English (Compulsory) Class 9 Chapter 1: Comprehension 1: Health, Well-being, SDGs and Society

Free chapter

• Class 9
• English (Compulsory)
• Unit 1
• Book pages Class 9 book U1 (pp 6-16), U12 (pp 155-165) (themes only)
• FBISE SSC-I

This is the free study page for English (Compulsory) Class 9, Chapter 1: Comprehension 1: Health, Well-being, SDGs and Society. It follows the Federal Board (FBISE) SSC-I syllabus and takes about 11 minutes to read. After reading, tap Practice this chapter to answer questions with the answers shown at once.

What You Will Learn

Q2 is the biggest question in the paper: 18 marks from one unseen passage of 250 to 350 words. You cannot learn the passage in advance, so you must learn the skills. This unit teaches them step by step with health, well-being, society and SDG-type themes.

1. Reading a Passage the Smart Way

• Step 1: Read the title and the first and last sentence of each paragraph. This gives the plan of the passage in thirty seconds.
• Step 2: Read the full passage once at normal speed. Do not stop for every difficult word.
• Step 3: Read the questions. Underline what each asks: who, why, how, give two reasons, in your own words.
• Step 4: Go back and read the passage again for the answers. Mark the lines with a small number matching the question.
• Step 5: Write each answer in a full sentence with the right number of points. A 3-mark answer needs about three points.

2. Main Idea, Topic Sentence and Supporting Details

The main idea is what the whole passage is about, in one sentence. A topic sentence states the main idea of a paragraph, and it is often the first sentence, sometimes the last. Supporting details are the reasons, examples and facts that prove the point.

How to find the main idea

• Find the idea that is repeated in most paragraphs.
• Check that your sentence is not too small (a single detail) or too big (more than the passage says).
• Test: could every paragraph be an example of your sentence? If yes, it is the main idea.

3. Summary and Title (6 marks)

A summary is a short version of the passage in your own words. For Class 9, write about one third of the passage. If the passage has about 300 words, write about 90 to 100 words. Give a suitable title.

Steps

• 1. Read the passage and underline one main point in each paragraph.
• 2. Cross out examples, repeated ideas, quotations, numbers that are not needed, and minor details.
• 3. Write the points in order, using your own words. Join them with linking words.
• 4. Check the length. Cut extra words.
• 5. Write a title of 3 to 6 words that shows the main idea.

Rules

• Use own words. Do not copy long lines from the passage.
• Use present tense for facts and general ideas. Use past tense only for past events.
• No opinion of your own. No quotation.
• Be clear and complete: a reader who has not read the passage should understand.

Model summary (about 55 words) of a short passage on school breakfast

Many pupils skip breakfast, which makes them tired and unable to concentrate. A simple meal of bread, egg and milk gives energy and helps the brain work. Parents should prepare food in time, and schools can offer healthy snacks. Eating breakfast is a small habit with a big benefit for learning.

Title: The Importance of Breakfast

4. Fact vs Opinion, Cause vs Effect

Fact and opinion

• Opinion signals: I think, I believe, should, best, worst, beautiful, boring, probably, in my view.
• Fact signals: numbers, dates, names, measurements, "studies show" with details.
• A statement can contain both: The new park, which opened in May, is wonderful. (fact: opened in May; opinion: wonderful).

Cause and effect

A cause is why something happens. An effect is what happens. Look for: because, since, as a result, so, therefore, leads to, due to, consequently.

• Because he skipped sleep (cause), he felt weak in class (effect).
• Ask: Why did it happen? (cause) and What happened next? (effect).
• The cause often comes first in the passage but not always. Many people fell ill because the water was dirty. Here the cause is second.

5. Inference, Writer's Purpose and Tone

An inference is a conclusion you reach from clues in the passage. The writer does not say it directly. Use the words in the passage plus your common sense.

• Ali's hands shook as he opened the envelope. Inference: he is nervous. The writer never uses the word nervous.
• Always keep your inference tied to the passage. Do not guess what is not supported.

Writer's purpose

Tone

Tone is the writer's attitude. Look at the word choice.

6. Contextual Meanings of Words

You may be asked the meaning of an underlined word as used in the passage. One word can have several meanings, so the sentence decides.

• Read the whole sentence, and the sentence before and after.
• Look for a clue: a synonym (big, that is, enormous), an opposite (unlike), an explanation, or an example.
• Replace the word with your guess. Does the sentence still make sense?
• Give a short meaning of the same part of speech. Do not copy the word itself.

Exam tips for Q2

• Answer every part. Even a partial answer earns marks.
• Write answers in your own words where the question says so. Copying whole sentences loses marks.
• Give as many points as the marks. 3 marks = about 3 points.
• Do the OR question you are most sure about, not the one that looks easiest at first glance.
• Leave ten minutes for the summary.

Glossary

main idea

What a whole passage is mostly about.

topic sentence

The sentence that gives a paragraph's main point.

summary

A short version of a text in your own words.

inference

A conclusion drawn from clues.

tone

The writer's attitude, such as serious or hopeful.

context

The words around a word that help show its meaning.

fact

A statement that can be checked.

opinion

A personal belief or feeling.