DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL DWARKA

ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT
CLASS X
FOR ANNE GREGORY

WRITTEN WORK

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q1. The “yellow hair” is a symbol in the poem. Briefly support the statement
with reference to the poem “For Anne Gregory”.
Ans. The ‘yellow hair’ is a symbol of outward physical beauty which is temporary.
Shallow minded people adore only physical beauty we should look for spiritual
beauty before falling in love with a lady. Physical beauty is just skin-deep and is
momentary.

Q2. The advice given by elders is crucial to young lives. Explain in the context
of the poem “For Anne Gregory”.
Ans. It’s not just the age of the people but also the experience added to those years
that make elders wiser and more practical. Younger generation can get proper
guidance from them. Their words of wisdom can prove an asset for the young lives
and the years ahead of these young people can be used more productively and
fruitfully following the advice of the older people.

LONG ANSWER QUESTION

Q1. How do the young woman and the young man justify their views about
love in the poem ‘For Anne Gregory’?
Ans. The young man believes in the physical aspect of love. He says that young men
love young women for their yellow hair i.e., her youth and physical beauty. They are
not capable of seeing their inner beauty. The young man quotes an old religious
man, who has found a text, to prove that only God can see the inner beauty of a
people and love them for that. Men are incapable of seeing inner beauty. They are
drawn only by physical appearances. Therefore, no young man can love a young
woman who is not beautiful. The young woman believes in true loves. She wants her
lover to love her for herself and not because of her physical appearance. She is even
prepared to dye her beautiful yellow golden hair to some other colour, in order to look
ugly. She thinks she would then meet someone who would see her inner beauty and
love her for that. The poem ends on a note that she being a beautiful person, God
would always love her for her good and kind nature.

FOR DISCUSSION
Reference to Context:

1.​ Read the following extract and answer the questions / complete the sentences
that follow:
“I heard an old religious man
 But yesternight declare
That he had found a text to prove
That only God, my dear,
Could love you for yourself alone

Q1. A compound word from the extract is ____________.

Ans. Yesternight

Q2. How is God’s love different from the love of young lovers?
Ans. God’s love is superior to all other love it is unconditional. It is not for the
physical beauty where as young people go after physical appearance and not the
internal beauty.

Q3. Choose the phrase that best represents, ‘love you for yourself alone’.
A.​ Unconditional love
B.​ Unseemly love
C.​ Unrequited love
D.​ Understated love

Ans. Unconditional love

Q4. The above stanza strongly defies the idea of __________.

A.​ Internal qualities
B.​ External beauty
C.​ Spiritual self
D.​ Divinity

Ans. External beauty

 DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL DWARKA
ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT
CLASS X
FIRST FLIGHT
The Tale of Custard the Dragon
Poem By – Ogden Nash

Written Work

Questions and Answers

Q.1. Why did Custard cry for a nice, safe cage? Why was Custard called ‘cowardly’?

Ans. Custard was Belinda’s pet dragon. He truly believed that everyone was braver than him. He felt
vulnerable and so cried for a cage where he would remain safe.
Custard is teased mercilessly by all and called a coward which Custard believes to be true.

Q.2. Describe the appearance of the dragon.

Ans. Custard had spikes on the upper part of his body and had scales underneath. His teeth were big
and sharp. He spat fire from his mouth and snorted out smoke from his nose. His claws were as
sharp and pointed as daggers.

Q.3. Do you find ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ to be a serious or light – hearted poem? Give
reasons to support your answer.

Ans. At the outset, ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ may seem like a light – hearted poem written
in ballad form. On closer reading, we find that it is a profound poem which gives us an insight into
human behaviour.
The poem tells us that the ones who boast about their bravery may turn out to be cowards. On the other
hand, those assumed cowardly might actually be the bravest among all. Despite showcasing their
faintheartedness, the pets continue to brag about their bravery. Custard, seems underconfident and
humble and does not stand up for himself.
The poem comments on the fact that people may be deceptive and there is more to them than meets the
eye. The poet puts across his message in a humorous manner and has used many poetic devices to add
to the charm of the poem.

FOR DISCUSSION

Reference to Context:

I. ‘Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful,

Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him Percival.’

Q1. Who does ‘him’ refer to?

Ans. ‘Him’ refers to Belinda’s pet dragon, Custard.

Q2. Why did Belinda tickle Custard?

 Ans. Belinda’s tickling the dragon reveals his soft and vulnerable side. Custard was a dragon,
but was seen as a coward. He felt weak and unequal to others, hence cried for a safe cage.
Belinda tickled him teasingly to mock him.

Q3. Explain ‘unmerciful’.

Ans. ‘Unmerciful’ here means ‘constantly and continuously, without any pity’.

Q4. Why do the other animals called Custard ‘Percival’?

Ans. ‘Percival’ was one of King Arthur’s bravest knights. They mockingly called him
Percival to bring out the contrast between the two in order to make fun of Custard.

Questions and Answers:

Q1. ‘List the characters in this poem with their names.

Ans. ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ has five main characters. They are Belinda, a little girl; her
black cat Ink, her grey mouse Blink, her yellow dog Mustard and her pet dragon Custard. A dangerous
looking pirate makes a brief appearance in the poem.
 DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL DWARKA
ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT- CLASS X
FIRST FLIGHT
POEM: FOG
WRITTEN WORK

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS:

Q.1. Would you describe the role of the fog as active or passive? Elaborate.

Ans. The role of the fog is passive as depicted in the poem as it enters a place
silently, stays there for some time, looks around and then disappears quietly. The
entry and exit of the fog remains unnoticeable like that of a cat, yet it affects
everyone's life. People get affected when the fog envelops the world.

Q2 Why does the poet use the phrase "silent haunches"?

Ans. The fog comes stealthily and engulfs the whole land, until the human eye can
reach, the city, the harbour and takes it in its fold. The poem presents the imagery by
comparing fog to the cat. The movement of the fog is just like that of a cat. The fog
moves in at a slow pace ensuring no one notices it and then stops, gradually covers
the whole land and the harbour. While doing its job, the fog sits on its haunches, as
it just expects to leave its presence unobserved, though people's life comes to
standstill. The world becomes quiet and mysterious with this action of the fog.

Q.3. How does a cat behave ?

Ans. The cat is quiet and observing by nature. It comes quietly and stealthily on its
little padded paws, sits on its haunches and observes. Then, it moves on. It makes
no noise.

LONG ANSWER QUESTION:

[Link] you agree with the poet's comparison of fog to a cat or do you feel
some other image would have done justice to the poem? Justify your answer
by substantiating your claims with examples.

Ans. The fog is a masterpiece created by Carl Sandburg, Composed precisely and
perfectly, the comparison between the fog and a cat is flawless. After reading the
poem, one tends to think that the two have all the similarities being mentioned in the
poem. This kind of comparison makes a creation unique and unforgettable. As a
reader, I'm sure whenever the world gets engulfed with fog, the people who are
familiar with the poem would definitely think about a cat and find the comparison
most appropriate as the mysterious entry, the secret stay and the silent exit of the
fog is just like the movement of a cat. There can be no better imagery to be used for
fog. And the ease and spontaneity which is maintained for this comparison makes
the reader accept it readily.
For Dicussion

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

The fog comes

on little cur feet.
It sits looking
over harbour and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on

Questions:

(a) What image does a cat sitting on its haunches present?

(i) A cat sitting on its haunches is resting.

(ii) it is observing its prey.
(iii) It is about to pounce on its prey.
(iv) A cat all set to move suddenly.

(b) The poet compares the fog to a cat because __________.

(i) cat moves stealthily just like the fog which appears suddenly, hangs on for
sometime and then vanishes
(ii) a cat moves without making a sound
(iii) a cat jumps and vanishes
(iv) a cat is forever on the move

(c) Pick the odd one out for ‘little cat feet' as reflected in the poem?

(i) It appears on the harbour and the city silently

(ii) It moves away as suddenly as it appears soundlessly.
(iii) It has the appearance of a cat's feet.
(iv) It comes and goes just like a cat

(d) Why is fog associated with the harbour?

(i) When the air at the harbour becomes humid, fog occurs
(ii) Fog is caused due to pollution.
(iii) Fog is not related to pollution.
(iv) Fog, smog and mist are the same

(e) Which sentence collates with- ‘It sits looking over harbour and city'?
(i) She looked over her shoulder and smiled at John.
(ii) Jessi laughed. looking over the tiny blonde woman.
(iii) The dog jumped over the fence.
 (iv) It stands at the northern foot of the main mass of Mt Taurus, looking over
a wide and fertile plain.
Q3. Comment, in detail, on the significance of the closing phrase of the poem-
"moves on."

Ans. The short poem 'Fog' depicts the whole action of fog completely in a few words.
The imagery poet has brought in by comparing it to cat successfully paints pictures
about the movement of the cat in front of the reader's eyes. The phrase 'moves on'
describes the exit of the fog very silently and spontaneously. It moves on to engulf
some other landscape ensuring people's life getting back usual.
 DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL DWARKA
ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT
CLASS X
FIRST FLIGHT

MADAM RIDES THE BUS

Written Work

Short answer questions:

Q1. How did Valli save money to travel by bus?

Ans. Valli had thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way. She resisted every temptation to
buy peppermints, toys, balloons and rides on the merry-go-round at the village fair to save money for
her bus journey.

Q.2. Why didn’t Valli want to talk to the elderly woman?

Ans. Valli found the old woman repulsive as she was wearing ugly earrings in the big holes in her
ear lobes. She could smell the betel nut the woman was chewing and see the betel juice that was
threatening to spill over her lips at any moment. She found it difficult to imagine anyone being
sociable with a person like her.

Q.3. How did Valli feel on seeing the dead cow on the road?

Ans. Valli turned pensive and sad. She found it difficult to believe that the beautiful, gentle creature
she had seen running with vigour in front of the bus, obstructing its way and making her laugh till
tears sprung to her eyes, was no more. Observing it lifeless on the street, was a sight horrible and
frightening to the young girl. She understood the truth of the unpredictability of life and death.

Long answer question

Q1. In what manner did Valli plan her bus journey?

Ans. Valli was an eight-year old little girl who filled her empty hours gazing by the doorstep of her
house, at whatever happened to be going on in the streets of her village. She had no playmates of her
age living nearby and the events unfolding before she fed her curiosity.
The most attractive of the events was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town
and the sight of the bus, which passed by every hour or so. The bus, filled with a new set of passengers
was a source of unending thrill.
She had never ventured beyond the village. Hence, she planned to fulfil her dream of riding the bus.
She prepared meticulously in advance for her trip. She gathered information about the distance the bus
travelled ,the time it took and of the fare, by listening to the conversations of others and asking discreet
questions. She thought of the exact hour she would board the bus and when she would return home.
She was from a humble background and wisely, saved up money for the trip which involved sacrifice
on her part. She saved all the stray coins that she found and avoided buying peppermints and sweets or
enjoying the fair.
Thus, she did go on the bus trip from the village to the town and back again, paid the fare and enjoyed
observing the sights she encountered. She was careful and did not get distracted by a stopover and a
juice stall. She returned home in time.
 The manner in which Valli prepared and saved for the bus ride shows her extraordinary courage, will
and determination.

For Discussion

Reference to Context:

I. Valli devoured everything with her eyes.

Q1. Who is Valli?

Ans. Valli is an eight-year old little girl who resides in a village and has no playmates of her age.

Q2. What is she devouring?

Ans. Valli loved to stand in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street
outside. She, particularly, found the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town,
fascinating.

Q3. Why has the narrator used the word ‘devoured’?

Ans. The little girl had never ventured beyond her village. She was curious to learn and explore. Thus,
she observed all that comes across her with devotion. Her keen observation is compared to a great
appetite for observing, learning and experiencing or devouring.

Short answer questions:

Q.1. What views were enjoyed from the bus when it went through the canal?

Ans. On one side, there was the canal and beyond it were palm trees, grassland, distant mountains
and the sky. On the other side of the canal was a deep ditch and then, acres and acres of green fields.

Q2. Why did the conductor want Valli to sit?

Ans. The conductor initially told Valli that as she had paid the fare, she should sit. He also advised
her to sit as he thought that she might fall and hurt herself should the bus take a sharp turn.
 DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, DWARKA

Class X – English

THE FIRST FLIGHT

THE SERMON AT BENARES

Written Work

Short Answer Questions:

Q.1. What does Kisa Gotami understand the second time that she failed to
understand the first time? Was this what the Buddha wanted her to
understand?

Ans. The second time Kisa Gotami understood that death was common to all mortals.
She had been selfish in her grief and had not realised that pain, loss and
suffering were not just part of her life. Life of all human beings are like flickering
lights. They shine for sometime and then get extinguished again. As death is
inevitable. Yes, Buddha wanted her to understand this.

Q.2. Why do wise not grieve over suffering or death?

Ans. Knowing the terms of the world, the wise do not grieve over suffering or death.
They know that each and every one who has taken birth must die. Our
lamenting cannot lessen the sufferings or the pain of losing a near or dear one.
By weeping or grieving we cannot bring back the dead. To overcome sorrow,
one must become free of sorrow. According to Buddha, that is the reason why
the wise do not grieve.

Long Answer Question:

Q.1. Why did Siddhartha come to be known as the Buddha? Where did he give his
first sermon?

Ans. Siddhartha Gautama wandered for seven years in search of wisdom and truth.
Finally, he sat down under a big peepal tree, to meditate. He vowed to stay
there until enlightenment came. After seven days, Gautama got enlightenment.
He named the tree as the ‘Bodhi Tree’, that is, ‘The Tree of Wisdom’. He
became known as ‘the Buddha’ which means ‘enlightened’ or ‘the awakened’.
He began to teach and spread his message of wisdom and truth. The Buddha
gave his first sermon at Benares. It is the holiest of places on the bank of the
Ganges. His first sermon reflects his wisdom about one kind of suffering. i.e.,
death. Here, the Buddha tells about the universality of death which is inevitable
and can’t be escaped.
For Discussion

Reference to Context:

I. The Buddha said, “The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and
combined with pain. For there is not any means by which those that have been born
can avoid dying; after reaching old age there is death; of such a nature are living
beings. As ripe fruits are early in danger of falling, so mortals when born are always
in danger of death.

Q. 1. What did Buddha say about the life of the people on this earth?

Ans. The life of people is short, troubled and combined with pain.

Q. 2. Can humans escape death?

Ans. Humans are mortal. They cannot escape death. All those who are born must
die one day.
Q. 3. What has Buddha compared humans to? Why?

Ans. Buddha has compared humans to ripe fruits. According to him, as ripe fruits
are always in danger of falling, similarly, humans are always in danger of death.
Q. 4. Which word in the passage is the antonym of ‘rising.’
Ans. Falling
Short Answer Questions:

Q.1. Who delivered the sermon at Benares? What did he preach?

Ans. The Buddha delivered his first sermon at Benares. He preached about the
inscrutable kind of suffering that people undergo when they experience death
of their near or dear ones. He preached not to grieve but to understand that
humans are mortals. Who so ever has taken birth will die, as death is common
to all.
 DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL DWARKA
ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT- CLASS X

THE MAKING OF A SCIENTIST

By:- R.W. Peterson

Written Work

Short-answer Questions

Q1. How did Richard’s mother help him to become a scientist?

Ans. Richard’s mother played an important role in his life. She identified his scientific temperament
and encouraged his interest in learning. She would take him on trips for exploration, buy him
telescopes, microscopes, cameras and other equipment. They used to stay together learn things together
at night. The children’s book called ‘The Travels of Monarch X’ that she gave to Richard proved to
be a catalyst and an inspiration in his life and led him to become a successful scientist.

Q2. What lesson did Ebright learn when he did not win anything at the science fair?
Ans. When Ebright did not win anything at the science fair, he realized that the winners had tried to
conduct real experiments unlike him who had made a mere display of neat slides of frog tissues which
could be observed under a microscope. He realized that science is not about neat displays but about
doing real experiments. Instead of disappointing him, this incident developed his competitive spirit and
he decided to do better the next time.

Q3. How did a book become a turning point in Richard Ebright’s life?
Ans. Richard Ebright was interested in collecting butterflies. By the time he was in the second grade,
he had collected all the twenty-five species of butterflies found around his home town. This would
have been the end of his butterfly collecting. But at this point his mother got him a book called ‘The
Travels of Monarch X’. This book told him about the migration of monarch butterflies to Central
America. This book aroused his interest in Monarch butterflies and opened the world of science to
him. This proved to be turning point in the life of young Richard Ebright. He began to raise Monarch
butterflies in the basement of his home, and study them in different stage of their development.

LONG ANSWER QUESTION:

Q1. Richard Ebright displayed a well-rounded personality. Do you agree? Elucidate in context of the text.
Ans. Richard Ebright was an inquisitive child. His genius was obvious by the time he was in his second grade.
He managed to collect all twenty-five species of butterflies around his hometown and classify them. He had a
scientific temperament and at the young age of 22 he explained the theory on how cells work in a paper
published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. He also loved to collect coins, fossils and
rocks. Science was not his only passion. He was fond of Astronomy. He was also an active member of his
school’s oratory club and model United Nations club and was an effective debater and a public speaker. He
loved photography as well.
He was an enthusiastic canoeist and an all-around outdoors person. Learning was easy for him. So he found it
simple to devote time and energy to many other interests. He became a champion in whatever he did.
According to Mr. Weiherer, his Social Studies teacher Ebright believed in the spirit of competition to win. But,
he did not wish to defeat others just to win. He wanted to win to do his best. Thus, he displayed a well-rounded
personality.
For Discussion

Q1. What other interests did Richard Ebright pursue other than science?

Ans. Apart from being a brilliant scientist, Richard Ebright was an excellent debater and an impressive
public speaker. He was also a good canoeist and an expert photographer of natural objects. He was an
eager astronomer too. In fact, he was an all-rounder who excelled in every field that he chose.

Q2. What opinion did Mr. Weiherer, his Social Studies teacher, have about Ebright?

Ans. Ebright, according to his Social Studies teacher, had a deep sense of healthy competition. He
always wanted to give his very best in all that he did. He did it for the right reasons and not for simply
winning prizes. He won because he always put in extra efforts in all his tasks.
 DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, DWARKA
ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT
CLASS X
FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET
THE NECKLACE
Written Work

Short Answer Questions:

1. Why was Madame Loisel unhappy with her life at the beginning of the lesson?
Ans. Matilda was a pretty young lady but through an error of destiny, she was born
into be a family of clerks. She had no means of becoming known, no hopes to be
loved or married to a rich or distinguished man, so she married a petty clerk in
the office of Board of Education. Her limited means and lack of recognition made
her angry and unhappy.

2. What made Matilda a grand success at the ball? What was Matilda experience at
the ball?
Ans. Madame Loisel was a great success at the ball. She was the prettiest of all
women – elegant, gracious, smiling and full of joy. All men noticed her, asked her
name and wanted to be introduced to her. She danced with enthusiasm. It was a
dream come true for her. She had always longed for the kind of attention and
admiration that she was getting. These were the reasons why she was
intoxicated with pleasure at the ball.

3. Why did Jeanne not recognize her friend, Matilda?

Ans. Jeanne was astonished to see Matilda. She could not recognize Matilda as she
has changed so much during those ten years. Matilda seemed to be old, worn
out, hard, crude and poor woman. She was no longer her former beauty.

Long Answer Question:

1. The course of the Loisels’ life changed due to the necklace. Comment.
Ans. Loisels’ were living a comfortable, though not a luxurious and an affluent life,
before Matilde lost the borrowed necklace. However, in order to replace it, Loisels’ had
to use eighteen thousand Francs, patrimony of M. Loisel, borrowed money from usurers
and money lenders. They ran into a very heavy debt. In order to repay, they had to send
away their maid and shift their lodgings to some rooms in an attic. Mme. Loisel, now
knew the horrible life of necessity. She had to do all the household chores herself, from
cooking to washing clothes to buying grocery, she even learnt to haggle to save on a
little. Her husband had to work in double shifts. After leading a miserable life, for ten
long years, they were able to repay all their debt. The hardships faced by them, took its
toll, she lost her youthful charm, she looked so haggard and worn out that his friend
Mme. Forestier could not recognize her. That is how, repaying for the borrowed
necklace changed the entire course of Loisels’ life.

FOR DISCUSSION
Reference to context:

She looked at him with an irritated eye and declared impatiently, “What do you suppose
I have to wear to such a thing as that?”

1. Who is ‘she’ in the above lines?

Ans. ‘She’ in the above lines is Matilda.

2. Whom was she looking at?

Ans. She was looking at her husband.

3. Why was she looking at him with an irritated eye?

Ans. She looked at her husband with displeasure because she did not have a suitable
dress to wear for the ball.

4. Pick out a word from the passage which means ‘showing slight anger.’
Ans. Irritated

Long-answer Question

[Link] the character sketch of Matilda.

Ans. Matilda was very pretty. By virtue of her good looks, she felt that she was born
for luxuries in life. She wished to be admired, loved and married to some rich and
distinguished person. But she was unlucky as she was born in a family of clerks.
She was always grumbling. Her dreamy, ambitious and vain nature pushed her in
trouble. She had to pay a heavy price for her desires. She had borrowed a necklace
from her friend, Mme. Forestier to wear for a ball at the Minister’s house, she lost it.
That not only ruined her physical beauty but taught her the bitter lessons of life. After
ten years, she came to know that the necklace she has borrowed was fake. She
learnt it the hard way that, “All that glitters is not gold.”
 DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, DWARKA

Class X – English

FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET

LESSON- BHOLI

Written Work

Short Answer Questions:

Q. 1. What made Bholi feel that the school she was going to was a better place
than her home?

Ans. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. She remembered how
their old cow Lakshmi, had been turned out of the house and sold. When she
was dressed in clean clothes, bathed and oil rubbed into her hair, only then
did she feel that she was going to a safe and good place.

Q. 2. How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her
life?

Ans. Bholi’s teacher played an important role in changing the course of her life.
She was polite and friendly which touched Bholi’s heart. She encouraged
Bholi by giving her books to read and inspiring her to read them. She was
affectionate and encouraged her to speak, putting aside all fears. The
teacher transformed Bholi from an underconfident child who stammered every
time she spoke, to a confident young girl who could reason, think and speak
clearly.

Long Answer Questions:

Q. 1. Why did Bholi first agree to an unequal match and later reject it? What does
this tell us about her?

Ans. Bholi was a simple girl belonging to a conservative society. Girls were not
expected to question the decision of their parents, especially regarding
marriage proposals. She, too was conditioned like that. So, she agreed to
marry Bishamber, who was almost similar to the age of her father.

When she saw her father being humiliated and Bishamber taking advantage
of her father’s helplessness, she could no longer supress her emotions and
raised her voice against it.
 She was no longer a dumb cow but a self-reliant young girl, a clear thinker
and a confident speaker. She also values her parents name and honour. Her
education has emboldened her to face the consequences of social outrage,
by refusing to marry Bishamber. She was very clear that she can look after
herself and her parents in old age by working as a teacher in the same
school.

Q. 2. Why is Bholi addressed by her real name Sulekha, only in the second last
paragraph of the story? Why do you think she is called Sulekha at that point
in the story?

Ans. The word Bholi means a simpleton. Throughout the story, Bholi has been a
simpleton, rarely expressing herself and mutely accepting whatever came her
way. The word ‘Sulekha’ means a person with an excellent sense of letters.
In this story this word has a larger meaning of being a literate, intelligent and
mature individual.

After her education Bholi changed to Sulekha. Her assertion at the time of
her marriage was her announcement to the world that she is no longer an
underconfident simpleton but a courageous and self-assured individual.
Hence, she was referred to as Sulekha again towards the end of the story.

FOR DISCUSSION

Reference to context:

“So what? You are not young either.”

Q. 1. Who speaks these lines and to whom?

Ans. A friend standing next to Bishambar, the bridegroom, said this to him.

Q. 2. What made him speak like this?

Ans. Bishamber pointed out the pock-marks on the face of his bride-to-be, Bholi.
This friend standing next to him, reminding him of his advanced age.

Q. 3. What impression do you form of the speaker of this line?

Ans. The speaker comes across as a fair-minded and honest person.

Short-answer Question

Q.1. Write a brief character sketch of Bishamber.

Ans. Bishamber was an old, lame and rich man with grown up children. He was
mean, greedy and selfish. He was an unethical, opportunist person who tried
taking advantage of the situation by demanding five thousand rupees as
dowry from Bholi’s father for marrying her pock-marked faced daughter.
 DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, DWARKA
CLASS X – ENGLISH
THE PROPOSAL

WRITTEN WORK

Short Answer Questions:

Q.1. Why did Lomov go to meet the Chubukov family? How was he dressed?
Ans. Lomov went to meet the Chubukov family to propose to Natalya. He wanted
to marry her. He went in a formal evening dress –attired in a jacket and
white gloves.

Q.2. Which two issues about himself convince Lomov of his decision to get
married?
Ans. Lomov felt that he was getting old as he was already 35 years old and was
suffering from weak nerves, which made him believe that he could not delay
his marriage any longer. He constantly worried about his poor health,
including palpitations and sleep troubles. He wanted the company of
someone to look after him as he thought that marriage would provide him
with comfort and stability.

Q.3. Why is Natalya so anxious to marry Lomov?

Ans. Natalya is a middle-aged woman, not that good looking or educated. She
knows that only a fool like Lomov would marry her. So, the moment she
comes to know that Lomov had come to propose marriage to her, she cries
and shouts and forces her father to bring Lomov back.

Long Answer Questions:

Q.1. The proposal was forgotten amidst argument. What approach should have
en ideally taken up by both parties?
Ans. Lomov went to Chubukov to propose to Natalya. But instead of forwarding
the proposal, both of them started fighting over trifles. Firstly, they fought
over a small piece of land called Oxen Meadows. Both of them claimed that
the land belonged to them and not the other one. Somehow the argument
came to an end and they started fighting over dogs and argued over who
had better dogs. The proposal was forgotten amidst all these arguments.
The situation could have been different if both the parties had followed the
right approach. Oxen Meadows would in any case belong to both of them
once they got married. Similarly, to argue over pet dogs is a frivolous act.
There should not have been any ego between them. They should have been
polite and patient with each other, not rigid and stubborn. Their priority
should have been their marriage and not meadows or dogs.
 DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL DWARKA
CLASS X- ASSIGNMENT
Lesson-The Book That Saved the Earth

Written Work

Q.1. Martians were never able to bring themselves to read the book 'Mother
Goose. Discuss why the Historian said so.
Ans. 'Mother Goose' was a book comprising of nursery rhymes with illustrations. And
in the twentieth century Martians came to the earth to invade it. While being in a
library, they came across this book and tried to get some information. They saw the
poem and the pictures related to Humpty Dumpty that resembled Think-Tank. They
just assumed that Earthlings were going to topple over the reign of Martians on the
planet Mars and dropped the idea of invading our planet. Now the historian is in
twenty-fifth century but according to her the Martians are still apprehensive about
reading this book.

Q.2. How does Think-Tank manipulate Noodle?

Ans. Evn though Noodle is more intelligent than Think-Tank, he never acknowledges
Noodle's intelligence. He exploits Noodle and proves him inferior to keep him under
his control. He even declares all findings of Noodle as his own.

Q.3. Noodle hails Think-Tank as the most powerful and intelligent creature in
the whole universe. Do you agree?
Ans. Noodle hails Think-Tank as the most powerful and intelligent creature in the
universe because he is the ruler of Mars and as his second-in-command, Noodle
feels that he must praise him to avoid his wrath. However, Think-Tank’s intelligence
is often shown to be comically flawed as he misunderstands nursery rhymes and his
arrogance and poor decision-making are evident throughout the play. Noodle keeps
correcting his mistakes by subtly guiding him towards correct information, with the
use of flattery and clever wording.

LONG ANSWER QUESTION

Q1. How did the book of Nursery Rhymes save the Earth from the Martians?
Or
How did Think Tank misinterpret the Nursery Rhymes?
Ans. Think-Tank, thr Martian leader, misinterpreted nursery rhymes as threats due to
his and his crew’s inability to understand the Earth’s culture, leading them to believe
that the rhymes contained military secrets and imminent invasion plans.
The Martians failed in their attempt to invade the Earth because of the Nursery Rhyme
book. They transcribed the Nursery Rhymes, thinking them to be codes, which needed
interpretation. The first was "Mother Mary quite contrary... grow?" Think-Tank
interpreted it as the ability of the earthlings to grow explosives. in gardens. The next
nursery rhyme "Hey diddle, diddle over the moon was interpreted as domesticated
animals being trained in musical culture and an indication of a highly civilised and
technologically advanced society launching an interplanetary attack of millions of cows
on Mars. The next nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty" great fall", and a picture of Humpty
Dumpty, resembling Think-Tank, frightened him. He assumed that the earthlings were
preparing to attack and capture him.

FOR DISCUSSION
Reference to context:
OOP: I haven't a clue. I've been to seven galaxies, but I've never seen anything like
this. Maybe they're hats. (He opens a book and puts it on his head.) Say, maybe this
is haberdashery!
OMEGA: (bowing low) Perhaps the Great and Mighty Think-Tank will give us the
benefit of his thought on the matter.
THINK-TANK Elementary, my dear Omega. Hold one of the items up so that I may
view it closely. (Omega holds a book on the palm of her hand.) Yes, yes, I understand
[Link] Earth creatures are always eating, the place in which you find yourselves
is undoubtedly a crude refreshment stand.
OMEGA:(to Iota and Oop) He says we're in a refreshment stand.
OOP: Well, the Earthlings certainly have a strange diet.
(a) Why did Omega bow low before Think-Tank?
(i) As a mark of respect and recognition of supremacy
(ii) To flatter and appease the character.
(iii) As a sign of submission and understanding of his strength.
(iv) To curry favour and goodwill from the character

(b) Choose the option that associates the person to a haberdashery.

(i) Jagdeep is a primary school teacher who teaches English.
(ii) Tanishq is a tailor who makes garments for men only.
(iii) Falguni is a chemist who manufactures her own medicine.
(iv) Asma is an engineer who works on designing space stations.

(c) Choose the option that explains what Think-Tank meant by saying - Elementary,
my dear Omega.
(i) "It's simple general knowledge. Omega."
(ii) "It's something that a primary school person won't understand, Omega."
(iii) "It's quite obviously deducible, Omega."
(iv) "It's a little more than complicated, Omega."

(d) The quality of being crude has been allotted to the refreshment stand
because_________________
(i) Earthlings have bad eating habits according to Think-Tank.
(ii) the temperature of the refreshment stand was too high.
(iii) the refreshment stands are responsible for poor health of the Earthlings.
(iv) it produces food that is unrefined and unprocessed in nature are the inhabitants.

(e) Earth inhabitants are Earthlings and those from Mars are Martians, what of
Venus dressed as in most sci-fi stories?
(i) Venusites
(ii) Venatians
(iii) Venings
(iv) Venusians

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q.1. Mention any two points of differences between Earthlings and Martians in the
20th century.
Ans. Earthlings are the people belonging to the planet Earth whereas Martians are
extra-terrestrial, creatures of the planet Mars The Earthlings have a smaller head
when compared to the Martians who have great and mighty balloon brain which
makes them cleverer and more intelligent than the Earthlings. Sandwiches are the
staple food for Earthlings but the Martians don't like sandwiches at all.

Q3. Elaborate on that quality of a book that saves the planet Earth.
Ans. The book 'Mother Goose is a nursery rhyme book with its pictorial
representation. No one can even imagine that a nursery rhyme book can be the
reason behind saving the planet Earth. But as per the lesson The Book that saved
the Earth' talks about the same book as the pictures and the script written was
beyond the comprehension of the Martians. They didn't know how to read so they
thought the text to be some code language and the picture of Humpty Dumpty to be
Think- Tank and considering it a big plan of the Earthlings to capture the planet
Mars, they decided to drop the idea of invading the Earth.