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Class 9 English — Reading between the lines

Work out what a passage implies but does not state outright.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Read: "The tickets were sold out within an hour of going on sale." What can you infer?

    • a) The event was cancelled.
    • b) The event was in great demand.
    • c) The tickets were expensive.
    • d) The event was unpopular.

  2. 2.Read: "The dog's bowl was still full and its leash still hung by the door, though it was past six." What does this suggest?

    • a) The dog has been fed and walked.
    • b) The dog belongs to a neighbour.
    • c) The dog has run away.
    • d) The dog has not been fed or walked.

  3. 3.Read: "By the time the bell rang, only three answers were filled in. Ria kept glancing at the clock." What can you infer?

    • a) Ria has run out of time.
    • b) Ria finished early.
    • c) Ria was not in the examination hall.
    • d) The clock was broken.

  4. 4.Passage: "Rain drummed on the tin roof. Kavi put down his book, fetched a bucket and placed it under the wet patch on the ceiling." Sort each statement.

    Groups: Stated in the passage · Inferred from the passage

    • It is raining.
    • Kavi did not want water on the floor.
    • There is a wet patch on the ceiling.
    • The roof is leaking.

  5. 5.Read: "Arjun read the letter twice, folded it carefully and put it in his pocket without a word. His hands were not quite steady." What can you infer about Arjun?

    • a) The letter has affected him deeply.
    • b) The letter is a shopping list.
    • c) He is bored by the letter.
    • d) He cannot read.

  6. 6.Read: "Ammu looked at the empty chair beside her, where her sister always sat, and said nothing for the rest of the journey." What can you infer?

    • a) She is missing her sister.
    • b) She is excited about the trip.
    • c) She has fallen asleep.
    • d) She is angry with the driver.

  7. 7.Match each detail to what it suggests.

    • Her uniform was still crisp at four o'clock.
    • He counted his coins twice before entering the shop.
    • The kitchen was full of smoke and the toaster was still down.
    • She kept the umbrella open indoors.
    • He was worried he did not have enough.
    • She wanted it to dry.
    • Somebody had forgotten the toast.
    • She had not played outside all day.

  8. 8.Read: "The coach did not look at Sameer once during the team announcement." What does this most likely suggest?

    • a) Sameer has been made captain.
    • b) The coach cannot see well.
    • c) Sameer was not present.
    • d) Sameer has not been selected.

Answer key — Class 9 English — Reading between the lines

  1. 1. b) The event was in great demand.
  2. 2. d) The dog has not been fed or walked.
  3. 3. a) Ria has run out of time.
  4. 4. It is raining. → Stated in the passage; There is a wet patch on the ceiling. → Stated in the passage; The roof is leaking. → Inferred from the passage; Kavi did not want water on the floor. → Inferred from the passage
  5. 5. a) The letter has affected him deeply.
  6. 6. a) She is missing her sister.
  7. 7. Her uniform was still crisp at four o'clock. → She had not played outside all day.; He counted his coins twice before entering the shop. → He was worried he did not have enough.; The kitchen was full of smoke and the toaster was still down. → Somebody had forgotten the toast.; She kept the umbrella open indoors. → She wanted it to dry.
  8. 8. d) Sameer has not been selected.