Section A : READING

20 Marks

UNIT ASSIGNMENT 1
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1. Read the following passage carefully:

Teachers Sign
(5 marks)

Peacock has a beautiful train of feathers which he displays during the breeding season. It usually
attracts several females by such display, but as soon as any of them approaches, it turns its back.
The reason for this peculiar behaviour is not clear. But it is certain that this is done to woo the
female. In Greek mythology the pattern of the peacocks tail feathers represents the eyes of Argus
a giant with 100 eyes.
Peacock is the national bird of India. It belongs to the family phasianidae. Strictly speaking, the
male is a peacock and the female is a peahen. Both are together known as peafowl. There are
two species of peafowl. One is found in India and Sri Lanka and is blue in colour. The other species
is found in South-East Asia which is green in colour. In fact, peacock is a native of Asia and the
East Indies, from where it has been brought to other parts of the world.
The male of both species has a 75 cm long body and 150 cm long tail. The female is smaller than
the male. The tail is made up of beautiful feathers. In display, the peacock lifts its tail, brings it
forward, enveloping his body as he struts and quivers, audibly rattling the quills and uttering loud
screams. Generally, a peacock has a train of upto 150 tail feathers, which are erected by it in
display to form a showy fan.
The blue peacocks body is metallic blue green. The green peacock has a green and bronze body. The
hens of both species are green and brown. They do not have the train of feathers or crown on them.
Source: Childrens Knowledge Bank
Now answer the following questions in brief:
1. What peculiar behaviour of the peacock has been described in the first para?
2. The peacocks tail feathers resemble the eyes of Argus. Who is Argus?
3. Describe the two species of peafowl.
4. What is the peacocks tail made of? How does the peacock display it?
5. What do you know about the hens of the blue and green peacocks?
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READING

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2. Read the following passage carefully:
(5 marks)
Modern etiquette is an art. It has to be cultivated by persistent practice. The first requirement of
good etiquette is a smooth personality, which includes a good dress in tune with the times. After
these basic requirements have been made the person desiring to learn the art of etiquette must
develop a good power of speech. He must have a smooth accent in the language in which he
converses and tries to build up his mind. To possess necessary ideas regarding the political,
economic and other issues of the day a general information about the society enables a person to
have the basic material to draw upon while moving in the company of educated people. Modern
etiquette includes having a clear idea of day-to-day happenings in the society or in the community
in which one lives. These ideas enable person to be interesting and entertaining at various
functions, dinners, evening parties or in the clubs. To be sociable is a great asset in society. A
sociable man becomes popular, can cut good jokes, when there is an atmosphere for them, can
raise interesting issues for discussion and win friends and admirers.
Now complete the following sentences:
1. Persistent practice is necessary to .............................. .
2. The two requirements of good etiquette are .............................. .
3. By keeping a clear idea of day-to-day happenings around us we can make ourselves
.............................. .
4. One who is sociable is .............................. .
5. The two features of a sociable man as described in the given passage are .............................. .
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3. Read the following passage carefully:
(5 marks)
Grandfather bought Toto from a tonga-driver for the sum of five rupees. The tonga-driver used to
keep the little red monkey tied to a feeding-trough, and the monkey looked so out of place there
that Grandfather decided he would add her to his private zoo.
Toto was a pretty monkey. Her bright eyes sparkled with mischief beneath deep-set eyebrows,
and her teeth, which were a pearly white, were very often displayed in a smile that frightened
the life out of elderly Anglo-Indian ladies. But her hands looked dried-up as though they had been
pickled in the sun for many years. Yet her fingers were quick and wicked; and her tail, while

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ASSIGNMENTS IN ENGLISH PLUS VII

adding to her good looks, grandfather believed a tail would add to anyones good looks, also served
as a third hand. She could use it to hang from a branch; and it was capable of scooping up any
delicacy that might be out of reach of her hands.
Grandmother always fussed when Grandfather brought home some new bird or animal. So it was
decided that Totos presence should be kept a secret from her until she was in a particularly good
mood. Grandfather and I put her away in a little closet opening into my bedroom wall, where she
was tied securely or so we thought to a peg fastened in the wall.
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 as 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. I wondered what Grandmother would say.
But Grandfather didnt worry; he seemed pleased with Totos performance.
Source: Adventures of Toto by Ruskin Bond
Now answer the following questions by choosing the correct options given below:
1. Grandfather bought Toto from a tonga-driver and brought her home to
(a) add her to his private zoo
(c) pass his time with her
2. Totos teeth have been described as

(b) present her to his grandson

(d) please his wife

(a) silvery white

(c) pearly white
3. She could hang from a branch by using her

(b) moonlit night

(d) milky white

(a) tail
(b) fingers
(c) legs
(d) hands
4. Totos presence was kept a secret from Grandmother because
(a) she didnt like monkeys
(b) she was bed-ridden
(c) she had allergy from monkeys
(d) she always protested any addition to Grandfathers zoo
5. The word wrenched means
(a) pulled
(b) attached
(c) threw

(d) tired

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4. Read the following passage carefully:
(5 marks)
Many scientists believe that music soothes the plant. It also helps it to grow. This is now a scientific
fact.
Les Harsten, a sound engineer from New York, carried out some exciting experiments. Here is
one of them.

READING

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Harstens theory was that plants definitely react to music. In his experiment, he used two banana
plants. He gave both plants the same light, heat and water. But for about an hour a day one of the
plants listened to some music. This music was in fact a highpitched humming sound. He found
that this plant grew faster. It also grew 70 per cent faster than the other plant. Harsten explained
this in a very scientific way. He said the hum (or similar music) stimulated the plants breathing
cells and made them stay open for longer periods. Because of this the plant took in more nutrients
from the air than it normally would, and thus it grew faster. He also said that if the sound was
played continuously, the breathing cells would not be able to close. Therefore, the plant would grow
so fast that it would kill itself.
Lynn and Joe Rapp, the authors of a book called Indoor Plants, say that plants respond to all sound,
whether it is music or voices. These sound waves make vibrations which stimulate growth. They
say plants have definite likes and dislikes in music. They certainly like classical music and they
dislike bad, harsh rock music.
Now answer the following questions by choosing the correct options given below:
1. It is now a scientific fact that
(a) music helps plants to grow
(b) music has nothing to do with the growth of plants
(c) plants grow faster in sunshine
2. One of the banana plants grew faster because
(a) it was given good manure

(d) plants do not react to music

(c) it was kept in the open

3. Les Harsten is a/ an
(a) author of the book called Indoor Plants

(d) it was watered all the time

(b) it listened to music

(b) sound engineer

(c) environmentalist
(d) research scholar
4. It was proved that the music made the banana plant
(a) take in more nutrients from the air than it normally would
(b) take in more water from the earth than it normally would
(c) help other plants in their fast growth
(d) bear more fruit than it normally would
5. The word classical means
(a) oral
(c) traditional

(b) modern
(d) conservative

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Total/20 Marks

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ASSIGNMENTS IN ENGLISH PLUS VII