Biyani's Think Tank

Concept based notes

English Core
(Class- XII)


Mr. Ashish E. John
Lecturer
Deptt. of Arts
Biyani Girls College, Jaipur





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Published by :
Think Tanks
Biyani Group of Colleges


Concept & Copyright :
Biyani Shikshan Samiti
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First Edition : 2010







Leaser Type Setted by :
Biyani College Printing Department
While every effort is taken to avoid errors or omissions in this Publication, any
mistake or omission that may have crept in is not intentional. It may be taken note of
that neither the publisher nor the author will be responsible for any damage or loss of
any kind arising to anyone in any manner on account of such errors and omissions.
English 3


Preface


English has always been a complicated subject. The students find it difficult to solve
English papers because of the lack of preparation and effective writing skills. If proper
care is taken in comprehending the syllabus along with the formats of written work, I
believe cracking English paper can be a cake walk. This material is prepared keeping in
mind the needs of the students for the annual exams. Rather than going into the details of
each topic care is taken to effectively deliver the content in nut shell.
We in Biyanis are trying to bring out a very comprehensive guide on English Core
which is very popular and mandatory in almost all schools .For the better understanding
of the subject it is very important to understand the Syllabus because it gives us the
blueprint of the ideas and the views going on in the examiners mind.



Author






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Syllabus
English core consist of three sections

Section A 20 marks
Passage For Comprehension -12 marks: The question is basically to test the capacity
of a person to comprehend or understand a
passage

Note making 8 marks: This question is basically to test the ability of a student to
summarize a bigger passage.

Section B 35 marks
Advanced Writing skills
1. One short composition of 50 words that includes advertisements, notices,
designing, or drafting posters, wrong formal and informal invitations and replies.

2. A report or factual description based on verbal input provided (100-125 words)

3. Writing a letter based on verbal input. letter types include
a. Business of official letters (for making enquires, registering complaints, asking
for/ giving information, placing orders and sending replies)
English 5


b. Letters to the editor
c. Application for a job 10 marks

4. Compositions based on visual and or verbal input (about 150-200 words). Output
may be descriptive or argumentative in nature such as an article, a speech, etc.
Section C
Flamingo Course book 30 marks
1. One out of two extracts based on poetry from the text to test comprehension and
appreciation. 4 marks
2. Three out of four short questions from the poetry section to test local and global
comprehension of the text. 2*3=6 marks
3. Five short answer type questions based on the lessons from the prescribed text
book. Expected word limit about 30-40 words each. 2*5=10 marks
4. One out of two long answer type question based on the text to test comprehension
and extrapolation beyond the text. Expected word limit about 125-150 words.
10 marks

Vistas- Supplementary Reader 15 Marks
1. One out of two long answer type questions bade on the test to test comprehension
and extrapolation of theme, character and incidents. Expected word limit, about
125-150 words. 7 marks
2. Four short answer type question from the text. 2*4=8 marks

Tips to crack passage for comprehension
1. Skim through the passage i.e. ascertain the main or the central idea.
2. Underline the word that you are not able to understand.
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3. Intensively read the questions and try to find the answers.
4. If needed again read the part which answer the questions.
5. Write proper answers using the right words, if the question is of one marks
answer the question in one sentence and if the question is of two marks write two
points.
Tips for making notes
1. Go through the passage from beginning to end.
2. Two questions we need to ask ..What does the passage deal with? How is the
writer developing the theme?
3. Identify the main points and the supporting points chief headings and
subheadings.
4. Condense and organize the information in a systematic way
5. Abbreviate the words which are repeated
6. Notes are never written in complete sentences.
English 7


Flamingo

Lesson -1
The last lesson Alphonse Daudet

The last lesson is all about love towards ones country and language. The story
revolves around those days when the Prussian forces under Bismarck attacked
and captured French. The Prussians captured the French districts of Alsace and
Lorraine. The Prussians enforced theirs language on the people and French
which was the mother tongue was banned. A French teacher is the protagonist
around whom the story revolves. It was the last day of a French teacher named
M. Hamel who was asked to leave the school. As it was the last opportunity of
Mr. Hamel he wants to give his best lecture .He teaches the class with utmost
devotion and sincerity .Before leaving the class he writes Viva La France which
means Long live France.
The writer has tried to see the transition that takes place from one language to
the other through the eyes of a young boy, named Franz. He vividly describes
the emotions and the feeling of the people who were the participants of the class.

Ques.1 What announcement was made by M. Hamel in his class on the
day of his last French lesson?
Ans. M. Hamel mounted on the chair in the class and spoke in a serious tone;
he announced that he would not longer teach French to them. He
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informed that an order had been issued that only German would be
taught in schools.

Ques.2 What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that
day?
Ans. The last day of school was not like the other days when Franz reached the
schools, he noticed that there was neither noise nor commotion in the
school. It was all quiet and still. It was unusual about the school
because usually there used to be a great hustle and bustle in the school.
Ques.3 What was unusual about M. Hamels dress and behavior on the day of
the last French lesson?
Ans. On the last day there was a great change in the way M Hamel dressed he
put on his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and the black slid cap. It
was an unusual dress because he never wore such clothes except on
the day of inspection and prize day. M. Hamel was a strict teacher who
punished the students for not learning their lessons. But on that day
he was very polite and considerate toward his students.
Ques. 4 What was tempting Franz to keep away from School that morning?
Ans. Franz was not a very serious student,the warm and bright day, the
chirping of the birds and the drill by the Prussian soldiers were
tempting Franz to keep away from school that morning.

Ques 6. What changes came over little Franz after he heard M. Hamel
announcement?
Ans. M. Hamels announcement was a heartbreaking news for little Franz. He
was shocked to learn that German instead of French would be taught in
the schools from tomorrow.
English 9


He condemned the Germans and called them wretches. He was sad
because he did not know how to write French he was sorry about not
paying attention to his lessons. The book no longer seemed nuisance
to him.
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Lesson-2
Lost Spring Anees Jung

This story revolves around the lives of two young children. Saheb is the
unfortunate descendent of Bangladeshi refugees living in the slums of
Seemapuri. Saheb, along with his friends forage in the garbage to earn a
livelihood. By the end of the story Saheb works in a tea stall but he is no longer
his own master, as he can no more do the things that he likes.
The second part of the story revolves around Mukesh, who comes from the
family of bangle maker from Firozabad. They are always exploited by Sahukars,
middleman, policemen and politicians. He wants to leave his business and
dreams of becoming a motor mechanic, so that when he grows up he can be his
own workshop.

Ques.1 Why does the author say that the bangle makers are caught in a vicious
trap?
Ans. The bangle makers live in poverty and destitution. They lead a miserable
and pathetic life. They are burdened by the stigma of caste in which
they are born. It is because of these stigmas that the author says that
they are caught in a vicious web.
Ques.2 Is saheb happy about working at the tea stall? Explain?
Ans. Saheb, after joining a tea stall where he is paid 800 rupees and is given all
his meals. He has not answered the writers question whether he is happy
about it, she notices that the burden of responsibility had take away the
carefree look from his face. He can no longer work as he pleases.
English 11


Ques.3 Why did Saheb become rag picker? What did he look for in the garbage
dumps?
Ans. Saheb along with his family migrated from Dhaka in Bangladesh to Delhi
in search of livelihood in 1971. Their fields and homes were
swept away by storms, so it was the abject poverty which forced Saheb
and his family to migrate to India.
Saheb was poor, illiterate and unskilled. He knew no skill by which he
could earn money. He was unemployed and had nothing else to do, so
he became a rag picker. He looked for gold in the garbage dumps.
Gold here may mean used shoes clothes, bits of metal, plastic scraps,
some coins and currency notes. He also scrounged for currency notes in
the garbage dumps. He said that sometimes he found a rupee or even a
ten rupee note. So he continued scourging for valuables in the garbage
dumps.
Ques.4 What change did Anees Jung see in saheb when he saw him standing by
the gate of the neighborhood club?
Ans. One winter morning, Saheb stood by the fenced gate of the
neighborhood club to watch the game of tennis. He watched two
young men, dressed in white playing tennis. He liked the game but the
game was out of his reach because he was poor. But he was content
to watch it standing behind the fence. The writer observed a change in
Saheb. Earlier he used to go to pick rags every day.
But on that morning he showed interest in the game of tennis. Earlier he
roamed on the streets with his friends to earn a living but that day he
behaved like a child who was interested in games. He was so fond
of tennis game that he wore discarded tennis shoes that some rich
boy gave to him because there was a hole in one of them. But this did
not bother Saheb. This was the change that the writer observed when he
stood by the gate of the club.
Ques.5 The bangle makers of Ferozabad make beautiful bangle and make
everyone happy but they live and die in squalor. Elaborate
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Ans. The bangle makers of Ferozabad made beautiful bangles which are worn
by the Indian Brides . The bangles symbolize an Indian womans Suhaag.
Every woman feels happy when they are wearing the beautiful and
colorful bangles. But the bangle makers live and die in poverty. They
live in half built shacks situated in stinking lanes choked with
garbage. Their houses are just crumbling walls ,wobbly doors and no
windows. They cook their food on wood stoves. The eyes of the ladies
who cook the food are filled with smoke. They are so poor that they
are not able to send their children to school. They work in the glass
furnace with high temperature. They live in dingy cells without air or
light. Their eyes are adjusted to the darkness. They often lose their eye
sight; they do not get two full meals a day to eat. They are exploited
by middleman who trapped their fathers and forefathers. Thus they
are caught in the web of poverty. So they live in poverty and die in
poverty.
Ques.6 What could be some of the reasons for the migrations of people from
village to cities?
Ans. Many people migrated from village around Dhaka in Bangladesh to
Seemapuri , a place on the periphery of Delhi . One of the reasons
given by Saheb who led his home situated amidst green fields of
Dhaka was that there were many storms that swept their fields and
homes .That was why they left and came here to look for gold which
was the dump in the big city. He was unemployed and had nothing else to
do, so he became a rag picker.
The rag pickers came from Bangladesh back in 1971, they left their village
in search of food. They had lived here for more than thirty years without
any identity without permits but with ration cards that got their names
on voters lists and enabled them to buy grain. Food was more important
than cards. A group of woman in tattered saris said that if at the end
of the day they could feed their families and go to bed without an
aching stomach they would rather live there than in the field that gave
them no grain. So, it was in search of employment and food that
they left their homes and came to the big city.
English 13


Lesson -3
Deep water- William Douglas

The story is an autobiographical narrative of Mr. Douglas, he gives a vivid
narration of his fear of water and how he overcomes it. The very dislike towards
water started when he was three or four years old, his father took him to the
beach in California. He was knocked by the huge wave, for his father it was a
time of fun but it sowed a seed of deep fear in the hearts of Douglas. As he grew
older he decided to learn swimming and went to YMCA pool .But one
unfortunate incident again brought the haunting memories of his childhood fear.
He was thrown into the water by a bully, he almost drowned in the water.
This horror filled experience shook Mr. Douglas so badly that he could not enjoy
fishing and any of the water games. Then he decided to overcome his fear of
water. He hired the services of a professions coach to master the fear of water.
The coach himself was a great swimmer and with sheer determination, hard
work and will power Doughlas defeated the fear of water that engulfed him
from his childhood. He was able to overcome his fear completely and could
swim for miles. This story teaches us a tale of courage patience and
determination and teaches a lesson that any fear can be overcome by sheer
determination.

Ques.1 When Douglas realized that he was sinking how did he plan to save
himself?
Ans. When Douglas realized that he was sinking he made a plan that when his
feet would hit the bottom, he will make a big jump , come to the
surface, lie flat on it and move to the edge of the pool.
Ques.2 Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
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Ans. Douglas was determined to get over his fear of water because he was not
able to enjoy anything related to water, he was not able to enjoy his
fishing, and deprived them of the joy of canoeing , boating and
swimming.
Ques.3 How does Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
Ans. To make sure he had conquered fear, Douglas went to Lake Wentworth in
New Hampshire, dived in and swam two miles across the lake to Stamp
Act Island. Only once when he was in the middle of the lake, did the
terror return. But he confronted it and swam on. He then swam
across Warm Lake to the other shore and back. Thus he was sure of
having conquered his fear of water.
Ques.4 there was terror in my heart at the overpowering force of the waves
when did Douglas start fearing water? Which experience had further
strengthened its hold on his mind and personality?
Ans . The author started fearing water when he was three or four years old .It
happened when his father took him to the beach in California. He and
the author stood together in the surf. The waves of the water knocked
the author down and swept over him. He was frightened and his breath
was gone. Since then he started fearing water. Later when the author
was about ten or twelve years old the fear of water further strengthened
on his mind ad personality. He went to YMCA swimming pool to learn
swimming. There a terrible incident occurred which increased his fear of
water. When he reached the swimming pool, no one else was there. He
was timid about going in water alone and as he sat on the side of the
pool to wait for the others. Then a big bully of a boy threw him into the
pool. He was already in fear of water and did not know swimming, he
feared he would he drowned. This incident greatly terrorized him and
the fear of water further gripped his mind and personality.

English 15


Lesson- 4
The Rattrap Selma Lager

This story revolves around a vagabond who used to sell rattraps to make his
living. He was also involved in petty theft to meet the needs. The world
according to him did not give him anything and that is why he considered the
world as a big rattrap. Just as rats were lured by the pork and cheese pieces to
enter the trap, likewise the men are also lured by food, shelter, clothing etc.
These are baits and those who get attracted to these baits are entrapped in it.
Though, he believed money as a bait he himself was caught in such a rattrap
when he stole the money from poor crafters home who was kind enough to give
him porridge and smoke during the cold winter. He skips the highway and takes
the route of the forest to escape the authorities. As he moves ahead he finds that
he is caught in thick woods, the forest becomes thick and confusing. While he
was in a desperate situation he hears the sounds of the iron mill, he goes to the
Ramsjo Iron works.
He sneaks into the mill unnoticed and asks the permission of the master
blacksmith to stay overnight. The owner of the mill was worried about the
quality of the product so he made timely inspection at night for quality control
.The tramp was misunderstood as Captain Nils Olof an old regimental comrade
by mill owner. He was taken home to give company for Christmas which the
rattrap peddler denied. To force the rattrap peddler Edla Wilmansson comes to
the mill and forces to come to her home for Christmas. He was given the honor
and love due to a commander even though they knew he was not. Rattrap
peddler changes his mind by seeing the love and affection of the family.
Ques.1 Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Ans. Edla had learnt at the church that the peddler was a thief. When she
returned home she came to know that the peddler instead of stealing her
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silver ware had left a packet for her as a Christmas present. She felt happy
because he had respected the faith repose in him by her.

Ques.2 What made the peddler to think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Ans. The peddler had stolen the crofters money and was happy. He turned off
to the road leading into the woods. He was lost in it, He recalled his
thought about the world and the rattrap .He was also attracted towards
the bait at crofters house so he realized that he had fallen in a rattrap.
Ques.3 Which act of crofter surprised the peddler? Why?
Ans He peddler knocked at the crofters door for shelter. He expected that the
crofter would show him sour face. But instead of showing him a sour face
he welcomed him and received him happily. This act of the crofter
surprised the peddler.

Ques.4 The story The Ratrap focuses on human loneliness and need to bond
with others. Explain.
Ans. The theme of loneliness runs throughout the story the rattrap. The
peddler suffers from loneliness, the peddler has been
wandering all alone and had met sour faces and got shabby treatment.
His life was dull and disappointing. No one had ever cared to share his
poverty, suffering and agony. Everyone chased him away wherever
he went, thus he lead a lonely and monotonous life.
Similarly, the crofter in the absence of a wife and children leads a lonely
life. He yearns for company to break his loneliness. Thus when the
peddler knocks at his door he receives him warmly. He is happy to get
someone to talk to in his loneliness, He acts as a generous host and offers
him shelter, porridge for supper and tobacco to smoke a pipe. , He plays a
game of cards with his guest.
English 17


Even the well to do ironmaster and his daughter Edla, too misses a
company particularly on the Christmas Eve. The iron master takes the
peddler home. Both the father and the daughter are happy and united to
play host to the peddler. Their guest provides the man opportunity to
show their Christmas kindness and hospitality.
Thus all the characters leads lead a lonely life and feel the need to bond
with others .
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Lesson-5
Indigo- Louis Fischer

Indigo is a story that tells us how Gandhiji decided to urge the departure of the
Britishers from our mother land. The incident that proved instrumental
happened in 1917. Gandhiji was attending the annual convention of Indian
congress in 1916 when a poor skinny peasant named Rajkumar shukla came to
meet him to inform about the grievance of the indigo farmers in Champaran.
Gandhi could not comply to the requests of Shukla because he had other
appointments in Cawnpore and other places. Shukla followed him everywhere
and at last got an appointment. The peasants had an agreement with the
landlords to produce 15% Indigo on their land and then handover the entire crop
as a rent to the British landlords.
When the Britishers learnt about the synthetic indigo developed by the Germans
they forced the peasants to pay them compensation to release them from the
earlier agreement. Most of the illiterate peasants agreed to it but others refused.
At this point Gandhiji came to Champaran. He fought for the poor peasants,
engaged lawyers and ultimately managed to get justice for the poor peasants
.The peasants were now encouraged and they became aware of their rights.
Gandhiji not only worked on the political and economic level but also on the
social level. He made necessary arrangements for education, health and hygiene
for the families of poor peasants and taught them a lesson in self reliance.
Champaran thus became a starting point of India's Independence.


Ques.1 Why do you think the servants thought Gandhiji to be another peasant?
English 19


Ans . Shukla led Gandhiji to the house of a lawyer name Rajendra Prasad.
Rajedra Prasad was out of town, his servants knew Shukla as a poor
peasant. Since Gandhi was in the company of a poor peasant Shukla,
they took him to be another peasant. Moreover, Gandhiji had the
simple looks of a peasant.
Ques.2 Why did Gandhi agreed to a settlement of 25 percent refund to the
farmers?
Ans. The commissions of enquiry decided to make refunds to the peasants.
Gandhi asked for 50 percent refund. But the representatives of the
planters offered to refund to the extent of 25 percent. In order to break
the deadlock, Gandhi agreed to 25 percent refund to the farmers.
Moreover for Gandhiji it was not the amount rather the lesson to of self
reliance to the peasant which was important.
Ques.3 Describe the difficulties faced by Gandhi at Chaparan?
Ans. Gandhiji had gone to Champaran to help the share croppers. When he
arrived in Champaran he faced several difficulties. In order to get the facts
about the problem of the sharecroppers, he went to the secretary of the
British landlord association. The secretary refused to give him any
information because he was an outsider. Next, Gandhiji called on the
British official commissioner of the Tirhut division in which Champaran
district lay. The commissioner bullied him and advised him to leave
Tirhut, Gandhi did not leave . Instead, he went to Motihari village on the
back of an elephant. The superintendent messenger overtook him and
ordered him to return to the town . Gandhi returned but he was served
with an official notice to quit Champaran . Gandhi wrote on the receipt
that he would disobey the order. A case was filed against him, but later on
the judge allowed him to remain at liberty. At last the case was dropped.
Gandhi, then, fought against the injustice done to the farmers. He won the
battle against the British landlord and the farmers got justice.
Ques.3 How was a solution to the problems of Indigo sharecroppers of
Champaran found ?
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Ans. In order to find a solution to the problem of Indigo sharecropper of
Champaran Gandhi met Lieutenant Governor and had four protracted
meeting with the Governor. As a result Lieutenant Governor appointed
an official commission of enquiry into the sharecroppers situation. The
commission consisted of landlords, government officials and Gandhi
as the sole representative of the peasants.
The official enquiry assembled evidence against the landlord. The
landlord agreed in principle, to make refunds to the peasants. The
peasants through Gandhi demanded the whole money they had illegally
extracted from the sharecroppers. But Gandhi asked only fifty percent.
The representative of the British landlord offered to refund to the extent of
25 percent. In order to break the deadlock Gandhi agreed. This settlement
was accepted unanimously by the comission and within few years the
British planter abandoned their estates, the indigo share cropping
disappeared.
English 21


Lesson-6
Poets and Pancakes Asokamitran

The following lesson is an excerpt from the book my years with the boss by a
Tamil write Asokamitran in which he narrates his experiences at the Gemini
Studios. This studio was owned by S.S. Vasan who set it up in the year 1940 in
Chennai. Asokamitrans job was to cut out newspaper clippings and file them.
The make department of the studio was just like any other hair cutting saloon.
The brand name of the make up material was pancake which was liberally
used by the actors. He describes the makeup room as the symbol of national
integration and as first it was headed by a Bengali, then a Maharashtra and so
on. In this make room there was a office boy who was forty years old with the
dream of becoming a star actor or director or lyricist. However his dreams
remained unfulfilled and for this he blamed Subbu who was number two in
Gemini studio and very close to the boss. Subbu was a very creative man who
had number of ideas to do a certain thing.
Gemini Studios was also a favorite hangout of poets who enjoyed meeting over
cups of coffee. Communism did not favor with them as it was linked to
disruptive behavior. When Frank Buchanans moral rearmament army visited
Madras, Gemini studios welcomed them. The next visitor was one who raised
much curiosity about whether he was a poet or an editor. Later on, it was
revealed he was an English poet, Stephen Spender. The book, The God that
failed unfolded the mystery of Spenders visit.
Moral Rearmament army was welcomed at Gemini studios because it was a
counter movement to international communism and T. Vasan the owner of the
Gemini studios was opposed to communism, since he welcomed the MRA.

22

Ques.1 How did the people of madras and those at the Gemini studios respond
to the plays staged by the Moral rearmament army?
Ans. The people of Madras and those at the Gemini Studio in particular liked
the plays and watched them over and over again. They were terribly
impressed and for some years almost all Tamil plays contained a scene
of sunrise and sunset in the manner of their play Jotham Valley.

Ques.2 Name one example to show that Gemini Studios was influences by the
plays staged by MRA?
Ans. Almost all Tamil plays contained a scene of sunrise and sunset in the
manner of Jotham Valley , a play staged by MRA.

Ques.3 Which example of national integration on Gemini studios is given in
poets and pancakes?
Ans. The makeup department was first headed by Bengali and he was succeed
by a Maharashtran, who was assisted by a Dharwer kannadiaga and
Andhrite a Madras Indian Christian ,an Anglo Burmese and the usual
local Tamils . All this showed there was a great deal of national
integration

Ques.4 Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did the show his anger on?
Ans. The office boy had joined the studio in the hope of becoming a star actor
or a top screen writer ,director or a lyrics writer. He was frustrated
because his hopes remained unfulfilled. He showed his anger on
Kothamangalam Subbu who was no. 2 at the Gemini studios.
English 23



Lesson-7
The Interview
Part-I Christopher Silvester
Part-II An interview with Umberto Eco

The lesson is divided into two parts
The first part discusses about the merits and the demerits of interviews. People
have different opinion on interviews as to some it appears to be the only and
most credible sources of truth, while some regard it as unnecessary intrusion.
We face interviews throughout our journey of life and several thousand
celebrities are a part and parcel of this process. However the writer opines that
despite all the drawbacks, interviewing is the most valuable resource.
Part two is an extract from and interview of Umberto Eco by Mukund
Padmanabhan from The Hindu. In the interview, Mukund says that he finds it
hard to understand how Umberto can manage to do all the thing that he does.
Umberto answers that he has mastered the art of working in what he refers as
interstices the empty spaces. Mukund then asked him whether he was surprised
to find that his novel the name of the rose had been appreciated by so many
people despite being a serious novel. He answers that people like to read on
serious topics of metaphysics and medieval history. Thus, an interview is
valuable and authentic tool for collecting information from a variety of people.

Ques.1 Why do most celebrity writers hate to be interviewed?
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Ans. Most celebrity writers hate the interview as an unwanted intrusion into
their lives. They think that it diminishes them so they hate to be
interviewed.

Ques.2 How is Umberto Ecos non fictional writing style different from
academics writing style?
Ans. Umberto Ecos non fictional writing style has a certain playful and
personal quality whereas his academic writing style is depersonalized and
often dry and boring.
Ques.3 What impression do you form about Umberto Eco as a scholar and
writher on the basis of the interview ?
Ans. Umberto Eco who is a professor at the University of Bologna is an
academic scholar and a famous worker of fiction. His interview with
Mukand Padamanaabhan makes it clear that he is an academician, who
takes pride in his being a university professor. His work comprises of
academic texts, essays and books for children which reflect that he is a
great scholar. We come to know that he loves to participate in academic
conferences, but does not like to attend the meetings of Pen clubs or
writers. He has written forty scholarly work and just five novels. He has
earned a great reputation as a scholar for his ideas on semiotics, literal
interpretation and medieval aesthetics. He wants to be known as a
professor who writes novel on Sundays. His famous novel the name of
the rose which deals with metaphysics, theology and medieval history is
a serious novel. It tells us a detective story that has medieval historical
background. This novel shows that beside being a scholar he is a creative
writer who has written five novels and many books for children
English 25


Lesson -8
Going Places A.R. Barton

This story going places is about teenagers their aspirations and their dreams as
well as the pain which comes along with the shattered dreams. Sophie and
Jansie are two teenagers studying together in a school. They both belong to the
lower middle class strata of the society. Sophie is a dreamer and wants her own
boutique in the city. But she had no money for that .On the other hand, Jansie is
a practical girl. She knows about the realities of life. She asks her not to waste
her time in such fantasies.
Danny Casie and Irish footballer is Sophies fantasy. In order to attract the
attention of her brother she says tells him that she has met Danny Casey. She is
always thinking about him. She even begins to believe that she has actually met
him. She knows that she has never met him personally yet enjoys living in a
world of make believe.
Ques.1 Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person?
Ans. Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person because she
shared her dream and romantic notions about Danny with him , She
trusted him and felt that he would believe in her romantic notions and
keep them a secret . She wished to be admitted more deeply into his
affection and hoped that some day he might take her with him for a ride
on the motorbike.
Ques.2 Why didnt Sophie want Jansie to know about her relationship with
Danny?
Ans Sophie did not want Jansie to know about the relationship with Danny
because Janise could not keep secrets. She would tell her relation with
Danny to the whole neighborhood
26


Ques.3 Sophie and Jansie were class mates and friends. What were the
differences between them that show up in the story?
Ans. Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends but had different attitude
towards life. Sophie was ambitious and a dreamer. She dreamt of
having a boutique. She was determined to have the most amazing
shop that the city had ever seen. She had the urge to do something
different. Jansie discouraged her from entertaining such dreams. She told
her to be sensible and realistic. She wished that Sophie should not say such
thing because they were both earmarked for the biscuit factory. When
Jansie told her that they didnt pay well for shop work and her dad would
not allow it, she told Jansie that in that case she could become either an
actress or a fashion designer. She thought that the job of a fashion designer
was sophisticated. She romanticized the idea of having a boutique. Jansie
on the other hand, was pragmatic and realistic. She knew that she was
earmarked for the biscuit factory, so she cant anything else. She neither
dreamt of anything not romanticized anything.

English 27



Poems
My mother at Sixty Six- Kamla Das

This poem deals with the theme of old age and the fear of loss and separation.
The poetess was on the way to Cochin airport from her parents home and
suddenly looking at her mother, she realized with pain that her mother had
grown old. She was near death and the poetess couldnt bear such dreadful
thought and looks outside the car. Outside the green trees are sprinting and the
joyous children are playing. The contrast between the mood in the car and the
outside world is beyond words. After the airports security check the poetess saw
her mother standing pale and colorless like a late winters moon and the same
sad thoughts came to her mind . But she did not want to add on a sad note so
full of hope and optimism she told her mother good bye Amma, see you soon.
Ques.1 Why is young trees described as sprinting?
Ans. Young trees are described as sprinting because the poetess was traveling
in a fast car.

Ques.2 What do the parting words of the poet signify? Why did Kamala Das
add the image of merry children to her poem?
Ans. Kamala Das felt sad when she looked at her mothers frail body and
feared that she might die soon. This thought filled her mind with
anguish. In order to drive away this painful thought, she looked out of
the car window and saw merry children rushing out of their homes to
play. She added this image of merry children in the poem in order to
drive away her painful thought.
28

Ques.3 What do Kamla Das parting word to her mother and her smile signify?
Ans. The parting word see you soon Amma signify the poetesss hope of
meeting her mother again. But her smile is fake and reflects her anxiety
and fear of the unknown. She feels that her mother wont survive
and hence that two wont meet again.
Ques.4 Why does he poet brought in the image of the merry children spilling
out of their homes?
Ans. The poet has brought in the image of the merry children spilling out of
their homes in order to contrast the happy and active life of children with
the still and inactive life of her old mother.

English 29



An Elementary School Classroom in a
slum Stephen Spender

This poem highlights the theme of social injustice and class inequalities which
are prevailing in the society. The poet describes the plight of the children in a
school for slum children. The children are poor and malnourished. The
classroom is filled of donations. The poet hints it as unfair to show such
depictions to the children when their world is limited to a narrow street only. He
criticizes the education system for creating such rift between the rich and the
underprivileged. The poet urges the men in power to do something meaningful
for these children. The children need to be take out from this gloomy and dark
world to a world of brightness and cheer. These poor slum children should be
give a chance to explore the beautiful world.

Ques.1 What does the poet want for the children of the slums? How can their
life be made to be change?
Ans. The poet want all the opportunities of progress and growth for these
children .The lives of these children can be changed if they are provided
education and opportunities for free expression.
Ques.2 What does the poet describe about the classroom walls
Ans. The poet describes the classroom walls as sour cream, He wants to say
that the classroom walls remain unpainted and dull.
30


Keeping quiet Pablo Neruda

This poem is about necessity of quiet introspection and creating a feeling of
mutual understanding among human beings. In our present day fast moving
lifestyle, we people are least concerned about our own inner self and instead are
moving ahead finding faults in others. Today, we have reached a stage where we
need to find the cause of sadness that has ruined our lives. Life today is all about
wars and misunderstandings leaving no time to know ourselves. This knowledge
of inner self can only be achieved by self introspection and some quiet place.
Thus, this self introspection will help us to find ourselves and make the world a
beautiful and peaceful place to live in.
Ques.1 Do you think that the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
Ans. No, the poet does not advocates total inactivity and death, He stressed
that life is to be lived with positive attitude and single mindedness. He
does not want any truck with death i.e. he does not want to ruminate
over death.
Ques.2 Why is Pablo Neruda against total inactivity?
Ans. Pablo Neruda is against total inactivity because it implies complete
stagnation and passivity. He wants people to be quiet for a few seconds.
He wants them to introspect and then lead a life with zeal and vigor.
Ques.3 According to poet what is it that human being can lean form nature?
Ans. Human beings can learn from nature that the earth can preserve and
resurrect life. The things that seem to be dead prove to be alive again.

English 31


A thing of beauty- John Keats

This poem by John Keats talks about all the beautiful things around us which are
worth to be treasured. These things remain beautiful forever as they bring peace
and solace to ones mind. The poet talks about the sun the moon the tree which
provides us with immense pleasure and happiness. Even simple things like
daffodils, sheep, clear spring of water uplift out spirits and give us joy which is
everlasting. These beauties of nature provide us with limitless pleasure and
happiness and that is why it is rightly said that a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

Ques.1 What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the
earth?
Ans. The poet gives us an image of the bounty of earth as an endless fountain
of nectar. The sun the moon the trees, the daffodils and the rivers are the
image and reflections of the bounties of beauty of the earth which God
had given to us.

Ques.2 What make s human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
Ans. In spite of trouble and suffering in life, human beings can live life because
they find happiness in the objects of nature .Beautiful objects remove the
pall of gloom from their life.


32

A Roadside stand-Robert Frost

The poem compares the life of people living in cities and the country side. A
small time farmer builds a vegetable stand at the edge of the highway in the
hope that passing cars would buy the products. He only wants to earn a living.
But, no cars ever stop and the ones that even glance in the direction of the stand
only comment how the construction has spoiled the view of the surroundings.
The poet says that their benefactors are also very selfish and they help these
people to indirectly benefit themselves and do not let these countryside people to
even think independently. According to the poet, the progress required cannot
be achieved by these country folks and they are suffering in vain. He himself
doesnt know how to put an end to their pain and hardships.

Ques.1 What is the childish longing that the poet refers to?
Ans: It refers to the desires and dreams of the peer rustics, they expect the city
dwellers to buy things from them so that they can also lead a better life. It
is referred to as vain because they never stop to buy things from them.

English 33


Aunt Jennifer's Tigers- Adrienne Rich

This poem is about the constraints a married woman experiences. Aunt Jennifer
is not happy with her marriage as she has no freedom or choice. To give vent to
her feeling Aunt Jennifer creates tigers with needlework. The tigers are fearless,
bright and lively. Their freedom and dignity is contrasted in the next verse to the
restrictions of marriage, symbolized by the wedding band that weighs down
Aunt Jennifer fingers as she sews. And even in her death, She will not be free
from terror but her tigers would continue to appear proud and unafraid. Aunt
Jennifer redeems her pain and suffering thus by creating tigers on a screen which
are exactly opposite to her own personality.

Ques.1 Do you sympathize with Aunt Jennifer? What will happen to aunt
Jennifers tigers when she is dead?
Ans. When Aunt Jennifer is dead, the tigers embroided on the screen will go on
prancing fearlessly. It reveals that art survives life. Human beings are
mortal whereas artistic creation is deathless..
Ques.2 Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different
from her own character?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character
because she wanted to give an outlet to her fear, timidity and suppression.
Tigers are shown ferocious, fearless and confident. Aunt Jennifer is
nervous and frightened .Unlike Aunt Jennifer, the tigers fear nothing.


34

Vistas

1) The Third Level Jack Finney
This story is a beautiful blend of fiction with reality. Charley, the main character
of the story loses his way at the grand central station and finds himself at the
third level of a station. This level was totally different, people were dressed
differently and the area was not lit with electric light but with open gas fires. He
suddenly realized that he has reached the year 1894 when he saw the date on the
newspaper, the world, He desired to go to Galesburg the town of his dreams.
The money he used to pay the fare was completely different from the one in use ,
So, he decides to come back to the present and took the old currency back to the
third level again . However, his psychiatrist friend, who did not believe Charley
and thus escaped to Galesburg.
Ques.1 Was there a third level? Give evidence from the story in support of you
answer?
Ans. The third level refers to a level On the Grand Central station which did
not exist in reality. The narrator Charley imagines this level as the one by
which one can get out to the peaceful worlds of the past. For him it is a
way of escape from the insecurity, fear, war ,tensions and worries of the
present. He psychiatric friend call it a waking dream wish fulfillment.
The station master confirmed that the third level did not exist at the Grand
Central.
Ques.2 Sams Letter is a fine blend of reality and imagination. Explain what
made Charley believe that he was actually standing at the third level?
Ans. One night Charley was to take a train from the second level of the Grand
Central station. He went down the steps to reach the first level. Then he
entered a long corridor. He continued to walk and came out . He thought
at he was on the second level, but what he saw there was totally different.
English 35


He concluded that he was on the third level. He became sure because he
saw that the rooms were smaller and there were fewer ticket windows
and train gates .The light were dim and faltering as they came from open
flame gaslights. There was an old fashioned locomotive on the tracks,
people were wearing old fashioned clothes. There he saw a copy of the
world a newspaper that had not been published for years. There he saw
a ticket window on the third level. He went to the ticket window to buy
two tickets for his wife Louisa and himself to go to Galesburg of 1894,
from the third level of the grand Central. Then he believed that he was
actually standing at the third level.

2.The Tiger King- Kalki
This is the story of the Maharaja of Pratibandhpuram who came to be known as
the tiger king. At his birth, the astrologers had predicted that the prince would
die on day and his death would be by a tiger . Hearing this royal prince who was
just ten days old spoke tigers Beware and everyone was astonished to hear
him. As he grew up and occupied the throne he had only one mission that was to
kill the tigers
Ques.1 What led Maharaja to start out on a tiger hunt?
Ans. When the chief astrologer told the Maharaja that his death would come
from the tiger he started out on a tiger hunt in order to save himself. The
instinct of self protection motivated him to go on a tiger hunt.
Ques.2 Why do you think that the maharaja was in danger of losing his throne?
Ans. The Maharaja was in danger of losing his throne because he had refused
permission to the high ranking British official to hunt tigers in his state.
Ques.3 Why was the king worried after having killed ninety nine tigers? How
did his worries come to an end?
36

Ans When the Maharaja was born, it was predicted by the chief astrologer that
the princes death would come from tiger. When the prince grew up, he
came to know about the prediction. So he started out on a tiger hunt.
When the Maharaja killed the first tiger he was extremely happy, he sent
for the state astrologer and showed him the dead tiger . The astrologer
told the Maharaja that his majesty might kill ninety nine tigers but he
must be very careful with the hundredth tiger. Thus maharaja banned
tiger hunting by anyone except the maharaja . i.e. was one to enable him
to kill hundred tigers . The maharaja had killed seventy tigers. He was to
kill thirty more but there was no more tigers left in the forest of his
kingdom. So he married the daughter of a king of a state with a large tiger
population. Thus he was able to kill ninety nine tigers. But the hundredth
tiger evaded him. So he was sad and worried.
The Dewan had kept a tiger hidden in his house a harmless and weak
tiger from the people park in Madras. He made this tiger wander in the
Maharajas presence in the forest. The Maharaja shot at the tiger and it fell
on the ground in a crumpled heap. He thought that he had killed the
hundredth tiger an got happy. He thought that his worries had come to an
end.

Ques.4 What did the British offices secretary tell the Maharaja? Why did the
Maharaja refuse permission?
Ans The British officers secretary told the Maharaja that Mr. Durai (British officer
) himself did not want to kill the tiger,the Maharaja could do the actual
killing. He was interested in a photograph of himself holding the gun
and standing over the tigers dead body .But the Maharaja refused
permission because he thought that the other British officers would turn up
for tiger hunts.
English 37


Journey to the end of the earth-Tishani
Doshi

This is basically a travel narrative written by Tishani Doshi on her visit to
Antarctica on the Russian Vessel, the Akademik Shokalskiy. The journey was
started by her along with the students at 13.09 degree north of the Equator, in
Chennai. Reaching Antarctica was a herculean task as they had to cross nine time
zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and many ecospheres.
After covering a vast distance she reached Antarctica, she was mesmerized by
the landscape of Antarctica, the beautiful white land, and clear sky, etc .She was
amazed at the vastness and seclusion of Antarctica. The students did some
research on the effect of human activities on Antarctica.
Ques.1 Why was Tishani Doshi filled with relief and wonder when her foot on
the Antartic continent?
Ans. When Tishani Doshi set her foot o the Antarctic continent she was filled
with relief to see its expansive white landscape an uninterrupted blue
horizon. She was filled with wonder when she looked at Antarctic
immensity, its isolation, and its strange relationship with India.

Ques.2 What are phytoplanktons? How are they important to our ecosystem?
Ans. Phytoplanktons are grasses of the sea that nourish and sustain the entire
southern oceans food chain. They are useful to us because they use the
suns energy to assimilate carbon and synthesis organic compounds. If the
depletion of the ozone layer affects their activities in that wondrous and
most important of process called photosynthesis, the lives of all animals
and birds of the region will be adversely affected. If we somehow reduce
the depletion of ozone layer by reducing carbon emissions in the
38

atmosphere, we can preserve our ecological balance on our globe and
save mankind from extinction. Since the phytoplankton nourish all the
living creature of the sea and sustain the entire southern ocean food, they
assume important place in our ecosystem.
English 39


The enemy-Pearl S. Buck

The story is about the conflict between ones professional calling and the duties
that has to be performed towards ones country. Dr Sadao was to best surgeon in
the country. The path to success was paved to him by his father who though not
played with him taught him to go ahead in life . At the age of twenty two he was
sent to the U.S . to learn medicine .There while doing his studies,he fell in love
with a fellow Japanese girl named Hana and came back to Japan at the age of
thirty.
They both got married with the permission of his father and settled in a beautiful
stone house near the beach .One day in the foggy evening, when both of them
were standing near the railing they saw a man thrown off shore by the winds, he
was crawling on the ground . They thought of him to be a fisherman and ran
towards him .
Unfortunately he was an American prisoner of war who escaped from the
prison, with a lot of confusion they took him to their home and treated him .
Sadao was scared as the servants refused to cooperate with him and they were
very scared . He with deep sorrow informed informed all these things to the old
general who assured him that he will take up the responsibility to kill the
prisoner of war.. But when no ne turned up for three days he made plans and
allowed the prisoner of war to escape with his boat.
Ques.1 Why did the messenger come to DR. Sadao? What did Hana think about
it?
Ans. The Messenger Came to Dr. Sadao to inform him that the old general was
in pain again. Hana had thought that the servants must have told the
messenger (an official in uniform) that they had given shelter to the
enemy soldier
40

Ques.2 How did Han help Dr. Sadao while he operated upon the enemy
soldier?
Ans. When Dr Sadao decided to operate upon the wounded soldier, Hana
washed the soldiers back carefully. During the operation she helped her
husband by giving the anesthetics to the wounded soldier.

English 41


Should Wizard hit Mommy-John
Updike

The story revolve around the father and her four years old Jo who was in habit of
listening to bed time stories while taking her afternoon nap. The protagonist of
the story never changed it, was always Roger the animals playing the character
of Roger changed from time to time as Roger Squirrel , Roger Chipmunk etc.
But today the character was Roger Skunk who was not allowed to play with the
other forest mates because of his bad smell. The other animals use to call him
name such as Stinky Skunk etc.
Roger Skunk felt very bad and went the wise owl with his problem who as usual
asked him to go to the wizard . The Wizard with his magical powers changed his
smell. With his new smell of roses he got the acceptance but his mother does not
like it .
She hits the Wizard and asks him to change the smell back to the normal smell.
Jo does not approve of it as Wizard was her hero she rather wants the mother to
be beaten back . Jo's father does not agree with it and tells her that mothers are
always right
Ques.1 Why did Roger Skunk go to the Old Owl?
Ans. Roger Skunk smelled very bad. He smelled so bad that none of the other
little woodland creatures would play with him .He felt very sad. So he
went to the old wise owl to seek his advice.

Ques.2 What Help did Roger Skunk get from the Wizard?
42

Ans. Roger skunk was a little animal. He smelled so bad that no creatures
would play with him. He was very sad and unhappy. On the advice of
the old owl, Roger Skunk went to a wizard .The wizard asked him about
his problem. He uttered some strange words and waved his magic wand.
Roger skunk began to smell like roses. However, his mother gets angry at
this, she wants that he must smell the way a skunk should. The wizard
once again on Skunks mothers order ,restore his original bad smell .
English 43


On Face of it Susan Hill

This play talks about the deep down human emotions of two physically
handicapped people .The story vividly portrays how each one had a different
attitude about life, The play also brings out the pain and the isolation that the
people go through. The unacceptable attitude of the society increases their pain
rather than healing the wounds. The scene begins with Derry stealthily entering
Mr. Lambs garden as he doesnt want anyone to notice him. He is taken aback
by hearing the voice of Mr. Lamb who introduces himself and also warns him
about the fallen fruits on the ground.
Derry was not prepared for this welcoming host as he thought the house to be
empty; Mr. Lamb puts his fears to rest by telling him that all are welcome to his
garden and house at all time. Derry was frightened but Mr. Lamb asks him to
ease off as he has no problem with people coming in without permission.
Derry gets offended and tells Mr. Lamb that he not frightened rather the people
are frightened of him. Derry describes his story of burnt face and also the
response of people by seeing the burnt face. Mr. Lamb opines his views about
beauty and tells him that beauty is relational.

Ques.1 How Did Mr. Lamb instill self confidence in Derry?
Ans. Derry who had an ugly half burnt face due to acid burn felt totally
hopeless. People stared at him and avoided him. So he had lost his
courage and confidence. He had become a pessimist and an introvert. He
happened to meet Mr. Lamb, a lame person with a tin leg, in his garden.
He was impressed by his way and style of living. He was drawn toward
him because he showed no pity or sympathy, He trusted him like a friend.
Mr. Lamb, on optimist and extrovert, influenced him and changed his
outlook. In his conversation, when Mr. Lamb asked Derry what he saw
beside the wall, he replied Just grass.and stuff, weeds. Then Mr.
44

Lamb told him that some called hem weeds, while some other called a
weed garden. In fact, he impressed upon him that it depended on the
attitude and outlook of man. When Derry told that one day a woman in
the street called him a terrible thing, another woman told him that he
should not believe everything he heard . It was possible that hey said
something else between them, In this way Mr. Lamb taught him to throw
away his negative thoughts and have courage and confidence in life. He
further told him to keep his ears shut to any unpleasant remarks. He told
him that he live his life by watching the objects of nature and listening to
the music and the bees, He loved the company of kids and is his daily
work. Derry got courage and confidence from Mr. Lamb and came to stay
with him against his mothers wishes.

Ques.2 What Consolation people gave Derry when they saw his acid burnt
face?
Ans. Most people took pity on seeing Derry. Some of them passed critical
remarks in his absence. Derry did not like the attitude of the people. He
did not even like his mothers attitude. Only Mr. Lamb gave him strength
to give away his handicap bravely.


English 45


Evans tries an O Level- Colin Dexter

The story is about Evans who is in jail and he makes an escape plan to break the
prison .He has an ill reputation of of breaking the prison time and again . He
applies for getting an O level course in German and after finishing the course he
was ready for an exam.
But on the day of exam he escapes the prison. When the mystery is unfolded the
authorities come to know that all the people who were associated with Evans
were his friends who were helping him to get away. From the German teacher to
the Rev Mc. Leery all were all his friends. The examination corrections slips and
all the other material were hints for Evans to get away..
Ques.1 Why did Evans not take of his hat when Jackson ordered him to do so?
Ans. Evans did not take off his hat because he considered it his lucky charm .He
told Mr. Jackson it was the only thing that had brought him luck in his life. It
would bring him much luck in his examination.
Ques.2 How Evans did plan his escape?
Ans. Evans was a master planner who outsmarted everyone through his plan. It
all began with a man who came as Rev. Stuart Mc Leery who was the friend of
Evans. He came as an examiner from the nearby parsonage .He brought a plastic
ring along with him which had pigs blood in it. In the prison he pretended to
give instruction to Evans about the examination but was in reality telling him the
escape plan. His corrections were even clues of the escape. The cap he was
wearing was to hide the hair which gave him a look of a parson. The man who
came as invigilator wore two black fronts and two collars to provide one set to
Evans. After Mc. Leery was escorted out, Mr. Stephens was aghast to see Mc.
Leery covered with blood in Evans chair. Mc Leery refused to go to the hospital
but offered his help to find Evans. He also showed to Governor that a
photocopied sheet had been carefully and cleverly superimposed over the blank
page of the question paper.
46

Mc Leery led the police to Elsfield way and from there to Headington and from
there to Newsbury. When Superintendent Carter informed the Governor that Mc
leery was in Radcliffe Hospital and the Governor checked with them, he was in
for a shock . There was nobody like that there. All along it was not Mc Leery but
Evans who had been in the cell, pretending to be injured and then leading them
all around. He had executed the plan through his so called tutor who was in
reality his friend.

English 47


Memories of Childhood

These are autobiographical narrations form the lives of two authors .Bama from
India and Getrude Simmons who faces some kind problems in their life .
Gertrude comes from a family of American aborigines who had an oral tradition
that only the cowards and Shingles have short cropped hairs. When she was
forced to have a hair cut she was very sad about it. Bama first came to know
about the discrimination when an elderly man from her own caste was not
allowed to carry the vadais in his hands for the Landlord . Her brother informed
her about the caste barriers and problems.

Ques.1 Why did Bhama feel that the elderly mans behavior was funny?
Ans. One day on her way back from school, Bama saw the elder of their street
holding out a packet of the vadai by its strings without touching it. The awkward
manner of his walking seemed funny to the child Bama. The elder went to the
landlord bowed low and handed the packet towards him .He did so because if he
had touched the packet with his hands, the landlord would have never accepted
it. Bama felt terrible sad at this sort of discrimination by the upper class people.
Ques.2 Why was Zitlal-Sa was terrified when Judewin told he that her hair
would be cut short?
Ans. When Zitkal- Sa came to know that her hair would be cut short, she was
terrified because she did not want her hair to be cut short, She had thought that
only the unskilled warriors who were captured had their hair cut. Short hair was
worn by mourners and shingled hair by cowards. She did not fall in any of these
categories. So she was terrified when she learnt that her hair would be cut short.
Ques 3.What was Gertrude Simmons first reaction to the missionary boarding
school in the east?
48

Gertrude Simmons was brought up on the oral traditions of the Sioux which was
the tradition of the native American people. She did not much understood the
way the things were done in the civilized society especially a school .She got
scared by the way the rules were followed in the hostel .She could not adjust
with the demand of the friends to cut her hair. The pandemonium created by
students added to more of her troubles than solving the problems.



English 49


ENGLISH (Core)
March 2011
Time allowed: 3 hours Maximum
Marks: 100
General Instructions:
(i) This paper is divided into three Section : A, B and C. All the sections are
compulsory.
(ii) Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever
necessary. Read these instructions very carefully and follow them faithfully.
(iii)Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the question.

SECTION A : READING
20
1. Read the passage given below and answer the question that follow: 12

1 For many years now the government have been promising the
eradication of child-labour in hazardous industries in India. But the truth is
that despite all the rhetoric no government so far has succeeded in
eradicating this evil, nor has any been able to ensure compulsory primary
education for every Indian child. Between 60 and 100 million children are
still at work instead of going to school, and around 10 million are working in
hazardous industries. India has the biggest child populations of 380 million
in the world, plus the largest number of children who are forced to earn a
living.

50

2 We have many laws that ban child-labour in hazardous industries.
According to the Child-Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986, the
employment of children below the age of 14 in hazardous occupations has
been strictly banned. But each state has different rules regarding the
minimum age of employment. This makes implementation of these laws
difficult.

3 Also, there is no ban on child-labour in non-hazardous occupations.
The act applies to the organized or factor sector and not the unorganized or
informal sector where most children find employment as cleaners, servants,
porters, waiters etc. among other forms of unskilled work. Thus, child-labour
continues because the implementation of the existing laws is lax.

4 There are industries, which have a special demand for child labour
because of their nimble fingers, high level of concentration and capacity to
work at abysmally low wages. The carpet industry in U.P. and Kashmir
employs children to make hand-knotted carpets. There are 80,000 child
workers in Jammu & Kashmir alone. In Kashmir because of the political
unrest, children are forced to work while many schools are shut. Industries
like gem cutting and polishing pottery and glass want to remain competitive
by employing children.

5 The truth is that it is poverty which is pushing children into the
brutish labour market. We have 260 million people below the poverty line in
India, a large number of them are women. Poor and especially women
English 51


headed families, have no option but to push their little ones in this hard life
in hostile conditions, with no human or labour rights.

6 There is a lobby which argues that there is nothing wrong with
children working as long as the environment for work is conducive to
learning new skills, but studies have shown that the children are made to do
boring, repetitive and tedious jobs and are not taught new skills as they grow
older. In these hell-holes like the sweet shops of the old there is no hope.

7 Children working in hazardous industries are prone to debilitating
disease which can cripple them for life. By sitting in cramped, damp and
unhygienic spaces, their limbs become deformed for life. Inside matchstick,
fire-works and glass industries they are victims of bronchial disease and T.B.
Their mental and physical development is permanently impaired by long
hours of work. Once trapped, they can't get out of this vicious circle of
poverty. They remain uneducated and powerless. Finally, in later years, they
too are compelled to send their own children to work. Child-labour
perpetuates its own nightmare.

8 If at all the government was serious about granting children their
rights, an intensive effort ought to have been made to implement the
Supreme Court's Directive of 1997 which laid down punitive action against
employers of child labour. Only compulsory primary education can
eliminate child-labour.

52

9 Surely, if 380 million children are given a better life and elementary
education, India's human capital would be greatly enhanced. But that needs,
as former President Abdul Kalam says, "A second vision" .

(a) (i) On which two counts has the government not succeeded so far in respect
of children? 2
(ii) What makes the implementation of child-labour law difficult?
(iii) Why do the industries prefer child-labour? 2
(iv) What are the adverse effect of hazardous industries on children? Give any
two. 2
(v) What does the Supreme Court's Directive of 1997 provide? 1

(b) Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following : 3
(i) risky/dangerous (para 1)
(ii) very unfriendly (para 5)
(iii) intended as punishment (para 8)

2. Read the passage given below and answer the question that follow: 8

There is nothing more frustrating than when you sit down at your table to
study with the most sincere of intentions and instead of being able to finish the
task at hand you find your thoughts wandering. However, there are certain
techniques that you can use to enhance your concentration. "Your concentration
level depends on a number of factors," says Samuel Ghosh, a social counselor. "In
English 53


order to develop you concentration span, it is necessary to examine various
facets of your physical and internal environment," she adds.

To begin with one should attempt to create the physical environment that
is conducive to focused thought. Whether it is the radio, TV or your noisy
neighbours, identify the factors that make it difficult for you to focus. For
instance, if you live in a very noisy neighborhood, you could try to plan your
study hours in a nearby library.

She disagrees with the notion that people can concentrate or study in an
environment with distractions like a loud television, blaring music etc. "If you
are distracted when you are attempting to focus, you attention and retention
powers to not work at optimum levels," cautions Ghosh. "Not more than two of
your senses should be activated at the same time," she adds. What that means is
that music that sets your feet tapping is not the ideal accompaniment to your
books.

Also do not place your study table or desk in front of a window. "While
there is no cure for a mind that wants to wander, one should try and provide as
little stimulus as possible. Looking out of a window when you are trying to
concentrate will invariably send your mind on a tangent," says Ghosh.

The second important thing, she says, is to establish goals for oneself
instead of setting a general target and then trying to accomplish what you can in
a haphazard fashion. It is very important to decide what you have to finish in a
54

given span of time. The human mind recognises fixed goals and targets and
appreciates schedules more than random thoughts. Once your thoughts and
goals are in line, a focused system will follow.
She recommends that you divide your schedule into study and recreation
hours. When you study, choose a mix of subjects that you enjoy and dislike and
save the former for the last so that you have something to look forward to. For
instance, if you enjoy verbal skill tests more than mathematical problems, then
finish Maths first. Not only will you find yourself working harder, you will have
a sense of achievement when you wind up.


Try not to sit for more than 40 minutes at a stretch. Take a very short
break to make a cup of tea or listen to a song and sit down again. Under no
circumstances, should one sit for more than one and a half hours. Short breaks
build you concentration and refresh you mind. However, be careful not to
overdo the relaxation. It may have undesired effects.

More than anything else, do not get disheartened. Concentration is merely
a matter of disciplining the mind. It comes with practice and patience and does
not take very long to become a habit for life.

(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, made notes on it in points
only, using abbreviations wherever necessary. Supply a suitable title. 5
(b) Write a summary of the above in 80 words. 3

English 55


SECTION B : ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS 35
3. You are Sports Secretary of Lalwani Public School, Udaipur. Draft a notice
in not more than 50 words for your school notice board asking the student
to give their names for participation in various events to be held on the
Annual Sports Day of your school. Invent the details of the events. Sign as
Lalit / Lalita.
OR
You are Secretary of Sri Parthasarathy Sabha, Salem. Draft a notice in not
more then 50 words to be sent to the members of the Sabha requesting
them to attend an extraordinary meeting. Invent necessary details such as items
on the agenda date, time etc, Sign as Kamal / Komal.

4. You witnessed a programme performed by differently abled persons on
Zee TV. You were very much impressed by their performance and were
emotionally touched. Highlighting their talent, reaction of the judges to
their performance etc., prepare a report in 100- 125 words for your school
magazine. You are Gopal / Gopi, Student Editor of the magazine.

OR
You are Latha / Lalith of Gurgaon. You attended the inaugural ceremony
of the newly opened vocational stream and hobby classes at the secondary
school level in Paras Public School, Gurgaon. Draft a report in 100 -125
words to be published in "Gurgaon Times". Invent other details.

5. You are Raman / Rama, a member of Parent - Teacher Association of
Little Valley Senior Secondary School, Hyderabad. Write a letter to the
5
10
10
56

Principal of the school asking him to introduce vocational stream in the
school providing facility of teaching such subject as computers, insurance
etc. so that you students may not needlessly continue academic studies.
You are residing at 15, Anand Colony, Hyderabad.
OR
Write a letter to the Manager (Publications) of Little Flower Company,
Hyderabad, placing an order for 4 books on Management and
Administration recently published by them. You are Ronit / Rohini,
Librarian, H.P. Engineering Colleges, Tirupathi.

6. The invention of mobile phone has brought about a revolution in the lives
of the people in the country. If used properly it can be a blessing but if
misused it can prove to be a curse. Write an article in 150 200 words on
'Mobile Phone' a boon or bane'. You are Kartik / Krishna.

OR
With the rising number of people in almost all the big cities of the country,
the rate of crime has also increased proportionately. The police needs to be
trained in new methodology of combating the crime besides changing its
mindset. Write an article in 150-200 words on 'The role of police in
maintaining law and order in the metropolitan cities'. You are Ravi /
Ravina.

SECTION C : TEXT BOOKS 45
7. Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow 4
10
English 57


Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear
The thought of so much childish longing in vain,
The sadness that lurks near the open window there,
That waits all day in almost open prayer
For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,
Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,


(a) What is the 'childish longing' that the poet refer to? 1
(b) Why does the poet say that it is in vain? 1
(c) Why do the people driving in the cars stop sometime ? 2
OR
Break O break open till they break the town
And show the children to green field, and make their world
Run azure on gold sands, and let their tongues
Run naked into books the white and green leaves open
History theirs whose language is the sun.

(a) To whom does 'they' refer? 1
(b) What would they break? 1
(c) What other freedom should they enjoy 2

8. Answer any three of the following in 30-40 words each 2x3=6
58

(a) What is the sadness that the poet, Pablo Neruda refers to in the poem,
"keeping Quiet"?
(b) What is the message of the poem, 'A Things of Beauty'?
(c) What were Kamala Das' fears as a child? Why do they surface when
she is going to the airport?
(d) Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different
form her character?

9. Answer the following in 30-40 words each 2x5=10
(a) What announcement did M. Hamel made ? What was the impact
of this on Franz?
(b) Which factors led Douglas to decide in favour of Y.M.C.A. pool?
(c) Why did the peddler keep to the woods after leaving the crofter's
cottage? How did he feel?
(d) Why was the Moral Re-armament Army welcomed at the studies?
(e) Why did Jansie discourage Sophie from entertaining thoughts
about the sports-star, Danny Casey?

10. Answer the following in 125-150 words: 10
Why do you think Gandhiji considered the Champaran episode to be a
turning-point in his life?
OR
'Lost Spring' explains the grinding poverty and traditions that condemn
thousands of people to a life of abject poverty. Do you agree? Why / Why
not?
English 59




11. Answer the following is 125 150 words : 7
Why does Tishani Doshi call her trip to Antarctica a ' Journey to the End
of the Earth ? What experience did she have during this expedition?
OR
Draw a character sketch of the old General in the lesson, 'The Enemy'.

12. Answer the following in 30-40 words each: 2x4=8
(a) Why does Mr. Lamb leave his gate always open?
(b) How did the Governor react to the two phone calls he received in
quick succession?
(c) What did Judewin tell ZitkalaSa? How did she react to it?
(d) Why did Charley suspect that Sam had gone to Galesburg?