UNIT 1

THE BEST ADVICE I EVER HAD

C1. Based on your reading of the lesson, answer the following questions by
choosing the most appropriate option:

1. Mrs. Vijaylakshmi resented her galling position. The galling position

referred to here is
a. The death of her husband
b. Her position as a widow without a son
c. She and her daughters not being entitled to any share of the family
property
d. The hatred of her family members

Ans. (c)

2. According to Gandhiji, Mrs. Vijaylaxmi could cleanse the bitterness of her

heart by
a. Making peace with her relatives
b. Going out of the country for some time
c. Asking excuse from her relatives
d. Fighting for her rights

Ans. (a )

3. Mrs. Vijaylakshmi said, I thought of the counsel that had calmed me so

many times. The counseling referred to here is
a. Never to hate anyone
b. No one can harm you but yourself
c. Treating others in the same way
d. Not to be revengeful

Ans. (b )
C2. Discuss the answers for the following questions with your partner and then
write them in your notebook.

1. Why was Mrs. Vijaylakshmi Pandit in anguish?

Ans. Mrs. Vijaylakshmi Pandit was in anguish because when her husband had
died and she was mourning, she came to know that as per the Indian law she
would not get her share of family property. She also felt that she had no
individual existence.

2. In paragraph 3, Mrs. Pandit speaks about antiquated law. What is

referred to as antiquated law?

Ans. A widow without a son, was not entitled to any share of the family
property is referred to as antiquated law.

3. Why was Mrs. Pandit going to America according to Gandhiji?

Ans. According to Gandhiji, she was going to America because she was
unhappy and wanted to escape.

4. What did Gandhiji want Mrs. Pandit to do before going abroad? What was
Mrs. Pandits response to that?

Ans. Gandhiji wanted Mrs. Pandit to cleanse her heart and make peace with
her family before going to America. Though she refused at first, later she talked to
her in laws.

5. How did Gandhiji make Mrs. Pandit meet her relatives?

Ans. Gandhiji advised her to cleanse her heart before going to America. After
some days of severe struggle she decided to telephone her brother-in-law and
said that she would like to see him and the family before going to America.

6. Must you inflict further injury on yourself.

a. What is the injury referred to here?
 Ans. The injury referred to here is if she goes without making peace with her
relations, the hard feeling will remain in her heart, she will never have peace in
a new country.

7. Why did Mrs. Pandit not meet her relatives in the beginning before she left
for America?

Ans. Mrs. Pandit did not meet her relatives in the beginning before she left for
America because her relatives took advantage of an outworn law to create a
difficult and humiliating situation for her.

8. What was the effect of Gandhijis advice when Mrs. Pandit later left her
relatives?

Ans. Gandhiji advised Mrs. Pandit to meet her in laws. She went and spent few
minutes with them and explained of her plans and asked for their good wishes.
This small gesture was the beginning of a significant change in her life.

9. I lifted the debate back to where it belonged. What was the debate
about?

Ans. The debate was about the treatment of people of Indian origin in South
Africa. The opponents of India made personal attacks which were harmful to
Indias and Mrs. Pandit prestige. Initially Mrs. Pandit struck back with same kind
of personal attacks. But soon she realized the debate diverted from the original
issue. Then on Mrs. Pandit refrained from personal attacks and concentrated on
the original issue. The opponents were forced to follow her. Thus Mrs. Pandit
lifted the debate to where it belonged.

10. Mrs. Pandit recollected the advice of Gandhiji often. What was the advice?

Ans. The advice was, No one can harm you but yourself. The bitterness in our
heart causes us injury unless we check it. If we correct ourselves and approach
others with forgiving heart many problems will vanish.
 11. After visiting her relatives, Mrs. Pandit commented, I felt as if a great
burden had been lifted and I was free to be myself. Have you experienced
such a situation or a feeling in your life? Discuss.

Ans. once when playing with my cousing at their peace, I inadvertently broke
his drum which his father had brought only the previous day. Afraid that my
uncle would scold or even hit me. I did not bring it to his notice.

After a couple of days, I decided to tell him about the incident so that I would l
not live in constant fear of him. To my surprise he did not scold me but only
asked me to be careful when playing with toys.

12. What do you infer about the relationship between Mrs. Pandit and
Gandhiji from reading this lesson?

Ans. The relationship between Mrs. Pandit and Gandhiji was that of a father
and daughter. He observed her and advised to help her overcome the
situation before starting a new life.

13. Describe the state of mind of the cook referred to in the lesson.

Ans. The cook must have wanted to taste some of the alcohol meant for the
guests. But he could not control his urge and must have binged.

C3.. Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:

1. Yet in law we women were still recognized only through our relationship
to men.

(a ) Why does the speaker say so?

Ans. The speaker says speaker says so because Indian society is a male
dominated society.

(b) What is the mood of the speaker while speaking the above words?
Ans. The mood of the speaker while speaking the above words is anger and
bitterness.

2. No one can harm you except yourself.

(a) Identify the speaker.

Ans. The speaker is Gandhiji.

(b) Who is the speaker addressing?

Ans. The speaker is addressing Mrs. Vijaylaxmi Pandit.

(c) What does the speaker mean by the above words?

Ans. We are responsible for our happiness and sorrows.

3. I struck back with the same weapon

(a) Who is the I and who did the speaker strike back?

Ans. The I is Mrs. Vijaylakshmi Pandit. She struck back at her opponents.

(b) What was the weapon used by the speaker?

Ans. Harsh things (words) was the weapon.

(c) What was the need to strike back?

Ans. The opponents made personal attacks harmful to Indias prestige and her.

C4 Discuss the answers for the following questions in a group of 3 or 4 and then
present your answers before the other groups:

1. Mrs. Pandit had to face a lot of humiliating situations in her life. Give a
brief account of the situations and comment on them.

Ans. Mrs. Pandit had faced many humiliating situations.

(a) The family property was not shared with her. As a widow without a son,
she was not entitled to any share of the family property nor were her two
 daughters. She had bitterness towards the members of her family who took
advantage of the antiquated law. She passed through a period of anguish
and her belief in humanity was at a low ebb.
(b) When she was in New York, as the leader of The Indian delegation to the
United Nations: India complained regarding the treatment of people of
Indian origin in South Africa. Harsh things were exchanged and his
opponents made personal attacks. She struck back with the same sharp
weapons.
(c) As a host: Mrs. Pandit s guests, the Prime Minister of Great Britain and
Lady Eden arrived for dinner and everything was planned meticulously. But
everything fell apart as the cook was drunk. She negotiated this situation
quite intelligently.

2. Comment on the title of the lesson with respect to Mrs. Pandits experience
in different situations in her life.

Ans. The best advice I ever had is an Ans. The best advice I ever had is an
article by Mrs. Vijaylakshmi Pandit. She went through many hard and humiliating
situations in her life. When already mourning her husbands death, she felt
further humiliated when she came to know that the Indian law is not helpful to
her. The family share was not given to her, considering her as a widow with two
daughters. She had bitterness towards her family members. When she met
Gandhiji, he made her realize the situation and advised her to overcome it. He
pointed out the importance of making peace with others. Forgiving others is the
only way to keep us in peace. His advice gradually changed her life. After hearing
the advice of Gandhiji she phoned her brother-in-law. Her visit had brought a
feeling of relief to everyone. She had applied the advice of Gandhiji when she was
involved in heated arguments in a conference held at the United Nations. Also
when the Prime Minister and Lady Eden had come for dinner, she was in a
difficult situation which she solved peacefully.

3. From a reading of lesson, write a note on Mrs. Pandits accomplishments

and her contributions to India.
Ans. Mrs. Vijaylaxmi Pandit after a personal loss, came up in life to become the
first woman President of the United Nations General Assembly. She was also the
High Commissioner for India in the United Kingdom.

Apart from high posts, she was also an example for many women to
overcome the difficulties and make a name in the male dominated society.

4.

1. Means are as important as the end said Gandhiji. Do you agree with this
view? Justify your answer.
Ans. Means are as important as the end, said Gandhiji. I agree with
Gandhiji in this regard. We can justify this through the life history of Mrs.
Pandit. She quite skillfully exercised this in her entire life and became a
successfully in the history of India. She went on to resolve international as
well as domestic issues. Our thoughts are our actions. Every problem has
its solution and try to find it peacefully. We need to keep the spirit of
perseverance and determination and positive attitude in our every walk of
life to become a good and successful people.

5. Assume yourself to be a social activist. Write an article suggesting ways and

means of removing gender discriminations that still exist in our society. You
can discuss in groups and write down the article.
Ans. God has created both men and women equally. Women have all rights as
men. All have equal freedom to enjoy their lives. Let us see the ways and causes
for the circumstances.
Our Indian society is known for male domination. Before independence
women did not participate in all activities. The reason is women are meant to be
physically weak. After marriage a male child is expected. To remove the
discrimination, we should educate all female children. Equal seats should be
reserved in all forms of elections. Equal job opportunity should be given. Anti
Dowry Act should be executed. Health and nutrition care must be provided. They
should be given equal opportunity in every part of society.

I. Complete the words beginning with re which mean the phrases given
against each of them.
1. Make a decision - resolution
2. State that one is unwilling to do something reluctant
3. Take revenge or hit back retribution
4. Feel bitter about repercussion
5. Connected with, concerning regarding
6. A feeling of reassurance and relaxation after stress is over recreation
7. Latest, fresh renew
8. Keep, preserve refrigerate

II. Work in pairs and change the following verbs into nouns.
1. Perform performance
2. Continue continuity
3. React reaction
4. Realize realization
5. Treat treatment
6. Observe observation
7. Express expression
8. Involve involvement
9. Agitate agitation
10.Interact interaction
11.Confront confrontation
12.Explain - explanation
13.Enter entry
14.Allow - allowance
15.Achieve - achievement
16.Enroll - enrollment
17.Admit admission
18.Free freedom
19.Social - society
20.Bore- boredom
21.Stupid stupidity
22.Judge - judgment
23. Clever - cleverness
24.Friend friendship
25.Mother motherhood
 III. Combine the following pairs of sentences by changing the adjective to a
noun.
1. Rajesh is a very amiable person. It has endeared him to his colleagues.
Ans. Rajeshs amiability has endeared him to his colleagues.

2. The actor was famous. It got him many endorsements.

Ans. The fame of being an actor got him many endorsements.

3. The young businessman was extravagant. It led to his downfall.

Ans. The extravagance of the young businessmen led to his downfall.

4. James was silent during the enquiry. It did not help the police in bringing
the culprit to book.
Ans. James silence during the enquiry did not help the police in bringing the
culprit to book.

5. The bomb exploded. This shattered the window panes.

Ans. Due to the bomb explosion, the window panes were shattered.
 THE GRASS IS REALLY LIKE ME
I. Answer the following:

1. What does the poet mean by the phrase raise his head?
Ans. The phrase raise its head means when women raise their voice for freedom
and agitate for it, like the grass under the feet, trying to grow up.

2. Explain the phrase unfurl underfoot to fulfil itself?

Ans. The grass wet from the moisture has to open new leaves and grow in order
to fulfill its purpose.

3. Refer to lines 4 and 5. Are they contrasting? which one do you think is the
poet referring?
Ans. Line 4 and t which refers to the feeling of emotions are contrasting. The
sense of shame is insufferable, but her inability to retaliate keeps her silent. But
internally her heart must be burning with emotions for equality and raise her
head.

4. The poet is associating herself with the grass. Why? When she says me is
she referring to just herself or the entire woman folk?
Ans. The poet is associating herself with the grass because she feels that the
condition of women and the grass are same. When she says me she is referring
the entire women folk.

5. Do you think the lawnmowers are the same in the case of the grass and
the poet?
Ans. In the case of the grass the lawn mower cuts down all the grass, but in the
case of the poetess the dominating society suppressed all her (womens) efforts
to come up. So even though literal meanings are different, their nature of work is
the same in both the cases.

6. Pick out the line from which the poet shifts the attention from grass to
woman. Who is the you in line 11?
Ans. The poet shifts the attention from grass to woman in line 11 and 12. The
you in line no.11 refers to readers (or oppressors).
 7. What does the phrase scorching defeat refer to? What does the poet
mean by the words grafted on to the earth?
Ans. The phrase scorching defeat refers to painful burning result of the courage
shown by the women. The poetess means that the defeated are suppressed down
as the grass is cut and thrown down.

8. What is the poet trying to tell us in the lines 18 and 19?

Ans. The poet is trying to tell us in the lines 18 and 19 that the defeat make the
way for the bigger or the stronger. The defeated grass, is cut and fallen on the
ground. The remaining straw makes way for the stronger machine. Similarly the
women, who remain recessive make way for the dominant society.

9. But neither the earths nor womans desire to manifest life dies
Explain the meaning of the above two lines.
Ans. The earths desire is to make the seedling grow. That is why even after
repeated grafting, the grass grows. In the same way womans desire to express or
unfurl is in suppressable. The dominant society may curb it repeatedly but her
desire will raise the head again.

II. Appreciation
A. Read the poem silently and choose words from the bubble that describe
the mood of the poet. Give reasons:
1. Tranquil peaceful (she was not peaceful enough)
2. Resentful feeling bitter (She feels bitter about the condition of the
women)
3. Pensive - think deeply
4. Contended to be sadly
5. Wistful think safety
6. Dejected unhappy
7. Repulsive feeling disgusting/dislike

A2. Look at these phrases that are associated with certain ideas:
1. Unfurl underfoot try to free itself
2. Fulfill itself try to progress
3. Scorching sense of shame- shameful defeat
4. Heat of emotions insult out grow
5. Scorching defeat embarrassed
 6. Raise its head be proud
7. Make way for the mighty out shine

A3. Discuss the answers for the following:

1. The poet says The grass is also like me, how does she bring out this
relationship in the second stanza?
Ans. The poetess compares herself to the grass in the poem. As the grass is cut
or grafted it grows again (unfurl). The womans feelings and emotions which are
suppressed by the dominant section of the society raises up again.

2. Explain the ironical ideas used by the poet in the last stanza. How do you
analyze them?
Ans. Those who cannot bear the immediate defeat of their courage are grafted
on to the earth. They belong to the earth and they pave the way for even mighty
problem.

3. The poet has used some unusual words and phrases to evoke images in the
readers mind. Such a poetic device is called imagery. Pick out such phrases
from the poem.
Ans. Unfurl underfoot the poet means the grass that spreads over the earth
surface raise its head. The grass grows out it will be shown the act if progress.
 MAURITIUS

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:

C1. Read the lesson silently and answer the following questions:

1. Where is Mauritius?

Ans. Mauritius is a tiny speck of an island situated below the Equator on the
twentieth parallel some 4,500 k.m south west of Mumbai.

2. Name the people of different origins found in Mauritius?

Ans. The people of different origins found in Mauritius are African, Chinese,
Biharis, Dutch, Persians, Tamils, Arabs, French and English.

3. Who are referred to as the buccaneering trinity of those days? Why are
they so called?

Ans. The buccaneering trinity are the Dutch, the French and the English who
constantly waged battle for the possession of the island for its spices and
sugar. They are called so as their interest in Mauritius was piratical in nature.

4. List out some very musical but unpronounceable names as found by the
author.
 Ans. The musical but unpronounceable names found by the author are
Touarux, Beau Bassin, Quarter Bornes, Curepipe, Rose-Belle and so on. These
names are from French language.

5. What are the flora and fauna found in Mauritius?

Ans. The flora found in Mauritius are the trees which are short and gnarled in
the interior of jungles just like overgrown bonsai. The fauna are the bat, monkey,
deer, giant tortoises of Aldabra variety.

6. How is nature cruel to the people of Mauritius?

Ans. Nature is very cruel to the people of Mauritius. When the King cyclone
struck them, it churned the country for two days, relentlessly flattening
everything that stood smashing windows and doors, tearing up the rooftops,
uprooting the trees and bringing them down on buildings. Generally such cyclone
strikes Mauritius once every 15 years.

7. Name some aquatic creatures sighted by the author.

Ans. Sea shells, crabs, shapeless ugly creatures crawling in the dark depths and
a school of fish-coloured bright lemon yellow with black bars. Fishes with hideous
spikes all over their body, fishes with long tails, fishes with battered faces are
found.

II. Answer the following:

1. Why was it difficult for the author to locate Mauritius in his Atlas?

Ans. The world atlas which the author had was very old and contained many
little dots and specks. These dots were the products of cockroaches and may
be due to weather too, but nothing to do with geography. So Mauritius which
is a tiny island could not be easily located by the author in his atlas.
 2. What is the reason for the people of different countries to settle in
Mauritius?

Ans. The reason for the people of different countries to settle in Mauritius was
for its spices and sugar or just for the strategic position on the maritime route to
the East, conveniently placed.

3. How does the author explain the absence of protocol amon government
officials and ministers?

Ans. The cabinet ministers and others in big positions do not act as if they were
born to the grace. They are all just like ordinary people. They are unassuming,
accessible, communicative and without protective shield of hangers on and
security men to repel casual approaches.

4. Give the description of mountains as given by the author.

Ans. The blue mountains ring the islands, a volcanic happening of geological
ages. These mountains do not have the traditional monotonous pyramidal
shapes. Their outlines are freakish and whimsical with unexpected sweeps and
have perpendicular drops and pin-pointed peaks.

5. How are the people of Mauritius fighting against the cruel jaws of nature?
Ans. Mauritius is prone to cyclonic storms and it is an annual feature. Big ones occur once in 15 years
and leave a trail of destruction. People are used to cyclones and have learnt to live them. King cyclone a
massive cyclone had stuck Mauritius on February 6, 1975 leaving vast areas flattened. The island has
recovered from the devastation. Trees are planted in congested areas. Tall buil dings came up, plate glass
picture windows are fixed and rooftops are put up with an eye on elegance.

6. What would be the future of Mauritius as opined by the author?

Ans. The Government is eager to have foreign entrepreneurs start their industries here. With
industrial growth, the living space will shrink. Cars and trucks will increase. Their roads will have to be
widened to take the load. The price of land will go up and flats will appear. Cost of living, pollution,
unemployment, slums, taxation, controls will appear, the author opined.

C3. Compare and contrast the arriving and departing experience of the author
during his flight. Does it suggest to you anything?
Ans. The authors experience on his arriving journey to Mauritius was exciting. He
was curious to see the sight below the flying aircraft. The blush grey steel sheet
like ocean, acres and acres of cloud, in between the appearance of shapes of land
structures resembling the legendary historical structures of ancient countries.

During his return flight the author could not see those scenes as it was dark.
But he could imagine the future Mauritius in a changed situation. Industrialization
with wider roads, tall buildings, pollution, unemployment, slums etc.

He hopes that enlightened people will guide the growth of Mauritius with
same simplicity and marvel.

AFRICA

C1. Read the poem silently and answer the following after discussing your
response with your partner.

1. How does the poet come to know about the history of Africa?

Ans. The poet comes to know about the history of Africa from his grand
mothers song.

2. The poet did not spend much of his life in Africa. Pick out the line/lines that
express this feeling.

Ans. Africa of proud warriors in ancestral Savannahs Africa of whom my

grandmother sings. These lines express the feeling that the poet didnt spend
much of his life in Africa.

3. Despite staying away from Africa for quite sometime, how does he describe
Africa?
 Ans. The poet was staying away from Africa for quite sometime, he describes
that Africa is my Africa. It had proud warriors in ancestral savannahs along the
banks of the river.

4.
5. Read lines from five to ten. What do you describe?

Ans. In lines from five to ten, the poet describes the characteristics of African
slavery. The work of the people spreads all over the country. They shed sweat as
blood. They had no peace under the slavery.

6. Red Scars what does this phrase refer to?

Ans. Red Scars describes about the wounds and injury they got out of their
slavery.

7. Pick out the lines that talk about the humiliation suffered by the Africans.

Ans. Is this you this back that is bent. This back that breaks under the weight of
humiliation. These lines talk about the humiliation suffered by the Africans.

8. That tree there is splendid loneliness? Explain this phrase with reference
with reference to the feeling of the poet about his country.

Ans. The poet expresses that the freedom struggle is still going on in a majestic
way.

9. That grows again patiently obstinately and its fruit gradually acquires the
bitter task of liberty.
a. What does that refer to?

Ans. That refers to the tree

b. How does it grow?

 Ans. It grows politely, strongly and never changing his mind.

c. What does bitter taste of liberty refer to?

Ans. I refers to that is not fully achieved.

C3. Work in pair s and complete the summary of the poem given below. Use
the expressions given in the box.

(distance, part of him, descent, never known, beautiful black blood, angry and
accuracy, for the benefit, exploited, loves his country, blood and sweat, as
slaves, colonialists)

The poet continues to say that he has never known Africa, but despite, the
distance he cannot deny how much it is a part of him. The phrase beautiful
black blood which flows in his veins describes his African descent and shows
how much he loves his country and its people. The next verses are as slaves as
he stresses that it is the blood and sweat of his people which is irrigating the
fields for the benefit of other people. Here he is pointing a finger at the
colonialists who exploited the black people and used them as slaves to profit
from their hard labour.

A2. Read the lines of the poem given in column A and fill in column B that
depict the mood of the poet. One example is given for you.

Lines of the poem mood/feeling

1. I have never known you, Patriotism

But your blood flows in
My veins
 2. Is this you this back that angry and accusory
Is bent this back that
Breaks under the weight
Of humiliation
3. But a grave voice answers appreciation
Me Impetous son that tree
Young and strong
4. In splendid loneliness amidst appreciation
White and faded flowers. That its wealth
Is Africa, your Africa and its victory
Gradually acquires. The bitter
Taste of liberty

The goat and the stars

Answer the following questions:

1. What makes the boy look funny?

Ans. He wore large brown trousers. There was always mud on his boots and
there were times when he did not smell very sweet.

2. Where are the goats kept?

Ans. The goats are kept in the pigsty.

3. What did the boy do while grazing the goats.

Ans. The boy grazed the goats every morning and brought them back to the
pigsty again before darkness fell. He treated the goats like friends.

4. What first made the man and his wife became aware of the smell of the
goat and the kid?
Ans. During the service the clergyman mentioned about the gifts of frankincense
and myrrh given to child Jesus by the three wise-men. At this moment the man
and his wife became aware of the smell coming from the boy and the goat which
they mistook for the scent of frankincense and myrrh.

5. Why was the boy troubled by the absence of snow on the ground?

Ans. He had for a long time believed that at Christmas there must be snow on
the ground and smell bells ringing and a moving star. But now there was no snow
on the ground. There were no bells ringing. He felt disappointed.

6. Explain the message written on the notice board.

Ans. The message was to motivate the people to donate and give gifts generously
to help the needy. It said no gift is greater or small. Each gift is important by itself.
It is the feeling or heart behind it which is valuable. The greatest gift is to offer
yourself to the service of God.

THE COLLECTORS

Comprehension:
C1. Read the play silently with your friend. Find and discuss the answer for the
following questions:

1. Why was the group looking for a shelter?

Ans. The group was looking for a shelter because it was raining hard.

2. How far was the village from the place they were in?

Ans. The village was three miles from the place they were in.

3. Why did Mr. Hunt hesitate to seek shelter in the house?

Ans. Mr. Hunt hesitated to seek shelter in the house because it was a lonely place
to choose for a house. He remembered that there wasnt any house when he had
come in the summer.

4. Name the occupants of the house.

Ans. The occupants of the house were Mr. and Mrs.Brown.

5. On what pretext did the occupants of the house separate the teachers from
the children?

Ans. Mr. Brown said that there wasnt enough place for everyone to sit in one
room and Mr.Brown made the teachers sit in the sitting room.

6. What seemed unnatural in the house to the children?

Ans. They couldnt hear any sound of wind. They just hear their voice in the
sitting room. They found no washing up machine, no plates, no pots and pans.
There was nothing at all in the fridge and the lights were not turning on.

7. What was unnatural with fingers on both hands?

Ans. Mrs. Brown had seven fingers on both hands.

 8. What did the children find in the larger cupboard?

Ans. The children found dials, digital readouts, coloured lights and mass of other
electronic equipment in the cupboard.

9. When Pete went to Mr. Hunt, Mr. Hunt was not moving and was staring
blank because
a. He was thinking
b. He was drugged
c. He was meditating

Ans. When Pete went to Mr. Hunt, Mr. Hunt was not moving and was staring
blank because he was drugged.

10.When Pete went to Mr. Hunt, Pete heard the Browns talking to each other
but could not understand what they were saying. Why?

Ans. The children could not understand the Browns talking to each other because
they were not human and were talking alien language.

11. Why did Pete prevent the other children from taking the drink?

Ans. Pete prevented the other children from taking the drink because if they had
that drink, they would be drugged.

12. Where were the aliens taking the children?

Ans. the aliens were taking the children to their home planet.

13.Why were the aliens collecting the creatures from other planets?

Ans. The aliens were collecting the creatures from other planets for experiments
and scientific study.

14. Where was the control of the back-door located?

Ans. the control of the back door was located in the cupboard.
 15. After sending all the others out of the spaceship, how did Pete and Glenn
manage to escape from the aliens?

Ans. With the help of Mrs. Brown he pressed the yellow light and opened the
door. Glenn and Pete dashed for the back door and disappeared through it.

16.What circumstance forced the party to take shelter in the spaceship?

Ans. The party was completely wet due to downpour. They were dripping wet.

17.List the things that made the children feel uncomfortable in the kitchen?

Ans. a. The kitchen is like a hospital. b. No, plates no pots and pans. c. The
cupboard is quite empty. d. The empty fridge.

18. Why couldnt the children escape either through the back door or the
window?

Ans. The children couldnt escape either through the back door or the window
because both were burglar proof locks.

19.List the following:

a. Things that were in the kitchen: Empty cupboard and fridge which was not
working.
b. Unusual features of the brown: Mr. and Mrs. Brown had seven fingers both
in their hands, their eyes were all one colour, they didnt have any black-
sort of- centers.
c. Language used by the Browns: Alien language
d. Different ways children tried to get out of the house: The children tried to
open the back door, tried to smash open the window with a stick. Finally they
got out by threatening Mrs. Brown.

20. What suspicion did the children have about the Browns and their house?
What convincing reasons did Mrs. Brown come up with?
Ans. The kitchen seemed to be hospital. There was no washing up machine, no
pans nor pots. The cupboard was empty and there was nothing at all in the fridge.
Mrs. Brown said that they had just moved in and hadnt time to sort things out
that was why this place looks deserted.

VI. Look at the following describing words and phrases. Group them under words
or phrases describing the place and describing the Browns.

Word describing the place words describing the Browns

1. Terribly quite 1. aliens

2. Weird 2. Had seven fingers
3. Cold 3. Spoke strange language
4. Deserted 4. Weird like a vampire
5. Empty 5. Eyes had no centre

6. strange

b. Write a sentence for each word:

1. drenched: To make some one something completely wet: She was completely
drenched by the time she got home.

2. dripping: make it fall in drips: There was water dripping from the ceiling

3. drizzling: light rain: It is drizzling since morning.

4. foggy: Thick cloud just above the ground or to not know anything about
something: I havent the foggiest idea what you are talking about.

5. humid: a hot and humid climate: Even though it rained the humidity is high.

6. misty: full of or covered with mist: If the weather is misty there is a cloud of
small drops of water in the air.

7. soaked: completely wet: My shirt was soaked.

8. sodden: soaked through: Your shoes are sodden.

 THE VILLAGE SCHOOL MASTER

COMPREHENSION:

C1. Based on the reading of the poem find answer to the questions and write
them in your note book.

1. Where was the school located?

Ans. The school was located in a village near the school masters mansion.

2. How did the children react to the school masters jokes?

Ans. The children laughed with counterfeited glee and thoroughly enjoyed every
morning.

3. How could the children find the morning disaster?

Ans. The children could find the morning disaster in the school masters face.

4. The school master was a. kind b. severe c. kind as well as severe

Ans. The school master was kind as well as severe

5. Which of the following is not true of the village school master?

Ans. He could write poems and songs is not true of the village school master.

6. What puzzled the villagers?

Ans. The enormous knowledge and skills of the school master were wonders for
the villagers. They were puzzled that how such a small head carried such vastness.

7. Why does Oliver Goldsmith say that the blossomd furze was unprofitably
gay?
Ans. Oliver Goldsmith says that the blossomd furze was unprofitably gay because
the lush grass spread out over there in nature, not used for commercial profits.

C2. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the childrens view of the teacher?

Ans. The childrens view of the teacher is he was severe and stern.

2. Why did the villagers respect the school master?

Ans. The villagers respected the school master because he knew almost
everything and could predict what would happen next day.

3. What impression does the poem give you of the (a) qualities and (b)
abilities of the village school master?
(a) The qualities of the school master are severe, strict and kind.
(b) The abilities of the school master are writing, cipher, measuring and
arguing.
4. Pick out the words that convey the different emotions of the poet.

Ans. Gazing rustics, thundering, glee, strict, kind and severe

5. Describe the skills of the village school master at which made the people
wonder?

Ans. The village school master was certainly able to write and code the messages.
He could measure the land, and even forecast about tides and winds. He could
predict future. These qualities and skill of the school master made the people
wonder.

6. Can you identify the mood of the speaker? How would you consider this
poem a serious one or a humorous one? Justify your answer.

Ans. The mood of the speaker is to teach the value and bringing about the
significance of the skills and qualities of a school master. It is not a humorous one
but a serious one. When the villagers started checking the skills of the school
master, he proved that he owned.
C3. Answer the following:

1. Would you consider the village school master as an ideal teacher in the
present context?

Ans. I would consider the village school master as an ideal teacher in the present
context. He owned many skills. I think the village school master indeed shows the
all his talents and skills in order to be the quality of a teacher. A teacher should be
a learned person and possess mastery over many things so that everyone can gain
something from him.

THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY

COMPREHENSION:

C1. Discuss in pairs and find answers for the following questions

1. Read paragraph 2. There are few lines which say about the grandmothers
features. Pick out those lines and write them.

Ans. She had always been short and fat and slightly bent. Her face was a crisis
cross of wrinkles running from everywhere t everywhere. She could never
have been pretty, but she was always beautiful.

2. she used to get me ready for school, How did grandmother get the
author ready to the school?

Ans. She used to wake the author up in the morning and get him ready for
school. She would fetch his wooden slate which she had already washed and
 plastered with yellow chalk, a tiny earthen ink-pot and red pen tied them all in
a bundle and hand it to him. After a breakfast of thick stale chapatti with little
butter and sugar spread on it, she left for school.

3.
4. Why did the grandmother accompany the author?

Ans. The grandmother accompanied the author to the school because the
school was attached to the temple. She would sit there to tell her prayers and
read scriptures.

5. That was a turning point in our friendship. What was the turning
point?

Ans. When the authors parents were settled in the city they called the author
and grandmother to go there. That was the turning point. Though the author
and grandmother shared the same room, she did not go with him to the
school. She gradually remained away from his activities and him.

6. What made the grandmother unhappy? Why?

Ans. In the village, the temple priest used to teach alphabets and prayers.
That was schooling according to the grandmother. But in the city school the
author had to learn modern education with English, science, mathematics etc.
When he came back from school she would ask him about the lessons. But she
understood very less of it. As there was no teaching about God and scriptures
she felt unhappy.

C2. In groups, discuss the answers for the following questions and present the
before the class.

1. The thought was almost revolting what is the thought referred to? Why
does the author use the word revolting to describe the thought?
Ans. The thought refers to the concept of grandmother being young and pretty.
He had seen her for the last twenty years same, old, wrinkled. He couldnt
imagine her in any younger condition. If anybody told him to imagine her as
young, it be totally opposite of his perception of grandmother. So he says the
thought itself in revolting.

2. How did the grandmother help the author as a boy during his school days?

Ans. Kushwant Singhs grandmother used to wake him up in the morning and get
him ready for school. She would fetch his wooden slate which she had already
washed and plastered with yellow chalk, a tiny earthen ink-pot and a red pen tied
them all in a bundle and handed it to him. She accompanied him to the school.

3. Describe the relation between (animals/birds) dogs and sparrows and the
grandmother.

Ans. when the author Khushwanth Singh and his grandmother had affectionately
treated the street dogs. When they returned home from the temple school she
used to feed them with the pieces of chapatis. Later, in the city when the author
was engrossed in his higher studies she used to spend some time feeding the
birds like sparrows. They had become very friendly with her sitting and perching
on her shoulders and head with all their chirpings.
When the grandmother died thousands of sparrows sat around the corpse without any
chirping, all in silence. They did not touch the corns which the authors mother had spilled for them.
They flew away quietly when the dead body was carried off and never came to their house again.

4. Describe the three stages of relationship between the author and his grandmother (before he
went abroad).

Ans. The author-Khuswanth Singh had good relationship with his grandmother at different levels.
When he was young, his parents had left him with grandmother in the village. They were bonded
cordially. She used to do every work for him like bathing him, preparing his food. She used to keep his
slate, books and inkpot and even she went along with him to school. She taught him prayers too. But
when they shifted to city, he began to learn in English school. She did not understand it and did not go
with him to school. She said prayers by himself.
 Later when he went to university the author had separate room to study and sleep. Thus the
relationship between the author and grandmother went on decreasing.

5. Grandmother and prayer were inseparable. Find instances from the lesson to justify their
observation.

Ans. Prayer was part of life of the Grandmother. All the time she had the rosary in her hand, fingers
kept telling the beads and lips muttering prayer. From morning till evening she did her work or some
work for the grandson but did it with prayers. She went along with the grandson to the temple-
school sat in the temple reading scriptures till the school bell rang. When the author grew up, went to
higher school and university, she spent her time spinning al time her prayers in her lips. When she fell ill
also - she prayed - and did it till her last breath.

6. She thumped the sagging skins of the dilapidated drum. Has the description of the drum
anything to do with the grandmother? Explain.

Ans. The old grandmother became more and more secluded from the family bonds as the years passed.
She did not show any emotional changes when the grandson went abroad she must have sensed the
end. That must have made her to gather the neighbouring women and sing for the last with them
playing the drums. The ragging skins and dilapidated dream symbolize the odl body of hers, the song
home coming of warrior indicate the return of the soul of death of mortal life.

7. Did the grandmother predict her death? How?

Ans. Yes, she predicted her death. As she fell ill, she thought differently. She told the family members
that her end was near. She lay peacefully in bed praying and telling her beads.

8. How did the sparrows react with her earlier in her life and later after her death?

Ans. The grandmother sat in the verandah breaking the bread into little bits, hundreds of little birds
collected round her creating a veritable bedlam chirping. After her death thousands of sparrows sat
scattered on the floor. There was no chirping. The sparrows took no notice of the bread put by others.
When they carried grandmothers corpse off, they flew away quietly.

9. What picture of the grandmother do you get from the lesson?

Ans. From the lesson, we can picturize the grandmother as an old woman with wrinkled old body which
is bent a little. On her face - we can imagine a serene, calm look with love for not only mankind but
also for animals and birds. A pious person she was, so the dignity of satisfied content life could be her
life style.

VI. In the lesson the word tell has been used under different contexts to mean different. Now match

the usage of the word tell with its meaning as used in the lesson.

The use of the word tell

The word Its meaning

1. Her fingers were busy telling the beads

Of her rosary counting while reciting
2. I would tell her English words Give information to something
3. She told us that her end was near be sure.
4. At her age no one could tell Make something known to someone in spoken or written words

TIGER

C1. Get into pairs/groups and discuss the answer toe the following questions:

1. What does the phrase burning bright mean?

Ans. The phrase burning bright means feeling emotion, flourishing in life.

2. What is not burning bright?

Ans. The tigers emotions, desires and anger is not seen in the forest.

3. What is the plight referred to in the poem?

Ans. The plight is referred as the bad and difficult situation of the tiger.

4. According to the poet, what are we not able to understand?

Ans. According to the poet, we are not able to understand the importance of
tigers in nature. He feels that we dont understand the environmental balance.

5. How was the tiger in the forest according to the poet?

Ans. The tiger in the forest was like a king, other animals were afraid of him. His
thunderous roar made the animals to tremble in fear. The monkeys screamed and
birds chirped and flew away. But all these things happened in the past.

6. Where is Gecko hunting?

Ans. Gecko on the wall is hunting insects on his hide.

7. How did the tiger rule the forest?

Ans. The tiger ruled the forest as a king.

C2. Answer the following questions:

1. Their souls were sick, killing tigers.

a. Whose souls were sick?

Ans. The human souls were sick.

b. Why are their souls described as sick?

Ans. Their souls are described as sick because they are killing the tigers for their
skin or bones.

c. Why were the tigers killed?

Ans. The powder of the tigers bone powder will be used to heal some sick man.
The tigers skin is used as a wall-decorative. So, the tigers were killed.

2. Once jungles trembled at the tigers roar.

a. At whose roar did the jungles tremble?

Ans. The jungles trembled at the tigers roar.

b. Why do they no longer tremble?

Ans. Because the tigers are very few now.

c. Who is responsible for the tigers fate?

Ans. Man is responsible for the tigers fate.

C3. Answer the following:

1. What is the poets view about killing animals? Is he condemning the killers
or in appreciation of them?

Ans. The poet is condemning the killers. He does not like killing animals. The
poet makes us feel and understand the difficulties of the life of the animals.
The poet describes the significance of protecting the endangered species.
People cruelly kill the animals. People kill animals for their recreation and
financial advantages.

2. How can you protect the tigers from extinction?

Ans. Tigers are endangered animals. We should protect them. Hunting tigers
should be banned. We should spread awareness to safeguard tigers. The law
should be made even strict by the government to protect wildlife. Tiger reserves
should be increased.
 A QUESTION OF SPACE

C3. Read the lesson and share your responses before answering the following
questions in three or four sentences:

1. Vikrants mother was harping on the importance of the year. What was she
anxious about Vikrant?

Ans. Vikrants mother was anxious that Vikrant should be ready himself to
cope with the intensely competitive environment that had to be scaled for getting
admission to a prestigious medical college. She shows her concern to mould the
career of her son.

2. Anuj had spun into Vikrants life like a new universe. Why did Vikrant feel
so? How did it happen?

Ans. Anuj was a friend of Vikrant. He was not just a person with dynamic ideas
on photography, on the connectedness between human beings and all other
living species. He gave new ideas to Vikrant for self analysis-particularly the
body language of the self and how to control expressions and feelings.

3. The identity of Vikrant with Anuj created tension between Vikrant and his
parents. How did it happen?

Ans. Vikrants class grades had dropped. He had begun skipping group tuitions
even extra school classes designed for the weekends. As only child, a tension
grew between Vikrant and his parents, so did his identity with Anuj.

4. Vikrant said, Medicine is considered gives prestige. Is this thought

prejudicial? Do you agree with this opinion?
 Ans. To say that Medicine is the noblest of all professions or prestigious is only
prejudicial. This is only a false notion. There are so many doctors who lost
respect due to ignoble activities. Instead, every profession is noble and
prestigious if one takes it with total commitment to be the best in the field, to
the utmost satisfaction of the users.

5. What was the reply of Anuj when Vikrant asked him how his suggestions
would help him?

Ans. When Vikrant asked him how would his suggestion help him. Anuj replied
that it would help him to witness his reactions as if they were happening to
someone else. Which observing his body and its reactions he also had to distance
himself from them. This distance will help him to see first, then control his
reactions.

6. When did Vikrant start his self observation? What did he observe?

Ans. Once when Vikrant was having a talk with his father, he noticed that his
mouth was dry, his head tight at the temples, his body slightly hunched. Vikrant
noticed that his fathers last remark sent a strong wave of heat through his
otherwise weary body, galvanizing him to leave the room without another word.

7. How did Vikrants father try to convince him to join tuitions for medical
entrance?

Ans. According to Vikrants father tuitions for medical entrances are not just
tuition. They coach him for a career, for a highly competitive exam. One wrong
answer could make all the difference. It would be better if he turned his attention
to investigating a coaching centre, rather than spend time with junkies and
irrelevant things.

8. What are the last two steps of self observation suggested by Anuj to
Vikrant?

Ans. Anuj suggested last two steps of self observation to Vikrant.

The first one is:

 The moment an active feeling comes which he thinks should be controlled
make an note of it but dont express it.

The second one is:

Expressing and emotion opposite to what you feel and can be done only if
you are agitated, you observe this but choose to express calm or warmth instead
of coldness.

9. He did this with awareness that it was the right thing for him to do. What
does awareness refer to here?

Ans. Vikrant enrolled for classes at a coaching centre for medical entrance test.

This he did with awareness about his future career. Now he is capable of deciding
for himself. He could analyse his interests and come to a conclusion about what
he has to do for his prosperity.

10.The word Space in the title of the lesson has significant reference.
Comment on the title.

Ans. Space in the title of this lesson has significant role. Generally the interests
and ideas of parents, friends and society get filled into the brain of the growing by
and aptitudes. The space here refers to that room or opportunity for ones own
interests.

C4. Read the following extracts from the lesson carefully and explain each of
them with reference to the context:

1. Hey! Whats up? You look grim.

Ans. This sentence is chosen from the lesson A question of space by Neera
Kashyap. The sentence is told by Anuj near the jogging track. He looked quite dull
and depressed as his parents spoke about his decreasing academic performance.
He was feeling like a bird in the cage which wished to be free in the blue sky.
Seeing his condition Anuj asked the above question.

2. But tell me, how do you react to pressure?

Ans. This sentence is an extract from the lesson A Question of space by Neera
Kashyap. When Vikrant asked Anuj if his parents put pressure onhim to become a
photo journalist. Anuj said no. But for Vikrant it seemed to be that the pressure is
worse for children of doctors because medicine is considered the noblest among
professions and gives prestige. So he asked Anuj how does he react to such
pressure.

3. Sure why not? Actually our range of expression is quite limited.

Ans. This sentence is selected from the lesson A Question of space by Neera
Kashyap. This is said by Anuj to Vikrant. When Vikrant asked Anuj why he is not
observing his body when he is feeling happy or excited or adventurous and only
when he is under pressure. Anuj replied as aboce. Anuj continued that when one
gets his full range, he will become aware of all his habitual expressions.

4. If you still have not found out, when do you intend to enroll?

Ans. The above sentence is chosen from the lesson A Question of space by
Neera Kashyap. When Vikrants father asked whether he had found out which
was the most suitable coaching centre for his medical entrance test, he said no.
Then his father asked if he still had not found out, when did he intend to find and
enroll.

5. You cannot really change anything till things are ready for change.

Ans. This sentence is taken from the lesson A Question of space by Neera
Kashyap.. When things did not seem to change with Vikrants parents who he
realized would continue treating him like a child so long as he just chafed and
reacted. Noting Vikrants discouragement one evening Anuj advised him. You
cannot really change anything till things are ready for change. Just do your part.

Answer the following:

1. Compare and contrast the characters Vikrant and Anuj. Who would you like
to be Anuj or Vikrant? Justify your answer.

Ans. Vikram and Anuj are from reputed families. Vikrant is a student of class X
whereas Anuj is grown up person, working as a photojournalist. Vikrant was
getting worried and depressed due to his parents pressure all the time to study
more keeping in view of Class XII examination and medical entrance
examination. Anuj had chosen studied opted to concentrate on photography as
per his liking. He was able to analyse his own feelings and expressions to handle
the pressure. Vikrant gets influenced by Anujs guidance and experience.

2. After following the advice of Anuj, we observed a change in the attitude

and behavior of Vikrant. Trace the chain of those changes.

Ans. Anuj advised Vikrant about self observation. He started to notice his own
body behavioural changes. Vikrant knew the conflicts were not getting him
anywhere. It was not as if he felt medicine was all wrong for him. He did not want
to be bulldozed into working three shifts a day, six days a week. He felt he needed
time to pursue his own interests and pleasures, especially after his meeting Anuj.
Vikrant tried to practice emotions he had not experienced. At first these were of
joy, spontaneity and excitement. When he felt more neutral, he practiced a wide
range. His experiments with self observation helped him see a whole range of his
body reactions, the effects that different emotions had on the body and how the
mind got involved with these.

3. What is the role played by Anuj in this lesson? What message does the
author convey to the reader through his character?

Ans. After meeting with Anuj, Vikrant felt he needed time to pursue his own
interests and pleasures, Anuj had played the role of a counselor guiding a part of
Vikrants life. He also spoke to him on various issues like the beginnings of life, the
places he composed a photograph, self observation. He also advised not to worry
too much about the change and you cannot really change anything till things are
ready for change. Thus the author says that a positive approach to things or
events can alter the situations. Self observation helps one to control his own
feelings and expressions.

4. Assume yourself to be Vikrant. Write a letter to a friend discussing the ways

in which you transformed yourself.

Ans. Hi dear friend,

 How are you? I got good news for you that recently I have experienced a
great change in my life. A friend of mine named Anuj came to my life. He taught
me that I need to pursue my own interests and pleasures. He added more on the
beginning of life with the places he travelled to. He taught how to self evaluate
our emotions. At first these are of joy, spontaneity, excitement. When I felt more
neutral, I practiced joy, scorn each with its accompanying posture and gestures.
My experiments with self observation helped me to see a whole range of my body
reactions, the effect and how the mind got involved with these. The two more
steps I practiced the moment of active feeling could be controlled and how to
express calm or warmth instead of coldness. I hope you can also use these steps
to transform yourself.

With love,

Vikrant.

V2 Match the words in column A (they are words related to professions and the
one who does it) with the corresponding meaning given in column B. You can use
a dictionary to verify your answers.

A B

1. Stevedore a. One who studies rocks and soils

2. Chauffeur b. one who loads and unload ships
3. Geology c. one who drives a car for someone else
4. Juggler d. one who drives a car for someone else
5. Anthropologist e. one who performs tricks with the hands to
Amuse others
6. Audi f. one who studies human development
7. Curator g. one who examines the financial records of a company

V3 Phrasal verbs:

A. Compare the following sentences with a phrasal verb that includes one of the
particles and one of the verbs given below.
 Particles: down, in, out, up
Verbs; turn, come, slow, let, go, drop, grow, warm, plug

1. The dentist says John will have to ___ two teeth (plug out)
2. Videos are cheaper now. Prices have actually _______ come down)
3. He could play the guitar when he was six. I think hes going to be a great
musician when he ________ (grows up)
4. ___________ ! You are driving much too fast! (slow down)
5. Smoking is not allowed in here. Please _______ that cigarette
___(turn,down)
6. You must be very cold. Sit by the fire and ___ (warm up)
7. Theres someone at the door. Can you _______ them ______ please? (let,
in)
B. Find the meanings of the following phrasal verbs and use them in sentences of
your own using a dictionary.
1. Come across: found by chance- I came across a lovely flower in the forest.
2. Get on: make progress The new student got on with his new class.
3. Take part: participate the chief Minister took part in the Janatha Darshan
programme.
4. Get away: manage to escape The thief got away from the police van.
5. Get through: passed I just got through the examination.
6. Keep out: stay away Children should keep out from riots.
7. Think over: Please think over your programme and try to visit my house.
8. Take down: write The teacher instructed the students to take down the
important questions.
9. Look into: investigate The inspector has promised to look into the matter.
 THE PENCILS STORY

C1. Read the poem silently and answer the following questions:

1. Where does the poet see the pencil? A) in the beginning b) at the end of
the poem?

Ans. In the beginning lies upon the mantle piece. At the end of the poem the
pencil

lies in a holder.

2. Why is the pencils life described as weary?

Ans. The pencil is handled forty times a day. It is cut and sharpened harshly which
make it shorter as it grows older. Hence its life is described as weary.

3. When according to the poet is the pencil (a) sad (b) glad?

Ans. According to the poet the pencil is sad when someone in deep thought
chews its end. The pencil is glad when it is useful.

4. What does the poet mean by Wits are rather dull?

Ans. when the pencil is used for sometime, the lead becomes blunt, then the
marks made by it are not clear. The words wits are rather dull means that
expressions are very poor.
 5. What makes the poet say that The Pencils speech is always dark and that
it always makes its mark? Explain.

Ans. The pencils speech is always dark means that the lead colour of HB
pencil is black and when some one writes with it, the writing is always in dark
colour.

Wherever the pencil tip is touched it makes a mark: it is meant for that.

6. Make a list of rhyming words found in the poem.

B See

Friend end play - day

Ought short life - knife

Dark mark things - kings

Older holder about - out

Joint point missed - list

7. Read the lines from 5 to 8. Who might he Tommy according to the poet?
How old would he be?

Ans. According to the poet Tommy might be the youngest family member. He
might the youngest family member. He might be around five to six years because
his handwriting is mentioned as a crawl and the pictures he draws are of various
themes which small children usually.

C2. Fill in the columns after carefully reading the poem:

Person in the poem The various purposes the pencil is used by them

1. Tommy To draw all sorts of things

 2. Father To keep score when playing
3. Mother To write a washing list

Appreciation

1. Can the pencils journey from the mantle piece the holder be compared to
the journey of life of all human beings?

Ans. The pencils journey is very much similar to the journey of life of human
beings. People are born, they grow, undergo both joy and sorrow in their journey,
work for living, grow weary from over work, grow old and feeble and finally pass
away, put in a coffin.

2. Pick out the lines from the poem in which you find example for
personification.
I scrawl when Tommy has me and draw all sort of things.
I write a lovely letter when miss Phyllis is about.
If I make mistakes
If I slip never am allowed to grow up as I ought
Im getting shorter every day
I ache in evenly joint
My speech is always dark
For when Im meditating
When my last few hours have come
 EARTHQUAKE

Answer the following:

1. How long did the earthquake last? What was the effect?

Ans. The earthquake lasted less than five minutes. Its epicenter was in a valley
near Garhwal. Six hundred and two villages were destroyed. It brought the
centuries old mountains crashing, reduced the villages to rubble, to snuff out
hundreds of lives.

2. Describe the boys family.

Ans. The boys father had died after an illness fourteen months before the
earthquake. He lived with his mother who took care of the family, his
grandmother, brother, Nilu, aged ten and a sister, Bhuli aged two. They lived in a
two storeyed stone house built by his great grandfather.

3. How did the army help the people?

Ans. The army blasted the rocks and cleared the way for army rescue teams. The
soldiers began to clear the debris and set up a makeshift camp. The soldiers
handed over the bodies to the surviving relatives. They had done all they could.
 4. Did Brij return to Panipat? Why?

Ans. Brij returned to Panipat, opened a teashop and continued to serve tea free
of cost, to tired travellers, thereby thanking the army officer in spirit, who had
helped him.

5. How could Brij start his own tea-shop? Where was it?

Ans. Brij worked in a road side dhaba outside Panipat and had saved most of his
earning. He quit the job and returned to Garhwal and with a little help, he started
his shop there. He was at peace.

ALL STORIES ARE ANANSIS

C1. Read the questions given below and discuss the answers to them with your
friends.

1. Who owned the stories in the beginning?

Ans. In the beginning Nyame the Sky God owned the stories.

2. Who wanted to own them later?

Ans. Anansi the spider wanted to own them later.

3. The price to be paid were three things. They were Mmoboro, the hornets,
Onini the python and Osebo the leopard.
4. Did Anansi agree to pay the price?

Ans. Yes, Anansi agreed to pay the price.

5. Why did Anansi pour water on himself and over the hornets?
Ans. Anansi poured water on himself and over the hornets because he wanted to
make them believe that it was raining.

6. What did Anansi capture in the hornets?

Ans. Anansi captured Mmoboro the hornets in the gourd through a small hole.

7. What dispute did the spider have with his wife?

Ans. Anansis wife felt that the Python Onini was not long and short and weak
than a bamboo pole. Anansi disagreed with this and it led to the dispute.

8. What suggestion did Onini give to find out the truth about his length?

Ans. Onini suggested that to measure him against the length of the bamboo pole
to find out the truth about his length.

9. Why did Anansi tie Onini at one end of pole?

Ans. Anansi tied Onini at one end of pole because when Onini stretched at one
end he was getting shorter at the other end.

10. Where and why did Anansi dig a pit?

Ans. Anansi dug a deep pit in the forest to capture the leopard Osebo.

11. Why did Anansi bend a tall green tree over the pit?

Ans. Anansi bent a tall green tree towards the ground over the pit in order to pull
out Osebo from the pit.

12. Why did the Sky God offer Anansi all the stories?

Ans. Anansi was offered all the stories by Sky God Nyame because he had
brought Mmoboro the hornets, Onini the Python and Osebo the leopard to
Nyame.

13.Why should anyone acknowledge before telling a story?

Ans. Anyone should acknowledge before telling a story because all stories and
tales now belong to Anansi.

C2. Answer the following questions:

1. Describe how Anansi captured the hornets for the sky God?

Ans. Anansi first cut a gourd from a vine and made a small hole in it. He took a
large calabash and filled it with water. He went to the tree where the hornets
lived. He poured some of the water over himself, so that he was dripping. He
threw some water over the hornets making them all wet. Then he put the
calabash on his head, as though to protect himself from a storm and called out to
the hornets and asked them, why they were staying in the rain. He told them to
go into the gourd through the small hole. When the last of them had gone in,
Anansi plugged the hole with a ball of grass. He took the gourd full of hornets to
Nyame, the sky of God.

2. Explain how the Python got trapped?

Ans. Anansi went to the forest and cut a long bamboo pole and some strong
vines. Then he walked toward the house of Onini, the Python talking to himself
that his wife was stupid to say that Onini is shorter and weaker than that bamboo.
Hearing this Onini offered to be measured against the bamboo to solve the
dispute. Anansi laid the pole on the ground and the python came and stretched
himself out beside it. Anansi told that the Python was a little short. When the
python stretched at the head he was shorter at the tail and vice-versa. So with his
consent Anansi tied Oninis head and tail firmly to the poll. He wrapped the vine
around Onini until he was unable move.

3. What method did the spider Kwaku Anansi adopt to get the leopard as a
price demanded for the ownership of all tales and stories of the world?

Ans. Anansi went into the forest and dug a deep pit where the leopard was
accustomed to walk. He covered it with small branches and leaves and put dust
on it, so that it was impossible to tell where the pit was. Osebo came prowling in
the black night, he stepped into the trap and fell to the bottom. Next morning
Anansi went to the pit and saw the leopard there. Osebo asked help from Anansi.
He bent a tall tree towards the ground, so that its top was over the pit and he tied
it that way. Then he tied a rope to the tree and dropped the other end of it into
the pit. Anansi asked Osebo to tie the rope to his tail, who did as told. Next he
took his knife and cut the other rope, the one that held the tree bowed to the
ground. The tree straightened up with a snap, pulling Osebo out of the hole and
he hung in the air upside down. Anansi killed him and took his body to Nyame
The sky God.

C.3 Read the following statement carefully and in pairs discuss the points you and
in pairs discuss the points you would like to include in your justification. Elaborate
each point.

With wisdom and knowledge one can achieve the impossible. Justify the
statement with reference to Kwaku Anansi, the spider.

Ans. Kwaku Anansi ,the spider wanted to be the owner of all stories in the world.
He went to Nyame, the Sky God to purchase the stories. Nyame said that he was
willing to sell the stories, but the price was very high. Rich and powerful families
were not able to pay. The Sky God then asked three things as price; Mmoboro,
the hornets, Onini the Python and Osebo, the leopard. Anansi agreed. Though
he did not have the physical strength to defeat them, he used his wisdom and
great knowledge and achieved the impossible. He made the hornets get into the
gourd, tied the Python to the pole and he tied the leopard to the tree using his
wisdom and knowledge. Thus he was able to achieve what the great warriors and
chiefs were not able to do it.

Language acitivities:

Vocabulary

VI. Use the following words in sentences of your own:

a. Yearn: Subhash Chandra Bose yearned for the freedom for the country.
b. Plug: The machine operator plugged his ears with cotton balls before he
started the high sounding machine.
 c. Accustomed : My mother-in-law is accustomed to go to the temple
everyday.
d. Onward: The onward journey was peaceful.
e. Acknowledge: The students acknowledge their lack of preparedness.
f. Measure: The milkman measured the quantity of milk before giving.

V2. Which of the following expressions do you think are appropriate:

Choose the right one:

a. A shining star/a glittering star

b. A busy traffic/a heavy traffic
c. A stomach ache/a stomach pain
d. Backside the house/behind the house
e. A severe fever/ a high fever

G1. Here are some sentences from the lesson. Can you supply a suitable question
tag to each one of them, choosing from the box given below:

1. I can do it, ..? (Cant I)

2. I should first have Mmoboro? (shouldnt I)
3. I will bring them, .? (wont I)
4. Osebo you are half foolish ? (arent you)
5. My wife is stupid, ..?(isnt she)
6. I give them more respect, .?(dont I)
7. My opinion was not good as my wifes, ..?(wasnt)

S1. Write a sentence for each of the following situation making a polite request
(Could you please ., Id appreciate may I have . Please)

1. Asking for a glass of water:

Please give me a glass of water.
2. Asking for a ticket to Delhi.
Could you please give me a ticket to Delhi?
3. Asking for the exam time-table.
May I have the exam time-table please?
 4. Asking for a bottle of pickle at the dining table.
May I have an ice cream please?
5. Asking your grandma to tell a story.
Could you please tell me a story grandma?

THE BOLD PEDLAR AND ROBIN HOOD

C1. Read the poem silently and answer the following questions:
1. How was the pedlar travelling?

Ans. The pedlar put his pack all on his back and trudged across the grassy
land.

2. Who did the pedlar meet on the road?

Ans. The pedlar met Robin Hood and his faithful follower Little John on the
road.

3. What did the pedlar have in his pack?

Ans. The pedlar had several suits of bright green silk and two or three silken
bow-strings.

4. What did Little John want from the pedlar?

 Ans. Little John wanted one half of the pack from the pedlar.

5. What did the pedlar boldly claim?

Ans. The pedlar boldly claimed that nobody can ask or take half of his pack and
said that if they could defeat him in a duel and they can take the entire lot.

6. How did the pedlar protect his pack?

Ans. The pedlar pulled off his pack and put it below his knee and stood against
it.

7. Why did Little John request the pedlar to stop fighting?

Ans. Little John requested the pedlar to stop because he was too tired to fight.

8. What challenge did Robin Hood put before little John?

Ans. Robin Hood challenged Little John saying that he could defeat both the
pedlar and him.

9. Who won the second fight?

Ans. The pedlar won the second fight.

10.What was the pedlars identity?

Ans. The pedlars identity was Gamble God of the gay green woods.

C2. Discuss the following questions in groups and answer:

1. Who were Robin Hood and Little John? Why did they attack the pedlar?

Ans. Robin Hood and Little John were two troublesome men. They attacked the
pedlar because he did not give them one half of his pack.

2. Describe the struggle between

a. The pedlar and Little John and the outcome
 Ans. The pedlar did not agree to give one half of the pack. So he protected his
pack by pulling off and put it a little below his knee. Little John drew his sword
and fought with the pedlar. They fought until they both were tired. The outcome
of the fight was Little John cried and prayed to him to stop fighting.

b. The pedlar and Robin Hood and the outcome

Ans. When Little John asked Robin Hood to fight with the pedlar. Robin Hood
arrogantly said that he could defeat both the pedlar and Little John. Then he drew
his sword, fought with the pedlar till the blood flowed from both of them in
streams. Robin Hood couldnt defeat the pedlar and he requested him to stop
fighting.

3. Robin Hood calls the pedlar his cousin. How is the fact revealed?

Ans. When the pedlar revealed that he was Gamble Gold of the gay green woods
and travelled far beyond the sea for killing a man in his fathers land and was
forced to flee his country. Robin Hood realized that he was his mothers own
sisters son. They both were cousins.

4. Little John and Robin Hood lose to the pedlar. Yet the ballad ends on a
happy note. Give reason.

Ans. Both little John, the follower and Robin Hood, the master get defeated in
this combat with the pedlar. Though lost in the fight. Robin Hood shows humility
asking pedlars identity. When the pedlar asks their identity he discloses his
identity. Robin hood says they are near cousins because their mothers are sisters.
Thus the ballad ends on a happy note.

C3. Answer the following:

1. Little John and Robin Hood are chivalrous men. How do they take their
defeat? Was it right to do so? Why?

Ans. Little John and Robin Hood were brave and chivalrous men. They challenged
the pedlar for a duel, who was boldly selling his packs. Both of them get defeated
by the pedlar in turn. Instead of getting upset, they admired the pedlar for his
prowe. This shows their chivalrous nature. It is the right thing do because a
person who is braver and stronger deserves to be respected and appreciated. This
is the characteristic of a chivalrous person.

2. If Robin Hood and Little John had not shown humility , how do you think
the ballad would have ended?

Ans. If Robin Hood and Little John had not shown humility at their defeat they
would have been killed by the pedlar. Instead of merry friendship and happy
ending, the story would have ended in a tragedy with the death of Robin Hood
and Little John.

3. The pedlar stands for integrity. Do you agree with this view? Justify your
answer.

Ans. The pedlar did not get scared seeing Robin Hood and Little John and did not
give up his wares when they demanded. Instead he challenged them to a duel. He
did not accept defeat, but fought them bravely and overpowered them. When he
was asked to reveal his identity, he told them the true story. He said that he was
from Greenwoods and he was forced to flee because he had killed a man who had
ventured into his fathers land. This reveals that he stands for integrity.
 ON SAYING PLEASE

A. Answer the following questions in a word, phrase or a sentence:

1. Why was the passenger thrown out of the lift?

Ans. the passenger did not say Top please but just said Top. The lift operator
felt insulted and threw him out.

2. What would happen if we were given the liberty to box peoples ears?

Ans. If we were given liberty to box peoples ears, our fists would never be idle
and the gutters of the city would run with blood all day.

3. What can the law not compel us to do?

Ans. The law cannot compel us to say please ears, or use a polite tone while
speaking to others.
 4. What according to the author, is the difference between physical pain and
pain of the wound caused of the self respect?

Ans. The physical pain passes away soon but the pain of a wound to our self
respect or our vanity may poison a whole day.

5. What is the first and the most important requirement of civility?

Ans. The first requirement of civility is that we should acknowledge a service.

6. What did the polite conductor do for the author?

Ans. When the author boarded on a bus and found that he was utterly penniless
he told the conductor that he would go back. The conductor said, thats all
right and issued him a ticket cheerfully.

7. Who had trampled on the authors sensitive toe?

Ans. His friend, the conductor trampled on the authors sensitive toe.

8. The polite conductor to

a. Left blind man at the bus exit.
b. Told Bill to take him across the road.
c. Told Bill, the driver, to wait and took him, himself, across the road.
d. Forced him out of the bus.

Ans. Forced him out of the bus.

9. Why was there a very fine weather on the polite conductors bus always?

Ans. There was always a very fine weather on the polite conductors bus because
his own civility, polite speech and good humour infected his passengers.

10.What according to the people is the cause for the dampening of the
everyday civilities?

Ans. The everyday civilities diminish or dampen due to the war of ego between
the people. The harmonious atmosphere is spoiled by the rudeness of an egoist
person.
 11.Civilities can be got back in our day to day life by

a. evoking the law b. being more civil

c. Paying rudeness d. by punishing an uncivil person

Ans. b. being more civil

C2. Discuss the following questions in a group and answer:

1. Can law enforce civility? Why?

Ans. No, law cannot enforce civility. The law can be enforced only when there is
physical violence. But the law cannot enforce or compel one to say please or
thank you. The law does not consider the hurting of our feelings as a case of
compensation. The law does not have any compensation for moral and the
intellectual damage. The law cannot become the guardian of our private manners.

2. How does bad temper affect ones life?

Ans. Bad manners are infectious. Bad manners do more to poison the stream of
the general life than all the crimes in the calendar. When a man gets insulted by
someone, he passes it on to someone else below his social standing and in the
same manner, it keeps passing from one to another and the world gets infected
with ill humours.

3. Discuss the importance and effects of good manners.

Ans. Good manners are also infectious. Just like the sunny weather brightens up
peoples spirits, good behavior or manners also brighten up the day. If we are
civil, humorous towards others, we will get the same response from others.

4. List out the instances in which the polite conductor showed his civil
behavior. Do you approve of his behavior? Why?

Ans. Once the author had forgotten his wallet and got into the bus. The
conductor instead of asking him get down, gave him the ticket asking him to pay
the next time he saw him. Another day, the authors toe was trampled by the
conductor but he apologized vey politely. The author noticed that the conductor
was very helpful to both the old and the young alike. The author greatly
appreciated of the conductor towards the blind man. He told the driver Bill to
wait and took the blind man himself across the road. His behaviour made
everyone cheerful and his gaiety was not a wasteful luxury but a sound
investment.

5. How could the lift man take a polite and effective revenge? Suggest a way
to do so?

Ans. The lift man could take a polite and effective revenge instead of getting
upset and sending the man out of the lift if he had treated the gentleman who
was not civil, with elaborate politeness. He would have had the victory not only
over the rude man but over himself and that is the victory that counts.

C3. Answer the following:

1. It is easy to be civil at all times. Do you agree? Why?

Ans. It is quite difficult to be civil all the times because people all around the
world, have different behaviour. One is expected to be polite and good
mannered. One can practice to be civil because what we think will we become.
Therefore we must always try to become more civilized. If we are civil it makes
others civil too. The polite man may lose material advantage but gains spiritual
victory. It is easy to be civil if one has determination and patience.

2. Suggest some ways to encourage people to adopt civil behaviour.

Ans. a. We need to have a smile on our face.

b. If someone is uncivil, we need not respond in the same manner. We

should be civil.

c. Help others. Be flexible.

 d. Make good friendship.

e. Being civil makes us human.

f. Being civil does not require any monetary expenditure.

GEOGRAPHY LESSON

C1. Read the poem silently and answer the questions:

1. What did the poet see from the jet?

Ans. The poet saw the earth from the jet as reduced to the scale six inches to a
mile. He saw the ground had looked haphazard, unplanned and without style.

2. The words haphazard and unplanned are used to describe

a. The scale b. the sky c. the jet d. the cities

Ans. d. the cities

3. From high above the earth, ow did the cities appear to the poet?

Ans. From high above the earth, the poet saw that cities were developed in
unplanned manner. The cities appeared where rivers ran and human population
was thicker in the valleys.
 4. From a higher altitude what lesson could the poet learn about the cities?

Ans. From a higher altitude the poet could learn that man had started to settle
near river banks and valleys as the man was attracted to both land and water.

5. According to the poet, what was in greater proportion on earth?

Ans. According to the poet greater portion of the earth is covered by the sea. This
he observed from the jet at a height more than six miles.

6. According to the poet, what do men of earth do?

Ans. According to the poet, the men on earth hate each other. Man builds walls
across cities, develops hatred between groups of people and kills others.

C2. Discuss the following questions:

1. From above, the city looked haphazard and unplanned. Why do you think
the city looked so?

Ans. The city looked haphazard and unplanned without style. People
constructed buildings, buses, houses, shops and offices as they liked without
planning of the city.

2. Geographically what is the importance of rivers and railways? Explain their

importance with reference to the second stanza of the poem?

Ans. Man started living near the river banks to cultivate crops. Valleys are used
for grazing the animals. The civilization began from the river valleys because
water and vegetation nourished them.

3. The last stanza shows the degradation of human nature. Do you agree with
this view? Justify.

Ans. Human population is divided on the basis of caste, language, race sex
education, money, religion etc. Man has found causes to hate each other and to
kill others. This nature builds walls across cities. This has led to degradation.
C3. Ponder over the following questions and express your views in the answer:

1. The picture of the earth zooms out in the poets mind and against that back
ground we see human nature. Bring out the contrast between the earth
and human nature.

Ans. the earth is giving everything to human race without receiving anything from
them. The earth which zooms out in the poets mind is of one huge land mass
appears smaller and smaller as he goes away from it and looks like a round ball.
Geographically walls and boundaries are constructed as man encroached a part of
the land and he became selfish. This selfishness grew at greater speed and that
built barriers of greater height among people, created hatred that resulted in
wars.

2. Imagine planet Earth having only water and no land. Do you think man
would still draw boundaries and wage wars? Discuss with your friends.

Ans. It is difficult to create boundaries on water. It will not be physically possible

for him to claim a certain part of water as his own. But due to mans thinking
process, he might still wage wars and treat others with hatred and spite.
 THE STORY TELLER

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:

1. Who were the occupants of the carriage?

Ans. The occupants of the carriage were a small girl and a smaller girl and small
boy. Their aunt sat in one corner and opposite to her sat a bachelor.

2. What questions haunted Cyril, when he saw sheep in the field?

Ans. When Cyril saw sheep in the field he asked why the sheep were being
driven out of that field to another, why is the grass in the other field better.

3. What made the aunt decide that the bachelor was a hard and
unsympathetic man?

Ans. During their journey in the railway carriage the three small children got
bored and restless. Their innumerable questions with why could not be
answered by their aunt. Seeing the distractions by the children and unsuccessful
effort of the aunt, the bachelors frown was changing to a scowl. Seeing this, the
aunt decided that the bachelor was a hard and unsympathetic man.

4. Who saved the little girl in the aunts story?

Ans. The little girl was saved from a mad bull by a number of rescuers who
admired her moral character.

5. Name the little girl I the bachelors story.

Ans. The name of the little girl in the bachelors story was Bertha.

6. What remark of the bachelors story created a wave of reaction in favour of

the story?

Ans. The word horrible in connection with goodness was a novelty that
commended itself. It seemed to introduce a ring of truth that was absent from the
aunts tales of infant life.

7. How did the prince of the country come to know about Bertha?

Ans. The prince of the country came to know about Bertha from everybody who
talked about her goodness.

8. How did the prince of the country honour Bertha?

Ans. The prince of the country allowed Bertha to walk in his park once a week
which was outside the town. It was an honour to her because no children were
allowed in it.

9. Why was it a great honour for Bertha being allowed into the Princes park?

Ans. It was a great honour for Bertha being allowed into the Princes park
because no children were allowed into the park.

10. When did Bertha begin to wish that she had never been allowed into the
park?
Ans. When Bertha saw that the wolf had started chasing her, she began to wish
that she had never been allowed into the park.

11.The wolf located Bertha while she was hiding in the bushes by
a. Sniffing around
b. The clinking sound of the medals
c. Her spotlessly white and clean pinafore.

Ans. b) The wolf located Bertha while she was hiding in the bushes by the clinking
sound of the medals.

12.What was the aunts reaction to the Bachelors story?

Ans. The aunt did not agree that the bachelors story was proper to tell to young
children. He had undermined the effect of years of careful teaching.

C2. Answer in a few lines:

1. How did the Bachelor describe:

a. The pigs in the park: The bachelor said that there were lots of little pigs
running all over the place. They were black with white faces, white with
black spots, black all over, grey with white patches and some were white all
over. They had eaten all the flowers.
b. The fish in the park: There were ponds with gold and blue and green fish in
them.
c. The wolf in the park: The wolf which came prowling into the park was
enormous. It was mud colour all over, with a black tongue and pale grey
eyes that gleaned with unspeakable ferocity.
2. What qualities of Bertha earned her three medals?

Ans. Bertha won several medals for goodness. She earned a medal for obedience
another medal for punctuality and a third for good behavior.

3. Give reasons for:

 a. The absence of sheep in the princes park: There were no sheep in the
princes park because his mother had a dream once that her son would
either be killed by a sheep or else by a clock falling on him.
b. The absence of flowers in the princes park: There were no flowers in the
Princes park are because the pigs had eaten them all.
c. Bertha feeling sorry for the absence of flower in the princes park: Bertha
had promised her aunts that she would not pick any of the kind princes
flowers and she had meant to keep her promise. Therefore it made her feel
silly to find there were no flowers to pick.
4. What are the two different thoughts of Bertha on her being extraordinarily
good when she was in the princes park?

Ans. Bertha was happy about being extra ordinarily good because she was the
only girl who was permitted to get into the princes park and take a walk once in a
week. But later when she saw a wolf stealing towards her, she was nervous and
felt she shouldnt have entered the princes park. She felt bad for being extra
ordinarily good.

C3. Answer the following:

1. How did the metals earn respect for Bertha as well as cause her death?

Ans. Bertha was an extremely well behaved girl and won medals for obedience.,
punctuality and good behavior which are pinned on her dress everyday. Everyday
people talked about her dress and the prince of the country got to hear about it
and allowed her to walk once a week in his park. This was the special respect for
her. Once when she was in the park, Bertha saw a wolf stealing towards her. She
hid herself behind a bush. Being unable to trace her the wolf tried to go in search
of a pigling. But when Berthas medals clinked as she trembled, the wolf turned in
to the bush, pounced on her and had a meal.

2. The aunt terms the bachelors story a most improper one. Do you agree
with her? Give reasons.
Ans. I dont agree with her. A proper story need not end happily everytime. The
bachelors story had the qualities of good story like raising curiosity at every
moment, taking unpredicted turns and ending with a climax that catches listeners.

3. What elements in the bachelors story appealed to the children?

Ans. The girls indeed liked the story. They opined that the story began badly and
it had a beautiful ending with immense decisions. The bigger of the girls said that
it was the most beautiful story that she ever heard.

4. How would have the story ended if Bertha had not pinned the medals on
her pinafore?

Ans. if Bertha had pinned the medals on her pinafore, the wolf would not have
heard the sound of the medals, clinking. The wolf would not have noticed her
hiding behind the bushes.

V2. Which of the following expressions is correct?

1. A flock of birds/a flight of birds.

2. A swarm of insects/a colony of insects.
3. A herd of goats/a flock of goats
4. A troupe of actors/ a company of actors.
5. A wad of bank notes/a roll of bank notes
6. A pack of cards/ a deck of cards
7. A team of experts/ a panel of experts
8. A bunch of grapes/ a cluster of grapes

Match the words in column A with their meaning in column B

A B

1. Banish a. expel
2. Humble b. modest
3. Domiciles c. the place where a person lived
4. Foul-smelling d. striking
5. Predator e. an animal that hunts, kills and eats other animals
 6. Flip f. turn quickly

Ans. 1 a, 2 b, 3 c, 4- d, 5 - e, 6 -f

ETHICS

C1. Read the poem silently and answer the following questions:
1. What question did the teacher used to ask every time?

Ans. The teacher used to ask if there were a fire in a museum which would you
save, a Rembrandt painting or an old woman who hadnt left any years to live.

2. Were the children able to answer the question correctly?

Ans. No, the children were not able to answer the question correctly.

3. The children responded to question _______________

a. By debating on the question enthusiastically
b. Half heartedly
c. By giving different answers at different time

Ans. (b) half heartedly

4. Where is the speaker working when the speaker narrates this incident?

Ans. The speaker is working in a museum when she narrate the incident.

5. What had the speaker realized after many years?

Ans. The speaker realized that woman and painting and season are almost one.
Ethics and moral values can be only learned from experience and maturity.
C2 1. Pick out the expression in the poem that indicates the question did not
interest the children.

Ans. The expression half heartedly indicates that the question did not interest
the children.

2 The children were restless on hard chairs because ______________

a. they were eager to answer the question immediately
b. They were unable to understand the ethics dilemma
c. The hardness of the chair affected their calmness

Ans. (b) they were unable to understand the ethics dilemma

3. The images half heartedly and half imagined could mean.

a. The children perceived the idea of ethical responsibility very faintly
b. The ethical dilemma was beyond their understanding and experience
c. Children could not understand the gravity of the question

Ans. (b) the ethical dilemma was beyond their understand and experience

C3. Discuss with your friends if the poem is only about a lesson of ethics
learnt in school or if it offers something higher than this

Ans . The poem begins with the memory of an ethics class the poet herself
attended. The question in case of a fire which is worth saving a famous
painting or an old woman is beyond the comprehension of children who
answered differently in each time. A mature person who understands the
ethical values only will be able to answer such question. But the poem carries
a higher message. It is not just a lesson to be learnt in school. It is a question of
human values. As the time passes the old piece of art and the veterans in the
society do not drow much of the attention of the children. They understand
the value of both only in the later half of their life.

C4. List a few ethics you have to follow in the situations given below:

a. Place of work: We should be sincere and kind towards others and co-
workers. Never speak ill about the company.
b. Place of learning (a school/class): We should be obedient, disciplined and
attentive in the class. We should be hard working, punctual and no teasing
or hurting the classmates.
c. Place of worship: We should maintain silence and peace, cleanliness and
sanctity.
d. Place of living: We should respect the elder, parents and maintain cordial
relationship with everyone, who are living with us.
 AN ASTROLOGERS DAY

I. Answer the following

1. What articles did the astrologer carry?

Ans. The astrologer carried a dozen cowries, shells, a square piece of clothe with
obscure mystic charts on it, a note book and bundle of Palmyra writing.

2. What were the different names given by the nuts vendor for his business?

Ans. Bombay ice cream, Delhi almond and Rajas Delicacy were the different
names given by the nuts vendor for his business.

3. What kind of life would the astrologer have in his own village?

Ans. If the astrologer had stayed back in his own village he would have carried
on the work of his ancestors that is tilling the land, marrying and growing old in
his cornfield and ancestral home.

4. How much did the astrologer charge for his new clients?

Ans. The astrologer charged three paisa per question for his new clients.

5. Why did the astrologer remain silent for at least ten minutes, initially?

Ans. The astrologer silently listened to his clients for first ten minutes. This
provided him sufficient information to answer to the clients questions.

6. What was the signal for the astrologer to bundle up?

Ans. The nuts vendor blew out his lamp and rose to go home. This was the signal
for the astrologer to bundle up.
 7. How much did the astrologer demand from his new client to answer the
question?

Ans. At first the astrologer demanded five rupees. Then they agreed at eight
annas to answer the questions.

8. What did the astrologer ask Guru Nayak to do?

Ans. The astrologer asked Guru Nayak to return to his village immediately and
never travel southwards again.

II. Answer the following:

1. Why did the astrologer have no light of his own for his business?

Ans. The astrologer was satisfied with whatever light was available from shop
lights, a couple of hissing gaslights, some naked flares stuck on the poles. In fact
the astrologer did not want to be in light. He just wanted to read the face of the
clients. He did not want the clients to read his face because actually he did not
know anything about astrology.

2. Why did the astrologer close his business when the nuts vendor blew out
his face?

Ans. When the nuts vendor blew out his flare and rose to go home. It was a
signal for the astrologer to bundle up too, since it left him in darkness except for a
little shaft of green light which strayed in form somewhere and touched the
ground before him.

3. How efficient was astrologer in his business?

Ans. He had a working analysis of mankinds troubles, marriage, money and the
tangles of humanities. Long practice had sharpened his perception. Within five
minutes, he understood what was wrong. He would silently listen to them for first
ten minutes which provided him sufficient information to answer their questions.
He would make some statements which would be true for all in general. But the
person in stress will be convinced and impressed easily.

4. When shall I get him?

a. Who was this question asked to?

Ans. This question was asked to the astrologer.

b. Who does I refer to?

Ans. I refers to Guru Nayak whose palm the astrologer was reading.

c. Why does the speaker want to get him?

Ans. The speaker wants to get him to take revenge.

5. You look worried. What is wrong?

a. Who is the speaker?

Ans. The speaker is the astrologers wife.

b. Who does you refer to?

Ans. You refers to the astrologer.

c. Why was he worried?

Ans. He was worried because he saw the man whom he thought he had
killed.

III. Answer the following:

1. Why did the astrologer run away from his village?

Ans. The astrologer as a youngster was very silly. He drank, gambled and
quarreled with other people. Once, under the spell of alcohol he had fought with
a man stabbed and pushed him down a well, thus tried to kill him. He had thought
that the man died and ran away from his village to escape punishment.

2. In the story do you think the astrologer should be punished for his crime?
 Ans. Yes, I think the astrologer should be punished for crime because he tried
to kill that man.

3. Describe how the astrologer felt at the end of the story.

Ans. When he was young, he used to think and quarrel with people. He had
attacked a man and stabbed him and left him to die. He ran away from his village
and settled in a town in the guise of an astrologer. So when he came to know that
the man was not dead, he felt that a great load had gone from him and felt
relieved.

4. Describe the fate and change in the story.

Ans. Fate played a decisive role in the story. The astrologer as a youngster,
while he was drunk fought with a man, stabbed him, pushed him into a well and
left him thinking that he was dead. But, the game of the fate was that, some
passerby saved him. Then the youngster ran away from the village to a distant
town and lived in the disguise of an astrologer. Fate again brought the man to the
astrologer, he challenged the astrologer to tell if he would succeed in his search.
The astrologer identified the person, told all his bad incidents and cautioned him
to go back to the village, not to come to south again for his good fate.

5. Does this story make you think that all astrologers are false? Write about
it?

Ans. This story is about a person who has taken astrology as a mask to protect
himself and earn a living. After running away from home he had taken it as a
disguise. He doesnt have any basic knowledge of astrology. He is only skilled in
reading peoples problems and giving some advice to console them. But that
doesnt mean that all astrologers are false. There are many astrologers who have
taken it as profession after a deep study for many years.

6. How has R.K Narayan portrayed the attractive appearance of the

astrologer?

Ans. The astrologer had a very imposing appearance. His forehead was
resplendent with sacred ash and vermilion and his eyes sparked with a sharp,
abnormal glean which was really an outcome of a continued searching look for
customers.

Match the phrases with their meanings and use them in sentences of your own:

a. On account of owing to
The school will remain closed on 14.11.2013 on account of Thulasi festival.
b. To bear with to put up with

We have to bear with intolerable difficulties.

c. In the midst of in the middle of

We saw a beautiful flower in the middle of a park.
d. To be accustomed to to get used to
The students have to be accustomed to life skills.
e. To take a new turn to begin a new course
My sons life took a new turn yesterday.
f. Bereft of deprived of
Bereft of her husband, the wife fell down unconsciously.

Goodbye party for Miss Pushpa T.S

I. Answer the following:
1. What do you think is the Occasion for the poem?

Ans. The occasion for the poem is a send off party to Miss Pushpa T.S who is
going abroad.

2. What impression do you get about Miss Pushpa after reading the poem?or
what kind of a person do you think Miss Pushpa is?

Ans. Miss Pushpa is from well-to-do family. She is well known for her external
and internal beauty. She is always cheerful pleasant looking, hard working and
popular among people.

3. Write in 2 or 3 sentences about Miss Pushpas family.

 Ans. Miss Pushpa comes from a very high family. Her father was a famous
advocate in Bulsar or Surat.

4. Pick out the lines from the poem which reveal or indicate that Miss Pushpa
was liked by all?

Ans. She is most popular lady with men also and ladies also reveal that Miss
Pushpa was liked by all.

5. What traits of Miss Pushpa does the poet appreciate?

Ans. The poet appreciates Miss Pushpa for her cheerfulness. He says that she is
a sweet person. She does not have any arrogance. She is popular among men
and women. She shows good spirit of working.

6. How would you consider the poem? A farewell address or a welcome

speech? Justify your answer.

Ans. The poem is a farewell address. The speaker and the audience are quite
knowledgeable about her character attitude and achievement. In the poem there
is a mention that they have assembled there to wish her bon voyage.

7. There are few expressions in the poem which are typically Indian. Identify
these expressions.

Ans. The expressions which are typically Indians are:

a. Departing for foreign e. once only I stayed in Surat.

b. You are all knowing f. with men also and ladies only
c. Smiling and smiling g. just now only I will do it
d. Very high family h. that is showing good spirit

8. Would you consider Miss Pushpa as a handsome person? Justify your

answer.

Ans. Miss Pushpa is a good looking person. The statement what a sweetness is
in Miss Pushpa not only external sweetness but internal sweetness tells us that
she must be a good looking person.
 9. Would you consider this poem as making a gentle fun of the people who
cannot speak English properly? Justify your answer.

Ans. In this poem the poet is making a gentle fun of the people who cannot
speak English properly, he doesnt mean to hurt anyone. He is trying to show us
how Indians have Indianised the English language. English language is not a
mother tongue or native language. There is a tendency in people to transliterate
the language while speaking.

C2.Imagine you are Miss Pushpa. Prepare a thanks giving speech in response to
this speech in the poem.

Ans. My dear colleagues and friends, it gives me pleasure to be a part of this send
off party. You have recognized my ability, achievement and all my qualities and
appreciated it. Thank you very much for wishing me better luck. I have learnt a lot
here. Thank you one and all.

C3. Explain the following lines with reference to context:

1. Surat? Ah, yes only I stayed in Surat _____________

a. Who does I here refer to?

Ans. I here refer to Pushpas colleague.

b. Why is the reference of Surat made here?

Ans. Miss Pushpas father was a renowned advocate from a very high family in
Surat. Once the speaker stayed in Surat with family members of his/her uncles
family.

c. Is this remark apt in the context?

Ans. No, it is not contextual.

2. Just now only I will do it.

a. Who does I here refer to?
 Ans. Here I refers to Miss Pushpa

b. What does it mean here?

Ans. Here it means any task given to Miss Pushpa for completion.

c. What does this show of the I referred here?

Ans. It shows that Miss Pushpas dedication to her work. She does any work
given to her quickly and cheerfully.

C4. As explained earlier in this poem, the poet is making a gentle fun of the
people who cannot speak English properly.

Here are a few phrases/lines from the poem. Correct the mistakes wherever
necessary and rewrite them.

Lines from the poem Corrected lines/phrases

1. In two three days in two or three days

2. You are all knowing All of you are knowing
3. External sweetness looks beautiful
4. Internal sweetness goodness of heart
5. Smiling and smiling go on smiling
6. Very high family very well-to-do
7. I am not remembering I dont remember
8. Once only I stayed in Surat Only once I stayed in Surat
9. With men also and ladies also with both men and women
10.Just now only I will do it I will do it now
11.That us showing good spirit that shows good spirit
12.I am always appreciating I always appreciate
13. anybody is asking anybody asks
14. .. always saying yes always say yes
15. will do summing up will sum up
 A Dream of flight

I. Answer the following questions:

1. dWhich book took the author into A dream of flight?

Ans. The book The invention of the Aeroplane 1799-1909 written by Charles H
Gibbs Smith took the author into a dream of flight .

2. When did the author find the book?

Ans. The author found the book amidst a heap of leather bound volumes in an
old book shop two days before.

3. What did the book explain?

Ans. The book explained in great detail mans eternal longing and hope that led
to innumerable trials, most of which ended as disasters and subsequent
experimentation arising from various inventions used for flight before the advent
of Aeroplane as we know of it today.

4. How was the bird man dressed to fly?

Ans. The bird man had tied himself with bat like wings made from wood and
cloth, covered with birds feathers.

5. What happened to the bird man when he jumped from the tower?

Ans. When the bird man jumped from the tower instead of flying free in the sky
like a bird, he tumbled down inverted totally out of control and crashed on the
ground and died.

6. Who were the first aerial passengers?

Ans. The first aerial passengers were a sheep, a hen and a duck.

II. Answer the following:

1. Describe the balloon in which first aerial passengers flew.

Ans. It was a mammoth globular fabric envelope with its bottom open and
decorated with colourful motifs. As the sphere was filled with hot air produced by
the flames from fire arranged below and heaven from side to side, four persons
cut off the ropes which held it down. The crowd watches open mouthed as the
spherical balloon started to fly upwards and drifted across the sky. A sheep, hen
and a duck placed in the basket of the balloon became the first air passengers.

2. How did Otto Lilienthal make an attempt to fly?

Ans. Otto Lilienthal prepared a strange craft built from wood and fabric. He
brought it out of a shed built atop a big hill. Comprising of two 6m long bat like
wings on top of one another with a horizontal and a vertical surface behind, this
craft had a ring shaped frame between the wings. Lilienthal stepped inside the
frame and with his arms supporting the ring , ran forward. Within a few steps,
Lilienthals craft started floating in the air. Hanging beneath, Lilienthal glided for a
long distance and touched down at the bottom of the hill.

3. How has the author describes Orville Wrights flight in to the air?

Ans. The Wright brothers had invented a two-winged machine which stood on a
long wooden rafter and took it to Kitty Hawk dunes in North Carolina. Orville
Wright was lying prone in the middle over the bottom wing.

A small internal combustion engine by his side turned a pair of two bladed
paddle wheels through long bicycle chains. Wilbur Wright freed the rope holding
the machine and it surged forward. Moving about 12 miles per hour, it suddenly
lifted up and started flying in the air.

Answer the following:

1. Man had at last devised a contraption with which he could launch himself
from a hill and glide down to the ground.
 a. Who has made this contraption?

Ans. Sir George Coyly had made this contraption.

b. How did it work?

Ans. Sir George Coyly put his carriage chauffeur inside and gave a big push.
The vehicle started rolling on its wheels and rushed towards the valley below
when it gathered speed and started floating in the air, it touched down on the
other side of the valley.

2. List out the persons from the lesson who made brave attempts to fly?

Ans. In 1496 A.D. many men attempted to fly by tying wings on them. But they
could not succeed.

In 1783 A.D. three animals - a sheep, a hen and a duck were sent in a hot
air balloon in France.

In 1853 A.D. Sir George Coyly built a contraption which floated for
sometime before touching down.

In 1891 A.D. Otto Lilienthal built a glider successfully.

In 1903 A.D. The Wright Brothers built a machine which flew for a while.

3. What does the lesson inspire you to do?

Ans. The lesson A Dream of flight inspires us to dream of greater things and
put efforts in achieving it or making the dream a reality.
 PHOTOGRAPH

I. Answer the following:

1. How many are there in the photograph?

Ans. There are three people, the poets mother and poets cousins Betty and
Dolly in the photograph.

2. How is the poet related to the people in the photograph?

Ans. One is poets mother and the other two are the poets girl cousins.

3. Who was taking the snapshot?

Ans. The poets uncle was taking the snapshot.

4. Is the mother described in the photo alive?

Ans. No, she is dead.

5. Which aspect of the mother does the poet like very much?

Ans. The poet likes the smiling and sweet face of the mother very much.

II. Answer the following:

1. Why does the writer say?
And of this circumstance
There is nothing to say at all
Its silence silences.

Ans. The writer said this because his mother is no more and he/she does not
have words to express to describe the feeling.

2. Does the poet notice any change in the mother after the poet was born?
What do you think, could have made the change in the mothers face, if any
was there?

Ans. The poet notices the change in the mothers face after the poet was born.
This could have been because of age and ill health as she had lost the sweet face
and stopped smiling.

3. Why are the feet described transient feet.

Ans. The feet is described with an adjective transient here to represent that
the impression they make on the sand is quite temporary, they get washed off by
the waves. Even if the feet represent the human life, human life is also short one
compared the unchanging longevity of the sea.

III. Answer the following:

1. What is the mood of the poet?

Ans. The mood of the poet is that of sadness. The poet calls the past again and
he/she feels sad because his/her mother is no more.
 2. Which line in the poem do you like the most? Why?

Ans. I like the line there is nothing to say at all. It is silence. The poet expresses
his mothers past joyful movements and in these lines he remains silent because
his mother is no more.

3. Is there any change in the life of the poets mother over the years? What
kind of a person, you think, she was. Describe the mother in the poem in
your own words.

Ans. The poem depicts a change in the poets mothers life. She had a smiling
face, a sweet face which indicates that she was happy in her life. But as time
passed she changed with responsibilities and worries. She would laugh at the
photograph, recalling her past, but her present was, not happy. The transient
feet indicates that her happiness was also short living one.
 BALAI

I. Answer the following:

1. How is Balai related to the writer?

Ans. Balai is Tagores elder brothers son. When Tagores brother went to
England for higher studies, the motherless child was left in the care of Tagore and
his wife.

2. What kind of a boy was Balai?

Ans. Balai was a sensitive boy and extremely attached to plants. The trees,
flowers, sky, rain, grass were living creatures to him and he used to talk to them.
He would get upset if anyone broke a branch or plucked a flower or even hit a
tree. He was anguished when the grass cutter mowed the grass.

3. What traits in Balai do you admire most?

Ans. Balai was extremely attached to plant and trees. He was hurt when some
one broke a branch or plucked a flower or even hit a tree. He was very much
upset when the grass cutter came to mow the lawn. This quality towards plant
and trees is very admirable.

4. Why didnt Balai want the grass-cutter to cut the plants?

Ans. Balai had an emotional attachment with plants and grass. He had watched
countless wonders in the grass, small creepers, nameless violet and yellow
flowers, tiny in size, here and there, a night shade, whose blue flowers have a
little golden dot at the centre, medicinal plants near the fence, a kalmegh here
and an anantamul there, neem seeds left by birds, sprouting into plants,
spreading on the lawn of grass. So he didnt want the grass cutter to cut the
plants.

5. What do you think is the message in the story?

Ans. The message in the story is that every creation of nature is equal and
important. The plants also have life and have to be treated with respect.