Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1.
“You shouldn’t cry, you know,” the voice went on. “And you really shouldn’t be scared, when
you have been coming here to see me every day, well, almost everyday She was puzzled. It was
such a voice, like the river. It couldn’t be the river! “Well, tell me all about it,” said the River,
for it was the River. “I’ve got to hurry to reach the sea, you know. ”
(i) Complete the sentence with the correct option from those given in the brackets.
The tone of the River in the given extract is (assuring/ sympathising)
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(ii) Select a phrase from the extract which shows that Jahnavi was a frequent visitor to the spot.
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(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
The use of an exclamation mark at the end of the line, ‘It couldn’t be the river!’ expresses
A. excitement
B. hesitation
C. irritation
D. disbelief
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(iv) Choose three qualities of the River highlighted in the extract from the words in the box
given below.
affectionate forgiving thoughtful impatient
kind-hearted
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Question 2.
“Can I do something?” asked Jahnavi. “Well, it’s up to you,” said the River. “Seems to me little
girls can do as much as little boys—they swim as fast as little boys. You just slip along one
morning and sit there in the school and listen to what’s going on, and maybe the teacher will let
you stay.”
“I couldn’t,” gasped Jahnavi. “I couldn’t! They’d scare me! They’d chase me out.”
(i) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.
According to the River, there was no difference between girls and boys because __________.
Answer:
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(ii) Identify whether the following statement is true or false.
The River encourages Jahnavi to have faith in herself and fulfill her desire to go to school.
Answer:
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Reason:
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(iii) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
When the River suggests that Jahnavi should ‘slip along’, it means that she should move
A. quickly
B. casually
C. quietly
D. confidently
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(iv) What does the repetition of the phrase I couldn’t, tell us?
Answer:
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Question 3:
And Bruce of Scotland braced his mind,
And gossips tell the tale,
That he tried once more as he tried before,
And that time did not fail.
In the line “Bruce of Scotland braced his mind”, the word braced means:
A. To relax and rest
B. B. To prepare oneself mentally or physically
C. C. To ignore difficulties
D. D. To celebrate success
In the stanza, “And gossips tell the tale” suggests:
A. Rumors spread about Bruce’s failure
B. B. People narrating his story of persistence
C. C. Soldiers mocking his efforts
D. D. Teachers discussing his bravery
What action did Bruce take after bracing his mind?
A. He gave up completely
B. B. He tried once more as before
C. C. He ignored the spider’s example
D. D. He asked others for help
What was the result when Bruce tried again?
A. He failed again
B. B. He succeeded that time
C. C. He was discouraged by others
D. D. He stopped trying altogether
The main theme of this stanza is:
A. The importance of gossip
B. B. The value of persistence and determination
C. C. The joy of success without effort
D. D. The role of luck in success
Question 4:
“Bravo, bravo!” the King cried out,
“All honour to those who try;
The spider up there, defied despair;
He conquered, and why shouldn’t I?”
In the line “Bravo, bravo!” the King cried out, the word Bravo expresses:
A. Anger
B. B. Praise and encouragement
C. C. Surprise
D. D. Disappointment
What does the King honour in this stanza?
A. Those who are wealthy
B. B. Those who try, even after failure
C. C. Those who gossip about him
D. D. Those who fight in wars
What quality of the spider is highlighted in the line “The spider up there, defied despair”?
A. Laziness
B. Patience and determination
C. C. Fear of failure
D. D. Dependence on luck
What thought encouraged the King after watching the spider?
A. “If the spider can conquer, why shouldn’t I?”
B. B. “The spider is weak, I am strong.”
C. C. “I should give up like the spider.”
D. D. “The spider’s success is just luck.”
The central theme of this stanza is:
A. Gossip spreads quickly
B. B. Courage and persistence lead to success
C. C. Luck decides everything
D. D. Kings are always victorious
Question 5
I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver
birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine. In spring, I t0uch the branches of trees hopefully in
search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep. Occasionally, I am
very fortunate; I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full
song.
(i) What does the ‘delicate symmetry of a leaf symbolise?
Answer:
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(ii) List two phrases from the extract that describe the texture of objects in nature.
Answer:
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(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The phrase ‘awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep’ refers to _________.
Answer:
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(iv) What is the tone of the writer in this extract?
A. nostalgic
B. proud
C. admiring
D. celebratory
Answer:
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Question 6
The next day I should arise with the dawn and see the thrilling miracle by which night is
transformed into day. I should behold with awe the magnificent panorama of light with which
the sun awakens the sleeping earth. This day I should devote to a hasty glimpse of the world,
past and present. I should want to see the pageant of man’s progress, and so I should go to the
museums.
(i) The word ‘thrilling’ has been used with ‘miracle’.
Which of the following words does not match with the word “thrilling’?
A. experience
B. tale
C. knowledge
D. adventure
Answer:
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(ii) Why does the writer refer to the earth as ‘sleeping earth’?
Answer:
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(iii) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.
The writer wishes to dedicate the day to a brief look at the present and past world because
_________.
Answer:
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(iv) Why does the writer use ‘should’ multiple times in the extract?
Answer:
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Question 7:
“If I say, ‘Polly wants a cracker’, you understand me. But hear this: Kaka oi-ee, fee-fee?”
“Good Gracious!” cried the Doctor. “What does that mean?”
“That means, ‘Is the porridge hot yet?’—in bird language.”
“My! You don’t say so!” said the Doctor. “You never talked that way to me before.”
“What would have been the good?” said Polynesia, dusting some cracker crumbs off her left
wing. “You wouldn’t have understood me if I had.”
(i) Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option. In the line, "Good Gracious!"
cried the Doctor, the expression 'Good Gracious' can be replaced by______!
A. bravo
B. gosh
C. alas
D. hurray
Answer
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____________________________________________________________________________"
Good Gracious" expresses surprise, as does "gosh." The Doctor is surprised to learn bird
language (page 50). "Bravo" (praise), "alas" (sadness), and "hurray" (joy) do not fit.
(ii) Why had Polynesia never used bird language with the Doctor earlier?
Answer
(iii) Identify whether the following statement is true or false. Polynesia had been munching
on a food item while talking to Doctor Dolittle.
Answer
(iv) How did Doctor Dolittle feel according to the extract?
A. anxious
B. surprised
C. angry
D. relaxed
Answer
Question 8
. “I would like a pair like yours,” said the horse—“only green. They’ll keep the Sun out of my
eyes while I’m ploughing the field.”
“Certainly,” said the Doctor. “Green ones you shall have.”
“You know, the trouble is, Sir,” said the plough horse as the Doctor opened the front door to let
him out—“the trouble is that anybody thinks she can doctor animals— just because the animals
don’t complain. As a matter of fact, it takes a much cleverer man to be a really good animal
doctor than it does to be a good people’s doctor.”
(i) Choose a word from the extract to complete the analogy. digging: flower bed :: ____ :
field
Answer
(ii) Choose the correct word to complete the sentence. Doctor Dolittle’s attitude in the
extract is
A. respectful
B. sentimental
C. understanding
D. careful
Answer
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he Doctor listens to the horse’s need for glasses and agrees, saying, "Of course—of course",
showing he understands the horse’s problem.
(iii) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason. Based on the extract, we can
conclude that doctors take animals for granted because ____.
Answer
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(iv) Do you agree with the concluding sentence of the extract? Why/why not?
Answer
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