Dinesh Sir 9413648997

THE FINAL TOUCH

ENGLISH CORE

CLASS – XII

PREPARED BY

DINESH SIR

D- 81 Nehru Road, Rokadiya Ganesh Ji Marg, Bhilwara

Mob. N. - 9413648997

Syllabus:- Section A – 22 Marks Reading Skills

I Reading Comprehension through Unseen Passage (12+10 = 22 Marks)

1. One unseen passage to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis and inference. Vocabulary assessment
will also be assessed via inference. The passage may be factual, descriptive or literary.

2. One unseen case-based factual passage with verbal/visual inputs like statistical data, charts etc. to assess
comprehension, interpretation, analysis, inference and evaluation.

Note: The combined word limit for both the passages will be 700-750 words.
Multiple Choice Questions / Objective Type Questions and Short Answer type Questions (to be answered in
40-50 words) will be asked.
Section B – 18 Marks
Creative Writing Skills
[Link], up to 50 words. One out of the two given questions to be answered.(4 Marks: Format : 1 / Content :
2 / Accuracy of Spelling and Grammar : 1 ).

4. Formal/Informal Invitation and Reply, up to 50 words. One out of the two given questions to be answered.
(4 Marks: Format : 1 / Content : 2 / Accuracy of Spelling and Grammar :1 ).

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5. Letters based on verbal/visual input, to be answered in approximately 120-150 words. Letter types include
application for a job with bio data or resume. Letters to the editor (giving suggestions or opinion on issues of
public interest) . One out of the two given questions to be answered . (5 Marks: Format : 1 / Organisation of
Ideas: 1/Content : 2 / Accuracy of Spelling and Grammar :1 ).

6. Article/ Report Writing, descriptive and analytical in nature, based on verbal inputs, to be answered in 120-
150 words. One out of the two given questions to be answered . (5 Marks: Format : 1 / Organisation of Ideas:
1/Content : 2 / Accuracy of Spelling and Grammar :1 ).
Section C – 40 Marks

Literature Text Book and Supplementary Reading Text

This section will have variety of assessment items including Multiple Choice Questions, Objective Type
Questions, Short Answer Type Questions and Long Answer Type Questions to assess comprehension,
interpretation, analysis, evaluation and extrapolation beyond the text.

7. One Poetry extract out of two, from the book Flamingo, to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis,
inference and appreciation. (6x1=6 Marks)

8. One Prose extract out of two, from the book Vistas, to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis,
evaluation and appreciation. (4x1=4 Marks)

9. One prose extract out of two from the book Flamingo, to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis,
inference and evaluation. (6x1=6Marks)

10. Short answer type questions (from Prose and Poetry from the book Flamingo), to be answered in 40-50
words each. Questions should elicit inferential responses through critical thinking. Five questions out of the
six given, are to be answered.
(5x2=10 Marks)

11. Short answer type questions, from Prose (Vistas), to be answered in 40- 50 words each. Questions should
elicit inferential responses through critical thinking. Any two out of three questions to be done. (2x2=4
Marks)

12. One Long answer type question, from Prose/Poetry (Flamingo), to be answered in 120-150 words.
Questions can be based on incident / theme / passage / extract / event as reference points to assess
extrapolation beyond and across the text. The question will elicit analytical and evaluative response from the
student. Any one out of two questions to be done. (1x5=5 Marks)

13. One Long answer type question, based on the chapters from the book Vistas, to be answered in 120-150
words, to assess global comprehension and extrapolation beyond the text. Questions to provide analytical and
evaluative responses using incidents, events, themes, as reference points. Any one out of two questions to be
done. (1x5=5)

1. Flamingo: (Fiction) 1. The Last Lesson 2. Lost Spring [Link] Water

4. The Rattrap 5. Indigo 6. Poets and Pancakes
7. The Interview 8. Going Places
(Poetry) 1. My Mother at Sixty-Six 2. Keeping Quiet 3.A Thing of Beauty
4.A Roadside Stand [Link] Jennifer’s Tigers

2. Vistas: 1. The Third Level 2. The Tiger King 3. Journey to the End of the
Earth
4. The Enemy 5. On the Face of It
6. Memories of Childhood (A). The Cutting of My Long Hair (B). We Too are Human Beings

************************************************************************************
Section A (22 Marks)
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1. Read the following text: 12

1. When you grow up in a place where it rains five months a year, wise elders help you to get acquainted with
the rain early. They teach you that it is ignorant to think that it is the same rain falling every day. Oh no, the
rain is always doing different things at different times. There rain that is gentle, and there is also rain that falls
too hard and damages the crops. Hence, the prayer for the sweet rain that helps the crops to grow.
2. The monsoon in the Naga hills goes by the native name, khuthotei (which means the rice growing season).
It lasts from May to early or mid-October. The local residents firmly believe that Durga Puja in October
announces the end of rain. After that, one might expect a couple of short winter showers, and the spring
showers in March and April. Finally, comes the "big rain in May; proper rainstorms accompanied by heart-
stepping lightning and ear-splitting fender. I have stood out in storms looking at lightning arc across dark
skies, a light-and- sound show that can go on for hours.
3. This is the season when people use the word sezuo or suzu to refer to the week long rains, when clothes
don't dry and smell of mould, when fungus forms on the floor and when you can't see the moon of the stars
because of the rainclouds. But you learn not to complain, Rain, after all, is the farmer's friend and brings food
to the table. Rituals and festivals centre around the agricultural rhythm of life, which is the occupation of
about 70 percent of the population.
4. The wise learn to understand its ways. I grew up hearing my grandfather say, "It's very windy this year.
We'll get good rain." If the windy season was short and weak, he worried there might not be enough rain for
the crops. I learned the interconnectedness of the seasons from childhood, and marvelled at how the wind
could bring rain. Another evening, many rainy seasons ago, my paternal aunt observed the new moon and
worried, "Its legs are in the air, we're in for some heavy rain.” She was right. That week, a storm cut off power
lines and brought down trees and bamboos
5. Eskimos host of having a hundred names for snow. Norwegians in the north can describe all kinds of snow
by an equal amount of names: pudder, powder snow, wet snow, slaps, extra wet snow, tight snowfall, dry
snow, and at least 95 more categories of snow. Likewise, in India we have names and names for rain. Some
are common, some are passing into history.
6. The rates are also called after flowering plants and people believe that the blossoming of those plants draws
out rain. Once the monsoons set in, field work is carried out in earnest and the work of uprooting and
transplanting paddy in flooded terrace fields is done. The months of hard labour are June, July and August. In
August, as the phrog üplant begins to bloom, a rain will fall. This August rain, also called phrogu, is a sign
that the time for cultivation is over. If any new grain seeds are sown, they may not sprout; even if they do
sprout, they are not likely to bear grain. The rain acts as a kind of farmer's almanac
7. The urban population of school-goers and office-goers naturally dislikes the monsoon and its accompanying
problems of landslides, muddy streets and periodic infections. For non-farmers, the month of September can
be depressing, when the rainfall is incessant and the awareness persists that the monsoons will last out till
October. One needs to have the heart of a farmer to remain grateful for the watery days, and be able to observe
- from what seems to the inexperienced as a continuous downpour the many kinds of rain. Some of the
commonly known rain-weeks are named after the plants that alternately bloom in August and September. The
native belief is that the flowers draw out the rain.
8. Each rain period has a job to fulfil: October rain helps garlic bulbs to form, while kümünyo rain helps the
rice bear grain. Without it, the ears of rice cannot form properly. End October is the most beautiful month in
the Naga hills, as the fields turn gold and wild sunflowers bloom over the slopes, all heralding the harvest.
Prayers go up for protecting the fields from storms, and the rains to retreat because the grain needs to stand in
the sun and ripen. The cycle nears completion a few weeks before the harvest, and the rain does retreat so
thoroughly from the reaped furrows that the earth quickly turns hard. The months of rain become a distant
memory until it starts all over again.
Answer the following questions based on the passage above :
(i)What does the writer refer to as a light and sound show ? Can one expect to see this after Durga Puja
or in March, April? Why? Answer in about 40 words. (Para 2) 2
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Ans. The rainstorms accompanied by lightning and thunder is refered to as a light and sound show. It is not
expected after Durga Puja or March and April. There is no rain to cause thunder and lightning during this
time.

(ii) Choose the option that best conveys the central idea of the passage. 1
(A) Farmers know what kind of rain it is. (B) Rains are of different kinds.
(C) Rains play significant role in nature and human life. (D) The role of rains in
farming is significant.

(iii) Why don't people living in urban areas like rain? 1

Ans. Because of its accompanying problems.

(iv) Rain helps in agriculture. Despite this, what are the reasons that can make people complain against
rain? Answer in about 40 words. (para 3) 2
Ans. There are landslides, muddy streets and periodic infections because of the rain. The clothes don't dry and
smell of mould. There is fungus on the floor and the rain clouds hide the moon and the stars.

(v) Why do people pray asking the rain to retreat? 1

Ans. because the grain needs to stand in the sun and ripen.

(vi) How does the rain withdraw ? 1

Ans. The cycle of rain completes before a few weeks before the harvest and it withdraws.

(vii) What is unthinkable without rains ? 1

(A) verdure (B) storms
(C) sunny days (D) drought

(viii) Discuss in about 40 words the functions that each rain period performs. (para 8) 2
Ans. October rain helps garlic bulbs to form and rice bear grain. End October fields turn gold and wild
sunflowers bloom due to the earlier rain. After this month, the cycle of seasons completes and the rains retreat.
The August rains signal that the time for cultivation is over.

(ix) The rains are called after flowering plants because 1

(A) heavy rains kill plants. ( B) flowers grow in the rainy season.
(C) it is believed that the plants bring the rain. (D) flowers grow all the year round.

2. Read the following text: 10

Raw material supply is the biggest curse in the gold refining business. The 30-odd accredited gold refineries in
India battle it out every single day to get their share of dore (imported impure gold ores) and scrap household
jewellery from jewellers who receive them as - "exchanged gold" in lieu of fresh purchases by customers. The
refineries melt and purify raw gold (both dore and scrap) to refinement grades as high as 99.99% and sell then
back to jewellers, banks, commodity exchanges and even to asset management companies that run gold-
backed exchange traded funds.
"This industry has a fast turnaround time," says James Jose, MD of CGR Metalloys and secretary of the
Association of Gold Refineries & Mints. "In peak sale season (October-May),
refineries may have to churn out large quantities of pure gold every day. But during slack season, especially
during rains, we operate at 20% capacity."
The industry faces a lot of supply-side constraints, he explains. "This business cannot be done only by relying
on dore imports-which can get prohibitively expensive when gold prices are high. Scrap gold supply is very
cyclical in nature - and almost all the time, a large chunk of it goes to unorganised refiners who do not ask for
any purchase papers or bills." Such deals remain out of the tax purview.
To understand the importance of scrapped household gold in the refining industry, one has to know more
about dore imports. Gold miners (or their representatives) do not ship dore to importers without getting full

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payment first. So if a mid-sized refinery relies only on dore imports as the raw material source, it will have to
shell out about 10-15 crore every day to ensure continuous raw material supply. After refinement, the refiner
has to wait 7-10 days before getting his money from the buyer of pure gold. Lack of option to purchase raw
material (dore) on credit and delayed buyer payments often land gold refiners in a tight spot. When gold
demand drops suddenly, refiners are forced to deal with unsold inventories of pure gold. In such times, if the
refiner is cashstrapped, he is forced to sell his stock at a loss.
Anil Kansara decided to import dore when his supply of scrap gold dropped to a trickle in 2013. "We needed
capital to import dore. So we inducted an equity partner. But even after that, the nature of the joint venture did
not give revenue to the company as expected. That is when we exited the business," he elucidates.

Using scrap household gold as a raw material source gives more control and manoeuvrability to the refiners as
these come with easier payment terms and buyback guarantees.
Indian jewellers collect nearly 100 tonnes of scrap gold every year. But nearly 60% of that lands up in
unorganised "street-corner" refineries located in almost all Indian cities and villages. Gold Refineries
Association data suggests that the informal sector processes over 200 tonnes of scrap gold every year.
"Scrap gold has always been a dicey matter in India," says Somasundaram PR, MD (India), World Gold
Council.
(- 'The Economic Times')
Answer the following questions based on the passage above :
(i) The business of gold refining in India is: 1
(A) a loss-making venture (B) lucrative (C) rather risky (D) quite attractive

(ii) Explain in about 40 words the function of gold refineries and the major problem faced by them.2
Ans. The refineries struggle to get their share of dore i.e. imported impure gold ores and scrap household
jewellery from the jewellers. These refineries melt and purify this gold, grade it and sell back to jewellers and
banks. The raw material supply is the biggest problem they face.

(iii) What could be the possible reason for sharp fall in gold imports in 2020? 1
Ans. refiners were cash strapped.

(iv) Organised gold refineries in India remain active : 1

(A) during monsoon (B) during winter
(C) from May to October (D) from October to December
(v) During 2020, the maximum amount of gold imports were in which month ? 1
Ans. August

(vi) A mid-sized refinery cannot depend on dore imports as raw material source. Give reasons in about
40 words. 2

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Ans. A mid-sized refinery cannot depend on dore imports for raw material of gold as gold refiners do not ship
dore to importers without getting full payment first. Rupees 10-15 crores are required everyday for this
purpose. It is very difficult to arrange this amount daily.

(vii) The import of dore being cash-down business is………………….. for gold refineries. 1
(A) good (B) a restraint (C) easy (D) nightmare

(viii)It is evident from the write up that gold refineries are bound to close sooner or later. (True/False)1
Ans. False

3. Read the passage given below.

(1) World Conservation Day is celebrated internationally to increase awareness about the best practices
needed to protect our natural resources. The Earth is supplied with a limited amount of resources that we all
upon, like water, air, soil and trees. The World Nature Conservation Movement is a great opportunity to
celebrate the progress we've made and determine to take action, wherever needed. It is time to remind
ourselves that we need to give back to nature instead of just using resources without thinking about
conservation. There is a need to replenish and recycle the resources we consume from nature.

(2) Our forests, rivers, oceans and soils provide us with the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we
irrigate our crops with. We also rely on them for numerous other goods and services. We depend on them for
our health, happiness and prosperity. We have a cycle of biodiversity which needs proper conservation.

(3) The Population explosion remains one of the major reasons why natural resources are getting depends at a
very fast rate. Technological advancement and luxurious lifestyles have led to several environmental problems
like global warming, ozone layer depletion, river water pollution and deforestation, which threaten the planet's
future.

(4) Humans, animals, marine creatures and the environment, all need to be protected and conserved for the
planet's future well-being. There are many examples of conservation. One is a programme to try to preserve
wetlands, or a programme to try and save old buildings. Another example is of an attempt to minimize the
amount of electricity used by turning off lights when leaving a room, or an attempt to turn off the running tap
to avoid wastage of water. There are lots of examples like these which need implementation.

(5) Following these small steps in our daily lives, we can help to maintain the balance of nature, thereby
saving humankind from the kinds of natural disaster, we may face in the near future.

(6) Nature also has a profound impact on our mind and our behaviour, helping reduce anxiety, brooding, and
stress and increase our attention, capacity, creativity and ability to connect with other people. So, there is a
need to save nature if we want to save life as the two are interconnected and need each other. If we hurt or
destroy the environment, surely we will be ruined. We must create awareness among family members, and try
and practice a sustainable lifestyle to protect and conserve nature.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below

(a) Complete the sentence by choosing an appropriate option. 1

There is an urgent need to conserve our natural resources because___________________
( i)we are aimlessly using the natural resources and not replenishing them.
(ii) they will be replaced by man-made resources.
(iii) serious efforts are needed to cut down the consumption of these resources.
(iv) we must become alert before it is too late.

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(b) In the opinion of the writer, which are the primary natural resources without which our life is not
possible? 1

(c) In paragraph 1, the writer talks about 'celebrating the progress. Explain in context. 2

(d) The writer would not agree with the given statements based on paragraph 6. EXCEPT: 1
(i) Stress can be relieved by working overtime. (ii) Nature can affect man's emotional well-being.
(iii) Lifestyle cannot be changed permanently. (iv) Destruction of the environment is a temporary
measure undertaken by man.
(e) List two ways in which forests and rivers help mankind. 2

(f)How can the solutions suggested in paragraph 4 be best described? 1

(i) Unrealistic (ii) Short term (iii) Practical (iv) Challenging

(g) Why is it fair to say that population explosion remains one of the major reasons and why natural
resources are getting depleted rapidly? 2

(h) Complete the given sentence with an appropriate reference with respect to the following: 1
The writer quotes the example of family awareness in order to________________(Paragraph 6).

(i) Select the most suitable title for the above passage. 1
(i) Ways to Save the Environment (ii) Save Nature Save Life
(iii) Nature-A Pharmacy (iv) Nature - A Food Factory

4. Read the passage given below.

1. A dominance and hierarchy exists for everything, including space. A dominant animal controls the space
around it. Even in grooming, hierarchy is reflected. Grooming is simply a cleaning mechanism, and it is
highly effective, as one can see by comparing lions and baboons. Although lions are clean animals, the backs
of their necks, where they cannot reach to clean, are thick with ticks, whereas the baboon's hair is totally free
of them as the inferior baboons clean the dominant one's neck.
2 This 'dominant hierarchy' is a form of animal social structure in which a linear or nearly linear ranking
exists, with each animal dominant over those below it and submissive to those above it. In most of the cases
this hierarchy is relatively stable from day to day. Direct conflict is rare as the weaker animal itself steps aside
when it sees the dominant or much stronger around in its path. These submissive displays and their calming
effect on the dominant animal evolve because they avoid or prevent fighting as it may result in unnecessary
injury to a social group dependent on one another for their welfare.
3 Japanese monkeys were intensely studied during the 1940s. Their discipline was surprising. In the morning.
the group would set out from its sleeping sites to a feeding station established by Japanese zoologists. They
walked always in the same order, the young males frolicking on ahead and at the sides, the dominant male
walking in the centre, together with the females and the infants.

4 The meek ones lagged behind in submission. They fed always in similar order of ranks: the dominant
monkeys first, then the others in descending gradation of status. And, while resting, the dominant males
surrounded by females and infants, occupied the most attractive area in the middle of the feeding station,
where no subordinates were allowed to encroach.
5 There is no mistaking a dominant male monkey. These are superbly muscled monkeys. Their hair is sleek
and carefully groomed, their walk calm, assured and majestic. They move in an apparent disregard of lesser
monkeys, who scatter at their approach. For to obstruct the path of a dominant male or even to venture, too
near to him is an act of defiance, and monkeys learn from young that such a challenge will draw a heavy
punishment..

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6 The animal behaviour has always fascinated humans and extends back millions of years, perhaps even to
times before the ancestors of the species became human in the modern sense. It was the demand as they need
to observe the distinctive traits of animals before hunting them or domesticating them for personal or
professional use.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(a) Which of the following statements is relevant to the contents of paragraph 1?
(i) There is a dominance that exists in the hierarchical structure of all animals
(ii) The dominance of lions in the wild predominate the hierarchical wild structure
(iii) Baboons clean themselves hierarchically
(iv) Predominance of ticks in animals is an example of their hierarchical status

(b) How does the writer define dominant hierarchy in the passage?
Ans. According to the writer, dominant hierarchy is a linear structure among animals with each animal
dominating over animals below it and subservient to animals above it in the hierarchical social structure.

(c) What has been the finding about the dominant animals' behaviour towards the weaker ones?
Ans. Even though weaker animal avoids conflict, the dominant animals too, avoid conflict with the weaker
ones so as to avoid unnecessary injury towards a social group that is dependent on each other for their
common welfare.

(d) Select the option that conveys the behaviour among monkeys as studied in the 1940s.
(i) Their discipline had conditioned them to walk to the feeding station established by Japanese zoologists.
(ii) The young monkeys were allowed to frolic about while the bulk of them followed a social order.
(iii) Their discipline was impeccable as they walked in a hierarchical order.
(iv) the dominant male occupied the centre and the females and infants walked at his side.

(e) Select the feeding order followed by the monkeys.

(i) Similar to their ranking order. (ii) The male surrounded by females.
(iii) Infants occupied the attractive middle of the feeding station. (iv) All of the above.

(f)Give one pattern of behaviour observed among young monkeys.

Ans. The young monkeys were barred from encroaching the area of the dominant monkey and frolicked along
the side ahead of the others.

(g) Besides observing animal hierarchy, humans studied animal behaviour for___________________
(i) as they needed to know animals who could hunt for them
(ii) as they needed to know the animal's behaviour before going out to hunt for it
(ii) as they needed to study animal behaviour in order to survive
(iv) as they needed to know animal behaviour because animals are like humans

(h) From the contents of the passage point out the distinctive traits of the dominant male monkey.
(i) It is a sleek well muscled creature. (ii) It is carefully groomed.
iii) Without taking notice of the lesser monkeys. (iv) All of the above.

5. Read the passage and answer the questions given below: (10)
(1) World Conservation Day is celebrated internationally to increase awareness about the best practices
needed to protect our natural resources. The Earth is supplied with a limited amount of resources that we all
upon, like water, air, soil and trees. The World Nature Conservation Movement is a great opportunity to
celebrate the progress we've made and determine to take action, wherever needed. It is time to remind
ourselves that we need to give back to nature instead of just using resources without thinking about
conservation. There is a need to replenish and recycle the resources we consume from nature.

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(2) Our forests, rivers, oceans and soils provide us with the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we
irrigate our crops with. We also rely on them for numerous other goods and services. We depend on them for
our health, happiness and prosperity. We have a cycle of biodiversity which needs proper conservation.

(3) The Population explosion remains one of the major reasons why natural resources are getting depends at a
very fast rate. Technological advancement and luxurious lifestyles have led to several environmental problems
like global warming, ozone layer depletion, river water pollution and deforestation, which threaten the planet's
future.

(4) Humans, animals, marine creatures and the environment, all need to be protected and conserved for the
planet's future well-being. There are many examples of conservation. One is a programme to try to preserve
wetlands, or a programme to try and save old buildings. Another example is of an attempt to minimize the
amount of electricity used by turning off lights when leaving a room, or an attempt to turn off the running tap
to avoid wastage of water. There are lots of examples like these which need implementation.

(5) Following these small steps in our daily lives, we can help to maintain the balance of nature, thereby
saving humankind from the kinds of natural disaster, we may face in the near future.

(6) Nature also has a profound impact on our mind and our behaviour, helping reduce anxiety, brooding, and
stress and increase our attention, capacity, creativity and ability to connect with other people. So, there is a
need to save nature if we want to save life as the two are interconnected and need each other. If we hurt or
destroy the environment, surely we will be ruined. We must create awareness among family members, and try
and practice a sustainable lifestyle to protect and conserve nature.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below

(a) Complete the sentence by choosing an appropriate option. 1

There is an urgent need to conserve our natural resources because___________________
( i)we are aimlessly using the natural resources and not replenishing them.
(ii) they will be replaced by man-made resources.
(iii) serious efforts are needed to cut down the consumption of these resources.
(iv) we must become alert before it is too late.

(b) In the opinion of the writer, which are the primary natural resources without which our life is not
possible? 1

(c) In paragraph 1, the writer talks about 'celebrating the progress. Explain in context. 2

(d) The writer would not agree with the given statements based on paragraph 6. EXCEPT: 1
(i) Stress can be relieved by working overtime.
(ii) Nature can affect man's emotional well-being.
(iii) Lifestyle cannot be changed permanently.
(iv) Destruction of the environment is a temporary measure undertaken by man.

(e) List two ways in which forests and rivers help mankind. 2
(f)How can the solutions suggested in paragraph 4 be best described? 1
(i) Unrealistic (ii) Short term (iii) Practical (iv) Challenging
(g) Why is it fair to say that population explosion remains one of the major reasons and why natural
resources are getting depleted rapidly? 2
(h) Complete the given sentence with an appropriate reference with respect to the following: 1
The writer quotes the example of family awareness in order to________________(Paragraph 6).
(i) Select the most suitable title for the above passage. 1

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111

(i) Ways to Save the Environment (ii) Save Nature Save Life
(iii) Nature-A Pharmacy (iv) Nature - A Food Factory

6. Read the passage and answer the questions given below: (8)
[Link] companies demand an outstanding job performance by every single employee to be better than
that of their competitors because there is competition among enterprises. The employers make efforts to
motivate the employees and optimise performance.
2. There are numerous factors affecting job performance. These can be divided into external and internal
factors. The internal factors are team spirit, competent boss, respect from colleagues and job satisfaction. The
external factors are chance for personal development, job security, promotion prospects and monetary
incentives. The decisive determinant is that the employees remain highly motivated. One possible method to
increase motivation is the salary. Employees are willing to stay longer hours in the office and perform better,
when they have the chance to get financial rewards, for instance, a higher salary or bonuses.
3. The bar graph (given below) shows the result of a survey conducted among workers in a company to
analyse their work performance across ten different factors that contribute to make their work environment
pleasant. The workers are grouped into two categories-those between the ages of 18-30 and those between 45-
60. Interestingly, in six out of the ten factors surveyed, the 18-30 age group is shown to be more affected than
the 45-60 age group. Factors, besides the salary, which affect the work performance of the two different age
groups are interesting. These factors are the chance for personal development, relaxed working environment,
promotion prospects, job satisfaction and monetary incentives. Furthermore, two out of the remaining four
factors namely, team spirit and work environment have been equally influential among the two groups. The
45-60 year old workers are impacted a lot by 'respect from colleagues' whereas the prospect of a promotion is
an important reason that drives younger employees to work better.
[Link] performance of happy employees is 31% more productive and they show three times more creativity
than their unhappy counterparts. They are more resilient and more likely to stay in the same company for a
longer period. Consequently they drive the company towards long-term goals by being more productive and
efficient.
Factors affecting work performance:

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below:

(i) Select the option that displays the most likely reason for employees to perform better: (1)
(a) companies demand an outstanding performance (b) if the company grows, their growth is assured
(c) when there are chances to get financial gratification (d) to drive the company towards long-term goals

(ii) Does the following statement agree with the information given in para 1? (1)
When the company has a lot of competitors, it tries to invent the most efficient technology to stay ahead.
Select from the following:

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True-The statement agrees with the information.

False-The statement contradicts the information.
Not Given There is no information on this.

(iii) Why do you think the companies demand exemplary performance from their employees? Support
your answer with reference to the passage. (2)

(iv) Select two factors that display that work performance of both the categories of workers remains the
same. (1)
(v) Based on the bar graph, complete the following statement: (1)
The 18-30 age group is shown to be more affected than the 45-60 age group in most factors. We can say this
because_____________

(vi) Complete the given sentence by selecting the most appropriate option: (1)
Loyalty as an attribute is there in employees who are______________________
(a) senior (b) healthy (c) motivated (d) happy

(vii) Complete the given sentence by selecting the most appropriate option: (1)
The concluding sentence of the passage makes a clear case for__________ by listing it as a core component of
steering the company towards long-term goals.
(a) collaboration (b) flexibility (c) happiness (d) adaptability

SECTION – B (18 Marks)

Notice Writing:-
1.
Sainik School, Indore
NOTICE
20 October, 20xx
ORKSHOP ON IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH
This is to inform all students of classes XI and XII that the Wellness Club of the school is organizing a
Workshop to raise awareness on the importance of mental health.
The workshop will be held on 25th October, 20xx at 10:00 am. in the School Auditorium. The session will be
conducted by the school counsellor Ms. Nidhi Sharma. It is mandatory for all students to attend the workshop.
BOOKS

For further details, contact the undersigned.

Rachael

President

Wellness Club

2.

PC School, Maurice Nagar, Delhi

NOTICE
20 February, 20xx
INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR
This is to inform the students of Classes VI-XII that an International Book Fair is going to be held at
PragatiMaidan from 7 February to 14 February, [Link]: 11:00 am-7:00 pm

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Entry fee: Free for students

There will be books for all age groups and of different genres from around the world and academic subjects
also. The visit to book fair will help in creating the students' interest in reading.
Students who are interested to visit the book fair may register their names with their respective class teachers
by 5 February 20xx. Only registered students would be permitted to visit the fair.
For further details, contact the undersigned.

Anita Dua
Librarian
3.

Gyan Public School, Indore

NOTICE
20 April, 20xx
TREE PLANTATION DRIVE
This is to inform the students of Classes IX-XII that the Environment Club of the school is organising a
plantation drive on the occasion of World Environment Day on 22 April, 20xx at 10:00 am around the school
and in the neighbourhood to create awareness about the depleting environment. Approximately 500 saplings
will be planted in the area. Saplings will be made available by the school. CBOOKS
Interested students may give their names to their respective class teachers by tomorrow.
For further details, contact the undersigned.
Dhruv Kapoor
(Secretary of Environment Club)

4.
Government Sr. Sec. School, Ajmer
NOTICE
20 April, 20xx
Educational Trip to Mount Abu
This is to inform the students of class XII that the school is organising an educational trip to Mount Abu,
Rajasthan during the summer vacation.
The trip will enhance the knowledge of young students about the hills and mountains. The trip will be held
from 20th - 24th May, 20xx. Interested students may give their names to their respective classteachers. For
further details, contact the undersigned.

DeepikaSahdev
(Head Girl)

5.
The Times of India
NOTICE
22 August, 20xx
Documents Lost in the train
This is to bring to your kind notice that a leather bag has been lost, which contains valuable documents such
as passport, my certificates and a bunch of keys. It was lost during day time while travelling in Shatabadi train
from Amritsar to Delhi.
The bag is a backpack in dark blue colour with the make 'V.I.P.' Whosoever finds the bag may kindly contact
the undersigned at 12 Gandhi Road, Delhi or at mobile no. 9999998876. Finder will be rewarded.
NamanChaturvedi

6: Water supply will be suspended for eight hours (10 am to 6 pm) on 6th of March for cleaning of the
water tank. Write a notice in about 50 words advising the residents to store water for a day. You are
Karan Kumar/Karuna Bajaj, Secretary, Janata Group Housing Society, Palam Vihar, Kurnool.
Answer:
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JANATA GROUP HOUSING SOCIETY, PALAM VIHAR, KURNOOL

NOTICE
March 01, 20XX
ATTENTION!
This is to inform all the residents regarding the suspension of water supply for 8 hours. It is being
done to clean the water tank. The details are as follows:
DATE- March 6
TIME- 10am – 6 pm
It is requested to store the required amount of water beforehand to minimize the difficulty.
Karan Kumar/ Karuna Bajaj
(signature)
Secretary

7: While walking in a park in your neighbourhood you found a small plastic bag containing some
documents and some cash. Write a notice in about 50 words to be put on the park notice board asking
the owner to identify and collect it from you. You are Amar/Amrita 9399123456.
Answer:

ABC PARK , VYAS COLONY, JAIPUR

NOTICE
March 01, 20XX
FOUND!
This is to inform all the readers that a plastic bag has been found in the neighbourhood park. It has
a few documents and some cash in it. The plastic bag is red in colour and is medium-sized. It was
found on February 27, at around 6pm near the fountain in the park. The owner of the bag shall
contact me on 9399123456 along with an identity proof.
Amar/Amrita

[Link] the Head Boy /Head Girl of your school you are organising a Career Counselling Session for XI and XII
Std. students of your school. Write a notice giving details of it to be displayed on your school notice board.
Answer:
ABC SCHOOL XYZ CITY
NOTICE
Date- 1 March 20XX

CAREER COUNSELLING SESSION

It is to inform all the students of classes XI and XII that the school is going to organize A Career
Counselling Session on 10 Aug. 20XX. Students of classes XI and XII are invited to attend a career
counselling session on 10 Aug. 20XX in the Tagore Auditorium at 9.00 am. Please be seated by 8.45 am.
Kindly do not bring bag/eatables inside the auditorium. For more details contact the undersigned.

Rahul Mehta
Head Boy

9. You are Srinivs of Srinidhi of D.P. Public School, Nagpur. As Student Editor of your school
magazine, draft notice in not more than 50 words for your school notice board inviting article sketches
from students of all classes.

Answer:

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D.P. Public School, Nagpur

NOTICE
29th July, 2Oxx
Bring Articles and Sketches
Students of all classes are hereby invited to submit their articles and sketches for the school magazine
to the undersigned Latest by the 6th of August in Room No. 102 during the V period. Please ensure
that your articles are neat and legible and your sketches are clearly drawn.

Srinidhi
Editor
School Magazine

10. You are Vineeta/Vikram, School Pupil Leader of Rani Laxmi Bai Senior Secondary School,
Gwalior. Draft a notice for your school notice board in not more than 50 words inviting the names of
the students who want to participate in the cultural programme organised in aid of the victims of the
recent Assam floods.
Answer:

RANI LAXMI BAI SR. SEC. SCHOOL, GWALIOR

NOTICE
12th September, 2013
Requires Participant in the Cultural Programme
Relief for Assam Flood Victims Our school is organizing a cultural programme in aid of victims of the
recent Assam Floods on 30th September, 20xx. The different categories of the programme include
singing, dance, skits and elocution. Students, who are interested to participate in this programme for a
noble cause, may give their names to the undersigned latest by the 16th of September.

Vineeta
Pupil Leader

11. You are Health Secretary, Students Council, Citizens Public School, Ram Bagh, Varanasi. The
Council has decided to start from the second of October week-long cleanliness drive around the school.
Draft a notice in about 50 words asking the Class XI students to enroll for the drive.
Answer:

Citizens Public School, Ram Bagh

Notice
1st October, 20xx
Cleanliness Drive

The Students Council has decided to start week-long cleanliness drive around the school from the 7th to 14th
October, 20xx. Students of Class XI are hereby requested to enroll for this drive. All interested volunteers are
requested to give in your names to the undersigned latest by 4th October, 20xx.

Health Secretary:
Students Council

**************************************************************************************
Invitation:-
Q 1: M/s Shya m LaL & Sons are opening a new general store ‘Galaxy Novelties’ in Geetanjali Enclave,
Dwarika, Delhi. The inauguration ceremony is fixed for Sunday, the 19th of October 20XX at 11 a.m. Prepare
a draft of formal invitation letter for the purpose.

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Answer:

Q 2: Draft an invitation on behalf of Mr & Mrs Raj Karan of 38, Kamal Kunj, Varanasi, which they may use
to invite their friends and relatives on the 5th birth anniversary of their son Nikhil at their residence on 28
December 20XX.
Answer:

Q 3: Your sister Nivedita is going to marry Akhilesh (S/o Mr & Mrs SM. Joshi, Nainital) Your father Mr K.S.
Bhardwaj has planned to hold the wedding at Hotel Kunal, New Delhi on 25 May 20XX at 8 p.m. Write a
formal invitation on behalf of Mr & Mrs K.S. Bhardwaj inviting guests to the auspicious occasion. Give other
details. Do not exceed 50 words.
Answer:

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Q 4: You are a student of Newton Public School, Nagpur. The school is holding its annual function on
Saturday, the 15th November, 20XX at 11 a.m. The HRD Minister Dr M.M. Joshi has consented to be the
chief guest. Design an invitation card to be sent to the parents and other invitees. Do not exceed 50 words.
Answer:

Q5. The literary club of your school is putting up the play ‘Waiting for Godot’. As secretary of the club, draft
an invitation inviting the famous writer Sudeesh Gupta to be the guest of honour at the function. Write the
invitation in not more than 50 words. You are Govind/Gauri.

Answer:

ABC School
Shastri Nagar
Mumbai

February 20, 20xx

Mr. Sudesh Gupta

XYZ Lane
PQR Colony
Mumbai

Subject: Invitation as Chief Guest.

Dear Sir
The Literary club of our school is putting up the play ‘Waiting for Godot’ on 17th January, 20xx in our school
auditorium from 9-10 am. On behalf of our club, I would like to extend a cordial invitation to you to be the
guest of honour at the function. It would be our privilege if you consent to grace this occasion with your
esteemed presence.
Gauri
Secretary (Literary Club)

6..You have received an invitation to be the judge for a literary competition in St. Ann’s School. Send a reply
in not more than 50 words, confirming your acceptance. You are Mohan/Mohini.
Answer:

Confirming Acceptance:
16, XYZ Lane
ABC Nagar,
Chennai

Feb. 1st, 2023

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St. Ann’s School

TVS Nagar
Chennai

Subject: Acceptance of invitation for judging the literary competition.

Sir,

I would like to express my gratitude to St. Ann’s School for inviting me to be the judge for a literary
competition in your school. I confirm my acceptance for the same and will make sure that I am present there
at the scheduled date and time.
Yours sincerely
Mohini

7. As the principal of a reputed college, you have been invited to inaugurate a Book Exhibition in your
neighbourhood. Draft a reply to the invitation in not more than 50 words, expressing your inability to attend
the function. You are Tarun/Tanvi.

Answer:

Reply To Invitation:
The Principal
ABC College
March 25th, 20xx

Subject: Inability to accept the Invitation

Sir
I would like to express my gratitude to the Civil Lines Book Club for inviting me to inaugurate the first
edition of the Civil Club Book Exhibition. But I regret my inability to attend the function due to a prior
commitment. I extend my best wishes to success for the function.
Yours faithfully
Tanvi
Principal

8. Rohit has got success in CBSE-PMT. He wants to celebrate his admission to Shivaji Medical College,
Nagpur by throwing a party to his friends. Write an informal invitation giving details of venue, time and date.
Do not exceed 50 words.

Answer:

33/427 Priya Vihar

New Delhi
15 July 20XX

Dear Varan

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You will be glad to learn that I have secured 80th rank in the CBSE-PMT competition. I have got admission in
a prestigious institution – Shivaji College, Nagpur. I want to share a few happy moments of my life in the
company of my old Mends at a dinner in the Hotel Kanishka at 9.00 p.m. on 23 July, 20XX.
Please join the celebrations and merry-making.
Yours friend
Rohit

9. Your friend, P.V. Sathish, has invited you to attend the wedding of his sister, Jaya. You find that you have
an important paper of pre-board examination on the day of the wedding. Thus you cannot attend the event.
Write in about 50 words a formal reply to the invitation expressing your regret. You are Puneet, M 114, Fort
Road, Chennai.
Answer:

M114, Fort Road,

Chennai.
15th January, 20xx

Dear [Link],
Thank you P.V. Sathish for your kind invitation to the wedding of your sister, Jaya on 23rd January, 20xx. I
regret my inability to attend as I have an important pre-board examination on the day of the wedding. Wishing
the newly wedded couple a very happy married life. Best wishes Puneet.

Your friend
Puneet
*************************************************************************************

Job Application:-

Q1: Draft an application for the post of an accountant in Pioneers (Pvt.) Ltd. Co. Hyderabad in response to
their advertisement that appeared in The Times of India dated 1st August, 20XX. Prepare a bio-data to be
enclosed. You are Nipun/Aparna.
Answer:
23 Raman Villa
Race Course Road
Bhopal

August 11, 20XX

The Manager
Pioneers (Pvt.) Ltd. Co.
Hyderabad

Sub: Application for the post of Accountant.

Sir

In response to your advertisement in The Times of India dated 1 August 20XX, I wish to be considered for the
position mentioned above. I feel my qualifications and experience are good enough to enable me to discharge
my duties. I attach herewith attested copies of my certificates and my bio-data. If given a chance, I may assure
you, sir, that I shall spare no pains in the discharge of my duty honestly and devotedly. I will certainly win the
confidence of my superiors.

Thanking you

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Yours faithfully
Nipun

Encl.: Bio-data
BIO – DATA

NAME - Nipun Verma

FATHER’s NAME - Sh. Mohan Lal Verma
DATE OF BIRTH - 25 July, 1984
ADDRESS - 21, Vasant Marg, Bhilai
CONTECT NO. - 98100XXXXX
E-MAIL - Nipun@[Link]

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS -

S.N. Class Board Subject Passing Year Percen

tage
1. Senior Secondary CBSE Comm. Maths 2003 75%
2. [Link]. M.D.S.U. Ajmer [Link]., Eco., Acc. 2006 80%
3. C.A. 2007
4. ICWAI 2009

PROFETIONAL EXPERIENCE - TISCO ‘Bhopal’ since Nov. 2010

LANGUAGE KNOWN - English, Hindi
OTHER SKILL - Good communication skills, computer
literate
REFERENCES - (i) Dr. V. Anand, H.O.D. Commerce,
Holker
University, Indore
(ii) Sh. R.K. Sareen, Financial Advisor GRASIM
(India) Bangalore

DECLARATION:-
I hereby declare that above information is correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

DATE -
Nipun Verma
SIGNATURE

Qualification:- For Subject teacher :- B.A. [Link] / B. Sc. [Link]

For Physical teacher:- [Link] + [Link]
For Primary teacher: 12 + Primary Teaching Diploma
For receptionist:- 12 + [Link]. / B.A. / BBA With good communication skill

****************************************************************************************

Article and Report IMPORTANCE OF OUTDOOR GAMES

by Thomas
India's performance in the recent Olympics has proved to everyone that as a country, we do not pay much
attention to athletics and outdoor games. We live in an ultra-competitive world, where academic excellence is
stressed upon. Moreover, in this age of computers and technology, there is a growing craze for computer and
video games among children. Children tend to spend a lot of time in academics and other activities which

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affect their health adversely as they neglect outdoor games, which are essential for physical fitness and
growth.
It is high time that this attitude changes. Outdoor games should be given more importance for the sake of
children's physical and mental growth. They are vital for the overall development of a child's personality.
Playing outdoors helps children to remain physically and mentally fit and also enables them to meet new
children and develop their social skills like teamwork. Moreover, outdoor games teach discipline as children
learn to follow rules. Children develop a strong sense of sportsmanship wherein they learn to accept both
winning and losing. They help the child focus as nothing can be learnt well without concentrating, even a
sport.

Sports are now more competitive and represent a bright future. Thus, parents must understand the importance
of sports and encourage their children to go out and play They must motivate their children to take up a
specific sport as a hobby and even pursue it as a career, if they wish to. They should ensure that their children
break away from the sedentary lifestyle and become physically active as 'a healthy mind stays in a healthy
body’.

OR

LITERACY CAMPAIGN FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED

By BrindaSengupta
A literacy campaign under the 'SarvaShikshaAbhiyaan' was organised by the Delhi Government's Education
Department in New Delhi. Students of C.A.V. Senior Secondary School, Dwarka participated as volunteers in
the campaign from 1st October to 10th October 20xx to spread awareness about the need for education.
The literacy drive was undertaken near a slum in Dwarka. It was inaugurated by the Education Minister. A
number of teachers and students volunteered for this noble cause. Classes were conducted by the school
students in the Community Centre. The parents of the children living in the slum were convinced to send their
children to schools. Books, notebooks and stationery items were donated by some NGOs. Senior students
were given the charge of teaching very young children and grown-up children were under the care of teachers.
Smartboards and educational games were made available. A small library was alsoset up, wherein volunteers
read out stories to young children in interesting ways. Thegovernment also made arrangements for mid-day
meals for children. Various sportswere organised in which children participated enthusastically. A talent show
was also organised to let the children show their talents.
All these activities created an interest for learning in the children, whose happy faces encouraged their parents
to make a promise to send their children to school. It was a highly successful programme, which will help
spread literacy and ensure a better future for these children.

*************************************************************************************

RACE WITH FASHION

by Smita Kapoor
Fashion is a form of art. You can admire or criticize it but not necessarily buy it. Fashion changes every
season. It is a popular style of clothes, hair, gadgets, etc. at a particular time or place. Particular designs and
colours may become popular at different points of time but one must prefer comfort and good appearance over
mass fashion. The craze for fashion is great among young people. Gone are the days when people believed in
simplicity. The right combination can make you feel at the top of the world but if you cross the subtle line that
separates fashion and fashion disaster, you need to rethink
Fashion is something that challenges the conventional ideas of beauty. It expresses modernity, symbolising the
spirit of the times. There is no point joining the rat race if it doesn't make you feel or look good. Basically man
is fashionable because of his inherent desire to look good. Fashion has spread in all the spares of our life. The
fashion trends change very frequently these days. What was in vogue yesterday becomes obsolete today.
It is certain that following fashion trends are very expensive, Apparels and accessories which are in trend are
generally very costly. We should not waste our money on buying latest designer's suits just because others are
doing so. If this trend continues, it will give rise to competition which may take away our identities, cultural
and traditional norms. To live in style dressing well and smartly makes life lively attractive inviting and

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zestful. It is good to be fashionable but it is better to be simple and dignified. Fashion should be promoted to
enrich our life not to degrade it.

OR
Career Counseling Program
By Ankit
"Careers" organised a career counselling program at Sunrise School to help students understand the various
fields. On March 20th, an eminent career counselling firm from Delhi visited our school's auditorium to
discuss various fields such as food technology, biometric sciences, nanotechnology, media management, and
others.
The program was designed primarily for Class XII students. Initially, the school counsellor discussed the
values of various fields. The chief counsellor of 'Careers' spoke to the students about various fields and
inquired about their interests and choices in selecting subjects for class 12th. He detailed the future of various
fields and subjects covered in college under various fields to the students.
He had one-on-one discussions with the students, and he attempted to understand and resolve their concerns.
They were given two forms to fill out at the end of the program: a feedback form and the student data forms.
The forms were filled out by the students. The session ended at 3 p.m. They discovered a lot about the various
streams and their values The school Principal thanked the guests for their helpful advice to the students.

**************************************************************************************
Global Warming
by Abhinav
The Earth is a planet in peril, for scientists have warned the world that global warming is a more serious threat
than global terrorism. Nature has been suffering from thoughtless human intervention in its recycling process.
No amount of information, warnings, pleadings can stop man from his march towards self-destruction. The
wide-spread use of insecticides in the environment alongwith smoke emitted from vehicles and industrial
units, nuclear experiments, growing population and indiscriminate felling of trees have polluted the air.
Poisonous wastes from chemical units have polluted the waters. Moreover, a very large hole has occurred in
the Ozone layer, a sheet which protects us from the direct heat of the sun. Skin cancer, respiratory problems,
irritation of eyes and stomach disorders have, as a result, increased drastically over the years.

Global warming today is not just a concept anymore. It is a fact. It has resulted in a steadyrise in levels of heat
trapping gases like carbon dioxide and methane and in melting of ice caps and rise in sea levels. Changing
from fossil fuels to renewable resources, minimizing the use of air-conditioners, using pollution-free fuel like
CNG in vehicles, opting for bicycles instead of cars and treating industrial wastes before discharge are some
of the ways we can try to save the environment.
Drastic action is required to save our ecology from destruction. For every tree destroyed, a dozen new should
be planted. Last but not the least, there is an urgent need for education and control of population. We need to
campaign for a toxic free, sustainable, peaceful future for all species on this planet.

OR
Library Week Celebrated at Sunrise School
By Raghav Malhotra
Sunrise Public School, Lucknow celebrated Library Week from 1st July to 7th July, 20xx to inculcate the love
for reading amongst students. A host of activities were conducted to dedicate the week to book lovers. It was
inaugurated by the School Chairman, Mr. S.K. Choudhary, who, in his address, encouraged children to make
reading a lifelong activity.
The week was declared open with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp of knowledge by the school Chairman.
It was followed by a rendering of the SaraswatiVandana by the school choir. The programme was graced with
the presence of Mr. ChetanBhagat, eminent author and the members of Delhi Literature Society. Mr.
ChetanBhagat read a few excerpts from his latest novel. A literature quiz was also held, which saw a huge
number of participants.
The activities for the week included identifying the role of characters in the novel, quiz based on the titles of
various books among other events. Children wrote reviews about their favourite books. They also performed a
skit based on the theme of the week. The best performances were adjudged and awarded by the chief guest.
Each day began with an innovative activity and several talks by renowned authors.
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It was a fun-filled week that was a great learning experience and which made an effort to make each day
memorable by doing something creative.
**************************************************************************************
Role of Educated Society in Curbing Child Labour
by Srishti
Childhood is the golden period of man's life. Children need love and care for their growth and development.
Children are said to be the future of a nation but the irony of Indian social life is the employment of about ten
million children in unhealthy, hazardous and dangerous trades and industries. Eventually, the country's future
would become uncertain. It is a national shame!
In the current era, sadly one can see bare-footed, lean and thin children at tender age working for ten to fifteen
hours a day in shops, dhabas, brick-kilns, small factories and cottage industries, which even lack proper
sanitation, ventilation, etc. Poverty is the main reason that compels many parents to send their children to
work as they cannot afford to send them to school. They have made their children partners in survival.
Ironically, the people in educated societies are in favour of continuing this practice as it gives them labour at
much less cost.
Although our constitution has provided a number of laws and acts to curb child labour, they are not being
strictly implemented. If the laws are enforced with utmost strictness, thousands of children can be surely
brought out of those dingy cells and polluted areas where their childhood is being crushed mercilessly.
Awareness programmes must be initiated among parents and whole society to stop this evil practice and to
make them realise the need for child education. Government also promotes education by giving several
scholarships, making education free of cost till eighth standard to make sure that at least they get a chance to
improve their future. Corporate houses, companies and business firms should come forward and adopt schools
to provide education in healthy and conducive environment for a brighter future of these children.

OR
Job Fair at PragatiMaidan
By Peeyush, Reporter, Deccan Times
April 10, Chennai: 'Job Fair 20xx' organised by the Ability Foundation was held at PragatiMaidan, Chennai
from April 5 to April 8, 20xx. More than 55 renowned companies from various sectors such as information
technology, telecommunications, etc. offered jobs to the final year students of various colleges.
The Job Fair exhibited interesting prospects offered by different companies. There were presentations by the
CEOs of the companies stating job profiles and incentives offered with each post. About 2000 students from
prestigious universities visited the fair and came to know about the various avenues available nationally and
globally.

The students showed great enthusiasm in obtaining information about the jobs they would like to opt for. The
representatives from the companies also explained to them the promotion aspects of each post along with the
appointment process and the qualifications required for each post.
The Job Fair provided a great opportunity for young students to understand the process of job appointments
and helped them clarify their doubts about the future.

***************************************************************************************
Save Water-Are we Doing Enough?
by Mahima
Water is the most precious gift of God on earth. Life exists on earth because of the availability of water. Water
itself is tasteless, odourless and colourless, but it adds taste, colour and fragrance in the lives of living beings
on the earth. It is found everywhere and known as life. Despite the presence of water everywhere in rivers,
seas, tanks, wells. ponds, etc, we lack clean drinking water. Three-fourth part of the earth is full of water.
however, we need to conserve water as there is very less percentage of clean water.
Without water, life is not possible on the earth. All living beings like humans, animals, plants, etc. need water
to grow, develop and live. Water is the only source of all lives here. We need water in all walks of life from
morning till night, like for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing clothes, watering plants, etc.
People working in different fields need water for different purposes such as farmers need it to grow crops,
gardeners to water plants, industrialists for industry work, electricity plants to generate hydro-electricity, etc.
So, we should save clean water for the wellness of our future generations and healthy life of plants and
animals. People at many places of the world are suffering from water scarcity or complete lack of water in neir
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regions. There are many cities in the world which have already gone dry and facing acute water shortage
BOOK
We should understand the importance of water in our life and stop misusing it with the proper management of
usage of water. We should also protect clean water from getting dirty due to the soil or water pollution. We
should not waste water and store rain water for this purpose. Rainwater harvesting is the need of the hour. It's
high time to act and not just talk! OR
ARC The Debating Society of St. Celena's School organised a workshop on "Assessment and Evaluation by
the CBSE Resource Person, Dr. Arun Kumar on 27th March, 20box for class X students

OR
Workshop on 'Assessment and Evaluation
By Praveen Kumar
The Resource Person began the session by addressing the concern of students and teachers about the methods
of assessment and evaluation. He clarified their doubts and responded to questions raised by them on
assessment and teaching methodology. The students discussed the assessment made by the school on the basis
of their participation in various activities and the system of grading. Dr. Arun Kumar explained that formal
assessments should be based on activities conducted in the classroom by the teacher in order to reduce stress
amongst the students. The parameters of grading and assessment were clarified further. It was also suggested
that a list of projects and activities must be prepared and it should be integrated with classroom teaching.
The session was a refresher for the students and teachers on the assimilation of assessment methods.

**************************************************************************************

The Negative Impact of Reality Shows on Children

By Argen
The children of today undergo a lot of stress because every parent wants his or her child to remain ahead in
everything. Parents are responsible for this overburden on their innocent children, even if sometimes it goes
against their child's health.
There is a competition everywhere leading to too much pressure on the children, not only in inter school
events but also on stage shows Parents are keen to see their children on TV where they take them for gaining
confidence, and sometimes for the greed of money and lame they force their children to take part in reality
shows. It becomes a prestige for parents when their child is being watched by friends and relatives on TV and
when their child is declared a loner on TV, they get hurt.
These reality shows are robbing the children of their childhood and innocence. We expect from them things
that are beyond their age. Parents have a major role in the child's involvement in these activities. They must
teach them not only to win but to lose also If they love, they can't take the pressure and sometimes go into
depression. If they win, they become celebrities. The children need right guidance and awareness about their
capabilities and limitations. We shouldn't push the children to do things they don't enjoy We should let them
enjoy their childhood. They need to be taught about both failure and victory as being a part of life.
OR
Blood Donation Camp For Your Health
by ArpitaLal, President
A blood donation camp was organized at Hira Society, Jaipur by an NGO For Your Health The President of
the NGO Mr. Vikas Kaushik welcomed the medical team of twelve doctors from a nearby government
hospital with six nurses, who provided their services for the blood donation camp. The doctors briefed the
residents about the blood types and diseases related to blood which can spread or which can be harmful for
human body, They also explained that blood is the only thing in this earth which cannot be made outside the
human body. The blood which is donated in a small quantity can be easily re-generated by a human body in
24 hours.
After all the briefing, the donators' blood was checked for hemoglobin and blood type. The eligible donators
then went on to donate blood. Many residents and young people above 18 years donated blood for a good
cause. The youth pledged to donate blood every alternate month when healthy, and will help anybody in need.
The President of the NGO, Mr. Vikas Kaushik thanked the volunteers and medical team for their efforts. The
residents appreciated everyone for their efforts in saving people's lives.

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Creating healthy India through Healthy Food

by Supriti
Banning junk food has been a topic for debate several times. Teachers also preach about the importance of
eating nutritious food and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Schools have also been asked by the government to
stop serving junk food and come up with healthier food options.
There has been a sharp increase in incidences of obesity related issues among children and adolescents. But
the experts of diets and doctors insist on inculcating healthy eating habits at a young age. Young children
between the age of 6 - 10 years are found suffering from lifestyle diseases such as diabetes owing to their
eating and overall bad lifestyle habits. The existing food options in canteens should be modified to make them
more suitable to children's taste taking care of all nutrition. It is lack of enough options which forces them to
munch on junk food. According to experts, fast foods available in school canteens must be replaced with fresh
fruits, egg salads, rajmas, dal-rice, low salt soup, yoghurts and vegetables. Rising childhood obesity is the
result of consumption of fast food.
OR
Swimming Hero
by Rohit, School Reporter
History Club of DAV School organised a picnic on the banks of River Ganga on 15 October, 20xx for
students of classes IX-XII. It was an enjoyable trip for students as well as teachers. The river bank was the
perfect picnic spot for some other families also, who had come to enjoy the scenic beauty. The students were
singing and dancing.
Suddenly, a loud commotion was heard. A small boat carrying two persons had overturnedand the passengers
were shouting for help. It appeared that both of them could not swim. Suddenly, a young boy of around 22
came running and jumped into the river. With expert strokes, he swam towards the overturned boat. With
great effort, he brought the boat tothe original position. Then, without wasting any time, he pulled the two
persons one by one and towed them to the boat. He also helped them to again climb onto the boat.
By this time the rescue team had also arrived and helped in bringing the boat to the shore. The great hero, who
turned out to be the saviour, was greeted with cheers and applauds by all the people at the bank. The
passengers thanked him for his timely help. The young man was a true inspiration for everyone present there.

**************************************************************************************
SECTION – C (40 Marks)
Read the extract and answer the question:-
1. We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink. (A Thing Of Beauty)

(i ) What does Keats mean by 'an endless fountain of immortal drink?

ii) Which 'tales' does the poet refer to here?
(iii) Which of the following poetic devices has been used in the second line of stanza?
(a) Imagery (b) Personification (c) Hyperbole (d) Metaphor
(iv) What is the effect of immortal drink?
(v) 'All lovely tales' evoke the feeling of.......
(a) sadness and nostalgia. (c) Inspiration and pride.
(b) only nostalgia. (d) only pride.
(vi) The thyme scheme of the extract is........

Ans. (i) The poet refers to the tales of beautiful stories that we have either heard or read.
(ii) By 'endless fountain of immortal drink, the poet means an endless source ofinspiration and motivation.
(iii) (c) Hyperbole
(iv) People experience immense joy and happiness because of the immortal drink.
(v) (a) sadness and nostalgia.
(vi) aabb

2. "When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie

Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
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The tigers in the panel that she made

Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.” (Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers)

(i) Read the statement given below:

Aunt Jennifer's plight is best explained by her hands, they hold both her freedom and the instrument of her
imprisonment.
Choose the option that best explains the above statement, as per the extract.
(a) Aunt Jennifers's hands are terrified, but when she is dead, her tigers will roam free.
(b) Aunt Jennifer knits her desires, but is overpowered by the wedding ring she wears.
(c) Aunt Jennifer's tigers are proud and unafraid, but she is mastered by ringed ordeals.
(d) Aunt Jennifer makes panels of tigers when she has time from her responsibilities.
(ii) What do the tigers represent here?
(a) confidence and size (b) fearlessness and freedom
(c) the pride of the society (d) symbol of violence
(iii) How has Aunt Jennifer failed in her aim?
(iv) Complete the following sentence:
The tigers, in the extract, represent AuntJennifer's...............
(v) What makes the tigers 'proud and unafraid"?
(vi) Identify a phrase that suggests the following:
Aunt Jennifer is continuously possessed by the fear and Lordships.

Ans. (i) Aunt Jennifer knits her desires, but is overpowered by the wedding ring she wears.
(ii) (b) fearlessness and freedom
(iii) Aunt Jennifer has failed in her aim as she could not have a constraint-free married life.
(iv) hidden desire
(v) The tigers on the panel represent Aunt Jennifer's repressed desire for freedom and power
(vi) Still ringed with ordeals

[Link], here's what happened at Grand Central. One night last summer I worked late at the office. I was
in a hurry to get uptown to my apartment so I decided to take the subway from Grand Central because it's
faster than the bus.

Now, I don't know why this should have happened to me. I'm just an ordinary guy named Charley, thirty-
one years old, and I was wearing a tan gabardine suit and a straw hat with a fancy band; I passed a dozen
men who looked just like me. (The Third Level)

(i) Who is ‘I’ referred to in the above lines?

(ii) This happened to him because of his……………..
(a) imagination (b) desire (c) optimism (d) hurry
(ii) Why did he decide to take the subway?
(iv) What happened to him at the Grand Central?

Ans. (1) Charley

(ii) (a) imagination
(iii) He decided to take the subway as it was faster than the bus.
(iv) At the Grand Central Station, Charley got lost, reached a different land and then found the third level.

4. But at this moment the door opened and she looked out, a dark blue woolen haori over her kimono. She
came to him affectionately and put her arm through his as he stood, smiled and said nothing. (The
Enemy)
(i)What is the moment about?
(a) emotional (b) conflict (c) anxiety (d) tranquility
(ii) Who is ‘she’ in the extract?
(iii) What is you understand by ‘haori’?
(iv) Where had ‘she’ met him the first time?
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Ans. (i) (d) tranquility

(ii) Sadao’s wife, Hana is ‘she’ in the extract.
(iii) ‘Haori’ is an outer garment worn by Japanese women.
(iv) Hana had met Sadao in America the first time.

5. A. Food ismore important for survival than an identity. "If at the end of the day we can feed ours
families and go to bed without an aching stomach, we would rather live here than in the fields that gave us
no grain," say a group of women in tattered saris when I ask them why they left their beautiful land of
green fields and rivers Wherever they find food, they pitch their tents that become transit homes. Children
grow up in them, becoming partners in survival. And survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through
the years, it has acquired the proportions of a fine art. Garbage to them is gold. It is their daily bread, a
roof over their heads, even if it is a leaking roof. But for a child it is even more. (Lost Spring)

(i) The phrase ‘transit homes’ refers to the dwellings that are…………
(ii) Identify the figure of speech used in the sentence "Garbage to them is gold".
(a)hyperbole (b) simile (c) synecdoche (d) personification
(iii) Choose the lem which best matches the statement "Food is more important for survival than an identity.”
(a) morality (b) necessity (c) obligation (d) ambition
(iv) What does acquired the proportions of a fine art' mean?
(v)Choose the statement that is NOT TRUE about ragpickers in Seemapuri.
(at Children are equally involved in rag-picking as their parents.
(b) The ragpickers settle down in a place permanently.
(c) Rlag picking has accomplished itself as a skill and form of art.
(d) Rag-pickers live in unsteady shanties on the outskirts of Delhi.
(vi) Complete the sentence with appropriate explanation with reference to the extract.
It can be concluded that the lives of children of ragpickers……….

Ans. (i) temporary (ii) (a)hyperbole (iii) (b) necessity

(iv) It means that rag-picking has attained the positioned of a skill.
(v) (b) The ragpickers settle down in a place permanently.
(vi) become partners in survival

6. They had merely heard that a Mahatma who wanted to help them was in trouble with the authorities
Their spontaneous demonstration, in thousands, around the courthouse was the beginning of their
liberation from fear at the British. The officials felt powerless without Gandhi's cooperation. He helped
them regulate the crowd. He was polite and friendly. He was giving them concrete proof that their might
hitherto dreaded and unquestioned, could be challenged by Indians. The government was baffled. The
prosecutor requested the judge to postpone the trial. Apparently, the authorities wished to consult then
superiors. (Indigo)

(i) Why did the officials fuel powerless?

(ii) The demonstration proved that the
(a) policies of the British had failed.
(b) dread instilled in the hearts of Indians had begun to lessen.
(c) dealings with the Indian citizens had been unsuccessful.
(d) might of the British had not been understood by Indians.
(iii) Which style, from those given below, is being used by the author, when he says, "Apparently, the
authorities wished to consult their superiors."?
(a) humourous (b) dramatic
(c) sarcastic (d) persuasive
(iv) Gandhiji's behaviour towards the British prior to the proposal of postponement of the trial was that of
(a) indifference. (b) calm acceptance.
(c) ignorance of consequences. (d) polite helpfulness.
(v) List the indicator of beginning of peasant freedom from fear of the Britishers.
(vi) The antonym for 'abstract' as used in the extract is…..
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Ans. (i) The officials felt powerless because the crowd was listening only to Gandhi.
(ii) (b) dread instilled in the hearts of Indians had begun to lessen.
(iii) (c) sarcastic
(iv) (b) calm acceptance.
(v) The spontaneous demonstration in a large number by peasants around the courthouse was the indicator of
beginning of peasants’, freedom from fear of the Britishers.
(vi) concrete

7. And such too is the grandeur of the dooms

We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read:
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink. (A Thing of Beauty)

(i) Which of the following themes is best represented in the given extract?
(A) The beauty of nature (B) The power of imagination
(C) The immortality of art and literature (D) The inevitability of death with reference to the
extract.

(ii) State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE with the reference to the extract.
By referring to the dead as "mighty", the poet emphasizes their importance and the power they exerted on the
people.

(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.

The "endless fountain of immortal drink is an apt analogy for the tales of the mighty dead because………….

(iv) The use of the word "brink" in the extract suggests that the immortality that is being poured onto us is on
the verge of overflowing. This creates a powerful image of…….
(v) Based on the poem rhyme scheme, evident in lines 2-5, of the given extract, which word would rhyme
with lines?

(vi) Select the option that is NOT true about the lack of punctuation at the end of line 1 in the extract.
(A) Creates a sense of continuity and flow that connects the line with the second line.
(B) Encourages the reader to continue reading seamlessly without any pause.
(C) Creates a sense of anticipation and expectation for the reader.
(D) Encourages a revisit to the ideas in the preceding lines.

8...I looked again at her wan, pale

as a late winter's moon and felt that old
familiar ache, my childhood's fear,
but all I said was, see you soon, Amma,
all I did was smile and smile and
smile....... (My mother at Sixty-six)

(1)What is the speaker's emotional state when looking at her mother?

(A) Confused and disoriented (B) Nostalgic and longing
(C) Empathetic and understanding (D) Fearful and apprehensive

(ii) What does the use of the word "but" at the beginning of the line," but all I said..", suggest?

(iii ) Select the word that WILL NOT complete the sentence appropriately.
The description of the mother as "wan, pale/as a late winter's moon" creates a vivid image of.............
(A) vulnerability (B) sensitivity
(C) frailty (D) mortality

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(iv) State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE.

The poetic device used in the line, 'pale as a winter's moon' is the same as the one used in the line, 'the winter
wind wistfully wailed at night.

(v) What message do these lines highlight, in the context of familial relationships, and the speaker's sense of
anxiety and fear at the prospect of losing her mother?

(vi) Complete the sentence appropriately.

The repetition of the word, 'smile' suggests that.......

9. Climate change is one of the most hotly contested environmental debates of our time. Will the West
Antarctic ice sheet melt entirely? Will the Gulf Stream ocean current be disrupted? Will it be the end of the
world as weknow it? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, Antarctica is a crucial element in this debate - not just
because it's the only place in the world, which has never sustained a human population and therefore
remains relatively 'pristine' in this respect; but more importantly, because it holds in its ice-cores half-
million-year-old carbon records trapped in its layers of ice. (Journey to the End of the Earth)

(i) How does the absence of a human population in Antarctica make it significant in the climate change
debate?

(ii) Why is "climate change" described as a "hotly contested" issue in the extract provided?
This is so, because there.......
(A) is universal agreement on the causes and implications of climate change
(B) is a planned path ahead about how to address climate change
(C) are differing views on the causes and implications of climate change
(D) are minimal reports of fresh threats to climate change

(iii) The analogy of a time machine is an appropriate analogy for the role of carbon records in the study of
climate change because ...............

(iv) Give one reason why the writing style of the extract can be called factual and informative.

10. In other words, the Tiger King is dead.

The manner of his death is a matter of extraordinary interest. It can be revealed only at the end of the tale.
The most fantastic aspect of his demise was that as soon as he was born, astrologers had foretold that one
day the Tiger King would actually have to die.
"The child will grow up to become the warrior of warriors, hero of heroes, champion of champions. But..."
they bit their lips and swallowed hard. When compelled to continue, the astrologers came out with it. "This
is a secret which should not be revealed at all. And yet we are forced to speak out. The child born underthis
star will one day have to meet its death." (The Tiger King)

(i)Complete the sentence appropriately.

The author's purpose in using foreshadowing, is to.........

(ii) In the given extract, what emotion were the astrologers feeling when they "bit their lips and swallowed
hard"?
(A) Humiliation (B) Disbelief (C) Grief (D) Unease

(iii) Which trait are the astrologers lauding when they say "warrior of warriors, hero of heroes, champion of
champions"?

(iv) How is the line, "the most fantastic aspect of his demise", an example of contrast?

11 Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the street, the
opening and

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closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, very loud, with our hands over our ears to understand better,
and the teacher's great ruler rapping on the table. But now it was all so still! I had counted on the
commotion to get to my desk without being seen; but, of course, that day everything had to be as quiet as
Sunday morning. Through the window I saw my classmates, already in their places, and M. Hamel walking
up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm. I had to open the door and go in before everybody.
You can imagine how I blushed and how frightened I was. (The Last Lesson)

(i) List any two sensory details present in this extract.

(ii) Why does the protagonist feel anxious about entering the classroom on this particular day?
(A) The classmates have started the lesson (B) The teacher is in a bad mood
(C) The classroom is too quiet (D) The protagonist is running late

(ii) Why does the protagonist feel anxious about entering the classroom on this particular day?

(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.

The phrase "as quiet as Sunday morning" suggests that .....

(iv) Pick evidence from the extract that helps one infer that this was not the protagonist's first time being late
to school.
(v) What does the term 'terrible iron ruler' indicate about M. Hamel?
(vi) Which of the following headlines best suggests the central idea of the extract?
(A) The Fears of a Latecomer (B) The Importance of Punctuality
(C) The Rigidity of the School System (D) The Anxiety of a Young Student

12 Unaware of what his name represents, he roams the streets with his friends, an army of barefoot boys
whe appear like the morning birds and disappear them. at noon. Over the months, I have come to recognise
each o
"Why aren't you wearing chappals?" I ask one.
"My mother did not bring them down from the shelf," he answers simply. "Even if she did, he will throw
them off," adds another who is wearing shoes that do not match.

When I comment on it, he shuffles his feet and says nothing. "I want shoes," says a third boy who has
never owned a pair all his life. Travelling across the country I have seen children walking barefoot, in
cities, on village roads. It is not lack of money but a tradition to stay barefoot, is one explanation.
(Lost Spring)

(i) What is the writer's purpose in allowing the boys to speak for themselves via dialogue, as opposed to only a
writer's commentary?

(ii) The line, "It is not lack of money but a tradition to stay barefoot" can be best classified as:
(A) A fact (C) A theme
(B) An opinion (D) A plot point

(iii) Explain any one possible inference that can be drawn from the line, "an army of barefoot boys who
appear like the morning birds and disappear at noon".

(iv) Identify the line from the text that bears evidence to the fact that the writer's association with the boys is
not a recent one.

(v) Based on the context provided in the extract, select the most likely comment that the writer would have
made, based on the boy's reaction to the mismatched shoes.
(A) "Why are your shoes mismatched? That's not a good look."
(B) "Don't worry about your shoes, you can wear a matching pair later."
(C) "I like your shoes. What matters is that they protect your feet."
(D) "Have you chosen to mismatch your shoes?
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(vi) Complete the sentence with ONE word.

The phrase "he answers simply", suggests that the boy's response to the writer's question about why he wasn't
wearing chappals was........

13. Driving from my parent's home to Cochin last Friday morning,

I saw my mother, beside me,
doze, open mouthed,
her face ashen like that of a corpse
and realized with pain that she soon put that thought away... My Mother at 66

[Link] is the theme of the given extract?

(A) A conversation between mother and daughter (B) An argument
(C) Fear of loss and separation (D) A subtle relationship

2. State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE, with reference to the extract.
The poetess didn't want to confront the inevitability of fate that was to dawn upon her mother.

3. Complete the sentence appropriately.

The 'face ashen like that of a corpse' is an apt analogy used for mother because..........

4. Choose the option that displays the same literary device as in the given lines of the extract. her face ashen
like that of a corpse...
(A) Just as I had this thought, she appeared and... (B) My thoughts were as heavy as lead that evening when
...
(C) I think like everyone else who... (D) I like to think aloud when ....

5. The poetess used the word 'last Friday' specifically. This emphasized.............
6. Based on the poem rhyme scheme, evident in the given lines of the given extract, which word would rhyme
with the last line?
Friday mother face

14. What I want should not be confused

with total inactivity
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death,
If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving –
and for once could do nothing
Perhaps a huge silence might
interrupt this sadness of
never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death. (Keeping Quiet)

[Link] poet's intention in the first line is to:

(A) give warning to the readers. (B) give right direction to the readers.
(C) give choice to the readers. (D) give a clarification to the readers.

2. Select the option that best explains the stand of the poet in the expression: "I want no truck with death".
(A) He advises people to escape death. (B) He asserts that death is inevitable.
(C) He assures that he does not advocate death. (D) He expresses his desire not to die.

3. State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE, with reference to the extract.
According to the poet, keeping quiet is to blame for the condition of threatening ourselves with ddeath.

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4. Complete the sentence appropriately.

The essence of the poem 'Keeping Quiet' lies in the........

[Link] does the use of the word "perhaps" at the beginning of the line 'perhaps a huge silence suggest?
[Link] is the tone of the poet in the expression: "If we were not so single minded'.

[Link]: You're....peculiar. You say peculiar things. You ask questions I don't understand.
MR LAMB: I like to talk. Have company. You don't have to answer questions. You don't have to stop here
at all. The gate's open.
DERRY: Yes, but...
MR LAMB: I've a hive of bees behind those trees over there. Some hear bees and they say, bees buzz. But
when you listen to bees for a long while, they humm....and hum means 'sing'. I hear them singing, my bees.
DERRY: But....I like it here. I came in because I liked it .... when I looked over the wall.
MR LAMB: If you'd seen me, you'd not have come in.
DERRY : No. (On the Face of It)

[Link] the playwright's purpose of using ellipses (...) in this extract.

2. Select the option that best describes Derry and Mr. Lamb in the extract.
(A) Derry: introvert; Mr. Lamb: friendly (B) Derry: fearful; Mr. Lamb: domineering
(C) Derry: friendly; Mr. Lamb: weird (D) Derry: open minded; Mr. Lamb:
charming
3. Mr. Lamb's attitude towards the bees shows that he believes..........

4. Derry says, "I came in here because I liked it ...." What was the one significant thing Derry might have
liked about the place, as per the extract?
Value Points: The beauty of the world lies in the details

16. But at this moment, the door opened and she looked out, a dark-blue woollen haori over her
kimono. She came to him affectionately and put her arm through his as he stood, smiled and said
nothing. (The Enemy)
1. Who is 'she' in the above lines?
(A) Louisa (B) Bana (C) Hana (D) None of these
2. Complete the sentence appropriately.
Kimono is a.......
3. Where were Sadao and Hana standing?
4. Where had Sadao and Hana first met?

17. Poor man! It was in honour of this last lesson that he had put on his fine Sunday clothes, and now I
understood why the old men of the village were sitting there in the back of the room. It was because they
were sorry, too, that they had not gone to school more. It was their way of thanking our master for his forty
years of faithful service and of showing their respect for the country that was theirs no more. (The Last
Lesson)

1. Why does the narrator refer to M. Hamel as 'Poor man!?

(A) He empathises with M. Hamel as he had to leave the village.
(B) He believes that M. Hamel's "fine Sunday clothes" clearly reflected that he was not rich.
(C) He feels sorry for M. Hamel as it was his last French lesson.
(D) He thinks that M. Hamel's patriotism and sense of duty resulted in his poverty.

2. Which of the following idioms might describe the villagers' act of attending the last lesson most accurately?
(A) Too good to miss' (C) Too many cooks spoil the broth'
(B) Too little, too late (D) Too cool for school

3. Pick the evidence from the extract that helps infer that villagers were remorseful too.

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4. Complete the sentence appropriately.

It was France itself, and the last French lesson a desperate hope to.......

5. What dress was M. Hamel wearing on that day?

6. List any two sensory details present in this extract.

[Link] insists on being his own master. "I will be a motor mechanic", he announces. "Do you know
anything about cars?" I ask. "I will learn to drive a car," he answers, looking straight into my eyes. His
dream looms like a mirage amidst the dust of streets that fill his town Firozabad, famous for its bangles.
Every other family in Firozabad is engaged in making bangles. It is the centre of India's glass blowing
industry where families have spent generations working around furnaces, welding glass, making bangles
for all the women in the land it seems. Mukesh's family is among them. None of them know that it is illegal
like him to work in glass furnaces with high temperatures.... (Lost Spring)

1. What does the author try to convey by the expression 'being his own master'?
(A) Mukesh is disobedient to the elders. (C) Mukesh takes his own decisions.
(B) Mukesh is adamant in his behavior (D) Mukesh does not listen to others.

2 What is the narrator trying to convey through the expression"... looking straight into my eyes?"

3. Identify the line from the text that bears the evidence to the fact that Mukesh's dream is elusive and illusive.

4. Pick evidence from the extract that helps one infer that Mukesh wasn't scared of anyone and was
determined to do something in his life.

5."None of them know that it is illegal for children to work in glass furnaces". Select the inference in
withreference to the above statement.
(A) The children are innocent and do not realise the hardships of life.
(B) Their illiteracy and ignorance are exploited by the unscrupulous businessmen.
(C) They have no one to support them legally to get out of the situation.
( D) The children are ready to work in glass furnaces due to their poverty.

6. Complete the sentence appropriately. Almost all the families are engaged in bangle making. Firozabad is
the...........

19. Aunt Jennifer's fingers fluttering

through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band,
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand. (Aunt Jennifer's Tigers)

[Link] does the ring weigh heavy?

(B) Domination of husband
(D) All of these
2. What is Aunt Jennifer doing with her wool?
(A) Embroidering tigers. (B) Making a rug for living room.
(C) Knitting a cardigan for her husband. (D) Making a doll for her granddaughter.

3. Complete the sentence appropriately.

Aunt Jennifer finds it difficult to pull her ivory needle because..........

4. The word 'wedding band' suggests common shackles of married life. It stands for...........

5. State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE. Terror and fearlessness represent the contrast
between Aunt Jennifer and the tigers.
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6. What do the tigers not reflect in the poem?

20. Here far from the city we make our roadside stand
And ask for some city money to feel in hand
To try if it will not make our being expand,
And give us the life of the moving-pictures' promise
That the party in power is said to be keeping from us. (A Roadside Stand)

1. Who made the roadside stand?

(A) a farmer (B) a baker (C) a beggar (D) a millionaire

2. What do they want money for?

(A) They wanted to buy a house. (B) They wanted to raise their standard of living.
(C) They wanted to start an occupation. (D) They wanted to send their children to school.

3. Complete the sentence appropriately.

The farmers have seen in movies............

4. State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE, with reference to the extract.
The farmers think the party in power is responsible for their upliftment.

5. What does the roadside stand owner ask for to feel in hand?

6. According to the poet, who is keeping the roadside stand owners from living a prosperous life?

21. Sometimes I think Grand Central is growing like a tree, pushing out new corridors and staircases like
roots.
There's probably a long tunnel that nobody knows about feeling its way under the city right now, on its way
to Times Square, and maybe another to Central Park. And maybe - because for so many peoplethrough the
years, Grand Central has been an exit, a way of escape - maybe that's how the tunnel I gotinto... But I
never told my psychiatrist friend about that idea. (Third Level)

[Link] above extract is NOT an example of

(A) allegory (B) analogy (C) imagery (D) metaphor

2. Charley decided not to tell his psychiatrist friend about his idea. What kind of reaction Charley anticipated
from his friend.

3. Which idea is being reflected in the extract?

4 The idiom 'feeling its way' implies.......... movement.

22. At midnight when the town slept in peace, the dewan and his aged wife dragged the tiger into the car
andshoved it into the seat. The dewan himself drove the car straight to the forest where the Maharaja was
hunting. When they reached the forest, the tiger launched its satyagraha and refused to get out of the car.
The dewan was thoroughly exhausted in his efforts to haul the beast out of the car and push it down to the
ground.
On the following day, the same old tiger wandered into the Maharaja's presence and stood as if in
humblesupplication, "Master, what do you command of me?" It was with boundless joy that the Maharaja
took careful aim at the beast. The tiger fell in a crumpled heap. (The Tiger King)

[Link] the option that uses the same figure of speech as 'town slept in peace.
(A) His actions really flared up my temper, so I walked out.
(B) She is going through a rollercoaster of emotions.
(C) My alarm clock yells at me every morning until I get out of bed.
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(D) The children were screaming and shouting in the fields.

2. What kind of attitude did Dewan possess?

3. Complete the sentence appropriately.

The tiger stood as if in humble supplication presents an example of.............

4. The whole extract is a satire on the ..............

23. They had merely heard that a Mahatma who wanted to help them was in trouble with the
[Link] spontaneous demonstration, in thousands, around the courthouse was the beginning of
their liberation from fear of the British. The officials felt powerless without Gandhiji's co-operation. He
helped them regulate the crowd. He was polite and friendly. He was giving them concrete proof that their
might, hitherto dreaded and unquestioned, could be challenged by Indians. The government was baffled.
The prosecutor requested the judge to postpone the trial. Apparently, the authorities wished to consult their
superiors. (Indigo)

[Link] did the officials feel powerless?

[Link] the sentence appropriately. The demonstration proved that the............

3. Which style, from those given below, is being used by the author, when he says, "Apparently, the
authorities wished to consult their superiors."?
(A) Humourous (B) Dramatic (C) Sarcastic (D) Persuasive

4. How was Gandhiji's behaviour towards the British prior to the proposal of postponement of the trial?

5. Which of the following statements is correct?

(A) Gandhiji was happy with taking the cases of sharecroppers to law courts.
(B) Gandhiji wanted to make the peasants of Champaran free from the fear of the British.
(C) Gandhiji and Rajendra Prasad were the representatives of the peasants in the official commission of
inquiry into the indigo sharecroppers' situation.
(D) Gandhiji was ready to furnish bail for 120 minutes.

6. Why did the officials at Motihari court seek the cooperation of Gandhiji?

24. No one can imagine how sad and monotonous life can appear to such a vagabond, who plods along the
road, left to his own meditations. But one day this man had fallen into a line of thought, which really
seemed to him entertaining.(The Rattrap)

1. Who is the vagabond here?

(A) Peddler (C) Ironmaster
(B) Blacksmith (D) Interesting life

2. The peddler was leading a life.

(A) Sad and monotonous life (B) Happy life (C) Carefree life (D) Ironmaster's
daughter

3. What was the thought that struck the peddler one day?

4. Pick up the word from the given extract which has the same meaning as ‘to walk with difficulty’.

5. Which word in the extract means the same ‘deep thought’?

6. Complete the sentence appropriately.

...............lightens the seriousness of the lesson.
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Fiction 1 - The Last Lesson

by Alphonse Daudet
Summary
Franz didn’t want to go to school that day as his French teacher Mr. Hamel had announced that he would take
a test on French Participles and Franz was not prepared for it. Franz was afraid of M Hamel’s ruler and being
scolded. Although Franz was more interested in spending day out of school but eventually he decided to go to
the school. On the way he passed through the Town Hall where he noticed a huge crowd was there around the
notice board. Franz didn’t stop there as he was well aware that this board had always been serving bad news
about the war. Blacksmith told him no need to hurry for school but Franz thought he was making fun of him.

On Reaching School he was surprised to see the change in daily environment. There was no noise as usual, no
lesson chanting sound by students. It seemed as a Sunday morning. All students were already in their class
room. M Hamel was walking with his iron ruler under his arm. Franz was frightened to enter in class as he
thought that he would be scolded badly as he was very late but to his surprise, M Hamel did not say anything to
him, rather welcomed him politely “Go to your place quickly little Franz, we were beginning without
you”. After sitting on his seat Franz noticed that teacher was wearing his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt with
a little black silk cap having embroidery on it, this type of dress usually he wore on functions or prize ceremonies
only. Franz also noticed that the other villager including old Hauser, former Mayor and former post master
were also presented in

class they were in last benches. He couldn’t understand until M Hamel announced the notice which was served
from Berlin that now onwards no French would be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine, only German would
be taught in the schools of these two French cities and he emotionally requested students to be more attentive
for their last French lesson. Franz now realized that what was there on notice board in Town Hall.

These words of notice fell on Franz like a thunder clap. He couldn’t believe it would be his last lesson that day.
He was badly repenting that why he didn’t learn, never paid attention to his lessons. He hardly knew how to
read and write French. He was repenting that instead of studying he would go for other pleasant activities. His
book that seemed always burden to him now to same appeared to him like old friends. Even his thoughts for his
teacher M. Hamel changed thinking as realized that he would never see him again as it was his last day in the
school. He forgot about his cranky nature and his cruel ruler. Now he could understand that the teacher had
wore this dress in honor of his last lesson. He also understood why older people were presented in class as they
were repenting why they never worry to go to school and they were there to show their respect to their teacher,
who served them for forty years.

When Franz’s name was called to recite the lesson, he made mistake and could even speak few words just
opposite to his thinking teacher did not scold him rather he preached him that one should not waste his precious
time just by live in impression that there is plenty of time and postponing the important things for next day.
How would they feel when someone will make fun of them that they were not able to speak or write the French
despite of being Frenchmen? Teacher did not put all blame on him but he also blamed the parents who never
bothered to send their children to school to study instead they put their children to work on farms and in mill to
earn extra money. Even he blamed himself that he often would send his pupils to water his plants instead of
study at school and he would declare a holiday whenever he wanted to go to fishing.
Teacher further said about the French language that it was the most beautiful, clearest and most logical language
of the world. People should stick with their language it will be proven as the key to their prison in case they are
enslaved. A magic had happened that day in class the students understood everything very well, because they
were more attentive and teacher was more patient and polite on that day.

Finally with very heavy heart, M Hamel stood up, he was very sad as he walked to the black board, took a chalk
and wrote on it “Vive La France” which means “Long Live France” and declared the class was dismissed.

Question and Answers

Q1: Why Franz was afraid of going to school that day?
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A: The teacher M. Hamel had asked students to prepare for a test on Participles and Franz didn’t even know a
single word of it so he was not feeling like to go to school that day. Also Franz was afraid of M Hamel’s cruel
iron rule, which he usually kept under his arm and he was famous as very strict teacher.

Q2: What unusual changes did Franz notice in school that day?
A: As Franz entered in school he noticed the unusual silence as if it was a Sunday morning. No noise of lesson
chanting, no noise of opening and closing of desk drawers. All students were already in class. Teacher was
wearing the special fancy dress which he would usually wear only on special occasions like prize ceremonies
etc.

Q3: What was the notice from Berlin and how did it affect class? OR Describe the impact of notice on
Franz, M. Hamel and senior villagers?
A: The notice, which was served from Berlin, was that no French language would be taught in schools of Alsace
and Lorraine cities only German would be taught instead. So M. Hamel, the French teacher was asked to vacate
the place for a new German teacher. The notice affected everybody deeply. Franz thought why he wasted his
time on leisure activities instead of learning his own language. The books which would seem him as a burden
now those books seemed to be old friends to him. M. Hamel was feeling guilty for sending his students for his
personal tasks. Villagers were feeling guilty that why they did not send their children to study instead of sending
them on the farm for earning money.

Q4: Why did the feelings for M. Hamel was changed in Franz’s mind?
A: The impact of notice and fact that the teacher would be going away forever and he would never be able to
see him again in class made Franz’s feeling soften for him. Earlier Franz would feel fear from his teacher
because of his cranky nature and his iron ruler but now all those feelings were totally vanished up for him.

Q5: Why older villagers were presented in the class that day?
A: The older villagers were presented in class as they were feeling sorry for not sending their children to study
in school instead they sent them to the farms and mills to earn extra money. One more reason for their presence
was that they wanted to pay their respect to the teacher who served them for forty years.

Q6: How did Mr. M Hamel describe the French language?

A: M. Hamel described French language as world’s most beautiful, clearest and logical language. He also told
that the love with one’s own language can be proven as the key to the prison for the people who live in enslaved
country.

Q7. What words did M Hamel write on the blackboard before dismissing the last class? What did they
mean?
Answer. Before dismissing the last class, M Hamel turned to the blackboard, and wrote the phrase, ‘Vive La
France!’ as large as he could. These words meant ‘Long live France’, and spoke of M Hamel’s great love for
his country and his deep sense of patriotism.

Q8 How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson?
Answer. The French teacher M Hamel announced that he would be teaching his last French lesson that day
because the orders had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. On
hearing this, all the students as well as Franz felt very sorry that they would not be learning their mother
tongue in future. Franz regretted not having learnt his lessons. Earlier his books seemed a nuisance to him, but
at that moment they became very dear to him.

Q9. How did M Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town?
Answer. At the end of his ‘Last Lesson’, M Hamel stood up to say farewell to his students and the people of
the town. He tried to speak, but overwhelming emotion choked his voice. He then wrote as large as he could
on the blackboard ‘Vive La France’; then he dismissed the class with a gesture with his hand.

Q.10. Who did M Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz?
Answer. M Hamel blamed himself for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz. He himself was

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not quite regular and took leave whenever he needed it, which reflected on the behaviour and studies of the
students. He also blamed their parents for not taking interest in their education.

Q11. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What does this tell us
about the attitude of the Frenchmen?
Answer. This shows that the Frenchmen were full of hatred and desperation against the Germans. Besides,
they feared German atrocities. They thought that they would be forced to read German and no one will be
spared.

Q.12. Why were M. Hamel's words like a thunderclap to Franz?

Ans. The order from Berlin was called a thunderclap by Franz because it was a shock for him to know that the study of
the French language had been prohibited in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. They would henceforth start teaching
German. This also meant that it would be his last French lesson with M. Hamel.

Q.13 What did M. Hamel teach the class in his ‘last lesson’?
Ans. In his last lesson, M. Hamel taught the about grammar, then about writing and finally a lesson in history.
More than this, he made his students the awakening of the turn to the importance of their mother tongue.

Long Answer-type Questions

1. Justify the title ‘The Last Lesson’.
Ans. The title The Last Lesson’ is significant and conveys the central theme of the story. The title highlights
the fact that sometimes even the most precious things in our lives are taken for granted by us. The people of
Alsace never gave much thought or importance to their mother tongue. They did not insist that their children
should give it wholehearted attention. They did not encourage regular attendance of their children in French
classes. They thought there was plenty of time to learn it. They preferred their children to work and earn rather
than learn. They received a severe jolt when orders came from Berlin to ban French and make German
compulsory. This brutal order from Prussians made them realise the importance of their mother tongue. So they
came in full force to attend M. Hamel’s last lesson. In fact, the story shows the awakening of the turn to the
importance of their mother tongue. This was displayed by them by attending the last person of the French. Thus,
the title The Last Lesson’ reveals the theme of the story and is fully justified.

[Link] day of the last lesson was full of regret and sadness. Describe the events of the day in the classroom
in light of the above remark.
Ans. The order from Berlin brought a sense of shock and surprise in the class. As per the order, this was the last
French class. Alsace and Lorraine had been captured by the Prussians. So only German was to be taught in the
schools. This made all the distinguished village elders feel guilty of ignoring theft mother tongue. So, they all
came to the class to showcase their love and respect for their mother tongue and French teacher M. Hamel. The
entire school was filled with an air of remorse and regret. There was complete silence. The teacher, M. Hamel,
was in his best dress and was full of emotions. Even the students in the class, including little Franz, felt remorse
for their indifference to their mother tongue. There was an atmosphere of stillness and quietness in the class.

*************************************************************************************
FICTION 2. THE LOST SPRING – BY ANEES JUNG
By Anees Jung
Introduction
The story, “Lost Spring” describes the pitiable condition of poor children who have been forced to miss the
joy of childhood due to the socio-economic condition that prevails in this man-made world. These children are
denied the opportunity of schooling and forced into labour early in life. Anees Jung gives voice to eliminate
child labour by educating the children and to enforce the laws against child labour by the governments strictly.
The call is to end child exploitation and let the children enjoy the days of the spring that bring joy under their
feet.

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STORY 1 – Sometimes I Find a Rupee in Garbage:

This is the story of Saheb – a rag picker. The author meets him and asks why he does not go to school. On
getting a reply that there was no school in his locality, she makes a fake promise that she would open a school
for him. Ashamed at a commitment she cannot keep, she talks to the boy and gets to know that his parents came
to the city in search of better life and he ended up living on the streets. Saheb is the son of two parents who
migrated from Bangladesh. They came to Delhi in 1971 as their house was swept away by repeated storms.
Then they began to live in Seemapuri, a slum of Delhi. She explores the life in the slums of Seemapuri – the
place where Saheb lives. They live without any identity like the ration card, or voter card – after all filling the
stomach is more important than an identity. It is very pitiable that the garbage that others throw away is like
gold to them and they end up looking for food and livelihood on that.

The story explores the problems he faces – getting exposed to hazardous waste in the garbage dumps, walking
about barefoot, no nourishment or clothes on his body. Saheb like many other children of the slum was a rag
picker. They searched the rags and garbage and tried to find out coins. Sometimes they found one rupee coins
and sometimes even ten rupee coins. Saheb did not attend any school as there was no school nearby. He was
too poor to wear chappals. The reaction of the rich is recorded here as she gets to know that they excuse
themselves from doing something for them by saying things like – it is their tradition not to wear shoes.

Saheb liked the game of tennis. Someone gave him a pair of tennis shoes. But he would never get the chance to
play the game himself. At last, Saheb got employed in a tea stall. He was not happy as he had lost his freedom.
But he had no choice in the matter.

STORY 2 – I Want To Drive a Car:

This story narrates about the children of the bangle makers of Firozabad. The life of Mukesh at Firozabad is lost
in misery and poverty. Mukesh lived with his elder brother who was a bangle maker. He wanted to be a driver
and a motor-mechanic, not at all eager to continue bangle making. But the people thought that it was their karma
or the result of their karma in the previous birth that they were born into the caste of bangle-makers. So they
were destined to make bangles and they could not do anything else. Thousands of children are engaged in bangle
making and many of them lost their eyesight before becoming adults. They did not know that it was illegal for
children to work in that hazardous condition in the glass factories. The story is the same in every family. Mukesh
took the writer to his house where the writer came to know that his grandfather had become blind working in
the factory. Similarly in another family, the author came to know how the husband was happy that he had been
able to make a house for his own family to live in but the wife complained that she did not get a full meal in her
whole life. Hundreds of years of slavery had killed the initiative of people to think of a better life. They carried
on their miserable life as they did not have the courage to rebel against tradition. They did not have money
enough to start their own new kind of enterprise. If someone dared to start a new line, there were police, middle-
men, sahukars and politicians to persecute them. Police, middle-men and others would not allow them to take
any other vocation. Justice after all is the right of the rich and the powerful, not of the helpless like Mukesh.

Answer the questions:-

1. To which country did Saheb’s parents originally belong? Why did they come to India?
Answer. Saheb’s parents belonged to Dhaka in Bangladesh, where they lived amidst green fields. They and
the other ragpickers left their homes many years ago and migrated to India in search of a livelihood, as their
homes and fields were destroyed in storms. This forced them to come to India, where they settled in the slums
of Seemapuri.

2. What job did Saheb take up? Was he happy? OR Is Saheb happy working at the tea stall? How do
you know?
Answer. Saheb took up work at a tea stall, where he had to perform several odd jobs, including getting milk
from the milk booth. He was not happy, as he had lost his independence. Though he earned 800 Rs, and got all
his meals free, he was no longer his own master.

3. In what sense is garbage gold to the ragpickers?

Answer. Garbage is gold to the ragpickers of Seemapuri because it provides them items which can be sold for

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cash, which can buy them food and is a means of survival. Moreover, it is gold also because the ragpickers
can find stray coins and currency notes in it.

4. Garbage has two different meanings—one for the children and another for the adults. Comment.
Answer: For the children garbage has a different meaning from what it means for the adults. For the children it
is wrapped in wonder, their eyes light-up when they find a rupee or a ten-rupee note in it. They search the
garbage excitedly with the hope of finding something more. But for the elders it is a means of survival.

5. How is Mukesh different from the other bangle makers of Firozabad?

Answer. Mukesh has the courage to dream big in spite of all adversity, whereas the other bangle makers of
Firozabad have resigned to their fate, and have suppressed all their hopes and desires. Mukesh refuses to
follow the ‘God-given lineage’ of bangle making and wants to be a motor mechanic when he grows up.

6. Whom does Anees Jung blame for the sorry plight of the bangle makers?
Answer. Anees Jung blames the middlemen, the policemen, the lawmakers, the bureaucrats and the politicians
for the sorry plight of the bangle makers. These people conspire against and exploit the poor bangle makers.
They pay them meagre wages, do not let them form co-operatives, and compel their children to join the same
trade at an early age.

7. What is Mukesh’s dream? Do you think he will be able to fulfill his dream? Why? Why not?
Answer. Mukesh’s dream is to become a motor-mechanic. It is no doubt difficult for Mukesh to achieve his
dream, as he is torn between his desires and his family tradition, which he cannot escape. Besides, he has to
face a number of obstacles in the form of sahukars, middlemen, bureaucrats, law makers, politicians etc.
However, his will to work hard, and his strong determination could make him achieve his dream. ‘

8. In spite of despair and disease pervading the lives of the slum children, they are not devoid of hope.
How far do you agree?
Answer. In spite of growing up amidst despair and disease, children who live in the slum have the desire to
achieve something big in life, like Mukesh. This shows that they are not devoid of hope. Saheb, a ragpicker, is
eager to go to a school and learn. Mukesh, who works in dark, dingy cells making bangles, dreams of
becoming a motor mechanic, which is very much against his family tradition.

9. Why could the bangle makers not organise themselves into a cooperative?
Answer. The bangle makers could not organise themselves into a cooperative because they were trapped in
the vicious circle of sahukars, middlemen, policemen, bureaucrats and politicians. If they tried to organise
themselves, they would be beaten by up the police and put in jail.

10. Mention any two hazards of working in the bangle industry.

Answer. The glass bangle industry offers a very unhealthy and hazardous environment to the people working
in it. They have to work in the glass furnaces with high temperature in dingy cells without air and light.
Workers, including child labourers, lose their eyesight at an early age. Slogging for long, relentless hours also
has adverse effects on their bodies.

11. Why does the author say that the bangle makers are caught in a vicious web?
Answer. The bangle makers in Firozabad are exploited at the hands of the Sahukars, middlemen, policemen,
law makers, bureaucrats and politicians. They toil day and night, but are not paid appropriate wages and are
steeped in poverty. They cannot form cooperatives for their betterment. Moreover, their children are also
compelled to join the same trade at an early age and cannot dare to take up any other profession.

12. What does the title, ‘Lost Spring’ convey?

Answer: The title ‘Lost Spring’ conveys how millions of children in India lose out on living the ‘spring’ of
their lives, that is their childhood. The best phase of life is lost in the hardships involved to earn their
livelihood. Poverty forces these young children to work in the most inhuman conditions as a result of which
they miss out on the fun of childhood which hampers their growth.

Long Answer Type Questions

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1.’Lost Spring’ explains the grinding poverty and traditions that condemn thousands of people to a life
of abject poverty. Do you agree? Why/Why not?
Answer. ‘Lost Spring’ is a good narration of grinding poverty and traditions to which thousands of people
have succumbed. The story revolves around the pitiable condition of poor children who have been forced to
live in slums and work hard in dirty conditions. The story is divided into two parts. The first part tells the
writer’s impression about the life of poor ragpickers who have migrated froin Bangladesh, but now have
settled in the Seemapuri area of Delhi.
The second part narrates the miserable life of the bangle makers in the town of Firozabad. The stark reality of
these families is that in spite of back-breaking hard work that they put in, they cannot have two square meals a
day. Besides, they are victims of exploitation by those above them and also suffer the consequences of blind
belief in traditions.

*************************************************************************************
Fiction 3 DEEP WATER
By William Douglas
Theme
‘Deep Water’ deals with the childhood fear of Douglas. A misadventure at the YMCA pool developed an
aversion of water in him and he suffered from hydrophobia. The chapter focuses on the fact that childhood fear
must never be treated lightly. If they are not tackled, then they make deep inroads into one’s psychology.
Douglas analyses his fear and finally determines to overcome it.
Summary
The story, “Deep Waters” tells us how the writer overcame his fear of water and learned swimming
with sheer determination and will power. He had developed a terror of water since childhood. When
he was three or four years old, the writer had gone to California with his father. One day on the
beach, the waves knocked the child down and swept over him. The child was terrified but the father
who knew, there was no harm, laughed. The experience bred a permanent fear of wa ter in the
child’s sub-conscious mind. Still another incident, more serious, increased his terror.

The writer was trying to learn swimming in the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool in Yakima. One day
while he was waiting for other boys, a big boy suddenly played a dangerous prank and pushed him
into the water. The writer was terribly frightened. He went down nine feet into the water. When he
reached the bottom, he jumped upward with all his strength. He came up but very slowly. He tried
to catch hold of something like a rope but grasped only at water.

He tried to shout but no sound came out. He went down again. His lungs ached, head throbbed and
he grew dizzy. He felt paralyzed with fear. All his limbs were paralyzed. Only the movement of his
heart told him that he was alive. Again he tried to jump up. But this time his limbs would not move
at all. He looked for ropes, ladders and water wings but all in vain. Then he went down again, the
third time. This time all efforts and fear ceased. He was moving towards peaceful death. The writer
was in peace. When he came to consciousness, he found himself lying on the side of the pool with
the other boys nearby. The terror that he had experienced in the pool never left him. It haunted him
for years and years to come. It spoilt many of his expeditions of canoeing, swimming and fishing. It
spoilt his pleasures in Maine Lakes, New Hampshire, Deschutes, Columbia and Bumping Lake etc.

But the writer was determined to conquer his terror. He took help of a swimming instructor to learn
swimming. The instructor taught him various actions necessary in swimming part by part. He put
his face under water and exhaled and inhaled raising it above water. He practiced it for several
weeks. He had to kick with his legs a few weeks on the side of the pool. At last he combined all
these actions and made the writer swim. He learned swimming but the terror continued. So deep
goes our childhood experiences! So fearful is the fear of fear! Whenever he was in water the terror
returned. Hence forward the writer tried to terrorize terror itself. He tried to face the new challenge.
When terror came, he confronted it by asking it sarcastically as to what it can really do to him? He
plunged into the water as if to defy the fear. Once he took courage the terror vanquished. He faced
the challenge deliberately in various places like the Warm Lake. He conquered it at last.

Question Answers:-
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1. Which two incidents in Douglas’ early life made him scared of water?
Answer. When Douglas was three or four years old, his father took him to a beach in California. There he was
knocked down by strong waves, was almost buried under water, and got breathless. Though he hung on to his
father, he was quite frightened. Secondly, when Douglas was ten or eleven, a big bully of a boy tossed him
into the deep end of the YMCA pool. He could not come to the surface, in spite of all his efforts, and became
panicky. These two incidents made Douglas scared of water.

[Link] did Douglas prefer to go to YMCA swimming pool to learn swimming?

Answer. According to Douglas, the YMCA pool was safer compared to the Yakima River. The river was
quite deep and there were several cases of drowning reported about it. As against the uncertain depth of the
river, the pool was only two or three feet deep at the shallow end. Though its depth was about nine feet at the
deeper end, yet the drop was gradual, and Douglas could rely on it.

[Link] did Douglas feel and do when he was pushed into the swimming pool?
Answer. When Douglas was thrown into the pool, he did not lose heart and planned to push himself up with
all his force. He thought that once he came to the surface, he would paddle to the edge of the pool. Thrice, he
tried to come to the surface, but unfortunately his strategy did not work and terror gripped him. His lungs were
ready to burst; he was breathless and instead of air, sucked water.

[Link] did his swimming instructor ‘build a swimmer’ out of Douglas?

Answer. The instructor adopted a systematic method to turn Douglas into a swimmer. He first made Douglas
shed his initial fear of water by making him cross a pool suspended by a rope attached to a pulley. The
instructor held the other end of the rope and relaxed and tightened it from time to time. Then he taught the
narrator to breathe while swimming, and finally the leg movements and other strokes.

5. How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
Answer. After the instructor had trained Douglas in the art of swimming, Douglas was still not sure of
himself. He felt tiny vestiges of the fear now and then. So, he went to Lake Wentworth and swam. Once when
terror returned, he challenged it and did not let it overcome him. Finally, Douglas went to the Warm Lake.
There he swam and the fear didn’t return to haunt him again.

6. What efforts did Douglas make to get over his fear of water?
Answer. After several individual attempts to overcome his fear, Douglas finally engaged an instructor. The
instructor built a swimmer out of him. But Douglas was not sure. To confirm that the terror would not strike
him when he was swimming alone, Douglas decided to go to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire. At last, he
made his terror fly away by swimming across the Warm Lake.

7. Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?

Answer. The misadventure of having a near-drowning experience left a deep mark on Douglas’ mind. The
phobia of water hampered all his joys of enjoying different water sports like fishing, canoeing, boating and
swimming. He did not want to live with this handicap and so was determined to overcome his fear of water.

8. What did Douglas experience when he went down to the bottom of the pool for the first time?
Answer. When the author was going down to the bottom of the pool for the first time, those nine feet felt
almost like ninety feet. His lungs were ready to burst, but somehow he summoned all his strength and sprang
upwards, hoping to reach the surface, but he didn’t pop up to the surface like a cork, as he had imagined.
When he opened his eyes he saw nothing but water, his hands too grabbed only water.

9. What sort of terror seized Douglas as he went down the water with a yellow glow? How could he feel
that he was still alive ?
Answer. When Douglas found himself deep down into the water with a yellow glow, stark terror gripped him.
The terror ripped him apart and he had no control over it. He felt paralysed, stiff and rigid with fear. Even the
screams in his throat were frozen. It was only his throbbing heart that made him realise that he was still alive.

Long Answer Type Questions

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1. Douglas fully realised the truth of Roosevelt’s statement, “All we have to fear is fear itself.” How did
this realisation help him brush aside his fear and become an expert swimmer?
Answer. Douglas had experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror that the fear of death can cause.
Strong will, hard determination, courage and toil as well as honest labour won over all his terrors and fears.
The will to live brushed aside all his fears.
In reality all our fears are only psychological, and can be easily won over, if we can control our mind. This
realisation makes Douglas resolve to learn swimming by engaging an instructor. This instructor, piece by
piece, built Douglas into a swimmer. However, his first step was to drive away Douglas’ fear of water, before
training him in swimming techniques. When Douglas tried and swam the length of the pool up and down,
small traces of his old terror of water would return. So, he went to Lake Wentworth, dived at Triggs Island
and swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. Finally, he was certain that he had conquered his
fear of water.
Then the instructor taught him to put his face under the water and exhale and to raise his nose and inhale. For
weeks, his instructor made him kick with his legs. Until, he was able to command his legs at his will.
In this way, piece by piece, his instructor made Douglas a swimmer. When Douglas perfected each piece, his
instructor put them together into an integrated one. As a result, in nearly six months Douglas was able to
swim, dive, crawl and so on.
2. The prose selections, Deep Water and Indigo, bring out the importance of overcoming fear, in order
to be able to lead our lives successfully. Imagine yourself to be a motivational speaker who has to
address high school students. Write this address elaborating on occurrences from the two texts to
inspire your audience and to convince them about the importance of overcoming fear. You may begin
like this Good morning, students!
We all know what it's like to be afraid. Fear is our body's natural response to a perceived threat or
danger. But when…………

Ans. Good morning, students!

We all know that fear is our body's natural response to a perceived threat or danger. But fear immobilises us
and prevents us from progressing, as in the case of William Douglas, who, due to his fear of water, could not
lead a normal life, could not go fishing, canoeing, etc. Similarly, due to their fear of the British, the peasants
of Champaran could not take a stand for their rights.

We need to face our fear, devise a plan and work through it. William Douglas worked through his fear rather
than giving into it. When the peasants gathered around the courthouse in Motihari, it was a step towards
overcoming their fear. We require determination and persistence. It took Douglas months to overcome his fear
of water and learn swimming. It took nearly a year to get justice for the peasants in Champaran. Strength in
unity when fighting a common fear is the essential requisite. Thank you.

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Chapter 4 The Rattrap
By Selma Lagerlof
Summary in detail
A rattrap peddler went around selling small rattraps. His clothes were in rags. His cheeks were hollow.
He had the look of a starved man. He made wire traps. He begged the material from stores and big
farms. Sometimes he resorted to begging and a little stealing to survive. The world had never been
kind to him. He had no home, no shelter.

The peddler led a lonely life. One day while he was thinking about his rattraps, an idea struck him.
He thought that the world itself was a rattrap. As soon as anybody touched it, the trap closed on them.
He was amused to think of some people who were alre ady trapped, and some others who were trying
to reach the bait in the trap.

It was a cold evening in December. He reached a cottage on the roadside. He knocked at the door and
asked for a night’s shelter. The owner of the cottage was a lonely old crofter. He wanted someone to
talk to. He welcomed the peddler. He gave the peddler hot porridge to eat, and tobacco to smoke.

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Then they played cards. The crofter was generous as well as trustful. He told the peddler that he had
a cow and sold her milk to a creamery. He also told him that he received thirty kronors as payment
the previous month. Then he took down a pouch and showed him the money. Then he put the money
back in the pouch and hung it on a nail in the window frame. Next morning the peddler left. The
crofter locked his cottage, and went away.

The peddler came back to the cottage. He had been tempted to steal the money that hung like bait in
the window frame. He smashed the pane and stole the money. Now he thought it was not safe to walk
along the public highway. So he went into the woods. There he walked and walked but could not get
out. He moved in circles. He was tired. He looked upon the forest as a rattrap in which he was caught.
He thought his end was near. He laid down to die.

After a while he heard regular thumping of a hammer’s strokes. He knew the sound was coming from
Ramsjo Ironworks. He stood up and walked in the direction of the sound. He opened the gate of the
ironworks and went into the forge. The owner came on his nigh tly rounds and noticed the ragged
wretch near the furnace. The ironmaster looked intently at the peddler’s face. He felt sure that the
peddler was one of his old regimental comrades, Captain von Stable who had fallen on evil days. He
invited the peddler to go home with him for Christmas. But the peddler was alarmed. He thought it
was risky for him to accept the offer. He firmly declined it. The ironmaster went home.

The ironmaster sent his daughter Edla to persuade the peddler to come home. She spoke gently to
him. The peddler felt confidence in her and agreed to go with her. On the way he was sorry to have
stolen the crofter’s money that had put him in a trap.

The ironmaster was happy to have his old regimental comrade under his roof. He planned to feed him
well and give him some respectable work. The servant cut the peddler’s hair, shaved him and bathed
him. The peddler appeared wearing one of the ironmaster’s fine suits. But when the ironmaster looked
at him in daylight, he felt that he had made a mistake. The peddler was not captain von Stable. He
thought that the man had deceived him. He even thought of handing him to the sheriff.

The peddler said that he had not pretended to be what he was not. He had not been willing to go to
the ironmaster’s house. Even then he was willing to put on his rags and leave. He also told the
ironmaster that the world was a rattrap, and he himself might one day be tempted by a big bait and
get caught in the trap. The ironmaster told him to leave at once.

Edla did not like her father’s asking the poor peddler to leave. She thought it was unfair to turn away
the man whom they had invited. She wanted to have the joy of entertaining a homeless wanderer on
Christmas Eve. She stopped the peddler and her father agreed to it.

Edla served food to the peddler. He was given Christmas presents which he thankfully received. Edla
told him that her father’s suit that the peddler was wearing was also a Christmas present. She assured
him that he would be welcomed again if he liked to spend the next Christmas E ve with them.

Next morning the ironmaster and his daughter went to church. There they learned that the peddler
was a thief. He had robbed the crofter. The ironmaster was sure that the peddler must have made away
with their silver. Edla was dejected. But when they reached home they learned that the peddler had
left. But he had taken away nothing. On the other hand he had left a Christmas present for Edla.

Edla opened the present. It was a tiny rattrap. Edla was happy to see that the peddler had left the
crofter’s money behind. There was a letter also. It was addressed to Edla. He thanked her for her
kindness. He wanted to repay her kindness. So he had left the crofter’s money and had requested her
to return it to the crofter. He said he had been raised to captain. That was why he could come out of
the rattrap in which he had been caught. He signed the letter Captain von Stable.

Question Answer:-
Q1. In what sense was the world a big rattrap according to the peddler?
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Answer. The peddler was a very poor man who earned his living by selling rattraps he made himself from the
materials he got by begging. His mind, thus, was always preoccupied with rattraps. One day, he suddenly
thought of the whole world was a big rattrap. He felt that the shelter, food, clothes, riches and joys that the
world provided were all baits set to entrap man just as a rattrap offered cheese or meat to entrap rats. As soon
as one was trapped, everything came to an end.

Q2. Why did the peddler derive pleasure from his idea of the world as a rattrap?
Answer. The world had never been kind to the poor peddler. Wherever he went, he was greeted with sour
faces and was turned or chased away. Therefore, he derived pleasure from thinking ill of the world in this
way. Moreover, he perhaps envied those whose lot was better than his, and was rather amused to think that
some day they too would be tempted by the bait and be caught in the rattrap.

Q3. Why did the peddler knock on the cottage by the roadside? How was he treated by the Owner Of
the cottage?

Answer. The peddler knocked on the cottage by the roadside to seek shelter for the night. The owner of the
cottage was a crofter who lived there alone. He regarded the peddler as welcome company and treated him
quite hospitably. He not only put him up for the night, but also offered him food and played cards with him.

Q4. Why did the peddler decline the invitation of the ironmaster?
Answer. The ironmaster has mistaken the peddler for an old regimental comrade and invited him home. The
peddler declined the invitation because he was carrying the money he had stolen from the crofter. He knew
that if the ironmaster discovered his identity, he would hand him over to the police. Therefore, for him, going
to the manor house was like walking into a lion’s den.

Q5. Why did Edla plead with her father not to send the vagabond away?
Answer. Edla had always thought the peddler to be a poor, homeless tramp. Therefore, she didn’t feel cheated
when his true identity was revealed. Instead, she felt very bad for him and his miserable condition, and
pleaded on his behalf. She and her father had promised him Christmas cheer, and she felt that it would be
wrong to send him away.

Q6. What conclusion did the ironmaster reach when he heard that the crofter had been robbed by the
peddler?
Answer. It was at the church there the ironmaster and his daughter heard that the crofter had been robbed by a
peddler, who, no doubt, was the one they had sheltered at the manor house. The ironmaster at once concluded
that the peddler would probably have stolen all his silverware in their absence, and ran away.

Q7. What was the content of the letter written by the peddler to Edla?
Answer. The peddler had written that since Edla had treated him like a captain, he wanted to be nice to her in
return. He did not want her to be embarrassed at Christmas by a thief. He had requested that the crofter’s
money that he had stolen be returned. He further wrote that the rattrap was a Christmas present from a rat who
would have been caught in the world’s rattrap, if he had not been raised to the status of captain, which
motivated him to reform himself.

[Link] did the stranger not tell the ironmaster that he was not Nils Olof?
Answer. The stranger did not tell the ironmaster that he was not Nils Olof because he thought that if the
gentleman believed that he was an old friend or acquaintance of his, then he might take pity on him and help
him with some money.

[Link] was the peddler surprised when he knocked on the door of the cottage?
Answer. The peddler had never been treated kindly by the world. He was meted out cold treatment wherever
he went. He was pleasantly surprised when the crofter greeted him with warmth and hospitality. Ordinarily, he
always met ‘sour faces’ when he knocked for shelter and food, and was usually turned away.

[Link] did the peddler keep to the woods after leaving the crofter’s cottage? How did he feel?
Answer. After stealing the money from the crofter’s, the peddler was cautious to avoid the public highway
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lest he would be identified and caught. He got into the woods but finally realised that it was a big and
confusing forest. The end of the forest was nowhere in sight and he felt lost. That’s when he recalled his
thoughts about the world being a rattrap and he realised that he had indeed become a victim of a rattrap.

[Link] made the peddler finally change his ways?

Answer. The peddler believed in giving back to the world what he received from it. He was always treated
with contempt and hostility and so he never did anything good. However, Edla’s kind and caring behaviour
finally changed him. She had treated him with love and respect befitting a captain, even after realising that he
was a poor vagabond. The trust that Edla showed in him made him change his ways and he decided to live
with dignity and respect.

[Link] was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Answer. Edla felt very dejected when she came to know about the theft of the crofter’s money by the peddler,
but the gift left behind, which consisted of a small rattrap and three wrinkled ten kronor notes, restored her
faith in him. She felt happy because her trust in him had been justified. Her kindness had finally changed the
peddler and brought out his essential goodness.

Q13.”Edla sat and hung her head even more dejectedly than usual.” Which two reasons forced her to
behave in that manner?
Answer. Edla had shown kindness to the peddler even after knowing that he was not a captain. This was the
reason why she felt all the more dejected when she came to know that the peddler whom she had sheltered
was actually a thief, who had recently robbed a crofter. Secondly, she also felt bad because the peddler had
disproved the faith which she had shown in him.

Q14. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?
Answer. The peddler owed his transformation to the kind treatment meted out to him by Edla. In spite of
knowing the truth about him, she had honoured and treated him like a captain. She had awakened the latent
goodness in his heart. He wanted to repay Edla for her kindness. His signing himself as Captain von Stahle
shows that he wanted to retain the dignity and respect accorded to him.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter? What course did he adopt and how did he react
to the new situation? What does his reaction reveal?
Answer. The crofter had treated the peddler with hospitality, and had even reposed his trust in the poor
vagabond. Still the peddler robbed him and was quite pleased with his smartness. However, the fear of getting
caught haunted him. So, he avoided the public highway and turned into the woods. It was a big and confusing
forest, and due to the approaching darkness, the peddler lost his way. He got exhausted moving around the
same place, and was filled with despair. He began to feel that the forest was like a big rattrap and the thirty
kronor he had stolen were like a bait set to tempt him. His reaction reveals that he was feeling guilty for
having stolen the crofter’s money. His , heart was filled with remorse and self-loathing for his act of
weakness. However, his thoughts are perhaps also a way of justifying his crime.

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Chapter 5 Indigo
By Louis Fischer
Summary
This story describes Gandhi’s struggle for the poor peasants of Champaran. In those days most of
arable land in the Champaran district was divided into large estate owned by Englishmen and worked
by Indian tenants. The chief commercial crop was Indigo. The landlords compelled all tenants to plant
15% of their Indigo and surrender the entire Indigo harvest as rent. This was done by long term
contract. The British didn’t need the Indigo crop any more wh en Germany had developed synthetic
Indigo. Just to release the peasants from the 15% agreement they demanded compensation. Some
illiterate peasants agreed but the others refused.
One of the sharecroppers named Raj Kumar Shukla met Gandhi in this regard and compelled him to
visit Champaran because of the long term injustice of landlords. Then the two of them boarded a train

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for the city of Patna in Bihar. From there Shukla led him to the house of a lawyer named Rajendra
Prasad. Mahatma Gandhi’s humble and simple attire made the servants mistook him as another poor
peasant. He surveyed before taking any vital step in order to get those peasants justice. It was the
time when British government punished those who in any condition gave shelter to national leaders
or protesters.
Gandhi’s arrival and the nature of his mission spread like a wildfire. Many lawyers and peasant groups
came in large numbers to support him. The lawyers accepted the fact that their charges were high and
for a poor peasant it will be irksome. Gandhi rebuked them for collecting big fee from the
sharecroppers. He stressed on counseling as this would give the peasants enough confidence to fight
their fear. He managed to get justice after a yearlong battle for the peasants. He also made
arrangements for the education, health, and hygiene for the families of the poor peasants. He gave
them the lesson of self-reliance.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Why did Gandhiji feel that taking the Champaran case to court was useless?
Ans. When Gandhiji got to know about the plight of the peasant groups in Champaran from his discussion
with the lawyers, he came to the conclusion that the poor peasants were so crushed and fear-stricken that law
courts were useless in their case. Going to courts overburdened the sharecroppers with heavy litigation
expenses. What really needed to be done was to make them free from fear.

Q2. How did the Champaran peasants react when they heard that a Mahatma had come to help them?
Ans. When the Champaran peasants heard that a Mahatma had come to help them, they assembled in Motihari
in large number. Thousands of peasants held a demonstration around the courthouse where Gandhiji was
supposed to appear. The crowd was so uncontrollable that the officials felt powerless, and Gandhiji himself
helped the authorities to regulate the crowd.

Q3. What made the Lieutenant Governor drop the case against Gandhiji?
Ans. When Gandhiji was asked to appear in the court in Motihari, thousands of peasants held a demonstration
around the courthouse. The officials felt helpless and the government was baffled. The trial was postponed, as
the judge didn’t want to aggravate the situation. He held up the sentence for several days, after which Gandhiji
was released without bail. All these events made the Lieutenant Governor drop the case against Gandhiji.

Q4. Why did Gandhiji oppose when his friend Andrews offered to stay in Champaran and help the
peasants?
Ans. CF Andrews, an English pacifist, was a devoted follower of Gandhiji. The lawyers thought that being an
Englishman, Andrews could be of immense help to them in their cause of fighting the battle of Champaran.
Gandhiji, however, was against this because he felt that enlisting an Englishman’s help showed weakness.
Their cause was just, and they had to win the battle by relying on themselves. This would make them self-
reliant.

Q5. Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?
Ans. The Champaran episode began as an attempt to alleviate the distress of poor peasants. Ultimately it
proved to be a turning point in Gandhiji’s life because it was a loud proclamation that made the British realise
that Gandhiji could not be ordered about in his own country. It infused courage to question British authority in
the masses and laid the foundation of non-cooperation as a new tool to fight the British tooth and nail.

[Link] did Gandhiji decide to go to Muzaffarpur before going to Champaran?

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla had given quite a lot of information to Gandhiji about the indigo sharecroppers of
Champaran. However, Gandhiji wished to obtain more complete information about the conditions than Shukla
had imparted. He visited Muzaffarpur, which was en route to Champaran, to inquire from the lawyers there
about the issue, as they frequently represented the peasant groups in the court.

[Link] do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?

Ans. The servants knew that Rajkumar Shukla was a poor farmer who pestered their master to help the indigo
sharecroppers. Since Gandhiji accompanied Shukla and was dressed simply, they mistook him for a peasant.
Gandhiji’s modesty and unassertiveness also led to the assumption that he was a peasant.
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Q8.”The battle of Champaran is won!.” What led Gandhiji to make this remark?
Ans. The lawyers first decided to return home if Gandhiji was arrested. But they soon realised their mistake.
When they declared that they would fight for the peasants’ cause in the event of Gandhiji’s arrest and
volunteered to court arrest for the cause of the sharecroppers, Gandhiji was very pleased and exclaimed, “The
battle of Champaran is won!.”

[Link] did Gandhi agree to the planters’ offer of a 25% refund to the farmers?
Ans. Gandhiji agreed to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers in order to break the deadlock between the
landlords and peasants. For him the amount of the refund was not very important. The fact that the landlords
had been obliged to surrender a part of their money as well as their prestige gave a moral victory to the
farmers. Thus, Gandhiji not only made the landlords accept their dishonesty but also made the farmers learn a
lesson in defending their rights with courage.

[Link] was Gandhi able to influence the lawyers? Give instances.

Ans. Gandhiji’s sincerity towards the peasants’ cause and convincing arguments and negotiations, thoroughly
influenced the lawyers. He chided them for overcharging the peasants and encouraged them to court arrest for
the peasants’ noble cause. He even rejected their proposal to seek Mr Andrews help in their battle against the
Britishers in order to be self-reliant and independent.

Long Answer Type Questions

[Link]’s loyalty was not a loyalty to abstractions; it was a loyalty to living human beings. Why did
Gandhiji continue his stay in Champaran even after indigo sharecropping disappeared?
Ans. After the Champaran battle was won and the land reverted to the peasants, Gandhiji continued to stay on
in the region. His loyalty was, indeed, to living human beings and he realised that a lot needed to be done for
the upliftment of the peasants in the villages of Champaran. Gandhiji took the initiative and began the work of
eradicating their cultural and social backwardness. Primary schools were started so that the poor peasants and
their children could be educated. Gandhiji appealed to teachers, and many of his disciples, including his wife
and son, volunteered for the work.
Health conditions in the area were also miserable. Gandhiji got a doctor to volunteer his services for six
months. All this-goes to prove that Gandhiji’s loyalty was not to abstractions, but his politics was always
intertwined with the practical day to day problems of the millions.

[Link] did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers? How did it influence the
peasant-landlord relationship in Champaran?
Ans. Under an ancient arrangement, the peasants of Champaran were sharecroppers. The landlords forced the
Indian tenants to plant 15% of their holding with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent.
After Germany developed synthetic indigo, the landlords wanted to dissolve the agreement, as synthetic
indigo would be cheaper. They asked the peasants for compensation to release them from this arrangement.
Most of them signed it willingly, but felt cheated after they learned about synthetic indigo.
Gandhiji fought their case and the evidence that he collected was so overwhelming that the landlords were
asked to repay. When Gandhiji asked for 50% repayment, the landlords offered to pay only 25%, as they
wanted to create a deadlock, and thus prolong the dispute. To everybody surprise, Gandhiji agreed to a refund
of only 25%. Gandhiji explained that the amount of refundwas not important. What mattered was that the
landlords were obliged to surrender a part of their money and with it, part of their prestige.

Q3. The Champaran episode was a turning point in Gandhiji’s life. Elucidate.
Ans. Gandhiji himself accepted the proposition that the Champaran episode was a turning point in his life. It
was then that he decided to urge the departure of the British from India.
In fact the Champaran episode was the first experiment of civil disobedience in India. When Gandhiji was on
his way to Champaran, he stayed in Muzaffarpur, where he met the lawyers who were fighting cases for the
sharecroppers. The peasants were so crushed and fear-stricken that Gandhiji concluded that law courts were
useless. The real relief for them was to be free from fear. The spontaneous demonstration by the peasants
showed that they were instilled with a new strength and spirit. Gandhiji showed the poor peasants how to fight
the British with ‘satyagraha’. He made them aware of their power and the power of ahimsa.

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All this laid the foundation of his future movements and served as a great source of strength and motivation
for all Indians.

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Fiction 6 Poets and Pancakes

Asokamitran
Summary
The lesson begins with Asokamitran telling us about Gemini studios. We learn about the very popular make-up
brand whose name was ‘Pancakes’. The Gemini studios use this brand excessively and orders truckloads of their
products. After that, he goes on to tell the readers about the troubles the actors and actresses face.

We learn about the many lights glaring in their faces when they are getting ready in the make-up room. Moreover,
he also mentions how the make-up department uses loads of makeup to make them look ugly. He also tells us
about the office boy in the make-up department. He has a job to slap paint, during crowd-shooting, on the faces of
players.

Further, we learn that the author is a poet who joins the studio to become an actor, screenwriter, director or
lyricist. He has a cubicle to work where he has to collect newspaper cuttings. The office boy always came in with
his complaints to the author. The author thinks that Subbu is the one who troubles him. As Subbu is a Brahmin,
the author thinks he has an upper hand.

We see that Subbu is a resourceful man with a loyalty that sets him apart. Subbu is the perfect one for films and
film-making is impossible without him. Everyone loves Subbu for being friendly and hospitable. Along with
many others, Subbu also does poetry. He works for the story department that also has a lawyer. However, people
considered him to be the exact opposite of a legal consultant.

Moreover, he is a logical man with a neutral mindset in a group where there are only dreamers. After that, we
learn how the Gemini Studios got the opportunity to host the Moral Rearmament Army. They are a group of
international performers named Moral Rearmament Army. While they did not have very complex plots or
messages, their sets and costumes were almost perfect.

Further, another guest, Stephen Spender, makes a visit to Gemini Studios. However, turns out, he is not that
famous and many people have not even heard of him. Moreover, owing to language barriers, many could not
understand him. Thus, his visit remained a mystery until after many years the author saw Stephen’s name in a
book and recognized him from his visit to the studio.

Question Answer
Q1. Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to us as unexplained mystery?
Ans. The visit of the Englishman raised many queries and doubts in the minds of those who were working in
Gemini Studios. The Englishman’s name was unfamiliar and his credentials too were unconfirmed. No one
could understand his speech so everyone wondered why he had come to a film studio that made Tamil films
for simple people who had no interest in English poetry.

Q2. Who was the English visitor to the studios and what was the purpose of his visit?
Ans. The Englishman who visited the studios was Stephen Spender. He was an English poet and the editor of
a British periodical, ‘The Encounter’. He visited the studio to deliver a speech at the invitation of Mr. Vasan
who was the boss of Gemini Studios. He was unable to establish a rapport with his dazed audience. No one
really understood the purpose of his visit. Even his identity was discovered by Asokamitran years later, that
too by sheer chance.

Q 3. What was MRA and why was it welcomed at the Gemini Studios?
Ans. The MRA, the Moral Rearmament Army, was a kind of counter movement to international communism.
They were welcomed at the Gemini Studios due to their political affiliations. The big boss of the studio, Mr.
Vasan literally played into their hands. Also, people at the Gemini Studios were averse to communism. So the

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Moral Rearmament Army could not have found a better host in India than the Gemini Studios, who welcomed
them warmly.

Q 4. How does the author describe the incongruity of an English poet addressing the audience at
Gemini Studios?
Ans. The English poet’s address was a complete misfit in the midst of the Tamil knowing audience at Gemini
Studios. His speech was incongruous and his accent so indistinct that no one actually understood a word of
what he said. He was talking about the thrills and travails of an English poet to a dazed audience. Finally,
neither the Englishman himself nor his audience understood why they were going through the entire ordeal.

Q 5. Why did everybody in the studio think of giving the author some work to do?
OR
Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at Gemini studios?
Ans. The author’s job was to sit at his desk and tear up newspapers all day. He used to cut newspaper
clippings on a wide variety of subjects and stored them in files. His job was not directly related to film making
at the studio. So he appeared to be doing nothing at Gemini Studios.

Q6. Why did the ‘boy’ in the makeup department come to the author? Why was the author praying for
crowd shooting all the time?
OR
Why did Asokamirtan pray for crowd shooting all the time?
Ans. Asokamirtan was wrongly believed to have nothing to do so the office-boy often came to his cubicle to
give an outlet to his frustrations and stress the fact that a great talent was being wasted. The author was bored
with the office boy’s never-ending babble and prayed for crowd-shooting all the time so that the boy remained
busy and did not pester him.
Q7. Why was Subbu considered number two at Gemini Studios? (Importance of Subbu)
Ans. Subbu was a go-getter and made a position for himself in the studios by pushing his way to the forefront
with flattery. Mr. Vasan was the boss at Gemini Studios and Subbu, his right-hand man, became the number
two at Gemini Studios. Subbu used his entire creativity to his boss’s advantage. He was a multi-faceted genius
and if a producer was not satisfied Subbu would come up with fourteen alternatives. With Subbu around, film-
making became a sheer pleasure. Moreover Subbu gave direction and definition to Gemini Studios during its
golden years.

Q8. How did the people of Madras and those at Gemini Studios respond to the plays staged by the
Moral Re-Armament Army? OR
Give one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by MRA.
Ans. The Moral Re-Armament Army presented two plays ‘Jotham Valley’ and ‘The Forgotten Factor’ in a
very professional manner. The people at Gemini Studios saw the plays over and over again. Though the
message was plain, the costumes and sets were first rate. These plays ran several shows in Madras and left a
great impact on the studios and on Madras in general. For some years almost all Tamil plays imitated the
scenes of sunrise and sunset of ‘Jotham Valley’.

Q 9. Which example of national integration in Gemini Studios is given in ‘Poets and Pancakes’?
Ans. The make-up department of the Gemini Studios gave a rare example of national integration. The
department was first headed by a Bengali who was succeeded by a Maharashtrian. He was assisted by a
Kannadiga from Dharwar, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian and an Anglo-Burmese. Then there were the
usual local Tamils. All this gave ample proof of national integration.

Q10. What made the lawyer lose his job? What does the writer find so funny about the situation?
Ans. The lawyer was the legal adviser of an assembly of writers of the Gemini Studio’s Story Department.
One day, the Boss terminated the services of the poets and writers as he found their contribution to the Studio
negligible. With the closure of the Story Department the lawyer too lost his job. The writer found this situation
funny because the lawyer lost his job as the poets and writers were told to go.

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Q11. ‘In all instances of frustration, you will always find the anger directed towards a single person
openly or covertly…..’ Do you think it is right to direct our anger towards someone who is not responsible for
the cause of anger? Justify with the reference to the story ‘Poets and Pancakes’.

Ans. No, it is not right to direct our anger towards someone who is not responsible for the cause of anger. We
become angry when we find obstructions in our path and towards growth if someone challenges our authority,
someone ridicules us and our self-respect is hurt or when things are just not the way we want them to be.
Weaker people become the target to vent out their anger because it is assumed that they won’t retaliate. But
this is a wrong practice and one should try to control one’s anger to the utmost possible limit.

Q12. What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make up?

Ans. By ‘the fiery misery’ writer means that the make-up room had several incandescent lights. They gave
out intense heat. Those who were subjected to make-up had to endure that scorching heat miserably and lot of
discomfort.

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Fiction 7 The Interview
ChristopherSilvester
Summary
The lesson begins with the introduction to interview as a commonplace of journalism since its invention,
which was a little over 130 years ago. According to the author, it is not very surprising that people have very
distinct opinions about the usage of interview. Some think of it in its highest form whereas some people can’t
stand being interviewed. An interview leaves a lasting impression and according to an old saying, when
perceptions are made about a certain person, the original identity of his soul gets stolen. Famous celebrities,
writers and artists have been heard criticising interviews. Rudyard Kipling’s wife wrote in her diary how their
day in Boston was ruined by two reporters. Kipling considers interviewing an assault, a crime that should
attract punishment. He believes that a respectable man would never ask or give an interview.

There is an excerpt from the interview between Mukund (from The Hindu newspaper) and Umberto Eco, a
professor at the University of Bologna in Italy who had already acquired a formidable reputation as a scholar
for his ideas on semiotics (the study of signs), literary interpretation, and medieval aesthetics before he turned
to writing fiction. The interview revolves around the success of his novel, The Name of the Rose whose more
than ten million copies were sold in the market. The interviewer begins by asking him how Umberto manages
to do so many different things to which he replies by saying that he is doing the same thing. He further
justifies and mentions that his books about children talk about peace and non-violence which in the end,
reflect his interest in philosophy. Umberto identifies himself as an academic scholar who attends academic
conferences during the week and writes novels on Sundays. It doesn’t bother him that he is identified by
others as a novelist and not a scholar, because he knows that it is difficult to reach millions of people with
scholarly work. He believes there are empty spaces in one’s life, just like there are empty spaces in atoms and
the Universe. He calls them interstices and most of his productive work is done during that time. Talking
about his novel, he mentions that it is not an easy-read. It has a detective aspect to it along with metaphysics,
theology and medieval history. Also, he believes that had the novel been written ten years earlier or later, it
would have not seen such a huge success. Thus, the reason for its success still remains a mystery.

Question Answer
Q 1. Why did Umberto Eco prefer himself to be called an academician than a novelist?
Ans. Despite achieving fame as a novelist, Eco preferred to associate himself with the academic community
because his non-fictional work occupied him for the first fifty years of his life. He wrote his first novel at the
age of around fifty. He identified himself more with the academic community and resorts to writing fiction
only when he was not pursuing some scholarly work.

Q2. What are the views of writers like V.S. Naipaul and Lewis Carroll on interviews?
OR

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What was Lewis Carroll’s attitude towards being interviewed?

Ans. Celebrities like V.S. Naipaul, Rudyard Kipling, Lewis Carroll and H.G. Wells have expressed their
strong despise for interviews. They consider interviews immoral -‘an assault’ because they feel interviews
leave a rather disparaging effect on their personalities and are an encroachment on their privacy.
OR
Celebrities like V.S. Naipaul, Rudyard Kipling, Lewis Carroll and H.G. Wells consider interviews as an
‘unwarranted intrusion’ that is immoral and an offence against his person. They shunned interviews for fear of
being projected as larger than life. Their vehement refusal for interviews enabled them to keep his fans as well
as interviews at an arm’s length.

Q 3. Why do most celebrity writers hate to be interviewed?

Ans. Most of the celebrity writers shun interviews as they feel that interviews leave a disparaging effect on
their personalities. They consider them as an encroachment on their privacy. Writers like V.S. Naipaul feel
they are being wounded by interviews and thus losing a part of themselves.

Q4. What was unique and distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?
Ans. Umberto Eco’s academic writing style is personal, informal and playful. He fills his research stories with
all the trials and errors so that even his research work has the uniqueness of creative writing and reading. It is
not only informative but also interesting.
Q 5. State the reason for the huge success of the novel, “The Name of the Rose”.
OR
“The Name of the Rose” deals with medieval history. Was it responsible for the novel’s success?
Ans. There is no one reason for the huge success of the novel “The Name of the Rose’. Umberto Eco himself
calls its success a mystery. It is possible that this detective story that delved into metaphysics, theology and
medieval history, interested the readers because the time in which it was written was most appropriate, neither
a decade earlier nor a decade later. OR
Ans. The success of the novel ‘The Name of the Rose’ did not depend on merely one factor. Many other
novels dealt with medieval history but did not achieve much success. Its success is more attributed to the
timing of its publication, its narrative style and detective yarn and also the fact that it delves into metaphysics
and theology along with medieval history.

Q 6. What did the publisher think of ‘The Name of the Rose’?

Ans. The American publisher of ‘The Name of the Rose’ loved and liked the novel but did not expect to sell
more than 3,000 copies. No one goes to a cathedral or studies Latin in America so it was really difficult to sell
such a novel there. But the publisher was proved wrong as two to three million copies of the novel were sold
in America.

Q7. What does Umberto Eco mean by the concept of ‘Interstices’ in our lives?

Ans. The concept of ‘Interstices’ stated by Umberto Eco means the empty spaces that exist in the universe.
During this time, he says that we should always try to create something. He also utilize time in composing
something while somebody comes to see him on the second floor in the elevator.

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Fiction 8 Going Places
A.R Barton
Summary
Sophie and Jansie are two teenagers who are coming back from school. They both work in a biscuit factory.
Sophie is lost in her imagination of owning a boutique shop and becoming famous like Mary Quaint, a fashion
designer. Jansie tells her not to dream big as it requires lots of money which they don’t have. To this she
replies that she will become an actress, earn a lot and then own a boutique.

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Jansie being a realistic person does not support her thoughts. On reaching home Sophie feels choked in that
small house which is full of the stove’s steam and looks untidy because of the dirty dishes. Her father is eating
and her mother is busy in the kitchen. She goes to meet her elder brother Geoff, who is a trainee mechanic and
is busy repairing some motorcycle part. Geoff talks very less about his personal life which made her imagine
of his personal life which she considers very interesting and wants to be part of it. She shares a secret with him
that she met Danny Casey the famous footballer in the arcade. Her brother and her father do not believe her.
But she tries to make them believe this. She also tells her brother about her date with Casey. Her brother does
not believe her but gives her a chance to believe her story.

On Saturday Sophie and her family go to watch a football match as all of them are great fans of football. Their
favorite team wins due to a goal made by Casey. All of them feel so overjoyed. When Sophie returns home
with her little brother Derek, Jansie questions her about the reality behind her meeting with Danny Casey.
Sophie gets angry with her brother because of letting her secret out but tries to handle the situation and
succeeds. She then visits a secret place near a canal to meet her hero Casey who doesn’t show up. She knows
that it was just her imagination but she was so lost in his love that she doesn’t want to come out of this. In the
end she returns back to her home with sadness in her heart. But when she comes across the Royce’s boutique,
she again finds herself lost in her hero’s dreams.

Question Answer
Q 1. “Damn that Geoff, this was a Geoff thing not a Jansie thing.” Why did Sophie say so?
Ans. Sophie had cooked up the story of her meeting with Danny Casey to impress Geoff who was a great fan
of the football prodigy. She knew this news would be of great interest to her brother. She had also thought her
brother would keep her secret. She did not want Jansie, who was ‘nosey’, to know about this. So when Geoff
told Jansie, Sophie cursed him because she knew Jansie would spread her story in the entire neighbourhood.

Q 2. What did Sophie tell Geoff about her meeting with Danny Casey?
Ans. Sophie told Geoff that she had met Danny Casey, the wonder footballer. As she was looking at the
clothes in a shop’s window Casey came and stood beside her. Geoff did not believe her. Sophie then went on
to tell him that Casey had green and gentle eyes and he was not very tall.

Q 3. Did Geoff keep his promise to Sophie? How do you know?

Ans. No, Geoff did not keep his promise to Sophie. He told Sophie’s secret to Jansie’s brother Frank who in
turn told Jansie about it. We know this because Jansie questions Sophie about her meeting with footballer,
Danny Casey and Sophie is startled that Jansie knows about this meeting.

Q4. How did Sophie’s father react when Geoff told him about her meeting with Danny Casey?
Ans. When Geoff told their father about Sophie’s meeting with Danny Casey he did not believe it and
suspected it was one of Sophie’s wild stories. He was filled with disdain and did not want to encourage her in
any way. So he warned her to keep herself out of any kind of trouble.

Q 5. What thoughts came to Sophie’s mind as she sat by the canal?

Ans. Sophie considers the spot along the canal the best place for a date, as it is away from the rush of the city.
As she sits by the canal she is lost in the world of her dreams. She imagines Casey coming along the river and
her own excitement thereafter.

Q 6. Why did Jansie discourage Sophie from entertaining thoughts about the sports-star, Danny Casey?
Ans. Jansie is a practical girl who lives in the real world. She knows that Danny Casey, a sports- star is far
beyond Sophie’s dreams and imagination. So she discourages Sophie from entertaining any kind of wild
thoughts about him.

Q7. Why did Sophie not want Jansie to know anything about her meeting with Danny Casey?
Ans. Sophie did not want Jansie to know anything about her meeting with Danny Casey because she knew
Jansie was good at spreading rumours. Telling anything to Jansie was like telling the whole town. Sophie had
made up this story only for her family and she did not want this story to spread in the town.

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Q 8. What do you think of Sophie’s dream about her career?

Ans. Sophie’s dreams of her future life are far removed from her reality. She dreams of owning a boutique, of
becoming an actress but the fact was that she was earmarked for the biscuit factory. Sophie drifts into a world
of fantasy and wants to live her dreams by stepping out of her middle-class status.

Q 9. Though Sophie and Jansie were good friends, how were they basically different from each other?
OR
Why does Jansie discourage Sophie from living in a world of fantasy?
Ans. Although Sophie and Jansie were good friends they were completely different from each other. Sophie
lived in a world of dreams and fantasy, a world which was far removed from reality. Jansie was a realistic and
practical girl who knew both she and Sophie were earmarked for the biscuit factory. So she discouraged
Sophie from living in a world of fantasy. Whenever Sophie expressed her wishes aloud Jansie became
melancholic and told Sophie to behave sensibly.

Q 10. Why was Sophie jealous of Geoff’s silence?

Ans. Sophie’s brother’s hallmark is his silence. Sophie feels “words have to be prized out of him like stone
out of the ground.” She is jealous of his silence and is very keen to enter the recesses of his mind. There is so
much about her brother that Sophie only suspects because she has never really known anything about him.

Questions Long Answer Type Questions

Q 1. Contrast Sophie’s real world with her fantasies.
Ans. Sophie belongs to a lower middle class family and lives a humble life with her parents and elder brother.
But her dreams far supercede the reality in which she is living. Her dreams are far beyond her reach. So she
wishes to open a boutique, entertains the idea of being an actress and also aspires to be a fashion designer. Her
dreamy disposition and romantic allusions lead her to hero-worship the wonder-footballer, Danny Casey
towards whom she develops a romantic fascination. Though she sees him only once in person she sits for
hours imagining Danny Casey coming to her. The incurable dreamer in her remains an escapist who wants to
remain away from her real world.

Q 2. Jansie is just as old as Sophie but she is very different from her. Bring out the contrast between the
two friends citing relevant instances from the story, “Going Places”.
Ans. Sophie and Jansie were classmates as well as friends. They both belonged to lower middle- class
families. But that is where their similarity ends. There is a striking contrast between their characters. Sophie is
a day-dreamer and Jansie is practical. Sophie lives in a world of dreams and does not want to come out of this
fairyland. She is an incurable escapist and dreams of having a boutique, becoming an actress or a fashion
designer. Jansie, on the other hand, is very grounded. Jansie has her feet firmly planted on the ground and
knows they are both ‘earmarked for the biscuit factory’. She knows big things require big money and
experience which they lack desperately. She advises Sophie to be sensible and not entertain wild dreams.
Sophie and Jansie’s temperaments differ greatly. While Sophie shares her dreams only with one person, her
brother Geoff, Jansie on the other hand is nosey. She takes an interest in learning new things about others and
can spread stories in the whole neighbourhood.

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POEM 1 MY MOTHER AT SIXTY SIX
By Kamla Das
Summary:-
Firstly, when the poet is on her way to the Cochin airport with her old mother sitting beside her, she looks at
her closely and presents before us her image.
She compares her with a corpse. (simile is a figure of speech to show comparison between her mother’s face
and a corpse.) As she looks at her mother’s pale and pallid face, she is struck with the horror and pain of
losing her. The mother with the dozing face and open mouth is compared to a corpse. Here, the poet shows the
typical love and affection which is present in a mother-daughter relation.
The poet is pained and shifts her attention outside the car in order to drive out the negative feelings. She
changes her sad mood. The scene outside the window is of growing life and energy. The rapidly sprinting
trees alongside the merrily playing children symbolize life, youth and vitality. The poet here is reminded of

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her own childhood when her mother had been young whereas now she is encircled with the fear of losing her
and that has made her insecure.
She is at the airport to take a flight. It indicates departure and separation which creates melancholy. As she
bids goodbye to her mother, the image of the old, wan, worn out mother in the twilight of years strikes her
again. Here again a simile is used to compare her mother with a late winter’s moon whose light is obstacle by
fog and mist. As she looks old now, her personality is affected by it.
The poet is feeling the pain of separation, leaving her mother and going. Also, her childhood fear of losing her
mother which she feels that earlier was temporary but now, could be forever as she could die of old age, is
haunting her. She is so pained that it is natural for her to cry but keeping a brave front she hides her tears and
smiles.
She bids farewell to her mother and keeping her hope of seeing her again alive, says “see you soon, Amma”.
She hides her sorrow as she does not want to create a painful environment for her mother and conveys her that
as she is enjoying her life similarly her mother should also be happy and enjoy her life.
(The poem revolves around the theme of advancing age and the fear that adheres to its loss and separation. It
is a sentimental account of the mother’s approaching end through the eyes of the daughter. The seemingly
short poem touches upon the theme of the filial bond between the mother and daughter smeared in the
backdrop of nostalgia and fear. Nostalgia of the past (the time spent with the mother) and fear of the future
without her.)
It is a short poem, without a full stop, the poem is like a long sentence, over flowing thought process. The poet
uses the device of comparison and contrast, simile and repetition.

Rhyme scheme: The poet does not use any identifiable rhyme scheme in this poem. It’s a blank verse.

Tone of the Poem

This poem is mainly thoughtful and sorrowful. The poet suddenly notices that her mother looks as old as she is.
This could have surprised her since she only sees her mother during holidays and not on a daily basis. However,
it does not surprise her because she has always been aware of the certainty of her mother’s death. As she does
when she turns away from her mother to look at the tress and the children, she has simply chosen not to think
about losing her mother anytime soon. Yet that fear has always plagued her and it plagues her still. This saddens
her and one can see her silent tears even when she has forced herself to smile.

NEW / DIFFICULT WORDS

1) doze: a short, light sleep
2) ashen: very pale, like ash.
3) corpse: a dead body.
4) sprinting: here, shooting out of the ground.
5) spilling: here, to move out in great numbers.
6) wan: unnaturally pale, as from physical or emotional distress.
7) ache: pain.

EXPLANATION:- Lines 1 – 4:
Driving from my parent’s
home to Cochin last Friday
morning, I saw my mother,
beside me,
In these lines, the poet recalls a trip back to Cochin from her holiday in her parents’ house the previous week.
It was a Friday, and that morning, she was driving with her mother next to her on the front seat.
Lines 5 – 10:
doze, open mouthed, her face
ashen like that
of a corpse and realised with pain
that she was as old as she
looked but soon
put that thought away, and

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In these lines, the poet says that she was observing her mother who had fallen asleep on the front seat with her
mouth slightly open. Her mother’s face was pale, and it reminded her of the nearly white faces of dead bodies.
It is then that she comes to realize that her mother was not young any longer, and that her appearance had
caught up with her age. This was very hard for the poet to accept, and so she was determined to focus her
attention on something else.
Lines 11 – 15:
looked out at Young
Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes, but after the airport’s
security check, standing a few yards
away, I looked again at her, wan, pale

In these lines, the poet says that she turned away from her aging mother and decided to look outside the
windows of the car in which she was driving. Outside, her eyes fell on the trees that the vehicle was passing
by. The car was moving so fast that by way of relative motion, it seemed to the poet that all the trees she could
see were also running at full speed past her. It seemed that those trees must have been quite youthful if they
had the energy to move at such a fast pace. The poet’s eyes also feel on the children who were coming out of
their houses, brimming over with their excitement to get outside. The poet passed all these sights and reached
the airport. Till then, her mind was distracted by the sights. However, after the security check, she was
standing a short distance away from her mother and again she chanced to notice the old woman. Just as
before, her mother appeared very pale and insipid.

Lines 16 – 20:
as a late winter’s moon and felt that old
familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,
but all I said was, see you soon, Amma,
all I did was smile and smile and
smile……

In these lines, the poet compares her mother’s face with the sight of the moon on a night towards the end of
winter. This made her recall the thing she had been most afraid of during her childhood – the fear that her
mother would die one day. This was a fear that had plagued her many times before, and it was plaguing her
again now. However, she did not let that fear show itself on her face. Instead she put up a brave face and
waved goodbye to her mother. She assured her mother that they would be seeing each other again soon, and
all the while, even though she was in great agony, the smile never left her face.

QUESTION ANSWER:-
[Link] is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
When the poet looks at her mother’s face closely, she discovers that she has aged and her end is near. The
feeling of her mother being old, needing care and help pains the poet as there is no one to look after her. She
feels that her mother can die any moment and that then she will lose her forever. Her childhood fear of losing
her mother which was then timely but now, will be forever, resurfaces. The poet feels the pain of her mother’s
old age and her helplessness towards her. She has the fear of separating from her mother forever, upon her
death.

2Why are the young trees described as ‘sprinting’?

The young trees have been personified. When looked at from the poet’s moving car, they seem to
be running past. The poet found it to be strikingly opposite to her mother who looked as still as a dead body.
The poet presents a contrast between her ‘dozing’ old mother and ‘sprinting’ young trees.

3Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children ‘spilling out of their homes’?
The poet draws a comparison between what is travelling with her and what she can see outside. It’s a
comparison between life and death. Her mother is sleeping, with mouth open, like a dead body, while outside
she can see children who are full of life, energy and enthusiasm.

4Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’?
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Just as the late winter’s moon is dull and lacks luster, same as her mother at the end stage of her life. Also, as
the late winter moon gets overshadowed by the fog and mist in the sky similarly her mother can get
overshadowed by death at any time. Both of them are nearing an end- one of season and the other of life.

5What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
The parting words of the poet show her positive attitude. She overcomes her pain and fear, assures herself and
her mother that they would meet again. She is being very brave which is indicated by the use of repetition in
the poem: “smile and smile and smile......” Her words and smile are a deliberate attempt to hide her real
feelings.

6. How did Kamala Das put away the thought of her mother’s old age?
The poet started looking out of the window because she wanted to drive away the pain and agony she was
experiencing by looking at her aged mother. She looked outside at the world which was full of life and
activity. She saw young trees running past her and merry children sprinting out of their homes to play.

7. Why did Kamala Das add the image of merry children to her poem?
The merry children symbolise the spring of life, its energy, vigour and happiness. Their image presents a sharp
contrast to the poet’s limp and ageing mother. This image is also imperative for the understanding of the
process of old age which is associated with decay. The spontaneous outpouring of life symbolised by these
children is in contrast to the poet’s mother’s passive and inactive life.

[Link] were Kamala Das’ fears as a child? Why do they surface when she is going to the airport?
Since her childhood perhaps Kamala Das always feared that she would lose her mother or in some way be
separated from her. Now that her mother is old and her health has deteriorated, the poet’s fear surface again
when she is going to the airport.

9. What were the poet’s feelings at the airport? How did she hide them?
At the airport the poet, Kamala Das, feels fearful of leaving her pale, ageing mother alone and unattended. She
has an ache and fear inside her heart and is not sure if she will be able to see her mother again. She hides her
feelings of anxiety by giving a long and cheerful smile to her mother as she bids her adieu.

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Poem 3. Keeping Quiet
By Pablo Neruda

Summary
“Keeping Quiet” is a peace poem written by the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. The poet asks humanity to count
numbers from one to twelve - twelve being the number of hours shown in a clock or the number of zodiac
signs. He requests everyone not to speak because languages create barriers between people. The moment
when everyone stops moving their body will be very special and different as we have never experienced such
a moment before.

The poet says that in this period of inactivity the fishermen would not harm the whales, the salt gatherers will
not hurt their hands, those who are busy destroying the nature will adopt a new approach towards life, The
men who are preparing for wars and victory based on deaths of innocent people will join their enemy and
stand in unity with them, doing nothing. No one will harm himself or any other person. Everyone will unite
and ponder upon his acts and realize the results of his deeds.

The poet clarifies his idea and says further that he does not want that people should stand idle. He wants that
there should be no war because he does not want to see trucks laden with dead bodies of the soldiers. He is
promoting Universal brotherhood and peace.

The poet says that everyone is working continuously, to achieve one’s goals. People are threatened by death
and the fear forces them to work endlessly so that they can achieve everything quickly. In this mad rush, they
do not realize the repercussions of their acts. He wants us to pause and come out of the mad rush. He wants us

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to be happy about our achievements and celebrate them. He wants us to overcome the fear of death and to
relax for a while. We should know the results of our deeds and celebrate our achievements.

When the people will remain quiet for a while, they will realize the purpose of their lives. Just like all the
creations of nature undergo a rebirth with the change of seasons, similary, keeping quiet will be a rebirth for
the human soul. It will give a new meaning to our life. Again, the poet says that he will count till twelve and
asks everyone to remain quiet while he leaves.

Theme of the poem

It is basically an anti-war poem. The poet is deeply concerned about violence, cruelty to animals and plight of
manual workers. The poet offers a very simple solution to many of our social, political and religious problems.
The solution is self-introspection. If it is acted upon, it will be the first major step towards uniting people. The
second step is that everyone should look within and analyse what is wrong and who is the wrong doer. This
will cleanse every heart and ennoble all people.

The poem and Explanation:-

First stanza
Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the Earth
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.

Explanation
The poet here requests everyone to count till twelve in their own mind and to stop for a while. May be this
‘twelve’ referred by the poet is the twelve hours in the clock or the twelve months in an year. He wants
everyone to stop and calm down. The poet urges everyone not to speak any language. As we all know that
there are different languages spoken in different parts of the earth which sometimes become a barrier in our
way for peace. So, he asks people not to speak. Not only this, he also wants us to stop moving our arms. By
using the word ‘arms’ he means the weapons which are used by different countries to raise a war against each
other. So basically the poet is demanding peace from all of us.

Literary devices:
Assonance: Use of vowel sound ‘o’ and ‘e’ (Now we will count to twelve, not move our arms so much)

Anaphora: In writing or speech, the deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to
achieve an artistic effect is known as Anaphora. Anaphora, possibly the oldest literary device, has its
roots in Biblical Psalms used to emphasize certain words or phrases.

Two consecutive lines starting with the word ‘Let’s’

let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,

Alliteration: the repetition of a consonant sound at the start of 2 or more closely placed words.
‘we will’ - ‘w’ sound is repeated

Second stanza
It would be an exotic (unusual) moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.
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Explanation
Poet says that it would be a rare situation when there will be no engines working. Here he wants to stay that if
everything comes to standstill, it will be a very different moment. If all the engines like the vehicles and
machines stop, then there will be a sudden, strange situation as the world will experience a sudden calmness.
People will not be in a rush to achieve material things one after another. Further the poet says that the
fisherman will also stop and not harm whales in the sea. This means that the poet is urging everyone not to
harm the animals. Here he gives the example of whales which are being hunted for the purpose of food or
trade. He also wants people to calm down so that they can stop and see what they have achieved or lost. For
this he gives the example of the man who gathers salt, whose hands are hurt. Here he wants everyone to stop
for a while in order to see and feel their achievements and how much they have lost for the sake of attaining
such materialistic things.

Literary devices:
Alliteration- ‘we would’ - ‘w’ sound is repeated,
‘sudden strangeness’ - ‘s’ sound is repeated,
‘his hurt hands’ - ‘h’ sound is repeated

Third stanza
Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death. (passing away) Literary device is Euphemism

Explanation
The poet asks everyone to stop those activities which are damaging the environment. Today all the human
beings are making money by damaging the environment with their activities such as mining, deforestation,
letting the chemical waste into rivers, etc. The poet asks us not to do so. He also requests people not to involve
in wars as there is no benefit of achieving such victory in which no one is left alive. He says so because wars
and environmental damage will lead to no life on earth. Rather, he wants people to adopt a new approach
towards life and mankind. He says that you should treat your enemy like brothers and promote peace and
harmony in the world.

Literarydevices:
Alliteration: ‘wars with’ - ‘w’ sound is repeated, ‘clean clothes’ - ‘c’ sound is repeated
Assonance: use of vowel ‘o’ (victory with no survivors, would put on clean clothes and walk about with their
brothers)
Repetition: use of ‘war’
Euphemi[Link] Euphemisms are polite, mild phrases which substitute unpleasant ways of saying something
sad or uncomfortable. Euphemism (pronounced yoo-fuh-miz-uhm) is derived from the Greek
phrase euphēmismos, meaning “to sound good.”

Fourth stanza
If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.

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Explanation
Now the poet wants to clarify to his readers that when he asks them to stop from saying or doing anything, he
doesn’t want anyone to become a non active person. Non active is a person who remains idle and doesn’t do
anything. Here, he simply means that we should stop and see the consequences of our deeds. The poet doesn’t
want to see people being killed due to their greed for money and expansion of territories. Further, he says that
people are continuously working to achieve their tasks without even thinking about their results. They are in
fear of death and therefore, want to achieve most of the things before their death. Here he urges them to stop
for a while and take some moment to relish on what they have achieved till now. Everyone here is living a life
in which he wants to achieve various things one after another. But now the poet says it is the time to stop and
see what has been achieved and should be enjoyed. This will help us skip the sadness which has become so
prominent in our lives. The sadness of not enjoying what we have achieved and the greed to achieve what next
is in the list to be achieved.

Literary devices
Alliteration: we were, so single - minded
Enjambment: It can be defined as a thought or sense, phrase or clause, in a line of poetry that does not come
to an end at the line break, but moves over to the next line. In simple words, it is the running on of a sense
from one couplet or line to the next without a major pause or syntactical break.
E.g. “and for once could perhaps a huge silence……..of threatening ourselves with death.”

Fifth stanza
Perhaps the Earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.

Explanation
So, now the poet suggests to the human beings that we should learn a lesson from Earth. During the winters
everything freezes and becomes lifeless. But when season changes and its the onset of spring season,
everything present in the nature such as the trees, birds, rivers, etc gets life. So here, the poet, by giving the
example of nature, wants to say that all the human beings should stop and try to judge their deeds. They can
try and make their life better with calmness, peace. Finally, he ends up by saying that now he will count upto
twelve so that we all may become quiet. Here ‘quiet’ means to calm down ourselves and move towards the
path of peace and harmony. After saying this he says ‘I will go’. He says so as he has conveyed his message to
the people and wants them to be left alone to think about it and work in the direction of peace.

Question and Answers

Q1- What will counting upto twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
A1-If we count upto twelve and keep still, it will give us some time to analyze our deeds. It will allow us some
moments to think about the result of our activities. People in the world are involved in wars and are also
damaging the environment in order to achieve their aims. Unfortunately this is taking all of us toward our own
end. So, we need to think in order to achieve peace and harmony.

Q2- Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
A2- No, the poet clearly states that his asking for stillness should not be confused with total inactivity or
death. He perceives life to be a continuous process, where man’s activities should not lead to destruction of
fellow human beings or nature, but should be channelized in a resourceful way.

Q3- What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
A3- The sadness is the result of our own actions and deeds. According to the poet we all are in a hurry of
achieving various tasks in our life. This rush sometimes proves dangerous for us. As we don’t analyze our
actions, so we land ourselves in a number of problems. These problems then become the reason for our
sadness as referred to in the poem.

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Q4- What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent
stillness?
A4- The poet takes the example of earth to prove that there can be life under apparent stillness. The earth
never gets inactive. We experience the change in the seasons which brings so many different things with it. In
winters, things come to a standstill as the water bodies freeze; the trees shed their leaves, etc. But as soon as
the spring season comes, it brings with it the lovely flowers, flowing rivers and a new life is given to the
nature. So, the poet wants to convey that we should stay calm but that doesn’t mean that it will bring total
inactivity and stillness.

5. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’?
Answer. The poet refers to the moment of stillness and quietness as an exotic moment. It would be an exotic
moment; as such tranquility will initiate peace and brotherhood. There would be no movement, no talk, no
activity and consequently, no violence.

6. Which images in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ show that the poet condemns violence?
Answer-The images of fishermen no harming the whales in the sea and wars leaving behind no survivors to
celebrate the victory show that the poet condemns violence. The poet wants the warmongers to change their
blood-stained clothes to clean ones. The poet’s refusal to have any association or dealing with death also
shows that he is not in favour of any form of violence.

7. How, according to Neruda, can keeping quiet change our attitude to life?
Answer. Keeping quiet and suspending all our activities for a brief moment will give us time to introspect and
analyse our own actions. We will develop a new understanding of our surroundings and thus change our
attitude to life. We will check our destructive ways and try to be more positive and constructive.

8. What are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem? What is Neruda’s attitude towards
these wars?
Answer. The poet has written about wars against humanity and nature. Green wars, wars with poisonous
gases and wars with fire are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem. Wars do good to no one. Pablo
Neruda feels that such wars may bring victory, but there are no survivors. It means that there is heavy loss on
both sides.

9. How can suspension of activities help?

Answer. The poet believes that suspension of activities will allow man to introspect, which can help them in
analysing their own actions, and in solving many of their problems based on caste, religion or nationality. It
will help them develop a new understanding of their surroundings, and thus make them mend their destructive
ways.

10. According to the poet, what is it that human beings can learn from nature?
Answer. Life under apparent stillness in attitude is the thing which man can learn from nature. The Earth is
never in a state of total inactivity. Nature carries on its work even where there is stillness all around. Winter is
associated with inactivity, but this is not actually true.

11. How does the poet bring out the images of disharmony between man and nature and how can it
resolved?
Answer: The images of disharmony are exemplified through man’s massive campaign for wanton destruction
of nature. This destruction displays itself through argumentative and uncompromising proclamations, anti
green, measures, destruction of nature resources, exploiting marine life, salt making from sea and manufacture
of nuclear arsenals and conventional armaments. These can be resolved through man’s self-introspection and
corrective action.

12. The last two years of school tend to be about planning for life after school. This can be motivating,
overwhelming or encouraging for some, and stressful for others. Write a letter to your friend Sanjeev

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telling him about your thoughts taking ideas from Pablo Neruda's poem. You can take the help of the
following points.

• Neruda's ideas in 'Keeping Quiet' as a guide in this situation. • Thinking differently about your
decisions with reference to Neruda's 'Keeping Quiet'

Ans. Delhi

20 May, 2020

Dear Sanjeev

After completing schooling, there are numerous things I want to do and accomplish in my life. My
admirations aren't much different from the average person, but it will still take a lot of hard work to get to
where I want to be. I have many goals, but to accomplish these goals I have to get through the many obstacles
that could get in the way. One of the obstacles is getting admission in a good college. I know if 1 stay focused,
I have the power to get over the obstacles that stand in my way. What I plan to do now might not be what I
want to do in a few years. Even if my plans do change, I will always have goals for myself. With hard work
and determination, I plan to accomplish my goals, whatever they may be, and live up to my full potential.
Keeping quiet and introspection shall always help me to restore my calmness, give me strength and make right
decisions for the benefit of myself and society. I hope this letter will also help you in overcoming many
problems in life.

Warmly

Tushar

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Poem 4 A Thing of Beauty

By John Keats
A Thing of Beauty Summary
'A Thing of Beauty- is a poem taken from the poem titled - "Endymion - a poetic romance'• written by the
famous poet John Keats. The poet says that a beautiful thing is a source of endless joy. It has eternal beauty
which never fades away. A beautiful thing is like a shady shelter which gives us a sleep full of sweet dreams,
good health and relaxation.
Our attachments to the Earthly things are like a flowery wreath. They are traps which bind us to the
materialistic things and keep us away from eternal happiness. The Earth is full of hatred, greed and negativity.
According to the poet, the gloom and sadness caused by this negativity fades away with the positive vibes of
the beautiful things that surround us.
The poet lists out some of the beautiful things that surround us. As the saying goes -"Beauty lies in the eyes of
the beholder. He says that the numerous creations of God like the Sun which gives us energy, the moon's
beauty, the trees which give us shade are the natural beauties around us. The various animals like the sheep
that surround us make our world lively. The pretty flowers like daffodils make the world green and lively. The
flowing streams of water cool and refresh us in the hot summer season. The forests which are full of the pretty
musk rose flowers are a beautiful sight to the eye. All these are the things of beauty. Also, the stories of the
brave soldiers who laid their lives to protect their people are beautiful and inspiring. These beautiful things are
like a fountain of immortality bestowed upon us by God. They inspire us to live on and maintain our faith in
goodness.

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever Its loveliness increases, it will never Pass into nothingness;”
The poet says that beauty is eternal, it is forever, never fades away but instead, our love for it enhances with
the passage of time. As the saying ‘beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’, it is the perception of one who
looks at something that how he finds it. So, here the poet’s view about beauty is that it never ends.

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“but will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.”
Beauty acts like the soothing, relaxing shade of the trees which helps all the creatures to sleep peacefully and
enjoy good health.

“Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing A flowery band to bind us to the earth, Spite of
despondence, of the inhuman dearth Of noble natures, of the gloomy days, Of all the unhealthy and o’er-
darkened ways Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all, Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits.”
Here, he says that at every moment our desire to live further is because we encircle ourselves with our love
towards these beautiful things. As we get wrapped up in the beautiful flowery band, we get a reason to live
further. Without beauty, the Earth, is full of gloom and sadness. There is cruelty all around and lack of good
natured people. It is this beauty, creation of God which removes the sadness and darkness from our mind and
soul.

“Such the sun, the moon, Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon For simple sheep; and such are
daffodils With the green world they live in; and clear rills That for themselves a cooling covert make
‘Against the hot season; the mid forest brake, Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk rose blooms; And such
too is the grandeur of the dooms We have imagined for the mighty dead; All lovely tales that we have heard
or read; An endless fountain of immortal drink, Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.”
The poet names some of the things whose beauty is eternal- the Sun, moon, greenery like trees whose shade is
a boon for creatures like the sheep to rest under it, various flowers like daffodil, rivers full of clear waters
which cool everyone in the summers, the thick bushes of forest fern where beautiful, fragrant musk roses
bloom. Other than these things of nature, the poet says that the stories of brave men who sacrificed their lives
are also beautiful. All these beautiful things are like nectar for us, God’s gift to us which help us to live further
on this Earth.

EXPLANATION:-

A thing of beauty is a joy forever

Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness; but will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

Bower: A shady place under the tree

The poet says that beauty stays forever. It never fades away. Rather, it increases with the passing time. The
perception of the poet regarding beauty is that it never goes off with the passing time, rather it beautifies
more and more. For the poet, beauty is like a beautiful shady tree under whose shade all the creatures can
sleep peacefully and enjoy good health.
Literary devices:
Rhyme scheme: aabbc (forever, never, keep, sleep, breathing)
Alliteration: Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close in series (Sleep-
Sweet)
Metaphor: bower Quiet (calmness of the bower is compared to the calming effect of a beautiful
thing)
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits…
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Morrow: The following day

Wreathing: surround, encircle
Despondence: depressed
Gloomy: sad

The poet says that every day, it is the beauty which fills us with the spirit to live. It is the beauty which builds
the desire in us to live though there are sad moments and cruel people around us. So here the poet wants to
say that without beauty the earth will be full of cruel people, sad and gloomy moments. It is the beauty which
is created by god which helps us to remove the sadness from our hearts.

Literary devices:
Anaphora: Use of same word in two consecutive lines (of noble natures- Of all the unhealthy)
Alliteration: Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close in series (‘b’ in Band
Bind, ‘n’ in Noble nature, ‘s’ in some shape).
Metaphor: wreathing a flowery band (the beautiful things of our life bind us to the earth)
Imagery: creating a sensory effect of beautiful things lined up in a string ( A flowery band to bind
us)
inversion: normal order of words is reversed ( Are we wreathing a flowery band)

… Such the sun, the moon,

Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make

Boon: blessing
Rills: a small stream
Brake: a process to slow down
Here the poet describes the beautiful things which are present on earth. These are the sun, moon, trees,
flowers (daffodils) and the rivers. Poet says that all these things are like a blessing bestowed on all the
creatures by earth. He further describes that the trees provide us with their shade, flowers with their beauty
and rivers with their coolness during the hot summers. All of these are the beauties of nature which are like a
boon for us.
Literary devices:
Alliteration: Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close in series (‘s’ in Sprouting
Shady, Simple sheep, ‘c’ in cooling covert)
Imagery: Trees giving shade (sprouting shady boon), growing process of daffodils (daffodils with the
green world they live in), clean river streams (Clear rills)
Antithesis: opposite words placed together (old and young)
‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake,
Rich with a sparkling of fair musk-rose blooms;
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.
Grandeur: high rank or socially important
Mighty: enormous
Immortal: never dying

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Brink: edge
The poet further carries on with the description of the more beautiful things present on earth. Such as the
beautiful musk roses which have such a nice fragrance. Then he describes the tales of the mighty warriors
who laid their lives for their countries or for humanity. He says that these beautiful things are the gifts from
god for all of us. They are like nectar given by god to us and these are those beauties which are immortal and
give us a reason to live on this earth despite having so many sorrows in our life.
Literary devices:
Alliteration: Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close in series (‘h’ in have heard)
Metaphor: Immortal drinks ( beautiful objects of nature are forever like a never ending portion of a drink)
Rhyme: Rhyme scheme is used in every stanza of the poem (forever; never, keep; sleep, dead; read etc.)
Imagery: Bushes full of musk roses (sprinkling of fair musk rose blooms), books describing valor of
fighters (grandeur-..mighty dead), god providing us with best things (pouring from the heaven’s brink)

Short Answer Type Questions

1. How do beautiful things help us to live a happy life?
Answer. We derive comfort and happiness when we look at objects of beauty, and the lasting impression they
leave on our minds is a source of permanent joy. Beautiful things bind us to the Earth and help us strengthen
our relationship with nature. They provide us relief from our everyday trials and tribulations and help us live a
happy life.

2. What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he call its drink
immortal?
Answer. Keats considers nature’s beauty as an endless fountain of immortal drink. He calls this drink
immortal as the pleasure and delight given by it never passes into nothingness. It only increases with time.

3. According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it removed?
Answer. John Keats says that pain and suffering are a part of life. These bring us sadness and despondence.
But still, we can find hope. The hope and motivation come from nature and remove the pall of despondence
from our spirits. The beautiful sights give us inspiration to continue the journey of life.

4. How does a thing of beauty provide shelter and comfort?

Answer. A thing of beauty provides shelter and comfort in many ways. It is like a bower, a place under the
shade of a tree where we can rest. It gives us a sleep filled with sweet dreams. The streams and forests provide
a cooling covert for us in the hot weather.

5. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

Answer. A thing of beauty is a joy forever because it is a permanent source of joy and inspiration and leaves a
lasting impression on us. The pleasure and happiness given by it never fades away but keeps on increasing.

6. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings? .
Answer. Human beings suffer from hopelessness and sadness. Our style of living often makes us hopeless and
grim. We at times also, suffer due to the self-centered and wicked nature of others. In spite of all our troubles
and sufferings, we are able to derive pleasure from our surroundings. The beautiful objects from nature help
us shed our gloom, give us a glimmer of hope, and make us love life amidst all troubles.

7. Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the mighty dead?

Answer. The mighty dead are those who have laid down their lives for a great or noble cause. Their death is
replete with intellectual and spiritual beauty. Birth, growth and decay, all are inseparable. Each has its own
beauty. Their death is grand or beautiful because it makes them immortal through the grand tombs and
memorials erected in their honour.

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8. What is the message of the poem, ‘A thing of beauty’?

Answer. The message of the poem ‘A thing of beauty’ is that beautiful things are a source of constant joy and
inspiration. They give us eternal pleasure and leave an indelible image on our minds and, therefore, every
beautiful thing and aspect is worth being treasured.

9. What is the ‘endless fountain’ and what is its effect?

Answer. Here beauty has been referred to as an ‘endless fountain’, which is an eternal source of motivation,
an elixir of life and a precious gift from heaven. It gives us infinite pleasure and delight, and motivates us to
continue our journey of life.

[Link] images does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the Earth?
Answer. The poet uses the image of an ‘endless fountain’, which showers bounties on Earth. He calls this an
‘immortal drink’ from heaven. The sun, the moon, the trees, the daffodils, the lush green forests and streams,
all reflect the beautiful bounties which God has given us.

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Poem 5 A Road Side Stand
Robert Frost
Summary
A Roadside Stand is a poem written by American poet Robert Frost to portray the miserable living conditions
of marginalised economic classes in the countryside. He puts the owners of road stalls in the spotlight to talk
about their plight.

The first line of the poem indicates efforts taken up by a roadside stall owner to renovate his stall. The poet
refers to it as a house to indicate its importance in the life of its owner. While the look of the stall resembles
that of a small house, it is also the sole means of earning for its owner. The stall owner looks desperately for
some earnings – some cash, not for some lowly donation of food that would barely satisfy one meal. The poet
says that the city money is mostly used for the growth and development of cities, which in turn, helps the city
people become richer. The traffic that passes in front of the stall on the road is ‘polished’ – expensive vehicles
that are owned by people from the city. It is sad to see that they never bother to spare some money for the poor
people in the countryside.

Interestingly, the traffic does stop for a moment, but that is to frown upon the meaningless art and haphazard
graffiti drawn on the walls; to gaze upon the wild berries put up for sale in wooden quarts, to watch the
golden-coloured squash with silver warts on them; or just to admire the scenic beauty of the place they have
stopped by at momentarily. The poet talks in a tone that is sympathetic to the miseries and cries of the poor
road stallers or other road vendors. He curtly asks the traffic to simply move along if they do not want to
spend their money.

The poet points out that what is most hurting about this experience is the despondency related to the lives of
these poor people. They set up their stalls outside the city to earn some money – money that might help them
better their lives. They want to achieve that particular status of a comfortable life that was promised to them
by the movies. But, they are restricted from achieving their goals by the politicians who rule the place.

The poet gives us a picture of how poor people are ill-treated by politicians. It is shown in the news that these
poor people will be brought out of their misery and relocated to good villages with the assurance of economic
development. They would be placed near theatres and stores where they would live comfortable lives. But,
none of this happens, as ironically, the politicians who promised them all these things actually thrive on
exploiting the poor rather than granting them the chance of a good life, as promised. Instead, the politicians
create comfort and luxury for themselves and laze around doing nothing but sleeping during the day and
staying awake at night – going completely against the natural way of living. The poet is completely disgusted
by the actions of these politicians, as can be seen in the use of words like ‘greedy good-doers’ and ‘beneficent
beasts of prey’ in the ways he describes them.

The poet is deeply saddened by the innocent longings of the road vendors for some luck at earning money.
The long wait of the poor vendors for the sound of an approaching customer – a squeal of brakes or the sound
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of a stopping car seem like a vain wish to the poet. Out of the thousand cars that pass by, one might stop
beside a stall to make a turn or to ask for directions. Sometimes cars stop to ask if they could buy some gas.
The poet interprets this action as an example of harsh ignorance and lack of sympathy toward the road
vendors. How could these people in cars possibly buy gas from someone who has nothing?

The much-needed forms of development and fulfillment of aspirations have never been found in the country.
The poor people who stay here live with a constant lack of resources and necessities. They are unable to reach
the levels of comfort and sophistication of people in the cities. The poet draws a sharp line of contrast between
the people from the country and the people from the cities. The poor simply are not able to turn their fate
around.

The poet ponders if putting an end to the poor people’s lives would really take them out of their misery. He
considers the concept of mercy-killing desperately as a viable solution to this eternal problem of poverty and
pain. After an enraged moment of intense pain and agony for these people from the country, the poet returns
to a sane state. He wonders how he would feel if someone offered to kill him to put him out of his misery.

Explanation
The little old house was out with a little new shed
In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,
A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,
It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,
But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports
The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.
The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,
Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts
At having the landscape marred with the artless paint

Pathetically: In a way that arouses pity, especially by displaying sadness

Dole of Bread: a tiny portion of bread
Marred: Spoilt

There was a small house with a new shed outside it. The road was busy with cars and other vehicles moving
here and there. The shed was built to display items on sale and the owner expected the passing vehicles to
stop by and buy the things or at least have a look at them. The condition of the shed aroused one’s pity
because it displayed the sad feelings of the owner who was desperate to earn some money. They did not seek
any favour or piece of bread from the city people but wanted some money because the flow of money helps
everyone to use it and benefit from it. Just like the money with the city people helps them lead a better life,
similarly, if it will flow from their pockets into the pockets of the shed owner, it will benefit his life too. The
cars that pass by are sparkling but they never notice the shed. They are thinking of their destination only. If by
chance they do stop at the shed, they just complain that the shabby paint of the huts and sheds there has
spoiled the beauty of the landscape.

Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong

Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,
Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,
Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,
You have the money, but if you want to be mean,
Why keep your money (this crossly) and go along.
The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint
Squash: here, a fruit
Warts: A small growth on the outer surface
Crossly: In an annoyed or angry way

Here the poet says that as the people living in these sheds are poor their surroundings are not well-
maintained. The signboards indicating directions of north and south are pointing towards the wrong
directions. The sheds have farm produce on sale – wild berries, golden squash fruit with silver coloured
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marks on it, kept in wooden baskets. The place is beautiful and people should stop here and enjoy the
mountain scenery. If they have money than they should buy some things but if they are selfish then they should
keep their money with themselves and not stop there. The poet says that he does not complain that the sheds
have spoiled the scenery of the place.

So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid:

Here far from the city we make our roadside stand
And ask for some city money to feel in hand
To try if it will not make our being expand,
And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise
That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.

The poet says that these people who have opened the shed are keeping faith in a promise which was never
done to them. Here, the promise is their expectation that the cars passing by will stop at the shed and buy
some stuff from them. They have built this shed far from the city and they expect that the city people will flow
some money out of their pockets into the hands of the shed owner. The shed owner wants to feel the money on
his hands. Just like they see in pictures that the one who works hard achieves quick success and money, they
have laid their trust on these ideas and expect to get some money. Frost adds that the political party in power
has stopped the flow of cash from the city dwellers to the rural people.

It is in the news that all these pitiful kin

Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in
To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,
Where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore,
While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,
Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits
That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits,
And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day,
Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.
Kin: one’s family and relations
Beneficent: generous or doing good
Beasts of Prey: an animal killing other animal
Out of their wits: their perplexed or terrified state

It is in news that soon all these sheds and huts will be bought by the government and these people will be
relocated to the villages. Near their houses there will be movie theatre and grocery store. They will be so
happy there that they will not worry about their future. The poet says greedy good-doers and beneficent beasts
i.e. such people who show to be doing good deeds but are actually greedy and are animals of prey who show
that they are benefitting the other persons but in reality, they destroy them. The rich people and politicians are
described as greedy good-doers and beneficent beasts because they show that they are helping the poor shed
owners but in reality nothing like that is done. Actually, they are encircling their lives and forcefully giving
them such benefits which have been well planned and will put these poor people in a confusion. These people
cannot decide what is good for them and what is harmful. These selfish people tell to the poor that now they
can relax but in reality, they themselves sleep all day long. Also, they destroy their sleep at night too as has
been happening since the past.

Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear

The thought of so much childish longing in vain,
The sadness that lurks near the open window there,
That waits all day in almost open prayer
For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,
Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,
Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are.
And one did stop, but only to plow up grass
In using the yard to back and turn around;
In vain: without success or a result
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Lurk: be or remain hidden so as to wait in ambush for someone or something

Plow: move in a fast and uncontrolled manner

The poet says that this kiddish desire in the hearts of these shed owners is useless. He cannot tolerate their
sadness which they go through when they open the window of the shed, waiting for a car to stop and buy
something. They wait there the whole day and it seems that they are doing a prayer seeking a buyer for their
goods. They pray for the vehicles to step on the brakes and want to hear a car stop by. There are many cars
carrying selfish people but hopefully, some may stop by just to ask the prices of the produce grown by the
farmers there. One car did stop there but just to disturb the grass when they back their car and turn around.

And another to ask the way to where it was bound;

And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas
They couldn’t (this crossly); they had none, didn’t it see?
No, in country money, the country scale of gain,
The requisite lift of spirit has never been found,
Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,
I can’t help owning the great relief it would be
To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.
And then next day as I come back into the sane,
I wonder how I should like you to come to me
And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

Requisite: required / needed

Sane: sensible / realistic

Some stop by to ask directions of their destination. Some cars stop by to buy fuel for their cars. Poet gets
annoyed and says that do they not have any idea that these poor people cannot afford to sell fuel. He adds that
the kind of work these villagers do and the kind of things they sell, it cannot lead to the required upliftment.
The resources are too less to help them get rid of their problem. Their situation demands such a solution
which would be a relief to put them out of their problems in one go. The next day, the poet thinks that when he
is realistic then he expects the rich to visit and help them get rid of their problem in one go, perhaps with
death.

Figures of Speech
Transferred Epithet: (a) Polished traffic (b) Selfish cars
Personification: 1) A roadside stand that too pathetically pled
Metaphor: Trusting Sorrow
Oxymoron & Alliteration: ‘Greedy good-doers’ and ‘beneficent beasts’ of prey.

Question Answer
Q1. Why do the people who run the roadside stand wait for the squeal of brakes so eagerly?
Ans. The “squealing of brakes” means that a car has stopped at their roadside stand. It raises their hopes that
the city-folk have stopped there to buy something from their roadside stand and some city money will come
into their hands.

Q 2. Explain: “soothe them out of them wits” with reference to the poem The Roadside Stand’.
Ans. The powerful men approach the country folk with false promises of providing them with better living
conditions and a better life. These innocent and simple rustics repose blind faith in their false claims and feel
soothed and satisfied. They fail to see through their crookedness and selfishness.

Q 3. Why does Robert Frost sympathise with the rural poor?

Ans. Robert Frost feels an unbearable agony at the plight of the rural poor who are ignored and neglected by
the rich politicians. The Government and the party in power are indifferent to their welfare. They fool them by
making false promises and then fully exploit them to suit their own selfish interests.

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Q 4. What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
Ans. The folk who had put up the roadside stand pleaded to the city dwellers to stop and buy their wares so as
to enable them to earn some extra money for a decent living. They wanted that the rich people who passed
from there in their cars should stop there and buy some goods from them. The money that these folks would
earn from the rich people would help them to lead a better life.

Q 5. What is the ‘childish longing’ of the folk who had put up the roadside stand? Why is it ‘in vain’?
Ans. The ‘childish longing’, the poet refers to, is the dreams and desires of the rural folk who have a child-like
longing for a better life that they hope to live with the help from the city dwellers. Their longing is in vain
because the city folk are not willing to help them and so their ‘childish longings’ are not likely to be fulfilled.

Q 6. Why didn’t the ‘polished traffic’ stop at the roadside stand?

Ans. The ‘polished traffic’ conveniently overlooks the roadside stand and do not stop there as their mind is
focused only on their destination. Moreover, they were critical of the poor decor of the stand, its artless
interior and paint.
Q 7. What news in the poem ‘A Roadside Stand’ is making its round in the village?
Ans. The news making its round is about the resettlement of the poor, rural people who will be resettled in the
villages, next to the theatre and the store. They would be close to the cities and will not have to worry about
themselves any more.

Q8. What are the empty promises made to the country people?
Ans. The powerful men approach the country folk with false promises of providing them with better living
conditions and a better life. These innocent and simple rustics repose blind faith in their false claims and feel
soothed and satisfied.

Q13 . Bring out the contrast between the urban and the rural poor.
Ans. The city dwellers are indifferent to the plight of the country people and ignore the stands selling their
goods. They get irritated with them for spoiling the landscape with their wrong signboards. They also exploit
them for their selfish gains by them by offering them hollow charity which spoils their lives.

Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Q1. Have you ever stopped at a roadside stand ? What have you observed ?
Ans. Yes, I’ve stopped at a roadside stand on a highway twice or thrice and found that the villagers have too
much expectations from us, who pass from those roads. They work hard for whole day and whole family
members of them sit there to sell fresh vegetables, fruits, juices and other products.
Very few of us actually purchase something but only use them for general queries like asking about road map,
gas or petrol for our vehicles or many a times to use that broad empty space to turn our vehicles. I also
observed that those farmers are pitiful and facing very miserable condition and fighting for their existence and
survival.
Those merciful poor farmers should be helped and treated like the human beings and dwellers of cities. They
should not be cheated and used for the introversion purposes. They also contribute to the growth and economy
of the country as they grow crops for whole mankind.

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Poem 6 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
By Adrienne Cecile Rich
Summary
The poet expresses the inner feelings of a woman - Aunt Jennifer. The aunt is embroidering a motif
comprising of energetic, fearless tigers moving freely around the bright greenery.
She is living a life of submissiveness to her husband’s command. Her acts are dominated by him and she fears
him constantly. This pattern of the free and fearless tigers reflects her inner desire to live a free and fearless
life. The tigers are graceful, elegant and bright.
Aunt Jennifer’s fingers tremble as she embroiders. She is old but still fears her husband. She does not enjoy
the freedom to do anything as per her wish. She is scared doing the embroidery too and fears his wrath. Since
the day she got married, she has been fulfilling the demands of her husband. The wedding ring on her hand is

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a constant reminder that she belongs to her husband. The burden of the demanding marriage has exhausted
her. The torment will not end until her death.
Even after her death, the ring will remain on her hand and she will never be free. On the other hand, the tigers
that she is embroidering will continue to move around freely forever. Her desire of freedom and fearlessness
will live on through her tigers.
FIRST STANZA
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
EXPLANATION
The poet is describing a lady whom she addresses as Aunt Jennifer. She says that Aunt Jennifer is doing
embroidery on a piece of cloth which could be a table cloth or a wall hanging. She has designed it with
beautiful tigers which are running fearlessly in the green forest. She has described their beauty by comparing
them with a precious yellow stone known as topaz. She says that they appear bright yellow in the green
backdrop of the forest. They are fearless and they are not affected by the presence of men. Here we can sense
the contrast of behavior between the tigers and aunt, though the tigers designed by her are fearless but she
herself is afraid of her husband. Further, the poet says that the tigers are proud and fearless citizens of the
forests. They are very shiny and elegant.

Literary Devices
Rhyme scheme: aabb
Anaphora: use of same word in two consecutive lines (they do not … and they pace in…)
Metaphor: Use of topaz to describe the yellow color of tigers (Bright topaz)

SECOND STANZA
Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
EXPLANATION
Here the poet describes the fear of Aunt Jennifer towards her husband. She says that while she is doing
embroidery, her fingers are quivering (shaking) with fear of her husband. Her husband doesn’t approve of
her hobby of embroidery. Therefore, she trembles while she is embroidering the piece of cloth. It has become
difficult for her to pull her needle up and down. Then she describes the wedding ring which was given by
uncle to Aunt Jennifer on their wedding day. She says that it is a kind of burden for her to wear this ring. She
has been tortured by her husband so much that the wedding ring which could have been a beautiful gift for
her seems like a burden to her. She has faced so many difficulties in her married life that the little ring is
described as a heavy band on her trembling fingers. This means that the ring is associated with some bad
experiences in the form of torture she has faced because of her husband’s dominating behaviour.

Literary device:
Rhyme scheme: aabb
Alliteration: ‘f’ sound is repeated in finger fluttering

THIRD STANZA
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
EXPLANATION
The poet says that one can easily sense aunt’s desire for freedom and fearlessness through her design of
tigers. Further she says that it is not possible for aunt to achieve this freedom during her lifetime. She will
attain it only after her death but here also the irony of her life is that still, she will be tied up with shackles in
the form of her husband’s wedding ring. The ring was the sole proof of the tortures which she had faced from

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her husband. On the other hand, there are the tigers designed by Aunt Jennifer which will always depict her
desire of living a fearless life by jumping proudly and bravely on the piece of cloth.

Literary devices
Rhyme scheme: aabb alliteration: ‘p’ is repeated in prancing proud

New words
Prance : walk or move around with high springy steps.
Topaz : a bright yellow coloured stone.
Denizens : here, an animal that lives or is found in a particular place.
Sleek : elegant.
Chivalric : being courteous esp. to women, an act of a gentleman.
Ordeals: extremely severe tests or experiences.
Prancing : to move around proudly.
Fluttering : to move in quick, irregular motions as if being agitated.

Questions answers:-
Q 1. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to understanding of the tiger’s attitude?
Ans. The Tigers are the ‘denizens’ of the forest. They are very brave and fearless. They are ‘chivalric’. They
occupy honorable and majestic positions in the world of Animals. So the use of ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’
adds to our understanding of the tigers attitude.

Q2. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer’s hands are fluttering through her wool in the second stanza?
Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer is creating Tiger on the screen. Her hands are fluttering through her wool. She had bitter
and unpleasant experiences of her married life. The memory of her married life is still fresh in her mind. So
she finds the needle so hard to pull.

Q3. What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’?
Ans. The poet uses many images and symbols to describe the unpleasant experience of Aunt Jennifer’s
married life. Massive weight of ‘Uncles wedding band’ is a symbol of harsh and bitter experiences of married
life of Aunt Jennifer. The Wedding band also stands for unbreakable bond of marriage between the husband
and wife.

Q4. Of what or whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with the third stanza?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer’s is creating Tiger on the screen. She is terrified. She had gone through with bitter and
harsh experiences in her married life. The memory of her married life is still fresh in her mind. She is still in
rip of the unpleasant experiences of her married life. So she is frightened.

Q6. What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by, why is it significant that the poet uses the
word ‘ringed’? What are the meaning of the word ‘ringed’ in the poem?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer had a bitter and unpleasant married life. ‘Ordeals’ stands for bitter and unpleasant
experiences of her married life. The poet uses the word ‘ringed’ which suggests that Aunt Jennifer is still
surrounded by the bitter experiences of her past life. The another meaning of the word ‘ringed’ is encircled.

Q7. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character?
What might the poet be suggesting through this difference?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer creates Tiger on the screen. These Tigers are brave and fearless. They are different from
Aunt Jennifer character. The poet wants to suggest that Aunt Jennifer wants to express her desire to be
confident and brave through her creation. So the Tigers are different from her own character.

Q8. Interpret the symbol found in this poem.

Ans. The poet uses symbols in the poem. The Tigers are the symbol of courage, honor, bravery and
confidence. The massive weight of ‘Uncle’s wedding band’ is symbol of harsh and bitter experiences of Aunt
Jennifer’s married life. ‘Ordeals’ and ‘Ringed’ also stands for bitter and harsh experiences.

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Q9. Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer.

Ans. The poet describes Aunt Jennifer’s tigers as ‘bright topaz denizens’ of the forest. They are fearless and
ferocious in sharp contrast to their creator, Aunt Jennifer’s nervousness and timidity. Gallant and confident,
they are sure of their purpose and move ahead undeterred by any kind of hindrance or obstruction.

Q 10. Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because of the nature of the tigers. They symbolise
strength and splendour which was in sharp contrast to her own meek nature. The massive weight of the
wedding band that sits heavily on her finger symbolises the ordeals and hardships of her married life so she
creates tigers as they are a striking contrast to the frail, meek old lady who created them.

Q 11. What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers will survive even after she is dead. She has created the tigers in a panel out of
wool. These objects of art are immortal. They will continue prancing, proudly and fearlessly. To express her
desire for freedom she had created the chivalrous tigers who will survive long after her death but her own
longing for freedom will remain unfulfilled.

Long answer question:-

Q7. Read the given extract from an article published in The Independent:
“Turn your pain into art”: it’s a phrase most of us have heard before…
The theory that achieving something great requires suffering dates back to ancient times…
Pain, however, is less an artistic necessity and more a result of “contagion” – a term used for the spreading
of a harmful idea or practice…In the context of the struggling artist, it allows mental illness to fester; to be
glamorized and admired; even encouraged in the name of art.
– Do you think Aunt Jennifer “turned her pain into art”? What kind of “contagion” might her pain be
a result of?
– Evaluate Aunt Jennifer and her artistry in light of the above extract
Ans: Aunt Jennifer was oppressed by her husband in the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers. She was confined
within the four walls of her husband’s home, unable to do as she pleased. Her marital responsibilities added to
her stress. Despite her best efforts to overcome her fear, Aunt Jennifer was still traumatized and oppressed by
her husband. Her embroidering fearless, prancing tigers could only provide her with a temporary release of her
pent-up feelings of liberation.
Aunt Jennifer is submissive and weak, whereas the tigers are strong, bold, and powerful. She is constrained by
the constraints of her married life, whereas the tigers are free to roam the green woods. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers
are an expression of her desire to be free of the constraints of her married life. She aspires to be fearless and
daring like her tigers. Aunt Jennifer uses her art to express her resentment and rage at male dominance. On her
tapestry, she depicts tigers, which are unafraid of men and represent bravery, fearlessness, and strength.

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Vistas

Chapter 1 The Third Level

by Jack Finney
Theme
The story, ‘The Third Level’ clearly explores the science fiction genre of ‘time travel’. Jack Finney, the
recipient of the World Fantasy Award, interweaves fantasy with reality in his projection of time travel.
Charley, the protagonist wishes to be transported to the third level, the world of Galesburg, Illinois, 1894,
which is supposed to be a much happier and quieter place to be in.

The story also dwells on the theme of escapism as a psychological refuge from the grim realities of the present
day world along with a desire to stay with the past—a desire that Charley’s wife Louisa does not contest. Sam
has also happily escaped, with no desire to return to his old profession.

The story exposes the vulnerable side of the common man. Surrounded by myriad problems, we humans,
sometimes experience a craving for peace and serenity, and look for possible escapes. This story is about time
intersection, an illusion, a kind of long dream that we do not experience during our sleep.
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Summary
“The Third Level”, written by Jack Finney blends fiction with reality. It is also about a man’s wish to escape
from the harsh realities of present life. Charley, though he does not admit it, wants to go into the past as he is
unhappy. He is unhappy with his wife. In fact, he is as unhappy as he finds the world in which he lives full of
hurry, tension and war. His psychiatrist friend, Sam tells his stamp collecting also as an escape into the past.

There were only two levels at Grand Central Station. However, Charley found a third one. It was by chance.
Many a times, he was lost there. He was always discovering new doorways, new corridors and new tunnels.
He had begun to think that the Grand Central was always pushing out tunnels and new corridors like roots of a
huge tree.

There he lost his way and found himself on the third level. This level was entirely different and old-fashioned.
The locomotive, the brass spittoons and the naked gaslights belonged to the previous century. He desired to
escape to Galesburg, the town of his dreams. However, he was nearly arrested. The money he gave to pay the
fare was different from that in use those days. The booking clerk thought that he was cheating. Charley, thus,
ran into the present. He never found the third level again. However, his psychiatrist friend, who did not
believe that the third level existed, found it and escaped to Galesburg of 1894.

Answer each of the following questions:

[Link] does the third level refer to? What is the significance of the third level?
Ans.: The third level is a medium of escape through which man yearns to be away from life’s harsh realities.
Modem life is devoid of peace and tranquility so man in his quest to seek solace escapes to a place where his
aim is to seek the realization of his dreams and unfulfilled wishes of his subconscious mind.

Q [Link] convinced Charley that he had reached the third level at Grand Central Station and not the
second level?
OR
Q [Link] does, Charley, the narrator describe the third level at Grand Central Station?
Ans.: Charley says that the rooms on the third level were smaller than that of the second level. There were
fewer ticket windows and train gates and the information booth in the centre was wood and old looking. There
were open- flame gaslights and brass spittoons on the floor. Everyone at the station was dressed in nineteenth
century dresses.

Q [Link] did Charley make sure that he was not in the present time?
Ans.: To make sure that he was not in the present time, Charley did a reality check. He looked at the
newspapers which were on sale at a kiosk and found a copy of the newspaper ‘The World’, which carried the
main story on President Cleveland. Then he confirmed from the Public Library files that the newspaper he had
seen was dated 11th June, 1894.

Q [Link] did Charley often get lost on the Grand Central Station?
Ans.: The Grand Central Station was growing like a tree pushing out endless corridors, doorways and stairs
like roots. It had intricate and tangled pathways. The network of passages was so complicated that instead of
reaching his destination, one did tend to move up and down to look for entries and exits. So, Charley often got
lost on this station.

[Link] did Charley suspect that Sam had gone to Galesburg?

Ans.: Charley suspected that Sam had gone to Galesburg because one night he found a first day cover from
Sam informing him that he had found the third level. Through the third level he had reached Galesburg,
Illinois in 1894. He further told him the life at Galesburg was quite idyllic. He invited him and Louisa, his
wife to join him in Galesburg, Illinois.

[Link] does Charley describe Galesburg as it used to be in 1894?

Ans.: Charley describes Galesburg as a quiet, simple and peaceful place with big old frame houses, huge
lawns and tremendous trees. The summer evenings were rather long and people sat out on their lawns in a
peaceful world, men smoking cigars and women waving palm-leaf fans.

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Q [Link] did Charley learn about Sam from the stamp and coin store?
Ans.: From the stamp and coin store Charley gets to know that Sam had bought old style currency worth eight
hundred dollars. This money was sufficient to set him up in a little hay, feed and grain business in Galesburg.

Q [Link] did Sam reach Galesburg? What did he advise Charley to do?
Ans.: Sam was fascinated by Charley’s description of Galesburg. He was so burdened by the tensions and
stress of modem life that he thought of escaping to the peaceful world of Galesburg. His advice to Charley is
that, he (Charley) and his wife, Louisa should come over to Galesburg through the medium of the ‘third level’.

Q [Link] did the booking clerk refuse to accept the money?

Ans.: The booking clerk refused to accept the money because the notes Charley had given him was of old
style. He did not pay in the currency notes that were in circulation in 1894. So the clerk stared at him and told
him, “That aren’t money, Mister”. He thought Charley was trying to cheat him and even threatened to get him
arrested.

Answer each of the following questions in about 125-150 words.

[Link] did Charley reach the third level of Grand Central? How was it different from the other
levels?
Ans.: One night Charley worked till late at the office. Then he was in a hurry to get back to his apartment. So
he decided to take the subway from Grand Central. He went down the steps and came to the first level. Then
he walked down to the second level from where the suburban trains left. He ducked into an arched doorway
that headed to the subway. Then he got lost. Knowing that he was going wrong he continued to walk
downward. The tunnel turned a sharp left and then taking a short flight of stairs he came out on the third level
at the Grand Central Station. Here he saw many unusual things. There were very few ticket windows and train
gates that were old-looking and made of wood. Dim gaslights flickered and men wore derby hats and four-
button suits. It was a rather strange world of sideburns, beards and fancy moustaches.

Q [Link] you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why?
Ans.: The fears, anxieties and insecurities of the modem world are taking a toll on man’s mind. He feels
helpless and frustrated and seeks temporary respite from life’s harsh realities. Charley too was unable to cope
up with his fastpaced and stressful life so his flight to the third level was undoubtedly a medium of escape for
him. It is nothing but a creation of Charley’s own mind. He wants to escape from the modern world’s
insecurity, fear, worries and stress and so seeks an exit, a medium to get away into the world of dreams and
fancies.

[Link] does Charley make his description of the third level very realistic?
Ans.:To make his description of the third level very realistic, Charley describes its minute details, vividly
comparing it to the second level of the Grand Central station. He says the rooms here were smaller. There
were fewer ticket windows and train gates, and the information booth was wooden and old-looking. He also
gives a detailed description about the people he saw at the third level and their dresses. He says the people
wore nineteenth century dresses; many men had beards, sideburns and fancy moustaches. He also buys tickets
to Galesburg, Illinois thus making the reader believe that he was actually at the third level.

[Link] is being inferred from Sam’s letter to Charley?

Ans.:Sam’s letter to Charley is dated 18th July, 1894. It is written from Galesburg, Illinois. In response to
Charley’s claim of having visited the third level, Sam who is equally insecure wishes the entire episode is true,
as he too believes in the existence of the third level. There are some inferences made by the letter. The
introductory part of the letter confirms Charley’s belief in the existence of the third level. It also suggests that
those who find the third level can travel across to Galesburg and enjoy the festivities, songs, music and
peaceful world of the 1890s. So the author uses Sam’s letter as a unique com1bination of the real and fantasy
world.

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Chapter 2 The Tiger King
– by Kalki
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Summary
The king of Pratibandapuram was known as many different names. He may be identified as His Highness
Jamedar-General, Khiledar-Major, Sata Vyaghra Samhari, Maharajdhiraj Visva Bhuvana Samrat, Sir Jilani
Jung Jung Bahadur, M.A.D., A.C.T.C. or C.R.C.K.
The Tiger King is the story of king Jung Jung Bahadur of Pratibandapuram, a brave warrior whose death had
been predicted when he was born. The chief astrologer had predicted as the royal child was born in the hour of
the bull, the tiger being its enemy, death would come to the child by a tiger. The brave prince asked all tigers to
beware of him. He came to be known as ‘tiger king’.

The prince became king at the age of twenty and considering killing a cow in self defense to be lawful, went on
a tiger killing spree. He was warned of danger from the hundredth tiger that he encountered. As all the tigers in
his kingdom had been killed by him but still he had to kill more, he married into a state having a high population
of tigers.

When his killings reached ninety nine, he desperately sought the next hunt. Fearing the king’s harshness, the
minister planted an old tiger in the forest for him to kill. The king fired at it but the tiger escaped the bullet
miraculously. The royal hunters feared the king and so did not inform him; rather they killed the beast
themselves.
The king was satisfied that he had evaded death and now celebrated his son’s third birthday. He got a wooden
toy tiger as a gift for the prince. Although it was poorly done, the shopkeeper, fearing punishment under the
rules of emergency charged a high price. As both the king and his son were playing with the tiger, one of the
thin pieces of wood that were erupting out of the wooden tiger like feathers pierced the king’s right hand.
The wound became infectious, spread through his arm and as he was being operated upon, he died.
So, ironically, the hundredth tiger killed the king and eventually took its revenge.

Question Answer
[Link] did the Tiger King acquire his name?
Ans. The king of Pratibandapuram got the name of Tiger King as it was prophesized that his death would
come from the hundredth tiger. Therefore he decided to kill hundred tigers before pursuing any other affairs.
He killed so many tigers that he came to be known as the Tiger King.

Q 2. When he was only ten days old, a prediction was made about the future of the Tiger King. What was
ironic about it?
Ans. When the Tiger King was born, the astrologers predicted that one day the royal infant had to die. They
further said that the death would come from the hundredth tiger. The Tiger King did die because of the
hundredth tiger. But ironically, the tiger was not the real tiger. It was a toy tiger made of wood.

Q 3. Why did the Maharaja decide to get married?

Ans. The Maharaja had killed all the tigers in his kingdom. But the number of killed tigers was only seventy.
He still needed thirty more tigers to kill to fulfill his vow. Therefore, he decided to marry the princess from the
kingdom which had a large number of tiger population.

Q4. Why did the Maharaja ban tiger hunting in his state?
Ans. The Maharaja had to fulfill his vow of killing hundred tigers. Therefore the tiger hunting was banned by
anyone except the Maharaja. A proclamation was issued that if anyone dared to throw even a stone at a tiger,
all his wealth and property would be confiscated.

Q 5. What sort of hunt did the Maharaja offer to organise for the high-ranking British officer? What trait of
the officer does it reveal?
Ans. The Maharaja offered to organise a boar hunt, a mouse hunt, even a mosquito hunt for him, but not a
tiger hunt. However, the officer sent word that he only wanted to stand on the carcass of the tiger and be
photographed. But the king even refused to do that. This shows the vanity and shallowness of the officer.

Q 6. When was the Tiger King stand in danger of losing his kingdom?
Ans. A British officer wanted to hunt a tiger in the Tiger King’s kingdom. But the king denied him the per-
mission. Then the officer sent the word that the actual killing could be done by the king himself, he only
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wanted to stand on the carcass of the tiger and be photographed. But the king even refused to do that. As a
result the king was standing in danger of losing his kingdom.

Q 7. How did the Tiger King manage to retain his kingdom?

Ans. The king ordered fifty diamond rings from a famous jeweller. He sent all the rings to the wife of the
officer. He thought that the lady would keep one or two rings and send back the remaining. But she kept all
the fifty rings. The king had to bear the expense of three lac rupees for it, but he managed to save his
kingdom.

Q 9. Why did the king order the Dewan to double the tax?
Ans. The king could not find the hundredth tiger to hunt. As the days passed, his anxiety reached alarmingly.
One day when his rage was at its height, the king called the Dewan and ordered him to double the land tax.

Q 10. Why was the Dewan not in favour of doubling the tax? What did the king then ordered him to do?
Ans. The Dewan told that in case the tax is doubled the people would become discontented. Then their state
would fall a prey to the Indian National Congress. Then the king ordered the Dewan to resign from his post.

Q 11. Why did the Dewan arrange the hundredth tiger for the king?
Ans. When the king could not find the hundredth tiger he ordered the Dewan to resign from his post. To save
his post, the Dewan went to the People’s Park in Madras and brought a tiger from there. It was a very old
tiger.

Q12. How did the king ‘kill’ the hundredth tiger? Why did one of the hunters kill the hundredth tiger?
Ans. In fact, the king did not kill the hundredth tiger. The bullet had missed it. It had fainted from the shock of
the bullet whizzing past. They decided that the king must not come to know that he had missed his target.
They thought they would lose their jobs. Therefore, one of the hunters took aim from a distance of one foot
and shot the tiger.

Q 13. What present did the king brought for his son on his third birthday? How much did he pay for it?
Ans. The king brought a wooden tiger on the third birth-day of his son. The shopkeeper quoted its price to be
three hundred rupees. But the king did not pay him anything and took the tiger with him saying that it would
be the offering to the crown prince from the shopkeeper.

Q14. How did the Tiger King meet his death?

Ans. The king brought a wooden tiger as a birthday gift for his son. It was made by some unskilled carpenter.
One of the slivers of its body pierced the king’s hand. Soon the infection developed. Three surgeons operated
the king’s hand. But the king could not be saved.

Q15. Do you think an author who induces several instance of satire in a story faces the risk of being too
cynical? Explain.

The story definitely is the satire on the conceit of those in power. From the very beginning the known to be an
extremely conceited person. When he was 10 days old he suddenly spoke ‘let the tiger beware’ and challenged
the prediction of the astrologer.

Long Answer Type

Q1. The astrologer’s prediction about the death of the Tiger King came to be true. Do you agree with this
statement?
Ans. To some extent, we can agree with the statement that the astrologer’s prediction about the death of the
Tiger King came to be true. The astrologer had predicted that the death of the Tiger King would come from
the hundredth tiger. The king started killing tigers recklessly. The hundredth tiger was not killed by the king
himself but by the hunters, who found out that the old tiger had not died by the bullet of the king but only
fainted by the bullet whizzing past him.

The hundredth tiger was a wooden toy tiger which the king had presented to his three- year old son. It killed
the king merely by a sliver of wood protruding from it that pierced his right hand. The wound developed puss
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and it soon spread all over the arm. The best surgeons failed to save the king and thus, the astrologer’s
prediction about the death of the Tiger King proved to be correct.

Q 2. What values of life does the story “Tiger King” give us?
Ans. This story tells us that there is a dire need to con-serve the wild life on this Earth. The protagonist of this
story is a comical king whom the story writer calls the Tiger King. On the basis of a mere prediction he stared
killing tigers recklessly in his kingdom. As a result the tigers in his state became extinct. Then he started
killing tigers in the kingdom of his father-in-law and there also the tigers became extinct.

The story writer wants to tell us that there is need to maintain the ecological balance of this earth. In the
absence of this balance the life can’t be sustained. The author also exposes the folly, cruelty and heartlessness
of humans with regard to their attitude towards the wild animals.

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Chapter 3 Journey to the end of the Earth
By Tishani Doshi
Theme
Tishani Doshi’s visit to Antarctica, the coldest, driest and windiest continent in the world, aboard the Russian
research vessel Akademik Shokalskiy, gave her a deeper understanding and a better perspective to the damage
caused by human impact on earth. Antarctica, though unpopulated, has been affected and there is a growing
concern for its half a million year old carbon records trapped under its ice sheets.
The ‘Students on Ice’ programme takes high school students to Antarctica to create awareness in them, the
future policy makers, and helps students realise that the threat of global warming is very real.

Summary
The story begins with the author on a journey in a Russian vessel. It was headed towards Antarctica. We learn
that the author has travelled about 100 hours in a car, aeroplane as well as the ship. The main objective of this trip
is to learn everything in detail about Antarctica. Further, we learn about her two-week stay there and what all is
present there. The place stores 90% of the earth’s total ice volumes with no trees, buildings or anything. It has 24-
hour austral summer light. Moreover, it is covered in silence. They cross Nine time zones, six checkpoints, three
bodies of water and many ecospheres were crossed by them to reach Antarctica.

This makes the author wonder about the time when India and Antarctica were the same landmass’s part. We learn
about the existence of a southern supercontinent, Gondwana. It existed for six hundred and fifty million years
ago. We learn that the climate back then was much warmer and also sustained a huge variety of flora and fauna.

All this was before the arrival of human beings. Moreover, for 500 million years, Gondwana flourished. Thus,
after the extinction of dinosaurs, the landmass separated into countries, as we know today. Moreover, we also
learn about the reality of climate change. Similarly, the author believes that to study the impact closely, one must
make a visit to Antarctica.

After that, we learn about Antarctica’s ecosystem and how it lacks biodiversity. Moreover, it is the place to
observe if you wish to see what consequences a little action can bring about in the environment. If the ozone layer
keeps depleting at the present rate, it will impact the lives of the inhabitants of the area like the sea-animals and
birds. Moreover, it will also impact the global carbon cycle.

We learn about the contributors to climate change, like the burning of fossil fuels and more. All this is damaging
the quality of Antarctica and this may cause immense danger to human life. Moreover, we also learn about it
through examples of phytoplankton. Finally, the story ends with the author observing some seals sunbathing on
ice. It makes her wonder whether this beauty will be reserved for the years to come, or will the future be
catastrophic.

Answer the Question

Q 1. How do geological phenomenon help us to know about the history of humankind?
Ans.: Geological phenomena helps us to know more and more about the history of humankind as only through

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it we come to know about the present, past and future of the Earth. How life was then and gradually how it
shaped now. Scientists admit that world’s geological history is trapped under the layers of Antarctica.

Q 2. What are the indications for the future of human kind?

Ans.: Depletion of ozone layer, Reforestation, melting of glaciers, and the collapse of ice shelves clearly give
the indications for the future of mankind that it is not safe if global warming continues, soon this mankind will
banish from the planet ‘Earth’.

Q 3. How is Antarctica, a subject for debate for environmentalists?

Ans.: Antarctica is always a subject for debate for environmentalists because only Antarctica is undisturbed by
human beings, whether it would melt, will the Gulf Stream ocean current be disrupted or will it be the end of
the world; such many concerned issues are raised for debate.

Q4. Why Geoff Green started to bring only students to Antarctica?

Ans.: Geoff Green noticed that celebrities and retired rich persons visit Antarctica only for entertainment but
the students, who are the future policy-makers, took interest and ready to accept the challenge.

Q 5. Why Antarctica is the perfect place to study nature?

Ans.: Antarctica is the perfect place to study nature because it has simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity;
above all, it is untouched by human beings.

Q6. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students in the ‘Students on Ice’ Expedition?
Ans.: Canadian Geoff Green started this programme, ‘Students on Ice’ before six years of writing this chapter.
The reasons for including high school students were to provide them most inspiring educational opportunities
which would make them aware about the depletion of our ecosystem, create an understanding to save our
planet as those teenagers still have an ideology to absorb, learn, and most importantly act.

Q 7. ‘Take care of the small things and the big things will take care of themselves: What is the relevance of
this statement in the context of the Antarctic environment?
Ans.: Antarctic, because of her simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity, is the perfect place to study/tell us
how little changes in the environment can have big consequences. Single celled microscopic phytoplankton
uses the Sun’s energy to do the process of photosynthesis. And any obstacle in this process will affect the lives
of all the marine animals and birds of that region, the global carbon cycle. Scientists warn and advise to take
care of the small things and the big things will fall into pale.

Q8. Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the earth’s present, past and future?
Ans.: Only Antarctica on this earth presently is in its purest and original form as it holds in its ice-cores half
million-year-old carbon records trapped in its layers of ice. Antarctica has never sustained a human population
and therefore remains relatively ‘pristine’ in this respect. So Antarctica is the place to go to understand the
Earth’s present, past and future.

Long Answer Type

Q 1. How did the writer justify the title journey to the end of the earth?
Ans.: The title ‘Journey to the end of the Earth is quite justified by the writer ‘Tishani Dosi’ through this
chapter. A visit to Antarctica thrilled the whole troop and made them realized that Antarctica is the world’s
coldest, driest and windiest continent. Their visit seemed to be very fruitful because without reaching there,
physically, one can’t experience the immensity and importance of Antarctica and its great role in balancing
the ecosystem.
Writer found Antarctica still undisturbed by human beings and tried to understand where we’ve come from
and where we could possibly be heading; through the deep study of this island. Writer presumed that without
controlling the rapidly increasing global warming; we can’t stop the melting of ice specially glaciers and as it
is known that Antarctica covers 90 per cent of the Earth’s ice, its sustainment is mandatory. Or in near future,
Antarctica would be responsible (if not ceased the global warming) for the ruination of the Earth’s lives and in
this way, the end of the Earth would be brought by Antarctica.

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Q 2. Describe the journey to the Antarctica by the Vessel ‘Akademik Shokalskiy’.

Ans.: The journey starts with a troop of 52 peoples under the guidance of experienced Canadian Geoff Green,
an educator and adventurer. He started the mission ‘Students on Ice’ to aware the teenagers about the present
need of the escapement of Antarctica. Akademik Shokalskiy, a Russian Vessel headed towards the coldest,
driest and windiest continent in the world: Antarctica.
Journey began 13.09 degress North of the equator in Madras, and involved crossing nine time zones, six
checkpoints, three bodies of water, and at least as many ecospheres. They travelled over 100 hours in
combination of a car, an aeroplane and a ship and finally they reached to view Antarctica’s expansive white
landscape and uninterrupted blue horizon where immensity and isolation made them wondorous and tireless.

Q 3. ‘Take care of small things and big will take care of themselves’. What is the relevance of this statement
in the context of the Antarctica?
Ans.: The small things are having their own importance at their own place. Small things are combined
produce their effect on big things. As phytoplankton are very tiny single-celled plants, but they nourish and
sustain the entire Southern Ocean’s food proceedings, s Phytoplankton is the grass of Southern Ocean and 1
through the process of photosynthesis, they convert light energy into the chemical energy and supply food and
provide oxygen to all the marine life (animals and birds). So very tiny plants are responsible for the survival of
the life.

But global warming can affect the activity of these plants and also the whole ecosystem of the Earth. Sun’s
energy is used to assimilate carbon and synthesize organic compounds by these plants. The rapidly increasing
depletion of the Ozone layer will surely adversely affect this natural system. By any means, the depletion
should be stopped to preserve our ecological balance and save whole mankind and all creatures from
extinction. So, opening our eyes, we should take care of little things to care the big things automatically and
naturally.

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Chapter 4 The Enemy
- Pearl S Buck
Summary
Dr Sadao Hoki is portrayed in the story as a very virtuous physician. He had lived life according to the dire
necessities and demands of traditional Japanese society. Because his father wanted Sadao to have excellent
formal education, he went to America as a student of surgery and medicine at the age of twenty-two. He met
his wife Hana there at a professor’s house. Although he liked her, he waited to confirm her pure Japanese
roots before he fell in love with her. He knew his father would not have blessed their union otherwise. He did
not marry Hana right away in America. Instead, he introduced Hana to his father first after his return to Japan,
and their marriage was arranged in the traditional Japanese way.
Due to Sadao’s skills and extraordinary talent as a doctor, he was not sent to fight in the World War. Also, the
General was being treated for some condition that might need an expert surgeon like Sadao.
One evening, as Sadao and his wife, Hana, were standing on the veranda of their house, looking at the ocean,
they saw a worn-out man wash up against the shore. As he lay there, the couple went to examine him. They
saw that he was wounded, and to their astonishment, they discovered that he was a white man – a U.S. soldier
who looked like a tortured prisoner who had escaped somehow. He was an enemy to them. Given the political
climate of their country, they knew it was illegal to harbour a white man from America.
They pondered the situation for a long time, assessing every single outcome of their actions. They knew they
could be punished for saving an enemy prisoner, but their conscience did not allow them to leave a wounded
man unattended. They also worried about how the servants might react to this situation. They decided to take
this man to their house and inform the servants that they would hand the prisoner back to the police when he
was healed.
Dr Sadao and his wife laid the young, white, American prisoner in Dr Sadao’s father’s room which had not
been used after his death. An urgent operation seemed vital to save the white man’s life. Dr Sadao and his
wife informed their servants about the situation. They seemed to be in a state of shock and denial. When Hana
asked their servant Yumi to wash the prisoner, the latter refused to obey her orders, saying that she had never

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washed a white man in her life and she never intended to do so. Hana let out a furious response but replaced it
with a dignified attitude that showed maturity. She cleaned the prisoner herself.
Dr Sadao started his operation and seemed wholly absorbed in his work. He asked Hana to help him with
certain things, but Hana had never seen an operation and felt distressed when she saw the brutal wounds of the
man being operated on by her husband. Sadao felt irritated at his inability to console his wife and became
more ruthless in his task. When the prisoner woke up after the surgery, Hana served him herself.
The prisoner, who had earlier looked like he would be in his early twenties, now looked like he was seventeen
years old after the surgery. When he asked Dr Sadao about his intentions with him, the doctor told him that he
had not decided what he would do with him and asked the prisoner to keep introductions and informal
conversations at bay. As the prisoner was in his recovery stages, Sadao and Hana found it difficult to manage
the servants – as they did not want to be part of this unpatriotic act. After Dr Sadao pulled out the last stitches
of the prisoner, he calculated that the invalid would require a fortnight to recover fully. He drafted a letter to
the Chief of police to report the incident but did not send it.
On the seventh day after this event, the servants left the couple. Dr Sadao continued the treatment of his
enemy as usual, and Hana accepted the resignation of the servants gracefully without creating any fuss. In the
afternoon, Dr Sadao was taken to the palace to treat the General, who was dealing with unbearable pain. The
General valued Dr Sadao a lot. So, when Sadao told him about the wounded prisoner, he offered to help Sadao
by killing the prisoner with the help of his trusted assassins. He asked Sadao to keep the prisoner’s door ajar at
night and promised him that the task would be carried out swiftly.
Sadao did not sleep properly for three nights in a row as he kept anticipating the prisoner’s assassination. But,
each morning, he found the prisoner sound asleep and recovering well. On the third day, when he went to see
the prisoner, he informed him that he was strong enough to escape on a boat to an island near the coast. He
could escape with the help of Korean fishermen who frequented the waters beyond it. Sadao explained that it
was no longer a secret that the prisoner was being treated at his house. The young man seemed to understand
the circumstances and agreed to the plan. Dr Sadao explained how the prisoner was supposed to survive and
escape the coastal regions without getting caught. He instructed the prisoner to use his flash to signal if he was
out of food and water or to inform that he was alright. The prisoner thanked Dr Sadao and set off on the boat
at night.
Dr Sadao operated on the General, and a week later, when the latter looked well enough to discuss serious
affairs, Sadao informed him that the prisoner had escaped. The General apologised to Dr Sadao for not
following his promise – he was preoccupied with his condition and had forgotten entirely about the
assassination. Dr Sadao understood that he did not have to worry about the General. He played along with the
conversation between them and pledged his loyalty to the General in case of any official enquiry into this
matter.
Later that night, when Sadao looked at the sea, he could not see any flashes. He concluded that the prisoner
had left that place safely. As he stood there, he remembered all those white faces he had known in America.
When his teachers were kind to him, other people, like his landlady, were ruthless to him. He stood there
wondering why he was not able to kill that white prisoner.
Question Answer
1. Why did Dr Sadao treat the American soldier even though, it was an unpatriotic act on his part?
Answer. Dr Sadao treated the American prisoner of war because as a doctor, he was trained to save lives. He
could not have let the injured soldier die even though he was his national enemy, as that would have been
against his professional ethics.

2. How did Hana help Dr Sadao?

Answer. Hana was an impeccable wife and stood by her husband in all his decisions. She helped Dr Sadao
when he was operating upon the enemy and also nursed and washed the prisoner herself when the servants had
flatly refused to do so.

3. Why did the General not order immediate arrest of Dr Sadao who had sheltered a Whiteman?
Answer. The General did not usually keep in good health and trusted no other surgeon but Dr Sadao in his

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time of need and could have needed his services anytime. This is why he did not order immediate arrest of the
doctor for harbouring an enemy in his house.

4. What forced Dr Sadao to be impatient and irritable with his patient?

Answer. The wounded white man urgently needed an operation as he was critically injured. Hana was with
Sadao when, he started operating on the prisoner. Hana, who had never seen an operation in her life, vomited
at the sight of blood. Sadao wanted to help her in her distress but he could not leave his patient. This made
him impatient and irritable.

5. What made a cool surgeon like Sadao speak sharply to his wife and what was her reaction?
Answer. Hana had never seen an operation before. When Sadao started operating, blood began to flow. Hana
choked at this moment. Sadao sharply told her not to faint because if he had stopped, the wounded man would
surely have died. Hana clasped her hands to her mouth and ran out. Sadao heard her vomit

6. How did Dr. Sadao perform his duty as a patriotic Japanese?

Answer. Dr. Sadao was full of patriotism but as a doctor, he had to save the life of a dying man first.
Therefore, he operated on the prisoner of war and as a true Japanese, he informed the General. This is how he
performed his duty as a patriotic Japanese.

7. How did Dr Sadao ensure that the American sailor left his house but he himself remained safe and
secure?
Answer. The night the man escaped as per the plan, Dr Sadao slept well. One evening standing on the
verandah, Dr Sadao looked towards the island. There was no signal of the flashlight. It meant that the man had
gone, safe on a Korean fishing boat. In this way, he ensured the American’s departure and his own safety and
security.

8. How does the writer indicate that Dr Sadao’s father was a very traditional and conventional man?
Answer. Sadao’s father chief concern was to educate his son. So he sent Sadao to America at the age of
twenty-two to study surgery and medicine. Sadao’s father was a true patriot and took immense pride in
Japanese culture and traditions. That is why Sadao married Hana only after confirming that she was a
Japanese, as he did not want to upset his father. This suggests that Sadao’s father’was a very traditional and
conventional man.

9. Why did the messenger come to Dr Sadao? What did Hana think about it?
Answer. The messenger had come to Dr Sadao’s house to inform him that the old General was in pain again
and had to be attended to. When Hana first saw the uniformed messenger, she got frightened, for she thought
that he had come to arrest her husband for harbouring an enemy in their house.

10. Why did the General spare the American soldier?

Answer. The General spared the American soldier because he was a selfish man. He thought of nothing but
his own life. He needed Sadao for his operation and he forgot about his promise in his pain.

[Link] did Dr Sadao get rid of the enemy soldier?

Answer. Dr Sadao planned out everything beforehand. He put his boat on the shore with food and extra
clothing. He asked the American prisoner of war to row to a little island near the coast and then wait for a
Korean ship to pass. He also gave the American his flashlight complete with instructions on how to signal him
in a time of distress.

[Link] secret plan did the General have about the American soldier staying under the care of Sadao?
Answer. The General planned to get the American soldier staying under the care of Dr Sadao assassinated by
his private assassins. He assured the doctor about the removal of the dead body also.

[Link] told Yumi to wash the soldier. How did Yumi react?
Answer. When Hana asked Yumi to wash the soldier, she bluntly refused to do so, saying that she had never
washed a white man and she would not wash a dirty one. Yumi obstinately told Hana that she was a poor
person and did not want to associate with the man.
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[Link] did the servants leave Dr Sadao’s house?

Answer. The servants left Dr Sadao’s house because they did not approve of the white man staying in the
surgeon’s house. They thought that Sadao’s stay in America during his education had erased all his sentiments
for his country. Also, they did not want to be in trouble with the authorities if Sadao was arrested as a traitor.

Long Answer Type Questions

[Link] you think Dr Sadao’s final decision was the best possible one in the circumstances? Why/Why not?
Explain with reference to the story, ‘The Enemy’.
Answer. Dr Sadao’s final decision was the best possible one in the given circumstances. He has the instincts
of a doctor. When Tom, the prisoner of war, was found wounded, the first thing he did was to save his life. As
a doctor, he was duty bound to save lives.
Next, he completed the duty towards his nation by informing the General about the presence of the prisoner.
But finally, he helped the enemy escape. His compassionate heart rose above the narrow confines of hatred
and war. As a doctor, Sadao could not have left the wounded prisoner of war unattended and so he decided to
operate upon him and save his life. However, at the same time, he discharged his duty towards his nation by
informing the General about the enemy. And finally, the surgeon helped the enemy escape because his
compassionate heart forbade him to kill the same person whom he had saved.

2. What impression do you form about Dr Sadao as a man and as a surgeon on your reading the
chapter The Enemy’?
Answer. After going through the chapter, ‘The Enemy’, we come to the conclusion that Dr Sadao was an
excellent surgeon and a human being per excellence. He appeared to be a man full of; compassion and a
surgeon in the truest sense of the word.
Although he had a bitter experience of Americans being prejudiced when he was a student in America, he did
not let that bitterness overwhelm him and the doctor and fine human being in him prevailed. He knew that, if
being found that he had harboured an American POW in his own house, it would be labelled a traitor.
His conscience did not permit to let a human being die before his eyes and he took the risk of being called a
traitor. It was not that he was a traitor. He promptly informed the General about the whole incident. It showed
that he was not a coward. He was ready to face the consequences.

3. Dr Sadao was compelled by his duty as a doctor to help the enemy soldier. What made Hana, his
wife, sympathetic to him in the face of open defiance from the domestic staff?
Answer. As a doctor, it was Dr Sadao’s moral responsibility to save Tom, the American prisoner of war, but
Hana was under no such compulsion. In spite of this, she abided by her husband’s decisions because she was a
dutiful wife who pledged to support her husband even through the most difficult times.
Secondly, Hana being a woman, was soft-hearted. She could not see a wounded person being left in the lurch.
As a woman, she adorned the role of a life-giver and a preserver. She could not have been a destroyer. That is
why she cleaned the prisoner when her maid was unwilling to do so. She also assisted her husband in the
operation on the American, despite the fact that she could not stand the blood, and started vomiting when she
saw it. She was thus a dutiful wife and life-giver.
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Chapter 6 On The Face of It
- Susan Hill
Summary
The first scene is located in Mr Lamb’s garden. There is an occasional sound of bird song and of tree leaves
rustling. Derry’s footsteps are heard as he walks slowly and hesitantly through the long grass. He comes round
a screen of bushes. When Mr Lamb speaks to Derry he is close at hand. Naturally, Derry is startled.

Mr Lamb asks Derry to mind the apples. Derry enquires about the person. Mr Lamb gives his name and again
asks him to mind the apples. He adds that those are crab apples. They have been blown down from the tree by
the wind and are lying in the long grass. The boy could step on one of them and fall.

Derry tries to explain. He says that he thought that was an empty place. He did not know there was anybody
there. Mr Lamb asks him not to be afraid. He explains that the house is empty since he is out in the garden. He
observes that such a beautiful day is not worth spending indoors.
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Derry panics and says that he has got to go. Mr Lamb assures him that he should not feel disturbed on his
account-he doesn’t mind who comes into the garden. The gate is always open. It was only the boy who
climbed the garden wall. Derry is angry that the old man had been watching him. Mr Lamb welcomes Derry.

Derry explains that he had not come to steal anything. Mr Lamb assures him that he hadn’t. He further adds
that only the young lads steal. They steal apples from the garden. He is not that young. Derry explains that he
just wanted to come into the garden. He wants to go and says goodbye.

Mr Lamb tells him that there is nothing to be afraid of. It is just a garden and only one person, that is, he
himself is there. Derry then says that people are afraid of him. He asks Mr Lamb to look at him and after
seeing his face he might think that he is the most frightful and ugliest thing. Derry says that when he looks in
the mirror and sees his face, he is afraid of it. Mr Lamb says that the whole of his face is not frightening.

There is pause. Mr Lamb now changes the topic. He says when it is a bit cooler, he’ll get the ladder and a
stick, and pull down those crab apples. They are ripe for making a jelly. September is the right time of year for
it. The apples look orange and golden. He tells Derry that he could help him.

Derry asks him what he has changed the subject for. He says that the old man does not ask him because he is
afraid to do so. Derry says that he doesn’t like being with people. Mr Lamb makes a guess. Perhaps the boy
got burned in a fire. Derry says that he got acid all down that side of his face and it burned it all away. Derry
asks Mr Lamb if he is not interested. The old man says he is interested in anybody and anything made by
God—even grass, rubbish, weeds, flowers, fruit. He observes that it is all life-developing just as they are.

When Derry says that they are not the same, Mr Lamb says that there is no difference. He is old, Derry is
young and has got a burned face. The old man has got a tin leg. His real one got blown off years back in the
war. Some kids call him Lamey-Lamb but it doesn’t disturb him. There are plenty of things other than his leg
to stare at. He refers to Beauty and the Beast. Derry says that no one will kiss him. He won’t change.

Derry says that people talk about persons who are in pain and brave and never cry or complain and don’t feel
sorry for themselves. People try to console people suffering from physical impairment by asking them to think
of all those people worse off than them. They might have been blinded, or born deaf, or have to live in a wheel
chair, or be insane and dribble. But all this will not change his face. Even totally strange persons call him
terrible.

Derry repeats that he doesn’t like being near people: specially when they stare at him and when he sees them
being afraid of him. Mr Lamb then tells him the story of a man who was afraid of everything in the world. So
he locked himself in his room and stayed in his bed. A picture fell off the wall onto his head and killed him.

Derry says that the old man said peculiar things. Then he asks what he does all day. Mr Lamb replies that he
sits in the sun. He reads books. His house is full of books. His house has no curtains as he does not like
shutting things out. He likes the light and the darkness. He hears the wind from the open window. Derry too
hears the sound of rain on the roof, when it is raining. Mr Lamb observes that if he hears things, he is not lost.
Derry says that people talk about him downstairs when he is not there. They seem to be worried about him and
his future. Mr Lamb gives him a very inspiring advice. He will get on the way he wants like all the rest as he
has all the God-given organs. He could even get on better than all the rest, if he determined to do so.

Mr Lamb tells Derry that he has hundreds of friends. The gate is always open. People come in. Kids come for
the apples, pears and for toffee. He makes toffee with honey. Sometimes his friendship may be one-sided.
Even if Derry might never see him again, Mr Lamb would be still his friend.

He tells Derry that hating others is bad. It harms more than any bottle of acid. Everything is the same, but
everything is different.

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Derry’s attitude shows a gradual change. He wants to come there again. He thinks that the other friends of Mr
Lamb might go away, if he came. Mr Lamb assures him that people are not afraid of him because he is not
afraid of them.
Derry wants to stay there but he has to inform his mother where he is. His house is three miles away. Mr
Lamb asks him to run there and inform his mother. Derry asks the old man about the persons who come there.
He thinks that nobody ever comes there. The old man is there all by himself and miserable. No one would
know if he were alive or dead and nobody cared. Derry says that he’ll come back. Then Derry runs off.

In the second scene we see Derry and his mother. He informs his mother about the lame old man. She tells
him not to go there. Derry says that he wants to go there, sit and listen to things and look. Nobody else has
ever said the things the old man has said. When his mother says that he is best off there, Derry says he hates it
there. He no longer cares about his face. It is not important. It’s what he thinks, feels, sees, hears and finds out
that is important. He is going there to help the old man with crab apples and to look at things and listen. If he
doesn’t go back there, he will never go anywhere in that world again.

The third or last scene is again located in Mr Lamb’s garden. Derry reaches Mr Lamb’s garden panting. He
finds Mr Lamb lying on the grass with the ladder. Derry tells him that he has come back. Since Mr Lamb fails
to respond, Derry kneels by him and begins to weep and the curtain falls. The play has a very pathetic end.

Question Answer
Q 1. What qualities of Mr. Lamb attracted Derry to him?
Answer: Derry suffers from a terrible complex. But his meeting with Mr. Lamb is a turning point in his life.
He gives confidence to Derry and encourages him to develop a positive attitude towards life. Derry’s life now
has a new meaning and purpose and for this all the credit goes to Mr. Lamb’s motivation and words of
encouragement.

Q 2. What consolation did people give when they saw his acid burnt face?
Answer: Derry’s face was burnt by acid on one side. When people saw Derry’s acid burnt face they tried to
console him by telling him fairy tales. They said that it was not important what he looked like. Derry knew
that people lied and showed sympathy only to comfort him and that he would not change and would continue
to look like a ‘monstrous beast’.

Q 3. Mr. Lamb told Derry the story of a man who hid himself in his room. Why did the man do so and
with what result?
Answer: Mr. Lamb told Derry the incident of a timid man who hid himself in his room and refused to come
out lest he should meet some fatal accident. But, ironically, he died in his room itself because a picture
hanging on the wall fell off it, landed on his head and killed him.

Q 4. Why does Mr. Lamb leave his gate always open?

Answer: Mr. Lamb always keeps his gate open because he does not mind strangers entering his house, He is
an extremely social person and is ever ready to welcome anyone who enters his garden.

Q5. What peculiar things does Derry notice about the old man, Lamb?
Answer: Derry thinks that the old man. Mr. Lamb, is peculiar and says peculiar things. Derry notices that
although Mr. Lamb talks about his friends he has not seen anyone visiting the old man, who lives all by
himself. Even when he asks Mr. Lamb to name his friends, Mr. Lamb fails to give him any name. Mr. Lamb
refuses to admit his loneliness. Also he asks Derry questions he does not understand. There are no curtains at
the windows in his house. He likes the light and darkness and hears the wind with the window open.

Q6. Who was Derry? What did he suffer from?

Answer: Derry is a complex-ridden fourteen year old boy. He is a victim of inferiority complex after acid
accidently spilled and burnt one side of his face. His handicap has filled him with bitterness and so Derry
suffers more on account of the pain that his own views of how everyone hates him, causes him.

Q 7. If you were to give a different ending to the story, ‘On The Face of It’ how would you end it?
Answer: I would rather want the story ‘On the Face of It’ to end with a happy reunion between Mr. Lamb and
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Derry wherein the two become good friends with one another. Mr. Lamb should continue to influence Derry
positively and put him in a position where he is able to befriend others despite his handicap.

Q8. As told by Mr. Lamb, why did a man lock himself up in his room and what happened to him?
Answer: The man locked himself up in his room as he was afraid of everything in this world. So he went into
his room and locked the door, got into his bed and stayed there. Finally a picture fell off the wall on to his
head and killed him.

Q 9. In what sense is the friendship between Mr. Lamb and Derry fruitful?
Answer: After his meeting with Mr. Lamb, Derry is gradually able to shed his complexes and rediscover the
joys of life. Mr. Lamb gives confidence and motivates him to move forward in life. Derry’s short interaction
with Mr. Lamb leaves an indelible imprint on the young boy’s mind and his attitude towards life undergoes a
drastic change.

Q 10. Why did Derry insist that he would go back to Mr. Lamb?
Answer: Derry insisted that he would go back to Mr. Lamb as he opened a new world of thought and wisdom
for Derry. Derry was comfortable and happy in Mr. Lamb’s company and completely forgot his handicap. He
felt he too could live an independent life as he had all his faculties intact.

Q 11. How did Derry’s handicap damage his life?

Answer: Due to his handicap, his burnt face, Derry suffered from an acute lack of self-regard and rejection.
He did not like being with people because they constantly reminded him of his ugliness and so he stayed away
from them. He felt he was too ugly to be liked and loved by anyone so he became a recluse.

Q 12. What does Mr. lamb try to tell Derry through the example of a weed and a flower?
Answer: Through the example of a weed and a flower Mr. Lamb speaks against discrimination and the futility
of appearance. He tells Derry that people should have a broader perception and positive attitude towards life.
He does not want Derry to feel an outcast so he says all living things are the same and should be given respect.

Q 13. How is Derry we meet at the beginning different from the Derry at the end?
Answer Derrry in the beginning of the play ‘On the Face of it’ is a withdrawn and defiant child. He is filled
with negativity and is miserable as well as pitiable. But by the end of the play we find a positive change in
him. The meeting with Mr. Lamb has given him a new direction and purpose of life. He is now free from his
old complexities.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. How did Mr. Lamb try to give courage and confidence to Derry?
Answer: Derry suffers from an acute sense of self-hatred and rejection because of his burnt face. He feels he is
very ugly because of which no one will ever love him. Mr. Lamb too has heard Derry only complain and
bemoan about himself. He feels very sad to see a fourteen year old boy giving up on life just because of his
physical disability. Mr. Lamb at first startles Derry with his strange talk. He tells Derry he is interested in
everything created by God. His encouraging words have a magical effect on Derry. Mr. Lamb’s conversation
that everyone and everything is essentially the same, the notion of beauty is relative and his concept of the
world and friendship baffle but appeal to Derry and he gets fascinated by the old man. Slowly he sheds his
complex about his ugliness and rediscovers the joys of life.

Q2. The lesson, ‘On The Face of It’, is an apt depiction of the loneliness and sense of alienation
experienced by people on account of a disability. Explain.
Answer: The lesson ‘On the Face of It’ aptly depicts the loneliness and sense of alienation experienced by
Derry and Mr. Lamb on account of a disability. The actual pain and inconvenience caused by the disabilities is
often much less than the sense of alienation felt by the disabled person. Derry suffered from severe negative
complexes because of his burnt face. He became a pessimistic loner who indulged in self pity and was always
suspicious of the intention of others. His anger and frustration made him withdrawn and an introvert. Mr.
Lamb, on the other hand, was inwardly a loner who craved for company and acceptance. Though outwardly he
was always jovial, outgoing and optimistic, he was an extremely sensitive person. Derry and Mr. Lamb’s
physical disabilities caused pain and suffering not only to their body but also to their mind and soul.
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Q3. How did Mr. Lamb’s meeting with Derry become a turning point in Derry’s life?
Answer: Derry, a complex-stricken lad of fourteen, is a victim of inferiority complex which is borne out of a
misinterpretation of himself and the world. He suffers from an acute sense of self-hatred and rejection due to
his burnt face and this leads him to total alienation. Mr. Lamb too has a disability, a tin leg, but he never
allows his handicap to interfere with the pace and pleasure of his life. Mr. Lamb’s meeting with Derry brings a
turning point in the latter’s life. He gives Derry confidence and persuades him to develop a positive attitude
towards life. His message to Derry is very clear. Alienation and withdrawal is not the solution. Derry believes
in running away from people but Mr. Lamb lives among people. Derry’s brief association with Mr. Lamb
proves to be quite rewarding. Mr. Lamb teaches him a new perspective of looking at life, people and things.
Derry decides never to get back to his old seclusion. His burnt face will no longer interfere with his self-
respect, poise and confidence. He will gradually learn to find his place in the mainstream of life. Mr. Lamb
helps Derry rediscover himself and gives a new meaning to his life. Now Derry wants to leave his handicap
behind, forge ahead in life and live life to the fullest.

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Chapter 8 MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD
Introduction
The chapter contains two extracts from two different autobiographical episodes from the lives of two women –
Zitkala Sa and Bama. Both are victims of social discriminations. Zitkala Sa is the victim of racial discrimination
whereas Bama is the victim of caste discriminations. In both the extracts, the writers look back on their
childhood and reflect on their relationship with mainstream culture which illtreated them when they were child.
But both the accounts are not simple narratives of oppression. Rather they reveal how oppression was resisted
by both the narrators in their own ways. Zitkala-Sa and Bama were very young but not so young that they would
not understand the evil scheme of the mainstream culture. The injustice of their society did not escape their
notice also. Their bitter childhood experience sowed the seeds of rebellion in them earlier on.

Both the accounts are based in two distant cultures. The first is that of Native Americans and the second is that
of the Tamil Dalits. But the commonality that brings them closer is the fact that in both cases, the mainstream
culture marginalized the underprivileged section of that society. This gave rise to the conflict between the
mainstream culture and the marginalized community, which is exquisitely showcased in ‘Memories of
Childhood’.

1. The Cutting of My Long Hair

Characters:- [Link] Simmons: the narrator of the story 2. Zudewin: a friend of Gertrude Simmons
2. A pale-faced woman: a teacher or a member of staff at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle.

Theme
It highlights the despise, racial discrimination and unhealthy treatment towards the humanity in general and
women in particular.

Summary
The story begins with Zitkala’s first day in a boarding school Carlisle Indian school. It is a school opened for
native Indians where they are trained to leave behind their own culture and become part of the American
culture. Zitkala describes that she really felt bad when a shawl is taken off her shoulders by the school
authorities before entering into the dining hall. She also wonders about how the other Indian girls agreed to
wear tight clothes which were immodest according to her as their whole body shape could easily be seen.
Even their hair was cut short which according to the author was not good. Her mother had told her only a
coward’s or a mourner’s hair should be shaved off. Later on Zitkala and other girls were taken to the dining
hall where she was keenly noticed by a pale faced woman for not following the table manners. Judewin,
another Indian girl tells her that the pale faced woman has decided to cut her hair. Zitkala revolts back as she
does not want to look like a coward or a mourner. She hides herself under a bed in some room upstairs.
Everyone starts searching for her and finally she is caught. She is tied up and her hair is cut down. She felt so
depressed and humiliated with this. She is reminded of her mother who would have comforted her during this
hard time. At the end she submits her to her herders like a tamed animal.

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PART – II
The second part is an excerpt from the autobiography ‘Karukku’ by Bama – a Tamil Dalit.
The story is written by Bama who is one of the characters in this story. She is a little cheerful girl who loves to
observe things taking place in her street. She says though it takes only ten minutes to reach home from her
school but she takes about thirty minutes to reach her home from the school. She then explains the reason
behind it. She says when she is on her way to home she sees a monkey performing and a snake charmer doing
some act with his snake which was very interesting for her. Then there was a cyclist also who was cycling
from past three days. There was one famous temple which had a big bell and a tribal man who sells clay
beads, needles etc. She also comes across various snack stalls and street acts. Then she explains about how
various political parties come to her street to give lectures. As she proceeds further, she saw a landlord sitting
and watching his workers work in the field. She then saw an old man of her community handling a snack pack
in a very strange manner and then offering it to the landlord. She founds it so amusing that she bursts out into
a laugh. On reaching home she narrates it to her elder brother and starts laughing. He then tells her a real truth
about her being from a low caste and that the upper caste people do not like their presence or touch the low
caste as it would make them impure. She finds it so disgusting that she grows angry over the upper caste
people. Some days later her elder brother is questioned about his whereabouts to know his caste. He then
suggests her to study hard as only this could earn her respect. She works as per his suggestions and become
topper of her class. This not only earns her respect but many friends too.

Questions & Answers

Q 1. How did Zitkala-Sa try to prevent the shingling of her hair?
Ans: Zitkala-Sa disappeared unnoticed and entered a large room with three beds. She crawled under the beds
and cuddled herself in a dark comer. She could not hide there for long and was soon dragged out. She resisted
by kicking and scratching wildly but then she was tied fast in a chair and her long and heavy hair was
shingled.

Q 2. Why was Zitkala-Sa terrified when Judewin told her that her hair would be cut short?
Ans: Zitkala-Sa was terrified by the thought of having her hair cut because in her community shingled hair
was worn by unskilled warriors who were captured by the enemy and their hair was cut. Thus, it was a sign of
cowardice. She decided that she would not go down without a fight.

Q 3. What did Zitkala-Sa feel when her long hair was cut?
Ans: Zitkala-Sa felt rather anguished and indignant when her long hair was cut. She lost her spirit and felt as
helpless as a puppet. She got the feeling of being an animal driven by a herder and desperately looked for
some comfort. With her hair being shingled like a coward, she moaned in anguish. She also felt she had lost
her distinct cultural recognition and identity.

Q 4. “I felt like sinking to the floor,” says Zitakala-Sa. When did she feel so and why?
Ans: Zitkala-Sa felt like sinking to the floor when the blanket she had donned over her immodest- looking
dress was stripped from her shoulders. She felt uncomfortable in her tight-fitting clothes and because she was
ill at ease.

Q 5. What did Judewin tell Zitkala-Sa? How did she react to it?
Ans: Judewin, who knew a few words of English, told Zitkala-Sa that she had overheard the pale faced
woman saying that Zitkala-Sa’s long hair would be cut. Judewin advises her to submit and resign to her fate
but Zitkala-Sa disagrees with her and decides to resist and stand-up against it.

Q6. How was Bama’s innocent childhood ruffled up by the sight of an elderly man handing the parcel to the
landlord at the threshing-field?
Ans. Bama was an innocent girl. She lived in a discriminated society with landlords above them and her
community working for them. The first instance of class discrimination Bama experienced in her life was the
incident of an elderly man of her caste carrying food for the landlord. The man had to carry the packet in the
most shameful manner, holding the hand away from his body as a mark of untouchability.

[Link] did Bama feel when her Annan explained to her why the village elder had to carry the parcel in a
funny manner?
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Ans. When Bama saw the elderly man from her society carrying a small parcel of eatable to the landlord, she
laughed a lot but when her Annan told it was an instance of caste discrimination, she could not laugh any
more. She grew angry with this social evil and wanted to touch the eatable herself and make it dirty. She felt
helpless about her being untouchable and angry with the rich people who considered her so.

Q8. “Because they had scraped four coins together…” What did Bama mean?
Ans. According to Bama the cause of the rich people’s superior attitude and behavior is the possession of
money. Money makes a man feel superior over the poor and it makes him blind. While the ordinary people
have a little wealth in their hands, the rich ones have a lot.

Q9. How did Bama fight against discrimination in her life?

Ans. Bama lived in a discriminated society with the evils of untouchability playing havoc. When she was
aware of it, Bama determined to fight it in her way. She was told by her Annan that education only could
liberate her from being looked down by the society. Bama studied in frenzy and stood top in the class and
fought the class discrimination.

Q10. When did Bama first come to know of the social discrimination faced by the people of her community?
Ans.:Bama was in the third standard and she used to walk from her school to her home. One day she saw an
elderly man carrying a small packet that contained some eatables. He held the packet by its strings without
touching it and extended it to the landlord who opened it and began to eat. She thought it was something
funny but Annan, her elder brother, told her that the man was not being funny and he was in fact from a low
caste because of which he couldn’t touch the food packet.

Q 11. What were the articles in the stalls and shops that fascinated Bama on her way back from school?
OR
Children relish the small pleasure of life just like Bama did when she dawdled along on her back from school
enjoying all the novelties. Elaborate.

Ans: On her way back from school Bama would be extremely fascinated by various articles available in the
stalls and shops. These included the dried fish stall, the stall selling fried snacks, the stall of the hunter gypsy
selling needles, clay beads and instruments for cleaning ears. Everyday she would see people selling payasam,
halwa, boiled tamarind seeds, iced lollies, etc.

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Sample Paper 1
M.M. 80

SECTION-A (READING SKILLS) (22 marks)

1. Read the following text: 12
1. When you grow up in a place where it rains five months a year, wise elders help you to get acquainted with
the rain early. They teach you that it is ignorant to think that it is the same rain falling every day. Oh no, the
rain is always doing different things at different times. There rain that is gentle, and there is also rain that falls
too hard and damages the crops. Hence, the prayer for the sweet rain that helps the crops to grow.
2. The monsoon in the Naga hills goes by the native name, khuthotei (which means the rice growing season).
It lasts from May to early or mid-October. The local residents firmly believe that Durga Puja in October
announces the end of rain. After that, one might expect a couple of short winter showers, and the spring
showers in March and April. Finally, comes the "big rain in May; proper rainstorms accompanied by heart-
stepping lightning and ear-splitting fender. I have stood out in storms looking at lightning arc across dark
skies, a light-and- sound show that can go on for hours.
3. This is the season when people use the word sezuo or suzu to refer to the week long rains, when clothes
don't dry and smell of mould, when fungus forms on the floor and when you can't see the moon of the stars
because of the rainclouds. But you learn not to complain, Rain, after all, is the farmer's friend and brings food
to the table. Rituals and festivals centre around the agricultural rhythm of life, which is the occupation of
about 70 percent of the population.

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4. The wise learn to understand its ways. I grew up hearing my grandfather say, "It's very windy this year.
We'll get good rain." If the windy season was short and weak, he worried there might not be enough rain for
the crops. I learned the interconnectedness of the seasons from childhood, and marvelled at how the wind
could bring rain. Another evening, many rainy seasons ago, my paternal aunt observed the new moon and
worried, "Its legs are in the air, we're in for some heavy rain.” She was right. That week, a storm cut off power
lines and brought down trees and bamboos
5. Eskimos host of having a hundred names for snow. Norwegians in the north can describe all kinds of snow
by an equal amount of names: pudder, powder snow, wet snow, slaps, extra wet snow, tight snowfall, dry
snow, and at least 95 more categories of snow. Likewise, in India we have names and names for rain. Some
are common, some are passing into history.
6. The rates are also called after flowering plants and people believe that the blossoming of those plants draws
out rain. Once the monsoons set in, field work is carried out in earnest and the work of uprooting and
transplanting paddy in flooded terrace fields is done. The months of hard labour are June, July and August. In
August, as the phrog üplant begins to bloom, a rain will fall. This August rain, also called phrogu, is a sign
that the time for cultivation is over. If any new grain seeds are sown, they may not sprout; even if they do
sprout, they are not likely to bear grain. The rain acts as a kind of farmer's almanac
7. The urban population of school-goers and office-goers naturally dislikes the monsoon and its accompanying
problems of landslides, muddy streets and periodic infections. For non-farmers, the month of September can
be depressing, when the rainfall is incessant and the awareness persists that the monsoons will last out till
October. One needs to have the heart of a farmer to remain grateful for the watery days, and be able to observe
- from what seems to the inexperienced as a continuous downpour the many kinds of rain. Some of the
commonly known rain-weeks are named after the plants that alternately bloom in August and September. The
native belief is that the flowers draw out the rain.
8. Each rain period has a job to fulfil: October rain helps garlic bulbs to form, while kümünyo rain helps the
rice bear grain. Without it, the ears of rice cannot form properly. End October is the most beautiful month in
the Naga hills, as the fields turn gold and wild sunflowers bloom over the slopes, all heralding the harvest.
Prayers go up for protecting the fields from storms, and the rains to retreat because the grain needs to stand in
the sun and ripen. The cycle nears completion a few weeks before the harvest, and the rain does retreat so
thoroughly from the reaped furrows that the earth quickly turns hard. The months of rain become a distant
memory until it starts all over again.
Answer the following questions based on the passage above :
(i)What does the writer refer to as a light and sound show ? Can one expect to see this after Durga Puja
or in March, April? Why? Answer in about 40 words. (Para 2) 2
(ii) Choose the option that best conveys the central idea of the passage. 1
(A) Farmers know what kind of rain it is. (B) Rains are of different kinds.
(C) Rains play significant role in nature and human life. (D) The role of rains in farming is
significant.
(iii) Why don't people living in urban areas like rain? 1
(iv) Rain helps in agriculture. Despite this, what are the reasons that can make people complain against
rain? Answer in about 40 words. (para 3) 2
(v) Why do people pray asking the rain to retreat? 1
(vi) How does the rain withdraw ? 1
(vii) What is unthinkable without rains ? 1
(A) verdure (B) storms (C) sunny days (D) drought
(viii) Discuss in about 40 words the functions that each rain period performs. (para 8) 2
(ix) The rains are called after flowering plants because 1
(A) heavy rains kill plants. ( B) flowers grow in the rainy season.
(C) it is believed that the plants bring the rain. (D) flowers grow all the year round.

2. Read the following text: 10

Raw material supply is the biggest curse in the gold refining business. The 30-odd accredited gold refineries in
India battle it out every single day to get their share of dore (imported impure gold ores) and scrap household
jewellery from jewellers who receive them as - "exchanged gold" in lieu of fresh purchases by customers. The
refineries melt and purify raw gold (both dore and scrap) to refinement grades as high as 99.99% and sell then

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back to jewellers, banks, commodity exchanges and even to asset management companies that run gold-
backed exchange traded funds.
"This industry has a fast turnaround time," says James Jose, MD of CGR Metalloys and secretary of the
Association of Gold Refineries & Mints. "In peak sale season (October-May),
refineries may have to churn out large quantities of pure gold every day. But during slack season, especially
during rains, we operate at 20% capacity."
The industry faces a lot of supply-side constraints, he explains. "This business cannot be done only by relying
on dore imports-which can get prohibitively expensive when gold prices are high. Scrap gold supply is very
cyclical in nature - and almost all the time, a large chunk of it goes to unorganised refiners who do not ask for
any purchase papers or bills." Such deals remain out of the tax purview.
To understand the importance of scrapped household gold in the refining industry, one has to know more
about dore imports. Gold miners (or their representatives) do not ship dore to importers without getting full
payment first. So if a mid-sized refinery relies only on dore imports as the raw material source, it will have to
shell out about 10-15 crore every day to ensure continuous raw material supply. After refinement, the refiner
has to wait 7-10 days before getting his money from the buyer of pure gold. Lack of option to purchase raw
material (dore) on credit and delayed buyer payments often land gold refiners in a tight spot. When gold
demand drops suddenly, refiners are forced to deal with unsold inventories of pure gold. In such times, if the
refiner is cashstrapped, he is forced to sell his stock at a loss.
Anil Kansara decided to import dore when his supply of scrap gold dropped to a trickle in 2013. "We needed
capital to import dore. So we inducted an equity partner. But even after that, the nature of the joint venture did
not give revenue to the company as expected. That is when we exited the business," he elucidates.

Using scrap household gold as a raw material source gives more control and manoeuvrability to the refiners as
these come with easier payment terms and buyback guarantees.
Indian jewellers collect nearly 100 tonnes of scrap gold every year. But nearly 60% of that lands up in
unorganised "street-corner" refineries located in almost all Indian cities and villages. Gold Refineries
Association data suggests that the informal sector processes over 200 tonnes of scrap gold every year.
"Scrap gold has always been a dicey matter in India," says Somasundaram PR, MD (India), World Gold
Council.
(- 'The Economic Times')
Answer the following questions based on the passage above :
(i) The business of gold refining in India is: 1
(A) a loss-making venture (B) lucrative (C) rather risky (D) quite attractive
(ii) Explain in about 40 words the function of gold refineries and the major problem faced by them.
2
(iii) What could be the possible reason for sharp fall in gold imports in 2020? 1
(iv) Organised gold refineries in India remain active : 1
(A) during monsoon (B) during winter (C) from May to October (D) from October to
December
(v) During 2020, the maximum amount of gold imports were in which month ? 1
(vi) A mid-sized refinery cannot depend on dore imports as raw material source. Give reasons in about
40 words. 2
(vii) The import of dore being cash-down business is………………….. for gold refineries. 1
(A) good (B) a restraint (C) easy (D) nightmare
(viii)It is evident from the write up that gold refineries are bound to close sooner or later. (True/False) 1

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SECTION B (CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS) - (18 marks)

[Link] the names and addresses used in the questions are fictitious. Resemblance, if any, is purely
coincidental.
Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 50 words. 4
A. As Sports Secretary of G.D.G. Public School, Pune, draft a notice in not more than 50 words for your
school notice board informing the students about the sale of old sports goods of your school. You are
Rohini/Rohit.
Or
B. You lost your wrist watch in your school auditorium. Write a notice in not more than 50 words for your
school notice board giving a detailed description of the watch. You are Akash/Sunita of class XII of Blossoms
School, Mumbai.

4. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 50 words. 4

A. Draft a formal invitation about a literary seminar in your school. The seminar is being organized by the
Literary Association. You are Sumit / Riya, the Secretary of the Association.

Or
B. Mrs and Mr N.S. Sandhu have received an invitation from Mrs and Mr O.P. Gupta to a dinner at their
residence. On their behalf, write a formal reply, declining the invitation.

5. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 120-150 words. 5

A. Roadside vendors occupy most of the space on roads disturbing the flow of traffic and causing difficulties
even to the pedestrians. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily expressing your views and suggesting
ways and means to curb this problem. You are Rohit/Rachna, 15 NavkunjAparments, Delhi.
Or
B. Read the advertisement given below and write a letter applying for the job. Also give your detailed resume
to be sent along with the letter. You are Suhani Sharma of 28, Garden Colony, Ludhiana.

Wanted an experienced computer personnel, familiar with Web designing and animation. Apply with full
particulars, stating minimum pay acceptable, to the Principal, D.A.V. College New Delhi.

6. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 120-150 words. 5

A. Teenage is commonly perceived as the most joyful period of an individual's life Vidya who reprints the
teenagers of today feels that the pressure of the competitive world they live in has made teen years less
exciting and expresses her ideas in an article entitled, 'On Being a Teenage for the Youth Time’ Write the
article in 120-150 words. Or
B. You are Roshan/Roshini, Secretary of Cultural Club, Hyderabad Public School, Hyderabad. As a member
of NGC (National Green Corps), write a report, in 120-150 words, for your school magazine, about the
activities organised by your club for greening of the environment.

SECTION-C(LITERATURE TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLEMENTARY READING TEXT) (40 marks)

[Link] the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two given. 1x6= 6

A. Now we will count to twelve

and we will all keep still
For once on the face of the Earth
let's not speak in any language
let’s stop for one second
and not move our arms so much.

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(i) What is the tone of the poet in the above lines?

(ii) How long does the poet want to stay still ?
(iii) By keeping quiet the poet hopes to attain.......
(A) spiritual pleasure (B) communion with God (C) inner peace (D) rest for the body
(iv) Which language should be spoken, according to the poet ?
(A) mother tongue (B) national language (C) foreign language (D) no language at
all
(v)What does the poet want everyone to do?
(vi) The poet does not want us to............so much
Or
(b)....I saw my mother, beside me,
doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that
of a corpse and realised with pain
that she was as old as she looked but soon put that thought away, and
looked out at young trees sprinting.

(i) Where was the poet ?

(ii) The thought of her separation from her mother was
(A) inevitable (B) abnormal (C) sudden (D) sudden and painful
(iii) The figure of speech in lines 2-3 is
(A) metaphor (B) symbol (C) simile (D) pun
(iv) Which thought did the poet try to shrug off ?
(v) The poet was in a hurry to leave her mother and go. (True/False)
(vi) What did the poet realise with pain?
8. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of two extract given. 1x4 = 4

A. Annan told me all these things. And he added. "Because we are born into this community, we are never
given any honour or dignity or respect; we are stripped of all that. But if we study and make progress, we can
throw away these indignities, So study with care, learn all you can. If you are always ahead in your lessons,
people will come to you of their own accord and attach themselves to you. Work hard and learn". The words
that Annan spoke to me that day made a very deep impression on me. And I studied hard, with all my breath
and being.

(i) Because we are born into this community, we are never given any honour or dignity or respect indicates
that this community was
1. looked down upon 2. aggressive by nature 3. treated unkindly 4. domineering by nature
5. scorned upon
(A) 2, 3 and 5 (B) 1, 3 and 5 (C) 1, 4 and 5 (D) 2, 3 and 4
(ii) What does the narrator's brother ask her to do?
(iii) "The next step to refinish furniture is to strip off all the old paint or varnish." Say whether the phrase 'strip
off used in the sentence is used in the same sense as in the passage. Say True for 'yes' and False for No.
(iv) The given extract does not talk about to all.
Or
B. Sadoo had taken this into his mind as he did everything his father said, his father who never joked or
played with him but spent infinite pains upon him who was his only son. Sadao knew that his education was
his father's chief concern. For this reason, he had been sent at twenty two to America to learn all that could be
learned of surgery and medicine. He had come back at thirty, and before his father died he had seen Sadao
become famous not only as a surgeon but as a scientist. Because he was perfecting a discovery which would
render wounds entirely clean, he had not been sent abroad with the troops.
(i) In which of the following options can the underlined words NOT be replaced with discovery?
(A) He found that he was uncovering fascinating new clues about the shady people around the plot.
(B) Early detection of the disease is vital.
(C) Man is the creation of an all-powerful, all-good and all-seeing God.
(D) All the time we have been at the front, we have succeeded in unearthing-one document.

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(ii) why was Sadao sent to America ?

(iii) At what age was Sadao sent to America by his father?
(iv) The analogy given below best describes Sadao and his father in the passage.
Sadao: obedient; Father: concerned
Say whether it is TRUE or FALSE
[Link] the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two given. 1X6 = 6
A. He couldn't have addressed a more dazed and silent audience-no one knew what he was talking about and
his accent defeated any attempt to understand what he was saving. The whole thing lasted about an hour; then
the poet left and we all dispersed in utter bafflement-what are we doing?
(i) Who is ‘He’ referred to in the first line?
(ii) The audience was dazed and silent because.....
(A) the lecture was enlightening (B) no one understood what the man was speaking
(C) the speaker spoke in English (D) they didn't know English
(iii) How long was the speech?
(A) about 1 hours (B) about 2 hour (C) about 15 minutes (D) about half an
hour
(iv) Why were the listeners baffled ? Give one reason
(v) His accent was very easily understandable by the audience.(True/False)
(vi) The speaker was a com........... (complete the sentence)
Or
8. "They have lived here for more than thirty years without an identity, without permits but with ration cards
that get their names on voters' lists and enable them to buy grain. Food is more important for survival than an
identity, If at the end of the day we can feed our families and go to bed without an aching stomach, we would
rather live here than in the fields that gave us no grain."
(i) They have lived here without an identity.’ Who does this statement mean?
(ii) Food is more important for survival than an identity."
This statement reflects that food is
1. necessity 2. Luxury 3. vital 4. Wasteful 5. sumptuous 6. excessive
(A) 1 and 2 (B) 4 and 5 (C) 3 and 6 (D)1 and 3
(iii) Which of the statements is NOT TRUE in context of the passage?
(A) Ragpickers are tolling since ages for food only. (B) Ragpickers do not want to go back to their
homeland.
(C) Seemapuri is a colony sans sewage or drainage. (D) They are enjoying their life in Seemapuri.

(iv) The ragpickers do not want to return to their country. Why?

(v) Food is as important for survival as identity. (True/False)
(vi) The Ragpickers neither have identity nor permits but they have.........
10. Answer ANY FIVE of the following six questions in about 40-50 words each. 5×2-10
(i) Why is ‘grandeur associated with the ‘mighty dead’?
(ii) Why does the aunt create tigers totally opposed to her over personality?
(iii)When Gandhi got the whole hearted support of the lawyers, he said, "The battle of Champaran is won.
What was the essence of his statement ?
(iv) Do you think that M. Hamel’s love and villagers’ concern for French amount to linguistic chauvinism?
(v)According to Roosevelt, "All we have to fear is fear itself" Explain
(vi) How did the city people look upon roadside stand?

11. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions in about 40-50 words each. 2X2 = 4
(i)Why is Antarctica the perfect place to study the repercussions of environmental changes?
(ii) What was amusing about the hundredth tiger in the chapter ‘The Tiger King’?
(iii) Why was Charley taken to a psychiatrist?
12. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 120-150 words. 5
A. ‘Personal freedom and identity are quite important. If one is deprived of them, one loses one’s self – pride
and confidence.’ Consider these remarks with reference to ‘Saheb’s story in ‘Lost Spring’

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Or
B. The childhood experience of terror of Douglas made him stronger and more determined. Elucidate the
above statement supporting it with evidences from the text.
13. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 120-150 words.
5
A. Optimism is one’s attitude helps deal with all challenges in life. Prove the statement by referring to the
character of Mr. Lamb from the chapter ‘On the Face Of It.’
Or
B. It may take a long time for oppression to be resisted, but the seeds of rebellion are sowed early in life. Do
you agree that injustice in any form cannot noticed even by children?
**************************************************************************************
Smaple Paper 2
M.M. 80

SECTION-A (READING SKILLS) (22 marks)

1. Read the following text: 12
1. When you grow up in a place where it rains five months a year, wise elders help you to get acquainted with
the rain early. They teach you that it is ignorant to think that it is the same rain falling every day. Oh no, the
rain is always doing different things at different times. There rain that is gentle, and there is also rain that falls
too hard and damages the crops. Hence, the prayer for the sweet rain that helps the crops to grow.

2. The monsoon in the Naga hills goes by the native name, khuthotei (which means the rice growing season).
It lasts from May to early or mid-October. The local residents firmly believe that Durga Puja in October
announces the end of rain. After that, one might expect a couple of short winter showers, and the spring
showers in March and April. Finally, comes the "big rain in May; proper rainstorms accompanied by heart-
stepping lightning and ear-splitting fender. I have stood out in storms looking at lightning arc across dark
skies, a light-and- sound show that can go on for hours.

3. This is the season when people use the word sezuo or suzu to refer to the week long rains, when clothes
don't dry and smell of mould, when fungus forms on the floor and when you can't see the moon of the stars
because of the rainclouds. But you learn not to complain, Rain, after all, is the farmer's friend and brings food
to the table. Rituals and festivals centre around the agricultural rhythm of life, which is the occupation of
about 70 percent of the population.

4. The wise learn to understand its ways. I grew up hearing my grandfather say, "It's very windy this year.
We'll get good rain." If the windy season was short and weak, he worried there might not be enough rain for
the crops. I learned the interconnectedness of the seasons from childhood, and marvelled at how the wind
could bring rain. Another evening, many rainy seasons ago, my paternal aunt observed the new moon and
worried, "Its legs are in the air, we're in for some heavy rain.” She was right. That week, a storm cut off power
lines and brought down trees and bamboos

5. Eskimos host of having a hundred names for snow. Norwegians in the north can describe all kinds of snow
by an equal amount of names: pudder, powder snow, wet snow, slaps, extra wet snow, tight snowfall, dry
snow, and at least 95 more categories of snow. Likewise, in India we have names and names for rain. Some
are common, some are passing into history.

6. The rates are also called after flowering plants and people believe that the blossoming of those plants draws
out rain. Once the monsoons set in, field work is carried out in earnest and the work of uprooting and
transplanting paddy in flooded terrace fields is done. The months of hard labour are June, July and August. In
August, as the phrog üplant begins to bloom, a rain will fall. This August rain, also called phrogu, is a sign
that the time for cultivation is over. If any new grain seeds are sown, they may not sprout; even if they do
sprout, they are not likely to bear grain. The rain acts as a kind of farmer's almanac

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7. The urban population of school-goers and office-goers naturally dislikes the monsoon and its accompanying
problems of landslides, muddy streets and periodic infections. For non-farmers, the month of September can
be depressing, when the rainfall is incessant and the awareness persists that the monsoons will last out till
October. One needs to have the heart of a farmer to remain grateful for the watery days, and be able to observe
- from what seems to the inexperienced as a continuous downpour the many kinds of rain. Some of the
commonly known rain-weeks are named after the plants that alternately bloom in August and September. The
native belief is that the flowers draw out the rain.

8. Each rain period has a job to fulfil: October rain helps garlic bulbs to form, while kümünyo rain helps the
rice bear grain. Without it, the ears of rice cannot form properly. End October is the most beautiful month in
the Naga hills, as the fields turn gold and wild sunflowers bloom over the slopes, all heralding the harvest.
Prayers go up for protecting the fields from storms, and the rains to retreat because the grain needs to stand in
the sun and ripen. The cycle nears completion a few weeks before the harvest, and the rain does retreat so
thoroughly from the reaped furrows that the earth quickly turns hard. The months of rain become a distant
memory until it starts all over again.

Answer the following questions based on the passage above :

(i)What does the writer refer to as a light and sound show ? Can one expect to see this after Durga Puja
or in March, April? Why? Answer in about 40 words. (Para 2) 2

(ii) Choose the option that best conveys the central idea of the passage. 1
(A) Farmers know what kind of rain it is. (B) Rains are of different kinds.
(C) Rains play significant role in nature and human life. (D) The role of rains in farming is
significant.

(iii) Why don't people living in urban areas like rain? 2

(iv) Rain helps in agriculture. Despite this, what are the reasons that can make people complain against
rain? Answer in about 40 words. (para 3) 2
(v) Why do people pray asking the rain to retreat? 1
(vi) How does the rain withdraw ? 1

(vii) What is unthinkable without rains ? 1

(A) verdure (B) storms (C) sunny days (D) drought

(viii) Discuss in about 40 words the functions that each rain period performs. (para 8) 2

(ix) The rains are called after flowering plants because 1

(A) heavy rains kill plants. ( B) flowers grow in the rainy season.
(C) it is believed that the plants bring the rain. (D) flowers grow all the year round.

2. Read the following text: 10

1. The present generation is well updated in the use of internet and computers. The rapid development in
computer technology and increase in accessibility of the internet for academic purposes has changed the
face of education for everyone associated with it. Let’s look at the data arising out of a recent survey that
was done to ascertain the time spent on utilisation of the computer and internet:

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70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20% utilization of utilization of How often do you How often do you How often do you
computer for computer for use email? use the internet for use the internet for
academic activities personal use work? leisure?

everyday 2-3days a week once a week once a month never

2. At present, many schools and universities have been implementing internet-based learning, as it
supplements the conventional teaching methods. The internet provides a wide variety of references
and information to academics as well as scientific researchers. Students often turn to it to do their
academic assignments and projects.

[Link], research on the Net is very different from traditional library research, and the differences can
cause problems. The Net is a tremendous resource, but it must be used carefully and critically.

4. According to a 2018 Academic Student e-book Experience Survey, conducted by LJ’s research
department and sponsored by EBSCO, when reading for pleasure, almost 74% of respondents said they
preferred print books for leisure whereas, 45 % of respondents chose e-books rather than the printed
versions, for research or assignments.

[Link] asked what e-book features make them a favourite for research, the respondents were clear. Having
page numbers to use in citations, topped the list (75%); followed by the ability to resize text to fit a device’s
screen (67%); the ability to bookmark pages, highlight text, or take notes for later reference (60%);
downloading the entire e-book (57%); and allowing content to be transferred between devices (43%) were
the varied responses.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY TEN questions from the eleven
that follow. (1x10 = 10)

i. According to the passage, one of the reasons for the recent transformation of education is the:
a. techno-efficiency of the present generation. b. expanse of courses on technology.
c. simplification of the teaching and learning- method. d. easy availability of the internet.

ii. Pick the option that lists statements that are NOT TRUE according to the passage.

1. Internet-based education can only complement familiar methods of education.

2. Net-based learning will replace face-to-face education.
3. The resources that the net provides are a danger to the education system.
4. The current times has seen a rise in the convenience of using the internet for academic purposes.

a. 1 & 2 b. 3 & 4 c. 2 & 3 d. 1 & 4

iii. The word ‘tremendous’, as used in paragraph 3, means the same as

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a. ‘expensive’. b. ‘renowned’. c. ‘innovative’. d. ‘incredible’.

iv. Based on the graphical chart in the passage, choose the option that correctly states the depiction
of internet usage for work and for leisure, for once a month.

Work Work Leisure Work Leisure

Work
Leisur Leisur
e e

(1) (2) (3) (4)

a. Option (1) b. Option (2) c. Option (3) d. Option (4)

v. “… but it must be used carefully and critically.” The idea of being careful and critical while using
the internet, is mainly a reference to

a. hardware malfunction. b. plagiarism. c. troubleshooting. d. virus threats.

vi. Based on the given graphical representation of data in the passage, choose the option that lists
the statements that are TRUE with respect to the usage of email.
[Link] everyday usage of email is more than the everyday usage of computer for personal use.
2. About 18% people use email once a week.
3. There are a smaller number of email users using it 2-3 times a week than the ones using it once a
month.
4. Less than 5% of people never use the email.
a. 1 and 3 b. 2 and 4 c. 1 and 2 d. 3 and 4

vii. Based on the given graphical chart, pick the option that lists the area of zero response from
respondents.

a. Never using the internet for work and leisure b. Daily use of the computer for academic
activities
c. Writing and receiving emails once a week d. Using the internet for personal tasks once a
month

viii. In the cartoon, the student’s reaction reveals that he is .

a. indignant b. apologetic c. obedient d. inquisitive

ix. Which of the following statements is NOT substantiated by information in paragraph 4?

a. About three-quarters of the respondents preferred print books for recreational reading.
b. A little less than a 50% of the respondents voted for e-books for research or assignments.
c. More than 50% respondents stated enjoying both versions of books for leisure read- ing.
d. The survey was intended for understanding the e-book experience among students.

x. According to the 2018 survey, which is the option that correctly displays the features of –
(A) page numbers for use in citation and
(B) content transfer between devices respectively.

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a. Option (1) b. Option (2) c. Option (3) d. Option (4)

xi. Arrange the given e-book features preferred for research from the least favourite to the most
favourite, from the following –
1. downloading the entire e-book. 2. choosing page numbers in citations.
3. highlighting text. 4. resizing text to fit screen.

a. 1, 3, 4, 2 b. 3, 2, 1, 4 c. 2, 4, 3, 1 d. 4, 1, 2, 3

SECTION B (CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS) - (18 marks)

[Link] the names and addresses used in the questions are fictitious. Resemblance, if any, is purely
coincidental.
Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 50 words. 4
A. You are Vijay / Veena, Head Boy / Girl of Minerva Public School, Jaipur. Your school is planning to
organize a Career Counseling Workshop for the students of classes 9-12. Draft a notice in about 50 words
informing students about the workshop mentioned day, date, time and venue.
Or
B. You lost your wrist watch in your school auditorium. Write a notice in not more than 50 words for your
school notice board giving a detailed description of the watch. You are Raghav / Shreya of class XII of SMPS
School, Mumbai.

4. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 50 words. 4

A. You are the Students Head of Cultural Affairs at M.K. Sr. Sec. School, Jaipur. Your school is organizing a
two - days Yoga Camp over the weekend for the parents of the school students. Create an invitation inviting
the school parents to this Yoga Camp. Share information about the camp organizers and include other
necessary details. Word limit in about 50.
Or
B. You have bought a new house in Meerut. Write an informal letter of invitation inviting your friends and
relatives to the housewarming ceremony. Mention the day, date, time and venue. As Rajesh Sharma, draft an
invitation in about 50 words.

5. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 120-150 words. 5

A. Roadside vendors occupy most of the space on roads disturbing the flow of traffic and causing difficulties
even to the pedestrians. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily expressing your views and suggesting
ways and means to curb this problem. You are Rohit/Rachna, 15 NavkunjAparments, Delhi.
Or

B. Read the advertisement given below and write a letter applying for the job. Also give your detailed resume
to be sent along with the letter. You are Suhani Sharma of 28, Garden Colony, Ludhiana.

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Indian Chemical Industries, Delhi Requires:

Accounts Officers
Qualification : [Link].
Experience: Minimum four years
Job requirement : Maintaining books of accounts, preparation of balance
sheet.
Apply to: Managing Director, ICI, B-12 Barakhamba Road,
New Delhi

6. Attempt ANY ONE of two in about 120-150 words. 5

A. You are Ajay Verma of class XII. Write an article for your school magazine, sharing the importance of
young adults as volunteers in one’s local community, the need to do so, and the benefits involved. Use the
given cues along with your own ideas to compose this article. Word limit in about 120 words.

# Volunteering in one’s local community is a rewarding experience that can benefit both the individual and
the community.
# Important for young adults to get involved and make positive contribution to the world around them.
# For Community : positive impact
# What are the ways one could get involved?
Or
B. You are Roshan/Roshini, Secretary of Cultural Club, H.V.M. Public School, New Delhi. As a member of
NGC (National Green Corps), write a report, in 120-150 words, for your school magazine, about the activities
organised by your club for Greening of the Environment.

SECTION-C(LITERATURE TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLEMENTARY READING TEXT) (40 marks)

[Link] the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two given. 1x6= 6

7.A. Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.

(i) How would you describe Aunt Jennifer based on the above extract?
(A) Happy (B) Malnourished (C) Aging (D) Diseased

(ii) Complete the sentence appropriately:

Uncle’s wedding band sits heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand because……………………….

(iii) A word which can’t be considered a synonym of massive is………………..

(A) Huge (B) Enormous (C) Dwarfed (D) Giant

(iv) State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE with reference to the extract:
The poem is a manifesto against the institution of marriage.

(v) What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer?

(vi) What does the use of the expression ‘finger fluttering through her wool’ at the beginning of the line,
suggest?
Or
7.B The little old house was out with a little new shed
In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,

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A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,

(i) Why had the new shed been put up?

(A) To make a living (B) To make a house (C) To make an office (D) To make a
market

(ii) What does the word ‘traffic’ referred to here suggest?

(iii) Why is the stand’s existence said to be ‘pathetic?

(A) Because their purpose never achieved (B) Because their expectation are never fulfilled

(C) Because their demands are never met (D) Because their views are never listened

(iv) Which figure of speech is used in the expression ‘That too pathetically pled’?

(v) The said traffic sped towards the roadside stand. (True/False)

(vi) Complete the sentence appropriately with reference to context:

The roadside stand pled for……………………..

8. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of two extract given. 1x4 = 4

8.A. Annan told me all these things. And he added. "Because we are born into this community, we are never
given any honour or dignity or respect; we are stripped of all that. But if we study and make progress, we can
throw away these indignities, So study with care, learn all you can. If you are always ahead in your lessons,
people will come to you of their own accord and attach themselves to you. Work hard and learn". The words
that Annan spoke to me that day made a very deep impression on me. And I studied hard, with all my breath
and being.

(i) Because we are born into this community, we are never given any honour or dignity or respect indicates
that this community was
1. looked down upon 2. aggressive by nature 3. treated unkindly 4. domineering by nature
5. scorned upon
(A) 2, 3 and 5 (B) 1, 3 and 5 (C) 1, 4 and 5 (D) 2, 3 and 4

(ii) What does the narrator's brother ask her to do?

(iii) "The next step to refinish furniture is to strip off all the old paint or varnish." Say whether the phrase 'strip
off used in the sentence is used in the same sense as in the passage. Say True for 'yes' and False for No.

(iv) The given extract does not talk about to all.

Or
8.B. Sadoo had taken this into his mind as he did everything his father said, his father who never joked or
played with him but spent infinite pains upon him who was his only son. Sadao knew that his education was
his father's chief concern. For this reason, he had been sent at twenty two to America to learn all that could be
learned of surgery and medicine. He had come back at thirty, and before his father died he had seen Sadao
become famous not only as a surgeon but as a scientist. Because he was perfecting a discovery which would
render wounds entirely clean, he had not been sent abroad with the troops.

(i) In which of the following options can the underlined words NOT be replaced with discovery?
(A) He found that he was uncovering fascinating new clues about the shady people around the plot.
(B) Early detection of the disease is vital.
(C) Man is the creation of an all-powerful, all-good and all-seeing God.
(D) All the time we have been at the front, we have succeeded in unearthing-one document.

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(ii) why was Sadao sent to America ?

(iii) At what age was Sadao sent to America by his father?

(iv) The analogy given below best describes Sadao and his father in the passage.
Sadao: obedient; Father: concerned
Say whether it is TRUE or FALSE

[Link] the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two given. 1X6 = 6
9.A. He couldn't have addressed a more dazed and silent audience-no one knew what he was talking about and
his accent defeated any attempt to understand what he was saying. The whole thing lasted about an hour; then
the poet left and we all dispersed in utter bafflement-what are we doing?

(i) Who is ‘He’ referred to in the first line?

(ii) The audience was dazed and silent because.....

(A) the lecture was enlightening (B) no one understood what the man was speaking
(C) the speaker spoke in English (D) they didn't know English

(iii) How long was the speech?

(A) about 1 hours (B) about 2 hour (C) about 15 minutes (D) about half an
hour

(iv) Why were the listeners baffled ? Give one reason

(v) His accent was very easily understandable by the audience.(True/False)

(vi) The speaker was a ........... (complete the sentence)

Or
9.B. "They have lived here for more than thirty years without an identity, without permits but with ration cards
that get their names on voters' lists and enable them to buy grain. Food is more important for survival than an
identity, If at the end of the day we can feed our families and go to bed without an aching stomach, we would
rather live here than in the fields that gave us no grain."

(i) They have lived here without an identity.’ Who does this statement mean?

(ii) Food is more important for survival than an identity."

This statement reflects that food is
1. necessity 2. Luxury 3. vital 4. Wasteful 5. sumptuous 6. excessive
(A) 1 and 2 (B) 4 and 5 (C) 3 and 6 (D)1 and 3

(iii) Which of the statements is NOT TRUE in context of the passage?

(A) Ragpickers are tolling since ages for food only. (B) Ragpickers do not want to go back to their
homeland.
(C) Seemapuri is a colony sans sewage or drainage. (D) They are enjoying their life in Seemapuri.

(iv) The ragpickers do not want to return to their country. Why?

(v) Food is as important for survival as identity. (True/False)

(vi) The Ragpickers neither have identity nor permits but they have.........

10. Answer ANY FIVE of the following six questions in about 40-50 words each. 5×2-10
(i) Why is ‘grandeur associated with the ‘mighty dead’?
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(ii) Why does the aunt create tigers totally opposed to her over personality?
(iii)When Gandhi got the whole hearted support of the lawyers, he said, "The battle of Champaran is won.
What was the essence of his statement ?
(iv) Do you think that M. Hamel’s love and villagers’ concern for French amount to linguistic chauvinism?
(v)According to Roosevelt, "All we have to fear is fear itself" Explain
(vi) How did the city people look upon roadside stand?

11. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions in about 40-50 words each. 2X2 = 4
(i)Why is Antarctica the perfect place to study the repercussions of environmental changes?
(ii) Mention one point of similarity and difference between Zitkala – Sa and Bama with reference to
‘Memories of Childhood’.
(iii) In the story, ‘On the Face of it’, what brings Derry and Mr Lamb together as friends? What can you
conclude about friendships from this?

12. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 120-150 words. 5
A. ‘Personal freedom and identity are quite important. If one is deprived of them, one loses one’s self – pride
and confidence.’ Consider these remarks with reference to ‘Saheb’s story in ‘Lost Spring’
Or
B. Imagine that the bully who threw Douglas into the pool reads this chapter and realizes his mistake. As the
bully, write a diary entry penning down your response to Douglas’ perseverance and your own feeling and
regret.

13. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 120-150 words. 5
A. Optimism is one’s attitude helps deal with all challenges in life. Prove the statement by referring to the
character of Mr. Lamb from the chapter ‘On the Face Of It.’
Or
B. After seeing off the enemy solider. Dr. Sadao must have felt relieved. He was able to uphold the oath that
he had taken as a doctor. Dr. Sadao made an entry into his daily diary explaining the dilemma faced by him
and how he resolved it.
Imagine yourself to be Dr. Sadao and express his thoughts
(You may begin like this
I was able to uphold the oath that I had taken as a doctor………..)
**************************************************************************************
Sample Paper 3
M.M. 80

SECTION A (Marks - 22)

1. Read the passage given below.

If you enjoy watching crime shows on TV, you know that fingerprints play a large role in identifying people.
But you might be surprised to find out that using fingerprints for identification is not a new science. In fact, it
is very old dating back at least as far as 1885-1913 B.C.E. In Babylon, when people agreed to a business
contract, they pressed their fingerprints into the clay in which the contract was written. Thumbprints have also
been found on clay seals from ancient China.
In 14th century Persia, which is now Iran, a government doctor recognized that all fingerprints are different. In
1684, a British doctor, Nehemiah Grew, spoke about the ridged surfaces of the fingers. In 1686, a professor of
anatomy (the study of the structure of the human body) named Marcello Malpighi wrote about the ridges and
loops in fingerprints. Malpighi’s work was considered so important that a layer of skin found on the fingertips
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was named after him. This layer of skin is called the Malpighian layer. Although scientists had studied
fingerprints, the value of fingerprinting in the identification of individuals did not become clear until later.

Sir William James Herschel is generally thought to be the first European to realize that fingerprints were
unique to each person. In his work as chief magistrate in the Hoogly district in Jungipoor, India, Herschel
asked people to put their handprints on contracts. Herschel believed that personal contact with the contracts
made people more likely to honor their commitments, or to keep their promises. As he looked at more and
more handprints, he began to see that all the handprints were different. He started to believe that fingerprints
were unique, which means they are all different from each other, and permanent, which means that they do not
ever change. To prove that they never change, Herschel kept track of his own fingerprints over his entire
lifetime.

Dr. Henry Faulds, a British surgeon at a Japanese hospital, began studying the furrows (also called ridges) on
fingertips in the 1870s. He published an article in a scientific journal about the use of fingerprints as a tool in
identification. He also devised, or invented, a system of classifying fingerprints. He wrote Charles Darwin
about his findings, but Darwin was getting too old to work on the findings. So, he promised to pass the
information to his cousin, Sir Francis Galion. Using Henry Faulds' findings, Galton published major book on
classifying fingerprints based on arches, loops, a and whirls. His work with Sir Edward R. Henry on
fingerprint classification was the basis of a classification system which is still used by law enforcement
agencies in English-speaking countries.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) now uses a variation of the Galton-Henry system. Although the use
of fingerprinting in identification originated in Britain, it has been developed in the United States. In 1924,
two large fingerprint collections were combined to form the foundation of the Identification Division of the
FBI. Within the Identification Division, the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (IAFIS)
can search and find fingerprints anywhere in the United States within thirty minutes. The IAFIS can compare
results with automated fingerprint systems in countries around the world. The IAFIS has the fingerprints of
more than 250 million people on file.

About one in six Americans has fingerprints on file with the FBI. But not all fingerprints are related to
criminal investigations. People need to have their fingerprints taken for many other reasons. People have their
fingerprints taken for employment, licenses, and adoption. For example, when people want to work for the
government in classified, secret jobs, their fingerprints are checked to be sure they do not have a criminal
background. When prospective parents adopt a child, their fingerprints are matched against those of all
criminals for the safety of the child.

On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer each of the questions given below:
(i) Select the option that highlights the first person to recognise all fingerprints are different? [1]
(a) a British doctor (b) a professor of Anatomy
(c) a Persian government doctor (d) a British surgeon

(ii) Sir Nehemiah Grew spoke about ridged surface of fingers that were unique to each person.
(TRUE/FALSE) [1]

(iii) What did the people in Babylon do when they agreed to a business contract? [2]

(iv) Choose the suitable option/s given below to complete the following statement. According to Galton-
Henry, fingerprints' classification varies into………….. [1]
1. shapes 2. Sizes 3. Arches 4. loops and whirls
(a) Both 1 and 2 (b) only 2 (c) Both 3 and 4 (d) only 4

(v) Where was the use of fingerprint in identification originated? [1]

(a) Britain (b) China (c) India (d) Iran

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(vi) How did a layer of skin get the name of Malpighian layer? [2]

(vii) Pick the option from the following which corresponds to the word 'potential'. [1]
(a) Adoption (b) Investigations (c) Classified (d) Prospective

(viii) What was Herschel's belief? [2]

(ix) Who didn't take up the research of fingerprints? [1]

(a) Dr. Henry Faulds (b) Charles Darwin (c) Sir Francis Galion (d) Sir Edward R. Henry

2. Read the passage given below.

1. It is generally accepted that leadership development should be a part of the education system's
responsibility for preparing individuals to participate in a democratic and progressive society. Many schools,
colleges and universities, across nations, provide their students with leadership courses, curricular programs
and co-curricular programs that are designed to develop students' formal knowledge about leadership as well
as opportunities and experiences to develop students as leaders and actually practise leadership. Yet, only a
handful of studies have sought to understand leader development from the students' point of view, with
students describing their own experiences and what they learned from them in their own words.

2. A 2014 descriptive study sought to understand student leadership with researchcthrough key events via the
following research questions:
Research Question 1: What key events do student leaders in college, report as significantly impacting their
development as a leader?
Research Question 2: What lessons do student leaders in college, report learning as a result of the key events
they have experienced?
Research Question 3: Are certain key events more likely to be linked to particular lessons? Approximately 130
students were contacted and the 72 interested, were interviewed. Two members of the research team were
present for each 15-45-minute interview. One member served as the primary interviewer while the second ran
the audio equipment.
The results for lessons learned (Table 1), were varied, but there were a few that were frequently quoted.

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• This study described the rich array of leadership lessons that students are learning through their experiences.
It revealed that student leaders are learning foundational leadership skills and competencies that have
positively impacted how to accomplish work, how to work with others and how to be both supported by and
support others.
([Link])

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(i) Does the following statement agree with the information given in paragraph? Why?

Select from the following:

True - The statement agrees with the information

False - The statement contradicts the information
Not Given - There is no information on this

(The text tells us that educational institutions do have programmes to develop leadership skills)

(ii) Do you think the researchers of the study aimed to change students' outlook towards the development of
leadership skills, directly or indirectly? Support your answer with reference to the text. (1)

(iii) Select the option that displays the most likely reason for including Research Question 3 in the 2014 study.
In order to find out if...

(a) Learning opportunities shape students’ overall personality.

(b) Leadership lessons are the result of the designed learning opportunities.
(c) all learning opportunities cater to a specific lesson.

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(d)Certain lessons are common in more than one learning opportunity.

(iv) Complete the sentence based on the following statement:

More than 50% of the identified student respondents were keen to participate in the 2014 study. We can say
this because……………………………….

(v) Which key event has been designed with “Balancing Roles” (Table 1) as the Objective?
(a) Students will be able to debate the issue at hand with different teams.
(b) Students will be able to manage the responsibilities of a mentor, planner researcher and presenter.
(c) Students will be able to surmount minor problems and focus on the final goal.
(d) Students will be able to explain concepts and clarify them for peers.

(vi) The 2014 study attempts to understand student leadership by focussing on (Choose the correct option.) (1)
(a) Experiences that shaped students’ overall personality.
(b) Lessons gained by students as they grew up.
(c) relationship of key events with particular lessons.
(d) Students in leadership roles.

(vii) The lessons for 'Individual competencies' had a range of responses.

Give one reason why having the least number of responses for 'Decision Making', is a matter that needs
attention.

(viii) Complete the given sentence by selecting the most appropriate option.
The concluding sentence of the text makes a clear case for by listing it as a core competency for student
leadership.
(a) collaboration (b) flexibility (c) hard work (d) observation

(ix) Complete the sentence appropriately with one/ two words. In the context of "Working with Others" in
Table 1, the lesson of 'Conflict' refers to.

SECTION: B (CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS 18 Marks)

Note: All details presented in the questions are imaginary and created for assessment purpose.

3. Attempt ANYONE of two, in about 50 words. [4]

(A) Your school is going to organize a week-long tree plantation programme in and around the school
beginning from 2nd February, 2025. Draft a notice for the students of Std VIII-XII to participate as volunteers
by registering their names. Give all the necessary details. You are swagat/sukanya, the captain of your school.
OR

(B) You are Jairam Reddy, the Head of the English Club. On the occasion of the International Day of English
Language, your school has decided to organize English Week. You are required to call a meeting of the office
bearers of the English Language Club to plan arrangements for the event. Draft a notice for the same.
4. Attempt ANYONE of two, in about 50 words. [4]

(A) You are Natasha/Nitesh, the president of Rotary Club, BBSR, which is organizing a workshop on
"Women Empowerment" on 30 January 2024. Draft a formal invitation to invite Prof. P. Satapathy, a famous
Litterateur from Utkal University as the Chief Speaker for the workshop.

OR

(B) Write a formal reply to Mr. and Mrs. Jain accepting the invitation to attend the birthday of their son Raj.
You are Ashok/Anwesha of N/1-170, Nayapalli, BBSR.

5. 4. Attempt ANYONE from A and B [5]

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(A) Public demonstration causes a lot of disturbance in daily routine of common man. You almost
missed your important entrance examination as people blocked the highway. As Tarun/Taruna, a student
aspiring to be a doctor, write a letter to the Editor of ‘The Times of India’ highlighting the need to
discourage such demonstrations and disturbance by public on highways which cause a great loss of time
and opportunity for many .(120-150 words)
OR
B) You are Radhika/Rahul, currently working on probation as an Assistant Manager in Romy Chain of
Restaurants. You saw the following advertisement in the newspaper and wish to apply for the position
advertised. Write a letter of application along with your resume in about 120-150 words.
Rose restaurant
-A gourmet delightagaan sit to
Required Senior manager
Food And Beverage Department
Job Responsibilities:
• Over see finances of the food & Beverage department
• Supervision
Preferred skills & Qualifications:
•Degree in hotel management
• 5 years work experience
• Excellent communication skills

6. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below: [5]

(A) There is a shift from content based to skill based education. In addition to foundational subjects,
interesting courses such as design, digital competency and entrepreneurship are being offered to students. This
breakaway from conformity has brought out the latent potential in students as they are now selecting courses
based on their choice/interest and talent. Write an article in 120-150 words expressing your views on the topic
'Changing Trends in Education'. You may use the given input.

NOW: EARLIER:

• Diverse subjects • Limited subjects

• Integrated syllabus • Academic focus
• Aptitude focus • Rigid subject streams
• Technology based • Rote learning
• Competency based • Pen and paper

OR

(B) Your school recently organised a workshop on 'Active Listening' for Students of class XI and XII on 25th
August 2023. As Shilpi Ahuja, member of the organising committee, draft a report covering the event for your
school newspaper. You can take the help of the following cues.
•Purpose of the workshop
• Attendees
• Activities conducted
• Key messages or take away from the workshop
• Post workshop resources and information
• The impact of this workshop on students and their environment

SECTION C — (Literature : Textbooks 40)

7. Read the extract and answer the question: 1X16=16

(A) For once on the face of the
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Earth let’s not speak in any language,

let’s stop for one second, and not move our arms so much.
It would be an exotic moment without rush,
without engines
we would all be together
In a sudden strangeness. (Keeping Quiet)

1. The tone of the poet in the above extract is_________ [1]

(a)Urging (b) Commanding (c) Preaching (d) Imposing
2. The poetic device in the phrase ‘sudden strangeness’ is oxymoron. State whether the statement is
TRUE/FALSE. [1]

3. List any two benefits of practicing keeping quiet for humans. [1]

4. When the poet says that ‘let’s not speak in any language ‘he means________(Complete in ONE word only)
[1]

5. On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below.[1]
(i) The poet talks about the need of silence and quiet introspection
(ii) Practicing this, would create a feeling of mutual understanding among human beings.

(a) (1) can be inferred from the extract but (2) cannot.
(c) Both (1) and (2) can be inferred from the extract.
(b) (2) can be inferred from the extract but (1) cannot.
(d) (2) is the reason for (1) and can be inferred from the extract.

6. The poet refers to the moment as ‘exotic’ because______ (Complete the sentence with a valid explanation)
[1]
OR
(B) It is in the news that all these pitiful kin
Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in
To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,
Where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore,
While greedy good doers, beneficent beasts of prey,
Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits
That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits,
And by teaching them how to sleep, they sleep all day,
Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way. (A Roadside Stand)

1. Why won’t the ‘pitiful kin’ have to think about themselves anymore? [1]

2. State the line/phrase which expresses the poet’s sarcasm. [1]

3. Which one of the following statements is NOT substantiated by the information given in the stanza? [1]
i. The city folk will have a good night sleep depriving them of their own sleep.
ii. The city dwellers would exploit the innocent rural folks for their personal gains.
iii. The influential rich will have all sufficient offers to trap the polished traffic.
iv. The cunning city dwellers always aim to deceive the rural folks.
v. The city people would surround the rural people for their selfish gains and interest.

(A) Only option v (B) Only option ii

(C) Only option iii (D) Options ii & v

4. The phrase "beneficent beasts of prey" in the extract is referred to the country folks for their selfish and
greedy nature. State whether the given statement is TRUE/FALSE. [1]

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5. "Teaching them how to sleep" refers to____________________ [1]

6. The speaker in the given stanza feels ______towards the rural people. [1]
(A) overwrought (B) crazy (C) neglected (D) apathetic

8. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two. [4]

(A) Sometimes I think Grand Central is growing like a tree, pushing out new corridors and staircases like
roots. There's probably a long tunnel that nobody knows about feeling its way under the city right now, on its
way to Times Square, and maybe another to Central Park. And maybe - because for so many people through
the years Grand Central has been an exit, a way of escape - maybe that's how the tunnel I got into... But I
never told my psychiatrist friend about that idea. (The Third
Level)

1. The tone of the author is... [1]

(A) Solemn and surprising (B) Sarcastic and mocking

(C) Sympathetic and sorrowful. (D) Alarming and assertive

2. Grand Central is growing like a tree, pushing out new corridors and staircases like roots means_______[1]

3. 'Grand Central is growing like a tree.' The figure of speech used in the expression is __________ [1]

4. The airplane is in the air now and heading towards the city. Replace the underlined part with a suitable
phrase from the given extract.
OR

(B) "I wondered, Your Excellency," Sadao murmured.

"It was certainly very careless of me," the General said. "But you understand it was not lack of patriotism or
dereliction of duty." He looked anxiously at his doctor. "If the matter should come out you would understand
that, wouldn't you?"

"Certainly, Your Excellency," Sadao said. He suddenly comprehended that the General was in the palm of his
hand and that as a consequence he himself was perfectly safe. "I can swear to your loyalty, Excellency," he
said to the old General, "and to your zeal against the enemy". (The Enemy)

1. Pick the option that best describes the word 'zeal' as used in the passage.
(1) Vigor (2) Apathy (3) Integrity (4) Passion (5) Indifference (6) Callousness
(A) 2, 3 and 6 (B) 1,4 and 5 (C) 2, 4 and 6 (D) 1,3 and 4

2. The General did not send his private assassins to silently kill the enemy soldier. This suggests that he was
not careless but preoccupied with the thoughts of his own_________________ [1]

3. At the end of the conversation with the General, Sadao felt safe and_______(Fill in the blank with a
suitable word) [1]

4. Write the reason briefly why Dr. Sadao suddenly felt that General was in the palm of his hand. [1]

9. Read extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two.
(A) "If at the end of the day we can feed our families and go to bed without an aching stomach, we would
rather live here than in the fields that gave us no grain," say a group of women in tattered saris when I ask
them why they left their beautiful land of green fields and rivers. Wherever they find food, they pitch their
tents that become transit homes. Children grow up in them, becoming partners in survival. Survival in
Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through the years, it has acquired the proportions of a fine art. Garbage to
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them is gold. It is their daily bread, a roof over their heads, even if it is a leaking roof. But for a child it is even
more. (Lost Spring)

[Link] the option that completes the given sentence appropriately. [1]
The children in the given extract are_________________
(A) Ragpickers (B) Studying in a school
(C) Working in a bangle industry (D) Studying in M Hamel's class

2. Garbage to them is gold means. (Explain in one line) [1]

3. Select the correct option to fill in the blank. [1]

These children living in Seemapuri grow in___________________________
(A) Slums (B) Transit homes (C) Open space (D)Foster homes

4. Write how rag-picking through the years has acquired the proportions of a fine art. [1]

5. According to the author, the meaning of garbage for the adults and children in Seemapuri is different. [1]

6. Complete the sentence with an appropriate explanation, as per the extract. [1]
The children, as per the extract, are partners in the survival of____________________
OR

(B) Perhaps there were also people, exotic, interesting people of whom he never spoke it was possible, though
he was quiet and didn’t make new friends easily. She longed to know them. She wished she could be admitted
more deeply into her brother’s affections and that someday he might take her with him. Though their father
forbade it and Geoff had never expressed an opinion, she knew he thought her too young. And she was
impatient. She was conscious of a vast world out there waiting for her and she knew instinctively that she
would feel as at home there as in the city which had always been her home. It expectantly awaited her arrival.
(Going Places)

1. Mention any two of Sophie’s characters from the extract. [1]

2. ‘Geoff had never expressed an opinion’. What was Geoff’s opinion about Sophie? [1]
(A) He thought she was too young and naive
(B) She was conscious of a vast world
(C) he was quiet and didn’t make new friends easily
(D) Her father was very rude

3. On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below. [1]
1. Sophie is a daydreamer, who is always lost in her dreams of becoming rich and sophisticated.
2. Sophie hero worshipped Danny Casey
(A) 1 is the correct explanation of two
(B) Both 1 and 2 are correct but 1 is not the correct explanation of 2
(C) Both A and B are incorrect
(D) 1 and 2 are incorrect

4. ‘She wished she could be admitted more deeply into her brother’s affections.’ Explain [1]

5. Replace the underlined word with its synonym: - It expectantly awaited her arrival. [1]

6. Complete the following statement: - In ‘Going Places’ Barton explores the theme of _________ [1]

10. Answer ANY FIVE of the following in about 40-50 words each. 2X5 = 10
1. The boss of Gemini Studios may not have much to do with the Spender’s poetry. But not with his ‘God that
failed’. Expain.

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2. ‘The battle of Champaran is won’. Interpret the statement in your own words.
3. Imagine Aunt Jennifer’s day to day life and tell how women can be given their due regards at home.
4. State the reasons why most celebrity writers hate to be interviewed.
5. Aging is a factor that is indispensable in our life. But it was too difficult to accept as seen in the life of
Kamala Das when she had looked at her mother. Do you think the poet does not accept this philosophy of life
and ruminates over the past? Elucidate.
6. The peddler and Edla have taught the society that our approach and mentality determines our action and
accordingly we are trapped or out of trap. Discuss

11. Answer ANY TWO of the following questions in about 40-50 words. 2x2 = 4

1. The story of The Tiger King reveals how the recklessness of man has led to the extinction of certain species
of animals today. Elaborate in your own words.
2. How do you think Derry’s mother contributes to his sense of alienation and isolation?
3 How is Antarctica a crucial element in the debate on climate change?

12. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120-150 words. 5
(A) After reading Keats’s ‘A Thing of Beauty’, Sneha deduced that the things that take away the sorrow
which surrounds us from time to time can be a thing of beauty. Today while explaining Frost’s A Roadside
Stand, the teacher said: “…that even a seemingly insignificant thing, like a tiny fruit shop, can have profound
significance which can be related to beauty.” She is confused as to how can a shabby roadside stand be
considered a thing of beauty. Sneha discusses this with her father over the phone but he was unable to
convince her. Imagining yourself Sneha’s father, compose a letter explaining your thoughts on the concept of
beauty and consequently validating what the teacher taught. Support your response with reference to both the
poems.
You may begin this way:

Dear Sneha I appreciate your inquisitiveness that how could a shabby shop referred to in the poem, A
Roadside Stand, which you read recently could be thing of beauty………..

You may end this way:

Although I wish to explain this in person, I have no better option than to explain you through this letter. I hope
this explanation would be helpful to you. Please let me know if you still have doubts. Warmly, Dad.

OR

(B) Deep water teaches a life lesson on self-confidence and living life to the full. Imagine yourself as William
Douglas and prepare a lecture to be delivered to a group of uninitiated youth of your neighbourhood.

You may begin like this….

Life cannot be imagined without challenges. It’s all in our attitude. We need to face adversities head-on……

13. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 120-150 words. 5

(A) Mr. Lamb lives alone and keeps the doors of his garden open for all. Today a teenage boy called Derry
entered his garden accidentally. He wanted to leave but Mr. Lamb coaxed him to stay and eventually, they
entered into a conversation where he came to know how Derry was not liked by anyone.
Imagining yourself Mr. Lamb, express the bond that united you with this boy in a diary entry. Also, account
for the ways in which you consoled the boy and tried to inspire him to overcome the feeling of loneliness.

You may begin like this:

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Date:…………

Day:…………

Time:……………

Today I found a reflection of myself in that lad who had landed in my garden…

OR

(B) Imagine your school is organising a panel discussion on ‘Oppression and Its Evils.’ You are one of the
speakers. As part of your address, you are required to reflect on the lessons and ideas you learned from the
story, ‘Memories of Childhood’.

Draft the address.

You may begin like this:

Good morning ladies and gentlemen! It is a pleasure to be given an opportunity to speak today. I would like to
begin by quoting James Baldwin, ‘Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed
until it is faced” Tolerating oppression in any form is…

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Sample Paper 4
M.M. 80

SECTION A (Marks - 22)

1. Read the passage given below.

(1) World Conservation Day is celebrated internationally to increase awareness about the best practices
needed to protect our natural resources. The Earth is supplied with a limited amount of resources that we all
upon, like water, air, soil and trees. The World Nature Conservation Movement is a great opportunity to
celebrate the progress we've made and determine to take action, wherever needed. It is time to remind
ourselves that we need to give back to nature instead of just using resources without thinking about
conservation. There is a need to replenish and recycle the resources we consume from nature.

(2) Our forests, rivers, oceans and soils provide us with the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we
irrigate our crops with. We also rely on them for numerous other goods and services. We depend on them for
our health, happiness and prosperity. We have a cycle of biodiversity which needs proper conservation.

(3) The Population explosion remains one of the major reasons why natural resources are getting depends at a
very fast rate. Technological advancement and luxurious lifestyles have led to several environmental problems
like global warming, ozone layer depletion, river water pollution and deforestation, which threaten the planet's
future.

(4) Humans, animals, marine creatures and the environment, all need to be protected and conserved for the
planet's future well-being. There are many examples of conservation. One is a programme to try to preserve
wetlands, or a programme to try and save old buildings. Another example is of an attempt to minimize the
amount of electricity used by turning off lights when leaving a room, or an attempt to turn off the running tap
to avoid wastage of water. There are lots of examples like these which need implementation.

(5) Following these small steps in our daily lives, we can help to maintain the balance of nature, thereby
saving humankind from the kinds of natural disaster, we may face in the near future.

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(6) Nature also has a profound impact on our mind and our behaviour, helping reduce anxiety, brooding, and
stress and increase our attention, capacity, creativity and ability to connect with other people. So, there is a
need to save nature if we want to save life as the two are interconnected and need each other. If we hurt or
destroy the environment, surely we will be ruined. We must create awareness among family members, and try
and practice a sustainable lifestyle to protect and conserve nature.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below
(a) Complete the sentence by choosing an appropriate option. 1
There is an urgent need to conserve our natural resources because___________________
( i)we are aimlessly using the natural resources and not replenishing them.
(ii) they will be replaced by man-made resources.
(iii) serious efforts are needed to cut down the consumption of these resources.
(iv) we must become alert before it is too late.
(b) In the opinion of the writer, which are the primary natural resources without which our life is not
possible?1

(c) In paragraph 1, the writer talks about 'celebrating the progress. Explain in context.
2

(d) The writer would not agree with the given statements based on paragraph 6. EXCEPT: 1
(i) Stress can be relieved by working overtime.
(ii) Nature can affect man's emotional well-being.
(iii) Lifestyle cannot be changed permanently.
(iv) Destruction of the environment is a temporary measure undertaken by man.

(e) List two ways in which forests and rivers help mankind. 2
(f)How can the solutions suggested in paragraph 4 be best described? 1

(i) Unrealistic (ii) Short term (iii) Practical (iv) Challenging

(g) Why is it fair to say that population explosion remains one of the major reasons and why natural
resources are getting depleted rapidly? 2

(h) Complete the given sentence with an appropriate reference with respect to the following:
The writer quotes the example of family awareness in order to________________(Paragraph 6). 1

(i) Select the most suitable title for the above passage. 1

(i) Ways to Save the Environment

(ii) Save Nature Save Life
(iii) Nature-A Pharmacy
(iv) Nature - A Food Factory
SECTION: B (ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS 18 Marks)
3. Water supply will be suspended for eight hours (10 am to 6 pm) on 6th of March for cleaning of the water
tank. Write a notice in about 50 words advising the residents to store water for a day. You are Karan
Kumar/Karuna Bajaj, Secretary, Janata Group Housing Society, Palam Vihar, Kurnool. 4

OR
You are Srinivas / Srinidhi of D.P.S. Public School, Nagpur. As Student Editor of your school magazine, draft
notice in not more than 50 words for your school notice board inviting article sketches from students of all
classes.
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[Link] friend, P.V. Sathish, has invited you to attend the wedding of his sister, Jaya. You find that you have an
important paper of pre-board examination on the day of the wedding. Thus you cannot attend the event. Write
in about 50 words a formal reply to the invitation expressing your regret. You are Puneet/Puneeta Vij, M-114,
Fort Road, Chennai. 4
OR

You are a student of Newton Public School, Nagpur. The school is holding its annual sports week from Saturday,
the 15th November, 20XX at 11 a.m. The HRD Minister Dr M.M. Joshi has consented to be the chief guest.
Design an invitation card to be sent to the parents and other invitees. Do not exceed 50 words.

5. Public demonstration causes a lot of disturbance in daily routine of common man. You almost missed
your important entrance examination as people blocked the highway. As Tarun/Taruna, a student aspiring to
be a doctor, write a letter to the Editor of ‘The Times of India’ highlighting the need to discourage such
demonstrations and disturbance by public on highways which cause a great loss of time and opportunity
for many .(120-150 words) 5
OR
Write an application (including a resume) in 120-150 words for the post of Assistant Manager advertised in a
national newspaper by JKL Publishers, Peshwa Road, Pune. You are Karuna, M114, Mall Road, Pune, a
graduate from SNDT University and have done a Secretarial Practice Course from YWCA, Mumbai.

6. By 2050,India will be amongst the countries which will face acute water shortage. You are highly alarmed
and terrified of the future world without water. So, write an article on “Save water-are we doing enough?” for
the local daily in 120-150 words.
5
OR
You are Karan /Kirti of [Link] Public School, Dwarka. Your school has adopted a village as a social
responsibility. Students are being taken to teach the children of that village on a regular basis. Write a report,
for your school magazine, on the various other programmes organized there in 150-200 words.

SECTION C — (Literature : Textbooks 40)

7. Read the extract and answer the question: 1X16=16

1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.

(A) For once on the face of the Earth

Let's not speak in any language
Let's stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.
It would be an exotic moment without rush.
without engines we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.

(a) What is the tone of the poet in the above lines?

[Link]
2. urge
3. request
4. command
Choose the most appropriate option.
(i) Only1.
(iii) 2, 3 and 4
(ii) 1 and 2 both
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(iv) 1 and 3

(b) Identify the line from extract that advocates, 'For ceasing of words to emit a state beyond the domain of
language itself."

(c) Which word the poet has used to employ the collectiveness in the poem?
(i) let's
(iii) let's and we
(ii) we
(iv) Let's, we and our

(d) Complete the analogy correctly. Do not repeat from used example.
Without rush: without engines :: Repetition :__________________________

(e) On the basis of the extract choose the correct option with reference to (1) and (2) given below.
(1) The result of keeping quiet will be that there will be togetherness
(2) Togetherness will foster harmony and brotherhood

(i) (1) is true (2) is false.

(ii) (2) is true (1) is false.
(iii) (2) is the result of (1).
(iv) Both (1) and (2) cannot be concluded from the extract.

(f) Now count to twelve; here twelve implies to____________________________

OR
(B) And realised with pain
that she was as old as she looked but soon
put that thought away, and looked out at Young
Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes, but after the airport's
security check, standing a few yards away,
I looked again at her, wan, pale.

(a) What does the 'Sprinting Trees' signify?

(b) The poet has written the poem in free verse and does not use full stop to________________________
(i) unbreak the thought process in the middle
(ii) express the notion
(iii) write in patterns of rhyme and meter
(iv) enjoy the freedom of writing

(c) ‘___________standing few yards away, I looked again at her wan pale," this displays Das's persona
of________’

(d) ‘Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. The poetic device used in this line matches
with........’
(i) Trees sprinting : personification
(ii) Merry children spilling : simile
(iii)That thought : Metaphor
(iv) Young Trees : Alliteration

(e) The tone of the poet in the above extract is

(i)Confessional
(ii) Sorrowful
(iii) Obliged
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(iv) Affectional

(f) On the basis of the extract choose the correct option with reference (1) and (2) given below.
1. The poet feels utterly bereft.
2. The poet was alarmed by the sudden realisation that old age had crept upon her mother.

(i) (2) is true (1) is false.

(ii) (1) is true (2) is false,
(iii) (2) is the reason for (1).
(v) (1) and (2) cannot be inferred from the extract.

2. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.

(A) Watching him she wondered if the stories they heard sometimes of the sufferings of prison were true. They
came like flickers of rumours told by the word of mouth and always contradicted. In the newspapers the
reports were always that where ever the Japanese armies went the people received them gladly, with cries of
joy at their liberation. But sometimes she remembered such men as General Takima,who at home beats his
wife cruelly, though no one mentioned it now that he had fought so victorious in a battle of Manchuria. If a
man like that could be so cruel to a woman in his power, would he not be cruel to once like this for instance?

(a) Select the suitable word from the extract to complete the following analogy.
Kind: courteous :: Flash:________________

(b) Which truth about General Takima is unknown to the people?

(i) Fought victoriously in the battle
(ii) Beats his wife at home
(iii) Won the battle of Manchuria
(iv) Received cries of joy

(c) Based on the extract choose the option which is true for Hana.
1. She appreciates Japanese army
2. She is empathetic about women
3. She points the biased feature of newspaper
4. She wonders about the sufferings of prisoners
(i) 1 and 2
(ii) 3, 2 and 1
(iii) 1, 2 and 4
(iv) none of the above

(d) Rewrite the sentence by replacing the underlined word with its inference in the extract.
‘___________________would he not be cruel to once like this for instance?

OR

(B) Right at the start, it is imperative to disclose a matter of vital importance about the Tiger King. Everyone
who reads of him will experience the natural desire to meet a man of his indomitable courage face to face. But
there is no chance of his fulfillment. As Bharat said to Ram about Dasarath, The Tiger King had reached that
final abode of all living creatures. In other words the Tiger King is dead.

(a) Complete the sentence appropriately with reference to the extract.

‘________________As Bharat said to Ram about Dasarath that______________’

(b) ‘_____________A man of his indomitable courage.' is a satire on______________’

(i) people
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(ii) animals
(iii) birds
(iv) the conceit of those in power

(c) The narrator says, it is imperative to disclose the matter of vital importance about the Tiger King
____________’,The matter which the narrator wants to reveal is__________________
Choose the correct option in reference with context.
(i) The death of Tiger King
(ii) The reason of death of Tiger King
(iii) The lineage of incidents after the death of Tiger King
(iv) None of the above

(d) Replace the underlined phrase in the following sentence from the phrase used the extract.
My Grandmother passed away yesterday.

3. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.

(A) My last French lesson! Why. I hardly knew how to write! I should never learn any more! I must stop there,
then! Oh, how sorry I was for not learning my lessons, for seeking birds' eggs, or going sliding on the Saar!
My books, that had seemed such a nuisance a while ago, so heavy to carry, my grammar, and my history of
the saints, were old friends now that I couldn't give up. And M. Hamel, too; the idea that he was going away,
that I should never see him again, made me forget all about his ruler and how cranky he was.

(a) Select the proverb that best outlines the moral in the above extract.
(i) ‘Procastination is the thief of time, Collar him.’
(ii) 'Both positive and negative thinking are contagious.’
(iii) An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
(iv) The grass is always green on the other side of the fence.

(b) List the objects which seem intimidating to Franz.

(c) 'My books that had seemed such a nuisance a while ago________________were old friends now that I
couldn't give up.' In these lines Daudet has cited an example of__________________
(i) Irony : Verbal irony
(ii) Irony : Situational irony
(iii) Irony : Dramatic
(iv) Irony : Conditional irony

(d) Complete the sentence appropriately with reference to the context.

The narrator has not learnt the lessons for seeking birds' eggs because____________________

(e) ‘_______________I should never learn anymore… . ‘Protagonist of the story is repented
for_____________
(i) Not learning the French Language
(ii) Not paying attention in class
(iii) Not listening to teacher
(iv) Not going sliding on the Saar

(f) The story in the extract matches with the cherishable fable______________
(i) The Thirsty Crow
(ii) The Hare and The Tortoise
(iii) The Greedy Fox
(iv) The Fox and The Crow

OR

(B) When I leave," Sophie said, coming home from school, I'm going to have a boutique."
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Jansie linking arms with her along the street; looked doubtful.
Takes money, Soaf something like that."
I'll find it,' Sophie said, staring far down the street.
Take you a long time to save that much.'
'Well I'll be manager then-- yes, of course--- to begin with, Till I've got enough. But anyway, I know just how
it'sall going to look."
They wouldn't make you manager straight off, Soaf."
I'll be Mary Quant,' Sophie said. I'll be a natural. They'll see it from the start. I'll have the most amazing shop
this city's ever seen."
Jansie, knowing they were both earmarked for the biscuit factory, became melancholy. She wished Sophie
wouldn't say these things.

(a) Select the option which is best fit to Sophie and Jansie in the extract.
(i) Sophie: day dreamer, Jansie: pragmatist
(ii) Sophie: down to earth, Jansie: status-pro
(iii) Sophie: mature, Jansie: ambitious
(iv) Sophie: smart, Jansie: timid

(b) Which of the following would NOT be the example of satire used in the extract?
(I) _____________Well I'll be the manager then...'
(II) .........I'll be Mary Quant...'
(III)they were both earmarked for the biscuit factory'
(IV) ........looked doubtful..."

(c) Write the word from the extract which is synonym of 'desolation'.

(d)........She wished Sophie wouldn't say these things.....

What was the significant thing which Jansie might have wished that Sophie would not say as per the extract?

(e) Sophie and Jansie are discussing.......in the extract.

(i) About the Mary Quant (ii) About overcoming the struggle of their life
(iii) About the future plan (iv) About the biscuit factory

(f) Write the antonym of UNLIMITED from the above extract.

8. Answer ANY FIVE of the following in about 40-50 words each. 2X5 = 10
(a) Why were M. Hamel's words like a thunderclap to Franz?
(b) Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.
(c) What impression do you get of Douglas from the chapter 'Deep Water'?
(d) Interpret the symbols found in the poem 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers'.
(e) What, according to Pablo Neruda, would be the ultimate end of man if the present scenario of wars
continued?
(f) Keats feels that Nature binds us to the Earth. How does he justify this statement?

9. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each. 2X2 = 4
(a) What does the third level refer to? What is the significance of the third level?
(b) Comment on the ending of the play 'On the Face of It".
(c) How did the Dewan manage to get the hundredth tiger for the Maharaja?

10. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 120-150 words each. 5
(A) The peddler believed that the whole world is a rattrap. How did he himself get caught in the same?
OR
(B) "The order from Berlin aroused a particular zeal in the school." Comment.

11. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 120-150 words each. 5

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(A) Both Derry and Lamb are victims of physical impairment, but much more painful for them is the feeling
of loneliness. Comment.
OR
(B) How did the negligence of the prison officers prove to be a boon for Tom?
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