, and also debating.
Mr C : Why do you wish to obtain a scholarship to study in Britain?
R : Well, I’m interested in studying Immigration Law, and there are several good colleges in Britain dealing with his.
Mr C : Very interesting. Finally, do you know that the grant only covers teaching fees?
What about your living expenses?
R : My sister will pay for my personal expenses.
Mr C : Well, Miss Banerjee, we’ll be writing to you next week. Thank you for coming.

Reena meets her friend, Latha, after the interview. She is very excited and tells Latha exactly what happened. Fill in the spaces using reported speech.
Fill in the [boxes] with reporting verbs.

In groups of four , use the language used in Question 5 to give advice in the following situations :