NCERT Class 9 Poem 'Wind' — MCQs with Answers and Study Tips
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Added: 16.01.2026 at 19:55
Summary:
Master NCERT Class 9 Poem Wind MCQs with answers and study tips to boost comprehension, identify poetic devices, strengthen vocabulary to improve test scores.
Wind MCQs with Answers — NCERT Class 9 English (Poem 2): A Guide for Students and Teachers
Introduction
Among the poetic gems found in the Class 9 NCERT English textbook “Beehive”, the poem “Wind” occupies a special position. Written by Subramania Bharati and translated into English by A.K. Ramanujan, this poem uses the motif of the wind as both a literal and metaphorical force, urging readers to develop strength and resilience in the face of life’s trials. In schools across India, Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) are a preferred assessment method for literature chapters like this, especially for quick tests, classroom discussions, and board-style examinations.This essay is aimed at both students preparing for tests on “Wind” and teachers aiming to set balanced question papers. We will explore the structure of MCQs suitable for this poem, the different skills MCQs test (from basic recall to higher-order thinking), practical strategies for study and MCQ construction, and effective answer-key techniques. Furthermore, the essay offers advice for integrating technology and remedying common errors, all tailored to the Indian classroom context.
Understanding the Assessment Targets
When examining “Wind”, MCQs are designed to test a variety of reading and analytical skills that go beyond mere memorization. The competencies typically examined are:- Literal Comprehension: These are fact-based questions focusing on “who”, “what”, “when” or “where”, such as “Who does the poet urge to build strong homes?” or “What does the wind do to weak houses?” - Vocabulary in Context: Students might be asked for synonyms or antonyms, or the meaning of a word as used in a specific line; e.g., “Which word in the poem means ‘shatter’?” - Figurative Language and Poetic Devices: Such MCQs assess knowledge of personification (“How is ‘wind’ personified in the poem?”), symbolism, repetition, and anaphora. - Inferential Reasoning: Questions here require the reader to infer tone or reasoning, such as “Which attitude does the poet have towards the wind?” - Theme and Message: Higher-order MCQs explore the poem’s moral, such as “Which of these best expresses the poet’s message in ‘Wind’?” - Application: These invite students to apply the central idea to a new situation, like “If a student faces repeated failures, what advice from the poem would be most relevant?”
All these competency areas echo the CBSE and NCERT’s desired learning outcomes, which include reading comprehension, literary appreciation, and language proficiency. Through MCQs, teachers can quickly check a student’s grasp of the text and their ability to interpret and apply ideas.
Taxonomy of MCQs: From Recall to Analysis
Adopting a Bloom’s Taxonomy-inspired approach, MCQs can be categorized by cognitive demand:1. Remembering: The simplest questions, asking for direct recall. E.g., “Name the two things the wind destroys.” These are usually quick to answer—try to allocate just 30 seconds per question. For practice, students can create MCQs matching facts from the poem. 2. Understanding: These questions check whether students can paraphrase lines or interpret simple statements. For instance, “What does ‘crumbling doors’ refer to in the poem?” Here, elimination techniques work well: remove options that do not make sense in the poem’s context.
3. Applying: Students are asked to extend the poem’s advice to real-life scenarios. E.g., “How should people face adversity, according to the poet?” Practice by rewriting lines in common language or imagining new scenarios.
4. Analysing: This level includes identifying poetic devices or the reason for certain imagery—“The repetition of ‘crumbling’ is mainly to…” Such questions may take longer (45 seconds to a minute). Key practice: annotate lines with likely device types while revising.
5. Evaluating: These MCQs present nearly correct options and require picking the best answer—“Which of these interpretations aligns closest with the poet’s intent?” Students should carefully compare options and justify their choices mentally.
6. Creating: Rarely, students might be asked to pick the option that best preserves the poem’s message in a rephrased line. Practice comes from paraphrasing stanzas and reviewing how meaning shifts.
For each level, students can annotate lines, create original MCQs, and time themselves to develop speed and accuracy.
Common MCQ Formats and Pitfalls
The typical MCQ formats for “Wind” include:- Single-best-answer: Standard four/five-option questions; select the only correct answer. - Negative-stem: E.g., “Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the poem?” These require careful reading of the stem—many students accidentally choose the correct statement instead of the one not present. - Assertion-Reason: Two statements are given; students judge if both are true and if one explains the other. - Matching columns: For advanced quizzes, matching poetic devices to lines, or words to meanings.
Common pitfalls for students are: - Glancing over negative constructions (NOT/EXCEPT) and picking the wrong answer - Getting distracted by familiar words in distractors that don’t actually fit - Relying solely on memory rather than revisiting the relevant line - Ignoring all options—sometimes the “best” answer is not the most obvious
Best practices to avoid errors: - Underline or mentally highlight important words in question stems - Always refer back to the poem if unsure - Systematically rule out clearly incorrect answers to boost accuracy - Be wary of options featuring words like “always” or “never” unless justified by the poem’s text
Practical Study Plan for Students
Preparing for MCQ-based literature tests, especially for poems like “Wind”, is best approached methodically. Here is a week-long plan for efficient revision:Day 1: First Reading - Read the poem aloud. Note the wind’s dual role—sometimes destructive, sometimes challenging. Mark unfamiliar words and highlight lines with repeated phrasing (“crumbling, crumbling…”). - Tip: Speaking lines aloud reveals tone and rhythm.
Day 2: Vocabulary Build-up - Extract 10 tricky words and build flashcards (word, Hindi meaning, use in a sentence). Application of spaced repetition helps cement long-term memory.
Day 3: Poetic Devices - For each stanza, identify devices used (personification, symbolism, repetition). Write a one-line summary of the stanza’s main point and its device, e.g., “First stanza—repetition—emphasises destruction.”
Day 4: Timed MCQ Practice - Attempt 15 self-made or textbook MCQs that range across recall, understanding, device-identification, inference, and application. Log incorrect answers and write a brief reason—are you misinterpreting the question or missing the context?
Day 5: Mixed Poetry Quiz - Take a mock quiz of 20–30 MCQs combining “Wind” and other “Beehive” poems like “Rain on the Roof”. Review which types of questions take longest or yield errors.
Day 6: Peer Review and Creation - Pair up with a friend or family member. Explain your understanding of the poem, or “teach back” the main ideas. Try making five new MCQs—this deepens mastery.
Daily micro-revision (10 minutes): - Summarise one stanza in 20 words - Revise three vocabulary flashcards - Spot and label a poetic device in one line
Exam day strategy: - Answer the easiest, most confident MCQs first to secure marks - Mark tough ones for the end; don’t fret over the few you are unsure about - Avoid second-guessing unless a clear error is noticed
Final exam preparation: - Aim to solve 50–100 MCQs in the fortnight before the exam - Take at least five full-length quizzes in the 10 days leading up to the test
Preparing and Presenting Answer Keys
Both teachers and self-testing students benefit from a clear, well-explained answer key.Sample format: - Numbered list: Q1. (b) — “Broken doors” is mentioned in stanza 1 (line 4), indicating vulnerability. - Source line/stanza for reference - Brief justification (1–2 sentences)
Marking schemes: Standard practice is +1 for correct, 0 for unattempted, and –0.25 for wrong answers. However, follow your school or the CBSE guidelines. For formative assessments, consider short explanations for higher-order MCQs to make feedback more meaningful.
Feedback strategies: For every mistake, explain why an option is incorrect and encourage students to retry the item. This builds learning and prevents repeating mistakes.
Maintaining academic honesty: Shuffle question order and answer options in each batch/class. Keep master answer keys secure.
Designing High-Quality MCQs: Guidance for Teachers
Teachers play a crucial role in constructing effective MCQ assessments. Key principles include:- Each question should have a single, clear answer. Avoid ambiguity. - The question stem (setup) should make sense independently, without needing to read the options first. - Minimise negatives (NOT/EXCEPT). When unavoidable, visually highlight them. - Craft realistic distractors based on common misunderstandings—for example, if the poet speaks of “crumbling windows”, offer “breaking windows” as a lure rather than “flying birds”. - Ensure options are of similar length and tone to avoid hinting at the correct answer. - “All of the above” or “None of the above” options should be used sparingly to preserve question quality.
A sample 20-question blueprint: - 6 for vocabulary or phrase meaning - 6 for factual recall - 4 assessing inference/interpretation - 3 about poetic devices - 1 for application/creative thinking
For vocabulary/distractors: Include synonym/antonym traps, and an unrelated word for variety. For poetic devices, use closely related figures (metaphor vs. simile) to test understanding, not just memory.
Pilot testing: Try questions on a small group and check which items are ambiguous or too easy/too hard. Amend as needed before the main test.
In-class use: Quick MCQ quizzes on slips of paper, mobile polls (if available), or a timer challenge at the end of the lesson can keep engagement high.
Using Technology and Multimedia for MCQ Practice
Modern classrooms and home study are both strengthened by smart use of technology:- Quiz platforms (Quizizz, Kahoot, Google Forms): Students receive instant feedback on MCQs and can track their progress. - Short explanatory videos (in English or Hindi): These can demystify tough lines or devices, especially if paired with text annotations. - Interactive lectures: A 3-minute video on personification followed by 5 instant MCQs keeps learning active. - Accessibility: Distribute MCQ and answer key PDFs, and offer poem audio recordings for students who learn better by hearing the text.
Common Errors & Remedies
Students most often make these mistakes: - Taking phrases too literally and missing metaphorical meaning - Confusing similar words due to lack of vocabulary depth - Failing to distinguish between devices (e.g., personification vs. metaphor) - Not reading all options fully before answeringRemedies: - Frequently practice identifying root words, prefixes, and suffixes to unlock meaning - Attempt inference-based MCQs that connect ideas across stanzas - Routine device-identification drills—explain why a line is, or is not, an example of personification - Timed quizzes that require full reading of options before answering
Self-checklist before submission: - Have I read the full question and all options? - Did I double-check the poem for the answer? - Have difficult questions been revisited?
Sample Outline of a Model MCQ Test on “Wind” (For Teachers)
- 20 MCQs, 30 minutes total - *Section A*: Vocabulary & Phrase Meaning (6 questions)—e.g., “Which word in the poem means ‘destroy’?” - *Section B*: Literal Comprehension (6 questions)—e.g., “How does the wind affect the weak houses?” - *Section C*: Figurative Language/Devices (4 questions)—e.g., “Which device is used in the phrase ‘crumbling doors, crumbling rafters’?” - *Section D*: Inference & Theme (3 questions)—e.g., “What quality does the poet suggest we build to withstand the wind?” - *Section E*: Application (1 question)—e.g., “Which modern-day situation best reflects the poem’s advice?”Conclusion
MCQs are an efficient, reliable way to test a spectrum of reading, analysis, and interpretive skills in a poem like “Wind”—as long as they are crafted thoughtfully and used with purpose. For students, the right approach balances memory with close reading, regular timed practice, and diligent review of weaknesses. For teachers, investing time in set construction, piloting questions, and giving lucid feedback pays dividends in deeper student learning. By pairing systematic practice with well-designed MCQs, our classrooms can build not just exam scores but lasting appreciation for literature and language mastery.---
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