Navigating the Class 9 English curriculum requires not only a thorough understanding of prose and thematic depth but also precision in answering textbook questions according to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) evaluation guidelines. The chapter “Carrier of Words” offers a deeply poignant look into the unsung heroes of India’s postal infrastructure, particularly Gramin Dak Sewaks (GDS) like Khetaram, who battle extreme geographical and climactic conditions to keep remote communities connected. To help students master every nuance of this lesson, these comprehensive textbook solutions have been crafted by senior educational content architects and textbook examiners. Every exercise, ranging from initial textual reflection to complex critical analysis, contextual vocabulary, and formal writing tasks, has been meticulously solved with full adherence to official CBSE marking schemes.
Understanding the textual and grammatical demands of Class 9 NCERT textbooks is pivotal for securing top marks in school assessment tests and annual examinations. This detailed guide covers every section found in the text, ensuring that no question is truncated, summarized, or omitted. By utilizing these step-by-step solutions, students will learn how to structure high-scoring answers, identify essential keywords that attract maximum marks, and master key grammatical concepts like passive voice transformation and present perfect tenses. Whether you are reviewing pre-reading reflections or preparing a formal condolence message, these textbook solutions serve as a complete, authoritative academic companion designed to build conceptual clarity and exam confidence.
Class 9 English Carrier of Words Textbook Solutions
The chapter “Carrier of Words” serves as an inspiring narrative centered on Khetaram, a dedicated Gramin Dak Sewak (GDS) operating in the harsh desert terrain of the Thar in Rajasthan. Situated mere kilometers from the Indo-Pakistan border, Khetaram’s daily routine involves trudging through scorching sand dunes under extreme temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius to deliver essential letters and money orders. Through his story, students are introduced to the vast network of India Post and the vital social fabric held together by these frontline postal workers in India’s most isolated outposts.
Studying this chapter enables Class 9 students to appreciate the physical, social, and emotional labor involved in human communication before the digital age fully enveloped rural India. The textbook exercises are structured to evaluate a student’s literal comprehension, analytical reasoning, grammatical dexterity, and empathetic understanding of human service. Consequently, achieving fluency in answering these questions requires an approach that integrates direct textual evidence with well-reasoned personal insights.
To excel in CBSE examinations, students must present answers that are structurally sound, grammatically precise, and focused on core textual evidence. Standard evaluation criteria reward answers that highlight exact terminology—such as geographical terms, institutional names, and socio-economic realities—while penalizing vague general statements. Our detailed solutions provide students with exact templates that satisfy these criteria.
A key objective of the textbook solutions provided here is to bridge the gap between simple comprehension and critical evaluation. By working through these answers, learners build the capacity to infer underlying themes, analyze character temperaments, and evaluate the sociological importance of rural public services. This comprehensive preparation helps students tackle both straightforward factual questions and high-order thinking skill (HOTS) prompts effortlessly.
Additionally, language development is prioritized across all sections of this guide. From identifying figures of speech like alliteration and metaphors in descriptive passages to transforming active advice into passive instructional text, these solutions offer complete mastery over Class 9 English grammar standards. Students will find clear explanations for tense usage, voice shifts, and contextual vocabulary.
The structural arrangement of these solutions aligns with top educational portals, ensuring seamless navigation across different activity heads. Each section clearly demarcates pre-reading reflections, check-your-understanding tasks, critical reflection extracts, context-based language exercises, and creative writing prompts. This structured layout makes revision efficient and stress-free.
Furthermore, high-probability questions frequently featured in school examinations and board pattern tests have been tagged as [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]. Students should pay extra attention to these marked solutions, focusing on the underlined high-scoring phrases that must be included in their written responses to secure maximum points.
By engaging thoroughly with these textbook solutions, Class 9 students will not only improve their academic performance in English literature and language but also develop a deep appreciation for the quiet resilience and selfless service rendered by individuals who act as the ultimate “carriers of words” across our nation.
Reflect and Respond Solved Questions for Class 9
The opening section of “Carrier of Words” invites students to observe real-world scenarios, connect visual cues with socio-economic contexts, and engage in meaningful classroom discussions regarding communication and public service professions. Below are the complete, unabridged solutions for all prompts featured in the “Reflect and Respond” section.
Reflect and Respond
Question 1
Look at the pictures given below of persons engaged in the same profession. Discuss in pairs and share your answers with your classmates and teacher: Which profession do they belong to? (Page No. 204)
Answer:
They belong to the profession of postal delivery services, specifically working as postmen or Gramin Dak Sewaks (GDS). They are rural delivery agents responsible for carrying and distributing physical mail, official documents, and money orders to people living in geographically isolated regions.
Question 2
Do they face any difficulties while doing their duty? (Page No. 204)
Answer:
Yes, they encounter severe physical and environmental difficulties while performing their duties, including:
- Navigating extreme weather conditions such as scorching desert heat, blinding sandstorms, or freezing temperatures.
- Traversing inaccessible terrains on foot across soft sand dunes, riverine stretches, or hilly pathways where vehicular transport cannot operate.
- Carrying heavy mailbags weighing up to 28 kilograms over vast distances without proper shelter or adequate access to drinking water.
- Working in isolated border or rural areas devoid of basic civic infrastructure like paved roads, telephone connectivity, or primary health centers.
Question 3
How does their profession affect the people they meet? (Page No. 204)
Answer:
Their profession profoundly impacts the lives of rural people by acting as their primary link to the outside world. They bring crucial news of family wellbeing, official correspondence, and monetary assistance through money orders. Furthermore, because many rural residents are illiterate, postal workers build deep emotional bonds by reading out letters, drafting replies, and sharing moments of joy or sorrow with the villagers.
Question 4
Discuss in groups: How can ‘words’ be ‘carried’? (Page No. 204)
Answer:
‘Words’ can be ‘carried’ in several ways across different contexts and media:
- Through written correspondence such as handwritten letters, postcards, inland letters, and official dispatches carried physically by postal workers.
- Through digital and electronic transmission including emails, short messaging services (SMS), instant messaging applications, and cellular phone calls.
- Through oral tradition and verbal communication where messengers, town criers, or individuals relay spoken messages across distances.
Question 5
Who could be a carrier of words? (Page No. 204)
Answer:
A carrier of words can be any individual, agency, or medium responsible for transmitting human thoughts, news, and messages from one person to another. In a physical context, this includes postmen, Gramin Dak Sewaks, couriers, and heralds. In a conceptual or modern context, telecommunication networks, digital devices, journalists, authors, and language itself act as carriers of words.
Question 6
What are the means for people to stay connected? (Page No. 204)
Answer:
People stay connected through two major mediums:
- Traditional Postal Services: Letters, postcards, money orders, and telegraphic services that physically transport news across geographical boundaries.
- Modern Telecommunications: Mobile networks, internet services, email, video calling platforms, and social media networks that enable instantaneous real-time communication worldwide.
Question 7
Read the words given in the box below and place them in their appropriate context in the following passage: [slumped, hamlets, dunes, defying, signals, devoid]. (Page No. 204)
Answer:
We stepped out of the vehicle at the end of the road. Immediately, our body sent 1. signals that our decision to visit the sand 2. dunes in the afternoon was insane. We had passed a few 3. hamlets on our way to the desert. We could not find even a single soul outdoors, 4. defying the blazing sun. Even the camels were 5. slumped in the little shade offered by the khejri trees. In this remote place people relied on Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to connect to the world as the area was 6. devoid of any other network service.
Carrier of Words Check Your Understanding Solutions
This section assesses literal reading comprehension, information extraction, and logical reasoning based on the first two parts of the chapter. Students must fill out structural tables accurately and demonstrate a clear understanding of Khetaram’s professional identity and personal challenges.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
Khetaram needs to submit information about himself for getting an identity card. While reading the text, fill up the following information sheet for Khetaram. (Page No. 207) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer:
- Name: Khetaram
- Position: Gramin Dak Sewak (GDS) / Sole Postman
- Employer: India Post (Somarad Branch Post Office, Rajasthan)
- Official Address: Somarad Branch Post Office, Chohtan / Barmer District, Rajasthan (2.5 km short of the Indo-Pakistan border)
- Mode of Transport Used: On foot (walking across sand dunes)
- Key Responsibilities: Delivering mail bags (weighing up to 28 kg) across remote desert hamlets within 24 hours of dispatch, delivering money orders, reading out letters for illiterate villagers, and drafting response letters.
Question 2
Discuss with your teacher: Why do you think Khetaram has taken up this challenging job? (Page No. 207)
Answer:
Khetaram took up this challenging job primarily out of economic necessity and a deep commitment to family survival. In his arid village, severe famines (‘akaal’) are a recurring way of life, and in a good year, his land yields only a single crop of bajra, which is insufficient to feed his family of five. The regular salary provided by India Post as a Gramin Dak Sewak offers an assured income that prevents his family from starving.
Question 3
Discuss with your teacher: How do you think Khetaram would feel about taking up this challenging task every day? (Page No. 207)
Answer:
Despite the extreme physical hardships, scorching heat, and heavy mailbag loads, Khetaram takes immense pride and personal satisfaction in his work. He views his service not merely as a survival job but as a vital duty toward his community and nation. His gratitude for being able to serve even after the age of 60 reflects his resilience, dignity, and deep sense of social responsibility.
Question 4
Complete the table given below with the situations given in Column 1 and the reasons in Column 2. (Page No. 210)
Answer:
| Column 1 (Situation) | Column 2 (Reason) |
|---|---|
| Khetaram can dwell on any threshold. | He enjoys the absolute trust and affection of the villagers because he reads out their letters and drafts their replies in his own hand. |
| State holiday declared / Deliveries postponed till after sundown. | When the temperature is recorded as 50 degrees celsius and above, a state holiday has to be declared. |
| BSF always gave Khetaram a lift. | He regularly delivers their official mail (dak) to their remote border post, building a mutual relationship of goodwill and help. |
Question 5
Why was a piece of jaggery offered in the village when he brought news of a birth or weddings? (Page No. 210) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer:
In rural Indian culture, offering sweet items like jaggery is a traditional custom to celebrate auspicious moments. Since Khetaram was the bearer of happy news such as births or weddings in an isolated region, villagers shared a piece of jaggery with him as a gesture of gratitude, joy, and warm hospitality.
Question 6
How would phone lines help Khetaram in his job? (Page No. 210)
Answer:
The introduction of phone lines would transition Khetaram into a Gramin Sanchar Sewak. This technological upgrade would allow him to carry a cellular phone along with physical mail, enabling instant verbal communication for villagers, reducing physical delay in transmitting urgent messages, and expanding his capacity to keep remote border hamlets connected.
Class 9 Carrier of Words Critical Reflection Answers
Critical reflection exercises require high-level analytical thinking, context-based inferences, and formal answer framing. Below are the complete solutions for all extract-based and long-answer questions under this section.
Critical Reflection
Question 1
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
“Akaal or famine is a way of life here. In a good year, I get one crop of bajra. That cannot feed my family of five. We would starve without this job,” he says. And for each family which resides in this arid land, survival is partly dependent on money orders remitted by a relative.
(i) Complete the sentence given below with an appropriate reason:
One crop of bajra makes a little difference for people like Khetaram because __. (Page No. 211)
Answer:
it is insufficient to provide food security and feed a family of five throughout the entire year due to frequent drought conditions.
(ii) Why did Khetaram term famine as ‘a way of life’? (Page No. 211)
Answer:
Khetaram termed famine as ‘a way of life’ because extreme drought conditions and severe water scarcity are continuous, recurring environmental realities in the Thar desert, making agricultural yield highly unpredictable and sparse year after year.
(iii) Give one reason why Khetaram had to take up a job to help his family to survive. (Page No. 211)
Answer:
Khetaram had to take up a job because his agricultural income from a single annual bajra crop was totally inadequate to feed his family of five, making an alternative assured income mandatory to prevent starvation.
(iv) Complete the analogy given below with a word/phrase from the extract:
Other families: Money orders :: Khetaram: __ (Page No. 211)
Answer:
GDS Job / Postman Salary
(v) What would ‘a good year’ signify? (Page No. 211)
Answer:
In this context, ‘a good year’ signifies a year with sufficient rainfall that allows the arid land to yield at least one healthy harvest of bajra.
Question 2
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
There is one letter delivery he dreads. The envelope with the right corner torn off, which signifies that the missive bears news of death. “Ashubh Samachar cannot be carried into the house,” says Khetaram. So, he stands outside, reads out the letter twice, then tears it to bits. “Bad news must be destroyed,” he mutters philosophically.
(i) Choose the correct option for the following question: Who could have torn the right corner of the envelope? (Page No. 211)
A. Khetaram
B. Sender of the letter
C. Receiver of the letter
D. The postmaster
Answer:
B. Sender of the letter
(ii) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason:
The most likely reason for Khetaram reading the letter twice is because __. (Page No. 211)
Answer:
he wanted to ensure absolute accuracy of the tragic news before destroying the document and to help the family fully comprehend the message without retaining the physical letter of grief.
(iii) What was Khetaram’s philosophy regarding bad news, and how did he act upon it? (Page No. 211)
Answer:
Khetaram believed that bad news (‘Ashubh Samachar’) brings ill fortune and should never physically enter a home. Acting on this philosophy, he stood outside the house, read the sad news aloud to the family twice, and then tore the letter into bits to symbolically and physically destroy the bad news.
(iv) State whether the following sentence is True or False:
Khetaram’s action of tearing the letter differed from his beliefs. (Page No. 212)
Answer:
False (His action of tearing the letter directly aligned with his belief that bad news must be destroyed).
(v) Mention any one aspect of Khetaram’s temperament which is revealed through this extract. (Page No. 212)
Answer:
The extract reveals Khetaram’s deeply empathetic, compassionate, and culturally sensitive temperament towards the emotional suffering of the villagers.
Question 3
Justify the statement made by Postmaster-General, Rajasthan Western Region stating that the role of GDS is ‘invaluable’. (Page No. 212) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer:
The Postmaster-General described the role of Gramin Dak Sewaks (GDS) as ‘invaluable’ because they serve as the sole communication and financial lifeline for remote, interior areas that are completely inaccessible by regular transport. Operating on foot across extreme geographies like frozen deserts in Ladakh, isolated island rings in Lakshadweep, and scorching desert hamlets in Rajasthan, GDS workers deliver mail, distribute remittances, and build trust where no other civil infrastructure exists.
Question 4
How was the purpose of India Post different from that of the British postal system? (Page No. 212)
Answer:
- British Postal System: Established primarily as an administrative tool to relay official company dispatches (‘dak’) between government centres and military hubs.
- Post-Independence India Post: Reconfigured with a broad public welfare mandate to bring the entire population under the mailing and financial ambit, expanding service into rural, remote, and impoverished regions.
Question 5
People trusted Gramin Dak Sewaks. Support this statement with any two instances from the text. (Page No. 212)
Answer:
- Welcomed at Thresholds: Villagers openly invited Khetaram to sit on their doorsteps, entrusting him to read private personal letters and draft replies on their behalf.
- Financial Trust: Rural residents entrusted their hard-earned monthly savings to GDS workers, operating numerous post office savings accounts built entirely on mutual faith.
Question 6
Infer the most likely reason that Khetaram was grateful to continue as GDS, even after the age of 60. (Page No. 212)
Answer:
Khetaram was grateful to serve past 60 because it provided his family with a stable, continuous source of financial income in a drought-prone desert region where agricultural income was negligible, while giving him a profound sense of purpose and pride in serving his community.
Question 7
Explain why the author pays tribute to people like Khetaram. (Page No. 212) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer:
The author pays tribute to people like Khetaram because they represent the unsung pillars of India’s social fabric. Facing extreme physical hardships, life-threatening weather conditions, and geographical isolation without complaint, they selflessly dedicate their lives to connecting fragmented human lives, delivering news, and upholding human dignity across the nation’s furthest frontiers.
Vocabulary and Structures in Context Solved Exercises
Language mastery requires a keen understanding of idiomatic expressions, figures of speech, context-driven word meanings, and tense applications. This section provides accurate solutions for all grammatical and structural exercises in the text.
Vocabulary and Structures in Context
Question 1
Study the phrases given in Column 1 and match them with their meanings in Column 2. (Page No. 212)
Answer:
| Column 1 (Phrase) | Column 2 (Meaning) |
|---|---|
| 1. crumbles into sand | (iii) disappears in the desert |
| 2. give a new lease of life | (i) get a chance to continue living |
| 3. turn into a trickle before drying out | (iv) lessen gradually and then finally stop |
| 4. bearing words across this desolate geography | (ii) carrying letters to less populated areas |
Question 2
Now, use the phrases from Column 1 in sentences of your own. (Page No. 212)
Answer:
- Crumbles into sand: Beyond the border checkpoint, the metallic highway crumbles into sand, leaving only narrow tracks for walkers.
- Give a new lease of life: The appointment as a Gramin Dak Sewak gave the impoverished farmer a new lease of life during the drought.
- Turn into a trickle before drying out: During severe summer months, water supply in desert hamlets tends to turn into a trickle before drying out completely.
- Bearing words across this desolate geography: The dedicated postman walked miles every morning, bearing words across this desolate geography to keep families connected.
Question 3
Identify examples of alliteration and metaphor in the extract given below:
“Khetaram’s khaki turban and uniform are his only protection against the desert’s furies, the scorching summer winds and swirling sandstorms which turn him into a walking sandman.” (Page No. 212) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer:
- Alliteration:
- “Khetaram’s khaki” (Repetition of the initial consonant sound /k/)
- “scorching summer” (Repetition of the initial consonant sound /s/)
- “swirling sandstorms” (Repetition of the initial consonant sound /s/)
- Metaphor:
- “walking sandman” (Direct comparison of Khetaram, covered entirely in desert dust, to a figure made of sand without using ‘like’ or ‘as’).
- “desert’s furies” (Directly comparing harsh weather elements to human anger/fury).
Question 4
Match the words in Column 1 to what they suggest in Column 2 in the context of the chapter. (Page No. 213)
Answer:
| Column 1 (Word) | Column 2 (Contextual Suggestion) |
|---|---|
| 1. arid | (iii) farmland without much yield |
| 2. concessional | (i) interest rate for the farmers |
| 3. gaunt | (v) farmer waiting for the rains |
| 4. remote | (ii) corner of the world |
| 5. desolate | (iv) desert stretching far and wide |
Question 5
Now, use the words from Column 1 in sentences of your own. (Page No. 213)
Answer:
- Arid: Crops struggle to grow in the arid climate of western Rajasthan without irrigation.
- Concessional: The government provided concessional credit loans to help poor farmers buy seeds.
- Gaunt: Months of continuous famine left the villagers looking gaunt and exhausted.
- Remote: The medical team traveled on foot for hours to reach the remote tribal hamlet.
- Desolate: The postman trudged across the desolate landscape under the afternoon sun.
Question 6
Fill in the blanks by using the present perfect form of the verbs given in the brackets to complete the following paragraph. (Page No. 213)
Answer:
I 1. have just gotten (get) a collection of postage stamps from my grandfather. He 2. has collected (collect) these stamps over a period of 20 years. I 3. have studied (study) most of the stamps in his collection and loved all of them. I 4. have begun (begin) my own collection of postage stamps. Grandfather 5. has truly inspired (inspire) me.
Question 7
Complete the paragraph transforming Khetaram’s active advice into passive voice construction. (Page No. 214)
Answer:
To begin with, a lot of stamina will be needed for this job. Next, reading clearly A. must be practiced, as you B. will be expected to read out the letters by some of the villagers. Words C. should be written neatly as you D. will be asked to draft replies by some villagers. Full-sleeved shirts and trousers E. should be worn to protect yourself from the heat.
Writing Task Condolence Message Solved Examples
A condolence message is a formal written communication expressing deep empathy, support, and prayers to someone who has lost a loved one. Students must follow standard layout rules: date, appropriate salutation, empathetic core message, prayer for peace and strength, and a formal sign-off.
Writing Task
Question 1
On behalf of your parents, draft an imaginary condolence message for your aunt on the recent passing away of her father. (Page No. 217) [BOARD EXAM FAVORITE]
Answer:
CONDOLENCE MESSAGE
24 October 20XX
Dearest Aunt Sumitra,
We were deeply saddened to hear about the peaceful passing of your beloved father, Shri Ram Prakash ji. Please accept our heartfelt condolences on behalf of our entire family during this incredibly difficult time.
Grandfather was an extraordinary human being whose warmth, wisdom, and gentle guidance touched everyone around him. His life was a remarkable example of grace, kindness, and dedication. We know how close you were to him and how profound this loss is for you and your family.
Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you in this hour of deep grief. May Almighty God grant eternal peace to his departed soul and give you and the family members the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss.
With deepest sympathy and warm regards,
Yours affectionately,
Sunita and Ramesh Sharma
(12/B, Green Park Extension, New Delhi)
Additional Listening & Speaking Activity Solutions
Listen and Respond
Question 1
The speaker concluded her talk with a ___. (Page No. 214)
Answer:
request
Question 2
Choose the correct option: What was the occasion that the speaker was talking about? (Page No. 214)
Answer:
(i) Letter writing carnival
Question 3
India Post is famous for having the most extensive network ___. (Page No. 215)
Answer:
(ii) in the world
Question 4
Letter writing is being revived as this art form has been ___. (Page No. 215)
Answer:
(iii) forgotten
Question 5
Which of the following will be a part of the letter writing carnival? (Page No. 215)
Answer:
(i) calligraphy and graphology
Question 6
What will the postal department add to the event? (Page No. 215)
Answer:
(i) interactive demonstrations
Speaking Activity
Question 1
The postcard, inland letter, envelope, and money order form were engaged in a discussion on who the most important one was. Express opinions using formal cues. (Page No. 215-216)
Answer:
- Postcard: “It seems to me that I am the most useful postal item because I am the most cost-effective and open medium for short, quick messages that anyone can afford.”
- Inland Letter: “Some people say that open cards lack space, but I would like to point out that I offer both adequate space to write long family updates and complete privacy at a very nominal cost.”
- Envelope: “I totally agree that space is good, but that’s one way to look at it; I am superior because I allow the possibility of enclosures like photographs, multi-page letters, and official documents with complete privacy.”
- Money Order Form: “While you all carry words, I carry financial survival! It seems to me that I am the most vital because remote families depend on me for receiving funds sent by earned relatives.”
In summary, mastering the Class 9 English lesson “Carrier of Words” requires a balance of empathy for rural public servants and technical accuracy in answering textbook prompts. The exhaustive solutions presented in this article cover every exercise in detail, ensuring that students do not miss key marks due to incomplete or imprecise answers. By referencing these solutions, learners can develop confidence in analyzing text extracts, executing tense and voice transformations, and writing sensitive formal messages like condolence notes.
Consistently practicing these structured answers will significantly enhance your preparation for school examinations and CBSE pattern evaluations. Remember to focus on the underlined scoring phrases, adhere strictly to formal formats, and review the tagged board-favorite questions. With thorough study and clear conceptual understanding, achieving top marks in Class 9 English becomes an attainable goal.