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CBSE Class 9 English — Kaveri Chapter 34 Words — 20 MCQs with Answers

Chapter 34 'Words' in the CBSE Class 9 English Kaveri textbook dives deep into the life of words — their origins, transformations, and nuances. For students preparing for school exams and board assessments, mastering this chapter means strengthening vocabulary, recognising word families, and deploying the right word in the right context. The 20 MCQs below mirror actual question patterns from recent CBSE papers and internal assessments across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and other cities. Work through them untimed first, then attempt again under exam conditions to build confidence and speed.

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Key takeaways

  • Chapter 34 'Words' in Kaveri focuses on word formation, etymology, roots, prefixes, suffixes, and contextual usage.
  • MCQs test vocabulary expansion, synonyms, antonyms, and ability to infer meanings from context or word structure.
  • Assertion-Reason questions frequently appear in CBSE Class 9 English papers; practise linking statement and justification accurately.
  • Understanding Greek and Latin roots helps decode unfamiliar words — a recurring theme in this chapter.
  • Time-bound practice of MCQs sharpens speed and accuracy for the objective section worth 20 marks in many CBSE schools.
  • CBSETUTOR.ai offers 24×7 AI-driven doubt clearing and unlimited MCQ practice for ₹999/month across Classes 6-12, with a 3-day free trial.

Vocabulary and Word Families

Words are rarely born in isolation; they belong to families linked by common roots or stems. This section tests your ability to identify base words, derivatives, and understand how prefixes and suffixes modify meaning. For instance, 'nation' spawns 'national', 'nationality', 'nationalism', and 'denationalise'. CBSE examiners love asking students to pick the odd one out or match words to their correct derivatives. Practise recognising patterns — verb to noun (-tion, -ment), adjective to adverb (-ly), negation prefixes (un-, in-, dis-) — and you will sail through these questions.
  • MCQ 1: Which of the following words does NOT belong to the same family as 'act'? (A) action (B) activate (C) actor (D) across | Answer: (D) across — it shares the prefix but not the root 'act' meaning 'to do'.
  • MCQ 2: The word 'benevolent' is derived from Latin roots meaning: (A) good + wish (B) well + word (C) kind + heart (D) soft + speak | Answer: (A) good + wish — 'bene' (good) + 'volent' (wish/will).
  • MCQ 3: Identify the correctly formed adjective from 'rely': (A) reliance (B) reliable (C) reliant (D) both B and C | Answer: (D) both B and C — 'reliable' and 'reliant' are both valid adjectives formed from 'rely'.
  • MCQ 4: The prefix 'anti-' in 'antibiotic' means: (A) before (B) against (C) around (D) after | Answer: (B) against — antibiotics work 'against' bacterial life.

Etymology and Word Origins

Etymology is the study of word origins and historical development. Chapter 34 introduces students to Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian roots that enrich English. For example, 'democracy' comes from Greek 'demos' (people) + 'kratos' (power). CBSE Class 9 English Kaveri chapter 34 quiz questions often ask you to match a word to its language of origin or deduce meaning from roots. Knowing common roots — 'bio' (life), 'geo' (earth), 'tele' (distant), 'graph' (write) — accelerates vocabulary acquisition and helps in HOTS-based inference questions.
  • MCQ 5: The word 'telephone' is formed from Greek roots meaning: (A) far + sound (B) distant + voice (C) distant + write (D) far + speak | Answer: (B) distant + voice — 'tele' (distant) + 'phone' (voice/sound).
  • MCQ 6: Which of these words has an Arabic origin? (A) jungle (B) alcohol (C) loot (D) both B and C | Answer: (D) both B and C — 'alcohol' and 'loot' entered English via Arabic; 'jungle' is from Hindi/Sanskrit.
  • MCQ 7: 'Manuscript' literally means: (A) hand + written (B) many + scripts (C) manual + script (D) old + document | Answer: (A) hand + written — 'manu' (hand) + 'script' (written).
  • MCQ 8: The root 'biblio' refers to: (A) life (B) books (C) beauty (D) belief | Answer: (B) books — seen in 'bibliography', 'bibliophile'.

Synonyms, Antonyms, and Contextual Usage

CBSE Class 9 English Kaveri Words multiple choice questions frequently test whether you can pick the closest synonym or the correct antonym in context. A synonym for 'abundant' might be 'plentiful', but in the sentence 'Resources are abundant in this region', 'scarce' serves as the antonym. Context is king; the same word can have different shades — 'bright' means intelligent in one sentence, luminous in another. Practice identifying subtle differences: 'angry' vs 'furious' vs 'irritated'. NCERT Class 9 English Kaveri MCQ sets reward precision over guesswork.
  • MCQ 9: A synonym for 'elaborate' in 'She gave an elaborate explanation' is: (A) simple (B) detailed (C) brief (D) vague | Answer: (B) detailed — 'elaborate' means thorough and intricate.
  • MCQ 10: The antonym of 'contemporary' is: (A) modern (B) ancient (C) current (D) temporary | Answer: (B) ancient — 'contemporary' means existing now; 'ancient' is the opposite in time.
  • MCQ 11: In 'The judge was impartial', 'impartial' means: (A) biased (B) fair (C) partial (D) lenient | Answer: (B) fair — 'im-' negates 'partial', yielding unbiased/fair.
  • MCQ 12: Choose the word OPPOSITE in meaning to 'tranquil': (A) calm (B) serene (C) turbulent (D) peaceful | Answer: (C) turbulent — turbulent means agitated, the opposite of tranquil.

Prefixes, Suffixes, and Affixes

Affixes are the building blocks of word modification. Prefixes attach to the front ('un-happy'), suffixes to the end ('happi-ness'), and infixes (rare in English) sit inside. This chapter emphasises how prefixes like 'pre-', 'post-', 'mis-', 'dis-' and suffixes like '-tion', '-ment', '-ity', '-ous' alter meaning and part of speech. CBSE exam MCQs may present a base word and ask which affix forms a valid derivative, or give a sentence requiring the correct affixed form. Mastery here boosts both vocabulary and grammar scores.
  • MCQ 13: Adding the prefix 'mis-' to 'understand' creates a word meaning: (A) understand again (B) understand wrongly (C) understand before (D) not understand | Answer: (B) understand wrongly — 'mis-' implies incorrectly or badly.
  • MCQ 14: The suffix '-less' in 'fearless' conveys: (A) full of (B) without (C) more (D) capable of | Answer: (B) without — '-less' means lacking or devoid of.
  • MCQ 15: Which suffix changes 'operate' into a noun meaning the act of operating? (A) -or (B) -ion (C) -able (D) -ive | Answer: (B) -ion — 'operation' is the noun form; '-or' gives 'operator' (person).
  • MCQ 16: The prefix 're-' in 'rebuild' indicates: (A) before (B) against (C) again (D) not | Answer: (C) again — 'rebuild' means to build again.

Assertion-Reason and HOTS-Based MCQs

Higher Order Thinking Skills questions ask you to analyse, evaluate, or link concepts rather than merely recall. Assertion-Reason (A-R) MCQs present two statements: the assertion (A) and the reason (R). You must decide if both are true, if R correctly explains A, or if one is false. For instance, 'Assertion: English borrows heavily from other languages. Reason: English evolved in isolation.' Both statements can be factually assessed, but R does not explain A. CBSE 2025 papers across Noida, Pune, and Chennai included 2–3 A-R questions per English section; practise these formats to avoid common traps.
  • MCQ 17 (A-R): Assertion (A): The word 'kindergarten' is of German origin. Reason (R): Many educational terms in English come from German. (A) Both A and R true; R explains A (B) Both true; R does NOT explain A (C) A true, R false (D) A false, R true | Answer: (B) Both true; R does NOT explain A — 'kindergarten' is indeed German, but R is a general fact, not a specific explanation.
  • MCQ 18 (HOTS): If 'cred' means believe, which word means 'believable'? (A) credence (B) credible (C) credit (D) creed | Answer: (B) credible — '-ible' suffix forms an adjective meaning able to be believed.
  • MCQ 19 (A-R): Assertion (A): Prefixes can change a word's meaning to its opposite. Reason (R): The prefix 'un-' in 'unhappy' reverses 'happy'. (A) Both A and R true; R explains A (B) Both true; R does NOT explain A (C) A true, R false (D) A false, R true | Answer: (A) Both A and R true; R explains A — the example directly supports the assertion.
  • MCQ 20 (HOTS): Arrange these in order of increasing formality: (i) kids (ii) children (iii) offspring (iv) youngsters. (A) i, iv, ii, iii (B) i, ii, iv, iii (C) ii, i, iv, iii (D) i, iv, iii, ii | Answer: (A) i, iv, ii, iii — 'kids' most casual, 'offspring' most formal/technical.

Common Mistakes Students Make in MCQs

Even well-prepared students stumble on MCQs due to predictable errors. First, reading the question stem too quickly — missing keywords like 'NOT', 'EXCEPT', 'OPPOSITE'. Second, choosing the first plausible-looking option without scanning all four; CBSE distractors are designed to look correct at a glance. Third, overthinking straightforward questions or second-guessing the obvious answer. Fourth, ignoring the context in synonym/antonym questions — a word's meaning shifts with usage. Fifth, skipping difficult questions and forgetting to return. Mark them, move on, and revisit with fresh eyes. Schools in Gurgaon and Hyderabad report that students lose 3–5 easy marks annually through careless MCQ errors.
  • Always underline or mentally note negative words in the question — 'NOT', 'EXCEPT', 'INCORRECT'.
  • Eliminate obviously wrong options first to improve odds if you must guess.
  • In Assertion-Reason, evaluate each statement independently before judging the relationship.
  • Re-read the sentence or passage snippet provided; context often holds the clue.
  • Manage time: spend no more than 45–60 seconds per MCQ; flag and return to tough ones.

How to Attempt MCQs in the CBSE Paper — Strategy and Time Management

MCQs in CBSE Class 9 English papers typically appear in Section A, carrying 1 mark each, totalling 10–20 marks depending on the blueprint. Start here because they are quick wins that build confidence. Read the instruction line — some papers carry negative marking for objective sections, though most Class 9 internals do not. Skim all MCQs first, answering the easiest ones to bank marks and time. For vocabulary or word-based MCQs from Chapter 34, trust your preparation — if you have revised roots, prefixes, and word families, the answer will click. If stuck between two options, use elimination: cross out the clearly wrong, then compare the survivors. In Assertion-Reason, tackle the assertion's truth first, then the reason's, finally their link. Schools in Kolkata and Jaipur advise spending no more than 10–12 minutes on a 10-MCQ set; save the remaining time for descriptive answers and reading comprehension. Review your MCQ answers if 2–3 minutes remain — but avoid changing answers unless you spot a clear error; first instincts are often correct.
  • Allocate ~1 minute per MCQ; finish the set in 10–12 minutes if there are 10 questions.
  • Answer in two passes: first the confident ones, second the doubtful.
  • Mark your OMR or answer sheet carefully; misaligned bubbles cost marks in board exams.
  • For word-origin or root-based questions, break the word into parts and match with known roots.
  • In synonym/antonym MCQs, substitute each option into the sentence to test fit.
  • If two options seem equally correct, re-read the question for subtle qualifiers like 'most nearly', 'best', or 'primarily'.

Leveraging CBSETUTOR.ai for Unlimited MCQ Practice

Textbook exercises offer a handful of MCQs, but mastering the format demands volume and variety. CBSETUTOR.ai provides an AI-powered platform where Class 9 students can access thousands of English Kaveri MCQs, including chapter-wise quizzes for 'Words' and instant feedback on every attempt. Upload a photo of any tricky question from your worksheet or previous year paper, and the AI tutor explains the answer step-by-step in seconds. At a flat ₹999 per month for all subjects across Classes 6–12, it is more affordable than a single subject's coaching fee in metros like Mumbai or Delhi. Parents in Tier-2 cities such as Indore and Coimbatore appreciate the 24×7 availability — no travel, no fixed class timings. The 3-day free trial lets students explore the MCQ modules, performance analytics, and doubt-clearing chat before committing. Regular MCQ practice on CBSETUTOR.ai has helped students improve their objective-section scores by 15–25 per cent within one term, as reported by users in Bengaluru and Pune.
  • Access topic-wise and chapter-wise MCQ banks aligned with the latest CBSE syllabus.
  • Receive instant explanations for wrong answers, reinforcing concepts on the spot.
  • Track progress with analytics: accuracy rates, time per question, weak areas highlighted.
  • Upload classroom test papers or sample papers via photo for AI-driven solutions.
  • ₹999/month covers Classes 6–12, all subjects — one subscription for the entire secondary school journey.

Frequently asked questions

How many MCQs from Chapter 34 Words typically appear in Class 9 English exams?+
Most CBSE-affiliated schools include 3–5 MCQs on vocabulary, word formation, roots, and usage in the objective section, worth 1 mark each. Practising 15–20 varied questions ensures full coverage.
What is the best way to learn Greek and Latin roots for this chapter?+
Create flashcards grouping roots by meaning — 'bio' (life), 'geo' (earth), 'tele' (distant) — and list 3–4 English words per root. Daily 10-minute reviews lock them into long-term memory.
Are Assertion-Reason questions compulsory in CBSE Class 9 English papers?+
Not compulsory, but increasingly common. CBSE encourages HOTS, and A-R format tests both factual knowledge and logical reasoning. Expect 1–2 such MCQs per paper from 2025 onward.
How should I handle negative options like 'None of the above' or 'Both B and C'?+
Treat them as valid options. Evaluate each choice independently first. If two fit perfectly, check if 'Both B and C' is listed. If none fit, 'None of the above' may be correct — but verify carefully.
Can I score full marks in the MCQ section with only textbook practice?+
Textbook exercises are foundational, but CBSE examiners draw from a wider pool. Supplement with NCERT exemplar, previous years' question papers, and online MCQ modules for comprehensive coverage.
What if I do not know the meaning of a word in an MCQ?+
Use word-breakdown: identify any prefix, root, or suffix you recognise. Eliminate clearly wrong options. Make an educated guess rather than leaving it blank, especially if there is no negative marking.
How does CBSETUTOR.ai help specifically with Chapter 34 Words MCQs?+
CBSETUTOR.ai offers targeted quizzes for Chapter 34, instant explanations for each answer, and AI-driven hints if you are stuck. The photo-upload feature lets you clarify doubts from school worksheets in real time.
Should I memorise all synonyms and antonyms or understand context?+
Context wins. Memorising lists helps, but exams test your ability to choose the right synonym or antonym for a given sentence. Practise substitution: replace the word in the sentence and see what makes sense.
How much time should I spend on 5 MCQs in a 90-minute English exam?+
Roughly 4–5 minutes for 5 one-mark MCQs. Aim for less than 1 minute each, leaving ample time for writing, comprehension, and literature answers.
Are there any mobile apps for Class 9 English Kaveri MCQ practice?+
Yes. CBSETUTOR.ai works seamlessly on mobile browsers and offers app-like features — photo upload, instant doubt solving, chapter-wise quizzes. The ₹999/month plan includes unlimited access across devices.

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