WB Board Class 9 The North Ship Extra Questions and Answers

Content structure

  • A. Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)
  • B. Fill in the blanks
  • C. True or False
  • D. Short questions & answers
  • E. Long questions & answers
  • F. Grammar
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A. Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs) [1 Mark Each]

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1. How many ships did the poet see sailing?
(a) One
(b) Two
(c) Three
(d) Four

Ans: (c) Three

2. When did the wind rise in the poem?
(a) In the evening
(b) In the morning
(c) At night
(d) At noon

Ans: (b) In the morning

3. One ship was specially rigged for a _____.
(a) Short trip
(b) Long journey
(c) Safe return
(d) Rich country

Ans: (b) Long journey

4. Which direction did the first ship take?
(a) North
(b) South
(c) East
(d) West

Ans: (d) West

5. The sea in the second stanza is described as _____.
(a) Lifting sea
(b) Darkening sea
(c) Running sea
(d) Calm sea

Ans: (c) Running sea

6. What carried the first ship to a rich country?
(a) Its anchor
(b) The sea
(c) The wind
(d) The star

Ans: (c) The wind

7. Which direction did the second ship go?
(a) North
(b) West
(c) East
(d) South

Ans: (c) East

8. The sea in the third stanza is called _____.
(a) Quaking sea
(b) Running sea
(c) Proud sea
(d) Calm sea

Ans: (a) Quaking sea

9. How is the wind described in the third stanza?
(a) Gentle
(b) Strong and helpful
(c) Hunted like a beast
(d) Silent

Ans: (c) Hunted like a beast

10. Which direction did the third ship sail?
(a) East
(b) West
(c) North
(d) South

Ans: (c) North

11. How is the sea described in the fourth stanza?
(a) Darkening sea
(b) Running sea
(c) Calm sea
(d) Quaking sea

Ans: (a) Darkening sea

12. How did the decks of the third ship look?
(a) Golden
(b) Wet
(c) Shone frostily
(d) Bright and warm

Ans: (c) Shone frostily

13. How is the northern sea described?
(a) Proud but unfruitful
(b) Calm and gentle
(c) Rich and lively
(d) Friendly and warm

Ans: (a) Proud but unfruitful

14. What type of sea did the third ship sail into finally?
(a) Unforgiving sea
(b) Rich sea
(c) Quaking sea
(d) Calm sea

Ans: (a) Unforgiving sea

15. What shone above the third ship?
(a) The sun
(b) A moon
(c) A fire-spilling star
(d) A rainbow

Ans: (c) A fire-spilling star

16. What does the “fire-spilling star” suggest?
(a) Luck
(b) Danger or fate
(c) Calmness
(d) Happiness

Ans: (b) Danger or fate

17. Which ship faced frost and cold conditions?
(a) First
(b) Second
(c) Third
(d) All

Ans: (c) Third

18. Which ship faced imprisonment or captivity?
(a) First
(b) Second
(c) Third
(d) None

Ans: (b) Second

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B. Fill in the blanks [1 Mark Each]

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1. The poet saw _____ ships go sailing by. (Three)
2. The ships were sailing over the _____ sea. (Lifting)
3. One ship was _____ for a long journey. (Rigged)
4. The first ship turned towards the _____. (West)
5. The sea in the third stanza is described as the _____ sea. (Quaking)
6. The second ship anchored in _____. (Captivity)
7. The third ship drove towards the _____. (North)
8. The sea in the fourth stanza is called the _____ sea. (Darkening)
9. The decks of the third ship shone _____. (Frostily)
10. The northern sky rose high and _____. (Black)
11. The northern sea is described as proud but _____. (Unfruitful)
12. The ships from the east and west came back _____ or unhappily. (Happily)
13. The third ship sailed into an _____ sea. (Unforgiving)
14.  A _____ – spilling star shone above the third ship. (Fire)
15. The second ship was _____ by the wind like a prey. (Hunted)
16. The third ship faced a journey without any _____ of wind. (Breath)
17. The _____ of the ship shone frostily in the cold. (Decks)
18. The sea of the north was proud but gave no _____. (Fruit)

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C. True or false [1 Mark Each]

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1. The speaker saw three ships sailing by. (True)
S/S: The poem begins with “I saw three ships go sailing by.”

2. The wind rose in the evening sky. (False)
S/S: It clearly says, “the wind rose in the morning sky.”

3. The first ship turned towards the east. (False)
S/S: The first ship turned towards the west.

4. The wind carried the first ship to a rich country. (True)
S/S: The poem says it was “carried to a rich country.”

5. The second ship turned towards the west. (False)
S/S: The second ship turned towards the east.

6. The wind helped the second ship gently. (False)
S/S: The wind “hunted it like a beast,” which means it was harsh.

7. The second ship anchored freely in a safe harbor. (False)
S/S: The poem says it anchored “in captivity,” not freely.

8. The sea for the third ship is called “darkening sea.” (True)
S/S: It is described as “the darkening sea.”

9. The third ship had plenty of wind to move forward. (False)
S/S: It says, “no breath of wind came forth.”

10. The decks of the third ship shone frostily. (True)
S/S: The poem says, “the decks shone frostily.”

11. The northern sky was bright and cheerful. (False)
S/S: It was described as “high and black.”

12. The sea is called “unfruitful” in the northern direction. (True)
S/S: The poem mentions the “proud unfruitful sea.”

13. The third ship sailed under a fire-spilling star. (True)
S/S: The poem mentions, “Under a fire-spilling star.”

14. The third ship’s journey was peaceful and easy. (False)
S/S: It was difficult and unforgiving.

15. The fire-spilling star guided the third ship. (True)
S/S: The star is mentioned above the third ship’s journey.

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D. Short questions and answers [1 Mark Each]

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1. What does the poet describe at the beginning of the poem?
Ans: The poet describes three ships sailing on the sea, each beginning a different journey.

2. What does the poet mean by the ship being “rigged for a long journey”?
Ans: It means the ship was fully prepared and equipped for a long journey across the sea.

3. Which direction did the first ship sail, and what happened to it?
Ans: The first ship sailed west and reached a rich country after completing its journey successfully.

4. Why is the sea called the “running sea” in the second stanza?
Ans: It is called the “running sea” because its waves were moving quickly and carrying the ship forward.

5. What role does the wind play in the first ship’s journey?
Ans: The wind helped the first ship move quickly towards the west and reach a rich country.

6. Why is the sea called the “quaking sea” for the second ship?
Ans: It is called the “quaking sea” because the sea was rough, restless, and difficult to sail through.

7. How is the wind described in the second ship’s journey?
Ans: The wind is described as a wild beast that hunted and troubled the second ship during its journey.

8. What does “anchor in captivity” mean in the poem?
Ans: “Anchor in captivity” means that the ship was trapped and could not move freely or continue its journey.

9. Why is the sea called the “darkening sea” in the third ship’s journey?
Ans: It is called the “darkening sea” because it appears gloomy, cold, and threatening during the third ship’s journey.

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E. Long questions and answers [2 Marks Each]

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1. How does the poet describe the beginning of the poem and the scene of the three ships?
Ans: The poet describes three ships sailing on the sea. Each ship follows a different path and faces a different fate. The first finds success, the second faces trouble, and the third travels through a cold northern sea.

2. Why is the first ship’s sea called the “running sea,” and what image does it create?
Ans: The “running sea” suggests fast-moving waves and water. It creates an image of an active and lively sea. The waves carry the first ship smoothly towards a rich country, where it completes its journey successfully.

3. How is the second ship’s journey described, and what difficulties does it face?
Ans: The second ship sails over the “quaking sea,” suggesting rough and restless waters. A wild wind troubles it like a beast. Finally, the ship is captured and returns unhappily after facing many difficulties.

4. How is the third ship’s northern journey different from the first and second ships?
Ans: The third ship travels north through a cold, dark, and still sea. Unlike the first ship, it finds no reward, and unlike the second, it does not return safely. Its journey is lonely, dangerous, and hopeless.

5. How does the poet describe the northern sea, and what mood does it create?
Ans: The northern sea is described as “darkening” and “unfruitful.” These words show that it is cold, empty, and harsh. The description creates a gloomy mood of loneliness, danger, and hopelessness during the third ship’s journey.

6. What does the phrase “decks shone frostily” suggest about the third ship?
Ans: “Decks shone frostily” suggests that the third ship is covered with frost because of extreme cold. It creates a picture of freezing conditions and adds a feeling of silence, loneliness, suffering, and lifelessness to the journey.

7. What happened to the first and second ships at the end of their journeys?
Ans: The first ship reached a rich country and returned happily after a successful journey. The second ship faced difficulties and was captured. It returned unhappily. Thus, the two ships experienced very different fates.

8. What is the meaning of “unforgiving sea” in the third ship’s story?
Ans: The “unforgiving sea” means a harsh, dangerous, and merciless sea. It gives the third ship no comfort or safety. The phrase highlights the difficult conditions and the lonely, hopeless nature of its northern journey.

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F. Grammar [1 Mark Each]

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1. One was rigged for a long journey. (Change into interrogative)
Ans: Was one rigged for a long journey?

2. The first ship turned towards the west. (Rewrite in future tense)
Ans: The first ship will turn towards the west.

3. The decks shone frostily. (Pick out the noun)
Ans: Decks is the noun.

4. The northern sky rose high and black. (Change into comparative degree)
Ans: The northern sky rose higher and blacker.

5. The poet said, “One was rigged for a long journey.” (Change into indirect speech)
Ans: The poet said that one was rigged for a long journey.

6. The first ship turned towards the west. (Identify the tense)
Ans: It is in simple past tense.

7. The ships came back happily or unhappily. (Write in continuous tense)
Ans: The ships were coming back happily or unhappily.

8. The wind hunted it like a beast. (Change into past continuous tense)
Ans: The wind was hunting it like a beast.

9. The wind hunted it like a beast. (Change into simple sentence)
Ans: The beast-like wind hunted it.

10. The third ship drove towards the north. (Change into negative)
Ans: The third ship did not drive towards the north.

11. It was rigged for _____________ long journey. (Fill in with correct article)
Ans: It was rigged for a long journey.

12. The third went wide and far _____________ an unforgiving sea. (Fill in with correct preposition)
Ans: The third went wide and far into an unforgiving sea.

13. Use captivity in your own sentence.
Ans: The bird was kept in captivity inside the cage.

14. The proud unfruitful sea. (Identify the adjective)
Ans: Proud and unfruitful are adjectives.

15. The wind hunted it like a beast. (Change into past perfect tense)
Ans: The wind had hunted it like a beast.

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