Class 10 English First Flight
Chapter 1 A Letter to God
Oral Comprehension Check
Page 5
Question 1.
What did Lencho hope for?
Answer:
Lencho hoped for a good rain as it was much needed for a good harvest.
Question 2.
Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?
Answer:
Lencho compared the raindrops with new coins because they were promising him a
good harvest resulting in more prosperity.
Question 3.
How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields?
Answer:
The rain changed into hailstones as a strong wind began to blow and huge
hailstones began to fall alongwith the rain. All the crops in Lencho’s field
got destroyed because of the weather conditions.
Question 4.
What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped?
Answer:
Lencho was filled with grief after the hail stopped as everything was ruined
and there was nothing that he could feed his family with. He could see a bleak
future for him and his family.
Page 6
Question 5.
Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?
Answer:
Lencho had firm faith in God. He believed ‘ that God sees everything, even what
is deep in one’s conscience and help everyone in one’s problems. He wrote a
letter to God demanding him a hundred pesos to sow his field again.
Question 6.
Who read the letter?
Answer:
Postmaster read the letter.
Question 7.
What did the postmaster do after reading a letter?
Answer:
The postmaster laughed when he read
Lencho’s letter but soon he became serious and was moved by the writer’s faith
in God. He didn’t want to shake Lencho’s faith. So, he decided to collect
,money and send it to Lencho on behalf of God.
Page 7
Question 8.
Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?
Answer:
Lencho was not surprised to find a letter with money from God as he believed
that God will help him.
Question 9.
What made Lencho angry?
Answer:
There were only seventy pesos in the envelope whereas Lencho had demanded a
hundred pesos. The difference in the amount made him angry.
Thinking about the
Text (Page 7,8)
Question 1.
Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Which sentences in the story tell you
this?
Answer:
Lencho has complete faith in God as he is instructed that God knows everything
and helps us in our problems. There are few sentences which show this
·
But in the
hearts of all who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley,
there was a single hope help from God.
·
All through
the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as
he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience.
·
“God”, he
wrote, “if you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year”.
·
He wrote ‘To
God’ on the envelope, put the letter inside and still troubled, went to town.
·
God could
not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested.
Question 2.
Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter God?
Answer:
The postmaster sends money to Lencho in order to keep
Lencho’s faith in God alive and firm as he was completely moved by it.
When postmaster reads the letter of Lencho to God, he becomes serious and does
not want to shake his faith and decides to answer the letter. He gathers money
with the help of his post office employees and friends on behalf of God and
signs the letter ‘God’ so that Lencho’s faith does not get shaken.
Question 3.
Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why or why not?
Answer:
Lencho did not try to find out who had sent the money to him because he never
suspected the presence of God and had complete faith in God. He could not
believe that it could be – anybody else other than him who would send him the
money.
His faith in God was so strong that he believed that he had sent money to him
for his help in his problem.
Question 4.
Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the
situation? (Remember that the irony of a situation is an unexpected aspect of
it. An ironic situation is strange or amusing because it is the opposite of
what is expected).
Answer:
Lencho thinks that the post office employees have taken the rest of the money
as he had demanded a hundred pesos from God and in the letter there was only
seventy pesos and God cannot make such a mistake. So, he assumes that they have
stolen the money.
The irony in this situation is that Lencho suspects those people who helped him
in his problem and tried to keep his faith alive in God.
Question 5.
Are there people like Lencho in the real world? What kind of a person would you
say he is? You may select appropriate words from the box to answer the
question.
·
Greedy
·
Naive
·
Stupid
·
Ungrateful
·
Selfish
·
Comical
·
Unquestioning
Answer:
It is almost impossible to find a person like Lencho as he is an unquestioning
and naive kind of person. He is not stupid if he doesn’t know who has sent him
money or a letter will reach God without any address. It is Lencho’s faith in
God. In real world, people are selfish and greedy and Lencho is totally lovable
and different.
Question 6.
There are two kinds of conflict in the story between humans and nature and
between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?
Answer:
Conflict between Humans and Nature: The conflict between humans and nature
is illustrated by the destruction of Lencho’s crop by the hailstorm as Lencho
was expecting a good rain to have good harvest as that was the only hope he had
for his earning. He worked so hard to feed his family, but nature turned
violent and destroyed everything.
Conflict between Humans and Humans: The story also illustrated another
conflict, between humans themselves as the postmaster alongwith his friends and
staff sent Lencho money that Lencho demanded from God although they didn’t know
Lencho. Lencho blamed them for taking away some amount of money. He called them
“a bunch of crook”. This shows that man does not have faith in other man,
thereby giving rise to this conflict.
Thinking about Language
(Page 8,9,10,11)
1. There are different names in
different parts of the world for storms, depending on their nature. Can you
match the names in the box with their descriptions below, and fill in the
blanks?
·
gale,
·
whirlwind,
·
cyclone,
·
hurricane,
·
tornado,
·
typhoon.
Question 1.
A violent tropical storm in which strong winds move in a circle c__.
Answer:
cyclone
Question 2.
An extremely strong wind __ a __.
Answer:
gale
Question 3.
A violent tropical storm with very strong wind __ p __.
Answer:
typhoon
Question 4.
A violent storm whose centre is a cloud in the shape of a funnel __n__.
Answer:
tornado
Question 5.
A violent storm with very strong winds, especially in the Western Atlantic
Ocean __ r__.
Answer:
Hurricane
Question 6.
A very strong wind that moves very fast in a spinning movement and causes a lot
of damage __l__.
Answer:
whirlwind
Question 7.
Match the sentences in column A with the meaning of ‘hope’ in column B.
Answer:
|
A |
B |
||
|
1. |
Will you
get the subjects you want to study in college? I hope so. |
(a) |
a
feeling that something good will probably happen. |
|
2. |
1 hope
you don’t mind my saying this but 1 don’t like the way you are arguing. |
(b) |
thinking
that this would happen (it may or may not have happened.) |
|
3. |
This
discovery will give new hope to HIV/AIDS sufferers. |
(c) |
stopped
believing that this good thing would happen. |
|
4. |
We were
hoping against hope that the judges would not notice our mistakes. |
(d) |
wanting
something to happen (and thinking it quite possible) |
|
5. |
1 called
early in the hope of speaking to her before she went to school. |
(e) |
showing
concern that what you say should not offend or disturb the other person a way
of being polite. |
|
6. |
Just
when everybody had given up hope, the fishermen came back, seven days after
the cyclone. |
(f) |
wishing
for something to happen, although this is very unlikely. |
Answer:
1. (b)
2. (e)
3. (a)
4. (f)
5. (d)
6. (c)
3. Join the sentences given below
using who, whom, whose, which, as suggested.
Question 1.
I often go to Mumbai. Mumbai is the commercial capital of India, (which)
Answer:
I often go to Mumbai which is the commercial capital of India.
Question 2.
My mother is going to host a TV show on cooking. She cooks very well, (who)
Answer:
My Mother who cooks very well, is going to host a TV show on cooking.
Question 3.
These sportsperson are going to meet the President. Their performance has been
excellent, (whose)
Answer:
These sportspersons, whose performance has been excellent, are going to meet
the President.
Question 4.
Lencho prayed to God. His eyes see into our minds, (whose)
Answer:
Lencho prayed to God, whose eyes see into our minds.
Question 5.
This man cheated me. I trusted him. (whom)
Answer:
This man whom I trusted cheated me.
4. Find sentences in the story with
negative words, which express the following ideas emphatically.
(a) The trees lost all their leaves.
(b) The letter was addressed to God himself.
(c) The postman saw this address for the first time in his career.
Answer:
(a) Not a leaf remained on the trees.
(b) It was nothing less than a letter to God.
(c) Never in his career as a postman had he seen that address.
5. In pairs, find metaphors from the
story to complete the table below. Try to say what qualities are being
compared. One has been done for you.
|
Object |
Metaphor |
Quality
or Feature Compared |
|
Cloud |
Huge
mountains of clouds |
The mass
or ‘hugeness’ of mountains |
|
Raindrops |
||
|
Hailstones |
||
|
Locusts |
An ox of
a man |
An
epidemic (a disease) (hat spreads very rapidly and leaves many people dead |
Answer:
|
Object |
Metaphor |
Quality
or Feature Compared |
|
Cloud |
Huge
mountains of clouds |
The mass
or ‘hugeness’ of mountains |
|
Raindrops |
Coins |
Money
that a good crop will bring |
|
Hailstones |
Frozen
pearls |
brightness
of pearls |
|
Locusts |
a plague
of locusts |
An
epidemic (a disease) that spreads very rapidly and leaves many people dead |
|
Lencho |
An ox of
a man |
strong |
Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela : Long
Walk to Freedom
Oral
Comprehension Check
Page 18,19
Question 1.
Where did the ceremonies take place ? Can you name any public buildings in
India that are made of sandstones?
Answer:
The ceremonies took place in the campus of the Union Building of Pretoria,
which were attended by dignitaries and leaders of many nations. In India;
Rashtrapati Bhavan and Red Fort are buildings made of red sandstone.
Question 2.
Can you say how 10th May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Answer:
As South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, may falls in the autumn season.
Thus 10th May is an ‘autumn day’.
Question 3.
At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions “an extraordinary human
disaster”. What does he mean by this? What is the “glorious human achievement”
he speaks of at the end?
Answer:
By ‘an extraordinary human disaster’ Mandela means to state the practice of
apartheid in South Africa. During this there was a racial segregation based on
colour and the blacks suffered a lot. They were not allowed to demand freedom
or any right. Mandela himself did spend many years on infamous ‘Robben Island’
as a prisoner where he was beaten mercilessly. He considered it as great
glorious human achievement that a black person became the President of a
country where the blacks were not even considered human beings and were treated
badly.
Question 4.
What does Mandela thank the international leaders for ?
Answer:
Mandela felt very privileged to welcome the international leaders at the
swearing – in ceremony because not too long ago, the South Africans were
considered outlaws. He thus thanks all of them for having come to witness the
historical ceremony. This was a gesture of international recognition to a newly
born free democratic nation and it could be considered as a common victory for
justice, peace and human dignity.
Question 5.
What ideals does Nelson Mandela set for the future of South Africa?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela set the ideals of liberating people from bondage of poverty,
deprivation and suffering. He also set the ideal for a society where there
would be no discrimination based on gender or racial origins.
Page
21
Question 1.
What did the military generals do ? How did their attitude change and why?
Answer:
The highest military generals of South African defence force saluted Mandela
and pledged their loyalty which was of great significance as during apartheid
era they would have arrested him. The change in their attitude was because of
struggle and sacrifices put in by many heroes of South Africa. This struggle
not only ensured the freedom of a nation struggling with apartheid, bur brought
a change in mindsets of many. He believed that love can also be taught and
human being is naturally inclined towards love rather than hate.
Question 2.
Why were two national anthems sung?
Answer:
One the auspicious occasion of the inauguration two national anthems: one by
the Whites and the other by the Blacks symbolising the equality of the Blacks
and the Whites were sung.
Question 3.
How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country
(i) in the first decade, and
(ii) in the final decade, of the twentieth century?
Answer:
(i) In the first decade of the century, the whites erected a system of racial
domination against the blacks, thus creating the basis of one of the harshest
and most inhumane societies the world had ever known.
(ii) In the final decade of the 20th century, the . previous system had been
overturned and replaced by one which recognised rights and freedom of all
people regardless of color of their skin.
Question 4.
What does courage mean to Mandela?
Answer:
For Mandela courage does not mean the absence of fear but a victory over fear.
According to him brave men need not be fearless but should be able to conquer
fear.
Question 5.
Which does Mandela think is natural, to love or to hate?
Answer:
For Mandela, love comes more naturally to the human heart than hate.
Page
4
Question 1.
What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Answer:
Mandela mentions that every man has twin obligations. The first is to his
family, parents, wife and children; the second obligation is to his people, his
community and his country.
Question 2.
What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student ? How does he
contrast these “transitory freedoms” with “the basic and honourable freedoms”?
Answer:
Like any other kid, for Mandela freedom meant to make merry and enjoy the
blissful life. Once one becomes an adult, antics of childhood looks like
transitory because most of the childish activities are wasteful from an adult’s
perspective. Once you are adult, you have to earn a livelihood to bring the
bacon home. Its only then when you get an honourable existence in the family
and in the society.
Question 3.
Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/why not?
Answer:
Mandela does not think that the oppressor is free because according to him an
oppressor is a victim of hatred who is behind the bars of prejudice and
narrow-mindedness. He realises that both the oppressor and the oppressed are
robbed of their humanity and peace.
Thinking
about the Text
(Page
24)
Question 1.
Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration ?
What did it signify the triumph of?
Answer:
To be the part of the inauguration, international leaders showed a gesture of
solidarity from international community to the idea of end of apartheid. It was
the significance of the victory of good over evil and triumph of a tolerant
society without any discrimination.
Question 2.
What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African
patriots”, who had gone before him ?
Answer:
By saying that he is simply the sum of all those African patriots, Mandela
wants to pay his tribute to all the people who have sacrificed their lives for
the sake of freedom. He says that he is grateful to those who had gone before
him because those heroes of past had paved the path of co-operation and unity
for him. Therefore, he could try to come to power to bring equality for his
people with their support.
Question 3.
Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”?
How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this
argument ?
Answer:
I agree with the statement that depths of oppression create heights of
character. Nelson Mandela illustrates this by giving examples of great heroes
of South Africa like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu and others who were inspired
to sacrifice their lives in the long freedom struggle.
India is full of such examples, during our freedom struggle there was a galaxy
of leaders of great characters and the oppression of British rule created and
encouraged people of noble characters like Mahatma Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai, JL
Nehru, Chandra Shekhar Ajad, Sardar Bhagat Singh and many more. If we compare
them with the quality of political leaders India is having today, then Nelson
Mandela seems to be absolutely right;
Question 4.
How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
Answer:
With age and experience, Mandela understood the real meaning of freedom. As a
young boy, he thought that he was born free and believed that as long as he
obeyed his father and abided by the customs of his tribe, he was free in every
possible manner. As he grew older, freedom to raise a family and freedom to
earn livelihood started dominating his thoughts. Gradually he realised that he
was selfish during his boyhood. He slowly understood that it was not just his
freedom that was being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. It was the
freedom from fear and prejudice. Age and experience widened his perspective of
freedom.
Question 5.
How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Answer:
Mandela realised in his youth that it was not just his freedom that was being
curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. This changed the fearfulman to a
fearless rebel.
He sacrificed the comforts of a settled family life to fight for a greater
cause. He joined the African National Congress and this changed him from a
frightened young man into a bold one who fought against racial prejudice.
Thinking
about Language
(Page
24,25,26)
Questions
1. There are nouns in the text (formation, government) which are formed from
the corresponding verbs (form, govern) by suffixing – (at)ion or ment. There
may be change in the spelling of some verb – noun pairs ; such as rebel,
rebellion; constitute, constitution.
Make a list of such pairs of nouns and verbs in the text
|
Noun |
Verb |
|
Rebellion |
Rebel |
|
Constitution |
Constitute |
2. Here are some more examples of ‘the’
used with proper names. Try to say what these sentences mean. (You may consult
a dictionary if you wish. Look at the entry for ‘the’)
(i) Mr Singh regularly invites the Amitabh Bachchans and the Shah Rukh Khans to
his parties.
(ii) Many people think that Madhuri Dixit is the Madhubala of our times.
(in) History is not only the story of the Alexanders, the Napoleons and the
Hitlers, but of ordinary people as well.
3. Match, the italicised phrases in Column A with the phrase nearest meaning in
Column B.
(Hint: First look for the sentence in the text which the phrase in column A
occurs.)
|
A |
B |
|
|
1. I was not unmindful of the fact. |
(i) |
had not forgotten : was aware of the fact |
|
(ii) |
was not careful about the fact |
|
|
(iii) |
forgot or was not aware of the fact |
|
|
2. When my comrades and I were pushed to our limits |
(i) |
pushed by the guards to the wall |
|
(ii) |
took more than our share of beatings |
|
|
(iii) |
felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer |
|
|
3. To reassure me and keep me going |
(i) |
make me go on walking |
|
(ii) |
help me continue to live in hope in this very difficult
situation |
|
|
(iii) |
make me remain without complaining |
|
|
4.
The basic and honourable freedoms of… earning my keep… |
(i) |
earning
enough money to live on |
|
(ii) |
keeping
what I earned |
|
|
(iii) |
getting
a good salary |
Answers:
1. Ans:
|
Noun |
Verb |
|
Rebellion |
Rebel |
|
Constitution |
Constitute |
|
Formation |
Form |
|
Government |
Govern |
|
Obligation |
Oblige |
|
Transformation |
Transform |
|
Discrimination |
Discriminate |
|
Deprivation |
Deprive |
|
Demonstration |
Demonstrate |
|
Oppression |
Oppress |
|
Imagination |
Imagine |
2. Ans:
(i) : This means that Mr Singh regularly invites famous personalities as
of the calibre of Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to his parties.
(ii) This means that Madhuri Dixit is compared to a landmark in acting in the
form of legendary actress Madhubala.
(iii) This means that history is not only the story of the great fighters and
leaders such as Alexander, Napoleon and Hitler, but also of ordinary people.
Chapter 3 Two Stories About Flying
I. His First Fight
Thinking about the Text
(Page 36)
Question 1.
Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are
afraid to make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others? Do
you think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first step?
Answer:
The young seagull was afraid to fly because it was his first flight and he
feared of falling and hurting himself. He thought that his wings would not
support him while flying. Yes, it is natural that doing something for the first
time is a bit challenging and fearful. All birds must be afraid to make their
first flight.
Similarly, a human baby is also afraid of taking the first step and find it
challenging when he learns to crawl or stand up without support.’
Question 2.
“The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled
the young seagull to finally fly?
Answer:
The young seagull was very hungry. It was this hunger that ultimately compelled
it to fly. Its hunger intensified when it saw its mother tearing at a piece of
fish that lay at her feet. It cried to her, begging her to get some food. When
its mother came towards it with food in her beak, it screamed with joy and
anticipation. However, she stopped midway. It wondered why she did not come
nearer. Not being able to resist or controfits hunger any longer, it dived at
the food in its mother’s beak. At that moment, his hunger overpowered his fear
of the great expanse of sea beneath the cliff. Finally, this plunge was
followed by the natural reaction of its body, i.e. to fly.
Question 3.
They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and
mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?
Answer:
Seagull’s parents had tried everything but he was reluctant to fly due to fear
of falling down. He looked at his brothers and sister but wouldn’t make any
efforts. Thats why the whole family had left him alone and threatened and
cojoled him to come but every effort went in vain.
Question 4.
Have you ever had a similar experience, where your parents encouraged you to do
something that you were too scared to try? Discuss this in pairs or groups.
Answer:
(Suggested Answer) Yes, I had a similar experience while leaning to ride a
bicycle in class VI. In my initial attempts, I fell down everytime and
developed a fear of cycling which was difficult to overcome.
No amount of provoking and cajoling could let me try it again, but my father
encouraged me to overcome the fear and helped me as he was adamant on my
learning cycling. He took me on a mound near village and made me sit and asked
me to put my hands on the handle and feet on the paddle. It sped down and I
enjoyed it without fear which developed my confidence.
Thus, I overcame my fear of cycling and started riding a cycle after a few
practice
Question 5.
In the case of a bird flying, it seems a natural act, and a foregone conclusion
that it should succeed. In the examples you have given in Answer to the
previous question, was your success guaranteed, or was it important for you to
try, regardless of a possibility of failure?
Answer:
We face some problems in the initial stage while learning new skill. Due to the
fear of failure, we hesitate to perform a task or to do something new. In case
of the seagull his parents cajoled him to fly. In the example I have given in
the answer of previous question, I was cajoled by my father to learn cycling. So,
at that stage, I was to learn cycling as it was very important for me to
overcome my fear.
Yes, my success was guaranteed because if someone is determined to do something
then success is assured. Moreover as said, practice, makes a man perfect.
II. The Black Aeroplane
Thinking about the Text
(Page 40)
Question 1.
“I’ll take the risk”. What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?
Answer:
A huge storm was brewing up and the author was
keen to reach his home to spend his holiday with his family. So, he decided to
fly through the storm as he did not want to miss the chance to meet his family
at breakfast. Thus he took the risk even when the visibility was almost zero in
the storm.
Question 2.
Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.
Answer:
As the pilot (author) entered the storm, his plane started jumping and
twisting. He could not see anything outside the plane as it was black. When he
looked at compass and other instruments they had stopped to function due to
storm. It was a terrible and fearsome experience for him. The fuel tank was
almost empty and he could not fly more than ten minutes. Then he saw another
black aeroplane by his side and the pilot of the plane signalled him to follow.
It was a surprise for the narrator as the other black plane was having no
light. He followed him without any choice and landed safely on the runway.
Question 3.
Why does the narrator say, “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the
old Dakota…”?
Answer:
Seagull’s parents had tried everything but he was reluctant to fly due to fear
of falling down. He looked at his brothers and sister but wouldn’t make any
efforts. Thats why the whole family had left him alone and threatened and
cojoled him to come but every effort went in vain.
Question 4.
What made the woman in the Control Centre look at the narrator strangely?
Answer:
The woman in the Control Centre looked at the
narrator strangely because the narrator asked him about the black aeroplane and
she saw no one except the narrator’s in the sky during the storm. Even the
radar showed only the narrator’s plane that night in the sky.
Question 5.
Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among
yourselves and give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
It is very difficult to say about the unknown pilot who helped the narrator.
But probably it was the narrator himself that helped him to overcome the fear
in the storm as no other plane was seen in the radar except the narrator’s
Dakota plane. In that fearsome situation, he might have been hallucinating. He
himself was a good pilot and brave enough who helped himself land safely.
Thinking about Language
(Page 40)
Question 1.
Study the sentences given below.
(a) They looked like black mountains.
(b) Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black.
(c) In the black clouds near me, I saw another aeroplane.
(d) The strange black aeroplane was there.
The word ‘black’ in sentences (a) and (c) refers to the very darkest colour.
But in (b) and (d) (here) it means without light/with no light.
‘Black’ has a variety of meanings in different contexts. For example:
(a) ‘I prefer black tea’ means ‘I prefer tea without milk’.
(b) ‘With increasing pollution the future of the world is black’ means With
increasing pollution the future of the world is very depressing/without hope’.
Now, try to guess the meanings of the word ‘black’ in the sentences given
below. Check the meanings in the dictionary and find out whether you have
guessed right.
Questions.
1. Go and have a bath, your hands and face are absolutely black____ .
2. The taxi-driver gave Ratan a black look as he crossed the road when the
traffic light was green____.
3. The bombardment of Hiroshima is one of the blackest crimes against
humanity____.
4. Very few people enjoy Harold Pinter’s black comedy____.
5. Sometimes shopkeepers store essential goods____.
6. Villagers had beaten the criminal black and blue____.
Answers:
1.A. The meaning of ‘black ’ in this sentence is that the face and hands are
dark because of dust and dirt.
2.A. Here, ‘black’ refers to an angry look.
3.A. “Here, ‘blackest’ refers to the darkest and cruellest crime against
humanity.
4.A. Here, ‘black’ refers to dark and gloomy comedy.
5.A. The meaning of ‘black’in this sentence is that the shopkeepers sell the
described goods ‘at a higher price’.
6.A. Here, ‘black’means that the criminal suffered excessive beating at the
hands of the villagers.
Question 2.
Look at these sentences taken from the lesson you have just read:
(a) I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane.
(b) The young seagull had been afraid to fly with them.
In the first sentence the author was controlling an aircraft in the air. In the
second sentence the seagull was afraid to move through the air, using its
wings.
Match the phrases given under Column A with their meanings given under Column
B:
|
A |
|
B |
|
|
1. |
Fly a flag |
(a) |
Move quickly/suddenly |
|
2. |
Fly into rage |
(b) |
Be successful |
|
3. |
Fly along |
(c) |
Display a flag on a long pole |
|
4. |
Fly high |
(d) |
Escape from a place |
|
5. |
Fly the coop |
(e) |
Become suddenly very angry |
Answer:
1. (c),
2. (e),
3. (a),
4. (b),
5. (d).
Chapter 4 From the
Diary of Anne Frank
Activity
(Page 49)
Question 1.
Do you keep a diary? Given below under A are some terms we use to describe a
written record of personal experience. Can you match them with their
descriptions under ‘B’?
(You may look up the terms in a dictionary if you wish.)
|
A |
B |
|
|
(i) |
Journal |
A book
with a separate space or page for each day, in which you write down your
thoughts and feelings or what has happened on that day |
|
(ii) |
Diary |
A full
record of a journey, a period of time or an event, written every day |
|
(iii) |
Log |
A record
of a person’s own life and experiences (usually, a famous person) |
|
(iv) |
Memoir(s) |
A
written record of events with times and dates, usually official |
Answer:
|
A |
B |
|
|
(i) |
Journal |
A full
record of a journey, a period of time or an event, written every day |
|
(ii) |
Diary |
A book
with a separate space or page for each day, in which you write down your
thoughts and feelings or what has happened on that day |
|
(iii) |
Log |
A
written record of events with times and dates, usually official |
|
(iv) |
Memoir(s) |
A record
of person’s own life and experiences (usually, a famous person) |
Question 2.
Here are some entries from personal records. Use the definitions above to
decide which of the entries might be from a diary, a journal, a log or a
memoir.
1. I woke up very late today and promptly got a scolding from Mum! I can’t help
it — how can I miss the FIFA World Cup matches?
2. 10:30 a.m. Went to the office of the Director 01:00 p.m. Had lunch with
Chairman 05:45 p.m. Received Rahul at the airport 09 : 30 p.m. Dinner at home
3. The ride to Ooty was uneventful. We rested for a while every 50 km or so and
used the time to capture the magnificent landscape with my HandyCam From Ooty
we went on to Bangalore. What a contrast! The noise and pollution of this
once-beautiful city really broke my heart.
4. This is how Raj Kapoor found me – all wet and ragged outside RK Studios. He
was then looking for just someone like this for a small role in ‘Mera Naam
Joker and he cast me on the spot. The rest, as they say, is history.
Answers:
(1) Diary
(2) Log
(3) Journal
(4) Memoir
Oral Comprehension
Check
Page 51
Question 3.
What makes writing in a diary a strange experience for Anne Frank?
Answer:
Writing in a diary was a strange experience for Anne Frank as she never had a
diary and it was a gift on her 13th birthday. She considered it her best friend
on which she relied the most and with whom she shared all her ups and downs.
Question 4.
Why does Anne want to keep a diary?
Answer:
Anne always feels lonely and distressed so to get off all the burden and pain
she wants to keep a diary in which she finds a true friend as she has hardly
any friends whom she could confide in.
Question
5.
Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in people.
Answer:
Anne felt that paper had more patience than people to listen to her plight. So,
it was easier for her to write all kind of thoughts which she had in her mind.
Her personal diary was not meant for any one else to read.
Question
6.
Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life?
Answer:
By providing the brief sketch of her life, Anne wants to give an overview of
her family, relatives and her age. This helps the reader to develop a
connection with the author.
Question
7.
What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother?
Answer:
Anne lived with her grandmother for sometime while her parents setded down in
Holland. She was very close to her Grandmother. She writes in her diary . “No
one knows how often I think of her and still love her”. On her 13th birthday by
lightening up one candle for Grandmother she shows her love for her.
Page
54
Question
8.
Why was Mr Keesing annoyed with Anne? What did he ask her to do?
Answer:
Mr Keesing was annoyed with Anne because she was very talkative. He punished
her by giving her extra homework to write essays to keep her silent and the
topics always related to her nature.
Question
9.
How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essay?
Answer:
Anne justified her being a chatterbox in her essay by explaining that it is due
to her mother who was also very talkative and nobody could do anything about
their inherited traits.
Question
10.
Do you think Mr Keesing was a strict teacher?
Answer:
No, Mr Keesing was not a bad or strict teacher because a teacher did something
for the welfare of his students. Any teacher would be annoyed if children keep
on talking in the class. Secondly, if he had been strict he would not have
laughed at Anne’s funny arguments.
Question
11.
What made Mr Keesing allow Anne to talk in class?
Answer:
Anne’s last essay in the form of a poem showed Mr Keesing the lighter side of a
naughty child. It helped bridge the generation gap between the teacher and the
student.
Thinking
about the Text
(Page 54)
Question
1.
Was Anne right when she Said that the world would not be interested in the
musings of a 13 year old girl?
Answer:
Yes, Anne was right when she said so because most of the people don’t want to
give importance to a child’s perspective toward the world because they are too
immature for the world. But Anne Frank has become one of the most discussed of
all holocaust victims. Her ‘diary’ has been translated into many language
Question
2.
There are some examples of diary or journal entries in the ‘Before You Read’
section. Compare these with what Anne writes in her diary. What language was
the diary originally written in? In what way is Anne’s diary different?
Answer:
Anne’s diary was entirely different from most of the examples given before the
text. It was somewhere closer to the memoir in which the name of Raj Kapoor has
been mentioned. It was originally written in Dutch. It has informal tone which
exudes the careful nature of a teenager.
Question
3.
Why does Anne need to give a brief sketch about her family? Does she treat
‘Kitty’ as an insider or an outsider?
Answer:
Anne gave an introduction of her family in the ‘diary’ because it was hard to
make other realise that a 13 years old teenager could write about her
loneliness. Kitty was an ‘outsider’ which was gifted by her parents on her 13th
birthday but she considered it her best friend and treated it as an insider.
Question
4.
How does Anne feel about her father, her grandmother, Mrs Kuperus and Mr
Keesing? What do these tell you about her?
Answer:
Anne has fond of memories of her father, grandmother, Mrs Kuperus and Mr
Keesing, who have left indelible impressions on her mind and affected her life
a lot. The way she represents all of them in her diary reveals that Anne was
very good at understanding people and at developing interpersonal relations.
Question
5.
What does Anne write in her first essay?
Answer:
Mr Keesing asked her to write an essay on the topic ‘A Chatterbox’ as
punishment. In the essay : she accepted the drawbacks of being talkative but
argued that it was in her genes as her mother was also very talkative. It was
difficult to give up the habit and it was also a student’s trait. Even Mr
Keesing laughed at the argument she had given.
Question
6.
Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Is Mr Keesing unpredictable?
Answer:
Anne took perfect example of Mr Keesing as an unpredictable teacher because Mr
Keesing seemed to be indifferent towards Annes’ behaviour. Earlier he laughed
but later he allowed Anne to talk in the class post reading her essays.
Question
7.
What do these statements tell you about Anne Frank as a person?
1. We don’t seem to be able to get any closer and that’s the problem. Maybe
it’s my fault that we don’t confide in each other.
2. I don’t want, to jcft; down the facts in this diary the way most people
would, but I want the diary to be my friend.
3. Margot went to Holland in December and I followed in February, when I was
plunked down on the table as a birthday present for Margot.
4. If you ask me, there are so many dummies that about a quarter of the class
should be kept back, but teachers are the most unpredictable creatures on
Earth.
5. Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces between the words, but the trick
was to come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking.
Answers:
1.A. Anne is reserved.
2.A. She is self-confident and inventive.
3.A. She is humorous as well.
4.A. Anne is intelligent.
5.A. She has a sense of propriety and convincing attitude.
Thinking
about Language
(Page 55,56,57)
Question
1.
Match the compound words under A with their meanings under ‘B’. Use each in a
sentence.
|
S.No. |
A |
B |
|
|
1. |
Heart-breaking |
(a) |
Obeying
and respecting the law |
|
2. |
Homesick |
(b) |
Think
about pleasant things, forgetting about the present |
|
3. |
Blockhead |
(c) |
Something
produced by a person, machine or organisation |
|
4. |
Law-abiding |
(d) |
Producing
great sadness |
|
5. |
Overdo |
(e) |
An
occasion when vehicles/machines stop working |
|
6. |
Daydream |
(f) |
An
informal word which means a very stupid person |
|
7. |
Breakdown |
(g) |
Missing
home and family very much |
|
8. |
Output |
(h) |
Do
something to an excessive degree |
Answers:
1. (d),
2. (g),
3. (f),
4. (a),
5. (h),
6. (b),
7. (e),
8. (c).
Question
2.
Now find the sentences in the lesson that have the phrasal verbs given below.
Match them with their meanings. (You have already found out the meanings for
some of them.) Are their meanings the same as that of their parts? (Note that
two parts of a phrasal verb may occur separated in the text.)
|
1. |
Plunge
in |
(a) |
Speak or
write without focus |
|
2. |
Kept
back |
(b) |
Stay
indoors |
|
3. |
Move up |
(c) |
Make
(them) remain quiet |
|
4. |
Ramble
on |
(d) |
Have a
good relationship with |
|
5. |
Get
along with |
(e) |
Give an
assignment (homework) to a person in authority (the teacher) |
|
6. |
Calm
down |
(f) |
Compensate |
|
7. |
Stay in |
(g) |
Go
straight to the topic |
|
8. |
Make up
for |
(h) |
Go to
the next grade |
|
9. |
Hand in |
(i) |
Not
promoted |
Answers:
1. (g),
2. (b),
3. (h),
4. (a),
5. (d),
6. (c),
7. (b),
8. (f),
9. (e).
Question
3(a).
Here are a few sentences from the text which have idiomatic expressions. Can
you say what each means? (You might want to consult a dictionary first.)
1. Our entire class is quacking in its boots.
2. Until then, we keep telling each other not to lose heart.
3. Mr Keesing annoyed with me for ages because I talked so much.
4. Mr Keesing was trying to play a joke on me with this ridiculous subject, but
I’d make sure the joke was on him.
Answers:
1. Shaking with fear and nervous.
2. Not to think about negative side, but hope for the best.
3. For quite a long time.
4. Joke would be on him only.
Question
3(b).
Here are a few more idiomatic expressions that occur in the text. Try to use
them in sentences of your own.
1. Caught my eye
2. He’d had enough
3. Laugh ourselves silly
4. Can’t bring myself to
5. Break somebody’s heart
6. Close/Dear to heart
7. From the (bottom of your) heart
8. Have a heart
9. Have a heart of stone
10. Your heart goes out to somebody .
Answer:
1. Caught my eye While I was in the market, a beautiful purse had caught my
eye.
2. He’d had enough The teacher said that they’d had enough and he wanted all
the notebooks by Wednesday.
3. Laugh ourselves silly He laughed ourselves silly on his stupid jokes.
4. Can’t bring myself I can’t bring myself to terms with this tragedy.
5. Break somebody’s heart It is not a good habit to break somebody’s heart.
6. Close to heart I am very close to my father’s heart.
7. From the (bottom! of your) heart I thank you from the bottom of my heart for
being my mentor.
8. Have a heart I request you to have a heart and look again at my application.
9. Have a heart of stone It is said that people like Hitler have a heart of
stone.
10. Your heart goes out to somebody As I looked at shabbily dressed up
children, my heart went out to them.
Chapter 5 The Hundred Dresses – I
Oral Comprehension Check
Page 65
Question 1.
Where in the classroom does Wanda sit and why?
Answer:
Wanda Petronski used to sit on the corner most benches, lost in her world,
where rough boys usually sat. She was a very poor, shy and quiet girl and did
not want to mess with others so she preferred to sit in isolation.
Question 2.
Where does Wanda live? What kind of a place do you think it is?
Answer:
Wanda lives upon Boggins Heights, where poor people live. It is not a developed
area and is covered with mud. There are no proper roads or streets and it is a
kind of slum.
Question 3.
When and Why do Peggy and Maddie notice Wanda’s absence?
Answer:
Wanda didn’t come to school on Monday and Tuesday but nobody noticed her
absence as she did not have friends in the class. When Peggy and Maddie waited
for Wanda to make fun of her after the school was off, they noticed that she
was absent, otherwise nobody bothered about her there.
Question 4.
What do you think “to have fun with her” means?
Answer:
“To have fun with her ” means to laugh at her as it is human tendency to make
fun of others imperfections which are mostly about the appearance. Here in the
story, Wanda is a source of amusement or pleasure because of her shy nature and
her hundred dresses.
Page 67
Question 5.
In what way was Wanda different from the other children?
Answer:
Wanda Petronski was a polish girl whose parents had settled down in America.
She was a source of fun because of her last name which made her different from
others, because Americans did not have such names and it was difficult to
pronounce.
She came to school alone and her feet were covered with mud. She preferred to
sit alone in the last in the class. She had only one blue dress which was faded
but claimed of having a hundred dresses. These qualities make her different
from other children.
Question 6.
Did Wanda have a hundred dresses? Why do you think she said she did?
Answer:
Wanda was teased everyday by her classmates after school
hours. They used to make fun of her dress and her name. One day tired of all
the teasing and taunting, she claimed of having a hundred dresses and sixty
pairs of shoes, but nobody believed her.
She was a determined girl and had a great amount of self-confidence. For her
number of dresses were not important but the inner talent which had the real
value.
Question 7.
Why is Maddie embarrassed by the questions Peggy asks Wanda? Is she also like
Wanda, or is she different?
Answer:
Maddie is embarrassed by the questions Peggy asks Wanda because she is also
poor and understands the mental condition of Wanda. She also wears dresses handed
down by rich family. Though, she is an American but she has the same mind-set
as Wanda and doesn’t want anyone to tease Wanda because of her dress or her
name.
Page
70
Question 8.
Why didn’t Maddie ask Peggy to stop teasing Wanda? What was she afraid of?
Answer:
Maddie didn’t ask Peggy to stop teasing Wanda because Peggy was the most
popular girl in the school. She was a nice girl but when it came to Wanda she
behaved differently, otherwise she helped everyone in trouble. Though, she
wants Peggy to stop teasing Wanda, she didn’t ask her to do so as she was
afraid of being the next target of such taunts and teasings.
Question 9.
Who did Maddie think would win the drawing contest? Why?
Answer:
Maddie always believed that Peggy would win the drawing contest as she was good
in drawing and everybody in the school loved her. She had a good image and
impression on her teachers and classmates. No other girl in the class could
draw as well as her. So, Peggy definitely had very good chances of winning the
drawing contest according to Maddie.
Question 10.
Who won the drawing contest? What had the winner drawn?
Answer:
Among the boys, Jack Beggles and among the girls, Wanda
Petronski won the drawing contest. To show her determination she did not attend
the school for two days and had drawn a • hundred sketches of dresses of
different colours.. Each of them was capable to win the contest individually.
Wanda had drawn all the dresses which she had claimed to have had in the class.
Everybody was very impressed with her drawing skill and clapped for her.
Thinking
about the Text
Page 70
Question 11.
How is Wanda seen as different by the other girls? How do they treat her?
Answer:
Wanda is a polish girl who has setded in America with her parents. She lived in
Boggin’s Height. She came to school in same faded blue dress everyday with her
feet always covered with mud. Her last name is quite funny and difficult to
pronounce for her classmates. Her appearance was not perfect to be in a higher
class so all the students made fun of her and teased her after the school
hours. After being teased over her tolerance she ) claimed to have had a
hundred dresses in her closet.
Question 12.
How does Wanda feel about the dresses game? Why does she say that she has a
hundred dresses?
Answer:
Wanda feels very embarrassed but remains silent in the class. She doesn’t talk
to anyone and sits on the back bench with rough boys so that nobody can give
attention to her. She is deeply hurt but never complains about it. To avoid
their taunts and humiliation, Wanda says that she has a hundred dresses and
sixty pairs of matching shoes in her closet. Later on, she draws all of them on
paper for the drawing competition.
Question 13.
Why does Maddie stand by and does not do anything? How is she different from
Peggy? or (was Peggy’s friendship important to Maddie? Why? Which lines in the
text tell you this?)
Answer:
Peggy is the most popular girl in the class and Maddie is her closest friend.
Though, Maddie is poor, Peggy never teases her as she does with Wanda so Maddie
is afraid of losing her friendship. That’s why, she does not risk to annoy
Peggy and prefers to be silent. The line, “Peggy was the best-liked girl in the
whole room. Peggy could not possibly do anything that was really wrong”
illustrates this.
Question 14.
What does Miss Mason think of Wanda’s drawings? What do the children think of
them? How do you know?
Answer:
Miss Mason is very impressed with Wanda’s drawings. She considers them really
beautiful and worthy of winning individually. The children are also impressed
by the drawing skills of Wanda that they all applaud and whistle when she wins
among the girls.
Thinking
about Language
Page 71
Question 1.
Combine the following to make sentences.
1. This is the bus (what kind of bus?). It goes to Agra, (use which or that).
2. I would like to buy, (a) shirt (which shirt?) (The) shirt is in the shop
window, (use which or that)
3. You must break your fast at a particular time (when?). You see the moon in
the sky. (use when)
4. Find a word (what kind of word?). It begins with the letter Z, (use which or
that)
5. Now find a person (what kind of person ?) His or her name begins with the
letter Z. (use whose)
6. Then go to a place (what place?). There are no people whose name begins with
Z in that place, (use where)
Answers:
1. This is the bus that goes to Agra.
2. I would like to buy a shirt that is in the shop window.
3. You must break your fast at a particular time when you see the moon in the
sky.
4. Find a word that begins with letter Z.
5. Now find a person whose name begins with letter Z.
6. Then go to a place where there are no people whose name begins with letter
Z.
Question 2.
The Narrative Voice Here are two other sentences from the story. Can you say
whose point of view the italicised words express?
1. But on Wednesday, Peggy and Maddie, who sat down in front with other
children who got good marks and who didn’t track in a whole lot of mud, did
notice that Wanda wasn’t there.
2. Wanda Petronski. Most of the children in room thirteen didn’t have names
like that. They had names easy to say, like Thomas, Smith or Allen.
Answer:
1. The italicised words express the point of view of Peggy and Maddie.
2. These italicised words express the point of view of other children of
Wandas’ class excluding Peggy and Maddie.
Question 3.
Other such adverbs are apparently, evidently, surprisingly, possibly,
hopefully, incredibly, luckily. Use these words appropriately in the blanks in
the sentences below. (You may use a word more than once and more than one word
may be appropriate for a given blank.)
1. ____, he finished his work on time.
2. ____, it will not rain on the day of the match.
3. ____, he had been stealing money from his
employer.
4. Television is ____ to blame for the increase in violence in society,
5. The children will ____ learn from their mistakes.
6. I can’t ____ lend you that much money.
7. The thief had ____ been watching the house for many days.
8. The thief ____ escaped by bribing the jailor.
9. ____no one had suggested this before.
10. The water was ____hot.
Answers:
1. Surprisingly
2. Hopefully
3. Possibly
4. evidendy
5. hopefully
6. possibly
7. apparendy
8. luckily
9. Incredibly
10. incredibly
Chapter 6 The Hundred Dresses – II
Oral
Comprehension Check
Page 74
Question 1.
What did Mr Petronski’s letter say?
Answer:
Mr Petronski’s letter was to inform the principal and Miss Mason that Wanda
would not come to school as she was fed up of being bullied in the school. They
were going to shift to a bigger place where nobody would make fun of their last
name.
Question 2.
Is Miss Mason angry with the class, or is she unhappy and upset?
Answer:
Miss Mason seems to be unhappy and upset rather than angry because she had
never expected such a behaviour from the students. She wants everyone to think
about it and asks them not to do look down anyone in the class.
Question 3.
How does Maddie feel after listening to the note from Wanda’s father?
Answer:
Maddie feels sorry and ashamed for the behaviour although she herself did not
make fun of Wanda. She never tried to stop Peggy to do so and remained a silent
spectator. She feels as a coward.
Question 4.
What does Maddie want to do?
Answer:
Maddie wants to amend her behaviour towards Wanda. She wants to meet her to
apologise. She decides to find Wanda at her house at Boggins Heights. She also
wanted to convey that all was meant in good humour and people really love her.
Page
76
Question 5.
What excuses does Peggy think of giving in justification of her behaviour? Why?
Answer:
Peggy tries to defend herself by saying that her
behaviour towards Wanda inspired her to explore her drawing skills as she
sketches a hundred dresses and that makes her win the drawing contest.
Question 6.
What are Maddie’s thoughts as they go to Boggins Heights?
Answer:
Maddie was feeling ashamed and apologetic for being a silent spectator while
Peggy humiliated Wanda. She was feeling upset and distraught for Wanda and
herself. She was also repenting for not stopping Peggy for behaving badly with
Wanda.
Question 7.
Why does Wanda’s house remind Maddie of Wanda’s blue dress?
Answer:
Wanda’s house was sparse, old and laded but neat and clean like her blue dress
that she wore everyday to school. Thus, Maddie was reminded of the same old
blue dress.
Question 8.
What does Maddie think hard about ? What important decision does she come to?
Answer:
Maddie thinks about not to be mute spectator anymore that she had been in case
of Wanda. She promised herself about not letting any injustice happen to anyone
even if she would have to lose a friend in this.
Page
79
Question 9.
What did the girls write in the letter?
Answer:
Maddie and Peggy wrote a friendly letter to Wanda. They wanted to apologise for
their behaviour but they ended up asking her whether she liked her new school and
teacher. They informed her about her sketches winning the drawing competition.
They praised her drawing skills and also told how much other students liked her
art. The letter was just a usual letter one may write to a good friend.
Question 10.
Did Maddie and Peggy get a reply? Who was more anxious for a reply? How do you
know?
Answer:
No, they didn’t get a reply from Wanda. Maddie was more anxious for a reply
than Peggy because she was very upset and feeling sad for Wanda. She had
assumed that Wanda was deeply hurt so she was not replying and blamed herself
for everything. Maddie used to have sleepless nights and saw frightful dreams
about Wanda.
Question 11.
How did the girls know that Wanda liked them even though they had teased her?
Answer:
Both Maddie and Peggy realised that Wanda liked them although they had teased
her because she had gifted them her two beautiful dresses, a green one with red
trimmings to Peggy and the blue one to Maddie. She had even drawn their faces
in the painting of the dresses they got.
Thinking
about the Text
(Page 79,80)
Question 1.
Why do you think Wanda’s family moved to a different city? Do you think life
there was going to be different for their family?
Answer:
Wanda’s family moved to a different city due to the racist and insulting
behaviour of students towards Wanda and her brother. They were teased by other
students for their funny name and blue dress. Life there in a different city
was going to be different because people there did not have such a narrow mind
and would not tease them because of their name or status.
Question 2.
Maddie thought her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing. Was she right ?
Answer:
Yes, Maddie thought that her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing because it
is often said that turning a blind eye to a crime is worse than committing a
crime. So by being silent she indirectly encouraged Peggy to do so.
Question 3.
Peggy says, “I never thought she had sense to know we were making fun of her
anyway. I thought she was too dumb. And gee, look how she can draw!”What led
Peggy to believe that Wanda was dumb ? Did she change her opinion later ?
Answer:
Wanda never replied to Peggy ‘s misbehaviour and pranks that she faced
everyday. So, her neutral face and unusual behaviour led Peggy to think that
Wanda was dumb. Wanda even described the hundred dresses she said about though
she wore the same old faded blue dress everyday. But later Peggy’ changed her
opinion after having a look on Wanda’s sketches and her gesture of gifting her
a beautiful drawing from her collection.
Question 4.
What important decision did Maddie make? Why did she have to think hard to do
so ?
Answer:
Maddie decided to go to Wanda’s house with Peggy to apologise and amend for all
that had happened but Wanda had left her house with her family. She felt bad
because she thought of herself as a coward who did not stop Peggy to insult
Wanda. So, she decided to raise voice against injustice and bullying. She was
firm of not being a mute spectator anymore.
Question 5.
Why do you think Wanda gave Maddie and Peggy the drawings of the dresses ? Why
are they surprised ?
Answer:
When Maddie and Peggy wrote a letter to Wanda, she might have understood their
feelings behind their letter and during the dresses game, she had observed both
of them. So she requested Miss Mason to give two of her drawings to them and
had taught them a lesson of life. Maddie and Peggy were surprised as she gifted
them the drawings with their faces.
Question 6.
Do you think Wanda really thought the girls were teasing her ? Why or why not ?
Answer:
Wanda was aware of the misbehaviour of the girls who teased her everyday “but
she remained calm. To keep them mum she fabricated a story of having a hundred
dresses and sixty pairs of matching shoes in her closet. She taught them a
lesson of life by the drawings of the hundred beautiful dresses she claimed to
have.
Thinking
about Language
(Page 80,81)
Question 2.
What adjectives can we use to describe Peggy, Wanda and Maddie? You can choose
adjectives from the list above. You can also add some of your own.
1. Peggy ____
2. Wanda ____
3. Maddie ____
Answer:
1. Peggy Sarcastic, thoughtless, zealous, unforgiving arrogant, cruel, haughty,
proud, vain
2. Wanda Kind, courteous, introverted, talented, lonely, determined,
complacent, contented, generous, friendly, intrepid, sensitive, compassionate,
creative.
3. Maddie Insipid, timid, placid, stolid
Question 3.
Find the sentences in the story with the following phrasal verbs.
lined up, thought up, took off, stood by
Answer:
1. Lined up She thought of the glowing picture of those hundred dresses all
lined up in the classroom.
2. Thought up Peggy who had thought up this game and Maddie her inseparable
friend, were always ‘the last to leave.
3. Took off Miss Mason took off her glasses, blew on them and wiped them on her
soft white handkerchief.
4. Stood by She had stood by silently and that was just as bad as what Peggy
had done.
Question 4.
Colours are used to describe feelings, moods and emotions. Match the following
‘colour expressions’ with a suggested paraphrase.
1.
The Monday morning blues : feel embarrassed /angry /ashamed
2.
Go red in the face : feel very sick, as if about to vomit
3.
Look green : sadness or depression after a weekened of fun
4.
The red carpet : the sign or permission to begin an action
5.
Blue-blooded : a sign of surrender or acceptance of
defeat; a wish to stop fighting
6.
A green belt : in an unlawful act; while doing something
wrong
7.
A blackguard : a photographic print of building plans; a
detailed plan or scheme
8.
A grey area : land around a town or city where
construction is prohibited by law
9.
A white flag : an area of a subject or a situation where
matters are not very clear
10.
A blue print : a dishonest person with no sense of right
or wrong
11.
Red-handed : a special welcome
12.
The green light : of noble birth or from a royal family
Answer:
1.
The Monday morning blues : sadness or depression after a
weekend of fun
2.
To go red in the face : feel embarrassed /angry/ashamed
3.
Look green : feel very sick, as if about to vomit
4.
The red carpet : a special welcome
5.
Blue – blooded : of noble birth or from a royal family
6.
A green belt : land around a town or city where
construction is prohibited by law
7.
Black guard : a dishonest person with no sense of right or
wrong
8.
A grey area : an area of a subject or a situation where
matters are not very clear.
9.
A white flag : a sign of surrender or acceptance of
defeat; a wish to stop fighting
10.
A blue print : a photographic print of building plans; a
detailed clan or scheme
11.
Red-handed : in an unlawful act; while doing something
wrong
12.
The green light : the sign of permission to begin an
action
Chapter 7 Glimpses of
India
Part
I A Baker from Goa
Page 86
Question 1.
What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?
Answer:
The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the good old
Portuguese days and their love of bread and loaves. The writer says that the
eaters of loaves have left but the makers still exist.
Question 2.
Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?
Answer:
Yes, bread making is still popular in Goa. This is very clear from the
narrator’s statement that the eaters have gone away leaving the makers behind.
There are mixers, moulders and the ones who bake the loaves. The time tested
furnaces still exist there.
Question 3.
What is the baker called?
Answer:
The baker is called a pader in Goa.
Question 4.
When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?
Answer:
The baker would come twice a day—once early in the morning and the second time
when he returned after selling his stuff.
The children would run to meet him as they wanted to have bread-bangles.
Page
87
Question 1.
Match the following. What is a must
1. as marriage gifts? – cakes and bolinhas
2. for a party or a feast? – sweet bread called bol
3. for a daughter’s engagement? – bread
4. for Christmas? – sandwiches
Answer:
1. as marriage gifts – sweet bread called bol
2. for a party or a feast – bread
3. for a daughter’s engagement – sandwiches
4. for Christmas – cakes and bolinhas
Question 2.
What did the bakers wear :
1. In the Portuguese days
2. When the author was young
Answer:
1. The bakers were usually dressed up in a peculiar dress called kabai. It was
a single piece long frock reaching down to the knees.
2. During his childhood days, the author saw the bakers wearing a shirt and
trousers which were shorter than full length ones and longer than half pants.
Question 3.
Who invites the comment – “he is dressed like a pader” Why?
Answer:
Any person who is wearing a half pant which reaches just below the knees
invites this comment. This is because the baker, known as a pader, used to
dress like that.
Question 4.
Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?
Answer:
Monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall in the house with a
pencil.
Question 5.
What does a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?
Answer:
It means having a plump physique, like a jackfruit.
Thinking
About the Text (Page 88)
Question 1.
Which of these statements are correct?
1. The pader was an important person in the village in old times.
2. Paders still exist in Goan villages.
3. The paders went away with the Portuguese.
4. The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock.
5. Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.
6. Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.
7. Paders and their families starve in the present times.
Answer:
1. Correct
2. Correct
3. Incorrect
4. Incorrect
5. Correct
6. Correct
7. Incorrect
Question 2.
Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?
Answer:
Yes, bread is an important part of Goan life. It is needed for marriage gifts,
parties and feasts. Bread is also needed by a mother for preparing sandwiches
during her daughter’s engagement. Thus, it is necessary to have breads for
every occasion, because of which the presence of a baker’s furnace in the vi
.age is very important
Question 3.
Tick the right answer. What is the tone of the author when he says the
following?
1. The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker ‘s bamboo can still be
heard in some places, (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
2. Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family
profession, (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
3. I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves, (nostalgic, hopeful,
naughty)
4. The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up
everything so nicely, after all. (naughty, angry, funny)
5. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals,
(sad, hopeful, matter-of-fact)
6. The baker dnd his family never starved. They always looked happy and
prosperous, (matter-of-fact, hopeful, sad)
Answer:
1. Nostalgic
2. Hopeful
3. Nostalgic
4. Funny
5. Matter-of-fact
6. Matter-of-fact
Part
II Coorg
Thinking
About The Text
(Page 92)
Question 1.
Where is Coorg?
Answer:
Coorg or Kodagu is the smallest district of Karnataka. It is situated midway
between Mysore and the cbastal town of Mangalore.
Question 2.
What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent?
Answer:
The fiercely independent people of Coorg are descendents of Greeks or Arabs. A
section of Alexander’s army moved South along the coast and settled here only
when they were unable to return to their country. These people married among
the locals. This is the story about the descent of Kodavu people.
Question 3.
What are some of the things you now know about?
1. the people of Coorg?
2. the main crop of Coorg?
3. the sports it offers to a tourists?
4. the animals you are likely to see in Coorg?
5. its distance from Bangalore and how to get there?
Answer:
1. They are fiercely independent people and have descended from the Greeks or
the Arabs.
2. Coffee is the main crop of Coorg.
3. It mostly offers adventure sports which include river rafting, canoeing,
rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking.
4. The animals likely to be seen in Coorg are macaques, Malabar squirrel,
langurs, slender loris, elephants etc.
5. By road, it is around 250 – 260 kilometres from Bangalore.
Question 4.
Here are six sentences with some words in italics. Find phrases from the text
that have the same meaning. (Look in the paragraphs indicated)
1. During monsoons it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg. (Para
2)
2. Some people say that Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and
settled there. (Para 3)
3. The Coorg people are always ready to tell stories of their son’s and
father’s valour. (Para 4)
4. Even people who normally lead an easy and slow life get smitten by the high
energy adventure sports of Coorg. (Para 6)
5. The theory of the Arab origin is supported by the long coat with embroidered
waist-belt they wear. (Para 3)
6. Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you carefully from the tree canopy.
(Para 7)
Answer:
1. to keep visitors away
2. As one story goes
3. are more than willing to recount
4. The most laidback individuals become converts to
5. draws support from
6. keep a watchful eye
Thinking About
Language (Page 93)
Certain words ‘go together’. Such ‘word friends’ are called collocations. The
collocation of a word is ‘the company it keeps’. For example, look at the
paired sentences and phrases below. Which is a common collocation, and which
one is odd? Strike out the odd sentence or phrase.
Questions.
1. ‘How old are you?’
‘How young are you?’
2. a pleasant person a pleasant pillow
Answers:
1. The odd sentence is ‘How young are you?’
2. The odd phrase is ‘a pleasant pillow’.
Question 1.
Here are some nouns from the text,
‘culture’ ‘monks’ ‘surprise’ ‘experience’ ‘weather’ ‘tradition’
Work with a partner and discuss which of the nouns can collocate with which of
the adjectives given below. The first one has been done for you.
‘unique’ ‘terrible’ ‘unforgettable’ ‘serious’ ‘ancient’ ‘wide’ ‘sudden’
Questions.
1. culture : unique culture, ancient culture
2. monks : _____________
3. surprise: ___________
4. experience: __________
5. weather: ___________
6. tradition: ___________
Answer:
2. serious monks, unique monks
3. unique surprise, sudden surprise, unforgettable surprise, terrible surprise
4. unique experience, terrible experience, unforgettable experience, sudden
experience
5. terrible weather, unforgettable weather
6. unique tradition, ancient tradition
Question 2.
2. Complete the following phrases from the text. For each phrase, can you find
at least one other word that would fit into the blank?
Missing Alternate
word
1. tales of
__________
___________
2. coastal
__________
___________
3. a piece of
__________ ___________
4. evergreen
__________ ___________
5. plantations
__________ ___________
6. bridge
__________ ___________
7. wild
___________
___________
Answer:
Missing
Alternate
word
1.
valour
bravery
2.
town
belt, village
3.
heaven
cake
4.
rainforests
jungle
5.
coffee
tea, banana
6.
rope
steel, concrete
7.
creatures
animals
Part
III Tea from Assam
Thinking
About Language
(Page 96,97)
Question 1.
Look at these words: upkeep, downpour, undergo, dropout, walk-in. They are
built up from a verb (keep, pour, go, drop, walk) and an adverb or a
preposition (up, down, under, out, in). Use these words appropriately in the
sentences below. You may consult a dictionary.
1. A heavy _____ has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.
2. Rakesh will _____ major surgery tomorrow morning.
3. My brother is responsible for the ____ of our family property.
4. The ____ rate for this accountancy course is very high.
5. She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a _____ interview.
Answer:
1. downpour
2. undergo
3. upkeep
4. dropout
5. walk-in
Question 2.
Now fill in the blanks in the sentences given below by combining the verb given
in brackets with one of the words from the box as appropriate.
‘over’ ‘by’ ‘through’ ‘out’ ‘up’ ‘down’
1. The Army attempted unsuccessfully to ____ the Government, (throw)
2. Scientists are on the brink of a major _____ in cancer research, (break)
3. The State Government plans to build a ____ for Bhubaneswar to speed up
traffic on the main highway, (pass)
4.Gautama’s ____ on life changed when he realised that the world is full of
sorrow, (look)
5. Rakesh seemed unusually _____ after the game, (cast)
Answers:
1. overthrow
2. breakthrough
3. bypass
4. lookout
5. downcast
Question 3.
Notice how these -ing and -ed adjectives are used.
1. Chess is an interesting game.
I am very interested in chess.
2. Going trekking in the Himalayas this summer is an exciting idea.
We are very excited about the trek.
3. Are all your School books this boring?
He was bored as he had no friends there.
The -ing adjectives show the qualities that chess, trekking or these books
have: they cause interest, excitement, or boredom in you. The – ed /-en
adjectives show your mental state or your physical state: how you feel in
response to ideas, events or things.
Question 1.
1. Think of suitable -ing or -ed adjectives to answer the following questions.
You may also use words from those given above.
How would you describe
1. a good detective serial on television? ____
2. a debate on your favourite topic ‘Homework Should Be Banned’? ____
3. how you feel when you stay indoors due to incessant rain? ____
4. how you feel when you open a present? ____
5. how you feel when you watch your favourite programme on television? ____
6. the look on your mother’s face as you waited in a queue? ____
7. how you feel when tracking a tiger in a tiger reserve forest? _____
8. the story you have recently read, or a film you have seen? _____
Answers:
(Sample answers are given; you may have a different answer.)
1. exciting
2. interesting
3. bored
4. excited
5. interested
6. disappointed
7. thrilled
8. thrilling
Question 2.
Now use the adjectives in the exercise above, as appropriate, to write a
paragraph about Coorg.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
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