PASSAGE- 1

Cowards die many times before their death. - Julius Caesar

Proverbs are words of erudition or simple home truths expressed in a sentence…often
metaphoric in nature. They basically deal with dictates on the disciplined and proper
conduct of one’s life.
The study of Proverbs is called Paremiology and the origin of proverbs can be traced as far as
the times of the great Philosopher Aristotle. But the authors of most of the proverbs are
unknown.
Brevity is typically the soul of proverbs - a factor that makes it punchy and effective in driving
across an intense truth. They are also easily remembered because of this. Although advisory
in nature they do not tend to preach. Being simple and precise, sans flowery language, they
are easily accepted by all people, immaterial of their religion, sex, race or nationality.
Every language has its own sets of proverbs, owing their origin to literary works or religious
books. Proverbs in English are more in common use today. Many of the English proverbs can
be traced back to the Bible from where they seem to have originated. However, some
proverbs from other languages are still popular and used many a times by all people. Many
authors and the story-tellers use the proverbs quite often to emphasis their points and
perceptions. The political orators as well as the religious preachers use the proverbs from
their respective religions to make their points strong and convincing.

1. Answer the following questions

a) What is paremiology? 1
b) What is proverb? 2
c) What are the main features of a proverb? 2
d) Who uses proverbs? And why? 3
e) What is the meaning of the word ‘speaker’? 1
f) Write a synonym of the word ‘knowledge’? 1

PASSAGE- 2
Students tend to lose their pencils, break them without thinking, and find all sorts of
non-writing uses for them. The pencil in your hand is one of the most remarkable and
useful tools in the world. A man named Friedrich Staedtler invented the modern
“lead” pencil in about 1622 in Germany. He was the first person to mass produce
them. Staedtler did not use lead, and there is no lead in your pencil. However, some
pencils did use lead until the early twentieth century. Lead will make a mark, but it is
toxic and not safe to use either in the hands or around the face and mouth where
many pencils sometimes stray. Staedtler used black graphite, a soft form of carbon.
Graphite is still used today. It is mixed with clay and wax and heated to high
temperatures. The modern pencil is a superb piece of technology. The pencil is less
messy than ink, can be easily erased, and makes clear, dark, smooth, and smudge free
lines. The modern pencil can produce a continuous line twenty-two miles long. That’s
a distance of 116,160-foot-long rulers laid end to end. Enjoy your pencil. For a few
cents each, it is a remarkable bargain.
 1. Answer the following questions:
a) Mention three improper ways in which students make use of pencils. 3
b) Lead is rarely used to make pencils. Why so? 1
c) Of what material are pencils made of? 1
d) Why can we consider the modern pencil to be a superb piece of technology? 1
e) The modern pencil can produce something fantastic. What is it? 2
f) Find words in the passage that mean the following: - 2
i) Poisonous ii) Disordered

PASSAGE- 3
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
1. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines music as ‘the art of combining vocal or
instrumental sounds (or both) to produce beauty of form, harmony and expression of
emotion’. It is a form of art wherein different sounds are merged together to create a
pleasing sound. The word “music’ comes from the Greek word ‘mousike’, which means ‘art
of the Muses’. In ancient Greece, the Muses included the goddesses of music, poetry, art
and dance. Music is not only for entertainment. It touches the soul and thus is capable of
breaking boundaries to unite people from different backgrounds and cultural heritage. It
dissolves the physical boundaries of the nations. It removes the barriers of age and
language, and speaks to us all. Thus, it is the singular greatest force that is capable of binding
people in brotherhood, love as well as peace
2. Legends talk about the magical power of music. Orpheus, a legendary Greek master
musician and lyre-player, had the ability to charm all living things and even stones with his
music. Tansen and Baiju Bawra could light lamps, melt stones, blossom flowers in autumn,
and make it rain just by the precise use of the accurate tune. The importance of music is felt
even more in today’s stress-riddled life. Music soothes the nerves and helps us relax. Melody
has the power to cure mental or physical exhaustion. It has been proved that music has
miraculous powers to treat anxiety and depression. It is also known to cure insomnia. Music
also helps us to connect with our deeper self and bring our emotions to the fore.
3. Music is known to help children develop linguistic skills. They are fascinated with the tone
and try to repeat and figure out the meaning. Children should be introduced to the basics
concepts of music in school at an early age and if they show any inclination towards it, they
will have ample time to pursue it.
4. Music is also the best expression of emotions. One can express anger, love, passion, joy
and other kinds of feelings simply through music. It has the ability to convey what words
cannot. This is why accomplished musicians are held in very high esteem and most coveted
awards have been conferred upon them.

1. Answer the following questions .

a. Define music with your own words. ( 1)
b. Why is music an important part of our lives? (1)
c. Mention two legendary Indian musicians. What could they accomplish with their music?
(2)
d. How does music benefit children? (2)
e. How is music’ an expression of our emotions? (2)
f. Why are musicians held in great esteem in our society? (2)
g. Which words in the passage mean the following? (2)
i) synchronization (para 1) ii) sleeplessness (para 2)

POEM - 4
Read the poem carefully and answer the questions that follow:
The Leader
Patient and steady with all he must bear,
Ready to meet every challenge with care,
Easy in manner, yet solid as steel,
Strong in his faith, refreshingly real,
Isn’t afraid to propose what is bold,
Doesn’t conform to the usual mould,
Eyes that have foresight, for hindsight won’t do,
Never backs down when he sees what is true,
Tells it all straight, and means it all too,
Going forward and knowing he’s right,
Even when doubted for why he would fight,
Over and over, he makes his case clear
Reaching to touch the ones who won’t hear.
Growing in strength, he won’t be unnerved,
Even assuring he’ll stand by his word.
Wanting the world to join his firm stand,
Bracing for war, but praying for peace,
Using his power so evil will cease:
So much a leader of worthy of trust,
Here stands a man who will do what he must.

2. Answer the following questions.

a.) What does the poet mean by saying that a leader must be solid “solid as steel”? (2)
b.) What should a leader do when people don’t listen to him? (2)
c.) Which line in the poem suggests that a leader does things differently and doesn’t follow
the norm? (1)
d.) What is a leader’s attitude towards war? (3)
e.) Find the synonym of the word from the poem. (2)
i) Stop ii) Longing
 PASSAGE- 5
1. A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to honour a person or an
event, or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of
historic times or cultural heritage, or as an example of historic architecture. The term
'monument' is often applied to buildings or structures that are considered examples of
important architectural and cultural heritage.
2. The origin of the word ‘monument’ comes from the Latin word ‘moneo’ or ‘monere’,
which means 'to remind', 'to advise' or 'to warn', suggesting a monument allows us to see
the past, thus helping us visualize what is to come in the future. In English the word
‘monumental’ is often used in reference to something of extraordinary size and power, as in
monumental sculpture, but also to mean simply anything made to commemorate the dead,
as a funerary monument or other example of funerary art.
3. Monuments have been created for thousands of years, and they are often the most
durable and famous symbols of ancient civilizations. Prehistoric tumuli, dolmens, and similar
structures have been created in a large number of prehistoric cultures across the world, and
the many forms of monumental tombs of the more wealthy and powerful members of a
society are often the source of much of our information and art from those cultures. As
societies became organized on a larger scale, so monuments so large as to be difficult to
destroy like the Egyptian Pyramids, the Greek Parthenon, the Great Wall of China, Indian Taj
Mahal or the Moai of Easter Island have become symbols of their civilizations. In more
recent times, monumental structures such as the Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower have
become iconic emblems of modern nation-states.
4. Structures created for other purposes that have been made notable by their age, size or
historic significance may also be regarded as monuments. This can happen because of great
age and size, as in the case of the Great Wall of China, or because an event of great
importance occurred there such as the village of Oradour-sur-Glane in France. Many
countries use monument or similar terms for the official designation of protected structures
or archaeological sites which may originally have been ordinary domestic houses or other
buildings.

1. Answer the following questions:

a. What is a monument? (1)
b. Describe the origin of the word ‘monument’? (1)
c. Name some monuments that symbolize their civilizations. (1)
d. Which monuments have become iconic emblems? (1)
e. Why are some structures created for other purposes, also regarded as monuments? (2)
f. Monuments are important because: (1)
i) they are iconic emblems of modern nation - states
ii) they are made to commemorate the dead
iii) they are examples of architectural and cultural heritage
iv) all of the above.
g. The noun form of ‘funerary’is : i) funer ii) funerial iii) funeral iv) funerative (1)
h. Find the word from the passage which means the same as ‘memory’. (1)
i. Write the word from the passage which is the antonym of ‘modern’. (1)
PASSAGE- 6
Read the following passage carefully:
1. Lifestyle diseases are the diseases associated with the way people lead their lives. These
include heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, etc. Across the world, about 14.2 million people
between the ages of 30 and 69 years die prematurely each year from these diseases.
Undoubtedly, urbanization and medical advancement have brought about tremendous
improvements in healthcare and the general standards of living. But there have been many
negative implications of the changed lifestyle behaviours as well. Dealing with day-to-day
struggles, we often compromise on diet, exercise, rest and relaxation, making convenient
but poor choices.

2. While the toll from infectious diseases like tuberculosis, influenza and smallpox has
greatly reduced, lifestyle diseases such as depression, anxiety, psycho-emotional
disturbances, unsocial responses, insomnia, eating disorders, drug addiction, cardiovascular
diseases, gastric ulcers, obesity, early ageing, and cancer have seen a dramatic rise.
Consequently, these diseases have emerged as bigger killers than most infectious or
hereditary ones.

3. Undoubtedly, technology has made our life simpler, but it has also caused a dramatic
increase in pollution. This pollution of air, water, soil, noise and light has led to myriad
problems. Noise pollution has led to an increase in neurotic problems, hypertension, heart
related diseases, while air pollution is responsible for many respiratory ailments and cancer.
Water pollution has led to various water-borne diseases such as allergies, cholera,
gastroenteritis and jaundice. Unhealthy food and lack of exercise are the risk factors for
various diseases.

4. In order to lead a healthy life in the present times, we must reduce the consumption of
fast food, soft drinks and excessive consumption of fat. These should be replaced with
cereals, vegetables, pulses, rice and milk. Physical exercise should be a part of our daily
routine. We must have pollution-free zones. Over and above, we must develop a positive
attitude in life. This will help us relax.

1. Answer the following questions:

i) What are lifestyle diseases? (1)
ii) What are the two factors that have positively impacted health? (2)
iii) What is the alarming situation related to these diseases? (2)
iv) Mention two disadvantages of modern lifestyle. (2)
v) What are the adverse effects of technology on our lives? (2)
2. Find words from the passage which are the synonyms of the words given
below. (2)
i) Ahead of time (para 1) ii) Genetic (para 2)

PASSAGE- 7

Read the following poem carefully:

Trees Cannot Name the Seasons
Trees cannot name the seasons
Nor flowers tell the time
But when the sun shines
They take a long-day breath
What we call ‘night’
Is their soft exhalation.

And when joints creak yet again

And the dead skin of leaves falls.
Trees don’t complain.
Nor mourn the passing of hours.
What we call ‘winter’
Is simply hibernate.

And as continuation
Comes to them as no surprise
They feel no need
To divide and itemize
Nature has never needed reasons
For flowers to tell the time
On trees to put a name to seasons.

1. Complete the following sentences by filling in the gaps. (6)

a) The poet feels that nature is not worried about ----------------------------.
b) However, men ………………………………………… to the passage of time.
c) Flowers and trees accept …………………………… as normal.
d) What we call winter is simply ……………………………………
e) Night is ………………………………………..
f) Nature does not feel the need to obtain and list because
……………………

g. By talking about flowers and trees what comment is the poet making on
man? (2)
h. Find words from the poem which are the synonyms of the words given below. (2)
i) Sigh ii) Lament
 PASSAGE- 8
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bell a shake

To ask if there is some mistake
The only other sounds the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep.

1. Fill in one word to complete the summary of the poem. (1/2X4=2)

The poet is passing through (a) ……… ………………….. and (b)…………………….. forests. It is a cold
and (c)………………….. evening. The lake has (d)………………………… in the middle of the woods.
2. “He gives his harness bell a shake.”
Who is ‘he’ in the line? Why is he surprised? (2)
3. Which sounds does the poet hear in the forest? (1)
4. Describe the forest in your own words.
(3)
5. Find words from the passage which are the synonyms of the words given below. (2)
i) Strange ii) Solid

GRAMMAR

1. Identify the case of the nouns in italics.

1. He has cleaned his house. • Nominative • Objective • Possessive
2. The wind blew the leaves. • Nominative • Objective • Possessive
3. My cousins’ books are expensive. • Nominative • Objective • Possessive
4. I gave my mother a present. • Nominative • Objective • Possessive
5. The boy’s bicycle is broken. • Nominative • Objective • Possessive
6. She enjoyed her English lessons. • Nominative • Objective • Possessive
7. We elected Raghu the captain. • Nominative • Objective • Possessive
 8. The cat is on the roof. • Nominative • Objective • Possessive
9. We jogged a mile. • Nominative • Objective • Possessive
10. This is some property of my father’s. • Nominative • Objective • Possessive
2. DO AS DIRECTED
a. Alice is thinking of leaving the country. Here Alice is a ________________ case.
b. I supported team A in the match. Here team A is _________________ case.
c. John’s sister has been hospitalized. Here John’s is _________ case.
d. The teacher gave the students few exercises. Here “students” is in __________ case.
e. Sita is a good girl. (Circle the nominative case)
f. The painter paints the portraits. The painter is in Accusative case. (True/False)
g. The policeman looked at the bag. (Identify the object of a preposition)
h. The vendors sell mangoes. Here “mangoes” is in Dative case. (True/False)
i. The tree fell on my car. (Underline the nominative case)
j. This is your pencil. Here yours is in Possessive case. (True/False)

3. Write Yes or No whether the underlined are in Objective Case?

a. Neetu broke the glass. _______
b. Lynne owns this website. _______
c. Mark’s birthday is in June. ________
d. Dad prepared the dinner. _________
e. I baked him a cake. ________
4. Correct the following sentences if necessary.
a. The table’s leg was broken.
b. She got a job in the children section of the library.
c. Thank you for sending me a copy of his book.
d. Rhea gave me a puppy.
e. Wordsworth and Shelley’s poems are very interesting to read.
5. Use the Possessive Case according to the example and make a sentence
with it.
Car / Tim Answer: Tim’s car
a. Book / Phil ________________
b. Toys / those children ________________
c. Marcus / foot ________________
d. Eyes / the cats _______________
e. That man / keys _______________
6. Choose the correct option.
a. She is a singer. (Which word is a Direct Object?)
i. She ii. Is iii. singer iv. None of the above
b. Lisa, are you coming to the picnic? (Which word is in Subjective Case?)
i. Lisa ii. you iii. picnic iv. coming
c. This is Aric’s laptop. (Which word is in possessive case?)
 i. This ii. Aric’s iii. Laptop iv. All of the above
d. This is one of my policies. (Which word is in objective case?)
i. This ii. one iii. policies iv. None of the above
e. The cat is on the roof. (The word roof is in which case?)
i. Subjective ii. Objective iii. Possessive iv. Dative

[Link] the type of the pronoun of the following sentences.

1. What did you put in the box?
2. I will complete the work by myself.
3. The temple that was shut for years has been opened.
4. This is the book you were looking for.
5. To whom does this dress belong?
6. The boys are riding their bicycles.
7. These houses are mine.
8. The poet, who recited the poetry will get the award.
9. Who tells you these stories?
10. We cleaned the room ourselves.

8. Underline the pronoun in each sentence below. Circle the antecedent the
pronoun refers to.
1. Susan walked to the park. She enjoyed jumping on the trampoline.
2. Sharon loves to walk on the beach. She watches the sunset often.
3. Donald enjoys playing basketball. He knows that it is his favorite sport.
4. David, John and Michael enjoy playing soccer. They love teamwork.
5. The man must face the death penalty. He must face it with courage.
6. Jason hit the baseball. He hit it hard over the fence.
7. Darren drove his new car. He likes it very much.
8. Jimmy bought a new computer. He does research on it every day.
9. Michael shot the basketball. He saw it go through the net.
10. The submarine went under water. It descended many feet.
11. Which is the shop that you have just bought?
12. Long ago, a man came to our village, but no one knew him.
13. I feel she has some problems but she doesn’t want to discuss them.

9. Join these sentences using relative pronouns :

1. Last evening I saw a man . He could paint with his feet.
2. That lady is my mother. She is arranging my boo ks.
3. The train is bound for Varanasi. It just left the platform.
4. I am sorry for Sandeep . He was not selected for the main role.
5. Our army destroyed the bun kers . Some terrorists were hiding in them.
6. I thanked the doctor . He had saved the dog .
7. The incident was very inspiring . You narrated it to me .
8. The teacher praised the children . They had been maintaining the park.
10. Determine whether the underlined word is an interrogative pronoun or
an interrogative adjective.
1. Whose camera is this? A. Interrogative Pronoun B. Interrogative Adjective
2. Once you finish the lesson, what are you going to do next? A. Interrogative Pronoun B.
Interrogative Adjective
3. To whom did you give the message? A. Interrogative Pronoun B. Interrogative Adjective
4. Which meat would go better with potatoes: chicken or beef? A. Interrogative Pronoun B.
Interrogative Adjective
5. What do you mean by that comment? A. Interrogative Pronoun B. Interrogative
Adjective
6. Whose bike is that? A. Interrogative Pronoun B. Interrogative Adjective
7. What route would you like to take this time? A. Interrogative Pronoun B. Interrogative
Adjective
8. Which is the best answer among all the choices? A. Interrogative Pronoun B. Interrogative
Adjective
9. Who left you the message? A. Interrogative Pronoun B. Interrogative Adjective
10. Whose house will we visit today? A. Interrogative Pronoun B. Interrogative Adjective
11. Complete the sentences using pronouns
1. …………………………… is this jumper? I found it in the garden.
2. With …………………………… have you been discussing the matter?
3. …………………………… are you going to the dance with? I’m going with Tony.
4. …………………………… are you doing tomorrow evening? Do you fancy going for
a pizza?
5. I like the green one best. …………………………… is your favourite?
6. …………………………… shall we have for dinner tonight? Is there anything you
fancy?
7. …………………………… umbrella is this? It’s not mine!
8. I’m trying to get in touch with James Montgomery. To …………………………… am
I speaking?
9. …………………………… did you have lunch with?
10. We have chocolate or strawberry. …………………………… one do you want?
[Link] the sentence halves, underlining the correct word.
1. Whatever / whoever can he ……… a. want to live in such a
horrid area? I certainly
wouldn’t!
2. Whose / what ……… b. have done to have made
his mother so angry?
3. Whoever / whatever would ……… c. were you talking in such
an aggressive manner?
4. This one’s mine. What / which ……… d. notebook this is? There is
no name on it.
 5. To who / whom ……… e. one’s yours?
WRITING SKILLS
1. You are Neena / Navin, a student of Max Public School, Mumbai. You are
concerned about the lack of awareness around animal rights. Write a letter to the
editor about the need to raise awareness about animal rights among the public.
2. You are Chahat / Chetan, an IT Professional. You want to raise awareness about
the rising incidences of cyber crimes. Write a letter to the editor of Cyber magazine
“Info news”, highlighting the issue and suggesting measures to prevent such
happenings.
3. People have adapted to wearing face masks as a ‘new normal’. But most of them
do not know how to dispose of them properly. Spread awareness regarding the
disposal of protective masks by writing a letter to an editor of a popular
newspaper.
4. You are Kanika / Karan. Your school’s Fitness Club hosted a workshop called “Art
of Living for Students.” Write a letter to the editor of the local daily newspaper,
giving your thoughts on the matter.
5. write a letter to the editor of a national daily highlighting the urgent need for
opening a good public library in your area.
6. Write a letter (to the dealer) complaining about a typewriter which has been badly
damaged when it arrived you.
7. You are Sujal/Sujata of Pragya Public School, Nagai, Punjab who had arranged a
trip for fifty students to Nainital in summer vacations for ten days with ‘Mount
Travels and Tourism’. The arrangements done by the travel agency were far below
standard. The accommodation and food facilities were inferior in quality. Write a
letter of complaint to the director of the agency to stop duping tourists with false
promises as it tarnishes the image of locals.
8. You are Neha/Nikunj of class X of a Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, New Police Colony,
Rohtak. Your school is situated on the main road and there are no traffic lights at
the crossing near your school. Write a letter to the Superintendent of Police
(Traffic), Rohtak, requesting him to install traffic lights at the crossing near your
school.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT IN THE WORLD

A. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS. (1 MARKS)
1. What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have when they were not soldiers?
2. Which war does the story ‘The Best Christmas Present in the World’ talk about?
3. Which was Hans Wolf’s favourite book?
4. Why Mrs Macpherson continued using candles for light?
5. What did the matron in the Burlington House Nursing home offer to the narrator?
B. EXTRACT BASE QUESTIONS.
1. “Then they were calling out to us from across no man’s land,
“Happy Christmas, Tommy! Happy Christmas!” When we had got
 over the surprise, some of us shouted back, “Same to you, Fritz!
Same to you!” I thought that would be that. We all did. But then
suddenly one of them was up there in his grey greatcoat and waving
a white flag. “Don’t shoot, lads!” someone shouted. And no one did.
Then there was another Fritz up on the parapet, and another. “Keep
your heads down,” I told the men, “It’s a trick.” But it wasn’t.”
i) Who was the speaker of these lines? (1)
ii) Jim and Hans think of an alternate to war. What was that? (1)

iii) What is the trick that the speaker is talking about? (1)
a) The waving of flag by the Germans.
b) The Germans wishing Christmas.
c) The Germans offering their food and drinks.
d) The Germans playing football.

iv) What was the speaker’s reaction when he realises that it

wasn’t a trick? (1)
a) He was ashamed.
b) He gets angry.
c) He was embarrassed.
d) He began to cry.

2. “That was the moment her eyes lit up with recognition and her face
became suffused with a sudden glow of happiness. I explained
about the desk, about how I had found it, but I don't think she was
listening. For a while she said nothing, but stroked the letter
tenderly with her fingertips.”
i) Who is her in these lines? (1)
ii) Why did she keep stroking the letter? (2)
iii) Why did she become happy? (1)
a) Because it was Christmas.
b) At the sight of the visitor.
c) Because the matron had served apple pie.
d) On seeing the decorations and the Christmas tree.
iv) Why did old Mrs Macpherson misunderstand the identity
of her visitor? (1)
a) Because she was very angry.
b) Because she was too old to recognise the narrator.
c) The visitor came in disguise.
d) The visitor hid his identity.
C) SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTION (2/3 MARKS)
1. Why was the narrator unable to sleep having read Jim’s letter to
Connie?
2. Describe the hall to which the matron took the narrator to meet Connie.
3. Why did old Mrs Macpherson become happy when she met the
narrator?
4. how did Mrs Macpherson’s house catch fire?
D) LONG QUESTIONS (4/5 MARKS)
1. Discuss the significance of the letter in the story The best Christmas
Present on the world.
2. Why was the Christmas party a wonderful experience to Jim?
3. Is war the only way of resolving conflicts between nations?
The Tsunami
1. Extract based questions.
i) It was 26 December 2004. Deadly Tsunami waves were already on their way.
They had been triggered by a massive earthquake off northern Sumatra earlier
that morning. “The water was swelling and kept coming in”. Penny Smith
remembered. “The beach was getting smaller and smaller. I didn’t know what
was happening.” But Tilly Smith sensed that something was wrong. Her mind
kept going back to a geography lesson she had taken in England just two weeks
before she flew out to Thailand with her family.
a) Why Tilly’s family did go to Thailand?
b) What were the signs that Tilly Smith had observed on the beach?
c) Why was Tilly’s mind going back to geography lesson?
d) Write down any two adjectives mentioned in the passage.
ii) Ignesious was the manager of a cooperative society in Katchall. His wife
woke him up at 6 a.m. because she felt an earthquake. Ignesious carefully took
his television set off its table and put it down on the ground so that it would
not fall and break. Then the family rushed out of the house. When the tremors
stopped, they saw the sea rising. In the chaos and confusion, two of his
children caught hold of the hands of their mother’s father and mother’s
brothers, and rushed in the opposite direction. He never saw them again. His
wife was also swept away. Only the three other children who came with him
were saved.
a) Who was Ignesious?
b) Why did his wife wake him up?
c) How many family members he lost in this Tsunami.
d) Give meaning of the words (i) tremors (ii) chaos

2. Answer the following questions.

a) What are the similarities between Meghna and Almas’s stories?
b) Why do you think Tilly’s family had come to Thailand?
c) Where did the Smith and the others on the beach go to escape from the
tsunami?
d) Refer some incidents that can prove that animals have a sixth sense or more
acute hearing ability?
e) What were the warning signs that both Tilly and her mother saw?
f) what was the contribution of Tilly’s Geography teacher? How did that help
Tilly in Thailand?

3. MCQ
i) Penny Smith’s initial reaction to the tsunami was
a. Anxiety
b. Indifference
c. Terror
d. Confusion
ii) What convinced Penny Smith to leave the beach?
A. Seeing how upset his daughter was
B. The severity of the earthquake
C. Seeing other people leave
D. The size of the waves
iii) What is the main idea of the third section?
a. Animals in different places react differently to natural calamities
b. Animals were not affected much by the tsunami
c. Animals helped save many humans from the tsunami
d. Animals seem to be able to sense natural calamities early
iv) how many people died in the Patamamgala beach?
a. 60 b. 80 c. 130 d. 2
The Ant and the Cricket
A. Extract based questions.
1. But tell me, dear cricket,
did you lay nothing by
When the weather was
warm?” Quoth the cricket,
“Not I!
My heart was so light
That I sang day and night,
For all nature looked gay.”
“You sang, Sir, you say
Go then,” says the ant, “and dance the winter away.”
i) Who sang day and night?
ii) What does the ant tell to the cricket?
iii) Why does the ant tell the cricket to dance the winter away?
iv) What were the consequences of the cricket’s actions during the
warm weather?
v) Explain the meaning “lay nothing by”.

2. A silly young cricket, accustomed to sing

Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring,
Began to complain when he found that, at home,
His cupboard was empty, and winter was come.
Not a crumb to be found
On the snow-covered ground;
Not a flower could he see,
Not a leaf on a tree.
“Oh! what will become,” says the cricket, “of me?”
i) What does the poet call the cricket?
ii) The word accustomed means?
iii) What emotion do these lines indicate?
iv) Why is the cricket called ‘silly’?
v) Where all did the cricket look for food?
vi) How is winter described in these lines?
B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
i) What were the main pre-occupation of the cricket?
ii) Why does the poet say that this fable is true.
iii) What is a fable? Give example.
iv) Why is the ant called misery?
v) How far was the cricket responsible for his fate?
vi) The ant refuses to help the cricket because of his principles?
What is his principle explain?
vii) Describe the ant and the cricket in respect of the poem.
viii) Does the poet criticize the ant for his unhelpful bahaviour?
ix) Discuss the moral lesson imparted by the poem.
x) The cricket says, “Oh! What will become of me?” When does he say
it and why?
xi) My heart was so light, That I sang day and night, For all nature looked
gay.” Who says these lines and when?
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