CREST English Olympiad Class 9 Previous Year Paper

Q.1

Choose the appropriate tense for the blank in the given sentence from the given options:

I _______ to remember all the content delivered by Mr Duncan.

Q.2

Someone in the crowd screamed, leaving people to panic.

Identify the word which is a collective noun.

Q.3

Read the given statement and identify the emotions of the author:

I always feel down in the dumps when I go back to school after the summer holidays.

Q.4

Read the following passage and answer the question:

Each year, the world uses 2.5 billion kilograms of pesticides — chemicals linked to serious health issues, including cancer, and damage to the nervous system, skin, and eyes. While conventional pesticides boost crop yields — essential as the global population nears eight billion — their harmful side effects demand safer alternatives.

A breakthrough comes from scientists in Brazil and Spain, led by Diego V. Anjos, who analysed over 50 studies across 17 crops — including cotton, mango, cauliflower and sweet potato — grown in the UK, US, Australia and Brazil. Their findings? Ants are as effective as chemical pesticides at controlling pests — sometimes even better.

Ants’ protective power is strongest in shaded areas, where they reduce pest populations nearly twice as much. They also thrive in biodiverse farms with mixed crops. One caveat: ants 'farm' aphids for their sugary honeydew, which can increase aphid numbers. But researchers note this doesn’t outweigh their overall benefit — and suggest planting nearby sugar sources could divert ants from aphids.

This isn’t new: China has used yellow citrus ants for pest control in orange groves for 1,700 years. Elsewhere, Thai farmers deploy ducks to eat pests — proving nature offers time-tested solutions.

Replacing synthetic pesticides with biological controls like ants promises major advantages: reduced human and environmental harm, lower costs, and support for biodiversity, not its reduction.

In short, ants aren’t just insects — they’re tiny, efficient, eco-friendly farmhands. Harnessing them could revolutionise agriculture — sustainably.

According to the article, whose presence is increased by ants?

Q.5

Choose a suitable preposition for the blank in the given sentence:

My house is _______ the grocery store and the gas station.

Q.6

Choose suitable prepositions for the blanks in the given sentence:

I heard a noise in the living room and found that a stone had been thrown _______ the window. People were protesting to fight _____ increase in crime rate.

Q.7

Fill in the blanks with the correct set of alternatives from the options:

Persistent rumination can _________ the symptoms of existing mental health conditions. Conversely, being able to control _________ thoughts may help people ease these symptoms and cultivate relaxation and joy.

Q.8

Fill in the blank with the correct option:

I ________ hope that our lives will also change and we all will be happy again.

Q.9

Rearrange the given sentences into a meaningful sequence. The first and last sentences are already aligned for you:

1: In the New Thought philosophy, the Law of Attraction is the belief
P: Negative experiences into a person's life.
Q: That positive or negative thoughts bring positive or
R: Both made from pure energy, and that through the process of like energy
S: The belief is based on the idea that people and their thoughts are
6: Attracting like energy a person can improve their own health, wealth, and personal relationships.

Q.10

Choose the option with the correct verb form to replace the words in brackets:

"Where (your parents live)?" asked the gatekeeper.