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.
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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
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Frequently asked questions
How many MCQs from Chapter 34 Words typically appear in Class 9 English exams?+
What is the best way to learn Greek and Latin roots for this chapter?+
Are Assertion-Reason questions compulsory in CBSE Class 9 English papers?+
How should I handle negative options like 'None of the above' or 'Both B and C'?+
Can I score full marks in the MCQ section with only textbook practice?+
What if I do not know the meaning of a word in an MCQ?+
How does CBSETUTOR.ai help specifically with Chapter 34 Words MCQs?+
Should I memorise all synonyms and antonyms or understand context?+
How much time should I spend on 5 MCQs in a 90-minute English exam?+
Are there any mobile apps for Class 9 English Kaveri MCQ practice?+
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