Xam idea English (Language & Literature), Cls Included, 2023-24 Exam 9789356122505

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SECTION–A

READING SKILLS 1. DISCURSIVE PASSAGES 400–450 WORDS

(10 MARKS) 20 MARKS

2. CASE-BASED FACTUAL PASSAGES 200–250 WORDS

(10 MARKS)

Discursive Passages

1. Read the following passage carefully.

1 (10 marks)



(1) Do you ever feel there’s a greater being inside of you bursting to get out? It is the voice that encourages you to really make something of your life. When you act congruently with that voice, it’s like you are a whole new person. You are bold and courageous. You are strong. You are unstoppable. But then reality sets in, and soon those moments are history. It is not hard to put yourself temporarily into an emotionally motivated state. Just listen to that motivational song for that matter. However, this motivation does not stay forever. Your great ideas seem impractical. How many times have you been temporarily inspired with an idea like, “I want to start my own business.” And then a week later it’s forgotten! You come up with inspiring ideas when you are motivated. But you fail to maintain through the action phase.



(2) The problem we ask ourselves is: Why does this happen? You can listen to hundreds of motivational speakers and experience an emotional yo-yo effect, but it does not last. The problem is that as we are intellectually guided, we try to find logic in emotional motivation and as we are intellectually guided, we try to find logic in emotional motivation and as we fail to find logic, eventually it all fizzles out. I used to get frustrated when my emotional motivation fizzled out after a while. Eventually, I realised that being guided by intellect was not such a bad thing after all. I just had to learn to use my mind as an effective motivational tool. I figured that if I was not feeling motivated to go after a particular goal, may be there was a logical reason for it. I noted that when I had strong intellectual reasons for doing something, I usually did not have any trouble taking action.



(3) But when my mind thinks a goal is wrong on some level, I usually feel blocked. I eventually realised that this was my mind’s way of telling me that the goal was a mistake to begin with. Sometimes, a goal may seem to make sense on one level but when you look further upstream, it becomes clear that the goal is ill-advised. Suppose you work in sales, and you get a goal to increase your income by 20% by becoming a more effective sales person. That seems like a reasonable and intelligent goal. But may be you are surprised to find yourself encountering all sorts of internal blocks when you try to pursue it. You should feel motivated but you just don’t. The problem may be that on a deeper level your mind knows you don’t want to be working in sales at all. You really want to be a musician. No matter how hard you push yourself in sales career, it will always be a motivational dead end.



(4) Further when you set goals, that are too small and too timid, you suffer a perpetual lack of motivation. You just need to summon the courage to acknowledge your true desires. Then you will have to deal with the self-doubt and fear that’s been making you Reading Skills

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think too small. Ironically, the real key to motivation is to set the goals and scare you. You are letting fears, excuses, limiting beliefs hold you back. Your subconscious mind knows that you are strong, so it won’t provide any motivational fuel until you step up, face your fears, and acknowledge your heart’s desire. Once you finally decide to face your fears and drop the excuses, you will find your motivation turning on full blast.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

(a) What does the author want to convey when he says, “When you look further upstream, it becomes clear that the goal is ill-advised”? (2) (b) Replace the word ‘timid’ with the most suitable one identified from the passage. (1) So he sat there trembling and afraid; for he was a timid, bashful man and did not like to be noticed. (c) Which of the following is the most suitable title for the passage? (i) Living Life With Success (ii) Why Don’t We Feel Motivated? (iii) How to Achieve Intellectual Success? (iv) Feel Motivated, Feel High-Spirited

(1)

(d) What does the author mean when he says, “It eventually fizzles out.”? (i) We need continuous focus on goals. (ii) It reduces because of lack of practice. (iii) We become self-motivated with time. (iv) It slowly goes away as time passes.

(1)

(e) “....you will find your motivation turning on full blast.” How?

(2)

(f) According to the passage, the author says about the emotional motivation that: (1) (i) it tends to be temporary (ii) it has the potential to mislead us (iii) both (i) and (ii) (iv) neither (i) nor (ii) (g) Complete the given statement.

(1)

When you are setting goals that are too small, you __________________________ _____________. (h) According to the passage, to get true motivation you first have to: (i) acknowledge your true desires (ii) deal with your self-doubt (iii) not let your fears hold you back (iv) all of these 2. Read the following passage carefully.

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(1)

(10 marks)

(1) Meditation has become a mainstream activity in many parts of the world. Though the main reason to meditate is for spiritual awareness, there are additional benefits from learning to focus our attention within. One of these is the healing it brings about in our physical bodies. Over the past few decades, doctors and scientists have been studying the body-mind connection and its relationship to physical health.

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(2) It has been found that when we undergo mental stress, emotional pain or depression, our physical resistance to disease drops. We become more susceptible to catching a disease because our ability to keep our immune system in top working order decreases. (3) Science has pinpointed that certain diseases such as digestive problems, breathing problems, heart disease, and migraine headaches, to name a few, may sometimes be caused due to stress. Thus, we arrive at the possibility that by reducing stress in our lives, we can improve our physical health and well-being. (4) To begin to explore this possibility, it is imperative to understand the root cause of stress in our lives. In this hectic and fast paced world, we are constantly being bombarded with information and stimuli. (5) Life has become increasingly complicated. With competing priorities, family and social obligations, increasing responsibilities, and looming deadlines, people seem to have too much to do and not enough time to do it. We hold jobs that require long hours and too much responsibility. (6) Medical research has shown that meditation, the process of taking our attention away from the stresses and strains of the outer world, and focusing it within ourselves, can help reduce stress in our lives. In doing so, it can reduce our chances of developing a stress-related illness. (7) When we meditate on the inner light and sound of God, we come in contact with God’s love within us, which fills us with inner peace, joy, bliss and happiness. This experience takes our attention away from the stresses and pains of the outer world. As we spend time in meditation, we create a calm haven in which we restore equilibrium and peace to our mental functioning. (8) Researchers have recorded that the brain activity in people who meditate reflects a state of deep relaxation. Their mind becomes calmer. The tranquil effect of meditation lasts beyond the time spent in meditation. The carry-over effect helps us maintain peace of mind as we continue our activities throughout the day. We become more in control of our reactions and maintain an even keel in the face of conflict, or in the midst of turmoil and strife. It also gives us a private retreat of bliss and peace within us that we can retreat to anytime we wish. This refuge helps us take our attention away from the pains of the world and gives us another mechanism by which we can reduce stress in our lives. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

(a) Why has meditation become a mainstream activity in many parts of the world? (1) (i) Because it helps us maintain peace of mind (ii) Because it gives us a private retreat of bliss and peace (iii) Because it reduces our chances of developing a stress-related illness (iv) All of these (b) Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to the following.

Researchers have recorded that the brain activity in people who meditate reflects a state of deep relaxation. (Paragraph 8) (1) (i) Reflection (ii) Meditation (iii) Vexation (iv) Both (i) and (iii)

(c) Discuss the main objective of meditation.

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(d) Based on your reading of the passage, list two reasons why the writer says that: (2) We become more in control of our reactions and maintain an even keel in the face of conflict, or in the midst of turmoil and strife. (Paragraph 9) (e) What are the findings of doctors and scientists about meditation?

(2)

(f) What are the ill-effects of stress, according to the passage you have read? (1) (g) Supply 1 point to justify the following:

(1)

We become more suspectible to catching a disease because our ability to keep our immune system in top working order decreases. (h) Select the option that displays what happens when we come in contact with God’s love. (1) (i) It helps us with the feeling of resurrection. (ii) It fills us with the feeling of pessimism. (iii) It fills us with inner peace, joy, bliss and happiness. (iv) It fills us with the feeling of prejudice and parochialism. 3. Read the following passage carefully. (10 marks) (1) Everybody wants to succeed in life. For some, success means achieving whatever they desire or dream. For many, it is name, fame, and social position. Whatever be the meaning of success, it is success which makes a man popular. (2) All great men have been successful. They are remembered for their great achievements. It is certain that success comes to those who are sincere, hardworking, loyal and committed to their goals. (3) Success has been man’s greatest motivation. It is very important for all. Success has a great effect on life. It brings pleasure and pride. It gives a sense of fulfillment. It means all-round development. Everybody hopes to be successful in life. But success smiles on those who have proper approach, planning, vision and stamina. Proper and timely application of all these elements is bound to bear fruit. One cannot be successful without cultivating these basic qualities. It is very difficult to set out on a journey without knowing one’s goals and purposes. Clarity in objective is a must to succeed in life. A focused approach with proper planning is certain to bring success. Indecision and insincerity are big obstacles on the path of success. (4) One should have the capability and resources to turn one’s dreams into reality. Mere desire cannot bring you success. The desire should be weighed against factors like capability and resources. This is the basic requirement of success. The next important thing is the eagerness, seriousness, and urge to be successful. It is the driving force which decides the first step on the ladder of success.

(5) One needs to pursue one’s goals with all sincerity and passion. One should always be in high spirit. Lack of such a spirit leads to an inferiority complex which is a big obstruction on the path to success. Time is also a deciding factor. Only the punctual and committed achieve success in life.



(6) Hard labour is one of the basic requirements of success. Every success has a ratio of five per cent inspiration and ninety-five per cent perspiration. It is patience, persistence, and perserverance which play a decisive role in achieving success. Failures are the pillars of success as they are our stepping-stones and we must get up and start again and remain motivated.

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Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

(a) Study the following statements. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (A) Only the punctual and committed achieve success in life. (B) Hard labour is one of the basic requirements of success. (i) A is an assertion and B is the reason (ii) B is an assertion and A is the reason (iii) Both A and B are assertions (iv) Both A and B are reasons (b) Why is success important to all?

(2)

(c) Complete the following sentence.

(1)

One should have the __________________ and ___________________ to turn one’s dreams into reality. (d) Study the following statements. (1) (A) Every success has a ratio of five per cent perspiration and ninety-five per cent inspiration. (B) Indecision and insincerity are big obstacles on the path to success. (i) A is right and B is wrong (ii) A is wrong and B is right (iii) Both A and B are right (iv) Both A and B are wrong (e) What is the author’s opinion about desire when it comes to achieving success? (2) (f) ‘Inspiration’ and ‘perspiration’ means the same as: (i) encouragement and sweat (ii) reality and absorption (iii) depression and absorption (iv) hindrance and sweat

(1)

(g) In the passage, the author has commented on the power of words. Why do you think he considers words to be powerful? (1) (h) What has the author eventually suggested in the passage? (i) To be punctual (ii) To remain motivated (iii) To succeed in life (iv) To be famous in order to be successful 4. Read the following passage carefully.

(1)

(10 marks)



(1) During our growing years, we, as children were taught—both at home and school—to worship the photos and idols of the Gods of our respective religions. When we grew a little older, we were told to read holy books like The Bhagwad Gita, Bible or Quran; we were told that there are a lot of life lessons to be learnt from these holy books. We were then introduced to stories from the mythologies which taught us about ethics and morality—of what is good and what is bad. I learnt to be respectful towards my parents, who made my life comfortable with their hard work, love and care; and my teachers, who guided me to become a good student and a responsible citizen.



(2) Much later in life, I realised that though we learn much from our respective holy books, there is a lot to learn from our surroundings. This realisation dawned upon me when I learnt to enquire and explore. Everything around us—the sun, the moon, the stars, rain, rivers, birds, plants and animals—teaches us many valuable life lessons. Reading Skills

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(3) No wonder that, besides the scriptures in many cultures, nature is also worshipped. The message that we get is to save our environment and maintain an ecological balance. People are taught to live in harmony with nature and recognise that there is God in all aspects of nature.



(4) Nature is a great teacher. For instance, a river never stops flowing. If it finds an obstacle in its way in the form of a heavy rock, the river-water fights to remove it from its path or finds an alternative path to move ahead. This teaches us to be progressive in life, and keep the fighting spirit alive.



(5) Snakes are worshipped as they eat insects in the field that can hurt our crops, thus protecting the grains for us. In fact, whatever we worship is our helper and makes our lives easy. There are many such examples in nature, but we are not ready to learn the lessons. Overcome with greed, we are destroying nature. As a result, we face natural disasters like drought, flood and landslides, because nature is angry with us.



(6) However, it is never too late to learn. If we learn to respect nature, the quality of our life will improve.



Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

(a) Which of the following quotes best describes the theme of the passage? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (i) “Where flowers bloom so does hope.” (ii) “Nature will give you the best example of life lessons, just open your eyes and see.” (iii) “If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” (iv) “Nature is full of infinite causes that have never occurred in experience.” (b) Complete the given statement. (1) By worshipping nature, people are taught to recognise that there is _________________________. (c) What did the author realise much later in his life? (2) (d) According to the passage, how will the quality of our life improve? (1) (e) Study the following statements. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (A) Overcome with greed, we are destroying nature. (B) We face natural disasters like drought, flood and landslides. (i) (A) is the assertion and (B) is the reason. (ii) (B) is the assertion and (A) is the reason. (iii) Both (A) and (B) are related assertions. (iv) Both (A) and (B) are reasons of different assertions. (f) “Nature is a great teacher.” How has the author proved this point? (2) (g) Based on your reading of the passage, choose the INCORRECT statement from the following. (1) (i) If we learn to respect nature, the quality of our life will improve. (ii) Nature is a great teacher. (iii) Everything around us teaches us many valuable life lessons. (iv) Besides the scriptures in many cultures, holy book is also worshipped. (h) Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘dawned upon’, as used in the passage. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) To be understood by someone (2) To be mistaken by someone

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(3) To be realised by someone (5) To be aware of something (i) (1) and (3) (iii) (3) and (5)

(4) To be looked upon by someone (ii) (2) and (4) (iv) (1) and (5)

5. Read the following passage carefully.













(10 marks)

(1) There is so much pressure on students, especially in secondary schools, to perform well in their exams and attain high grades. Parents wanting their children to perform exemplary well in their exams is normal. The problem sets in when students are left with no life outside their classrooms; when all they do and think about is getting higher marks. They become zombies whose world revolves around books, with no room for their development as human beings. (2) Many parents, guardians, and students themselves do not understand the importance of extracurricular activities. This is because the parents feel that extracurricular activities distract them from their studies, a reason for the students to get home late. Some students also feel that all they need to do is to concentrate on their books. Extracurricular activities are just as important as academics. They complement each other and work towards developing a well-rounded student with good social skills. So, education should be more than just books. (3) Studies have shown that students who participate in extracurricular activities have a marked improvement in grades. This can be attributed to the skills they learn, such as better time management to accommodate their hobbies and class activities, better organisational skills, and a boost in their self-esteem. Skills learnt in clubs, such as debate, can be applied in the classroom too, as the students learn how to express themselves better. Students have to learn how to balance their academic life and their hobbies. They need to know how to incorporate their club and sports activities into their school life and allocate enough time for each. They learn how to plan out their day, to include study time and time for extracurricular activities, and will know how to make use of any free time, they may have. Such a student is also less likely to procrastinate. (4) Students learn new skills that are useful in their school life and day-to-day activities. They also learn skills, such as teamwork, better social skills, and critical thinking. According to studies, students who participate in extracurricular activities were found to have better leadership skills and know how to relate better with their peers than those who didn’t. This will foster a sense of accountability and responsibility in them. (5) For secondary school students, engaging in extracurricular activities boost their chances of gaining admission into universities. Most universities, nowadays, check what the student offers, apart from academics, and that is where extracurricular activities come in. Some students have got scholarships into prestigious universities due to sports, such as athletics and football. (6) The aim of education should be to develop a well-rounded student. This includes the student’s intellectual, spiritual, social, physical and moral capabilities. There is a need to strike a balance in all these aspects, so as to benefit the child. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

(a) Complete the given statement.

(1)

There is so much pressure on students to _____________________________. (b) Which of the following is considered as a problem, according to the passage? (1) Reading Skills

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(i) Parents wanting their children to perform exemplary well (ii) When students are left with no life outside their classrooms (iii) When students attain high grades (iv) When parents become zombies (c) “Extracurricular activities are just as important as academics.” Why?

(2)

(d) Study the following statements. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (A) Parents feel that extracurricular activities distract students from their studies. (B) Many parents do not understand the importance of extracurricular activities. (i) (A) is the assertion and (B) is the reason. (ii) (B) is the assertion and (A) is the reason. (iii) Both (A) and (B) are related assertions. (iv) Both (A) and (B) are reasons of different assertions. (e) Most universities, nowadays, check what the students offer apart from academics. (True/False) (1) (f) How do extracurricular activities boost a student’s chance of getting admission into universities? (2) (g) Based on your reading of the passage, choose the INCORRECT statement from the following. (1) (i) Some students have got scholarships into prestigious universities due to sports. (ii) Studies have shown that students who participate in extracurricular activities have a marked improvement in grades. (iii) Students have to learn how to balance their academic life and their hobbies. (iv) Many parents, guardians, and students themselves do not understand the importance of education. (h) Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘exemplary’, as used in the passage. (1) (1) Unworthy (2) Flawless (3) Deplorable (4) Deficient (5) Perfect (i) (1) and (5) (ii) (2) and (4) (iii) (2) and (5) (iv) (3) and (1) 6. Read the following passage carefully. (10 marks) (1) An escalating epidemic of overweight and obesity is affecting many countries in the world. More than 300 million people are overweight or obese. In India, some people tend to be overweight because of their high calorie diet and lack of physical activities. In the United States, obesity is more prevalent in lower economic groups. Obesity is now well recognised as a disease in its own right. Though obesity commonly means very overweight, it is defined as an excess amount of body-weight that includes muscles, bones, fat and water. ‘Obesity’ specifically refers to an excess amount of body fat. Some people, such as body builders or other athletes with a lot of muscle, can be overweight without being obese. (2) A certain amount of body fat is needed for stored energy, heat insulation, shock absorption and other functions. Generally, women have more body fat than men.

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Usually, men with more than 25% body fat and women with more than 30% body fat are regarded as obese. Obesity tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic cause. Environmental factors mean lifestyle behaviours, such as what a person eats and his or her level of physical activity. Although, you cannot change your genetic makeup, you can change your eating habits and the levels of activity. You can learn how to choose more nutritional meals which are low in fat, and become more active. (3) Besides the above, there are psychological factors that lead to obesity. Negative emotions, such as boredom, sadness or anger, lead to overeating in some people. Consumption of large quantities of food within a short span of time or ‘binge eating’ is an eating disorder. People with the most severe binge eating problems are also likely to have symptoms of depression and low self-esteem. These people may have more difficulty in losing weight and keeping it off than people without binge-eating problems. (4) As the trend is to equate attractiveness with slimness, especially for women, obesity makes people feel unattractive. There are many methods of treatment for losing weight, the benefits of exercise are much more than any other way. Not only does exercise help you lose weight, it also improves your fitness and flexibility, and improves skin texture. Exercises are also free from the harmful side effects of crash dieting, slimming capsules, and heat treatments provided by slimming centres. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

(a) What are the benefits of exercise? (i) Helps lose weight (ii) Improves fitness and flexibility (iii) Improves skin texture (iv) All of these

(1)

(b) Complete the given statement.

(1)

In India, some people tend to be overweight because of their ______________. (c) How has ‘obesity’ been described in the passage?

(2)

(d) What is regarded as obese in women? (1) (e) “These people may have more difficulty in losing weight . . .” What kind of people are referred to in the given statement? (1) (i) Women with pregnancy (ii) People with eating disorder (iii) People with genetic disorder (iv) All of these (f) Can psychological factors lead to obesity? How?

(2)

(g) Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘escalating’, as used in the passage. (1) (1) Diminishing in size (2) Decreasing gradually (3) Increasing rapidly (4) Becoming more intense (5) Falling short of time (i) (1) and (2) (ii) (2) and (3) (iii) (3) and (4) (iv) (4) and (5) (h) ‘In the United States, obesity is more prevalent in lower economic groups.’ Substitute the underlined word with the most appropriate option from the following. (1) (i) Common (ii) Dangerous (iii) Rare (iv) Superior

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7. Read the following passage carefully.

(10 marks)



(1) India sells the largest number of branded drugs in the world, almost 60,000 in all. By volume, India is ranked 4th and comprises 8 per cent of the global pharma market. This scenario becomes scary given that spurious and substandard drugs are a thriving parallel industry in our country.



(2) Self-medication with genuine drugs also has disastrous fallouts. While Dr Simran Nundy, consultant gastro-intestinal surgeon, at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, observes, “Patients come to me, after six months of taking antacids, to find they’re not suffering from indigestion but stomach cancer or gastric tract.” Most medical experts say that pill name-dropping is common. But besides superficial awareness, patients know little about dosage, duration and more importantly, side-effects.



(3) Besides, no drug, not even an over the counter (OTC) medicine is totally safe. Taking Aspirin on an empty stomach may lead to severe gastritis. Even paracetamol, considered the safest painkiller, when taken in high dose or for a prolonged period, can cause liver damage. Then there’s carelessness. Dr Gupta observes: “People take cough suppressant for a cough with sputum, which in fact requires an expectorant. Or, they consume antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription, for viral fever, allergic cold, dry cough, flu or sore throat, which do not require any antibiotic.”



(4) What makes us such willing pill-swallowers? Dr Wishvas Rane, a Pune-based health activist, asserts: “Most viral conditions are self-limiting; 80 per cent get cured on their own. This pill-popping attitude is nurtured by pharmaceutical firms.” This is particularly true in our unique pharma-sales culture where pills are available without bills and bills can be obtained without buying pills.



(5) Dr Ashish Sabherwal, Joint Secretary, Indian Medical Association, Delhi, points out: “Patients just want momentary relief and aren’t willing to get to the root of the problem, so pills are eaten like peanuts.”



(6) Another reason for spiralling self-treatment is that general practitioners or GPs, doctors who have shone the torch down our throats from our toothless babyhood to our aiming adulthood, are gradually vanishing.



(7) In real life, we patients do not have a family-friend and a philosopher—our GPs who know us by blood group, allergies, medical history and emotional upheavals. Hesitant about dashing off to an intimidating ENT specialist, when we have throat trouble, we just check with the chemist. That could be a dose for disaster.



Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

(a) Which scenario has been described as ‘scary’ in the passage?

(2)

(b) Study the following statements. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (A) Self-medication with genuine drugs also have fallouts. (B) Patients know little about dosage, duration and more importantly, sideeffects. (i) (A) is the assertion and (B) is the reason. (ii) (B) is the assertion and (A) is the reason. (iii) Both (A) and (B) are related assertions. (iv) Both (A) and (B) are reasons of different assertions. (c) Which medicine is considered to be the safest painkiller?

(1)

(d) Fill in the blank.

(1)

The pill-popping attitude is nurtured by _______________.

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(e) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the passage? (1) (i) Bills can be obtained without buying pills. (ii) Most viral conditions are self-limiting. (iii) People consume antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription. (iv) High dosage of paracetamol can cause kidney damage. (f) Why do patients prefer to go to a chemist if they have any trouble with their health? (2) (g) Choose the option that correctly states the meaning of ‘thriving’, as used in the passage. (1) (i) Flourishing (ii) Failing (iii) Shrinking (iv) Believing (h) ‘Patients just want momentary relief and aren’t willing to get to the root of the problem.’ Substitute the underlined word with the most appropriate option from the following. (1) (i) Short-lived (ii) Permanent (iii) Lasting (iv) Constant 8. Read the following passage carefully.

(10 marks)



(1) Why is it that there are very few women players in our orchestras? If one could reply flatly—sex discrimination: they don’t want women in orchestras—that would be a definite answer. But one can’t say that. As a matter of fact, there are, if not many, a few women are playing in symphony orchestras. Nevertheless, it is true that male orchestral players are in an overwhelming majority. Why is that? I’m afraid, there is no answer. There are physical reasons why women don’t perform well on certain instruments. The average woman is not likely to possess sufficient lung power and sheer muscular strength to play the tuba, just as an average woman’s hands are not likely to be enough to finger a double bass, satisfactorily. But then what about other instruments?



(2) I think social and family pressures have been very strong in keeping women out of orchestras. Think of the prejudice that existed half a century ago against the so-called ‘nice’ girls going on stage. The stage was won out for the simple reason that it had to have women to play feminine roles in plays and operas, and was willing to offer young woman more money than she could make in any other profession. Moreover, on stage, she was appearing as an individual, as a centre of attraction. This was gratifying to both her and her family. To this day, while the average parents are reconciled to seeing their daughter become an opera singer or concert artist, they don’t like the idea of seeing her submerging her personality to become a member of the chorus of an orchestra.



(3) Another reason why we have so few women orchestral musicians is that so few of them play wind instruments well enough. This is so because they haven’t had proper training; and the reason for that lies in the history of the orchestral music. You will find that famous European families of bassoon players or clarinetists taught their sons to play the family instrument, but never their daughters. If they had any other pupils, those were also boys, not girls. And to this day, while women vote, hold public office, and practise many other professions, without shocking our sensibilities, in orchestra, the attitude towards women still remains the same.



Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

(a) What has been highlighted as a matter of fact in paragraph (1)?

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(b) “I’m afraid, there is no answer.” To which of the following questions does the author have no answer? (1) (i) Why do women play feminine roles in plays and operas? (ii) Why are male orchestral players in an overwhelming majority? (iii) Why don’t women possess sufficient lung power? (iv) Why do parents want their daughters to become an opera singer? (c) The average woman is not likely to possess sufficient intelligence to play the tuba. (True/False) (1) (d) ‘Think of the prejudice that existed half a century ago’. What is the author referring to? (2) (e) Study the following statements. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (A) Average parents are reconciled to seeing their daughter become a concert artist. (B) Parents don’t like the idea of seeing their daughter submerging her personality to become a member of the chorus of an orchestra. (i) (A) is the assertion and (B) is the reason. (ii) (B) is the assertion and (A) is the reason. (iii) Both (A) and (B) are assertions. (iv) Both (A) and (B) are reasons. (f) What is the history of the orchestral music, according to the passage?

(2)

(g) Based on your reading of the passage, choose the INCORRECT statement from the following. (1) (i) There are physical reasons why women don’t perform well on certain instruments. (ii) It is true that female orchestral players are in an overwhelming majority. (iii) Social and family pressures have been very strong in keeping women out of orchestras. (iv) In orchestra, the attitude towards women still remains the same. (h) Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘reconciled’, as used in the passage. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) To accept something unpleasant (2) To involve in an argument (3) To become friendly with someone (4) To consider something very strange (5) To make a difference (i) (1) and (3) (ii) (2) and (5) (iii) (1) and (4) (iv) (2) and (3) 9. Read the following passage carefully.

(10 marks)

(1) Do you remember the last time you laughed out loud? For most of us, laughing out loud is an uphill task. More often than not, people think that they have no time to laugh as there are more important things to do. But if you ask Jean Leggett, the Canadian founder of Bootcamp, she’ll say that you do not have anything more important to do than just laugh. Says Sudha Chandra, “Hiring a laughter coach changed my perspective

14 Xam idea English–IX

towards life. I learnt to record my emotions and ensured that the four elements of joy — dancing, laughing, singing and playing — helped to build an emotional reserve.”

(2) The cynic in us may still think it is an exaggeration, but the fact is that we can be taught to laugh more. Neuroscientist, Jodi Deluca says, “It doesn’t matter why you laugh. Even in small doses, laughter improves the quality of life. You can condition people to feel more positive as laughter opens up the mind and frees the creative juices. It makes us more receptive to new ideas.” New York-based laughter coach, Beth Bongar says that since our everyday lives are full of stress, in her classes on laughter, she uses the ‘gibberish’ technique, where everyone laughs by using gibberish sounds. Such playful exercises help reduce inhibitions and shyness, and convert simulated laughter into unconditional laughter.



(3) According to the greatest laughter therapists, laughter is a cathartic process which helps rebalance the chemistry of our emotions, and so can be a keynote for healing. Several researchers on the benefits of laughter in Japan have shown that laughter therapy is an efficient, low-cost medical treatment that cuts health costs. According to their findings, laughter is a stimulant that triggers energy inside a person’s DNA, potentially helping to cure disease. When we are laughing with other people, we share a sense of connectedness, which in-turn, reduces loneliness. Says comedian Vir Das, “When 3,000 people laugh at me, during my performance, even if I’ve had a bad day, I feel joyful. Not everyone can be a comedian, but we can all learn to be more joyful.”



Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

(a) Did hiring a laughter coach prove beneficial for Sudha Chandran? How?

(2)

(b) When we undergo a ‘cathartic experience’, how do we come out?

(1)

(c) Beth Bongar uses the poetic technique to make everyone laugh. (True/False) (1) (d) How is laughter related to healing?

(2)

(e) Based on your reading of the passage, choose the INCORRECT statement from the following. (1) (i) People think that they have no time to laugh as there are more important things to do. (ii) L aughter is a cathartic process which helps rebalance the chemistry of our emotions. (iii) The cynic in us still thinks it is an exaggeration, but the fact is that we can be taught to laugh more. (iv) Jean Legett says, “Hiring a laughter coach changed my perspective towards life.” (f) “Such playful exercises help reduce inhibitions and shyness, and convert stimulated laughter into unconditional laughter.” Substitute the underlined word with the most appropriate option from the following. (1) (i) Confidence (ii) Self-consciousness (iii) Strength (iv) Inflammation (g) Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘cathartic’, as used in the passage. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) Releasing strong emotions (2) Psychological relief through open expression (3) Having a strong mental health Reading Skills

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(4) Being vulnerable in every situation (5) Weeping and whining for no reason (i) (1) and (2) (ii) (2) and (3) (iii) (3) and (4) (iv) (4) and (5) (h) Select the option that makes the correct use of ‘reserve’, as used in the passage to fill in the blank space. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (i) You can ____________ seats over the telephone. (ii) We will ____________ the ticket for you. (iii) ____________ your strength for your climb. (iv) The area was declared as wildlife ____________. 10. Read the following passage carefully.

(10 marks)



(1) The choices we make on a daily basis – wearing a seatbelt, lifting heavy objects correctly or purposely staying out of any dangerous situation – can either ensure our safety or bring about potentially harmful circumstances.



(2) You and I need to make a decision that we are going to get our lives in order. Exercising self-control, self-discipline and establishing boundaries and borders in our lives are some of the most important things we can do. A life without discipline is one that’s filled with carelessness.



(3) We can think it’s kind of exciting to live life on the edge. We like the image of “Yeah! That’s me! Living on the edge! Woo-hoo!” It’s become a popular way to look at life. But if you see, even highways have lines, which provide margins for our safety while we’re driving. If we go over one side, we’ll go into the ditch. If we cross over the line in the middle, we could get killed. And we like those lines because they help to keep us safe. Sometimes, we don’t even realise how lines help to keep us safe.



(4) I’m not proud of this, but for the first 20 years of my life at work, I ignored my limits. I felt horrible, physically, most of the time. I used to tell myself, “I know I have limits and that I’ve reached them, but I’m going to ignore them and see if or how long I can get by with it.” I ran to doctors, trying to make myself feel better through pills, vitamins, natural stuff and anything I could get my hands on. Some of the doctors would tell me, “It’s just stress.” That just made me mad. I thought stress meant you don’t like what you do or can’t handle life, and I love what I do. But I kept pushing myself, travelling, doing speaking engagements and so on – simply exhausting myself.



(5) Finally, I understood I was living an unsustainable life and needed to make some changes in my outlook and lifestyle.



(6) You and I don’t have to be like everyone else or keep up with anyone else. Each of us needs to be exactly the way we are, and we don’t have to apologize for it. We’re not all alike and we need to find a comfort zone in which we can enjoy our lives and instead of making ourselves sick with an overload of stress and pressure.



Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

(a) Choose the option that best captures the central idea of the passage from the given quotes. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) It’s all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends. – Philip Green (2) To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short. – Confucius

16 Xam idea English–IX



(3) Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving. – Albert Einstein (4) Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create. – Jana Kingsford (i) Option (1) (ii) Option (2) (iii) Option (3) (iv) Option (4) (b) Which of the characteristics are apt about the writer in the following context: “I know I have limits and that I’ve reached them, but I’m going to ignore them and see how long I can get by with it.”? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) Negligent (2) Indecisive (3) Spontaneous (4) Reckless (5) Purposeless (6) Patient (i) 2 and 5 (ii) 3 and 6 (iii) 1 and 4 (iv) 2 and 3 (c) Which of the following will be the most appropriate title for the passage? (i) Much too soon (ii) Enough is enough (iii) How much is too much? (iv) Have enough to do?

(1)

(d) How did the author spend the first 20 years of his life at work?

(2)

(e) Fill in the blank.

(1)

The author attempts to _____________________ the readers through his write-up. (f) What does the author mean when he says, “to get our lives in order”?

(1)

(g) Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘outlook’, as used in the passage. (1) (1) A person’s evaluation of life (2) A person’s experiences in life (3) A person’s point of view towards life (4) A person’s general attitude to life (i) (1) and (4) (ii) (2) and (3) (iii) (3) and (5) (iv) (4) and (5) (h) “That just made me mad.” What is the author talking about? 11. Read the following passage carefully.

(2) (10 marks)



(1) Are you bored of bananas, apples, and grapes, and need a change? A nutrient-rich serving of kiwi may be just what you need. A serving of kiwi (2 kiwis) has twice the amount of vitamin C in an orange, as much potassium as in a banana, and the fibre equivalent to that in a bowl of whole grain cereal – all for less than 100 calories.



(2) The fuzzy fruit is sky-high in both soluble and insoluble fibres, both of which are essential for promoting heart health, regulating digestion, and lowering cholesterol levels - a winning trifecta! Kiwi fruit has also been considered a ‘nutritional all-star’ as Rutgers University researchers have found that the kiwi fruit has the most nutrient density of 21 commonly consumed fruits.



(3) Along with Vitamin C, kiwi fruit is rich in many bioactive compounds that have antioxidant capacity to help protect against free radicals, harmful by-products produced in the body. If you want clean energy, think of kiwi fruit because it is rich in magnesium, a nutrient essential to convert food into energy. Reading Skills

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(4) Kiwi fruit also doubles as a peeper-keeper by supplying your eyes with protective lutein, a carotenoid that’s concentrated in eye tissues and helps protect against harmful free radicals. Kiwi fruit is also packed with blood pressure-lowering potassium. In fact, a 100-gram serving of kiwi fruit – that’s about one large kiwi – provides 15% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of potassium.



(5) Kiwi fruit has been growing in New Zealand for over 100 years. Once the fruit gained in popularity, other countries, including Italy, France, Chile, Japan, South Korea, and Spain, started to grow it too. At first, kiwis were referred to as Yang Tao or Chinese Gooseberry, but the name was ultimately changed to kiwi fruit, so that everyone would know where the fruit came from.



(6) A ripe fruit will be plump and smooth-skinned, and free of wrinkles, bruises and punctures. After having purchased it, if you find that your kiwi is a little too firm, simply let it ripen at room temperature for three to five days. The firmer the kiwi fruit, the more tart it will taste. To speed up the ripening process, you can also place kiwis in a paper bag along with an apple or a banana. If you want to store the fruit longer, you should keep it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.



Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

(a) Which of the following does not qualify as a fact, according to the passage? (1) (i) If you want to store the fruit longer, you should keep it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. (ii) Kiwi fruit has been growing in New Zealand for over 100 years. (iii) Kiwi fruit is rich in bioactive compounds that have antioxidant capacity. (iv) A 100-gram serving of kiwi fruit provides 15% of the RDA of calcium. (b) How can we know if the kiwi fruit is ripe?

(2)

(c) Study the following statements. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (A) Kiwi fruit is rich in magnesium, a nutrient essential to convert food into energy. (B) Think of kiwi fruit, if you want clean energy. (i) (A) is an assertion and (B) is the reason. (ii) (B) is an assertion and (A) is the reason. (iii) Both (A) and (B) are unrelated assertions. (iv) Both (A) and (B) are reasons of different assertions. (d) Study the following statements. (1) (A) Kiwi is a fuzzy fruit. (B) Rutgers University researchers have found that the kiwi fruit is packed with blood pressure-lowering potassium. (C) A serving of kiwi helps protect against free radicals. (D) Kiwi fruit supplies your eyes with protective lutein. The following are correct: (i) A and B (iii) C and D

(ii) B and C (iv) A and D

(e) In which of the following countries is the kiwi fruit grown? (A) South Korea, Italy, France (B) Chile, Japan, New Zealand (C) Spain, Egypt, Russia (D) France, Japan, Sri Lanka

18 Xam idea English–IX

(1)

(i) A and B (iii) Only A

(ii) C and D (iv) Only D

(f) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the passage? (1) (A) The firmer the kiwi fruit, the more tart it will taste. (B) The kiwi fruit is sky-high in both soluble and insoluble fibre. (C) A serving of kiwi has as much magnesium as in a banana. (D) To store the kiwi longer, it should be kept in a paper bag. (i) A and B (ii) B and C (iii) C and D (iv) D and A (g) Complete the following statement.

(1)

Along with vitamin C, kiwi fruit is rich in many bioactive compounds that have antioxidant capacity to _________________________________________________. (h) Why is the kiwi fruit considered a ‘nutritional all-star’? 12. Read the following passage carefully.

(2) (10 marks)



(1) Experts say that what customers buy in the name of herbal cosmetics is often a synthetic cosmetic with an herb or two added, which works to lure customers. A product that says it is 100% natural may be misleading in the sense that it is difficult to stabilise a fully-natural base and is always quite expensive, requiring advanced technology. The desired shelf-life of a product is expected to be at least two years, but that of a purely herbal product would be restricted to about six months. Also, the product won’t be as aesthetically appealing as the synthetic product. Hence, manufacturers of herbal products have to include synthetic-based ingredients to balance the formula.



(2) Herbal ingredients might also cause allergies as they may contain a large number of constituents which a user may be intolerant to.



(3) According to the law experts, a customer suing someone is considered extreme. Given the legal system in India and the long-drawn litigation processes, most consumers tend to pursue legal action against manufacturers or distributors in the event of a problem. However, with the dawn of consumer forums and more effective laws, protecting the interests of the consumers, the trend is slowly moving towards this direction.



(4) At times, it is not just manipulative manufacturers and passive consumers, but weak and absent rules regarding the process of manufacturing leading to fake production licenses. Also, one cannot make a generalisation that synthetic ingredients are safe while natural ones are harmful. I would say that the difference is that, if one is a known devil (synthetic), then the other is unknown. Unlike the case of synthetic cosmetics, herbal cosmetics are in a nascent stage as there are no well-defined standards for the use of raw materials in the production of herbal cosmetics.



(5) Customers can check the ingredients in a cosmetic product by using the ‘Cosmetics Ingredient Dictionary’, a database of 19,000 ingredients. It claims to help users check out what chemical compounds they use daily.



Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

(a) “A product that says it is 100% natural may be misleading.” Explain.

(2)

(b) Fill in the blank.

(1)

There are no well-defined standards for the use of ____________ in the production of herbal cosmetics. Reading Skills

19

(c) What leads to fake production licences?

(2)

(d) Cosmetics Ingredient Dictionary is a database of 3,000 ingredients. (True/ False) (1) (e) Cosmetics Ingredient Dictionary claims to help users check: (i) what chemical compounds they use daily (ii) the use of raw materials (iii) consumer forums (iv) productions of herbal cosmetics

(1)

(f) Based on your reading of the passage, choose the INCORRECT statement from the following. (1) (i) Herbal ingredients might also cause allergies. (ii) According to the law experts, a customer suing someone is common. (iii) Manufacturers of herbal products have to include synthetic-based ingredients to balance the formula. (iv) The desired shelf-life of a product is expected to be at least two years. (g) Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘nascent’, as used in the passage to fill in the blank space. (1) (1) Displaying (2) Developing (3) Maturing (4) Growing (5) Confirmed (i) (1) and (2) (ii) (3) and (5) (iii) (2) and (4) (iv) (1) and (5) (h) “Herbal ingredients might also cause allergies as they may contain a large number of constituents which a user may be intolerant to.” Substitute the underlined word with the most appropriate option from the following. (1) (i) Sensitive (ii) Forgiving (iii) Flexible (iv) Liberal

Answers [Discursive Passages] 1.  (a) Here, by looking upstream author wants to say that when we see or analyse our goal in a more profound way, it becomes clear that goal is not at all what it seemed like when we started with. (b) scared (c) (iv) Feel Motivated, Feel High-Spirited (d) (iv) It slowly goes away as time passes. (e) The real key to motivation is to set the goals and scare ourselves. Once we finally decide to face our fears and drop the excuses, we will find out motivation turning on full blast. (f) (i) it tends to be temporary (g) suffer a perpetual lack of motivation (h) (iv) all of these

20 Xam idea English–IX

2. (a) (i) Because it helps us maintain peace of mind (b) (ii) Meditation (c) The main objective of meditation is to reduce stress and chances of developing a stress-related illness. (d) 1. Meditation helps in working or progressing on any vocation smoothly and steadily, without any sudden changes. 2. It equips us with mechanism by which we can reduce stress from our lives. (e) The research of doctors and scientists about meditation has indicated a link between certain illnesses and our state of mind and emotional condition. (f) Stress causes digestive problems, breathing problems, heart disease, and migrain headaches.

(g) We are more likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by stress. (h) (iii) It fills us with inner peace, joy, bliss and happiness. 3. (a) (ii) B is an assertion and A is the reason (b) Success has been man’s greatest motivation. It has a great effect on life as it brings pleasure and pride, and gives a sense of fulfilment. It means allround development and everybody hopes to be successful in life. (c) capability; resources (d) (iv) Both (A) and (B) are wrong (e) According to the author, mere desire cannot bring success. The desire should be weighed against factor like capability and resources which is the basic requirement of success. (f) (ii) reality and absorption (g) The author considers words to be powerful because words have the ability to help, heal, hurt or humiliate (h) (iii) To succeed in life



5. (a) perform well in their exams and to attain high grades (b) (ii) When students are left with no life outside their classrooms. (c) Extracurricular activties are just as important as academics because students develop good social skills, better leadership skills and also because extracurricular activities and academics complement each other. (d) (ii) (B) is the assertion and (A) is the reason. (e) True (f) For secondary school students, engaging in extracurricular activties boost their chances of gaining admission into universities. Most universities, nowadays, check what the student offers, apart from academics, and that is where extracurricular activities come in. Some students have got scholarships into prestigious universities due to sports, such as athletics and football. (g) (iv) Many parents, guardians, and students themselves do not understand the importance of education. (h) (i) (1) and (5)

6. (a) (iv) All of these (b) high calorie diet and lack of physical activities (c) Obesity though commonly means very overweight, it is defined as an excess amount of body weight that includes muslces, bones, fat and water. Obesity specifically refers to an excess amount of body fat. Some people, such as body builders or other athletes with a lot of muscle can be overweight without being obese. (d) When the body fat is more than 30% (e) (ii) People with eating disorder (f) Psychological factors can lead to obesity. Negative emotions such as boredom, sadness or anger, lead to overeating food in large quantity are most likely to have symptoms of depression and low selfesteem. (g) (iii) (3) and (4)



4. (a) (ii) “Nature will give you the best example of life lessons, just open your eyes and see.” (b) God in all aspects of nature (c) The author realised that though we learn much from our respective holy books, there is a lot to learn from our surroundings. Everything around us – the sun, the moon, the stars, birds, rivers, plants and animals – teaches us many valuable lessons. This realisation dawned upon him when he learnt to enquire and explore. (d) By learning to respect nature, we can improve the quality of our life. (e) (i) (A) is the assertion and (B) is the reason (f) The author has proved this point by giving an example of a flowing river. If a river finds an obstacle in its way, it either fights to remove it from its path or finds an alternative path to move ahead. This flowing river, which is a part of nature, teaches us to be progressive in life. (g) (iv) Besides the scriptures in many cultures, holy book is also worshipped. (h) (i) (1) and (3)

(h) (i) Common

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7. (a) India sells the largest number of branded drugs in the world, almost 60,000 in all. By volume, India is ranked 4th and comprises 8 per cent of the global pharma market. This scenario becomes scary given that the substandard drugs are a thriving parallel industry in our country. (b) (iii) Both (A) and (B) are related assertions. (c) Paracetamol is the safest painkiller. (d) pharmaceutical firms (e) (iv) High dosage of paracetamol can cause kidney damage. (f) The general practitioners who have shone the torch down our throats from our childhood to our adulthood are vanishing gradually. The patients do not have a family doctor who know the patient’s blood group, allergies, medical history, etc. Hesitant to go to a specialist, the patients just check with the chemist. (g) (i) Flourishing (h) (i) Short-lived



9. (a) Yes, hiring a laughter coach indeed proved beneficial for Sudha Chandran as it changed her perspective towards life. She learnt to record her emotions and ensured that the four elements of joy – dancing, laughing, singing and playing – helped her build an emotional reserve. (b) We come out feeling cleansed. (c) False (d) Laughter is a cathartic process which helps rebalance the chemistry of our emotions, and so can be a keynote for healing. Several researchers on the benefits of laughter in Japan have shown that laughter therapy is an efficient, low-cost medical treatment that cuts health costs. (e) (iv) Jean Legett says, “Hiring a laughter coach changed my perspective towards life.” (f) (ii) Self-conciousness (g) (ii) (1) and (2)

10. (a) (b) (c) (d)



(h) (iv) The area was declared as wildlife reserve.

8. (a) The fact that only a few women play in symphony orchestras has been highlighted in paragraph (1). (b) (ii) Why are male orchestral players in an overwhelming majority? (c) False (d) According to the author, half a century ago, the stage was won out for a simple reason that it had to have women to play feminine roles in plays and operas, and was willing to offer young women more money than they could make in any other profession. (e) (i) (A) is the assertion and (B) is the reason. (f) Earlier, the famous European families of bassoon players or clarinelists taught their sons to play the family instrument, but never their daughters. If they had any other pupils, those were also boys, not girls. (g) (ii) It is true that female orchestral players are in an overwhelming majority. (h) (i) (1) and (3)

(e) (f) (g) (h)

(iv) Option (4) (iii) 1 and 4 (iii) How Much is Too Much? For the first 20 years of the author’s life at work, he ignored his limits. Most of the time, he felt horrible physically. To make himself feel better, he ran to doctors and consumed pills, vitamins, natural stuff and anything he could get his hands on. Later, he realised that he was living an unsustainable life and needed to make some changes. offer advice to The author meant to organise our lives. (iii) (3) and (5) Whenever the author consulted a doctor, he would always tell him that he is feeling physically unwell or feeling exhausted due to stress. And this reason used to make him mad because he thought stress means doing something that you don’t like or not being able to handle life.

11. (a) (i) If you want to store the fruit longer, you should 12. (a) A product that says it is 100% natural may be misleading in the sense that it is difficult to stabilise keep it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. a fully natural base and is always quite expensive (b) A ripe kiwi fruit will be plump and smooth-skinned requiring advanced technology. and free of wrinkles, bruises and punctures. After having purchased it, if you find that the kiwi is a (b) raw materials (c) Manipulative manufacturers and weak rules little too firm, simply let it ripe at room termpature regarding the process of manufacturing leads to for three to five days. fake production licences. Also, one cannot make (c) (ii) B is an assertion and A is the reason. a generalisation that synthetic ingredients are safe while natural ones are harmful.

22 Xam idea English–IX

(d) (ii) B and C (e) (i) A and B (f) (iii) C and D (g) help protect against free radicals (h) Kiwi fruit is considered a nutritional all-star because it has the best nutrient density of 21 commonly consumed fruits. A serving of kiwi has twice the amount of vitamin C in an orange, as much potassium as in a banana, and the fibre ‘equivalent’ to that in a bowl of whole grain cereal.

(d) False (e) (i) what chemical compounds they use daily (f) (ii) According to the law experts, a customer suing someone is common. (g) (iii) (2) and (4) (h) (i) Sensitive

zzz

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2

Case-Based Factual Passages

1. Read the following passage carefully.

(10 marks)



(1) Reservation is a part of corrective action, which seeks to bring equality.



(2) The Constitution (One Hundred and TwentyHave Fourth Amendment) Bill 2019 seeks to agricultural land provide for the advancement of ‘economically of less than 5 acres weaker sections’ of citizens. Article 15 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination against 86% land holdings any citizen on the ground of race, religion, caste, Have household in India fall under income of less than this category sex or place of birth. However, the government `8 lakh a year may make special provisions for the advancement At least 95% of socially and educationally backward classes or for (127 crore) Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The Bill Indians earn less seeks to amend Article 15 to additionally permit the government to provide for the advancement of Have a ‘economically weaker sections’. Further, up to 10 residential plot smaller than per cent of seats may be reserved for such sections 100 yards in a for admission in educational institutions. Such municipality reservation will not apply to minority educational Have a house institutions. Article 16 of the Constitution prohibits smaller than 1,000 Data not available square feet discrimination in employment in any government At least 80% of office. However, the government can allow households in India reservation for any ‘backward class of citizens’ if have houses smaller they are not adequately represented in the services than 500 sq ft. under the state. The Bill seeks to amend Article Have a residential 16, to permit the government to reserve up to 10 plot of less than per cent of all posts for the ‘economically weaker 200 yards in a nonsections’ of citizens. The reservation of up to 10 per cent for ‘economically weaker sections’ in NA educational institutions and public employment will be in addition to the existing reservation. The central government will notify the ‘economically weaker sections’ of citizens on the basis of their family income and other indicators of economic disadvantage.



(3) In the landmark verdict of Supreme Court in the Mandal case, the Supreme Court had held that the proposal to provide 10 per cent reservation for other economically backward sections of the people, who are not covered by any of the existing schemes of reservation, as constitutionally invalid. The Supreme Court had held that mere

24 Xam idea English–IX

You Are Eligible for the 10% Reservation If You:

economic backwardness or mere educational backwardness, which is not the result of social backwardness, cannot be the criterion of backwardness in Article 16 (4). So, the present order of the government to provide reservations violates some of the observations made by the Supreme Court in its previous judgements. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. (a) On what basis will the central government notify the economically weaker sections of citizens? (1) (i) The family income only (ii) Indicators of economic disadvantage only (iii) Social backwardness (iv) The family income and other indicators of economic disadvantage



(b) What does Article 15 of the Constitution prohibit?

(2)

(c) Reservation is a part of: (i) corrective action which seeks to bring equality (ii) corporative action which seeks to bring equality (iii) government tool to bring about equality (iv) the family income assigned to people

(1)

(d) Fill in the blank.

(1)

In a verdict the Supreme Court had held that the proposal to provide 10 per cent reservation for other economically backward sections of the people, who are not covered by any of the existing schemes of reservation, as ____________________ ____________. (e) Article 16 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination in employment in any: (1) (i) private office (ii) government office (iii) both (i) and (ii) (iv) business (f) What are the reservations permitted to the economically weaker sections? (2) (g) ‘Scheduled tribe’. What does it mean? (i) The tribes recognised by the Constitution (ii) The tribes unrecognised by the Constitution (iii) The tribes unrecognised by the people (iv) The tribes recognised by their own people

(1)

(h) Fill in the blank.

(1)

The present order of the government to provide reservations violates some of the observations made by the ______________________. 2. Read the following passage carefully.

(10 marks)

(1) Social media is an indisputable force in the world. The Internet, with three billion people connected online, has emerged as the strongest and most powerful network in the history of mankind. Reaching out to millions of people with a message usually requires strong planning and a great deal of knowledge about how social media and information channels work. Facebook, one of the best-known social media networks, has 1.1 billion members worldwide. Twitter, a highly-powerful tool which connects and engages with an existing or potential customer base, has over 500 million registered Reading Skills

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users worldwide. YouTube, a video sharing website, has over a billion users, with people watching hundreds of millions of hours of content every day. Percentage of People Using Social Media on a Daily Basis 80%

74%

72% 63%

60% 42%

40%

30%

35%

SnapChat

TikTok

20%

0%

YouTube

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook



(2) Despite the fact that these social media platforms may initially create a certain buzz regarding a subject or a topic, overall speaking, they have the power to create opinion and huge publicity.



(3) Social media is useful for spreading awareness. When immigrants reach a new country, they can use social media to connect with their fellow countrymen who are already there. They can get information regarding things like visa, permits, and government authorities.



(4) In addition, social media has become a platform or tool for democracy. Millions of people can express and share views, and form political and social opinions. Social media offers a forum for political campaigners and organisers to create a political market platform where candidates, government officials, and political parties can use it to create public opinion in the desired direction. Political campaigners have understood the power of social media and, along with advertising on traditional mediums, such as posters, billboard advertising, television and newspapers, they fund and invest in digital marketing campaigns to compete with their rival parties. Such campaigns have been highly visible in UK and US, where many political parties have used social media campaigns to garner votes and defeat their opponents. Apart from this, there are cases where individuals have quickly succeeded in raising large sums of money for those in need.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. (a) Social media network means: (1) (i) the use of internet-based social media platforms to stay connected with friends, family or peers (ii) the use of internet-based social clubs as platforms to stay connected with friends, family or peers (iii) the use of internet-based social media platforms to stay disconnected with friends, family or peers (iv) the use of network-based social media platforms to stay connected with friends, family or peers (b) How can social media be helpful for immigrants?

26 Xam idea English–IX

(2)

(c) The power of social media has been understood by: (i) political campaigners (ii) voters (iii) candidates (iv) officials

(1)

(d) Twitter, a highly-powerful tool, connects and engages with an existing or potential customer base. (True/False) (1) (e) Fill in the blank.

(1)

Posters, billboard advertising, television and newspapers are traditional mediums of _______________. (f) Complete the given statement.

(1)

Reaching out to millions of people with a message usually requires ___________________________. (g) Study the following statements.

(Competency-focused Question) (1)

(A) Social media is an indisputable force in the world.

(B) Social media is useful for spreading awareness. (i) (A) is a fact and (B) is an assumption. (ii) (A) is a fact and (B) is an impact. (iii) Both (A) and (B) are assumptions. (iv) Both (A) and (B) are neither assumptions nor facts. (h) ‘Social media has become a platform or tool for democracy.’ How? 3. Read the following passage carefully.

(2) (10 marks)



(1) Demonetisation refers to an economic policy where a certain currency unit ceases to be used as a legal tender. It occurs whenever there is a change in the national currency wherein some of the existing form of currency is pulled from circulation, and retired to be replaced with new notes or coins. Sometimes, a country completely replaces the old currency with new currency.



(2) On 8 November 2016, the Indian government decided to demonetise the 500- and 1000-rupee notes, the two biggest denominations of the Indian currency system. These notes accounted for 86% of the country’s circulating cash. With little warning, India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi announced to the citizenry that these notes would be rendered ineffective with immediate effect. People were given time till the end of the year to deposit or exchange them for newly introduced 2,000- and 500-rupee notes.



(3) The government’s goal was to combat India’s thriving underground economy on several fronts: eradicate counterfeit currency, fight tax evasion (only 1% of the population pays taxes), eliminate black money accumulated from money laundering and terrorist financing activities, and to promote a cashless economy. Individuals and entities with huge sums of black money acquired from parallel cash systems were forced to take their large denomination notes to a bank, and account for them satisfactorily and submit the proof of tax paid. If the individual could not provide the proof of making any tax payments on the cash, he/she possessed, a penalty of 200% on the tax due was to be imposed.



(4) Demonetisation had a severe impact on the gold market. The extraordinary demand for the yellow metal brought a stiff hike in its cost. However, the government made it mandatory that every buyer had to submit his/her PAN card details for purchases made. Erring jewellers were brought to book. Reading Skills

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(5) Many Indians switched to alternative payment methods. The biggest gainers were mobile wallet companies that offered easy transactions through a large network of partners. Alibaba-backed Paytm saw a sevenfold increase in overall traffic. Customers found the option of prepaid cash cards useful. Other alternatives included mobile payment systems linked to e-commerce business like Ola Money, FreeCharge, and FlipKart Wallet.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. (a) Why did the government decide to demonetise the 500- and 1000-rupee notes? (2) (b) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the passage? (1) (i) Demonetisation had a severe impact on the stock market. (ii) Alibaba-backed Paytm saw a sevenfold increase in overall traffic. (iii) On 8 November 2016, the Indian government decided to demonetise the two biggest denomination of the Indian currency system. (iv) People were given time till the end of the year to deposit and exchange the notes. (c) What did the government make mandatory for every buyer to purchase gold? (1) (i) To submit the proof of tax paid (ii) To submit the PAN card details (iii) To opt for mobile payment systems (iv) To submit the proof of citizenship (d) What was the impact of demonetisation on the entities with huge sums of black money? (2) (e) To which business are Ola Money and FreeCharge mobile payment systems linked? (1) (f) Fill in the blank.

(1)

Demonetisation occurs whenever there is a change in the ___________________. (g) In which of the following sentences has the word ‘retired’ been used in the same context as in paragraph 1? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (i) Clam-Galas then retired deliberately to Gitschin and took up a new position. (ii) After breakfast, they all retired to the entry room and gathered around the tree to open presents. (iii) After seventeen years of active learning, he retired in order to complete his philosophical system. (iv) The player had been retired during the match as he was out of form. (h) Which word in paragraph 3 means the same as ‘eliminate’? 4. Read the following passage carefully.

(1) (10 marks)

(1) In the present technetronic world, protecting ourselves from cybercrimes is a necessity. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, a total of 50,035 cybercrimes were registered in 2020. That figure stood at 27,248 in 2018 and 44,735 in 2019. A total of 18,420 persons were arrested and subsequently convicted by the court for crimes. The report also revealed an alarming rise in the rate of cybercrimes against children.

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(2) Everyone should be mindful of the importance of cyber security awareness. We cannot cease ourselves from digitalizing; it is essential that we move with the flow. Hence, taking measures to protect ourselves is important.



(3) A descriptive study was conducted to identify the level of basic knowledge of cybersecurity among a group of post-graduate students, who were prospective teachers, studying in a reputed university in Uttar Pradesh. The sample included 100 respondents including 40 males and 60 females. Data was collected using a questionnaire on certain dimensions of password hacking, virus attacks, cybercrime and the misuse of social media. The table below shows the responses of the participants in the study. S. No.

Parameters Tested

Yes

No

(responses (responses in %) in %) I.

Password Strength (i) Changes password periodically

53.8

46.2

(ii) Reuses previous password

46.2

53.8

(iii) Uses same password for each account

44.5

55.5

(iv) Shares password with others

15.4

84.6

51

49

17.3

82.7

79.6

29.4

(ii) Checks viruses with a virus scanner

52

48

(iii) Downloads free software from untrustworthy sources

22

78

11.8

88.2

(ii) Has reported cyberattacks to authorities

2

98

(iii) Knowledge of cybercrime investigation cell

32

68

(iv) Knowledge of registration of cybercrimes

22

78

21.6

78.4

(i) Unknown people as friends on social media

52.9

47.1

(ii) Shares personal information on social media

23.5

76.5

(v) Accepts prompt to save password (vi) Common dictionary words as password II.

Virus Attack (i) Protects laptop using Antivirus software

III.

Cybercime (i) Has been a victim of a cyberattack

(v) Knowledge of Information Technology Act IV.



Social Media Behaviour

(4) The study also revealed that in many cases, friends, family members or even partners are found to be guilty of the crimes reported. Also, though men and women are both prone to cybercrimes, it was noticed that women were victims of these crimes more than men. Everyone must make a unified effort towards building a safe digital world for all.

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Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. (a) Does the given statement agree with the information given in the passage? (1) It is appropriate that parents withhold their children from accessing social media until they are at least 13 years old. Select from the following. I. True – if the given statement agrees with the information II. False – if the statement contradicts the information III. Not Given – if there is no information on this (b) Since today’s children are familiar with the internet from an early age, is it necessary that they are trained in cyber safety? Support your answer with reference to the passage. (1) (c) The most likely reason for including point (ii) under ‘Social Media Behaviour’ is to find out if respondents __________________________. (1) (i) are truthful about their personal details being shared (ii) check whether people like to stay connected virtually (iii) are at the risk of their shared personal details being misused (iv) check whether privacy settings on social media are user-friendly (d) The current study attempts to find out whether the participants have knowledge of the Information Technology Act because it can help them understand the: (1) (i) ethical and safe practices to combat cybercrimes (ii) cybercrimes registered and their current status (iii) trends in cybercrimes and their social impact (iv) rules and penalties relating to cybercrimes (e) Considering the background of the people who participated in the study, why do their responses to points (iii), (iv) and (v) under ‘Cybercrime’ raise concerns? (2) (f) Paragraph 2 makes it clear that the best way to ensure cyber safety is to remain: (1) (i) unified (ii) cautious (iii) optimistic (iv) persistent (g) Complete the sentence appropriately in one/two words.

(1)

In the table given, the responses to point (iii) ‘Cybercrime’ show that people may feel ________________ about reporting crimes to the concerned authorities. (h) Based on the reading of the text, state an argument to challenge the given statement. (Competency-focused Question) (2)

If people interact through social media only with others who are personally known to them, they need not worry about being victims of cybercrimes.

5. Read the following passage carefully.

(10 marks)

(1) Medicine is not the only application for Expert Systems. The oil-exploration company Schlumberger uses these computers for predicting drilling conditions; and Stanford University, USA, a leader in Expert Systems, has programs such as DENDRAL to build models of molecules from chemical data.

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(2) By this method, a computer merely performs sequentially, a series of arithmetic operations. All its advantages are due to the fact that it works extremely quickly, but its achievements are governed entirely by its program. A small programming error, no matter how trivial, results in the program crashing—failing to run because the machine cannot deduce what the programmer meant to write.

Expert System

Fever Rash Cold

Skin rash

Fever

Headache

if High_fever and Cold return no dengue elif High_fever and Vomiting and not Rash: reaturn no dengue elif High_fever and Vomiting and not Rash: return no dengue

Output Cold cough

Vomiting

Inputs



(3) One exciting aspect of these parallel computers is that they can possess artificial intelligence. Such machines will have the ability to make decisions, to use deductive logic, to criticise constructively, and to advise. In Japan, for example, the newly formed Institute for New Generation Computer Technology has been developing a machine to mimic human thought patterns, respond to spoken commands, translate languages, and make intelligent robots. One particular type of AI system is already finding widespread use.



(4) Thirdly, the new generation of computers will process data in an entirely different way. Rather than operating sequentially, the machines will contain many (perhaps a million) CPUs, each in two-way electronic communication with others. This parallel method of operation enables many different tasks to be handled simultaneously by processes thought to be similar to those in a human brain.



(5) At the University of Pittsburgh, USA, there is a computer that can diagnose illnesses by a program called INTERNIST-1. The machine contains information on over 500 different diseases, each linked to an average of 60 probable symptoms. The doctor tells the computer the symptoms of the patient and the machine lists a set of likely diseases, and then narrows its selection by asking the patient a set of questions. Within a decade, computer aided diagnosis may become commonplace in the consulting room.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. (a) “The new generation of computers will process data in an entirely different way.” How? (2) (b) One exciting aspect of parallel computers is that they can possess: (i) artificial intelligence (ii) existential intelligence (iii) linguistic intelligence (iv) musical intelligence

Reading Skills

(1)

31

(c) The Expert System is a computer that contains facts that a human expert would use to gather information. (True/False) (1) (d) Such machines will have the ability to: (i) make decisions (ii) use deductive logic (iii) criticise constructively (iv) all of these

(1)

(e) Complete the given statement.

(1)

In Japan, the newly formed Institute for New Generation Computer Technology has been developing a machine to _________________________________________. (f) Study the following statements. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (A) The new generation of computers will process data in an entirely different way. (B) A computer merely performs sequentially a series of arithmetic operations. (i) (A) is the assertion and (B) is the reason. (ii) (B) is the assertion and (A) is the reason. (iii) Both (A) and (B) are assertions. (iv) Both (A) and (B) are reasons. (g) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the passage? (1) (i) Medicine is the only application for Expert Systems. (ii) Parallel computers possess artificial intelligence. (iii) Computer aided diagnosis may become commonplace in a consulting room. (iv) The doctor tells the computer the symptoms of the patient. (h) How can a program called INTERNIST-1 help in diagnosing diseases? 6. Read the following passage carefully.

(2)

(10 marks)



(1) In earlier times, there was no non-biodegrable waste. Our forefathers found biodegradable substances for all our needs. We used the kitchen waste to feed pets; some of the other wastes were used to burn as fuel as some as organic fertilizer. This has now changed. We use polyurethane bags and bottles which are often nonbiodegradable. Every household has a lot of plastic waste. Our public places have become dumping yards for such waste. We need to set guidelines and implement stricter laws to reduce waste. Every household should be responsible for the waste they generate. Swachhta Paramo Dharma should be our mantra.



(2) Our children should be aware of the importance of maintaining an untainted home and a clean public place. “Never litter” should be a lesson taught from a young age. This will enable our future generations to be socially responsible. We also need to include this in the academic curriculum, which will help students understand and learn the importance of hygiene. Our children must practise to leave different types of waste in appropriate dustbins.



(3) The cleanliness movement, anchored by our Prime Minister, promises to bring in an effective system of installing separate garbage bins at public places. This will ensure the segregation of the wet and dry waste at the point of its origin. We should also have a comprehensive plan to separate wet and dry waste in the household as well.

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WASTE COLLECTION

Household Waste

Commercial Waste Waste Segregation Method

Recyclable Inert Debris Cans, milk bags, Waste that decomposes disposable cups like diapers, sanitary & plates, etc. napkins, etc.

Organic or Kitchen Waste

Hazardous Waste Paints, batteries, cleaning agents, etc.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. (a) Why was there no non-biodegradable waste in earlier times? (1) (i) Because of less population (ii) Because our forefathers found non-biodegradable substances for all our needs (iii) Because our forefathers found biodegradable substances for all our needs (iv) Both (i) and (ii) (b) How were wastes treated earlier? (i) They were used to feed pets. (ii) They were used to burn as fuel. (iii) They were used as organic fertilizer. (iv) All of these

(1)

(c) What need to be done to reduce waste?

(1)

(d) What should our children be aware of?

(2)

(e) What will ensure the segregation of the wet and dry waste?

(2)

(f) “Our public places have become dumping yards for such waste.” What is referred to as ‘such waste’ in the given line? (1) (g) What should be included in the academic curriculum? (1) (i) A lesson on difference between biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. (ii) A lesson on ‘Never Litter’ (iii) A lesson on Swachhta Paramo Dharma (iv) A lesson on uses of waste (h) Study the following statements. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (A) In earlier times, there was no non-biodegradable waste. (B) Our forefathers found biodegradable substances for all our needs. Reading Skills

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hallenging

(i) (A) is the assertion and (B) is the reason. (ii) (B) is the assertion and (A) is the reason. (iii) Both (A) and (B) are unrelated assertions. (iv) Both (A) and (B) are reasons of different assertions. 7. Read the following passage carefully.

(10 marks)

(1) Andy Dehart is a shark expert and TV presenter who lives in the United States of America. He has had a lifelong interest in sharks and is always trying to look for ways to educate the public about them. Many people think that sharks have little or no intelligence, but Andy points out that recent studies have shown that many shark species possess powerful problem-solving abilities and social skills. “Sharks do not want to attack humans,” he asserts. “There is no shark species that eats humans as part of its regular diet. In most shark attack cases, sharks leave after realising that they have mistakenly bitten a human and not their intended prey.”

Quantity (In thousand)

900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1950

Sharks caught globally

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

Year



(2) In Andy’s opinion, all shark fishing should be stopped until the shark populations have had time to grow again. We then need to do a better job of managing the fishing of sharks. However, even if the direct fishing of sharks is stopped, many still will be killed when they are caught up in the nets of boats fishing for other species of fish.



(3) When Andy was a boy, his father worked for a national oceanic organisation, and Andy travelled with him all over the Caribbean. He grew up by the coast and he has been connected with the sea for as long as he can remember. He also lived near one of the best aquariums in America. Andy then went on to build a career working with sharks Fun in an aquarium environment. More recently, he has been involved with television and the making of programmes about the sharks.

Friends



(4) Andy and his wife had their first child two years ago. They were amused and amazed to see what extent their work with animals has proved to be useful in bringing up their daughter. They know how to observe her behaviour and teach her how to do things by rewarding her.



(5) Andy loves sharks and is very passionate about their survival and protection. He feels extremely lucky to have had opportunities working at the National Aquarium and the television station which presents the Nature Channel. He never wastes a moment in Monthly Expenditure either place that could be spent educating people about sharks. He does admit that it is probably not possible for everyone to love sharks as he does. However, he does hope 20 Food to persuade people personally or through the media to respect sharks and the critical role they play in our environment. His main objective is to keep ecological balance 30 Education and help to control other species. 5

34 Xam idea English–IX

10

Health care Rent Transport

Miscellaneous

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. (a) How can it be proved that shark species are intelligent? (i) Their problem solving and social skills (ii) Their mind reading skills (iii) Their immediate realisation after eating humans (iv) Their oceanic organisation

(1)

(b) What is Andy so passionate about?

(1)

(c) Shark species eat humans as part of their regular diet. (True/False)

(1)

(d) Why does Andy believe that sharks only attack humans by mistake? (i) They don’t eat humans as a part of their diet. (ii) They leave after realising that it has mistakenly bitten humans. (iii) Humans are not their intended prey. (iv) All of these

(1)

(e) According to the graph, how many sharks were caught in 1990? (i) 650,000 (ii) 700,000 (iii) 750,000 (iv) 800,000

(1)

(f) How did Andy’s work with animals help him and his wife when bringing up their daughter? (2) (g) Does Andy want everyone to love sharks as he does?

(2)

(h) Even after the ascending trend, in which year did the number of sharks caught remain the same? (1) (i) 1970 (ii) 1975 (iii) 1980 (iv) 1985 8. Read the following passage carefully.

(10 marks)



Numbers of roadkilled individuals 1



36,050

Numbers of vulnerable species 73,109

1

9

17

(1) Around 194 million birds and 20 million mammals are thought to be killed each year on European roads, according to a new study that has ranked the most vulnerable Reading Skills

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species. The research has found that the species killed most often were not necessarily the endangered species. This means action to preserve wildlife, when new roads are built, risks being targeted at the wrong species based on current methods. Road densities in Europe are among the world’s highest, with 50% of the continent within 1.5 km of a paved road or railway. Roads are therefore, a significant threat to wildlife, and evidence shows death on them could even cause some species to disappear completely.

(2) Despite this, the long-term protection of species is not currently considered when assessing the impact of new roads on wildlife, meaning we risk giving support to only the endangered species, doing nothing to help those most at risk. A better understanding of which species are most vulnerable to roads is therefore, important if we are to take a more effective action of protection.



(3) A research team based in Lisbon calculated road-kill rates for 423 bird species and 213 mammal species. They found that small animals with high population densities and which mature at an early age were most likely to be killed on roads. Nocturnal mammals and birds with a diet of plants and seeds were also shown to have higher death rates.



(4) The study also used the road-kill surveys to rank the bird and mammal species whose long-term survival was most threatened by road-kill. The hazel grouse and ground squirrel were found to be the most at risk of local extinction. Both are common in Europe but are classified as species of Least Concern Red list of Threatened Species.



(5) The most vulnerable animals classified as threatened by IUCN were the red-knobbed coot, Balcon mole and Podolian mole. The study revealed that road-kill hotspots were not the areas with the highest population of endangered species. For example, house sparrows had a high road-kill rate (2.7 per km/year) but were ranked 420th of 423 bird species for vulnerability. Conversely, the hazel grouse had a low predicted roadkill rate (0.2 km/year) but was most vulnerable of all birds studied.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. (a) Roads are a significant threat to wildlife. How?

(2)

(b) Study the following statements. A. Roads have covered 50% of land in Europe. B. Road traffic causes a great risk to wildlife. C. Some species can survive all kinds of traffic on roads. (i) A is correct and B is false. (ii) B is correct and C is false. (iii) C is correct and A is false. (iv) Both A and B are false.

(1)

(c) Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the passage? (i) While planning roads, we should see which species to protect. (ii) We are doing a lot to protect those most at risk. (iii) 50% of Europe is covered only with roads. (iv) Small animals even with low population density are most at risk.

(1)

(d) Study the following statements. (Competency-focused Question) (1) A. The surveys ranked the road-kill rate of birds and animals. B. The finding puts grouse and squirrel at great risk. (i) A is an assertion and B is the response. (ii) B is an assertion and A is the response.

36 Xam idea English–IX

(iii) Both A and B are assertions. (iv) Both A and B are unrelated to each other. (e) ‘Hazel grouse and ground squirrel are classified as species of least concern’. The given statement is ironical. (True/False) (1) (f) Select the most suitable title for the passage from the following. (i) A Birds and Mammals Survey (ii) Road-kills (iii) Road Density in Europe (iv) Need for Conservation

(1)

(g) Complete the given statement.

(1)

The purpose of the study is _____________________________________________. (h) What did the research team based in Lisbon conclude about the roat-kill rates of animals? (2) 9. Read the following passage carefully.

(10 marks)

(1) Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao is a government scheme launched by PM Narendra Modi on Thursday, 22 January, 2015, at Panipat, Haryana. This scheme has been introduced to improve the pathetic condition of the girl child in the Indian society. According to statistics, there is a steady drop in the ratio of girls and boys in the 0–6 years age group. It was 945/1000 in 1991, fell to 927/1000 in 2001, and further dipped to 918/1000 in 2011. This is a cause of great concern. If measures are not taken to check this social menace, it would lead to serious problems. (2) The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme was launched especially in Haryana as this state has the lowest female and male sex-ratio (775 girls/1000 boys) in the country. District Wise Child Sex Ratio In Haryana (2011)

Am

b Bh ala iw a Pa ni Fa lw te al ha ba M d ew a H t is a Jh r aj ja r Ji nd Ka ith a Ku Ka l r r M uk na ah sh l en et d ra Pa rag nc arh hk u Pa la ni p R at ew a R ri oh ta k Si rs a Ya S m on un ipa a t N G aga ur g r Fa aon rid ab ad

Child Sex Ratio

950 900 850 800 750 700

Districts

(3) The purpose of launching the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme was to make girls independent, both socially and financially, and to ensure their constitutional rights of freedom and education. There is a huge fall in the number of girls because of the practice of aborting female foetuses after sex determination through modern diagnostic tools in hospitals. Female infanticide is a horror that is rampant in our society because of unrestrained gender discrimination. (4) Empowering women brings progress, especially within the family and society. The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme is essential for the economic and social growth of the nation. If the girl is not educated, we will continue to remain a developing nation. While launching the scheme, the PM reminded the entire medical fraternity that the purpose of the medical profession is to save lives and not to take lives. Through this Reading Skills

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scheme, the men and women in the entire country will learn to respect and accept women, and refrain from indulging in activities that are detrimental to the social and biological balance in the community. (5) We hope that a day will come when no girl child is killed, uneducated, insecure, raped, sold or abandoned because of socio-economic reasons. Let us, as citizens of this wonderful nation, work towards building a strong and competitive female population, and strive to make the scheme a success. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. (a) Which scheme has been introduced to improve the pathetic condition of the girl child in the Indian society? (2) (b) Due to which practice in the society has there been a huge fall in the number of girls? (1) (i) The practice of aborting female foetuses (ii) The practice of honour killing (iii) The practice of Sati (iv) The practice of child marriage (c) Why is Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme essential?

(2)

(d) The PM reminded the entire medical fraternity that the purpose of the medical profession is to save lives and not to: (1) (i) fake lives (ii) fail lives (iii) take lives (iv) jail lives (e) We hope that a day will come when no girl child is killed, uneducated, insecure, raped, sold or abandoned because of: (1) (i) social reasons (ii) economic reasons (iii) socio-economic reasons (iv) none of these (f) The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme was launched especially in Haryana as this state has: (1) (i) the lowest female and male sex ratio in the country (ii) the highest female and male sex ratio in the country (iii) the most balanced female and male sex ratio in the country (iv) none of these (g) Fill in the blank.

(1)

______________ has the lowest female and male sex-ratio. (h) Complete the given statement.

(1)

If the girl is not educated, we will continue to ______________________________ ____________. 10. Read the following passage carefully.

(10 marks)

(1) Just by the use of colours, you can balance your diet. All you need to do is pay a little attention to the food you eat. Nutrition experts strongly recommend adding colours to your diet. Sweets and candy bars are generally colourful, but remember they do not contain natural colours, and hence, are not healthy. The key to good health is a variety of naturally-coloured foods. The deeper the colour, the greater the benefits. Getting more colours in your diet doesn’t mean you have to drastically change your current

38 Xam idea English–IX

eating habits. Have a glass of 100% juice in the morning. Keep a mix of dry fruits at hand for a quick snack. Grab an apple or a banana. Include at least two vegetables in your dinner. Get into the habit of starting your dinner with a salad. Eat fruits for dessert. Always add greens to sandwiches. (2) Most red fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, which offer protection against ultraviolet rays and cancer, and help prevent urinary tract infections and diseases related to the circulatory system. Green vegetables, along with being appealing, possess excellent antioxidant properties that protect the eyes by keeping the retina in good condition and reduce the risk of cancerous tumours. The orange and yellow group of fruits and vegetables is rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that improves cell communication, and thereby, helps stop the spread of cancer. The blue and purple group adds an element of richness to the plate, besides influencing the pineal gland (the third eye) and the nervous system. The white group contains sulphur compounds that protect the DNA and flavonoids, an antioxidant that protects cell membranes.

(3) Therefore, the more colourful your diet, the better equipped your immune system would be to cope with diseases. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. (a) Why are sweets and candy bars not healthy? (i) Because they are colourful (ii) Because they are sweet and sour (iii) Because they do not contain natural colours (iv) Because they are bitter in taste

(1)

(b) How can we get more colours in our diet?

(2)

(c) Study the given visual input carefully and choose the option that correctly matches Column A with Column B. (1) A B 1. Green A. For skin and stomach body detox 2. White B. For the liver 3. Orange C. For skin health and elasticity 4. Yellow D. For the immune system Reading Skills

39

(i) 1-B; 2-D; 3-A; 4-C (iii) 1-D; 2-A; 3-C; 4-B

What is the impact of curruption in India?

(ii) 1-C; 2-D; 3-A; 4-B (iv) 1-D; 2-B; 3-A; 4-C

2.0% Noour Democracy 37.0% (d) ‘NutritionHunger experts strongly recommend adding colours to diet.’ Why? (2)

(e) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the passage? (1) Poverty 7.0% (i) The deeper the colour, the greater the benefits. Injustice 11.0% strongly recommend adding colours to your diet. (ii) Nutrition experts Right Violation 17.0% (iii) The blue and11.0% purple group is rich in beta-carotene. Inflation (iv) Include at least two vegetables in your dinner. (f) Fill in the Unemplyment blank. 15.0%

(1)

Green vegetables are good for the eyes as they have ____________________ properties. (g) Which word from paragraph 1 means the same as ‘far reaching’?

(1)

(h) Study the picture given in the passage and pick out the statement that is TRUE. (1) (i) Yellow and orange are good for the skin. (ii) White is good as a diuretic. (iii) Red and orange are useful as detoxifiers. (iv) Green is good as purifiers for the liver. 11. Read the following passage carefully.

(10 marks)

(1) In India, there is a lot of agitation about the issues of corruption. The movement against corruption has raised several questions about the intention and legal procedures and provisions provided by the Indian Constitution to the common man against acts of corruption in public and private domains.

Hunger 2.0%

No Democracy 37.0%

Poverty 7.0% Injustice 11.0%

Right Violation 17.0%

Inflation 11.0% Unemployment 15.0%



(2) Corruption is not a new phenomenon. It has been prevalent in our society since ancient times. History reveals that it was present even during the Mauryan period. The great scholar Kautilya mentions the pressure of forty types of corruption in his contemporary society. When the East India Company took control of the country, corruption reached new heights. Corruption implies the perversion of morality, integrity, character or duty due to mercenary motives, i.e., bribery, without any regard to honour, righteousness and justice. Simultaneously, depriving the genuinely

40 Xam idea English–IX

deserving from their right or privilege is also a corrupt practice. Shrinking from one’s duty or dereliction of duty is also a form of corruption. Besides thefts, wastage of public property, too, constitutes a variety of corruption. Dishonesty, exploitation, malpractices, scams and scandals are various manifestations of corruption.

(3) Seeing that the common man in India has to face corruption at many points, it is desirable to have a permanent solution to it. The solution should be in accordance with the Constitution of India because nothing in independent India is above this living document, including individuals who organise and run the country and draw their powers and privileges from the Constitution.



(4) There is an interesting and powerful provision in the Constitution called the power to amend it, i.e., incorporate changes to the existing laws and provisions, and add new ones, according to the changes in demand and the need of the hour.



(5) Considering the current scenario in the country, and witnessing so many cases of corruption, the time has come to make the forty-second-amendment-like change to the Constitution through which we can add the new term ‘corruption free’ to the Preamble to the Constitution of India. Thus, the new Preamble will read as follows: WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN, SOCIALIST, SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC, CORRUPTION-FREE, REPUBLIC, and to secure to all its citizens…



(6) With this amendment, the Indian constitution will acquire the status of being the first ever document in the world that would offer a ‘corruption free’ state to its citizens and India will become the first country in the world to do so.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. (a) Why is it desirable to have a permanent solution to the issue of corruption? (2) (b) What would be the significant change that would occur with the amendment in the Indian Constitution? (2) (c) History reveals that corruption was present even during the Mauryan period. (True/False) (1) (d) Complete the given statement.

(1)

Corruption reached new heights when the country was under ________________ _________________. (e) An interesting and powerful provision in the Constitution is: (i) a corruption-free country (ii) the power to amend (iii) democracy (iv) its powers and privileges

(1)

(f) Corruption implies the perversion of: (i) morality (ii) integrity (iii) character (iv) all of these

(1)

(g) Which of the following are the various manifestations of corruption? (i) Scams and scandals (ii) Imparting education (iii) Building public property (iv) Providing employment

(1)

(h) The ______________ in India has to face corruption at many points. (i) politician (ii) businessman (iii) common man (iv) uneducated man

(1)

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Hunger 2.0%

No Democracy 17.0%

Poverty 7.0% Injustice 11.0%

12. Read the following passage carefully.

(10 marks)

Inflation (1) Cancer has emerged as the second-leading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases. 11.0% Proportion of deaths due to cancer around the world increased from 12% in 1990 to 15% in 2013 while number of new cases almost doubled in India during the Rightsthe Violation Unemployment period. In India,17.0% deaths from the diseases have increased 15.0% by 60%, according to the latest report ‘Global Burden of Cancer 2013’, released worldwide.

Annual Number of Deaths by Cause (World 2016) Cardiovascular diseases

17.65 8.93

Cancer Respiratory disease 3.19

Diabetes, blood and endocrine disease

2.38 2.38

Dementia Lower respiratory infections

1.73

Neonatal deaths

1.66

Diarrheal diseases

1.34 1.26

Road incidents Liver disease

1.21

Tuberculosis

1.19

Kidney disease

1.09

Digestive disease

1.03

HIV/AIDS

0.81

Suicide

0.71

Malaria

0.39

Homicide

0.37 0.32 0.31

Nutritional deficiencies Meningitits Protein-energy malnutrition

0.23

Drowning

0.21

Maternal deaths

0.17

Parkinson’s disease

0.16

Alcohol disorder Intestinal infectious diseases

0.14 0.13

Drug disorder

0.13

Hepatitis

0.13 0.12

Conflict

Heart-related deaths (hot or cold) 0.05 Terrorism 0.03 Natural disasters 0.01

0

5

10

15

20

Millions

(2) “Even if we adjust for the rise in population in India over the period, the new cancer cases have increased by 30% per unit population and deaths have risen by 10%,” says Lalit Dandona, co-author of the study and Professor at the Public Health Foundation of India and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.



(3) In 2013, there were 14.9 million new cancer cases registered globally, whereas 8.2 million people died due to the disease. The report is based on a global study of 28 cancer groups in 188 countries by a consortium of international researchers from University of Washington and Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation.



(4) The report suggests that new cases of virtually all types of cancer are rising in countries globally, regardless of income, but the death rates from cancer are falling in many countries primarily due to its prevention and treatment. However, it says there is

42 Xam idea English–IX

a threat of increasing incidence in developing countries due to ill-equipped health systems.

(5) While incidents of breast cancer is highest in India as well as globally, most number of cancer deaths in India are caused due to stomach cancer, which is globally the second most common reason for death.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. (a) What was the scenario of cancer in 2013?

(2)

(b) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the passage? (1) (i) Incidents of breast cancer is highest in India. (ii) Most numbers of cancer deaths in India are caused due to stomach cancer. (iii) In 2013, there were 8.2 million new cancer cases registered globally. (iv) The new cases of all types of cancer are rising in countries globally, regardless of income. (c) Why is the death rate from cancer falling in many countries?

(2)

(d) Which of the following is the second-most common reason for death in India? (1) (i) Breast cancer (ii) Stomach cancer (iii) Cardiovascular arrest (iv) None of these (e) Proportion of deaths due to cancer around the world has been eradicated. (True/False) (1) (f) Study the following statements. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (A) In India, deaths from diseases have increased by 60%. (B) There is a threat of increasing incidence in developing countries due to illequipped health systems. (i) (A) is the assertion and (B) is the reason. (ii) (A) is the reason and (B) is the assertion. (iii) Both (A) and (B) are unrelated assertions. (iv) Both (A) and (B) are reasons. (g) Study the following statements. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (A) In India, the deaths due to cancer have risen by 10%. (B) There is a threat of increasing incidence in developing countries. (i) (A) is a fact and (B) is an assumption. (ii) (A) is an assumption and (B) is a fact. (iii) Both (A) and (B) are facts. (iv) Both (A) and (B) are assumptions. (h) Can adjustment in the rise of population in India bring any change in the number of cancer cases? (1)

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Answers [Case-based Factual Passages]

1.  (a) (iv) The family income and other indicators of economic disadvantage (b) Article 15 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination against any citizen on the ground of race, religion, caste, sex or place of birth. (c) (i) corrective action which seeks to bring equality (d) valid (e) (ii) government office (f) Article 16 permits the government to reserve up to 10 percent of all posts for the ‘economically weaker section’, and in addition to the existing reservation, there is up to 10 percent reservation in educational institutions and public employment. (g) (i) The tribes recognised by the Constitution (h) Supreme Court





3. (a) The government decided to demonetise 500and 1000- rupee notes to combat India’s thriving underground economy on several fronts: eradicate counterfeit currency, fight tax evasion, eliminate black money accumulated from money laundering and terrorist financing activities, and to promote a cashless economy. (b) (i) Demonetisation had a severe impact on the stock market. (c) (ii) To submit the PAN card details (d) Individuals and entities with huge sum of black money acquired from parallel cash systems were forced to take their large denomination notes to a bank, and account for them satisfactorily and submit the proof of tax paid. (e) E-commerce (f) national currency (g) (iv) The player had been retired during the match as he was out of form. (h) Eradicate

4. (a) Not given (b) Yes, the NCRB report shows that there is an alarming rise in the rate of cyber-crimes against children. (c) (iii) are at the risk of their shared personal details being misused (d) (iv) rules and penalties relating to cybercrimes (e) Their responses under ‘cybercrime’ raise concern because despite being highly educated, the respondents lack the knowledge of the legal framework for combating cybercrimes. (f) (ii) cautious (g) apprehensive/anxious (h) I disagree because the study showed that in many cases, friends, family members or even partners are found to be guilty of the crimes reported.

5. (a) The new generation of computers will process data in an entirely different way. Rather than operating sequentially, the machines will contain many CPUs, each in two-way electronic communication with others. (b) (i) artificial intelligence (c) False





44 Xam idea English–IX

2. (a) (i) the use of internet-based social media platforms to stay connected with friends, family or peers (b) Social media is useful for spreading awareness when immigrant reach a new country. They can use social media to connect with their fellow countrymen who are already there. They can get information regarding things like visa, permits and government authorities. (c) (i) political campaigners (d) True (e) advertising (f) strong planning and great deal of knowledge (g) (ii) (A) is a fact and (B) is an impact. (h) Social media offers a forum for political campaign and organisers to create a political market platform where candidates, government officials and political parties can use it to create opinion in the desired direction. Millions of people also use social media to express and share views and form political and social opinion.

6. (a) (iii) Because our forefathers found biodegradable substances for all our needs (b) (iv) All of these (c) We need to implement stricter laws and guidelines to reduce waste. (d) Our children should be aware of the importance of maintaining an untainted home and a clean public place.

(d) (iv) all of these (e) translate languages (f) (iii) Both (A) and (B) are assertions. (g) (i) Medicine is the only application for Expert Systems. (h) The machine contains information on over 500 different diseases, each linked to an average of 60 probable symptoms. The doctor tells the computer the symptoms of the patient and the machine lists a set of likely diseases, and then narrows its selection by asking the patients a set of questions.

(e) An effective system of installing separate garbage bins at public places will ensure the segregation of the wet and dry waste. (f) Plastic waste (g) (ii) A lesson on ‘Never Litter’. (h) (i) (A) is the assertion and (B) is the reason.

7. (a) (i) Their problem solving and social skills (b) Andy loves sharks and is very passionate about their survival and protection. (c) False (d) (iv) All of these (e) (ii) 700,000 (f) Andy and his wife had their first child two years ago. They were amused and amazed to see what extent their work with animals have proved to be useful in bringing up their daughter. They know how to observe her behaviour and teach her how to do things by rewarding her. (g) Andy does admit that it is probably not possible for everyone to love sharks as he does. However, he does hope to persuade people personally or through the media to respect sharks and the critical role they play in our environment. (h) (i) 1970



9. (a) Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, a government scheme launched by PM Narendra Modi, has been introduced to improve the pathetic condition of the girl child in the Indian society. (b) (i) The practice of aborting female foetuses (c) Empowering women brings progress, especially within the family and society. The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme is essential for the economic and social growth of the nation. If the girl is not educated, we will continue to remain a developing nation. (d) (iii) take lives (e) (iii) socio-economic reasons (f) (i) the lowest female and male sex ratio in the country (g) Haryana (h) remain developing nation

10. (a) (iii) Because they do not contain natural colours (b) We can get more colours in our diet by having a glass of 100% juice in the morning, keeping a mix of dry fruits at hand, grabbing an apple or a banana, including at least two vegetables in dinner, getting into the habit of starting dinner with a salad, eating fruits for dessert and always adding greens to sandwiches. (c) (i) 1-B; 2-D; 3-A; 4-C (d) Nutrition experts strongly recommended adding colours to our diet because the key to good health is a variety of naturally coloured foods. The deeper the colour, the greater the benefits. (e) (iii) The blue and purple group is rich in betacarotene. (f) colourful (g) Drastically (h) (iii) Red and orange are useful as detoxifiers.



8. (a) Around 194 million birds and 20 million mammals are killed each year on European roads. This means action to preserve wildlife, when new roads are built, risks being targeted at the species based on current methods. Evidence shows that death on roads could even cause some species to disappear completely. (b) (ii) B is correct and C is false. (c) (i) While planning roads, we should see which species to protect. (d) (i) A is an assertion and B is the response. (e) True (f) (ii) Road-kills (g) to see who is more at risk on the roads (h) The research team based in Lisbon calculated road-kill rates for 423 bird and 213 mammal species. They found that small animals with high population densities and which mature at an early age were most likely to be killed on roads.

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11. (a) It is desirable to have a permanent solution to the issue of corruption because the common man in India has to face the evil of corruption at many points. (b) The Indian Constitution would acquire the status of being the first ever document in the world that would offer a ‘corruption free’ state to its citizens. (c) True (d) the control of the East India Company (e) (ii) the power to amend (f) (iv) all of these (g) (i) Scams and Scandals (h) (iii) common man

12. (a) In 2013, the proportion of deaths due to cancer around the world increased from 12% in 1990 to 15%, while the number of new cases almost doubled in India, during this period. (b) (iii) In 2013, there were 8.2 million new cancer cases registered globally. (c) The new cases of virtually all types of cancer are rising in countries globally, regardless of income but the death rates from cancer are falling in many countries primarily due to its prevention and treatment. (d) (ii) Stomach cancer (e) False (f) (iii) Both (A) and (B) are unrelated assertions. (g) (i) (A) is a fact and (B) is an assumption. (h) No, the cases have increased by 30%

zzz

46 Xam idea English–IX

SECTION–B

WRITING AND GRAMMAR 1. DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH (PERSON/SITUATION/EVENT) (WORD LIMIT: 100–120) 2. DIARY ENTRY (WORD LIMIT: 100–120)

3. SHORT STORY (WORD LIMIT: 100–120) 4. QUICK REVISION OF BASIC GRAMMAR 5. GAP FILLING 6. EDITING 7. TRANSFORMATION OF SENTENCES

20 MARKS

Descriptive Paragraph

1

(Person/Situation/Event)

A descriptive paragraph is a detailed account of any given topic, be it person, situation or event. It helps the reader get a feel and sense of the details written by the writer. The details given in the paragraph must appeal to the five senses: sight, taste, touch, smell and hearing. The main purpose of writing a descriptive paragraph is that the reader must feel what the writer is describing. While writing a descriptive paragraph, there are a few points to keep in mind. Q

Give proper introduction about the topic (person/situation/event).

Q

When writing about a person, focus on the physical details.

Writing a Descriptive Paragraph A descriptive paragraph is a focused and detailed-rich account of a specific topic. Paragraphs in this style often have a concrete focus, like the sound of a waterfall or the stench of a skunk’s spray. They can also convey something abstract, such as an emotion or a memory. Some descriptive paragraphs do both. These paragraphs help readers feel and sense the details that the writer wants to convey. To write a descriptive paragraph, you must study your topic closely, make a list of the details you observe, and organise those details into a logical structure. The goal of descriptive writing is for readers to feel like they are actually experiencing what the writer is describing. For example: Q

‘cheering crowd’

Q

‘he peered confidently over the rims of his metallic gray sunglasses’

Q

‘popping, locking, and sliding across the dance floor’

Q

‘glittering lights of the makeshift disco ball’

Writing and Grammar

49

Solved Examples

1. You recently participated in a ‘Robot Making’ event in your school. Participants from as many as 30 schools in the city took part in the event. Write about the event in 100120 words describing how many robots were made and who was awarded the best (5 marks) prize, etc. ROBOT MAKING COMPETITION

Ans.

Our school organised a Robot Making Competition in which as many as 30 students from 30 schools of the city participated. As a member of the Robotic Club, I represented my school in this activity. All the students were given the basic tools and units. All the groups were given 2 hours for assembling the robot together. Our group consisted of 4 of us, all members of the Robotic Club. We put together Harsh, a robot, which could play the music, do basic activities such as making bed, and washing vessels. One of the participating schools had made a running robot which could take part in running races. This robot was adjudged the best by the judges. Our robot for the second prize. The Chief Guest for the event was a Professor of Robotics from the University of Technology in the city.

2. You recently attended a seminar on ‘How to Achieve Success’. Using the cues given below, write a descriptive paragraph, describing the event in about 100-120 words.

(5 marks)

Do not let fixated with results; just enjoy the journey that leads you to them l Always measure your improvements and work to better yourself in all spheres l Do not wait for opportunity to knock on your door. However, if it does, make the most of it l Fame and money flow with passion and perseverance l Measure your decisions and build a strong team l

Ans.

ATTENDED A SEMINAR

A seminar on ‘How to Achieve Success’ was held in our school on Monday. It was attended by as many as 600 people from various walks of life. Speaker after speaker gave some valuable tips which if implemented, can help us achieve success. The participants defined success. Success was not something to be compared with others, but it has to be looked at as improving our own performance as compared with the previous one. It is a journey and not an end in itself. If we start enjoying the journey, success will follow. Today is the age of team building. One must work with colleagues as a team and move towards the larger goal. The success of the team means the success of the organisation, that means an individual’s success. That is the way to look at it, that is the way to approach it. I came out better equipped to handle day by day situations after attending the seminar.

3. One day, you were commuting in a DTC bus. Unfortunately, your wallet was left at home. The conductor gave you the ticket for free. You were moved by his gesture. (5 marks) Write a descriptive paragraph, describing him in 100-120 words.

Ans.

BUS CONDUCTOR

One day I was commuting on a DTC bus. Unfortunately, my wallet was left at home. I had no money to buy the ticket and it was useless to please before the conductor. Every moment was adding to my anxiety, lest I should be caught by the ticket checker and further consequences. The conductor asked me to take the ticket but after knowing

50 Xam idea English–IX

the truth, he offered me the ticket. I looked at him as if I was asking the reason and he just smiled. The conductor was a conscientious and kind-hearted person. He understood my problem and so did not fine. I deboarded the bus thanking him from the depth of my heart. I was moved by the behaviour of the conductor and it had been an unforgettable experience of my life.

4. Last summer vacation, you went to your friend’s village. His grandmother looked after you as if you were her grandchild. Write a descriptive paragraph, decribing her in about 100-120 words. (5 marks)

Ans.

FRIEND’S GRANDMOTHER

In every summer vacation, I visit some hill station, but last time I visited my friend’s grandmother’s village in her repeated invitations. She gave me a warm welcome. First of all, we took a bath in the river and rested under the dense trees. She cared a lot, especially for me as I was her guest. He sweet nature and soft speaking really impressed me. The breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared by her were not only tasty but full of love. She took care of my every small need. I felt as if I were in my grandmother’s paradise. She also showed many photographs from her album. She also told me that she was a champion in swimming. She won many gold medals in swimming competition. She showed me all the prizes she had achieved in her life. I was very excited.

5. Write a descriptive paragraph about the time when you helped someone. Describe the situation in about 100-120 words. (5 marks)

Ans.

HELPED AN UNKNOWN PERSON

About a couple of months ago, I was going to college which is located at some distance from my hometown. One day, I took a bus at about 9:30 a.m. to reach my college. Once I was seated in the bus, I felt something under my feet. I thought it would be a paper or a small notebook. But when I stooped down to take it, I saw that it was a passport. I asked everyone travelling on the bus to claim its ownership but everyone denied. I read the address on it and that address was of a village which was near to my hometown. So the next day, I went to that village and enquired a villager about the address which was written on the passport. With the help of that villager, I found the house. When I knocked the door, a lady opened it. I told her about the lost passport. As soon as she heard about the passport, she felt immensely glad and hugged me as the passport was of her son. Seeing her happy face, I also felt highly elated. All in all, that was the time when I helped an unknown person.

6. You were about to participate in a radio event organised by a local radio station. But due to heavy traffic, you could not reach on time, despite leaving your home before time. Write a descriptive paragraph about the situation, in about 100-120 words. You may write about how long you had to wait and how you felt about this. (5 marks)

Ans. TRAFFIC CONGESTION I recently had to participate in a radio event organised by a local radio station. The distance between my place and the radio station was approximately 1 hour. So accordingly I left my home. Instead of waiting for the bus in the long queue, I hired an auto to save time and started for the station. After a few miles, we saw a heavy traffic ahead. The auto driver tried to escape the increasing traffic, but he could not do so. Though he tried to cross the main road using the narrow inner streets, he failed as the streets were too narrow to enter and again he had to join on the main road of the city. As a result, he got more trapped in the jam. So, I had to sit idly for two hours and by the same time I informed the issue to the radio authorities who had invited me. I felt worst on the day. Writing and Grammar

51

Questions for Practice 1. Write a descriptive paragraph, in about 100–120 words, on Inspiring Teacher. Use the information given below. (5 marks) lecturer in Sanskrit literature — had high knowledge of Sanskrit linguistics — speciality in calligraphy and philosophy — he was a truck driver in Tamil Nadu — appointed to be a guest lecturer in university of Delhi — he was carrying a plastic bag — wore a simple outfit — didn’t have many rules in his class — he let us feel and try the words — humble heart and persistence — always tried our best in the class — admired by his attitude towards his students

2. Write a descriptive paragraph, in about 100–120 words, on My Loving Sister. Use the information given below. (5 marks) strong and caring sister — currently staying with her friend’s family — pursuing an advanced academic program — tries to fit time in her busy schedule to call or text us — sacrificed so much to be the best — understanding, intelligent, funny and charismatic — has a solution to every problem

3. Write a descriptive paragraph, in about 100–120 words, on My Grandmother. Use the information given below. (5 marks) most amazing person — she always puts a smile on our faces — had the funniest laugh — would help anyone no matter what the situation was — always had a welcoming home — could talk to her about anything — made the best idlis and payasam — raised me to be a better person — everyone who met her cherished her

4. Write a descriptive paragraph, in about 100–120 words, on My Best Friend: My Champ. Invent all the necessary details. (5 marks) 5. Write a descriptive paragraph, in about 100–120 words, describing a situation when you reached the examination hall late. (5 marks) 6. Write a descriptive paragraph, in about 100–120 words, on ‘My Favourite Movie Character’.  (5 marks) 7. Write a descriptive paragraph, in about 100–120 words, on the person you admire the most. (5 marks) 8. Write a descriptive paragraph, in about 100–120 words, on ‘My Pet Dog’.

(5 marks)

9. Write a descriptive paragraph, in about 100–120 words, on a situation of quarrel you witnessed at an election booth. (5 marks) 10. ‘Career Fair’ was organised this year as well in your school. As many as 30 institutes had put up their stalls. Some of the participants included NIFT, NID, IIPM and Computer Academy, etc. The school had invited career counsellors as well. Write a descriptive paragraph, in about 100–120 words, of the event. (5 marks) 11. Write a descriptive paragraph, in about 100–120 words, about the pleasures of watching (5 marks) television. Use the information given. combines the pleasures of radio and cinema — most popular means of entertainment — facility of cable network — hundreds of channels — instant and live coverage — entertaining as well as informative — TV’s darker aspects

52 Xam idea English–IX

12. The International Women’s Day was celebrated in all parts of the world with great gusto. As part of the celebrations, women achievers were given awards by the Rotary Club of your city. Among those honoured included the famous Police Officer Kiran Bedi, Sharmila Tagore and Shabana Azmi. Write a descriptive paragraph, describing the event in about 100-120 words.  (5 marks) 13. Every person faces a difficult situation in his life, and sometimes he/she feels very uncomfortable, and most of the time people want to forget the time. Describe such a situation when you felt awkward. Write the descriptive paragraph, in about 100-120 words.  (5 marks) 14. Write a descriptive paragraph, in about 100–120 words, about a situation when you got an (5 marks) opportunity to visit a radio station. Invent all the necessary details.

Answers [Descriptive Paragraph] 1.

INSPIRING TEACHER Mr Shyam Sagar was my Sanskrit lecturer at University of Delhi. He was highly knowledgeable about Sanskrit linguistics. His specialty was in calligraphy and philosophy. He started as a truck driver in Tamil Nadu before he was appointed guest lecturer in University of Delhi. When we saw him for the first time, he didn’t look like a lecturer. He was a simple man and carried a black plastic bag and wore a simple outfit. He didn’t have many rules in his class but he knew how to attract us to the subject. Every time we studied linguistics, he let us feel and try the words, so we had no doubt in pronouncing them. He was able to make us understand phrases matching to situations and Tamil culture. His humble heart and persistence made us respect him. As a result, we always tried our best in his class because we did not want to disappoint him.

2.

MY LOVING SISTER My sister’s name is Radhika Kapoor. She is currently staying with her friend’s family in Patel Nagar as she is pursuing an advanced academic program and her institute is close to it. She works hard and even takes time out to call me or text me at the end of each day. She is studying to be an engineer, but that does not define her totally. What she loves about it is that it is a challenge she has to overcome. Radhika is everything that one would want in a sibling. She is understanding, intelligent, funny, and charismatic. She has a solution to every problem. She guides me and advises me on what should be avoided and what is good for me. I love my sister and wish nothing separates us. I hope that someday I can take good care of her as she has cared for me.

Writing and Grammar

53

MY GRANDMOTHER

3.

My grandmother always put a smile on everyone’s face. She had the most infectious laughter and always cracked jokes, which was why we were always laughing. She would help everyone, no matter what the situation, even if it meant going out of her way. She was very caring and always had a welcoming nature. She made the best idlis and payasam. I always looked forward to her warm food. I will always cherish all her memories. She was like my best friend. I could talk to her about anything, and she knew exactly how to solve my problems. I always looked forward to Diwali, walking into her house, smelling all the warm food, waiting for us. She raised me to be a better person and to look at things in a positive way. She was a strong, loving, caring, funny woman and was very giving. Anyone who met her cherished her forever. MY BEST FRIEND—MY CHAMP

4.

Mohan has been a good friend of mine since we first met in primary school. Although we were very young and seemed to not have too much in common, we somehow found some reasons to bond and create a friendship. It is a friendship that has become stronger over time and through our shared life experiences. He is my exact opposite in terms of physical attributes. He is taller than me, with dark hair and black eyes. He also has better fashion sense than me. He is more sociable than I am. Because of his talent for drawing, he often attracts people to look at his 3D designs on his laptop. He has a creative mind and has a lot of projects that he works on whenever he has free time. He is the friend that I go to when I feel troubled or pressured. It is his voice of reason that helps me calm down and remain composed. He is my best friend because he cares about me. I hope that our friendship remains forever.

REACHED EXAMINATION HALL LATE

5.

On 1st March, I set out of my house for my examination. It was the paper of English on that day. I went to the bus stand to catch the local bus. But due to rain, the buses were not running on that day. I took a three-wheeler and asked the driver to rush me to the examination centre. But unluckily, a tyre of the three-wheeler got burst on the way. I was worried as the time for the examination was drawing near. Luckily, I saw one of my friends going on a cycle. I asked him to give me a lift. He agreed, and I sat behind him on the bicycle. But the examination centre was far away. He tried his best but I reached the examination hall half an hour late. The examination had already begun. Tears came into my eyes. But the Superintendent was a kind man. He told me not to worry and admitted to the examination hall. His kind words gave me courage and I started writing my answers. I scored well in examination. I will always be indebted to that superintendent.

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6.

MY FAVOURITE MOVIE CHARACTER Iron Man is a fictional character, a brutal superhero who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee. An American boastful billionaire, industrialist and ingenious ambitious engineer, Tony Stark suffers a severe chest injury during a kidnapping in which his captors attempt to force him to build a weapon of mass destruction. Instead of it, he creates a powered suit of armour to save his life and escape captivity. He later uses the suit to protect the world as Iron Man. Iron Man has been a member of the superhero team named “the Avengers” and has been featured in several embodiments of his own various comic book series. Iron Man has been adapted for several animated TV shows and films. Though many people call him selfish and arrogant man of fortune because of his cynicism, I like this character. For me, he is outstanding and strongwilled warrior.

7.

THE PERSON I ADMIRE The person I admire the most is an Australian cricketer named Ricky Ponting. It may seem strange that a passionate Indian and India cricket fan admires an Australian cricketer, but it’s a testament to the type of cricketer he is. He is a tough, gritty person that never backs down from a challenge or a fight. He is a winner. Winning is everything to him; everything other than winning is meaningless. Ponting first came to my attention in 2005, when I first started to take up keen interest in cricket. He arrived as Australian captain in England to compete for the Ashes with his much fancied Australian side full of legends, such as Shane Warne, Glen McGrath and Adam Gilchrist. Ponting had the job of leading this team to retain the Ashes in England. He has never been regarded as one of the best captains in a tactical sense, but in my opinion he was one of the best leaders ever to play the game. He led from the front, never backing down from the challenges.

8.

MY PET DOG Dogs are loyal, and as pet animals, they respond to the presence of a leader — you! Dogs are eager to please you in any way they can. When you’re feeling blue, your dog will remain by your side silently comforting you. When you’re happy and excited, your dog will leap about you and share in your joy. Dogs are playful. They love physical activity, such as going for walks, fetching sticks, leaping into ponds, and racing wildly to and fro. Dogs will join you for a jog or for a day in the park or even for an exuberant game of Frisbee. Yet dogs can also be soft and cuddly, and ready at any time for a loving pat and a reassuring hug. They’re affectionate and they’re soothing to stroke, plus most dogs can also remain calm when necessary and be tolerant of small children who don’t yet know how to be quiet or to behave gently around animals. Dogs can be trained so that they can easily cohabitate with us in our human-built dwellings. They can also be trusted to act appropriately around other people and in public. Dogs can learn to save nature’s call for outdoor walks, to walk on a leash when on public roads where cars lurk, and to sit and to stay whenever and wherever necessary.

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A QUARREL AT AN ELECTION BOOTH

9.

During the recent Assembly elections, I witnessed a quarrel at an election booth. The Hindu Girls College was one of the election booths. I went to cast my vote there. There was a keen contest between the candidate of Congress party and an independent candidate. By the midnight it became clear that the independent candidate was not getting as many votes as the Congress candidate. The independent candidate was sure to lose. So his supporters created a row. They said that the ballot boxes had been tampered. They started raising slogans and abusing the candidate of the other party. The supporters of that party also came there and quarrelled with them. From words, they came to blows. At once a police party reached there and controlled the situation. At last, the matter was settled peacefully. CAREER FAIR

10.

Career Fair was organised this year as well in our school. It is a one stop education exhibition which is focused on student recruitment. As many as 30 institutes had put up their stalls. This event provided a platform for students upward for class 9 to meet career experts from various fields to know about the options available to them. Experts from medical, engineering, fashion, design, architecture and many other fields were invited. Also, career guidance was provided by counsellors. Bookstalls and eatables were other attractions. The event was open to parents as well. Parents got to interact with experts and collect information regarding various options. The fair was open to students of classes 9-12.

PLEASURES OF WATCHING A TELEVISION

11.

Television combines the pleasures of listening to the radio and watching cinema. In today’s world, it has become one of the most popular means of entertainment as it provides a variety of entertainment of all age groups and genres, at a nominal amount of payment. Every home has a TV nowadays. The facility of cable network has increased the pleasures of television. Now, we have hundreds of channels available to us. Each person can watch programmes of his choice. Instant and live coverage of news, sports items, films and film-based programmes, and TV serials and soap operas are the sort of programmes which are liked the most. Television watching is entertaining as well as informative. Programmes on current affairs enlighten us. However, like every invention of science, TV has darker aspects also. Excessive TV watching proves harmful. So, let us be moderate in enjoying the pleasures of television.

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12.

WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION 8th March is celebrated every year as International Women’s Day. The reason we celebrate this day is to honour women and to recognise their contribution to the family, society and nation. Rotary Club of our city organised a celebration to honour some women achievers. Those honoured included Kiran Bedi, the Magsayday award winner, Sharmila Tagore, the Chairperson of the Censor Board and Shabana Azmi, a woman activist and a great actor. Ms Bedi exhorted the young girls to repel any untoward advances to them. She further said that the whole state machinery is with them. Ms Tagore asked the girls to study hard, because it is education that will give them confidence. Ms Azmi advised the ladies to come forward and join the mainstream of the society. All these women pledged to work for the upliftment of women of this country.

13.

AN AWKWARD SITUATION It happened on 1st January, 20XX. On New Year, my friends made a plan to watch the movie and then go out for dinner. It was an evening show, which started at 5:00 p.m. We all were very excited because we all were going to spend time with each other after a long time. We reached the mall before the show and bought tickets. My seat was in the fourth row. Unfortunately, my seat made a lot of horrible noises whenever I sat comfortably on the chair. People sitting around me were staring at me and some were laughing at my discomfort which made me feel awkward. The person who was seated next to me requested me not to make any noise. It was tough for me to pass the time sitting in an uncomfortable position in the chair, but I had to do it. The next day, I had to visit the clinic because I was suffering from a severe back pain due to the last day’s uncomfortable chair.

14.

A VISIT TO THE RADIO STATION On 15th April 20XX, I visited the All India Radio Station, Delhi, with my friend who is a host on a youth programme, Yuva Manch. We left home early in the morning by bus and reached the radio station,which was a big and beautiful building. There was a lot of security, but as my friend is a host there, I could accompany her inside. There in a large reception hall, my entrance pass was stamped. There were so many recording and broadcasting rooms, that I lost the count of the many I crossed. The sections were marked with signboards and name plates. The broadcast room was soundproof. There were many people seated in the audience and a panel of experts in the entrance. I also saw a recording room where a programme was being recorded. The drama section proved to be an interesting experience as a play rehearsal was in progress. I also visited the technical section where the engineers were busy ensuring that the programmes were aired without any hitch. It was a first-hand experience for me, as I now understood very clearly, how so many programmes were on air and how we could tune in to our favourite channels, and enjoy them. The place had a very professional upkeep and the employees too, had a smart uniform and were really very professional, in their manner of approach and outlook. zzz

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2

Diary Entry

A diary entry is a short composition. It is usually an entry of the writer’s feelings or a brief summary of what happens in his/her life. It is introspective in nature and similar to an informal letter, in terms of its language. It’s a handwritten reporting of what took place over a certain period. To write a diary entry, a situation will be given on the basis of which your creativity, imagination and expression will be tested.

Writing a Diary Entry The following steps are to be followed to write an interesting diary entry. 1. Make a chronological order of events/incidents, in a logical and coherent order as the diary entry usually happens at the end of the day. 2. Mention the current day, date and time at the top-left corner. 3. Express the idea in paragraphs, with the main and important details. It should be brief and vivid. 4. Lay stress on your emotions, feelings and reactions. 5. The writing style should be informal and personal, considering the diary to be your best friend. 6. The writing should be in the past tense as it is a memoir. 7. The word limit should be 100–120 words. 8. The diary entry should end with you signing off with your first name.

Solved Examples

1. Imagine you went to a beach in Goa on vacation. You did a water scooter ride. You learnt a few tips about the ride. Write a diary entry, in about 100–120 words, sharing your experience, using the visual given. (5 marks)

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Monday, 30th April, 20XX

Day & Date

10:00 p.m.

Time

Main body  Dear Diary, I was on a vacation last week to Goa. I had heard a lot about its lovely beaches, historical churches, and exciting water sports. It was a dream-come-true when I got to know that our tickets were booked for Goa. On reaching there, I was mesmerised by the beauty of the beaches, the vast expanse of greenish-blue clear water, and the waves that crashed on the sand into milky white foam. I just couldn’t wait to enter the water there. We spent endless hours on the beach. I went on a water scooter ride with my brother. Though I was scared initially, the experience was exhilarating. In addition to this jaw-dropping experience, we visited many of the prominent churches there and tasted a variety of sea food delicacies.

Conclusion I didn’t want the vacation to end, but as all good things have an end, we had to return after four totally awesome days. Natasha  



Signature / Name of the writer

2. You recently visited the 33rd International Crafts Mela at Surajkund, Faridabad. You were fascinated by the dazzle and vibrancy of the mela. Write a diary entry, in about 100–120 words, sharing your experience. (5 marks)

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Ans. Thursday, 13th February, 20XX 9:00 p.m. Dear Diary, I have gone to so many fairs in my life, but none of them compare to this year’s Surajkund fair in Faridabad. It was a unique experience. The crowd present was a proof of the Mela’s popularity. The Theme State chosen was Maharashtra. The fair was of international repute, with close to 20 countries and all the states of India participating. The cultural programmes enthralled us. The stalls there showcased exquisite handloom and handicraft items. The multi-cuisine food court catered ethnic cuisines from all over the world and various states of India. The Mela also offered adventure sports and joy rides. We bought clothes and souvenirs for our friends. By evening, the physical exertion was catching up, but it was a reward in itself. As the shadows lengthened, we decided to leave for our home from an experience that truly represented our vibrant India. Shruti



3. You saw a minor girl working as a maid. Write a diary entry, expressing your views on child labour. Write this entry in about 100–120 words. (5 marks) Ans. Thursday, 17th September, 20XX 9:00 p.m. Dear Diary, Today, while going to the school, I saw a girl in untidy clothes. My mother said that she was the daughter of our regular household help. I was moved to see her. The sweet, innocent face of the girl kept haunting me the whole time while I was at school. Later, after returning from school, I spoke to her and tried to convince her about the importance of going to school and about the ban on child labour. I told her that education is required to come out from ignorance and suppression. I tried to make her understand the importance of education in one’s life and the benefits of being educated. She told me about her poverty and helplessness. She told that she wanted to get an education, but her parents did not allow her. I told her that I would talk to her parents and try to convince them. The girl was happy to hear that and promised that she would definitely go to school if her parents allowed her.

Kanupriya

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4. On Children’s Day, Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was interacting with the students of 100 selected schools of Delhi. You were one of the lucky ones to be selected from your school. Pen down your feelings and experience on meeting the Missile Man of India, in the form of a diary entry, in about 100–120 words. (5 marks) Ans. Wednesday, 14th November, 20XX 11:00 p.m. Dear Diary, Today was truly the best day of my life. I was one of the five children chosen from my school to go to Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, on the occasion of Children’s Day. I couldn’t believe my luck when Mrs Mathur, our science teacher, announced my name amongst the five students selected from our school. I felt so elated and important. We waited patiently to meet Dr Kalam. We all stood up and applauded as he took his seat on the dais. There was complete silence when he came to the podium to speak. He inspired all the students to develop a scientific attitude and be enthusiastic and sincere in everything we did. I got an opportunity to ask him a question, but I must confess that just being given that privilege was also very overwhelming. He was so kind while replying to my query. This day will go down in history as the best day of my life. Karen



5. Your school organised an excursion to the Golden Temple and the Wagah Border. Write a diary entry about your trip in about 100–120 words. (5 marks) Ans. Thursday, 8th October, 20XX 11:00 p.m. Dear Diary, Today we went to visit the Golden Temple and Wagah Border, on a trip from school. It was a six-hour drive from Delhi, but we didn’t feel tired as we were all playing games and munching throughout the journey. We reached the Golden Temple around 9:00 a.m. We were amazed to see the cleanliness and the discipline inside the temple. After walking around for some time, we felt hungry. We ate a simple but delicious lunch from the Langar. We felt blessed when we entered the shrine. The temple truly is a symbol of human brotherhood and equality. We left for Wagah Border by 2:00 p.m. and reached there by 4:00 p.m., just in time to witness the military practice done since 1959 and the flag lowering ceremony. We, and the thousands of spectators who were also gathered, there, sang and danced along patriotic songs. This was one of the best excursions that I have been a part of.

Nikita

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Questions for Practice

1. You are Michelle of Class IX. You were the anchor for the annual function at your school today. Make a diary entry, in about 100–120 words, sharing your experience and feelings. You can use the following cues. (5 marks) anchor – went well – District Collector – chief guest – impressed everyone – wonderful day



2. You visited a science fair in a nearby school. Record your experience in the form of a (5 marks) diary entry, in about 100–120 words.



3. While coming home from school, you were trying to cross the road at a busy traffic point. You observed an old man trying to cross the road. You felt sorry for him and helped him out. Pen down your feelings about the old man and his situation in your diary, in about 100–120 words. (5 marks) 4. You went to see the Taj Mahal at Agra on a trip organised by your school. You were spellbound by the spectacular beauty of the monument, but the lack of cleanliness around it disappointed you. Write a diary entry, in about 100–120 words, expressing (5 marks) your admiration and disappointment.





5. You watched the telecast of the XXI Commonwealth Games that recently concluded in Gold Coast, Australia. India secured the third position in the medal tally, with 66 medals in all, while England was second; winning 136 medals, and hosts Australia first, with 196 medals in all. Later in the evening, you watched a debate on television citing the need to improve the standard of sports in India. Make a diary entry expressing (5 marks) your opinion regarding the same in about 100–120 words.

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6. Your mother usually cleans your room when you are at school. While cleaning up, she keeps your things at places where it is difficult for you to locate them. This frequently results in an argument. Express your feelings in your diary, in about 100–120 words. (5 marks) You can use the following cues. cleaning in absence – unnecessary confusion – arguments – heated words – regret – apology – resolved how to manage





7. You spent a part of your summer vacation in your village. You found that life in the village is more close to nature, which we miss in the cities. You are now back home. Write a diary entry about your stay in your village and your feelings, in about 100–120 words. (5 marks) 8. You witnessed an accident that occurred due to rash driving. Write your experience in the form of a diary entry, in about 100–120 words. (5 marks)

9. You are Vijayta. You recently surprised your mother on Mother’s Day. Make a diary entry, in about 100–120 words, using the following cues, expressing your feelings and (5 marks) stating what all happened. surprised mother – planned a day full of enjoyment – bought her a pair of earrings – went out with her – didn’t let her work – made her happy

10. You are Vikas. You were on the flight to London for your vacation with your family when you found yourself seated next to the Bollywood superstar Mr Amitabh Bachchan. (5 marks) Express your feelings by making a diary entry in about 100–120 words. 11. You are Ashish, living in Delhi. You had to attend a wedding ceremony in Mumbai. Your father took you there by airplane. You are very excited as it was your first journey by plane. Write a diary entry, in about 100–120 words, sharing your experience. (5 marks) 12. While going home you came across many children on the roads at crossroads with begging bowls in their hands. You are shocked and disgusted at this unflattering picture of a country which boasts of being a major economy in the world. Record your (5 marks) experience, in about 100-120 words, in your diary.

Answers [Diary Entry] 1. Tuesday, 4th July, 20XX 10:10 p.m. Dear Diary, I am feeling really great. Today, we had the Annual Function in my school and I had a very important part in it. I was the anchor of the function. I had really practised a lot and fortunately, everything went off really well. I started off confidently and could manage all the add-ons that came on unexpectedly, without making any mistakes. The chief guest was the district collector of our area. His speech was really inspirational. I listened carefully to all the words of wisdom that he spoke. The Principal and all the teachers were happy with the way I delivered the vote of thanks. I felt really lucky and happy that I could perform in front of such an influential and eminent person, and that too in front of such a big gathering. It was indeed a wonderful day at school. I feel so tired. Will see you tomorrow. Michelle Writing and Grammar

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2.

Monday, 8th October, 20XX 09:30 p.m. Dear Diary, Today was quite an exciting day for me. Our school visited the science exhibition hosted by St Xavier’s School. The walk in the hot sun to the school was tiring. We were happy when our teachers gave a packet of fruit juice to each of us, when we reached the venue. Refreshed, we entered the stalls that were decorated with charts. The diagrams and the pictures drawn were really fascinating. What interested us the most was the working model of the human heart, digestive system and other organs of the body. Apart from that, there were models of futuristic vehicles that would cause no pollution at all, working models of waste treatment plants and machines that would warn us well in-advance about natural calamities, all operating on solar energy. This was an experience for all. It has provoked me to think differently. I returned home quite enriched in knowledge.

Hema 3. Monday, 16th October, 20XX 09:30 p.m. Dear Diary, I want to share with you a very sad incident that I witnessed today, but I’m happy that in a world lacking in sensitivity, I was a good Samaritan to an old man. While returning from school, I was finding it difficult to cross the street because of the busy traffic when I saw an old man who, too, was trying to cross the street. He had a bag in one hand and was hoping for assistance from someone, but everybody just raced by. I went over to him and told him that I’d like to help. I could literally see relief in his eyes. I took his bag, held his hand, and slowly began crossing over. A traffic policeman, seeing the effort, came forward and helped us cross the road. As we reached the other side, I could see tears in the old man’s eyes. He thanked me profusely and blessed me. It made me feel good that I wasn’t like the rest of the people around me on that busy street. Ankita 4.

Monday, 23th October, 20XX 09:30 p.m. Dear Diary, Today, we were fortunate to see one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. Its architecture and sculptures amazed all of us. The guide told us that Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor, loved his wife so much that he commissioned the construction of this mausoleum in her memory. I was spellbound by the massive architectural beauty that stood before us. But, as we walked around the monument, we were appalled to see the garbage of plastic waste, and the scribbling on the walls. I really couldn’t imagine how anyone could try to blemish this world famous historical monument. We were then struck by the unbearable stench of decay emanating from the tanning industries as we walked further on. I didn’t understand what to feel at that point of time - a deep sense of admiration and pride or a sense of shame and resentment?

Abhishek

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5.

Monday, 29th October, 20XX 11:30 p.m. Dear Diary, I stayed up to watch the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2018, proud that our country stood third in the medal tally, with 66 medals, to the 136 medals secured by United Kingdom in second position and the 196 medals secured by Australia in the first position. I felt proud of those who gave India its glory, but after seeing the medal tally, felt sad. India could and can do better if sports and sportsmen are encouraged by providing proper facilities and opportunities. In our country, talent is not tapped early enough, unlike in countries like China, Japan, and the US. There is a dearth of professional and good coaches in our country. The sports scenario could get better if funds were given and utilised properly for training these youngsters. There is a lack of professional attitude amongst the sportsmen, too. Hopefully, this performance prompts and encourages the country to reframe its policies and facilitate aspiring sportsmen so that they bring honour to the country. Mohit

6.

Monday, 19th October, 20XX 10:30 p.m. Dear Diary, As usual, Mother cleaned and rearranged things in my room while I was at school. Later, I could not find the assignment where I had left it on my shelf. I had to submit to the tuition teacher that evening and was scolded for being so irresponsible as to not do it and give the lame excuse that I could not find it. On returning home I was so upset that I spoke very rudely to my mother. I told her not to touch any of my belongings. In my anger, I didn’t see that she was hurt. When I went back to the room, I found the assignment, kept neatly on the study table. I had not even given my mother a chance to say anything and had kept yelling at her. Later, I found her sitting in her room looking sad. I apologised immediately for my outburst and promised her that I wouldn’t be rude to her and would keep my things in order. She understood my burst of temper and forgave me. I’m feeling so miserable for the way I behaved. Mahita

7.

Monday, 29th October, 20XX 09:30 p.m. Dear Diary, We are back home after a visit to our village. Visiting the ancestral village after eight years was quite an experience. Our relatives didn’t recognise me as I was a toddler when I last went there. The first night was quite a challenge as we slept in the open on the terrace. The sounds of the crickets and owls kept me awake for quite long. I was rudely awakened by the roosters crowing early morning. The day begins earlier in the villages, unlike the cities. I saw my uncle milking the cow and the milk tasted much better than the packet milk we are used to. Breakfast was a treat of hot paranthas with a huge blob of butter. My cousins took us to the fields, where we plucked fresh vegetables which were to be cooked. During our entire stay, we never missed out on the fast food that we would die for. Life in villages is simpler than the cities. I would love to revisit the village soon. Ashita Writing and Grammar

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8. Monday, 19th June, 20XX 09:30 p.m. Dear Diary, People are so careless and in such haste that road accidents have become common on Indian roads. Today, at dispersal time, right outside the school, I saw a young boy make a dash across the road. There was a loud blare of horn, a squeal of brakes, and then a car knocked into the boy. He fell as though his feet were swept from under him. Fortunately, the car was not moving very fast and the driver stopped the car before its wheel ran over the fallen boy. All traffic stopped. I ran over to the boy and saw blood on the road. He was bleeding from a cut on his head. A man came and examined the boy. Then he lifted the boy and carried him to a car. They sped off, presumably to the hospital. It was terrible to witness the accident. I certainly would not like to be involved in one. Pramod 9.

Sunday, 13th May, 20XX 09:30 p.m. Dear Diary, Today was the day Father and I had been planning for a long time. The alarm woke us up an hour before Mother usually wakes. Very quietly, we cooked breakfast for her. You should have seen the surprise on her face when we served her steaming hot coffee and breakfast in bed. We wished her Happy Mothers’ Day by giving the card I had made. We had planned a whole day of enjoyment and surprises. We got ready and went out to watch a movie, after which dad surprised mom by buying her a pair of diamond earrings. We arranged for her to go to the spa and get a nice beauty treatment. In the evening, we ordered her favourite food and had a candle-lit dinner at home. Both of us set the table for dinner and even cleared the dishes later. Mom was overwhelmed and said that she felt like a queen and that it was the most memorable day of her life. Vijayta

10.

Sunday, 20th May, 20XX 09:30 p.m. Dear Diary, I really need to tell you who I met on the flight from Delhi to London. The Bollywood Legend, Shri Amitabh Bachchan. I was awestruck initially when he greeted me as I settled next to him. His personality is awe-inspiring. As the flight took off, he noticed I was slightly tense and he started talking to me. He told me that he was flying to London as he was being awarded the Best Actor Award by IIFA. When he came to know that I was from Delhi, he told me about his college days in Delhi. He shared with me a few tips on voice modulation and how I could improve my oratory skills. The 8 hours of flight, that I thought would be boring, were the best I have ever taken in my life and one of the most interesting ones. He was kind enough to pose for pictures with my family and with other passengers too, but I was most privileged because he let me click a few selfies with him, which I will treasure all my life. Vikas

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11.

Thursday, 29th October, 20XX 09:30 p.m. Dear Diary, I wish to share with you the excitement of my first flight to Mumbai. As it was my first experience, I was a bit nervous. On Monday, we boarded a huge aircraft when an air hostess greeted us with a smile. I occupied the window seat to enjoy my flight. As our plane took off, I felt relaxed. When I looked down everything appeared to be very small. It was so picturesque that if I were a poet I would have composed a poem. I was enjoying every moment of my journey. After about two hours, we landed at the Mumbai airport. Before landing at the airport, I looked down to see the largest slums in Asia, ‘Dharavi slums’ about which I had heard so often from my father. Mumbai airport really looked amazing. I along with my family also bought a few chocolates from the shop. It was a great adventure of my life. Ashish

12.

Sunday, 20th April, 20XX 10:00 p.m. Dear Diary, They say that India is emerging as a major economy in the world. But it is more true that India has the largest army of people, paupers and beggars. Hence, millions of people in India are condemned to begging. I am shocked to see hundreds of shabby looking people in rags shouting in woeful tones, “Baba, give me something for God’s sake”. No country can become great if its children are condemned to lead such a miserable life. If millions of children live in such inhuman conditions, dirt and poverty, it is a matter of shame for the government and the civilised society of India. Every child must have a constitutional right to get proper food, clothes and education. It is true that begging has also become a lucrative profession for some bad characters. They kidnap small children and raise them to beggars. The other side of the story is also true. Millions of hands in this country don’t get any jobs to earn a living. They resort to begging.

Mohan

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3

Short Story

Stories are accounts of fictional incidents, narrated in an interesting manner, and are shorter than a novel. A short story focuses on a single plot, has one or more characters, and a central theme. The main purpose of writing a short story is to inspire and make the students think about an issue. A story should be brief and direct. It should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. A short story becomes interesting when it captivates the readers and provokes their senses. The things that make a story are: Q

Plot

Q

Characters

Q

Setting

Plot: Most stories have a sequence and purpose or the reason why the story is being told. Some stories have a moral or a message. Others have an unusual ending or suspense. Some stories are adventurous, some are funny, and some are scary. We see a starting point that moves through different courses to an ending point. Characters: The story has people, animals and/or other creatures. To add a touch of reality, it is necessary to write a story based on real life. It is also important to think of special qualities or behaviour patterns. The characters should be built to result in reactions of admiration, fear, hatred, and so on. There is usually one main character and other supporting characters in a short story. Suitable thoughts or dialogues further develop the characters. Setting: The background of a story is the setting. The story can be set in a forest or a classroom. It is possible for the events of a story to be taking place in a totally imaginary place like toy land or fairyland. Adding details to a setting helps make it more suitable to the plot and the characters. A short story moves at different speeds in different situations. The story may be told through any one of the characters or a combination of some characters. It is very important to have a good beginning and a proper ending.

Tips to Remember: Q

Focus should be on a single incident.

Q

The story should be written in the past tense.

Q

The story should revolve around the central character.

Q

The climax should be clear and thrilling.

Q

The plot should be created so as to captivate the reader.

Q

The word limit of 100–120 words should be adhered to.

Q

If necessary, the story can have a moral.

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Solved Examples

1. Write a short story based on the following hints, in 100–120 words. Give a suitable title to it.  (5 marks) Once upon a time—boy lived with mother—boy hated mother—she had only one eye—always embarrassed—wished mother would disappear—few years later—boy left his mother—came to the city and got settled—forgot his one-eyed mother—received a letter—school alumni reunion—after reunion, visited his old house—saw his mother on cold ground with a letter—boy during childhood met with an accident—lost his eye—mother donated her eye—boy cried

Ans. MOTHER Once upon a time, a boy lived with his mother in a small town. The boy hated his mother because she had only one eye. The boy was always embarrassed because of his mother. He did not want her to come to school or any other place, where she would be seen with him. He always wished that his mother would just disappear from this world. One day, he finally asked his mother, “Mom, why don’t you have the other eye? You are only making me a laughing stock all around.” But the mother did not say anything. Few years later, the boy left his mother and came to the city to become a successful man. He started working, got married, and had kids. He got busy and completely forgot about his one-eyed mother. One day, he received a letter regarding the school alumni reunion in the town. After attending the reunion, he went to visit his old house. There he saw his mother on the cold ground with a letter addressed to the boy. In the letter, she described how the boy, during his childhood, had met with an accident and lost his eye. And it was she who donated her eye to the boy. Then, all he could do was cry in repentence for the person who loved him very much. . 2. Write a story, in 100–120 words, with the following ending. Give a suitable title to your story. (5 marks) ...He touched his Guru’s feet and asked for an apology.

Ans. BOND OF HUMANITY There was once a man who suddenly felt the urge to meet his old Guru. How much ever he tried, he was not successful. He prayed to God. One night in his dream, he saw his Guru near a sea shore. When he got up from his sleep, he was feeling really restless. He went to the same sea shore, he had seen in his dream. He realised that he had finally succeeded in his efforts, but he was sad because he saw his Guru as a fisherman there. He felt ashamed of his Guru and pretended not to recognise him and move away. It was a very hot day and the man was really distressed. The sun shone brightly in the sky. He couldn’t bear the heat of the sun, so he fainted and fell down. A fisherman seeing him faint ran up to him and took him to a safe place, nursed him, and waited patiently till he became conscious. When the man woke up, he saw his Guru by his side, the fisherman of whom he had been ashamed of and refused to recognise. His Guru sat by him as his protector. The man realised his mistake and he touched his Guru’s feet and asked for an apology.

3. Write a story, in about 100–120 words, with the following beginning. Give a suitable title to your story. (5 marks) I was reading a book when I noticed . . . . . . Writing and Grammar

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STRANGE FRIEND

Ans.

I was reading a book when I noticed some kind of movement outside the window. I opened the window to check what it was and to my amazement, it was a tiny funnylooking creature with blinking antennas on the top of his head. I suddenly realised that I was staring at an alien. I was trying to decide how I could communicate with it. I smiled at it and gestured to come in. It came into the room and was staring at the things in the room. It traced its long slender finger on the things in my room and the pictures on the wall, leaving a fluorescent glow wherever it touched. I couldn’t conjure any way to communicate with it. It kept looking around as if trying to find something. I offered a packet of biscuits, I had in my room. I understood the sign language, popped few biscuits in its mouth and his whole face began to flash into several colourful flashes of light. It vaguely gestured towards me. I thought it was in some kind of pain as it started making squeaky and strange sounds. Then it moved towards the window and its face broke into a smile. I looked out too and saw flashes of light in the sky. The alien started jumping up and down. The lights in the sky came nearer. I saw myself looking at a spaceship. The alien rushed out through my window towards into the spaceship. There was a loud deafening sound with which the spaceship took off. I didn’t want my friend to leave so fast and I jumped to get hold of one of the wheels of the spaceship, and there was a loud thud. My eyes opened and I found myself on the floor. It was then, that I realised that it was all a dream. 4. Taking help from the input given below, complete the story, in about 100–120 words, giving it a suitable title. Veeru and Karim were young Keralites. Next week their school was going to organise a camp near a forest in Ponmuddy . . . went out to explore forest...lost the way...away from the camp...cries of animals...heard “thumpthump” sound...a large elephant...trumpted angrily...came towards them...a balloon...started blowing....big balloon...hit hard with hand.... “bang-bang”.....loud noise.....elephant turned away... saved.

Ans.

(5 marks) TWO BOYS IN A JUNGLE

Veeru and Karim were young Keralites. The next week, their school was going to organise a camp near a forest in Ponmuddy. The following week they joined the camp. One day, they went out together. They thought of going inside the forest to explore it. Soon they lost their way. The sun had set. They were walking along the Periyar river. They heard a loud noise. They stood still and listened to it. They heard the sound of an animal coming towards them. It was the sound of a big elephant. He was just fifty metres away from them. The elephant smelled them too. He saw them standing quietly behind an oak tree. He raised his long trunk up in the air and trumpted loudly. The boys didn’t move. Veeru was a little frightened, but Karim was not. Slowly, the elephant started coming nearer and nearer. Now, he was only ten minutes away. “Let’s do something,” said Karim. “Do it, before he attacks us,” said Veeru. Karim pulled out a balloon from his pocket. He put it in his mouth and started blowing into the balloon. At last, it was blown to the size of a small bag. Karim hit the full blown balloon hard with his hand. “Bang-Bang!” The elephant stopped and trumpeted

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angrily. He was confused. The elephant turned away and disappeared into the forest. The boys ran and ran till they reached safe at the camp. 5. On the basis of the outline given, write a story in about 100-120 words.

(5 marks)

assistant for wicked magician - thief with extraordinary power of making himself disappear - police harassed by him - cruel to assistant - reported to police - magician made police disappear but assistant and other boys came to their rescue and helped arrest magician

Ans.

THE DISAPPEARING TRICK

Surprised by an ad asking for a magician’s assistant, Rahul had applied. Before long, Rahul realised that the man was a thief who used the magician’s disappearing trick to evade detection when the police arrived on the scene. Instead of exposing the magician right away, Rahul hatched a plan. He pleaded to be taught the disappearing trick. The magician was hesitant and put Rahul to a test. He ordered Rahul to steal his mother’s gold chain. But Rahul knew that the magician would report him to his parents and then dismiss him, ruining all chances of his learning the disappearing trick. Thus, when Rahul declined the task, the magician was convinced of Rahul’s sincerity and began teaching him. When Rahul had mastered the trick, he went to the nearest police station and handed over a horde of stolen property that his master had kept for sale. When the men went to arrest the magician, he was about to perform the disappearing act on the policeman, but Rahul swung and made the magician disappear. The police then concluded a through search of the premises, while the wicked man kept howling and pleading with Rahul to make him visible again.

Questions for Practice 1. Given below is the beginning of a story. Complete it, in about 100–120 words. (5 marks) When Mohit reached his house from the market, he saw a crowd gathered in front of his house. Shocked and disturbed, he started running towards the house. Many thoughts were flashing in his mind . . .

2. Harry and Ross were passing through a dense forest at night. Suddenly, the stillness of (5 marks) the forest was broken... Complete the story in about 100–120 words.

3. Given below is the beginning of an incident. Complete it in about 100–120 words. (5 marks) Ravi had prepared very well for his English paper and he was confident of doing well in it. But when he reached the examination centre, he found that it was the Mathematics paper that day. He realised that he had made a mistake while referring to his datesheet...



4. Hema wanted to write a story but couldn’t complete it. Help her complete the story with the cues given below. Write it in about 100–120 words and give a suitable title to the story. (5 marks) It was a bright and perfect day to read a book and relax. The work in the office had been so challenging that ...

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5. Complete the story, in about 100–120 words, with the cues given. Give a suitable title to the story. (5 marks) rainy day...alone at home...lightning and thunder...lights go out...phone lines dead...knocking on the door

6. Complete the following story. It has to be a scary story. Also, give a suitable title to your (5 marks) story. I stopped my scooter in front of an old and dilapidated building. A haggard skinny old man with drooping shoulders came towards me. “Don’t go in, Sir,” he whispered. “It is dangerous...”



7. Write a short story, in about 100–120 words, about a clever fox who tries to deceive others because he had lost his tail. (5 marks)



8. Construct a story with the given outline, in about 100–120 words.

(5 marks)

a distressed king—all people were lazy in his kingdom—plans to teach a lesson—puts a big stone in the middle of a busy road—merchant passes by—officer driving his carriage passes by—a young soldier, riding his horse, does the same—people curse the stone and blame the government for not removing it—it lies at the same place even after a week—one morning, a foreigner comes and removes the stone—under the stone is a huge iron box which has a bag full of money—belongs to the foreigner now



9. Tarun decided to write a story but after some time, he could not complete the story as he lost interest. Complete his story on the basis of the beginning given below, in about 100-120 words. (5 marks) Once upon a time, the lion, the king of the forest was celebrating his son’s birthday. All the animals and the birds of the forest were to participate in the grand function...

10. Write a short story in about 100–120 words. The story should end with the following line. ...“Welcome back little lady”, he said calmly. (5 marks) 11. Construct a story with the given outline, in about 100–120 words.

(5 marks)

an old lady become blind — consults a doctor — commits to pay him a huge amount if he is able to cure her eyes — doctor takes away her furniture every day — finally cures her eyes — fee demanded — refused by the lady — reason being the cure incomplete — doctor filed a court case — reason given that she is still unable to see — furniture missing — verdict given in her favour

12. Write a story, in about 100-120 words, with the ending “......from that day onwards, I never went out alone.” (5 marks)

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Answers [Short Story] 1.

JOYFUL RELIEF

When Mohit reached his house from the market, he saw a crowd gathered in front of his house. Shocked and disturbed, he started running towards the house. Many thoughts were flashing in his mind. Mohit was worried, did any mishap occur. Every one seemed to stare at him. Some of his friends tried to stop him but he was totally deaf to the world. All he could hear was all negative thoughts in his mind. Was his father okay? He seemed to look tired. Was mom alright? She had been complaining for days that she suspected that the gas pipe had a leak in it, but everyone was too preoccupied with their work to change the pipe. Mohit was praying in his mind that things should be fine at home. His fast pace to walk broke into a run. As he entered the gate, the whole crowd went quiet for a minute. The silence was too much to bear. He looked around trying to spot his father and mother in the crowd. For a moment, he couldn’t see them and suddenly the entire crowd began to clap. He was shocked and looked in disbelief. Then he saw the familiar faces of his dad and mom walking up to him with crowd of people behind them. Mom had a thali with a lit lamp and a box of sweets in the thali. Dad was beaming with pride and mom had tears of joy in her eyes. Both of them finally told him the news that he had secured 1st rank in the UPSC exams. Mohit almost fell on the ground. He didn’t know whether it was a feeling that his parents were safe or whether it was the joy of his achievement. Soon his house was flooded with visitors, news reporters, politicians, relatives all wishing him good wishes. Mohit realised that it was just a beginning of a new chapter in his life . . . from a son of a autorickshaw driver to an IAS officer in future. 2.

HELPING HAND Harry and Ross were passing through a dense forest. They were almost reaching the area that was pre-decided that they would camp for the night. Suddenly, the stillness of the forest was broken by the painful bellow of a buck. It was a sound that distinctively told us that the animal was in a lot of pain. Cautiously, we approached the sound and were shocked to see a buck lying writhing in pain on the forest floor. Its horns were entangled in steel wires left behind by campers/trekkers and every movement it made caused the wires to tighten more around its horns and now it was twisting about its neck. Seeing us approach, the buck panicked and struggled harder. We were confused and shocked for a moment, but knew we had to react fast otherwise we would witness a poor animal strangle to death due to a major carelessness of humans like us. Harry sprung into action. He was a firefighter but both of us didn’t have any experience in such a situation. We knew a kick from the buck could hurtle us in the air and we could be seriously injured. Harry emptied the champing bag and took out the rope that was to secure our tent. We slowly threw the rope around it and nudged it and pushed it to life on the ground. Suprisingly, the buck didn’t resist much, maybe it was tired with all the struggle and probably it knew we were its only hope of survival. Harry had a professional swiss knife with him. He took out something that looked like a wire-cutter and slowly began to cut the thin wire from the horns while I patted the buck to relax it. Once or twice, it did try to resist but after almost 45 minutes of hard work, it got free from the wire. As soon as we moved away, the buck was on its legs. It took a moment and trotted away. After running about 50 metre, it turned back and looked at us as if to say a thank you and then it vanished into the dense forest. Writing and Grammar

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3.

OVERCONFIDENCE PRECEDES CARELESSNESS Ravi had prepared very well for his English paper and he was confident of doing well in it. But when he reached the examination centre, he found that it was the mathematics paper that day. He realised that he had made a mistake while referring to his datesheet. “How could this ever happen to me?” said Ravi to himself. He was not sure if he wanted to burst out into tears or get angry with himself. He felt so ashamed of himself. Mom would be upset and this would become an anecdote in the family which would be told on occasions, so that no one in the family would be too over-confident and overlook important things in life. Dad would be fuming with anger. He just couldn’t face anyone at home. He confided his blunder to Vasudha ma’am. She appeared to be shocked initially but sat him down and calmed him. She motivated him saying that he was good in subjects and had scored a centum in the pre-boards. Ma’am sat and revised with him all the formulas. The bell rang for the exam. Ravi went in with a heavy heart, prayed as he had never prayed before. The invigilator gave the question paper to him and Ravi again said a word of prayer. He looked at the paper. Everything looked strange to him, he wanted to cry. He had a sinking feeling in him. He closed his eyes and he took multiple breaths. He took the question paper in his hands and looked at it. He read the questions slowly one at a time. He took his pen and started answering them one by one. Ravi found that he could answer the questions completely. Mathematics was his favourite subject and he could not bear to anything below a centum. He finished the paper ten minutes before time. He revised all questions and the solutions he had worked out. The paper was done and he walked out of the examination hall relieved, but his head hung in shame, thinking how careless he had been. Vasudha Ma’am was waiting for him in the reception area. The first thing she told him when she saw him was, “Ravi I knew you’d be able to solve the paper.” He was happy that his teacher had so much faith in him and understood his potential. Mom and dad were shocked, but they only said, “Overconfidence precedes carelessness.”

4.

SO MUCH FOR DIRTY LAUNDRY It was a bright and perfect day to read a book and relax. The work in the office had been so challenging that I decided to make use of the wonderful bright spring morning. I pulled out the garden chair and sat under the shady banyan tree that stood in the corner of our yard. Setting down in the chair, I started reading the fiction novel that I had been waiting to read for a long time. I was through with almost twenty pages, when I heard a loud thud, few meters away from me. I turned to my right and saw a dirty black bag. I stood up and looked out onto the street and saw a middle aged man peddling his bicycle fast as if trying to get away. I called out to him, but he peddled even faster. Seeing him go, caused panic in me and turned back and looked at the stuffed black bag. So many thoughts flashed through my mind. I called out to my parents. Sensing the panic in my voice, they rushed out immediately and stopped short, when they saw the bag. I narrated what happened. Slowly, I realised that our yard was full of people. Our neighbours, passersby, etc. all gathered around the bag, looking fearfully at it. Someone called the police and they reached within fifteen minutes. They cordoned off the area, they too looked fearfully at the bag. Opinions were flying in the air, “It’s a bag with a bomb I am sure.” “Strain your ears, you can definitely hear the clock ticking.” “Look at those wet patches. I am sure it’s a body chopped into pieces by a murderer and he disposed it in this manner.” So many speculations and so many hypotheses made the scene tense.

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Soon the bomb squad reached with sniffer dog. The police evacuated the area and two policemen ran the metal detector all around the bag. Not a beep was heard or lights flashed. The men from the squad lifted the bag and opened the zipper; the entire crowd was still as if not breathing. The police personnel opened the bag and held it up and turned it over out and tumbled a whole lot of dirty old clothes. The crowd erupted into loud talks, laughter and some were even angry as they had been disturbed from the schedule, just to see a bag full of dirty clothes. 5.

HOME ALONE It was a rainy day. It felt as if the heaven’s flood gates had opened and it was pouring without a stop. I was all alone at home. Mom, dad and my brother had gone for an appointment with the doctor. The appointment was prefixed at 7:00 p.m. They told me that they would be back latest by 9:00 p.m. I kept myself busy watching my favourite serials even though there were some evil scary thoughts playing behind in the back of my head. The peal of thunder and the flashes of lightning were scaring me, but I put up a brave front by turning the sound of the television high so as to drown the sound of thunder. The phone rang, it startled me, but I was glad to hear the comforting sound of my mom. She said the traffic on the road was heavy due to waterlogging in certain areas. “Latest by 9:30 p.m., we should be home.” My eyes kept glancing at the clock on the wall. It would take 30 minutes for them to reach home. I consoled myself. All this fear and anxiety made me hungry. I grabbed a packet of chips and started munching on them. All of a sudden, I saw a flash of lightning. It was so bright, felt like it struck in our yard. It was followed by a ear-deafening peal of thunder. All the lights of the house went out. It was pitch dark both inside and outside the house. All I could see was the shadows of branches of Moringa tree on the curtain. I was really scared sitting in the pitch darkness. I groped for the phone, but it seemed dead. I thought someone was knocking the door, and gradually the knock grew louder and persistent. With shaky, thin voice I almost blurted out, “Who’s there?” “Mihika open the door, it’s me Leela aunty.” Leela aunty’s voice felt like an angelic chorus. I ran to the door almost tripping over the chairs and falling down. I opened the door and flung myself at her. She hugged me tight and told me that mom had called her to check on me as the phone lines were dead. Seeing my disheveled plight and my tearful face, she took me over to her house, so that I could be there till my parents got home.

6.

A GHOSTLY EXPERIENCE I stopped my scooter in front of an old and dilapidated building. A haggard, skinny old man with drooping shoulders came towards me. “Don’t go in, Sir,” he whispered. “It is dangerous.” I got angry at the old man and asked him to go away as I had to prepare a report on old forts as a part of my museology course. He murmured something and stared at me with a strange expression. For a moment, a chill ran through my spine and I shuddered but I shrugged off the feeling and entered through the rusty gate. The atmosphere was eerie and the air was still. The withered wines on the walls of the building looked like veins on the hands of some witch. I stepped towards the stairs of the entrance of the fort and no sooner did I step on the first stair, then many bats came screeching and flew above my head. I dived down with a start and again thought of moving further. Just then I heard someone laughing. It was a hollow and strange laugh that seemed to vibrate through the building.

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By this time, I was quite nervous and stepped down to look around. Suddenly, my blood froze to see a shadow like a figure floating above the railings of the terrace of the building. I turned only to see the same old man standing before me. Suprisingly, I felt a sense of relief to see someone else there. The old man smiled and said, “Haven’t I told you? Now come out, as soon it will be dark, we will never be able to see the light of the day.” Sweat poured out of my body though the air was chilly and I followed the old man in a trance-like situation. After coming out, I was about to thank the old man when to my surprise, he just disappeared in thin air. Collecting my wits I drove fast my scooter back home and decided never to pass by that way. It was really a scary experience. 7.

THE FOX WHO HAD LOST ITS TAIL A fox was once caught up in a trap. He strove hard to free himself. He escaped but lost his tail in the attempt. He felt dejected and got disappointed. He did not want to face his friends in this situation. He knew that he would become the laughing stock in the company of his friends. So, he remained in his den. Life became a burden for him. “I wish I had died than lose my tail,” said he to himself. Time passed swiftly. One day, however, he thought of a plan. He came out and gathered all the foxes and held a meeting. He himself took his seat on the stump of a tree and said, “Friends, the tail we have is a burden. It is very ugly and the cause of all our troubles. Should we cut it off? This will make us look better.” There was a loud murmur. Most of the foxes did not like the proposal, but they did not utter even a single word. Now, there got up an old fox. He was bent down with age. He had followed everything and knew what the fox was aiming at. “Maybe you are right, friend,” said he “but could you please turn yourself around and let us see what sort of a tail you have?” The fox knew that he had been caught in his own trap. Without saying a word, he ran out and disappeared. The other foxes thanked God that they had not been caught in the fox’s trap.

8.

THE KING AND HIS LAZY KINGDOM There was once a king who was totally unhappy and sad with his people who were too lazy to do any useful work. The King thought to teach them a lesson, so he kept a big stone in the middle of a road one night when all his men were sleeping. Next morning, a merchant came and went around the stone and didn’t even care to move the big stone. Then came an officer who with his horse carriage went around the big stone which laid untouched on the road. Then came a soldier who also came and went around the stone though being capable of getting the stone out of its way. Each and every one who passed the stone cursed the government for not removing it. Then came a foreigner who was passing through that road. He decided to remove the stone from there, so he took the help of his mates and removed it. It was evening when the foreigner did such a nice work. At that very moment, the king came to that spot to congratulate him. The king was sitting beside the road disguised as a beggar. The king then presented a box full of money which was kept in a hole beneath the stone and it was etched that this purse of money belongs to whoever got this stone out of there. After that day, the people in his kingdom became very hard-working and was never as lazy as it was before.

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9.

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Once upon a time, a lion, the king of the forest was celebrating his son’s birthday. All the animals and the birds of the forest were to participate in the grand function. Each of them bought a suitable present for the lion club. The squirrel was wondering what present to take because he knew the lion’s club will not eat corns or nuts which the squirrels eat. So he decided to give the club something to remember him and thought of a bouquet made out of the best flowers in the forest. He went deep into the jungle to collect different variety of flowers. He was delighted to see so many varieties of flowers in different colours and sizes. He took a long time to collect the flowers and bind them together into a bouquet. As he finished his work, he realised that it was very late and he must rush to the party. Unfortunately, he got lost in the jungle and could not find the way to the lion’s cave where the party was being held. The squirrel tried hard, went from here and there, but somehow could not get the proper way.

10.

Suddenly, he saw a group of hunters who had come to hunt big ones in the jungle. The squirrel followed them quietly. Very soon, he was out of the deep jungle as the hunter’s group was heading towards the lion’s cave. The squirrel hurried up and finally reached the lion’s cave where the party was in full swing. He realised that he was the last person to reach there. However, the lion appreciated the variety of flowers the squirrel had selected. The cub was also delighted to see the colourful flowers. The lion decided to put the bouquet at the center of the birthday cake. The cake was cut and the party began. The squirrel then informed the lion and the other animals about the hunter’s presence in the jungle. The snakes were asked to attack the hunters and the bees to stung them. The hunters ran for their lives, never to return. The party continued till late night. The squirrel returned to his tree after the party with satisfied smile on his face. WELCOME BACK As Mr Mehta, the principal sat down behind his desk, Sheetal, my sister, sat in one chair, and dad and mom took the seats on either side of her. I was sitting at one of the tables across mom and dad. Mr Mehta cleared his throat, then began speaking, “I am sure you are confused about why you are here. But unfortunately, I have some bad news. You know that Shweta was a part of the school trip to Delhi.” I stool up hearing my name, but no one reacted. “While the group was crossing the road outside the Parliament house, a motorcyclist lost control while turning. He hit two students, Chetan and Shweta. Chetan is fine but sadly Shweta is not. The doctors are unsure if she will ever wake up.” I walked behind my family crying, I saw my friends still sitting in the office. Everything came back to me, a tidal wave of memories. The sun was shining brightly as we stepped off the bus. I was talking to Chetan. There was a loud screeching noise to my left. I turned just in time to see a figure on a motorcycle, his face hidden behind the helmet and visor. There was a smashing noise, the bike had hit me. As I fell, I saw the bike hit Chetan. My head hit the asphalt with a loud dull crack. Everything went dark. I was in the hospital and then at school. I wasn’t dead. But I wasn’t alive. There was zapping in my chest, a current flowed through me. Lights were shining down on me. “Wait,” a voice called. I blinked until a man with a stethoscope around his neck came into focus. He was smiling. “Welcome back little lady,” he said calmly. Writing and Grammar

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11.

DISHONESTY NEVER WINS Once an old lady lost her eyesight and became blind. She called a doctor and agreed to pay him a very big amount, if he cured her. But her condition was that she wouldn’t give a single penny if her eyesight wasn’t restored. The doctor came to her house daily to treat her. He started stealing the lady’s furniture and other valuable things from the house. He took away one thing or the other from her house. He delayed curing the lady until he removed all the furniture and valuable articles from the lady’s house.

12.

After he managed to literally clear her house, he told her that her sight had been restored and he demanded his fee from the lady. But she refused to pay the fees and said that she was not fully cured. The doctor registered a case against her in court. On being asked by judge that why was she not paying the fe e, she told the court that her eyesight was not fully restored as she couldn’t see her furniture and other articles in the house. The judge was very clever. He understood the matter and punished the doctor. AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE I went to visit my friend Suhana who lived about four kilometers away. I decided to use a shortcut to reach her house. The short-cut was actually a small path, cutting across a rubber plantation. It was rumoured that an accident has taken place there a long time ago. So people didn’t prefer to use that track. But in excitement to meet my friend, I went on that path. Suddenly, I heard a loud moan from behind the rubber trees to my right. I was in a dilemma whether to help the poor soul or to run for my life. I mustered up enough courage to help the unknown person. “My name is Rose,” her voice was soft and mellow. Her skin was quite pale almost as if she had bleached herself. “Perhaps, I should take you to a clinic,” I said cautiously. She declined my offer and decided to follow me to my friend’s house. She began telling me about her accident which took place ten years ago and how she died on the spot. I screamed and ran back at home. I fainted at the doorstep and was down with fever for three days. One encounter with a ghost was enough for a lifetime. From that onwads, I never went out alone. zzz

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Quick Revision of Basic Grammar

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UNIT-I: Tenses Simple Present Tense We use Simple Present Tense to talk about things in general. We use it to say about something that happens all the time or repeatedly or something that is true in general. Here, it is not important whether the action is happening at the time of speaking. Examples:

1. I take my breakfast every day.



2. We go to school.

Present Continuous Tense We use Present Continuous Tense to say about something that is happening at or around the time of speaking. The action is not finished. In such sentences, is/am/are + verb + -ing form of verb is used to show continuation. Examples:

1. Girls are playing.



2. I am watching TV.

Present Perfect Tense We use Present Perfect Tense to give information about an action that has recently been completed. It is also used to talk about some actions in the past that have a result now. In such sentences, has/have + 3rd form of verb is used. Examples:

1. John has lost his key.



2. I have forgotten your name.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense We use Present Perfect Continuous Tense to indicate an activity that continues from the past until now, repeatedly, or an activity that has recently stopped. In such sentences, has/have + been + verb + -ing form of verb is used. Examples:

1. He has been working under the sun since morning.



2. What have you been doing for two hours?

Simple Past Tense We use Simple Past Tense to talk about an action which happened at a specific point of time or any past habits and past actions that happened immediately after the other. In such sentences, the second form (v2) of verb is used. Writing and Grammar

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Examples:

1. I/You/He/She/It/We/They played. (v2) 1

2. I/You/He/She/It/We/They didn’t play. (v ) 1

3. Did I/you/she/it/we/they play? (v )

(Affirmative) (Negative) (Interrogative)

All these sentences are in simple past tense.

Past Continuous Tense We use Past Continuous Tense to indicate an action that was in progress at a stated time in the past or a past action which was in progress when another action interrupted it, or two or more action, which were happening at the same time. In such sentences, was/were + v1 + -ing form of verb is used. Examples: 1. I/He/She/It was playing.

2. I/He/She/It wasn’t playing.



3. Was I/he/she/it playing?

(Affirmative) (Negative) (Interrogative)

Past Perfect Tense We use Past Perfect Tense to talk about an action which was finished before another action in the past. In such sentences, had + v3 form of verb is used. We use certain time expressions with past perfect like before, already, after, just, when and never. Examples:

1. Rohit had already left when we arrived at the party.



2. He had broken his leg and it was still hurting.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense We use Past Perfect Continuous Tense to talk about a past action which started and finished in the past before another past action, putting emphasis on the duration or an action which lasted for some time in the past and the result was still visible. In such sentences, had + been + v1 + ing form of verb is used. Some time expression used are for, since and until. Examples:

1. I had been watching TV for an hour when I remembered I had forgotten to call my friend.



2. She had been painting her room and her clothes were covered in paint.

Simple Future Tense We use Simple Future Tense to talk about an action that has not happened yet, but will happen sometime in the future. In such sentences, will/shall + v1 form of verb is used. Examples:

1. W  e shall go for a picnic tomorrow.



2. He will reach by 5:30 p.m.

The modal auxiliaries shall and will are used with the bare infinitive.

Future Continuous Tense We use Future Continuous Tense to indicate that something will occur in the future and continue for an expected length of time. In such sentences, will/shall + be + v1 + ing form of verb is used. Examples:

1. W  e shall be playing football this evening.



2. I will be writing the letter tomorrow.

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Future Perfect Tense We use Future Perfect Tense to talk about an action that will finish sometime in the future before some other event in the future. In such sentences, shall/will + have + v3 form of verb is used. Examples:

1. By the time you read this, I will have left.



2. She will have studied hard during the exam.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense We use Future Perfect Continuous Tense to talk about an action that will finish sometime in the future before some other event in the future. In such sentences, shall/will + have + been + v1 + ing form of verb is used. Examples:

1. They will have been eating for some time.



2. By 2001, I will have been living in London for sixteen years.

Solved Examples 1. Complete the paragraph with the suitable tense of each missing verb. Choose the correct form of the verb and write the answer against the correct blank in your answer sheet. As the years (i) _________ by, we saw less of each other. For some time, she (ii) _________ to wake me up and get me ready for school. When I (iii) _________ back, she would ask me what the teacher (iv) _________ me. I would tell her English words and little things of Western science. This (v) _________ her unhappy. She (vi) _________ in the things they (vii) _________ at the English school and was distressed that there (viii) _________ no teaching about God and the scriptures. (i) (a) roll (b) rolled (c) is rolling (ii) (a) continue (b) continued (c) is continuing (iii) (a) came (b) come (c) coming (iv) (a) had taught (b) taught (c) teach (v) (a) has made (b) make (c) made (vi) (a) believed (b) did not believe (c) doesn’t believe (vii) (a) had taught (b) has taught (c) taught (viii) (a) is (b) was (c) being 2. The following passage has not been edited. One word has been omitted at various places. Write the missing word along with the word that comes before and the word that comes after it in your answer sheet against the correct blank. Ensure that the word that forms your answer is underlined. Pollution not a new problem nowadays.   pollution is not In the middle ages, most towns dirty and diseases spread (a) ___________________ quickly as water supplied foul and bacteria

(b) ___________________

ridden. Much been done to improve sanitation

(c) ___________________

and public heath. In modern industrial towns, the disposal of waste become quite complicated.

(d) ___________________ Writing and Grammar

81

As factories produce fertilisers chemicals, solid

(e) ___________________

waste thrown out in the form of rubbish.

(f) ___________________

These rubbish heaps an unpleasant sight to

(g) ___________________

behold. Getting rid of plastics particularly

(h) ___________________

difficult.

Ans: 1. ( i) (b), (ii) (b), (iii) (a), (iv) (a), (v) (c), (vi) (b), (vii) (c), (viii) (b)

2. (a) towns were dirty (c) Much has been (e) fertilisers and chemicals (g) heaps are an

(b) supplied was foul (d) waste has become (f) waste is thrown (h) plastics is particularly

Questions for Practice 1. Complete the paragraph with the suitable tense of each missing verb. Choose the correct form of the verb and write the answer against the correct blank in your answer sheet. The process of ageing (i) _______ with conception in the mother’s womb. When we (ii) _______ young, we (iii) _______ recognise that there will come a time when our limbs (iv) _______ weak, our eyesight less keen and our body unable to function as smoothly as before. Unfortunately, of late, we (v) _______ able to recognise the concept of respecting, caring and helping the older generation in a systematic way. Although we (vi) _______ recognising the needs of the young, we have blissfully (vii) _______ to ignore the older generation and have left them to fend for themselves. (i)

(a) start

(b) starts

(c) starting

(ii)

(a) is

(b) am

(c) are

(iii) (a) didn’t

(b) don’t

(c) doesn’t

(iv) (a) will grow

(b) shall grow

(c) is going to grow

(v)

(b) wasn’t been

(c) aren’t been

(vi) (a) have started

(b) start

(c) will start

(vii) (a) choose

(b) chosen

(c) had chosen

(a) haven’t been

2. The following passage has not been edited. One word has been omitted at various places. Write the missing word along with the word that comes before and the word that comes after it in your answer sheet against the correct blank. Ensure that the word that forms your answer is underlined. Some animals, trained properly e.g., animals if trained can more useful and faithful (a) ___________________ than human beings. This fact been proved by (b) ___________________ a scientific research. However, in India, the picture shocking. (c) ___________________ Even in big cities like Delhi, we can a number (d) ___________________ of animals roaming

82 Xam idea English–IX

around freely in search of food and shelter. Their owners abandon them as they old. These stray animals sometimes meet with serious road accidents. They are living beings like us. They should not considered inferior for any reason.

(e) ___________________

(f) ___________________

UNIT-II: Modals Modals are special verbs which reflect the speaker’s mode of speaking. Modals are used to give a special effect to language. They are used when the speaker wants to be extra polite, tactful, determined, and so on. The words used for such a purpose are special verbs called modals. Some modals are: will, shall, would, should, can, could, may, might, ought to, must, dare, need, have to, and used to Modals can be classified in the following manner: Modals

Modals

Used to Express

Shall

futurity, suggestion, insistence, advisability

Should

obligation, advisability, necessity

Will

willingness, prediction, insistence, requests in questions

Would

willingness, habitual actions in past, wish, probability

Can

ability, permission, possibility, request

Could

ability in past, polite request, possibility

May

possibility, formal permission, wish, purpose

Might

possibility, permission, concession

Must

compulsion, obligation, prohibition

Ought to

duty, moral or social obligation

Used to

past habit, existence in past

Need

necessity

Dare

courage Writing and Grammar

83

Usage 1. A modal does not change according to the number or person of the subject. Examples: 1. He can sing.

2. They can sing.



3. I can sing.



4. You can sing.



5. We can sing.

2. A modal is always used with a verb in its basic/root form (dictionary form). The modal takes the tense while the main verb retains its dictionary form. Examples: 1. I can swim.

2. I could swim.



3. He may swim.



4. He might swim.

3. Modals usually take the main verb after them but they can be used alone in response to a question (i.e., short answers). Examples: 1. Can you speak French?

Yes, I can.



2. Will you help us?

Yes, I will.



3. May I leave now?

Yes, you may.

4. Modals when joined with ‘not’, to form a negative, can be contracted. Examples: 1. She cannot dance.

2. She can’t dance.

Note: Some of the modals, like shall, will, may and can, have past forms, but modals do not have the -ing form.

Solved Examples 1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate modals. Write each answer against the correct blank number in your answer sheet. Shopkeeper : (i) ________ I help you? Customer

: Yes, (ii) ________ you show me pullovers, size 40, please?

Shopkeeper : All right, Sir. I (iii) ________ show you several designs with different shades/colours. Customer : That (iv) ________ be the one Shishir told me about. (v) ________ you please tell me its price? Shopkeeper : It costs only ` 800. Customer

: Ok. I (vi) ________ take two of them. The brown one and the grey one.

Shopkeeper : Ok! Sir. 2. Fill in the blanks with suitable modals from the options given below. Persons who (i) ________ remain on outdoor shootings (ii) ________ be given a chance to go abroad. But they (iii) ________ have their passports ready. They (iv) ________ get a free ticket for one of their family members, if only their passports (v) ________ be arranged.

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The company would provide them spare dollars, so the members (vi) ________ take more foreign exchange with them. (i) (a) has to (b) had to (c) have to (d) ought to (ii) (a) will (b) can (c) may (d) shall (iii) (a) would (b) should (c) could (d) might (iv) (a) must (b) need (c) might (d) would (v) (a) could (b) might (c) may (d) need (vi) (a) should (b) may (c) can (d) done Ans: 1. (i) May

(ii) will

(iii) can



(v) Could

(vi) will



(iv) might

2. (i) (c) (ii) (a) (iii) (b) (iv) (d) (v) (a) (vi) (c)

Questions for Practice

1. Fill in the blanks with suitable modals from the options given below. Alka : (i) ________ you sing well? Manisha :

No, I (ii) ________ not, but I (iii) ________ dance well.

Alka :

But you (iv) ________ sing well when you were a child.

(i) (a) May

(b) Can

(c) Will

(d) Shall

(ii) (a) can

(b) may

(c) shall

(d) will

(iii) (a) could

(b) might

(c) can

(d) would

(iv) (a) would

(b) could

(c) must

(d) might

2. Complete the following passage with suitable modals from the options given below. Those students who are disobedient (i) ________ be punished or the discipline of the school (ii) ________ be spoiled. The parents (iii) ________ not appreciate physical punishment, but some unruly students (iv) ________ not be controlled without physical force. A student (v) ________ not realise the importance of discipline now; but later in life, he (vi) ________ definitely come to know about it. (i) (a) should

(b) must

(c) ought to

(d) would

(ii) (a) should

(b) may

(c) might

(d) must

(iii) (a) can

(b) may

(c) will

(d) shall

(iv) (a) can

(b) may

(c) would

(d) should

(v) (a) can

(b) would

(c) might

(d) should

(vi) (a) will

(b) shall

(c) would

(d) might

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UNIT-III: Subject-Verb Concord (Agreement) The subject in a sentence is the person or thing about which something is said. When we structure a sentence, its verb and subject should agree in number and person. Rule 1

: A singular subject takes the verb in the singular and a plural subject takes the verb in the plural. Remember : All English verbs are plural, we make them singular by adding ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the verb as: Examples : 1. Sohan comes here every week. (Sohan—Singular subject, comes—Singular verb) 2. The teachers are on strike. (Teachers—Plural subject, are—Plural verb) Rule 2 : When two or more singular subjects are connected by ‘and’, the verb should be in the plural. Example : Sohan and Ravi are brothers. Rule 3 : When two singular nouns refer to the same person, the verb must be in the singular. Examples : 1. Shruti’s friend and colleague is coming. 2. The manager and secretary has died. Rule 4 : When two or more nouns make one unit, the verb must be in the singular. Examples : 1. Rice and curry is my favourite dish. 2. Bread and butter is perfect food. Rule 5 : When a singular subject is qualified by ‘each’ or ‘every’, the verb must be in the singular. Examples : 1. Each boy was given a present. 2. Every girl has a book of her own. Rule 6 : The phrase ‘one of ’ is always followed by a plural noun, but ‘the verb’ is always singular. Examples : 1. One of the boys sings very well. 2. One of the books is mine. Rule 7 : When two nouns are linked by either-or/neither-nor, the verb agrees with the latter noun. Examples : 1. Neither food nor clothes were available. 2. Neither the boys nor the teacher is here. Rule 8 : When a sentence begins with introductory ‘there’, the verb should agree with the noun that follows it. Examples : 1. There are six boys in the class. 2. There is a table in my room. Rule 9

: Nouns connected by ‘with’, ‘together with’ or ‘as well as’ take the verb according to the former noun.

Examples : 1. The mother, with her children, goes to work. 2. The father as well as family members has come.

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Rule 10 : If a plural noun referring to distance, weight, height or amount of money, represents a single figure or quantity, it should be followed by a singular verb. Examples : 1. Fifty kilometres is a short distance. 2. She paid him a five-rupee note. Rule 11 : The name of a book, house or hotel, even if in the plural form, is treated as singular. Examples : 1. Gulliver’s Travels is an interesting book. 2. Whispering Windows is a nice restaurant. Rule 12 : Collective nouns take verbs in singular, but when the individuals are taken separately, verbs can be in the plural. Examples : 1. A herd of cattle is grazing. 2. The class is sitting quietly. 3. The jury was divided. Rule 13 : Nouns such as clothing, food, furniture, crockery, cutlery, stationery and footwear are singular and the verb, therefore, should be in the singular. Examples : 1. The furniture has been damaged. 2. The clothing has to be washed. Rule 14 : The nouns plural in form but singular in meaning take the verb in singular. Examples : 1. The news is not true. 2. Economics is an interesting subject. Rule 15 : Phrases like ‘a lot of ’, ‘plenty of ’, ‘most of ’, and ‘some of ’ are used as singular when they refer to an amount or quantity, but they take plural verbs when they refer to a number. Examples : 1. A lot of work has to be done. 2. A lot of boys like these chocolates.

Solved Examples 1. Complete the following passage by writing ‘was’/‘were’ in the blanks. Write only the correct answer against the correct blank number in your answer sheet. Once there (a) ________ a merchant in Adilpur. The inhabitants of Adilpur (b) ________ very proud of him. He (c) ________ a prosperous merchant. The branches of his business house (d) ________ spread all over the country. Our country (e) ________ then famous for its fine fabrics. These fabrics (f) ________ exchanged for wares produced beyond the seas. In one of his stables, there (g) ________ a priceless Arab steed. It (h) ________ as white as snow and the merchant loved him like his own son. 2. There is an error in each line of the passage given below. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied. Error Correction The quality of bananas were not good. (a) ___________ ____________ Many of them was rotten.

(b) ___________

____________

Cause of worries were that the children

(c) ___________

____________

will not know this fact.

(d) ___________

____________

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87

The guru decides to leave the kingdom of fools.

(e) ___________

____________

He realised that it was danger to live there.

(f) ___________

____________

He was not sure about the people and feel that

(g) ___________

____________

they could harmed the guru and his disciples.

(h) ___________

____________

Ans: 1. (a) was, (b) were, (c) was, (d) were, (e) was, (f) were, (g) was, (h) was 2.

Error

Correction

(a) were

was

(b) was

were

(c) were

was

(d) will

would

(e) decides

decided

(f) danger

dangerous

(g) feel

felt

(h) harmed

harm

Questions for Practice 1. Correct the following sentences: (a) A herd of cattle were grazing in the field. (b) Slow and steady win the race. (c) Each and every member of the team were welcomed. (d) The love as well as the guidance of a teacher were needed. (e) Five thousand are a huge amount. 2. Fill in the blanks with correct words, keeping in mind the subject-verb agreement. Write only the correct answer against the correct blank in your answer sheet. No one will believe that a thirteen-year-old girl (a) _______ completely alone. And I’m not. I (b) _______ loving parents and a sixteen-year-old sister and there (c) _______ about thirty people I can call friends. I have a family. There (d) _______ loving aunts and cousins. All I think about when I’m with friends (e) _______ having a good time. The problem is that we (f) _______ not able to get any closer. Maybe it (g) _______ my fault that we don’t confide in each other. In any case, that’s just how things (h) _______ and unfortunately, they’re not liable to change. 3. There is an error in each line of the passage given below. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied. One has been done for you. Error Correction The moon was came up in the east behind me came coming and stars was shining in the (a) _________ _________ clear sky above me. There isn’t a cloud in the sky. (b) _________ _________

88 Xam idea English–IX

I am happy to be alone high up above (c) _________ the sleeping countryside. I was flown my old Dakota aeroplane over (d) _________ France back to England. I am dreaming of my holiday (e) _________ and looking forward to being with my family. I look at my (f) _________ watch—one thirty in the morning. As I were looking down past (g) _________ the nose of the aeroplane, I see the lights of a big city in front of me.

_________ _________ _________ _________ _________

(h) _________ _________

UNIT-IV: Direct and Indirect Speech (Reporting) Changing direct speech into indirect speech means reporting the words of the speaker in your own words. When the words of the speaker are reported in the same way as the speaker had said them, it is called direct speech and is done with the help of inverted commas (“ ”). The exact words of the speaker are placed within the inverted commas. This portion of the sentence is called the reported speech. The remaining part of the sentence, i.e., words outside the inverted commas, is called the reporting verb. While changing direct speech into reported speech or vice versa, the following things change:

1. Reporting verb

2. Pronouns 3. Tenses 4. Situations

5. Report using present and future tenses



6. Modal verbs



7. Word order with ‘who’, ‘which’ and ‘what’

Changes in Reporting Verb Affirmative Sentences (statements): said, told, asserted, replied, assured, informed, responded, whispered, alleged, believed, assumed, thought Interrogative Sentences (questions): asked, inquired, wanted to know, enquired Imperative Sentences (order, request, advice): ordered, begged, pleaded, requested, implored, advised, demanded.

Change of Pronouns Ram said, “I am a brave boy.”

(Direct Speech)

Ram said that he was a brave boy.

(Indirect Speech)



First person (I) and second person (you) generally change to third person depending upon reporting verb object. Writing and Grammar

89

Change of Tenses S.No.

Direct Speech

Indirect Speech

1.

Simple Present Example: She said, “I like to read.”

Simple Past Example: She said that she liked to read.

2.

Present Continuous Example: He said, “I am writing a letter.”

Past Continuous Example: He said that he was writing a letter.

3.

Present Perfect Example: She said, “I have done my work.”

Past Perfect Example: She said that she had done her work.

4.

Present Perfect Continuous Example: He said, “I have been writing a novel for two months.”

Past Perfect Continuous Example: He said that he had been writing a novel for two months.

5.

Simple Past Example: Mohan said, “I lost my pen.”

Past Perfect Example: Mohan said that he had lost his pen.

6.

Past Continuous Example: I said, “I was playing football.”

Past Perfect Continuous Example: I said that I had been playing football.

If the reporting verb is in present or future tense (will say, says), there will be no change in the reported speech. The tense will remain the same. Examples: 1. Ram says, “I am a brave boy.”

(Direct)

Ram says that he is a brave boy.

(Indirect)

2. Ram will say, “I like reading.”

(Direct)

Ram will say that he likes reading.

(Indirect)

Changes of Situations Example: Rani said, “I read this book last week.” Rani said that she had read that book the previous week. Direct Speech

(Direct) (Indirect)

Indirect Speech

this

that

last week

the previous week

here

there

now

then

today

that day

yesterday

the day before/the previous day

tomorrow

the next day/the coming day/the following day

last week

the week before/the previous week

next month

the next month/the coming month/the following month

Universal Truths Direct Speech John said, “The sun rises in the east.”

Indirect Speech John said that the sun rises in the east.

If the speaker talks about a universal truth, the tense remains unchanged.

90 Xam idea English–IX

In Case of Questions and Answers (a) Yes/No question – use if/whether. Shruti asked, “Have you read this book?” Shruti asked if/whether I had read that book.

(Direct) (Indirect)

(b) Wh- questions – use the wh- word. Shruti asked, “Where is the book?” Shruti asked where the book was.

(Direct) (Indirect)

In Case of Modal Verbs can becomes could will becomes would shall becomes should may becomes might Example: Shruti said, “I can lift the box.” Shruti said that she could lift the box.

(Direct) (Indirect)

In Exclamatory Sentences

1. ‘Said’ is changed into ‘Exclaimed’.



2. Add “with surprise, sorrow, joy, disgust, etc.”, if the sentence reflects the mood of the speaker.



3. Join reporting verb and reporting speech with “that”.



4. Change exclamatory tone into normal assertive tone.

Example: She said, “What a horrible mess you have made!” She exclaimed with disgust that he had made a horrible mess.

(Direct) (Indirect)

Solved Examples Read the conversation given below and complete the passage that follows by choosing the correct option. Husband : Get my lunch quickly, I am in a great hurry. Wife : Oh really! Why did you not come a bit earlier? Husband : Now look, you have made a habit to argue with me and no husband likes that sort of thing.

The husband urged his wife (i) _______ adding that (ii) _______ hurry. The wife mockingly asked him (iii) _______ a hurry and enquired (iv) _______ earlier. The husband speaking in a tone of irritation pointed out that he did not like her habit of arguing.

Ans: (i) to get his lunch quickly

(ii) he was in a great



(iii) if he was really in



(iv) why he had not come a bit

Writing and Grammar

91

Questions for Practice 1. Read the conversation given below and complete the passage that follows. Teacher : Ravi, may I know why didn’t you come to school yesterday? Ravi : Sir, I had a toothache. Teacher : Has the toothache gone now? Ravi : I don’t know sir, I left the teeth with the dentist. The teacher wanted to know (i) _________. Ravi replied (ii) _________. When the teacher asked (iii) _________, Ravi replied that he did not know as (iv) _________. 2. Read the conversation given below and complete the passage that follows by choosing the correct option. Rohan : Where are you going? Rohit

: I am going to the market.

Rohan : What will you bring home? Rohit

: Nothing. I’ve to bring some vegetables from the market.

Rohan asked Rohit where he was going. Rohit said that (i) _____________. Rohan enquired (ii) _____________. Rohit replied (iii) _____________. He had to bring some vegetables from the market. (i) (a) he was going to the market

(b) was he going to the market



(c) he is going to the market

(d) I am going to the market

(ii) (a) that what will you bring home

(b) if what he will bring home



(d) what would h e bring home

(c) what he would bring home

(iii) (a) that I will bring nothing much

(b) that he will bring nothing much



(d) that he would bring nothing much

(c) he would bring nothing much

UNIT-V: Determiners Determiners are the words that decide or fix the meaning of a noun. Thus, determiners are words that decide limit or determine something about a noun or a pronoun that follows. They are small words used before nouns to answer questions like: O

Which one?

O

How many?

O

Who?

Determiners are not adjectives because they do not describe a noun.

92 Xam idea English–IX

They simply identify or specify a noun in some way.

Use of ‘Much’ and ‘Many’ Many is used only with plural nouns and to show a large number. Example:

There were many boys.

Much is used with uncountable nouns indicating a large quantity. Example:

There was much noise.

Use of ‘Some’ and ‘Any’ These indicate a quantity that is not very large. ‘Some’ is used in affirmative sentences. There is some milk in the jug. Example: ‘Any’ is used in interrogative or negative sentences. Is there any butter in the fridge? Example:

Use of ‘Each’ and ‘Every’ ‘Each’ refers to ‘individual members of a small group’, while ‘every’ refers to ‘the members of a large group’. Sometimes, both ‘each’ and ‘every’ can be used instead. Examples:

1. Each of her three sons has a car.

2. Every eligible person must vote.

Use of ‘Few’, ‘a Few’ and ‘the Few’ ‘Few’, ‘a few’, and ‘the few’ denote number. ‘Few’ indicates ‘very small numbers’, ‘not enough’, and ‘below expectation’. ‘A few’ indicates ‘some numbers’. ‘The few’ indicates ‘very small specific numbers’. 1. Few students opt for Philosophy or Anthropology these days. Examples: 2. A few students are good at music.

3. The few students who win distinction work hard for it.

Use of ‘Little’, ‘a Little’ and ‘the Little’ ‘Little’, ‘a little’, and ‘the little’ denote quantity. ‘Little’ means ‘very small quantity’, ‘not enough’ and ‘below expectation’. Writing and Grammar

93

‘A little’ indicates ‘some quantity’. ‘The little’ indicates ‘very small specific quantity’. 1. She knows little about this deal. Examples: 2. A little water is still left in the pitcher. 3. The little milk that was left in the jug has been spilt by the cat.

Solved Examples

1. Complete the passage by filling the blanks with appropriate determiners. Write the right answer against each correct blank, from the given options, in your answer sheet.

President Abdul Kalam was born in (i) _____________ middle class Tamil family in (ii) _____________ island town of Rameshwaram in (iii) _____________ erstwhile Madras State. (iv) _____________ father Jainulabdeen, had neither (v) _________ formal education nor (vi) _____________ wealth, despite these disadvantages, he possessed great wisdom. (i) (a) a

(b) an

(c) the

(d) some

(ii) (a) a

(b) an

(c) the

(d) many

(iii) (a) a

(b) an

(c) the

(d) much

(iv) (a) His

(b) Her

(c) The

(d) An

(v) (a) any

(b) an

(c) the

(d) many

(vi) (a) any

(b) some

(c) few

(d) a few



2. There is an error in each line of the passage given below. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied. Error  Correction I don’t know how much chairs (a) ________ _______ were arranged in the row. I had (b) ________ _______ a few idea about the seating arrangement in (c) ________ _______ a hall. The stage boys had displayed (d) ________ _______ a map of India in connection with (e) ________ _______ the group song. We thought (f) ________ _______ any invitees would come to attend (g) ________ _______ a show. We weren’t happy to see (h) ________ _______ few turnout. (i) ________ _______ Any of them had brought the invitation card (j) ________ _______ sent to them.

ns: 1. (i) (a), (ii) (b), (iii) (c), (iv) (a), (v) (a), (vi) (a) A 2. Error Correction (a) much many (b) the a (c) a few no (d) a the (e) a the (f) the a

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(g) any (h) a (i) few (j) Any

many the the None

Questions for Practice 1. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with appropriate options. I was waiting for (i) ______ friends (ii) ______ gate no. 8 of (iii) ________ Hotel Samrat. But (iv) ________ of them arrived. I had booked (v) ________ table for five people. Surprisingly, only (vi) ________ people were present in (vii) ________ hall. Suddenly, one of my friends turned up. But he had failed to see (viii) ________ familiar face at (ix) ________ gate. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) (ix)

(a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a)

my a a none a a few a any a

(b) (b) (b) (b) (b) (b) (b) (b) (b)

mine at an no an few an some an

(c) (c) (c) (c) (c) (c) (c) (c) (c)

me the the never the the few the few the

2. There is an error in each line of the passage given below. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied.



Our class teacher wanted no one to come

Error  Correction (a) _________ _________

for the celebration. In spite of heavy rains, the few students came for

(b) _________ _________

a ceremony of flag hoisting. Mrs Bhatia

(c) _________ _________

who is the principle saluted the flag.

(d) _________ _________

A king of Saudi Arabia was the

(e) _________ _________

guest of honour on the occasion of are

(f) _________ _________

Republic Day celebration. zzz

Writing and Grammar

95

Gap Filling

5

1. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below: (4 marks)

Even though we have (i) ______________ the 21st century, more than a billion people (ii) ______________ in extreme poverty. 40 million people are (iii) ______________ with AIDS. 104 million children do not (iv) _____________ access to school and 860 million adults cannot read or write.

(i) (a) entering (ii) (a) live (iii) (a) infecting (iv) (a) have

(b) entered (b) lived (b) infect (b) had

(c) enter (c) living (c) infected (c) has

(d) enters (d) lives (d) infects (d) having

2. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below: (4 marks) Nearly 100 million years ago, (i) ______________ the middle of what is now Mongolia, there was a series of events including a massive volcanic eruption. The ashes (ii) ______________ scattered over the wet soil of the land (iii) ______________ sticky mud. Meat-eating dinosaurs and other creatures in the area looking for food (iv) ______________ an early and sudden death as they sank in the mud. (i) (a) in (ii) (a) those (iii) (a) form (iv) (a) meet

(b) on (b) that (b) formed (b) meeting

(c) over (c) which (c) forming (c) meets

(d) at (d) thus (d) forms (d) met

3. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below: (4 marks) South India (i) ___________ the leading silk-producing area of the country, also (ii) _______________ for its famous silk-weaving enclaves like Kancheepuram, Dharamavaram and Arni. The traditional handloom silks (iii) ______________ score over the powerloom silks in the richness of (iv) ______________ textures and designs, in individuality, character and classic beauty.

96 Xam idea English–IX

(i) (a) was (ii) (a) knows (iii) (a) everytime (iv) (a) their

(b) is (b) knowing (b) always (b) its

(c) used to be (c) known (c) usually (c) them

(d) will be (d) knew (d) never (d) there

4. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below: (4 marks) Our sun and (i) __________ planets, including earth, (ii) __________ into existence at the same time and from a common source. Evidence suggested that the solar system (iii) ______________ formed about 4.5–5 billion years ago. It is thought to have arisen from a huge, spinning cloud of cosmic dust and gas (iv) ______________ solar nebula. (i) (a) their (ii) (a) come (iii) (a) became (iv) (a) termed

(b) its (b) coming (b) was (b) term

(c) it’s (c) came (c) is (c) terming

(d) these (d) will come (d) will (d) terms

5. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below: (4 marks) In India, festivals and special occasions were celebrated (i) ______________ ritualistic ardours, but with the changing times, there have been changes in celebrations too. People today take the easy way (ii) ______________ of dining outside rather than (iii) ______________ things at home. I think money and convenience (iv) ______________ turning friends and acquaintances away from our doors. (i) (a) on (ii) (a) in (iii) (a) organising (iv) (a) was

(b) of (b) on (b) organised (b) is

(c) for (c) out (c) organises (c) were

(d) with (d) for (d) organise (d) are

6. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below: (4 marks) A man in a restaurant asked a waiter for a glass, a dinner plate, (i) ______________ water, a match stick, and a lemon wedge. The man poured enough water onto the plate to fill it. The man told the waiter if he (ii) ______________ pour the water from the plate (iii) ______________ the glass without touching or moving the plate he could win five hundred rupees. A few minutes later, (iv) _____________ waiter walked away with the money in his pocket. (i) (a) few (ii) (a) can (iii) (a) inside (iv) (a) a

(b) many (b) may (b) into (b) an

(c) some (c) shall (c) in (c) the

(d) that (d) could (d) onto (d) these

7. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below: (4 marks) The peacock is perhaps the most beautiful (i) ______________ male birds, with its long Writing and Grammar

97

blue neck, fan-shaped crest, and its gorgeous tail. With (ii) ______________ feather ending in a half-moon (iii) ______________ raised, its tail spreads like a fan from which a thousand eyes (iv) ______________ to gaze. (i) (a) in (ii) (a) each (iii) (a) while

(b) into (b) every (b) which

(c) among (c) several (c) whose

(d) within (d) some (d) when

(iv) (a) seeming

(b) seemed

(c) seems

(d) seem

8. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below. (4 marks) Vegetarianism promotes (i) ______________ natural way of life. But despite its implicit message of love and non-violence, it (ii) ______________ not spread. Leading a vegetarian way of life (iii) ______________ the animal kingdom coexist with man. The animals (iv) ______________ milk, manure and energy. (i) (a) the (ii) (a) have (iii) (a) helps (iv) (a) supplies

(b) a (b) has (b) help (b) supplied

(c) any (c) had (c) helped (c) supply

(d) an (d) is (d) will help (d) have supplied

9. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below. (4 marks) On (i) _________________ the noise, some other women and children of the locality reached (ii) ____________. They tried to stop the quarrel but it was all in vain. There were two mothers who were (iii) ______________ coming to blows. Finally, (iv) ______________ people had to call the police to sort out the matter. (i) (a) hear (ii) (a) their (iii) (a) utmost (iv) (a) a

(b) hearing (b) there (b) almost (b) an

(c) heard (d) was hearing (c) here (d) afar (c) always (d) ever (c) the (d) some

10. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below. (4 marks) Children (i) ___________ many mistakes while learning how to (ii) ____________ a bike or write and we don’t give it a second thought because we know that through (iii) ______________ mistakes they will learn and eventually master what they are trying to (iv) ______________. (i) (a) make (ii) (a) rode (iii) (a) them

(b) made (b) ride (b) their

(c) makes (c) rides (c) there

(iv) (a) did

(b) do

(c) doing (d) done

98 Xam idea English–IX

(d) had made (d) ridden (d) there’s

11. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below. (4 marks) People often said that Thierry Boyle (i) ______________ the most boring man in the world. Thierry didn’t know why people thought he was so boring. Thierry thought he was quite interesting. After all, he (ii) ______________ stamps. What could be more interesting than stamps? It was true that he didn’t have (iii) ______________ other hobby or interest, but that didn’t matter for Thierry. He had his job, after all. At least, Thierry (iv) ______________ it was interesting. (i) (a) was (ii) (a) collects (iii) (a) some (iv) (a) think

(b) is (b) collected (b) any (b) would think

(c) were (c) collect (c) many (c) was thinking

(d) are (d) is collecting (d) few (d) thought

12. Complete the following passage by choosing the most aprropriate option from the ones given below. (4 marks) When the moon rises in June, thousands of pre-historic creatures rise (i) ______________ the depths of the sea, (ii) ______________ heavy armour clanking as they clamber over one another in the shallows of Tanton Bay, Maine. There they mate, leaving hundreds of thousands of green eggs in the sand, (iii) ______________ they simply disappear. Remarkably, this is all that modern science can tell about the horseshoe crab (iv) ______________ the Tanton Bay or anywhere else. (i) (a) on (ii) (a) these (iii) (a) then (iv) (a) in

(b) in (b) their (b) them (b) at

(c) up to (c) our (c) than (c) where

(d) from (d) your (d) because (d) when

13. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below. (4 marks)

India (i) __________ known as a leader in entertainment. It produces (ii) ________ films than Hollywood in a year. A number of films (iii) _______________ animation along with live actors to make (iv) _______ scene more plausible.

(i) (a) has (ii) (a) much (iii) (a) uses (iv) (a) a

(b) is (b) more (b) use (b) an

(c) are (c) many (c) used (c) the

(d) have (d) few (d) using (d) those

14. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below. (4 marks) For the first time (i) __________ Independence, India added fewer people (ii) ________ its population in the decade (iii) ____________ has just (iv) _______ than in the previous one. (i) (a) for (ii) (a) in

(b) since (b) on

(c) from (c) at

(d) till (d) to Writing and Grammar

99

(iii) (a) where

(b) which

(c) that

(d) than

(iv) (a) has ended

(b) have ended

(c) ended

(d) had ended

15. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below. (4 marks) The Gurpurab celebrations (i) _______ held in the month of November to attract a large number of devotees. The Golden Temple, which is the hub of Sikhism, is visited by many people (ii) _______ pay homage to Guru Nanak Dev, the first Guru of the Sikhs. The Guru was born at a time (iii) _______ there was no one to show the path of truth to the people (iv) _______ had become superstitious and unbelievers. (i) (a) which (ii) (a) which (iii) (a) that (iv) (a) that

(b) that (b) whom (b) when (b) who

(c) who (c) who (c) what (c) whom

(d) are (d) what (d) which (d) which

16. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below.

(4 marks)

He was happy and contented, (i) _________ he was poor. He never showed signs of frustration, (ii) ________ his friends who were rich were always in distress. (iii) _______ the problems he had to face, he remained calm and composed. (iv) _______ he went, he spread happiness. (i) (a) though (ii) (a) while (iii) (a) In spite of (iv) (a) Wherever

(b) although (b) when (b) Instead of (b) Whenever

(c) when (c) though (c) Even though (c) Whichever

(d) if (d) whether (d) Although (d) Whoever

17. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below. (4 marks) Swami Vivekananda told about a young man who said that he wanted to find God. The sage smiled and said (i) _____________. The young man, turned time after time, repeating his desire, his longing to find God. After (ii) _____________ days, the sage told him to accompany him as he went to the river (iii) _____________ take his morning bath and when (iv) _____________ were in the river, the sage took hold of the young man, plunged him under the surface of water and held him there. (i) (a) nothing (ii) (a) many (iii) (a) off (iv) (a) how

(b) anything (b) each (b) in (b) both

(c) more (c) little (c) on (c) on

(d) much (d) all (d) to (d) to

18. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below. (4 marks) American Andre Agassi, 41, is (i) _______ the best tennis players of (ii) _______ time, having contested his professional match at the age of 16. He (iii) _______ one of just six (iv) _______ to have won each of the four Grand Slam tournaments at least once.

100 Xam idea English–IX

(i) (a) among (ii) (a) every (iii) (a) become (iv) (a) player

(b) between (b) all (b) is (b) winners

(c) one (c) few (c) became (c) aces

(d) in (d) each (d) had been (d) players

19. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below. (4 marks) Since the beginning of human existence, people (i) ______________ over the world have expressed their emotions (ii) ______________ ideas through the medium of dance. Different regions (iii) ______________ India have their own dances. (iv) ______________ dance is accompanied by music and songs of the region to which it belongs. (i) (a) all (ii) (a) but (iii) (a) at (iv) (a) Each

(b) whole (b) or (b) of (b) All

(c) much (c) and (c) for (c) Whole

(d) more (d) since (d) from (d) Many

20. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below. (4 marks) An analysis of (i) _______ mysterious ‘dark flow’ seen in outer space has suggested that something big is out there, beyond the visible edge of (ii) _______ universe, which (iii) _______ be a sign of a neighbouring universe. Last year, Sasha Kashlinsky of Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland, and colleagues identified (iv) _______ unusual pattern in the motion of around 800 galaxy clusters. (i) (a) all (ii) (a) your (iii) (a) might (iv) (a) a

(b) a (b) our (b) will (b) of

(c) an (c) their (c) may (c) the

(d) the (d) its (d) ought to (d) an

21. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below. (4 marks) Puppets are among the (i) _______ man-made objects in the world. Archaeologists in Egypt and India have (ii) _______ pointed clay models that are operated by pulling (iii) _______ strings, which date back to 4,000 years. Historians tell us that puppets (iv) ________ created by nearly all people at all times. (i) (a) older (ii) (a) find (iii) (a) their (iv) (a) has been

(b) elder (b) found (b) there (b) is

(c) oldest (c) finding (c) it’s (c) was

(d) old (d) fond (d) it (d) have been

22. Complete the following passage by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below. (4 marks)

Spending time with their kids (i) ________ immediate as well as long-term gains to fathers. Children of an involved dad (ii) _______ more popular, get on better with their peers and Writing and Grammar

101

are (iii) _______ empathetic according to a research published by a Canadian study. Today, thanks to modern technology, fathers can (iv) _______ more time with their children even when they are away from home. (i) (a) bring (ii) (a) is (iii) (a) more (iv) (a) spend

ANSWERS

1. (i) (b) entered 2. (i) (a) in 3. (i) (b) is 4. (i) (b) its 5. (i) (d) with 6. (i) (c) some 7. (i) (c) among 8. (i) (a) the 9. (i) (b) hearing 10. (i) (a) make 11. (i) (a) was 12. (i) (d) from 13. (i) (b) is 14. (i) (b) since 15. (i) (d) are 16. (i) (b) although 17. (i) (a) nothing 18. (i) (a) among 19. (i) (a) all 20. (i) (d) the 21. (i) (c) oldest 22. (i) (b) brings

(b) brings (b) was (b) more than (b) spends

(ii) (a) live (ii) (c) which (ii) (c) known (ii) (c) came (ii) (c) out (ii) (d) could (ii) (a) each (ii) (b) has (ii) (b) there (ii) (b) ride (ii) (b) collected (ii) (b) their (ii) (b) more (ii) (d) to (ii) (c) who (ii) (c) though (ii) (a) many (ii) (b) all (ii) (c) and (ii) (b) our (ii) (b) found (ii) (d) are

(c) bringing (c) were (c) most (c) spent

(iii) (c) infected (iii) (b) formed (iii) (b) always (iii) (b) was (iii) (a) organising (iii) (d) onto (iii) (d) when (iii) (a) helps (iii) (b) almost (iii) (b) their (iii) (b) any (iii) (a) then (iii) (b) use (iii) (c) that (iii) (b) when (iii) (a) In spite of (iii) (d) to (iii) (b) is (iii) (b) of (iii) (a) might (iii) (a) their (iii) (a) more

(d) brought (d) are (d) the most (d) spending

(iv) (a) have (iv) (d) met (iv) (a) their (iv) (a) termed (iv) (d) are (iv) (c) the (iv) (d) seem (iv) (c) supply (iv) (c) the (iv) (b) do (iv) (d) thought (iv) (b) at (iv) (c) the (iv) (c) ended (iv) (b) who (iv) (a) Wherever (iv) (b) both (iv) (d) players (iv) (a) Each (iv) (d) an (iv) (d) have been (iv) (a) spend zzz

102 Xam idea English–IX

Editing

6

The following passages have not been edited. There is an error in each of the lines against which a blank is given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in the space provided. Remember to underline the correction that you have provided.

1.

Error

Correction

In the absence of rain, few the rivers

(a) ________ ________

get dry. Crops failed in the absence of

(b) ________ ________

water. Their is a food shortage and we

(c) ________ ________

are to go to other countries with a

(d) ________ ________

begging bowl.



2.

Error Correction

Their is a story about

(a) ________ ________

Birbal not being allowed to attending

(b) ________ ________

the feast. The reasons was

(c) ________ ________

which he was not dressed properly.

(d) ________ ________



3.

Error Correction

The penguin’s food consist of

(a) ________ ________

a small creatures of the sea

(b) ________ ________

when they catch by

(c) ________ ________

driving great depths.

(d) ________ ________



4.

Error Correction

The collecting, writing, editing and present in news articles of

(a) ________ ________

newspapers, magazines, and

Writing and Grammar

103

radio and television broadcasts is broadly speaking

(b) ________ ________

what journalism is all about. Originally, journalism means

(c) ________ ________

reportage of current event in the printed forming, specially newspapers.

(d) ________ ________



5.

Error Correction

One of the key figures in the tourist industry is a waiter. His job is not

(a) ________ ________

merely to wait at tables but

(b) ________ ________

serve food and beverages to the customers. The service provided by the hotel

(c) ________ ________

industry are rather complex; hence a waiter has to be train to acquire knowledge and

(d) ________ ________

skill of the industry.

6.

Error Correction

In one of the biggest seizures for wildlife goods, (a) ________ ________ custom officials at IGI airport (b) ________ ________ arrested the resident of Srinagar (c) ________ ________ on Tuesday for carried 25 (d) ________ ________ shahtoosh shawl, 89 pashmina shawls.

7.

Error Correction

For a first time in Australia, (a) ________ ________ robots will be used for served (b) ________ ________ dishes to patients in posh new (c) ________ ________ plates at one of Sydney’s hospital. (d) ________ ________

8.

Error Correction

Electricity is supplied to a house

through cables. In cities, a (a) ________ ________ cables are usually lay underground, (b) ________ ________ but in towns or villages they (c) ________ ________ may be carried in poles.

104 Xam idea English–IX

(d) ________ ________



9.

Error Correction

Parents and teachers overwhelmingly

want to bringing back the cane (a) ________ ________ in schools in Britain, complain (b) ________ ________ that the classrooms has (c) ________ ________ turned unrule. (d) ________ ________ 10.

Error Correction

Mr Jones woke one morning, before the

sun has risen. It was a beautiful (a) ________ ________ day, so he goes to the window and (b) ________ ________ looked out. He was surprise to see (c) ________ ________ a neatly dress, middle-aged professor (d) ________ ________ coming from a direction of the town. 11. Error Correction

A baboon troop comprises about forty adult

members. At the centre of the troop is the (a) ________ ________ dominant males. Around them cluster a females (b) ________ ________ and the young. Around these central (c) ________ ________ core is the cadets. (d) ________ ________ 12.

Error Correction

Education is a process with apart from (a) ________ ________ acquiring certain skills also help in using (b) ________ ________ them effeciently in a relevant context and of (c) ________ ________ understanding. Thus, it shoud not became mechanic process. (d) ________ ________ 13. Error Correction

Computer conferencing is face to face

interaction for other people anywhere in (a) ________ ________ the world. Computers are attach (b) ________ ________ via network used multi-media features (c) ________ ________ in computers like sound, video, etc. (d) ________ ________ 14. Error Correction

Could you do something for me?

I have left mine blue bag on the table (a) ________ ________ at the drawing room of my house. (b) ________ ________ Writing and Grammar

105

If you goes to my house tomorrow (c) ________ ________ my mother will give it for you. (d) ________ ________ 15.

Error Correction

This is the story at twins, (a) ________ ________ separated or reunited. Evelyn Rider (b) ________ ________ but Edna Wilde, two sisters born (c) ________ ________ from England were reunited in Australia in the next door (d) ________ ________ house of Edna’s long sister. 16. Error Correction

The effects or uses of crystals or gemstones

is mentioned in the astrology of the East and

(a) ________ ________

the West. Experts world under are trying to (b) ________ ________ understand the relationship among humans (c) ________ ________ and stones from scientific methods. (d) ________ ________

ANSWERS 1. 2. Error Correction Error Correction (a) few all (a) Their There (b) failed fail (b) attending attend (c) Their There (c) reasons reason (d) are have (d) which that 3. 4. Error Correction Error Correction (a) consist consists (a) present presenting (b) a the (b) broadcasts broadcast (c) when which (c) means meant (d) driving diving (d) forming form 5. 6. Error Correction Error Correction (a) a the (a) for of (b) but and (b) custom customs (c) service services (c) the a (d) train trained (d) carried carrying

106 Xam idea English–IX

7. 8. Error Correction Error Correction (a) a the (a) a the (b) served serving (b) lay laid (c) dishes meals (c) or and (d) hospital hospitals (d) may might 9. 10. Error Correction Error Correction (a) bringing bring (a) has had (b) complain complaining (b) goes went (c) has have (c) surprise surprised (d) unrule unruly (d) a the 11. 12. Error Correction Error Correction (a) is are (a) with which (b) a the (b) help helps (c) these this (c) of with (d) is are (d) became become 13. 14. Error Correction Error Correction (a) for with (a) mine my (b) attach attached (b) at in (c) used using (c) goes go (d) in of (d) for to 15. 16. Error Correction Error Correction (a) at about (a) is are (b) or and (b) under over (c) but and (c) among between (d) from in (d) from through

zzz

Writing and Grammar

107

7

Transformation of Sentences

Dialogue Writing 1. Read the paragraph given below and complete the dialogue that follows. Mother asked Geeta what she was doing. Geeta replied that she was watching TV. The mother then asked her when her next paper was. Geeta replied that it was on Monday. At that, the mother asked Geeta then why she was not studying. Geeta said that she was taking a break.

Mother : What (a) _______________________________________?

Geeta : I (b) _______________________________________ TV.

Mother : (c) _______________________________________ next paper?



Geeta : (d) _______________________________________ on Monday.



Mother : Then why (e) _______________________________________?



Geeta : (f) _______________________________________ a break.

2. Read the paragraph given below and complete the dialogue that follows.

A child told the salesman that he wanted to buy a birthday card. The salesman asked who the card was for. The child said that it was for his little sister. The salesman then asked the child whether he wanted a big card or a small one. The child said that he wanted a card which would show his love for his sister a lot. The salesman then advised him to make one himself.



Child : I (a) _____________________________ a birthday card for my little sister.



Salesman : (b) _______________________________________ for?



Child : For (c) _______________________________________.



Salesman : Do you want (d) _______________________________________?



Child : I (e) _______________________________________ that I love my little sister a lot.



Salesman : Then, (f) _______________________________________ if you make one yourself.



108 Xam idea English–IX

3. Read the paragraph given below and complete the dialogue that follows. Two friends Amit and Rahul were going home after school. Taking a bite of his bar of chocolate, Amit said that when he grew up he would go to Harvard. Rahul was duly impressed to hear this and said that he would have to study really hard. In his typical style, Amit replied that his dad would have to work really hard. Rahul said that Amit must be joking to which Amit replied that he was serious. Rahul said that money couldn’t get him an admission in Harvard.

Amit : When I grow up, (a) _____________________________________ Harvard.



Rahul : You’ll (b) _______________________________________ really hard.



Amit : No, my dad (c) _______________________________________ really hard.



Rahul : You (d) _______________________________________.



Amit : (e) _______________________________________ serious.

Rahul : Money (f) _______________________________________ in Harvard. 4. Read the paragraph given below and complete the dialogue that follows. The son called his mother and asked her where he had put his wallet. The mother replied that she didn’t know. She advised him to ask his father. The son retorted saying that that would not be helpful. The mother asked why he was saying that. The son answered that he would say the same thing. At that, the mother then asked him why he didn’t put things in their proper place. Son

: Mummy, (a) _______________________________________ wallet?

Mother : (b) _______________________________________. Ask your father.

Son

: That (c) _______________________________________ helpful.



Mother : (d) _______________________________________ that?



Son : He (e) _______________________________________ same thing.



Mother : (f) _______________________________________ in their proper place?

5. Read the paragraph given below and complete the dialogue that follows. Bina seldom folded her umbrella. Biju did not like it. He asked her why she didn’t fold her umbrella. Bina replied that it looked beautiful when it was kept open. Biju advised her to keep it folded. Bina asked why. Biju said that it came in the way when open. Bina replied that she would keep it where it wouldn’t disturb anyone. Biju

: Bina, (a) _______________________________________ your umbrella?



Bina : It looks beautiful when (b) _______________________________________.



Biju : You (c) _______________________________________.



Bina : (d) _______________________________________?



Biju : It (e) _______________________________________ when open.



Bina : I will keep it (f) _______________________________________ anyone. Writing and Grammar

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6. Read the paragraph given below and complete the dialogue that follows. The receptionist wished Mr Deepak a good morning. Mr Deepak also wished back a good morning. Then the receptionist said that she was speaking from Hotel Oberoi, Bengaluru. Mr Deepak said that he would like to make a booking in their hotel. He requested her to book a suite with an attached bathroom and a lobby for Monday, September 20, 20XX. The receptionist said that Mr Deepak should consider the booking done. Mr Deepak replied saying that that was very kind of the receptionist.

Receptionist : Good morning.



Mr Deepak : Good morning.



Receptionist : (a) _____________________________________ Hotel Oberoi, Bengaluru.



Mr Deepak : I (b) _______________________________________ a booking in your hotel. Kindly (c) _______________________________________ with an attached (d) _____________________________________ for Monday, September 20, 20XX.



Receptionist : (e) _______________________________________ done, Sir.



Mr Deepak : (f) _______________________________________ of you.

7. Read the paragraph given below and complete the dialogue that follows. Arati asked Saurabh what he thought of the question paper. Saurabh replied that it was lengthy. Arati replied with a surprise. Saurabh said that he had left questions worth 15 marks. Arati then said that on the whole, the paper was easy but she was afraid she would lose marks because of her poor handwriting. Saurabh told her that she should practise to improve her handwriting.

Arati : (a) _______________________________________ of the question paper?



Saurabh : It (b) _______________________________________ paper.



Arati : Really!



Saurabh : Yes, I (c) _______________________________________ worth 15 marks.



Arati : On the whole, (d) _______________________________________. But I am afraid. I will (e) _______________________________________ of my poor handwriting.



Saurabh : You (f) _______________________________________ your handwriting.

8. Read the paragraph given below and complete the dialogue that follows. Ramesh asked Rachna where she was going. She said that she was going to school. Ramesh asked her for what was she going. Rachna replied saying that she was going to collect her pass certificate. Ramesh then wanted to know how her result was. Rachna replied saying that she had got good marks in all subjects, except in mathematics. Ramesh : Where (a) _______________________________________?

Rachna : I (b) _______________________________________ school.



Ramesh : (c) _______________________________________ for?

Rachna : (d) _______________________________________ pass certificate.

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Ramesh : (e) _______________________________________ result?

Rachna : I (f) _______________________________________, except in mathematics. 9. Read the paragraph given below and complete the dialogue that follows. Teacher asked Sam why he was late. Sam replied saying that he had missed the school bus. The teacher told Sam that he should have reached the bus stop on time. Sam said that his mother was ill. The teacher said that she was sorry to hear that. Sam said that he would try to reach timely.

Teacher : (a) _______________________________________, Sam?



Sam : I (b) _______________________________________.



Teacher : You (c) __________________________________________ the bus stop on time.



Sam : My mother (d) _______________________________________.



Teacher : (e) _______________________________________ that.

Sam

: I (f) _______________________________________ timely.

ANSWERS

DIALOGUE WRITING

1. (a) are you doing (c) When is your (e) are you not studying 2. (a) want to buy (c) my little sister (e) want a card that will show 3. (a) I will go to (c) will have to work (e) I am 4. (a) where have I put my (c) would not be (e) will say the 5. (a) why don’t you fold (c) shoud keep it folded (e) comes in the way 6. (a) This is (c) book a suite (e) Consider the booking 7. (a) What do you think (c) left questions (e) lose marks because 8. (a) are you going

(b) am watching (d) It is (f) I am taking (b) Who is the card (d) a big card or a small card (f) it would be better (b) have to study (d) must be joking (f) can’t get you an admission (b) I do not know (d) Why do you say (f) Why don’t you put things (b) it is kept open (d) Why (f) where it won’t disturb (b) would like to make (d) bathroom and a lobby (f) That is very kind (b) was a lengthy (d) the paper was easy (f) should practise to improve (b) am going to Writing and Grammar

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(c) What (d) To collect my (e) How was your (f) got good marks in all subjects 9. (a) Why are you late (b) missed the school bus (c) shoud have reached (d) is ill (e) I am sorry to hear (f) will try to reach

Reporting Dialogue 1. Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph that follows. Mother : Shreya, how did your dance performance go? Shreya : It went off very well, mom! I had praises coming in from all the judges and the audience. Mother : That’s really nice. So, what did you get as prize? Shreya : They gave me a lifetime scholarship, mom. Mother : You have made us really proud. Shreya : I have also received an award and a certificate. Mother : Where have you kept them? Shreya : They are still in my bag. I’ll just take them out. Shreya’s mother asked her how (a) _________________. To that, Shreya replied that (b) _________________. Shreya’s mother was happy and asked her about the prize she got. Shreya said that she (c) _________________. Shreya’s mother said that (d) _________________ really proud. Then Shreya said that (e) _________________. At that, Shreya’s mother asked Shreya where she (f) _________________. 2. Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph that follows. Ajay : How much is this chocolate for? Shopkeeper : It is for ™30. Ajay : OK, give me three chocolates. Shopkeeper : Here you go, that will be ™90. Ajay : Please put the chocolates in a cover. Shopkeeper : Are you paying in cash? Ajay : If it suits you. Ajay asked the shopkeeper (a) _______________________. The shopkeeper replied that (b) ___________________. To that, Ajay asked the shopkeeper to (c) _________________. The shopkeeper did so and told him the total amount. Ajay asked the shopkeeper to (d) ___________________ in a cover. The shopkeeper asked Ajay if he would be (e) ___________________. Ajay replied that he would if it (f) ___________________. 3. Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph that follows. Arjun :  I wanted to know the procedure for admission to the course of Travel and Tourism. Counsellor :  OK. First you need to fill in this application form. Then, submit the required documents, and finally, the required course fee.

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Arjun : Thank you sir, I’ll follow the same procedure. Counsellor : You can call the toll free number for assistance. Arjun : Is it open all days? Counsellor : All days, except Sunday. Arjun wanted to know the (a) _______________________. To this, the counsellor replied that he needed to (b) _______________________. After that, he was required to submit the (c) _____________________. Arjun thanked the counsellor for guiding him through the admission procedure. The counsellor told him that he could (d) ______________ for assistance. Arjun wanted to know if the toll free number (e) ______________. To this, the counsellor replied (f) ______________, except Sunday. 4. Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph that follows. Customer : Waiter, come here. Waiter : Yes sir. Customer : Look, there are flies in my soup. Waiter : But sir, they are fresh flies. Customer : What do you mean? Waiter : They arrived only this morning sir. Customer : I didn’t expect to find flies in my soup at all. Where is the Manager? Waiter : He has gone to get a spray to get rid of the flies. A customer in a restaurant complained that there were flies in his soup. The waiter told the customer (a) _______________________. When the customer asked (b) _______________________, the waiter replied that they (c) _______________________. The customer said that (d) _____________________ flies in his soup at all. Then he asked (e) _____________________. The waiter replied saying that (f) _______________________ to get rid of the flies. 5. Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph that follows. Berry : Daddy! I am the happiest girl in the world. Daddy : Have you won a million dollar lottery? Berry : No! I have got something much better. Daddy : Is it a chance to meet your favourite star? Berry : Yes, I have won a contest and am getting a chance to meet Shahid Kapoor. Daddy : Wow! That is wonderful. Berry screamed with joy that (a) _____________. Her father asked (b) _______________ a million dollar lottery. She replied that (c) ____________________ something much better. Her father asked (d) ________________________ to meet her favourite star. Berry replied saying that she had won a contest and (e) ____________________Shahid Kapoor. Her father said that (f) ______________________. 6. Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph that follows. Matron : What’s the matter with you boy? Boy : I have a severe pain on the right side of my stomach. Writing and Grammar

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Matron : Have you been overeating? Boy : I haven’t eaten a morsel since morning. Matron : Come, lie down, I’ll see what is wrong. Boy : Ouch! Don’t matron, it hurts. Seeing the boy standing at the entrance of the door, the matron asked (a) _____________. The boy replied that (b) _______________________ on the right hand side of his stomach. The matron inquired (c) ______________________. The boy replied (d) _______________________ a morsel since morning. The matron asked (e) ___________________ so that she could see (f) ____________________. When the matron was examining the boy, he shouted that it hurts.

ANSWERS REPORTING DIALOGUE 1. (a) her dance performance went (b) it had gone off really well and that she had praises coming in from all the judges and the audience (c) had got a lifetime scholarship (d) she had made them (e) she had also received an award and a certificate (f) had kept them 2. (a) the price of a particular chocolate (c) give him three chocolates (e) paying in cash

(b) it was for ™30 (d) put the chocolates (f) suited the shopkeeper

3. (a) procedure for admission to the course of Travel and Tourism (b) fill in the application form first (c) required documents and then the course fee (d) call the toll free number (e) was open all days (f) that it was open all days 4. (a) that the flies were fresh (c) had arrived only that morning (e) for the Manager

(b) what he meant (d) he didn’t expect to find (f) the manager had gone to get a spray

5. (a) she was the happiest girl in the world (c) she had got (e) was getting a chance to meet

(b) if she had won (d) if it was a chance (f) that was wonderful

6. (a) what the matter was (c) if he had been overeating (e) him to lie down

(b) he had a severe pain (d) that he hadn’t eaten (f) what was wrong

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zzz

SECTION–C

LITERATURE READER PROSE/BEEHIVE

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

THE FUN THEY HAD THE SOUND OF MUSIC THE LITTLE GIRL A TRULY BEAUTIFUL MIND THE SNAKE AND THE MIRROR MY CHILDHOOD REACH FOR THE TOP KATHMANDU IF I WERE YOU

—ISAAC ASIMOV —DEBORAH COWLEY —KATHERINE MANSFIELD —VAIKOM MUHAMMAD BASHEER —A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM —SANTOSH YADAV, MARIA SHARAPOVA —VIKRAM SETH —DOUGLAS JAMES

POETRY/BEEHIVE

1. THE ROAD NOT TAKEN 2. WIND 3. RAIN ON THE ROOF 4. THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE 5. A LEGEND OF THE NORTHLAND 6. NO MEN ARE FOREIGN 7. ON KILLING A TREE 8. A SLUMBER DID MY SPIRIT SEAL

—ROBERT FROST —SUBRAMANIA BHARATI —COATES KINNEY —WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS —PHOEBE CARY —JAMES KIRKUP —GIEVE PATEL —WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

PROSE/MOMENTS (SUPPLEMENTARY READER)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

THE LOST CHILD THE ADVENTURES OF TOTO ISWARAN THE STORYTELLER IN THE KINGDOM OF FOOLS THE HAPPY PRINCE THE LAST LEAF A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME THE BEGGAR

—MULK RAJ ANAND —RUSKIN BOND —R.K. LAXMAN —A.K. RAMANUJAN —OSCAR WILDE —O. HENRY —ZAN GAUDIOSO —ANTON CHEKHOV

40 MARKS

The Fun They Had

—Isaac Asimov

1

About the Author Isaac Asimov (2nd Jan 1920 – 6th April 1992) was an American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University. He was known for his works of science fiction and popular science. Asimov was a prolific writer who wrote or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards.

Theme The story is a science fiction that is delving into the difference in the education systems of the olden days and the virtual form of education with the use of a mechanical teacher. He is expressing his vision of the future technology, along with emphasis on the deterioration of human relationship.

Summary The story “The Fun They Had” by Isaac Asimov is about the year 2157 when every child has his own mechanical teacher, and schools like today, do not exist anymore. Asimov wrote this story in 1951 for a syndicated newspaper page. Later, “The Fun They Had” was published in “Fantasy and Science Fiction” magazine. In the year 2157, the thirteen-year-old Tommy finds an old book. He and Margie, who is eleven, find it strange that the words on paper do not move after having been read. Nowadays, they only read stories on the computer screen. The book is about school which existed centuries ago. Margie is very surprised that in the past, pupils had a person as a teacher instead of a mechanical teacher, as they have. It was strange that all the children of the same age learnt the same thing and went to a school room with other children. Margie wants to read more of the book but first she has to learn with her mechanical teacher whose level is too advanced for her and she thinks school in those days was much better than today. The procedure of learning with the mechanical teacher is not liked by Margie, especially because she was facing problems with geography. Thus, she hopes that she could also enjoy the old system of education, though her mother has a different opinion. She feels that education is to be on a one-to-one basis, according to the capacities of each child. Margie however, chooses to appreciate only the fun, combined learning and human relationship which existed in the old system of schools.

Glossary NCERT Page –5 exist – to be real or have the ability to be known; perhaps – used to express uncertainty or possibility; virtual – not physically existing as such but made by software to appear to do so; headed – give a title or caption to something NCERT Page –7 blanked – become blank or empty; loftily – to behave in an arrogant or haughty manner NCERT Page –9 sigh – emit a long, deep audible breath expressing sadness Literature Reader

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Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each. 1. How old are Margie and Tommy? Ans. Margie is eleven years old and Tommy is thirteen years old. 2. What did Margie write in her diary? Ans. Margie dated her diary as 17 May 2157 and wrote, “Today Tommy found a real book!”. 3. Had Margie ever seen a book before? Ans. Margie had never seen a real book before. 4. What things about the book did she find strange? Ans. She noticed the pages of the book were yellow and crinkly. The words were stationery and the pages could be turned physically. Also when one read it the second time, everything was the same as earlier. The book once read could be thrown away. 5. What do you think a telebook is? Ans. A telebook is a virtual book that can be read on a screen. Millions of books can be installed and none needs to be thrown away. The words on the screen keep moving the way they were supposed to. 6. Where was Margie’s school? Did she have any classmates? Ans. Margie’s school was actually a computer screen which was in a room, next to her bedroom. She didn’t have any classmates. 7. What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn? Ans. Margie, Tommy and all the children learnt History, Geography and Maths as their subjects.

II. Answer the following with reference to the story. 1. “I wouldn’t throw it away.” (i) Who says these words? (ii) What does ‘it’ refer to? (iii) What is it being compared to by the speaker? Ans. (i) Tommy says these words. (ii) ‘It’ refers to the telebook. (iii) The real book is being compared to the telebook. 2. “Sure they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher. It was a man.” (i) Who does ‘they’ refer to? (ii) What does ‘regular’ mean here? (iii) What is it contrasted with? Ans. (i) ‘They’ refers to the children from centuries ago who read the real book. (ii) ‘Regular’ here means that the teacher teaching earlier was a teacher in the conventional sense of the word and not a mechanical teacher like theirs. (iii) Here, the contrast is between the mechanical teacher and the human teacher, the man.

III. Answer each of these questions in short paragraph. (about 30 words) 1. What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have? Ans. Margie and Tommy were taught by a mechanical teacher on the computer screen. All

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the lessons were flashed on the screen and they had to answer the questions that were asked. A slot was provided in the machine to insert all their homework and test papers. 2. Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector? Ans. Margie’s mother sent for the County Inspector as Margie’s performance in geography test was deteriorating. Inspite of repeated tests given by the mechanical teacher, there seemed to be no progress. 3. What did he do? Ans. The County Inspector took the mechanical teacher apart. He slowed up the geography section up to an average ten year level. Then he re-assembled the teacher back again.

4. Why was Margie doing badly in geography? What did the County Inspector do to help her? Ans. Margie was doing badly in geography because the subject was set at a higher level in the mechanical teacher. The County Inspector told her mother that she was not to be blamed for the drop in performance. He slowed down the level to suit Margie’s age and assured her mother that she was progressing satisfactorily. 5. What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher? Ans. Once Tommy’s teacher was taken away for nearly a month because the history sector had blanked out completely. 6. Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why? Ans. Yes, Margie had regular days and hours for school. Margie had to attend her school at the same time everyday except on Saturday and Sunday. Her mother insisted that little girls learned better if they learned at regular hours. 7. How does Tommy describe the old kind of school? Ans. Tommy said that the old kind of school existed centuries ago. They had a man to teach them. All students went to a special building where they were taught the same thing, according to their respective ages. 8. How does he describe the old kind of teachers? Ans. Tommy described the old kind of teachers to be people who did not live in a house but in a special building. The students would go to this building to learn, where they were taught, according to their respective ages. The teacher gave them homework and asked them questions. A teacher taught many children at the same time.

IV. Answer each of these questions in two or three paragraphs.

(100 – 150 words)



1. What are the main features of the mechanical teachers and the school rooms that Margie and Tommy have in the story? Ans. Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers to teach them. The teacher was a computer screen on which lessons were flashed/shown, explained, and then questions were asked. Thereafter, tests were given. All work had to be submitted in punch code, which was learnt at the age of six by all. The completed work had to be inserted in a slot that was provided on the machine. Assessment was done immediately. Every mechanical teacher was adjusted according to the age level of the child. The mechanical teacher lived in the house of the student. It was programmed to flash on the screen at a certain time each day except on Saturday and Sunday. It never fell ill, would assign homework regularly, questioned and tested without being prompted to do so. In case, there was any mechanical fault, a County Inspector was sent for, to rectify the error.

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2. Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun? Ans. Margie’s school was a computer screen in a room next to her bedroom. She had no classmates and learnt from a mechanical teacher. Of late, Margie had started to hate school more than ever as her performance in the geography test was worsening, and she hoped that the County Inspector wouldn’t be able to put her teacher back together, and she’d be off with the subject for a while. She hated the homework and the tests that she had to complete and submit systematically into the slot. She thought the old schools must have been fun. She liked the thought that all the kids from the neighbourhood would be laughing and shouting in the schoolyard, sitting together in the schoolroom. They learned the same thing, so they could help one another with the homework and talk about it. Moreover, the teachers were humans.

3. Do you agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story? Give reasons for your answer. Ans. I would agree with Margie that schools today are more interesting and full of fun as compared to the mechanical schools. In Margie’s days, schools constituted a computer screen placed in a room in the house. There was no interaction with other children as everyone studied in their own homes. All work was done in punch code and submitted in a slot in the computer screen. One can imagine how boring the school life must have been. Whenever we think of a school, we think of it as a building where students of the same age study together and are taught simultaneously by the same teacher/s. Students interact and also help one another with their studies. They also laugh and play. Margie in her school could do none of these. There is no interaction between student and teacher which creates a problem in rectification after assessment. This is why, Margie’s problem with geography could not be addressed. It required a human being in the form of the County Inspector to identify the problem and correct it.

THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE I. Adverb Read this sentence taken from the story: They had once taken Tommy’s teacher away for nearly a month because the history sector had blanked out completely. The word ‘complete’ is an adjective. When you add -ly to it, it becomes an adverb.

1. Find the sentences in the lesson which have the adverbs given in the box below.

awfully sorrowfully completely loftily carefully differently quickly nonchalantly Ans. The sentences in the lesson which have the adverbs are: Awfully: They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to on a screen, you know. Sorrowfully: The mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in geography and she had been doing worse and worse until her mother had shaken her head sorrowfully and sent for the County Inspector. Completely: They had once taken Tommy’s teacher away for nearly a month because the history sector had blanked out completely. Loftily and Carefully: He added loftily, pronouncing the word carefully, ‘‘Centuries ago.”

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Differently: “But my mother says a teacher has to be adjusted to fit the mind of each boy and girl it teaches and that each kid has to be taught differently.” Quickly: “I didn’t say I didn’t like it, ” Margie said quickly. Nonchalantly: “May be,” he said nonchalantly. 2. Now use these adverbs to fill in the blanks in the sentences below. (i) The report must be read ________________ so that performance can be improved. (ii) At the interview, Sameer answered our questions, shrugging ________________ his shoulders. (iii) We all behave ________________ when we are tired or hungry. (iv) The teacher shook her head ________________ when Ravi lied to her. (v) I ________________ forgot about it. (vi) When I complimented Revathi on her success, she just smiled ________________ and turned away. (vii) The President of the Company is ________________ busy and will not be able to meet you. (viii) I finished my work ________________ so that I could go out to play. Ans. (i) carefully, (ii) nonchalantly, (iii) differently, (iv) sorrowfully, (v) completely, (vi) loftily, (vii) awfully, (viii) quickly 3. Make adverbs from these adjectives. Ans. Adjectives (i) angry (ii) happy (iii) merry (iv) sleepy (v) easy (vi) noisy (vii) tidy (viii) gloomy

Adverbs angrily happily merrily sleepily easily noisily tidily gloomily

II. If Not and unless Complete the following conditional sentences. Use the correct form of the verb. 1. If I don’t go to Anu’s party tonight, ____________________ 2. If you don’t telephone the hotel to order food,____________________ 3. Unless you promise to write back, I ____________________ 4. If she doesn’t play any games, ____________________ Ans.

5. Unless that little bird flies away quickly, the cat ____________________ 1. If I don’t go to Anu’s party tonight, she will be very upset. 2. If you don’t telephone the hotel to order food, we will have to go without food. 3. Unless you promise to write back, I will not write to you. 4. If she doesn’t play any games, we will teach her a new game. 5. Unless that little bird flies away quickly, the cat will feast on her.

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WRITING A new revised volume of Isaac Asimov’s short stories has just been released. Order one set. Write a letter to the publisher, Mindfame Private Limited, 1632 Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi, requesting that a set be sent to you by Value Payable Post (VPP), and giving your address. Your letter will have the following parts. O Addresses of the sender and receiver O The salutation O The body of the letter O The closing phrases and signature Ans. M – 3256, Lajpat Nagar-IV New Delhi – 110024 January 15, 20XX Mindfame Private Limited Asaf Ali Road New Delhi –110003

Subject: Book Release

Dear Sir/Madam It has been brought to my notice that a new and revised volume of Isaac Asimov’s short stories has been released by Mindfame Private Limited. I enjoy his style of writing, and have read nearly all his books. I have been trying to buy the new book, but it is seeming to be fairly difficult to get a copy of the new edition. I would like to place an order for one set of the same, with your office. I request you to kindly send it to the above address, by Value Payable Post (VPP) after deducting the discount, that is being offered, from its price. It would be appreciated if you could confirm my order, and also let me know the expected date of receipt. Thank you Yours sincerely (Simran)

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 Marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. Margie even wrote about it that night in her diary. On the page headed 17 May 2157, she wrote, “Today Tommy found a real book!” It was a very old book. Margie’s grandfather once said that when he was a little boy, his grandfather told him that there was a time when all stories were printed on paper.

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They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to — on a screen, you know. And then when they turned back to the page before, it had the same words on it that it had when they read it the first time.

(a) What had Tommy found? (i) A cool gizmo (iii) An old computer

(1) (ii) A real book (iv) A robot

(b) Why was the book awfully funny? (i) It had crinkly yellow pages. (ii) Words stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to. (iii) When they turned back to the previous page, the words were still there. (iv) All of these

(1)

(c) How did Margie feel about the book?

(1)

(d) How was the book related to what Margie’s grandfather once told her? (2) Ans. (a) (ii) A real book (b) (iv) All of these (c) Margie felt so strange because they only had e-books or virtual books. So she was astonished to see a real book. (d) Margie’s grandfather once said that when he was a little boy his grandfather told him that there was a time when all stories were printed on paper. They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to – on a screen. 2. Margie was scornful. “School? What’s there to write about school? I hate school.” Margie always hated school, but now she hated it more than ever. The mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in geography and she had been doing worse and worse until her mother had shaken her head sorrowfully and sent for the County Inspector. (a) Why did Margie feel scornful at the thought of the school?

(2)

(b) Why were Margie and Tommy discussing about school? (i) They were given that topic for an essay competition. (ii) They had found an old book which was about school.

(1)



(iii) They were curious about how old schools were.



(iv) They were inquisitive by nature.

(c) Pick a word to describe how Margie felt about school. (i) Circumspect (ii) Disdainful

(iii) Observant

(1)

(iv) Wary

(d) What was Margie’s mother’s reaction to her deteriorating performance in geography? (1) Ans. (a) Margie was scornful at the thought of the school because in her school, which was next to her bedroom, the mechanical teacher taught her and took her tests after tests. She was scoring poorer and poorer in every test, so she started hating her school more. Literature Reader

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(b) (ii) They had found an old book which was about school. (c) (ii) Disdainful (d) Margie’s mother was sorrowful and found the situation to be hopeless. 3. Tommy looked at her with very superior eyes. “Because it’s not our kind of school, stupid. This is the old kind of school that they had hundreds and hundreds of years ago.” He added loftily, pronouncing the word carefully, “Centuries ago.” Margie was hurt. “Well, I don’t know what kind of school they had all that time ago.” She read the book over his shoulder for a while, then said, “Anyway, they had a teacher.” “Sure they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher. It was a man.” (a) What school was Tommy talking about? (i) New-age school (ii) Old school

(iii) Digital school

(1)

(iv) Virtual reality

(b) Why does Tommy refer to Margie as ‘stupid’?

(1)

(c) How does Tommy describe old kind of teacher?

(2)

(d) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the phrase ‘over the shoulder’ as used in the extract. (1) (i) He carried the child over his shoulder like a Santa sack.

(ii) He pushed her hair over one shoulder, and his hands dropped.



(iii) I got a glance of the lovely display as I peered over his shoulder.

(iv) He smiled and patted her over the shoulder again. Ans. (a) (ii) Old school (b) Tommy refers to Margie as ‘stupid’ because she was too ignorant. (c) Earlier, the teachers were not mechanical teachers, they taught the children in a special building where all the children went to learn. They asked questions and gave them home work. (d) (iii) I got a glance of the lovely display as I peered over his shoulder. 4. They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to – on a screen, you know. And then when they turned back to the page before, it had the same words on it that it had had when they read it the first time. “Gee,” said Tommy, “what a waste. When you’re through with the book, you just throw it away, I guess. Our television screen must have had a million books on it and it’s good for plenty more. I wouldn’t throw it away.” (a) “yellow and crinkly” means the same as: (i) to have or cause to have many little lines and folds

(ii) to be old, pale and have several little lines and folds



(iii) to be bright yellow in colour with a few folds here and there



(iv) to have a yellow tinge and be folded at a few places

(b) What ‘stood still instead of moving’?

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(1)

(1)

(c) Why according to Tommy was the book a ‘waste’?

(2)

(d) Select the sentence that correctly captures the application of the word ‘through’ as used in the given extract. (1) (i) He just walked through the door.

(ii) The little boy pushed his way through the crowd.



(iii) He ran his eyes through the pages of the paper.

(iv) An idea just flashed through my mind. Ans. (a) (ii) to be old, pale and have several little lines and folds (b) The words in the book stood still instead of moving. (c) Tommy thought that the book was a waste because the words stood still and did not move. The books could not be reused like the screen of their mechanical teacher. He felt it would need to be thrown away after use. (d) (iii) He ran his eyes through the pages of the paper. 5. He was a round little man with a red face and a whole box of tools with dials and wires. He smiled at Margie and gave her an apple, then took the teacher apart. Margie had hoped he wouldn’t know how to put it together again, but he knew how all right, and, after an hour or so, there it was again, large and black and ugly, with a big screen on which all the lessons were shown and the questions were asked. That wasn’t so bad. The part Margie hated most was the slot where she had to put homework and test papers. She always had to write them out in a punch code they made her learn when she was six years old, and the mechanical teacher calculated the marks in no time. (a) “He was a round little man.” Who is being referred to here? (i) The mechanical teacher (ii) Tommy’s grandfather

(iii) Margie’s grandfather

(1)

(iv) The County Inspector

(b) What does ‘took the teacher apart’ mean? (1) (c) How would you describe the County Inspector?

(2)

(d) Which one of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the given extract? (1) (i) Margie was hopeful that the computer is set right soon.

(ii) The County Inspector knew how to put the computer together again.



(iii) Margie hated was the slot where she had to put homework and test papers.

(iv) The computer calculated the marks in no time. Ans. (a) (iv) The County Inspector (b) This means that the County Inspector began to dismantle the computer. (c) The County Inspector was a round little man with a red face and a whole box of tools with dials and wires. He seemed to be a kind person, as he had offered Margie an apple after coming to fix the mechanical teacher. He was gentle and sympathetic as he patted Margie’s head. (d) (i) Margie was hopeful that the computer is set right soon.

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Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. What was the fault with Margie’s teacher, according to the County Inspector? Ans. The County Inspector said that the geography sector was geared up a bit too fast and that was the reason for Margie’s poor performance. He had adjusted the geography sector to an average ten year level. He also said that Margie’s overall performance was good. 2. Describe the County Inspector. Ans. The County Inspector was incharge of repairing any problem the mechanical teacher had. He was a round little man with a red face. He carried with him a whole box of tools with dials and wires. He offered an apple to Margie before attending the mechanical teacher. 3. How were the students taught in the future schools? Ans. The mechanical teacher would flash the subject on the screen and start to explain. Then, work was assigned and tests were conducted. The students were taught punch code from the age of six. All work was written down in a punch code and then, the homework and tests were inserted in the slot in the mechanical teacher.

4. Where had Tommy found the book? How was it different from the books Margie and Tommy were used to? Ans. Tommy found a real book in the attic of his house. The book was at least two hundred years old, so pages had turned yellow and crinkly. It was different from the books Margie and Tommy were used to because they had telebooks to read from while the book Tommy found was printed on paper. 5. What things about the book did Margie and Tommy find strange? Ans. Margie and Tommy read telebooks where words moved on a screen. Books were stored in a machine that could store a million books on it and still be good for plenty more. So they found it strange that the words in the printed book remained fixed unlike the moving ones on their television screen.

6. Margie’s mother was very particular about her studies. Justify with evidence from the story. Ans. Margie’s mother was very particular about her studies and made sure that Margie attended her tele-school regularly and at fixed times as she felt little girls learned better if they learned at regular hours. She took a keen interest in Margie’s performance and when she felt she was not doing too well in a particular subject, she called the County Inspector to have a look at the mechanical teacher. 7. What did Margie’s grandfather tell her about the old book? Ans. Margie’s grandfather once said that when he was a little boy, his grandmother told him that there was a time when all stories were printed on paper. They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to – on a screen. 8. Why did Tommy consider the book ‘a waste’? Ans. Tommy thought that the old books were a waste because the words stood still and did not run. He also thought that they were a big waste because they could not be reused like the screen of their mechanical teacher. On the other hand, the e-book had the capacity of holding more than a million books. 9. What hope did Margie have when the County Inspector come? Did her wish come true? Ans. Margie hoped that the County Inspector would take away her mechanical teacher because she had performed poorly in all the geography tests and had developed a

126 Xam idea English–IX

strong disliking for the school. Her wish did not come true because he rectified the fault soon. 10. What kind of a teacher did the old schools have? How did they perform their task? Ans. The old schools had a regular teacher in the form of a human being. The old school teachers interacted with their students in the class where students of the same age studied. They taught them lessons and gave them homework. They lived in a special building where all the students went. 11. Why was Margie’s mother particular about regular study hours? Ans. Margie’s mother was particular about the regular study hours because she thought that learning at regular hours helped children learn better. She also thought that a teacher should be able to fit knowledge in every child’s mind. That is why, mechanical teacher was on always except Saturday and Sunday.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)



1. What is the difference between the two types of schools as mentioned in the lesson, ‘The Fun They Had’? Ans. The school in Margie’s time, was a computer screen which was kept in a room next to her bedroom. Students had to insert all tests and homeworks in a slot. They had to write them down in a punch code which they learnt at the age of six. The mechanical teacher calculated the tests in no time. On the other hand, in the old school, students went to a school building. They laughed and played in the playground. Students of the same age studied together. They helped and talked to each other about homework. More importantly, the teachers were humans.

2. Where did Tommy find the real book? How was it different from the books that Margie and Tommy use? Ans. Tommy found the real book in the attic of his house. The real book had stories printed on paper. The words stood still and when pages were turned back, they had the same words on them. In time, the pages of the book turned crinkly and yellow. After a book is read, it could be thrown away. However, the e-books Margie used, need not ever be thrown as it could hold millions of stories. The words kept moving on the screen. In case there was any problem, the County Inspector was called for, and he corrected any fault that was being encountered by the mechanical teacher or the screen of the computer.

3. How would you compare a mechanical teacher to a human teacher? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. A teacher is a guide or a mentor who has the ability to understand human psychology. She should be able to interact well with the children and handle all their queries. A mechanical teacher, made of machines and wires, does not have an insight of the human psychology. As a result, they can simply give prior information without reading the psyche of the student. A human teacher knows a child completely. He/She works with empathy, love, and care with the children. They work towards the mental, physical, intellectual, and emotional development of children, unlike the machine, that only gives information. 4. Write a short note on the school system in ‘The Fun They Had’. Ans. Margie and Tommy are young school going children in the year 2157. Schools and teachers in the twenty-second century are entirely different from the ones in present day. Margie and Tommy’s school is not in a separate special building but a room in their respective houses where the television or the mechanical teacher is placed. Each student has to sit and study alone with the help of mechanical teacher, a large black ugly Literature Reader

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machine, with a big screen on which all the lessons are shown and the questions are asked. The teacher assigns tests to the students and assesses their progress. The speed of the different subject sectors is fixed according to the age level of each student. There is a special slot in the tele-teacher where students have to insert their homeworks or tests. If the mechanical teacher develops any fault, there are engineers to repair it. Sometimes, the fault may be a major one and it takes long to repair it, as was the case when Tommy’s history teacher developed a snag and it took a month to repair it. Thus, the mechanical teachers and schoolrooms of Margie and Tommy are fully computerised and are completely different from the present day schools.

5. Do you think Asimov is warning us about the dangers of too much computerisation? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. In his short story, ‘The Fun They Had’ Isaac Asimov depicts the school system in 2157 which is based on technical advancement. Thirteen-year-old Tommy and eleven-year-old girl Margie both study with a computer teacher at home. While the individual teaching can train the personal talents and it is a perfect way to give every child knowledge and information based on the child’s capacity, but there are some disadvantages too. Pupils do not learn like a computer. Learning has to be fun, otherwise the probability of forgetting is higher. Another disadvantage is that there are no social relationships like at school today. Learning with friends at school can be a motivation. Students improve their communication skills and their behaviour in a group. A mechanical teacher cannot give moral values to the children. I think Asimov is trying to warn us that the school system which is being followed in 2157 is a good way of giving children knowledge and information for jobs, but it is not good at giving ability for interpersonal relationships. In my opinion, the disadvantages are more serious than the advantages and I feel this is a warning given by Isaac Asimov that this kind of schooling may not, in fact, be an ideal option for students.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. Margie was disappointed. She had been hoping they would take the teacher away altogether. They had once taken Tommy’s teacher away for nearly a month because the history sector had blanked out completely. (a) Why was Margie disappointed? (i) Her mechanical teacher was about to be fixed soon. (ii) Her mechanical teacher was glitching. (iii) Her performance in tests was deteriorating. (iv) Her teacher needed to be fixed again.

(b) Why was Tommy’s teacher taken away once?

(1)

(1)

(c) For how long was Tommy’s teacher away? (i) 1 week (ii) 1 month (iii) 1 year (iv) 1 day

(1)

(d) How did Margie’s mother know that something was wrong?

(2)

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2. He smiled at Margie and gave her an apple, then took the teacher apart. Margie had hoped he wouldn’t know how to put it together again, but he knew how all right, and, after an hour or so, there it was again, large and black and ugly, with a big screen on which all the lessons were shown and the questions were asked. Margie did so with a sigh. She was thinking about the old schools they had when her grandfather’s grandfather was a little boy. All the kids from the whole neighbourhood came, laughing and shouting in the schoolyard, sitting together in the schoolroom, going home together at the end of the day. They learned the same things, so they could help one another with the homework and talk about it. (a) What was so unique about the teachers, according to Margie?

(1)

(b) Why was it that the students in the old type of schools could help each other with homework? (1) (i) They learned at same pace. (ii) They learned the same things. (iii) They learned easier concepts. (iv) They had a compulsory system of group studying. (c) What kind of fun things does Margie imagine the students doing?

(2)



(1)

(d) Which of the following advantages does a human teacher offer? (i) They could reprimand the students. (ii) They could teach the students better. (iii) They could understand the students. (iv) They could join in for all sorts of fun activities.

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words)



1. How important is the use of technology in education? (Constructed Response Question)



2. What is the environmental advantage of technology? (Constructed Response Question)



3. Write a small paragraph on the emotional trauma faced by Margie.



4. Describe the mechanical teacher that Tommy and Margie have.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)



1. Write an article for your school magazine on, “Technology a boon or a bane”. (Constructed Response Question)



2. It was a very warm day. Unfortunately, the current supply had failed. Shyam had to use his computer to …............................. Complete the story and give it a suitable title. (Constructed Response Question)



3. You are Margie. Write a letter to the County Inspector, requesting him to introduce the old style of education. (Constructed Response Question) zzz

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2



The Sound of Music —Deborah Cowley

About the Author Deborah (Mason) Cowley is an Ottawa-based writer and broadcaster. She has travelled the world while writing more than 100 articles for different editions of the Reader’s Digest, many of which have been translated into dozens of languages. She has been an on-air broadcaster for CBC radio in Washington, D.C., and worked for CBC television in London and Cairo, Egypt. She is the author of Cairo: A Practical Guide and of Lucille Teasdale: Doctor of Courage. She wrote One Woman’s Journey: A Portrait of Pauline Vanier.

Theme This biographical piece tells us how sheer determination and hardwork, perseverance and courage can alone help achieve anything if we put our heart and soul to it. No handicap or barriers can break one’s way, if one has the will to live their dreams.

Summary PART-I Evelyn Glennie is a multi-percussionist. She can play about 1,000 instruments with perfection. She listens to sound without hearing it. Evelyn fought against her physical disability and became a source of inspiration for thousands of disabled persons. She was profoundly deaf. She was 11 years of age when it was discovered that she had a problem with the sense of hearing. The deterioration started when she was about eight years old. She wanted to pursue a career in music but her teachers discouraged her. It was Ron Forbes who recognised her potential and supported her in achieving her goal. He advised her not to listen through her ears but try to sense and feel it in some other way. Soon she was excited. She felt the vibrations of a higher drum from the waist above and a lower drum from the waist down. Later, she realised that she could feel the vibrations in every part of her body. They tingled upon her skin, her cheekbones and even in her hair. She had learnt to open her body and mind to the sounds and vibrations. After that, she never looked back. Evelyn joined the prestigious Royal Academy of Music and scored one of the highest marks in the history of the academy. She worked hard with strong determination. She got right to the top. In 1991, she was presented with the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Soloist of the Year Award. Apart from the regular concerts, Evelyn gave free concerts in prisons and hospitals. She was an inspiration for deaf children. She has accomplished more than most people twice her age, and managed to learn French and master basic Japanese. She has been conferred with many awards. Glennie rose to the top to become world’s most sought-after multi-percussionist. She kept herself busy by performing for the disabled, prisoners and the sick.

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PART-II

Theme This part of the biography encourages students to think about the rich and cultural heritage of Indian music, and our musical instruments.

Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of Pungi but it was revived by a barber in his court with some improvisation and got a name ‘Shehnai’. The sound of shehnai was considered auspicious and it is now a part of north Indian weddings. Earlier, Khansaab was a player of gilli danda but later on, he brought Shehnai to the classical stage and beyond. Everyone from Khansaab’s family was a professional musician. Bismillah Khan used to practice music on the bank of the Ganga for hours and invented raagas that were earlier considered to be beyond the range of Shehnai. He had his program in the All India Radio and impressed all his listeners. He received many awards and recognition from all over the world. He also received the highest civilian award of India, the Bharat Ratna in 2001. He refused a prestigious offer of a job in the USA for opening a musical centre there. He was a true patriot and a legendary musician of India. He always cherished his birth place Dumraon and the holy ganga in Benaras. Despite having travelled across the world, he found those two to be the most wonderful towns.

Glossary NCERT Page –17 rush hour – the usual hours of going to office and returning which causes a mass movement at the same time; jostling – pushing and shoving; prestigious – something that has a reputation; daunting – frightening; profoundly – completely; deteriorated – getting from bad to worse; urged – requested NCERT Page –18 determined – having made a firm decision; pursue – to follow; xylophone – a musical instrument with a row of wooden bars of different length; percussionist – a person who plays the drum-like instruments; spotted – to focus on something or someone; sheer – only; orchestra – choir of singers; sought after – the one who is appreciated for one’s ability; intriguing – curious or fascinating NCERT Page –19 flawlessly – without a fault; lilt – a pleasant and gentle way of speaking; tingles – causes a slight prickle or stinging sensation; resonances – repetition of sound or echo NCERT Page –20 delights – to give happiness to someone; prestigious – very reputable; workaholic – a person who works a lot of the time and finds it difficult not to work; concerts – musical or cultural shows PART-II NCERT Page –21 shrill – a high pitched sound; generic name – a name given to a class or a group as a whole; revived – to bring back to life or use NCERT Page –22 considered – to rethink about something; auspicious – promising to bring good fortune; indispensable – something that is absolutely necessary; component – a part of something; ensemble – a group of things viewed as a whole; paternal ancestors – forefathers from the father’s side

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NCERT Page –23 accompanying – to go together or be together; apprentice – the one who has agreed to work for a skilled person for a particular period of time; haunts – anything that disturbs or worries you; solitude – to be alone; improvise – to do a thing in a different or better manner with the available material; maestro – master of an art; souvenir – things given in the remembrance of something NCERT Page –24 chartbuster – record breaker; celluloid – the world of cinema; ventures – a risky task or an unknown task; artificiality – that involves false things; emphasis – special importance or attention to something; coveted – much desired; glinting – shining; exceedingly – beyond the limits; yearning – keep on desiring for something; mattha – is a beverage made with yogurt or buttermilk mixed with spices and sugar NCERT Page –25 devout – strong believer of a sect or faith; prolonged – that lasts longer than intended; funeral – a procession after the death of a person; mourning – the act of showing grief on the demise of someone

Answers to NCERT Questions PART-I

THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each. 1. How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of music? Ans. Evelyn was 17 years old when she went to the Royal Academy of Music. 2. When was her deafness just noticed? When was it confirmed? Ans. Her deafness was first noticed by her mother when she was just 8 years old. It was confirmed when she was 11 years old.

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (30–40 words). 1. Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say? Ans. Ron Forbes, the percussionist helped Evelyn to pursue music. He identified her potential. He began by tuning two large drums to different notes. He adviced her to feel music through the different parts of her body. 2. Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs. Ans. Apart from performing in professional concerts, she would do free concerts in prisons and hospitals. She gave high priority to classes for young musicians.

III. Answer the questions in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words). 1. How does Evelyn hear music? Ans. Evelyn lost her ability to hear when she was 11 years old. She experienced the magic of music by sensing the notes on different parts of her body, even through her hair. It was Ron Forbes, the percussionist, who inspired her to feel music. He tuned two drums to different notes and asked her to sense the sound through the vibration. Evelyn realised that she could feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower one from the waist down. When she plays xylophone, she could sense the sound passing up the stick into her fingertips. By leaning against the drums, she could feel the resonance flowing into her body. On a wooden platform, she removes her shoes, so that vibrations could pass through her bare feet and up her legs. Evelyn explains that music pours through every part of her body. It tingles upon her skin, her cheekbones and even her hair.

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PART-II

THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT I. Tick the right answer: 1. The (Shehnai, Pungi) was a reeded noisemaker. Ans. Pungi was a reeded noisemaker. 2. (Bismillah Khan, A barber, Ali Bux) transformed the pungi into a shehnai. Ans. A barber transformed the pungi into a shehnai. 3. Bismillah Khan’s paternal ancestors were (barbers, professional musicians). Ans. Bismillah Khan’s paternal ancestors were professional musicians.

4. Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from (Ali Bux, Paigambar Bux, Ustad Faiyaaz Khan). Ans. Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from Ali Bux. 5. Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to (Afghanistan, USA, Canada). Ans. Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to Afghanistan.

II. Find the words in the text which show Bismillah Khan’s feelings about the items listed below. Then mark a tick (3) in the correct column. Discuss your answers in class. Bismillah Khan’s feelings about (1)

teaching children music

(2)

the film world

(3)

migrating to the USA

(4)

playing at temples

(5)

getting the Bharat Ratna

(6)

the banks of the Ganga

(7)

leaving Benaras and Dumraon

Positive

Negative

Neutral

Positive

Negative

Neutral

Ans. Bismillah Khan’s feelings about (1)

teaching children music

(3)

(2)

the film world

(3)

(3)

migrating to the USA

(3)

(4)

playing at temples

(3)

(5)

getting the Bharat Ratna

(3)

(6)

the banks of the Ganga

(3)

(7)

leaving Benaras and Dumraon

(3)

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Discussion over the feelings of Bismillah Khan about different things Bismillah Khan’s Feelings About

Words in the Text

Teaching children music Getting the Bharat Ratna

With the coveted award resting on the chest and his eyes glinting with rare happiness, he said, “All I would like to say is teach your children music, this is Hindustan’s richest tradition, even the west is now coming to learn our music.”

The film world

“I just can’t come to terms with the artificiality and glamour of the film world,” he says with emphasis.

Migrating to the USA

A student of his, once wanted him to head a Shehnai school in the USA and the student promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras by replicating the temples there. But Khansaab asked him if he would be able to transport river Ganga as well. Later, he remembered to have said, “That is why, whenever I am in a foreign country, I keep yearning to see Hindustan!”

Playing at temples

Ustad Bismillah Khan’s life is a perfect example of the rich, cultural heritage of India, one that effortlessly accepts that a devout Muslim like him can very naturally play the Shehnai every morning at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

The banks of the Ganga

The flowing waters of the Ganga inspired him to improvise and invent ragas that were earlier considered to be beyond the range of the Shehnai.

Leaving Benaras and Dumraon

Later, he is remembered to have said, “That is why, whenever I am in a foreign country, I keep yearning to see Hindustan. While in Mumbai, I think of only Benaras and the holy Ganga and when in Benaras, I miss the unique mattha of Dumraon”.

III. Answer these questions in 30–40 words. 1. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of pungi? Ans. Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of pungi because of its shrill and unpleasant sound. It became the generic name for reeded noisemakers. 2. How is shehnai different from a pungi? Ans. Unlike pungi, shehnai is a hollow stem that is longer and broader. It has seven holes on its body. When it is played by placing the fingers, and closing and opening the holes on its surface, soft and melodious sounds are produced. 3. Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this? Ans. The shehnai was traditionally played in royal courts, temples and weddings. The flowing waters of the Ganga inspired Bismillah Khan to improvise and invent raagas that were earlier considered to be beyond the range of the shehnai. 4. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break? Ans. Bismillah Khan got his big break with the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938. He soon became a regular shehnai player on the radio.

5. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 August 1947? Why was the event historic? Ans. On 15 August 1947, Bismillah Khan played the shehnai from the Red Fort. It was a historic day as India gained independence on that day. He became the first Indian to greet the nation with his shehnai and poured his heart out into ‘Raag Kafi’, cherishing the freedom of the country.

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6. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the USA? Ans. Bismillah Khan’s student had asked him to head a shehnai school in the USA, and the student promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras by replicating the temples in the city. To this, Bismillah Khan asked him if he could also transport the River Ganga to the USA. Khansaab, as he is fondly called, is remembered to have said that while he was in a foreign land, he kept yearning to see Hindustan.

7. Find at least 2 instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loves India and Benaras. Ans. Bismillah Khan loves India and Benaras from the bottom of his heart. He says that he misses the holy Ganga and India when he goes abroad. While in Mumbai, he thinks only of the holy river and the holy city. He was not ready to leave his country on the request of his student and head the shehnai school in the USA.

THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE I. Complete the following sentences. Beginning with a to-verb, try to answer the questions in brackets. 1. The school sports team hopes ______________ (What does it hope to do?) Ans. The school sports team hopes to win the tournament. 2. We all want ______________ (What do we all want to do?) Ans. We all want to attend the party.

3. They advised the hearing-impaired child’s mother ______________ (What did they advise her to do?) Ans. They advised the hearing-impaired child’s mother to take her to a specialist for consultation. 4. The authorities permitted us ___________ (What did the authorities permit us to do?) Ans. The authorities permitted us to organise a cultural show. 5. A musician decided to ______________ (What did the musician decide to do?) Ans. A musician decided to play the flute.

II. From the text on Bismillah Khan, find the words and phrases that match these definitions and write them down. The number of the paragraph where you will find the words/phrases has been given for you in brackets. 1. The home of royal people (1) ______________ Ans. Royal residence 2. The state of being alone (5) ______________ Ans. Solitude 3. A part which is absolutely necessary (2) ______________ Ans. An indispensable component 4. To do something not done before (5) ______________ Ans. Improvise 5. Without much effort (3) ______________ Ans. Effortlessly 6. Quickly and in large quantities (9) ______________ and ______________ Ans. Thick and fast Literature Reader

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III. Tick the right answer. 1. When something is revived, it (remains dead/lives again). Ans. lives again 2. When a government bans something, it wants it (stopped/started). Ans. stopped 3. When something is considered auspicious, (welcome it/avoid it). Ans. welcome it 4. When we take to something, we find it (boiling/interesting). Ans. interesting 5. When you appreciate something, you (find it good and useful/find it of no use). Ans. find it good and useful 6. When you replicate something, you do it (for the first time/for the second time). Ans. for the second time 7. When we come to terms with something, it is (still upsetting/no longer upsetting). Ans. no longer upsetting

IV. Consult your dictionary and complete the following table. The first one has been done for you. adjective

only before noun

not before noun

both before and after the verb be

(3)

indispensable impressed afraid outdoor paternal countless priceless

Ans. adjective

only before noun

not before noun

(3)

indispensable impressed

(3)

afraid

(3)

outdoor

(3)

paternal

(3)

countless

(3)

priceless

Use these words in phrases or sentences of your own.

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both before and after the verb be

(3)

Additional Questions PART–I Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. RUSH hour crowds jostle for position on the underground train platform. A slight girl, looking younger than her seventeen years, was nervous yet excited as she felt the vibrations of the approaching train. It was her first day at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London and daunting enough for any teenager fresh from a Scottish farm. But this aspiring musician faced a bigger challenge than most: she was profoundly deaf. (a) What does the author mean by calling Evelyn slight?

(1)

(b) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word ‘prestigious’ as used in the extract. (1) (i) It’s one of the most prestigious schools in the country. (ii) She was awarded the prestigious scholarship. (iii) The company won a prestigious contract for work on Europe’s tallest building. (iv) He holds a prestigious position in the society.

(c) What was daunting enough for Evelyn? (i) She was a teenager from a Scottish farm. (ii) It was her first day at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music. (iii) She would face bigger challenges than other students. (iv) She was profoundly deaf.

(1)

(d) What was Evelyn’s biggest challenge? (2) Ans. (a) Evelyn is being referred to as ‘slight’ because she is thin and slender in her physical built. (b) (i) It’s one of the most prestigious schools in the country. (c) (ii) It was her first day at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music. (d) Evelyn Glennie was passionate about music, and would not let anything stand in her way. But studying music at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London was a challenge for her for two reasons: in the first place, she was deaf and in the second, she was brought up in a Scottish farm.

2. Evelyn Glennie’s loss of hearing had been gradual. Her mother remembers noticing something was wrong when the eight-year-old Evelyn was waiting to play the piano. “They called her name and she didn’t move. I suddenly realised she hadn’t heard,” says Isabel Glennie. For quite a while Evelyn managed to conceal her growing deafness from friends and teachers. But by the time she was eleven her marks had deteriorated and her headmistress urged her parents to take her to a specialist. It was then discovered that her hearing was severely impaired as a result of gradual nerve damage. They were advised that she should be fitted with hearing aids and sent to a school for the deaf. “Everything suddenly looked black,” says Evelyn. (a) When did it come to her mother’s notice that something was wrong with Evelyn? (1) (i) When she was called upon stage to play piano Literature Reader

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(ii) When her marks started deteriorating (iii) When she was eleven (iv) When her headmistress urged them to see a doctor

(b) What happened when Evelyn turned eleven?

(2)

(c) What does ‘everything suddenly looked black’ for Evelyn?

(1)



(d) Why did Evelyn end up becoming deaf? (1) (i) Due to an accident (ii) Due to genetic disorders (iii) Due to gradual nerve damage (iv) None of these Ans. (a) (i) When she was called upon stage to play piano (b) Evelyn’s loss of hearing was gradual and for some time she was able to hide her impairment from her teachers and friends. By the time she turned eleven, her marks deteriorated, and her parents took her to a doctor. Then, it was discovered that Evelyn was profoundly deaf. (c) Everything suddenly looked black as she was proclaimed that her hearing was severely impaired and was advised to be fitted with hearing aids and sent to a school for the deaf. (d) (iii) Due to gradual nerve damage 3. But percussionist Ron Forbes spotted her potential. He began by tuning two large drums to different notes. “Don’t listen through your ears,” he would say, “try to sense it some other way.” Says Evelyn, “Suddenly I realised I could feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower one from the waist down.” Forbes repeated the exercise, and soon Evelyn discovered that she could sense certain notes in different parts of her body. “I had learnt to open my mind and body to sounds and vibrations.” The rest was sheer determination and hard work.

(a) Fill in the blank with ONE WORD only. (1) Evelyn’s __________________ comes through clearly when she says, “I had to open my mind and body to sounds and vibrations’’. (i) determination (ii) desperation (iii) intuition (iv) depression (b) Who helped her continue with music? How?

(2)

(c) What did Evelyn discover?

(1)

(d) Select the option that clearly captures the application of the word ‘sense’ as used in the extract. (1) (i) The students could sense the emotions in the teacher’s voice as she described the scene. (ii) Even your horse has better sense than you do. (iii) Her sense of smell is wonderful. (iv) Consequently, it made more sense to submit to Alexa than argue with him. Ans. (a) (i) determination (b) Percussionist Ron Forbes helped Evelyn to continue with music. He began by tuning two large drums to different notes. He asked her not to listen to them through her ears but to try and sense the sound in some other manner.

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(c) Evelyn discovered that she could sense certain notes in different parts of her body. (d) (i) T  he students could sense the emotions in the teacher’s voice as she described the scene. 4. Not surprisingly, Evelyn delights her audiences. In 1991 she was presented with the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Soloist of the Year Award”, says master percussionist James Blades, “God may have taken her hearing but he has given her back something extraordinary. What we hear, she feels — far more deeply than any of us. That is why she expresses music so beautifully.” Evelyn confesses that she is something of a workaholic. “I’ve just got to work . . . often harder than classical musicians. But the rewards are enormous.”

(a) How and what does Evelyn justify her reason for being workaholic?

(2)



(b) What does master percussionist James Blades has to say about Evelyn? (i) What we hear, Evelyn feels. (ii) She expresses music so beautifully. (iii) God has given her back something extraordinary. (iv) All of these

(1)

(c) How does Evelyn consider reward to be?

(1)

(d) Choose an adjective to describe Evelyn. (1) (i) Efficient (ii) Loquacious (iii) Resolute (iv) Tactless Ans. (a) She says she had to be a workaholic because she has to work harder than classical musicians, because of her handicap, but justifies this by saying that ‘the rewards are enormous’. (b) (iv) All of these (c) Evelyn considers reward to be enormous. (d) (iii) Resolute

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. How did Ron Forbes influence Evelyn to listen to music and then play the instrument? Ans. Ron Forbes sensed the potential within Evelyn and motivated her to play the drums. He tuned two large drums to different notes and encouraged Evelyn to feel the rhythm instead of trying to hear it. She soon realised that she could sense certain notes in different parts of her body. 2. Apart from the regular concerts, where else did Evelyn perform and why? Ans. Apart from the regular concerts, Evelyn gave free concerts in prisons and hospitals, so as to inspire the inmates. She also gave high priority to classes for young musicians, so that they learn to master their skills and achieve success. She was much more than an inspiration to them. She gave enormous pleasure to millions of people.

3. Evelyn turned deaf by the age of eleven, so how did she understand music and become an inspiration to millions? Ans. Evelyn explains that music poured in through every part of her body. It tingles in the skin, her check bones and even her hair. When she plays the xylophone, she can sense the sound passing up the stick into her fingertips. By leaning against the drums, she Literature Reader

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could feel the resonance flowing into her body. On a wooden platform, she removes her shoes, so that the vibrations pass through her bare feet and up her legs. 4. What message do you get from the life of Evelyn Glennie? Ans. The message we get is never to allow adversity to come in the way of your pursuit to success. If one sense organ is damaged, make good use of the other sensory organs but never give up hope. Life is a precious gift, it should not be wasted. We should not give up just because we don’t know how to face challenges. Work towards success. 5. What was Evelyn’s contribution to percussion? Ans. Evelyn is a virtuoso percussionist. She has contributed to percussion by securing for it a front place in the orchestra. She can play about 1000 instruments with perfection. She has shown how the music of the percussion is deeply moving and touches the hearts of the people. She presented precussion instruments at the orchestra and showed how dramatic their use can be. 6. How did Evelyn get admission to the Royal Academy of Music, London? Ans. Evelyn gave audition for admission to the Royal Academy of Music, London. Her score in the audition was one of the highest in the history of the academy. Therefore, she got selected for a three-year-course. Thus, her devotion and passion towards music enabled her to get admission at Royal Academy of Music. 7. How did Evelyn Glennie respond to the discovery of her deafness? Ans. On learning about her deafness due to gradual nerve damage, Evelyn Glennie felt that her life is in a complete darkness and she never would be able to hear music. Fortunately, instead of giving up, she decided to lead a normal life like other children, and pursue her dream of learning music. 8. Which train was Evelyn waiting for on the underground train platform? Ans. On the underground train platform, Evelyn was waiting for a train to London where she was to join the prestigious Royal Academy of Music. As she sensed the train approaching, she felt both nervous and excited. 9. How did Evelyn sense the sounds and vibrations of the music? Ans. Evelyn heard music by sensing the notes in different parts of her body. When Ron Forbes tuned two drums to different notes and asked her to sense the sound without using her ears, she realised that she could feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower drum from the waist down.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)

1. It was eight years old, when Evelyn gradually began to lose the ability to hear. Write a paragraph, expressing the feelings that might have gone through her mind. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. It was on the day of the piano recital. My mother was in the audience. She noticed that something was seriously wrong when I was not responding when my name was being announced to play the piano. My mother suddenly realised that I was not able to hear. I was too young to realise the predicament (difficult situation) I was in. Gradually, the seriousness of my impairment began seeping into my mind, and I began to cry bitterly. My love for music! If I can’t hear, it would be impossible to enjoy or play music. My world seemed to come crashing down, everything suddenly looked black. She could not spot even a faint glow at the end of the tunnel. She folded her little hands and looking at the stars, that shone in the sky, and cried with a heavy heart, “Why me oh! Lord!”

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2. Has the life of Evelyn been able to motivate you in any way? Elaborate. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Yes. It was a wonderful experience reading about the remarkable transformation of the deaf young girl into an acclaimed musician. It was similar to the story of Helen Keller. It was very sad to read about the progressive deterioration of Evelyn’s ability to hear. And the complete impairment at the age of eleven was indeed tragic. This was especially so, because of her need for the faculty of hearing, being passionate about music. Her school and family were losing all hopes of reviving the young child and her love for music. Her life seemed to be slipping into gloom. But ‘every cloud has a silver lining’, and the silver lining in Evelyn’s life was Ron Forbes, who taught her to feel music if she could not hear it. The struggle that the young girl went through to develop her other senses, was an example for everyone to emulate. It was exceptional to find that this young girl began acquiring honours as an exceptional musician later in her life.

3. Attempt a character sketch of Evelyn. Ans. Evelyn was a determined and hardworking girl. With her strong will power, she overcame the obstacle that was placed before her by the divine. In her early childhood, she lost her ability to hear because of a nerve degeneration. At the age of eleven, her hearing power was totally damaged. In spite of her handicap, she did not want to give up as music was her passion. Her teachers discouraged her, but the percussionist Ron Forbes guided her to sense and feel the music through different parts of her body. She gradually moved from orchestral work to solo performances. At the end of her threeyear course, she had captured most of the top awards.

PART–II Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. EMPEROR Aurangzeb banned the playing of a musical instrument called pungi in the royal residence for it had a shrill unpleasant sound. Pungi became the generic name for reeded noisemakers. Few had thought that it would one day be revived. A barber of a family of professional musicians, who had access to the royal palace, decided to improve the tonal quality of the pungi. He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was longer and broader than the pungi, and made seven holes on the body of the pipe. When he played on it, closing and opening some of these holes, soft and melodious sounds were produced. (a) Why did ‘pungi’ become a generic name for reeded noisemakers?

(2)

(b) Why was ‘pungi’ banned by the Emperor?

(1)



(c) What happened when he played on it, closing and opening some of these holes? (1) (i) A cacophonic sound came out. (ii) No sound came out. (iii) It sounded like a feminine version of Pungi. (iv) Soft and melodious sounds came out.



(d) Which of the following words means the same as ‘melodious’? (i) Dissonant (ii) Discordant (iii) Mellifluous (iv) Jarring

(1)

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Ans. (a) The pungi produced loud, unpleasant and jarring music. Because of this shrill music, Aurangzeb banned it in the royal house. As it was made from a reed and produced noisy sounds, it became a generic name for ‘reeded noisemakers’. (b) The ‘pungi’ was banned by the Emperor because it had an unpleasant shrill sound. (c) (iv) Soft and melodious sounds came out. (d) (iii) Mellifluous

2. Soon Bismillah started accompanying his uncle, Ali Bux, to the Vishnu temple of Benaras where Bux was employed to play the shehnai. Ali Bux would play the shehnai and Bismillah would sit captivated for hours on end. Slowly, he started getting lessons in playing the instrument and would sit practising throughout the day. For years to come the temple of Balaji and Mangala Maiya and the banks of the Ganga became the young apprentice’s favourite haunts where he could practise in solitude. The flowing waters of the Ganga inspired him to improvise and invent raagas that were earlier considered to be beyond the range of the shehnai.

(a) Where did Bismillah Khan practice shehnai?

(1)

(b) What got Khansaab interested in learning shehnai? (i) Watching his uncle Ali Bux’s obsession with the instrument (ii) His musical lineage (iii) Listening to his uncle play the instrument for hours on end (iv) The melodious sound of the instrument

(1)

(c) What effect did river Ganga have on Bismillah Khan?

(2)



(d) What was so special about the raagas Khansaab invented? (1) (i) They were rare. (ii) They were earlier considered cacophonic. (iii) They were earlier considered beyond shehnai’s range. (iv) They were similar to those in pungi. Ans. (a) Bismillah Khan would spend hours practicing shehnai at the temple of Balaji and Mangala Maiya, by the banks of the holy river Ganga. (b) (iii) Listening to his uncle play the instrument for hours on end (c) Bismillah Khan religiously practised the shehnai and attained perfection in a very short time. The flowing waters of the River Ganga inspired him to improvise and incent ‘ragas’ that were earlier considered to be beyond the range of shehnai. (d) (iii) They were earlier considered beyond shehnai’s range.

3. A student of his once wanted him to head a shehnai school in the U.S.A., and the student promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benares by replicating the temples there. But Khansaab asked him if he would be able to transport River Ganga as well. (a) What was the offer made to Bismillah Khan?

(1)

(b) Did he accept the offer? Why?

(2)



(1)

(c) Which of the following is TRUE, according to the given extract? (i) Bismillah Khan has not gone to foreign countries. (ii) His student compelled him to start a school in America. (iii) Khansaab was extremely fond of the unique mattha of Dumroan. (iv) Khansaab did not like being in India for a long time.

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(d) Which of the following words describes the character of Khansaab? (1) (Competency-focused Question) (1) Flexible (2) Arrogant (3) Simple (4) Humble (5) Patriotic (i) 1, 2, 3 (ii) 3, 4, 5 (iii) 2, 3, 5 (iv) 1, 4, 5 Ans. (a) Bismillah Khan was offered to open a shehnai school in the U.S.A. (b) No, Bismillah Khan did not accept the offer. He never wanted to leave India. He loved India so much and he did not want to settle anywhere except India. That is why, whenever he was in a foreign country, he kept yearning to see Hindustan. (c) (iii) Khansaab was extremely fond of the unique mattha of Dumraon. (d) (ii) 3, 4, 5 4. The sound of the shehnai began to be considered auspicious. And for this reason, it is still played in temples and is an indispensable component of any North Indian wedding. In the past, the shehnai was part of the naubat or traditional ensemble of nine instruments found at royal courts. Till recently it was used only in temples and weddings. The credit for bringing this instrument onto the classical stage goes to Ustad Bismillah Khan. (a) Why was the shehnai considered auspicious? (i) Because soft and melodious sounds were produced from the instrument (ii) Because the instrument was played before royalty (iii) Because it was first played in the Shah’s chambers (iv) Because the shehnai was part of the naubat

(1)

(b) What does the author mean by saying about the growing popularity of the instrument? (2)

(c) Complete the given analogy.

(1)

melody : discordance : : __________________ : fragment (d) What does the word ‘naubat’ mean? (1) (i) an ensemble of nine instruments (ii) an ensemble of royal instruments (iii) an ensemble of rich instruments (iv) an ensemble of wind instruments Ans. (a) (iv) Because the shehnai was part of the naubat (b) The instrument which was just a part of a naubat played in the royal courts, progressed to being played at the temples and weddings, and Ustad Bismillah Khan brought it on to the classical stage, making the instrument popular both nationally and internationally. (c) ensemble (d) (i) an ensemble of nine instruments

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. How can you say Bismillah Khan was a perfect example of India’s cultural heritage? Ans. Bismillah Khan was a perfect example of India’s cultural heritage because he was a symbol of secularism. Despite being a muslim, he played shehnai at temples and at the banks of the river Ganga. He reflected India’s core principle, ‘Unity in Diversity.’ Literature Reader

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2. Who were the influencing factors in shaping Bismillah Khan as a musician? Ans. Bismillah Khan took to music at an early age of three, being in a family of musicians from his paternal and maternal side. His grandfather and father were professional musicians. He was influenced by his maternal uncle Ali Bux, who played Shehnai at the Vishnu temple in Benaras. 3. How did a reeded noisemaker get transformed to a shehnai? Ans. Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of pungi because of its jarring sound. However, a barber, who belonged to a family of musicians, transformed it by choosing a longer and broader pipe upon which he made a few holes. When he played on this pipe by closing and opening some holes, it produced a very melodious sound that appealed to the Shahs. Thus, the instrument designed by a ‘nai’ and appreciated by the Shahs, got the name ‘Shehnai’. 4. What is Bismillah Khan’s special achievement on 15 August 1947? Ans. When India gained independence on 15 August 1947, Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to greet the nation with his shehnai. He poured his heart out into Raag Kafi from the Red Fort to an audience which included Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who later gave his famous ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech. 5. Why was the shehnai played in temples and weddings? Ans. The sound of the shehnai was liked by all and was considered auspicious or promising to bring good fortune. It is played in all temples till today because it is considered auspcious. There cannot be any North Indian wedding without shehnai music as it has become absolutely necessary. 6. What were the recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music? Ans. The recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music were the relationships between the human and river Ganga, ethics of temples and human relationships. The flowing waters of the Ganga inspired him to improve and invent ‘raagas’. 7. What idea did Ustad Bismillah Khan hold about Hindustani music? Ans. Bismillah Khan had great regard for Indian music and considered the Hindustani music to be its richest heritage. He was of the opinion that every child should learn Hindustani music. They must not cut off their bond from this grand tradition which was fascinating even for the people of the west. India has a very rich tradition of music.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)

1. Justify Bismillah Khan as a true Hindustani. Ans. Music is a universal language, it knows no boundaries. Despite being a devout Muslim, he used to play and practise Shehnai in temples and on the banks of the river Ganga. He was nostalgic about his homeland. When one of his students asked him to head a shehnai school in USA, he refused, as the student on being asked by the Ustad if he could bring the Ganga to the USA said that he could only attempt to create an atmosphere of Benaras but he could not bring the river. Bismillah Khan simply couldn’t bear the thought of being away from Hindustan for long intervals. On getting the Bharat Ratna, he addressed the parents and told them to teach their children Indian music, the country’s richest heritage, that was being appreciated and learnt by the westerners, while our nation was failing to do so. He lived and breathed Hindustan!

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2. Write a paragraph on the life of Bismillah Khan. Ans. Bismillah Khan spent his early life in Dumraon in Bihar. His grandfather was a shehnainawaz of the Bhojpur king’s court. Bismillah Khan took to music early in life when he was three years old in the company of his maternal uncle Ali Bux. His life is a source of simplicity and communal harmony from the very beginning, when he used to sing ‘Chiata’ in Bihariji temple, and practiced shehnai in Vishnu temple and Mangala Maiya temple of Varanasi. Bismillah Khan got his big break with the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938. He also played shehnai on 15 August 1947 from Red Fort in the presence of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Bismillah Khan gave many memorable performances both in India and abroad where he was honoured with so many awards. He also gave music in two movies, ‘Gunj Uthi Shehnai’ and ‘Sanadhi Apanna’. He was so fond of his motherland India, Benaras and the holy Ganga that he refused an offer to be the head of shehnai school in the USA. In 2001, Ustad Bismillah Khan was awarded India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. His life is a perfect example of the rich, cultural heritage of India, one that effortlessly accepts that a devout Muslim like him can very naturally play the shehnai at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

3. Write a note on the life and achievements of Bismillah Khan as a ‘shehnai vaadak’. What values of life do you derive from his story? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Bismillah Khan’s journey as a shehnai maestro embodies the moral values of dedication, simplicity and patriotism. It started at the young age of three and continued up to the age of ninety. The journey ranged from playing the instrument in the temples to getting international fame. His music was so admired that he was invited to play at the historic moment of Indian independence on 15 August, 1947. In recognition of his talent, he was conferred upon with the greatest awards of India - the Padmashri, the Padma Bhushan, and the Padma Vibhushan. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India, in 2001. Bismillah Khan ventured into the film world but abandoned it after he found it to be too artificial and glamorous. On the international level, he mesmerised the King of Afghanistan with his shehnai music. He was the only Indian to be invited to play shehnai in the Lincoln Central Hall, USA. He also played in international events like the World Exposition, Montreal, the Cannes Art Festival and the Osaka Trade Fair. As a token of appreciation, the Teheran government has named an auditorium after Bismillah Khan. Bismillah Khan had a deep devotion to his motherland and was proud of its heritage of music. Hence, he declined the offer to settle down in foreign countries. The journey of his life teaches the values of dedication to one’s talent and persistent efforts to reach the greatest heights of excellence.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. It is intriguing to watch Evelyn function so effortlessly without hearing. In our two hour discussion she never missed a word. “Men with bushy beards give me trouble,” she laughed. “It is not just watching the lips, it’s the whole face, especially the eyes.” She speaks flawlessly with a Scottish lilt. “My speech is clear because I could hear till I was eleven,” she says. But that doesn’t explain how she managed to learn French and master basic Japanese. Literature Reader

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(a) What makes Evelyn so intriguing to watch?

(2)

(b) What kind of trouble do men with bushy beards give Evelyn? (i) They make her uncomfortable. (ii) They are arrogant. (iii) They are hostile looking. (iv) Their lips are difficult to read.

(1)

(c) What else other than lips help Evelyn understand the other person? (i) Their brow movements (ii) Their eyes (iii) Their smile (iv) Their body language

(1)

(d) How is Evelyn able to speak clearly?

(1)





2. In spite of having travelled all over the world—Khansaab as he is fondly called—is exceedingly fond of Benaras and Dumraon and they remain for him the most wonderful towns of the world. A student of his, once wanted him to head a shehnai school in the USA, and the student promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras by replicating the temples there. But Khansaab asked him if he would be able to transport River Ganga as well. Later he is remembered to have said, “That is why whenever I am in a foreign country, I keep yearning to see Hindustan. While in Mumbai, I think of only Benaras and the holy Ganga. And while in Benaras, I miss the unique mattha of Dumraon.” (a) How does Khansaab feel about Benaras and Dumroan? (i) He adores them. (ii) He respects them. (iii) He loathes them. (iv) He is intrigued by them.

(1)

(b) Why was Bismillah Khan invited to the USA?

(2)

(c) Which places did Bismillah Khan yearn to be in?

(1)



(1)

(d) Choose a word from the following to describe Khansaab. (i) Adorable (ii) Haughty (iii) Patriotic (iv) Orthodox

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words)

1. Why was Evelyn nervous while on the way to the Royal Academy of Music? 2. Where did the young Bismillah Khan practise the musical instrument? 3. Why was Bismillah Khan not mesmerised by the celluloid world? 4. Bismillah Khan loved India and Benaras the most. Justify it by giving two instances from the text.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)

1. Express your joy for having been successful in pursuing your passion for music. You are Evelyn. (Constructed Response Question) 2. Make a comparative study of the experiences and difficulties faced by Evelyn and Bismillah Khan in their musical journey. (Constructed Response Question) 3. Elicit the differences in the growth of the two musicians, that you may have observed. (Constructed Response Question) zzz

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The Little Girl

—Katherine Mansfield

3

About the Author Katherine Mansfield (14 October 1888 – 9 January 1923) was a prominent New Zealand modernist short story writer. She was born and brought up in colonial New Zealand. She wrote under the pen name Katherine Mansfield.

Theme In ‘The Little Girl’ by Katherine Mansfield, we have the theme of fear, control, freedom, independence, acceptance, compassion and change.

Summary The story is narrated in the third person. Her name was Katherine Mansfield. From the beginning of the story, the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of control. There is a sense that Kezia, her mother and the servants in the house, appear to be the responsibility of her father. He controls every individual. Each individual mentioned in the house, with the exception of Kezia’s father, is female. It is possible that Mansfield is attempting to highlight the control that the male exerts over the female (at the time the story was written). This attitude of her father is however, proving to be very detrimental to Kezia’s relationship with her father. She stutters when she talks to him as if she is in fear of him. This might suggest that rather than having a loving relationship or a close bond with her father, she lives in fear, unsure of how he might treat her. Though the reader does not know Kezia’s age, it can be assumed from the title of the story that she is still a very small girl. One would expect her to live her life with an element of freedom due to the fact that she was a child. This was not the case. As soon as her father arrives home, she has duties to fulfill just like her mother and the servants in the house. All the time, her father’s needs were the top priority of the members of the household and none of the female characters in the story had the freedom to live their lives. Throughout the story, he exerts control, and it is accepted by all of the characters in the story. There are incidents in the story which may be important. Ever since Kezia was hit with the ruler by her father, she keeps her hands hidden behind her back in fear, whenever she sees him. The introduction of the Macdonalds to the story may also be important. Mansfield appears to deliberately situate them in a garden which suggests an idyllic environment in comparison to Kezia’s, who is always kept in confinement. It is also possible that Mansfield is suggesting that a

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father will be closer to his children when he adopts a cordial relationship with them. And as a result, the children will be happier. Environmentally, Kezia’s father is close to her (in the house) but does not play with his daughter. He treats her as he treats his wife and the servants. Kezia, as previously mentioned, is at his beck and call, and therefore, does not have the time to be a child. The end of the story is also interesting as Mansfield appears to be exploring the theme of compassion and change. When Kezia finds it difficult to sleep, her father, rather than scolding her, allows her to sleep in his bed with him. For the first time in the story, he is allowing Kezia’s feelings to take precedence. He is putting his child first. The fact that Kezia is also allowed to rub her feet against her father’s legs may also be significant as it suggests that Kezia’s father understands his daughter. He is connecting with her. How important this connection is to Kezia is noticeable by the fact that she begins to forgive her father for his previous actions and takes into consideration that the anger he had shown towards her was a result of him having had to work so hard. It is also interesting that Mansfield ends the story with the line, “What a big heart you’ve got father dear.” Mansfield is suggesting that though Kezia’s father did not display his love till the end of the story, he does have the capacity to love his daughter like Mr Macdonald. However, it is difficult to say whether the love is continuous as Mansfield ends the story without the reader knowing the response of Kezia’s father to his daughter.

Glossary NCERT Page –32 casual – relaxed and unconcerned; relief – a sense of happiness; fainter – lesser, duller; slip – move noiselessly; terrifying – frightening NCERT Page –33 stutter – talk with continued involuntary repetition of sound, stammer; wretched – miserable; on the brink of – on the verge of; stretched out – lying; soundly – undisturbed; snoring – to make a grunting sound while asleep NCERT Page –34 gravely – seriously; pin cushion – a small pad for holding pins; laboriously – with much time and effort; wandered – move without any specific aim; bed table – table beside the bed; port authority – the officers of the port; put to bed – make the person sleep in the bed NCERT Page –35 shadow – block off the light, poorly lighted; pattern – arrangement; floor – surface; hose – thick water pipe; sorts – types NCERT Page –36 nightmare – frightening dream; whispery – scary NCERT Page –37 butcher – a person who cuts up and sells meat in a shop; dreadful – frightening; snuggled – moved in a comfortable position

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Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT I. Given below are some emotions that Kezia felt. Match the emotions in Column A with the items in Column B. A

B

1. fear or terror

(i) father comes into her room to give her a goodbye kiss

2. glad sense of relief

(ii) noise of the carriage grows fainter

3. a “funny” feeling, perhaps (iii) father comes home of understanding (iv) speaking to father (v) going to bed when alone at home (vi) father comforts her and falls asleep (vii) father stretched out on the sofa, snoring Ans. A 1. fear or terror

B (i) father comes home (ii) speaking to father (iii) going to bed when alone at home (iv) father stretched out on the sofa, snoring

2. glad sense of relief

(v) father comes into her room to give her a goodbye kiss (vi) noise of the carriage grows fainter

3. a “funny” feeling, perhaps (vii) father comforts her and falls asleep of understanding

II. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences. 1. Why was Kezia afraid of her father? Ans. Kezia’s father was very strict and dominated everyone in the house. He appeared to be big in size from where she could see him. He never seemed to smile, so Kezia was always afraid of him. 2. Who were the people in Kezia’s family? Ans. Kezia’s family consisted of her father, mother, grandmother and herself. Alice, the cook was also considered as a part of the family. 3. What was Kezia’s father’s routine (i) before going to his office? (ii) after coming back from his office? (iii) on Sundays? Literature Reader

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Ans. (i) Before going to his office, her father would give her a casual kiss and in return, she would wish him good bye. (ii) After coming back from his office, he would ask for a cup of tea, newspaper and for his slippers. He would ask Kezia to pull off his boots and take them outside. (iii) On Sundays, he would stretch out on the sofa, his face covered with his handkerchief, his feet on one of the best cushions, sleeping soundly and snoring. 4. In what ways did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to get to know her father better? Ans. Kezia’s grandmother encouraged her to get to know her father better by sending her to the drawing room on Sundays to have a nice talk with him and her mother. She also told her to make a pin-cushion as a gift to her father on his birthday.

III. Discuss the questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two or three paragraphs each.

1. Kezia’s efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much. How did this happen? Ans. Kezia’s efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much. On Sundays, her grandmother would encourage her to interact with her father. He would invariably be sleeping on the sofa and she would patiently wait for him to wake up. On waking up, he would accuse her of staring at him and would tell her that she looked like a little brown owl. Once, her grandmother suggested she should make a pin-cushion for her father’s birthday. She worked diligently on making the pin-cushion, stitching three sides of the cushion with double cotton with great care. She searched for scrap to stuff the cushion. Since her grandmother was out in the garden, she went to her mother’s room. There she found some papers lying on the bed table. She tore them to pieces and stuffed them in the pin-cushion. But the papers were her father’s speech for the Port Authority. He rebuked her for touching things that did not belong to her and punished her by hitting her little palms with a ruler.

2. Kezia decides that there are “different kinds of fathers”. What kind of father was Mr Macdonald, and how was he different from Kezia’s father? Ans. It was for the first time that Kezia was exposed to a father in the form of Mr Macdonald, who had come in to live in their neighbourhood. She noticed that this gentleman was very warm and cordial with his children. He would play, laugh and enjoy with the children. Macdonald and his children shared a very friendly relationship. It was unfortunate that Kezia’s father was in contrast, very harsh, and unfriendly along with being a strict disciplinarian. He would reprimand her, demand her undivided service, but would never spend quality time with her. She wished desperately for her father to be like Mr Macdonald. 3. How does Kezia begin to see her father as a human being who needs her sympathy? Ans. Once when her mother fell ill, Kezia’s grandmother accompanied her to the hospital. Kezia was left at home in the care of Alice, the cook. At night, after she was put to bed by the cook, she had a nightmare. She woke up shivering with fright. She called for her grandmother, but to her surprise, her father came to her. He had gone up to her bed with a candle in his hand. He blew off the candle, bent down to her, held on to her hand and picked her up. He took her to his bed, pulled the covers around her and made her sleep next to him. After a while, unable to sleep, Kezia crawled up to her father, snuggled under his arm and held on to his shirt tightly. She felt comfortable. Her father asked her to rub her feet against his legs for warmth and fell asleep. At this point, she realised how tired he

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was after a hard day’s work. She understood why her father could not devote much time like Mr Macdonald. It dawned on her that he was a human and needed sympathy. With this realisation, she sighed and told her father, “What a big heart you’ve got, Father dear”.

THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE

I. Glad, happy, pleased, delighted, thrilled and overjoyed are synonyms (words or expressions that have the same or nearly the same meaning). However, they express happiness in certain ways.



1. Use an appropriate word from the synonyms given in the following sentences. Clues are given in brackets. (i) She was __________ by the news of her brother’s wedding. (very pleased) (ii) I was __________ to be invited to the party. (extremely pleased and excited about) (iii) She was __________ at the birth of her granddaughter. (extremely happy) (iv) The coach was __________ with his performance. (satisfied about) (v) She was very __________ with her results. (happy about something that has happened) Ans. (i) thrilled, (ii) delighted, (iii) overjoyed, (iv) pleased, (v) happy

2. Study the use of the word big in the following sentence:

He was so big—his hands and his neck, especially his mouth Here, big means large in size. Now, consult a dictionary and find out the meaning of big in the following sentences. The first one has been done for you. (i) You are a big girl now. older (ii) Today you are going to take the biggest decision of your career.__________ (iii) Their project is full of big ideas. __________ (iv) Cricket is a big game in our country. __________ (v) I am a big fan of Lata Mangeskar. __________ (vi) You have to cook a bit more as my friend is a big eater. __________ (vii) What a big heart you’ve got, Father dear. __________ Ans. (ii) most important, (iii) great, (iv) popular, (v) huge, (vi) great, (vii) large-hearted II. We use verbs of reporting to advise, order, report statements, thoughts, intentions, questions, requests, apologies, manner of speaking and so on. 1. Underline the verbs of reporting in the following sentences. (i) He says he will enjoy the ride. (ii) Father mentioned that he was going on a holiday. (iii) No one told us that the shop was closed. (iv) He answered that the price would go up. (v) I wonder why he was screaming. (vi) Ben told her to wake him up. (vii) Ratan apologised for coming late to the party. Ans. (i) says, (ii) mentioned, (iii) told, (iv) answered, (v) wondered, (vi) told, (vii) apologised

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2. Some verbs of reporting are given in the box. Choose the appropriate verbs and fill in the blanks in the following sentences.

were complaining shouted remarked ordered suggested

replied

(i) “I am not afraid” __________ the woman. (ii) “Leave me alone”, my mother __________. (iii) The children __________ that the roads were crowded and noisy. (iv) “Perhaps he isn’t a bad sort of a chap after all.” __________ the master. (v) “Let’s go and look at the school ground,” __________ the sports teacher. (vi) The traffic police __________ all the passers-by to keep off the road. Ans. (i) remarked, (ii) shouted, (iii) were complaining, (iv) replied, (v) suggested, (vi) ordered SPEAKING Form pairs or groups and discuss the following questions.

1. This story is not an Indian story. But do you think there are fathers, mothers and grandmothers like the ones portrayed in the story in our own country? Ans. The story may not have an Indian background but our fathers, mothers and grandmothers do have the characteristics portrayed in the story. Mothers are concerned about the family, and grandmothers try to bond the grandchildren with the members of the family. Fathers do sometimes appear to be stern and strict. However, in today’s day and age, with life becoming more and more competitive, parents have joined the rat race to make money at the cost of compromising on the quality of the children’s life. Money is replacing time and love. Children need the care and concern of parents to grow as mature adults. 2. Was Kezia’s father right to punish her? What kind of a person was he? You might find some of these words useful in describing him: undemonstrative loving strict responsible unkind disciplinarian affectionate caring indifferent Ans. Clues: O Kezia’s father was a very strict disciplinarian. O

He comes across as very unkind and indifferent.

O

Nightmare — realisation

O

hardworking

O

fatigued

O

therefore short tempered

O

mother’s illness may be bothering him

O

responsibilities

O

She realises he is caring and affectionate.

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hardworking short tempered

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. On Sunday afternoons Grandmother sent her down to the drawing-room to have a “nice talk with Father and Mother”. But the little girl always found Mother reading and Father stretched out on the sofa, his handkerchief on his face, his feet on one of the best cushions, sleeping soundly and snoring. (a) Why did Kezia’s grandmother send her to the drawing room every Sunday afternoon? (2)

(b) How did little Kezia mostly see her father as? (i) As a figure to be scared of (ii) As a tall man (iii) As someone who was out of her reach (iv) As a villain

(1)

(c) What would Kezia find her mother doing when she’d go downstairs? (i) As sewing (ii) As sitting with her father (iii) As reading (iv) As chatting with her friends

(1)

(d) What would Kezia’s father be doing on Sunday afternoons? (1) Ans. (a) Kezia’s grandmother knew that she was afraid of her father and she felt that if she spoke to him more often, she would get rid of that fear. So, every Sunday afternoon she used to send her to the drawing room to have a nice talk with her father. (b) (i) As a figure to be scared of (c) (iii) As reading (d) On Sunday afternoons, Kezia’s father would relax. He would stretch out on the sofa in their drawing room, put the handkerchief on his face and sleep snoring soundly. 2. Laboriously, with a double cotton, the little girl stitched three sides. But what to fill it with? That was the question. The grandmother was out in the garden, and she wandered into Mother’s bedroom to look for scraps. On the bed-table she discovered a great many sheets of fine paper, gathered them up, tore them into tiny pieces, and stuffed her case, then sewed up the fourth side. (a) What was Kezia making and for whom?

(2)



(b) Where did Kezia acquire scraps from? (i) Her garden (ii) Her vanity (iii) Her mother’s room (iv) Her father’s study

(1)



(c) Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the extract.

(1)

casual : formal : : _______________ : idly (d) The intention of the grandmother was: (1) (i) to get the child and father closer to each other (ii) to get the child into trouble (iii) to have fun watching the father harm the child (iv) to make the child destroy important papers Ans. (a) As suggested by her grandmother, Kezia decided to make a pin-cushion out of a beautiful piece of yellow silk for her father’s birthday. After stitching three sides of Literature Reader

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the cushion with double cotton, she was stuck as to what to fill the cushion with. (b) (iii) Her mother’s room (c) laboriously (d) (i) to get the child and father closer to each other 3. “What’ll I do if I have a nightmare?” she asked. “I often have nightmares and then Grannie takes me into her bed—I can’t stay in the dark—it all gets ‘whispery’...” “You just go to sleep, child,” said Alice, pulling off her socks, “and don’t you scream and wake your poor Pa.” (a) What was the nightmare that Kezia had?

(2)

(b) What does she usually do when she has one? (i) She goes to her father. (ii) She goes to her grandmother. (iii) She goes to Alice. (iv) She goes to her parent’s room.

(1)

(c) Select the sentence that uses the meaning of ‘scream’ as used in the extract. (1) (i) The echoes of his scream sounded in the cave for long. (ii) A terrifying scream in the blackness of the night made my blood run cold. (iii) Life is a roller coaster. You can scream every time you hit a bump or throw your hands up and enjoy the ride. (iv) The magician warned that the crowd should not scream when the screen reopened.

(d) “and don’t you scream and wake your poor Pa.” Why is the father being referred to as ‘poor’? (1) Ans. (a) Kezia always had a nightmare. It was a butcher with a knife and a rope, who came nearer and nearer. The butcher had a smile on his face. Kezia could only stand still. She used to cry out ‘Grandma!’. (b) (ii) She goes to her grandmother. (c) (iv) The magician warned that the crowd should not scream when the screen reopened. (d) The father is being referred to as ‘poor’ out of the concern for the bread-winner who works so hard.

4. To the little girl he was a figure to be feared and avoided. Every morning before going to work, he came into her room and gave her a casual kiss, to which she responded with “Goodbye, Father.” And oh, there was a glad sense of relief when she heard the noise of the carriage growing fainter and fainter down the long road! In the evening when he came home, she stood near the staircase and heard his loud voice in the hall. “Bring my tea into the drawing-room ... Hasn’t the paper come yet? Mother, go and see if my paper’s out there – and bring me my slippers. (a) What are the emotions being expressed in the given extract? (1) (Competency-focused Question) (1) Fear (2) Anger (3) Love (4) Attachment (5) Panic (i) 1, 2, 5 (ii) 1, 2, 4 (iii) 2, 4, 5 (iv) 1, 3, 4

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(b) How does the child feel after saying, “Goodbye father”? (2) (Competency-focused Question) (c) Fill in the blank with one word or phrase from those given below. (1) (Competency-focused Question) The father’s ___________________ character comes across clearly, when he stood near the staircase and shouted, “Bring my tea into the drawing room .... Hasn’t the paper come yet? Mother, go and see if my paper’s out there – and bring me my slippers” (i) overbearing/domineering (ii) calm/relaxed (iii) heroic (iv) charismatic (d) What was the daily routine of Kezia’s father? (1) Ans. (a) (i) 1, 2, 5 (b) She felt a glad sense of relief when she heard the voice of the carriage growing fainter and fainter down the long road because she was terribly scared of her father and thought of him as a monster who would always scold her and did not care about her no matter what happens. (c) (i) overbearing/domineering (d) The daily routine of Kezia’s father was to visit her daughter’s room, meet her, and give her a kiss before leaving for work.

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. Describe Kezia’s father as she saw him. Ans. She saw him as a short-tempered, domineering and a strict disciplinarian. He worked hard for his family and in-turn, he expected everyone to obey his command, and be at his beck and call. He was not able to express his softer emotions, and was a lonely man who did not know how to interact or play with his only child, Kezia. 2. Did Kezia’s father appreciate her gift? Why/Why not? Ans. Kezia could not give the pin-cushion personally to her father, instead her mother gave the gift to him. She had laboriously stitched the pin-cushion but she had stuffed it by tearing papers she had taken from her mother’s bed table, not realising the paper contained the great speech that her father had to deliver at the Port Authority. This greatly angered him and he did not appreciate the gift as she had taken things that were not hers, and that too without permission. 3. Why do you think, Kezia stammered in her father’s presence? Ans. Kezia stammered in her father’s presence because he was over bearing. He did not extend to his little child any love or affection. On the contrary, he would reprimand her often. This made her very afraid of him. Out of fear, she would stammer every time, she came in front of him. 4. How and why did Kezia’s father comfort her to sleep? Ans. Kezia’s father comforted her to sleep when she had a frightening dream. When he heard his child cry out in her sleep, he came running up to her, carried her to his room and put her to sleep, by giving her the comfort of his presence. She snuggled close to him, rubbed her leg against his legs and calmly, rediscovering her father, she went into a deep slumber.

5. Do you feel Kezia’s father did right by beating her with a ruler? (Constructed Response Question) Literature Reader

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Ans. No, he could have controlled his anger and listened to her reason, after all she was just a child. He could have made her sit on his lap and explained the importance of not touching things that did not belong to her. Kezia once saw the Macdonald’s two boys turn the hose pipe on their father and he tried to catch them laughing all the time. The bond between father and child is created with love and understanding, not by domination and strict discipline. 6. Why did the little girl make the pin-cushion? Ans. Kezia made a pin-cushion as a birthday gift for her father out of the beautiful piece of yellow silk that her Grandmother had given her. She labouriously stitched its three sides with a double cotton and stuffed it with papers that she took from the bed-table in her mother’s room. 7. Why was there hue and cry in the house? Ans. There was hue and cry in the house as some important papers belonging to Kezia’s father had gone missing. Kezia had unknowingly torn the important papers to make a pin-cushion for her father. As a result, she was punished by her father. 8. What would Kezia do while her father slept on Sundays? Ans. On Sundays, when Kezia’s father would relax in the afternoon, Kezia would wait for her father to wake by sitting on a stool and gravely watch him until he woke up and stretched to ask the time. Then, he would look at her and tell her not to stare at him. 9. Why was Kezia afraid of her father? Ans. Kezia was a sensitive girl. She was in awe of her father and considered his hands, neck, and mouth to be huge. He was aggressive and always spoke loudly. He often scolded her. He never played with her. He was a figure to be feared. She stuttered while trying to speak to him. He never interacted with her politely and humbly. He always kept ordering her to do one thing or the other.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)



1. As Kezia’s father, make a diary entry of the day you warmed up to your little daughter. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Sunday, 10 June 20XX 8:25 p.m. Dear Diary, I heard little Kezia crying aloud. My heart bled. The poor baby was crying out loudly. Mother was out at the hospital attending Kezia’s mother. I had dozed off and was shocked to hear her desperate cries. I lit the candle and ran up to her room. Until that moment when I went up to her, I did not realise how afraid she was of me. She was already shivering because of what seemed like a nightmare. I carried my little angel, took her to my room and put the little darling to sleep. It was such a wonderful experience. Her warm breath against my chest, and her little fingers holding tightly on to my shirt made me realise what I had been missing for so long. A very warm feeling of exceptional love towards little Kezia blossomed in my heart. On seeing her stir, I asked her what was wrong she replied that I had a big heart. To me, this came as a surprise, a pleasant one! Good night

2. Kezia was crying. Her grandmother was away at the hospital with her mother. Her father had slipped into deep sleep. He did not hear the child crying. How would you conclude the story? Write a paragraph. (Constructed Response Question)

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Ans. Well, it was a very sad situation. The dreadful dream was disturbing her on and off. What was troubling her? Was it the fear of her father? Or normal nightmares that everyone is frightened of? The little girl woke up shivering in a state of panic. She was shouting out for grandma, who was not at home. Crying desperately, Kezia knew her dad was at home. She mustered up the courage, and quietly crawled up to her father’s room. Will daddy get angry with me? Will he beat me? The girl was in a dilemma. She stood outside his door. He suddenly opened his eyes and saw her tear-filled eyes, looking at him desperately. He felt a sudden ache in his heart. “What happened?” he asked in his hoarse voice. She stammered, “I i i i , aaaam sssscared.” He was torn apart. He picked up his little daughter and hugged her warmly. This was the beginning of a new relationship, between a newly awakened father and his little baby. 3. Briefly comment on Kezia’s relationship with her grandmother. Ans. The little girl is extremely close to her loving and sympathetic grandmother. Failing to get any expression of affection from her parents, especially her father, Kezia turns to her grandmother for the emotional support and comfort that she needs. She turns to her to fulfill her need for love and protection. Grandmother too showers love upon the little girl. She keeps trying to help the girl build her bridges with her parents. She advises Kezia to talk to her parents when they would be more relaxed as they sat in the drawing room on a Sunday afternoon. Again, she suggests to Kezia that she should make a pin-cushion for her father as a present for his birthday. When father beats Kezia, it is grandmother who tries first to reason with her son and then consoles and comforts Kezia by covering her with her shawl and allowing the child to cling to her soft body. We also learn that, at night, when Kezia is scared by the dark or by her nightmares, it is for her grandmother that the little girl calls out, and it is grandmother who takes into her own bed. Hence, her love and support make Kezia look up to her for everything.

4. Do you think Kezia deserved the beating she got for her mistake? What light does this incident throw on her father’s character? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Kezia earned her father’s wrath for tearing his speech for the Port Authority to stuff a pin-cushion she was making for him as a birthday present. When father discovered that Kezia was the culprit, he punished her by beating her little pink palms with a ruler to teach her not to touch what did not belong to her. I think it was too harsh a punishment for an innocent mistake of a fond daughter who was making a gift for her father. Undoubtedly, the papers were extremely important for him and their loss must have caused him a lot of inconvenience, but he should have heard out Kezia’s explanation, and understood and appreciated Kezia’s intentions. A firm but gentle reprimand would have sufficed to teach the sensitive Kezia not to touch things that did not belong to her. This incident shows that father was a very insensitive and harsh man who demanded a very high standard of discipline from his daughter and did not tolerate any disobedience.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. The Macdonalds lived next door. They had five children. Looking through a gap in the fence the little girl saw them playing ‘tag’ in the evening. The father with the baby, Mao, on his shoulders, two little girls hanging on to his coat pockets ran round and round the Literature Reader

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flower-beds, shaking with laughter. Once she saw the boys turn the hose on him—and he tried to catch them laughing all the time.



(a) Who were the Macdonalds? (i) Kezia’s uncle’s family (iii) Kezia’s distant relatives

(1) (ii) Kezia’s neighbours (iv) Kezia’s teacher’s family

(b) How were they different from Kezia’s family?

(2)

(c) What would Kezia see them playing in the evening? (i) Hopscotch (ii) Football (iii) Tag (iv) Basketball

(1)



(d) “Once she saw the boys turn the hose on him – and he tried to catch them laughing all the time.” How would Kezia’s own father have reacted to this? (1) (Competency-focused Question)

2. That night there was a hue and cry in the house. Father’s great speech for the Port Authority had been lost. Rooms were searched; servants questioned. Finally, Mother came into Kezia’s room. “Kezia, I suppose you didn’t see some papers on a table in our room?” “Oh yes,” she said, “I tore them up for my surprise.” “What!” screamed Mother. “Come straight down to the dining-room this instant.”



(a) Why was there ‘hue and cry’ in the house?

(2)

(b) Choose a word from the following to describe Kezia’s mother. (i) Bold (ii) Complaint (iii) Cunning (iv) Adamant

(1)

(c) What efforts were made to find the speech? (i) Servants were questioned (ii) Rooms were searched (iii) Both (i) and (ii) (iv) Neither (i) nor (ii)

(1)



(1)

(d) Why did Kezia meddle with her father’s papers in the first place?

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words)

1. Write a short paragraph on the joy, Kezia experienced, while sleeping beside her father. 2. Do you think, Kezia had torn the papers deliberately? Explain. (Constructed Response Question) 3. “What did God make father’s for?” Explain. 4. Write a short note on Kezia’s relationship with her grandmother.

Long Answer Questions



(100-120 Words)

1. Write an article on, “The family you would like to have.” (Constructed Response Question) 2. Neeta’s father worked in a glass factory. ........... very short tempered......lost his eyesight....... Complete the story with reference to the chapter ‘The Little Girl’. (Constructed Response Question) 3. What message does the author wish to convey through Kezia’s story? zzz

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A Truly Beautiful Mind

4

Theme ‘A Truly Beautiful Mind’ is based on the life of Albert Einstein and his Nobel winning work in Physics. The great men like Albert Einstein are not born with special signs. These children gradually develop some specific virtues and become great when they grow up.

Summary The chapter is a biographical account of Nobel laureate and “scientific genius” Albert Einstein. “A quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest,” the note, which was written while the physicist was on a lecture tour in Tokyo. Albert Einstein was born on 14 March 1879 in the Germany city of Ulm. His mother thought he was a freak because his head seemed unusually large. He didn’t speak until the age of twoand-a-half. When he finally started speaking, he uttered everything twice. He loved mechanical toys and preferred being by himself. The headmaster of Einstein’s school told his father that no matter what career Einstein would choose, he’d never be successful. He played the violin and later became a gifted amateur violinist. He went to high school in Munich and left the school at the age of 15 because of feeling stifled. His parents had moved to Milan and left him in Munich with relatives. He got to continue his education in a city, much more liberal than Munich. He was interested in Physics and was highly gifted in mathematics. He studied at a university in Zurich. Albert fell in love with Mileva Maric whom he found to be a “clever creature.” At the age of 21, he was a university graduate but unemployed. He worked as a teaching assistant and gave private lessons. He secured a job in 1902, as a technical expert in Bern. In 1905, one of the famous papers was Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, according to which time and distance are not absolute. He also derived the world’s most famous formula that describes the relationship between mass and energy: E = mc2. Einstein wanted to marry Mileva after finishing his studies but his mother did not approve of it as she thought Mileva was too old for him and was “a book”, just like he was. They finally got married in January 1903 and had two sons. Unfortunately, they divorced in the year 1919. Then, Einstein married his cousin Elsa, the same year. In 1915, he had published his General Theory of Relativity. An eclipse of the sun in 1919, proved that it was accurate. He had correctly calculated the extent to which the light from fixed stars would be deflected through the sun’s gravitational field, in advance. His work was considered a “scientific revolution”. Albert moved to U.S. in 1933, when the Nazis came to power in Germany. There was an expectation that Nazis could build and use an atomic bomb. He wrote a letter to American President on 2 August 1939, warning him about the mass effects of an atomic bomb. When Americans developed their own Atomic bomb and bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he wrote Literature Reader

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a public missive to the UN, proposing the formation of a world government, but it made no impact. He died in 1955 at the age of 76. He was known and celebrated as a visionary and world citizen as much as a scientific genius.

Glossary NCERT Page –46 genius – an exceptionally intelligent person; civil servant – civil government employee; took the world by storm – became a sudden success; ground-breaking – pioneering; completely new; particles – small components of matter; electrodynamics – a branch of science concerning electricity and magnetism; journals – professional magazines; destined – intended; freak – an abnormal person; uttered – spoke; brother boring – a brother who is not interesting; characterises – describes the nature of something NCERT Page –47 amateur – doing for pleasure only; regimentation – extreme discipline; clashed – argued; stifled – suffocated; prolonged – lengthened; liberal – respecting all opinions; dashing – stylish; walrus moustache – long thick drooping moustache NCERT Page –48 serb – a person from Serbia; ally – friend or supporter; philistines – people who do not like artistic professions; constantly at odds – always against; survive – are still available; affection – love; tenderness – kidness, gentleness; victorious – happy; secured – found; patent office – government office certifying new inventions; assessing – evaluating; bureau – desk drawer; theoretical – based on theory, not its practical application; absolute – fixed; relative – relaxed to; relativity – state of being relative NCERT Page –49 unravelling – starting to fail; bothered – disturbed; book like you – thinking like you; put the wedding off – postponed the wedding; faltered – weakened; intellectual ambition – interest in scholarly work; coincided – matched; interpretation – understanding; deflected – changed direction on hitting something; proclaimed – declared; lauded – praised highly; Nazis – the ruling party in Germany; emigrated – settled permanently; fission – breaking up; physicists – scientists in Physics; in an uproar – very upset; fled – ran away; fascism – an extreme system of government; atomic bomb – a bomb with huge destructive power NCERT Page –50 urging – persuasion; territory – area; shaken – shocked; extent – largeness; public missive – open letter; impact – effect; decade – ten years; agitating – campaigning; buildup – increase over time; visionary – person who can think about the future

Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT

1. Here are some headings for the paragraphs in the text. Write the number(s) of the paragraphs for each title against the heading. The first one is done for you. Ans. (i) Einstein’s equation 9 (ii) Einstein meets his future wife 7 (iii) The making of a violinist 3 (iv) Mileva and Einstein’s mother 10 (v) A letter that launched the arms race 15 (vi) A desk drawer full of ideas 8 (vii) Marriage and divorce 11

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2. Who had these opinions about Einstein? (i) He was boring. (ii) He was stupid and would never succeed in life. (iii) He was a freak. Ans. (i) His playmates found him boring. (ii) His headmaster said that he was stupid and would never succeed in life. (iii) Einstein’s mother thought that he was freak. 3. Explain what the reasons for the following are: (i) Einstein leaving the school in Munich for good. (ii) Einstein wanting to study in Switzerland rather than in Munich. (iii) Einstein seeing in Mileva an ally. (iv) What do these tell you about Einstein? Ans. (i) Einstein left the school in Munich because he did not like the regimental environment of his school life. He always argued with his teachers as he always had an opinion that was different from theirs. He felt so stifled and therefore, managed to convince his parents to take him out of there. (ii) Schools in German speaking Switzerland were more liberal than in Munich, that’s why, he preferred to study further in Switzerland. (iii) Einstein had a special interest in Mileva as he thought she was intelligent and clever. He saw her as an ally against the people of his family and University, with whom he was always at odds. (iv) All these reasons indicate that Einstein was a visionary. He was intelligent and clever. He never hesitated to voice his opinion. Once, he was sure of his decision and went into action without any hesitation. He left Munich to further his education in Switzerland simply because they were liberal and amenable. He liked to mingle with like-minded people. 4. What did Einstein call his desk drawer at the patent office? Why? Ans. Einstein worked as a technical expert in the patent office in Bern. He called his desk drawer at the patent office the, “bureau of theoretical physics!” He called it so because while he was assessing other people’s inventions, he was simultaneously developing his own ideas in secret. 5. Why did Einstein write a letter to Franklin Roosevelt? Ans. When the Nazis came to power in Germany, Einstein emigrated to U.S. The American physicists were in an uproar because of the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin. They feared the Nazis could now build and use an atomic bomb. Einstein wrote to the American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt to warn him of the dire consequences of an atomic explosion and mass destruction it can cause. 6. How did Einstein react to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Ans. Einstein was shocked, grieved, and shaken by the bombing of Japan, and the extent of destruction. The letter to Roosevelt had the undesired effect of America bombing the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. He therefore, urged the United Nations to make a world government. This did not have any impact. But over the decade, he travelled worldwide, campaigning for peace and democracy and an end to the arms race.

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7. Why does the world remember Einstein as a ‘world citizen’? Ans. Einstein is remembered as a ‘world citizen’ because of his geographical and scientific contribution. His theories of relativity changed the perspective through which scientists saw the universe earlier. He also worked towards world peace and nuclear disarmament. 8.

Here are some facts from Einstein’s life. Arrange them in chronological order. [ ] Einstein publishes his special theory of relativity. [ ] He is awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. [ ] Einstein writes a letter to U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and warns against Germany’s building of an atomic bomb. [ ] Einstein attends a high school in Munich. [ ] Einstein’s family moves to Milan. [ ] Einstein is born in the German city of Ulm. [ ] Einstein joins a university in Zurich, where he meets Mileva. [ ] Einstein dies. [ ] He provides a new interpretation of gravity. [ ] Tired of the school’s regimentation, Einstein withdraws from school. [ ] He works in a patent office as a technical expert. [ ] When Hitler comes to power, Einstein leaves Germany for the United States. Ans. 1. Einstein is born in the German city of Ulm. 2. Einstein attends a high school in Munich. 3. Einstein’s family moves to Milan. 4. Tired of the school’s regimentation, Einstein withdraws from the school. 5. Einstein joins a university in Zurich, where he meets Mileva. 6. He works in a patent office as a technical expert. 7. Einstein publishes his special theory of relativity. 8. He provides a new interpretation of gravity. 9. He is awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. 10. When Hitler comes to power, Einstein leaves Germany for the United States. 11. Einstein writes a letter to US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and warns against Germany’s building of an atomic bomb. 12. Einstein dies.

THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE

I. Here are some sentences from the story. Choose the word from the brackets which can be substituted for the italicised words in the sentences. 1. A few years later, the marriage faltered. (failed, broke, became weak). 2. Einstein was constantly at odds with people at the university. (on bad terms, in disagreement, unhappy) 3. The newspapers proclaimed his work as “a scientific revolution.” (declared, praised, showed) 4. Einstein got ever more involved in politics, agitating for an end to the arms buildup. (campaigning, fighting, supporting) 5. At the age of 15, Einstein felt so stifled that he left the school for good. (permanently, for his benefit, for a short time)

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6. Five years later, the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin had American physicists in an uproar. (in a state of commotion, full of criticism, in a desperate state) 7. Science wasn’t the only thing that appealed to the dashing young man with the walrus moustache. (interested, challenged, worried) Ans. 1. failed, 2. in disagreement, 3. declared, 4. campaigning, 5. permanently, 6. in a state of commotion, 7. interested II. Complete the sentences below by filling the blanks with suitable participial clauses. The information that has to be used in the phrases is provided as a sentence in brackets. 1. ____________, the firefighters finally put out the fire. (They worked round the clock.) 2. She watched the sunset above the mountain, ____________. (She noticed the colours blending softly into one another.) 3. The excited horse pawed the ground rapidly, ____________. (While it neighed continually.) 4. ____________, I found myself in Bangalore, instead of Benaras. (I had taken the wrong train.) 5. ____________, I was desperate to get to the bathroom. (I had not bathed for two days.) 6. The stone steps, ____________ needed to be replaced. (They were worn down.) 7. The actor received hundreds of letters from his fans, ____________. (They asked him to send them his photograph.) Ans. 1. Working round the clock 2. noticing the colours blending softly into one another 3. neighing continually 4. Having taken the wrong train 5. Having not bathed for two days 6. being worn down 7. asking him to send them his photograph

WRITING NEWSPAPER REPORTS Here are some notes which you could use to write a report. 21 August 2005 — original handwritten manuscript of Albert Einstein unearthed — by student Rowdy Boeynik in the University of the Netherlands — Boeynik researching papers — papers belonging to an old friend of Einstein — fingerprints of Einstein on these papers — 16-page document dated 1924 — Einstein’s work on this last theory — behaviour of atoms at low temperature — now known as the Bose-Einstein condensation — the manuscript to be kept at Leyden University where Einstein got the Nobel Prize. Write a report which has four paragraphs, one each on: O What was unearthed. O Who unearthed it and when. O What the document contained. O Where it will be kept. Your report card begins like this. Literature Reader

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Ans. Student Unearths Einstein Manuscripts 21 August 2005. An original handwritten Albert Einstein manuscript has been unearthed at a university in the Netherlands by a student named Rowdy Boeynik. He was researching on the papers belonging to his old companion Einstein. The reason why these documents are important is because they contain Einstein’s works on his theory; the cause and effects of the making of atoms at very low temperatures, which came to be known as the Bose-Einstein Condensation. It is proved that this document was made by Einstein as his fingerprints were found all over the papers. The university has decided to keep this original manuscripts for further research by scholars. The manuscript will be kept at Leyden University where Einstein got the Nobel Prize.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. At the age of two-and-a-half, Einstein still wasn’t talking. When he finally did learn to speak, he uttered everything twice. Einstein did not know what to do with other children, and his playmates called him “Brother Boring”. So the youngster played by himself much of the time. He especially loved mechanical toys. Looking at his new-born sister, Maja he is said to have said: “Fine, but where are her wheels?” (a) Why was Einstein called ‘brother boring’ by his classmates? (2) (b) Fill in the blank with ONE WORD to describe the character of Einstein, according to the extract. He was a/an __________________________ person. (1) (i) introvert (ii) approachable (iii) friendly (iv) gregarious (c) How many times did Einstein utter everything?

(1)



(d) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word ‘mechanical’ as used in the extract. (1) (i) The flight was delayed because of mechanical problems. (ii) They were impressed by the child’s interest in mechanical toys. (iii) Copying down the numbers is a boring and mechanical job. (iv) They gave a mechanical reply. Ans. (a) E  instein was a loner and avoided interacting with kids. Due to his extreme shyness, lack of conversation and refusal to play with his playmates, Einstein was referred to as ‘brother boring’ by them. He was unable to socialise with other kids. (b) (i) introvert (c) When Einstein finally started talking, he used to utter everything twice. (d) (ii) They were impressed by the child’s interest in mechanical toys.



2. A headmaster once told his father that what Einstein chose as a profession wouldn’t matter, because “he’ll never make a success at anything.” Einstein began learning to play the violin at the age of six, because his mother wanted him to; he later became a gifted amateur violinist, maintaining this skill throughout his life. (a) What did the headmaster tell Einstein’s father?

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(1)

(b) How did Albert react to what the headmaster said?

(2)



(1)

(c) Why did he choose to learn it? (i) Because he was interested in it (ii) Because he liked the sound of it (iii) Because his mother wanted him to (iv) Because he was pressurised to



(d) How did Einstein’s learning of the instrument pay off? (1) (i) He became a star. (ii) He became a prodigy. (iii) He became a gifted amateur. (iv) He became a performer. Ans. (a) The headmaster told Eintein’s father that whatever his son chooses as a profession wouldn’t matter, he’d never make success at anything. (b) For a moment, Albert felt incited to tell the headmaster what he thought of him and his school. Then he checked himself. He didn’t say even a single word. Holding his head high, he went out with a sense of pride. His silence showed his resentment and dislike for the school and the teachers. (c) (iii) Because his mother wanted him to (d) (iii) He became a gifted amateur.

3. But Albert Einstein was not a bad pupil. He went to high school in Munich, where Einstein’s family had moved when he was 15 months old, and scored good marks in almost every subject. Einstein hated the school’s regimentation, and often clashed with his teachers. At the age of 15, Einstein felt so stifled there that he left the school for good.

(a) Why did Albert Einstein hate the school?

(2)



(b) How can you say Einstein was not a bad pupil? (i) He was respectable towards his teachers. (ii) He never bunked his classes. (iii) He had full attendance. (iv) He scored good marks in almost all subjects.

(1)



(c) What happened at the age of 15?

(1)

(d) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word ‘clashed’ as used in the given extract. (1) (i) The yellow shirt clashed with her purple skirt. (ii) The plants clashed with each other to get sunlight. (iii) Soccer fans clashed with their rivals before the match began. (iv) The saucepans clashed as he put them into the sink. Ans. (a) Albert Einstein hated school because of the annoying environment around him which made his knowledgeable mind degrade. The discipline and rules of the school made him clash with teacher and he felt it was a bad place for him to study. (b) (iv) He scored good marks in almost all subjects. (c) At the age of 15, Einstein felt so stifled that he left the school for good. (d) (iii) Soccer fans clashed with their rivals before the match began. 4. The Americans developed the atomic bomb in a secret project of their own and dropped it on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Einstein was deeply Literature Reader

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shaken by the extent of the destruction. This time, he wrote a public missive to the United Nations. In it, he proposed the formation of a world government. (a) How did American’s destroy two Japanese cities?

(1)

(b) Why did Einstein propose the formation of a world government?

(2)



(1)

(c) What was Einstein’s reaction to the extent of destruction? (i) He was saddened. (ii) He was in rage. (iii) He wanted vengeance. (iv) He was deeply shaken.

(d) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word ‘public’ as used in the extract. (1) (i) She has completed 20 hours of public service. (ii) Public spending is growing every year. (iii) He made several public appearances. (iv) He wrote yet another public message through the columns of the newspaper. Ans. (a) The Americans developed the atomic bomb in a secret project of their own and dropped it on two Japanese cities. (b) Einstein was deeply shaken by the extent of the destruction. This time he wrote a public missive to the United Nations. In it, he proposed the formation of a world government. (c) (iv) He was deeply shaken. (d) (iv) He wrote yet another public message through the columns of the newspaper.

5. He also felt a special interest in a fellow student, Mileva Maric, whom he found to be a ‘clever creature’. This young Serb had come to Switzerland because the University in Zurich was one of the few in Europe where women could get degress. Einstein saw in her an ally against the ‘philistines’ – those people in his family and at the university with whom he was constantly at odds. The couple fell in love. Letters survive in which they put their affection into words, mixing science with tenderness. Wrote Einstein: “How happy and proud I shall be when we both have brought our work on relativity to a victorious conclusion.”

(a) What does Einstein mean when he says, “How happy and proud I shall be when we both have brought our work on relativity to a victorious conclusion”? (2) (b) Fill in the blank with a word/phrase. Einstein comes across as _______________, according to the sentence given below. “Einstein saw in her an ally against the philistines.” (1) (i) an all-round person (ii) the one who loves to get degrees (iii) the one who enjoys art, literature and music (iv) the one who hates art, literature and music

(c) ‘Constantly at odds’ means the same as: (i) in a state of disagreement (ii) in a state of diversity (iii) in a state of revolution (iv) in a state of agreement

(1)

(d) Which word in the extract is the antonyms of ‘intellectual’? (1) Ans. (a) Albert Einstein and Mileva Maric fell in love and they exchanged love letters to express their feelings. They used to write such kinds of letters where they used to mix science with their feelings. At one instance, Einstein talked about his scientific

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invention and said that he would be very proud on that day when they would finally conclude their paper on the theory of relativity. (b) (iii) the one who enjoys art, literature and music (c) (i) in a state of disagreement (d) philistine

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. Why did Einstein play by himself as a child? Ans. As a child, Einstein found it difficult to interact with children of his age as he did not know what to do with them. He had started talking at the age of two and a half and he repeated every word twice. His playmates called him ‘Brother Boring’. Therefore, he played by himself most of the time. He loved playing with mechanical toys. 2. Why did Einstein want to go to Switzerland to further his studies? Ans. Einstein was a bright student and scored good marks in almost every subject but he did not like the strict discipline in the school at Munich. Students were not allowed to express themselves freely. As a result, Einstein often clashed with his teachers. He therefore, wanted to study in German-speaking Switzerland, in a city that was more liberal than Munich. 3. How did Einstein’s private life unfold after he completed his studies? Ans. Einstein met Mileva at a university in Zurich. He wanted to marry her but his mother was against the idea. She did not like the alliance because Mileva was three years senior and found her too intelligent to be a housewife. They however, married in 1903 and had two sons. After a few years, their marriage faltered. They were finally divorced in 1919 and the same year, he married his cousin Elsa. 4. What is Einstein’s special theory of relativity? Ans. According to Einstein’s special theory of relativity, time and distance are not absolute. From this, followed the world’s most famous formula which describes the relationship between mass and energy. E = mc2 5. How did the world recognise Albert Einstein? Ans. Albert Einstein who was initially considered as a ‘freak’ and ‘failure’, turned out into being one of the scientific revolutionaries, the world has known. The Nobel Laureate who died in 1955 at the age of 76, was celebrated as a visionary and world citizen, and was accepted by the world as a scientific genius. 6. What did Einstein hate about his school in Munich? Ans. Einstein hated the regimented environment of his school in Munich. He always argued with his teachers. His mind was not made for the normal strict and disciplined environment of a school. That is why, he left school to enjoy his independence. 7. How did Einstein speak when he finally started talking? Ans. Einstein did not start speaking until he was four. When Einstein finally started talking and learnt to speak, he uttered everything twice. He also has trouble pronouncing certain words. This indicated that his speech pattern was unlike what is usually found in young children. 8. What was the impact of this destruction on Einstein? Ans. Einstein was profoundly disturbed by the magnitude of the destruction caused by the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He even wrote a public letter to the United Literature Reader

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Nations proposing the formation of a world government. Gradually, he became more and more involved in politics, attempting to bring about world peace. 9. What were some of Einstein’s scientific achievements? Ans. Einstein developed his idea on Relativity secretly assessing other people’s inventories. The Special Theory of Relativity was published when he was just aged 26 years. This theory gave a revolutionary concept of the relationship between time and distance. This followed the famous formula which describes the relationship between mass and energy E = mc2. It was the General Theory of Relativity that earned him the Nobel Prize in 1921. 10. Why did Einstein and his associates write to President Roosevelt? How did he respond? Ans. Einstein and his associates feared that the Nazis could build and use the atomic bomb for destructive purpose to gain super power. So on 2nd August 1939, he wrote a letter to American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt to warn him about the impact of such bombs. The Americans developed the atomic bomb in a secret project of their own. They dropped the bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, causing large scale of destruction.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)



1. The headmaster once told Einstein’s father, “he’ll never make a success at anything.” Do you think a headmaster should have said such words to the father of a small child? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. It is indeed unfortunate that the head of an educational institute should give such remarks about a child. In school, his teachers did not find him talented even though, he got high marks. He hated the strict protocols followed by the teachers. He demanded more freedom of expression, which explains his desire to move from Munich to Germanspeaking Switzerland to further his studies. He liked some subjects better than others but again he scored high marks in all subjects. He was highly gifted in Mathematics and Physics. Einstein had a different perception about education that was not accepted by the authorities. However, he had the conviction to follow his mind, and eventually proved the assessment of the headmaster wrong.

2. What was Einstein’s contribution to the knowledge of science? Which values in his character made him a ‘global citizen’? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Albert Einstein worked on his ideas about relativity and in 1905, he published his ‘Special Theory of Relativity’, according to which time and distance are not absolute. His theory about the relationship between mass and energy was developed into the famous formula E = mc2, and this equation made him a renowned scientist. Einstein earned international acclaim with the publication of his General Theory of Relativity which enabled him to calculate in advance the extent of the reflection of light from fixed stars as it passed through the gravitational field of the sun. The Theory was declared as ‘a scientific revolution’ by the newspapers. For his contribution to the development of science, Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. After this, a number of honours were bestowed upon him. He was against arms buildup. He advocated peace and democracy in the world. He did not want that his invention should be misused. He thought of humanity, of world peace and democracy. All these values in his character made him a global citizen.

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3. Einstein wrote two letters – to President Roosevelt and to the United Nations. Did his letters have the desired impact? Justify your answer. Ans. In 1939, Einstein wrote a letter to the American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt warning him that the atomic bomb if made and used by Germany, could not only destroy the whole port on which it could be dropped, but also the territory surrounding it. The impact of the letter was immediate as the Americans at once developed their own atomic bombs in a secret project. These bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan in 1945, and as anticipated by Einstein, these bombs caused terrible destruction. The large scale damage caused by the bombing of Japan perturbed Einstein so much that he wrote a letter to the United Nations. In this letter, he proposed that there should be a world government. This would put an end to the enmity between nations and hence, stop wars. This letter did not have any impact.

4. Write a short note on Einstein’s education from school to university. Did he show signs of genius in those early years? Ans. As a young boy, Einstein did not show any signs of genius. In fact, his headmaster had a very poor opinion about him and he even informed Einstein’s father that his son would never amount to much in life as he wouldn’t make a success in any career that he chose. However, as he grew up and joined a school in Munich, he showed appreciable progress in studies scoring good marks in almost all the subjects. But the strict discipline of the school was not to his liking. As a result, he had frequent clashes with his teachers. Being a person of liberal ideas, he felt so suffocated that he ultimately left that school for good. He chose to complete his studies in a school in Switzerland where the environment was more liberal as compared to Munich. Highly gifted in mathematics and having a great interest in Physics, Einstein joined the university in Zurich after completing school and from here he graduated in 1900.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.



1. “This young Serb had come to Switzerland because the University in Zurich was one of the best in Europe where women could get degrees. Einstein saw in her an ally against the ‘philistines’.” (a) Who does the young Serb refer to? (i) Elsa (ii) Mileva (iii) His colleague (iv) His sister

(1)

(b) Where had the young Serb moved to? Why?

(2)



(c) What did Einstein see in her? (i) Her curious eyes (ii) Her potential (iii) An ally against the philistines (iv) A friend

(1)



(d) What does ‘philistines’ refer to?

(1)



2. Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, Einstein emigrated to the United States. Five years later, the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin had American physicists in an uproar. Many of them had fled from Fascism, just as Einstein had, and now they were afraid the Nazis could build and use an atomic bomb. Literature Reader

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(a) What happened in 1933? Which one of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the extract? (1) (i) Einstein emigrated to the United States. (ii) Nazis came to power. (iii) Nazis attacked the United States. (iv) Nazis came to power in Germany. (b) Where did Einstein emigrate to? (i) Italy (ii) Switzerland (iii) Sweden (iv) The United States

(1)



(c) What caused an uproar in America five years later? What was the result of the uproar? (2)



(d) “His words did not fail to have an effect”. What is the tone of this sentence? (1) (i) Sarcastic (ii) Appreciative (iii) Impactful (iv) Impulsive

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words)

1. Write a short paragraph on “Einstein at school”.



2. Why was Einstein’s mother against his marriage with Mileva?



3. How does he prove himself to be a man of humanitarian considerations?



4. How did Einstein react to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)



1. Make a diary entry, as Albert Einstein, on your feelings after receiving the Nobel Prize. (Constructed Response Question)



2. Einstein’s mother thought he was a ‘freak’ and the headmaster said, “he’ll never make a success at anything.” On the basis of these comments and after reading the lesson, write an article for your school magazine, on the topic, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. (Constructed Response Question)



3. If Einstein had been a very sensitive and emotional person, what do you think would have happened to the world of science? (Constructed Response Question)



zzz

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The Snake and the Mirror

—Vaikom Muhammad Basheer

5

About the Author Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (19 Jan 1908 – 5th July 1994) was a renowned author from the state of Kerala. He was a humanist, freedom fighter, novelist and short story writer. He catered to the needs of the common man, in his writings. He was awarded with the Padma Shri in 1982.

Theme ‘The Snake and the Mirror’ is based on the theme of “vanity”. Man is so proud of his physical beauty, that at times, he is often foolish and stupid in his attempt at estimating himself. The author is trying to explain through this lesson that it is important for us to live in a real world, and not in one that is fictitious.

Summary The story is about a homeopathic doctor. Unmarried, and handsome, he was an admirer of his own beauty. He lived in a rented house which was an outhouse. It had two windows and tiled roof, there was no electricity, and the room was infested with rats. One hot Sunday night, he had his meal at a restaurant and returned home. He lit the kerosene lamp, took off his coat and shirt, and opened two windows. He settled on a chair and started to read a medical book. There was a large mirror on a table on which stood a lamp. As it was too hot to sleep, he sat in front of the mirror admiring his looks and smiled and planned to look more presentable. Gradually, his thoughts shifted from self admiration to planning his future marriage. He thought he would marry a rich doctor having a good practice. He would choose a fat lady as wife, so that she would not be able to run and catch him, in case he made a mistake. He was so engrossed in his day dreaming that he did not give much importance to the sudden silence. The rats had stopped scampering. There was a sound of something falling behind him. He was slow to react. By the time he turned round to look, a snake had slid over the back of his chair, wriggled on to his shoulder and coiled round his left arm above the elbow. It was a dangerous snake. Its hood spread out just 3 inches away from his face. The doctor sat there like a stone statue, not making any movement, lest the snake strikes him. Suddenly, he felt the presence of God. It seemed as though God in the form of a snake had come to punish him for being proud and arrogant. He realised he was but a mere human, nothing to boast of. The moment he accepted his true worth, God appeared pleased and the snake left his hold and sat on the table in front of the mirror. The doctor got up silently and sprinted out of the door. Next morning, when he returned to take his belongings, he noticed all his belongings were stolen as he had ran away without even locking the door. Literature Reader

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Glossary NCERT Page –56 coiled – wrapped itself around; familiar – known; electrified – having electric power supply; practice – to do work; meagre – small in quantity; solitary – alone /single; gables – upper parts of walls below a sloping roof; ceiling – the inside roof of a room NCERT Page –57 traffic (here) – the coming and going, or arrival and departure of rats, movement; tempted – an urge to have something; admirer – a person who looks at things with pleasure; handsome – good looking; parting (here) – separating the scalp hair in sections by combing it; paced – walked up and down; resumed – to continue what was being done after a pause; thud – sound of something heavy falling NCERT Page –58 wriggled – twisted and turned quickly; landed – dropped; slithered – moved with a twisting motion; hood – back of the neck and face; merely – just/simply; holding my breath – without breathing; turned to stone – totally still; leaden – made of lead; molten – metal in a liquid state; drained of all strength – feeling weak; lurked – waited in hiding; feebly – weakly; admiring – appreciating NCERT Page –59 vermillion spot – an orange spot put on the centre of the forehead by Indian women; at closer quarters – at a very close distance; willed otherwise – to have other plans; reedy – tall; sprinter – runner NCERT Page –60 smeared – spread; removed – taken away / stolen; rascal – a mischievous person; taken with – attracted by

Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT

I. Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph (30–40 words). 1. “The sound was a familiar one.” What sound did the doctor hear? What did he think it was? How many times did he hear it? (Find the places in the text.) When and why did the sounds stop? Ans. The doctor heard a familiar sound of rats scurrying through the beams of the roof. He did not bother with the sound as he assumed it was the rats, but he heard the sound three times. This is apparent when he says, “again I heard the sound from above”, “again came that noise from above,” “suddenly there came a dull thud, as if a rubber tube had fallen to the ground.” As he turned, he saw a fat snake had wriggled over the back of his chair and landed on his shoulder, and there were no more sounds from above.

2. What two “important” and “earth-shaking” decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror? Ans. The first important decision the doctor took while looking into the mirror was that he would shave daily and grow a thin moustache to look more handsome. The second decision he took was that he would always keep the smile on his face to look even more attractive.

3. “I looked into the mirror and smiled,” says the doctor. A little later he says, “I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself.” What is the doctor’s opinion about himself when: (i) he first smiles, and (ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why? Ans. When the doctor first smiled in front of the mirror, he was admiring his smile. He decided to uphold that smile to look more appealing, as he was a young bachelor and doctor too. Later, when the snake coiled round his arm, he smiled feebly as if to laugh at his helplessness. His thoughts changed because of the encounter with the snake.

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II. This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous? (Think of the contrasts it presents between dreams and reality. Some of them are listed below.) 1. (i) The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions) (ii) The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition) Ans. The story presents a contrast between dreams and reality in a humorous way. Since the doctor had just started on his practising, his earnings were rather meagre. He was living in a small rented house with no electricity. He had few clothes and only sixty rupees in his suitcase. His room was infested with rats. However, his dreams and ambitions were totally in contrast to his condition. He was a great admirer of beauty and believed in looking handsome. He emphasised that he was a bachelor, and a doctor. He was very pleased with his appearance. He decided to shave daily and grow a thin moustache to look more handsome and appealing. The manner in which he decided that this was an important decision was quite funny. Later, he also made an earth-shaking decision to constantly smile to look even more handsome. This contrast between the sort of person he was and the sort of person he wanted to be, makes the story humorous. 2. (i) The person he wants to marry (ii) The person he actually marries Ans. The doctor had thought that he would marry a rich lady doctor who would have a good medical practice because he had none of those to his credit. She would have to be fat, so that if he ever made a mistake and needed to run, she would not be able to catch him because of her physique. When he was running away from the snake, someone asks him if his wife was fat. To which he replies that unfortunately, God had willed otherwise and he had been married to a thin reedy sprinter, which was probably the snake that he was referring to. 3. (i) His thoughts when he looks into the mirror (ii) His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm Ans. When the doctor looked into the mirror, he appreciated his good looks, admired beauty and believed in maintaining his appearance to better his marriage prospects. He decided that he would shave daily and grow a thin moustache, to look more handsome. When he smiled, he thought he looked, even more attractive, so he decided to keep smiling always. However, when the snake curled round his arm, he turned into a stone. He felt his end had come and felt God’s presence. He realised that if the snake struck his fangs at him, he did not have any medicine in his room. That was when it dawned on him, what a poor, foolish and stupid doctor he was. The sequence of events also adds humour to the story.

THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE

I. Here are some sentences from the text. Say which of them tell you, that the author: (a) was afraid of the snake, (b) was proud of his appearance, (c) had a sense of humour, (d) was no longer afraid of the snake. 1. I was turned to stone. 2. I was no mere image cut in granite. 3. The arm was beginning to be drained of strength. 4. I tried in my imagination to write in bright letters outside my little heart the words, ‘O God’. 5. I didn’t tremble. I didn’t cry out. Literature Reader

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Ans. II.

6. I looked into the mirror and smiled. It was an attractive smile. 7. I was suddenly a man of flesh and blood. 8. I was after all a bachelor, and a doctor too on top of it! 9. The fellow had such a sense of cleanliness...! The rascal could have taken it and used it after washing it with soap and water. 10. Was it trying to make an important decision about growing a moustache or using eye shadow and mascara or wearing a vermilion spot on its forehead. 1. Was afraid of the snake 2. Had a sense of humour 3. Was afraid of the snake 4. Was afraid of the snake 5. Was afraid of the snake 6. Was proud of his appearance 7. Was no longer afraid of the snake 8. Was proud of his appearance 9. Had a sense of humour 10. Had a sense of humour Expressions used to show fear

Can you find the expressions in the story that tell you that the author was frightened? Read the story and complete the following sentences. 1. I was turned ………………………. 2. I sat there holding ……………………….. 3. In the light of the lamp I sat there like ………………….. Ans. 1. I was turned to stone. 2. I sat there holding my breath. 3. In the light of the lamp I sat there like a stone image in the flesh. III. In the sentences given below some words and expressions are italicised. They are used variously mean that one: O is very frightened. O is too scared to move. O is frightened by something that happens suddenly. O makes another feel frightened. Match the meanings with the words/expressions in italics, and write the appropriate meaning next to the sentence. The first one has been done for you. (i) I knew a man was following me, I was scared out of my wits. (very frightened) (ii) I got a fright when I realised how close I was to the cliff edge. (iii) He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw the bull coming towards him. (iv) You really gave me a fright when you crept up behind me like that. (v) Wait until I tell his story — it will make your hair stand on end. (vi) Paralysed with fear, the boy faced his abductors. (vii) The boy hid behind the door, not moving a muscle. Ans. (i) very frightened (ii) frightened by something that happens suddenly (iii) very frightened (iv) frightened by something that happens suddenly (v) makes another feel frightened (vi) too scared to move (vii) too scared to move

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IV. Reported questions Report these questions using if/whether or why/when/where/how/which/what. Remember the italicised verbs change into the past tense. 1. Meena asked her friend, “Do you think your teacher will come today?” 2. David asked his colleague, “Where will you go this summer?” 3. He asked the little boy, “Why are you studying English?” 4. She asked me, “When are we going to leave?” 5. Pran asked me, “Have you finished reading the newspaper?” 6. Seema asked her, “How long have you lived here?” 7. Sheila asked the children, “Are you ready to do the work?” Ans. 1. Meena asked her friend if she thought her teacher would come that day. 2. David asked his colleague where he would go that summer. 3. He asked the little boy why he was studying English. 4. She asked me when we were going to leave. 5. Pran asked me if I had finished reading the newspaper. 6. Seema asked her how long she had lived there. 7. Sheila asked the children if they were ready to do the work.

WRITING

1. Try to rewrite the story without its humour, merely as a frightening incident. What details or parts of the story would you leave out? Ans: l The doctor’s admiration of himself O Talking about his smile O His expectations of his wife O Wanting to marry a fat lady O To be able to run and escape from her O The imaginary communication with God O Running out of the home O The neighbour’s query about his wife O His response “a thin reedy” sprinter O Robbery; Vest O And the conclusion about the snake being taken by its own beauty

2. Read the description given alongside from a photograph in a newspaper (Times of India, 4th September 1999). Make up a story about what the monkey is thinking or why it is looking into a mirror. Write a paragraph about it.      THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL A monkey preens itself using a piece of mirror in the Delhi ridge. (‘To preen oneself ’ means to spend a lot of time making oneself look attractive, and then admiring one’s appearance. The word is used in disapproval.)

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Ans: THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL A monkey preens itself using a piece of mirror in the Delhi ridge. He has perched himself on the branch of a tree, far away from the rest of his family and friends. He was curious to know who was looking back at him from the mirror. He began twisting and turning, shouting and screaming. The other monkey repeated the same actions. He was getting agitated. He placed the mirror on the fork of the tree and started banging his chest. What is happening? He wondered and sat pondering on the problem at hand. “I need my family”, he said to himself. “I am sure little Timpoo will know how to get rid of the intruder.” So, he called out to him. Timpoo had learned about mirrors and reflection in his science class. Rima, the science teacher at Monkey school, had taught him about this just two days back. He went up to the senior monkey, and asked him to show him the mirror. “Be careful Timpoo, there is a huge monkey there. He might just get at you”, he said. “Don’t worry uncle”, replied Timpoo. Unfortunately, just as he was getting close to the mirror and trying to take it in his hands, it fell down and broke into pieces. Now, there were numerous monkeys, all of who were trying to attack the elder monkey. He went into a panic, ran away from there, never to be seen again. Timpoo felt very sad for having been so careless. The last information available was that ‘uncle’ monkey had been hospitalised, he slipped into a coma, and succumbed thereafter. All thanks to a mirror!!

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

(5 Marks each)

1. The next morning at about eight-thirty I took my friend and one or two others to my room to move my things from there. But we found we had little to carry. Some thief had removed most of my things. The room had been cleaned out! But not really, the thief had left behind one thing as a final insult!’ “What was that?” I asked. The doctor said, “My vest, the dirty one. The fellow had such a sense of cleanliness...! The rascal could have taken it and used it after washing it with soap and water.” “Did you see the snake the next day, doctor?” The doctor laughed, “I’ve never seen it since. It was a snake which was taken with its own beauty!” (a) “The next morning at about eight-thirty I took my friend and one or two others to my room to move my things from there.” What happened prior to this event? (1) (i) The doctor had gone on a visit to his home town. (ii) The doctor had been in the hospital to administer anti-snake venom. (iii) The doctor had run out of his house frightened by a thief. (iv) The doctor had run out of his house frightened by a snake. (b) “The room had been cleaned out.” What does this mean?

(1)

(c) What does the doctor mean when he says, “It was a snake which was taken with its own beauty!”? (2) (d) Pick the statement that you think didn’t occur in the given extract. (i) The doctor found the snake slithering into his room. (ii) The doctor went to the room with his friends to collect his belongings.

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(1)

(iii) The doctor found his dirty vest left behind by the thieves. (iv) The doctor realised the thieves had a better sense of cleanliness. Ans. (a) (iv) The doctor had run out of his house frightened by a snake. (b) A thief had entered the doctor’s room and taken away everything except his dirty vest. (c) The doctor thought that the snake must be praising its own beauty because it was looking at the mirror for a very long period of time. The snake then moved towards the mirror to see its clearer reflection and admire its own beauty more. (d) (i) The doctor found the snake slithering into his room. 2. From there it crept on to the table and moved towards the mirror. Perhaps it wanted to enjoy its reflection at closer quarters. I was no mere image cut in granite. I was suddenly a man of flesh and blood. Still holding my breath, I got up from the chair. I quietly went out through the door into the veranda. From there I leapt into the yard and ran for all I was worth. “Phew!” Each of us heaved a sigh of relief. Somebody asked, “Doctor, is your wife very fat?” “No,” the doctor said. “God willed otherwise. My life companion is a thin reedy person with the gift of a sprinter.”

(a) “Perhaps it wanted to enjoy its reflection at closer quarters.” Pick out the meaning of the underlined phrase. (1) (i) To get a precise look (ii) To get a payment at quarter end (iii) To get a closer look (iv) To get a quarterly payment

(b) How did the doctor react at the sight of the snake?

(2)

(c) The doctor suddenly realised he was a man of flesh and blood. What does ‘flesh and blood’ mean here? (1) (i) To be brave and composed in difficult times (ii) To come back into life (iii) To have human feelings (iv) To turn absolutely compassionate (d) What kind of a companion, as wife, does the doctor expect of? (1) Ans. (a) (iii) To get a closer look (b) The doctor was frightened at the sight of the snake slithering down his shoulder and coiling itself around his arm. He could not breath for a while. He was frightened, yet he didn’t jump, tremble or cry out as he did not wish to make any sudden movement that would provoke the snake. (c) (iii) To have human feelings (d) The doctor expected his companion to be a fat lady for if he made any mistake, she would not be able to catch him and stop him from escaping.

3. At my slightest movement the snake would strike me! Death lurked four inches away. Suppose it struck, what was the medicine I had to take? There were no medicines in the room. I was but a poor, foolish and stupid doctor. I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself. It seemed as if God appreciated that. The snake turned its head. It looked into the mirror and saw its reflection. I do not claim that it was the first snake that had Literature Reader

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ever looked into a mirror. But it was certain that the snake was looking into the mirror. Was it admiring its own beauty?

(a) What is the economic condition of the doctor?

(1)



(b) When and why did the doctor smile feebly at himself?

(2)

(c) Why did the doctor feel death lurked four inches away? (1) (i) Because the snake had bitten him and there was no one to get him admitted to hospital (ii) Because the hospital was quite far from there (iii) Because the snake had coiled around the doctor’s neck and it was only four inches away (iv) None of these (d) “It seemed as if God appreciated that.” What does ‘that’ refer to? (1) (i) The change in attitude of the doctor (ii) The feeble nature of the doctor (iii) The beauty of the snake (iv) The movement of the snake Ans. (a) The economic condition of the doctor was not good. He had a small rented unelectrified house. He had a meagre income. (b) When the doctor smiled feebly at himself, he had forgotten his danger. He was sure that the snake would strike him and that he had no medicines in his room. He was so scared because of the lurking danger and he had an opinion about himself of being a poor, foolish and stupid doctor. (c) (iii) B  ecause the snake had coiled around the doctor’s neck and it was only four inches away (d) (i) The change in attitude of the doctor

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. Who was the narrator of the story and where did he live? Ans. The narrator of the story is a homeopathic doctor who lived in a rented house in a small village of Kerala. He had just begun his practice, and was therefore, not very secure financially. The house was a tiled outhouse that had not been electrified. It was a bastion (battlefield) of rats. 2. What important lesson did the narrator learn from the snake? Ans. The narrator has been shown as a very vain person, who was very self-centered. He did not experience any embarrassment in expressing the desire to marry a rich, fat lady, as it would be convenient for his lifestyle. He would not have to struggle. With the arrival of the snake, and the panic he experienced, he realised that nothing was really important when faced death, it showed him triviality of his thoughts. 3. Why did the doctor think that “death lurked four inches away”? Ans. The doctor thought so because the snake had coiled around his left arm above the elbow. The snake’s hood was spread out four inches away from his face. If the snake struck him, he would surely die of snake bite, as he knew it was a very poisonous snake. 4. Why was the narrator unsure of God’s reactions to his prayer? What did he do? Ans. The narrator experienced the presence of God Brahma, who is considered the creator in scriptures. He knew for sure that He was there. He was however, not very sure as to how God would react to the prayers of a vain and selfish person like him. Eventually,

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he decided to write “Oh God”, outside his heart, with the hope of receiving his sublime grace. 5. What circumstances prompted the doctor to live in a small, poor house? Ans. The doctor had just started his practice and his earnings were meagre. Therefore, he lived in a small, poor house because he could not afford to rent a better and more comfortable accommodation. Besides, he was not married at that time, so he could manage in a small rented room until the time he got married. 6. Why was the narrator awake despite the lateness of the hour? Ans. It was about ten o’clock on a hot summer night when the narrator reached his room. He made his bed and lay down on it, but he could not sleep due to the heat. He got up and went out to the veranda for a little air, but there was no wind. So, he went back into the room and sat down on the chair. 7. What did the doctor do after coming back inside? Ans. The doctor sat on the chair and opening the box beneath the table, took out a book, the Materia Medica. He opened the book at the table on which stood the lamp and a large mirror. At once, he was tempted to look into the mirror and he set about making himself look handsome. 8. What were the narrator’s feelings as he looked into the mirror? Ans. At that time the narrator, who was unmarried, was a great admirer of beauty and he believed in making himself look handsome. He felt he had to make his presence felt by improving his appearance. He began to comb his hair, adjusting the parting, so that it looked straight and neat in order to appear more handsome. 9. How did the snake land on the doctor’s chair? Ans. The snake fell from the roof of the house with a thud. In no time it wriggled over the back of the narrator’s chair and landed on him. The snake slithered along his shoulder and coiled around his left arm above the elbow. To make matters worse, the snake spread its hood out and its head was hardly three or four inches from his face. 10. How did the narrator show presence of mind when he faced the snake? Ans. When the doctor found a snake on his shoulder, he did not jump, tremble or cry out. He held his breath and became as still as a stone. He knew that the snake would get provoked and strike him if he made any movement since the hood of the snake was only four inches away from his face.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)



1. Write a paragraph about your experience on the fateful evening. You are the narrator. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. The lights didn’t come on because the outhouse was not electrified. I lit the lamp, and went to my favourite spot, in front of the mirror. I knew I looked handsome, and enjoyed being vainglorious (excessively proud of oneself or one’s achievements, looks; overly vain). As usual my companions, the rats were making their presence felt by running around the beam. After a while, I thought of retiring as sleep was evading me because it was extremely hot. I got up and went in front of the mirror, wanting to read my text. Well that did not happen because I was distracted by my reflection. While admiring myself, I suddenly heard a thud, it was the sound of something falling. I turned around and noticed that it was a poisonous snake, that eventually climbed on to my hand. I turned immobile. The dangerous reptile, took me on a trip to the life beyond “the valley of death” and God willing I survived. Literature Reader

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2. What is the author trying to convey through the protagonist of his story? Ans. Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, was a very famous author of Malayalam literature, who was famous for his satirical form of writing. In this story, he has taken a poke at the egoistic nature of the male members of the erstwhile society of Kerala. The nature of the protagonist was typical of the “malayalee man”. His fondness for external beauty, vanity, dependence on the female and her family for survival, and most importantly false prestige. They would like to reach the moon without the slightest effort. Ideally, just like the doctor here, who wanted the silver spoon which he did not have the calibre to buy for himself. Life was treated with scant respect. A jolt from the God is only that gives them the realisation and awareness of the real world. The doctor needed the snake to teach him that life is not a bed of roses. His closing statement, “I’ve never seen it (the snake) since. It was a snake which was taken with its own beauty!” suggests that the snake that was within him has vanished never to be seen again. 3. Describe the doctor’s feelings when the snake coiled round his arm. Ans. The doctor was petrified when the snake landed on his shoulder. He didn’t jump, tremble or cry out. He sat there holding his breath, turned to stone. He thought his end was near, so he remembered the Almighty and prayed to God for his safety. However, he retained his presence of mind as well as his sense of humour. He forgot his danger and smiled feebly at himself. From admiring himself and vainly thinking of ways of making himself appear more handsome and arrogantly declaring he was a doctor and a bachelor, the doctor thought of himself as ‘a poor, foolish and stupid doctor’. He did not have even the medicine to save himself in case he was bitten by the snake. As he sat there, with death lurking four inches away, the narrator did not panic. With great patience he sat still, on the lookout for an opportunity to escape and as soon as the snake unwound itself from his arm, the doctor got up from the chair and went out quietly, and ran away to his friend’s house.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. With such thoughts in my mind, I resumed my seat in the chair in front of the table. There were no more sounds from above. Suddenly there came a dull thud as if a rubber tube had fallen to the ground ... surely nothing to worry about. Even so I thought I would turn around and take a look. No sooner had I turned than a fat snake wriggled over the back of the chair and landed on my shoulder. The snake’s landing on me and my turnings were simultaneous. I didn’t jump. I didn’t tremble. I didn’t cry out. There was no time to do any such thing. (a) Listed below are some thoughts that kept the narrator pleased. Pick the ONE which he didn’t mention. (1) (Competency-focused Question) 1. He would marry. 2. He would get married to a woman doctor. 3. She should be from a prosperous family. 4. He would get married to a doctor who has a good practice. 5. She had to be fat. 6. She shouldn’t be able to catch him if he ever commits mistake. (i) Option (4) (ii) Option (6)

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(iii) Option (2)

(iv) Option (3)

(b) What was the dull thud?

(1)



(2)

(c) What made the narrator think there was nothing to worry about?



(d) Pick out the word from the following that precisely means the same as ‘concurrent’. (1) (i) Wriggled (ii) Simultaneous (iii) Thud (iv) Resumed 2. I went back into the room and sat down on the chair. I opened the box beneath the table and took out a book, the Materia Medica. I opened it at the table on which stood the lamp and a large mirror; a small comb lay beside the mirror. One feels tempted to look into a mirror when it is near one. I took a look. In those days I was a great admirer of beauty and I believed in making myself look handsome. I was unmarried and I was a doctor. I felt I had to make my presence felt. I picked up the comb and ran it through my hair and adjusted the parting so that it looked straight and neat. Again, I heard that sound from above.



(a) Why does the narrator emphasise he was a great admirer of beauty ‘in those days’? (2) (b) “One feels tempted to look into a mirror when it is near one.” This statement reflects ___________________ in general. (1) (i) narrator’s obsession (ii) guilty conscience (iii) narrator’s apprehension (iv) human nature (c) What is ‘Materia Medica’ in the above extract?

(1)

(d) The narrator felt he had to make his presence felt. It was because: (i) he was a medical student. (ii) he was unmarried. (iii) he was shy and never speaks much. (iv) he wanted to outshine others.

(1)

Short Answer Questions

1. How was the doctor relieved of the hold of the snake? 2. What did the narrator do when the snake jumped onto the table and moved towards the mirror? 3. Describe the scene in which the snake appeared. 4. Why did the doctor decide to leave the room?

Long Answer Questions

(40-50 Words)

(100-120 Words)

1. Imagine you are the snake. What is your impression of the house and the doctor? (Constructed Response Question) 2. In the story, the author grants the narrator a second chance. Write a different conclusion to the story, while maintaining the humour. (Constructed Response Question) 3. “I was but a poor, foolish and stupid doctor.” Justify the statement in the light of the story, ‘The Snake and the Mirror’. zzz

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6

My Childhood

—A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

About the Author A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born in 1931, to a little-educated boat owner in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. His father was also the imam of the small mosque in Rameswaram. He had an unparalleled career as a defense scientist, culminating in the highest civilian award of India, Bharat Ratna. As a chief of the country’s defence research and development programmer, Kalam demonstrated a great potential for dynamics and innovations that existed in seemingly moribund research establishment. This is the story of Kalam’s own rise from obscurity and his personal and professional struggles, as well as the story of AGNI, TRISHUL and NAG missiles that have become household names in India and that have raised the nation to the level of a missile power of international reckoning. Kalam died on 27 July 2015, while delivering a speech at IIM Shillong, Meghalaya.

Theme This is an extract from the autobiography of the “Missile Man”, and Late President of India, the most revered A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He has tried to reveal the realities of the 19th century Indian society. The good, bad and ugly situations he had to face because he was a Muslim. Through his experiences, he is trying to make us aware of the need to be rational and tolerant individuals. Kalam examines his early life, efforts, hardships, fortitude, luck and chance that transformed his life.

Summary This is the journey of a person from a middle class Muslim family in Rameswaram to the President’s House. The journey of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was not smooth. He had to struggle, and face several challenges as he moved ahead in his life. In his childhood, he was greatly influenced by his parents, his teachers, and his friends. His father, Jainulabdeen, was not educated but he was a very generous and kind person. He was not rich but provided a secure childhood to Abdul and his brothers and sisters. Abdul inherited the qualities of honesty and self-discipline from his father and faith in goodness and deep kindness from his mother. Kalam earned his first wages by helping his cousin, Samsuddin, who distributed newspapers in Rameswaram. He had three close friends— Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindam and Sivaprakashan. They were all belonging to orthodox Hindu brahmin families. In the story, he speaks about a very unfortunate incident that affected him and his friends very badly. A teacher showed discrimination in the classroom by separating him from his close friends just because he was a Muslim. The problem was resolved by Ramanadha’s father, the high priest of the Rameswaram temple. Abdul was also greatly influenced by his science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer. He learnt the lesson of breaking social barriers from him. Iyer invited him to his home for a meal. His wife was an orthodox Brahmin who refused to serve food to a Muslim boy, in her so called ritually pure kitchen. Iyer served him with his own hands and sat down beside him to eat his meal. He

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convinced his wife to serve meal with her own hands and thus, was successful in changing the conservative attitude of his wife. For higher education, he sought permission from his father to leave Rameswaram and study at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram. His father said, “Abdul! I know you have to go away to grow. Does the seagull not fly across the sun, alone and without a nest?” To his hesitant mother, quoting Kahlil Gibran, he said, “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts.”

Glossary NCERT Page –68 generosity of spirit – the openness and willingness to share our ‘gifts’ (both emotional material) freely with others; undistinguished – lacking distinction; unexceptional; Ancestral of, belonging to, or inherited from an ancestor or ancestors, hereditary; inessential – not absolutely necessary; luxuries – things that provide a state of great comfort or elegance NCERT Page –69 erupted – broke out; anna – former monetary unit of India equal to one sixteenth of a rupee; isolated – secluded, unreachable; emergency – a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action; casualty – a person or a thing badly affected by an event or a situation; suspension – delay, stay, stop, prevent; surge of pride – a strong rush of satisfaction/happiness/gratification; orthodox – conforming to the traditional or generally accepted rules of a religion, philosophy, or practice NCERT Page –70 catering (here) – provide with what is needed or required NCERT Page –71 accordance – in a manner conforming with; social ranking – a position or status according to the caste, creed, money; utterly – absolutely; downcast – to feel sad, upset, shattered; lasting impression – which produces a long-term effect on someone; communal intolerance – (of conflict) between different communities, especially those having different religions or ethnic origins; ultimately – eventually NCERT Page –72 rigid – not flexible, firm; segregation – separate, setting apart, sorting out; conservative – traditional; mingle – mix up; on par – equal to someone or something; horrified – filled with horror; perturbed – anxious, unsettled, upset NCERT Page –73 hesitation – reluctance, delay; imminent – about to happen; unprecented – never done or known before; optimism – positive attitude

Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT

I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each.

1. Where was Abdul Kalam’s house? Ans. Abdul Kalam’s house was on the Mosque Street in Rameswaram. 2. What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer. Ans. Kalam refers to his brother-in-law Jallaluddin who was a newspaper distributor. He used to tell him stories about the world war headlines of which Kalam says he used to search in Dinamani. Dinamani is the name of a daily newspaper in the Tamil language. Literature Reader

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3. Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they become later? Ans. Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindam and Sivaprakashan were Abdul Kalam’s school friends. Ramanadha became the priest of the Rameswaram Temple, Aravindam took to transporting of pilgrims, and Sivaprakashan became a catering contractor for Southern Railway. 4. How did Abdul earn his first wages? Ans. Kalam helped his brother-in-law with his paper distribution when the train’s halt at Rameswaram was suspended. He had to catch the bundles as they were thrown out of the running train. This was how, he earned his first wages. 5. Had he earned money before that? In what way? Ans. When he was around eight years of age, there was a sudden demand for tamarind seeds. He would collect the seeds and sell them to a provision store at Mosque Street. This was his initial attempt at earning money that fetched him about one anna.

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (30 words)

1. How does the author describe: (i) his father (ii) his mother (iii) himself? Ans. Kalam says that his father Jainulabdeen, who ferried pilgrims in his boat, was not exposed to formal education, neither was he wealthy, but he possessed innate wisdom and a true generosity of spirit. His mother was good and kind-hearted, and loved feeding people. As for himself, Kalam says that he was a very short and undistinguished son, born to tall and handsome parents. 2. What characteristics does he say he has inherited from his parents? Ans. Kalam says that every child inherits certain qualities from their parents. He claims to have inherited honesty and self-discipline from his father, and faith in goodness and deep kindness from his mother. III. Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two or three paragraphs each.

1. “On the whole the small society of Rameswaram was very rigid in terms of the segregation of different social groups,” says the author. (i) Which social groups does he mention? Were these groups easily identifiable (for example, by the way they dressed)? (ii) Were they aware only of their differences or did they also naturally share friendships and experiences? (Think of the bedtime stories in Kalam’s house; of who his friends were; and of what used to take place in the pond near his house). (iii) The author speaks both of people who were aware of the differences among them and those who tried to bridge these differences. Can you identify such people in the text? (iv) Narrate two incidents that show how differences can be created, and also how they can be resolved. How can people change their attitudes? Ans. (i) The two groups being mentioned are the Hindus and the Muslims. He says that as children, they never felt any difference amongst themselves, despite their religious differences because of their upbringing. They could be differentiated only on the basis of the cap he wore on his head, while his orthodox Hindu brahmin friends had the sacred thread on their chest. (ii) They were aware of their differences but lived in harmony, helping each other in every way. Kalam speaks about the bedtime stories his mother and grandmother used to tell them, that included stories from both the Ramayana and the life of the Prophet. His father used to ferry the pilgrims, who visited Rameswaram. Most importantly,

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his family used to arrange boats for the Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony, to carry the idols of the Hindu Gods. (iii) His first experience of being segregated was when his teacher objected to Kalam, a Muslim, sitting along with Hindu boys in the first row of the class. He was unceremoniously told to go to the back bench. His friend Ramanadha was very hurt with the teacher’s behaviour. However, when Lakshmana Sastry, Ramanadha’s father objected to his behaviour, the teacher regretted his action. The teacher was hence reformed. Secondly, his science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, an orthodox Brahmin, who was very fond of Kalam, was able to reform his wife who did not initially approve a Muslim boy having food in her holy kitchen. (iv) Differences were created first, by the teacher who tried to create communal feelings among the students. And the second instance, when Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife refused to serve food for a Muslim boy in her kitchen. In both the incidents, the persons who brought about a reformation of the narrow-mindedness stood their ground strongly and refused to relent. Both Lakshmana Sastry and Sivasubramania Iyer were able to change the traditional and narrow-minded approach of the teacher and the lady, respectively and make them tolerant. 2. (i) Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram? (ii) What did his father say to this? (iii) What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words? Ans. (i) Kalam wanted his father’s permission to leave Rameswaram and go to the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram, to pursue his studies. (ii) His father appreciates his request and agrees that he needs to go away, if he has to grow. (iii) His father convinces his mother, by referring to the words of Kahlil Gibran, in which he says that we do not have any right over anybody. Parents are only a medium to bring children to the world. They can only give them love but cannot impose their thoughts on anyone. The children have their own thoughts, and they should be allowed to follow them.

THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE I. Find the sentences in the text where these words occur: erupt, surge, trace, undistinguished, casualty Ans. (i) A sudden demand for tamarind seeds erupted in the market (ii) I can still feel the surge of pride (iii) Trace in the headlines in Dinamani (iv) A short boy with rather undistinguished looks (v) The first casualty came in the form of suspension of the train halt

1. What are the things that erupt? Use examples to explain the various meanings of erupt. Now do the same for the word surge. What things can surge? Ans. Erupt a few things that can erupt are anger, volcano, tooth, rash, riots, unrest (of a volcano) become active and eject lava, ash, and gases “Mount Pinatubo began erupting in June” be ejected from an active volcano “hot lava erupted from the crust” (of an object) explode with fire and noise Literature Reader

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“smoke bombs erupted everywhere” break out suddenly and dramatically “fierce fighting erupted between the army and guerrillas” give vent to anger, amusement, etc. in a sudden and noisy way “the soldiers erupted in fits of laughter” (of a spot, rash, or other mark) suddenly appear on the skin “a boil had erupted on her temple” (of the skin) suddenly develop a spot, rash or mark “his skin erupts with hives” (of a tooth) break through the gums during normal development “the lower incisors had erupted”

Surge

Things that can surge are pride, anxiety, waves, boats, army a sudden powerful forward or upward movement, especially by a crowd or by a natural force such as the tide “flooding caused by tidal surges” a sudden large increase, typically a temporary one “the firm predicted a 20% surge in sales” a major deployment of military forces to reinforce those already in a particular area. a powerful rush of an emotion or feeling “Sophie felt a surge of anger” a sudden marked increase in voltage or current in an electric circuit

Verb

surge; 3rd person present: surges; past tense: surged; past participle: surged; gerund or present participle: surging (of a crowd or a natural force) move suddenly and powerfully forward or upward “the journalists surged forward” increase suddenly and powerfully “shares surged to a record high” (of an emotion or feeling) affect someone powerfully and suddenly “indignation surged up within her” (of an electric voltage or current) increase suddenly

2. What are the meanings of the word trace and which of the meanings is closest to the word in the text? Ans. Trace follow, discover, ascertain the course of development, mark outline of a map/picture. 1. find or discover by investigation “police are trying to trace a white van seen in the area” find or describe the origin or development of “Bob’s book traces his flying career with the RAF” 2. follow or mark the course or position of (something) with one’s eye, mind, or finger “through the binoculars, I traced the path I had taken the night before” take (a particular path or route) “a tear traced a lonely path down her cheek” 3. copy (a drawing, map, or design) by drawing over its lines on a superimposed piece of transparent paper

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“trace a map of the world on to a large piece of paper” draw (a pattern or line), especially with one’s finger or toe “she traced a pattern in the dirt with the toe of her shoe”. give an outline of “the article traces out some of the connections between education, qualifications, and the labour market”

Noun (i) (ii) (iii)



trace; plural noun: traces a mark, object, or other indication of the existence or passing of something “remove all traces of the old adhesive” a line or pattern displayed by an instrument to show the existence or nature of something which is being recorded or measured. a physical change in the brain presumed to be caused by a process of learning or memory. a very small quantity, especially one too small to be accurately measured “his body contained traces of amphetamines” a barely discernible indication of something “just a trace of a smile” a procedure to investigate the source of something, such as the place from which a telephone call was made. “we’ve got a trace on the call”

3. Can you find the word undistinguished in your dictionary? Ans. The word means lacking distinction; unexceptional.

II. 1. Match the phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B. A

B

(i) broke out

(a) an attitude of kindness, a readiness to give freely

(ii) in accordance with

(b) was not able to tolerate

(iii) a helping hand

(c) began suddenly in a violent way

(iv) could not stomach

(d) assistance

(v) generosity of spirit

(e) persons with power to make decisions

(vi) figures of authority

(f) according to a particular rule, principle

Ans. A

B

(i) broke out

(a) began suddenly in a violent way

(ii) in accordance with

(b) according to a particular rule, principle, or system

(iii) a helping hand

(c) assistance

(iv) could not stomach

(d) was not able to tolerate

(v) generosity of spirit

(e) an attitude of kindness, a readiness to give freely

(vi) figures of authority

(f) persons with a power to make decisions

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2. Study the words in italics in the sentences below. They are formed by prefixing un – or in – to their antonyms (words opposite in meaning). �

I was a short boy with rather undistinguished looks. (un + distinguished)

�

My austere father used to avoid all inessential comforts. (in + essential)

�

The area was completely unaffected by the war. (un + affected)

He should not spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance. (in + equality, in + tolerance) Now, form the opposites of the words below by prefixing un- or in-. The prefix in- can also have the forms il-, ir-, or im- (for example: illiterate–il + literate, impractical–im + practical, irrational–ir + rational). You may consult a dictionary if you wish.

�



____adequate

____acceptable

____regular

____tolerant

____demanding

____active

____true

____permanent

____patriotic

____disputed

____accessible

____coherent

____logical

____legal

____responsible

____possible

Ans. Prefix inadequate

unacceptable

irregular

intolerant

undemanding

inactive

untrue

impermanent

unpatriotic

undisputed

inaccessible

incoherent

illogical

illegal

irresponsible

impossible

III. Passive Voice Study these sentences: �

My parents were regarded as an ideal couple.

�

I was asked to go and sit on the back bench.

Such problems have to be confronted. The italicised verbs in these sentences are made up of a form of the verb be and a past participle. (For example: were + regarded, was + asked, be + confronted). These sentences focus on what happens, rather than who does what. Notice that the doer of the action is not included in the sentences. If necessary, we can mention the doer of the action in a by-phrase. For example: �

�

The tree was struck by lightning.

The flag was unfurled by the Chief Guest. A form or set of forms of a verb in which the subject undergoes the action of the verb (e.g., they were killed as opposed to the active form he killed them). The second sentence is in the passive voice. In the passive voice, the focus is on “what happens” and not on the “doer”. �



Active Voice

A form or set of forms of a verb in which the subject is typically the person or thing performing the action and which can take a direct object (e.g., she loved him as opposed to the passive form he was loved ). The first sentence is in the active voice.

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In the active voice, the focus is on the “doer” and not on the “action”.

IV. Rewrite the sentences below, changing the verbs in brackets into the passive form. 1. In yesterday’s competition the prizes (give away) by the Principal. Ans. In yesterday’s competition the prizes were given away by the Principal. 2. In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers (pay) on time. Ans. In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers were paid on time. 3. On Republic Day, vehicles (not allow) beyond this point. Ans. On Republic Day, vehicles are not allowed beyond this point. 4. Second-hand books (buy and sell) on the pavement every Saturday. Ans. Second-hand books are bought and sold on the pavement every Saturday. 5. Elections to the Lok Sabha (hold) every five years. Ans. Elections to the Lok Sabha are held every five years. 6. Our National Anthem (composed) Rabindranath Tagore. Ans. Our National Anthem was composed by Rabindranath Tagore.

V. Rewrite the paragraphs below, using the correct form of the verb given in brackets. 1. How Helmets Came To Be Used in Cricket Nari Contractor was the Captain and an opening batsman for India in the 1960s. The Indian cricket team went on a tour to the West Indies in 1962. In a match against Barbados in Bridgetown, Nari Contractor (seriously injure and collapse). In those days helmets (not wear). Contractor (hit) on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. Contractor’s skull (fracture). The entire team (deeply concern). The West Indies players (worry). Contractor (rush) to hospital. He (accompany) by Frank Worrell, the Captain of the West Indies Team. Blood (donate) by the West Indies players. Thanks to the timely help, Contractor (save). Nowadays helmets (routinely use) against bowlers. Ans. How Helmets Came To Be Used In Cricket Nari Contractor was the Captain and an opening batsman for India in the 1960’s. The Indian cricket team went on a tour to the West Indies in 1962. In a match against Barbados in Bridgetown, Nari Contractor was seriously injured and collapsed. In those days helmets were not worn. Contractor was hit on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. Contractor’s skull had fractured. The entire team was deeply concerned. The West Indies players were worried. Contractor was rushed to hospital. He was accompanied by Frank Worrell, the Captain of the West Indies Team. Blood was donated by the West Indies players. Thanks to the timely help, Contractor was saved. Nowadays helmets are routinely used against bowlers. 2. Oil from Seeds Vegetable oils (make) from seeds and fruits of many plants growing all over the world, from tiny sesame seeds to big, juicy coconuts. Oil (produce) from cotton seeds, groundnuts, soya beans and sunflower seeds. Olive oil (use) for cooking, salad dressing, etc. Olives (shake) from the trees and (gather) up, usually by hand. The olives (ground) to a thick paste which is spread onto special mats. Then the mats (layer) up on the pressing machine which will gently squeeze them to produce olive oil.

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Ans. Oil from Seeds Vegetable oils are made from seeds and fruits of many plants growing all over the world, from tiny sesame seeds to big, juicy coconuts. Oil is produced from cotton seeds, groundnuts, soya beans and sunflower seeds. Olive oil is used for cooking, salad dressing, etc. Olives are shaken from the trees and gathered up, usually by hand. The olives are grounded to a thick paste which is spread onto special mats. Then the mats are layered up on the pressing machine which will gently squeeze them to produce olive oil.

WRITING Think and write a short account of what life in Rameswaram in the 1940’s must have been like. (Were people rich or poor? Hardworking or lazy? Hopeful of a change or resistant to it?). Ans. In the early 1940’s, the life in Rameswaram would have been very simple. It is fairly evident from Kalam’s autobiography, that the people were not very wealthy, yet they were content and lived in peace and harmony. The two major communities that lived here were the Hindus and Muslims. Some disturbances and attempts at segregation, were reported or observed, but the senior people would nip it in the bud. The Hindus and Muslims shared a cordial relationship, despite there being some rigid elements in both the communities. Religion and religious activities were the main source of distraction from the daily routine of life. Many among the elders in the society were not educated. Kalam too had to go out of Rameswaram for his higher studies. There was dignity of labour and people worked hard to make both ends meet. Life became even more difficult with the outbreak of the world war and Rameswaram, being a coastal area, had to face a lot many problems. People were hopeful of a change in their lives, post the world war. They waited optimistically for India to re-establish herself as an independent nation.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. I was one of many children — a short boy with rather undistinguished looks, born to tall and handsome parents. We lived in our ancestral house, which was built in the middle of the nineteenth century. It was a fairly large pucca house, made of limestone and brick, on the Mosque Street in Rameswaram. My austere father used to avoid all inessential comforts and luxuries. However, all necessities were provided for, in terms of food, medicine or clothes. In fact, I would say mine was a very secure childhood. both materially and emotionally. (a) Which of the following describes the narrator’s looks? (i) Tall and good looking (ii) Short with undistinguished looks (iii) Tall with undistinguished looks (iv) Short and good looking

(1)

(b) What does the narrator mean when he calls his father ‘austere’?

(1)

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(c) According to the extract, which of the following DOES NOT describe the childhood of the author? (1) (i) Safe and secure (ii) Emotionally comfortable (iii) Lavish and luxurious (iv) Material satisfying

(d) “In fact, I would say mine was a very secure childhood, both materially and emotionally”. What was the reason for such an eventuality? (2) Ans. (a) (ii) Short with undistingiushed looks (b) The narrator refers to his father as being ‘austere’ because he has led a simple, severe and strict life. (c) (iii) Lavish and luxurious (d) Abdul Kalam called his childhood a secure one because he had loving and caring parents who gave love and guidance to their children and took care of their emotional and physical needs.

2. That forced my cousin Samsuddin, who distributed newspapers in Rameswarm, to look for a helping hand to catch the bundles and, as if naturally, I filled the slot. Samsuddin helped me earn my first wages. Half a century later, I can still feel the surge of pride in earning my own money for the first time.

(a) Which event forced Samsuddin to look for a helping hand? (i) Recession (ii) Train looters’ influence (iii) World War II (iv) Rise in the demand for newspapers

(1)

(b) How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?

(2)

(c) What did the job need Kalam to do? (i) To distribute newspapers (ii) To buy newspapers (iii) To deliver newspapers (iv) To catch the bundles from a moving train

(1)

(d) How did he feel after earning money? (1) Ans. (a) (iii) World War II (b) During the Second World War the newspapers were bundled and thrown out of a moving train. Abdul Kalam earned his first wages by helping his cousin, who distributed newspapers in Rameswaram, to catch these bundles. (c) (iv) To catch the bundles from a moving train (d) He felt a surge of pride in earning his money for the first time.

3. In accordance with our social ranking as the new teacher saw it, I was asked to go and sit on the back bench. I felt very sad, and so did Ramanadha Sastry. He looked utterly downcast as I shifted to my seat in the last row. The image of him weeping when I shifted to the last row left a lasting impression on me.



(a) What did the new teacher ask of Kalam? (i) To leave the class (ii) To go sit at the back (iii) To sit with his friend (iv) To recite a poem

(1)



(b) Why did the teacher decide to separate Kalam from his friend?

(2)

(c) How did Kalam and his friend feel?

(1)



(1)

(d) What left a lasting impression on Kalam? (i) The teacher’s racism Literature Reader

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(ii) Fascism (iii) The image of Ramanadha weeping (iv) Teacher’s lack of kindness Ans. (a) (ii) To go sit at the back (b) The teacher could not tolerate a Muslim boy sitting with the Hindu high priest’s child in the class, so he decided to separate Kalam from his friend because of his own notion of social ranking and religious discrimination. (c) Abdul and his friend both felt very sad. His friend was weeping when Kalam was asked to sit on the last bench. (d) (iii) The image of Ramanadha weeping

4. “Once you decide to change the system, such problems have to be confronted.” When I visited his house the next week, Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife took me inside her kitchen and served me food with her own hands.



(a) What system is he referring to? (i) Racism (ii) Social injustice (iii) Religion-based hatred and prejudice (iv) Nationalism

(1)



(b) What happened when Kalam visited Iyer’s house for the second time?

(1)

(c) What had happened the first time when Kalam had visited Iyer’s house?

(2)



(d) Choose a word from the following that best describes Sivasubramania Iyer. (1) (i) Socialist (ii) Accepting (iii) Judgemental (iv) Prejudiced Ans. (a) (iii) Religion-based hatred and prejudice (b) When Abdul Kalam visited Iyer’s house for the second time, Iyer’s wife took him inside her kitchen and served him food with her own hands. (c) When Abdul visited Iyer’s house the first time, his conservative wife refused to serve food to a Muslim boy. She did not like the idea of him coming and eating in her ritually pure kitchen. She did not allow him to eat in her kitchen. But Iyer served him with his own hands and ate his meals sitting beside him. (d) (ii) Accepting 5. Every child is born, with some inherited characteristics, into a specific socio-economic and emotional environment and trained in certain ways by figures of authority. I inherited honesty and self-discipline from my father; from my mother, I inherited faith in goodness and deep kindness and so did my three brothers and sister. I had three close friends in my childhood – Ramandha Sastry, Aravindan and Sivaprakasan. All these boys were from orthodox Hindu Brahmin families. As children, none of us ever felt any difference among ourselves because of our religious differences and upbringing. In fact, Ramanadha Sastry was the son of Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of the Rameswaram temple. Later, he took over the priesthood of the Rameswaram temple from his father; Aravindan went into the business of arranging transport for visiting pilgrims; and Sivaprakasan became a catering contractor for the Southern Railways. (a) What had the narrator inherited from his family members?

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(2)

(b) Which of the following DOES NOT describe the narrator and his siblings, according to the extract? (1) (i) Well-mannered (ii) Arrogant and impolite (iii) Simple and humble (iv) Honest and disciplined (c) Who does the underlined phrase refer to in the given sentence?

“Every child is born with some inherited characteristics, into a specific socioeconomic and emotional environment, and trained in certain ways by figures of (1) authority.”

(d) Which of the following is the correct synonym of the word ‘conservative’? (1) (i) Orthodox (ii) Priesthood (iii) Characteristics (iv) Emotional Ans. (a) The narrator inherited honesty and self-discipline from his father and faith in goodness and deep kindness from his mother. He learnt the value of respecting others religions and faiths. His upbringing never made him feel like differentiating between people of different religions. (b) (ii) Arrogant and impolite (c) The underlined phrase refers to parents, elders, teachers and leaders in the society. (d) (i) Orthodox

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. Describe the lifestyle in Kalam’s home. Ans. Kalam lived with his siblings and parents in a pucca house that was fairly big. His austere father did not allow unnecessary comforts and luxuries. However, all necessities like food, medicine and clothes were provided. They enjoyed a very secure childhood and his parents ensured that their children grew up to being emotionally strong individuals. 2. Briefly describe the relationship between Kalam and his friends. Ans. Kalam had three very close friends who belonged to the orthodox Hindu Brahmin community. Ramanadha’s father was the high priest of the Rameswaram Temple. As children, none of them ever felt any difference amongst themselves because of religion or their upbringing. They lived in absolute harmony. 3. How did Lakshmana Sastry handle the new teacher? Ans. Lakshmana Sastry summoned the teacher, and in the presence of Kalam and Ramanadha told the teacher not to spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance in the minds of children. He asked the teacher to apologise to the children or quit the school and leave the island. The teacher understood his mistake and regretted his immature behaviour. The priest was successful in reforming the young teacher. 4. How has Kalam described his mother? Ans. Kalam says that his mother was an ideal helpmate to his father. He inherited her innate qualities of faith in goodness and deep kindness. Kalam goes on to say that he could not recall the exact number of people his mother used to feed every day. She would tell Kalam and his siblings bedtime stories taking events from Ramayana and the Prophet’s life, which shows how secular she was in nature. 5. What was Sivasubramania Iyer’s dreams about Kalam’s future? Ans. Sivasubramania Iyer, though an orthodox brahmin, was a rebel, who did not believe in social and communal discriminations. He was Kalam’s science teacher, and would spend hours with him. He said to Kalam one day, “I want you to develop so that you are Literature Reader

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on par with the highly educated people of the big cities.” This was the dream he had for Kalam’s future. 6. How did Sivasubramania Iyer change his wife’s conservative ideas? Ans. Sivasubramania’s wife was a very conservative brahmin lady, who refused to have a Muslim boy having lunch in her kitchen. A calm and unperturbed Sir, did not get angry with his wife, but served Kalam with his own hands and sat beside him to eat his food. He invited him over again the next weekend. On his next visit, Kalam was in for a shock, Iyer’s wife took him inside the kitchen and served him food. Iyer was able to rationalise with his wife and make her accept every human being and treat everyone with respect. 7. What were the qualities that Abdul Kalam admired in his parents? Ans. Kalam’s parents were noble and generous people. Though his father was an austere man, he proved his family with all necessities, in terms of food, medicine or clothes. He admired his father’s honesty and self-discipline and his mother’s faith in goodness and kindness. He admired his parents for respecting all religions. 8. Kalam’s childhood was secure on both materially and emotionally. Illustrate. Ans. Abdul Kalam called his childhood a secure one because he had loving and caring parents who gave love and guidance to their children and took care of their emotional and physical needs. They provided their children with all necessities, in terms of food, medicine or clothes.

9. How did the Second World War give Abdul Kalam the opportunity to earn his first wages? Ans. When stoppage of trains was cancelled at Rameswaram because of World War II, Kalam’s cousin, Samsuddin, who distributed newspapers in Rameswaram asked him to help in collecting newspaper bundles which were thrown from the moving train. This helped Abdul Kalam earn his first wages. 10. “I felt very sad and so did Ramanadha Sastry.” What made Kalam and his friend feel sad? Ans. Kalam and his friend Ramanadha Sastry were good friends and sat together in class. They felt very sad when the new teacher ordered Kalam to go and sit on the back bench of the class. Ramanadha was absoluetly downcast and as Kalam shifted his seat to the last row, there were tears in his eyes. Kalam could never forget these tears all his life. 11. What did Ramanadha Sastry’s father do when his son told him that the new teacher had sent Kalam to the last seat? Ans. Ramanadha’s father, Lakshmana Sastry was deeply distressed to learn that the new school teacher had shifted Kalam to the last bench. He did not approve of this segregation in society. He summoned the teacher and told him not to spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance in young minds. He bluntly told him to either apologise or leave the school. The teacher not only regretted his action but also reformed himself. 12. Why did Sivasubramania invite Kalam for dinner again the next weekend? Ans. The young Kalam was upset by Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife’s refusal to serve him food in her kitchen. This, coupled with the desire to transform his wife, probably prompted Sivasubramania to make amends to Kalam. So he invited Kalam to dinner again the following weekend. He also told Kalam, “Once you decide to change the system, such problems have to be confronted.”

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Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)

1. Write a short paragraph on Kalam, the missile man. Ans. Dr Kalam studied aerospace engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology after which he joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Dr Kalam was successful in developing the Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and SLVIII projects. In the 1970s, he also directed two projects which developed the ballistic missiles from the technology of the SLV programme. Kalam was appointed as the Chief Executive by then Defence Minister, R. Venkataraman of a project which worked on the development of a quiver of missiles. He developed many missiles under this mission including Agni and Prithvi. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam served as the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister and he served as the Chief Project Coordinator of the Pokhran-II nuclear tests. The massive media coverage this project got, made Kalam a well-known nuclear scientist. All these achievements gave him the title of ‘Missile Man of India’. 2. What is the role of Kalam’s father in his life? Ans. Kalam’s autobiography refers to his father as a person who had not received any formal education and was not wealthy. His work involved ferrying pilgrims who visited Rameswaram in his boat. He possessed great innate wisdom, a true generosity of spirit and was very honest and disciplined. He ensured that his children were brought up with minimum comforts and maximum love and care. Jainulabdeen was instrumental in convincing his wife, and making her understand that parents are only a means for children to come into the world. Parents have to raise them into good individuals and allow them to follow their own thoughts. If this wise man had not supported his son and allowed him to pursue his passion, India would not have been blessed with such a noble soul, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

3. As Ramanadha, make a diary entry to express your sorrow when you were separated from your dear friend. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. 14 May, 1940 Thursday, 9.30 p.m. Dear Diary, Today was a very bad day of my life. I lost faith in humanity and human authority. A new teacher had come to class. He was a very conservative Hindu. I have told you earlier also about my very dear friend Kalam. Tears are flowing out of my eyes as I write about it. Sir noticed Kalam wearing a skull cap and was annoyed that he was sitting along with me on the first bench, when he was a Muslim, who according to his social ranking should have been sitting in the last row. He shouted at him and poor Kalam got up and went back. I was very hurt. However, I could not allow this to happen, so I complained to daddy. He will be calling the teacher and speaking to him tomorrow. I hope everything will get sorted out and we will be able to sit together again. Why do people have such weird ideas and impose them on us? It is bad to disrespect people on the basis of caste, creed, and religion! Hoping for the best! Good night 4. Narrate the incident of new teacher’s behaviour in the classroom. Was his action appropriate? What values did the new teacher learn after that incident? Ans. When Abdul Kalam was in the fifth standard, a new teacher, who had a conservative and narrow outlook, came to teach them. He saw Abdul Kalam sitting in the front row with

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Ramanadha Sastry. He identified Kalam as a Muslim as he used to wear a cap which marked him as one and Ramandha Sastry, who wore the sacred thread as a Brahmin. The teacher could not digest a Muslim boy sitting with a Brahmin boy, that too the son of a priest. In accordance with their social ranking, as he saw it, he asked Kalam to go and sit on the back bench. Abdul Kalam and Ramanadha Sastry, both felt very sad. His action was not at all appropriate as all human beings are equal. After this incident, Ramandha Sastry’s father, Lakshmana Sastry, called the teacher and taught him the lesson that one must have respect for all religions and work for communal harmony. He told the teacher that he should not spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance in the minds of innocent children. He bluntly asked the teacher to either apologise or quite the school and the island. His strong sense of conviction ultimately reformed this young teacher. 5. When Sivasubramania told Kalam, “Once, you decide to change the system, such problems have to be confronted.” What system was he referring to? What are ‘such problems’? What values did he want to teach Kalam? Ans. Abdul Kalam’s science teacher, Sivasubramania Iyer, was a rebel by nature. He was against the prevalent system of segregation of social groups. He wanted to break these social barriers, so that people from varying backgrounds could mingle easily. When he invited Abdul Kalam to his home, his wife, in keeping with the prevailing system, refused to serve Kalam, a Muslim, food in her kitchen. But Iyer not only served him food himself but also invited him next week again. He told Abdul Kalam that when one decides to go against the age-old social barriers, one has to face many problems. He proved that if one is determined to face problems and change the system, one succeeds. He also tried to teach him that sometimes it is good to rebel. We should fight for right reasons and to achieve higher goals.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. He did his best to break social barriers so that people from varying backgrounds could mingle easily. He used to spend hours with me and would say, “Kalam, I want you to develop so that you are on par with the highly educated people of the big cities.”



(a) Who is ‘he’ in the above lines? (i) Ramanadha Sastry (iii) Kalam’s father (b) How was ‘he’ related to Kalam? (i) He was his father. (iii) He was his uncle.

(1) (ii) Lakshmana Sastry (iv) Sivasubramania Iyer (1) (ii) He was his friend. (iv) He was his teacher.



(c) What did he want for Kalam?

(1)



(d) How else do we know that ‘he’ supported Kalam?

(2)



2. “Not only did the teacher regret his behaviour, but the strong sense of conviction Lakshmana Sastry conveyed ultimately reformed this young teacher.” (a) What was the teacher’s fault? (i) He had disrespected the Sastrys.

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(1)



(ii) He had inflicted prejudice and bias based on social ranking on children. (iii) He had asked Kalam to leave his class. (iv) He had asked Ramanadha to stop talking to Kalam.

(b) Who was Lakshmana Sastry?

(1)

(c) How did the teacher feel towards his own actions? (i) A sense of rage (ii) A sense of disappointment (iii) A sense of foolishness (iv) A sense of guilt

(1)



(2)

(d) What effect did Lakshmana Sastry’s words had on the young teacher?

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words)

1. Briefly explain the character of Sastry.

2. What values were inculcated in Kalam and his siblings by their parents?



3. Do you agree with Kahlil Gibran’s words? Explain.



4. How would you describe Sivasubramania’s character?

Long Answer Questions

(Constructed Response Question)

(100-120 Words)



1. Give the character sketch of Kalam.



2. Which is the character in the story you liked the most? Why? (Constructed Response Question)



3. Kalam’s father gave him the permission to go away. As Kalam, make a diary entry expressing your joy for being able to pursue your studies. (Constructed Response Question) zzz

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7

Reach for the Top

—Santosh Yadav, Maria Sharapova

About the Author Part I Santosh Yadav (born in 1969) is an Indian mountaineer. She is the first woman in the world to climb Mount Everest twice, and the first woman to successfully climb Mt. Everest from Kangshung Face. She climbed the peak first in May 1992 and then again in May 1993. She is a Padma Shri awardee. Part II Maria Yuryevna Sharapova (born on April 19, 1987) is a Russian professional tennis player. A United States resident since 1994, Sharapova has competed on the WTA tour since 2001. She has been ranked world no. 1 in singles by the WTA on five separate occasions, for a total of 21 weeks. She is one of the ten women, and the only Russian, to hold the career Grand Slam. She is also an Olympic medalist, having earned silver for Russia in women’s singles at the 2012 Summer Olympics held in London.

Theme The lesson, ‘Reach for the Top’ is divided in two parts. The first part is based on the life of Santosh Yadav, and the second is based on the life of Maria Sharapova. Both extracts reiterate the relevance of the age-old adage, “Where there is a will there is a way.” There is no substitute for hard work. Life is not a bed of roses and we do get pricked by the thorns before we are able to cherish the softness of the petals and the fragrance of the flowers.

Summary Part-I Santosh was the sixth child born in a family of five sons, in a small village, Joniyawas, in the Rewari district of Haryana. Her parents were affluent landowners who could afford to send their children even to Delhi for their education. Being a girl, Santosh had to face a lot of problems. She however, decided to revolt and threatened that she would not enter into matrimony, if she did not acquire education. She also warned them that she would earn her own money, if required, to pay her fees. Finally, her parents gave up. After her schooling, she joined the Maharani College for her higher studies. It was in the hostel at Aravalli Hills at Maharani, that she was introduced to the wonders of mountaineering. She enrolled at Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. She scaled the Mt. Everest at the tender age of twenty years, becoming the youngest woman to complete the feat. Iron-will, physical and mental endurance was what helped her. She was not just a mountaineer, but a very sensitive and emotional person. In the 1992 Everest mission, she was successful in providing care to a climber who was nearly about to die, by sharing her supply of oxygen.

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She was also a part of the Indo Nepalese Women’s Expedition that scaled the Everest, and became the first woman to scale the peak of the Everest for the second time. When she unfurled the Indian flag, she says it was truly a spiritual moment for her as a true Indian. A very fervent environmentalist, Santosh taught all the mountaineers a lesson by bringing down 500 kgs of garbage from the top of the Himalayas. She was an epitome of grit, dedication, and struggle, who proved to be an ultimate winner, a pride of the nation.

Part-II This part is about a Russian girl, Maria Sharapova, who reached the peak of women’s tennis. Poised beyond years, the Siberian-born teenager took just four years as a professional to reach the pinnacle. At the age of 10, her father Yuri launched her on the path of success and stardom. She was away from her mother, which was very difficult for her, but it taught her the lesson that everything comes at a price. She faced a lot of problems during training from her co-trainees. The insults and humiliations did not suppress her, but motivated her to pursue her dreams with even more determination. She won the Wimbledon in 2004 and secured the world number one spot within a year. She says that hard work is her mantra for success. What kept her going despite all odds that she faced was the dream of becoming the world’s top player. The stories of these two young women prove quite certainly that success follows those who dream and work towards achieving those dreams, with focus and determination.

Glossary NCERT Page –99 idolise – admire, love greatly or excessively; admire – regard with respect or warm approval; destiny – future, fate, something that is expected to happen in future NCERT Page –100 contentment – a state of happiness and satisfaction; traditional – long-established customs; rational path – a path based on or in accordance with reason or logic; affluent – having a great deal of money; wealthy; prevailing – existing at a particular time; current; enrolled – officially registered as a member of an institution; politely – in a respectful and considerate manner; urge – try earnestly or persistently to persuade (someone) to do something NCERT Page –101 vanishing – disappearing suddenly and completely; affirmative – agreeing with or consenting to a statement or request; motivated – provide (someone) with a reason for doing something; expedition – a journey undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose; matured – become fully grown or developed; resistance – the refusal to accept or comply with something; equipped – supply with the necessary items for a particular purpose; endurance – patience, tolerance, acceptance, physical stamina; culmination – the highest or the final point of something, conclusion NCERT Page –102 unique – being the only one of its kind; annals – a record of events year by year; bestowed – confer or present; literallly – in a literal manner or sense; exactly; enormity – the great or extreme scale, seriousness, large size or scale; unfurled – spread out from a rolled or folded state, especially in order to be open to the wind; indescribable – too unusual, extreme, or indefinite to be adequately described; fervent – having or displaying a passionate intensity

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NCERT Page –104 summit – the highest point of a hill or mountain; disarming – having the effect of allaying (reducing) suspicion or hostility; at odds – at variance, clashing; glamorous – beautiful, attractive, elegant; poised – having a composed and self-assured manner; pinnacle – the most successful point; the culmination, peak NCERT Page –105 ascent – a climb or walk to the summit of a mountain or hill; launched – started or set in motion; heartwrenching – extremely sad or distressing; visa – an endorsement on a passport to enter a foreign country; restrictions – the state of being restricted or controlled; at a price – requiring great expense or involving unwelcome consequences NCERT Page –106 depress – to feel utterly dispirited or dejected; humiliations – embarrassment, disgrace, shame; insults – speak to or treat with disrespect or scornful abuse; steadfastly – in a resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering manner, single-mindedly; pursue – follow or chase; meteoric – rapid, swift, instant; sentiment – a view or opinion that is held or expressed; amply – enough or more than enough; plentifully, abundant; mantra – a statement or slogan repeated frequently to reach your goal; accent – the style of speaking, pronounciation, intonation; parades – exhibits, displays; nationality – the status of belonging to a particular nation; citizenship – the position or status of being a citizen of a particular country; sophisticated – having a great deal of worldly experience and knowledge of fashion and culture; pigeon-holed – assigned to a particular category, typically an overly restrictive group of people; categorised – placed in a particular class or group; unwavering – not wavering; steady or resolute, steady; grudge – feel resentful that (someone) has achieved (something)

Answers to NCERT Questions PART-I THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT

I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each. (The paragraph number within brackets provides the clues to the answers.)

1. Why was the ‘holy man’ who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings surprised? Ans. The holy man was surprised when Santosh’s grandmother told him that they did not want a son. It was strange that a society who disregarded women, could wish to be blessed with a girl. None the less, he gave the requested blessings.

2. Give an example to show that even as a young girl, Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable. Ans. Santosh’s statement, “from the very beginning I was quite determined that if I choose a correct and a rational path, the others around me had to change, not me”, very clearly explains that she was not ready to accept anything that was unreasonable. 3. Why was Santosh sent to the local school? Ans. Santosh, being a girl, was sent to a local school according to the prevailing customs. This was despite the fact that her parents were affluent enough to send her to a city school. 4. When did she leave home for Delhi and why? Ans. The societal rules required a girl to get married at the age of sixteen. Santosh, however, was not willing to be forced into marriage and insisted that she would never get married if she did not acquire proper education. In protest, she went off to Delhi and enrolled herself in a school there.

5. Why did Santosh’s parents agree to pay for her schooling in Delhi? What mental qualities of Santosh are brought into light by this incident?

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Ans. Initially, her parents refused to pay for her education. She very politely informed them that she would then earn money by working part time to pay her fees. It was this threat that made her parents relent. This shows the conviction and the stability of the young girl, who knew exactly what she wanted in life. II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words). 1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains? Ans. Her hostel room at Maharani college faced the Aravalli Hills. She would watch the villagers going up the hill and suddenly vanishing. She was so curious that she decided to check it out for herself. There were only mountaineers that day, and she requested to join them. Pleasantly surprised with their consent, Santosh made her first step up a mountain.

2. What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for her teammates? Ans. In the year 1992, during the Everest mission, Santosh provided special care to a climber who lay dying at the South Col. She could not revive him though. However, she managed to save another climber, Mohan Singh, who would have met with the same fate had she not shared her oxygen with him. Santosh was very empathetic towards her co-climbers. 3. What shows her concern for the environment? Ans. Santosh was not just a mountaineer. She was a fervent environmentalist too. On one occasion, she brought down 500 kgs of garbage from the Himalayas. She could have left it behind, ignoring the call of duty. But she is made of a different mettle (strength of character). 4. How does she describe her feelings at the summit of the Everest? Ans. She says that it took her some time to absorb that she actually was ‘on top of the world’. And when she unfurled the Indian tri-colour and held it aloft on the highest point in the world, her emotions and feelings were undescribable. She felt extremely spiritual, and took pride in being an Indian.

5. Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she scaled Mt. Everest. What were the reasons for this? Ans. The first time she entered the book of records, was in recognition of the fact that she was the first woman to scale and reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Twelve months later, she joined the Indo-Nepalese Women’s Expedition on an invitation, and scaled the mountain once again, and got recognised as the only woman to scale the Mount for a second time. She thus, secured for herself and India a unique place in the annals of mountaineering. III. Complete the following statements. 1. From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to watch villagers from her room going up a hill and vanishing after a while. 2. When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because she got enrolled at Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering without his permission. 3. During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her climbing skills, physical fitness and mental strength while her concern for others and desire to work together with them endeared her to the fellow climbers.

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IV. Pick out words from the text that mean the same as the following words or expressions. (look in the paragraphs indicated) 1. Took to be true without proof (1): __________________ 2. Based on reason, sensible; reasonable (2):__________________ 3. The usual way of doing things (3):__________________ 4. A strong desire arising from within (5):__________________ 5. The power to endure, without falling ill (7):__________________ Ans. 1. Assumed, 2. Rational,

3. Custom,

4. Urge,

5. Resistance

PART-II BEFORE YOU READ A Russian girl, Maria Sharapova, reached the summit of women’s tennis when she was barely eighteen. As you read about her, see if you can draw a comparison between her and Santosh Yadav. Match the following. something disarming

quickly, almost immediately

at odds with

more calm, confident and in control than people of her age usually are

glamorous attire

in contrast to; not agreeing with

in almost no time

something that makes you feel friendly, taking away your suspiciousness

poised beyond her years

sent off

packed off

attractive and exciting clothes

launched

causing strong feelings of sadness

heart wrenching

started

something disarming

something that makes you feel friendly, taking away your suspiciousness

at odds with

in contrast to; not agreeing with

glamorous attire

attractive and exciting clothes

in almost no time

quickly, almost immediately

poised beyond her years

more calm, confident and in control than people of her age usually are

packed off

sent off

launched

started

heart wrenching

causing strong feelings of sadness

Ans.

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THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT Working in groups of 4-5 students, go back over the two passages on Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova and complete the table given below with relevant phrases or sentences. Points of Comparison/Contrast

Santosh Yadav

Maria Sharapova

1. Their humble beginning 2. Their parents’ approach 3. Their will power and strong desire to succeed 4. Evidence of their mental toughness 5. Their patriotism

Ans. Points of Comparison/ Contrast

Santosh Yadav

Maria Sharapova

1. Their humble beginning

Born in a small village in Haryana

Born in Siberia

2. Their parents’ approach

Not supportive as she was a girl but gradually fell in with her plans

Lived and worked to help achieve her goal

3. Their will power and strong desire to succeed

Going against social norms, Santosh is adamant about being educated. She enrols herself in a school in Delhi and joins college later. Then she enrols for a course in mountaineering and is determined to succeed.

She moves to America to master the game of tennis. She works hard, ignores all the adversities and fights a winning battle.

4. Evidence of their mental toughness

She began living on her own terms refusing to follow irrational customs. Refused to get married without being educated. Boldly enrolled in a school, and convinced her parents to pay her fees. Took a fancy for mountaineering, registered for the course, and worked her way to the top.

She was a small girl of nine. Was insulted by other students but did not get upset, was determined to succeed, work hard, and with a lot of focus to be on top.

5. Their patriotism

Was proud of being an Indian. Was proud to unfurl the tricolour on top of the world.

Though it was in America that she achieved her dream, she was proud of being a Russian and will be happy to play for Russia, if the country wants.

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THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE

I. Identify the two parts in the sentences below by underlining the part that gives us the information in brackets. 1. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. (Contrasts her dress with that of others)

2. She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi. (Tells us what happened after the first action.)

3. She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived. (Tells us when she was going to fight the system.)

4. Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States. (Tells us when Maria was sent to the U.S.)

Ans. 1. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. 2. She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi. 3. She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived. 4. Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States. II. Now rewrite the pairs of sentences given below as one sentence. 1. Grandfather told me about the old days. All books were printed on paper then. 2. What do you do after you finish the book? Perhaps you just throw it away. 3. He gave the little girl an apple. He took the computer apart. 4. You have nothing. That makes you very determined. 5. I never thought of quitting. I knew what I wanted. Ans. 1. Grandfather told me that all books were printed on paper in the old days. (or) Grandfather told me about the old days when all books were printed on paper. 2. Do you throw away your books after you finish it? (or) After finishing your books, do you throw it away? 3. He gave the little girl an apple and took the computer apart. 4. Having nothing makes you determined. (or) Having nothing is what that makes you determined. 5. I never thought of quitting as I knew what I wanted. (or) I knew what I wanted so I never thought of quitting.

WRITING

Working in pairs, go through the table below that gives you information about the top women tennis players since 1975. Write a short article for your school magazine comparing and contrasting the players in terms of their duration at the top. Mention some qualities that you think may be responsible for their brief or long stay at the top spot.

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Top-Ranked Women Players

I. The roll of honour of women who enjoyed life at the summit since everybody’s favourite player, Chris Evert, took her place in 1975. Name

Ranked on

Weeks as No. 1

Maria Sharapova (Russia)

22 August 2005

1

Lindsay Davenport (U.S.)

October 2004

82

Amelie Mauresmo (France)

13 September 2004

5

Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium)

20 October 2003

45

Kim Clijsters (Belgium)

11 August 2003

12

Serena Williams (U.S.)

8 July 2002

57

Venus Williams (U.S.)

25 February 2002

11

Jennifer Capriati (U.S.)

15 October 2001

17

Lindsay Davenport (U.S.)

12 October 1998

82

Martina Hingis (Switzerland)

31 March 1997

209

Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (Spain)

6 February 1995

12

Monica Seles (U.S.)

11 March 1991

178

Steffi Graf (Germany)

17 August 1987

377

Tracy Austin (U.S.)

7 April 1980

22

Martina Navratilova (U.S.)

10 July 1978

331

Chris Evert (U.S.)

3 November 1975

362

Ans.

TOP-RANKED WOMEN PLAYERS By XYX The roll of honour of women who enjoyed life at the summit since everybody’s favourite player, Chris Evert, took her place in 1975, has been spectacular. She has occupied the No.1 place for 362 weeks, second only to Steffi Graf of Germany who was ranked No.1 for 377 weeks. The other champions who brought honours to their countries were Martina Navratilova from U.S. who was ranked No.1 for 331 weeks, followed by Martina Hingis of Switzerland who was on top for 209 weeks and Monica Seles of U.S., for 178 weeks. There were many other women who brought honour to their countries, though it may not have been as many times as their contemporaries. Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport, and Tracy Austin have played a major role in keeping the flag of Tennis flying high in the United States. The other stars of tennis include Amelie Mauresmo of France, Justin Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters of Belgium, and Arantrax Sanchez-Vicario of Spain. These women have proved that there is nothing that a woman is not capable of doing. Be it tennis, mountaineering or fighting at the battlefront, a woman is capable of holding her ground.

II. Which of these words would you use to describe Santosh Yadav? Find reasons in the text to support your choices, and write a couple of paragraphs describing Santosh’s character. contented determined resourceful polite adventurous considerate weak-willed fearful independent pessimistic patient persevering Literature Reader

205

Ans. Santosh was determined, resourceful, adventurous, independent, persevering and considerate. Santosh Yadav, was a girl from an affluent yet orthodox background. Life was a big challenge for the bright and spirited young girl. Her grit and determination motivated her to cross all barriers with courage and will. This Indian woman, stood atop the roof of the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest twice and was the first woman in the world to have achieved this feat. She undertook the necessary training, making an independent decision to do so, as she was fascinated by the sight of the villagers climbing up and down the Aravalli hills. Scaling the Himalayan mountains, and its tall snow clad peaks is highly risky because of the terrain and the extreme climate. Being a woman did not deter her in any way. In fact, her presence of mind during her maiden expedition to Mt. Everest in 1992, she rescued a co-climber who was short of breath due to depleting oxygen in his cylinder, by sharing her cylinder. Ms Santosh Yadav was awarded with the Padma Shri by the central government.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. Grandmother who was standing close by, told him that they did not want a son. The ‘holy man’ was also surprised! Nevertheless, he gave the requested blessing ... and as destiny would have it, the blessing seemed to work. Santosh was born the sixth child in a family with five sons, a sister to five brothers. She was born in the village of Joniyawad of Rewari District in Haryana.

(a) What does this extract tell you about the grandmother?

(2)

(b) Fill in the blank with the appropriate words from the pairs given below. (1) The _________________ of the grandmother, and the _________________ of the holy man became effective when a girl child was born. (i) desire, blessings (ii) surprise, desire (iii) blessings, prayers (iv) destiny, blessings (c) What was the reaction of the holy man? (i) He was saddened. (ii) He was upset. (iii) He was surprised. (iv) He was heartbroken.

(1)

(d) Which word from the extract means the opposite of ‘choice’? (1) Ans. (a) The extract portrays the picture of an elderly woman in the small village who thought differently from the normal Indian community, that always prayed to have son and not daughter in their family. Santosh’s grandmother asked the holy man for the blessing of a daughter. (b) (i) desire, blessings (c) (iii) He was surprised. (d) Destiny

2. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. Looking back, she says now, “From the very beginning I was quite determined that if I chose a correct and a rational path, the others around me had to change, and not me.”

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(a) How was Santosh different from the other girls of the village?

(2)



(b) How did Santosh feel towards her decisions? (i) Skeptical (ii) Unhappy (iii) Happy (iv) Determined

(1)



(c) What does she mean by ‘a rational path’?

(1)



(d) Choose a word from the following that describes Santosh the best. (1) (i) Circumspect (ii) Incorrigible (iii) Resolute (iv) Hopeless Ans. (a) Santosh refused to follow old rituals of her society. When other girls of her age used to wear suit, she preferred shorts. Other girls of her society were taught in local schools but Santosh Yadav gained high qualifications in her studies. Girls of her age were also married, but Santosh chose to study instead. (b) (iv) Determined (c) By ‘a rational path’, Santosh means the path of excellence through education, logic and hard work, and not based on myths and traditions. (d) (iii) Resolute 3. “I used to be so lonely,” Maria Sharapova recalls. “I missed my mother terribly. My father was working as much as he could to keep my tennis-training going. So, he couldn’t see me either. “Because I was so young, I used to go to bed at 8 p.m. The other tennis pupils would come in at 11 p.m. and wake me up and order me to tidy up the room and clean it. “Instead of letting that depress me, I became more quietly determined and mentally tough. I learnt how to take care of myself. I never thought of quitting because I knew what I wanted.

(a) “I used to be so lonely”. What is she talking about? Which one of the following statements is NOT TRUE? (1) (i) Her life in the tennis academy. (ii) Her life in Florida. (iii) Her life without her parents. (iv) Her life as an adult. (b) What was the role of Maria’s parents in her life?

(2)

(c) “I never thought of quitting because I knew what I wanted.” Pick one word that describes the character of Maria in this statement. (1) (i) Focus (ii) Laziness (iii) Anxiety (iv) Conscientiousness (d) How did Maria take humiliation by her seniors? (1) Ans. (a) (iv) Her life as an adult. (b) Her mother had to stay away from her daughter who wished to pursue her dream, and her father had to work hard to ensure that the financial requirement to fulfil the dream was earned. (c) (iv) Conscientiousness (d) Maria was ill-treated by her seniors but instead of letting that depress her, she became more determined and mentally tough.

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4. That something in her lifted her on Monday, 22 August 2005 to the world number one position in women’s tennis. All this happened in almost no time. Poised beyond her years, the Siberian born teenager took just four years as a professional to reach the pinnacle.

(a) How old was Maria when she had to be separated from her mother? (i) Eight (ii) Eleven (iii) Nine (iv) Ten

(1)



(1)

(b) How has the separation been described as? (i) Terrible (ii) Pain inducing (iii) Heart-wrenching (iv) Depressing

(c) Why could Maria’s mother not join her daughter?

(1)

(d) What important lessons did Maria learn at such a young age? (2) Ans. (a) (iii) Nine (b) (iii) Heart-wrenching (c) Maria’s mother could not join her daughter because of visa restrictions. (d) In the U.S.A., Maria Sharapova had to face a heart wrenching two-year separation from her mother. This separation made her learn an important lesson that tennis excellence would only come at a price.

5. The girl was given the name ‘Santosh’, which means contentment. But Santosh was not always content with her place in a traditional way of life. She began living life on her own terms from the start. Where other girl wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. Looking back, she says now, “From the very beginning I was quite determined that if I chose a correct and a rational path, the others around me had to change, not me.”

(a) What does the word ‘Santosh’ mean? (i) Excitement (ii) Satisfaction (iii) Happiness (iv) Submission

(1)

(b) Was Santosh content with her place in a traditional way of life? Give reason. (2)

(c) Fill in the blank with ONE WORD only. (1) Santosh’s ______________ trait is exhibited when she preferred to wear shorts when other girls wore traditional Indian dresses. (d) “She began living life on her own terms from the start”. What does this statement mean? (1) (i) She made her own rules to live by. (ii) She became a rebellious and was thrown out. (iii) She renounced everything and made new rules. (iv) She started living life king size. Ans. (a) (iii) Happiness (b) Santosh was not content with a traditional way of life because she was a bit of a rebel right from the beginning. She wanted to charter her own course in life, rather than following the age-old customs and traditions. (c) rebellious (d) (iii) She renounced everything and made new rules.

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Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. Describe the family of Santosh Yadav. Ans. Santosh Yadav belonged to an affluent family in Haryana. She was the sixth child of the family. There were five boys who were older to her. She lived with her parents and grandmother. Santosh’s family was an orthodox family, who abided strictly by the traditions of the community. 2. Was Santosh happy as her name suggested? Ans. The name Santosh was given to the little girl because everyone was very happy and contented when a girl was born after the five boys. But Santosh was not very content because she could not adhere to the traditional and restricted lifestyle that was expected from a girl-child.

3. Pick up an incident from the extract that exhibits Santosh’s strength of character, according to you. Ans. According to me, the incident that exhibited her strength of character was when Santosh helped her co-climber. On her trek up the Everest, two of her co-climbers were seen in a distress situation, due to empty oxygen cylinders. One of them succumbed, but she rescued Manoj Singh by sharing her oxygen cylinder till they reached their destination. 4. Give a background of Maria Sharapova. Ans. Maria Sharapova is a Russian citizen, who moved to the United States to make a mark for herself in the game of tennis. She was barely nine years of age when her father took the initiative to launch his daughter on the path of success and stardom. She endured a lot of hardships, faced them bravely, and secured the position of World No. 1 on 22nd August, 2005 at the tender age of eighteen. She was rewarded for her hard work and dedication. 5. What were the problems Sharapova faced during her training? How did she react? Ans. Sharapova was a little girl when she began training. She would fall asleep much earlier than the other pupils who were older than her. They would come into the room as late as 11 p.m. and wake her up and order her to clean up the room. This kind of ragging, humiliation and insults, instead of buckling her under pressure, made her a stronger and more determined person. She was steadfast about pursuing her dream. 6. “Maria Sharapova cannot be pigeon-holed or categorised”. Explain Ans. Maria Sharapova was a little girl who was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth. It was her grit and determination that helped her climb the ladder of success. She was fond of reading, singing, dancing and wearing sophisticated gowns on one hand and on the other, she loved pancakes with chocolate spread and fizzy orange drink. It was her talent and sacrifice that lifted her to the top of the world. Therefore, she cannot be categorised into any particular group or class of people. She was one of a kind. 7. Why did Santosh Yadav decide to fight the system? Ans. Santosh Yadav decided to fight the system because her parents were affluent. They could have sent her to best schools but as per the tradition, she was sent to the local village school. She did not want to humiliate or insult those who supported the traditions that obstructed the path to progress, so she fought in her quiet and firm way. 8. Why did Santosh Yadav write a letter of apology to her father? Ans. Santosh got herself enrolled in the Uttarkashi Nehru Institute of Mountaineering without seeking her father’s permission. She had thought of talking to her family about this during her holidays. However, there was hardly any time between the end of the semester and her reporting date at the institute. Due to her inability to go home, she wrote a letter of apology to her father. Literature Reader

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9. What qualities made Santosh Yadav a mountaineer? Ans. It requires boldness, fearlessness, sturdiness and faith in one’s abilities. Santosh Yadav was, in fact, made for mountaineering as she was endowed with all the qualities that are pre-requisites for this career. Just within a span of four years of her training in climbing, Santosh successfully scaled Mt. Everest. 10. What type of a social system was there in the village when Santosh was born? Ans. Santosh was born in a small village in the Rewari District in Haryana. The society in this region was rigidly patriarchal and gender-biased. The birth of a girl was generally unwelcome and people strictly adhered to conservative traditions. 11. How did Santosh convince her parents about marriage? Ans. She threatened her parents that she would never marry if she did not get a proper education. She left home and got herself enrolled in school in Delhi. When her parents refused to pay for her education, she politely informed them of her plans to earn money by working part time to pay her school fees. 12. Why did Maria leave Siberia for the US? Why didn’t her mother go with her? How did this separation affect her? Ans. Maria was brought to Florida in the US by her father, Yuri, to get trained as a professional tennis player and reach great heights of success and stardom in this sport. Her mother, Yelena, did not go with her because of visa restrictions. This two-year separation was too painful for the young girl. But Maria endured this sacrifice to pursue her dreams. 13. What important lesson did Maria learn during the first two years of her stay in the US away from her mother? Ans. Maria learnt that excellence comes at a price. Since she wished to reach the zenith in the field of tennis, she knew that she would have to make sacrifices and struggle hard. She endured the heart-wrenching separation from her mother for two years to attain excellence in tennis. Moreover, she also learnt how to put up patiently with adverse circumstances. 14. How did Maria’s co-trainees at the tennis academy trouble her? How did Maria cope with this? Ans. Maria’s co-trainees at the tennis academy were much older than her and would return at the room at around 11 p.m. when Maria was already asleep. They were so inconsiderate that they woke up Maria and made her tidy up the room. Maria coped with this trouble by not allowing it to depress her. Instead, she strengthened her determination and mental toughness. 15. Despite being harrassed by her seniors, why didn’t Maria think of quitting? Ans. Despite being harrassed by her seniors, Maria didn’t ever think of quitting because she was firmly determined to make her dream a reality. She knew that quitting under such pressure would jeopardize her own aspirations and she would never be able to reach the top in the field of tennis. 16. How is Maria’s personality a mix of contrasts? Ans. The maturity, balanced mind and inner strength of Maria does not appear to be in accordance with her glamorous dress or her charming manner and ready smile. There seems to be some mismatch between her sophisticated outer appearance and her balanced inner-self. 17. What does Maria declare to be her ‘mantra for success’? Ans. Maria works really hard to fulfill her dreams. She does not shy away from making any sacrifice. She does not allow herself to be emotional and sentimental. She is very competitive and works hard to be the best in whatever she does. She is driven by her

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hunger to succeed and the dream of becoming the world number one in women’s tennis. This is her mantra for success. 18. Why does Maria call tennis a business and a sport? Ans. Tennis is a competitive sport like any other and requires the player to display stamina, nerve, determination, planning and strategizing. It is also a business because it is played professionally for money. Tennis tournaments involve millions of pounds being spent on sponsorship and prize money. Tennis generates a lot of business for media, drinks, clothes and sports companies too.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)

1. Give a pen-picture of Santosh Yadav. Ans. Santosh was a strong-headed girl who was born as the sixth child in an affluent family in a small village in Haryana. She began to live her life on her own terms from a very early age. When she turned sixteen, her parents pressurised her to get married, but she threatened her parents that she would never marry if she did not get a proper education. She eventually left home and got herself enrolled in a school at Delhi. Eventually, they agreed to finance her schooling in Delhi. Her strong will-power and passion for excellence enabled her to become the youngest woman to scale Mt. Everest twice. She is an embodiment of all the qualities of an ideal woman and a good human being. 2. Give the character sketch of Maria Sharapova. Ans. Maria Sharapova was born on 19 April 1987 to Yuri and Yelena in Russia. She was very fond of playing the game of tennis, and her rapid ascent in a fiercely competitive world began at a very young age with a level of sacrifice that few children would be prepared to endure at that age. She was taken to the United States by her father to enable her reach her chosen goal. Separation from her mother was not easy for the little girl, who understood that life was not a bed of roses. She had to overcome a lot of difficulties and make many sacrifices during her journey, which she did, without losing her selfconfidence and focus. This young girl conquered the world of tennis at the young age of eighteen and was crowned world No.1. Maria is yet another example to show to the world, that every step backward is an assurance of two steps forward on the road that leads to success.

3. Compare and contrast the characters of the parents of Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova. Ans. There was nothing in common among the two sets of parents. Santosh’s parents were from a very traditional Indian background. They were guided by the norms of the society and community. It was actually surprising that they desired having a girl-child. This child however, was not going to bog down by tradition or society. Her rigid parents had to face stiff revolt and challenges as their daughter had a mind of her own. Her parents wanted her to get married at the age of sixteen, but had to give into her wishes because she had made up her mind to learn and grow. Maria, the little Russian girl reached the pinnacle of glory because of the support, and sacrifices made by her parents. It was her father who took her to America, worked hard to ensure that she does not fall short of the best training. He had to live away from his wife during this time, due to visa restrictions. They were with her in all her endeavours, and helped her mentally and financially to become the World No.1 at the very young age of 18.

4. One has to sacrifice something to achieve something good in life. Do you agree? Justify with reference to Maria Sharapova. (Constructed Response Question) Literature Reader

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Ans. Yes, I agree that without sacrifice one can never achieve good things in life. Maria Sharapova is an example of the truth of this statement. Maria Sharapova had to sacrifice her childhood pleasures in order to become a tennis star. She left her home at a tender age to achieve her goal in life. At the age of nine, she came to USA with her father. Her mother could not accompany her as she had some visa restrictions. Her father, who had accompanied her to USA, had to work very hard to pay for her tennis training. She was not able to meet him often. At the hostel, she was bullied by the older players, who woke her up late at night to clear and tidy up the room. If she had not sacrificed her childhood, she would not have become a star.

5. Santosh is not only a good mountaineer but also a genuinely good human being. Discuss. Ans. Santosh Yadav proved her mountaineering skills quite early in her career. She displayed an unflinching will and a fearless mind that fought a rigid, orthodox society to rise to the top. But the iron will and mental toughness did not overshadow her qualities of co-operation and concern for others. That Santosh is endowed with a caring heart is obvious from the fact that she took great care of a climber who lay dying at the South Col. Though the climber could not be saved, Santosh’s concern for him was really commendable. In another incident, she saved the life of a fellow climber, Mohan Singh, by sharing her own oxygen with him. This sense of sacrifice and team spirit won for her the esteem of her team-mates. Moreover, Santosh’s heart overflowed with patriotism when she unfurled the national flag on the top of Mt. Everest. Her concern for the purity of the environment also proves that she is a good human being. Such is her love for nature that she brought down five hundred kilograms of rubbish from the Everest. Thus, Santosh is blessed with the human qualities of both head and heart.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. “My college semester in Jaipur was to end in April but it ended on the nineteenth of May. And I was supposed to be in Uttarkashi on the twenty-first. So, I did not go back home; instead, I headed straight for the training. I had to write a letter of apology to my father without whose permission I had got myself enrolled at Uttarkashi.” (a) Where was her college campus? (i) Mumbai (iii) Jodhpur

(1) (ii) Jaipur (iv) Dehradun

(b) Where did Santosh go instead of heading home? (i) On a trip with friends (ii) To continue with her masters (iii) To train (iv) To climb a mountain

(1)

(c) Why did Santosh had to apologise to her father?

(2)



(1)



(d) How did she carry out the apology?

2. However, the rapid ascent in a fiercely competitive world began nine years before with a level of sacrifice few children would be prepared to endure. Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States. That trip to Florida with her father Yuri launched her on the path to success and

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stardom. But it also required a heart-wrenching two-year separation from her mother Yelena. The latter was compelled to stay back in Siberia because of visa restrictions. The nine-year-old had already learnt an important lesson in life – that tennis excellence would only come at a price.

(a) What is the rapid ascent that is mentioned in the extract? (i) Progress in one’s age (ii) Progress in one’s chosen career (iii) Progress in one’s life (iv) Progress in one’s daily activities

(1)



(b) What were the sacrifices Maria had to endure?

(2)

(c) “The latter was compelled to stay back in Sibera because of visa restrictions”. Who is being referred as ‘the latter’? (1)

(d) Why is she willing to play for Russia? (i) Because she is true to her origins (ii) Because her blood is totally Russian (iii) Because she doesn’t like America (iv) Because she is a patriot

Short Answer Questions

(1)

(40-50 Words)

1. What do you think would have happened if Santosh’s parents had used force on her? (Constructed Response Question) 2. Can you think of any situation, when you have felt proud to be an Indian? (Constructed Response Question) 3. How do you think could Santhosh’s brothers have helped her? (Constructed Response Question) 4. Write a short paragraph to explain Sharapova’s stress when she had to leave her mother and go away.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)

1. What is the significance of sexual discrimination? How is it affecting our country? Elucidate with reference to the chapter. (Constructed Response Question) 2. Why was Santosh Yadav not content with the traditional way of life? What path did she choose and why? 3. Write briefly about Maria Sharapova’s journey to the top. zzz

Literature Reader

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Kathmandu

6

—Vikram Seth

About the Author Vikram Seth was born on 20 June 1952 in Kolkata, India. His father, Prem Nath Seth, was an executive, and his mother, Leila Seth, a barrister by training, became the first female Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. He is a novelist and poet. He has received several awards including Padma Shri, Sahitya Academy Award, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, WH Smith Literary Award and Crossword Book Award.

Theme The author who is interested in travelling, makes a comparison of the various cultures, as well as the commonality that is seen in them. Music, he feels is that which binds mankind. He personifies the flute in the lesson.

Summary “Kathmandu” is an extract from Vikram Seth’s Book, “Heaven Lake”. The author enjoys travelling, and in his book, he describes a long journey from China to India, via Tibet and Nepal. He is travelling along with two other people. Vikram, speaks about the difference in ambience (the character and the atmosphere of a place) in the Pashupatinath temple and the Baudhnath Stupa. He also very casually brings to the notice of the readers, the activities that go on at the riverside, that would eventually pollute the water. In the holy river Bagmati, there is a small shrine that protrudes from the stone platform on the river bank. It is believed that when the shrine emerges fully, the Goddess inside will escape and the evil period of “Kaliyug” will end on the earth. Finally, he speaks about the beautiful sound of the flute that percolates (spread gradually) through the entire atmosphere. He also establishes a commonness of this instrument across cultures.

Glossary NCERT Page –127 cheap – in-expensive; atmosphere (here) – the pervading tone or the mood of a place; hawkers – people who travel about selling goods by shouting; elbowed – push or strike (someone) with one’s elbow; shivalinga – Lingam is an abstract representation of the Hindu deity Shiva NCERT Page –128 corpse – dead body of a human being; cremated – dispose a body and reducing it to ashes by burning; wilted – to fade or become limp, dry; protrude – stick out; emerges – to appear; kaliyug – the last four stages of the world that goes through in the ‘circle of yugas’

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NCERT Page –129 stupa – is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics; stillness – absence of sound or movement; immense – extremely large or great; dome – a rounded vault forming the roof of a building or structure; ringed – marked with or encircled by a ring or rings; immigrants – people who come to live permanently in a foreign country; vivid (here) – intensely deep or bright; mercenary – primarily concerned with making money unethically (immorally); deities – Gods and Goddesses; cosmetics – beauty products; utensils – a tool, container, or other article, especially for household use; antiques – objects that are valuable because of their age and quality; blare – make a loud sound; low (here) – (of a cow) make a characteristic deep sound NCERT Page –130 propelled – drive or push something forward; enthusiasm – eagerness; exhausted – very tired; homesick – distress experienced while being away from home; quills – any of the main wing or tail feathers of a bird; excessive – unnecessary; enterprise – a project or undertaking; square (here) – market place; breathy – producing or causing an audible sound of breathing NCERT Page –131 specific – clear and exact; commonality – the state of sharing features or attributes; invested (here) – to devote time or thought

Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT

I. Answer these questions in one or two words or in short phrases.

1. Name the two temples the author has visited in Kathmandu. Ans. The two temples the author visited in Kathmandu are the Pashupatinath Temple and the Baudhnath Stupa. 2. The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca Cola.” What does ‘all this’ refer to? Ans. While drinking Coca Cola, the author consumes a bar of marzipan, a roasted corn-oncob (rubbed with salt, chilli powder and lime) and also reads two love story comics and a Reader’s Digest. 3. What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine? Ans. The author is comparing the pole made of bamboo, with an attachment on the top from which fifty to sixty bansuris protrude in all directions, to the quills of the porcupine. 4. Name five kinds of flutes. Ans. The five kinds of flutes are the reed neh, the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani classical music, the clear breathy flutes of South America, and the high-pitched Chinese flutes. II. Answer each question in a short paragraph. 1. What difference does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers? Ans. The flute seller selects a flute from his collection and plays it for a few minutes. The sound rises clearly above the noise of the traffic and the hawkers’ cries. He plays slowly, meditatively, without too much of aggressive display. He does not shout his wares as the other hawkers do. His music attracts his customers and he sells his wares in a very casual manner. 2. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug? Ans. At Pashupatinath, a small shrine half protrudes from the stone platform on the river bank. It is believed that when the shrine emerges fully, the Goddess inside will escape, and the evil period of the Kaliyug will end on earth. Literature Reader

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3. The author has drawn powerful images and pictures. Pick out three examples each of: (i) the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath (for example: some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside...) (ii) the things he sees (iii) the sounds he hears Ans. (i) Outside the Pashupatinath temple, hangs a sign that says ‘entrance for Hindus only’ and there is an atmosphere of febrile confusion. The priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons, and dogs roam around the temple grounds. Worshippers elbow each other trying to get the priest’s attention. Suddenly, the princess of the royal family arrives, everybody bows down and makes way for her. There is a struggle at the main gate between the police and some saffron clad westerners. In between all this, two monkeys begin a wild chase and run down to the holy Bagmati river, screaming all the way. (ii) On the banks of Bagmati, he sees a body being cremated, someone was throwing a basket of wilted flowers into the river, washerwomen were at work while the children were bathing. He also sees the submerged shrine. He sees the Pashupatinath Temple and the Baudhnath Stupa. The stupa and its ambience is in stark contrast to the temple. At Kathmandu, he sees several flower bedecked shrines, narrow busy streets, with fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of various products, and the stray cows who low questioningly at the two-wheelers. (iii) The sounds he hears are that of the loud music on the streets that blare out from radios, the sounds of car and bike horns, the bicycle bells, and the loud sounds of the hawkers selling their wares. The only sound that appealed to the author was that of the flute player which produced wonderful music. The melody of the music made it difficult for the author to leave the square. III. Answer the following questions in not more than 100 –150 words each.

1. Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhnath shrine with the Pashupatinath temple. Ans. The author has made a very distinct comparison of the ambience in both the holy places. At the Pashupatinath temple, the atmosphere is fairly chaotic and loud. Everybody is in a wild hurry to establish contact with the priest. The entire premises is packed with men and animals, who vied (to compete) with each other to test who could be louder. Visiting rights to the temple is restricted to Hindus. The river beside the temple was also brimming with activity. In contrast to this, the Baudhnath shrine presented a strange stillness and calm. Its immense white dome is ringed by a road. Small shops owned by Tibetan immigrants, are found at the outer edge. The place is devoid (lacks) of huge crowds. The author says that it is a haven of quietness despite the streets around being busy. 2. How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets? Ans. Kathmandu is a vivid, mercenary, yet religious place that has a number of small shrines along the narrow roads. The busiest street is full of fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards, shops selling western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolates, or copper utensils and Nepalese antiques. He is introduced to the blaring of film songs that are emerging from the radios. Besides, there is the traffic that contributes in adding to the confusion on the streets. Finally, the vendors who shout out their wares. In contrast to all this chaos is the flute seller whose soulful music spreads through the air, above all the other sounds as he plays on it in-between selling them and talking to the other vendors.

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3. “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this? Ans. Vikram Seth considers the music that flows out of the flute to be the ‘most universal and most particular of sounds’. He says that each flute has a different style of placing the fingers to produce different notes and their own range and scale, and each one weaves together their own associations or combinations. To hear the flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind, as its tune is the closest to the human voice. The force that keeps both the flute and man alive is the need to breathe, and pause in between every breath. He was surprised that the flute was able to affect him so significantly.

THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE

I. Read the following sentences carefully to understand the meaning of the italicised phrases. Then match the phrasal verbs in Column A with their meanings in Column B. 1. A communal war broke out when the princess was abducted by the neighbouring prince. 2. The cockpit broke off from the plane during the plane crash. 3. The car broke down on the way and we were left stranded in the jungle. 4. The dacoit broke away from the police as they took him to court. 5. The brothers broke up after the death of the father. 6. The thief broke into our house when we were away. A

B

(i) break out

(a) to come apart due to force

(ii) break off

(b) end a relationship

(iii) break down

(c) break and enter illegally; unlawful trespassing

(iv) break away (from someone) (d) of start suddenly, (usually a fight, a war or a disease) (v) break up

(e) to escape from someone’s grip

(vi) break into

(f) stop working

Ans. A

B

(i) break out

(a) of start suddenly, (usually a fight, a war or a disease)

(ii) break off

(b) to come apart due to force

(iii) break down

(c) stop working

(iv) break away (from someone) (d) to escape from someone’s grip (v) break up

(e) end a relationship

(vi) break into

(f) break and enter illegally; unlawful trespassing

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II. 1. Use the suffixes -ion or -tion to form nouns from the following verbs. Make the necessary changes in the spellings of the words. Example: proclaim –proclamation cremate ____________ act ____________ exhaust ____________ invent ____________ tempt ____________ immigrate ____________ direct ____________ meditate ____________ imagine ____________ dislocate ____________ associate ____________ dedicate ____________ Ans. cremat(e) ion act-ion exhaust -ion invent-ion tempt-a tion immigrat (e) ion direct -ion meditat(e) ion imagin (e) a- tion dislocat (e) ion associat (e) ion dedicat (e) ion 2. Now fill in the blanks with suitable words from the ones that you have formed. (i) Mass literacy was possible only after the ____________ of the printing machine. (ii) Ramesh is unable to tackle the situation as he lacks ____________. (iii) I could not resist the ____________ to open the letter. (iv) Hardwork and ____________ are the main keys to success. (v) The children were almost fainting with ____________ after being made to stand in the sun. Ans. (i) Mass literacy was possible only after the invention of the printing machine. (ii) Ramesh is unable to tackle the situation as he lacks dedication. (iii) I could not resist the temptation to open the letter. (iv) Hardwork and dedication are the main keys to success. (v) The children were almost fainting with exhaustion after being made to stand in the sun. III. Punctuation Use capital letters, full stops, question marks, commas, and inverted commas wherever necessary in the following paragraph. an arrogant lion was wandering through the jungle one day he asked the tiger who is stronger than you you O lion replied the tiger who is more fierce than a leopard asked the lion you sir replied the leopard he marched upto an elephant and asked the same question the elephant picked him up in his trunk swung him in the air and threw him down look said the lion there is no need to get mad just because you don’t know the answer Ans. An arrogant lion was wandering through the jungle. One day, he asked the tiger, “Who is stronger that you”? “You, O lion!” replied the tiger. “Who is more fierce than a leopard?” asked the lion. “You sir,” replied the leopard. He marched upto an elephant and asked the same question. The elephant picked him up in his trunk and swung him in the air and threw him down. “Look” said the lion, “there is not need to get mad just because you don’t know the answer.” IV. Simple Present Tense 1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets. (i) The heart is a pump that ____________ (send) the blood circulating through our body. The pumping action ____________ (take place) when the left ventricle of the heart ____________ (contract). This ____________ (force) the blood out into the arteries, which ____________ (expand) to receive the oncoming blood.

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(ii) The African lungfish can live without water for up to four years. During a drought it ____________ (dig) a pit and ____________ (enclose) itself in a capsule of slime and earth, leaving a tiny opening for air. The capsule ____________ (dry) and ____________ (harden), but when rain ____________ (come), the mud ____________ (dissolve) and the lungfish ____________ (swim) away. (iii) MAHESH : We have to organise a class party for our teacher. ____________ (Do) anyone play an instrument? VIPUL : Rohit ____________ (play) the flute. MAHESH : ____________ (Do) he also act? VIPUL : No, he ____________ (compose) music. MAHESH : That’s wonderful! Ans. (i) The heart is a pump that sends the blood circulating through our body. The pumping action takes place when the left ventricle of the heart contracts. This forces the blood out into the arteries, which expands to receive the oncoming blood. (ii) The African lungfish can live without water for up to four years. During a drought it digs a pit and encloses itself in a capsule of slime and earth, leaving a tiny opening for air. The capsule dries and hardens, but when rain comes, the mud dissolves and the lungfish swims away. (iii) MAHESH: We have to organise a class party for our teacher. Does anyone play an instrument? VIPUL: Rohit plays the flute. MAHESH: Does he also act? VIPUL: No, he composes music. MAHESH: That’s wonderful.

WRITING Diary entry for a travelogue

I. The text you read is a travelogue where the author, Vikram Seth, talks about his visit to two sacred places in Kathmandu.

Imagine that you were with Vikram Seth on his visit to Pashupatinath temple, and you were noting down all that you saw and did there, so that you could write a travelogue later. Record in point form � what you see when you reach the Pashupatinath temple � what you see happening inside the temple � what you do when inside the temple � what you see outside the temple � what your impressions are about the place Ans. The first thing I saw was a huge idol of Nandi, the cow. I noticed people clamouring (shouting loudly) for the attention of the priest. I generally fold my hands and say prayers in praise of the deity. I notice people selling items that are required for pooja. My impression about the place is very non-judgemental. People come to express their sorrow or joy, and struggle to get a glimpse of the deity, in between the teeming (full of people, large groups of people) crowds. Literature Reader

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II. Here is your diary entry when you visited Agra. Read the points and try to write a travelogue describing your visit to Agra and the Taj Mahal. You may add more details. January 2003 — rise before dawn — take the Shatabdi Express at 6.15 a.m. from Delhi — meet a newly-married couple on train — talk about Himachal Pradesh — get off the train — enter the once-grand city, Agra — twisted alleys — traffic dense — rickshaws, cars, people — vendors selling religious artifacts, plastic toys, spices, and sweets — go to the Taj Mahal — constructed entirely of white marble — magical quality — colour changes with varying of light and shadow — marble with gemstones inside — reflection of the Taj Mahal in the pond — school-children, tourists — tourist guides following people. Ans. 3 January 2003 Friday 8 p.m. Dear Diary, I woke up early this morning, before the break of dawn, as I had to take the Shatabdi Express at 6.15 a.m. from Delhi. As I settled down, I noticed a newly married couple sitting on the seat opposite to mine. We got into a conversation, and began discussing about Himachal Pradesh. I got off the train, and set my foot, for the first time in my life, on the grand old city, Agra. I was amazed to see the twisted alleys. As is common in Delhi, the traffic was dense and the roads were crowded here too, comprising of rickshaws, cars, and pedestrians. Alongside, there were vendors selling religious artifacts, plastic toys, spices, and sweets. After strolling along the narrow streets, I went to visit the Taj Mahal. I had only read about the monument, and seen it in pictures. I gaped in wonder, on seeing the magical structure made in pure white marble. It was a treat to see the colour of the marble changing, with the varying of light and shadow. It was magical! The marble had beautiful gemstones embedded inside that added to its beauty. The reflection of the Taj Mahal in the adjacent pond was a sight to be cherished. As it was the winter break for the children, there were many children, tourists, and guides, all around the place. I enjoyed the experience. I am planning to visit the place tomorrow once again. Good night

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

(5 Marks each)

1. A corpse is being cremated on its banks; washerwomen are at their work and children bathe. From a balcony a basket of flowers and leaves, old offerings now wilted, is dropped into the river. A small shrine half protrudes from the stone platform on the river bank. When it emerges fully, the goddess inside will escape, and the evil period of the Kaliyug will end on earth.

(a) What are the ‘old offerings’ referred to in the above extract?



(1)

(b) There are various evil deeds discussed in the above extract that contaminate the river. Find the one which is NOT mentioned. (1) 1. Corpse are being cremated. 2. Old offerings and waste products are being thrown into the river.

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3. The mortal remains are immersed into the river. 4. Washerwomen and children bathe and wash their clothes in the river. 5. A basket of flowers and leaves are being thrown into the river. (i) Option (4) (ii) Option (5) (iii) Option (3) (iv) Option (1) (c) Select the option that makes the correct use of ‘wilted’, as used in the extract, to fill in the blank space. (1) (i) The ________________ tobacco is suspended on racks in the sun. (ii) She concentrated hard on another ________________ flower, bringing it back to full bloom. (iii) Faced with so many difficulties, she ________________. (iv) The ________________ answer given by her was not satisfactory at all. (d) What was the common belief about half protruded small shrine? (2) Ans. (a) The ‘old offerings’ refers to the dry withered flowers. (b) (iii) Option (3) (c) (ii) S  he concentrated hard on another ____________ flower, bringing it back to full bloom. (d) When a small shrine which is protruding half from the stone platform on the river bank emerges fully, the goddess inside will escape and it will lead to the end of Kaliyuga. This is the belief at Pashupathinath temple about the end of Kaliyuga. 2. I consider what route I should take back home. If I were propelled by enthusiasm for travel per se, I would go by bus and train to Patna, then sail up the Ganges past Benaras to Allahabad, then up the Yamuna, past Agra to Delhi. But I am too exhausted and homesick; today is the last day of August. Go home, I tell myself: move directly towards home. I enter a Nepal Airlines office and buy a ticket for tomorrow’s flight. (a) What did the author think about?

(1)



(b) Pick the option that makes the INCORRECT use of ‘propelled’ in the following sentences. (1) (i) He is ________________ by both guilt and the need to avenge his father. (ii) Urgent need of money ________________ him to take a job. (iii) The teacher cajoled the child and was ________________ with whatever he had done. (iv) Anish grabbed him and ________________ him through the door.

(c) Rearrange the following sentences how the narrator planned his journey to reach home by choosing the correct option. (1) 1. The narrator purchased a ticket from the Nepal Airlines office for the next day’s flight. 2. The narrator thought he would sail in a boat on the Ganges river and cross Benaras to reach Allahabad. 3. The narrator, being exhausted, gave up his adventurous trip and decided to take a flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi. 4. The narrator decided to take a bus or train journey till Patna. 5. From Allahabad, he would sail upon the Yamuna river, cross Agra and reach Delhi. Literature Reader

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(i) 2, 4, 5, 3, 1 (iii) 3, 5, 2, 4, 1

(ii) 2, 4, 1, 3, 5 (iv) 4, 2, 5, 3, 1

(d) Why does the author feel exhausted and homesick? What does he do then? (2) Ans. (a) The author thought about the route he should take back home. (b) (i) He is ______________ by both guilt and the need to avenge his father. (c) (iv) 4, 2, 5, 3, 1 (d) The author was feeling exhausted and homesick because he was away from his home for a very long time. He bought an air ticket to shorten the route and consume time. Though he wanted to take a longer route to reach home but his tiredness made him buy air tickets.

3. Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary, religious, with small shrines to flower-adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets; with fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards; shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolate; or copper utensils and Nepalese antiques. Film songs blare out from the radios, car horns sound, bicycle bells ring, stray cows low questioningly at motorcycles, vendors shout out their wares. I indulge myself mindlessly: buy a bar of marzipan, a corn on-the-cob roasted in a charcoal brazier on the pavement (rubbed with salt, chilli powder and lemon); a couple of love story comics, and even a Reader’s Digest.

(a) How is Kathmandu described by the author?

(2)



(b) When the narrator says, ‘small shrines to flower-adorned deities’, he means that: (1) (i) the city was decorated with wilted flowers. (ii) the city had small shrines and bigger shrines were scant. (iii) the deities were decorated with flowers. (iv) both (ii) and (iii)



(c) Pick the option that DOES NOT collate with ‘blare’, correctly.

(1)

(2) Out

(1) Forth

Blare

(3) In

(4) Under



(i) Option (1) (iii) Option (3)

(ii) Option (2) (iv) Option (4)

(d) How does the writer pass his time in Kathmandu bazar? (1) Ans. (a) The author describes Kathmandu as vivid, mercenary, religious and crowded place. While the temples, bazars, and streets are noisy and at chaos, while the Buddhist shrine is comparatively peaceful. The streets are filled with hawkers and shops. (b) (iv) both (ii) and (iii) (c) (iv) Option (4) (d) In the bazar, the author hears film songs, blaring out from the radios, the sounds of the car horns, the ringing of the bicycle bells and vendors shouting out their wares.

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Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)



1. What is the impression that comes to your mind when you read the description by the author about the Pashupatinath temple? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. It gives me a lot of delight to read about the lively ambience, based on author’s description, that prevails around the temple. It is wonderful to know that the temple premises are free for all God’s creations—man, animal, and birds alike. The sound and rush may be annoying to some, but the fun is to reach the inner abode of the deity, and being able to pray to the God/Goddess, peacefully after overcoming the hurdles. The only thing that disturbed me was the instruction at the gate about the restricted entry into the temple. 2. What would the lifestyle of the people here be like? Ans. Being a distinctly holy place, lifestyle of people around here must be a unique combination of religion and commerce. Their occupations may primarily be vendors, hawkers, flowers and pooja material sellers, tourist guides, and ofcourse priests. Life may perhaps be revolving around the temple and its deity. 3. Which is ‘the haven of quietness’, according to the author? Explain. Ans. According to the author, the second temple he visited, the Baudhnath Shrine, was a haven of quietness. There was a sense of stillness within the white dome, that was surrounded by a road, at the outer edge of which Tibetan immigrants sold their products. He says that there were no crowds or blaring sounds anywhere. 4. What were the ideas for the return journey that flashed through the author’s mind? Ans. The author was now considering as to how he should go back home. In his keeness to travel, he would go by bus and train to Patna, then sail up the Ganges past Benaras to Allahabad, then up the Yamuna, past Agra to Delhi. He was however, very exhausted and homesick, therefore, he pushes himself to fly directly home and books his tickets for the following day.

5. What is written on the signboard outside the Pashupatinath temple? What does it signify? Ans. Outside the Pashupatinath temple, the signboard announces: “Entrances for the Hindus only”. It signifies that the temple is rigid in the maintaining of its sanctity and holiness as a place of worship. This rule is practiced with inflexible strictness to prevent the temple from being treated like a tourist destination.

6. What does the author mean when he says, “At Pashupatinath there is an atmosphere of febrile confusion”? Ans. The author makes this remark to imply there is hectic and chaotic activity around the temple. There is a huge crowd of priests, hawkers, tourists, and even animals like cows, monkeys and pigeons roaming through the grounds. Inside the temple, there are a large number of worshippers who jostle and elbow others aside to move closer to the priest. Together, they create utter confusion. 7. How did the arrival of the princess change the situation? Ans. At Pashupatinath temple, worshippers were trying to get the priest’s attention and were elbowing and jostling each other as they pushed their way to the front. The situation changed as a princess of the Nepalese royal house appeared, everyone bowed and made way for her.

8. Describe the fight that breaks out between the monkeys around the temple of Pashupatinath. Ans. The author describes the fight that breaks out between two monkeys in which one chases Literature Reader

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the other. The monkey being chased jumps onto a shivalinga, then runs screaming around the temples and finally goes down to the holy river, Bagmati. 9. What activities were observed by the writer on the banks of the Bagmati river? Ans. The writer observes some polluting activities on the banks of the river Bagmati. He notices some washerwoman washing clothes, some children taking a bath and a dead body being cremated on the banks of this sacred river. He also observes someone throwing a basketful of wilted flowers and leaves into the river. 10. What is the route from Kathmandu to Delhi that the writer had planned to take earlier? Which route does he opt for? Why? Ans. The writer had planned to travel from Kathmandu to Delhi by first reaching Patna by bus and train. Then he planned to sail up the Ganges past Benares to Allahabad, then up the Yamuna, past Agra to Delhi. The shorter option taken by the author is to fly via air, straight from Kathmandu to Delhi. He changed his plans because he was tired and homesick.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)



1. Write a paragraph on your experience while visiting a holy shrine. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. It was in the month of May, when the heat of the sun was at its peak, that the family decided to go on a pilgrimage to Rameswaram. My father decided that there was no need to go for any tour packages. His friends had advised that the best option was to hire a vehicle, as locally the travel charges were too high. Besides, it would give us the flexibility to time the journey according to our requirements. We planned to break the journey at Madurai as we were travelling from Bangalore. After that, we drove down to Rameswaram. We visited the Madurai Meenakshi Temple at Madurai and the Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram. It was a very pleasant journey. There were huge crowds of people, all waiting eagerly, yet patiently for their turn to catch a glimpse of their deity.

2. As the author, make a diary entry of your visit to the Pashupatinath Temple. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. 29 August, 20XX Thursday, 9 p.m. Dear Diary, Today, I went to visit the famous Pashupatinath Temple at Kathmandu. It was a very different and challenging experience for me. I was first of all taken aback by the notice that prevented non-hindus from entering the temple. I put that at the back of my mind and proceeded into the temple. I was greeted by different kinds of animals and birds, who roamed around quite comfortably, and not harming the devotees in any manner. As I moved further to get into the inner walls of the temple, I noticed people clamouring for the attention of the priest. The same people bow down and make way when a Nepalese Princess appears in the temple. I came out after offering my prayers and lingered around the premises observing all that happened there. Along the narrow streets and dense traffic, business continued as usual. All the people, despite the sound and rush, seemed to be at peace with themselves. It has been a very long and tiring day. Yet, a wonderful experience! Good night

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3. “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Elucidate. Ans. The author hears the music of a flute played by a flute seller in a square near his hotel in Kathmandu and is reminded of the various kinds of music produced by various types of flutes found in various cultures. However, the flute is universal, because almost every culture has flutes, though each has a different tone and pitch. Different cultures have given different names to the flutes, such as ‘shakuhachi’ in Japan and ‘bansuri’ in India. Flutes from different cultures have different fingering methods and ranges of sound. The Indian bansuri has a deep sound, the South American flute emits clear, breathy sound and the Chinese flute gives out loud, high-pitched melodies. Despite the variety of flutes and the variations in their music, the author emphasises that the music of all the flutes closely resembles human voice. To produce music, every flute needs pauses and breaths in the same manner in which phrases and sentences are uttered in human voice. These pauses and breaths are generated through fingering of the holes of a flute. This characteristic feature of the flutes gives the author a feeling of being ‘drawn into the commonality of mankind’ which gives him a sense of universality and harmony.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. I look at the flute seller standing in a corner of the square near the hotel. In his hand is a pole with an attachment at the top from which fifty or sixty bansuris protrude in all directions, like the quills of a porcupine. They are of bamboo: there are cross-flutes and recorders. From time to time, he stands the pole on the ground, selects a flute and plays for a few minutes. The sound rises clearly above the noise of the traffic and the hawkers’ cries. He plays slowly, meditatively, without excessive display. He does not shout out his wares. Occasionally he makes a sale, but in a curiously offhanded way as if this were incidental to his enterprise. Sometimes he breaks off playing to talk to the fruit seller. I imagine that this has been the pattern of his life for years. (a) How has the narrator described the flute seller?

(2)



(b) The narrator has meticulously observed the flute-seller and described in his own way. Pick out the option/s from the following that don’t/doesn’t enlist the narrator’s description. (1) (Competency-focused Question) 1. The flute-seller was not anxious to attract attention of the crowd. 2. The man would keep the pole on the ground and would play different flutes for short durations. 3. He played it meditatively and was not anxious to attract attention. 4. He sold one flute but did not appear too interested to have a good sale. 5. Occasionally, the flute-seller would feed the cattle grazing in the vicinity. 6. It dawned upon the narrator that this had been the flute-seller’s routine since many years.





(i) Options (1) and (6)



(iii) Options (3) and (5)

(ii) Option (5) (iv) Options (1) and (5)

(c) What did the narrator compare the pole of the flute with?

(1)

(d) “He plays slowly, meditatively, without excessive display.” Pick the option/s that do/doesn’t collate with the word ‘meditative’. (1) Literature Reader

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1. Reflective

2. Thoughtful

3. Meticulous

4. Musing

5. Deliberative

6. Brooding

7. Disengaged

8. Disinterested



(i) Options (3), (5) and (8) (iii) Options (3) and (8)

(ii) Options (2) and (6) (iv) Options (1), (4) and (7)

2. I find it difficult to tear myself away from the square. Flute music always does this to me: it is at once the most universal and most particular of sounds. There is no culture that does not have its flute — the reed neh, the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani classical music, the clear or breathy flutes of South America, the high-pitched Chinese flutes. Each has its specific fingering and compass. It weaves its own associations. Yet to hear any flute is, it seems to me, to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind, to be moved by music closest in its phrases and sentences to the human voice. Its motive force too is living breath: it too needs to pause and breathe before it can go on.

(a) The narrator says, “I find it difficult to tear myself away from the square.” Pick out the meaning of ‘tear myself away’ from the options given below. (1) (i) To disapprove (ii) To be immaculate (iii) To be grubby (iv) To get separated

(b) What does the narrator assimilate the sound of flute with?

(1)

(c) Based on your reading of the given extract, pick the INCORRECT statement. (1) (i) Flutes are played in many regions. (ii) Shakuhachi is a particular type of flute played in Japan. (iii) The sound of flute played in China is high-pitched. (iv) The narrator belonged to South America. (d) How does the flute music affect the narrator?

Short Answer Questions

(2) (40-50 Words)



1. Describe the activities done by the two monkeys in the story, ‘Kathmandu’.



2. Why did the author decide to go home?



3. Where would you like to spend more time, at the Pashupatinath Temple or the Baudhnath Shrine? Why?



4. Write a short paragraph on the flute seller.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)



1. Write a letter to your friend, telling her about your plans to go to Kathmandu. Also ask her, if she would like to go along. You are Anand/Anjali. (Constructed Response Question)



2. Why does the author call ‘febrile confusion’ to the atmosphere at Pashupatinath Temple?



3. What do you have to say about the naughty monkey? Have you encountered or observed any bird or animal and their behaviour? Write a short paragraph on it. (Constructed Response Question)



zzz

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If I Were You

—Douglas James

9

About the Author Douglas James (born 1937) is an American author, activist, and Christian theologian. He is a graduate of Santa Clara University. He and his wife, Shelley Douglas, founded the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action in Poulsbo, Washington, and Mary’s House, a Catholic Worker house in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1997, the Douglases received the Pacem in Terris Award.

Theme ‘If I Were You’ is a drama that has traces of humour in it. Ideally, the idea of developing a presence of mind and intelligence while being faced with a threatening situation is being highlighted in the lesson.

Summary The intruder entered the house of a playwright. He only knew that the name of the person was Gerrard. He had apparently heard a few things about him. The intention of the intruder was to kill Gerrard and impersonate (imitate or pretend to be) as the dead man and live in his house. He had a vague idea of Gerrard. The intruder was a murderer who had to his ‘credit’ the murder of a policeman too. The police were on a look out for him, and that was the reason he was at Gerrard’s cottage. When the intruder broke into Gerrard’s cottage, the latter was preparing to go out for a drama rehearsal. He was preparing his bed on which he had placed the props. The intruder threatened to kill Gerrard showing his revolver. He followed this up by asking the playwright a few questions and revealed to him his wicked intentions. Gerrard getting a grip of the situation, tells the intruder that he himself was a murderer, and he was a man wanted by the police and supports his story by telling him that if the intruder does something as he intended to do, it would be him (the intruder) who would be hung if not for killing Gerrard then by taking on his identity. Thereafter, he tells the intruder that one of his men had been caught by the police. And tells him to accompany him to escape, and says that he has placed a man to let him know if the police were approaching. He tells the intruder to shoot him in the car if he does not believe what had been told to him. As they were about to leave, Gerrard opens a door which was, in reality, the door to a wardrobe and pushes him into the wardrobe, knocks the revolver off the intruder’s hands, and locks the door. He then calls for the police.

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Glossary NCERT Page –138 intruder – a person who enters a place without permission; criminal – a person who has committed a crime, a law breaker; identity – the characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is; practical (here) – suitable for a particular purpose; upstage – at or towards the back of a theatre stage NCERT Page –139 lounge suit – a man’s suit consisting of a matching jacket and trousers, worn during the day, especially in the workplace; cultured – characterised by refined taste and manners and good education; melodramatic – characteristic of melodrama, especially in being exaggerated or overemotional; non-chalant – feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm NCERT Page –140 audience (here) – a person who will listen patiently/sympathetically; inflection – the modulation of intonation or pitch in the voice; unfamiliar – not known or recognised; emphasising – lay stress on; imitation – an act of pretending to be another person for the purpose of entertainment or fraud; greengrocer – a retailer of fruits and vegetables; tradespeople – people engaged in trading or a trade, typically on a relatively small scale NCERT Page –141 precisely – in exact terms; without vagueness; figuring – have a significant part or role in a situation or process; embrace (here) – an act of accepting something willingly or enthusiastically; specialist – expert; dandy bus – stylish and fashionable; retire – leave one’s job and cease to work; trifle – talk or act frivolously or lightheartedly, carelessly; harsh – unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses; sarcasm – the use of irony to mock or convey contempt; gratuitous –done without good reason; uncalled for; frustrated – feeling or expressing distress and annoyance resulting from an inability to change or achieve something NCERT Page –142 posh – typical of or belonging to the upper class; pantomime – a theatrical entertainment (here) pretending to phone; decorative – serving to make something look more attractive; villians – a character whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot; tribute – an act, statement, or gift that is intended to show gratitude; elude – escape or avoid; dodge – avoid (someone or something) by a sudden quick movement; queer – strange or odd; disregarding – paying no attention to; ignoring; apparently – as far as one knows or can see; cloak – hide, cover, or disguise NCERT Page –143 disguise – mask or alter one’s appearance to hide one’s identity; moustaches – a strip of hair left to grow above the upper lip; musingly – be absorbed in thought; muddled – confused NCERT Page –144 slam – shut forcefully and loudly with a bang; rattles – a rapid succession of short, sharp knocking sounds; rehearsal – a practice or trial performance of a play; spot of bother – to be in some trouble; amusing – causing laughter and providing entertainment; sergeant – a police officer ranking below an inspector

BEFORE YOU READ Gerrard lives alone in a lovely cottage. An intruder, who is criminal, enters his cottage. He intends to murder Gerrard and take on his identity. Does he succeed? Ans. He does not succeed as Gerrard outsmarts him once he understands his intentions. He saves himself and hands over the intruder to the police.

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The following words and phrases occur in the play. Do you know their meanings? Match them with the meanings given, to find out. cultured

an informal expression for a fashionable vehicle

count on

unnecessary and usually harmful

engaged

exaggerated

melodramatic

sophisticated; well mannered

to be smart

here, a tone of voice

inflection

avoid

wise guy

an unexpected opportunity for success

a dandy bus

trap

tradespeople

a Christian religious teacher who teaches on Sundays in Church

gratuitous

(American English) a person who pretends to know a lot

dodge

depend on; rely on

lucky break

(American English) an informal way of saying that one is being too clever

Sunday-school teacher

occupied; busy

frame

merchants

cultured

sophisticated; well mannered

count on

depend on; rely on

engaged

occupied; busy

melodramatic

unnecessary and usually harmful

to be smart

(American English) person who pretends to know a lot

inflection

here, a tone of voice

wise guy

(American English) an informal way of saying that one is being too clever

a dandy bus

an informal expression for a fashionable vehicle

tradespeople

merchants

gratuitous

exaggerated

dodge

avoid

lucky break

an unexpected opportunity for success

Sunday-school teacher

a Christian religious teacher who teaches on Sundays in church

frame

trap

Ans.

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Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT

I. Answer these questions.

1. “At last a sympathetic audience.” (i) Who says this? (ii) Why does he say it? (iii) Is he sarcastic or serious? Ans. (i) This has been said by Gerrard. (ii) He says so because the intruder had asked him to talk about himself. (iii) He is being sarcastic because he knew about the intruder’s intentions. 2. Why does the intruder choose Gerrard as the man whose identity he wants to take on? Ans. The intruder had chosen Gerrard as his target whose identity he wanted to take on because he was of the same physical structure. Besides, as Gerrard, he could move around freely doing nothing in particular. He could lead a comfortable life without running at the sight of a cop. 3. “I said it with bullets.” (i) Who says this? (ii) What does it mean? (iii) Is it the truth? What is the speaker’s reason for saying this? Ans. (i) Gerrard says this line. (ii) He means that when something went wrong he reacted not by speaking but by using his gun and shooting the person down with his bullets. (iii) He says so because having understood the intruder’s intentions, he was putting on an act of being a dangerous person, so as to save himself. He had not killed anyone in reality. 4. What is Gerrard’s profession? Quote the parts of the play that support your answer. Ans. Gerrard seems to be a person who was involved in the business of theatre and art. It is mentioned that he was a playwright. When he saw the intruder first, he reacts by saying, “this is all very melodramatic, not very original.” Later, when he enters into a conversation with the threatening intruder, he says, “at last a sympathetic audience!” He also asks the intruder, “are you American, or is that merely a clever imitation”, when he warns him by saying, “better be careful, wise guy!”. Further, when the intruder goes about elaborating his plan for impersonation, Gerrard says, “In most melodramas, the villain is foolish enough to delay his killing long enough to be frustrated.” Yet again, while he was making up a story about his own identity, Gerrard tells him about his attire, “that’s a disguise outfit; false moustaches and what not.” And finally, after trapping the intruder in his wardrobe, he picks up the phone and says, “sorry I can’t let you have the props in time for rehearsal, I’ve had a spot of bother – quite amusing. I think I’ll put it in my next play”. 5. “You’ll soon stop being smart.” (i) Who says this? (ii) Why does the speaker say it? (iii) What according to the speaker will stop Gerrard from being smart? Ans. (i) The intruder says this line to Gerrard. (ii) The intruder was a little confused as Gerrard did not show any sign of being afraid

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or worried. Irritated by this, he says the above lines, as if to warn him of the situation Gerrard was going to find himself in. (iii) According to the speaker, if Gerrard would get to know of his former plan of murdering him and impersonating as the latter, he would stop being smart, and begin to worry.

6. “They can’t hang me twice.” (i) Who says this? (ii) Why does the speaker say it? Ans. (i) This line is being spoken by the intruder. (ii) He says this line to Gerrard when the latter asks him why he wanted to add murder to his list of crimes. The intruder tells that he is already wanted for murder, and he cannot be hung twice.

7. “A mystery I propose to explain.” What is the mystery the speaker proposes to explain? Ans. The mystery that he was proposing to explain to the intruder was that he himself was a wanted criminal who was in hiding. He elaborates by saying that it was for this reason that he lived a secret life, without meeting people, and kept going from place to place to avoid being caught. The crime he was supposed to have committed was, to kill someone when things got out of hand. He says that one of his men was arrested. Besides, the police had got hold of some important papers that could be used to convict him, which his man should have burnt and destroyed. To make it furthur authentic, he says that he had packed his bag and was on his way to stage another disappearing act, as he expected some trouble that night. 8. “This is your big surprise.” (i) Where has this been said in the play? (ii) What is the surprise? Ans. (i) This line appears twice in the play. First, when the intruder reveals his intentions to Gerrard, and the second time, when Gerrard was going to reveal “the truth” about himself to the intruder. (ii) The surprise in the first case was that the intruder planned to kill and impersonate Gerrard. He was a wanted criminal who has been on the run. He wanted to settle down as Gerrard because the latter matched his physical appearance, and lead a comfortable life free of all fears of being caught by the police. In the case of Gerrard, it was the fabricated story, wherein, he claims that he was a wanted criminal, who had murdered someone when things got sour. He tells the intruder that he himself was in hiding, as he was a crook and not a sunday-school teacher. He warns him by saying that if he kills him and takes over his place, he would be caught and hung because the person he would be in disguise, “Gerrard”, was also wanted.

THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE I. Consult your dictionary and choose the correct word from the pairs given in brackets. (i) The (site, cite) of the accident was (ghastly/ghostly). (ii) Our college (principle/principal) is very strict. (iii) I studied (continuously/continually) for eight hours. (iv) The fog had an adverse (affect/effect) on the traffic. (v) Cezanne, the famous French painter, was a brilliant (artist/artiste). Literature Reader

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(vi) The book that you gave me yesterday is an extraordinary (collage/college) of science fiction and mystery. (vii) Our school will (host/hoist) an exhibition on cruelty to animals and wildlife conservation. (viii) Screw the lid tightly onto the top of the bottle and (shake/shape) well before using the contents. Ans. (i) The site of the accident was ghastly. (ii) Our college principal is very strict. (iii) I studied continuously for eight hours. (iv) The fog had an adverse effect on the traffic. (v) Cezanne, the famous French painter, was a brilliant artist. (vi) The book that you gave me yesterday is an extraordinary collage of science fiction and mystery. (vii) Our school will host an exhibition on cruelty to animals and wildlife conservation. (viii) Screw the lid tightly onto the top of the bottle and shake well before using the contents.

II. Read the play carefully and find the words and expressions Gerrard uses in an ironic way. Then write what these expressions really mean. Two examples have been given below. Write down three more such expressions along with what they really mean. What the author says

What he means

Why, this is a surprise, Mr—er— He pretends that the intruder is a social visitor whom he is welcoming. In this way he hides his fear. At last a sympathetic audience!

He pretends that the intruder wants to listen to him, whereas actually the intruder wants to find out information for his own use.

Ans. What the author says

What he means

Why, this is a surprise, Mr—er—

Gerrard means that his company is not being actually sympathetic because the intruder is in a threatening mode wielding his gun. This is no way sympathetic.

At last a sympathetic audience!

Gerrard actually was trying to tell him how immodest he was in not having revealed anything about himself.

With you figuring so largely in it Gerrard means that it is not understandable how understandable anything about him was surprising. You won’t kill me for a very good Gerrard is just pretending to have a ‘very good reason. reason’ even though there is no such reason. You have been so modest.

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Here, Gerrard means that it is immodest on the part of the intruder to know so much about him without disclosing his own identity.

DICTIONARY USE

(Noun, verb, adjective, adverb, synonyms, etc. are signposts which help you locate the right meaning and usage, and give information about the part of speech that the word is.) Look up the dictionary entries for the words sympathy, familiarity, comfort, care, and surprise. Use the information given in the dictionary and complete the table. Noun

Adjective

Adverb

Verb

Meaning

sympathy familiarity comfort care surprise Ans. Noun

Adjective

Adverb

Verb

Meaning

sympathy

sympathetic

sympathetically

sympathise

feel pity for others

familiarity

familiar

familiarly

familiarise

to get to know about things

comfortable

comfortably

comfort

feeling of ease

caring

carefully

care

concern

surprising

surprisingly

surprise

shocked, amazed, astonished

comfort care surprise

WRITING 1. Which of the words below describe Gerrard and which describe the intruder? smart humourous clever beautiful cool confident flashy witty nonchalant Ans. Gerrard: smart, humourous, clever, cool, confident, nonchalant Intruder: smart, flashy, clever, confident, witty

2. Write a paragraph each about Gerrard and the intruder to show what qualities they have. (You can use the words given above) Ans. Gerrard: Gerrard was a smart, humourous, and confident person. He did not loose his cool when he was in a life-threatening situation. When the intruder entered his house and took out his gun, he confronted him with courage and cool. He very cleverly cooked up a story, that was very humourous as far as the reader was concerned. Being a playwright, he used his wit and smartness at the right time and gave the intruder a “taste of his own medicine.” Intruder: He was also very smart. To even make a plan like the one he had for his future, requires a lot of ‘intelligence’. He had done adequate research before deciding whose place he was going to take on the earth. He wears very flashy clothes, which in itself was adequate to frighten people. He has a lot of wit and smartness as is evident from the confidence with which he behaves with Gerrard in his house.

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3. Convert the play into a story (150—200 words). Your story should be as exciting and as witty as the play. Provide a suitable title. Ans. GERRARD IN DISGUISE Gerrard was preparing to go for his drama practice. Dressed in his character’s clothes, he had packed the props that he had laid out on his bed in a box, and was just about to leave. Lo Behold!! There was a knock on the door. He noticed a man at the door, dressed very flashily, wearing a strange look on his face. Assuming him to be a tradesperson, he receives him, to be cut short by the intruder. He takes out his gun and threatens to kill Gerrard. The smart playwright quickly comprehended the intentions of the intruder. He was not very pleased or interested in common courtesies (welcome). He tells Gerrard that he has not gone there with noble intentions. “I have been on the run for a long time, and I would now like to retire and lead a peaceful life. For this, you have to sacrifice your life.” Gerrard pretended to be ignorant and asks him why he’d have to sacrifice his life to which the intruder says, “I will kill you, and be Gerrard myself. I look a lot like you. So it would be very convenient for me.” Ha Ha!! Now, Gerrard put on his thinking cap and weaves out his action plan. He tells the intruder, “Okay, you’re welcome to do this. I am fed up of running and hiding from the police myself. I am also wanted for murder. But be sure you are safe, for if you impersonate as Gerrard, you will be hung anyway.” He then tells the intruder to join him in his plan to escape, “I am worried. I am close to being caught today, I sense danger.” Though doubtful of Gerrard’s intentions, he moves and gets trapped very easily in Gerrard’s wardrobe. Alas! Once again, it is proved beyond doubt that the “Pen is mightier than the sword”.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow:

(5 Marks each)

1. “Do people often come out here?” “Very rarely. Surprisingly few people take the trouble to visit me. There’s the baker and the greengrocer, of course; and then there’s the milkman — quite charming, but no one so interesting as yourself.”

(a) Which option given below is NOT the right option to fill in the blank.

(1)

Gerrard’s _____________ comes through clearly when he says, “but no one is interesting as yourself ’. (i) wit and humour (ii) presence of mind (iii) relaxed demeanour (iv) fear and desperation (b) Why did the intruder enquire about the number of people who come to Gerrard’s house? (2) (c) “very rarely” This was being told to the intruder by Gerrard to falsely: (i) make him know the real situation (ii) confuse the intruder (iii) to misinterpret facts to the intruder (iv) make the intruder feel assured and trick him

(1)

(d) Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the extract.

(1)

demeanour : manner : : _________________ : endearing

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Ans. (a) (iv) fear and desperation (b) The intruder wanted personal details from Gerrard like whether he lived alone, what his Christian name was, whether he had a car and whether people visited him. All this information was necessary for the execution of his plan to dodge the police by killing Gerrard and taking on his identity. (c) (iv) make the intruder feel assured and trick him (d) charming

2. INTRUDER: I’m not taking it for fun. I’ve been hunted long enough. I’m wanted for murder already, and they can’t hang me twice. GERRARD: You’re planning a gratuitous double, so to speak. Admitted you’ve nothing to lose, but what have you to gain? INTRUDER: I’ve got freedom to gain. As for myself, I’m a poor hunted rat. As Vincent Charles Gerrard, I’m free to go places and do nothing. I can eat well and sleep and without having to be ready to beat it at the sight of a cop. (a) What is he ‘not taking it for fun’?

(1)



(2)

(b) What does Gerrard mean by saying ‘gratuitous double’?

(c) Why is the intruder a ‘hunted rat’? (i) Because he is a notorious thief (ii) Because he is wanted for murder (iii) Because he has committed several crimes (iv) Because he is not a criminal at all

(1)

(d) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the underlined word in the given phrase.

“to be ready to beat it at the sight of a cop” (1) (i) He beat the dust out of the rug with a stick. (ii) She used a hammer to beat the metal into shape. (iii) She used a hammer to beat the nail into the wall. (iv) The thief beat the patrolling police and took off with ease. Ans. (a) He is not taking the prospect of murdering Gerrard for fun. (b) The phrase ‘gratuitous double’ implies the meaning that the intruder had already committed a murder and was planning to commit another murder by killing Gerrard, which Gerrard think would be unnecessary. (c) (ii) Because he is wanted for murder (d) (iv) The thief beat the patrolling police and took off with ease. 3. GERRARD: “A little harsh, isn’t it?” INTRUDER: (with heavy sarcasm)“ Yeah, I’ll be sorry to do it. I’ve taken a fancy to you, but it’s just got to be done.” GERRARD: “Why add murder to your other crimes? It’s a grave step you’re taking.” (a) What has got to be done according to the intruder? (i) He needs to kill Gerrard to take his identity. (ii) He needs to run from the police. (iii) He needs to acquire Gerrard’s property lease. (iv) He needs to become decent looking like Gerrard.

(1)

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(b) “A little harsh, isn’t it?” Who poses this question? (i) The intruder (ii) The narrator (iii) Gerrard (iv) None of these

(1)



(c) Who says, “I’ve taken a fancy to you.” Why?

(1)

(d) The playwright places certain words and sentences in brackets in the given extract. List the way in which this benefits the director and the actor. (2) (Competency-focused Question) Ans. (a) (i) He needs to kill Gerrard to take his identity. (b) (iii) Gerrard (c) The intruder means to say, with a lot of sarcasm, that he had developed a liking towards Gerrard, and he would be sorry to kill him, which he would have to eventually do, if he has to impersonate the man. (d) 1. It helps the actors and director to gain clarity about the emotions and gestures required while performing. 2. It helps the actors to adopt the appropriate tone while delivering the specified dialogues.

4. “In most melodramas the villain is foolish enough to delay his killing long enough to be frustrated. You are much luckier”. (a) How do we know that Gerrard was not foolish?

(2)

(b) What did Gerrard tell the intruder about himself? (i) That he was not rich (ii) That he was not mysterious (iii) That he was a playwright (iv) That he was a criminal himself

(1)



(1)

(c) How did Gerrard defend himself? (i) By killing the intruder (ii) By fabricating a lie (iii) By driving him out (iv) By calling the sheriff

(d) Why should a villain not delay to kill his victim? (1) Ans. (a) Gerrard learns that the intruder was not a clever man, so he comes up with a plan to defend himself. He keeps the intruder busy by engaging him in talks and comes up with a plan in the meantime. He handles the situation without panicking. This shows that Gerrard was not foolish. (b) (iv) That he was a criminal himself (c) (ii) By fabricating a lie (d) If a villain delays to kill his victim, he may lose his cool and do something foolish. Moreover, it may allow the victim to plan an escape.

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. Why does the intruder say that Gerrard’s pleasure would be short-lived? Ans. The intruder had entered the cottage with an intention of killing Gerrard and taking his place. When he was welcomed warmly and pleasantly by Gerrand, he tells him that once he gets to know of what was awaiting him, he would no longer be pleased. 2. What was the need for the intruder to impersonate? Ans. The intruder was a wanted criminal. He had murdered a cop and has been living in hiding. After a lot of research, he spotted an individual who matched his physical

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appearance. He was fed up of the uncertainty that surrounded his life. Therefore, he intended to do away with Gerrard and get into his boot. 3. “What have you to gain?” Why does Gerrard ask the intruder this question? Ans. Gerrard asks the intruder with the intention of convincing the latter that he would not get anything if he killed him. The reason being that Gerrard himself was on the wanted list of the police, for having committed a murder. Therefore, even if the intruder impersonated as Gerrard, it would be of no use as he will be sent to be hanged anyway. 4. Where did the intruder see Gerrard first? What did he notice about him? Ans. The intruder saw Gerrard first at Aylesbury. He was in his car. He overheard a conversation between two other people who had seen Gerrard, and from their discussion he gathered that he was a queer kind of a mystery man. 5. Write a short paragraph on the gist of the story. Ans. The story is about a man who is fed up of his life, and yearns to lead a life of comfort and freedom. He devices a plan to kill a playwright named Gerrard and impersonate as the dead man. To make this a reality, he goes to Gerrard’s house, and tells him of his plan and threatens him with his gun. Gerrard was a bit too smart for the intruder. He writes a script to another story and very cleverly sells it to the intruder and hands him over to the police.

6. “You’ll soon stop being smart.” Why did the intruder think that Gerrard was being smart? Ans. The intruder thought that Gerrard was being ‘smart’ or clever and facetious because he did not show any fear at the sight of an armed man enter his house and threaten him. To the contrary, he was giving the intruder smart answers to his questions. 7. Why did the intruder say, “They can’t hang me twice”? Ans. The intruder said this because he was already wanted for having murdered a cop. If he managed to kill Gerrard, as per his plan, and was later arrested, it would not matter as the punishment for this murder, too, would be a hanging. They could not hang him for the two murders twice. 8. How did Gerrard convince the intruder that he was also wanted by the police? Ans. When Gerrard came to know about the intruder’s plan, he kept his cool. He cooked a story to outwit him. He said he is also a murderer who was hiding and that is why, he was a mystery man who never met anyone including the tradespeople. So, if the intruder took on his identity, he would not gain anything. He would anyway be accused of murder.

9. What did Gerrard tell the intruder about his childhood and his present life? Was he telling the truth? Why/Why not? Ans. Gerrard told the intruder that as a child, he was stolen by the gypsies and now in his thirties, he was all alone in life. He was not telling the truth; he was just being funny as he wished to make it clear that he was not afraid of a gun-totting criminal. In fact, Gerrard had already started concocting stories about himself. 10. Gerrard describes this encounter with the intruder as ‘an amusing spot of bother’. What light does this attitude reflect on Gerrard? Ans. Any other person in Gerrard’s place would have been paralysed with fear when faced with a gun-totting stranger who has entered one’s house to kill him and steal his identity. But Gerrard finds it ‘an amusing spot of bother’ as his cool and unflappable approach makes him handle the situation comfortably and outwit the intruder with ease.

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Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)



1. As the playwright, make a diary entry of the day, the intruder visited your house. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Sunday, 10 August 20XX 10 p.m. Dear Diary, Today was a very interesting day. I have got the script for my next play. I was just preparing to go for today’s dress rehearsal, when there was a knock on the door. To my surprise, there was a young, flashy fellow standing at the door. Before I could welcome him inside the house, he charged in, took out his gun and threatened to kill me. I was scared, but put on a brave front and tricked him into submission. I never thought I could do so. Though, it was very difficult for him to accept it, he fell for the story I had weaved. On the pretext of escaping, I pushed him into the wardrobe, locked it, and called the police and handed him over. He has just been taken. I regret not being able to go for the rehearsal. May be tomorrow. Well! I am exhausted! Good night 2. Draw a pen picture of the Gerrard. Ans. Gerrard was a playwright, who was supposed to be having a very queer and mysterious nature. He was rarely seen by people, and led a very private life. According to him, the only people who visited his house were the baker, greengrocer, and the milkman. However, he was very smart, witty, and confident. He possessed the right mental strength to handle very meticulously a planned attack made on him by an intruder. Not loosing his cool, and replying to the intruder with humour and sarcasm, he plays a very shrewd game and gives the intruder a dose of his own bitter medicine. Eventually, he saves himself and hands the trickster to the police. Douglas, through the character of Gerrard, displays to the readers, the approach to handle critical situations.

3. Why was Gerrard packing a bag at the beginning of the play? How did it help him outwit and trap the intruder? Ans. Gerrard was packing a bag in the beginning of the play as he had to deliver some props to some theatrical company for rehearsal. When the intruder broke into his cottage and threatened to kill him and steal his identity, Gerrard did not lose his cool. He spontaneously concocted a story that he himself was a criminal and was trying to dodge the police. This story was supported by the aura of the mystery that surrounded him, his reclusive lifestyle, the bag he had been packing, the disguise outfit, false moustache, etc. All this misled the intruder into believing that Gerrard was speaking the truth. He did not doubt Gerrard any longer and unsuspectingly got ready to escape along with him. When Gerrard indicates the door that leads straight to the garage, the intruder walks into the trap. Hence, the bag played an important role in convincing the intruder that Gerrard too, was a criminal like him and was preparing to flee when he broke into his cottage.

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Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. “I’ve got freedom to gain. As for myself, I’m a poor hunted rat. As Vincent Charles Gerrard I’m free to go places and do nothing. I can eat well and sleep and without having to be ready to beat it at the sight of a cop.”

(a) “I’ve got freedom to gain.” Why does the intruder say this?

(2)

(b) What would the intruder gain after impersonating as Vincent Charles Gerrard? (1) (i) Freedom to go places (ii) A chance to build a new life (iii) Riches (iv) A property and a car

(c) Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the extract.

(1)

opportunity : adversity : : __________________ : captivity

(d) What exposes the intruder to foolishness? (i) His lack of confidence (ii) His lack of knowledge about Vincent (iii) His lack of maturity (iv) His lack of understanding of human nature

(1)

2. “This is your big surprise. I said you wouldn’t kill me and I was right. Why do you think I am here today and gone tomorrow, never seen tradespeople? You say my habits would suit you. You are a crook. Do you think I am a Sunday-school teacher?” (a) Who is going to surprise whom in the above extract? (1) (b) What was the big surprise?

(2)

(c) What habits of Gerrard are mentioned in the extract? (i) That of never seeing tradespeople (ii) That of coming and going (iii) That of being mysterious (iv) All of these

(1)

(d) Choose a word from the following that best describes the intruder. (i) Impatient (ii) Wholesome (iii) Content (iv) Rowdy

(1)

Short Answer Questions

1. 2. 3. 4.

(40-50 Words)

Describe the interaction between the two characters. “Careful boss, I’m watching you”. Elaborate. How did the intruder reach Aylesbury? Why does the intruder enquire about Gerrard’s Christian name?

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Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)

1. Give a character sketch of the intruder. 2. Write an article on the topic, “ Presence of mind... my guardian”. You are Shweta/ Shyam. (Constructed Response Question) 3. In the play, Gerrard captures the intruder. In a paragraph, attempt a different conclusion to the play. (Constructed Response Question)



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The Road Not Taken

—Robert Frost

Poem

1

About the Poet Although born in San Francisco, Robert Frost (1874-1963) spent most of his adult life in rural New England. His poetry is identified with the region. Unlike his contemporaries, Frost chose not to experiment with new verse forms but to employ traditional patterns. He chose the old fashioned way to the new. Despite the surface cheerfulness and descriptive accuracy of his poems, he often presents a dark, sober vision of life, and there is a decidedly thoughtful quality to his work. At the centre of most of his poems, lies an antithesis (contrast) between fact and fancy, reality and imagination, pleasure and purpose, nature and civilisation , country and city. Instead of imposing arbitrary resolutions, he gives a fair chance to each side for reconciliation. Finally, the resolution emerges from his dramatisation of such reconciliation as it happens in ‘The Road Not Taken’. Some of Frost’s best known poems are Mending Wall, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, etc.

Theme The main theme of the poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost is indecision, followed by the theme of regret. ‘The Road Not Taken’ deals with the dilemmas that a man faces in life. The two roads serve as a metaphor for the choices we make in life. Life throws many alternatives. The choice we make has far reaching consequences. The impact that our choice will make on our lives can also not be foreseen. Hence, our decision should not be a shot in the dark. We may take a unique path and succeed, or a common one and fail. Failure is a stepping stone to success. Therefore, do not hesitate to retract, if you face situations that make you unhappy.

Summary In the poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’, Robert Frost makes a fascinating use of two roads as a metaphor for life. The two roads stand for the choices we make in life. Frost combines rustic simplicity with hidden, indirect, and implied meaning in the poem. The poet comes upon a fork in a path/road in the woods. It is autumn and the leaves are turning its colour—from green to yellow. He looks down on both paths as he is unsure which path he should take. He would like to take both but that is not possible. He looks down the paths as far as he can see and then decides to take the grassy path as it seems less worn or used than the other. But on further introspection, the paths appear the same. The fallen leaves on the paths seem fresh and walked on. The narrator reflects on how he plans to return some day in the future to take the road not taken, but suspects that he probably would not be able to do so because there’s no going back in life once you’ve made a decision. Instead, he hopes in the future he would be able to share his experiences and the choices he took that changed his life (for better or worse). Nonetheless, they will be his choices to make and he chooses the road less travelled. Literature Reader

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Glossary Stanza 1 diverged – separated; yellow woods – the forest is full of yellow leaves as it is autumn season; undergrowth – bushes and shrubs Stanza 2 fair – good; better claim – it appears to be better; wanted wear – has not been used and walked on frequently Stanza 3 passing – on walking down; equally lay – lying in the same manner; trodden – walked; way leads on to way – one thing leads on to another Stanza 4 sigh – to take a deep breath out of sorrow or regret

Explanation of the Poem

1.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

Exp- The poet informs his readers that there are two roads at the fork in the woods. He adds that the forest/wood is yellow because it is autumn and at this time, trees shed their leaves. By setting the poem in the woods in autumn, Frost creates a sense of silence and a tone of melancholy (a gloomy state of mind). 2.

And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveller, long I stood

Exp- The poet shows regret for not being able to travel both the roads at the same time. He stands at the cross road for a long time to try and decide the path he should follow. 3.

And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Exp- The poet looked down one of the roads as far as his vision could reach. He could see only as far as the path took a bend at the thick undergrowth. At this point, let us think about the metaphorical meaning of the poem. Let us assume the road represents decisions we make and the fork represents the choices we have in life and the undergrowth uncertainties in life. The poet is at the cross road of his life and not on an actual road. He could be trying to see further ahead into the future but is unable to, so he has to be cautious in his choice and weigh all pros and cons.

4.

Then took the other, just as fair,

Exp- The poet makes his decision, since both the paths seem to be similar, he will take the other. The poet says ‘just as fair’ not fairer, so we may assume the roads are similar in appearance. Both the roads are equally good, so the choice may also be equally good and valid. 5.

And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Exp- In these lines, the poet justifies his choice as the path is grassy and not much walked on by travellers. Therefore, this road needed to be used and worn out too.

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6.

Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same.

Exp- On second thought, the speaker feels that may be, both the roads seem less walked on. ‘As for that’ refers to the path less walked on. Here, the poet is again expressing the confusion that goes on in his mind to make the final choice. The hesitation in taking a decision, as the prospects offered by treading either of the roads seemed to be similar. [Passing there–travellers taking the path for their journey] 7.

And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black.

Exp- Once again, the poet says the roads seem equal but with a difference. The speaker gives us a new information, that it is morning and that both the roads seem covered with leaves and that no traveller has walked the way. He comes to this conclusion because the fallen leaves are not crushed by the foot steps and thus, not darkened. The ‘morning’ may also be analysed as the poet starts from the very beginning, and realises that there is no change with regard to the clarity in the situation. It continued to be as confusing as it was earlier.

8.





Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Exp- The poet seems to be regretting his decision already. The sentence is emphatic as it starts with ‘Oh’ and ends with an exclamation. He strongly feels that he would take the other road to know what it had in store, since he already knew what was on the road taken. Metaphorically in life, we rethink about our choices but it is not easy to revert back the clock, as time and tide waits for none. 9.

Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

Exp- The poet realises he may never be able to return to take the road not taken. For he understands that in the journey of life, we may come across many cross roads/forks and make fresh decisions and choices. So in all practicality, it may not be feasible to start afresh especially in the later part of our life. 10.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence;

Exp- This stanza is entirely written in future tense ‘I shall’. Here, the poet hopes to talk of the decision taken years later with a ‘sigh’. The ‘sigh’ may be sad, happy or reflective. Whatever it be, it would definitely have made a difference in his life.

11.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —

Exp- This line is a repetition of the first line with the exclusion of ‘yellow’ and an inclusion of ‘and I —’ with a dash. The ‘and I —’ shows that the speaker is hesitant of the future. The repetition helps to bring the poem to a close. 12.

I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference.

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Exp- Here, the poet confidently informs of his decision. He had dared to take the road that many feared to tread. This is an indication that the poet was adventurous and of independent thought. Either way, the concluding lines give us a feeling that the choice he took has definitely made a significant impact in his life.

Poetic Devices Metaphor The poem as a whole is a metaphor because the poet is metaphorically comparing the roads in the wood to the choices one must make in life. The poet compares himself to a traveller. The road is a metaphor for the journey of life. The undergrowth at the end of the road not taken symbolises the obstacle. The grassy road indicates not many people had chosen that kind of road. The whole poem is an extended metaphor of life. Line 1: “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” is a metaphor where two roads are implicitly compared with the ways of life.

Anaphora Line 3: “And be one traveller, long I stood Line 4: And looked down one as far as I could” Lines 3 and 4 are the examples of Anaphora as the lines begin with the same word.

Personification Line-8: “Because it was grassy and wanted wear”. The grassy path ‘wanted’ wear. The wanting is a human need.

Antithesis Line 2: “And sorry I could not travel both.” In this line, there is a sense of antithesis as the poet first thought of travelling both the roads and then discarded the idea. Line 9: “Though as for that the passing there” Line 10: “Had worn them really about the same”. This is an example of Antithesis. First, the poet finds the first road to be the more travelled one, but then he says that both the roads are equally travelled. Line 13: “Oh, I kept the first for another day!” Line 15: “I doubted if I should ever come back”. This is an example of Antithesis as the lines contradict the statements.

Alliteration Line 17: “Somewhere ages and ages hence;” Here, ‘ages and ages’ is an example of alliteration.

Imagery Line 1: “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood”. A picture of the woods covered with yellow leaves is created in the mind. Line 11: “And both that morning equally lay Line 12: In leaves no step had trodden black.” This is an example of imagery. A pattern of images or pictures come to the mind from these lines.

Enjambment The word ‘E’ is used for creating suspense or to continue a sentence that might prove more effective in a separate line. In ‘The Road Not Taken’, all the last words in the lines except ‘and I —’ Rhyme scheme— ABAAB

Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE POEM I. 1. Where does the traveller find himself? What problem does he face? Ans. The traveller finds himself in the yellow woods at a point where the road forks into the forest. He is unable to decide which road to take to continue his journey, since it is not possible to take both the roads at the same time.

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2. Discuss what these phrases mean to you. (i) a yellow wood (ii) it was grassy and wanted wear (iii) the passing there (iv) leaves no step had trodden black (v) how way leads on to way Ans. (i) a yellow wood–The yellow woods symbolise the autumn season which is synonymous to old age. The poet may be referring to the middle ages of life. (ii) it was grassy and wanted wear– It means that the road was full of grass and had not been used by travellers as it did not seem to be disturbed or crushed. (iii) the passing there–The road is frequented by travellers. (iv) leaves no step had trodden black–The leaves did not seem to have been crushed by the footsteps of travellers [for fear of the unknown and uncertainties] and thus not darkened. (v) how way leads on to way– This expression means that the decisions we make in life leads us on to the future roads or paths that we have to take as we move on in life. 3. Is there any difference between the two roads as the poet describes them (i) in stanzas two and three? (ii) in the last two lines of the poem? Ans. (i) In stanza two, the poet explains that the only difference between the two was that the one he chose was grassy and wanted wear. It seemed to be less worn out by travellers. However, on second thoughts, it seemed to be equally worn down in a similar manner. However, in stanza three, he says that on that morning, both the roads seemed to be equally covered with the autumn leaves and it seemed no traveller had so far walked the paths. (ii) In the last two lines of the poem, the poet says that he took the road less travelled by people and that has made all the difference in his journey of life.

4. What do you think the last two lines of the poem mean? (Looking back, does the poet regret his choice or accept it?) Ans. The poet says that he made a decision at the fork to take the challenging path and stood by his decision and has accepted the reality of his life. He has titled the poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’. The last lines, “I took the road less taken, and that has made all the difference”, means that his choice to be different was the cause of his life changing for the good or for the bad. He has only said that it made a difference, and not specified the nature of the difference. Therefore, he could either be regretting or rejoicing the aftermath of his choice. II. 1. Have you ever had to make a difficult choice (or do you think you will have difficult choices to make)? How will you make the choice (for what reasons)? Ans. I have not had to face a situation where it was required for me to make a choice with regard to my life. It would come up sooner or later, when I would have to make a choice of a career or so. It would be wise not to succumb to peer pressure, or the prevailing trends, but to follow my aptitude and interest. My choice would also depend on future prospects offered, my financial credibility, and the novelty or uniqueness of the specific career. It is important that I follow my passion and be happy with what I am doing. I would therefore, assess all options before I take the final plunge, and will not make hasty decisions.

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2. After you have made a choice do you always think about what might have been, or do you accept the reality? Ans. Once I have made a choice after pondering over the issue of what I want to achieve, then there will be no scope of looking back or changing my decision. The reason being the choice I make will not be an impulsive one. I know that the journey to reach the goal will definitely have unexpected hurdles. Some pleasant and some unpleasant. But challenges are a part of growth, and failures are stepping stones to success.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveller, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;

(a) Explain the poetic device used in ‘two roads diverged in a yellow wood’.

(2)

(b) What is the poet’s tone in the extract? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) Thoughtful (2) Agitated (3) Confused (4) Argumentative (5) Abusive (i) 1 & 3 (ii) 2 & 3 (iii) 3 & 4 (iv) 4 & 5

(c) What caused the poet to look down one as far as he could?

(1)

(d) Why did the poet stand long? (1) (i) He was waiting for his friend. (ii) He was waiting for the right time. (iii) He was looking down the road as far as he could. (iv) He was tired. Ans. (a) It is clear that metaphor has been used in ‘two roads diverged in a yellow wood’ because the two roads are implicitly compared with the journey of life, and the fork in the road stands for choices in the life’s journey. (b) (iii) 1 & 3 (c) The poet really wants to go down both paths. He’s staring the road and thinking hard about his choice. (d) (iii) He was looking down the road as far as he could. 2.

And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

(a) Identify the poetic device used in the first two lines of the given stanza. Explain the impact of the poetic device on the reader. (2)

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(b) The poet has used a poetic device in the given lines: “yet knowing how way leads to way”. What effect does he wish to create by its use? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (i) Dilemma (ii) Comparison (iii) Rhyme (iv) Humour

(c) Complete the analogy about the poet’s mental situation.

(1)

uncertainty : confusion : : __________________ : befuddlement (d) Select the appropriate option to complete the sentence according to the extract. (1) The poet chose a particular path ___________________________________. (i) and doubted if he could succeed (ii) and doubted if he had made the right decision (iii) and doubted if he could retrace his path (iv) and was sure he would make a success of his choice Ans. (a) It is clear that imagery has been used in the first two lines of the given stanza. The poet has used imagery to enable the readers visualise exactly what he is seeing while standing and looking at the path that lay before him. (b) (i) Dilemma (c) obscure (d) (iii) and doubted if he could retrace his path 3.



I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence; Two roads diverged in a wood, and II took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.

(a) Identify and explain the poetic device used in ‘somewhere ages and ages hence’? (2)

(b) What effect does the poet wish to create in the following lines: (Competency-focused Question) (1)

Two roads diverged in a wood, and II took the one less travelled by,

(i) Conviction (iii) Emphasis

(ii) Confusion (iv) Dilemma



(c) How does the repetition of ‘I’ in the third and fourth line of the poem impact the extract? (1)



(d) Select the appropriate option to complete the sentence, according to the extract. (1)

Years later he would exclaim that his life took a certain course because of his ______________. (i) dilemma (ii) choice (iii) hesitation (iv) intuition Ans. (a) In ‘somewhere ages and ages’, the poet has used the poetic device ‘alliteration’ as it is the repetition of the same sound at the start of a series of words in succession to Literature Reader

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provide an audible pulse that would give a lulling, lyrical and/or emotive effect on the reader. (b) (iii) Emphasis (c) It is to convince the reader that the choice was eventually made by the poet himself. (d) (iv) choice 4.

Then took the other, just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same.

(a) What is the reason for the poet to think that the other road had a better claim? What trait of his personality is revealed here? (2) (b) The rhyme scheme of the given lines is: (i) abaab (ii) aabb (iii) abab (iv) abba

(c) What does the poet mean by ‘just as fair’?

(1)

(1)

(d) In what sense were the two roads similar? (1) (i) Both the roads were equally grassy and worn out. (ii) Both the roads were appealing to the poet. (iii) Both the roads led to the same destination. (iv) Both the roads were unattractive. Ans. (a) The poet chose the other road which was avoided and seldom took by others because it was grassy and had not worn off due to walking of the travellers. This indicates that the poet is brave and adventurous. He likes to take risks and make his own path rather than following others. (b) (i) abaab (c) ‘Just as fair’ means that the other road was as beautiful as the one seen earlier. (d) (ii) Both the roads were appealing to the poet.

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. Describe the two paths at the crossroad in the forest. Ans. The poet comes across a path in the forest that was diverged into two directions after a particular point. One path seemed to have been well travelled upon as the leaves seemed blackened or crushed under footsteps of the passersby. The other seemed less walked on as the grass was green and undisturbed. 2. Which road did the poet take to travel and why? Ans. The poet understands that he cannot take both the roads, and hence, must make a choice. After much contemplation he chooses the road less travelled by. It could be his curiosity, risk-taking attitude or just the desire to not follow and pave his own way that leads to this decision. 3. What is the significance of the two roads in the poem? Ans. The two roads symbolise the diverse and confusing situations we have to confront during our journey of life. The narrator chose the path that was ‘grassy and wanted wear’, perhaps because he did not want to follow the crowd and wanted to do something unique with his life.

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4. Why was the poet doubtful of being able to walk the road not taken in the future? Ans. The poet is not too sure as to whether he would need to or be able to walk the other road. There is a tone of melancholy because he is unsure about the appropriateness of his choice, or perhaps he might be experiencing a sense of excitement in the event of the choice being right, for then, he would not have to walk the path he had abandoned.

5. Do you feel the poet was happy with his decision in the choice of road to be taken? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. No, the poet is not happy by his decision. His sigh indicates that he is not happy with his decision of taking the unused road which has made all the differences in his life. Had he chosen the worn out road, he feels that things would have been different for him. 6. Why did the poet take long to ponder over his decision? Ans. The poet knows that a decision once taken will influence and affect his whole future, so he takes a long time to decide. He wanted to choose the path that would lead him successively from one to the other and so on. 7. “I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference” What is the speaker trying to convey? Ans. The poet took the path less travelled as he was of an independent spirit, and did not want to follow the crowd. He did not choose that way of life which most people generally choose to get easy success, fame and money in life. He is trying to convey that the choices in the present influence our future life.

8. “I doubted if I should ever come back.” Why does the poet doubt he should ever come back? Ans. The poet doubts whether he should come back to the other road because he knows that one road leads to another. As a reckless and curious traveller, he was sure to continue to move on in the journey of life. Thus, there were no chances of his retracing his steps. Normally, one sticks to the decision once taken.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)



1. Write a paragraph on your understanding of the poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. ‘The Road Not Taken’ is a poem that has a significance in the life of every human being, big or small, rich or poor, male or female, all over the world. The poet has dealt with a very important issue of making choices. And every moment of our life requires us to make a choice. The poet, however, is referring to the bigger and more important choices that eventually decide one’s future. It may be the choices that would decide our career, our family, our future. Therefore, it is essential that we are not too hasty in making a choice, neither should we be over cautious while doing so. Life is a challenge and we need to have the courage to face it. I wish to interpret the last line as being a sigh of relief, that he would be taking as he had been fortunate in having taken the right road.

2. Show how the poet uses metaphor, imagery and personification, illustrating that there are challenging choices which may initially seem equal but once those decisions are made, they can actually make all the difference. Ans. In ‘The Road Not Taken’, the poet employs extended metaphor, making the reader to imagine several comparisons. The poet states the two roads diverging in a yellow wood. Literally, there are two roads that fork out in the forest. The roads represent the challenges people have to face in the journey of life. The forest represents life. Literature Reader

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The forest is yellow indicating the autumn season. The season is a personification of the middle age, when a person is mature to make decisions. The fallen leaves represent the opportunities waiting for us to take in the journey of life. Since, autumn is followed by winter, the poet wants to show that autumn is a time when decisions should be made wisely as we may not get an opportunity to retrace our steps to take the other paths we could have taken but did not. He uses imagery while saying, “And both that morning lay, in leaves no step had trodden”.

3. Ann had completed her class 12th examinations and had secured a distinction.......... Complete the story and provide a suitable title. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. I Had a Dream Ann had completed her class 12th examinations and had secured a distinction. She was the topper in her school. She was the first person to have been educated in her family. Ann’s father was a poor scavenger, while her mother had died while giving birth to her fourth sibling. Along with her studies, the young teenager, would work in the neighbouring houses as a maid, and take care of all the needs of her younger siblings like a mother would. She had reached a stage in her life, where she had to make a choice between continuing her studies and abandoning it. Life would be tougher, and more demanding as the cost of living was becoming higher and all the younger ones had to be educated. Ann was very focussed and mature. She decided that it was necessary that she moves ahead with her education and career. The smart girl, secured admission for MBBS on her merit, in a Government Medical College. She worked very hard, at home and at college, and ranked first in the University in the final year. The young doctor did not regret the road she chose, nor did she forget her roots. She succeeded in making all her siblings professionals, and is now one of the best physicians in the state of Goa. Her father leads a comfortable life, thanks to his dynamic daughter.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1.

And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

(a) Why was the poet doubtful about the first road?

(2)

(b) What does ‘no step had trodden black’ mean? (i) No one walked on the leaves. (ii) The leaves did not look black. (iii) Leaves looked black. (iv) No leaves were decayed.

(1)

(c) What does ‘Oh, I kept the first for another day’ mean?

(1)

(d) Which poetic device has been used in the third line of the stanza? (i) Metaphor (ii) Enjambment (iii) Antithesis (iv) Alliteration

(1)

2.

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Then took the other, just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim,



Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same.

(a) What is the tone of the poet in the above stanza? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) Thoughtful (2) Reflective (3) Confused (4) Argumentative (5) Pensive (i) 1 & 2 (ii) 2 & 5 (iii) 3 & 4 (iv) 1 & 5 (b) Why does the poet say “then took the other, just as fair”?

(2)

(c) Complete the given analogy about the poet’s thoughts.

(1)



equitable : unbiased : : ________________ : flaxen

(d) Select the sentence in which the word ‘worn’ has been used in the similar context as in the fourth line of the extract. (1) (i) The children has worn their raincoats before they stepped outdoors. (ii) He has not worn his uniform today. (iii) Worn rugs increase the danger of tripping. (iv) White coats are often worn by doctors.

Short Answer Questions 1. 2. 3. 4.

What is the dilemma of the poet? How are the two roads described in the poem? What is the message of the poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’? How would you handle the dilemma that the poet faced? (Constructed Response Question)

Long Answer Questions



(40-50 Words)

(100-120 Words)

1. One should be wise and mature while taking decisions in life. Answer with reference to the poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’. (Constructed Response Question) 2. Make a diary entry as Robert Frost, of the day he reached the pinnacle of glory or made an utter failure of his life, as a result of a choice he had made. (Constructed Response Question) 3. You made a wrong decision and want to desperately get back to the other road. Explain how would you make the attempt at retracing your steps. (Constructed Response Question) zzz

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Wind

Poem

2

—Subramania Bharati

About the Poet Chinnaswami Subramania Bharati, also known as Bharathiyar (11 December 1882 – 11 September 1921), was a Tamil writer, poet and journalist, and Indian independence activist and social reformer from Tamil Nadu. Popularly known as “Mahakavi Bharati”, he was a pioneer of modern Tamil poetry and is considered one of the greatest Tamil literary figures of all times. His numerous works were fiery songs kindling patriotism and nationalism during the Indian Independence Movement. Bharati’s works were on varied themes covering religious, political and social aspects.

Theme The poem, ‘Wind’ inspires us to face the challenges thrown at us with grit and firm determination. We should be strong enough to face all the hardships of life with courage. Wind symbolises problems and obstacles that we all face and go through at some point of time in our lives. The poem is a satire on human weakness and the power of the strong humans.

Summary The wind is a symbol of difficulties or obstacles humans have to face for their survival. Initially, the poet implores the wind to blow gently but it does not agree to do so. The wind blows violently and causes destruction. To add fuel to the fire, the storm has once again brought the rain. The storm causes a lot of damage. It breaks the shutters of weak windows. It scatters the papers and throws down books from the shelves. It further tears down the pages of the books. The poet personifies the wind as God. The wind makes fun and exploits the situation. It hurts and weakens the weak persons, man-made structures and natural objects. On the other hand, it gives support to the strong. The fast blowing wind destroys the weak structures like the weak houses, weak doors, weak trees, and people who are physically and mentally weak. The poet advices to build strong houses fixed with strong doors, and the need to be healthy physically and mentally. The poet suggests to befriend the wind and work in co-ordination with it. Like the wind, we too should use our intellect and use the wind to our advantage, as he is always on the look-out to exploit our weakness. The overview of the poem is that the weak-willed can always be overpowered by the strong. The weak will always be belittled, if they don’t take control of their lives. On the other hand, the strong can stand and face all hurdles with strength and conviction. Survival is therefore, of the fittest.

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Glossary shutters – a pair of hinged panels fixed inside or outside a window that can be closed for security or privacy, or to keep out the light; scatter – throw in different directions; poking fun at – tease someone; weaklings – too weak to face any problems; frail – weak; crumbling – destroying; rafters – sloping beams supporting the roof of a house; winnows – to separate the chaff from the grain; firm – strong; steadfast – dependable, reliable; flourish – grow healthy and energetic

Explanation of the Poem

1.

Wind, come softly. Don’t break the shutters of the windows. Don’t scatter the papers. Don’t throw down the books on the shelf.

Exp- In the above lines, the poet depicts the destruction caused by the wind. The poet appeals to the wind to be gentle. He requests the wind not to break the shutters of the window, not to scatter the papers or throw the books off the shelf.

2.



There, look what you did — you threw them all down. You tore the pages of the books. You brought rain again.

Exp- In the above lines, the poet reprimands the wind for the mess it has caused in the house. The wind has not only thrown the book but also torn the pages of the books which means that the books cannot be read. The poet looks out of the shattered window and accuses the wind of bringing in more rain. The rain water can cause further damage to the mess in the room as it enters the room through the broken shutters. The strong and gusty wind signifies turmoil and trouble in our life.

3.



You’re very clever at poking fun at weaklings. Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling rafters, crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling lives, crumbling hearts — the wind god winnows and crushes them all.

Exp- In the above lines, the poet, in a subdued tone, accuses the wind of troubling the weak and fragile or someone too meek and mild to protect themselves from the harshness of the world. The wind tears down doors, rafters, and even the entire wooden houses, leaving people stranded to face the harshness. The situation idiomatically implies that the troubles in life come as suddenly as the wind causing destruction and leaving behind destruction and devastation.

4.



He won’t do what you tell him. So, come, let’s build strong homes, Let’s joint the doors firmly. Practise to firm the body. Make the heart steadfast. Do this, and the wind will be friends with us.

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Exp- The poet states that the wind is too self-willed/egoistic. He will not listen to any appeal, so it is for us to protect ourselves. We must build strong structures with firm foundations, so the wind can neither harm nor penetrate it. We must further make ourselves physically and mentally strong to be able to face the ill-effects of the wind. If we can do this, then the wind can neither frighten nor harm us. He can become our friend. The poet wants to convey the message that if we are strong-willed, we can face all the hurdles or troubles in life easily. On the other hand, if we are weak, then we will be surrounded by strong forces and be the downtrodden, and eventually be destroyed.

5.





The wind blows out weak fires. He makes strong fires roar and flourish. His friendship is good. We praise him every day.

Exp- Here, the poet describes the merits and the demerits of the wind. He says the merit is that it can blow down weak fire but if the fire is burning fiercely, then it will make it burn with a stronger force or more powerfully. The poet concludes that the wind is a friend to the strong, but is an enemy to the weak who fall prey to its force. Metaphorically speaking, we can overcome all our troubles only if we build a strong character. The poet invokes us to sing devotional songs in praise of the wind God for motivating us to be strong to face the challenges in life.

Poetic Devices Metaphor The entire poem is a metaphor because it ends on a note of application to humanity to stand against all ravages, natural or man-made.

Personification Lines 5-8: The poet refers the wind as YOU, as if it is human. The poet is gently reprimanding it, just like a human being. Lines 12-13, 22: The wind is personified as God. Lines 18 and 20: The wind is personified as a friend. Line 21: The wind is personified as a human being.

Anaphora This means repetition of the same word in successive lines. The instances are found in: Lines 2,3,4: repetition of ‘don’t’ Lines 6,7,8: repetition of ‘you’ Lines 9,10,11: repetition of ‘crumbling’ Lines 14,15: repetition of ‘let’s’ The poem has been written in free verse.

Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE POEM 1. What are the things the wind does in the first stanza? Ans. In the first stanza, the wind breaks the shutters of the windows. It blows so forcefully that it scatters the papers, throws the books from the shelves and also tears the pages of the books. To add to the woe, it brings rain once again.

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2. Have you seen anybody winnow grain at home or in a paddy field? What is the word in your language for winnowing? What do people use for winnowing? Ans. [Answers may vary] –Winnowing means separating the grain from their outer covering, called chaff. Winnowing is done by letting the grain (wheat) fall gently from a cane container while a strong wind or fan is blown. In Hindi, it is called Varsana. 3. What does the poet say the wind God winnows? Ans. The poet says that the wind God destroys everything weak that come in its way. The weak crumbling houses, doors, rafters, wood, bodies, lives and hearts, and crushes them all. 4. What should we do to make friends with the wind? Ans. We should make strong houses with firm doors. We should also make ourselves physically and mentally strong by building strong firm bodies, and be steadfast. 5. What do the last four lines of the poem mean to you? Ans. In the last four lines, the poet inspires us to face the hardships in our lives bravely. Wind symbolises the challenges that come our way. The poet further adds that the wind not only extinguishes weak fires but it assists the strong fires to burn more brightly. Metaphorically, the poet means to say in times of adversity, those who want to survive will accept all problems as a challenge, whereas those who expect others to help them will be crushed to death. It is aptly said —God helps those who help themselves.

6. How does the poet speak to the wind — in anger or with humour? You must also have seen or heard of the wind “crumbling lives”. What is your response to this? Is it like the poet’s? Ans. The poet speaks to the wind in anger. The strong winds are known to cause damage on land as well as on sea. Very strong wind can turn and sink ships. On land, they can wreak havoc in lives as well as on natural and man-made things. However, I feel that the wind when harnessed can be brought to various uses like generating electricity, moving turbines, and turning wind mills. The wind is responsible for bringing rain and cools the atmosphere after the scorching heat of the sun.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1.



Wind, come softly. Don’t break the shutters of the windows. Don’t scatter the papers. Don’t throw down the books on the shelf.







There, look what you did — you threw them all down. You tore the pages of the books.



(a) What is the tone of the poet when he speaks to the wind? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) Authoritative (2) Pleading (3) Angry (4) Critical (5) Pleasant (i) 1 & 4 (ii) 2 & 3 (iii) 3 & 5 (iv) 1 & 5 Literature Reader

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(b) What does the poem ‘Wind’ teach us? (i) That one must be coward (ii) That one must shun one’s responsibilities (iii) That one must be brave enough to face all the obstacles of life (iv) Both (i) and (ii)

(1)

(c) Can the wind be asked to do or not to do a particular thing? Why?

(1)

(d) In what way is the poet being disturbed by the wind? (2) Ans. (a) (i) 1 & 4 (b) (iii) That one must be brave enough to face all the obstacles of life (c) No, it can’t be asked what to do or what not to do because it is a force of nature. (d) The poet is being disturbed by the wind by breaking the shutters of the window, scattering the papers and throwing down the books on the shelf.



2.

You brought rain again. You’re very clever at poking fun at weaklings. Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling rafters, crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling lives, crumbling hearts — the wind god winnows and crushes them all.

(a) Which of the following is NOT the tone of the poet in the above stanza? (i) Pensive (ii) Worrisome (iii) Desperate (iv) Humorous

(1)

(b) The poet has used the poetic device ‘symbolism’ in the poem. Why do you think (Competency-focused Question) (1) he has done so?



(c) Identify and explain the poetic device used in the following lines:

(2)

Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling rafters,





crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling lives,







crumbling hearts

(d) Select the appropriate option that is NOT the right explanation of the following line: (1) “the wind god winnows and crushes them all” (i) The wind god’s actions are being compared to a winnowing machine. (ii) The wind sifts all the weak people and destroys them. (iii) The wind blows strongly and every thing that is weak suffers. (iv) The wind segregates the weak ones to save them and destroys the others. Ans. (a) (iv) Humorous (b) The poet has used wind as a symbol for the adversities in our life. (c) The poetic device ‘repetition’ has been used in the given lines. The word ‘crumbling’ is repeated many times to lay emphasis. The poet wants to say that the wind crushes everything that is weak. That is why, he repeats the word ‘crumbling’. (d) (iv) The wind segregates the weak ones to save them and destroys the others.



3.



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He won’t do what you tell him. So, come, let’s build strong homes,









Let’s joint the doors firmly. Practise to firm the body. Make the heart steadfast.

(a) “He won’t do what you tell him”. Why will ‘he’ not listen?

(1)

(b) What is the tone of the poet in the given lines? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) Authoritative (2) Humorous (3) Pessimistic (4) Serious (5) Concerned (i) 1, 4 & 5 (ii) 1, 2 & 3 (iii) 2, 3 & 5 (iv) 1, 3 & 5

(c) Identify and explain the poetic device used in ‘He won’t do what you tell him’. (2)



(d) How does ‘repetition’ in these two lines impact the given extract?





(1)

So, come, let’s build strong homes, Let’s joint the doors firmly.

(i) It reinforces the thought of the poet. (ii) It reinforces the need to act effectively. (iii) It reinforces fact that ‘unity is strength’. (iv) It reinforces the need to build strong houses. Ans. (a) ‘He’ will not listen because its nature is to exploit or harm the weak and support the strong. (b) (i) 1, 4 & 5 (c) The poet has used ‘personification’ in ‘He won’t do what you tell him’. The poet has given a human quality to the wind by addressing it as ‘he’. He has also attached the quality of disobedience which too is a human quality. (d) (iii) It reinforces fact that ‘unity is strength’.

4.





Do this, and the wind will be friends with us. The wind blows out weak fires. He makes strong fires roar and flourish. His friendship is good. We praise him every day.

(a) Which of the following DOES NOT describe the ‘wind’, according to the given stanza? (1) (1) Loving (2) Harsh (3) Submissive (4) Ruthless (5) Cruel (i) 1 & 3 (ii) 2 & 3 (iii) 3 & 5 (iv) 1 & 5

(b) What message do we get from the poem?

(1)



(c) Identify and explain the poetic device used in the following line:

(2)

‘Do this, and the wind will be friends with us’.

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(d) Select the appropriate option to complete the sentence, according to the extract. (1) The wind is (1) ________________ with the weak people and (2) _________________ supportive of the strong ones. (i) (1) harsh; (2) kind (ii) (1) kind; (2) helpful (iii) (1) ruthless; (2) compassionate (iv) (1) mean; (2) merciless Ans. (a) (i) 1 & 3 (b) The message that we get from the poem is that we should be strong so as to face the challenges in life. (c) The poet has used ‘personification’ in the line ‘Do this, and the wind will be friends with us’. The poet has given a human quality of ‘friendship’ and ‘praise’ which too are associated with human beings. (d) (iii) (1) ruthless; (2) compassionate

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. Why does the poet appeal to the wind to come softly? Ans. The poet appeals to the wind to come softly as it is doing more harm than good. It has broken the shutters of the windows and entered the rooms. As a result, the books on the shelf have been thrown down and their pages have been torn. The loose papers that were kept neatly have been scattered all over. 2. How does the wind make fun of the weak? Ans. The poet says that wind makes fun of all weaklings, as they are too weak to protect themselves. It appears that the wind enjoys suppressing and destroying the weak who do not have the courage to face the hardships of life. The wind breaks down all weak structures made by man to protect himself, just to see how man will try to survive. 3. What is the symbolism of ‘wind’? Ans. Some have perhaps witnessed a strong wind knock a nest out of a tree or rip leaves or branches off a tree, but not the wind itself as it is considered to be the vital breath of the universe. Wind has been symbolised here as the agent that rattles our equilibrium. Those who are physically and mentally weak will get destroyed in times of adversity, whereas the strong will survive. The strong will reassess the problems that have caused the damage and find a solution. The weak will just cry and blame the wind and the circumstances. 4. What is the theme of the poem, ‘Wind’? Ans. The theme of the poem, ‘Wind’ is that we should have a strong body and mind, so that in times of adversity or difficulties, we are able to combat all odds. We should be willing to face challenges and overcome them with ease. There will always be someone waiting round the corner to overpower and defeat us, if we are weak. 5. Explain what the poet means by ‘Make the heart steadfast’. Ans. The poet advises that while facing difficulties and challenges in life, one should have strong determination and courage. Wind causes weak structures to crumble and puts out a weak fire, but has no effect on a strong structure, in fact, it causes a strong fire to burn more intensely. Similarly, a resolute heart can face all adversities.

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6. What is ‘winnowing’? What, according to the poet, does the wind God winnow? Ans. Winnowing refers to blowing away or removing the chaff from grain before it can be used as food. It thus implies segregating people or things by judging their quality. The poet says that the wind God separates the weak from the strong like the chaff from grain. 7. Whom does the poet praise and why? Ans. The poet praises the wind. He has accepted the power of wind, which stands for hardships in our life. If we want to succeed in life, we must have a strong body and heart. Only strong people can face challenges in life.

8. How does the poet speak to the wind – in anger or with humour? You must also have seen or heard of the wind ‘crumbling lives’. What is your response to this? Is it like the poet’s response? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. The poet speaks to the wind with humour. I opine that the poet’s behaviour is pertinent and I have also seen the wind devastating the property mercilessly. The poet invites the wind to attack him and intends to prepare himself for the attack.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)

1. Discuss, why you consider ‘Wind’ and ‘The Road Not Taken’ as symbolic poems. (Constructed Response Question)

Ans. Poems are read for enjoyment and to appreciate nature or life as seen from the eyes of the poet. Poems can also convey a message to its readers. In the ‘Wind’, the poet appeals us to be mentally and physically strong, so that we can combat all opposing forces. Be strong to vanquish and not be vanquished. The poet here shows how the wind breaks down all weak structures and extinguishes weak fires, but when it faces strong fires, it simply assists to burn more brightly. The poet suggests that man should befriend the wind instead of shying away from its intimidating nature. On the other hand, in ‘The Road Not Taken’, the poet when faced with a problem, ponders over the situation for a long time. He weighs the pros and cons, and then finally makes a decision that would be deciding his future life. The two poems are symbolic as both are dealing with the “state of mind” of the individual. The strength of the wind and the strength of our decisions, will assess our strength as human beings. 2. What damage did the wind cause? How can this be avoided? Ans. The wind causes a lot of destruction. It breaks the shutters of the windows, scatters the papers and throws the books from the shelf. It even breaks the doors, rafters, trees, and man’s hearts by causing suffering. This can be avoided only if man rises against all negative elements. In the poem ‘Wind’, man can only overcome adversity, if and when it makes friends with the wind. Man must make himself strong both mentally and physically, so that in the face of any challenge, he can come out strong. The poet suggests that we must make wind our friend by which he suggests that we should develop the ability and confidence to extract the positive from the negative and transform it for the larger good. 3. The poet is a great lover of mankind. Justify with reference to the poem, ‘Wind’. Ans. In the poem ‘Wind’, the poet wants every human being, especially who are weak, to become strong physically and mentally. The poet wants them to be bold enough to face any difficult challenges that come in their life. Just like if we have strong houses, we can Literature Reader

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keep ourselves safe in them, in the same manner, if we have strong heart, we can face any difficult challenges of life. People who are weak get defeated by their problems of life. The poet wants everyone to make their life happy by facing the challenges of life. The poet’s thoughts for mankind prove that he is a great lover of mankind.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1.



There, look what you did — you threw them all down. You tore the pages of the books. You brought rain again.

(a) Whom does the poet address as ‘you’?

(1)



(b) What does the poet request the wind to do? (i) To blow gently (ii) Not to destroy anything (iii) Not to throw books on the shelf (iv) All of these

(1)



(c) How has the wind been represented here? (i) Destructive (ii) Melting (iii) Ravishing (iv) All of these

(1)



(d) How have the pages of the book been torn?

(2)



2.



He won’t do what you tell him. So, come, let’s build strong homes, Let’s join the doors firmly. Practise to firm the body. Make the heart steadfast. Do this, and the wind will be friends with us.

(a) Who is ‘he’ here? (i) Wind (iii) Rain

(1) (ii) Poet (iv) None of these



(b) According to the poet, what preparations should be made to face the fury of the wind? (1)



(c) What is the poet’s advice to people?



(d) In the last line, the wind is personified as: (i) a friend (ii) an enemy (iii) a guardian (iv) a child

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(2) (1)

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words)

1. What does the poet imply when he says, ‘the wind blows out weak fires and makes strong fires roar and flourish’?

2. Write a paragraph describing the naughty wind.



3. Do you feel the wind obliges man when it blows? Why/Why not? (Constructed Response Question)



4. Why does the poet want us to praise the wind every day?

Long Answer Questions

(Constructed Response Question)

(100-120 Words)



1. How would you handle the strong winds that thrash you in the course of your life? (Constructed Response Question)



2. How does the wind make fun of weaklings? What has the poet suggested for the people who are weak?



3. You work for an NGO. How would you increase the awareness among the people living in the slums on disaster management? (Constructed Response Question)



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Poem

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Rain on the Roof

—Coates Kinney

About the Poet Coates Kinney (November 24, 1826 - January 25, 1904) was born near Penn Yan, New York. He was a lawyer, politician, journalist, and poet from the United States. He was partly educated at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, studied law with Thomas Corwin, and was admitted to the bar in Cincinnati in 1856. He became a journalist, and worked on papers in Cincinnati, Xenia, Springfield, Illinois.

Theme The poet in the poem, ‘Rain on the Roof’ is expressing the wonders of nature, and her extraordinary power to heal the mind, body and the soul of human beings, as she soothens the earth with her showers of blessing.

Summary The poet is expressing through his poem the joy that accompanies the showers that fall upon the earth. The rain announces its arrival by forming dark clouds in the sky, along with humidifying the atmosphere. The darkness seems to spread melancholy, that is released by the gently weeping rainy tears. But for man, these tears usher in a strange feeling of joy, that is provided by the pitter patter of the rains on the roof tops of the cottage. The rain brings back wonderful memories of childhood, and the poet recollects those moments as he lies in the comfort of his cosy bed, and listens to the steady patter of the rains. At the same time, there are the memories of his mother, checking in on him and looking at him fondly and leaving him to sleep in, till the break of dawn. And the music that the rain produces while falling upon the shingles, continues in the background.

Glossary Stanza 1 humid shadow – dark clouds full of moisture; hover – hang, remain suspended in the air; starry spheres – night sky full of stars in varied formations; bliss – very happy, utmost joy; meloncholy – sad; cottage chamber – room in a small house in the country side/rural area; patter – sound of rain falling on any surface; overhead – above Stanza 2 tinkle – ringing sound; shingles – rectangular tiles used on sloping roofs; echo – reflected sound; dreamy fancies – imaginary stories; into busy being – my mind; recollections – memories/remembrances; air threads – dreamy memories; woof – refers to the threads woven across the loom (Here, it refers to the stories that are being woven together in his dreams.)

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Stanza 3 agone – gone by; regard – observe; ere – before; fond look – loving gaze; dawn – morning; refrain — part of a song that is repeated

Explanation of the Poem 1.

When the humid shadows hover Over all the starry spheres And the melancholy darkness Gently weeps in rainy tears. What a bliss to press the pillow Of a cottage-chamber bed And lie listening to the patter Of the soft rain overhead!

Exp- The poet says that the stars of the sky are not visible when the dark clouds cover the night sky. He states that the darkness is making him sad and reflective. The rain symbolises the release of sadness and the ushering in of joy. So tears are falling softy down onto the surface of the earth. Rains make us nostalgic, as well as joyous. The poet says that he loves to curl up in the comfort of his bed, and just relish the wonderful music of the rain, as it falls upon the roof of his little cottage. 2.

Every tinkle on the shingles Has an echo in the heart; And a thousand dreamy fancies Into busy being start, And a thousand recollections Weave their air-threads into woof, As I listen to the patter Of the rain upon the roof.

Exp- The poet senses every sound that is produced as the rain tinkles against the shingles on the roof of his cottage. This brings back wonderful memories into his busy mind that is trying to recollect a thousand memories of his past. He weaves each of these into a single thread, and continues to enjoy the patter of the falling rains. 3.

Now in memory comes my mother, As she used in years agone, To regard the darling dreamers Ere she left them till the dawn: O! I feel her fond look on me As I list to this refrain Which is played upon the shingles By the patter of the rain.

Exp- The poet remembers his mother looking down affectionately at him and his siblings as they sleep while having pleasant dreams. His mother would make it a point to see them fast asleep every night, as she knew she would let them sleep in till the break of dawn. He remembers his mother looking down on him lovingly, as he continues to be in slumber listening to the rhythmic patter of the rains. Literature Reader

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Poetic Devices Transferred Epithet Stanza-1: The poet transfers his sad mood from himself to the darkness of the night. Stanza-1: ‘humid shadows over’ is a reflection of the haunting memories of the part that creates shadow in the present.

Personification Stanza-1: ‘And the melancholy tears/Gently weeps in rainy tears’. Here, the poet personifies darkness by giving it the human ability to shed tears.

Refrain At the end of each stanza, the soft falling of the rain is repeated.

Metaphor Stanza-1: Stanza-2: Stanza-3:

‘When the humid shadows hover.’ Here, shadows signify clouds. (line 13-14) ‘And a thousand recollections/weave their bright hues into woof’. Here, the memories of the poet is compared to the fabric that is being woven with many coloured threads. To survey her “darling dreamers”. Here, ‘darling dreamers’ is a metaphor for her lovely children who are sleeping and probably also dreaming.

Onomatopoeia Stanza-1, 2, 3: ‘patter’ Stanza-2: ‘tinkle’ The words, patter and tinkle create an image of sound of the rain falling on the surface of an object.

Alliteration Stanza-1: Here, ‘Humid’ and ‘Hover’ have similar first syllabus.

Rhyme Scheme ABCBDE, FG is a very unusual one. However, it is believed to have been used by the famed musician Mozart in his opera.

Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE POEM I. 1. What do the following phrases mean to you? Discuss in class. (i) Humid shadows (ii) Starry spheres (iii) What a bliss (iv) A thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start (v) A thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof Ans. (i) Humid shadows: It refers to the dark clouds that produce rain, characterised by a great deal of water vapour; “humid air”; “humid weather”. (ii) Starry spheres: Since it was believed that the fixed stars did not change their positions relative to one another, they must be on the surface of a single starry sphere. (iii) What a bliss: It refers to the immense happiness that the poet feels amidst the comfort of his bed and enjoying the pitter patter of raindrops falling on the roof. (iv) A thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start: This refers to the imaginary thoughts and fantasies that are aroused in the poet’s mind. (v) A thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof: The poet is stringing together all his memories into one single unit by entwining it with a single thread.

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2. What does the poet like to do when it rains? Ans. The poet feels delighted to lie with his head pressed against the pillow of his bed in the cottage and listens to the patter of the soft rain on the rectangular tiles of the cottage roof.

3. What is the single major memory that comes to the poet? Who are the “darling dreamers” he refers to? Ans. The single major memory that comes to the poet is that of his mother and her fond look. The ‘darling dreamers’ are the poet and his siblings, when they were lovingly put to sleep by their mother in their childhood years. 4. Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive? Ans. At this point, the poet is not a child. He is a grown man. As he sees the clouds gather up in the sky, he is taken back in time, and he is reflecting about the wonderful memories associated with “rain”. He is recalling his past in which his mother was still alive. He misses her dearly, as she seems to be a vital part of his memory. II. 1. When you were a young child, did your mother tuck you in, as the poet’s did? Ans. Yes, my mother used to tuck me in when I was a young child, just like the poet’s mother did (responses may vary).

2. Do you like rain? What do you do when it rains steadily or heavily as described in the poem? Ans. Yes, I simply enjoy the rain. For me, rain means coolness after a spell of heat. I love to dance and get wet in the rain. Some however, may immediately run to seek shelter. I love to curl up in my bed with a crime thriller, sipping a hot beverage, and munching on fryums. (responses may vary)

3. Does everybody have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains? Look around you and describe how different kinds of people or animals spend time, seek shelter, etc. during rain. Ans. No, everybody is not fortunate enough to have a cosy bed to lie in, when it rains. Not everybody is blessed with a comfortable and warm home. I have seen stray animals trying to shield themselves from the torrential rain under trees and canopies of shops and houses. It is the same with human beings who often share space with the animals, who are in the same state as they are in. It is pitiable to see little children shivering in their clothes that have been drenched by the tears that drop down from the ‘leaden’ clouds. They pine for the luxuries the fortunate few enjoy, and are distressed that they are not able to break through their misery.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1.

When the humid shadows hover Over all the starry spheres



And the melancholy darkness



Gently weeps in rainy tears,



What a bliss to press the pillow



Of a cottage-chamber bed



And lie listening to the patter



Of the soft rain overhead!

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(a) Whom does the phrase ‘humid shadows’ refer to? (i) It refers to the tall trees around the poet’s house. (ii) It refers to the stars in the sky. (iii) It refers to the raindrops. (iv) It refers to the rain-bearing clouds that hide the stars.

(b) What is described as ‘bliss’? (i) Pressing the pillow (ii) Listening to the patter (iii) Both (i) and (ii) (iv) Neither (i) nor (ii)

(c) What does melancholy darkness signify here?

(1)

(1)

(2)

(d) What is the poet doing in the given stanza? (1) Ans. (a) (iv) It refers to te rain-bearing clouds that hide the stars. (b) (iii) Both (i) and (ii) (c) Melancholy darkness is the darkness in the night that appears to be shedding tears in the form of raindrops. It signifies poet’s past memories which are full of sorrow. The poet remembers his past while listening to the sound of rain drops in the night. (d) The poet is lying on the bed of his cottage and listening to the sound of the rain falling on his roof. 2.

Every tinkle on the shingles Has an echo in the heart;



And a thousand dreamy fancies



Into busy being start,



And a thousand recollections



Weave their air-threads into woof,



As I listen to the patter



Of the rain upon the roof.

(a) What is the poet’s tone in the given stanza? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) Nostalgic (2) Sad (3) Agitated (4) Thoughtful (5) Argumentative (i) 1, 2 & 3 (ii) 1, 2 & 4 (iii) 2, 3 & 5 (iv) 1, 4 & 5

(b) What does the ‘dreamy fancies’ refer to?

(1)



(c) What effect does the poet want to create in ‘a thousand collections’ and ‘a thousand dreamy fancies’? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (i) To heighten emotions (ii) To create a magical effect (iii) For greater effect (iv) For creating humour

(d) What does ‘A thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof ’ mean? (2) Ans. (a) (ii) 1, 2 & 4 (b) When the poet listens to the sound of raindrops, numerous thoughts flow into his mind and he finds himself lost in sweet reveries from the past. (c) (i) To heighten emotions

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(d) A thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof means that the poet recollects numerous memories of the rainy season and join them together to form a beautiful picture like the weaving threads that mesh together to form a pattern or a fabric. 3.

Now in memory comes my mother, As she used in years agone, To regard the darling dreamers Ere she left them till the dawn:

(a) What did the poet’s mother do in the ‘years agone’?

(1)

(b) What is meant by ‘darling dreamers’? (i) Little dreamers (ii) Lost kids (iii) Dreamy kids (iv) Poet and his siblings



(1)

(c) When does the poet’s mother come in memory?

(2)

(d) Select the sentence in which the word ‘regard’ has been used in the similar context as in line 3 of the given extract. (1) (i) I have a very high regard for him and what he has achieved. (ii) There were armed people about, people with little regard for human life. (iii) The Party ruled the country with regard for the people’s view. (iv) Professor Rathore regard(ed) him with a faint smile. Ans. (a) The poet’s mother used to visit her darling children’s chamber to see if they were comfortable and bid them farewell. (b) (iv) Poet and his siblings (c) The poet remembers his mother when it rains. It reminds him of the moments when his mother used to tuck him in the bed to sleep. She used to watch him sleep all the night till dawn when he was asleep. The poem tells us that the poet is very affectionate and lonely as he remembers his mother, sister and dear friend. (d) (iv) Professor Rathore regard(ed) him with a faint smile.

4.







O! I feel her fond look on me As I list to this refrain Which is played upon the shingles By the patter of the rain.

(a) The poet says that he experiences _____________________ even today. (i) childhood pain (ii) mother’s fond look (iii) father’s fond look (iv) both (i) and (ii)

(1)

(b) What feeling does every tinkle on the shingle create for the poet? (i) Creates rhythm with the poet’s heartbeat (ii) Evokes thousands of dreams (iii) Starts weaving recollections of fond memories (iv) All of these

(1)

(c) What kind of refrain is the poet referring to?

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(d) Identify and explain the poetic device used in the following line:





(2)

By the patter of the rain.

Ans. (a) (ii) mother’s fond look (b) (iv) All of these (c) Here, refrain refers to the continuous patter of the rain falling on the shingles of his roof. (d) The poet has used the poetic device ‘onomatopoeia’ in the line ‘By the patter of the rain’. The word ‘patter’ creates the sensation of the sound of falling rain on the surface of an object, in the minds of the reader.

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. What does ‘melancholy darkness’ signify in the poem, ‘Rain on the Roof ’? Ans. Darkness is synonymous with sadness. Melancholy darkness is due to the rain clouds that have hidden the starry sky. The falling of rains from the laden clouds is being compared to the tears that fall out our eyes. In both the situations, heaviness is being released. 2. Why does the poet feel it ‘a bliss to press the pillow’? Ans. When it rains, the poet experiences a lot of happiness as he lies in the comfort of his bed in the cottage, listening to the rhythmic beat of the raindrops as they tinkle on the roof top. The warmth of the bed, the softness of his pillow, and the lullaby sung by the rains, takes him to a world of bliss.

3. What does the poet convey when he says, ‘the humid shadows hover all the starry spheres’? Ans. The poet beautifully explains how the night sky full of twinkling stars get covered by the dark moisture laden clouds that are hovering around the atmosphere. He may be trying to convey that behind every sorrow or darkness, there is light that makes its appearance as soon as the facade (a deceptive outward appearance) makes way for it. 4. How does the poet express his sorrow and happiness when he speaks about rain? Ans. The humidity of the atmosphere is relatively high as it lingers below the dark skies. Though the darkness mourns the melancholic spirit, the soft rain sets in to compensate it with the spirit of peace. The poet suddenly realises how much joy and pleasure he can attain, when he presses his head against his pillow, as he tucks himself into the warmth of his bed amidst the soft summer showers. 5. According to the poet, what is nature’s mood in ‘rainy darkness’? Ans. According to the poet, nature’s mood is one of sadness. The poet relates the darkness in the sky when the dark clouds gather to sadness. The poet says that the darkness in the clouds gently give way to the tears in the form of rain. 6. What feeling does the falling rain arouse in the poet? Ans. The poet first describes the falling rain as the tears of the dark, gloomy clouds. However, as he lies snug in his bed, listening to the patter of rain on the shingles, the sound provides him immense pleasure and he is lost in fantasies and memories. 7. When do the ‘thousand dreamy fancies’ begin to weave in the poet’s mind? What are these fancies? Ans. When the poet is in his cottage and lies in his cosy bed listening to the soft music of rain on the roof, his mind is flooded with various thoughts and imaginations. These fancies or imaginary thoughts and ideas spin threads of bright fanciful colours in his mind.

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8. Do you think the poet enjoys the rain? Ans. At first, when the clouds gather and rain starts, the poet is filled with dismay and gloom at the gathering darkness. His mood is somber. However, the patter of the raindrops on the shingles soon soothes him and his mind is filled with imaginations and fond memories of his mother. 9. What is the central idea of the poem ‘Rain on the Roof ’? Ans. The central idea of the poem ‘Rain on the Roof ’ is that nature brings solace to the mind. The poet derives immense happiness from lying in bed listening to the sound of the rain falling on the roof of his cottage. He is lost in dreams as many fancies and memories crowd his mind. 10. How is the mood of the poet contrasted with the mood of darkness? Ans. Whereas the darkness is in a sad and gloomy mood, the poet is in a happy mood as he considers it bliss to lie comfortably in bed pressing the head against the pillow and listening to the music made by the showers of the rain.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)

1. Write a short paragraph on your analysis of the poem, ‘Rain on the Roof ’. Ans. The poem, ‘Rain on the Roof ’ written by Coates Kinney, is very different from the popular genre of poems that speak about rain. In this poem, the poet is referring to the joys and happiness that this natural phenomenon unfolds as it makes an appearance upon the earth. It is with a lot of apprehension that one welcomes the rain, afraid of the havoc, it may cause. People react differently to the arrival of rain. The farmer is happy, while the homeless tramp (a person who travels from place to place) does not welcome it with joy. He therefore, enumerates both joy and sorrow in his poem. Rain is universally loved by little children, who are unmindful of the miseries of life. That is why, even as he ages, rain quite naturally brings with it sweet memories of his childhood in which his mother played a prominent role. All sorrows are forgotten as soon as his mother appears in his thoughts and dreams. Reminiscing about his past, he listens to the pitter patter of the rain, and transports himself into a world of bliss.

2. There is an acute shortage of water in your village. Farmers are facing severe financial problems. Write an article for the student edition of the local newspaper, suggesting solutions for nipping the problem. You are Sachin/Soumya. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. ‘Adams ale’ by Soumya I am a student from the rural village of Karnataka. I have been reading about the pathetic conditions that man is facing because of the paucity of water supply. “Adams ale” or water, is becoming the commodity that is high in demand and low in supply. How can we change this alarming situation? I made a random survey and the results were alarming. How can we have water when we do not use it carefully? First I saw a lady, leaving the tap open as she washed her vessels. Yet again, a little boy was running around his garden brushing his teeth, as the water for his use began flowing out of the bucket. Leaking taps, overflowing tanks, and brazen misuse of this natural resource, has to be stopped or corrected by every citizen of the country. Use water judiciously (sensibly), so that it continues to be available for the next generation too. A few suggestions to solve the problem: Literature Reader

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1. Equal and rationed supply to every household. 2. Re-use and re-cycle water. 3. Secure all water outlets. 4. Avoid misuse of water. 5. Be socially conscious because the world belongs to every one. 6. Rainwater harvesting. I hope, as a country, we would work towards rescuing “adams’ ale”.



3. What happens when the poet listens to the patter of the rain? Do you think rain is a narrative tool in the poet’s life? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. The raindrops play music on the roof and create a tinkling sound on the shingles. To the poet this music is blissful. At the beginning of the poem, there is certain tinge of sadness, and the poet talks of ‘melancholy darkness/Gently weeps in rainy tears’. However, as he lies in his cosy bed, a feeling of bliss washes over him. Every raindrop on the tiles of the roof creates a rhythm with the poet’s heartbeat. The poet tries to focus on listening to the pitter-patter on the roof whereas his mind weaves the recollections of fond memories of yester years. Rain bears a subtle link with all aspects of life. It serves as a powerful narrative tool in the poet’s life as it evokes fantasies and nostalgia in the poet. He recalls his mother in a poignant manner.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1.

What a bliss to press the pillow Of a cottage – chamber bed And lie listen to the patter Of the soft rain overhead!

(a) Why is it a ‘bliss’ to press the pillow?

(2)



(1)

(b) How is rain described in the above lines?

(c) What is the poet doing? (i) Lying comfortably on his bed (ii) Listening to the sound of the rain (iii) Both (i) and (ii) (iv) Neither (i) nor (ii)

(1)

(d) Where is the rain falling? (i) On the roof of his little cottage (ii) On the windows of his room (iii) On the field in front of his cottage (iv) In the well near his cottage

(1)

2.

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Every tinkle on the shingle Has an echo in the heart, And a thousand dreamy fancies Into busy being start.





(a) Explain, ‘Has an echo in the heart’.

(2)

(b) What does ‘busy being’ refer to? (i) The poet’s comfort on his bed (ii) The poet’s mind filled with various thoughts and imaginations (iii) The poet’s focus on the sound of the rain (iv) None of these

(1)

(c) What evokes thousand imaginations into the poet’s heart?

(1)

(d) Which of the following poetic devices has been used in the first line of the stanza? (1) (i) Personification (ii) Imagery (iii) Refrain (iv) Onomatopoeia

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words)

1. What is the mood of the poet when the clouds envelope the starry night sky?

2. What thoughts appear in the mind of the poet, when it rains?



3. In ‘As I listen to this refrain’, what is the poet referring to?



4. What does the poet mean when he says, ‘What a bliss to press the pillow/of a cottage – chamber bed’?

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)



1. How does the poet describe the falling of the rain in the poem ‘Rain on the Roof ’?



2. You were a survivor of the floods that ravaged Bombay. Make a diary entry of your experience, and the misfortunes that followed. Also, account for the plans you propose to take in your journey towards revival. (Constructed Response Question)



3. Rain is a bliss for the poet. How? Describe.



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Poem

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The Lake Isle of Innisfree —William Butler Yeats

About the Poet William Butler Yeats (13 June 1865- 28 January 1939) was an Irish poet and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. A pillar of both the Irish and British literary establishments, he helped to found the Abbey Theatre, and in his later years, served as an Irish Senator for two terms. Yeats was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival along with Lady Gregory, Edward Martyn and others.

Theme ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’ is based on three ideas: home, isolation, and natural world. While the poet lives in a city, he is unable to reconcile with his present situation. It seems that in “his heart’s core”, he craves for a peaceful, natural rustic setting. Isolation can be very lonely, but not in ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’. The poet seems to really crave for some solitude from his life in the congested and noisy city. He reminiscences his childhood days spent in the lake island. There is always conflict between man and the natural world, but however, the poet seems to love the natural greenery, the birds, insects and the lapping of the waves on the island shore. This poem is a lyric, which is the genre of poetry, in which the poet is expressing emotions briefly and in stanzas or recognised forms.

Summary The poet wants to escape from the urban life for a more rustic settlement. He expresses his desire to build and stay in a small cottage, plant nine bean rows in his garden and have a beehive for the bees in the Isle of Innisfree. He desires to be independent and wants to live alone in peace with nature. The poet welcomes the chirping of the crickets after the mist is unveiled in the morning by the rising sun. The glade where he builds his cottage is constantly buzzing with the bees, moving to and fro from their hive. It is a sight to behold, to see the linnets fly in multitudes in the evening sky. The clear night is enlivened by the twinkling of millions of stars. The island is ever alive because of the lapping of the waves on the island shore all day and night. The poet equates peace to nature as against the sound of traffic in the city, where he is presently dwelling. He recalls each part of the day with fond memories, and he says that he can hear every sound of his past echo in the core of his heart.

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Glossary Stanza 1 arise – stand up; Innisfree – a pure island where clean nature and healthy beauty coexist in harmony. Innisfree is a real place near the coast of Ireland; cabin – a small shelter made of wood and clay; wattles – twisted sticks for making fences, walls; glade – an opening in the forest / wood, clearing; bee-loud – the buzzing of the bees Stanza 2 peace – silence that is synonymous to nature; dropping slow – dropping in slow motion, peace envelopes one gradually; veils – (metaphorically) mask or shield that covers the environment / surroundings, literally a piece of fine material to conceal the face; cricket – an insect related to the grasshoppers but with shorter legs; all a glimmer – shining brightly; linnet – a brown and grey finch with a reddish breast and forehead; finch – a seed-eating songbird that typically has a stout bill and colourful plumage; purple glow – light reflected by the sun on the heather makes the island appear bright purple (The colour purple is often associated with royalty, nobility, luxury, power, and ambition. Purple also represents meanings of wealth, extravagance, creativity, wisdom, dignity, grandeur, devotion, peace, pride, mystery, independence and magic) Stanza 3 lapping – sound of water striking the coastal shore; low – soft; roadway – concrete in the urban settlement; deep heart’s core – in the depth of one’s heart

Explanation of the Poem

1.

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

Exp- The poet states that he will arise (metaphorically) and soon be going to Innisfree. There he will build a small wooden shelter in the small opening in the woods/forest and its going to be quite, simple, and rustic; bare of furniture. He will make it of clay and wattles. (This is an ancient construction technique known as ‘wattle and daub’, where clay is smeared over a frame of interwoven branches.) He is also going to have a garden with nine beans planted in a row, and a beehive for honeybees. The poet informs that he desires to live alone, surrounded only by the sounds made by the bees, and be with nature. 2.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evenings full of the linnet’s wings.

Exp- The first line gives a clue about, why the poet wants to build a little cabin in an isolated island with very little habitation. However, ‘peace comes dropping slow’ indicates that he is restless and too busy. Maybe that is why, he wants the solitude to break away from the hustle and bustle of the urban life. He visualises the morning hour in the island, when the daylight breaks in gradually to keep pace with the calm and peace of the quiet countryside. The speaker says the mist or fog that veils the morning are lifted, once the sun rises. The morning soon is filled with the sound of the crickets chirping Literature Reader

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in the surrounding. He equates peace to nature. It seems the midnight looks beautiful, twinkling with millions of stars. At midday, the island seems alight with the purple light. It may also indicate the blissful calm, the peaceful seista that he can enjoy royally, as the colour purple is indicative of nobility and royalty. The poet says that the evening is a sight to behold as it is filled by flocks of linnets homeward bound. It makes us think its not one bird but lots of them in flight. The poet creates an imagery – purple, haze, full of birds in flight—we are tempted to go there for a stay. 3.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

Exp- The poet is more than ever determined to go ahead with his decision to go to Innisfree. He imagines that he can hear the lapping of the water reaching the shore. The use of auditory image as a metaphor shows his strong desire to get to the place of his dreams. However, he can’t be far from Innisfree as in his mind and heart, he hears the lapping of the waters hit the shore, as he is actually standing on the parched grey roads in the city. The last line confirms that all this is in his imagination. Since the heart cannot actually hear, we might think the ‘deep heart’s core’ is a metaphor, as it is speaking of the poet’s deepest feelings and desires. Though, he is in the city, his heart and mind are living in Innisfree.

Poetic Devices Rhyme Scheme “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” utilises end rhyme in an abab rhyme scheme. This means that the end of the first line of a stanza rhymes with the end of the third line, and the end of the second line of a stanza rhymes with the end of the fourth line. All three of the quatrains in “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”, display an abab rhyme scheme.

Alliteration It is the repetition of certain consonants in a poem which are often used in order to stress a word or phrase. Notice the sound of the consonants ‘l’ and ‘s’ in the following line: “I hear lake water lapping with the low sounds by the shore.” There is an emphasis on the words “lapping,” “low,” and “shore.”

Assonance It occurs when the vowel sounds attached to different consonants are repeated in a poem. Notice the sound of the vowels ‘i’ and ‘o’ in the following line: “I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree.” Assonance is less clear than either rhyme or alliteration, but its use is similar. It links important words or phrases in the poem together.

Imagery Saying that “the evening is full of linnet’s wings”, “Midnight’s all a glimmer”, “And noon a purple glow” make us think not only of one bird, but also of all of them in flight. Now, that’s an image.

Metaphor “Veils of the morning”? It’s a metaphor for the fog of early morning, or the mist. “I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore” The poet is not really hearing the water, we should think of this auditory image as a metaphor for his strong desire to head to Innisfree. And of course the heart can’t actually hear, so we might think of the “deep heart’s core” as a metaphor for the part of the poet that feels and dreams deeply.

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Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE POEM I. 1. What kind of place is Innisfree? Think about: (i) the three things the poet wants to do when he goes back there (stanza I) (ii) what he hears and sees there and its effect on him (stanza II) (iii) what he hears in his “heart’s core” even when he is far away from Innisfree (stanza III) Ans. Innisfree is a quiet and simple place, surrounded with natural beauty amidst peace and calm. (i) The poet wants to build a cabin made of clay and wattles. He is making plans of planting nine rows of beans, and a bee hive for honeybees. (ii) He hears the sounds being made by the cricket, the ruffling of the wings as the linnets fly to their homes in the evening. All of them has a very soothening effect on the poet. He is at peace. (iii) In his “heart’s core”, he can hear the sound of the waves lapping against the shores, even as he is standing on the pavement of a road in the city.

2. By now you may have concluded that Innisfree is a simple, natural place, full of beauty and peace. How does the poet contrast it with where he now stands? Ans. Yeats has created a wonderful image of Innisfree, when he calls it a place of peace and calm. He says that the only sights and sounds one gets to see and hear, are the beautiful and rhythmic creations of nature. The buzzing of the bees, the songs of the cricket, the breezing of the linnets, and the lapping of the waves, along with the beautiful sights of the breaking of dawn, the starry night skies, the lazy noons, and the lovely green plants and trees. In contrast, he says that the roads and pavements in the city are hard and grey, busy and loud, bereft of peace, calm, beauty and harmony.

3. Do you think Innisfree is only a place, or a state of mind? Does the poet actually miss the place of his boyhood days? Ans. I think it is a state of mind. We tend to fantasise or go back in time when we are sad or feel frustrated from the present situation or condition. It all depends on what the poet considers an ideal place. Sound is heard in the city as well as in the countryside but the question arises which sounds give us more pleasure and when. Yes, he misses the place of his boyhood days and recalls the sound of the lake washing its shore all day long in his heart’s core. He misses the sounds of the crickets chirping in the woods and the sight of the linnets flying homewards in the evening sky. He misses the unveiling of the mist by the rising sun. He misses the midday sun enliven the island lake with its light and the midnights all a glimmer. Indeed, this is the ultimate dream of every human being to settle in the quiet nature, far away from the bustle of the city. I I. 1. Look at the words the poet uses to describe what he sees and hears at Innisfree (i) bee-loud glade (ii) evenings full of the linnet’s wings (iii) lake water lapping with low sounds What pictures do these words create in your mind? Ans. (i) “Glade” is an open space in a forest, so we can probably visualise the bee glade as a clearing in the woods, surrounding the poet’s small cabin with swarms of honeybees. The poet wishes to live alone and be at peace with nature, listening to the buzz of the bees as they are busy doing their work. (ii) The poet creates an imagery that is dreamlike. A linnet is a type of finch, typically brown and red breasted. The evening sky is full of linnet’s wings, make us think that Literature Reader

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its not just one small bird but all the linnets are in flight. (iii) The poet imagines he can hear the soft and gentle sounds of the ripples in the lakes. All of these pictures create the idyllic (like an idyll; extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque) picture of a beautiful countryside blessed by the bounties of nature in our mind.

2. Look at these words;

...peace comes dropping slow dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings

What do these words mean to you? What do you think “comes dropping slow...from the veils of the morning”? What does “to where the cricket sings” mean? Ans. These lines are very indicative of an image of a quiet and misty morning, where the sun has not made its glorious presence in the morning sky. Nature like a beautiful bride is hiding her lovely looks behind the veil of the disappearing darkness. Life is so unhurried and calm, therefore, the prevailing peace is encompassing the poet in her fold gradually. As the light emerges, the songs of the crickets fall upon his ears, as they are seen busying themselves with their morning chores. It may also be interpreted as the gradual awakening of life and the sounds that emerge in the isle, quite unlike the hustle and bustle of the city life, which has the habit of holding us in its viscious trap, from where an escape is often a distant dream.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1.

(5 Marks each)

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee, And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

(a) Where does the speaker intend to go? (1) (i) To a hive of honey bee (ii) To Innisfree where he will live alone in a self-made cabin (iii) To a small cabin (iv) To go and live a social life (b) The poet’s determination is made obvious in the stanza where he promises: (1) (i) himself peace and tranquillity. (ii) to offer the readers scenic beauty. (iii) to instil solitary lifestyle. (iv) to explore an intermittent world. (c) What is the poet’s profound desire reflected in the stanza given above?

(2)

(d) Which is the poetic device used by the poet in the last line of the given extract? Why? (1) Ans. (a) (ii) To Innisfree where he will live alone in a self-made cabin (b) (i) himself peace and tranquillity (c) The poet is in search of peace and calmness which the lake isle of Innisfree can

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provide him. The environment is natural and peaceful, and the poet desires to visit this island. According to the poet, on this island, peace comes down slowly in the small drops. (d) The poet has used alliteration. In this line, the poet has repeated the consonant sound ‘l’. The repeated use of the letter ‘l’ creates an auditory motion in the mind of the reader. 2.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

(a) The poet beautifully builds up the imagery and creates a wish-list in the given stanza. Pick the one that the wish-list doesn’t include. (1) 1. Nine Bean Rows 2. A Hive for The Honey-Bee 3. Wilderness of river 4. Cricket’s Songs 5. Purple Glow 6. Glimmer of Moonlight (i) Option (6) (ii) Option (3) (iii) Options (3) and (1) (iv) Options (2) and (6)



(b) What does the poet expect to find in Innisfree?

(1)

(c) How does the poet describe the midnight and noon of this place? (2) (d) The stanza is rich with different insects and birds. Which one would you identify (Competency-focused Question) (1) as ‘linnet’?

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(i) Option (1) (ii) Option (2) (iii) Option (3) (iv) Option (4) Ans. (a) (ii) Option (3) (b) The poet is expecting to find peace in the natural surroundings and enjoy the calmness of village life without traffic, pollution and congestion. (c) According to the poet, Innisfree is a magical place. Both midnight and noon of this place are visualised by the poet to be very bright with only different hues of brilliance – the twinkling light of the moon and the stars in the midnight and the bright purple shine in the noon. (d) (ii) Option (2) 3.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, I hear it in the deep heart’s core. Literature Reader

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(a) In the given stanza, the poet describes his urge to go to Innisfree. Why?

(1)

(b) How does the poet draw a contrast between Innisfree and the city of his residence? (2) (c) What picture do these words create in your mind? (Competency-focused Question) (1) ‘Lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey’ (i) The waves strike the lake’s shore to create a pleasing and soothing sound. (ii) The waves of the lake are tranquil and create a serene aura. (iii) While the poet is standing on the roadway, he is looking on the pavements. (iv) None of these (d) Which of the following poetic devices has been used in the second line of the given stanza? (1) (i) Personification (ii) Alliteration (iii) Metaphor (iv) Transferred epithet Ans. (a) In the given stanza, the poet describes his urge to go to Innisfree because the lapping sound of the lake calls him even when he stands surrounded by the busy city life. (b) He draws a contrast by calling the roads and pavements of the city grey – ugly and dirty. At the same time, he is drawn by the sound of the lake water at Innisfree which he can hear in his imaginations, even when he is away from Innisfree. (c) (i) The waves strike the lake’s shore to create a pleasing and soothing sound. (d) (ii) Alliteration

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. What does the poet plan to do when he reaches the isle? Ans. The poet intends to build a small cottage of clay and wattle, and live all by himself near the glade where the bees buzz around in their hive. He also plans to plant nine rows of beans. 2. Explain the expression, ‘the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore’ ? Ans. These words describe the beautiful natural environment in the lake isle of Innisfree, where the lake water gently strikes the island shore making soft sounds which are musical to the ears. The water gently hitting the shore is like a lullaby that soothes the senses and makes one feel at peace with oneself. 3. What does the cabin symbolise in the poem? Ans. The cabin on the lake symbolises the simple life, a life free of distraction and troubles. Symbolism is an object that has a meaning larger than itself. Just as the cabin is simple, ‘of clay and wattles made,’ the life in the isle allows us to rely on nothing more than ourselves.

4. What is the poet trying to convey when he is referring to the bees, birds, crickets, and the waves? Ans. The poet is referring to the continuous activities that goes on in the countryside. All the creations of nature are busy in their activities, but despite all this, they unknowingly provide peace and solace to man. On the other hand, in the city, infested by human beings, man does not provide the tranquility that the other creations of nature provide, and they do so without expectations of any form of renumeration.

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5. What kind of life does the poet imagine in the poem? Ans. The poet imagines Innisfree as an idyllic place of peace and solitude. He imagines living in a small cabin of clay and wattles where he will support himself on beans he plants and honey from his beehive, and he will live alone in the bee-loud glade. There is also a sense that the ‘peace’ he will find there is connected to its natural beauty. 6. How does the poet describe the lake’s waves? Ans. The poet says that the lake’s waves hit its shore and create a low sound. The sound, different from the sounds of the city, gives him great pleasure. He hears it in his heart and enjoys it. It also gives him solace and comfort as he realises he can visualise the island in his heart in the city. 7. How is the ‘roadway in London’ different from the Lake Isle of Innisfree? Ans. The roadway in London is dull and grey. But there is nature’s beauty all around in the isle of Innisfree. The poet finds himself surrounded by the beauty of nature and its sounds. He hears the sweet sound of the lake water lapping against the shore. 8. How does the poet describe midnight, noon and evening? Ans. According to the poet, Innisfree is a magical place. In the morning, the mist is like veils thrown over the lake. At noon, the purple heather blazes under the sun, and the sky glows with a purple glow. In the evening, the environment is filled with chirping of crickets and the fluttering of the linnet’s wings. In the night, the bright stars cause the sky to shimmer.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)

1. Describe the image that has been created about the isle in your mind. Ans. The poet has been effective in transferring the image of the isle into the minds of the reader. Whichever part of the world the reader belongs to, he/she can close the external eye and picturise in the mind’s eye, a small little cottage, surrounded by a wicket fence, in the middle of the woods, close to the lake that flows through the countryside. In the frontyard in a “hammock” (a bed made of canvas or rope mesh suspended from two supports by cords at both ends.), the poet is lying with a book in his hand, savouring the sounds of the waves, birds, and bees. The setting is akin (of similar character) to that of a paradise on earth.

2. Describe the island the poet would like to go to. OR

What is it about the ‘Lake Isle of Innisfree’ that appealed to the poet ? Ans. The lake isle of Innisfree has been untouched by urbanisation. It is peaceful as the poet equates peace with nature. He would like to wake up in the morning, hearing the chirping of the crickets from the woods, after the mist/fog is slowly lifted by the rising sun. The rich purple colour that glows from the heather as the afternoon sun caresses it. Also the feeling of royalty as one luxuriates in the countryside. The beautiful sight of the linnets flying in large flocks in the evening sky and the night sky alight with the twinkling stars is a sight to behold. There is the constant rhythm of the waves as they strike the shores of the isle.

3. Describe the behaviour of the bee that has been given so much importance in the poem. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Honeybees are capable of maintaining a close association with human beings. Honeybees live in well-organised colonies and do not require hibernation. Literature Reader

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Honeybees are social creatures and live within colonies with a queen, thousands of workers and a few male drones. Each bee has a task to perform. The age of honeybees also plays an important role in determining which individuals perform various daily activities. Honeybees behave similarly in Africa, Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world, though certain species are known to be more aggressive than others. Honeybees behave defensively when intruders are near, guarding the entrance of their nests. However, honeybees are able to sting only once, and they die immediately. 4. How does the poet contrast the city life with life in natural surroundings? Ans. Although the poet does not describe the city life in detail, his obsession to go to the beautiful island full of pleasing sights and sounds makes it clear that he wants to leave the noisy life in the city and lead a simple life. The contrast between the crowded cities and the calm, natural surroundings of Innisfree justifies his desire. The description of green glades and pastures, along with birds and insects singing on Innisfree stand in contrast to the dull-looking roadways and pavements that are full of vehicles and people. This contrast hints at the noise pollution and congestion in cities. Further, the picture of the island surrounded by the calm water of the lake and its gentle waves present a beautiful sight. In contrast, people in cities are lost in a race of accumulating material possessions. The fewer needs of people living close to nature indicate greater contentment as compared to the city dwellers’ never-ending chase of wealth and material possessions. The poet’s urge to return to natural surroundings for a peaceful life hints at the problems and restlessness of people in cities. Thus, the poet contrasts every aspect of city life with the life in natural surroundings that are full of pleasure, contentment, and peace.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1.



I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

(a) ‘I will arise and go now.’ Where does the poet want to go? (i) Hometown (ii) Innisfree (iii) Lake (iv) Village

(b) What attracts him towards the lake? (c) “I hear it in the deep heart’s core”. What does the poet hear?



(1)

(2) (1)

(d) Which of the following poetic devices has been used in the second line of the stanza? (1) (i) Metaphor (ii) Personification (iii) Alliteration (iv) Imagery

2.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;

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There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evenings full of the linnet’s wings.

(a) What will the poet have at Innisfree and how will he find it?

(2)

(b) What kind of evening will the poet have at Innisfree?

(1)

(c) What beautiful sight will he get to see there? (i) The glimmer of midnight stars (ii) The linnets flying about in the evening (iii) The purple glow of the noon (iv) All of these

(1)



(d) Why kind of a person is the poet? (1) (i) The poet is a peace-loving person who likes to be in the midst of sights and sounds of nature. He hates the hustle and bustle of city-life. (ii) The poet is a busy man who enjoys city life and hates to go to a place of natural beauty. (iii) The poet is a person who enjoys the company of friends and books. (iv) The poet is a person who likes to go to places of historical importance.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the poet’s idea about peace? 2. Being a city dweller, do you appreciate the yearnings of the poet? Explain. (Constructed Response Question) 3. What is the moral of the poem, ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’? 4. What does the poet hear in the deep ‘heart’s core’? What is his reaction to it?

Long Answer Questions



(40-50 Words)

(100-120 Words)

1. “Health is the greatest gift, contentment is the greatest wealth, faithfulness is the best relationship”. Elaborate this thought of Gautam Buddha, by taking ideas from the poem, “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”. (Constructed Response Question) 2. Your class had been taken on a cruise to an island. Write an article for your school magazine, elaborating about the beauty of the place. Take inputs from “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”. (Constructed Response Question) 3. Imagine that you are sitting by a lake in your village. Do you experience the same pleasure that the poet experienced? (Constructed Response Question) zzz

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Poem

5

The Legend of the Northland

—Phoebe Cary

About the Poet Phoebe Cary (September 4, 1824– July 31, 1871) was an American poet and the younger sister of poet Alice Cary (1820–1871). The sisters co-published poems in 1849, and then each went on to publish volumes of their own. After their deaths in 1871, joint anthologies of the sisters’ unpublished poems were also compiled.

Theme The legend (a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but not authenticated) is about an old woman who was cursed for her greed and her indifference to charity and generosity. The main idea of writing ‘The Legend of the Northland’ is to instill in the minds of the children the value of kindness, generosity and charity, irrespective of who the person is, otherwise one would have to face the consequences.

Summary In Northland, there lived a little woman in a cottage. She was baking delicious cakes in the evening. Saint Peter, during his sojourn (a temporary stay, visit) around the world, reached her door. He was very tired and hungry as he had been preaching all day and had not eaten any food. He asked her for a piece of cake. She was an ungenerous and close-fisted woman. She, therefore, tried to bake a small cake to give away. But each time she baked, she felt the cake was too big to give away. Ultimately, she tried to bake a paper thin cake, which also turned big in her estimation. She began to wonder how the cakes that were meant for others seemed big to her, and those that were meant for her to eat, seemed very small. The final cake was also put on the shelf. She refused to part with the cakes. This angered the saint, who was hungry and faint. He told her that she did not deserve to be a human being nor did she deserve to live in a house and have a fire to keep her warm. He cursed her, and said henceforth, she would have to build her own house and would have to bore holes in hard dry wood, to acquire the scanty food that a bird requires to survive. All of a sudden, she went into the chimney and out came a woodpecker flew off from the top of the house. The little woman was turned to a woodpecker, noticed by every school boy as she keeps pecking at the wood in search of food.

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Glossary Stanza 1 & 2 legend – old traditional story; away, away – very far away; hours of the day – daylight hours; harness – tie; reindeer – deers found in the cold region to draw the sledge; furry – made of fur Stanza 3 & 4 curious – strange; ‘tis – short form of ‘it is’; tale – story; Saint Peter– an apostle of Christ; world below – earth; preaching – giving sermons Stanza 5 & 6 cottage – small house made of wood; baking – cook (food) by dry heat without direct exposure to a flame, typically in an oven; hearth – fireplace, the floor of a fireplace; being faint – feeling tired and dizzy, lightheaded; store – stock Stanza 7 & 8 baking lay – was being baked; give away – donate for free; kneaded – moulding the dough; turned it over – took it out after baking Stanza 9 & 10 tiny scrap – very small piece; dough – cake mixture (in this context); wafer – thin slice; part with– give away; shelf – place for storage Stanza 11 & 12 provoke – cause irritation or anger, trigger anger; selfish – greedy or showing no consideration; dwell – live Stanza 13 & 14 boring – making holes; chimney – shaft to draw away the smoke from a fireplace; woodpecker – a bird with a strong bill and a stiff tail, which climbs tree trunks to find insects, and drums on dead wood to mark territory Stanza 15 & 16 scarlet – bright red; black as a coal – jet black; flame – fire; wood – forest; boring for food – making holes in tree trunks with its beak for finding food

Explanation of the Poem 1.

Away, away in the Northland, Where the hours of the day are few, And the nights are so long in winter That they cannot sleep them through;

Exp- The poet introduces the place from where the story is derived –Northland. The poet says that the days are short and the nights are long in winter, and its difficult to sleep for so many hours in the dark/throughout the night. 2.

Where they harness the swift reindeer To the sledges, when it snows; And the children look like bear’s cubs In their funny, furry clothes:

Exp- The poet continues to give a description of the people of Northland. She says that when the snow falls, the people like sledging, so they reign the reindeer to the sledges. And the little children wear heavy woollen clothes that make them look like little bear cubs.

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3.

They tell them a curious story — I don’t believe ‘tis true; And yet you may learn a lesson If I tell the tale to you.

Exp- The poet informs how the elders tell their children strange and curious stories. Although the poet doesn’t believe the story that she had heard as a child, she feels that she should narrate the story none the less as it had a good message for us. 4.

Once, when the good Saint Peter lived in the world below, And walked about it, preaching, Just as he did, you know,

Exp- The poet then begins to tell the story. Once Saint Peter lived on earth. He travelled around the world preaching the words of God. 5.

He came to the door of a cottage, In travelling round the earth, Where a little woman was making cakes, And baking them on the hearth;

Exp- The poet further says that while preaching the words of God round the world, the saint reached the door of a little woman who was baking cakes on her hearth. 6.

And being faint with fasting, For the day was almost done, He asked her, from her store of cakes, To give him a single one.

Exp- The poet says that the condition of Saint Peter, when he came to the little woman’s cottage was very bad. His body was pale and tired and he was hungry too, after a long day. He stopped to ask for a piece of cake from the ones she had already baked and displayed on the shelf. 7.

So she made a very little cake, But as it baking lay, She looked at it, and thought it seemed Too large to give away.

Exp- She baked a very small cake but before giving it away, she stopped to think whether it was too big to give away to someone else for free. 8.

Therefore she kneaded another, And still a smaller one; But it looked, when she turned it over, As large as the first had done.

Exp- So she started to make smaller and smaller cakes, but each time she felt it was as big as the earlier one. 9.

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Then she took a tiny scrap of dough, And rolled and rolled it flat; And baked it thin as wafer— But she couldn’t part with that.

Exp- Finally, she made a wafer thin cake from an extremely small lump of dough. However, even this she could not bare to just give away for free. 10.

For she said,”My cakes that seem too small When I eat of them myself Are yet too large to give away.” So she put them on the shelf.

Exp- She reasons that the cakes seemed small when she made it for her consumption, but seemed all too big to be given away for charity. As a result, she ended up keeping all the baked cakes on the shelf and leaving Saint Peter hungry and faint. 11.

Then good Saint Peter grew angry, For he was hungry and faint; And surely such a woman Was enough to provoke a saint.

Exp- In the above lines, the poet describes Saint Peter’s reaction to the woman. He gets angry as he was hungry and weak. It is difficult to anger a saint but she succeeded in doing so by her inhuman behaviour. 12.

And he said, “You are far too selfish To dwell in human form, To have both food and shelter, And fire to keep you warm.

Exp- Saint Peter calls her a selfish woman who was not therefore, deserving of the comfortable lifestyle such as a house for shelter, water to keep clean, food to eat, and fire to keep them warm that had been granted to human beings. 13.

Now, you shall build as the birds do, And shall get your scanty food By boring, and boring, and boring, All day in the hard, dry wood.”

Exp- Saint Peter cursed the little woman and deprived her of all the comforts. He said that she would have to build her own nest like birds do and dig holes into the hard woods to get worms/insects to feed herself. 14.

Then up she went through the chimney, Never speaking a word, And out of the top flew a woodpecker, For she was changed to a bird.

Exp- Soon after, the woman was seen going up the chimney of her house, speechless, and a woodpecker could be seen flying out of that chimney. 15.

She had a scarlet cap on her head, And that was left the same; But all the rest of her clothes were burned Black as a coal in the flame.

Exp- The last two stanzas describe how the woodpecker gets its red cap. The scarlet cap on the woman’s head was left untouched, while the rest of her clothes were burnt to ashes. The bird’s head was still the same shade of red. Literature Reader

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16.

And every country schoolboy Has seen her in the wood, Where she lives in the trees till this very day, Boring and boring for food.

Exp- In the above lines, the poet says that every countryside boy has seen the woodpecker in the woods, pecking into the bark of the trees, searching for food to eat.

Poetic Devices The most striking element in the poem is that the first two four line stanzas called quartains, have no end punctuation. The poet has used enjambment ( the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza). Assonance: (repetition of vowel sounds) away, away Consonance: (repetition of consonant sounds) swift, sledge, snow Allusion : (Reference to a historical or literary person or event) Saint Peter Simile: (a comparison using like or as) the children look like bears’ cubs, black as coal Repetition : boring and boring and boring Personification: (giving human characteristics to inanimated things) listen to pity’s call

Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE POEM I. 1. Which country or countries do you think “the Northland” refers to? Ans. Northland is described as a land somewhere in the north of the earth. It is a cold country where people move on sledges drawn by reindeers. People wear heavy fur clothes to keep themselves warm, and nights are longer than the days in winter. 2. What did Saint Peter ask the old lady for? What was the lady’s reaction? Ans. Saint Peter asked for a piece of cake to satiate his hunger as it had been a long day preaching the gospels to humanity. The little woman did not refuse, but each time she baked a cake for him, she found it was too small to eat for herself but too big to give away for free. She could not make herself give him even a wafer thin cake. 3. How did he punish her? Ans. He punished her by transforming her into a woodpecker. Like a woodpecker, she would have to make her own house and go in search of the scanty food she needed by boring in the hard wood of trees. 4. How does a woodpecker get her food? Ans. A woodpecker gets her food by boring/pecking in the hard barks of the trees.

5. Do you think that the old lady would have been so ungenerous if she had known who Saint Peter really was? What would she have done? Ans. Definitely not, she would not have behaved in such a selfish and greedy way. Instead,

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she would have pleased him and served him most generously with as many cakes as he wanted. Her behaviour was inhuman because of her ignorance. 6. Is this a true story? Which part of this poem do you feel is the most important? Ans. It is a legend as humans cannot be changed to birds or vice versa. The main purpose of the story is to teach and ingrain in the minds of the young, the value of generosity and charity without any discrimination. 7. What is a legend? Why is this poem called a legend? Ans. A legend is an old traditional story, usually with a moral teaching. The story is a narration for children. The poet in the very onset says that she doesn’t believe this tale to be true. This poem is called a legend because it teaches the purpose and value of generosity and charity to all fellow beings. 8. Write a story of ‘A Legend of the Northland’ in about ten sentences. Ans. Once, Saint Peter stopped by a little woman’s cottage as he was very tired and hungry, after a long day of preaching to humanity. The woman was baking cakes and placing them in the shelf. He requested the lady to give him a single piece of cake. She was not ready to part with any from her stock, as they seemed too big to be given in charity. She therefore, started to prepare cakes, but each time she was to give it to him, she thought it was too big. So, every time she took smaller balls of dough to bake the cake. Finally, when she prepared a wafer thin cake, she could not bear to part with that too, as it also seemed too big to just give away. This act of the woman angered the saint and in turn, he cursed her. She was punished to be a woodpecker, who would have to struggle to secure food and build her own home to survive. II. 1. Let’s look at the words at the end of the second and fourth lines, viz, ‘snows’ and ‘clothes’ ‘true ‘ and ‘you’, ‘below’ and ‘know’. We find that snow rhymes with clothes, true with you and below with know. Find more such rhyming words. Ans. The rhyming words in the poem are given below, in the 2nd and 4th lines of each stanza. Stanza 1

few

through

2

snows

clothes

3

true

you

4

below

know

5

earth

hearth

6

done

one

7

lay

away

8

flat

that

9

myself

shelf

10

faint

saint

11

form

warm

12

food

wood

13

same

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2. Go to the local library or talk to older persons in your locality and find legends in your own language. Tell the class these legends. Ans. The Garland of Manjula There is a banyan tree a few metres away from the Guruvayoor temple on the Eastern part of the temple. A young Varasyar (a caste that worked within temples) girl would make a garland every day and offer it to the Lord in the night. The Chief Priest would adorn the idol with it. One day, she was late and the “Sri Koil” was closed. Manjula stood near the banyan tree crying and Poonthanam who passed by told her “Guruvayurappan knows what’s in your heart, keep the garland on the banyan tree and he will take it”. The following morning, when the Chief Priest began to remove the used flowers, one garland stuck to the idol and would not come off. When Poonthanam saw this, he called out to the Lord saying, “That’s Manjula’s Garland, let it also fall”. The garland fell and the devotees were awestruck and started chanting the Lord’s name. From that day, the banyan tree is called Manjula.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1.

Away, away in the Northland Where the hours of the day are few, And the nights are so long in winter That they cannot sleep them through;



Where they harness the swift reindeer To the sledges, when it snows; And the children look like bear’s cubs In their funny, furry clothes:

(a) What does the poet mean by quoting “Away, Away”? Why has the poet used ‘repetition’ here? (2)

(b) Why are people unable to sleep through night?

(1)

(c) Why do people harness the swift reindeer? (1) (i) Because people like sledging when the snow falls, so they tie the reindeers to sledges and then reindeers pull the sledges (ii) Because then the children look like bear’s cubs (iii) Because sledging helps in making reindeer run faster (iv) Both (i) and (iii) (d) Why were the children compared to bear’s cubs? (1) (i) Because children and bear’s cubs are small and tiny (ii) Because children have to wear furry dresses to protect themselves from cold (iii) Because reindeers pull the sledges and this makes them look like bear’s cubs (iv) None of these Ans. (a) By quoting ‘Away, Away’, the poet means ‘very far away’. The poet has used ‘repetition’ to emphasize a feeling or idea that the legend he is about to reveal happened in a place that was very far away.

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(b) People are unable to sleep through night because nights are too long in winter and it’s difficult to sleep for so many hours. (c) (i) B  ecause people like sledging when the snow falls, so they tie the reindeers to sledges and then reindeers pull the sledges (d) (ii) Because children have to wear furry dresses to protect themselves from cold 2.

He came to the door of a cottage, In travelling round the earth, Where a little woman was making cakes, And baking them on the hearth;



And being faint with fasting, For the day was almost done, He asked her, from her store of cakes, To give him a single one.



(a) Who is ‘he’ here? (i) Phoebe Cary (iii) Saint Peter

(1) (ii) Alice Cary (iv) None of these



(b) Why did he come to the cottage?

(1)



(c) Why was ‘he’ about to faint?

(2)

(d) What is a ‘hearth’? (1) (i) A hearth is the place where a meal is eaten. (ii) A hearth is the place where fire is made for cooking. (iii) A hearth is a place for cooking food. (iv) A hearth is a place for rest after a heavy meal. Ans. (a) (iii) Saint Peter (b) He needed food and rest badly. Therefore, he came to the cottage of a little woman who was making cakes. (c) Saint Peter was about to faint as he had been preaching and fasting. The woman provoked Saint Peter by not giving him the cakes that were baked for him. (d) (ii) A hearth is the place where fire is made for cooking.

3.

For she said, “My cakes that seem too small When I eat of them myself Are yet too large to give away.” So she put them on the shelf. Then good Saint Peter grew angry, For he was hungry and faint; And surely such a woman Was enough to provoke a saint.

(a) Why did the lady bake a small cake?

(2)

(b) What did she do with the baked cakes? (i) She gave all the cakes to the saint.

(1)

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(ii) She ate all by herself. (iii) She kept the cakes on the shelf. (iv) She threw all the cakes in the dustbin.

(c) Why was Saint Peter angry?

(1)

(d) Which of the following words means the same as ‘enrage’? (1) (i) Give (ii) Grew (iii) hungry (iv) Provoke Ans. (a) The woman in the poem has been shown as highly stingy, miserly, greedy and mean by nature. Whenever she took out the cake from the hearth, they appeared to be larger than the original size. Hence, she baked a very small cake for Saint Peter. (b) (iii) She kept the cakes on the shelf. (c) Saint Peter was angry at her greed as she did not give a piece of cake to satiate his hunger. (d) (iv) Provoke 4.

And he said, “You are far too selfish To dwell in a human form, To have both food and shelter, And fire to keep you warm.



Now, you shall build as the birds do, And shall get your scanty food By boring, and boring, and boring, All day in the hard, dry wood.”.

(a) “..You are far too selfish to...... human form” What is the poet trying to convey? (1) (b) What is the tone of the poet in the given stanza? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) Thoughful (2) Didactic (3) Preachy (4) Insulting (5) Reprimanding (i) 2, 3 & 5 (ii) 1, 2 & 3 (iii) 2, 3 & 6 (iv) 1, 3 & 4 (c) Which of the following poetic devices has been used in “boring, boring and boring”? (1) (i) Repetition (ii) Personification (iii) Assonance (iv) Simile (d) What curse did Saint Peter cast on her? (2) Ans. (a) (ii) The poet is trying to convey that the woman is selfish and doesn’t derserve to live a comfortable life as a human being. (b) (i) 2, 3 & 5 (c) (i) Repetition (d) Out of anger, Saint Peter cursed the lady that henceforth she would have to make her house like a bird does and have to make holes in the dry hard wood. She turned into a bird, flew through the chimney and finally became a woodpecker.

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5.

Then up she went through the chimney, Never speaking a word, And out of the top flew a woodpecker, For she was changed to a bird.



She had a scarlet cap on her head, And that was left the same; But all the rest of her clothes were burned Black as a coal in the flame.



(a) What was the impact of the curse on the lady?

(1)



(b) Which part of her dress was left untouched? (i) Red ring (ii) Shoes (iii) Scarlet cap (iv) Hat

(1)



(c) Identify and explain the poetic device used by the poet in ‘black as a coal in the flame’. (2)

(d) Which of the following words means the same as ‘bright red’? (1) (i) Chimney (ii) Scarlet (iii) Flame (iv) Top Ans. (a) As an immediate result of the curse, the woman turned into a woodpecker and flew away without speaking a word. (b) (iii) Scarlet cap (c) The poet has used the poetic device ‘simile’ in ‘black as a coal in the flame’. This poetic device is used to make comparisons between two or more things with the use of ‘like’ or ‘as’. Here, the poet is comparing the woman’s burnt clothes with coal using ‘as’. (d) (ii) Scarlet

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)



1. Why does the poet want to tell its readers the story when she says, “I don’t believe it is true”? Ans. The poet acknowledges the story may not be true but chooses to narrate the story as she felt that it has an important message for all, particularly for the young children. The message the legend imparts is that we should not be selfish or greedy, but be helpful and empathetic with a person who comes to our doorstep requesting for food or aid.

2. “And surely such a woman was enough to provoke a Saint.” Who was the woman and how did she provoke the Saint? Ans. The little woman who was baking cakes in her cottage was selfish and greedy. She had plenty of cakes in the shelf and was baking more on the hearth. The saint was tired and hungry after a long day of preaching and travelling. Her hesitation to part with one single piece of cake, provoked him to anger. 3. What was the impact of the curse on the lady? Ans. The little woman was too shocked to react to the curse of being transformed into a bird. She rushed up to the chimney, and in the process, every thing on her body got burnt and charred in the flames. Her red cap got transformed into the plume of the woodpecker, and like a bird, she flew out of the chimney into the woods. Literature Reader

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4. What is a legend? Why is the poem called ‘A Legend in the Northland’? Ans. A legend is a tale from ancient times about people and events that may or may not be true. It is a traditional story. It contains moral messages. The poem is a legend because it teaches us to be generous, unlike the old woman. 5. How did Saint Peter’s curse act upon the old lady? Ans. Saint Peter was a holy man. He cursed the old lady to be turned into a bird. His curse at once acted upon her. She was changed into a woodpecker wearing a scarlet cap. All her clothes were burnt black as she went through the chimney and flew out of the top. 6. Where does this legend belong to and what kind of country is it? Ans. The legend belongs to the ‘Northland’, an area that could refer to any of the extremely cold countries in the Earth’s north polar region, such as Greenland, the northern regions of Russia - Siberia, or the Scandinavian countries - Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland. It is a cold place where days are short and the nights are long. 7. Why was Saint Peter tired and hungry? Ans. Saint Peter was an apostle of Jesus Christ. He travelled around the land, preaching the message of Christ. During the course of his journey, sometimes, he did not get food and water. Besides, he had to observe fasts also. This often left him tired and hungry. 8. Why did the woman bake a little cake? Ans. The woman in the poem has been shown as being highly stingy, miserly, greedy and mean by nature. Whenever she picked up a cake to give it away, it appeared to be too large to give away. Hence, she baked a very small cake for Saint Peter that was as thin as a wafer.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)



1. Greed is a quality which God does not like. Discuss it in context of the poem. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Man is one creation of God who never reaches a state of contentment. He keeps wanting more and more. His limit for satiation is unmeasurable. Our hands are always with the palm facing upwards to receive more and more, and never downwards to give more and more. This is the quality of man that has been described in ‘The Legend of Northland’. The baker woman is hesitant to part with the goodies she is baking, and accepts herself, the difficulty she faces while giving. The cake that appears small on her plate, seems very big on the plate meant for serving to another. Unconsciously, she does accept her flaw, but does not make attempts to correct this flaw. We get transformed into inhuman characters in our madness to satisfy each and every greed/desire of ours. Eventually, just as the baker woman was cursed, we too will have to suffer for our misdeeds. 2. What do you understand by dramatic narrative? Ans. Poems with dramatic narrative are a form of poetry that has a plot and tells a story. Poems can vary in length from short or long to tell a complex story. Many times, these poems use the voices of characters and narrators and usually the story is written in metered verse. Dramatic narrative is a specific style of writing in which the poet chooses to share only the action of a scene and not the internal thoughts or emotions of a character. Some people refer to this as the “fly-on-the-wall”, where the narrator is a fly observing the events but not commenting upon them. This poem is a dramatic narrative, as the poet is narrating to the readers of her poem, the legend that had been passed on to her by her elders from the far cold Northland. She is not putting across her thoughts or feelings of acceptance or refusal to be part of

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the legend. A moral story is narrated perhaps for the common good of all. (Meter is a unit of rhythm in poetry, the pattern of the beats. It is also called a foot. Each foot has a certain number of syllables in it, usually two or three syllables.) 3. What is the message of the poem? Ans. This poem teaches us that true happiness lies in sharing things with the person who are in need. If we are greedy, we cannot have happiness in our life. On the other hand, our charitable nature makes us think about pains and sorrows suffered by the other people. The little woman baking cakes was asked for something to eat by a tired and hungry traveller. The woman, who had a large store of cakes, was greedy and selfish. She made smaller and smaller cakes, but in the end refused to part with any. Her greed and mercilessness angered the weary traveller, Saint Peter, who told her that she was too selfish to dwell in human form, where she has food, warmth and shelter. He cursed her to become a bird and live in a nest and search for scanty food by digging all dry and hard wood. 4. Briefly narrate the legend of the old woman and Saint Peter. Ans. Once, Saint Peter stopped by an old lady’s cottage because he was feeling hungry and weak after the day’s fasting. The lady was baking cakes on the hearth. When Saint Peter asked her for one of the cakes, she tried to make a tiny cake for him. But as it was baking, she found it too large to be given away. She tried baking two more times but even the smallest of cakes seemed too large to her. Such greedy behaviour of the lady annoyed the hungry saint. He cursed her saying that she was far too selfish to be a human, to have food, shelter and fire to keep her warm. Thus, she was transformed into a woodpecker. All her clothes except her scarlet cap were gone as she went up the chimney and flew out of the top. Every country schoolboy is said to have seen her in the forest, boring into the wood for food till date.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1.

And he said, “You are far too selfish To dwell in a human form, To have both food and shelter, And fire to keep you warm.



Now, you shall build as the birds do, And shall get your scanty food By boring, and boring, and boring, All day in the hard, dry wood.”.



(a) What does the repetition of ‘away’ emphasise? (i) That the hours of the day are few (ii) That nights are so long (iii) That how distant Northland is (iv) That how people are unable to sleep

(1)



(b) Which country is the poet talking about? What is unique about the place?

(2)

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(c) What is a sledge?

(1)

(d) Which of the following poetic devices has been used in ‘the children look like bear’s cubs’? (1) (i) Simile (ii) Repetition (iii) Assonance (iv) Consonance

2.

Therefore she kneaded another, And still a smaller one; But it looked, when she turned it over, As large as the first had done.



Then she took a tiny scrap of dough, And rolled and rolled it flat; And baked it thin as a wafer – But she couldn’t part with that.



(a) Why did the little old lady knead another flour?

(2)



(b) What is the meaning of ‘tiny scrap of dough’? (i) Waste dough (ii) Little (iii) Small lump of dough (iv) Both (i) and (iii)

(1)



(c) Why was the dough rolled flat? (i) To make wafer (iii) To make a big cake

(1)



(ii) To make a thin small cake (iv) To make a bread

(d) What was the size of the second cake?

Short Answer Questions

(1) (40-50 Words)

1. ‘I don’t believe ‘tis’ true; and yet you may learn a lesson’. What does the poet want to tell and why? 2. What is the theme of the ballad, ‘The Legend of the Northland’? 3. Was the woman wrong? Justify your answer. 4. Why did the little woman not say anything when she was cursed by Saint Peter?

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)

1. Rewrite the poem, ‘The Legend of the Northland’ as a short story. Highlight the conversation between Saint Peter and the little woman as written dialogues. (Constructed Response Question) 2. Is it right for anyone to curse another or wish ill for another as shown in ‘The Legend of the Northland?’ Express your opinion in the matter. (Constructed Response Question) 3. John was a little boy.....lived in an orphanage.....youngest child.......Complete the story and give it a suitable title. Take references from the poem, ‘The Legend of the Northland’. (Constructed Response Question)



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zzz

No Men Are Foreign

—James Kirkup

Poem

6

About the Poet James Falconer Kirkup, (23 April 1918 – 10 May 2009) born James Harold Kirkup, was an English poet, translator and travel writer. He wrote over 30 books, including autobiographies, novels and plays.

Theme In the poem, ‘No Men are Foreign’, the poet is expressing a wonderful thought – the whole world is one. According to the place on the earth one is born, there is bound to be difference in the appearance, language and lifestyle. But there is a common element in every human being and that is love. He is advocating a life without barriers. UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD- We are the children of the same father who is God. Therefore, we are the citizens of our mother earth, so we should not divide ourselves by the boundaries of our countries. INTERNATIONALISM- The world is one family. It tends to dismantle man-made barriers that stand between one nation and the other. By having an international outlook, men and women will enjoy equal status.

Summary The poem is about brotherhood, and harmonious existence without discrimination geographically, socially or economically. The poet says that every human being is the same regardless of whatever clothes we may wear. We walk on the same land, and also get buried here. Our bio-rhythm is the same, we wake up and work in the same way. The poet emphasises that the one most important thing that sustains life is love which is recognised and understood by every living being. The poet is cautioning us against fighting with each other or getting influenced by others to fight, for if we do so, we are betraying and condemning ourselves in the process. He concludes by telling us that our actions defile the earth and outrage the innocence of the air that is our own, for no men are foreign and the whole world is one.

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Glossary strange – unknown; beneath – below; uniform – clothes we wear; a single body – a body just like any other like yours and mine they – all the other people; aware – know about; fed by peaceful harvests – food is produced in the land and grows silently to feed man; starv’d – starved, die due to hunger; labour – work, toil wake – to get up; strength – ability; recognise – realise, identify; understand –comprehend told to hate – enemity is created between brothers; dispossess – deprive; betray – cheat; condemn – blame defile– to polute, dirty, spoil; hells of fire – extreme hatred and anger; outrage – anger, resentment, revolt; innocence – state of being free from guilt, blamelessness, pure

Explanation of the Poem 1.

“Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes Like ours: the land our brothers walk upon Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie.

Exp- The poet is telling us to remember that no man is different or unknown to us, and no country is a foreign one. All of us live upon the same earth. Whatever different kind of dress we wear, it is a human being, that is alive and breathing under every dress. The land we walk upon and the earth we live on is equally shared by all of us, and it is within the depths of this earth that all of us will lie after we die. 2.

They, too, aware of sun and air and water, Are fed by peaceful harvests, by war’s long winter starv’d. Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read A labour not different from our own.

Exp- Every human being is aware and can avail of the bounties of nature, the sun, air and water. All of us use it for the same reasons, wherever we are, then how can we be different from one another. The food we eat is provided by fields and trees we plant, and the process is the same everywhere. They also like peace, as we do. They also suffer when there is war, and face hardships when the weather destroys the crops. All the human beings suffer and enjoy in the same manner. They too have hands, they work like us, and the way they labour is just like we do. For survival is the basic need of every human being. 3.

“Remember they have eyes like ours that wake Or sleep, and strength that can be won By love. In every land is common life That all can recognise and understand.

Exp- The poet is reminding us that they have eyes like us, wake up and sleep like us, and understand the strength, and the emotion “love”, like we all do. It is the same for them as it is for you and me. He adds that the kind of life they lead is not different from ours, and we all recognise this fact. We know that life follows a certain pattern that is not different in the different parts of the world. It is essentially, birth, growth and life, and eventually, death. This is the normal pattern. You know it just as well as the other human being. Then, how can one place on earth be foreign to the other?

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4.

Let us remember, whenever we are told To hate our brothers, it is ourselves That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn. Remember, we who take arms against each other

Exp- We must never allow ourselves to fall prey to the petty prejudices and begin to hate our brothers. For if we do so, the poet feels that it is ourselves whom we are betraying. We are doing injustice to our own brothers and sisters, and we will be blamed for our actions. We will be responsible for destroying the peace and harmony around us. We are destroying the very essence of peaceful existence which is detrimental for life itself. 5.

It is the human earth that we defile. Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence Of air that is everywhere our own, Remember, no men are foreign, and no countries strange.

Exp- When we take arms against each other, we are destroying the earth. We are polluting the earth that is for every one to live on cordially. Hatred, prejudices, war, and killing, releases the dirt of our thoughts, words, and actions into the air we breathe and destroys its purity. It is time therefore, that we realise that no one is a foreigner to the other. We live in the same space, the earth, and we need to recognise this and learn to live and let live. The world is theirs as much as it is mine and yours, so if you and I can live here, what should prevent them from living here, in peace and harmony.

Poetic Devices Rhyme scheme There is no rhyme scheme. The poem is written in free verse.

Simile A direct comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as”. A single body like ours, Is earth like this,

They have eyes like ours

Alliteration The repetition of consonant sounds in a line or grouping of words. A single body breathes In which we all shall lie

Whenever we are told

Metaphor The comparison of two dissimilar things, often by expressing that the one thing is actually the other. Our hells of fire and dust

Assonance The repetition of vowel sounds in a line or grouping of words. Aware of sun and air and water

Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE POEM 1. (i) “Beneath all uniforms...” What uniforms do you think the poet is speaking about? (ii) How does the poet suggest that all people on earth are same? Literature Reader

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Ans. (i) The poet is referring to the clothes we wear. It could also be interpreted as the kind of person you are, the caste, creed, culture, religion, nature, demeanour, character, the facade (deceptive external appearance), the prejudices, and the pretenses under which we breathe. The poet says that we are all the same, whatever we cover ourselves with. (ii) The poet says that we are all the same, we live in the same world, our habits are the same, we work, we eat, we sleep and wake up in the same manner. The strength in every human being lies in his ability to love and spread love. And we all settle down in the same earth when we die. 2. In stanza 1, find five ways in which we are all alike. Pick out the words. Ans. No men are strange, no countries are foreign, single body beneath all uniforms, land is same everywhere, land is same where we shall lie. 3. How many common features can you find in stanza 2? Pick out the words. Ans. They too are aware of sun.., they too are fed by peaceful harvests, their hands are like ours, in their lines we read, a labour not different from our own.

4. “...whenever we are told to hate out brothers....” When do you think this happens? Why? Who ‘tells’ us? Should we do as we are told at such times? What does the poet say? Ans. It is the people who are not interested in a life of universal brotherhood who are the perpetrators of war. Their selflish and acquisitive motives, urges them to incite other humans to join them to battle it out and conquer the earth that belongs to everyone. This could be triggered by intolerance towards each other in the name of religion, caste, creed, territory, etc. It is these perpetrators who destroy life. We should not adhere to their demands for war and bloodshed because what is mine is theirs too. We are all brothers and sisters, and there is no boundary between us. There is no country or no foreigner.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1.

Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes Like ours:



(a) What does the poet want the readers to remember?



(b) What does the poet mean by uniforms? (1) (i) The different kind of clothes people wear, the style, the colours and the pattern. (ii) The same clothes people wear. (iii) The style people follow. (iv) None of these



(c) What is the tone of the poet in the given stanza? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) Warning (2) Courteous (3) Serious (4) Superficial (5) Insulting (i) 2 & 3 (ii) 1 & 3 (iii) 3 & 5 (iv) 1 & 4

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(1)

(d) What is the poet trying to convey? (2) Ans. (a) The poet wants the reader to remember that we are all human beings and not strangers. (b) (i) The different kind of clothes people wear, the style, the colours and the pattern. (c) (ii) 1 & 3 (d) The poet is trying to convey that all human beings are similar regardless of the difference in outward appearances or ways of living. 2.

Remember that they have eyes like ours that wake or sleep, and strength that can be won By love. In every land is common life That all can recognise and understand.

(a) Which of the following poetic devices has been used in ‘they have eyes like ours’? (1) (i) Alliteration (ii) Metaphor (iii) Simile (iv) Assonance



(b) Who is referred as ‘they’? (i) The people of countries, whom we considered as stranger (ii) The poet and his family (iii) The sleep and strength (iv) The love among people

(1)

(c) How can we become strong?

(1)

(d) What do we have to remember, according to the given stanza? (2) Ans. (a) (iii) Simile (b) (i) The people of countries, whom we considered as stranger (c) The one thing that universally strengthens all human beings is love. (d) We have to remember that other people too have eyes that wake and sleep which shows that all human beings are similar. We all are similar in structures as we are all flesh and blood. We walk on the same land as long as we are alive. 3. Remember, we who take up arms against each other It is the human earth we defile.

(a) Who are responsible for spoiling the earth? (i) Human beings (ii) Terrorists (iii) Foreigners (iv) All of these

(1)



(b) What is the poet telling us to ponder upon?

(2)



(c) What does he warn us about?

(1)

(d) What of the following word from the stanza means the same as ‘damage the purity or appearance of ’? (1) (i) Arms (ii) Defile (iii) Against (iv) None of these Ans. (a) (i) Human beings (b) The poet is telling us to ponder upon the situation that would arise, if we take up arms against each other. War is no solution as it causes loss to both parties. Literature Reader

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(c) The poet warns us that we will be responsible for defiling the earth if we take up arms against each other. (d) (ii) Defile

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)



1. Do we all belong to the same world? Do you agree with the poet? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Yes, we all do belong to the same world. I agree with the poet. But belonging and believing are two different sides of the same coin. How many of us accept the universality of existence? Do we treat and behave with every one in the same manner? We fail to accept our immediate surroundings as common, then how is it possible to go beyond. 2. How do human beings conflict? Ans. The poet says that human beings spread negative ideas, creating ill-will, and intolerance towards each other. When this volcano of hatred erupts, there is war, bloodshed, death, and discontent. It is, therefore, necessary that we do not fall prey to false prejudices and unnecessary attempts made to defile the earth. 3. Why does the poet say that life is the same everywhere? Ans. The poet says that life is the same everywhere because men have the same wants. To satisfy these wants, they generally follow the same practices, work the same way, eat the simililar kind of food, and cultivate food in the similar manner. Most importantly, the poet says that it is ‘love’ that gives every human being the strength to live. 4. How is innocence outraged? How does it affect our life and surroundings? Ans. Innocence and purity of everything around us is outraged by hatred and jealousy. It makes us take up arms against each other, resulting in the destruction of peaceful coexistence. The poet says that the air that is everyone’s is defiled by hate-mongers. 5. How are the eyes of everyone similar, according to the poet? Ans. The eyes of every human being is the same, according to the poet. He justifies this by saying that everyone uses their eyes to sleep and wake up. We may add that we see the same world and beauties of nature that is spread before us by the almighty. We have the same dreams and shut our eyes to the same things that we all know is not good for us. 6. Explain the use of the terms ‘harvest’ and ‘war’ in the poem. Ans. The poet has used these terms for their symbolic meanings. The term ‘harvest’ is symbolised as the harbinger (indicator) of peace, harmony, and growth and the giver of life. Contrarily, ‘war’ is the instrument of destruction, and spreads hatred, and misery everywhere. 7. Why do we sometimes hate our brothers? Ans. Sometimes some selfish people instigate the innocent to harm others and hate our brothers. They do it for their own benefit. The common or ordinary man does not understand their tricks and starts hating his fellow human beings. The poet says that one should not follow anybody’s advice without brooding over it. 8. How do we defile the earth? Ans. We defile the earth by considering other human beings as our enemies, outsiders, and foreigners; by dividing our earth into countries and by developing enmity against another group of people. We wage wars and the weapons of war pollute the air we breathe, by raising dust and smoke, and by piling debris on earth.

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9. Explain, ‘Are fed by peaceful harvests’. Ans. The line ‘Are fed by peaceful harvests’ means that all men feed upon crops that are cultivated during times of peace. War brings chaos and destroys all of us. There are no winners in war. However, peace benefits all of us.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)



1. Write an article on the relevence of the poem in today’s world. You are Preeti/ Preetam. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. In a Foreign World By Preeti The essence of human existence has been potrayed magnificently by the poet in the poem, ‘No Men are Foreign’. Isn’t it true that we are all living in the same world, whether in the north, south, east or west? Can we live anywhere in the world without food, water, air, and love? This is the highlight of James Kirkup’s poem. The relevence the poem has in today’s world is immense. Man is forgetting the fact that we are all brothers and sisters and created by the same God. What is the use of spreading terror and hatred? We need to stop killing and maiming our own species. Let us understand the message of the poet, and appreciate the need to accept the foreigners and countries around the world as our own. Break all boundaries that separate you and me from them.

2. Is it possible to change the volatile (highly explosive) situation that is prevailing in the world today? How? Explain. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. The world around us is rife with hatred, blood-shed, war, and death. We were given a beautiful mass of land to live and co-exist with everyone in peace and harmony. What happened? When, where, and how? Why have men become intolerant of each other? It is not very difficult to find an answer or a solution to these questions. But if it has to be effective, we need to work together. Man, in the course of time, had developed qualities that were detrimental to harmonious living. Selfishness, greed, power, and ego, took the better of him. He therefore, began spreading hatred among his brethren to secure and expand his geographical boundaries. Is this going to be of any use? Definitely not! What happens as a result of strife and hatred is chaos and destruction. Why not change? It is a simple shift over from being inhuman to becoming human. Live happily, accept everyone the way he or she is, give and spread joy and happiness. For the world is ours, to live not as foreigners, but as one big family.

3. ‘Wars have always brought total ruin in this world, yet they are fought repeatedly.’ Discuss. Ans. Wars are a result of over-ambition and greed of irresponsible rulers of the world. They bring ruin both to the victor and the vanquished by shattering the economy of the warring countries. In the past, wars were localised by now they are global and hence, more dangerous and destructive. The memories of the First and the Second World Wars are still fresh in our minds. The horrific after-effects of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 can still be seen. Still, it is appalling to note that people of the world do not learn from history. The danger of yet another war lurks all the time. The divisive forces are even stronger in the present times and the mad race of armaments too is scary. Hope lies in the strength of the common people who should refuse to be fooled by vested and unscrupulous leaders. Instead, people of the world should look at the world as a global village that offers innumerable opportunities and reasons for Literature Reader

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peaceful coexistence. 4. How are we alike? Explain in context with the poem. Ans. We all are alike. We have the same body structure. All of us need the same air to breathe, the same sun to get sunlight and warmth, and the same water for many purposes. Our daily routine is also almost the same. We get up in the morning, take a bath, have breakfast and go to work or school. All of us long for love. We all sleep at night and wake up in the morning. When our needs and feelings are the same, then we should treat all people equally. We should not look down upon anybody on the basis of his/her colour, caste, region or gender. We should treat everyone as our brother and sister. Unfortunately, some self-centered people fight with others and try to hurt them. They think that others have harmed them. We should not think that other people are ‘others’. They are also our brothers. If they make any mistakes, we should forgive them or compromise with them.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.



1.

They, too, aware of sun and air and water, Are fed by peaceful harvests, by war’s long winter starv’d.

(a) Identify and explain the poetic device used in ‘aware of sun and air and water’. (2)

(b) Who are ‘they’ in the above lines? (i) Harvesters (ii) Human Beings (iii) Both (i) and (ii) (iv) Neither (i) nor (ii)

(1)

(c) What are we fed?

(1)

(d) Which of the following seasons has been referred in the above lines? (i) Winter (ii) Harvest (iii) Rainy (iv) Autumn

(1)

2.

Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read A labour not different from our own.

(a) “Their hands are ours”. What does this mean?

(1)

(b) What do you understand by the word ‘lines’ in the given stanza? (i) The line between labour and other (ii) The lines on their face and body which are just like ours (iii) The lines on their palm (iv) The phrase written for a labour

(1)

(c) What can we see in their hands? (i) Same signs of hard work and struggle (ii) Same lines (iii) Both hands are same (iv) Both hands are different

(1)

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(d) Explain: ‘A labour not different from our own’.

Short Answer Questions

(2) (40-50 Words)

1. Why does the poet begin and end his poem with the same lines? 2. Justify the title of the poem. 3. Is it important to have an opinion of one’s own? Is it right to be influenced by the thoughts and ideas of others? (Constructed Response Question) 4. How is our life common? Explain in reference to the poem, ‘No Men are Foreign’.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)

1. Write a letter to the Prime Minister of the country, requesting him to ponder upon the thoughts shared by the poet James Kirkup. (Constructed Response Question) 2. Write a paragraph on “Coexistence on the Planet”. (Constructed Response Question) 3. Make a diary entry of an incident that happened to you, wherein you were exposed to a very commendable humanitarian act of a little child on the street. (Constructed Response Question) zzz

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Poem

7

On Killing A Tree

—Gieve Patel

About the Poet Gieve Patel, born on 18 August 1940, is an Indian poet, playwright, painter as well as a doctor. He belongs to a group of writers who have subscribed themselves to the ‘Green Movement’ which is involved in an effort to protect the environment.

Theme The poet in his poem, ‘On Killing a Tree’ is explaining very vivdly the process of destruction of nature. He is emphasising the predicament we will eventually face, if we continue in this manner. The idea presented is therefore, deforestation leading to disaster, and the need for afforestation is implied. This poem highlights a lot of morals. Firstly, it displays the destructive nature of humans. Secondly, it shows that Mother Nature is inevitable and cannot be easily destroyed. Thirdly, the tree is a symbol of mankind. It says that human life is not so easy to end. If we cut the fingers or the skin, then we do not die. It is the heart that should be cut-out. This is the main theme of the poem. The poem is very short. But it slashes out a scar in our minds.

Summary The poem begins ironically, describing the crime committed by the tree. For years, it has consumed the earth’s crust. Like a thief, it has absorbed sunlight, air, and water and has grown up like a giant. So the tree must be killed. But it is not an easy task. A simple jab of the knife will not do it. From close to the ground, it will rise up again and grow to its former size. It will again become a threat to man. So the tree should be tied with a rope and pulled out entirely. Its white, bleeding root should be exposed. Then it should be browned and hardened and twisted and withered and it is done. The poem gives a realistic picture of man’s attitude towards trees. The tree is his greatest friend. But man is so foolish that he doesn’t realise the fact that he is cutting his own throat when he cuts a tree. The poet depicts violence literally and non-violence ironically. The root of the tree is like the love that is essential for human beings to survive. This love is given to us by our parents who take years to nurture us into strong individuals. If this love is chopped off, the giver that is the parents, wither, decay, and go into oblivion.

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Explanation of the Poem 1.

It takes much time to kill a tree, Not a simple jab of the knife Will do it. It has grown Slowly consuming the earth,

Exp- The poet is telling man that it is not very easy to kill a tree. A simple jab of the knife will not be adequate to destroy a full grown tree that has absorbed nutrition from the earth slowly. 2. Rising out of it, feeding Upon its crust, absorbing Years of sunlight, air, water, And out of its leprous hide Sprouting leaves.

Exp- The tree rises out of the earth and feeds upon its crust. As it grows through the years, it absorbs sunlight, air, and water. (The poet is personifying the bark of the tree by calling it a leprous hide.) The leaves are seen to be growing on its branches that have several layers of tough and protective shield, also called the bark of the tree. 3.

So hack and chop But this alone wont do it. Not so much pain will do it.

Exp- The poet says that just hacking and chopping or putting it through a lot of pain is not adequate to kill a tree. 4.

The bleeding bark will heal And from close to the ground Will rise curled green twigs, Miniature boughs Which if unchecked will expand again To former size.

Exp- After the wicked chopping, the bleeding bark will eventually heal. The poet says that thereafter, from the chopped remains, that is close to the earth, small curled new shoots will begin to appear again. He warns man that if this is not checked, it will grow into a big tree, back to its former size once again. 5.

No, The root is to be pulled out— Out of the anchoring earth: It is to be roped, tied, And pulled out— snapped out Or pulled out entirely, Out from the earth-cave,

Exp- The poet says, “No” do not let it grow. It has to be uprooted from the earth that is holding it together. He suggests the technique and says, tie up the root with a rope and pull it out of the hollow of the earth fully and completely. Literature Reader

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6. And the strength of the tree exposed The source, white and wet, The most sensitive, hidden For years inside the earth.

Exp- When the root is pulled out of the earth, we are introduced to the strongest part of the tree. It is from here that the tree originates. It is moist and white because it is protected by mother earth who has taken care of it, knowing that this is the most sensitive part of the tree. Perhaps, that is why, it is kept out of sight of the wicked human beings. 7. Then the matter Of scorching and choking In sun and air, Browning, hardening, Twisting, withering, And then it is done.

Exp- After the tree is uprooted, the poet says, the next matter to be considered is how to burn it, dry it up in the sun and air. It then goes through the stages of losing its lustre and becoming brown and lifeless, its softness and tenderness is replaced by hardness. The unfortunate thing then crumbles and withers away to nothingness. The destruction is complete.

Poetic Devices Sarcasm This is a sarcastic poem about man’s indiscriminate destruction of trees. The tree is presented as an enemy to man. Man is presented as a professional killer who thinks of all possible ways to torture the tree.

Personification The poet has used personification: “the bleeding bark”, “leperous hide”, “so much pain”, “consuming the earth”, “curled green leaves”, “scorching and choking”.

Alliteration “ bleeding bark” and “white and wet”

Repetition “Out. Out”, pulled out, snapped out.”

Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE POEM 1. Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not? Ans. It takes a long time to kill a tree that has been nurtured and protected for so many years by mother earth. It grows big and strong therefore, it is not easy to kill it by making a simple jab on it with a knife. 2. How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity. Ans. It has grown to its full size by ‘slowly consuming the earth’, ‘feeding on the earth’s crust’, and ‘absorbing years of sunlight, air, and water’. Its ‘bleeding bark’, the ‘curled green twigs’ will rise, and the miniature boughs will ‘expand’.

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3. What is the meaning of “bleeding bark”? What makes it bleed? Ans. The bleeding bark refers to the fluid that oozes out of the part of the tree that has been chopped. It bleeds because of the sorrow, and pain it encounters as trees also have life. 4. The poet says “No” at the beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by this? Ans. The poet begins the third stanza with ‘No’ because he has ended the previous stanza with a warning that if left unchecked, the tree will grow back. He wants to emphasise to the cruel human beings that under no circumstances should let this happen. 5. What is the meaning of “anchoring earth” and “earth cave”? Ans. The expression ‘anchoring earth’ refers to the tight grip with which the earth is holding the tree together in the ‘earth cave’ that is hollow from which the tree’s roots are secured within her. 6. What does he mean by “the strength of the tree exposed”? Ans. The essence of the tree, its root, is under the ground and never seen by man. However, once a tree is chopped, and has to be destroyed completely, this essence has to be exposed to man. The root, has to be pulled out of the earth and exposed to the outer world. 7. What finally kills the tree? Ans. Once the root is hauled out of the earth, it is left to decay and dry in the scorching heat of the sun. It chokes in the blazing heat, and withers away never to be revived again.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1.

It takes much time to kill a tree, Not a simple jab of the knife Will do it. It has grown Slowly consuming the earth,



(a) Why does it take so much time to kill a tree?

(1)



(b) Explain, ‘Slowly consuming the earth’.

(2)



(c) Why can’t a ‘simple jab of the knife’ kill a tree? (i) Because it takes time to kill a tree (ii) Because the tree is big and strong (iii) Because it can be plucked easily (iv) None of these

(1)

(d) Which of the following poetic devices has been used in the line: “It has grown slowly consuming the earth”? (1) (i) Metaphor (ii) Simile (iii) Personification (iv) Assonance Ans. (a) Over the years, the tree has grown strong, and hence, it will take so much time to kill a tree. (b) ‘Slowly consuming the earth’ means that the tree has grown by consuming years of nutrients and minerals from the earth. The roots of tree are hidden under the earth and they are the only source that provide water, nutrients to the other parts of the tree. (c) (ii) Because the tree is big and strong (d) (i) Metaphor

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2.

The bleeding bark will heal And from close to the ground Will rise curled green twigs, Miniature boughs Which if unchecked will expand again To former size.

(a) Which of the following poetic devices has been used in ‘bleeding bark’? (i) Alliteration (ii) Simile (iii) Metaphor (iv) Personification

(1)



(b) What does regrowing of a hacked tree indicate?

(1)



(c) Poet is telling not to ignore: (i) the roots of the tree. (ii) small twigs that grow from the chopped tree. (iii) the leaves falling from the tree. (iv) the width of the tree before killing.

(1)

(d) What is likely to happen if the tree is unchecked? (2) Ans. (a) (i) Alliteration (b) The regrowing of a hacked tree indicates that nature cannot be easily defeated by man. (c) (i) the roots of the tree (d) If the boughs of a tree are unchecked, the tree will expand again to its former size. If we cut the bark with knife, the bleeding bark will heal. Then, from close to the ground green twigs will appear. 3.

No, The root is to be pulled out — Out of the anchoring earth; It is to be roped, tied, And pulled out — snapped out Or pulled out entirely, Out from the earth-cave



(a) Why does the poet say ‘No’? (i) To emphasize not to cut the trees (ii) To emphasize the need for controlling the regrowth of the tree (iii) To emphasize that tree will not be killed with a knife (iv) None of these

(1)



(b) What is meant by ‘anchoring earth’?

(2)



(c) In the given stanza, what is the poet suggesting to do to kill the tree?

(1)

(d) How does the earth give protection to the tree? (i) It provides air and water to the tree. (ii) It provides food for the tree. (iii) It anchors the tree and keeps it firm. (iv) None of these Ans. (a) (ii) To emphasize the need for controlling the regrowth of the tree

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(1)

(b) The term ‘anchoring earth’ refers to the tree’s roots that lie within the earth and act as an anchor for the tree to grow and hold it firmly to the earth. They keep the tree safe by providing it with water and nutrients. (c) The poet suggests that for a tree to be killed, the root has to be uprooted, and it has to be scorched and choked in the sun and air. (d) (iii) It anchors the tree and keeps it firm.

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. Why has he called the root sensitive? Ans. The poet has called the root sensitive because it is the life guard of the tree. It is kept safely under the ground, so that life is ensured. Just as a baby bird is protected by a mother under her wings, and a human being protects the child from all dangers, the mother earth also protects the strength of the tree, the nerve centre of the tree, her child, the root within the safety of her bosom (close to her). 2. What message is conveyed by the poem? Ans. The poem conveys the message that human beings have destructive temperament towards nature, but Mother nature has regenerative powers and cannot be destroyed easily. It has the ability to resurrect itself. Also, the tree teaches us that mere physical assaults cannot ruin us. As long as our root, our soul is intact we can rise again. 3. What are the two important stages for killing a tree? Ans. There are two stages of killing a tree. First, the tree should be pulled out entirely. Its roots are to be exposed to the sun and the air. Secondly, the roots are to be scorched in the sun. When the roots are scorched, these turn brown, hard and withered. The tree finally dies. 4. How will the bleeding bark of trees heal? Ans. When the blow of knives or axes does not kill trees, its bleeding bark will gradually heal its pain all the time and the green leaves will grow from the boughs. Actually, the strength of trees lies in its roots. When they are not uprooted, they will expand and grow into a complete tree. 5. Is it easier to chop off a tree or grow a new one? Ans. The chopping, uprooting, and killing of a tree may perhaps take a month or two. Just as it takes only a second to kill a man and bury him. However, for the chopped tree to reach its original size and glory would take many, many years. 6. How will the ‘bleeding bark’ heal? Ans. Despite the pain and injury the woodcutter has inflicted on the tree, it will bleed for a while, and heal in the normal course. It is protected by the mother earth, who will ensure that healing takes place. 7. How does a tree stop growing completely? Ans. The poet says that if the root is left underground, in all probability, fresh shoots will sprout and gradually, the tree will grow back to its original size. If a regrowth has to be curtailed, it has to be uprooted and destroyed completely. 8. Contrast ‘bleeding bark’ with ‘green twigs’. What is the poet trying to explain? Ans. The bleeding bark and the red colour of blood refers to the stopping of growth. Contrarily, the green twigs speak about fresh growth and the beginning of a new life. He has contrasted the harbinger of death, with that of life. Literature Reader

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Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)

1. What has the poet tried to express in the poem, ‘On Killing a Tree’? Ans. Through the poem, ‘On Killing a Tree’, the poet convinces the readers not to cut down trees and compares it with ‘killing’ a human being. He says that the tree grows slowly getting its nutrients from earth. Then it absorbs sunlight, water and air for so many years. It is not easy to kill a tree simply by hacking or chopping it. For a tree to be killed, the root has to be uprooted, and it has to be scorched and choked in the sun and air. Then the tree will have no second life. The act of killing a tree becomes complete when the tree becomes completely withered and dies. This process takes much time and it requires a lot of effort. The poet gives step-by-step instructions on the total annihilation of a tree. 2. Write an autobiography of a tree. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. It was over a hundred years ago that a little boy had planted me in the soil. I was a little seed. My mother is the earth and the atmosphere is my father. After a few weeks of being in the ground, I slowly developed tiny roots, and then one single stem rose above the surface of the earth. I was reared both by my mother, who keeps me firm and secure under the ground and gives me water and nutrition, and my father who gives me sunlight and air. I have been providing food from the time I was about 5 years of age to human beings. Many of them build nests in between my branches. I give shade to tired passers by, and many who are homeless, sleep under my shade. I have always tried to be of service to everyone. I am very old now. I have stopped bearing fruits. Nobody remembers the good times. The son of the little boy who had planted me, does not realise my value, and has decided to chop me off and sell me for some money. I don’t think my parents can do any thing to save me. I however, through my autobiography, wish to tell human beings not to kill us. We are only there to serve you.

3. Trees are our lifeline. So they must not be killed. Write your suggestions on how trees can be protected. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Trees have great importance in our life. They teach us that life is made for others. They bear fruit for others and provide shelter to them. All creatures are equal in their eyes. Besides, trees take several years to become fully grown up. When they are full grown, they enhance the beauty of nature. But we are recklessly cutting down trees for our selfish needs. We have to check this useless cutting of trees. We have to make strict rules and protect them. The government should also come forward in this regard. The forest should be declared protected areas and people must be encouraged to plant more trees. They should be made aware of how trees are valuable for human beings. On the other hand, we should organise ourselves in some groups or associations and prohibit people from cutting down trees. Moreover, everybody should develop a love for trees.

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Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. “No, The root is to be pulled out Out of the anchoring earth, It is to be roped, tied, And pulled out - snapped out

Or pulled out entirely. Out from the earth-cave,

(a) Describe the pulling out of the roots.

(2)

(b) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE.

(1)

To kill a tree, it has to be pulled out entirely from the earth.

(c) Select the appropriate option to complete the sentence, according to the extract. The idea that the tree is like a living being and not easy to kill is: (1) (i) unnatural (ii) scary (iii) thoughtful (iv) interesting



(d) What is the meaning of ‘earth-cave’? (i) A type of cave where the plants grow. (ii) A natural underground chamber in a hillside or cliff. (iii) The space created in the earth by uprooting a tree. (iv) A man-made hole dug to plant a tree.

2.

And the strength of the tree exposed The source, white and wet, The most sensitive, hidden



For years inside the earth Then the matter Of scorching and choking In sun and air, Browning, hardening, Twisting, withering And then it is done.

(1)



(a) What does ‘the strength of the tree exposed’ refer to?

(2)



(b) According to the stanza, what is the most sensitive source of the tree? (i) The roots (ii) The leaves (iii) The stems (iv) The bark

(1)

(c) What will happen after the strength of the tree is exposed?

(1)

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(d) “And then it is done.” What does ‘it’ stand for? (i) ‘It’ stands for the tree. (ii) ‘It’ stands for killing of the tree. (iii) ‘It’ stands for cutting of the tree. (iv) None of these

Short Answer Questions

(1)

(40-50 Words)

1. ‘And then it is done’. What is referred to here? 2. Do you agree with the approach of the poet in expressing the destructive human attitude? (Constructed Response Question) 3. How is it possible, in your opinion, to bring about a change in man, who seems to assume that the world is only for him to live on? (Constructed Response Question) 4. Write a short paragraph on the process of growing a tree, and the emotions you experience as you see it grow. (Constructed Response Question)

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)

1. Write an article for your school magazine on the topic, “The Barren Terrain”. (Constructed Response Question)

2. Can you trace a relevance of the theme of the poem, ‘On Killing a Tree’ in the life of a human being? Elaborate. (Constructed Response Question)



3. You are a woodcutter. You have been given the contract to kill the tree. Write down your plan of action to bring down the massive tree. (Constructed Response Question) zzz

312 Xam idea English–IX

A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal —William Wordsworth

Poem

8

About the Poet William Wordsworth (7 April 1770 – 23 April 1850) was a major English romantic poet, who with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint publication, Lyrical Ballads (1798). Wordsworth’s magnum opus is generally considered to be The Prelude, a semi-autobiographical poem of his early years that he revised and expanded a number of times. It was posthumously titled and published, before which it was generally known as “the poem to Coleridge”. Wordsworth was Britain’s poet laureate from 1843 until his death on 23 April 1850.

Theme The poem, ‘A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal’ is about death, separation, pain and is a part of “The Lucy Poems”. (The Lucy poems are a series of five poems composed by the English Romantic poet, William Wordsworth between 1798 and 1801.) Wordsworth sought to write unaffected English verse infused with abstract ideals of beauty, nature, love, longing, and death.

Summary ‘A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal’ is one of Wordsworth’s ‘Lucy Poems’, which focuses primarily on the death of a young woman named Lucy (though she remains unnamed in this poem). Many scholars and literary historians have offered theories as to who Lucy was, but her true identity remains a mystery. The poem is of two four-line stanzas, and yet a great deal happens in this narrow space. The poet realises that a young woman has died, and that only bad things can happen in a beautiful world. In the first stanza, the poet says that he had not been affected by the realities of life, as his spirit has been sealed off in a deep sleep, awakened by the loss of loved one, he is now faced with the harshness and is yanked out of his slumber of oblivion. The choice to hide the death between the stanzas is interesting, as it seems to imply that the poet is unable to verbalise the pain that goes along with the sudden loss. On the other hand, the poem may be less about the poet’s innocence than about his belief in the young woman’s power. Indeed, he seems to have built her up in his mind into a Goddess, untouched by age and mortality. This desire to keep her perpetually young is a testament to the poet’s feelings for the young woman. Literature Reader

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In the second stanza, Wordsworth offers an eerie description of the woman’s current situation. She appears to be incapable of seeing or hearing anything, and neither was she making any movement with her body. This is a particularly painful idea in a Wordsworth’s poem because he is generally focused on experiencing the senses. The poet also mentions that she is now without motion or force. This, of course, is true of all dead people, but by stating the obvious, the poet helps the reader to imagine the way the young woman once was: full of life and vigour. In the last two lines, the poet says that the young woman is trapped beneath the surface of the earth. In fact, she has become a part of the earth, rolling with it as it turns day-to-day. The very last line of the poem is especially interesting because the poet lists both rocks and stones and trees. The poet is probably trying to accept that the lady has become one with the earth, as is the Christian belief. “Dust thou art and to dust thou returnest”. Which means that you are born from the earth and you go back to the earth.

Glossary slumber – sleep; spirit – (here) mind, the quality of courage, energy, and determination; seal – shut off; human fears – fears associated with the life of human beings, especially death feel the touch – be affected by; earthly years – the timely sequence of events or phases of life on the earth, or one’s life span on the earth motion – movement, activity; force – life, strength, energy, power rolled round – moving with, blend with, become a part of; diurnal – earth’s rotation around its axis

Explanation of the Poem 1.

A slumber did my spirit seal — I had no human fears.

Exp- The poet is saying that the final slumber (death) of his beloved has yanked him out of the state of oblivion, where his spirit was sealed until now. He says that till this incident, he had no fears or worries about the natural phases of human life. 2.

She seemed a thing that could not feel The touch of earthly years

Exp- Here, the poet says that the lady who has gone into slumber, seemed to me of the kind that would not be affected by the phases of life on earth i.e., the earthly years. He thought that she was above anything that was human. And now, as she lies as ‘a thing’ and lifeless, it becomes more clear that she will not be affected by the earthly touch and can no longer age as she is dead. 3.

No motion has she now, no force— She neither hears not sees,

Exp- The young lady is not moving at all as she is lifeless. He is distressed that she can neither see or hear anymore. 4.

Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course With rocks and stones and trees.

Exp- His beloved is now gone back to her origins—the earth, and has become one with it. The human being joins the rocks, stones, trees and becomes one with them in their state of immobility. They are carried by the mother as she goes around her axis. Perhaps, the poet is trying to immortalise his beloved by saying that she is one with nature.

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Poetic Devices “A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal” is a ballad, though a very short one. Rhyme Scheme The stanzas follow an abab rhyme scheme. Alliteration ‘A slumber did my spirit seal--” “No motion has she now, no force” “Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course” Metaphor “she seemed a thing that could not feel” “Earth’s diurnal course” Repetition “No motion has she now, no force” “With rocks and stones and trees”

Answers to NCERT Questions THINKING ABOUT THE POEM

1. “A slumber did my spirit seal,” says the poet. That is, a deep sleep ‘closed off ’ his soul (or mind). How does the poet react to his loved one’s death? Does he feel bitter grief? Or does he feel a great peace? Ans. The poet is totally shattered with the death of his loved one. He says that all along he believed that no harm would come to her. He was a very strong person, but when tragedy struck he was dumb founded because he believed his loved one to be immortal.

2. The passing of time will no longer affect her, says the poet. Which lines of the poem says this? Ans. He is referring to his belief that she would not age, or be affected by time. The line of the poem that mentions this thought of the poet is, “she seemed a thing that could not feel the touch of earthly years”. Here the death is only implied, and is not ascertained.

3. How does the poet imagine her to be, after death? Does he think of her as a person living in a very happy state (a ‘heaven;)? Or does he see her now as a part of nature? In which lines of the poem do you find your answer? Ans. The poet says that she is in a state where she cannot feel, hear or sense anything. He does not say anything of her being in a happy state in heaven after her death. It is with the nature that he feels she has blended with, “Rolled round in the earth’s diurnal course, with rocks and stones and trees”.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 Marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1.

A slumber did my spirit seal— I had no human fears. She seemed a thing that could not feel The touch of earthly years. Literature Reader

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(a) The stanza given above suggests that the poet is: (1) (i) in dilemma whether his beloved is alive. (ii) convinced with the bitter fact of nature. (iii) in a trance that kept him from seeing the truth that every life eventually ends in death. (iv) afraid about his death.

(b) The poet seems to have indicated: (1) (i) his deep love with his beloved and reaction of her sudden and unprecedented death. (ii) his unwavering faith in the bitter cycle of nature that is death. (iii) that he believed his beloved would live forever. (iv) both (i) and (iii)

(c) What does the poet mean by ‘a slumber did my spirit seal’?

(1)

(d) Why does the poet say: ‘I had no human fears’? (2) Ans. (a) (ii) convinced with the bitter fact of nature (b) (iv) both (i) and (iii) (c) ‘A slumber did my spirit seal’ means a deep sleep sealed off his mental power to see the reality of life. (d) In the stanza, the poet expresses his grief over the death of his beloved. He says that he is so shocked by the death of his loved one that he feels that his soul has gone into a deep sleep. He has become completely numb and senseless. Now, the poet does not have any human fears. 2.

No motion has she now, no force— She neither hears nor sees, Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course With rocks and stones and trees.

(a) Which option from the following reveals the poet’s feelings, according to the given stanza? (1) (i) The poet feels the earth revolves according to its routine. (ii) There are so many things such as rocks, stones and trees available in nature. (iii) The poet experiences excruciating pain about the loss he undergoes. (iv) The poet considers death to be something worth attaining. (b) The phrase ‘earth’s diurnal course’, as used in the 3rd line of the given stanza, means the same as: (1) (i) stationary movement of the earth (ii) rotation of the earth (iii) both (i) and (ii) (iv) neither (i) nor (ii)

(c) Who is ‘she’? Why does ‘she’ not have any movement?

(d) What is the significance of rocks, stones and trees?

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(1) (2)

Ans. (a) (iii) The poet experiences excruciating pain about the loss he undergoes. (b) (ii) rotation of the earth (c) ‘She’ is the poet’s beloved. She does not have any movement because she is no longer alive. (d) Rocks, stones and trees imply that though inanimate, they have life and his beloved continues her journey with nature, along with them. These things play an important role in the maintenance of life cycle on the Earth.

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. Why has the poet referred to death as ‘slumber’? Why has it sealed his spirit? Ans. “Slumber” is a synonym of the word sleep. It is a state of unconsciousness, when we are not aware of things going around us. And here, the slumber has sealed his spirit because this time, the slumber was not temporary, but permanent. 2. Write an analysis of the poem in a paragraph. Ans. In this poem, the poet speaks about being introduced to the realities of life only when his beloved slips into eternal slumber. He had no fears with regard to her life, but unfortunately, she fell prey to the laws of nature. However, the poet is focusing on the positive aspect of the situation, by saying that she has blend with nature, and perhaps, continues to live with the rocks, stones and trees. She has gone back to the place she came from. He has accepted the fact that she is no more.

3. Explain the line: ‘The touch of earthly years.’ Who would not feel the touch of earthly years? Ans. The expression ‘the touch of earthly years’ refers to the ravages of old age faced by human beings - the depletion of energy, diseases, senility and death which a person has to suffer as one grows old during life on this earth. The poet’s beloved Lucy will not face the problems of old age as she is no more alive. 4. How does the poet come out of his slumber? Ans. The poet comes out of slumber as the realisation dawn upon him that with her death, Lucy is no longer a human being and as vulnerable to death as others. She has become an immortal being and he sees her as a supernatural Goddess. This brings him out of his unconsciousness or slumber. 5. How does the poet react to his loved one’s death? Ans. At first, the poet is shocked by the death of his beloved and he feels bitter grief. But after some realisation, he feels a great peace. He is content that the passing of time will no longer affect her. She has become part of nature and is free from human travails. 6. What is the central theme of the poem? Ans. The poem deals with the loss of a loved one through death and the sorrow that follow. The death of Lucy left the poet in great pain. However, Wordsworth conveys the idea that death may separate our loved ones from us but they remain around us in the form of nature. Wordsworth immortalizes Lucy by stating that she lives on in nature after her physical death. Therefore, the death of a loved one should not leave us griefstricken.

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Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)



1. Why does the poet repeat “no motion has she now, no force—she neither hears nor sees”? Ans. The poet offers an eerie description of the woman’s current situation. She is blind and deaf—wholly incapable of taking in the world around her. This is a particularly painful idea in a Wordsworth poem because he is generally focused on experiencing the senses. He also mentions that she is now without motion or force. This, of course, is true of all dead people, but by stating the obvious, the speaker helps the reader to imagine the way the young woman once was: full of life and vigour. 2. Why does it appear that the poet is not ascertaining death in the first stanza? Ans. The choice to hide the death between the stanzas is interesting. It could possibly be because of the inability of the poet to express in words, his pain and sudden loss. It can also be inferred that the poem may be less about the poet’s lack of having any human fears, than about his belief in the young woman’s power. Indeed, he seems to have built her up in his mind into a Goddess, untouched by age and mortality. This desire to keep her perpetually young is a testament to the poet’s feelings for the young woman. 3. Bring out the irony in the poem. Ans. The poet’s description of his beloved as having ‘no motion or force’ and she is ‘revolving with the earth around the sun’ actually implies that she is dead and the poet cannot be with her. This is also because the poet, unlike his beloved, was always alienated from nature. This mismatch between what is said and what is meant is an example of irony. The poet’s opinion that it was because of ‘the slumber’ which ‘sealed’ his spirit that he felt that his beloved was ‘untouched’ by earthly things like mortality is ironic because it is not really the slumber, but his desire that his beloved should not be touched by death as he loves her deeply, that has made him blind to the fact that she is dead.

4. How did Lucy’s death affect the poet? What does it reveal about his attitude towards her? Ans. The poet remarks that he had become unaware of the realities of life when he was under the spell of Lucy’s love. He felt as if he was under some spell and this seemed to have clouded his sense of reasoning. He felt Lucy was not subject to the consequences of time and the ageing process. He did not realise she would one day be conquered by death. For him, she had attained the status of a supernatural being – a Goddess or a deity beyond worldly suffering. Such was the poet’s intensity of love for the girl that he was blind to the hard fact of life that everybody who is born has to ultimately die. Death, however, leaves her unable to perform any physical activity. As he comes to terms with her death, the poet feels that in her death his beloved Lucy has become a part of nature. She is now under the surface of the earth and revolving along with it on its path. He tells us that like other stones, rocks and trees, she also revolves with the earth now.

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Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1.

A slumber did my spirit seal – I had no human fears. She seemed a thing that could not feel The touch of earthly years



(a) Which line/s of the poem suggest/s that the passing of time will no longer affect her? (1) (i) ‘I had no human fears.’ (ii) ‘She seemed a thing that could not feel The touch of earthly years.’ (iii) ‘A slumber did my spirit seal—’ (iv) Both (i) and (iii)



(b) Explain: ‘The touch of earthly years.’

(2)

(c) Which slumber is the poet talking about?

(d) Which of the following poetic devices has been used in the first line of the stanza? (1) (i) Anaphora (ii) Alliteration (iii) Simile (iv) Assonance

2.



(1)

No motion has she now, no force – She neither hears nor sees, Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course With rocks and stones and trees.

(a) Explain, ‘Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course’. (i) It means the earth’s daily rotation on its own axis. (ii) It means the earth’s ecological balance. (iii) It means the earth’s atmosphere filled with pollution. (iv) None of these

(1)

(b) Which words from the poem describe death? (i) ‘No motion’, ‘no force’ and ‘neither hears nor sees’ (ii) ‘Rocks’, ‘stones’ and ‘trees’ (iii) ‘Rolled’, ‘diurnal’ and ‘course’ (iv) None of these

(1)

(c) What realisation dawns up on the poet?

(1)



(d) How does the poet react to his beloved’s death?

(2)

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Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words)

1. Explain, ‘Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course/with rocks and stones and trees’. 2. How does the poet imagine his loved one to be after death? 3. Time will not affect the poet’s beloved. How? 4. What is the theme of the poem ‘A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal’?

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)

1. Mitali was very fond of her little pet parrot. One day, when she ................... Complete the story, taking ideas from the poem, ‘A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal’. (Constructed Response Question) 2. Write an article on “Man is Mortal, be Humane as Long as You Live” to be published in your school magazine. You are Anjali/Arpit. (Constructed Response Question) 3. As the beloved of the poet, write a paragraph to express your gratitude to the poet for loving you so dearly. (Constructed Response Question) zzz

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The Lost Child

—Mulk Raj Anand

Moments

1

About the Author Mulk Raj Anand was an Indian writer in English, notable for his depiction of the lives of the poorer castes in traditional Indian society. One of the pioneers of Indo-Anglian fiction, he was one of the first Indian-based writers in English to gain an international readership. Anand is admired for his novels and short stories, which have acquired the status of being classic works of modern Indian English literature, noted for their perceptive insight into the lives of the oppressed, their impoverishment, exploitation and misfortune. He was also a recipient of the civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan.

Theme In this chapter, the author deals with the child’s psychology in a sensitive way without shying away from its reality. We, too, have grown up as an accepted part of our multicultural neighbourhood in the world. Anand is at his strongest when writing about the child’s classic confrontational relationship with his world without parents. Young adult readers will be able to identify with the lost child’s struggle to live within his family’s ambit, while trying to discover his own world outside.

Summary Mulk Raj Anand, an Indian writer in English is well-known for his depiction of the Indian society. The lesson, ‘The Lost Child’ vividly depicts an Indian rural village with all its charm, simplicity and gaiety, especially during the festive season. The main theme of this lesson is the child’s agony and desperation when he is suddenly lost in a crowd and realises that he doesn’t have the warm protection of his parents. The child is taken by the parents to a fair during spring season. He is filled with joy on seeing the fun and grandeur around him. He wants to stop at every shop and every stall to enjoy the colourful scenes. But as the parents find the child lagging behind, they keep shouting for him and the child is alerted. He has to keep moving, lest he is lost in the crowd. Constantly, the parents are monitoring the child because they know the risk of losing the tiny child amidst the crowd that have flocked, to enjoy or carry on their business in the fair. As is common with kids, this child too, keeps pestering the parents to buy him everything he comes across – the sweets, the flowers, the balloons and all other colourful things he sees displayed in the fair. The child also knows that it is going to be a stern ‘No’ from his parents. So, he keeps moving. At the roundabout, the child is determined to have his share of joy, stubbornly asks his father to allow him a ride on the horse. He realises that his parents are nowhere near. The child is speechless and helpless. Fear overpowers the child and he starts crying, frantically trying to search for his parents. The only words that escape from the child’s choking throat amidst his uncontrollable tears are ‘Mother’, ‘Father’. Literature Reader

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A stranger who sees the lost child picks him and tries to pacify him. He offers the child sweets, balloons, flowers, and all the beautiful things that the child had earlier pleaded for. But now, the child doesn’t even look at them and firmly declines as he did not find them attractive any longer. The little boy is seen yearning to be with his dear parents. A child’s psychology is very effectively portrayed through this simple incident by the author. A child goes to a fair with his parents. He is happy and excited and wants the sweets and toys displayed there. But his parents don’t buy them for him. Why then, does he refuse when someone else offers them to him? It might probably be because his parents have warned him against accepting things from strangers. Most importantly, it would be because he yearned to be in the safe company of his dear parents.

Glossary NCERT Page –1 alleys – passage, pathway, walk; emerged – come into view, become visible; brimming – full of, overflowing NCERT Page –2 fascinated – enchanted, keen interest; lingering – lasting for a long time; receding– retreat; tyrant – cruel and oppressive leader/person; gaudy – very bright and showy, flashy; intercepting – obstructing; abreast – alongside; teeming – filled with; capers – playful skipping movement NCERT Page –3 throngs – a densely packed crowd; converging – to meet at a point; whirlpool – swirl; repelled – drive or force back; hawked – carry about and offer for sale; architecture – design, structure, shape; irresistibly – too attractive and tempting; overwhelming – to be overcome by strong emotions; stole (here) – moved or passed into his ears; coarse – rough or unrefined; roundabout – merry-go-round NCERT Page –4 convulsed – shake uncontrollably, shudder; panic-stricken – to be very frightened; suppressed – forcibly put an end to, control, conquer; congested – overcrowded; jostled – push around, collide; hefty – large, heavy and sturdy; trampled – tread /walk over and crush; surging – increasing/overflowing crowd; soothe – pacify, comfort NCERT Page –6 reiterated – say something again and again, repeat; disconsolate – unable to console, inconsolable

Answers to NCERT Questions THINK ABOUT IT 1. What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind? Ans. On his way to the fair, the child sees toys, a host of dragon flies and as he walks along with his parents, he is showered with the petals of fragrant flowers. He is later distracted by doves, and goes skipping around the banyan tree in search of them. He being a small child lags behind as he is attracted to everything he lays his curious eyes on.

2. In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer? Ans. At the fair, the little boy murmured softly that he wanted burfi from the sweetmeat seller, flowers from the flower seller, balloons from the balloon seller, and to listen to the music of the snake charmer. He moves on without waiting for an answer because he knew that his parents would find an excuse for not fulfilling any of his demands. The only demand he voiced loudly was that he wanted to go on the roundabout.

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3. When does he realise that he has lost his way? How have his anxiety and insecurity been described? Ans. The little boy realised that he had lost his way when his request for a ride on the roundabout was met with a silence. When he turned around to look at his parents, he realised that they were not to be seen anywhere. His reaction was a full, deep cry that rose from within his dry throat, his body convulsed and he began crying with fear and anxiety. Wailing loudly, he runs around wildly, shouting out for his parents in absolute desperation. 4. Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier? Ans. The boy was suddenly noticed by a man in the crowd who lifted him in his arms and tried to console him. In his attempt at calming down the child, he offers him everything the child had been wanting his parents to buy him. He has only one reply to the gentleman and that was, “I want my mother, I want my father”. The little child loses interest in everything around him because he yearns to be with his family, who he had left behind somewhere in the crowded fair as he absent-mindedly capers around enjoying and wanting the various things on display. 5. What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents? Ans. The author has always empathised with the weak, troubled, suppressed, and down trodden. In this lesson, the little child, who loses his parents as he innocently saunters into the fair, is desperate, anxious, and inconsolable. A good samaritan picks up the boy and tries his best to pacify him and offers him toys, sweets, flowers, and balloons to stop the outburst and wailing. The author has introduced this character, who was different from all the other indifferent and unconcerned people in the crowd, with the intention of a happy ending. He would have definitely gone out of his way to unite the child with his parents. On the other hand, the parents also would have made intense efforts to secure their child, and the threesome would have been reunited.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. One little boy ran between his father’s legs, brimming over with life and laughter. “Come, child, come,” called his parents, as he lagged behind, fascinated by the toys in the shops that lined the way. He hurried towards his parents, his feet obedient to their call, his eyes still lingering on the receiding toys. As he came to where they had stopped to wait for him, he could not suppress the desire of his heart, even though he well knew the old, cold stare of refusal in their eyes. (a) What is the tone of the writer in the given lines? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) Sympathetic (2) Judgemental (3) Empathetic (4) Appreciative (5) Disgusted (i) 1, 2 & 3 (ii) 1, 3 & 4 (iii) 3, 4 & 5 (iv) 1, 3 & 5

(b) According to the extract, what does ‘old, cold stare’ mean?

(1)

(c) Why was the boy suppressing his desire in the given extract?

(2)

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(d) Pick the sentence that captures the use of the word ‘cold’ in the given extract. (1) (i) You know, this house wouldn’t be as cold if there were some curtains on the window and some rugs on the floor. (ii) Throwing back the covers that had protected her from the cold night air, she grabbed one of her boots. (iii) And if anyone came into his room at such moments, he was particularly cold, stern, and above all unpleasantly logical. (iv) For four months in the year its water is as cold as it is pure at all times; and I think that it is then as good as any, if not the best, in the town. Ans. (a) (ii) 1, 3 & 4 (b) ‘Old, cold stare’ means the angry act of refusal of the boy’s request communicated with the eyes. (c) The boy was attracted towards many things in the fair, but he did not insist his parents buy any of them. He followed his parents in the fair like an obedient child. Though he longed for the things yet, he did not express his desire before his parents because he knew that his parents would not allow him to get them. (d) (iii) And if anyone came into his room at such moments, he was particularly cold, stern, and above all unpleasantly logical.



2. “The poor child struggled to thrust away between their feet but, knocked to and fro by their brutal movements, he might have been trampled underfoot, had he not shrieked at the highest pitch of his voice.” (a) When does the child realise that he has lost his way?

(2)

(b) Who is referred to as ‘their’ in the above extract? (i) Crowd (ii) Parents (iii) Customers at a shop (iv) All of these

(1)



(c) Explain, ‘struggled to thrust away between their feet’. (i) To dig the field between his feet (ii) To make his way through the feet of the crowd (iii) To make his feet through the feet of the parents (iv) To find the way to the toys

(1)



(d) Why do you think the child was lost?

(1)

Ans. (a) When he reaches near the roundabout, he wishes to get a ride on it and he asks his parents for it. When he gets no reply, he turns around to look for his parents. But he finds nobody around him. He realises that he is lost. (b) (i) Crowd (c) (ii) To make his way through the feet of the crowd (d) The child was lost because the child and his parents had lost each other’s company accidentally.



3. “Will you have a ride on the horse?” he gently asked as he approached the ring. The child’s throat tore into a thousand shrill sobs and he only shouted, “I want my mother, I want my father!” (a) Explain: “Tore into a thousand shrill sobs”.

(b) How did the stranger help the lost child?

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(1) (2)

(c) What was the reaction of the child? (i) He was crying. (ii) He was happy. (iii) He was surprised. (iv) He was angry.

(1)

(d) According to the extract, what is the author trying to impress upon the reader? (1) (i) Family is more important than material things. (ii) Children are a big nuisance. (iii) Not all strangers are bad. (iv) Children can get lost if parents are careless. Ans. (a) “Tore into a thousand shrill sobs” means to cry accompanied by sharp high-pitched sounds. (b) The stranger was certainly a kind-hearted man. He saved the child from being trampled under the feet. He loved children very much. He lifted the child in his lap and offered him all those things which the child desired to have earlier. (c) (i) He was crying. (d) (i) Family is more important than material things.

4. A flower-seller hawked, “A garland of gulmohur, a garland of gulmohur!” The child seemed irresistibly drawn. He went towards the basket where the flowers lay heaped and half murmured, “I want that garland.” But he well knew his parents would refuse to buy him those flowers.

(a) Select the sentence that describes the essence of the given extract. (i) A child had gone to the village fair with his parents. (ii) The child was being fussy, and wanted everything he saw. (iii) The child had got lost and was being jostled in the crowd. (iv) The child was enjoying himself away from his parents.

(1)



(b) Complete the given analogy by selecting the appropriate word from the extract. (1) push : thrust : : ________________ : squashed

(c) Which sentence from those given below uses the word ‘drawn’ as it has been used in the given extract? (1) (i) His illness left him looking pale and drawn. (ii) Recent actions by a number of sporting bodies show where they think the line should be drawn. (iii) You only get to walk variations of the same lines everyone has already drawn for you. (iv) The management was evidently drawn in by the candidate’s impressive behaviour.

(d) Why couldn’t the boy get a garland of flowers for himself? (2) Ans. (a) (iii) The child had got lost and was being jostled in the crowd. (b) trampled (c) (iv) The management was evidently drawn in by the candidate’s impressive behaviour. (d) The boy wanted to get a garland of gulmohur flowers for himself but he asked for it in a half-murmuring voice only. Actually, he knew that his parents would refuse by saying that those flowers were cheap. Literature Reader

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Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. How does the author introduce the lesson? Ans. The author introduces the lesson with the spring season when rural India celebrates the occasion with fun, fair, and festivities. The story begins with a picture of colourfully dressed people who are walking, riding or being carried along the road. The atmosphere is full of joy and laughter. 2. How has the child been introduced? Ans. The child has been shown to be displaying all the characteristics of any child of his age. He is happy and eager to go to the fair, jumping along aimlessly, and wishing to possess everything he laid his eyes on. However, he does not voice his desires loudly because he is aware of the strictness of his thrifty parents. A naughty, lively, obedient, and affectionate character.

3. His mother, melted by the free spirit of the day was tender and giving him her finger to hold, said, “look child, what is before you!” Explain. Ans. The tender heart of the mother melts when her son is upset for having been refused a toy by his father. To pacify him, divert his attention, and to enjoy the day wholeheartedly, she tells her son to look at the beautiful mustard fields that were in full bloom. 4. What were the excuses that the child envisage that his parents would make? Ans. The child made his requests for various things in murmurs because he knew that if he asked for sweets, he would be called greedy. Flowers would be termed cheap, he would be considered too old to play with balloons, and listening to the music of the snake charmer was forbidden as it was ‘coarse’. 5. What difference do you notice in the child’s behaviour before and after he gets lost? Ans. In the initial stages of the story, we see a happy little child, enjoying the scenes and sights all around him. He desires to own some of the things he sees, but gets easily distracted by his mother who encourages her son to enjoy the beauties of nature. However, after he gets lost, he is seen to be in a state of panic, and does not get pacified by any of the things. All that he wanted now, was to be in the secure hands of his dear parents. 6. How has the lost child’s anxiety and insecurity been described? Ans. His anxiety and insecurity have been described through his reaction to his realisation that he was lost. Tears rolled down his cheeks, his throat became dry, his face flushed and convulsed with fear and he ran in all directions in panic without knowing where to go. 7. Do you think the title of the story is appropriate? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Yes, the title appropriately captures the essence of the story. It highlights the plight of a little child who is lost in a fair and it captures the emotions that the child goes through on being separated from his parents. It shows how the child who a moment ago is excited at the sights and sounds of the fair suddenly loses interest in all these sights once he realises that he is lost. 8. How did the sight of a snake-charmer leave the child spell-bound? Ans. As the child walked away from the balloon-seller, his eyes caught the sight of a snakecharmer playing on a flute to a snake. He was fascinated by the swinging hood of the snake swinging gracefully like the neck of a swan. The music of the flute equally mesmerised both the snake and the boy. 9. How can you say that the child was an obedient boy? Ans. The child was fascinated by the fair. He was attracted towards many things in the fair, but he did not insist his parents buy any of them. He followed his parents in the fair like an obedient child. Though he longed for the things, yet he did not express his desire

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before his parents because he knew that his parents would not allow him to get them. 10. The kind-hearted stranger tried his best to calm down the lost child but failed. Why did the child remain inconsolable? Ans. The stranger who noticed the lost child was a kind-hearted man. He had the heart that could feel the agony of a lost child. He lifted him up in his arms. He tried to distract his attention by offering a ride on the roundabout and making him hear the music of the flute. He offered him to buy sweets and balloons to soothe him. He failed in his attempt because the lost child had nothing in his mind except his parents.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)

1. Describe the character of the little boy’s parents. Ans. Mulk Raj Anand has introduced us to a family that belonged to the villages of ancient India. It was of a time when the relationship between parents and children was not always informal, and the relationship was outlined with a great amount of respect and strictness. The father’s word was always the law. The parents shown here, display the typical character of a tyrannical father and a mother who acts as the buffer between her husband and child. The little boy, who was seen to be extremely afraid of his father, did not have the courage to ask him for toys or sweets because he feared facing his anger. While the mother is seen to handle a sad child very tactfully by diverting his attention to the bounties of nature. The two of them constantly worry about the safety of the child, and keep telling him to keep abreast with them. 2. How do you know that the child was fond of nature? Ans. It was the most beautiful season of the year—Spring, when the plants and trees would be in full bloom. The little boy was attracted to the bounties of nature because of his innocence and curiosity. It was not difficult for his mother to divert his attention to the beauty of the mustard farm in full bloom. He then follows a swarm of dragonflies, and tries to catch them. He is attracted by the little insects and worms, hiding along the footpath. He relishes the feel of the soft petals as they fall on him, and then forgets the flowers as he runs behind the cooing doves. He was extremely intrigued by the beauty of nature.

3. What impression of the man, who picked up the little boy, comes to your mind? Is it safe to accompany strangers? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. This story is of a time when perhaps, people still had regard and affection for each other. The man unlike the other visitors at the fair, notices the little boy crying and goes out of his way to pacify him and help him get back to his parents. He comes across as a good samaritan whose intentions are very clean. He does everything he possibly can, to calm down the wailing child and is not shown to be losing his patience even once. Well, with regard to the safety of accompanying strangers, it has both a positive and a negative aspect to it. How can we judge a book by its cover? A person could be a saviour or a destroyer. The safest option would be to be careful and not get lost in a crowd. Do not let go of your parent’s hands to avoid getting into such situations. 4. Do you consider the child’s behaviour as depicted in the story normal? Give reasons for your answer. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Yes, the child’s behaviour was normal. The story very clearly depicts the behaviour of a young child who is attracted by everything he sees around him. The child is not only attracted to toys and sweets, but also fascinated by the natural wonders of the world like dragonflies, pigeons, flowers and snakes.

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There is a reflection of the universal phenomenon of a child’s attraction and fascination with the natural world. As mentioned in the story, the child is both ‘repelled and fascinated’ by the colourful world around him which is normal for any young child. The crowds and noise repel a child while the colourful world and the sights of the air fascinate him.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. A full, deep cry rose within his dry throat and with a sudden jerk of his body he ran from where he stood, crying in real fear, “Mother, Father.” Tears rolled down from his eyes, hot and fierce; his flushed face was convulsed with fear.

(a) Who is ‘he’ here? (i) Father (iii) Unknown man

(1) (ii) Little boy (iv) None of these

(b) Why was he crying?

(1)



(c) How has the child’s anxiety and fear been described?

(2)



(d) Select the option that correctly captures the usage of the word ‘deep’ as used in the extract. (1) (i) The water is deep and mysterious in the middle of the lake. (ii) The gardener had dug a deep hole in the garden for making a compost pit. (iii) Deep in the earth’s crust the rock may be subjected to temperatures high enough to melt it. (iv) A nurse patted me on the shoulder and said, “You have a good deep cry, dear”



2. The man took him near the balloons, thinking the bright colours of the balloons would distract the child’s attention and quieten him. “Would you like a rainbow-coloured balloon?” he persuasively asked. The child turned his eyes from the flying balloons and just sobbed.



(a) Why did the man take the child near the balloons?

(1)



(b) How did the child react to the balloons?

(2)



(c) Which of the following sentences is NOT TRUE, according to the given extract. (1) (i) The man was trying to distract the child. (ii) The man was kidnapping the child. (iii) The man offered to buy him balloons. (iv) The child did not want the balloons.



(d) Which word from the following means the same as ‘divert’? (i) Turned (ii) Quieten (iii) Distract (iv) Sobbed

Short Answer Questions 1. Do you think the child made a deliberate mistake?

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(1)

(40-50 Words) (Constructed Response Question)



2. Describe the emotional turmoil experienced by the little boy.



3. Why did the child get away from the snake charmer?



4. Describe the mood of the child, when he passed from the mustard field.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)



1. Write an article on the need to provide security for children in such situations as shown in the story. You are Simson/Simple. (Constructed Response Question)



2. Make a diary entry as the man who saved the child.



3. Write a character sketch of the little boy’s father and mother.

(Constructed Response Question)

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The Adventures of Toto

—Ruskin Bond

About the Author Ruskin Bond (born on 19 May, 1934) is an Indian author of British descent. He lives with his adopted family in Landour, in Mussoorie, India. The Indian Council for Child Education has recognised his role in the growth of children’s literature in India. He got the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992 for Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra, his published work in English. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 and Padma Bhushan in 2014.

Theme The instinctive characteristics of a living being are generally difficult to change, and trying to do so is very painful for the animal/bird. It is necessary to respect every creation of God and allow them to live the way that has been prescribed for them by the Almighty.

Summary In the story ‘Adventures of Toto’, Toto is a monkey. The story is written by Ruskin Bond. Ruskin Bond has described how his grandfather was fond of animals. He bought a monkey from a Tonga-driver for `5. Initially, when the grandfather saw Toto tied up to a feeding-trough, he found him looking very ill and ugly. As the grandfather had his own private zoo, he kept the little monkey in it. Toto used his tail as a third hand. He used it to hang from a branch and for scooping up any delicacy that he could not reach with his hands. Toto’s presence was kept a secret from grandmother as she didn’t like animals. One day, when grandfather was going out of station, he decided to take Toto along with him. A big black canvas kit bag was provided for Toto, so that he could be concealed and would not be able to escape. Gradually, grandmother accepted Toto in the house. In winters, when Toto had to go for bath, he would cunningly test the temperature of the water with his hand. When the water became cold, he would run to the kitchen fire to dry himself. If anyone laughed at him, he felt hurt and would refuse to continue with his bath. Toto’s mischief was progressing from tolerable to intolerable. He could not be tamed or domesticated. Soon, grandfather realised that Toto was not the type of pet to be kept in the house. He found the Tonga-driver, and sold Toto back to him for ™3 only.

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Glossary NCERT Page –7 peg – a short pin or bolt used to hang something; fastened – fixed; wrenched – pulled or twisted suddenly and violently NCERT Page –8 turnstile – a mechanical gate consisting of revolving horizontal arms fixed to a vertical post allowing only one person to pass at a time; quadruped – an animal that has four feet NCERT Page –9 apparent – evident, obvious; halter – harness; haunches – the seat and thigh of an animal taken together; fastened – tied or secured, made secure NCERT Page –10 hauled – pulled or draged with force

Answers to NCERT Questions THINK ABOUT IT 1. How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo? Ans. The author’s grandfather bought Toto from a tonga-driver for a sum of five rupees. He used to keep it tied on to a feeding trough. Grandfather was an animal lover, who felt that the monkey looked uncomfortable and out of place, and therefore, decided to take the pretty little fellow to his private zoo. 2. “Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense is Toto pretty? Ans. Toto had bright eyes, sparkling with mischief beneath deep set eyebrows, pearly white teeth with which he smiled very often and a tail that added to his good looks. His hands had dried up due to exposure to the sun, but his quick and wicked fingers made up for them. He used to hang and scoop up any delicacy that his hands could not reach with his tail. The mischief and mannerism of Toto is what made him pretty.

3. Why does grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how? Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog? Ans. Toto was very destructive and intolerant of the other inmates of the zoo. His presence in the house was unknown to the grandmother. Grandfather had to go to Saharanpur, the following day, so he decided it would be safer to take Toto along with him. He was put inside a big black canvas kit-bag, from which he could not escape when closed. He tried desperately to get out of the bag, attracting a lot of attention, but all his efforts were in vain. But the naughty fellow peeped out of the bag and smiled at the ticket collector at the railway turnstile. The collector insisted on collecting a fee for the monkey, probably classifying it as a quadruped, that falls into the category of dogs. Grandfather was not convinced but handed over a fee of rupees three for Toto’s fare.

4. How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? How does he almost boil himself alive? Ans. In the cold winter evenings, grandma used to give him a large bowl of warm water to bathe. He would test the temperature of the water with his hands and step into the bowl one part of the body at a time, until the water would rise upto his neck. When he was comfortable, he would rub himself all over with soap. He would rush to dry himself by the kitchen fire, as soon as the water lost its warmth. He had learnt to do this Literature Reader

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by observing the author. On one occasion, Toto nearly boiled himself alive, as he got a kettle that was placed on a live fire, thinking it was bath water inside. 5. Why does the author say, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long”? Ans. Toto had already shown that he was not compatible with the other animals in grandfather’s private zoo. He crossed all pardonable limits of misbehaviour one afternoon, when he sat on the dining table eating up the pullao that was supposed to be for the family. When reprimanded, he took the dish and perched himself on a tree, and continued to eat to his fill. To annoy grandma, who screamed at him, he threw down the dish and chattered with pleasure, when he saw it break into a hundred pieces. This was the reason for the author saying that, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long”.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. His bright eyes sparkled with mischief beneath deep-set eyebrows, and his teeth, which were a pearly white, were very often displayed in a smile that frightened the life out of the elderly Anglo-Indian ladies. But his hands looked dried-up as though they had been pickled in the sun for many years. Yet his fingers were quick and wicked; and his tail, while adding to his good looks (Grandfather believed a tail would add to anyone’s good looks), also served as a third hand. He could use it to hang from a branch; and it was capable of scooping up any delicacy that might be out of reach of his hands.

(a) Who frightened the elderly Anglo-Indian ladies? (i) The author’s mischief (ii) His grandfather’s anger (iii) Toto, the monkey (iv) The tonga driver

(1)



(b) Which word from the extract means the same as ‘something pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury’? (1)



(c) Which sentence given below uses the word ‘pickled’ in the same context as it has been used in the given extract? (1) (i) He got pickled at the office party. (ii) I must have been rather pickled when I agreed to your stupid scheme. (iii) The onions have been pickled in brine. (iv) By this time, he was hopelessly pickled.



(d) Why has the author placed certain words/sentences within brackets in the extract? List any two reasons. (Competency-focused Question) (2) Ans. (a) (iii) Toto, the monkey (b) ‘Delicacy’ means the same as ‘something pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury’. (c) (iii) The onions have been pickled in brine. (d) 1. The brackets tell the reader that the information is added to further explain the content mentioned, in this case, the tail. 2. To signify important information, in this case, the grandfather’s love for animals.

2. Unfortunately, I could not accompany Grandfather on that trip but he told me about it afterwards. A big black canvas kit-bag was provided for Toto. This, with some straw at the bottom, became his new abode. When the bag was closed, there was no escape.

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(a) Which trip is being referred to here? (1) (i) A trip to Dehra Dun (ii) A trip from Dehra Dun to Saharanpur (iii) A trip from Saharanpur (iv) A trip from Saharanpur to Dehra Dun (b) State a reason why Toto was accompanying grandfather on the trip?

(1)

(c) What did grandfather tell the speaker about the trip afterwards?

(2)

(d) Which word from the following means the same as ‘to go along with someone’? (1) (i) Unfortunately (ii) Accompany (iii) Afterwards (iv) Trip Ans. (a) (ii) A trip from Dehra Dun to Saharanpur (b) Toto was accompanying grandfather on the trip because Toto’s presence in the house was a secret. (c) Grandfather told the speaker about the mischievous acts of Toto on that trip right from his jumping inside the bag at Dehra Dun platform to his peeping out of the bag and grinning at the ticket-collector on the Saharanpur railway station. (d) (ii) Accompany

3. Then Grandfather, just to get his own back, took from his pocket our pet tortoise, and said, “What must I pay for this, since you charge for all animals?” The ticket-collector looked closely at the tortoise, prodded it with his forefinger, gave Grandfather a pleased and triumphant look, and said, “No charge. It is not a dog.”



(a) “No charge. It is not a dog.” What was the tone of the ticket collector while saying these words? (1) (1) Pleased (2) Argumentative (3) Triumphant (4) Rude (5) Sarcastic (i) 1 & 2 (ii) 3 & 5 (iii) 2 & 3 (iv) 2 & 4

(b) Why did grandfather take out his pet tortoise to be charged with ticket?

(2)



(c) Why were the charges waived by the ticket-collector?

(1)



(d) Which word from the following means the same as ‘poke with finger’? (1) (i) Pleased (ii) Charge (iii) Triumphant (iv) Prodded Ans. (a) (ii) 3 & 5 (b) Grandfather was anooyed by the ticket collector’s behaviour and was unhappy with the three rupees he had paid for the monkey. So he took out his pet tortoise from his pocket angrily, and asked the ticket collector if he charges for that as well. (c) The charges were waived by the ticket-collector because the tortoise was not a dog. (d) (iv) Prodded

4. “He would cunningly test the temperature with his hand, then gradually step into the bath, rest one foot, then the other (as he had seen me doing), until he was into the water up to his neck. Once comfortable, he would take the soap in his hands or feet, and rub himself all over. When the water became cold, he would get out and run as quickly as he could to the kitchen-fire in order to dry himself. If anyone laughed at him during this Literature Reader

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performance, Toto’s feelings would be hurt and he would refuse to go on with his bath.

(a) Who is ‘he’ here? (i) Grandson (iii) Grandfather

(1) (ii) Toto (iv) Neighbour

(b) Describe the bathing ritual of Toto.

(2)

(c) What opinion do you form about Toto from the behaviour described in the above extract? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (d) Which word from the following means the same as ‘slowly’? (1) (i) Cunningly (ii) Gradually (iii) Until (iv) Bath Ans. (a) (ii) Toto (b) Toto enjoyed having a nice and warm bath during the winters. Before getting into the tub, he would test the temperature with his hand and then get in by putting one toe in the water first and then the other, then he would take the soap in his hands and rub himself all over the body, just like human beings. (c) Toto’s behaviour shows that he is a keen observer. He had seen the narrator taking a bath and he behaved in a similar manner while bathing himself. (d) (ii) Gradually

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. Why was Toto not introduced to grandmother? Ans. Grandmother did not appreciate the introduction of new animals and birds into the zoo. So, the author and his grandfather decided that they would keep Toto’s presence in the house a secret to avoid causing any form of discomfort to her, till the time she was in a good mood to accept him around. 2. Where was he fastened initially? How did Toto keep himself occupied in the closet? Ans. Toto was fastened to a peg in a little closet that opened into the author’s bedroom wall. A few hours later, when they came back to release him, the two men were in for a major shock. Toto had pealed off the ornamental wallpaper that was pasted on the wall, the peg on to which he had been fastened had been wrenched out of the wall, and the author’s blazer was reduced to shreds. 3. Why was grandfather pleased with Toto’s performance? Ans. Grandfather was pleased with Toto’s performance and concluded that Toto was clever. He said that the little monkey would have converted the shreded blazer into a rope and escaped through the window, if he had been given adequate time. 4. How did Toto behave with his companions at the servant’s quarters? Ans. Toto was transferred into a big cage in the servant’s quarters. There was a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a squirrel, and the author’s pet goat as companions. All of them lived with a lot of congeniality. But Toto was not ready to let them live peacefully. He kept disturbing the animals all through the night and was not allowing them to sleep. 5. How did Toto’s life change after grandmother accepted him? Could he befriend Nana? Ans. Toto was given a comfortable home in the stable along with Nana, the family donkey. On the first night at the stable, when grandpa went to check on him, he found Nana pulling on to Toto’s halter without any provocation from the latter, trying to keep her

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head away from the bundle of hay. They continued teasing each other but could never become good friends. 6. Describe Toto the monkey that grandfather bought from the tonga driver. Ans. Toto was a pretty monkey with bright eyes that sparkled with mischief under deep-set eyebrows. He had pearly white teeth which he bared in a smile that frightened old Anglo-Indian ladies. His skin was wrinkled, with his hands looking pickled in the sun. His finger was quick and wicked, and his tail acted as a third hand for him. 7. How did grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur? Ans. He put the monkey in a big black canvas kit-bag with some straw at the bottom. When the bag was closed there was no place for the monkey to escape from as he could not get his hands out of the neck which was tied securely, and the canvas was too thick for him to bite his way out. 8. How did Toto almost boil himself one day? Ans. One day, Toto found a large kitchen kettle left to boil on the fire. Finding the water just warm enough for a bath, he got in with his head sticking out from the open kettle. This was fine for a while until the water began to boil. Toto raised himself a little but finding it cold outside sat down again. He continued hopping up and down for some time until grandmother pulled him out, half boiled. 9. How do we know that grandmother was not as fond of collecting animals as grandfather? Ans. The fact that grandfather had to hide the monkey, Toto in the closet after buying him off from the tonga-driver tells us that he was afraid that grandmother would create a fuss if she saw that he had made yet another addition to his collection of animals. Thus, we get to know that she was not as ardent a lover of animals as grandfather. 10. What did Toto do in the author’s room? Ans. Toto was kept in a little store. It opened into the narrator’s bedroom. He was tied to a peg on the wall. A few hours later, the narrator found a change in his bedroom. Toto had made himself free by pulling out the peg. He had removed the wallpaper of the bedroom. He had torn the narrator’s school blazer.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)

1. How can you say that Toto was mischievous? Ans. Toto was picked up by the grandfather because he was greatly attracted by the mischief in his eyes. He proved the grandfather’s judgement right in every act of his, during his stay at the author’s house. He wrenched out the peg from the wall that was used to fasten him, tore Ruskin Bond’s school blazer into shreds. At the servant’s quarters, he disturbed the other animals that lived there very happily. While on a journey to Saharanpur and back with grandpa, he tried every possible trick to come out of his canvas bag, and peeped out of it at the station making grandpa pay a fare of three rupees to the station master, who classified Toto as a dog. He nearly got boiled in a live kettle, when he had got into the water meant for tea. Had grandma not reached on time, Toto would have been killed. The final drama was his tryst with the pullao that was made for the family. He threw a plate at grandma and a glass of water at an aunt because they reprimanded him. Not a day passed when Toto’s mischief was not on display at the Bond household.

2. As Toto, make a diary entry, expressing your grief at being plucked away from your family. (Constructed Response Question) Literature Reader

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Ans. 14 April, 20XX Thursday, 8 p.m. Dear Diary, I am very sad today. I am back with the cruel tonga driver. I spent a few days with an old man and his family. I had a good time. But in my desperate attempts to annoy them, hoping they would release me into the jungle, I troubled them endlessly. Fed up with me, they handed me back to this cruel man. He will now keep torturing me. What can I do? I strayed out of the jungle one day while playing with my siblings and friends. It was then that I got captured by the tonga driver. He does not give me food, he makes me do tricks, ties me on to the wheel of his tonga to entertain people when I scramble behind him. My injuries had just begun healing. I regret misbehaving with the old grandmother and the other animals in that house. I can’t stop crying. Please help me get back to the jungle, Oh God! 3. How did Toto like to have a bath in winters? How did he once get into serious trouble while trying to have a hot water bath? Ans. Bathing in a large bowl of warm water in cold winter evenings was a treat for Toto. He would cunningly test the temperature of the water brought by the grandmother with his hand and gradually step into the bath, first one foot, then the other until he was into the water up to his neck. Once comfortable, he would take the soap in his hands or feet and rub himself all over. When the water became cold, he would get out and quickly run to the kitchen fire to dry himself. If ever someone tried to laugh at him, he would refuse to go on with the bath. His fondness for a hot water bath one day got him into serious trouble. He noticed a kitchen kettle on the fire and having nothing better to do decided to remove the lid. Finding the water just warm enough for a bath, he got in. For a while it was fine, but soon he began hopping in and out of the kettle because the water had got really hot while outside the kettle it was too cold for him. That day Toto would have boiled himself to death, had Grandmother not arrived in time to rescue him.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. When Toto was finally accepted by Grandmother he was given a comfortable home in the stable, where he had for a companion the family donkey, Nana. On Toto’s first night in the stable, Grandfather paid him a visit to see if he was comfortable. To his surprise he found Nana, without apparent cause, pulling at her halter and trying to keep her head as far as possible from a bundle of hay. Grandfather gave Nana a slap across her haunches, and she jerked back, dragging Toto with her. He had fastened on to her long ears with his sharp little teeth. (a) When was Toto given a comfortable home and where?

(2)

(b) Complete the given analogy with the appropriate word from the extract.

(1)

comfortable : uncomfortable : : antogonist : ____________________ (c) Pick the sentence that is NOT TRUE, according to the given extract. (i) Toto was given a home in a stable. (ii) Grandfather paid him a visit to see if he was active.

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(1)



(iii) Nana was pulling at her halter. (iv) Toto had fastened himself to Nana’s ears.

(d) Who was the companion in the stable for Toto? (i) Nana (ii) Tortoise (iii) Horse (iv) None of these

(1)

2. A few hours later, when Grandfather and I came back to release Toto, we found that the walls, which had been covered with some ornamental paper chosen by Grandfather, now stood out as naked brick and plaster. The peg in the wall had been wrenched from its socket, and my school blazer, which had been hanging there, was in shreds.

(a) Where was Toto ‘a few hours before’? Why was he kept there?

(2)

(b) Why did they come back? (i) To release Toto (iii) To buy Toto

(1) (ii) To release Nana (iv) To hide Toto

(c) What was the condition of the wall covered with ornamental paper?

(1)

(d) Which word from the following means the same as ‘to twist suddenly and pull’? (1) (i) Shreds (ii) Wrenched (iii) Release (iv) Peg

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words)

1. Explain Toto’s visit to Saharanpur and back. 2. How does Toto take a bath? 3. Grandfather loves animals. Explain. 4. Why was the presence of Toto kept a secret from grandmother?

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)



1. As Ruskin Bond, express your views regarding Toto and his adventures. (Constructed Response Question) 2. Is it right to confine animals and restrict their freedom? (Constructed Response Question) 3. Give the character sketch of Ruskin Bond’s grandfather.



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Iswaran The Storyteller —R.K. Laxman

About the Author Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Laxman (born on 24 October 1921) was an Indian cartoonist, illustrator, and humourist. He was best-known for his creation, The Common Man and for his daily cartoon strip, “You Said It” in The Times of India, which started in 1951. He was a recipient of the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Ramon Magsasay awards to name a few.

Theme R.K. Laxman’s story, ‘Iswaran The Storyteller’ revolves around the concept of the unnatural and occult. It is an apparition of a dead person that is believed to appear or become manifest to the living, typically as a vague, blurry image.

Summary Mahendra was a supervisor in a firm. His job was to supervise different construction sites. The nature of his job was such that he had to move from one place to another. Mahendra’s needs were simple. He had a servant named Iswaran who followed Mahendra without any complaint, cooked for him, and washed his clothes too. Iswaran read Tamil thriller stories and it affected him so much that even a very small incident like a tree that had fallen, appeared to him like a frightening beast. Iswaran described each thing with robust details. He weaved a new story full of thrill and horror to Mahendra every night. He played the role of a TV in Mahendra’s quarter. One day, he weaved a story about a female ghost, holding a foetus in her hand. Mahendra stopped him from telling such horrible stories and told him that there are no such things as ghost and that they are only our imagination. After a few days, Mahendra heard some noises near his windowsill during the night. At first, he put it down to the cries of a cat but the noise became louder and louder. When he peeped through the window, he fainted, for he saw a cloudy figure clutching a bundle, near his windowsill. Mahendra could not sleep that night. In the morning, Iswaran asked him about the sounds and the female ghost. He also complained about how he had chided him earlier. Mahendra was so upset that he resolved to leave the haunted place the very next day.

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Glossary NCERT Page –13 weave – fabricate, make-up; anecdotes – stories, tales, narratives; desolate – uninhabited, bare; miraculously – amazingly, unbelievably; conjure – make something appear; narrative flourishes – language that appeals and humanises the story; thrall – power to control someone, be in someone’s clutches; sprawled – lounge, recline, stretch out the body carelessly NCERT Page –14 prologue – introduction; emulation – immitation, mimic, copy; helter-skelter – disorderly haste and confusion, to be careless; depredations – damage, wreckage, destruction; menacingly – threateningly, dangerously; hypnotised – capture the attention, fascinate, mesmerise; mustering – gathering; whacked – strike forcefully with a sharp blow NCERT Page –15 rapt – to be completely absorbed; summoned – call for; shrug – raise one’s shoulders, dismiss; credible – convincing; inimitable – unique, special; auspicious – favourable, lucky, fortunate, providential; culinary – of or for cooking; garish – bright and showy, gaudy; supernatural – attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature; jerked – pull, twitch, seize; reverie – day dream, a state of being lost in one’s thoughts NCERT Page –16 shrivelled – wrinkled and shrunken; figment of imagination – a creation of one’s mind, fiction, fantasy; sulk – be moody, out of humour, disappointed NCERT Page –17 vicinity – area within your vision, neighbourhood; guttural – throaty, harsh sound; feline – resembling a cat; subconscious – concerning the part of the mind of which one is not fully aware but which influences one’s actions and feelings; haunted – frequented by ghosts, possessed, cursed

Answers to NCERT Questions THINK ABOUT IT 1. In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra? Ans. Mahendra was a junior supervisor, who would be posted at various locations. His job required a lot of travelling. The biggest asset in his peripatetic (excessive travelling around) life was his cook, Iswaran. He cooked, washed clothes, and gave him company by weaving endless stories spiced up with thrill and horror.

2. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners? Ans. The uprooted tree on the highway was described with a lot of dramatic gestures and suspense. He begins by saying that the road was deserted and he was alone, when he suddenly spotted something looking like an enormous bushy beast lying sprawled across the road. He continues to say that he was about to escape from there, but did not do so because when he came closer, he realised that it was a tree that had fallen and its dry branches had spread out. All this, just to say that a tree had fallen on the highway. He wanted to build up a sense of suspense and fear in his listeners. 3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible? Ans. Iswaran narrates the story of a tusker that had escaped from a timber yard when he was a small child. The tusker began ravaging all that he laid his eyes on. Finally, he reached his school. The children, playing on the ground, ran into their classes, and everyone in the school was watching the elephant and its madness in fear. Iswaran, who Literature Reader

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was on the terrace of the school, snatched a cane from a teacher’s hand, and threw it on to the toenail of the tusker, which he says shivered from head to toe and collapsed. It may seem plausible that such a thing happens because the pain inflicted by the cane that landed on its toe, could have been very severe. The skin of the elephant being very sensitive, would explain the collapse of the jumbo. Although, the account of valour sounds too dramatical to be a 100% factual.

4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters? Ans. The author says that Iswaran made up for the absence of a TV in their quarters because of his dramatisation and fascinating style of storytelling. He recounted every story with a lot of spice and often delivered it with passion and joy. His stories had adventure, horror, suspense, and crime, which he imbibed from the books he read, and Mahendra enjoyed listening to them because of the inimitable way in which they were told by Iswaran.

5. Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night? Ans. One night, it was a full-moon night, Mahendra was woken up from his sleep by a soft moaning sound close to his window. He initially thought it to be a cat prowling behind a mice. But he noticed that the sound was too guttural for a cat. He could not resist checking, as the sound began getting louder. He was scared, but he mustered up the courage to look out. He saw a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle. He broke into a cold sweat and fell on to his pillow, panting. This was perhaps because of the story about a female ghost, that Iswaran had told him earlier, and had remained somewhere in his subconscious mind. He had actually told Iswaran that all what he was churning out about ghosts was a figment of his imagination. The experience was ghastly. 6. Can you think of some other ending for the story? Ans. The author has ended the story by making the protagonist, Mahendra, escape from the scene, instead of finding out or investigating the matter. I would end it in a very different way. Mahendra, a brave and tough person, was intrigued by the sounds that appeared on the moonlit night. At the back of his mind, the story of Iswaran was gnawing his sensibilities. Not willing to succumb to any kind of fear, he took his torch and stepped out of his quarters. He did not wake up the sleeping cook. Armed with a huge stick, he went close to the sound and handed over a strong blow to the ‘apparition’. It started shouting and running helter-skelter. Now, the sound was even more familiar. Assuring himself that the problem was sorted out, he went back to bed. The next morning, he called out to Iswaran to bring his coffee, when he noticed that Iswaran’s shoulder seemed dislocated. He then disclosed the truth that he had pretended to be the ghost to prove that it was not a figment of his imagination. Iswaran gave up his fascination for thrill and crime. The shoulder took two months to set.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

(5 Marks each)

1. By the time he had got up in the morning, had a bath and come out to have his breakfast, the horror of the previous night had faded from his memory. Iswaran greeted him at the door with his lunch packet and his bag. Just as Mahendra was stepping out Iswaran grinned and said, “Sir, remember the other day when I was telling you about the female

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ghost with a foetus in its arms, you were so angry with me for imagining things? Well, you saw her yourself last night. I came running hearing the sound of moaning that was coming from your room...” A chill went down Mahendra’s spine. He did not wait for Iswaran to complete his sentence. He hurried away to his office and handed in his papers, resolving to leave the haunted place the very next day!

(a) What does ‘the horror of the previous night’ mean?

(1)



(b) Which word DOES NOT mean the same as ‘a chill run down the spine’? (i) Suspenseful (ii) Frightening (iii) Thrilling (iv) Comical

(1)

(c) Why did Mahendra not let Iswaran complete his sentence?

(2)

(d) Who was the ‘female ghost with a foetus in its arms’? (1) (i) Wife of Mahendra who was dead and had been haunting him. (ii) Wife of Iswaran who was haunting Mahendra. (iii) A figment of the imagination due to the influence of the ghostly stories. (iv) Iswaran’s associate to make Mahendra believe ghosts actually exist. Ans. (a) It refers to the ghostly experience of the previous night. (b) (iv) Comical (c) Mahendra did not let Iswaran complete his sentence because he had become quite frightened to know that he had seen a real ghost last night; he just wanted to get as far away from that place as he could. (d) (iii) A figment of the imagination due to the influence of the ghostly stories. 2. At first, he put it down to a cat prowling around for mice. But the sound was too guttural for a cat. He resisted the curiosity to look out lest he should behold a sight which would stop his heart. But the wailing became louder and less feline. He could not resist the temptation any more. Lowering himself to the level of the windowsill he looked out at the white sheet of moonlight outside. There, not too far away, was a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle. Mahendra broke into a cold sweat and fell back on the pillow, panting. As he gradually recovered from the ghastly experience, he began to reason with himself, and finally concluded that it must have been some sort of auto suggestion, some trick that his subconscious had played on him.

(a) Why did Mahendra resist the curiosity to look out?

(2)



(b) ‘Lest’ is a conjunction used in the above extract. The same conjunction has been used in the following sentences. Find out the sentence where ‘lest’ is inappropriately used. (Competency-focused Question) (1) (i) Walk carefully lest you should fall. (ii) Work hard lest you should succeed. (iii) I feared lest I should be late again. (iv) Walk carefully lest you should not fall.

(c) The sound of the cat was ‘guttural’. Here the writer means to say that the cat was: (1) 1. Sounding harsh 2. Growling 3. Gruffy 4. Croaky 5. Jarring 6. Melodious Literature Reader

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(i) Only (6) (iii) Both (3) and (5)

(ii) Both (6) and (2) (iv) All, except (6)

(d) Why did Mahendra reason with himself? (1) Ans. (a) Mahendra wanted to look out of the window, but he stopped himself because he was worried that he might see something terrible that could stop his heart. He was afraid that he might see a horrifying sight of some ghost. (b) (iv) Walk carefully lest you should not fall. (c) (iv) All, except (6) (d) Mahendra reasoned with himself in order to convince himself that he was safe.

3. Mahendra shivered at the description and interrupted rather sharply, “You are crazy, Iswaran. There are no such things as ghosts or spirits. It is all a figment of your imagination. Get your digestive system examined — and maybe your head as well. You are talking nonsense.” He left the room and retired for the night, expecting Iswaran to sulk for a couple of days. But the next morning he was surprised to find the cook as cheerful and talkative as ever.

(a) Why did Mahendra react sharply?

(2)



(b) Mahendra’s disapproval to Iswaran’s storytelling shows that: (i) he didn’t approve of his skill. (ii) he was actually scared. (iii) he boasts about himself and his skill of storytelling. (iv) Mahendra always wanted to improvise Iswaran’s stories.

(1)

(c) Mahendra’s advice to Iswaran to get his digestive system examined reflects his: (1) (i) vexation (ii) appreciation (iii) high opinion (iv) contentment (d) With what intention did Mahendra leave the room? (1) Ans. (a) Iswaran has cooked up a new ghostly story. He said that the place where they were living was once a burial ground. Iswaran told Mahendra about the spirit he had seen on a full moon night, who carried an unborn baby in her arms. This left Mahendra scared, that’s why he reacted sharply. (b) (ii) he was actually scared (c) (i) vexation (d) Mahendra left the room so that Iswaran remains quiet for a few days as he had been scolded.

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. What kind of a life did Mahendra lead? Ans. Mahendra was a bachelor, who led a very simple life and had no problem in adjusting to the varying conditions that he had required to face in the course of his job. The only constant feature in his life was his cook, who stood by him through thick and thin. 2. Why did Iswaran want to make something special for dinner one night? Ans. One morning, while having breakfast, Iswaran asks his master, if he could make something special for dinner that night. He said it was an auspicious day, on which according to the tradition, delicacies are prepared to feed ancestors.

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3. What did Iswaran tell his master on the night of the full moon? Ans. He reported having seen remains of human skulls and bones. Going a step further, he says that he has seen ghosts during the night time on several occasions. He claims that he has seen a female apparition with a shrivelled face and matted hair, holding the skeleton of a foetus in her hands. 4. Do you think Mahendra was fearful of ghosts? Give reasons for your answer. Ans. Yes, Mahendra seems to be fearful of ghosts for several reasons. Firstly, he shivered in response to Iswaran’s description of the woman ghost, and then started feeling a sense of unease at night. He kept peering into the darkness outside the window to make sure there was no movement of dark shapes. He also lost his fascination for looking out at the milky-white landscape on moonlit nights. 5. How did Iswaran manage to make even the simplest incident interesting? Give an example. Ans. Iswaran was a master storyteller. He narrated even the smallest of incidents by creating a lot of suspense. For example, if he had to describe a fallen tree, he would not simpy say that he saw an uprooted tree on the highway. He would say, “The road was deserted and I was all alone. Suddenly, I spotted something that looked like an enormous bushy beast. But as I came closer, I saw that it was only a fallen tree.”

6. What did Iswaran do after Mahendra had left for office? Ans. When Mahendra left for the office, Iswaran would do his work and take a leisurely bath. While taking bath, he kept muttering a prayer. After lunchtime, he would read for a while before going to sleep. He read popular Tamil thrillers. The stories that he narrated were greatly influenced by these novels. 7. Why was Iswaran called Mahendra’s asset? Ans. Iswaran was called Mahendra’s asset because of his complete dedication and devotion to his master. He followed Mahendra to all his postings uncomplainingly and looked after his needs. He cooked excellently by improvising material even at the remotest place, washed clothes and also chatted with his master at night, often narrating interesting anecdotes and stories. 8. Describe Mahendra’s character.



Ans. Mahendra was a simple man with simple needs. He was a junior supervisor in a firm which offered to hire supervisors at construction sites like factories, bridges, dams, etc. His work involved moving from one site to another as per the orders by his head office and keeping an eye on the activities at the work site. He was a devoted employee and a kind master.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)



1. As Mahendra, make a diary entry of the full moon night. Express your fear and decision of moving out. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. 15 January, 20XX Friday, 9.20 p.m. Dear Diary, It was the most horrible day of my life. That stupid Iswaran, really had me in jitters. He asked my permission to make delicacies to feed the ancestors. I agreed to it, and after a sumptuous dinner, he began giving me eerie details of the area where we live and work. He spoke of seeing ghosts, skeletons, bones, and claimed that the place was initially a graveyard. He told me about the ghost of a lady whom he had seen. That frightened me. Literature Reader

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I told him to stop and retire for the night. The fear in my subconscious mind, created a panic situation. I began hearing eerie sounds and images while sleeping. I was extremely frightened. I decided that there was no fun leading such a life. I am going to report the matter and get away from this horrible place tomorrow itself. I can’t rest easy until I am out of here. Good night 2. Write a character sketch of Iswaran. Ans. Iswaran was the second character, who was shown to be multi-faceted in the story. He was the cook of the protagonist, Mr Mahendra, who was working as a junior supervisor. His had a transferable job, and the transfers were generally sudden and frequent. Iswaran was the biggest asset in his life. Iswaran was very loyal to him, and followed him wherever he got transfered. Iswaran filled in as a cook, housekeeper, washerman, and companion. The only weakness this man possessed was that he was a voracious reader of Tamil thriller and crime, and he used these to entertain his master while interacting with him during their dinner time and after. Iswaran’s story of ghosts, bones and graves had a huge impact on Mahendra one night, making him decide to leave the place for good. A humble and simple character, who could do a lot of harm in all his innocence, Iswaran was the only steady influence in an otherwise changing world for Mahendra. 3. Right from childhood, we hear ghost stories. What should be our opinion about ghosts? Answer with reference to the story ‘Iswaran the Storyteller’? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Since our childhood, we hear the stories of a ghost. Sometimes, we become frightened and fall asleep quickly. And sometimes, we think about the action of ghosts. As children, we believe in the existence of ghosts. We become confident that ghosts exist in the world and become afraid of dark even if we see any horrible sight. Our belief in ghosts deepens further. In the story, Iswaran told Mahendra that he had seen a female ghost one day. He further told him that the ghost appeared off and on at midnight during the full moon. The ghost seemed an ugly creature with thick hair and a shrivelled face and it gave the impression of a skeleton holding a foetus in its arms. Although Mahendra called Iswaran a crazy fello, he was frightened inside. However, at night he conjured up the ghost and started shivering. Thus, his belief in ghosts deepened and he decided to leave the place at once.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. “The elephant reached the outskirts of our town; breaking the fences down like matchsticks,” he would continue. “It came into the main road and smashed all the stalls selling fruits, mud pots and clothes. People ran helter skelter in panic! The elephant now entered a school ground where children were playing, breaking through the brick wall. All the boys ran into the classrooms and shut the doors tight. The beast grunted and wandered about, pulling out the football goal post, tearing down the volleyball net, kicking and flattening the drum kept for water, and uprooting the shrubs. Meanwhile all the teachers had climbed up to the terrace of the school building; from there they helplessly watched the depredations of the elephant. There was not a soul below on the ground. The streets were empty as if the inhabitants of the entire town had suddenly disappeared.”

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(a) “The elephant reached the outskirts of our town; breaking the fences down like matchsticks.” Identify the speaker. (1)



(b) There are words displaying destruction caused by the beast. Find the one which you think should NOT belong to this group. (1) 1. Breaking 2. Tearing 3. Uprooting 4. Restoration 5. Kicking 6. Flattening 7. Smashed (i) Option (1) and (4) (ii) Option (4) (iii) Option (7) (iv) Option (2) and (6)

(c) How did Isawaran describe the story of an elephant?



(d) Select the option that makes the INCORRECT use of ‘depredations’, as used in the extract, to fill in the blank space. (1)



(2)



(i) The entire area has suffered the ___________________ of war.



(ii) The town survived the ___________________ of rapacious gangs.



(iii) The hurricane left much ___________________ in the city.



(iv) The students were ecstatic after a series of ___________________.

2. That night Mahendra enjoyed the most delicious dinner and complimented Iswaran on his culinary skills. He seemed very pleased but, unexpectedly, launched into a most garish account involving the supernatural.

“You know, sir, this entire factory area we are occupying was once a burial ground,” he started. Mahendra was jerked out of the pleasant reverie he had drifted into after the satisfying meal. “I knew on the first day itself when I saw a human skull lying on the path. Even now I come across a number of skulls and bones,” Iswaran continued. (a) What made Iswaran prepare delicious dinner that night?

(2)

(b) What is ‘the most garish account’ referred to in the above extract?

(1)



(c) ‘Mahendra was jerked out of the pleasant reverie he had drifted into after the satisfying meal.’ What is the ‘pleasant reverie’? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (i) An oblivious state of mind after which you are drifted with your own thought. (ii) A state of being pleasantly lost in one’s thoughts; a daydream, here it specifies the jerk Mahendra receives after a delicious dinner. (iii) An unpleasant state of mind when one receives a jerk after some unpleasantries or mishappenings. (iv) A state of losing one’s cool after something precedent.

(d) Pick the option that correctly collates with ‘jerked’. (1) Up (2) Out (3) From (4) Off (i) Option (1) (ii) Option (2) (iii) Option (4) (iv) All of these

Short Answer Questions

(1)

(40-50 Words)

1. What did Mahendra decide to do after his experience on the full moon night? Literature Reader

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2. How did the story of the female ghost affect Mahendra? 3. How can you say that Iswaran was a fascinating storyteller? 4. Write a character sketch of Mahendra.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)

1. What are the qualities of a good listener? Elaborate with reference to Mahendra. 2. If there was a ghost haunting the area, what could be the reason for it wandering about? Give your point of view. (Constructed Response Question) 3. You are Mahendra’s employer and being a good worker, you do not want him to leave. As his employer, write a letter to Mahendra, requesting him to continue at his current posting, giving adequate reasons for the same. (Constructed Response Question) zzz

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In The Kingdom of Fools —A.K. Ramanujan

Moments

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About the Author Attipate Krishnaswami Ramanujan (born on 16 March 1929) also known as A.K. Ramanujan was an Indian poet and scholar of Indian literature who wrote in both English and Kannada. Ramanujan was a poet, scholar, philologist, folklorist, translator, and playwright. He was a recipient of MacArthur Fellowship, Sahitya Akademi Award and Padma Shree.

Theme It is believed that a fool is more dangerous than a cruel person. His foolishness can bring about major calamities. The story, ‘In the Kingdom of Fools’ is based on the theme that it requires patience and wisdom to handle people who choose to be foolish.

Summary A guru and his disciple visit a kingdom. They are surprised to find the whole kingdom asleep during the day. The duo understand that the people were following the instructions of the king. The guru being a wise man, decides to leave the place as he realises the danger of staying in the kingdom of fools. The guru leaves the city, but the disciple stays behind to eat and be merry. A very unfortunate incident happens in the kingdom. In the process of awarding justice to the victim, the king commits one foolish act after another and ultimately, succumbs to the wisdom of the guru, who has returned to save the life of his disciple. The foolish king and his minister fall into the trap set by the guru. Eventually, the guru and his disciple take over the Kingdom as the new king and minister, and restore normalcy in the kingdom.

Glossary NCERT Page –19 disciple – follower, devotee, student; groceries – items of food sold in a grocery or supermarket; duddu (Kannada word) – money, coin NCERT Page –20 sacred – holy, blessed; sneaked – get in without being noticed; pursuing – following or chasing; compensate – repay or reimburse for a loss

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NCERT Page –21 burgled – robbed; execution – capital punishment, death penalty; anklets – ornaments worn around the ankle NCERT Page –22 damned – used to express anger or frustration, cursed, condemned; bailiffs – official in the court of law NCERT Page –23 decisively – a decision that will produce a definite result; stake – a strong wooden or metal post; impaling – pierce and cause injury with a sharp instrument NCERT Page –24 decree – an official order that has the force of a law; scrape (here) – to get into an embarrassing situation because of one’s foolishness NCERT Page –25 clamour – uproar, loud and strong protest; puzzled – confused, unable to understand, perplexed; solemn – formal and dignified, serious; disguised – altering one’s appearance, hide, conceal; promptly – immediately NCERT Page –26 panicked – to be filled with fear; mourned – to grieve or feel sorry because of the death of a dear one; persuade – convince to do something

Answers to NCERT Questions THINK ABOUT IT 1. What are the two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the Kingdom of Fools? Ans. The two strange things, the guru and his disciple found in the Kingdom of Fools were that the king had ordered to change night into day and day into night. They would all thereby, work at night and sleep during the day. Secondly, everything in the kingdom had a fixed cost, a single duddu. 2. Why does the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? Is it a good idea? Ans. The disciple did not want to leave the place because the most important thing in life for him was food. And in the Kingdom of Fools, food was very cheap and good. The disciple therefore, stays back in the kingdom, refusing to listen to his guru’s advice. It eventually turned out to be a very foolish idea because he eats without a respite and begins to resemble a street-side overfed sacred bull.

3. Name all the people who are tried in the King’s court, and give the reasons for their trial. Ans. The reason for the trial that ensued in the King’s court was that, a robber had died when he had got crushed under a weak wall, that had collapsed while he was sneaking in, to pursue his ancient trade. The people who were tried were the merchant whose house was being burgled, he blamed the mason/bricklayer who inturn blamed the dancing girl who distracted him. The dancing girl blamed the goldsmith whom she referred to as a lazy scoundrel. The goldsmith blamed the merchant for not finishing the dancing girl’s order. The enquiry completed an entire circle and settled on the same merchant at whose house the robber had been crushed by a weak wall. He was summoned again, and in his defense, he claims that it was his dead father who had ordered for the jewellery and not him. He was condemned to death anyway. 4. Who is the real culprit according to the king? Why does he escape punishment? Ans. The king consulted his minister and concluded that the real culprit was the merchant.

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Though the merchant asserted that it was his father who had ordered the jewellery, and claimed innocence, the king sentenced him to death. A new stake was ordered to be made. The minister observed that it was too big for the merchant who was very thin. He appealed to the common sense of the king and stalled the execution of the merchant. Thus, the merchant escaped punishment. 5. What are the guru’s words of wisdom? When does the disciple remember them? Ans. The search for a candidate that would be suitable for the new stake was on. The servants spotted the disciple who had fattened himself by feasting on bananas, rice, wheat and ghee. He cried aloud saying that he was an innocent sanyasi, but it was of no avail. The king’s servants hauled him towards the stake. It was at this unfortunate moment that he remembered the words of his guru, “This is a city of fools. You don’t know what they will do to you next”. He advised his disciple to accompany him out of the foolish kingdom. 6. How does the guru manage to save his disciple’s life? Ans. The guru took advantage of the fact that everybody in the kingdom was foolish. After the mock fight between him and his disciple, on who should go to the gallows first, the guru extracts a promise in secrecy from the king that he should be killed first. He tells the king that the first person who is executed on the new stake which is the God of justice, will be reborn as the king of the country, while the second person will be the minister. The foolish king believed this tale, and convinced his minister that it should be they and not an outsider who should rule the kingdom in the next life as well. Both of them disguise as the sanyasi and the disciple, and get executed. With his wit, sharpness and intelligence, the guru rescues his disciple.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. The two strangers were amazed by what they saw around them and wandered around town till evening, when suddenly the whole town woke up and went about its nightly business.

The two men were hungry. Now that the shops were open, they went to buy some groceries. To their astonishment, they found that everything cost the same, single duddu – whether they bought a measure of rice or a bunch of bananas, it cost a duddu. The guru and the disciple were delighted. They had never heard of anything like this. This could buy all the food they wanted for a rupee.

(a) Who were the two strangers?

(1)



(b) When the guru and the disciple reached the city, it was: (i) midight (ii) broad daylight (iii) cold evening (iv) early dawn

(1)

(c) Why were they wandering around the town?

(2)

(d) Why was the guru and his disciple delighted? (i) To find everyone so happy (ii) To see the mermerising beauty (iii) To find that every item costs the same (iv) To be able to rule over the kingdom

(1)

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Ans. (a) The two strangers were a guru and his disciple, who were wandering from place to place. (b) (ii) broad daylight (c) They wandered around the town till evening because they were curious to know the reason behind the lonely streets of such a beautiful city. They felt something strange about the town. The people worked at night and slept in the day. Also, everything cost the same – a duddu. (d) (iii) To find that every item costs the same



2. “Your Highness, when my brother was pursuing his ancient trade, a wall fell on him and killed him. This merchant is to blame. He should have built a good, strong wall. You must punish the wrongdoer and compensate the family for this injustice.” (a) What was the ancient trade mentioned in the given extract?

(1)

(b) What is the speaker doing in the given extract? (i) Ordering (ii) Thanking (iii) Pleading (iv) None of these

(1)

(c) Was the merchant really to be blamed?

(2)

(d) What did the merchant say when he was accused of murdering the thief? (1) (i) He accepted his crime. (ii) He denied saying that it was not his fault since he was out of the station that night. (iii) He denied saying that it was not his fault since he didn’t put up the wall. (iv) He blamed the disciple for the murder. Ans. (a) The ancient trade refers to the profession of burglary. (b) (iii) Pleading (c) The wall that led to the thief ’s death has collapsed because it had become weak after the thief had made a hole in it to sneak into the house of the merchant. Hence, the merchant was not to be blamed for the thief ’s death. (d) (iii) He denied saying that it was not his fault since he didn’t put up the wall. 3. “That was when this bricklayer saw me. It’s not my fault, My Lord, it’s the damned goldsmith’s fault.” “Poor thing, she’s absolutely right,” thought the king, weighing the evidence. We’ve got the real culprit at last. Get the goldsmith, wherever he is hiding. At once!” The king’s bailiffs searched for the goldsmith who was hiding in a corner of his shop. When he heard the accusation against him, he had his own story to tell.

(a) Who blamed the goldsmith and why?

(2)

(b) How did the goldsmith defend himself?

(1)

(c) “Poor thing, she’s absolutely right.” Who thought this? (i) The goldsmith (ii) The merchant (iii) The bricklayer (iv) The king

(1)

(d) What does ‘bailiffs’ mean in the given extract? (1) (i) Servants (ii) Officials (iii) Cooks (iv) Carriers Ans. (a) The dancing girl blamed the goldsmith, who had to make jewellery for her, but

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had not made it in time. Because of this, she had to visit him several times, thereby walking up and down the street in front of the bricklayer, disturbing him. (b) The goldsmith defended himself by pleading that he could not complete the dancing girl’s order in time because he had to first finish a rich merchant’s order. (c) (iv) The king (d) (ii) Officials

4. “What have I done wrong? I’m innocent. I’m a sanyasi!” he cried. That may be true. But it’s the royal decree that we should find a man fat enough to fit the stake,” they said, and carried him to the place of execution. He remembered his wise guru’s words: “This is the city of fools. You don’t know what they will do next.” While he was waiting for death, he prayed to his guru in his heart, asking him to hear his cry wherever he was. The guru saw everything in a vision; he had magic powers, he could see far, and he could see the future as he could see the present and the past. He arrived at once to save his disciple, who had got himself into such a scrape through love of food.

(a) “What have I done wrong? I’m innocent.” Identify the speaker.

(1)

(b) What does a ‘royal decree’ mean? (i) An order given by a king or queen (ii) An order given to a king or queen (iii) An order given for a king or queen (iv) An order taken to a king or queen

(1)



(c) Which of the following proverbs perfectly reflects the condition of the disciple? (1) (i) He who distinguishes the true savour of his food can never be a glutton; he who does not cannot be otherwise. (ii) He who is contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have. (iii) Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, “What’s in it for me?” (iv) Greed keeps men forever poor, even the abundance of this world will not make them rich.

(d) Why was the disciple summoned by the king? (2) Ans. (a) The disciple is the speaker of the given lines. (b) (i) An order given by a king or queen (c) (i) He who distinguishes the true savour of his food can never be a glutton; he who does not cannot be otherwise. (d) Since the rich merchant could not be executed, the disciple was chosen to fit the stake. The disciple’s Guru had a vision and saw everything. In order to save his disciple, the Guru hatched a plan. 5. “Will you promise to put me to death if I tell you?” asked the guru. The king gave him his solemn word. The guru took him aside, out of the servants’ earshot, and whispered to him, “Do you know why we want to die right now, the two of us? We’ve been all over the world but we’ve never found a city like this or king like you. That stake is the stake of the god of justice. It’s new, it has never had a criminal on it. Whoever dies on it first will be reborn as the king of this country.” Literature Reader

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(a) What did the guru ask the king to do?

(1)

(b) What did the guru whisper to the king in the given extract? (i) He has never seen a king like him. (ii) He has never lied in his life. (iii) The stake was the stake of the god of justice. (iv) Both (i) and (iii)

(1)

(c) According to the Guru, the first person to get executed will reborn as a: (i) goldsmith (ii) king (iii) minister (iv) saint

(1)

(d) What happened at the end? (2) Ans. (a) The guru urged the king to guarantee that he would be killed first if he revealed the secret behind why he wanted to be executed first. (b) (iv) Both (i) and (iii) (c) (ii) king (d) The king, tricked by the guru, asked the guru and his disciple to switch the places and let the king and his minister be punished. The king wanted to be the king of the country again. So the king died at the end and the guru became the king.

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. How did the king justify the execution of the merchant? Ans. The investigation regarding the person, responsible for the death of the robber, concluded towards the merchant. He tried to claim innocence, and blame his dead father. The king says that along with the riches and property, he has also inherited the sins of his father. He will therefore, have to die to make ammends for his father’s sins. 2. Who had gone to the king with a complaint? Explain the irony. Ans. A thief had broken into a merchant’s house, and while he was escaping with the loot, a wall collapsed crushing him under the debris. It was this thief ’s brother who had gone with a complaint to the king, seeking justice and compensation. It was ironical that the king was trying to avenge a criminal, who claimed that robbery was their ancient trade, instead of punishing or reprimanding him. 3. On what condition did the guru agree to be the king? Ans. While mourning for the execution of their king and minister, some people thought that they should ask the guru to be their king. After a lot of persuasion, he agrees to be their king. He consents only on the condition that they would agree to change their lifestyle, and all the existing laws. He added that the cost of things should vary according to their value and will not be fixed at one duddu. 4. Why did the disciple not want to leave the kingdom of fools? Ans. The disciple did not want to leave the kingdom of fools because he could enjoy a comfortable life by getting good and cheap food for a nominal price. A measure of rice and a bunch of bananas, both came for a duddu each. 5. What was the fight that the guru and his disciple got into? Why? Ans. The guru and his disciple fought over the right to be the first one to die at stake. They had got into this fight as part of the plan to rescue the disciple. They wanted to make the king believe that getting killed on the stake of the god of justice would make the person the next king.

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6. What was foolish about the king’s trial of the merchant? Ans. The merchant had not killed the thief. He was being punished only because his wall had fallen on the thief. Secondly, he said that his father had been to blame. But because his father had died, the king ordered the merchant to be executed in place of his father. 7. How did the kingdom become normal again? Ans. When the people came to know of the death of their king and minister, they mourned. They discussed the future of the kingdom. They requested the guru and the disciple to be their king and minister. They agreed to rule the kingdom, but on one condition. The old laws would be changed. The good days returned to the kingdom. Thus, the kingdom became normal again. 8. How was the kingdom of fools different from any other place? Ans. The kingdom of fools was strange and different from any other place. It was governed by an idiot king and his silly minister. They passed an order according to which people had to work at night and sleep during the day. Even the cattle were made to sleep during the day. In addition, everything had the same cost - one duddu. 9. What problem arose before the final execution of the criminal? Ans. Minutes before the execution of the merchant, the minister realised that the merchant was too thin and could not be properly executed on the stake. So the problem was that the execution orders had been issued but could not be completed because the accused did not fit the stake. 10. How did the executioners mistake the king and his minister for the guru and his disciple? Ans. The king had ordered the executioners to kill the two men that would be sent at night. These two men were the king and his minister themselves. They had disguised themselves as the guru and his disciple respectively after setting the duo free. The executioners made a mistake because they promptly followed the order without confirming the true identity of the two men sent for execution.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)



1. How important is it to take sensible decisions, and seek the help of wise people while doing so? Explain with reference to the disciple. Ans. In the lesson, a guru and his disciple, during their sojourn, reach a particular kingdom, where the people had altered the normal and universally accepted pattern of human life. They slept during the day and worked at night. And every living being, both humans and their domesticated animals, had to abide by this lifestyle. Any purchase made would cost only “a duddu”. This meant that food was very cheap. The guru did not want to remain with the mad people, and advised his disciple to leave the kingdom alongwith him. However, the latter decided to stay back and this was his undoing. He had no understanding of the priorities of life, and made an irrational decision that nearly cost him his life. He ate to his heart’s content and became as fat as a street side cow. He was selected to be one who would be sacrificed at the new stake, that was made to redress the harm done to a family of robbers. One of whom had lost his life in an unfortunate accident. The disciple regretted his decision. 2. Explain the drama enacted by the guru and his disciple, in front of the foolish king. Ans. The guru who has an extraordinary and divine vision, reaches the kingdom as soon as his disciple’s life was in danger. He calls his disciple aside and briefs him about the act they were to perform. They ask the king who is greater, the guru or the disciple. Literature Reader

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Taking advantage of the king’s reply that it was definitely the guru, he requested to be killed first. Both of them now began clamouring for being sent to stake first. The king was surprised as the drama unfolded, and asked the wise guru to explain the mystery. The wise guru, under the oath of secrecy, tells the foolish king that the person who gets executed first at the new and unblemished stake, that is the God of Justice, would be reborn as the king of the kingdom. And he reiterates that he should be killed first. The drama changed the history of the foolish king and his kingdom. 3. Name all the people who were tried in the King’s court, and give reasons for each of their trials. Ans. A large number of people were tried in the King’s court, starting with the rich merchant. It was his house that the theif tried to enter, but died when a wall collapsed on him. He was called for trial when the theif ’s brother blamed him for the theif ’s death. The next person to be tried was the brick-layer, who had built the house. He was put on trial for having built such a weak wall that had collapsed. After that, a dancing girl was put on trial, because the brick-layer accused her of distracting him by walking up and down the street with her anklets jingling while he was building the wall. The girl, however, blamed the goldsmith for not having made her ornaments on time, which caused her to go up and down the street. The goldsmith was then put on trial, but blamed a rich merchant for pressurising him to make ornaments because of which he could not complete the dancing girl’s jewellery. This rich merchant turned out to be the father of the merchant whose house had been broken into.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. As soon as he arrived, he scolded the disciple and told him something in a whisper. Then he went to the king and addressed him, “O wisest of kings, who is greater? The guru or the disciple?” “Of course, the guru. No doubt about it. Why do you ask?” “Then put me to the stake first. Put my disciple to death after me.”



(a) “As soon as he arrived” Who has arrived and why? (i) The king to oversee the hanging (ii) The thief ’s brother to see the hanging (iii) The disciple to be hanged (iv) The guru to save the disciple

(1)



(b) Why does the guru ask the king who is wiser? (i) To save the disciple by offering to die (ii) To trick the king (iii) To play a game with the king (iv) To confuse the king

(1)

(c) What do you think the guru would have whispered in the disciple’s ears?

(2)



(1)

(d) Complete the analogy with a word from the extract.

arrived : departed : : __________________ : existence

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2. All night they mounted and discussed the future of the kingdom. Some people suddenly thought of the guru and the disciple and caught up with them as they were preparing to leave town unnoticed. “We people need a king and a minister,” said someone. Others agreed. They begged the guru and the disciple to be their king and their minister. It didn’t take many arguments to persuade the disciple, but it took longer to persuade the guru. They finally agreed to rule the kingdom of the foolish king and the silly minister, on the condition that they could change all the old laws. (a) What happened to the former king and the minister? (i) They were banished. (ii) They were fired from their posts. (iii) They were hanged. (iv) None of these

(1)

(b) On what condition did the guru and the disciple agreed to rule the kingdom? (2) (c) Did the kingdom become normal again?

(1)

(d) What does the sentence ‘it took longer to persuade them’ mean? (i) They were ready to be the king and the minister. (ii) They were not ready to be the king and the minister. (iii) They were ready to leave the village. (iv) They were not ready to leave the village.

(1)

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words)

1. How did the dancer shift the blame on to the goldsmith? 2. Was the king justified in accepting the minister’s suggestion of finding another person to fit the new stake? 3. Was the guru’s technique of saving his disciple ethical? Justify. 4. How would you have saved the disciple from what seemed imminent death? (Constructed Response Question)

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)

1. As the disciple, write a letter to your guru, requesting him to save you from the gallows, and also seeking pardon for your greed and disobedience. (Constructed Response Question) 2. ‘Prayers and miracles’ a myth or a reality? Write an article for your school magazine, using inputs from the lesson, ‘In The Kingdom of Fools’. (Constructed Response Question) 3. You are the merchant who has been sentenced to death. Make a diary entry, expressing your sorrow, innocence, and helplessness. (Constructed Response Question) zzz

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Moments

5

The Happy Prince

—Oscar Wilde

About the Author Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde (born on 16 October 1854) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the London’s most popular playwrights in the early 1890s.

Theme ‘The Happy Prince’ is a wonderful allegory (a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one) that is packed with valuable themes, such as social injustice, the disparity between the poor and the wealthy, loss of innocence, sacrifice, love, empathy and compassion.

Summary The story is an allegory. It brings out the importance of charity. We learn that love and sacrifice can endear us to God. The prince, in the story, is no living prince. He is the statue of a dead prince decorated with gold leaves and precious stones. He is known as the Happy Prince because there is a smile on his lips. But the smile gradually gives way to tears. The Happy Prince cannot help crying over the scenes of misery in the houses of the poor. He decides to help them with his gold leaves and costly stones. A little swallow, who had flown in from Egypt, breaks his flight and takes rest at the feet of the Prince. This little bird acts as his messenger, and he gives away all his wealth. The swallow was on his way back to his homeland when the prince had detained him to help the poor. He still wished to go back but now it was too late. The intense cold killed him. Thus, the little swallow lost his life while helping the poor. His death broke the prince’s heart. So, the swallow and the prince perished for a noble cause. But their death was not the end. It made them immortal. That is why, the angel selected the dead swallow and the lifeless heart of the prince as the noblest things on earth. The story teaches a very useful and true lesson. We learn that God loves those who love their fellow human beings.

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Glossary NCERT Page –28 gilded – covered thinly with gold leaf or paint; hilt – handle of a weapon; alighted – descend from the air and settle on ground; swallow – a migratory swift-flying songbird with a forked tail and long pointed wings NCERT Page –29 drenched – thoroughly wet, soaked; polite – well-mannered, gracious, courteous; seamstress – a tailor, a person who earns money by stitching; pedestal – a base on which a statue is mounted NCERT Page –30 sculptured – make or represent a form by carving; thimble – a small metal cap worn to protect the finger while sewing; delicious (here) – pleasant, peaceful, enjoyable; slumber – sleep NCERT Page –31 steeple – a church tower; commissions – undertaking, missions, work, task; garret – a top-floor or attic room, especially a small dismal one; withered – become dry and shrivelled; violets – a herbaceous plant of temperate regions, typically having purple, blue, or white five-petalled flowers; grate – a metal frame for holding fuel in a fireplace or furnace; playwright – a person who writes plays NCERT Page –33 mystery – puzzle, problem, question, secret; misery – agony, pain, distress, unhappiness; archway – a curved structure forming a passage or entrance; listlessly – having or showing little or no interest in anything NCERT Page –34 leaden – dull and heavy, or made of lead; shabby – in a poor condition, falling apart, worn out or discoloured; proclamation – a public or official announcement dealing with a matter of great importance NCERT Page –35 furnace – an enclosed structure in which material can be heated to very high temperatures, e.g. for smelting metals; overseer – supervisor; foundry – a workshop or factory for casting metal; paradise – the kingdom of heaven

Answers to NCERT Questions THINK ABOUT IT

1. Why do the courtiers call the prince, “The Happy Prince”? Is he really happy? What does he see all around him? Ans. As a live human being, when he lived in a beautiful palace, the Prince did not know or feel the emotion “sorrow” because it was not allowed to enter ‘The Walls of the Palace’. He would be always pleasant and happy, therefore, the courtiers called him “The Happy Prince”. He lived and died happily. But now within this stone structure placed on a very high pedestal, the prince is very unhappy because he can see all the ugliness and misery that is present in his city.

2. Why does the Happy Prince send a ruby for the seamstress? What does the swallow do in the seamstress’ house? Ans. The happy prince sends a ruby for the seamstress because she did not have any money to give her little son who was down with very high fever. The swallow goes to the seamstress’ house and finds the lady sleeping due to fatigue. So he drops the ruby on the table beside the lady’s thimble. Then he flew gently round the bed, fanning the boy’s forehead with his wings making him feel better, which helped him sink into a deep slumber.

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3. For whom does the prince send the sapphires and why? Ans. The prince’s eyes were made of rare sapphires. He had exhausted all the rubies. One night, he spotted a playwright trying to finish a play which he could not because of the excessive cold. He had no fire in his grate, and had fainted due to hunger. The prince told the swallow to scoop out one eye and give it to the playwright to help him get energy and warmth to get on with his work. His second eye was plucked out to be given to a little girl who had dropped her matches into a gutter. The prince knew that if she was not helped, her father would beat her. With both the sapphires gone, the prince had gone blind. 4. What does the swallow see when he flies over the city? Ans. The swallow saw the rich enjoying themselves in their beautiful houses, while the poor were sitting at their gates hoping to receive some leftovers. In the dark lanes, white faces of starving children, stared listlessly into the bleak and hopeless black space around them. A watchman was driving away two little boys who were cold and hungry from under the archway of a bridge. 5. Why did the swallow not leave the prince and go to Egypt? Ans. The swallow did not leave the prince and go to Egypt because the prince had lost both his eyes. He told the prince that he would stay back with him forever, and continued to sleep at his feet. The little bird now served the prince by being his eyes. He would fly around the city and perch upon the prince’s shoulder and tell him all that he saw around him. 6. What are the precious things mentioned in the story? Why are they precious? Ans. God told the angel to bring back two precious things from the city. The angel came back with the leaden heart of the prince and the body of the dead bird. They were precious because the prince’s leaden heart had broken and the little bird had lost his life in the name of service to mankind. God appreciated the angel’s choice and said that the bird would sing forever in his garden of paradise and the Happy Prince would praise the Lord in his city of gold.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. “I will put up there,” he cried. “It is a fine position with plenty of fresh air.” So he alighted just between the feet of the Happy Prince.

“I have a golden bed-room,” he said softly to himself as he looked round, and he prepared to go to sleep; but just as he was putting his head under his wing a large drop of water fell on him. “What a curious thing!” he cried. “There is not a single cloud in the sky, the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining.” Then another drop fell. (a) What were the drops that fell on the swallow? How did he react?

(2)



(1)

(b) Which was the fine position with plenty of fresh air? (i) Among the big trees (ii) The crown of the prince

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(iii) Just between the neck of the prince (iv) Just between the feet of the prince



(c) Select the sentence that uses the word ‘cried’ in the same context as it has been used in the given extract. (1) (i) She cried until too tired to cry more, then leaned against the pod, feeling as if her skin was frying despite the shade. (ii) The market traders cried out like barnyard cocks. (iii) The baby cried and cried, shrieking loudly until his mother came to see why he was upset. (iv) She cried uncontrollably at the funeral.



(d) Complete the analogy using the appropriate word from the given extract.

(1)

strange : conventional : : ordinary : __________________ Ans. (a) The drops that fell on the swallow were the tears of Happy Prince. The swallow was getting ready to sleep when a large drop of water fell on him. He considered it a curious thing because it was a clear, bright, starlit and cloudness night with no indication of rain. (b) (iv) Just between the feet of the prince (c) (ii) The market traders cried out like barnyard cocks. (d) curious 2. “My feet are fastened to this pedestal and I cannot move.” “I am waited for in Egypt,” said the swallow. “My friends are flying up and down the Nile, and talking to the large lotus flowers. Soon they will go to sleep.” The Prince asked the swallow to stay with him for one night and be his messenger. “The boy is so thirsty, and the mother so sad,” he said. “I don’t think I like boys,” answered the swallow. “I want to go to Egypt.” But the Happy Prince looked so sad that the little swallow was sorry. “It is very cold here,” he said. But he agreed to stay with him for one night and be his messenger.

(a) Which adjectives given below can be used to describe the swallow? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) Kind-hearted (2) Evil (3) Selfish (4) Polite (5) Empathetic (i) 2, 3 & 5 (ii) 1, 4 & 5 (iii) 3, 4 & 5 (iv) 1, 3 & 4

(b) Why did the swallow agree to stay with the prince for one night?

(1)



(c) “Soon they will go to sleep.” Who are ‘they’ here? (i) The people of Egypt (ii) The Swallows who are in Egypt (iii) The seamstress and her son (iv) The large lotus flowers

(1)

(d) Why did the Happy Prince ask the swallow to stay? (2) Ans. (a) (ii) 1, 4 & 5 (b) The Prince looked so sad that the little swallow felt sorry for him and agreed to stay one night and be his messenger. Literature Reader

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(c) (iv) The large lotus flowers (d) The Happy Prince told the swallow that he wanted to help the poor but he could not move as his feet were fastened to the pedestal. So, he requested the swallow to stay there and take the ruby to the seamstress. 3. “Alas! I have no ruby now,” said the Prince. “My eyes are all that I have left. They are made of rare sapphires, which were brought out of India a thousand years ago.” He ordered the swallow to pluck out one of them and take it to the playwright. “He will sell it to the jeweller, and buy firewood, and finish his play,” he said. “Dear Prince,” said the swallow, “I cannot do that,” and he began to weep. “Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,” said the Prince, “do as I command you.”



(a) “Dear Prince,” said the swallow, “I cannot do that,” Why does the swallow say this? (1) (i) He felt too cold to remain in the city. (ii) He did not want to pluck the prince’s eye. (iii) He did not want to stay another day with the prince. (iv) He did not want to help the playwright.

(b) The Prince can be described using which of the following adjectives? (1) Cruel (2) Kind (3) Benevolent (4) Determined (5) Selfish (i) 1, 2 & 3 (ii) 2, 3 & 5 (iii) 2, 3 & 4 (iv) 1, 4 & 5

(1)

(c) Why did the swallow begin to weep?

(1)

(d) Why did the Prince command instead of making a request? (2) Ans. (a) (ii) He did not want to pluck the prince’s eye. (b) (iii) 2, 3 & 4 (c) The swallow began to weep because he could not bear the thought of the Happy Prince losing his sight. (d) The Prince commanded instead of making a request to the swallow because the Swallow had refused to pluck the sapphire while the Prince was determined to help the writer.

4. “She has no shoes or stockings, and her little head is bare. Pluck out my other eye, and give it to her, and her father will not beat her.” “I will stay with you one night longer,” said the swallow, “but I cannot pluck out your eye. You would be quite blind then.” “Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,” said the prince, “do as I command you.” So, he plucked out the prince’s other eye, and darted down with it. He swooped past the matchgirl, and slipped the jewel into the palm of her hand. “What a lovely bit of glass!” cried the little girl; and she ran home, laughing.

(a) Who is referred as ‘she’ in the given extract? (i) The seamstress (ii) The playwright’s wife (iii) The little girl with matches (iv) The little girl’s mother

(1)



(2)

(b) How did the Happy Prince and the swallow help the matchgirl?

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(c) Why did the Happy Prince want to help the girl?

(1)

(d) Which sentence given below uses the word ‘beat’ in the same context as it has been used in the given extract? (1) (i) He beat at the door with his fist. (ii) The best way to beat the cold was to work up some heat. (iii) He beat the dirt off his clothes with his hat and then unsaddled the horse. (iv) If you throw one more dead animal at my feet, I’m going to beat you over the head with it. Ans. (a) (iii) The little girl with matches (b) The Happy Prince asked the swallow to pluck out the sapphire from one of his eyes and deliver it to the little girl who was crying because she was afraid that her father would beat her if she didn’t bring back any money. By getting sapphires, the girl became very happy and ran happily towards her house. (c) The Happy Prince wanted to help the match girl because the matches which the girl was selling out in the freezing cold all got drown away. (d) (iv) If you throw one more dead animal at my feet, I’m going to beat you over the head with it.

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. “That is because you have done a good action”. Explain Ans. These lines were said by the prince to the swallow when he came back after his first errand. After handing over the ruby to the seamstress and fanning the little boy to sleep, the bird tells the prince that surprisingly, he was feeling quite warm when the weather was fairly cold. The prince explained to the bird that we experience warmth whenever we do something good. 2. What happened when the swallow was settling down to sleep? Ans. After a long and tiring flight, the swallow settles down at the feet of a gilded statue for the night. Just as he was tucking his head under its wings, he felt a drop of water fall on him. He was wondering how it could rain on such a clear and starry night. Shortly, another drop fell on him and yet another. He was planning to fly off, when he noticed that the drops were the tears that were flowing from the eyes of the beautiful statue. 3. What happened to the golden leaves on the statue? Ans. After the rubies and sapphires were exhausted, the prince had nothing else to give to his people who were still leading miserable lives. Whenever the swallow came after his aerial survey and reported the plight of the poor in the city, the prince would tell him to pluck out the golden leaves and give it to the needy. In this manner, all the leaves were also distributed. 4. Explain the use of symbolism by the author. Ans. Friendship is a motif for the story due to the recurring act of the swallow, sacrificing his time and distributing the prince’s jewels to the less fortunate. The Prince’s leaden heart symbolises immortality. This is because when the Happy Prince is being melted, they could not melt his heart. The swallow himself is a symbol of loyalty. 5. Why was the bird not able to sleep peacefully the first night? Ans. Just as the bird was about to sleep, he was disturbed by three tear drops that fell from Literature Reader

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the eyes of the statue. When he saw the tears running down the cheeks of the statue, he looked so beautiful in the moonlight that the bird was filled with pity and could not sleep. 6. Why was the statue of the Happy Prince weeping? Ans. The statue of the Happy Prince was weeping because when he had been alive, he had not known any sorrow. But after his statue had been erected, he was able to see all the ugliness and misery of the city and even though he now had a heart of lead, he could still feel the pain, which made him cry. 7. Why did the swallow delay his departure for the second time? Ans. He delayed his departure for the second time because the Prince asked him to deliver one of his sapphire eyes to a poor young man in a garret who was trying to finish a play for the Director of the theatre, but who was too hungry and cold to write anymore. 8. Why did the Happy Prince request the swallow to stay with him for the night? Ans. The Happy Prince was very kind. He saw that the poor seamstress was very sad. Her son was ill. She had nothing to give him except the river water. The Happy Prince wanted to help her. He wanted to send her a ruby. But he could not move. So he requested the swallow to stay with him for the night. 9. The little Swallow grew colder and colder but kept up his determination. How did the bird show his great strength and courage? Ans. The bird grew cold because of the snow and the frost but he did not leave the Happy Prince. He would eat crumbs from a baker’s shop and keep himself warm by flapping his wings. He showed great strength and courage by staying on beside the Happy Prince in spite of the bitter cold and the consequent risk to his life.

10. What did the swallow do when he realised that he was going to die? How did the Prince respond? Ans. On realising that he was going to die, the swallow gathered his remaining strength and flew up to the Prince’s shoulder. He bid him goodbye and sought permission to kiss his hand. The Prince thought that the swallow was going to leave for Egypt. He welcomed this decision and asked the swallow to kiss him on lips instead, as he loved him.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)

1. Comment upon the reaction of the Mayor and his councillors. Ans. Early one morning, when the Mayor and his councillors were walking in the square, they noticed that the statue of the Happy Prince looked very shabby. The absence of the decorations were noticed and they found it looking just a little better than a beggar. They are astounded to see a dead bird at his feet. The author is being very satirical, when he remarks upon the proclamation that the mayor wanted to pass, preventing birds from dying there. Unfortunately, these makers of law, did not know what was happening around them, neither did they notice the precious stones and gold vanishing earlier. The bird and the lifeless statue seemed to possess more humanitarian qualities than live human beings. 2. Discuss the role of the swallow in the story ‘The Happy Prince’. Ans. The little swallow plays a very important role in the story. He acts as the agent of charity for the prince. He carries gold leaves and precious stones to the poor people on the request of the prince. He does the noble work of rescue and relief. The swallow is a migratory bird

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who was planning to fly off into warmer regions. But he is a kind-hearted swallow. He stays with the happy prince to help the poor in the city. When the prince lost his eyes, the bird decides to give him company forever, and served as his eye too. Unfortunately, with the onset of winter, the bird was not able to sustain for long. He dies, serving the people on behalf of the kind-hearted prince, immortalising both the prince and himself. 3. Why did the leaden heart of the statue snap? Ans. The cold had become unbearable. The little bird tried everything to keep himself warm. But he was not able to sustain, and refused to fly off because he loved the prince. On that particular day, the swallow knew that he would have to bid adieu to the prince and the world. With a lot of difficulty, he flew to sit on the prince’s shoulder, kissed him and said that he was going to the House of death and dropped dead at his feet. At that moment, a sound of something cracking came from within the statue. The leaden heart of the prince had snapped into two. 4. ‘Goodness can never be destroyed.’ Do you agree? Illustrate with reference to the story ‘The Happy Prince’. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Yes, I agree with the statement, “Goodness can never be destroyed.” In the story, the Happy Prince had goodness for all. He had a kind heart and was moved by the widespread poverty and misery of the people. So, he had his great will to help others in adverse circumstances. He gave his eyes, gold and jewels to the poor. The swallow was the messenger of the Happy Prince. When the swallow died at his feet, the heart of the Happy Prince was broken into two due to its death. The statue of Happy Prince was no longer useful and beautiful. It was pulled down. When the statue was melted in a furnace, the heart did not melt because goodness can never be destroyed.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. “What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off?” he said. “I must look for a good chimney pot,” and he determined to fly away. But before he had opened his wings, a third drop fell, and he looked up, and saw – Ah! What did he see? The eyes of the Happy Prince were filled with tears, and tears were running down his golden cheeks. His face was so beautiful in the moonlight that the little swallow was filled with pity. “Who are you?” he said. “I am the Happy Prince.” “Why are you weeping then?” asked the swallow. “You have quite drenched me.”

(a) Why was the swallow filled with pity?

(1)

(b) What made the Happy Prince cry? (i) The pathetic condition of the city (ii) The pathetic condition of his city’s people (iii) The pathetic condition of his statue (iv) The pathetic condition of the city’s bus stand

(1)

(c) Why was the swallow looking for a good chimney pot?

(2)

(d) What does the word ‘drenched’ mean? (i) Make somebody hot (ii) Make somebody wet (iii) Make somebody calm (iv) Make somebody composed

(1)

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2. He is leaning over a desk covered with papers, and in the glass by his side there is a bunch of withered violets. His hair is brown and crisp, and his lips are red as a pomegranate, and he has large and dreamy eyes. He is trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre, but he is too cold to write any more. There is no fire in the grate, and hunger has made him faint. (a) Why was the man unable to complete his play? (i) For it was too hot (ii) For it was too cold (iii) For it was too warm (iv) None of these

(1)

(b) How has the playwright been described in the given extract?

(1)

(c) How does the Happy Prince help the playwright?

(2)

(d) Which of the following is the correct synonym of the word ‘withered’? (i) Shrunken (ii) Shriveled (iii) Wizened (iv) All of these

(1)

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words)

1. “There is no mystery in misery.” Explain. 2. Give a brief character sketch of the Prince. 3. Do you think that the Prince should have bothered more about his people, when he was alive? (Constructed Response Question) 4. How did the Prince help the match girl? What was the result?

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)

1. What is the lesson you have learnt from Oscar Wilde’s, ‘The Happy Prince’? 2. The seamstress’s son has grown up. He realises that it was the prince and the swallow who had helped him. Write a letter to the Mayor, requesting him to reinstate the statue of the Prince in all its glory. He added that a golden swallow must also be perched on his shoulder. (Constructed Response Question) 3. The swallow dies in the end, and the leaden heart of the prince snaps. Could you suggest a different conclusion to the story? (Constructed Response Question) zzz

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The Last Leaf

Moments

—O. Henry

6

About the Author William Sydney Porter (September 11, 1862 – June 5, 1910) born in Greensboro, North Carolina known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American short-story writer. His stories are known for their surprise endings.

Theme The theme of the story, ‘The Last Leaf’ revolves around the basic human emotions and beliefs. They include faith, hope, the value of life, pessimism, fear of death, sacrifice, love and friendship. Apart from this, the story gives us a hint that God is the only one who knows whether we ride on with life and take chances, or trail on and be drawn against the judgment. The melodramatic and picturesque setting of the story connects to the negative status of the main character facing life and death.

Summary This highly inspirational tale deals with the unselfish sacrifice of a man who uses his talent to save the life of another. Two artists, Johnsy and Sue share an apartment in an artists’ community. There is an outbreak of a malicious disease which spreads its deadly influence and mows down many of its members. Johnsy is infected and soon gives up hope of survival. She pins her destiny to the survival of one last leaf on a vine which she perceives through her window, whilst lying in bed. The doctor informs Sue that Johnsy’s chance of survival is dependent on her hope and desire to survive. Sue informs Mr Behrman, an old fellow artist, a neighbour, about this and he is annoyed that Johnsy has such little hope. He is aware of her life fading away with the dropping of the last leaf. The next morning, after a vicious storm, Johnsy sees the last leaf still clinging to the tree. She decides that she wants to continue living. With hope returning, Johnsy slowly regains health and her life is saved. Sue informs her some time later that Mr Behrman had died of pneumonia and the Janitors had found a burning lamp, a ladder and a palette containing a mixture of colours, similar to that of a leaf, in his room, they found him shivering and in clothes that were completely drenched. He had contracted pneumonia and expired two days later due to his frail condition.

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It was clear that Mr Behrman had painted his long-promised masterpiece — the leaf which saved Johnsy’s life, sacrificing his own in the process.

Glossary NCERT Page –44 pneumonia – is an inflammatory condition of the lung affecting primarily the small air sacs. Its symptoms include a cough, difficulty in breathing, chest pain NCERT Page –45 finality – the fact or impression of being final and irreversible; sleep forever – die NCERT Page –46 masterpiece – a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship; reluctantly – with hesitation, doubt or dread NCERT Page –47 energetically – showing or involving great activity or vitality; janitor – a caretaker or doorkeeper of a building NCERT Page –48 flutter – move with a light irregular or trembling motion

Answers to NCERT Questions THINK ABOUT IT 1. What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure her, the medicine or the willingness to live? Ans. Johnsy was suffering from pneumonia. The doctor who was checking on her said that she will not get cured by the medicines that are being administered to her, if she gives up hope of recovering. 2. Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers? Ans. Yes, I think the feeling of depression Johnsy experiences is very common among teenagers. The present lifestyle is putting teenagers under constant pressure as they are burdened with studies and the anxiety of future. They are also subjected to a lot of parental and peer pressure. Along with this, they are also expected to behave in a certain manner as deemed appropriate by the society. Most often, they are unable to bear so much of stress and end up being depressed. 3. Behrman has a dream. What is it? Does it come true? Ans. Behrman always dreamt of creating a masterpiece. Behrman’s dream comes true because the leaf he had painted on to the tree, ‘the last leaf ’, on which Johnsy’s life depended, helped save her life. It looked so original to Johnsy that the hope to live and survive revives within her. 4. What is Behrman’s masterpiece? What makes Sue say so? Ans. The painting of a leaf, which Behrman made after the last leaf fell, was really a masterpiece. Sue has every reason to say so because the painted leaf, that looked like the original, was able to inspire Johnsy to live her life. His last stroke was a masterpiece, as he sacrificed his life to revive that of a young teenager, who was in the throes of death, and had given up the desire to live.

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Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. “No,” replied Sue. “But why do you ask?” The doctor said, “Johnsy, it seems, has made up her mind that she is not going to get well. If she doesn’t want to live, medicines will not help her.” Sue tried her best to make Johnsy take an interest in things around her. She talked about clothes and fashions, but Johnsy did not respond. Johnsy continued to lie still on her bed. She brought her drawing-board into Johnsy’s room and started painting. To take Johnsy’s mind off her illness, she whistled while working. Suddenly Sue heard Johnsy whisper something. She quickly rushed to the bed and heard Johnsy counting backwards.

(a) What role did Sue play in Johnsy’s life?

(1)



(b) How did Johnsy react? (i) She did not respond. (iii) She was feeling happy.

(1) (ii) She seemed to like it. (iv) She became more sad.

(c) Why was Sue talking about clothes and fashion? (i) To make her feel jealous (ii) To make her feel better (iii) To make her feel more sick (iv) To make her feel sad

(1)

(d) What does the expression ‘counting backwards’ reveal about Johnsy’s state of mind? (2) Ans. (a) Sue was a true friend who dearly loved Johnsy. She tried to motivate Johnsy by humming and being cheerful as she sits by her friend drawing. (b) (i) She did not respond. (c) (ii) To make her feel better (d) ‘Counting backwards’ reveals Johnsy’s miserable state of mind. She lacked the will power and motivation to live further which resulted in relating falling of leaves with her survival. She kept looking out of the window and counting backwards to note the number of leaves left on the ivy creeper. 2. “Six,” whispered Johnsy. “They are falling faster now. Three days ago there were almost a hundred leaves. There were only five left now.” “It is autumn,” said Sue, “and the leaves will fall.” “When the last leaf falls, I will die,” said Johnsy with finality. “I have known this for the last three days.” “Oh, that’s nonsense,” replied Sue. “What have old ivy leaves to do with your getting well? The doctor is confident that you will get better.” Johnsy did not say anything. Sue went and brought her a bowl of soup. “I don’t want any soup,” said Johnsy. “I am not hungry.... Now there are only four leaves left. I want to see the last one fall before it gets dark. Then I will sleep forever.”

(a) How did Johnsy associate herself with the falling leaves?

(2)

(b) How did Sue react when she learned about Johnsy’s belief regarding the falling leaves of the ivy creeper? (1) Literature Reader

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(c) Which of the following describes the character of Johnsy? (1) Strong (2) Depressed (3) Desperate (4) Optimistic (5) Pessimistic (i) 1, 2 & 3 (ii) 2, 3 & 5 (iii) 3, 4 & 5 (iv) 1, 3 & 5

(1)



(d) Pick out the statement that is NOT TRUE, according to the given extract. (1) (i) There were almost hundred leaves three days before. (ii) The season was autumn when leaves fall. (iii) Sue was determined to get well. (iv) Johnsy wanted to see the last leaf fall, and then sleep forever. Ans. (a) It was autumn and the ivy creeper leaves were falling gradually. This depressed an already ill Johnsy and strangely enough she associated her falling health with the leaves. She believed that she would die when the last leaf fell. (b) As Sue heard Johnsy’s belief about the ivy leaves, she did not believe much in it and asked her friend not to think about it. (c) (ii) 2, 3 & 5 (d) (iii) Sue was determined to get well.

3. It looks quite green and healthy. In spite of the storm and the fierce winds, it didn’t fall.” “I heard the wind last night,” said Johnsy. “I thought it would have fallen. It will surely fall today. Then I’ll die.” “You won’t die,” said Sue energetically. “You have to live for your friends. What would happen to me if you die?” Johnsy smiled weakly and closed her eyes. After every hour or so she would look out of the window and find the leaf still there. It seemed to be clinging to the creeper. In the evening, there was another storm but the leaf did not fall. Johnsy lay for a long time looking at the leaf. Then she called out to Sue. “I have been a bad girl. You have looked after me so lovingly and I have not cooperated with you. I have been depressed and gloomy. The last leaf has shown me how wicked I have been. I have realised that it is a sin to want to die.”

(a) What is referred to in this statement, “It looks quite green and healthy”? (i) The trees outside (ii) The painting made by Behrman (iii) The painting made by Sue (iv) The last leaf on the ivy

(1)

(b) Which words given below describe the character of Sue? (1) Kind (2) Understanding (3) Weak (4) Selfish (5) Supportive (i) 1, 2, 5 (ii) 1, 3, 5 (iii) 2, 3, 4 (iv) 2, 4, 5

(1)

(c) Why did the last leaf not fall down on that stormy night?

(2)

(d) What did Johnsy realise at the end? (1) Ans. (a) (iv) The last leaf on the ivy. (b) (i) 1, 2, 5 (c) The last leaf on the ivy creeper did not fall because it was not a real leaf but a painted one. It was a painting made on the window by the old Behrman. It was an attempt by the kind man to revive in Johnsy, the wish to live.

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(d) Johnsy realised that she had been non-cooperative, depressed and gloomy. She also realised that it was a sin to want to die.

4. Then they found a ladder and a lantern still lighted lying near his bed. There were also some brushes and green and yellow paints on the floor near the ladder. “Johnsy dear,” said Sue, “look out of the window. Look at that ivy leaf. Haven’t you wondered why it doesn’t flutter when the wind blows? That’s Behrman’s masterpiece. He painted it the night the last leaf fell.”



(a) Who was Behrman?

(1)



(b) What had happened to Behrman after he painted his masterpiece? (i) He got drenched and died of pneumonia. (ii) He felt proud and happy. (iii) He was honoured. (iv) None of these

(1)



(c) Why was the lantern still lighted? (i) Because he had been painting the leaf outside through the stormy night (ii) Because he fell asleep while reading a book (iii) Because he forgot to switch it off after completing the painting (iv) None of these

(1)

(d) Why did Behrman sacrifice his life? (2) Ans. (a) He was an old aged painter, who lived on the ground floor of the same building where Sue and Johnsy used to live. (b) (i) He got drenched and died of pneumonia. (c) (i) Because he had been painting the leaf outside through the stormy night (d) When Behrman got to know about Johnsy, he decided to paint a leaf near Johnsy’s window and so he did. But in order to do that, he stayed out in the stormy night and got too cold. And at the end, he died of pneumonia. So he sacrificed his life for Johnsy.

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. Why was Johnsy counting numbers in the descending order? Ans. Johnsy was suffering from pneumonia, and she had seen many of her friends succumb to the illness. She had therefore, given up the hope of survival. She looked out of the window and was counting the leaves that remained on an ivy, for she concluded that her heart would stop beating as soon as the last leaf dropped. Johnsy was counting down the leaves as they weakened and dropped from the creeper. 2. What is the significance of the ivy leaves? Ans. The ivy plays a significant role because the leaves of the ivy had become the object of measurement of Johnsy’s life and time on earth. She had given up hope, and had convinced herself of the imminent departure from the mortal world. Her life on earth would end the day, the last leaf dropped off the creeper. It was eventually an ivy leaf, though a painted one, that revived in her the desire to live, and got her back on the road to recovery. 3. How did Behrman react when Sue told him about Johnsy’s condition? Ans. Behrman was a sixty-year-old painter who lived on the ground floor of Johnsy’s house. After the doctor’s report of Johnsy’s condition, Sue, her friend went down to pour out Literature Reader

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her worries to the old man. He reacted by saying, “Is she stupid? How can she be so foolish”? and went up to meet her. He left the sleeping girl alone, and went back to his room without uttering a single word. 4. “In spite of the storm and the fierce winds, it didn’t fall”. Explain. Ans. When Johnsy gets up the next morning, she draws the curtain and looks out to check, if the last leaf had fallen. To her surprise, she sees the leaf still on the creeper looking more green and healthy. It had not fallen despite the storm and fierce winds of the previous night. She had actually prepared herself to follow the last leaf out of the world. She kept looking at the leaf that was clinging quite strongly to the creeper and developed her own strength and will to get back to life. 5. Why did Johnsy say that she has been a bad girl? Ans. After noticing the leaf firm and alive on the creeper, she calls out to her friend Sue, and regrets having been a bad girl. She feels sorry for not having cooperated with Sue who looked after her so lovingly. Johnsy was sorry for having gone into depression, and realises that it was sinful of her to have wanted to die. 6. Do you think Johnsy was a good friend? Give reasons for your answer. Ans. Yes, she was a good friend as she did finally realise and appreciate all that Sue had done for her. She apologised and made an effort to recover, thereby showing that she cared about Sue’s friendship. 7. How long had Behrman been ill? Why did he die so quickly? Ans. Behrman had been ill for two days. He died very quickly because he gone out in the storm and remained in his wet clothes even after he returned to his flat. He was about sixty years old, and caught a chill very quickly. Further, he was found to be ill by the janitor, as he lived alone, which also suggests that he did not really have anyone to take care of him. 8. How did Johnsy associate herself with the falling leaves? Ans. It was autumn and the ivy creeper leaves were falling gradually. This depressed an already ill Johnsy and strangely enough she associated her falling health with the leaves. She believed that she would die when the last leaf fell. She was in a state of depression and had to be convinced that she could recover if she had the will to live. 9. Why was Johnsy counting backwards while looking out of the window? Ans. Johnsy kept looking out of the window and counted backwards to note the number of leaves left on the ivy creeper. She believed that she would die when the last leaf fell, whereas the leaves were falling in a normal process of nature during the autumn season. 10. Why did Sue seek the promise from Johnsy not to look out of the window while she completed her painting? Ans. Sue sought this promise because she did not want Johnsy to go deeper into the depression on seeing the ivy leaves fall. Moreover, she could not even pull the curtains to stop Johnsy from looking out as she needed the incoming light to complete her painting and get money for the two of them by selling it. 11. How did Johnsy realise his mistake? Ans. Johnsy was suffering from pneumonia. There was a creeper on the wall facing her window. Johnsy had a fancy that she would die when the last leaf fell. One night, there was only one leaf left. She thought that she would also die with the falling of the leaf. But that night, Behrman painted a leaf in its place. So id did not fall. It made her realise that it was a sin to wish to die.

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12. What kind of a friend was Sue to Johnsy? Ans. Sue and Johnsy were close friends. Both were painters. Apart from that, their tastes and views were similar. They lived in a small flat together. When Johnsy suffered from pneumonia, Sue looked after her with love and care. It was largely because of her care that Johnsy’s life was saved.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)

1. How has O. Henry featured friendship in the story, ‘The Last Leaf ’? Ans. Friendship is one of the main themes of the lesson. It has been glorified by the character of Johnsy’s friend, Sue and neighbour, Behrman. When Johnsy suggests that Sue sketch in the other room, Sue declares her friendship, saying that she would rather be with Johnsy and stay in the same room with her. After the doctor’s visit, a worried Sue rushes down to Mr Behrman, who cares about Sue, and informs him of Johnsy’s growing hopelessness. Hearing of this despair, Behrman becomes angry and accompanies Sue to the girls’ apartment, where Johnsy was sleeping. Sue and Behrman looked out the window. Then they looked at each other for a moment without speaking. Behrman later, returns home, and ascertains that the last leaf does not fall. 2. What is the importance of sacrifice? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Sacrifice has been taken to very extraordinary heights by O. Henry. Sue’s outpouring of her worries and concerns about the miserable and depressed condition of her friend to their affectionate neighbour, resulted in an unusual display of humanitarian behaviour. Old Behrman, who had not said anything about what he has seen out the window is found to have been inflicted by pneumonia in a serious form. Chances of recovery seemed bleak. He died in the hospital having fulfilled the scriptural words, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Behrman had gone into the icy night, climbed a ladder, and painted an ivy leaf, so Johnsy will still see the last leaf hanging, when she looks out her window. Behrman’s leaf restored hope in Johnsy and made her determined to get well. He had sacrificed his life for the young teenager. 3. This story shows the power of mind. Discuss. Ans. Yes, the story reveals the power of one’s thoughts and the mind in making us believe in something. In this story, we see that one of the characters, Johnsy is suffering from pneumonia. She believes that she will not survive, and as a result, even medicines have no effect on her. Even her doctor was worried about her chances of recovery. Later, we see the power of the mind once again when she recovers. At this point, her belief was that she would only live as long as the last leaf stayed on the creeper. When she sees that the leaf does not fall off despite the wind and stormy conditions, it makes her believe that even she might be able to survive. Even though it is not a real leaf, and was just painted by Behrman, Johnsy draws inspiration from it, and slowly gains the will to live. Therefore, the story clearly expresses the power of the mind in changing the course of our lives.

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Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. The doctor said, “Johnsy, it seems, has made up her mind that she is not going to get well. If she doesn’t want to live, medicines will not help her.” Sue tried her best to make Johnsy take an interest in things around her. She talked about clothes and fashions, but Johnsy did not respond. Johnsy continued to lie still on her bed. Sue brought her drawing-board into Johnsy’s room and started painting. To take Johnsy’s mind off her illness, she whistled while working.

(a) What exactly had happened to Johnsy? (i) She had met with an accident. (ii) She suffered from paralysis and could not move. (iii) She was suffering from pneumonia. (iv) She was suffering from clinical depression.

(1)



(b) Why did the doctor say, “If she doesn’t want to live, medicines will not help her.” (1)

(c) According to the extract, what was Sue trying to do by talking about clothes and fashion and painting in front of Johnsy? (1) 1. To distract Johnsy 2. To make Johnsy interested in painting 3. To motivate Johnsy to get better 4. To be more friendly with Johnsy

Select the correct option. (i) 1 & 3 (iii) Only 3

(ii) 2 & 4 (iv) Only 4

(d) List any two things that Sue did to make Johnsy take an interest in things around. (2)

2. “I have to die, so let me go away peacefully like one of those poor, tired leaves.” “Try to sleep,” said Sue. “I have to paint an old miner. I will call Behrman up to be my model.” Sue rushed down. Behrman lived on the ground floor. He was a sixty-year-old painter. His lifelong dream was to paint a masterpiece but that had remained a dream. Sue poured out her worries to Behrman. She told him how Johnsy was convinced that she would die when the last leaf fell. “Is she stupid?” asked Behrman. “How can she be so foolish?” “She is running a high temperature,” complained Sue. “She refuses to eat or drink and that worries me a lot.” “I will come with you and see Johnsy,” Behrman said. (a) “I have to die, so let me go away peacefully like one of those poor, tired leaves.” Which figure of speech has the author used in the given line? (1) (i) Metaphor (ii) Simile (iii) Personification (iv) Hyperbole

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(b) Why did Sue discuss the problem with Mr Behrman?

(1)

(c) Why was Sue worried about Johnsy?

(2)



(1)

(d) According to the doctors, what was the cure of Johnsy’s illness? (i) Medicines (ii) Love and care (iii) Her own willingness to live (iv) All of these

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words)

1. Give an alternate conclusion to the story, ‘The Last Leaf ’. (Constructed Response Question) 2. Explain the role of nature in the story. How does it affect life and death? 3. Justify the title of the story, ‘The Last Leaf ’. 4. Give a character sketch of Johnsy.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)

1. “A diseased mind is even more harmful than the disease itself ”. Justify with reference to O. Henry’s, ‘The Last Leaf ’. 2. In what way, has the character of Behrman influenced you? 3. As Sue, make a diary entry about the interaction with Behrman, and his death, expressing the varied emotions that are going through your mind. (Constructed Response Question)

zzz

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Moments

7

A House is Not a Home—Zan Gaudioso

About the Author Zan is a contributing author and editor of several volumes of the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul series, most notably Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III. She is also a co-author of the award winning book, The Buddha Next Door. Zan worked on a documentary about happiness and explored what constitutes happiness in a time of change. She has acquired a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Special Education and Teaching.

Theme After passing the junior high school, the author joins a new high school. She feels isolated in her new school. She misses her old school, teachers and friends who encourage her to take part in the new school activities and make new friends. Her house catches fire, and she and her mother run out to the neighbours to call the fire department. Her mother runs back home and brings the metal box and again runs back home to bring pictures, documents and letters of her father. The author in this story is conveying the anxieties, problems and challenges a teenager faces as she is growing up, and the role of society and family in helping the people in distress.

Summary A house is not a home is a story that conveys that a house is a brick and mortar structure while home is more of a feeling. In the story, a child is compelled to move schools and finds it hard to adjust to the new surroundings. He dearly misses his old school, friends and teachers. One day, his house is destroyed in a fire that reduces everything to ashes. He even lost his rescue cat. Living at his grandparent’s house, he is compelled to attend school in previous day’s church outfit and a pair of borrowed shoes. Embarrassed by it all, he finds it strange when his schoolmates hurry him to the gym class. There he finds it all laid-out clothes, books, school supplies, all just for him. He is overjoyed and touched by everyone’s genuine concern, and goes on to be friending some of them that day. Although relieved, he still misses his dear cat. Months later, when he, along with some friends, is overseeing the re-construction of his house, a lady approaches them with his cat. She’d found his cat after he’d fled from the site of fire. With his cat back, and his friends and family around, he feels the life getting back to how it used to be. He feels at home again.

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Glossary NCERT Page – 49 awkward – causing difficulty; hard to do or deal with; afford – provide or supply (an opportunity or facility); isolated – having minimal contact or little in common with others; swatting – hitting; groping – search blindly or uncertainly by feeling with the hands NCERT Page – 50 engulfed – sweep over so as to surround or cover it completely; crazed state – make (someone) wildly insane or out of control; logically – characterised by or capable of clear, sound reasoning; emerged – move out of or away from something and become visible NCERT Page – 51 in tow – accompanying or following someone; vanished – disappear suddenly and completely; embarrassed – cause (someone) to feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed; weird – very strange; bizarre; geek – an unfashionable or socially inept person; surreal – having the qualities of surrealism; bizarre, weird, strange; ripped – come violently apart; tear NCERT Page – 52 grieve – feel intense sorrow; rubble – remains, ruins, debris – scattered pieces of rubbish or remains; vulnerable – endangered, unsafe, unprotected; plight – a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation; milling – move around in a confused mass; genuine – truly what something is said to be; authentic, original; outpouring – an outburst of strong emotion NCERT Page – 53 insecurity – lack of self-confidence, self-doubt; curb (here) – a stone edging to a pavement or raised path. NCERT Page – 54 freaked – lose one’s self-control, act wildly; tragedy – disaster, calamity; overwhelming – (especially of an emotion) very strong; diminish – decrease, reduce, lessen; gratitude – to be thankful

Answers to NCERT Questions THINK ABOUT IT

1. What does the protagonist notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do? Ans. One Sunday afternoon, while the author was sitting and doing his homework at the dining table, he smelled something strange and noticed smoke pouring in through the seams of the ceiling and filling the room at a great speed, and everything was engulfed in smoke, barring normal vision. The family got out on to the front yard. Her mother ran out with a small box that was full of important documents. She ran back again, probably to rescue the pictures of her dead husband. As for the author, he ran to the neighbour’s house to request them to call for the fire department. 2. Why does he break down in tears after the fire? Ans. The author burst into tears, when he realised that his cat was no where to be seen. The loneliness he experienced in his new school, the unfortunate fire, the sorrow of seeing one’s house being brought down to ashes, uncertainty of the future, and his missing cat, was too much for the teenager to bear. He burst into tears as he could not control his bursting emotions any more.

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3. Why is the protagonist deeply embarrassed the next day in school? Which words show his fear and insecurity? Ans. The protagonist and his mother had moved to their grandmother’s house after the tragedy. He had no clothes or shoes to wear as everything was swallowed by the fire. His mother would not allow him to stay at home, so he went to school wearing clothes in which he attended church the previous day. He felt embarrassed because of this, and also because he did not have a bag or books to work with. He expresses his insecurity by saying, “Was I destined to be an outcast and a geek all my life?.... I just wanted to curl up and die”. All the security, he had known, had been ripped away.

4. The cat and the protagonist are very fond of each other. How has this been shown in the story? Where was the cat after the fire? Who brings it back and how? Ans. The protagonist would go every day while the rubble was being cleared in the hope that he would find his vulnerable little kitten. He was recollecting their interaction every morning and missing her immensely. One day, as he sat with his friends on the curb, he noticed a lady coming up with a kitten in her hand. The child leapt up and grabbed her off the lady’s arms, and hugged her. The little one had run off because of the fire. The lady enquired, who the cat belonged to, and returned her to the rightful owner. 5. What actions of the schoolmates change the main character’s/protagonist’s understanding of life and people, and comfort him emotionally? How does her loneliness vanish and how does she start participating in life? Ans. The author had gone to the school with a lot of bitterness and hesitation. He was however in for a great surprise, when all his schoolmates had donated school supplies, notebooks, and different kinds of clothes, when they got to know about the tragedy. He was overwhelmed, and it felt like Christmas. It would not be wrong to say that the fire had ironically brought a positive change in the child. He developed a better understanding of life, and people. He gathered friends and began living life to its fullest. The actions of his schoolmates created a very significant change in him.

6. What is the meaning of “My cat was back and so was I”? Had the author gone anywhere? Why does he say that he is also back? Ans. As the author sat with his friends and the cat curled up in his lap, all the overwhelming feelings of loss and tragedy seemed to diminish. He felt grateful for his life, his new found friends, the kindness of the lady, who rescued his cat, and the purr of his beloved four legged friend. The line above means that he had secured and recovered his original identity once more. He was once again the junior school boy who loved life. He had not gone anywhere physically, but mentally had got lost in a lonely world with depression as his only companion. With the arrival of his cat, he feels that he has also come back to being himself in every sense.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. She was never far from me. I had rescued her when she was a kitten, and somehow she knew that I was the one responsible for giving her ‘the good life’. My mother kept stoking the fire to keep the house nice and warm. Suddenly, I smelled something strange, and then I noticed it.... smoke pouring in through the seams of the ceiling. The smoke began to fill the room so quickly that we could barely see. Groping our way to the front door, we all ran out into the front yard. By the time we made our way

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outside, the whole roof was engulfed in flames and it was spreading quickly. I ran to the neighbours to call the fire department, while I watched my mother run back into the house.

(a) ‘I smelled something strange’. Why does the author say so?

(1)

(b) Put the following sentences in order of their occurrences in the extract. (1) The fire department was called. (2) Mother ran back to the house. (3) They ran out of the house. (4) The little boy smelled something strange. (5) The smoke began to fill the room. (6) The roof was engulfed in fire. (i) 1, 2, 3, 5, 4, 7, 6 (ii) 4, 5, 6, 3, 7, 1, 2 (iii) 1, 4, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 (iv) 7, 6, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1

(1)

(c) What does the speaker mean by ‘good life’? (i) Pampering (ii) Feeding well (iii) Giving freedom (iv) All of these

(1)

(d) How did ‘she’ know that the author was the one responsible for giving her a ‘good life’? (2) Ans. (a) The author says so because he smelled the smoke which was caused due to the fire caught in the house. (b) (ii) 4, 5, 6, 3, 7, 1, 2 (c) (iv) All of these (d) She, the kitten, knew that the author was responsible for giving her a good life because he was quite liberal with her. He allowed her to lie over his papers and punch at his pen while he did his homework. 2. My mother then ran out of the house carrying a small metal box full of important documents. She dropped the case on the lawn and, in a crazed state, ran back into the house. I knew what she was after. My father had died when I was young, and I was certain that she was not going to let his pictures and letters go up in flames. They were the only things that she had to remember him by. Still I screamed at her, “Mom! No!” I was about to run after her when I felt a large hand hold me back. It was a fireman. I hadn’t even noticed that the street had already filled with fire trucks. I was trying to free myself from his grasp, yelling, “You don’t understand, my mother’s in there!” He held on to me while other firefighters ran into the house. He knew that I wasn’t acting very logically and that if he were to let go, I’d run. He was right. “It’s all right, they’ll get her,” he said.

(a) Pick out the emotions that are on display in the given extract. (1) Fear (2) Casual (3) Joy (4) Concern (5) Panic (i) 1, 2, 3 (ii) 1, 4, 5 (iii) 2, 3, 5 (iv) 1, 2, 5

(1)

(b) Why was the boy not acting logically?

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(c) Which of the following trait of the narrator is highlighted in the above extract? (1) (i) Abundant love for his mother (ii) Strong emotional dependence (iii) Arrogance and stubbornness (iv) Both (i) and (ii) (d) “He was right.” Why? (2) Ans. (a) (ii) 1, 4, 5 (b) The boy was not acting logically because he was trying to run into a burning house as his mother was inside. (c) (iv) Both (i) and (ii) (d) He, the firefighter, was right because Zan, the author would have certainly run into the burning house after his mother and would have thus, endangered his life too if the firefighter had left him. 3. I had no books or homework, and my backpack was gone. I had my life in that backpack! The more I tried to fit in, the worse it got. Was I destined to be an outcast and a geek all my life? That’s what it felt like. I didn’t want to grow up, change or have to handle life it was going to be this way. I just wanted to curl up and die. I walked around school like a zombie. Everything felt surreal, and I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. All the security I had known, from my old school, my friends, my hoise and my cat had all been ripped away.

(a) What is the mental state of the author in the given stanza? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) Angry (2) Depressed (3) Triumphant (4) Shocked (5) Disillusioned (i) 1, 3, 5 (ii) 1, 2, 5 (iii) 3, 4, 5 (iv) 2, 4, 5 (b) Why did the author feel like a zombie in the school the next day?

(2)

(c) Pick the option that is NOT RIGHT, according to the given extract. (i) The boy had lost his backpack. (ii) He was desperate that he had lost everything he loved. (iii) He wanted to curl up and die. (iv) He was enveloped by a sense of security in the new school.

(1)

(d) Complete the analogy with the appropriate word from the extract.

(1)

eccentric : zombie : : ________________ : weird Ans. (a) (ii) 1, 2, 5 (b) The author felt humiliated the next day at school since he was still wearing the clothes he had worn to church that morning when the fire broke out. He also had no shoes because he had lost them in the fire. (c) (iv) He was enveloped by a sense of security in the new school. (d) surreal

4. When I walked through what used to be my house after school that day, I was shocked to see how much damage there was – whatever hadn’t burned was destroyed by the water and chemical they had used to put the fire. The only material things not destroyed

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were the photo albums, documents and some other personal items that my mother had managed to heroically rescue. But my cat was gone and my heart ached for her. There was no time to grieve. My mother rushed me out of the house. We would have to find a place to live, and I would have to go buy some clothes for school. (a) What was the condition of the author’s house after the fire broke out?

(2)

(b) How would you describe the author’s mother? (i) She was wallowing in self-pity. (ii) She was waiting patiently for better times to come. (iii) She was being practical and was determined to move on with life. (iv) She chose to grieve for the rest of her life.

(1)

(c) ‘There was no time to grieve’. Why?

(1)



(d) What are the emotions that has been expressed in the given extract? (Competency-focused Question) (1) (1) Sorrow (2) Anxiety (3) Discontentment (3) Apathy (5) Pain (i) 1, 3, 4 (ii) 1, 2, 5 (iii) 2, 3, 5 (iv) 1, 2, 4 Ans. (a) The house was completely burned down after the fire. The author and his mother could not live in that house till it was renovated. The things which were not destroyed by fire were damaged by the water and chemical used during the extinguishing. (b) (iii) She was being practical and was determined to move on with life. (c) They had no time to grieve because they were left with nothing they could call their own. The life needed to be restarted and there were many urgent needs to be fulfilled. (d) (iii) 1, 2, 5

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)



1. Is it normal to feel lost and lonely in new surroundings? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. It is normal to feel lost and depressed in unfamiliar surroundings. Just like our protagonist did, when he moved from his junior school to the higher school. He felt detached from everyone, and probably did not make an attempt to interact with his peers as he should have. 2. Who provided immediate financial help to the author and her mother? Why? Ans. Having lost all proof of identity, author’s mother could not go and withdraw money from the bank. So in their state of despair and severe crisis, it was his grandparents who helped them financially, emotionally, and physically. 3. Justify the title, ‘A House Is Not a Home.’ Ans. A house is defined as a structure made for human habitation, while a home is the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household. There is love, happiness, sorrow, birth, and death, in a home. Emotions make a house a home. In this lesson, the house had burnt, but the love, the support and empathy from everyone, enabled them to overcome the loss of the house. Thus, the title aptly fits the story of the author’s life. Literature Reader

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4. What was unusual and strange in the school the next day? Ans. The news of the tragedy had spread like wild fire and everybody in the school knew about it. This made him feel uncomfortable, as though, he was responsible for their plight. People at school were looking and behaving with him in a strange and unusual way. This was not the kind of attention he was looking forward to. 5. What was the sight that shocked the author? Why was there no time to grieve? Ans. As he walked past his house, while returning from school, he was shocked to see the demolished condition of his house. Everything had been reduced to ashes. He had lost his cat which made him feel extremely sad. Despite all the losses, they did not have time to grieve because they had to secure themselves, until, they set their house in order. 6. Why did the author feel awkward during her first year of high school? Ans. He felt awkward because it was a new school, much bigger than her previous junior high school. It was strange starting as a freshman after enjoying the benefits of being the senior-most class in junior high. He also felt isolated as all his close friends had gone to different high schools and he did not know anyone there. 7. Why does the author miss his old teachers? Ans. The author missed his old teachers because they would encourage him to get involved in school activties, so that he could meet new people. They also assured him that he would soon adjust to his new school. Their affection, warmth and cooperation in making him feel special made the author miss them. 8. Why does the author miss his old teachers? Ans. The author misses his old teachers because they would encourage him to get involved in school activities, so that he could meet new people. They also assured him that he would soon adjust to his new school. Their affection, warmth and cooperation in making him feel special made the author miss them. 9. What did the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What was his mother’s reaction? What did she do? Ans. One Sunday afternoon, the author smelled something strange and noticed smoke pouring in through the seams of the ceiling of his house. His mother reacted promptly and the two of them ran out into the front yard. However, she ran back into the house and brought out a small metal box full of important documents.

10. How did Zan’s mother save important documents from the burning house? Ans. Zan’s mother saved important documents from the burning house by courageously rushing inside the house on fire and bringing out a small metal box that contained those documents. She, thus, risked her life but eventually succeeded in her mission. 11. What is surreal? Why does the author feel that everything was surreal? Ans. Surreal means something strange or unreal. The author felt that everything was surreal because too many unfortunate things had happened to him - his house was burnt down, his cat was lost, his mother was left with no money and he had no books, shoes, clothes and school uniform. His secure zone had been ripped away suddenly and the changes were too much and too many for him to handle. 12. How did the author realise that he was not alone in the world? Ans. Unfortunately, a fierce fire had burnt down the narrator’s house. He had lost everything in the fire, but he went to school the following day and found that his friends were also worried about this incident. They gave him many things. Thus, the feeling of his insecurity gradually vanished and he realised that he had many friends to decrease his problems. He opened up to all the wonderful people around him.

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Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)



1. What is the most important aspect in the story that appealed to you? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. This story, that was a turning point in the main character’s life, appeals very strongly to one’s emotions. It touches the right cord in our heart. The unfortunate tragedy, accompanied by the mental discomfort of the teenager, churns within us the feelings of sorrow, empathy, and brotherhood. A child who was a new entrant into the portals of the high school, had no friends at school or in the neighbourhood. He was in a state of extreme depression. But the reaction and support provided by his schoolmates is really commendable. The young boy who felt all alone and desolate, suddenly feels overwhelmed and emotional with the way he was absorbed by his peers and society. His life takes a turn for the better, and he identifies with his true self.

2. Make a diary entry of the day that changed your life for the better. You are Zan. (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Thursday, 14 July 20XX 10 p.m. Dear Diary, I was up in the morning at the usual time. I missed kitty a lot. Mom forced me to go to school. I hesitated as I did not have shoes and was wearing yesterday’s clothes. Aunt gave me my cousin’s shoes, that were too big and looked weird on me. Feeling very low and desperate, I walked down to school. When I reached, I observed the unusual looks that the students were giving me. Little did I know what was in store for me. In the course of the day, I was shocked to see, as I was being pushed into the gym, a table filled with stuff donated by my schoolmates. I was overwhelmed. These were the people who had hardly interacted with me. They had got to know about my tragic situation, and worked as a team to help in rehabilitating me and my family. This was a turning point in my high school life. I developed a wonderful relationship with everyone. Life became enjoyable once again. Thank you, God!! Good Night 3. What kind of relationship did the author share with his mother? Give reasons to support your answer. Ans. The author was very close to his mother. His father died years ago, and the only immediate family he had was his mother. Even though it is mentioned that there had been times when he felt as though he hated his mother, it is clear that the fire brought them closer. They supported each other as they rebuilt their lives, both physically and emotionally. The author’s mother had run into the house to rescue some important documents. At that point, the author had been so relieved when the firemen brought her mother out safely, that he ran up and hugged her. He accepted the changes that were inevitable as a result of the tragedy, and supported his mother in every way he could.

4. What is the meaning of the sentence, “My cat was back, and so was I”? Had the author gone somewhere? Why does he say that he is also back? Ans. The author means to say that the return of his cat marked an end to the period of loss and loneliness that he and his mother had been experiencing since their house burnt down. In the fire, the author and his mother had lost all their possessions, and for a month they had to survive on charity and donations from acquaintances and family members like his grandparents and aunt.

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However, by the time the cat was returned to him by a kind lady who had rescued it and traced its family, the author had made many friends in his new school, and regained his self-worth. He was once again in control of his life and secure in the acceptance and love of the people around him. With the return of her cat, it was as though his new life was now complete again.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. We had to borrow money from my grandparents because there were no credit cards, cash or even any identification to be able to withdraw money from the bank. Everything had gone up in smoke. That week the rubble that used to be our house was being cleared off the lot. Even though we had rented an apartment nearby, I would go over to watch them clear away debris, hoping that my cat was somewhere to be found. She was gone. I kept thinking about her as that vulnerable little kitten. In the early morning when I would disturb her and get out of bed, she would tag along after me, clumb up my robe and crawl into my pocket to fall asleep. I was missing her terribly.

(a) Why were they not able to withdraw money from the bank? How did they manage the funds? (2) (b) “I was terribly missing her.” Who was the author missing terribly? (i) His cat (ii) His grandmother (iii) His beloved (iv) His mother

(1)

(c) What was the consequence of the fire? (i) They lost important documents. (ii) The house was not destroyed. (iii) The cat went missing. (iv) They were living in a rented apartment.

(1)

(d) Complete the given analogy with an appropriate word from the extract.

(1)

borrow : forfeit : : ________________ : deposit

2. A month later, I was at my house watching them rebuild it. But this time it was different – I wasn’t alone. I was with two of my new friends from school. It took a fire for me to stop focusing on my feelings of insecurity and open up to all the wonderful people around me. Now I was sitting there watching my house being rebuilt when I realised my life was doing the same thing. While we sat there on the curb, planning my new bedroom, I heard someone walk up to me from behind and say, “Does this belong to you?” When I turned around to see who it was, I couldn’t believe my eyes. A woman was standing there holding my cat! I leapt up and grabbed her out of the woman’s arms. (a) What was the unbelievable event mentioned in the extract?

(1)

(b) Pick out the words that describe the narrator, according to the extract. (1) Solitary (2) Happy

(1)

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(3) Awkward (5) Sociable (i) 1, 2, 4 (iii) 2, 4, 5

(4) Overjoyed (ii) 2, 3, 5 (iv) 1, 3, 4



(c) How did the author get back his beloved cat?



(d) Which of the following sentences uses ‘curb’ as it has been used in the given extract? (1) (i) She had nothing to offer him to curb whatever ambition he had. (ii) Dean pulled away from the curb, keeping his speed to a parade crawl. (iii) Worst of all, there existed no recognized authority in the land to curb and control its jarring centrifugal political elements. (iv) It required a strong hand to curb the Libyan chieftains, and divisions soon began to show themselves in the kingdom.

Short Answer Questions

(2)

(40-50 Words)

1. Write a short note on his relationship with the teachers of his old school. 2. What was the relationship, he shared with his cat? How did he get her back after the tragedy? 3. How did the fireman handle him, when he was in a state of anxiety? 4. Give a brief character sketch of his mother.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words)

1. “A friend in need is a friend in deed”. Explain with reference to the lesson, ‘A House Is Not a Home’. 2. As the protagonist, write a letter to the Head of your school, thanking her and all your schoolmates for their support in the worst moment of your life. (Constructed Response Question) 3. The fire blazed throughout the colony........little Jan........and her father........ Complete the story and provide a suitable title to it. (Constructed Response Question) zzz

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The Beggar

Moments

8

—Anton Chekhov

About the Author Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (29 January 1860– 15 July 1904) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer, who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short fiction in history. His career as a playwright produced four classics, and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics. Along with Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, Chekhov is often referred to as one of the three seminal figures in the birth of early modernism in the theatre. Chekhov practiced as a medical doctor throughout most of his literary career.

Theme In ‘The Beggar’ written by Anton Chekhov, he has covered the theme of change, dishonesty, alcoholism, kindness, compassion, desperation, struggle, selflessness and gratitude. Taken from his “The Complete Short Stories” collection, the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story, the reader realises that Chekhov may be exploring the theme of desperation and struggle.

Summary Lushkoff, due to his alcoholism, is no longer able to work and has to resort to begging, in order to survive, and resorts to lying about his misfortune to get money from strangers. Sergei shows Lushkoff little or no compassion, believing that hard work will cure him of his homelessness and addiction to alcohol. Though Sergei’s suggestion does not work for Lushkoff, the kindness of Olga, changes his life and he gives up drinking. It is through listening and talking to Olga that Lushkoff sees the error of his ways and is able to mend his life. Though it is true that Sergei provided the impetus (or work) for Lushkoff to change, it is Olga who should be given full credit for the compassion and kindness that she showed to Lushkoff. If it was not for Olga, Lushkoff ’s life would not have changed for the better. It is also worth noting that Sergei is allowing his ego to take credit for helping Lushkoff improve his life. Though some critics might suggest that Lushkoff continued to lie to Olga about being unable to chop the wood and played on her good nature, it is more likely that Lushkoff, because of his alcoholism was unable to physically exert himself. Something that is lost on Sergei. It is also worth noting that though Sergei thinks he is acting out of charity, he is in fact gaining something. He is getting his wood chopped. He is not acting selflessly, though, would like others to see him in that light. Whether it be chopping the wood or helping to move furniture. He cleanses his soul by way of paying Lushkoff and in many ways patronising him. At no stage in the story is there a sense that Sergei understands Lushkoff ’s alcoholism.

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Olga is perhaps the most important character in the story because of her behaviour. She helps Lushkoff by chopping the wood and giving him advice on the evils of alcohol. Lushkoff is grateful to Olga, something that the reader becomes aware of, when he is talking to Sergei at the theatre. Despite the passing of time, he has not forgotten all that Olga has done for him, which appears to come as a surprise to Sergei.

Glossary NCERT Page – 62 copecks – a monetary unit of Russia and some other countries of the former Soviet Union, equal to one hundredth of a rouble (rouble is the Russian currency); intrigues – the secret planning of something illicit or detrimental; calumny – a false and slanderous statement, defame, character assassination; suppliant – the person who is a pleader, beggar, a person making a humble or earnest plea NCERT Page – 63 swindling – cheat, deceive or exploit someone of money or possessions; choir – an organised group of singers, especially sing during church services; perplexity – the inability to deal with or understand something; irresolutely – showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain; gait – a person’s manner of walking; inclination – a person’s natural tendency or urge to act or feel in a particular way; a disposition; wrathfully – full of or characterised by intense anger; shoved – push roughly NCERT Page – 64 pseudo – not genuine; billet (here) – a thick piece of wood; cautiously – carefully; overshoe – a shoe worn over a normal shoe; menial – (of work) not requiring much skill and lacking prestige; waif – a person who appears thin or poorly nourished, abandoned, homeless NCERT Page – 65 shovel – a tool resembling a spade with a broad blade; hauling – pull or drag with effort or force; carters – people who convey or put in a cart or similar vehicle; feebleness – lacking physical strength; notary – a person authorised to perform certain legal formalities NCERT Page – 66 indebted – owing gratitude for a service or favour

Answers to NCERT Questions THINK ABOUT IT 1. Has Lushkoff become a beggar by circumstances or by choice? Ans. Lushkoff resorts to begging because of his unfortunate circumstances. He was a singer who used to sing in the choir. He lost his job because of alcohol abuse, which was however, a problem he had got into by choice. After he was out of the rehabilitation centre, the social stigma of being a drunkard prevented him from getting a job. To make ends meet, he had to resort to begging. 2. What reasons does he give to Sergei for his telling lies? Ans. Sergei confronts Lushkoff, and threatens to hand him over to the police for swindling people by telling lies. Lushkoff, tells him the truth. He accepts that he was lying and that he was neither a student nor a school teacher. He was a singer who was thrown out of the Russian Church choir because of his alcoholism. He resorts to lying for survival. 3. Is Lushkoff a willing worker? Why, then does he agree to chop wood for Sergei? Ans. Sergei offers Lushkoff the job of a woodcutter, and he is taken to the wood-shed by Olga, the cook. The scarecrow of a beggar shrugged his shoulders and went behind the cook. His style of walking expressed very clearly that he had consented to chop not for the money, but because he had got trapped in his own game. His alcoholism had robbed him of his health and will to toil. Literature Reader

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4. Sergei says, “I am happy that my words have taken effect.” Why does he say so? Is he right in saying this? Ans. Sergei believes that his timely advice helped Lushkoff get rid of his need to beg. He may be right from his perspective because he was not aware of the fact that it was Olga who was chopping the wood for Lushkoff. He chose to take pride and in having helped a person change. However, he was not right in saying so because he had not shown any compassion towards Lushkoff, but alternately, Sergei was quite harsh on him. 5. Lushkoff is earning thirty five roubles a month. How is he obliged to Sergei for this? Ans. The encounter with Sergei was that which contributed to bring about a change in Lushkoff ’s life. It was because of Sergei that he got an opportunity to get acquainted with the cook, Olga. She was so compassionate that she would help him with his work. The whole incident changed Lushkoff ’s perception about his future. His stay with Sergei and Olga developed in him a new confidence that helped him secure a decent job, and earn money for his livelihood.

6. During their conversation, Lushkoff reveals that Sergei’s cook, Olga is responsible for the positive change in him. How has Olga saved Lushkoff? Ans. Olga is introduced as a very tough and rude woman. She chides Lushkoff for his incompetence, but noticing the difficulty he faced while trying to chop the wood, she would help him, and report to the master that the work was done, which helped him earn half a rouble. Lushkoff continued to work for Sergei on and off. But it would be Olga who did Lushkoff ’s work. Lushkoff while expressing his gratitude to Sergei for helping him settle down to a normal life says, “it was your cook, Olga, who saved me”. He continued by saying that she used to abuse him, feel sad for him, cry, and would feel miserable that he had destroyed his own life. Lushkoff further denied having chopped even one piece of wood. And says that Olga’s words, and noble deeds set him on the right path.

Additional Questions Extract-Based Questions

(5 marks each)

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. “KIND sir, have pity; turn your attention to a poor, hungry man! For three days I have had nothing to eat; I haven’t five copecks for a lodging, I swear it before God. For eight years I was a village schoolteacher and then I lost my place through intrigues. I fell a victim to calumny. It is a year now since I have had anything to do.” The advocate, Sergei, looked at the ragged, fawn-coloured overcaoat of the suppliant, at his dull, drunken eyes, at the red spot on either cheek, and it seemed to him as if he had seen this man somehwere before. “I have now had an offer of a position in the province of Kaluga,” the mendicant went on, “but I haven’t the money to get there. Help me kindly; I am ashamed to ask, but – I am obliged to by circumstances.

(a) Describe how the beggar appeared when Sergei met him.

(2)

(b) “Obliged to by circumstances” concurs with which one of the following? (i) Grateful to the situation (ii) Victim of a situation (iii) Bound by the situation (iv) Surrender to the situation

(1)

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(c) The probem that ‘I’ DOES NOT face according to the passage is: (i) hunger (ii) poverty (iii) fulfilment (iv) joblessness

(1)

(d) What requestt did the beggar make before Sergei? (1) Ans. (a) When Sergei met the beggar, he noticed that the beggar was old, his face was dull, having drunken eyes and also some red spot on his cheek. He was wearing torn and ragged clothes. One of his shoes was bigger than the other. He was looking like a miserly person. (b) (ii) Victim of a situation (c) (iii) fulfilment (d) The beggar requested Sergei to have pity on him and give him some money, so that he can feed himself. 2. “This is dishonesty, my dear sir!” he cried angrily. “This is swindling – I shall send the police for you, damn you!” “Sir!” he said, laying his hand on his heart, “the fact is I was lying! I am neither a student nor a schoolteacher. All that was fiction. Formerly I sang in a Russian choir and was sent away for my drunkenness. But what else can I do? I can’t get along without lying. No one will give me anything when I tell the truth, what can I do?” “What can you do? You ask what you can do?” cried Sergei, coming close to him. “Work! That’s what you can do! You must work!” “Work – yes. I know that myself; but where can I find work?” “How would you like to chop wood for me?” “I wouldn’t refuse to do that, but in these days, even skilled woodcutters find themselves sitting without bread.”

(a) “This is dishonesty, my dear sir!” he cried angrily. ‘He’ is angry because: (i) the beggar was an expelled student (ii) the beggar said he was a teacher (iii) the beggar said he was in the church choir (iv) the beggar was lying blatantly

(1)

(b) Complete the given analogy. dishonest : veracious : : __________________ : altruism

(1)

(c) Pick out the adjectives that describe Sergei, according to the given extract. (1) Straightforward (2) Hardworking (3) Soft-spoken (4) Polite (5) Assertive (i) 1, 2, 5 (ii) 2, 3, 4 (iii) 1, 3, 5 (iv) 2, 4, 5

(1)

(d) Why did the speaker threaten to send the police for the listener? (2) Ans. (a) (iv) the beggar was lying blatantly (b) swindling (c) (i) 1, 2, 5 (d) The speaker, Sergei, threatened to send the police for the listener, Lushkoff, because the latter was reluctant to admit that he had adopted unfair means to gain sympathy and monetary help from people.

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3. Sergei’s anger had vanished and he now began to feel a little sorry and ashamed of himself for having set a spoiled, drunken, perhaps sick man to work at menial labour in the cold. An hour later, Olga came in and announced that the wood had all been chopped. “Good! Give him half a rouble,” said Sergei. “If he wants to, he can come back and cut wood on the first day of each month. We can always find work for him.”

(a) Why did Sergei feel ashamed?

(2)

(b) Who was Olga?

(1)

(c) “Olga came in and announced that the wood had all been chopped.” Who had actually chopped the wood? (1) (i) Olga (ii) Lushkoff (iii) Both of these (iv) None of these

(d) What did Sergei give Lushkoff for chopping wood? (1) (i) a pound (ii) a dollar (iii) a frank (iv) a rouble
 Ans. (a) Sergei gave Lushkoff a physically hard work which was to chop the wood. This task was not fit for a drunken and sick man, besides, the weather was very cold. As it was an unjustful task for Lushkoff, Sergei felt ashamed of his act. (b) Olga was the lady servant of Sergei. (c) (i) Olga (d) (iv) a rouble



4. “Pleased at having put a man on the right path, Sergei tapped Lushkoff kindly on the shoulder and even gave him his hand at parting. Lushkoff took the letter, and from that day forth came no more to the yard for work.” (a) Where are they in the given extract? (i) At Sergei’s house (ii) At the ticket window of theatre (iii) At post office (iv) In a market

(1)

(b) Why did Sergei tap Lushkoff ’s shoulder and shook hands with him?

(1)

(c) What letter did Lushkoff get from Sergei?

(2)

(d) Which word from the following means the same as ‘onwards’? (1) (i) Path (ii) Forth (iii) Parting (iv) Pleased Ans. (a) (i) At Sergei’s house (b) Sergei tapped Lushkoff ’s shoulder and shook hands with him because he was pleased with having put a man on the right path. (c) Lushkoff got a letter of recommendation from Sergei. It was addressed to Sergei’s friend, so that Lushkoff would get some copying work to do from him. This was a cleaner employment in comparison to wood-chopping. (d) (ii) Forth

Short Answer Questions

(40-50 Words: 3 Marks each)

1. What was the first lie that Lushkoff told Sergei? Ans. Lushkoff tells Sergei that he was a poor hungry man, who had not eaten for three days. He said that he didn’t have money to afford a shelter, as he was without a job for about

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a year. He claims that he was a school teacher who lost his job because of the attempts made by people to defame him. 2. Why did Sergei’s anger vanish? Ans. Sergei saw the beggar irresolutely pulling the billet towards him, and struggling with the assigned job of chopping it into pieces. Seeing this, his anger vanished and he began to feel sorry and ashamed of himself for having set up an unhealthy, weak, and drunken man to work as a menial labourer in the cold. 3. How did Lushkoff start earning thirty five roubles every month? Ans. Appreciating the improvement being shown by Lushkoff, Sergei helped him by giving a recommendation letter to help him secure a job with his friend. Lushkoff had not gone to the yard to work for Sergei again. Two years later, he notices Lushkoff at a ticket window, and he tells his reformer that he was working as a notary and made 35 roubles every month, and that he was doing well. 4. What does Sergei tell Lushkoff after referring to him as his godson? Ans. Sergei expressed happiness on seeing a reformed Lushkoff and said that he was a godson to him in every sense. He was very happy that despite being rude and strict with him, he had succeeded in putting him on to the right path. And he thanked Lushkoff for not forgetting his words of advice. 5. What information does Lushkoff share with Sergei about the cook? Ans. Lushkoff speaks very highly of the cook, and gives all credit for his transformation to her. He informs Sergei that it was the nobility of the cook that had truly changed him. She had done all the errands for him, so that he could earn the money offered by Sergei. She also used to cry for him, worried that he would end up in total ruin. 6. How did Sergei recognise the beggar? Ans. Sergei looked at the beggar. His face appeared familiar to him. He tried to recollect where he had seen him. Suddenly, his eyes fell on the beggar’s shoes. One shoe was high and the other was low. Now, he clearly remembered where he had seen the beggar before. He had seen the beggar in the Sadovya Street. 7. How did Olga treat Lushkoff in the beginning? Why did she do this? Ans. In the beginning, Olga treated Lushkoff callously. She called him a drunkard. She rebuked him. Then she would sit before him and grow sad. She looked into his face and wept. Then she chopped wood for him. She did so because she felt pity for him. Secondly, she wanted to put him on the right path. 8. What plea does Lushkoff make to Sergei when he appears at his yard? Ans. Lushkoff pleads to Segei to have pity on him. He says that he has not eaten anything for three days and does not have five copecks for lodging. He further tells Sergei that he had been a village school teacher for eight years and had lost his job due to scheming and lies. 9. Describe the physical appearance of Lushkoff when Sergei observes him in his yard. Ans. Sergei observed Lushkoff closely when the latter came to his yard asking for alms. At that time, Lushkoff had a ragged appearance. He had worn a fawn-coloured overcoat and his eyes were dull and drunken. There was a red spot on either cheek. He looked every bit a disgusting beggar. 10. Why did Sergei hurry into the dining room? What did he see from there? Ans. Sergei hurried into the dining room because he wanted to check the beggar’s behaviour while chopping wood. He saw both Olga and Lushkoff walking towards the shed. He also saw Olga’s expression of wrath towards the beggar and the manner in which he struggled to chop wood in the acute cold. Literature Reader

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11. How did Sergei feel after he saw Lushkoff chopping wood? Ans. Sergei didn’t feel angry anymore after he saw Lushkoff chopping wood. Instead, he felt a little sorry and ashamed at having given the tough task of wood-chopping to Lushkoff who seemed to him a spoiled, drunkard and probably a sick man. It was difficult for him to do such a menial task in the severe cold. 12. Why did Lushkoff return to the yard on the first of the month? Why did he reappear often? Ans. Lushkoff returned to the yard on the first of the month in order to chop wood and earn one rouble in return. He reappeared often because every time he used to be given odd jobs like shovelling snow, putting the wood-shed in order and beating the dust out of rugs and mattresses. The money he thus got helped him survive. 13. Why does Lushkoff acknowledge Olga’s contribution in reforming him? Ans. Lushkoff is grateful to Sergei for employement but he gives true credit for his reformation to Olga, Sergei’s cook. Outwardly, Olga is full of anger and spite, but her heart is full of human sympathy and kindness. While she severely scolds Lushkoff for being a miserable drunkard, she weeps for him and chops wood for him. She is the chief reason why Lushkoff gives up his bad habits and transforms into a hardworking man.

Long Answer Questions

(100-120 Words: 6 Marks each)

1. Give a character sketch of Lushkoff. Ans. Lushkoff was a Russian, who was perhaps a good singer as he had been a part of the Church choir. He unfortunately gets addicted to alcohol, that destroys his very existence. He gets thrown out of the choir, and tries to get rehabilitated. But his agony sees no end because his habit preceded him, and he was not able to get a job anywhere. The last resort was to beg to stay alive. He resorted to fabricating stories while trying to secure money from people. His life changed after his encounter with Advocate Sergei, who admonished him, and set him up to be a woodcutter. With the help of Sergei’s cook, Olga, he secured money for a job, he had not done. But seeing her concern for him, Lushkoff decides to make a change in his life. He steps back on to the path of righteousness, and remains eternally grateful to Sergei and his cook for helping him do so. 2. Give a character sketch of Olga. Ans. Olga was the gentle and caring cook of advocate Sergei. She had a very sharp tongue and did not mince words while reprimanding the ‘woodcutter’ for not being strong enough to pick up the axe and chopping the wood. Olga would look at him, curse him, abuse him, cry and sympathise with his misfortune, and do his work for him. She developed a motherly affection to the boy. Pity and concern were the emotions she showed for the beggar boy. Her affection was exhibited by the fact that she chopped the wood for Lushkoff, so that he can earn money. The way she suffered and helped him, and not even once reported the truth to the master was laudable. Her behaviour towards Lushkoff made him develop sensitivity towards others’ feelings, and in the process, he also changed. There was no display of love or compassion by them towards each other. The author has used pathos very explicitly while portraying the character of Olga. 3. Bad habits ruin a person. Lushkoff turned to begging because of his drinking habit. How does this habit ruin him? What lesson do you learn from his life? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Lushkoff was a middle-aged man. He was a beggar. He used to beg in a polished manner. Once, he pretended to be a school teacher. Next time, he presented himself as a student.

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In fact, he was a singer in a Russian Choir. He was sent away for his drunkenness. He was a man ruined by his drinking habit which turned him to begging. His drinking habit made him physically and mentally incapable. He was so weak that he could not do any work offered by Olga or Sergei. He had to compromise with his selfrespect. He had to feel ashamed of his habits. He had to beg. Bad habits initially may give pleasure, which is temporary but they bring disrepute, humiliation and ruin to a person in the long run. 4. Compassion and pity can bring positive changes in a human being. How does the story ‘The Beggar’ prove it? (Constructed Response Question) Ans. Compassion and pity are the human values that can transform a person completely. To bring about the positive changes in a person with negative character traits, patience and love are required. The story has ample evidence to prove this statement. Olga was a social and sympathetic lady. She had the sense of humaity. She realised the miserable condition of Lushkoff and felt pity for him. She kept criticising him in order to improve him. Lushkoff realised her noble feelings and a change took place in his heart. So, love and compassion of Olga and Sergei completely changed Lushkoff, a beggar by circumstances. He realised the importance of hard work and was able to live with dignity. It is because of the encouragement and empathy and sympathy shown by Olga and Sergei that brought positive changes in Lushkoff.

Questions for Practice Extract-based Questions Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 1. “Thank you, old man, for not forgetting my words.” “Thank you, too.” said Lushkoff. “if I hadn’t come to you then I might still have been calling myself a teacher or a student to this day. Yes, by flying to your protection I dragged myself out of a pit.” “I am very glad, indeed.” “Thank you for your kind words and deeds. I am very grateful to you and to your cook. God bless that good and noble woman! You spoke finely then, and I shall be indebted to you to my dying day; but, strictly speaking, it was your cook, Olga, who saved me.”

(a) Lushkoff thanked Sergei for: (i) his kind words and deeds (ii) for not providing him timely help (iii) for telling Olga to stay away from him (iv) for leaving him in the church

(1)



(b) Why will Lushkoff be indebted to Sergei forever?

(1)



(c) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE about Olga? (i) She chopped wood in place of Lushkoff. (ii) She scolded him like a mother would. (iii) She sneaked about him to Sergei. (iv) She helped him earn money.

(1)



(d) What opinion do you form about Lushkoff after reading the given extract?

(2)

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2. “Thank Heaven! That’s fine! I am delighted for your sake. I am very, very glad, Lushkoff. You see, you are my godson, in a sense. I gave you a push along the right path, you know. Do you remember what a roasting I gave you, eh?”



(a) Why was the speaker delighted?

(1)



(b) Who reformed Lushkoff? (i) Sergei (iii) Both of these

(1)



(ii) Olga (iv) None of these

(c) What is the speaker remembering?

(2)

(d) Which word from the following means the same as ‘criticise severely’? (i) Delighted (ii) Glad (iii) Push (iv) Roasting

Short Answer Questions 1. 2. 3. 4.



(40-50 Words)

“I am obliged to my circumstances”. Explain. How did Lushkoff progress from an alcoholic to a notary? What happened when Sergei threatened the beggar? Why was Sergei ashamed of himself?

Long Answer Questions

(1)

(100-120 Words)

1. What would have happened if Olga had been a wicked old woman? 2. After Lushkoff says that it was Olga who chopped the wood and that it was Olga who truly reformed him, the story ends. Write an alternate ending that presents Sergei’s reaction to Lushkoff ’s disclosure. (Constructed Response Question) 3. As Sergei, make a diary entry of the day you saw Lushkoff at the ticket window. Express your feelings after he tells you about Olga. (Constructed Response Question) zzz

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SPEAKING AND LISTENING SKILLS [SUBJECT ENRICHMENT] 1. SPEAKING ASSESSMENT —1 TO 3 2. LISTENING ASSESSMENT —1 TO 3

20 MARKS

Speaking Assessment

1

Speaking Test Time (8 min)

STAGE 1: INTRODUCTION

(1 MIN)

Procedure Examiner : Hello, please sit down. My name is _________________________________________. What is your name? (to Candidate A) And what’s your name? (to Candidate B) So your names are (name and serial number A) and (name and serial number B). (To Candidate A) Tell me something about your family. Candidate A responds: _____________________________________. (To Candidate B) Tell me something about your hobbies. Candidate B responds: _____________________________________.

STAGE 2: TOPIC PRESENTATION

(4 MIN)

SAVE NATURE, SAVE MANKIND Examiner : Now (Candidate A), you are going to speak about your topic. When you have finished, Candidate B will ask you a question and then I will ask you some more questions. Would you like to begin please? Candidate A : My topic is ‘Save Nature, Save Mankind’. The delicate balance of nature has been disturbed due to increased population of human beings. The activities of mankind have led to decrease in the green cover comprising forest land. This has resulted in many wild animals getting extinct or reaching the brink of extinction. Increased population results in clearing of forest lands. Encroaching is done for farming, leading to decrease in living space for wild animals. Poaching for skins, rhino horns, elephant tusks, etc. has led to a decrease in their numbers. Not only has the loss of habitat played havoc but the greed for animal products has caused the dwindling of the species of tiger, rhinoceros, crocodile, and many of the birds. This has adversely affected the food chain. There is an urgent need for afforestation and strict implementation of forest laws. More wildlife sanctuaries are needed to protect the forest land. More voluntary agencies need to be active and work for Gandhiji’s message ‘Nature has enough for man’s need but not for man’s greed’. Speaking and Listening Skills

395

Examiner : Thank you (Candidate A). (To Candidate B) Can you ask a question please? Candidate B : How is the balance of nature disturbed? Candidate A responds: The delicate balance of nature is disturbed due to increased population and pollution. Examiner asks 2 or 3 follow-up questions as appropriate from the topic prompt list. For example, Examiner : What initiative will you take to save environment? Candidate A responds: I’ll plant more and more trees. I’ll make people aware about the importance of trees and consequences of deforestation. Examiner : What do you mean by deforestation? Candidate A responds: Cutting down of trees is called deforestation. Examiner : What is the result of man’s greed for animal products? Candidate A responds: Man’s greed for animal products has caused the dwindling of the species of tiger, rhinoceros, crocodile, and many of the birds. Examiner : Thank you Candidate A. (To Candidate B) You are going to tell us about your topic. When you have finished, Candidate A will ask a question and then I will ask you some more questions. Would you like to begin please? Candidate B : I am going to speak on ‘Child Malnutrition in India’. Child malnutrition is the biggest challenge our country is facing today even when the economy is said to be surging ahead. Every second, child under the age of three in the country is malnourished. The number for under five children is 55 million which is two and half times the population of Australia. 35% of the world’s malnourished children live in India. Half the number of child deaths takes place due to malnutrition which could be prevented. The situation has not seen an improvement between the reports of the National Family Health Survey III in 2007 and NFHS II seven years earlier. It is a known fact that malnutrition can affect economic productivity and the ability to make decisions. Experts say that unless the problem is addressed on a war footing, it will lower the country’s GDP growth rate by 2-3%. One of the reasons why the issue has remained unaddressed is because it is not high on national agenda. There has been no determined action. It is a known fact that malnutrition can affect economic productivity and the ability to make decisions. Experts say that unless the problem is addressed on a war footing, it will lower the country’s GDP growth rate by 2-3%. One of the reasons why the issue has remained unaddressed is because it is not high on national agenda. There has been no determined action.

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It is a known fact that malnutrition can affect economic productivity and the ability to make decisions. Experts say that unless the problem is addressed on a war footing it will lower the country’s GDP growth rate by 2-3%. One of the reasons why the issue has remained unaddressed is because it is not high on national agenda. There has been no determined action. The problem of child malnutrition starts long before the child is born. The age at which a woman marries has a bearing on the foetus. So does her nutritional intake during pregnancy and after she gives birth. Her educational status will decide whether she goes in for institutional deliveries which prevent infections, the importance she attaches to hygiene and to immunization of her child. Her nutrition, health and education and her status in the family and the community determine whether the child is malnourished or not. It is not possible to address the problem of child malnutrition unless the condition of the woman is improved. The Indian figures are worse than the malnutrition rates prevalent in subSaharan Africa even though those countries have been known for famine, poverty and political instability. In the world, 40% of the low weight babies (below 2.5 kg) are from India. One of the major causes of low birth weight babies in India is the high incidences of anaemia among women. Recent studies have shown that the damage is done by the time a child reaches the age of two. The critical age-group is 0-2 and it is this group that needs the maximum attention. The government’s focus needs to shift to address the nutritional and survival issues related to this group. The issue of child malnutrition needs attention from all levels. From political will to pressure from civil societies and communities themselves. Examiner : Thank you (Candidate B). (To Candidate A) Can you ask a question please? Candidate A : (To Candidate B) How does malnutrition affect a country’s economic productivity? Candidate B responds: Due to malnutrition, a country’s GDP growth rate decreases by 2-3%. Examiner asks 2 or 3 follow-up questions as appropriate from the topic prompt list. For example: Examiner : Why has the issue of malnutrition remained unaddressed? Candidate B: It has remained unaddressed because it is not high on national agenda. Examiner : Suggest some measures to curb the problem of malnutrition. Candidate B: The problem of child malnutrition starts before the child is born. The age at which a woman marries has a bearing on the foetus. By taking proper care of the pregnant women, the problem of malnutrition can be curbed to a large extent.

STAGE 3: PROBLEM SOLVING

(3 MIN)

Examiner : Thank you. Now, let’s go to the next task. I’m going to give you a card which has information about a problem. I’d like you to read the information and then discuss together how you are going to solve the problem. Speaking and Listening Skills

397

You have 2 minutes to do this. Here is your problem. Stage 3 sample problem solving card Q Your maid servant has three daughters and two sons. The sons go to school and the daughters go to different houses to work as maids. Q Discuss this problem with your partner. How can you educate the people about the importance of girls’ education?   C  andidates explain: Girls’ education is a lifeline to development. It is one of the most effective ways for ending poverty in developing nations. The benefits of girls’ education include: Q reducing the number of babies women have Q lowering infant and child mortality rates Q higher earning Q higher lifestyle benefits that last many generations The examiner asks 1 or 2 follow-up questions as appropriate from the list of problem solving prompts.

Q

Stage 3 example follow-up questions. Q How can girls’ education end up poverty? Please stop here. That’s the end of the test. Thank you and goodbye. zzz

398 Xam idea English–IX

Speaking Test Time (8 min)

STAGE 1: INTRODUCTION

2 (1 MIN)

Procedure Examiner : Hello, please sit down. My name is _______________________________. What is your name? (to Candidate A) And what is your name? (to Candidate B) So, your names are (name and serial number of A, and (name and serial number of B). (To Candidate A) Tell me something about your hobbies. Candidate A responds: __________________________________________. (To Candidate B) What is the aim of your life? Candidate B responds: __________________________________________.

STAGE 2: TOPIC PRESENTATION

(4 MIN)

Examiner : Now (To Candidate A), you are going to speak about your topic—Crimes by Juveniles in India. When you have finished, Candidate B will ask you a question and then I will ask you some more questions. Would you like to begin please? Candidate A : I am going to express my views on ‘Crimes by Juveniles in India’ There has been recent spurt in the crimes by juveniles in India. While on one hand the widening rich-poor divide in urban areas and loss of innocence have been pushing minors from poor sections of society into the world of crime, the children from well-to-do families are also increasingly stepping in the world of crime. The main factors are peer pressure, lavish lifestyles, too much freedom from the parents and even simple curiosity are leading to these dangerous trends among the youngsters in India. In 2008, crimes by juveniles across India increased by about 9.2% over the previous year. The figure in 2007 was 8.4% more than in 2006. According to the police sources, the share of crimes committed by minors to the total crimes has increased not only in the cities but in the country as a whole. The crimes committed by minors were 1.7% of the total crimes in the country in 2005. It increased to 1.9% and 2% in 2006 and 2007, respectively. There are increasing cases of juveniles involved in conflict with the law. They are found largely involved in thefts, pick-pocketing and burglaries. They are now forming even their own gangs. According to NCRB figures for 2009, the largest number of cases involving juveniles were thefts followed by causing hurt and burglaries besides rioting. The primary reasons are attributed to inadequacy in juvenile care and protection schemes of government. The government homes are in bad shape where reforming of children takes a backseat and stigma stays with them. Sometimes, the very fact of being a juvenile ensures that they get only mild Speaking and Listening Skills

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punishment. This is the reason why organised criminal gangs are increasingly employing juveniles. The lack of tolerance and exposure to sex and violence is creating problems within the social setup. Most of the schools are also witnessing an increase in youngsters indulging in unruly and unacceptable behaviour. According to NCRB data, 34,527 juveniles were apprehended all over India during 2007 out of which 32,671 are boys and 1,856 were girls. Examiner : Thank you Candidate A. (To Candidate B) Can you ask a question please? Candidate B : Why do the juveniles get attracted towards crime? Candidate A responds: The widening rich-poor divide in urban areas, peer pressure, lavish lifestyles, too much freedom from the parents and even simple curiosity are attracting the juveniles towards crimes. Examiner : In which kind of crimes are the Juveniles largely involved? Candidate A responds: The juveniles are largely involved in thefts, pick-pocketing and burgalaries. Examiner : Suggest some measures to curb the juvenile crimes. Candidate A responds: Juvenile’s care and protection by government and parent’s and school’s vigilence on their children can curb the problem to a large extent. Examiner : Thank you. Now (to Candidate B), you are going to tell us about your topic. When you have finished, Candidate A will ask a question and then I will ask you some more questions. Would you like to begin please? Candidate B : I want to express my views on ‘Development and Environment are not contradicting paradigms’. During the past four decades, the environment and natural resources in the developed and developing nations have come under intense pressure. People’s health and longevity have suffered, natural resource-based livelihoods have been compromised, and ecosystem services and resources that underpin long-term economic development are at risk. Moreover, Asia’s economic growth has been accompanied by resource depletion and environmental degradation threatening the physical security, economic well-being, and health of many of the region’s people, especially its poorest and most vulnerable. In urban areas, the poor take the brunt of misuse of environmental resources such as water or air pollution or the disposal of human and industrial waste. This rapid urbanisation has outpaced the development of environmental infrastructure in many large cities. The poor and disadvantaged are especially vulnerable to natural hazards. It is generally assumed that the elimination of poverty and economic growth are distinct from environmental goals. Market and policy failures have led to environmental considerations being externalised from the development process. The way to resolve the dilemma between economic growth and environmental sustainability is to change the character of growth. Economic growth should no longer be based on activities that increase pollution and the consumption of finite resources, but on activities that further sustainable development. The latter would be of major importance for increasing food production and raising farm incomes, especially in poor countries. It also involves improvement in the world’s economic and social infrastructure. With economic infrastructure, the emphasis would be on improving transport and communications in both rich and poor countries. Work on the world’s social infrastructure would focus on urban renewal, building low income housing and, in poor countries, improving freshwater supply and

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sanitation. Economic growth, then, does not necessarily have to mean increased pollution and consumption of natural resources. People can use the marketable resources of natural areas in more sustainable ways. Besides protecting natural areas, attention should be paid to reforestation. Especially in poor countries, a wide range of toxic products causes illness and death and threatens longterm human health. The deterioration of agricultural land and the wastage of fresh thing should be countered, by creating a global infrastructure for water management and a worldwide program on soil protection, land improvement and land reclamation. Many industries in developed countries have established clean production methods on a voluntary basis. Examiner : Thank you (To Candidate B). (To Candidate A) Can you ask a question please? Candidate A : (To Candidate B) How can the development and environment go together? Candidate B responds: They can go together by substitution of non-renewable resources, recycling and raising agricultural production in an environmentally sustainable manner. Examiner : How can industrial development be made more environmentally sound? Candidate B responds: It can be made more sound by incorporating environmental considerations into all aspects of planning for new industry. Examiner : What are renewable resources? Candidate B responds: Renewable resources are the resources which can be used again and again like solar energy, wind, natural gas, geothermal energy, etc.

STAGE 3: PROBLEM SOLVING

(3 MIN)

Examiner : Thank you. Now, let’s go to the next task. I’m going to give you a card which has information about a problem. I’d like you to read the information and then discuss together how you are going to solve the problem.

Stage 3 sample problem solving card Q

“Many people ride without helmets. So, when they meet with accidents, they die on the spot.”

Q

Discuss the problem with your partner. Suggest some ways to encourage people to wear helmets.

Q

Candidates explain: Riding bikes without helmets means stepping towards death. Accidents are unpredictable. One can meet it at any place and at any time. Prevention is better than cure. In their busy lives, people often neglect to wear helmets. In the race of life, we forget that if there will be life, then there will be dreams to chase. We have many instances where helmet saved many people from severe injury and death.

Q

People should think of their family and about their safety, and must wear helmets before riding bikes.

The examiner asks 1 or 2 follow-up questions as appropriate from the list of problem solving prompts.

Stage 3 example follow-up questions Q

Why do some people neglect to wear helmets?

Q

How can you encourage people to wear helmets?

Q

Candidates respond.

Please stop here. That’s the end of the test. Thank you and goodbye. zzz

Speaking and Listening Skills

401

3

Speaking Test



Time (8 min)

STAGE 1: INTRODUCTION

(1 MIN)

Procedure Examiner : Hello, please sit down. My name is ____________________________________________________. What’s your name? (to Candidate A) And what’s your name? (to Candidate B) So your names are (name and serial number A) and (name and serial number B). (To Candidate A) Tell me something about your school. Candidate A responds: __________________________________________. Examiner : (To Candidate B) What do you do in your spare time? Candidate B responds: _________________________________________.

STAGE 2: TOPIC PRESENTATION

(4 MIN)

Examiner : Now (To Candidate A), you are going to tell us about your topic. When you have finished, Candidate B will ask you a question and then I will ask you some more questions. Would you like to begin please? Candidate A speaks: I am going to speak a few lines on my topic ‘Domestic Violence’. Violence within the home is universal across culture, religion, class and ethnicity. The abuse is generally condoned by social custom and considered part and parcel of marital life. Domestic violence can be described as when one adult in a relationship misuses power to control another. It is the establishment of control and fear in the relationship through violence and other forms of abuse. It is basically an abuse of power. The abuser tortures and controls the victim by calculated threats, intimidation and physical violence. Although men, women and children can all be abused, in most cases the victims are women. In every country where reliable, large scale studies have been conducted, results indicate that between 16-52% of women have been assaulted by their husbands/partners. These studies also indicate widespread violence against women as an important cause of morbidity and mortality. These physical attacks may also include rape and sexual violence. Psychological violence includes verbal abuse, harassment, confinement and deprivation of physical, financial and personal resources. For some women, emotional abuse may be more painful than the physical attacks because they effectively undermine women’s security and self-confidence. The question arises why women put up with the abuse in the home? The answer lies in their unequal status in society. They are often caught in a vicious circle of economic dependence, fear for their children’s lives as well as their own ignorance of their rights before the law, lack of confidence in themselves and social pressures.

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These factors effectively force women to a life of recurrent mistreatment from which they often do not have the means to escape. The sanctity of privacy within the family also makes authorities reluctant to intervene, often leads women to deny they are being abused. This is equally common in the higher as well as in the lower segments of a society. A woman who files a charge of abuse is often forced to drop it by her husband’s family, if she wants an uncontested divorce. Social prejudices reinforce domestic violence against women. They are treated as their spouses’ property; husbands assume that this subordinate role gives them right to abuse their wives in order to keep them in their place. Against this background is the tradition of dowry, an expectation of gifts and cash from the bride’s family, one can imagine the anxiety these expectations may cause to a woman and the consequences she has to face if it is inadequate. Women’s physical and mental health is often permanently damaged or impaired and in some cases, violence can have fatal consequences as in the case of dowry deaths in India. Physical torture as well as mental torture usually occurs on a regular basis causing suffering and inflicting deep scars on the psyche of the victims and their families. Many assault incidents result in injuries ranging from bruises and fractures to chronic disabilities. Domestic violence has devastating repercussions on the family. Mothers are unable to take care of their children properly. Often they transmit to them their own feelings of low self-esteem, helplessness and inadequacy. Violence against women is the most pervasive human rights violation in world today. We need to think and ponder as how this form of degradation of women can be stopped. It needs support from all quarters, be it government, NGOs and women themselves. There is also a need to improve women’s economic capacities that include access to and control of income and assets, and also share in the family’s property. The government should strengthen and expand training and sensitisation programs. Examiner : Thank you (To Candidate A). (To Candidate B) Can you ask a question to Candidate A please? Candidate B asks question: Why do women put up with the abuse in the home? Candidate A responds: The unequal status of women in our society is the chief reason of violence against women in home. Examiner : What do you mean by psychological violence? Candidate A responds: Psychological violence includes verbal abuse, harassment, confinement and deprivation of physical, financial and personal resources. Examiner : How can this form of degradation of women be stopped? Candidate A responds: Women should be supported from all quarters, be it government, NGOs and women themselves. There is also a need to improve women’s economic capacities. Examiner : Thank you. Now (Candidate B), you are going to tell us about your topic. When you have finished, (Candidate A) will ask you a question and then I will ask you some more questions. Would you like to begin please? Candidate B speaks: My topic is ‘Drug Abuse’. Drug abuse is a complex phenomenon, which has various social, cultural, biological, geographical, historical and economic aspects. The disintegration of the old joint family system, absence of parental love and care in modern families where both parents are working, decline of old religious and moral values, etc. lead to a rise in the number of drug addicts who take drugs to escape hard realities of life. Drug use, misuse or abuse is also primarily due to the nature of the drug abused, Speaking and Listening Skills

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the personality of the individual and the addict’s immediate environment. The processes of industrialisation, urbanisation and migration have led to loosening of the traditional methods of social control rendering an individual vulnerable to the stresses and strains of modern life. The fast changing social milieu, among other factors is mainly contributing to the proliferation of drug both of traditional and of new psychoactive substances. The introduction of synthetic drugs and intravenous drug use leading to HIV/ AIDS has added a new dimension to the problem, especially in the Northeast states of the country. Drug abuse has led to a detrimental impact on the society. It has led to increase in the crime rate. Addicts resort to crime to pay for their drugs. Drugs remove inhibition and impair judgement egging one on to commit offences. Incidence of eve-teasing, group clashes, assault and impulsive murders increase with drug abuse. It is estimated that, in India, by the time most boys reach the ninth grade, about 50 of them have tried at least one of the gateway drugs. However, there is a wide regional variation across cities in terms of the incidence of the substance abuse. At the national level, drug abuse is intrinsically linked with racketeering, conspiracy, corruption, illegal money transfers, terrorism and violence threatening the very capability of government. The spread and entrenchment of drug abuse needs to be prevented, as the cost to the environment and economy will be colossal. The unseemly spectacle of unkempt drug abusers dotting lanes and by lanes, cinema halls and other public places should be enough to goad the authorities to act fast to remove the scourge of this social evil. Moreover, the spread of such reprehensible habits among the relatively segment of society ought to be arrested at all cost. There is a need for the government enforcement agencies, the non-governmental philanthropic agencies, and others to collaborate and supplement each other’s efforts for a solution to the problem of drug addiction through education and legal actions. Examiner : Thank you Candidate B. (To Candidate A) Can you ask a question please? Candidate A asks question: What are the reasons that a person gets attracted towards drugs? Candidate B responds: The disintegration of the old joint family system, absence of parental love and care in modern families where both parents are working, decline of old religious moral values, etc. lead to a rise in the number of drug addicts who take drugs to escape hard realities of life. Examiner : What is the impact of ‘drug abuse’ on our society? Candidate B responds: Drug abuse has led to increase in crime rate. Addicts resort to crime to pay for their drugs. Examiner : Suggest some measures to curb the problem. Candidate B responds: Parents should take care of the emotions of their children. There is a need for the government enforcement agencies, the non-governmental philanthropic agencies, and others to collaborate and supplement each other’s efforts for a solution to the problem of drug addiction through education and legal actions.

STAGE 3: PROBLEM SOLVING

(3 MIN)

Examiner : Thank you. Now, let’s go to the next task. I’m going to give you a card which has information and then discuss together how you are going to solve the problem.

404 Xam idea English–IX

Stage 3 sample problem solving card Q “You often see that some people have the habit of dumping garbages here and there, that make our surroundings very dirty and unhygienic.” Q Discuss the problem with your partner and find solution to the problem. Candidate explains: It is important to keep our environment clean, so that no one will breathe from the polluted air. We should not forget that if the pollution causes any damage to the plants and trees, then that could also cause human extinction because we need plants and animals to survive. Cleaning the environment is important because it will protect our health. This beautiful and wonderful world is turning into a garbage heap. If we do not have a clean environment, pollution will spread and nature will die. We should remember cleanliness is close to godliness. The examiner asks 1 or 2 follow-up questions as appropriate from the list of problem solving prompts. Stage 3 example follow-up questions Q Explain the statement ‘cleanliness is close to godliness’. Q Why is it important to keep our environment clean? Q Candidates respond: Please stop here. That’s the end of the test. Thank you and goodbye. zzz

Speaking and Listening Skills

405

1

Listening Assessment

Listening Test

Time (8 min)

TASK–1 You will hear an advertisement of a Tour and Travel package. Read the notes on the given sheet, then listen to the advertisement and complete the notes with one or two words only. You will hear the recording twice. India Exploration Tours India is located in the Asian continent and is surrounded by seas on three sides and protected by the Himalayan Range in the north. A country which finds its strength in its diversity and cultural variance, it offers itself as a holiday destination with the ability to change the way you look at the world. Be it the Taj Mahal of Agra or the backwaters of Kerala, we aspire to make you believe in the wonder called India. Be it a weekend get-away with the family or with your spouse, we provide our customers with the best tours of India. Ardent believers in the idea of “value for money” and passionate travellers ourselves, we at Indian Exploration Tours understand that adventure is much a part of a holiday as is the idea of relaxing. Therefore, we provide all our customers with a chance to design their own itinerary. We believe in the ancient saying—Atithi Devo Bhava. 1. India Exploration Tours believe in the ancient saying _____________ . 2. It provides all its customers with a chance to design their own _____________. 3. They are ardent believers in the idea _____________ of _____________ . 4. It is a weekend get-away with _____________ or _____________.

TASK–2 You will hear a conversation between Balan and Hari and then read the statements given below and find which five of the statements are true. Balan : Are you coming from the library? Hari : Yes. 1 was there from 2 p.m. Balan : What book are you having? Hari : It is a book on quiz. Balan : Are you a member of the library? Hari : Yes. I am a member from January 2005. Hari : Do you want to become a member? Balan : Yes. What is the membership fee? Hari : You must deposit ™100 only. Balan : What is the monthly subscription? Hari : There is no monthly subscription. Balan : How many books can we borrow at a time? Hari : We may borrow three books at a time. Balan : Well. I will soon become a member of the library. A. Hari was in the library from 10 a.m. B. Hari has a book on quiz. 406 Xam idea English–IX

C. D. E. F. G. H.

Hari is not a member of the library. Hari is the member of the library. Balan wants to become a member of the library. Balan has to deposit ` 200. There is no monthly subscription. They can borrow three books at a time.

TASK–3 You will hear five short extracts of people talking about ‘IPL’. After hearing the statements, read the statements on the sheet, then match each statement A-G to each speaker 1-5. There are two statements you do not need. You will hear the recording twice. Speaker 1 : Once again a promising initiative is embroiled in controversy, money laundering, nepotism, corruption and subsidy for the rich and famous. This time, it is the Indian Premier League (IPL). History repeats where public trust is misused and a great opportunity to make a positive impact on society is lost. Irrespective of how one feels about the IPL, the fact is that it provides three hours of excitement and entertainment to millions of cricket enthusiast worldwide. There is a demand for such a form of cricket and the IPL capitalised on this passion. For a change, divisive issues like language, religion, or nationality have little influence on how cricket fans enjoy the game. Speaker 2 : Rather than viewing the IPL purely as a vulgar display of wealth and fashion, let’s look briefly at the good side of it that was in display in South Africa last year. During the tough economic conditions, South Africa benefitted remarkably from the IPL as an economic stimulus event. There was significant economic activity from thousands of tourists converging in that country. Hotels, restaurants, gift stores, and other small business benefitted from increased spending from visitors and the IPL. It softened the economic upheaval in South Africa that plagued the world. Speaker 3 : The best of the IPL in South Africa was not the wins, the spectacular sixers or the Bollywood stars, but the frequent recognition of hundreds of children, teachers, and schools in every game. Much-needed scholarships and gifts were given out in each game to children and schools. Eight-year-old S’bonda Zuma, who lost his mother and had huge concerns over whether he could complete his schooling, was helped by the IPL. Four schools from each host city were selected for a scholarship fund to improve educational opportunities. With local papers in South Africa cited the benefits of the IPL to numerous communities by raising awareness and community interactions. Speaker 4 : It is not worthwhile blasting the IPL for having rich owners and Bollywood stars. The fact is that they have the resources to take risks and make certain things happen. The objections that the rich are becoming richer are shortsighted. But what we need is to stop subsidising these rich owners in the name of economic development that lowers the supposed risk, but makes the rewards disproportionately higher. Speaker 5 : An important lesson once again: if the government becomes embroiled in private economic activity, there are numerous unintended consequences. Let the private take the risk, pay the market price for facilities and security, and reap the rewards. And let’s not forget that the greatest cricketing event in India can be a giant platform to energise the masses for the greater good. A. IPL should not have only rich owners. B. South Africa was benifitted by IPL during tough economic conditions. C. IPL is not liked by common people. Speaking and Listening Skills

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D. E. F. G.

There is demand for IPL. Government should interfere in the private economic activity. Eight-year-old S’bonda Zuma was helped by the IPL. Government should not interfere in the private economic activities.

TASK–4 You will hear a speech on opportunities of life. After hearing, answer the questions given on the sheet by choosing the correct option. You will hear the recording twice. Opportunities are great but let me warn you that when power outstrips ability, we will fall on evil days. We should develop competence and ability which would help us to utilise the opportunities which are now open to us. From tomorrow morning from midnight today, we cannot throw the blame on the Britisher. We have to assume the responsibility ourselves for what we do. A free India will be judged by the way in which it will serve the interests of the common man in the matter of food, clothing, shelter and the social services. Unless we destroy corruption in high places and root out every trace of nepotism, have of power, profiteering and black marketing which have spoiled the good name of this country in recent times, we will not be able to raise the standards of efficiency in administration as well as in the production and distribution of the necessary goods of life. Complete the following statements by choosing the most appropriate option from those given below. 1. We fall on evil days when power becomes more important than: (a) wisdom (b) wealth (c) knowledge (d) ability 2. The two things that help us to utilise the opportunities are our: (a) competence and power (b) power and ability (c) competence and ability (d) power and wealth 3. The common man should be provided with: (a) food (b) clothing (c) shelter (d) food, clothing, shelter and social activities 4. The good name of our country has been spoiled because of: (a) corruption (b) nepotism (c) love of power, profiteering and black marketing (d) all of the above 5. The word ‘assume’ means: (a) think (b) guess (c) take on (d) understand 6. We should not blame the: (a) Indians (b) Americans (c) Britishers (d) French

Answers of Listening Test–1 TASK–1 1. Atithi Devo Bhava spouse

2. itinerary

3. value for money

4. family or

TASK–2 (B); (D); (E); (G); (F) TASK–3 (A) Speaker 4 ; (B) Speaker 2; (D) Speaker 1; (F) Speaker 3; (G) Speaker 5 TASK–4 1. (d)

2. (c)

408 Xam idea English–IX

3. (d)

4. (d)

5. (c)

6. (c) zzz

Listening Test Time (8 min)

2

TASK–1 You will hear an advertisement for a website. Read the notes below, then listen to the advertisement and complete the notes with one or two words only. You will hear the recording twice.

LOG ON FOR ENLIGHTENMENT Forget wikipedia. Online Jain encyclopedia will give you a crash course in the religion. The website, Jainpedia.org, which launched about two years ago, has already got two million page views. Besides the digitized manuscripts which are uploaded alongside translations and scholarly articles providing context, the website also has e-books, a historical timeline, pop-up definitions of unfamiliar words and games for kids. For instance, a Jain rendition of the popular game “Snakes and Ladders” explains how souls move through the three worlds of the Jain Universe. Souls climb up or slide down from one world to another according to their behaviour. It is a site that is like an encyclopedia 300 years old. 1. The online Jain encyclopedia will give a crash course in the _____________. 2. The website also offers _____________ for kids. 3. A customised rendition of the popular game. Snakes and Ladders explains how souls move through the _____________ of the Jain Universe. 4. The site is like an encyclopedia _____________ old.

TASK–2 You will hear a conversation between a student and a teacher about a tour program. After hearing the conversation, read the statements given on the sheet and choose which five of the statements are true. You will hear the recording twice. The Sub-Inspector : What is the matter, boys? The School Student : My cycle is stolen. The Sub-Inspector : Where did you place your cycle? The School Student : I placed my cycle under a tree near the entrance. The Sub-Inspector : Did you lock the cycle? The School Student : No sir. I forgot to lock it. The Sub-Inspector : Then, it is your fault. Anyway, give particulars of the cycle. The School Student : It is a Hero Cycle painted green. Tho Sub-Inspector : Do you know the number? The School Student : Yes sir. The number is HI 433221. The Sub-Inspector : Then present a petition. The School Student : Yes sir. I shall. Speaking and Listening Skills

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A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H.

The school student’s cycle is stolen. The school student placed his cycle under the shade. The school student locked his cycle. It is a Hero Cycle painted green. The number of the cycle is 433222. The sub-inspector asked for a petition. It was the fault of the school student to loose his cycle. The sub-inspector asked the particulars of the cycle.

TASK–3 You will hear five short extracts of people talking about social networking site. After hearing, read the statements on the given sheet then match each statement A–G to each speaker 1-5. There are two statements you do not need. You will hear the recording twice. Speaker 1 : With the evolution of the internet, the life of a normal man in the towns changed from just a mere worker from a social person, an artificial social person, sometimes a natural social person. Internet changed many things, I am sure I need not speak much about it. But a special innovation which it brought about was the social networking. With the evolution of the internet, the life of a normal man in the towns changed from just a mere worker to a social person, an artificial social person, sometimes a natural social person. Internet changed many things, I am sure I need not speak much about it. But a special innovation which it brought about was the social networking. Speaker 2 : Basically, social networking means a way in which one can keep himself connected to his near and dear ones in some way or the other. In the language of internet, it is the same thing, but it is a similar thing conducted in a different way. Here, it is entirely a different thing. The natural social networking involves media like letter, mails, telegrams, phone calls, but today it includes media like SMSs, e-mails, scraps and what not, there are so many terms. Speaker 3 : Social networking, today, has made the life of the Richie riches easier. Those who have nice smart phones in their hands, can easily surf themselves right away. However, the medium classes can also enjoy this. People can today keep themselves connected to their near and dear ones all the times. Speaker 4 : But it has some demerits. It is notable that due to this feature of the internet, we are making friends with so many people whom we never see in our lives but we spend hours chatting with them without knowing who they actually are. Children are becoming lazy talking to these people, maintaining their so called social status and just filling their life with dramatised follow ups. Speaker 5 : There are many leeward aspects, but what I want to question is that is this social networking grasping feature of the internet so social at all. Does it have more merits or more demerits? Anyway, my suggestion to the teenagers especially would be have a consideration on the so called social networked nature of theirs. A. Social networking, today, has made the life of the Richie riches easier. B. Social networking has made the life complex. C. It gives birth to many crimes. D. Teenagers should have a consideration on the so called social networked nature of theirs. E. With the evolution of the internet, man has become an artificial social person. F. Children become lazy with social networking. G. The social networking site is a boon to society. H. The social networking means a way in which one can keep himself connected to his near and dear ones in some way or the other.

410 Xam idea English–IX

TASK–4 You will hear a speech on positive attitude. After hearing the speech, answer the given questions by choosing the correct option. You will hear the recording twice. Often when we have to interact with a group of people, the most attractive and appealing person is the one who is cheerful, has a smiling face and behaves as if he or she is enjoying every moment. Such people have an optimistic outlook towards life. They are the ones with a positive attitude. In contrast to this could be the people who are focusing on the negative aspects of everything. Such pessimists, the ones with a negative attitude, do not attract others in the same way. Having a positive attitude means getting on with the job in hand. It does not mean brooding over what’s gone before, nor fearing too much about what might happen in the future. If there is a problem, positive thinkers quickly think of ways to solve it. Passing the buck, blaming other people or circumstances are excuses and alibis which positive people avoid. If such a positive thinker alone cannot solve a problem, he or she seeks help from competent people. To have a positive attitude means not to feel that it is below one’s dignity to seek assistance. Of course, even the greatest optimist cannot smile all the time and feel good. The ups and downs of life cause everyone to feel a touch of melancholy now and then, when everything seems hopeless. But developing a positive attitude helps us bounce back from every challenge and difficult experience, ready to face whatever life brings. To get the best out of life, we owe it to ourselves to approach everything–work, friendships and relationships, with a positive attitude. Complete the following statements by choosing the most appropriate option from those given below. 1. One who is _______________________ is the most attractive and appealing person. (a) cheerful (b) gloomy (c) caring (d) none of these 2. Cheerful people’s attitude towards life is: (a) positive (b) negative (c) neutral (d) criticising 3. Seeking assistance is not below one’s: (a) power (b) dignity (c) self-respect (d) capacity 4. What causes everyone feel a touch of melancholy? (a) sudden calamity (b) unfaithful friends (c) ups and downs of life (d) hopelessness 5. To get the best out of life, we should have: (a) money (b) friends (c) relations (d) positive attitude 6. Having a positive attitude means getting on with the _______________________ in hand. (a) job (b) friends (c) relatives (d) money

Answers of Listening Test–2 TASK–1 1. religion 3. three worlds

2. games 4. 300 years

TASK–2 (A); (D); (F); (G); (H) TASK–3 (A) Speaker 3 ; (D) Speaker 5; (E) Speaker 1; (F) Speaker 4; (H) Speaker 2 TASK–4 1. (a)

2. (a)

3. (b)

4. (c)

5. (d)

6. (a) zzz Speaking and Listening Skills

411

3

Listening Test

Time (8 min)

TASK–1 You will hear an advertisement for an advanced pain solution. Read the notes given on the sheet then, listen to the advertisement and complete the notes with one or two words only. You will hear the recording twice.

Stop Suffering Start Living Shoulder pain if left untreated, can lead to serious complications!! Life is an unending expedition. We are forever challenged with countless responsibilities, troubles and difficulties. We have to face them and fight back to proceed in life. Unfortunately, the situation gets out of control, if our body is unable to cope up with the challenges; and then life comes to a halt! Shoulder pain (frozen shoulder) is such a problem. The shoulder gets so stiff that even putting on clothes becomes very difficult. Moreover, unbearable pain badly disrupts our daily life and even upsets sleep as well. Not using your arm virtually means not doing anything at all. If left untreated, the problem can get complicated and may lead to surgery. It can also adversely impact your career in the long run. If you don’t want to face grave future consequences, it is better not to ignore a painful shoulder. Frozen shoulder can stall your active life without notice! However, Zilaxo Advanced Pain Solution has achieved remarkable success in effectively treating frozen shoulder. 1. Zilaxo Advanced Pain Solution has achieved remarkable success in effectively treating _____________. 2. Untreated shoulder pain can lead to _____________. 3. Frozen shoulder can stall one’s active life _____________. 4. It can also adversely impact one’s _____________.

TASK–2 You will hear a conversation between Naresh and Kamini about a wedding. After hearing the conversation, read the statements given on the sheet and choose which five of the statements are true. You will hear the recording twice. Naresh : Kamini, we are going to attend my friend Ram’s marriage. Kamini : Of course... Sita is my school mate. Naresh : Ram is an engineer in a private firm. Kamini : Does Sita work in any office? Naresh : No. She is a housewife. Kamini : What is the time of the marriage ceremony? Naresh : It is between 10.30 a.m. to 12 noon. Naresh : You can see the video-grapher in the entrance. Kamini : Have they arranged tiffin and meals?

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Naresh : No. They have arranged only meals. Kamini : Let us enter the marriage hall. Naresh : That is Good. A. The time for marriage ceremony is 10.30 a.m. to 12 noon. B. Ram is a doctor. C. Sita works in a office. D. The video-grapher can be seen in the entrance. E. Sita is Kamini’s school mate. F. Kamini and Naresh are going to attend Ram and Sita’s marriage. G. They have also arranged for tiffin and meals. H. Ram is an engineer in a private firm.

TASK–3 You will hear five short extracts of people talking about ‘poverty and malnutrition’. After hearing, read the statements the given sheet, then match each statements A-G to each speaker 1-5. There are two statements you do not need. You will hear the recording twice. Speaker 1 : We have large number of programmes and schemes for addressing different dimensions of poverty. However, not a single one of these programmes and schemes, commits the state to providing a minimum level of subsistence either at the level of the individual citizen or that of the household. Speaker 2 : The malnutrition and the communicable and non-communicable disease burden in India is high. Juxtaposed against this high disease burden is low public sector provisioning for health and unfulfilled commitments regarding providing access to care. Speaker 3 : Public expenditure on health care in India is among the lowest in the world both as a proportion of total expenditure on health care and as a percentage of GDP. Speaker 4 : Persistent shortage of service providers such as doctors, nurses, health workers, auxiliary nurses and midwife and severe shortage of specialist doctors at Community Health Centres need attention. Speaker 5 : Convergence within and across programmes and schemes implemented by Ministries and Departments and water and sanctities to track and achieve progress, joint planning and monitoring of key results and indicators with possible team targets in the Result Framework Document for better accountability could be one possible mechanism to facilitate convergence and achieve improved outcomes. A. Persistent shortage of doctors and health specialists need attention. B. By proper planning and monitoring, the improved results can be achieved. C. Regular training and upgradation is important. D. Pension money is inadequate for survival. E. The malnutrition and the communicable and non-communicable disease burden in India is high. F. Public expenditure in India on health care is among the lowest in the world. G. Government has used two programmes like ECDS and NRHNY to eradicate poverty. H. The programmes and schemes of Government to eradicate poverty have failed.

Speaking and Listening Skills

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TASK–4 You will hear a speech about healthy lifestyle. After hearing the speech, answer the questions given on the sheet by choosing the correct option. You will hear the recording twice. It is not easy to follow a healthy lifestyle in the presence of so many forces encouraging inactivity and bad eating habits. The stress and time pressure that we experience are the major reasons for illhealth today. It is well-established that an emotional state can be transferred from person to person found in the phenomenon of higher tipping for a happy waitress. New work in the area of network theory has yielded intriguing results with implications for health and well-being. Two recent studies show that people who are surrounded by many happy people are more likely to become happy in future. Statistics models suggested that clusters of happiness result from the spread of happiness. Similarly, obesity may spread in social network in a pattern that depends on the nature of social ties. For obesity, social distance appears to be more important than geographical distance within these networks. Could a doctor play a helpful role in such a personal network? It is a reasonable supposition, given the time honoured notion that the doctor who knows you well and cares about you will be a better doctor. When such a person conveys by look and deed a commitment to healthy living, the force of examples may be a powerful non-verbal influence. Complete the following statements by choosing the most appropriate option from those given below. 1. We are unhealthy due to: (a) a sedentary lifestyle (b) consuming ready-to-eat foods (c) meeting deadlines (d) all of the above 2. A happy waitress gets a higher tip as: (a) she charms her customers (b) her happiness is infectious (c) she serves good food (d) she tricks her customers in paying more 3. A recent study showed that we need to: (a) be surrounded by happy people (b) remain happy (c) remain in clusters (d) take care of our future 4. Our body weight is linked with the kind of: (a) food that we eat (b) people we interact (c) social bonding that we have (d) places we live in 5. The synonym of ‘yielded’ is: (a) thought (b) brought (c) showed (d) recommended 6. Obesity spread in social network in a pattern that depends on the: (a) nature of people (b) nature of society (c) nature of social ties (d) none of these

Answers of Listening Test–3 TASK–1 1. Frozen shoulder 3. without notice

2. serious complications/surgery 4. career

TASK–2 (A); (D); (E); (F); (H) TASK–3 (A) Speaker 4 ; (B) Speaker 5; (D) Speaker 2; (F) Speaker 3; (H) Speaker 1 TASK–4 1. (d)

2. (b)

3. (a)

4. (c)

5. (b)

6. (c) zzz

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