Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
COMMUNICATIVE
PULLOUT WORKSHEETS
FOR CLASS X
By
Since 1950
CONTENTS
SECTION A READING
Unseen Passages
V Worksheets 1 to 10 .......................... F-5F-7
Comprehension
V Worksheet 11 .......................................... F-7
Voice Projection
V Worksheet 12 .......................................... F-8
Creativity
V Worksheet 13 .......................................... F-8
SECTION B WRITING
Biographical Sketch
V Worksheets 14 & 15 ............................... F-9
Data Interpretation
V Worksheets 16 & 17 ............................. F-10
Dialogue Writing
V Worksheets 18 to 20 .................... F-10F-11
Description (People/Places/Events)
V Worksheets 21 to 23 .................... F-11F-12
Formal/Informal Letter
V Worksheets 24 & 25 .................... F-12F-14
E-mail
V Worksheet 26 ........................................ F-14
Diary Entry
V Worksheet 27 ........................................ F-15
Story Writing
V Worksheet 28 ............................... F-15F-16
Article Writing
V Worksheet 29 ........................................ F-16
Speech Writing
V Worksheet 30 ........................................ F-17
Debate
V Worksheet 31 ............................... F-17F-18
Developing Writing Skills
V Worksheet 32 ............................... F-18F-19
Group Discussion
V Worksheet 33 ............................... F-19F-20
Budding Artists and Poets
V Worksheet 34 ........................................ F-20
Find the Solution
V Worksheet 35 ............................... F-20F-21
Quiz, Write-up
V Worksheet 36 ............................... F-21F-22
Conversation
V Worksheet 37 ........................................ F-22
Developing Listening Skills
V Worksheet 38 ............................... F-22F-23
SECTION C GRAMMAR
Filling Blanks with Suitable Words
V Worksheets 39 to 43 ............................. F-24
Using Notes to Complete Paragraphs
V Worksheets 44 to 47 ............................. F-25
Dialogue Completion
V Worksheets 48 to 50 .................... F-25F-26
Sentence Reordering
V Worksheets 51 to 54 .................... F-26F-28
Editing-Detecting & Correcting Errors
V Worksheets 55 to 58 .................... F-28F-29
Omission: Supplying Missing Word
V Worksheets 59 to 62 .................... F-29F-30
Completing Passages
(using Reported Speech)
V Worksheets 63 to 66 .................... F-30F-31
Completing News Reports
(by using Headlines)
V Worksheets 67 to 70 .................... F-31F-32
Sentence Transformation
V Worksheet 71 ........................................ F-32
Verbs Forms
V Worksheet 72 ........................................ F-33
Sentence Structure
V Worksheet 73 ........................................ F-33
Connectors
V Worksheet 74 ........................................ F-33
Determiners
V Worksheet 75 ........................................ F-34
Pronouns
V Worksheet 76 ........................................ F-34
Prepositions
V Worksheet 77 ........................................ F-34
Clauses
V Worksheet 78 ........................................ F-34
-2-
Modals
V Worksheet 79 ........................................ F-34
Passive Voice
V Worksheet 80 ........................................ F-35
Narration
V Worksheet 81 ........................................ F-35
SECTION D LITERATURE
Fiction
Two Gentlemen of Verona
V Worksheets 82 to 84 .................... F-36F-38
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT:
Two Gentlemen of Verona
V Worksheet 85 ............................... F-38F-39
Mrs Packletides Tiger
V Worksheets 86 to 88 .................... F-39F-42
DISCUSSION: Mrs Packletides Tiger
V Worksheet 89 & 90 ...................... F-42F-43
The Letter
V Worksheets 91 to 93 .................... F-43F-45
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT: The Letter
V Worksheet 94 ............................... F-46F-47
Poetry
The Frog and the Nightingale
V Worksheets 95 to 98 .................... F-47F-49
GROUP DISCUSSION:
The Frog and the Nightingale
V Worksheet 99 ............................... F-49F-50
Mirror
V Worksheets 100 to 102 ................ F-50F-52
APPRECIATION OF THEME: Mirror
V Worksheet 103 ............................. F-52F-53
Not Marble Nor the Gilded Monuments
V Worksheets 104 & 105 ................ F-53F-54
DISCUSSION:
Not Marble Nor the Gilded Monuments
V Worksheet 106 ............................. F-54F-55
Drama
The Dear Departed
V Worksheets 107 to 111 ................ F-55F-59
ROLE-PLAY: The Dear Departed
V Worksheet 112 ............................. F-59F-60
PRACTICE PAPERS ................... F-61F-80
-3-
READING
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
UNSEEN PASSAGES
WORKSHEET1
Passage1
Passage2
(a) flowing
(b) sky
1. dark matter
(c) fleeting
(d) beating
2. 73%
(e) summer
(f) dry
3. WMAP
(g) change
(h) spring
(i) rhetorical
(j) eternity
WORKSHEET2
Passage1
Passage2
(a) white
(b) plant
(c) beautiful
(d) held
(e) rigid
(f) pattern
(g) elements/agents
(h) terrible
(i) ingredients
(j) accidental
4. (d) parents
5. (c) complacency
WORKSHEET3
Passage1
Passage2
(a) angry
(b) cage
2. (d) searched
(c) beats
(d) silently
3. (c) hippopotamuses
(e) care/bother
(f) question
4. (d) unfavourably
(g) who
(h) miserable/sorry
5. (c) assemblage
(i) gleam
(j) thunderous/loud/
powerful
S O L U T
I O N S
F-5
WORKSHEET4
Passage1
Passage2
(a) scorn
(b) blessed
1. atmosphere
(c) beautiful
(d) races
2. airwaves
(e) freedom
(f) prevail
3. harmful radiation
(g) dead
(h) avarice/greed
(i) bounties/gifts
(j) wretchedness
5. protects
WORKSHEET5
Passage1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(d)
(c)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Passage2
(a)
(c)
(e)
(g)
(i)
experience
swiftly
can
skating
pedals/treadles
(b)
(d)
(f)
(h)
(j)
dash
make
shares
slow
toil/hard effort
WORKSHEET6
Passage1
(a)
(c)
(e)
(g)
(i)
great
beginning
passion
flowers/blossoms
beauty
(b)
(d)
(f)
(h)
(j)
Passage2
devoted
ambition
desires
sufferings
smother
1. on the mantelpiece
2. interrupted him
3. a similar pair of emergency spectacles
were with an optician
4. almost as helpless as a blind man
5. with good intentions
WORKSHEET7
Passage1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Passage2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(c)
(d)
(d)
(c)
(c)
Ross Island
permanent residents
spread their branches and shoots
there were no inhabitants
trial
WORKSHEET8
Passage1
(a)
(c)
(e)
(g)
(i)
F-6
lay
groans/cries
kindness
returned
nursed
(b)
(d)
(f)
(h)
(j)
Passage2
distress/sorrow
lacked
gold
helped
invaluable
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
WORKSHEET9
Passage1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(c)
(d)
(a)
(c)
(d)
Passage2
1. a beautiful actress
2. she did not want to go back to her house
every night
3. she got the room painted
4. she thought that the painter would thus
work better
5. beauty
WORKSHEET10
Passage1
(a)
(c)
(e)
(g)
(i)
thought
simple
unknown
quite/very
appearances
(b)
(d)
(f)
(h)
(j)
Passage2
blank
centipede
leather
crushed
indifference
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(a)
(c)
(b)
(d)
(c)
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
COMPREHENSION
WORKSHEET11
1. (a) She wanted to pursue her dream. It was to train blind Tibetan youngsters in certain skills.
These skills were needed to become confident and valuable members of their society.
(b) The blind children at the centre in Lhasa move around with confidence. They do not
betray fear or uncertainty that the blind show when they move.
2. self-confidence
dedication
adventures
focussed
iron will
visionary
ACTIVITIES
1. You fail to enjoy the wealth of literature.
You remain ignorant of the latest developments.
You cant reap the fruit of flowering knowledge.
You have to depend on others for enlightenment.
You remain backward and superstitious.
2.
S O L U T
read
12 are illiterate
strengthening of democracy
write to us
I O N S
write
10 cant write
help in development work
send an e-mail
F-7
VOICE PROJECTION
WORKSHEET12
1.
Word
Pronunciation
Word
Pronunciation
Academic
Academy
Allergy
Allergic
Alley
Abate
Audacity
Alibi
Abandoned
Attacked
k demIk
'kd mI
'l dzI
'l3:dzIk
'lI
'beIt
:'ds tI
l baI
'bnd nd
'tkd
Accept
Athlete
Content
Drowned
Film
Figure
Genuine
Modern
Myriad
Panorama
k'sept
'lI:t
'k ntent/k n'tent
dra nd
fIlm
'fIg (r)
'dzenju In
'm dn
'mIrI d
'pn 'ra:m
2. Dear Students!
It gives me great pleasure to address you on an important subject, namely higher education
in foreign countries. I have been informed that some of you are seriously considering going
abroad for further studies in the USA or Australia and to that end they have been contracting
the embassies and foreign educational institutions as well.
Well, I wont dissuade you from going in for specialisation abroad. I agree that their laboratories
are better equipped and the standard of living is far better. At the same time I would like
to draw your attention to two points. First, education in the states involves huge financial
expenses. You must have a rich sponsor either at home or abroad. Secondly, most of you may
be lured by the rosy prospects to stay there. Consequently our country will suffer from braindrain. I would fervently appeal to you to devote your talents, energy, expertise, hardwork and
devotion to the service of the motherland. Educational facilities in various scientific courses
in our country are in no way inferior to those obtaining abroad.
Dont construe that I am biased against education abroad. Do go to a foreign country if it provides
advanced technology, expertise or specialisation not available here and that too after doing your
graduation (B.E., B.Tech., MBBS) here, so that you dont drain the meagre resources of the country.
I would like to conclude by asking you to remember what an old, fond mother said to her young
son, Go there to study, but come back to serve your mother.
CREATIVITY
WORKSHEET13
Passage1
1.
(i)
(iii)
(v)
(vii)
(ix)
(ii)
(iv)
(vi)
(viii)
(x)
trusting oneself
truthfulness
not looking too good
not make dreams your master
risking all, losing and starting again
2. Try yourself.
Passage2
1. (a) three shining red operating tables (b) the dials (c) the anaesthetic machines
2. (a) brightly (b) emerged (c) clambered (d) opened
F-8
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
WRITING
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
WORKSHEET14
1.
2.
MR SUDHIR KUMAR
Mr Sudhir Kumar is our school librarian. He is 35 years old. He looks tall at 170 cm though
he weighs 70 kg and is a little fat. Perhaps his pleasant looking personality makes him more
attractive. He has a masters degree in Hindi from Delhi University. He is a trained librarian
with 8 years experience. He performs his duties properly. He purchases books for the library
and displays the title covers of new arrivals. He is responsible for maintaining cleanliness
and silence in the library. Besides advising students about books, he also issues books. He
holds book exhibition. He is well informed, kind and helpful. We love him as he is polite,
gentle, soft-spoken and friendly.
WORKSHEET15
1.
MAHATMA GANDHI
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869. His mother was a pious lady
whereas his father was the Diwan of a state. After receiving early education in India, Gandhiji
went to England for higher studies. He became a barrister. He went to South Africa as a
lawyer. He was shocked to find discrimination against the blacks. He used peaceful, nonviolent civil disobedience as a means of protest. When he returned to India, he took part in
the freedom movement. His weapons were truth and violence. He was sent to jail many times
but he led India to freedom in 1947. He worked for the uplift of Harijans and Hindu-Muslim
unity. He was shot dead on 30 January 1948 by a Hindu fanatic.
2.
MR SURESH KUMAR
Mr Suresh Kumar is our Mathematics teacher. He is six feet tall and weighs 75 kg. Though
he is somewhat fat, he is smart and good-looking. He got his Masters degree in Mathematics
from Agra University, Agra. He is a trained teacher with 15 years experience. Besides teaching
us Mathematics, he is also our class teacher. He organises Mathematics Olympiad. We all
love and like him because he is painstaking and thorough in his work. He explains the topic
in detail and solves all our problems. He is cheerful and a patient listener. He is easily available.
His friendly approach makes even a difficult subject like Mathematics seem easy.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-9
DATA INTERPRETATION
WORKSHEET16
1.
2.
WORKSHEET17
1.
2.
FLUCTUATION IN PROFITS
The factory made a profit of Rs 15 crore in the first year itself, which rose to 20 crore during
the next year. Increased incentive to labour in 2006 had a direct bearing on the profits which
rose to 20 crore. The installation of new machines and award of higher bonus to workers had
an immediate impact on profits, which rose to an all-time high of 35 crore. The year 2008 came
as a shock as the profits dwindled to all-time low and stood at 10 crore. Falling exports as a
result of worldwide recession are responsible for the decline. With the upswing in the domestic
market, the factorys profit has risen to 15 crore and there is no reason to be gloomy.
DIALOGUE WRITING
WORKSHEET18
1. (a) have any previous experience as teacher
(c) are your hobbies
2. (i) (a) which course I should take
(iii) (b) will be furious if I dont take commerce.
F-10
E N G L
S H
(b)
(d)
(ii)
(iv)
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
WORKSHEET19
1. (a)
(c)
2. (a)
(c)
(b)
(d)
(b)
(d)
WORKSHEET20
1. (a)
(c)
2. (a)
(c)
(b)
(d)
(b)
(d)
DESCRIPTION (People/Places/Events)
WORKSHEET21
1.
2.
WORKSHEET22
1.
2.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-11
WORKSHEET23
1.
2.
YOGA CAMP
Sarvodaya Bal Mandir School, Gagan Vihar, Delhi organised a yoga camp in the school
auditorium on March 20, 20XX. The camp was attended by more than 200 students of junior
and senior wing. Yoga activities are a part of school curriculum. The students of different age
groups presented yogasans and breathing exercises. Their skill was appreciated by all.
Sh. Rajesh Sharma, an expert of yoga, delivered a lecture on the importance of yoga in our life
and gave many tips to the students. He gave practical demonstrations of various yogasans and
breathing exercises. He emphasised the importance of purity of food and meditation to develop
peace and concentration. It was a very informative session for all.
FORMAL/INFORMAL LETTER
WORKSHEET24
1. St Marys School
Faridabad
8 July 20XX
Dear Manisha
I have just returned from an exciting trip to a remote corner of Sikkim. Our destination was
Nathu La Pass, at a height of 14,500 feet. This is the land of living yaks and the legendary
Yeti. Nathu La Pass is situated on the Indo-Tibetan border. It has been under the control of
armed forces. It is however opened to domestic tourists in groups of 8 to 10. Our group was
allowed to spend half an hour at the border. The entire Sherathang bowl is visible from the
viewpoint. We could also see the Butan watershedsChumbi Valley, the Jelap-la-range and
the Lungze ridge leading on Gangtok.
I can never forget Yak ride at the Tsomgo Lake. A Yak is just like our buffalo. But whereas the
buffalo always looks up, the Yak always looks down. In short, Nathu La, the Roof of Sikkim,
presents a beauty of nature that is only to be experienced.
Yours affectionately
Akanksha Sharma
2. 1234 7th Cross Road
Bengaluru (Karnataka)
25th Sept 20XX
Dear Tanvi
I am glad that you have secured the top rank in your class in the terminal tests. One thing,
however, is the cause for concern. It is learnt that you have become a bookworm and remain
confined to your room poring over the books all time.
F-12
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
I would like to remind you the importance of fresh air and sunshine in our lives. Health and
hygiene is supreme. You must remain fit and healthy even for studying. A healthy mind lives in
a healthy body. You must refresh your mind by giving it a break after continuous studies of an
hour or so. Even a brief diversion can recharge it. Participation in outdoor games and co-curricular
activities can make you physically fit and emotionally stable.
You must keep yourself free from tension and anxiety. Only a healthy person can enjoy life to the
full. Do write back and look after yourself properly.
Yours affectionately
Tushar
WORKSHEET25
1. 1239 Vayu Vihar
New Delhi
23 October 20XX
The Editor
The Viewpoint
Chennai40
Dear Sir
Recently you published an advertisement about MEDHA-07. It was claimed in the advertisement
that it is a wonder drug and could help children to achieve all-round perfection. The user
will become a super human with sharpened intellect, active memory, extraordinary brain
power, strong bones and powerful muscles. Its user can enjoy full vitality of nerves, brain
and heart.
All this sounds quite attractive. But if one goes deeper and re-reads the advertisement, one
notices many loopholes. For example, the advertisement is silent about the system of medicine
on which the wonder drug is based. Secondly, there is no mention of the ingredients that it
contains. There is no mention of certification or testing.
It seems that some crafty persons are out to make a fast buck by playing on the psychology of
harassed parents, who are anxious to see their children perform better. In my humble opinion
giving such untested and uncertified drug to young children will be just inviting trouble. It may
cause more complications than it may cure. I am surprised how such an advertisement could
find space in your esteemed magazine.
I appeal to you to get the drug tested in some renowned lab and if found ineffective/harmful, the
results may be published for the enlightenment of parents and children.
Yours faithfully
S. Janaki
2. 356, F Block
Rohini, New Delhi-110067
8 March 20XX
The Editor
The Times of India
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi-110002
Sub: Invasion of alien culture on our moral and social values
S O L U T
I O N S
F-13
Sir
The decision of the Union Cabinet to exclude cable TV from the purview of Indian Cinematograph
Act, 1950 may help some vested interests but it is full of dangers for the common people.
Since the cable TV operators have no obligation to seek licences, they are free to choose and
relay the programmes they like most. In all probability they will try to switch over to unpaid
or free channels instead of the paid ones. Most of these free channels depict programmes,
films and fashions shows that are obscene, vulgar and violent and an alien culture with no
concern for moral and social values.
The youngsters of the socially highups are prone to overdoses of this imported alien culture.
Other youth may copy them.
Hence the government is requested to reconsider its decision. I hope your esteemed readers
will appreciate my concern and join me in the protest.
Yours truly
Rohit Kumar
E-MAIL
WORKSHEET26
1. surekha@hotmail.com
urvashi@yahoo.com
25 July 20XX
10 May 20XX
F-14
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
DIARY ENTRY
WORKSHEET27
1. Friday
23 January 20XX
During the winter break I got an opportunity to visit places of historical importance around
Delhi. The tour conducted by our school was not only enjoyable but also an educative experience.
We started sightseeing with the historical Red Fort. There were big gardens, court rooms and a
mosque. A museum inside the fort gave us ample knowledge about the dresses and weapons of
that era. Then we visited Qutub Minar situated at Mehrauli. It is built with red stone and has
ruins of several historical buildings around it. The pillar made of eight metals is still rust-free.
Early next morning we left for Agra. We visited the Taj. It is made of white marble. It was built by
Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his queen. Agra used to be the capital of India in the Mughal
period. We visited Red Fort at Agra, Akbars fort and Buland Darwaja at Fatehpur Sikri.
A visit to Dayalbagh temple had filled us with the same deep delight that the visit to Laxmi
Narayan temple had enthused in us at Delhi.
I will certainly remember this historical tour for a long time. It has enlightened me about
Indias cultural heritage which has been quite effectively depicted and preserved through our
historical monuments.
2. Monday
December 21 20XX
Recently I visited the annual exhibition on Fashion Designing and Technology organised by
the State Department at Meena Hall, Lucknow. I ventured into the hall by chance and not
by design. However, the visit was an eye-opener. I was amazed at the grand success made by
our country in the field of textile technology. The graphics indicated that India is one of the
leading nations in exporting textiles and readymade garments. The latest spring, summer
and fall fashions were on display. The technology and expertise was commendable. In the
demonstration section, latest sewing machines stitched shirts in couple of minutes. There
were many sophisticated machines for complicated designs and patterns. Tailoring had
become an art. I felt bewildered and amused like Alice in Wonderland. I was glad that India
had made a headway in the field of fashion designing and technology by storming the
leading capitals abroad.
STORY WRITING
WORKSHEET28
1.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-15
2.
ARTICLE WRITING
WORKSHEET29
1.
2.
F-16
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
SPEECH WRITING
WORKSHEET30
1. Respected Principal, teachers and dear friends!
Good Morning! Today I would like to talk about a subject that we all do know but scarcely pay
any heed to it. On the days of festivals most of us burst firecrackers, not realising the amount
of pollution they cause. Thus we are ourselves degrading the environment by causing
atmospheric pollution. The suspended particulate matter like nitrogen oxide and sulphur
dioxide are added up when a cracker is burst.
The increase in atmospheric pollution gives rise to respiratory problems like asthma and
bronchitis. The cases of heart attacks and strokes multiply. The noise pollution created by
bursting of crackers may cause deafness also.
We may enjoy the bright light and the sound of explosion for a few seconds, but we ignore the
permanent damage caused by bursting of crackers.
Hence it becomes the duty of each one of us to keep our environment clean and refrain from
bursting crackers. Let us put an end to this wasteful exercise of burning our hard-earned
money.
Thank you
2. Respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends!
I am happy to note that our school is celebrating Save Electricity Week. Electricity, as you know
plays a very important role in our life. It runs the machines in our factories, irrigates our fields by
drawing water from the tubewells and runs various domestic appliances in addition to lighting our
homes and streets. But electricity is an expendable item. Of late there is a tendency to consume
more electricity than we are allotted. We have increased our dependence on electricity to such an
extent that a breakdown in electric supply seems very troublesome. Who is to blame for these
cuts and breakdowns? Evidently, the consumers themselves. People have a tendency to consume
more electricity than their sanctioned load, be it industrial, agricultural or domestic consumption.
This tendency has to be curbed as it results in frequent load-shedding and breakdowns.
The production of electricity in our town depends on a thermal power station as well as a
hydroelectric plant. The fluctuations in the production of electricity are caused by the shortage
of supply of raw material such as coal or rain respectively. The authorities say that there is loss
of electricity in transmission. Hence, we are not able to get proper amount. This leaves us with
only two alternatives. Either increase production or save electricity. I think the latter is easier.
Each one of us should consider saving electricity as his duty. Let us not consume it when we
can do without it. Power thefts should be detected and severely dealt with. Genuine consumers
should not be harassed.
Thank you
DEBATE
WORKSHEET31
1.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-17
employed to achieve itwhether the means are good or bad. Success speaks for itself and in
the din of rejoicing even the unfair means adopted to achieve success are drowned. In this
age of cut-throat competition, people have become result-oriented. They want success at any
and every cost. It is the achievement and not the effort put in that counts. Nobody bothers
about the moralistic standpoint. A moralist would advocate purity of means. He believes that
if the means are good and pure, the ends will automatically be good and pure. Gandhiji
believed in this principle. But morality is given a backseat nowadays. Hence in the modern
world the ends have become all important and the achievement of objectives justifies the
means employed.
2.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
DEVELOPING WRITING SKILLS
WORKSHEET32
1.
F-18
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
2.
PROJECTS
1. Develop the following value points:
plight of stray animalsscarcity of food, shelterdeprive of love and careweak, ill,
broken legs
sufficient fundsman powerorganisation needed
offer of physical help/voluntary service
2. For self-attempt.
3. For self-attempt.
GROUP DISCUSSION
WORKSHEET33
1.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-19
F-20
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
2. ...if she would accompany her to school in the evening. Asha consulted her engagement diary
and exclaimed that she had an important meeting of Ladies Club the next day followed by
dinner. Vibhuti told her mother that her presence was so inspiring for her. She pleaded/asked
if she couldnt postpone her meeting for once. Very affectionately Asha told her to be reasonable.
She explained that she was the chairperson. If she didnt go, there would be a mess. Vibhuti
suggested that she could ring some of her close friends and brief them on the points she wanted
to be sorted out. Asha yielded a little and said that she had a point there, but...Vibhuti cut
short her reasoning by saying that she should not make any lame excuses then. She reminded her
that last year too neither she nor (her) daddy had come to her school. She said that other students
had been escorted by their parents, so even their rank bad performances had been applauded.
Since no one had clapped for her, she felt as if she had been an orphan. Asha exclaimed with
regret that she was sorry. She promised that next time she would certainly... .
This infuriated Vibhuti who exclaimed that there would be no next time. For her it was now
or never.
3. I was in Class X. My First Semester Exam was to begin the next day. The first paper was of
Maths. I dreaded studying Maths. Preparation for the examination put me at my wits ends.
I kept staring at the syllabus and the ceiling. I found myself completely at sea. Now I
remembered my parents advice. They had told me to read carefully, study solved examples
and attempt the practice questions. In case I felt any difficulty, I could consult them or my
classmates or teacher. I felt shy of doing so. The result was that my problems and ignorance
kept on compounding and here I wasa completely lost person. My mother was the first one
to realise my predicament. She soothed my fears and asked me to have courage. Then came
my father. He was sweeter than ever. He advised me to forget my fear of Maths. Perhaps the
dislike for it was the root cause. He advised me to go through the solved examples and learn
to proceed stepwise. He kept sitting there. I did as he told me. Now I found the subject easy
and interesting. Next day, I did well in my exam.
QUIZ, WRITE-UP
WORKSHEET36
1. (a) (iii) Sharad Purnima
(c) (i) Karva Chauth
(e) (iii) winter
(g) (i) spring
(b) (ii)
(d) (ii)
(f) (ii)
(h) (iii)
Durga Puja
Lord Krishna
peak
universal brotherhood and love
2. Most of the Indian festivals are connected with either the seasons or important personalities.
The seasonal festivals remind us of the march of nature. The Hindu New Year begins with the
Chaitra (spring) Navaratra. Then comes Baisakhi when wheat ripens in northern India and
the farmers celebrate it as a festival of joy and fulfilment. Rakhi and Bhai Duj strengthen the
bond of love between brother and sister. Dussehra marks the victory of good over evil. Diwali,
the festival of lights, teaches us to dispel ignorance (and darkness) by the light of knowledge.
The other festivals such as Ramnavami, Krishna Janamashtami, Buddha Jayanti or Guru
Nanak Day remind us of the ideals and teachings of these great spiritual leaders.
3. In our area the festivals of Guga Peer, Bhairon and Sheetla Mata are celebrated by the people
of all religions. Guga is worshipped after Janamashthami while Bhairon is worshipped after
spring Navaratras. The offerings are simpleparched rice/gram and jaggery. Sheetla Mata is
worshipped on Mondays/Tuesdays after the spring Navaratras. It is said that the intensity of
S O L U T
I O N S
F-21
dedication and not the richness of offerings is the criterion for blessings. The devotees lead
simple, pure and dedicated lives. They believe in love, fellow feeling, cooperation and help.
CONVERSATION
WORKSHEET37
1.1 (a) Polluted water is killing more people globally than all forms of violence, including war and
terror.
(b) Children are the worst sufferers. More than 3 million people die across the world every year
due to waterborne disease. 1.2 millions of them are children. One child dies every 20 seconds.
(c) Waste water is likely to be one of the biggest dangers to environment. Waste water is a
cocktail of fertiliser run off and sewage disposal.
(d) Only 30 per cent waste water is treated in India. It has a child malnourishment rate of
46 per cent. Drinking water in one-third of Indias 600 districts has a high flouride content.
The result is that 65 million people are suffering from flurosis. This causes crippling problems.
(e) More than one lakh people die of waterborne diseases in India every year.
(f) Two million tonnes of water is spilled into sewage system everyday. It generates two billion
litres of polluted water everyday.
(g) These districts do not have a system of early detection of ill-effects of contaminated water.
By the time the disease is detected, it is too late for cure.
(h) World population is likely to double in next 40 years.
(i) Things are changing at a slow pace.
(j) It is about one billion tonnes.
ACTIVITY
Hints
F-22
oasis
(c) scorchingly
A camel ride
the camel and their riders quenched their thirst here after difficult journey in dry desert.
Through the travellers.
(d) the various havelis
Patwon ki Haveli.
sand dunes
True
False
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
2. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
S O L U T
I O N S
F-23
GRAMMAR
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
FILLING BLANKS WITH SUITABLE WORDS
WORKSHEET39
1.
2.
3.
4.
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(h)
WORKSHEET40
1.
2.
3.
4.
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(h)
4. covered (b) 3. had (c) 2. and (d) 2. out (e) 1. breathe (f) 4. were (g) 4. their (h) 2. you
3. from (b) 2. her (c) 4. highlighted (d) 2. on (e) 3. examining (f) 1. in (g) 4. told (h) 3. for
3. dried (b) 2. and (c) 2. have (d) 2. falling (e) 4. shortage (f) 1. for (g) 3. a (h) 2. is
3. on (b) 4. and (c) 2. through (d) 1. which (e) 4. from (f) 3. when (g) 1. their
2. like
WORKSHEET41
1.
2.
3.
4.
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
3. who (b) 4. think (c) 1. like (d) 3. for (e) 2. each (f) 1. for (g) 2. so (h) 4. these
4. and (b) 3. in (c) 2. during (d) 1. can (e) 2. a (f) 3. when (g) 4. hearing (h) 1. about
2. in (b) 3. as (c) 4. by (d) 1. and (e) 3. on (f) 3. the (g) 2. are (h) 1. each
3. finding (b) 4. in (c) 1. after (d) 2. weighing (e) 3. the (f) 3. because (g) 4. who (h) 1. by
WORKSHEET42
1.
2.
3.
4.
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(g)
3. may (b) 4. before (c) 1. will (d) 2. or (e) 2. been (f) 3. that (g) 1. can (h) 4. as
4. at (b) 1. of (c) 3. which (d) 2. at (e) 2. seen (f) 4. with (g) 3. than (h) 1. the
4. called (b) 3. who (c) 2. had (d) 3. The (e) 4. it (f) 2. to (g) 3. after (h) 1. trained
1. congratulate (b) 4. passing (c) 2. glad (d) 3. over (e) 3. succeeds (f) 2. for
4. has (h) 1. intends
WORKSHEET43
1. (a) 4. would (b) 2. an (c) 3. into (d) 1. was (e) 4. had (f) 3. on (g) 1. a (h) 2. my
2. (a) 1. mention (b) 2. your (c) 4. climbing (d) 3. into (e) 2. throw (f) 3. on (g) 4. reporting
(h) 1. repeat
3. (a) 4. declining (b) 3. in (c) 1. of (d) 2. most (e) 3. larger (f) 4. because (g) 2. requires
(h) 3. acknowledged
4. (a) 4. opacity (b) 3. medical (c) 4. formation (d) 2. an (e) 3. are (f) 2. and
(g) 1. like (h) 4. in
F-24
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
3.
2.
2.
4.
1.
1.
4.
4.
1.
3.
1.
3.
WORKSHEET45
1. (a)
(c)
2. (a)
(c)
3. (a)
(c)
3.
4.
3.
1.
2.
4.
(b)
(d)
(b)
(d)
(b)
(d)
1.
2.
4.
2.
3.
3.
WORKSHEET46
1. (a)
(c)
2. (a)
(b)
(c)
3. (a)
(c)
3.
2.
4.
2.
3.
3.
2.
was built
(b) 4. was revived
fame as
(d) 1. are organised
has a small build and long arms but no tail
birth it is
licking dew or rain
(d) 4. maintaining territory
is a living memorial to
(b) 4. have been learnt
continue
(d) 3. were crippled
WORKSHEET47
1. (a)
(c)
2. (a)
(c)
3. (a)
(c)
2.
4.
4.
2.
4.
2.
were attacked
than 5000 people died
was conducted
was organised by
when I stopped at a red light
drove onto a footpath
(b)
(d)
(b)
(d)
(b)
(d)
3.
2.
3.
4.
3.
1.
towers collapsed
were the two suicide bombers
who are studying
to help the students to choose
get controlled
who were killed
DIALOGUE COMPLETION
WORKSHEET48
1. (a)
(c)
2. (a)
(c)
S O L U T
I O N S
(b)
(d)
(b)
(d)
F-25
3. (a)
(c)
4. (a)
(c)
4.
1.
2.
3.
(b)
(d)
(b)
(d)
3.
2.
4.
4.
WORKSHEET49
1. (a)
(c)
2. (a)
(c)
3. (a)
(c)
4. (a)
(c)
(b)
(d)
(b)
(d)
(b)
(d)
(b)
(d)
WORKSHEET50
1. (a)
(c)
2. (a)
(c)
3. (a)
(c)
4. (a)
(c)
(b)
(d)
(b)
(d)
(b)
(d)
(b)
(d)
SENTENCE REORDERING
WORKSHEET51
1. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
F-26
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
WORKSHEET52
1. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
2. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Just use this brand and you can gorge on sweets to your hearts content.
As it guards you with its protective ring no harm will be done.
Another advertisement claims that its unique action can whiten teeth.
Specialists actually warn that the whitener may be harmful.
My parents left me with her when they went to live in the city.
She used to wake me up in the morning.
She said her morning prayers in a monotonous sing song.
I listened because I loved her voice.
3. (a) Vendors carrying sweet smelling flowers were at the platform to board the train to Surat.
(b) We wondered how they would get on the train without crushing the delicate flowers.
(c) The flower vendors jumped off the platform to the other side of the rails just before the
train arrived on the platform.
(d) As the train pulled into the station the flower bags were quickly fastened to the window rods.
4. (a) In Africa and America advertising aiming at children below 12 years of age is not permitted.
(b) Doordarshans code bans advertisements that endanger the safety of children.
(c) Advertisements which make children feel inferior if they do not use the product are also
banned.
(d) Dangerous stunts must carry a warning advising watchers not to copy them.
WORKSHEET53
1. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
2. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
3. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
4. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
WORKSHEET54
1. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
S O L U T
I O N S
F-27
2. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
3. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
According to Einsteins theory of relativity light bends under the influence of a massive body.
His prediction was put to test during the total solar eclipse of 1919.
One was least likely to observe sunspots because this was a total solar eclipse.
The deflection of surface light was also predicted by Einstein.
4. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
lose lost (b) and but (c) waits wait (d) one ones (e) doesnt dont (f) A An (g) on in
using use
and or (b) over in (c) dated dating (d) the a (e) has have (f) of in (g) on in (h) are is
on to (b) or and (c) has have (d) before ago (e) remain remains (f) find found
clue clues (h) on during
WORKSHEET56
1. (a)
(f)
2. (a)
(f)
3. (a)
(f)
4. (a)
(g)
more most (b) a the (c) stands stand (d) great greatness (e) have has
attracted attracts (g) which who (h) in of
maintaining maintain (b) among between (c) of for (d) or and (e) its its
were was (g) an the (h) the an
some a (b) say says (c) causing cause (d) damage damaging (e) systems system
patch patches (g) excess excessive (h) pigment pigmentation
for in (b) by over (c) in to (d) arrives arrived (e) reach reached (f) quiet quite
tiring tired (h) attend attention
WORKSHEET57
1. (a)
(g)
2. (a)
(f)
3. (a)
(g)
4. (a)
(g)
F-28
animal animals (b) welcome welcomes (c) for to (d) on in (e) took take (f) a the
them themselves (h) are is
since for (b) wanted want (c) temple temples (d) very some (e) their its
hundred hundreds (g) at of (h) to for
a the (b) the that (c) on with (d) Touch Touching (e) where which (f) helped help
to and (h) they you
huge human (b) sweep sweeps (c) is are (d) a an (e) catch catches (f) move moves
These This (h) in of
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
WORKSHEET58
1. (a) command commanding (b) dwelt dwelling (c) outweighs outweigh (d) much more
(e) which those (f) from of (g) radiating radiation (h) one ones
2. (a) at of (b) his her (c) while when (d) suffer suffers (e) for from (f) getting get
(g) but and (h) been being
3. (a) infecting infected (b) cant can (c) who that
(f) or and (g) by from (h) from with
4. (a) into to (b) us our (c) those that (d) many more (e) at of (f ) at in
(g) performing performance (h) which who
WORKSHEET60
1. (a) known as vital (b) these vital places (c) planes when they (d) come forward to
(e) fly into the (f) destroy the enemys (g) has a few (h) left for attack
2. (a) of the worlds (b) among the biggest (c) scientists do not (d) exactly where in
(e) they have not (f) alive. The scientists (g) mostly in the (h) 200-700m below sea-level
3. (a) degree of erudition (b) devoted to the (c) knowledge and truth (d) bring out and
(e) of all true (f) faith in the (g) himself has never (h) dignity and with
4. (a) drinks has recommended (b) as a health (c) misled the nation
(d) advertisements that their (e) safe and pesticide-free (f) government should set
(g) product but also (h) reportedly been advised
WORKSHEET61
1. (a) morning. They stopped (b) near the dam (c) in the rest (d) there were several
(e) boys and girls (f) water was flowing (g) They saw the (h) there was lightning
2. (a) forgotten the Tomb (b) time who was (c) Built in 1547 (d) stands as a
(e) Aliyazi, a nobleman (f) at the court (g) of his efforts (h) Islamshah could retain
3. (a) electron has a (b) charge. When the (c) room to light (d) flow every second
(e) source of electricity (f) has a negative (g) electrons leave the (h) terminal to complete
4. (a) not do it (b) judged by the (c) writers capability is (d) the opinion of
(e) typists skill is (f) accuracy of his (g) by the degree (h) and not by
S O L U T
I O N S
F-29
WORKSHEET62
1. (a) attraction for the (b) pattern as that (c) situated in the (d) of the lush
(e) imparts an added (f) magazines and journals (g) library is becoming
(h) hundreds of tourists
2. (a) north and the (b) aircraft for navigation (c) who go for (d) have a small
(e) pivoted and floated (f) needle so that (g) in a compass (h) between the angles
3. (a) wilderness which had (b) me from the (c) knocked on the (d) like this I
(e) over a year (f) Mrs Broadwith who looked (g) animals but my (h) I would go
4. (a) him if he (b) began to weep (c) too was moved (d) father had expired
(e) join his last (f) him a few (g) my own experience (h) endure what we
2. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
3. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
that he was going to fly out to Arizona to visit his sister Martha
he would be finding a lot of faults with him
to just buy a one-way ticket
Harry would be glad to pay his way back
4. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
WORKSHEET64
1. (a) if anything was missing
(c) which one was it
2. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
3. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
F-30
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
WORKSHEET65
1. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
2. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
3. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
4. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
WORKSHEET66
1. (a) what he was doing
(c) that was wonderful
3. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
4. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
3. (a) is facing
(c) was damaged
S O L U T
I O N S
F-31
WORKSHEET68
1. (a) was detained
(c) has been nominated
WORKSHEET69
1. (a) was averted/prevented
(c) has issued
WORKSHEET70
1. (a) has been banned/is banned
(c) has/have launched a drive against
3. (a) shook
(c) was killed
SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION
WORKSHEET71
1. 1.
2.
3.
4.
(d)
(c)
(b)
(c)
2. 1.
2.
3.
4.
(a)
(c)
(b)
(d)
F-32
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
VERB FORMS
WORKSHEET72
1. (a) is
(d) gets
(b) are
(e) wants
(c) take
(f) becomes
(b) fills
(e) blare
(c) add
(f) impairs
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
WORKSHEET73
1. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
2. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
3. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
4. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
2.
4.
3.
2.
CONNECTORS
WORKSHEET74
1. (a) but
2. (a) but
3. (a) (iii) as
(b) When
(b) and
(b) (iii) so
S O L U T
I O N S
(c) which
(c) and
(c) (ii) as
(d) and
(d) yet
(d) (ii) But
(e) so
(e) but
(e) (ii) As
(f) who
(f) and
(f) (iii) and
F-33
DETERMINERS
WORKSHEET75
1.
2.
3.
4.
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
The
other
an
(i) a
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
X
some
the
(ii) your
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
many
the
a
(ii) the
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
the
a
many
(i) the
(e)
(e)
(e)
(e)
the
the
the
(i) a
(f)
(f)
(f)
(f)
the
the
an
(iii) the
(e)
(e)
(e)
(e)
one
one
myself
(iii) They
(f)
(f)
(f)
(f)
we
Some
who
(ii) some
(e)
(e)
(e)
(e)
(e)
of
of
to
(ii) into
(i) for
(f)
(f)
(f)
(f)
(f)
to
at
of
(iii) on
(iii) in
PRONOUNS
WORKSHEET76
1.
2.
3.
4.
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
he
my
my
(ii) your
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
himself
who
mine
(iv) which
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
I
he
Some
(i) This
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
my
us
their
(i) which
PREPOSITIONS
WORKSHEET77
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
to
since
for
(ii) for
(iii) to
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
at
in
for
(iii) for
(i) in
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
in
of
of
(i) in
(iii) of
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
for
in
to
(ii) at
(i) of
CLAUSES
WORKSHEET78
1. (a) if
(b) when
(c) unless
2. (a) which
(b) who
(c) which
3. (a) 3. when we are going
(c) 4. What you say
4. (a) 3. how I can prepare it
(c) 4. when you are going to prepare it
(d) as
(e) although
(f) so that
(d) why
(e) which
(f) that
(b) 2. where we can relax and enjoy
(b) 2. what type you want to prepare
MODALS
WORKSHEET79
1.
2.
3.
4.
(a)
(a)
(a)
(a)
F-34
should
can
must
can
(b)
(b)
(b)
(b)
could
must
Will
would
E N G L
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
must
should
must
could
S H
(d)
(d)
(d)
(d)
will
must
will
can
(e)
(e)
(e)
(e)
should
can
should
could
C O M M U N I C A T
(f)
(f)
(f)
(f)
will
must
should
need
I V E
PASSIVE VOICE
WORKSHEET80
1. (a) 4. were given
(b) 3. were counted
2. (a) 3. was hit
(b) 4. was taken
3. 1. (d) will be replaced 2. (b) are suspected
NARRATION
WORKSHEET81
1. (a) 4. what she would like to have
(c) 3. which saree she liked
2. (a) 4. how he was getting on with his studies (b) 2. that he was doing fine
(c) 3. how many students there were
(d) 1. had to admit that there were
3. (a) 3. how he was feeling then
(c) 3. that it had been a very sound sleep
S O L U T
I O N S
F-35
LITERATURE
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (Fiction)
WORKSHEET82
1. 1. (d) appearance and behaviour
2. (c) had a manly seriousness
3. (b) guileless or innocent
2. (a) Luigi, the driver, was very cautious. He shrugged his shoulders to convey his disapproval of
their shabby appearance. He didnt approve of the two boys because they were untidy and
poorly dressed.
(b) The narrator and his companion noticed that the two boys were quite useful to them. They
were always busy in doing one thing or the other. Their willingness to work impressed the
narrator and his companion.
(c) The boys are self-respecting. They never talk of their plans or problems to anyone. They
work hard to earn enough money to pay for their sisters stay in the hospital.
(d) The brothers went to Poleta every Sunday. They hired cycles and cycled 60 kilometres. Riding
in a car could be easy and save money. But Nicola was self-respecting and hardworking. He
did not want a stranger to become involved with their plans.
3.
WORKSHEET83
1. 1. Through the glass partition, the narrator saw the two boys talking to their sister. Her eyes
were soft and tender. The narrator was a stranger. He did not want to intrude upon this
happy family party.
2. The boys did not tell the narrator why they visited that place and whom they wanted to
see. They kept it a secret. The narrator learnt about it from the nurse. He did not speak
to the boys because he thought they would prefer to feel they had safely kept their secret.
F-36
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
3. The narrator was impressed by the selfless action, love for sister and devotion to her. He
praised them for their struggle against odds and fighting spirit. They brought a new
nobility to human life.
2. (a) On the first day the author saw the two boys selling fruit. The next morning he saw them
polishing shoes. The author was surprised because he thought that the two brothers sold fruit.
(b) The boys were quite useful to the author. They helped him get American cigarettes. They
also helped him to buy tickets for the opera. Moreover, they helped him to choose good Italian
restaurants.
(c) The boys were waiting for the last bus from Padra to come to Verona. They hoped to sell all
their newspapers to the passengers. It shows that they are hardworking. They were also able
to bear hardships.
(d) The boys are self respecting. They never complain. Nor do they talk of their problems. They
work hard to earn money to enable their sister to stay in hospital for treatment. Love guides
and inspires them.
3. Sunday
16 Jan 20XX, 6 p.m.
Once again Nicola and Jacopo covered the distance of 30 kilometres and came all the way from
Verona to this tiny village, Poleta. The village is set high upon the hillside and I am lodged
in a large red-roofed villa, which has been turned into a hospital. I have been confined to bed
for the last twelve months. It is said that I have been suffering from tuberculosis of the spine.
The doctors and nurses are very kind. They tell me that I have made good progress. They are
hopeful that one day I would be able to walk and sing again.
Well, that reminds me of the years before the war. We led a comfortable and cultured life then.
Our small family comprised my father, my two brothers and myself. My father was a wellknown singer. I had been training as a singer. The war came as a bolt from the blue. Our
father was killed in the early part of the war. Shortly afterward a bomb had destroyed our
home and threw usthree children into the streets. We suffered horribly from near starvation
and exposure to the cold winter. For months we had barely kept ourselves alive in a sort of
shelter we built with our own hands amidst the rubble. Then the Germans ruled the city for
three years. Nicola and Jacopo joined the resistance movement and I was left alone. When the
war was over they returned and brought me here. They persuaded the hospital authorities to
admit me. They promised to pay the fee weekly.
We are living through hard times. Everything is so difficult. Food is scarce and so is work.
But my younger brothers work hard and manage to make the weekly payment. Their weekly
visit every Sunday fills me with fresh hope. Their love and devotion rejuvenates my sagging
spirit and aching bones. I earnestly pray to God to bless me with a speedy recovery so that
I may be able to walk and sing again. Thus their selfless actions will be suitable rewarded.
WORKSHEET84
1. 1. (d) the narrator himself
2. (c) he did not want to intrude into their privacy
3. (a) he thought the boys would prefer to keep their secret
2. (a) The narrator had seen Nicola and Jacopo work very hard from morning till late in the night.
He observed that they must be earning quite a lot. They did not spend much on their food or
clothes. He concluded that they must be saving a lot. He asked Nicola what he did with all
the money. Since Nicola did not want to share the secret, he felt embarrassed and grew pale.
(b) The narrator suggested that Nicola must be saving money to emigrate to America. Nicola
agreed but added that at present they had other plans. He did not elaborate because he
preferred to keep their mission a secret. Their plan was to get their sister cured of tuberculosis.
He smiled uncomfortably without divulging the secret.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-37
(c) Yes, I think the boys looked after Lucia willingly. They loved their sister very much. They
returned to her when the resistance movement was over. They carried her to hospital and
persuaded the authorities to keep her there. They worked hard and never complained of
tiredness. Their love and devotion was voluntary, not forced.
(d) Nicola and Jacopo were young boys of 13 and 12 respectively. They chose a hard life so that
they could pay for the treatment of their sister afflicted with tuberculosis. The sacrifice of the
boys, their sincerity and devotion to the cause is noteworthy. They display a maturity in
their actions. Their behaviour promises a hope for society.
3. Thursday
20 March 20XX, 8 p.m.
I couldnt help shedding tears as I went through the story Two Gentlemen of Verona. It revived
old memories, scars and pain. I know that I cant be reunited with my children in this life, so I
will try my best to improve the lot of these three homeless orphans. I will try to shower all
motherly affection and discharge duties and responsibilities that only a mother feels towards
her children.
As the first step, I would bring them to my home. I would send the boys to good school, where
they get proper education. I hope that the boys have a bright future. They already have many
splendid qualities. A good education would help them to be more independent. I will look after
the girl till she recovers fully. Then Ill arrange for speech therapy and training in music for her.
I hope the children will cooperate with me and help me implement the plans I have envisaged
for their betterment.
There is lurking doubt. Probably the boys wouldnt like to be adopted by an unknown person
and they might refuse monetary help as they are so self-respecting. Well, Ill have to be tactful
and win their love and confidence by introducing myself as a distant cousin of their dear departed
father.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT: Two Gentlemen of Verona (Fiction)
WORKSHEET85
1. (a)
(b) Yes, a gentleman has consideration for others and their feelings. He is kind, considerate and
polite. He would not speak a word or do anything that might hurt the feelings of others.
2. The story is about two gentlemen of Verona. Their qualities are highlighted by their actions
as well as reactions to adverse circumstances.
The gentlemen here are two young boys. Though young in years, they have ample maturity
to realise their responsibility and work hard with full devotion and dedication.
F-38
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
3. (a) The narrator had seen the two boys selling fruit. Next morning, he saw them polishing
shoes. Then Nicola explained that they did many things like shining shoes, selling fruit,
hawking newspapers, conducting tourists round the town and running errands. He glanced
at the narrator and his friend hopefully as he expected to get some work from them.
(b) The narrator had seen Nicola and Jacopo doing different things. They worked hard from
morning till late at night. He observed that they must be earning a lot. Since they did not
spend much on food or clothes, they must be saving a lot. He asked Nicola what he did with
all the money. Nicola did not want to share the secret. He felt shy and then embarrassed. So
he grew pale.
(c) Nicola did not want a stranger to become involved with their plans. So he smiled uncomfortably.
He answered gently in a low voice that these were mere plans. He did not disclose the plan
to pay the hospital for the treatment of his sister.
(d) Nicola and Jacopo were very young boys. They were aged 13 and 12 respectively. They were
shabbily dressed, but their behaviour was excellent. They had attained maturity well before
attaining youth. They performed their responsibility with the seriousness of a grown up
person.
4. The boys were shabbily dressed. One boy had put on an old and damaged jersey and cut-off
khaki pants. The other was wearing a shortened army tunic gathered in loose folds. They had
tangled hair and brown skins. But their eyes were dark and earnest. Later on the narrator
discovered that the boys were hardworking, self-respecting, clever and brave. They loved their
sister deeply and went through a lot of trouble so that she could stay in the hospital for treatment.
They were homeless and had to be out even during very cold winter months. War did not break
their spirits. They were able to bear hardships. They cycled sixty kilometres on hired bicycles to
go and meet their sister every Sunday. They were perfect gentlemen. They did not seek money
help or donation from strangers. Nor did they reveal their plans to them. They suffered patiently
but never complained.
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
MRS PACKLETIDES TIGER (Fiction)
WORKSHEET86
1. 1. (c) to surpass Loona Bimberton
2. (d) a mighty hunter
3. (b) Mrs Packletide wanted to counter Loona Bimbertons boast
2. (a) Mrs Packletides friend Loona Bimberton had enjoyed a ride in an aeroplane. In those days it
was quite risky. Mrs Packletide wanted to prove that she was more adventurous than Loona.
So she wished to kill a tiger.
(b) Mrs Packletide was jealous of her friend, Loona Bimberton. She wanted to impress her. The
party would be supposedly in honour of Loona. But she would show the tiger skin to her
friends. She would talk about it. She also intended to give Loona a tiger-claw brooch on her
birthday.
(c) Mrs Packletide offered a sum of one thousand rupees to the villagers for arranging a tiger for
her to shoot. This was a big amount. The villagers decided to arrange a tiger for her. They
chose an old and weak tiger. It was too weak to hunt wild animals. It had to satisfy its
hunger by killing only small animals.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-39
(d) The tiger was very old. The villagers feared that the tiger might go away to another jungle.
Children were given the duty of keeping a watch to check the tiger from leaving that jungle.
Cheaper kind of goats were left behind so that the tiger could eat them and remain satisfied.
Mothers hushed their singing while passing through the jungle. They did not want to disturb
the sleep of the respectable old tiger.
3. Friday
18 March 20XX, 9.30 p.m.
More than twenty years have elapsed since I undertook that ambitious tiger-hunt in a remote
Indian village. At that time I was young, ambitious and swayed by emotions rather than
reason. My jealously of Loona Bimbertons adventurous feat led me to plan the tiger hunt in
order to get more publicity as a great adventurous person.
The circumstances seemed favourable. The villagers were lured by the offer of one thousand
rupees. They arranged a weak and old tiger for me to shoot. A high platform was built and
a goat was tied at a safe distance. My paid-companion, Miss Louisa Mebbin sat with me on
the machaan. With guns in hand, we waited for the tiger. As soon as I saw the tiger, I fired
a shot. The tiger fell down to one side. Louisa Mebbin noticed that my shot had killed the
goat and not the tiger. The big beast had died of heart failure.
Both Louisa Mebbin and the villagers cheated me. The villagers shouted with joy at my success
in killing the tiger. They welcomed the happy news with the beating of drums as they were
anxious to get the money.
Louisa Mebbin went a step further. She cunningly hinted to me that Loona Bimberton would
be very happy if she came to know the truth about the shooting of the tiger. It was a clear
hint to me that she might tell the truth to Loona Bimberton and get money for the information.
Then she talked of a certain weekend cottage she wanted to buy, but had no money. I did not
want to be a laughing stock and could not bear that Loona should know the truth. So I had
to pay her six hundred and eighty pounds to keep her mouth shut. Thus the tiger-hunt proved
a costly affair. Now I can rebuke myself and regret for my foolish whims.
WORKSHEET87
1. 1. (c) she wanted to shoot a tiger without much exertion or risk
2. (d) the most liked meeting place of tiger having glorious past
3. (b) it was old and weak
2. (a) Miss Louisa Meebin was the paid companion of Mrs Packletide. She was neither sincere nor
devoted to Mrs Packletide. She has a keen eyesight. She is money-minded. She remarks that
it neednt pay for the goat if the tiger doesnt touch it. She noticed that Mrs Packletides shot
has missed the tiger. She had hit the goat. She told this to Mrs Packletide. Later on she
blackmailed her because of this discovery.
(b) Mrs Packletide wasnt a good shooter. She had an accurately sighted rifle in hand. Mrs
Packletide fired a shot. The tiger jumped to one side, rolled and died. It died of heart failure
caused by the loud noise of the rifle. Her shot had killed the goat, not the tiger. It shows that
her aim was quite poor.
(c) Louisa Mebbin commented that the goat was dying as the bullet had hit it. Her shot had
missed the tiger. Miss Mebbin was cunning and money-minded. She pointed out a fact. It
could spoil the fun and charm of tiger shooting. Mrs Packletide was rightly annoyed at this
discovery.
(d) The villagers felt very excited. They had swarmed on to the scene. Their shouting speedily
carried the glad news to the village. They thumped an tom-toms and sang together of the
triumph. The villagers were greedy. They were anxious to get their thousand rupees. So they
gladly connived at the fiction that Mrs Packletide had shot the tiger.
F-40
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
3. Monday
6 March 20XX, 10 p.m.
How strange are the quirks of fortune! Till a fortnight ago I was a darling among my friends
at the Ladies Club. I was hailed as a great adventurous lady who had risked her life in boarding
a flight manned by an Algerian pilot. During those days I talked of nothing else.
The wheels of fortune moved and took a complete turn. My friend, Mrs Packletide went to
Indian forests and shot a tiger. She gained instant fame as a tiger-hunter. Her pictures with
the dead tiger at her feet appeared in various newspapers and magazines. Two favourites of
the fashionable society The Texas Weekly Snapshot and the illustrated Monday supplement
of The Novoe Vremya are said to be full of her pictured fame.
My heart burnt with dislike and jealousy of Mrs Packletide. I was so much annoyed that I
refused to look at an illustrated paper for weeks. To add insult to injury, she invited me to
a luncheon party. It was supposed to honour my feat. But I know my friend inside out. She
would spread the tiger-skin rug in the foreground and most of the conversation would centre
around it. I declined the invitation to the luncheon party as I couldnt repress my emotions
any further.
To rub in her point she offered to present me a tiger-skin claw brooch on my next birthday.
I felt really annoyed and upset. The hurt and insult was more than if she had slapped me on
the face publicly. Somehow, I managed to control myself and wrote her a polite letter of thanks
for the gift. My repressed emotions, however, were apparent through my words.
WORKSHEET88
1. 1. Louisa Mebbin drew attention to the fact that the tiger had not been hit by Mrs Packletides
bullet. The goat was in death-pain from a mortal bullet wound.
2. The beast of prey, i.e. the tiger died of heart failure caused by the sudden loud noise of
the rifle. His death was made more speedy by decay due to old age.
3. Mrs Packletide was visibly annoyed at the discovery that she had hit the wrong animal.
2. (a) Yes, I think Mrs Packletide was able to achieve her hearts desire. She wanted to outshine
Loona Bimberton. Her pictured fame as a tiger-hunter impressed the fashionable circle of
the society. Since all her motives were largely governed by dislike of Loona Bimberton, she
must have rejoiced at her own triumph and the discomfiture of her rival in fame.
(b) Miss Mebbin managed to get her week-end cottage by blackmailing Mrs Packletide. She
hinted that she wanted to buy a cottage but had no money. Since Miss Mebbin was able to
get the cottage due to the old tiger, she planted many tiger-lilies in her garden.
(c) The tiger shooting organized by the villagers was a mock-serious affair. They were interested
only in getting one thousand rupees promised to them for a tiger hunt without much risk or
exertion. They chose a weak and old tiger. They posted boys on duty lest it should not wander
away to another forest. Goats of cheap variety were thrown to satisfy its hunger. Their only
worry was that the tiger might not die before the day fixed for tiger-hunt.
(d) Viewed in the light of the above remark, Mrs Packletide is certainly vain. She plans the
tiger-hunt and luncheon-party to establish her superiority over her friend, Loona Bimberton.
She incurs a lot of expenditure in her tiger hunt. She has to buy a cottage for her paid
companion to keep her mouth shut. She satisfies her vanity but pays a high price for it.
3. Monday
7 March 20XX, 9.30 p.m.
Another busy week-end is over and with it have departed a host of admiring friends. All of them
are inquisitive as to how I manage to keep a pretty week-end cottage. Revealing the secret to
them may perhaps lower my prestige in their eyes. They may consider me mean, moneyminded
and miserly. They might call me shrewd and stingy. But I have to keep body and soul together
and thrive at the cost of others if chance permits me.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-41
Well, it seems fortune smiled on me when Mrs Packletide chose me as her paid companion for
the tiger hunt. I did not like to waste money on giving tips to bearers in hotels. I disliked the idea
of spending one thousand rupees for an old and weak tiger. I told Mrs Packletide clearly that she
ought to get the tiger cheaper since it was old.
During the hunt, I sat on the platform with Mrs Packletide. We played patience and waited for
the tiger. I did only that much for which I was paid. My keen power of observation opened the
knot of the bundle of riches. I told Mrs Packletide that her shot had missed the tiger and killed
the goat. She remarked that no one would believe it. I played on her vanity and said that Loona
Bimberton would. She would feel amused to know the truth. Mrs Packletide did not want to be a
laughing stock in the fashionable society. Well, some person may call me a blackmailer, but I
only extracted from her the sum needed to buy this cottage. The rich lady is generous enough
and knows that Ill keep my mouth shut as long as she helps me with money to maintain the
cottage and its garden.
May God send me another cash rich but vain and ambitious employer soon!
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
DISCUSSION: Mrs Packletides Tiger (Fiction)
WORKSHEET89
1. 1.
WORKSHEET90
1. (a) Mrs Packletide wanted to shoot a tiger.
(b) Mrs Packletide had planned a luncheon party. Outwardly it would be in honour of Loona
Bimberton. Actually she would talk about tiger hunt and display tiger skin.
F-42
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
(c) Mothers took special care not to disturb the sleep of the old tiger. They stopped singing as
they passed through the forest.
(d) Louisa Mebbin was money-minded and never wasted money. She was very careful in spending
money.
(e) It was clear that the wrong animal had been hit. The tiger had died of heart failure caused
by old age and loud noise of the rifle.
(f) Loona Bimberton did not even look at the pictures in newspapers for weeks. Her letter of
thanks was quite curt, brief and formal.
2. Yes, the writer is trying to make fun of the main characters in the story. There are numerous
instances in the text that point to this fact. Some of them are listed below:
Mrs Packletide wanted to shoot a tiger. Her movements and motives were largely governed by
dislike of Loona Bimberton. She thought of tiger hunt to outshine the adventurous feat of Loona
Bimberton. She planned a lunch party to honour Loona. Her actual motive was to boast of her
own adventure. She paid a lot of money to the villagers and Miss Mebbin. She did not want the
truth of her tiger-hunt to become known.
Loona Bimberton is equally vain, jealous and boastful. She takes pride of her adventurous
journey in an aeroplane. The distance covered is too smallonly eleven miles. She is so jealous
of Mrs Packletide that she refuses to look at illustrated newspapers and magazines.
Miss Mebbin is a typical companion. She does not work a bit more than she is paid for. She is
shrewd, stingy, cunning, moneyminded and selfish. She blackmails Mrs Packletide to buy a
cottage for her. She names it Les Fauves or The Wild Beasts and plants tiger lillies to show the
connection of the cottage with the tiger-hunt.
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
THE LETTER (Fiction)
WORKSHEET91
1.
2. (a) The author builds up an atmosphere of extreme cold and chill step by step. He portrays the
old man drawing his tattered clothes tighter to shield his body from the cold and biting wind.
In the early morning people were still asleep on account of intense winter cold. The cold became
more intense when the old man came out of the towngate and took a straight road.
(b) He heard the sounds of grinding mills from houses women were singing in sweet voices at
their work. Occasionally a dog would bark or the distant steps of a workman going early
to work would disturb the peace. Sometimes the screech of a bird was heard. These were
the only sounds heard in the morning while the town was wrapped in deathly silence.
(c) As soon as the old man beheld the wooden arch of the handsome building of the newest style,
he was filled with joy and excitement. He was happy like the pilgrim who is pleased when
he first sees the goal of his journey. For the old man the post office had become his pilgrimage
and he visited it with faith and hope every morning.
(d) As soon as Ali heard his name called, he felt electrified. He got up from his seat. Then he
raised his eyes to heaven in gratitude. After that he would step forward and put his hands
to the door. He would tell Gokul Bhai, the clerk, that he had come for his letter in response
to the call made.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-43
3. Friday
10 May 20XX
Today, of course, I cant contain myself. I got the shock of my life when I visited Rajapur
yesterday. I enquired about our old comrade Coachman Ali, the famous hunter. I was shocked
to see an old man doubled with age. His frail body was wrapped in tattered cloak. I took
courage and confronted him. What Ali told me was simply unbelievable. But such is the
nature of human heart. It craves for love and affection. It yearns more when it is deprived
of them.
Well! Ali had only one child, Miriam. She married a soldier and went to his regiment in Punjab.
Thus poor Ali was left alone. Love for daughter made the grief of separation more intense.
For the last five years he has been waiting for a letter from her. Rain or sunshine he goes
to the post office everyday. He has firm faith that one day he will get a letter from Miriam.
People at post office consider him mad and make fun of him. Like a devout worshipper he
visits the post office, the place of his pilgrimage. He has passed many anxious nights waiting
for the letter. He has grown quite week and has to walk with the help of a stick.
WORKSHEET92
1.
2. (a) The old man lived alone. He woke up at 4 a.m. and started walking to the post office all
alone. He reached there at 5 a.m. No one else was on the road at this time. He went into the
veranda of post office building and sat by himself at a particular seat in a particular corner
of the building.
(b) Darkness of early morning, intense cold or fast blowing wind did not dissuade Ali from
undertaking his journey to the post office. He had followed this routine for the last five
years no matter what the weather was. He went to the post office with the hope that he
would get a letter from his only child Miriam and this would comfort his lonely heart.
(c) On reaching the arch with the board Post Office the old man went in quietly and squatted
on the veranda. He would listen to the voices of the post office workers busy in their routine
work. He did not make any enquiry or disturb them but wait patiently and hopefully for his
name to be called.
(d) Two traits distinguished Ali as a clever Shikari. First, he had a keen eyesight. His power of
observation helped him to sight an earth-brown partridge, almost invisible to other eyes.
His sharp eyes saw the hare crouching even when the dogs failed to see the cunning creature
hidden there. Secondly, Ali was a good shot. When he saw a bird or animal, the prey was as
good as in his bag.
3. Tuesday
25 February 20XX
What a troublesome day it was yesterday. I had been waiting anxiously for news of my
daughter who lay ill at Lucknow. I saw an envelope of the colour and shape I expected to
receive. I snatched it up eagerly, but the next moment I dropped it as if it had given me an
electric shock. The letter was addressed to coachman Ali.
I was worried all night, as I did not receive my letter. A single night in suspense filled
me with sympathy for the poor old man who had been waiting anxiously for a letter for
the last five years. At the stroke of five I heard a soft knock on the door. Feeling sure
that it was Ali, I rose quickly from the chair and flung the door wide open.
Ali was standing outside. He was leaning on a stick, bent double with age. Tears were wet
on his face. His eyes had an unearthly light. I shrank back in fear and astonishment.
F-44
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
Soon Lakshmi Das came towards the office from another quarter. I took no notice of him but
kept staring with wide open eyes at the doorway from which Ali had disappeared. I was
surprised to learn from Lakshmi Das that Ali had died three months ago I was bewildered.
I listened to Lakshmi Dass recital of the last interview he had with Ali. I was perplexed. Had
I really seen Ali or had my imagination deceived me.
I suffered the pangs of anxiety and separation yet again as I didnt receive any letter from
home today. In the evening I, accompanied by Lakshmi Das, visited Alis grave and laid the
letter on it.
For the first time in my life I realised what anxiety and pangs of separation mean to a father
I kept reproaching myself for my failure to understand Alis anxiety. I was tortured by doubt
and remorse, but I sat down by the charcoal sigri to wait for another night. O how long and
tiresome must have been Alis waiting!
WORKSHEET93
1.
2. (a) Ali would walk to the post office each morning. He would reach there at 5 a.m. and always
occupied a particular seat in a particular corner of the building. People laughed at him as he
waited for a letter which never came. The postmen began to make a fun of him. They would
call out his name for the fun of seeing him jump up and come to the door. Thus he was a
familiar figure at the post office.
(b) The author uses the literary device of a simile to bring out clearly Alis love for hunting. It
was an addiction for him. As an opium eater cant pass a day without opium, similarly Ali
couldnt live without hunting. When Alis eyes would catch sight of the hairs ears, it was
dead the next moment. As he sighted the partridge it was as good as in his bag.
(c) Coachman Ali realised this truth of human existence during his loneliness. Miriam, his only
child left him alone after her marriage to a soldier. Ali the hunter was overtaken by loneliness.
He forgot hunting and reflected deeply. He came to the conclusion that the whole universe
is built up through love and that the grief of separation is inescapable.
(d) Although it was an uninteresting building, the post office became a place of pilgrimage for
coachman Ali. He would come there every morning with a devout certainty. Guided by
faith and love he would wait patiently for his turn to receive the letter. Ali would salute the
post office as though it housed some precious relic. In short, he revered it as a holy place.
3. This morning I was the first to come to the post office at 5 oclock in the morning. I saw that the
postmaster had flung the door wide open. He cried come in, brother Ali and tried to hand him
a letter. I found no one there so I asked him who that person had been and if that was old Ali.
The postmaster took no notice of my searching questions. He was staring with wide-open eyes
at the doorway. He was wondering where Ali could have gone. Then he admitted that he had
been speaking to Ali. I told him that old Ali was dead and asked him to give me that letter. He did
feel convinced. A postman who had just arrived confirmed that Ali had died three months ago.
The postmaster was bewildered. Miriams letter was still lying near the door. Alis image was
still before his eyes. Then I narrated to him the last interview I had with old Ali. The postmaster
was still unconvinced. He could not doubt the reality of the knock on the door and tears in Alis.
He was perplexedwhether he had really seen Ali or his imagination had deceived him.
Finally, I used my trump card to convince him, I asked him to accompany me to Alis grave and
let me perform my duty and fulfil my promise to deliver his letter to his grave. Perhaps this
argument convinced him that Ali could not have come there.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-45
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT: The Letter (Fiction)
WORKSHEET94
1.
Loneliness
Grief
silence
of helplessness
2. (a) Ali was an old man. He was known as coachman Ali. Every day he would go to the post office
at 5 a.m. He was the first to reach there. He sat on a bench and waited for a letter. He had
followed this practice for the last five years.
(b) Ali faced the cold and biting wind of cold morning. He drew his tattered clothes tighter to
shield his body. He walked when the whole town was asleep. His faith and love warmed him
to bear the bitter cold. He sat patiently on a bench outside the post office and waited for a
letter to arrive from his only child Miriam who had left him five years ago. His actions
display the qualities of faith, love and patience.
(c) A change came in Alis life when his only child Miriam got married and left him alone. She
went off with her husband to his regiment in the Punjab. Now he understood the meaning of
love and separation. He could no longer feel pleased or laugh at the bewildered terror of
young partridges bereft of their parents. Ali gave up hunting.
(d) A pest is a troublesome or destructive thing, animal etc. Here the word is used in a derogatory
sense. The postmaster considers old Ali a troublesome person, as he disturbs them constantly
with his enquiry regarding his letter. We do not agree with the statement of the postmaster.
The postmaster fails to understand the anxiety, love and hope of the old man.
3.
F-46
Phrase/Sentence
Meaning
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
THE FROG AND THE NIGHTINGALE (Poem)
WORKSHEET95
1.
2. (a) The frog used to croak all night from his hole under the sumac tree. The frog considered
himself the master musician of that area and sang from dusk to dawn for self-satisfaction
and self-expression.
(b) They used the words Bravo! Too Divine! and Encore! All these exclamations show that
the creatures were enraptured. They cheered the song of the nightingale and requested her
for more singing.
(c) By calling the frog a solitary loon, the poet isolates it as the only creature who behaves strangely
towards the sweet song of the nightingale. He is growing sarcastic towards the frog.
(d) The frog introduced himself as the master of the sumac tree. He said that he was famous for
his baritone and was also music critic of Bog Trumpet magazine.
3. The poem begins like a fairy tale. It contains the familiar opening Once upon a time.... Given
the hypothesis of ancient times when birds could talk like human beings, we suspend our disbelief
and accept the fable as a likely or real story. Thus the opening at once sets the tone and tempo
of the poem. Since the Frog is the first component of the title, the poet introduces it in the very
first line and thus imparts it prominence. The poet uses rhyme to create a musical effect. He
even distorts words to make them rhyme. For example, on has been misspelt and mispronounced
so that it rhymes with dawn. In the text we find it as awn and it has been repeated three times
in one line to create the effect of monotony.
WORKSHEET96
1.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-47
2. (a) The nightingale is competent, skilful and intelligent but nervous and shy. The frog is
incompetent, rough and coarse but patronizing and authoritative.
(b) The frog is referred to as heartless because he was really cruel in his attitude and treatment
of the nightingale. He was regardless of her feelings, made her sing day and night and led
her to death.
(c) It is because he has reviewed her song and given his considered opinion as profoundly as the
great Austrian composer, Mozart.
(d) The frog is haughty, boastful, arrogant and presumptuous. He cant brook a rival and
tries to eliminate the nightingale by his cunning and crafty ways. He dupes the nightingale
and the other birds and makes money. The frog is thus cunning, crafty and stone-hearted.
3. The nightingale felt that though her song was not divine, it was at least original. This according
to the frog was not much to boast about. The frog added that without proper training she would
remain a mere beginner. He boasted about his mastery in music and offered to train her. He
promised that she would be a sure winner after practising with him. He added that he would
charge a modest fee.
The frog was really cruel in his attitude and treatment of the nightingale. He was regardless of
her feelings. He had no feeling of sympathy or any emotion for the nightingale. The timid nightingale
was highly impressed by the boastful and authoritative frog. It is ironic that a creature with no
musical attainments trains a sweet song bird like the nightingale.
WORKSHEET97
1.
2. (a) The nightingale asked the frog whether he liked her song. He remarked that it was not too
bad. He pointed out its drawback saying that it was far too long. He further added that the
technique was fine but it lacked force. The nightingale felt flattered and impressed that a
critic of such renown had discussed her art and throat. The nightingale had admitted that
the song was her own, though it was not divine. This shows that she lacks confidence. She
does not know the high quality of her song. The nightingale is competent, skilful and
intelligent but she is nervous and shy. The frog is incompetent, rough and coarse but
patronizing and authoritative. The nightingales acceptance of the Frogs opinions and her
eagerness to be tutored by the frog shows that incompetent, rough and coarse people rule
the competent, skilful and intelligent ones.
(b) Next night, the nightingale prepared herself to sing. She shook her head, twitched her tail,
closed an eye and fluffed a wing. Then she cleared her throat to sing. Just then she heard
the croaking of a frog. The nightingale very politely asked the frog if it was he who had
spoken. The frog then came forward and introduced himself as the master of the sumac
tree. He said that he was famous for his baritone and was also the music critic of
Bog Trumpet magazine.
The behaviour of the nightingale and the frog offer a study in contrast. The nighingale
behaves very politely and respectfully towards the frog whereas the latters attitude towards
her was cold, authoritative and imposing. This represents the eternal conflict between the
artistthe creator and the criticthe dissector and destroyer.
F-48
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
WORKSHEET98
1.
2. (a) The frog and the nightingale practised singing different notes and pitches at a fast speed.
As a result of the long practice, the nightingales voice became hoarse and shaky and she
was thoroughly exhausted.
(b) Lack of rest and excessive singing subdued the nightingale. The unrestrained applause by
the appreciative audience and the nightingales enthusiasm to please them revived her
throat at night.
(c) Her song has been called tired because it no longer had any melody and freshness about it.
It was worn out and monotonous. It did not inspire any more and failed to attract the
audience.
(d) He uses this expression as he feels that she does not use her brains while singing. As the
income from the concerts dips sharply the frog loses his temper and lashes out on the poor
bird.
3. The frog was far too cunning for the timid, nervous and shy nightingale. He volunteered to train
the nightingale to become a singing star. The nightingale was impressed and called him a Mozart
in disguise who had come in a new form to assess her song. Mozart was a great musician. He
was a renowned Austrian composer and singer. The nightingale uses this title for the frog out of
humility. She feels obliged that the great critic had reviewed her song and given his considered
opinion as profoundly as the great Austrian composer, Mozart. To the polite, humble, timid and
modest nightingale, this is like a fairy tale. However, it shows the Frogs cunning and deceitful
nature. He cant brook a rival and tries to eliminate the nightingale by his cunning and crafty
ways. Such a haughty, boastful, arrogant and presumptuous person does not deserve to be
called a Mozart.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
GROUP DISCUSSION: The Frog and the Nightingale (Poem)
WORKSHEET99
1. (a) The frog was angry because the nightingale was earning less money.
(b) Yes, I think the nightingale was truly brainless. There are many reasons. First, she couldnt see
through the trick of the frog who offered to train her. Secondly, she didnt know her real worth.
Thirdly, she couldnt see through the treachery of the frog who made her sing non-stop.
Fourthly, she couldnt understand the frogs hint when he said that she owed him sixty shillings.
(c) The nightingale died of over-exertion, so the frog became the unrivalled king of the bog once again.
2. The words are:
Croaked, cacophony, blared out, minstrelled, melody, serenaded, baritone, twittering, trills, zipped,
bounced, foghorn.
These could be grouped according to their qualitiessweet/unpleasant or attractive/repulsive.
(a) croaked, cacophony, blared out, baritone, bounced, foghornunpleasant/repulsive
(b) minstrelled, melody, serenadedsweet/attractive
(c) twittering, trills, zippedneither sweet nor repulsive.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-49
Personality features
polite, timorous
Frog
territorial, boastful
nervous, shy
Frog
dismissive, patronising
Frog
presumptuous, haughty
servile, fawning
timid, shy
Frog
polite, hypocrite.
Frog
possessive, crafty
Frog
arrogant, coercing
Frog
deceitful, condescending
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
MIRROR (Poem)
WORKSHEET100
1.
2. (a) The mirror is not affected by the whims of persons. An ordinary piece of glass is affected by
the mist in the atmosphere and loses its power of observation, assimilation and reflection.
This mirror remains vigilant, watchful, dispassionate and neutral.
(b) The ugliness of the fish aptly suggests the decaying beauty and lack of charm of a middleaged woman. The fish is described as terrible to suggest the ugly hideous face of the old
woman who has lost her beauty and charm.
(c) He means that the mirror is absolutely unbiased. It reflects exactly what it sees without
adding or subtracting. It does not have any preconceived notions about things. It neither
has any likes nor dislikes. Its reflection is totally dependable.
F-50
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
(d) It remains busy reflecting the wall opposite it. This reflection is interrupted only when
someone stands between the mirror and the wall or when darkness blocks the visibility.
However, someone stands in front of the mirror, it reflects back the image objectively.
3. 1. We generally use a mirror to watch our face, to check our appearance, to apply/remove
make up and to ensure our neatness and tidiness.
2. No, in modern life a mirror has become constant companion of beauty for conscious
girls/ladies. Even boys/grown-up males spend a lot of time before mirrors.
The other possible reasons for using a mirror are:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
WORKSHEET101
1. (a) The mirror is bright as silver. Its shining surface serves as a good reflecter. The mirror is
exact and truthful. It has a great power of observation and assimilation. Whatever it sees,
it swallows immediately. It does not distort anything because the mirror is objective in its
approach. It has no preconceived notions or false ideas. So it gives a true and faithful report
of what it observes. The decisions of the mirror are exact. They are not coloured by personal
feelings of love or dislike. People may accuse it of being cruel, whereas the reality is that it
is only truthful. The mirror is transparent and powerful like the eye of a little god. It has
four corners.
(b) The mirror is a keen observer of life and the things around it. It hangs on a wall and most of
the time it watches the opposite wall carefully. It notices the red spots on its pink surface.
The mirror feels an affinity with the opposite wall for it has been looking at it for such a long
time that the wall has now become a part of its personality. Then the image of the wall
flickers, not because of any shortcomings on the part of the mirror, but because some faces
and darkness come over and over again between the mirror and the wall and separate
them. The mirror functions only when there is light. It reflects the bright faces of persons as
well as bright things. It fails to respond to darkness.
2.
1. (a) mirror
2. (d) mirror
3. (b) accept
WORKSHEET102
1.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-51
testimony to the change in her figure over the years. There was a time when she was young and
pretty. That figure of a young girl has been drowned somewhere in the depth of the lake and
only the hideous, repulsive figure of an old woman rises to the surface. She now looks as terrible
as a fish.
Second Option
The mirror says this because the woman looking at her face into the mirror was once a pretty
young girl. Now this girl is growing into an old woman. She has lost her youthful beauty but she
wants to be always beautiful. She turns to candles and the moon. These become liars because
they help to hide the wrinkles by adding their lights on her face. The mirror reflects the womans
face truthfully which is growing old. But she behaves like a terrible fish because of her growing
old. She in her old age doesnt want to face the reality of life. She has always desired to look young.
But the mirror cant help her at all. It appears to be advising its users to accept the reality.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
APPRECIATION OF THEME: Mirror (Poem)
WORKSHEET103
1. The mirror has been personified. It has been given human characteristics.
Judgment
: I have no preconceptions
Sight
: Whatever I see I swallow immediately just as it is
Temperament : (unbiased)
unmisted by love or dislike
I am not cruel
only truthful
Mirrors Routine
Keen Observer
contemplates the opposite wall
faces and darkness disturb meditation.
Patient Reflector A woman searches for her real looks/beauty in the depths of
the pool
reflects faithfully
reality is frightening
watches womans tears and agitation of the hands
2. (a) The woman is bending over the mirror, now a lake.
(b) The woman bends over the edges of the lake-like mirror and searches its depths to know
what she really/exactly looks like.
(c) No, she is not satisfied with what she observes. Her tears and agitation of hands convey
her displeasure and dissatisfaction.
(d) The candles and the moon have been called liars because they create the illusion of beauty
in their soft light. So even an ugly face looks glamorous in their faint light.
(e) She wants to satisfy the general human weakness of appearing beautiful. These liars
make her look beautiful in their soft/faint light. Perhaps, her ego is also satisfied this way.
3. ...I am silvery bright and exact in my work. I suffer from no prejudices. I have no preconceptions
or misconceptions. I am very fair in my judgment. I assimilate at once whatever I see and do so
as it is. My response is not coloured by personal emotions. Hence my judgment is unmisted by
love or dislike. Since there is no personal element involved in my decision making, my observations
are full of truth and exactness. I faithfully depict whatever I see. Those who do not like their
F-52
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
reflected images may accuse me of being cruel. But remember, I am no flatterer. I am quite
truthful and faithfully reflect whatever I see. I do not add or subtract anything. I hope to remain
true, exact and sincere even if the beholder may feel upset, worried, sad or angry. The day I lose
my objectivity and truthfulness you humans will dub me a liar and discard me to your dustbin.
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
NOT MARBLE, NOR THE GILDED MONUMENTS (Poem)
WORKSHEET104
1. 1. (d) be remembered till posterity
2. (c) the person he loves
3. (b) abab
2. (a) According to Shakespeare even gold plated, ornate monuments become unclean and faded
with the passage of time. They get tarnished and unclean. On the other hand, poetry remains
fresh, lively and vibrant.
(b) Shakespeare calls war wasteful. It causes a lot of destruction all around. Fine works of art
and architecture like beautiful statues and buildings are destroyed by the fast moving gun
fire. People are killed in the prime of their lives. The ravages of war are quite horrible.
(c) Time is a great destroyer. It tarnishes memory and objects and spoils their appeal. War is
another destroyer. The weapons of war spread wide-spread destruction. But his friend will
enjoy everlasting memory through the sonnet about him.
(d) According to Shakespeare, his poetry will survive longer than the ornate gilded monuments.
He says that neither forces of nature nor wars can destroy his poetry. In fact, even godly
powers of Mars will not have a devastating effect on his poems.
3. Poetry springs out of human heart and resides there. As long as the human heart throbs, it
keeps the emotions alive. The sonnet written by Shakespeare in praise of his friend has certainly
outlived both the poet and his friend. It is as fresh, lively and vibrant today as it was when the
poet composed it almost 400 years ago. Huge monuments made of beautiful stones like white
marble and embedded with precious gems have faded with the onslaught of time. The hostile
forces of nature and the deadly engines of war have left their devastating effect on these physical
objects. On the other hand poetry has survived the ravages of cruel time, hostile forces of nature
and deadly engines of war. Shakespeare has indeed succeeded in immortalising his friend. As
we go through the poem an image of his friend springs up in our imagination. Thus he has
immortalised his friend through his poem.
WORKSHEET105
1. 1. War spreads large-scale destruction. It destroys statues and beautiful buildings. Objects of
art become the first casualty.
2. Mars is the god of war. He carries a sword smeared in red blood. Mars has been personified.
So it is written with capital M.
3. The living record here refers to the sonnet the poet has written for his friend. This written
memory of his life will continue even after he is dead.
2. (a) Some rich persons want to show off their wealth. Some powerful persons want to display their
power and artistic talent. However, the common factor is that they want to be remembered till
future generations. So they get monuments and statues erected in their memory.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-53
(b) Time is a great destroyer. It leaves marks of its cruel fangs and finger tips on every thing.
Monuments and statues brave the ravages of time for some period. Ultimately these are
ruined and reduced to rubble.
(c) A slut is a person with unclean habits and behaviour. Time has been personified here and
called sluttish. Shakespeare wants to emphasize how things get tarnished and dirty in the
company of Time that leaves its dirty imprint on everything it comes in contact.
(d) These lines reveal the optimism and confidence of the poet. He is certain that poetry survives
the ravages of time, war and nature. It immortalizes the person or object. People read about
him or the object and recreate the image even when the person/thing is no more in existence.
3. Time is a great destroyer. It leaves marks of its cruel fangs and finger tips on everything. People
try to thwart the ravages of time and erect statues and monuments to keep alive their memory
in the hearts of the coming generations. Their efforts, in general, get only partial success. The
hostile forces of nature, wasteful wars and cruel conquerors play havoc and ruin these famous
specimens of human architectural skill to rubble. Time covers everything with dust. Its hands
are unclean and dirty. Everything gets tarnished as it comes in contact with time.
Poets have written poems in praise of their friends and benefactors. These are living records of
the memory of the persons eulogised/remembered therein. The poems still exist and have thwarted
ravages of time. The beautiful buildings of Taj Mahal or the churches in Europe are rare examples
of buildings that have braved the ravages of time.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
DISCUSSION: Not Marble, Nor the Gilded Monuments (Poem)
WORKSHEET106
1.
2.
F-54
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
3.
Rhyme scheme
Theme
Quatrain 1
abab
Quatrain 2
cdcd
Quatrain 3
efef
Couplet
gg
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
THE DEAR DEPARTED (Drama)
WORKSHEET107
1. 1. (d) Victoria
2. (c) Mrs Slater
3. (b) speakers uncle and aunt
2. (a) Mrs Slater hopes to outshine the Jordans by quickly changing into partly black clothes
before their new dress of mourning is ready. She is certain that her sister Elizabeth Jordan
and her brother-in-law Ben Jordan wouldnt have thought about mourning yet. It shows
that she is showy and jealous.
(b) Mrs Slater is greedy and possessive. She decides to shift the bureau from grandfathers
room before the arrival of the Jordans. She knows that her sister Elizabeth Jordan has
never seen it. So she will never know that it belonged to grandfather. Henry is started at her
suggestion. He looks daft and stupefied. He thinks it does not seem delicate to pinch it.
(c) The Jordans took a long time to get to the house of the Slaters because they had to wait to
get the new dress of mourning. Mrs Slater is in half mourning dress as she does not like
buying readymade things. The two sisters dont seem to have much love or affection for each
other. They stand on ceremony and outward appearance. Each tries to outdo the other.
(d) Mrs Jordan describes not calling in a doctor as a fatal mistake. Mrs Slater remarks that
Dr Pringle attended him when he was alive. She asserts that Pringle shall attend him when
he is dead. She calls it professional etiquette. The irony in the comment is that the grandfather
is only drunk, but not dead.
3. Saturday
7 March 20XX, 9 p.m.
The long day full of bickerings, taunts and sarcasm is over at last. How tired do I feelboth
mentally and emotionally. I feel bewildered and upset at the low money-grubbing spirit of the
S O L U T
I O N S
F-55
elders. I had never imagined in the wildest of my dreams that they could be so mean and
calculating. They have no sincere love or affection for the grandfather, but are in a haste to don
black to exhibit their grief at the loss of the dear departed. They believe in form and show.
Instead of going upstairs to examine grandfather, they sit down to take tea and discuss the
division of the bits and pieces they are likely to inherit. The grandfather has left no jewellery or
valuables. Mrs Jordan lays claim to his gold watch as he had promised it to her son Jimmy.
Mother shows her amazement and expresses ignorance of it. Then they talk about his insurance
money. Uncle Ben inquires about the receipt of the premium he paid that morning. I remind
them that he didnt go to town that day. Aunt Elizabeth gives her opinion that he has not paid
the premium which was overdue. Uncle Ben calls him the drunken old beggar. Mother accuses
him of swindling. She has looked after him for three years. Aunt Elizabeth says that she had to
put up with him for five years. Mother remarks that all the time aunt had been trying to turn
him over to us. A chance reference to the keys, shifts the conversation to the bureau. Aunt
Elizabeth calls it artistic. Uncle Jordan condemns it at being second hand. Mom tells a lie that
father picked it up at an auction. Father is surprised and asks my mom where from he had
bought it. The falsehood of my parents and their acts of stealing become know once grandfather
asks for his things and notices them in the sitting room downstairs.
WORKSHEET108
1. (a) It here refers to grandfathers bureau lying in bedroom upstairs.
(b) Victoria is a precocious girl of ten. She overhears the conversation of her parents and
learns of her mothers keenness to have it. They are going to replace it by the shabby old
chest of drawers lying downstairs.
(c) Mrs Slater says that she always wanted to have the bureau after grandfather died. She
cant wait for division of inheritance. She says that her sister, Elizabeth is very sharp.
She will drive a hard bargain about it.
2. (a) At first Ben appreciates grandfathers action to pay his overdue premium. He thinks it
thoughtful of him. Later on he learns that the old man did not go to town to pay the premium.
He rather went to the pub to have a drink. Ben fears loss of money from insurance claim due
to unpaid overdue premium. So he changes his opinion about grandfather and calls him a
drunken old beggar.
(b) The grandfather decides to make a change in his new will. He shall be leaving all his bits of
things to whoever hes living with when he dies. Both his daughtersElizabeth and Amelia
now want to have him and quarrel over this point. Amelia reminds her father of their previous
quarrel over the issue of keeping the old man with them by turns.
(c) First, he will go to the lawyer and change his will. Second, he will go to the insurance office
and pay his premium. Third, he will go to St. Philips Church and get married.
(d) Grandfather thanks Amelia Slater for bringing the bureau downstairs. It will be handier to
carry across to the Ring-O-Bells on Monday, where he will live after his marriage.
3. The title of the play The Dear Departed is highly ironic. Abel Merryweather, the grandfather is
neither the darling of the two families nor has he departed. Abels two daughters Amelia and
Elizabeth are more interested in the old mans belongings than in the man himself. Their greed,
acquisitiveness, shallowness, insensitivity and rudeness are amply exposed through their quarrel
over the old mans petty possessions.
They pretend to show their grief and profound loss by putting on the formal mourning dress.
They do not bother to ascertain whether the man has really died. Thus formal show is more
important to them than genuine feelings.
Neither of them wants to keep the old man with her. The grandfather decides to marry a widow
who will look after him with pleasure. This announcement shatters their hopes and plans.
F-56
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
The discussion on the obituary notice is highly amusing and ironic. They reject one suggestion
after another on one pretext or the other. The cost factor is the most important. Then comes that
of sincerity, love and loss due to the departure of the noble soul.
Thus the title of the play is quite ironic.
WORKSHEET109
1. 1. (d) Elizabeth Jordan
2. (c) obituary notice in newspaper
3. (a) materialistic
2. (a) According to Mrs Jordan it is a fatal mistake not to have called in the doctor to examine the
grandfather. She says that many persons have been restored to life hours after they were
thought to be gone. Henry observes that it applied only to those who had been drowned. Ben
adds that there wasnt much fear of that as the old man couldnt bear the sight of water.
(b) Mrs Jordan suggests that they wont talk about his taking a drop too much at times. Mrs Slater
makes it look dignified by adding that their father had been merry that morning. A little
later she adds that he returned in the evening from the pub Ring-O-Bells. Then he seemed
extremely happy and carefree.
(c) The old man had no jewellery or valuables. He had, however, taken an insurance policy. Its
premium was overdue. Mrs Slater says that soon after breakfast he went out to pay his
insurance. Ben praises him for this act. Mrs Jordan calls him thoughtful and honourable.
They lavish praises on him as they expect fat money from insurance policy.
(d) The grandfather refused to have any dinner. He expressed the desire to go to bed. When
Henry went upstairs he found the old man undressed and lying comfortably in bed. He
asked Henry to take his boots off. When Mrs Slater went to his room with something to eat,
she found him quite cold. They thought that he was gone.
3. Elizabeth Jordan criticizes the Slaters for their indecent haste to step into a dead mans shoes.
Then the fondness of the grandfather for the grandchildren comes up. Amelia says he is fond of
her daughter Victoria. Elizabeth claims that he loves her son Jimmy and had promised his gold
watch to him. The old man says that he didnt sleep last evening and was lying in a dazed state.
The old man chides Amelia and Henry for shifting his bureau from his bedroom. This leads to an
exchange of words between the two sisters. Elizabeth accuses Amelia and Henry of robbing the
old man. This spat makes it clear to the old man that they had thought him to be dead and it
didnt take them long to start dividing his things between them. Elizabeth Jordan clarifies her
position. She accuses Amelia of getting hold of his things on her own account. The quarrel
between the two sister for retaining him after he talks of changing the will exposes them further.
The grandfather discovers the truth. His daughters do not love him. They are interested only in
his thingsfurniture, watch, clock and insurance policy.
WORKSHEET110
1. (a) Abel Merryweather, the grandfather, speaks these lines. He addresses his daughters Amelia
and Elizabeth and their husbands, Henry Slater and Ben Jordan.
(b) It here refers to the grandfathers will. He is thinking of destroying the old will and
making another.
(c) Each of them now tries to coax him to live with her. Each claims to look after him in
better way. The real motive is to get the things. These will go to whoever he is living
with when he dies.
2. (a) Mrs Slater does not approve of Victorias behaviour. She is dressed in coloured clothes and
moving about the street seeking pleasure. It does not behave her to do so as her grandfather
S O L U T
I O N S
F-57
is lying upstairs cold and dead. She advises Victoria to put on her white frock with a black
sash before her Aunt Elizabeth Uncle Ben arrive.
(b) Amelia Slater points out only the negative qualities of Elizabeth. She says that she is quite
prying and sharp and accuses her of having a low money grubbing spirit. Her greed will prompt
her to come fast enough after her share of what grandfather has left. These qualities are not
unique to her. Henry Slaters remark I suppose its in the family establishes that Amelia
Slater is equally greedy.
(c) The bureau episode forms one of the focal points in the play. It furthers the movement of the
play. It reveals the hidden qualities of Mrs Slaterher greed, selfishness, acquisitiveness,
bluntness and insensitiveness. She is a dominating person who overpowers her husband.
This episode also adds to the humour of the play.
(d) Mrs Slater suggests a brief announcement in prose mentioning her residence. Mrs Jordan
calls Never Forgotten more refined. Mrs Slater fancies that A loving husband, a kind
father, and a faithful friend is better. Henry Slater suggests a verse. Mrs Jordan wants a
verse highlighting their love for him, his good qualities and the heavy loss they had. Mrs
Slater rejects it as it would cost a good lot. So they fail to agree.
3. Amelia Slater is quite greedy and acquisitive by nature. She is quarrelsome, overbearing and
dominating. She is blunt and outspoken. She is prepared to do any amount of straight talking to
get her own way. She can be impolite if not downright rude. She is insensitive to the feelings of
others.
Henry Slater is a submissive person ordering on being a hen-pecked husband. He humbly follows
the dictates of his wife. Much against his will, he has to put on grandfathers slippers and help
his wife in bringing grandfathers bureau downstairs. Amelia has no hesitation to tell a lie, but
hes not that rotten. Amelia is prosaic and moneyminded. Henry is poetic and feels embarrassed
when he is forced to tell lies.
The flashes of wit that pour from Henry are limited but meaningful. He speaks little but his
interventions are timely and meaningful. Elizabeth calls him a poor creature who does every
dirty thing Amelia asks him to do. He, however, outshines his wife Amelia Slater due to his
keen understanding, sharp wit and genuine love for fairness.
WORKSHEET111
1. 1. (d) Abel Merryweather
2. (c) the person he is living at the time of his death
3. (b) his intention to lead a peaceful, happy life
2. (a) The elders are greedy and money-minded. They want to grab as many of the grandfathers
things as they can. They dont wait for the division of inheritance. Vicky is innocent, gentle
and affectionate. She loves her grandfather. She is shocked at what the elders are doing.
(b) The Slaters assumed the grandfather to be dead. They didnt even call a doctor to confirm
whether he had a drunken hang over or had gone cold and lifeless. This error leads to the
exposure of their true nature and temperament. They are exposed and deprived of the
inheritance.
(c) Ben Jordan and Henry Slater are surprised. Mrs Elizabeth Jordan seems equally surprised.
Mrs Amelia Slater is one who is shocked as she thinks the old man is out of his senses. There
is general consternation. This reveals the selfishness and greed of the four major characters.
(d) The Slaters and the Jordans are anxious to know whether the old man has paid the premium
of his insurance policy or not. Mrs Slater asks Victoria to run upstairs and fetch the bunch
of keys lying on the grandpas dressing table. Victoria is hesitant to go upstairs as she has
been told that grandpa is lying there cold and dead. It shows an innocent childs fear and
insecurity.
F-58
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
3. At first, the grandfathers decision to leave his daughters altogether seems correct. He gives
solid reasons for it. He is sore that his daughters have not treated him properly. He has lived
with Elizabeth for five years and for the last three years he is staying with Amelia. They have
not cared to put up with him. Each wanted the other to keep him. They have even quarrelled on
this issue. They are found wanting in filial obligation and disregard modesty and decency.
However, I dont feel that the grandfather can be fully justified in practically disowning his
family. His decision to get married and leave everything to his new wife seems quite harsh on
the two daughters. The selfish and greedy daughters get a bitter pill to swallow. Their father
proves to be one step ahead of them. It is a cruel joke played on them by an old man of seventytwo. It can be a sort of shock-treatment to bring round his errant daughters. But to severe all
connections is too much to bear.
Besides this, Victoria loves him sincerely. He seems to have spared no thought for her feelings.
So I do not feel his decision to be fully justified.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
ROLE-PLAY: The Dear Departed (Drama)
WORKSHEET112
1. The correct sequence of the incidents is:
(a) Mrs Slater discovers that grandfather is dead.
(b) Mrs Slater instructs Victoria to put her white frock on with a black sash.
(c) Henry wears the new slippers of grandfathers.
(d) The Slaters fetch the bureau and the clock from upstairs.
(e) The Jordans arrive and learn the details of grandfathers demise from the Slaters.
(f) They discuss the obituary announcement in the papers and the insurance premium payment.
(g) The family sits down to have tea.
(h) Victoria is asked to fetch the bunch of keys to the bureau to look for the insurance receipt.
(i) Grandfather comes down and is surprised to find the Jordans.
(j) Grandfather comes to know how his daughters were in a hurry to divide his things between
them.
(k) Grandfather announces his intention to change his will and to marry Mrs Shorrocks.
Thus the correct sequence is: 3, 2, 6, 4, 11, 10, 5, 1, 9, 7 and 8.
2. Greedy: (i) Henry, Ive been thinking about that bureau of grandfathers thats in his bed room.
You know I always wanted to have it after he died.
(ii) I thought Id fetch this down as well... . Our clocks worth nothing and this always
appealed to me.
Overpowering/dominating: (i) Get your boots off, Henry.
(ii) Here! Youd better wear these slippers of grandfathers now.
Its lucky hed just got a new pair.
(iii) Dont look so daft. Why not?
Blunt/Straight talking:
(i) What good could a doctor have done?
(ii) Its nothing short of swindling.
Impolite: (i) And you were trying to turn him over to us all the time.
(ii) Remember where you are Elizabeth.
(iii) Hes out of his senses.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-59
Insensitive: (i) Well, will you go up and look at him now, or shall we have tea.
(ii) No, if Im not to have him, you shant either.
3. (a) Mrs Slater thinks that the Jordansher sister and brother-in-law will arrive any moment
in response to their telegram about grandfathers demise. They are not in dress of mourning.
She wants to appear sad and in grief. Every sound seems to signal their arrival.
(b) The widow of John Shorrock does not make a physical appearance on the stage. Amelia
Slater remarks that her father, Abel is always hanging about there. Abel himself admits
that she thinks it a pleasure to look after him. Her consent to get married to Abel
indicates that she loves him and cares for him. Their union will relieve them of their
loneliness and boredom.
(c) Mrs Elizabeth Jordan accuses Amelia and her husband Henry Slater of being mean,
moneyminded, insensitive and lacking decency. Henry has put on the old mans slippers
who is supposed to have departed. Elizabeth taunts them on the indecent behaviour.
4. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
5. While enacting different roles remember that the characters are sharply contrasted, e.g.
(a) Amelia Slater is a vigorous, plump, red-faced, vulgar woman, prepared to do any amount
of straight talking to get her own way.
(b) Her husband Henry Slater is a stooping, heavy man with a drooping moustache. He
doesnt seem to enjoy the best of health. They are clad in half-mourning dress.
(c) Elizabeth Jordan is a stout, complacent woman with an impassive and an irritating air
of being always right.
(d) Ben Jordan is rather a jolly little man, accustomed to be humorous, but at present trying
to adapt himself to the regrettable occasion. He has a bright, chirpy little voice. They are
putting on full mourning dress.
(e) Abel Merryweather is an old man of seventy-two. He is vigorous and well coloured. His
bright, malicious eyes twinkle under his heavy, reddish-grey eyebrows. He is clad in a
faded but gay dressing gown. He appears in his stockinged feet.
(f) Victoria Slater is a precocious girl of ten. She is often dressed in colour.
F-60
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
PRACTICE PAPER1
SECTIONA (READING)
1. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
bucks
running
rocky
harsh
obstructing
avoid
swiftly
swerved
save
satisfied
2. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
3. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(c)
(d)
(b)
(a)
(a)
the tools they get from abroad cost four times as much
more than a dozen instruments for operating on the eye
the United States of America
restricted
a wide range of instruments
4. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(d)
(c)
(a)
(b)
(a)
SECTIONB (WRITING)
5.
6. 1234 Sector 5
Gurgaon
25 May 20XX
Dear Nikhil
What a treasure trove I came across yesterday while cleaning up the garage in my house. It is
no less than the seven wonders of the world. It opens up visions of a by gone era. Well, I will not
S O L U T
I O N
F-61
keep your guessing anymore. I came across the diary of my great-great-grandfather. It is two
hundred years old. It contains description of things/events in the year 2006. The contrast between
then and now is very striking.
There are enormous dissimilarities in dress. Then they used T-shirts, jeans and shoes, whereas
now we put on air-conditioned body suits. At that time boys and girls studied together in
community schools. All the children of that era went to the same school. They learnt and played
together. Now, each one of us has individual schools. Specially programmed robots act as teachers
now. What a fun it was when teachers were humans!
In the time of our great-great-grandfather people used bikes and cars as models of transport.
These were quite slow and old fashioned compared to jet engines fitted as backpacks on our backs.
There is another big difference. Then the books were printed on paper. One could read it whenever
one liked. Now we have to read the words on moving screens. The matter is made interesting
by pictures. Thus there is variety in writing and reading material.
I hope I have not bored you with these details. In case you come across such interesting things,
please do write to me.
With best wishes.
Yours sincerely
Akhil
7.
F-62
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
A word of caution to the pedestrians. Dont run on the road. Wait for the light to turn green. Let
the taffic stop and cross the road only at the zebra crossing.
I am confident that if the above points are followed sincerely, we can ensure road safety and
minimise the occurrence of accidents.
Thank you
SECTIONC (GRAMMAR)
8. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
4.
1.
2.
4.
9. (a) 2. the
(e) 3. she
(b) 1. on
(f) 4. former
(c) 3. was
(g) 2. any
(d) 3. in
(h) 2. for
11. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
12. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
SECTIOND (LITERATURE)
13. (A) First option
1. (a) she died an untimely death
2. (a) been original in her singing
3. (b) boastful nature
Second option
1. (b) the division of the ancestral property
2. (b) shocked
3. (c) helplessness
13. (B) 1. Mrs. Elizabeth Jordan speaks these words.
2. Here you refers to Henry Slater.
3. The speaker, Mrs. Elizabeth Jordan, accuses Henry Slater of being a weak person as
he does every dirty thing his wife Amelia Slater asks him to do.
14. (a) The nightingale did lack worldly wisdom but we cannot call her stupid or brainless. She was
only much too simple, gentle and innocent. There was nothing stupid about her wishes to be
successful and popular. It was her simplicity and gullibility, not stupidity that stopped her
from taking in pressure and resisting from exploitation.
(b) The mirror reflects or shows whatever it sees in all its exactness. It does not hide, tone
down, twist or distort what it sees as the human beings do nor does it enhance the beauty of
any reflection. It projects the truth in its entirety.
S O L U T
I O N
F-63
(c) Ali was an old man. He was known as coachman Ali. Every day he would go to the post office
at 5 a.m. He was the first to reach there. He sat on a bench and waited for a letter. He had
followed this practice for the last five years.
(d) The two boys were waiting for the last bus from Padra to come to Verona. They hoped to sell
all their newspapers.
(e) This statement of a 72 year-old widower shocks and surprises the two male adults, Ben and
Henry. They exclaim together What! Mrs. Jordan is surprised at his decision whereas Mrs.
Slater feels cheated and declares him to be out of his senses. There is general consternation.
15. First Option
Tuesday
25 February 20XX
What a troublesome day it was yesterday. I had been waiting anxiously for news of my daughter
who lay ill at Lucknow. I saw an envelope of the colour and shape I expected to receive. I snatched
it up eagerly, but the next moment I dropped it as if it had given me an electric shock. The
letter was addressed to coachman Ali.
I was worried all night, as I did not receive my letter. A single night in suspense filled me
with sympathy for the poor old man who had been waiting anxiously for a letter for the last
five years. At the stroke of five I heard a soft knock on the door. Feeling sure that it was
Ali, I rose quickly from the chair and flung the door wide open.
Ali was standing outside. He was leaning on a stick, bent double with age. Tears were wet on
his face. His eyes had an unearthly light. I shrank back in fear and astonishment.
Soon Lakshmi Das came towards the office from another quarter. I took no notice of him but
kept staring with wide open eyes at the doorway from which Ali had disappeared. I was
surprised to learn from Lakshmi Das that Ali had died three months ago. I was bewildered.
I listened to Lakshmi Dass recital of the last interview he had with Ali. I was perplexed. Had
I really seen Ali or had my imagination deceived me.
I suffered the pangs of anxiety and separation yet again as I didnt receive any letter from
home today. In the evening I, accompanied by Lakshmi Das, visited Alis grave and laid the
letter on it.
For the first time in my life I realised what anxiety and pangs of separation mean to a father.
I kept reproaching myself for my failure to understand Alis anxiety. I was tortured by doubt
and remorse, but I sat down by the charcoal sigri to wait for another night. O how long and
tiresome must have been Alis waiting!
Second Option
The ending of the play The Dear Departed is a master-stroke. It is a well worked out conclusion
that is a befiting reply to the machination of the two designing daughters who dont love their
dear old father, but are after the bits and ends of the small pieces of property and the money
from his insurance policy. After they have exposed each other in their quarrels, comes the old
mans declaration. He announces that he is going to make a new will. He will leave all his
bits of things to whoever hes living with when he dies. Then he will go to the insurance office
and pay his premium. These two announcements please all of them. The third one, however,
comes as thunder bolt. It is his declaration to get married to Mrs. John Shorrocks who keeps
Ring OBell. He tells his daughters flatly what he had felt about himself. They thought him
a burden. So he found someone whod think it a pleasure to look after him. The invitation
to the wedding ceremony at the St. Philips Church on Monday, twelve oclock is another slap
on the face of the greedy, self-seeking daughters. The ending adds to the fun of the play.
F-64
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
PRACTICE PAPER2
SECTIONA (READING)
1. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
settles
hidden
complete
murmuring
glow/glimmer
gloom
before
pain/anguish
loss
replace
2. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(b)
(c)
(d)
(a)
(d)
3. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
fourth
a state boarding school in New Zealand
his masters wanted him to do that
some corner of the cloakroom of Canterbury College
had an aptitude for the science of machinery
4. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(d)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
a tiger
they had sat in their seats peacefully
people were afraid of the tiger
the tailor shut himself up in a cupboard
left because it was dangerous to stay
freedom of thought
everyone likes to have it for himself
they express different opinions
went on thinking like our ancestors
forefathers
SECTIONB (WRITING)
5. It is quite evident from the statistics that the number of malaria cases and resultant deaths
have been fast increasing over the years and situation, far from improving, has actually
worsened. For example, the incidence of the mosquito-borne disease increased from over 21
lakh in 2002 to more than 30 lakh in 2006. It showed a downward trend in 2007 when it came
down to 25.53 lakh, but since then it has been steadily rising and crossed the thirty lakh mark
again in 2009. The number of deaths due to malaria came down from 422 in 2002 to 354 in
2003 but rose to 1122 in 2004 and 1151 in 2005. The year 2007 registered a healthy 711 as
again 1020 in 2006. However the joy and satisfaction of the NMEP as well as NGOs was
shortlived as the number of deaths rose to 998 in 2008 and 1020 in 2009.
6. 22 Dalton Ganj
Kanpur
24 March 20XX
The Editor
The Herald
Kanpur
S O L U T
I O N S
F-65
Dear Sir
Sub: Problems Faced by Metropolitan Cities.
Through the esteemed columns of your newspaper, I want to draw the attention of the authorities
concerned towards the problems faced by metropolitan cities. One of the major problem is
pollution. In fact, pollution is increasing at an alarming rate. The increasing number of vehicles
on the road pollute the atmosphere. There are dumps of garbage everywhere on the roads and
streets. There is shortage of basic amenities like food, shelter and clothing.
If the city has to move forward, certain areas need immediate attention. Steps should be taken
to reduce pollution. People should use public transport as it would reduce the number of vehicles
on the road. The government should take steps to ensure the cleanliness of metropolitan cities.
There should be an effective sewage system based on scientific rules. Daily commodities must
be readily available at all the government stores. Mass housing projects should be undertaken
after this.
I hope you will publish my views in your newspaper so that the authorities concerned become
aware of the problem and take effective measures to improve the situation.
Yours etc.
Sharat
7.
SECTIONC (GRAMMAR)
8. (a) 2. Why dont you clean
(c) 3. when you will clean your table
(c) 4. whether
(g) 3. which
(b) 2. so
(f) 1. when
F-66
E N G L
(d) 2. in
(h) 3. our
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
11. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
SECTIOND (LITERATURE)
13. (A) First option
1. (c) outside the city of Verona
2. (b) wild strawberries
3. (a) the boys were untidy and poorly dressed
Second option
1. (b) not prejudiced
2. (d) metaphor
3. (a) it reflects back an image objectively
13. (B) 1. Amelia Slater speaks these words.
2. It here refers to grandfathers bureau lying in his bedroom.
3. Her cunningness, greediness and meanness.
14. (a) Sick and tired of the frogs irritatingly jarring voice, one day the bog creatures got a big
surprise and a relief when a nightingale appeared on the scene. She sat on the sumac tree
and sang her melodious song all through the night. Her song was sweet and pleasing to the
ear as compared to the frogs coarse and jarring croaking and gave relief to the Bingle Bog
creatures.
(b) Reflecting what is present in front of it, the mirror doesnt reproduce anything that appeared
before it in past. Hence the poet has beautifully used the expression swallow to convey this
idea. Like human beings it is shown to consume and draw in what it is fed. Hence, the poet
has used personification in the above lines.
(c) Coachman Ali was a clever and skilful shikari (hunter) and a frail old man in a very pitiable
state. Since the last five years he had no news of his married daughter Miriam, who had
gone with her husband to his regiment in the Punjab. So, he went to the post office daily to
enquire if there was a letter from her about her well-being.
(d) Louisa Mebbin told Mrs. Packletide that the tiger was very old. So one thousand rupees was
heavy amount for such a tiger. She also said that if the tiger did not touch the goat, she
shouldnt pay for it.
(e) Mrs. Slater thinks that her sister is quite prying. She notices even the least speck of dirt.
She is quarrelsome but greedy as well. She is a hard at striking bargains. Shes quite sharp
and intelligent to judge the mood and motives of others.
15. First Option
25 January 20XX
Dear Minu
It has been two days and two nights of anxious waiting and concern for news of your illness and
recovery therefrom. These two nights have been highly tense and instructive to me. I could not
sleep at night. A single night in suspense and the anxious waiting for news about you filled my
S O L U T
I O N S
F-67
heart with sympathy. Now I could understand very well the plight of old Ali who had spent his
nights in the same suspense for the last five years.
When I reflected about my past behaviour towards the old man I was filled with remorse. How
hard hearted and unfeeling I had been! I had behaved casually and sarcastically towards old
Ali. I called him a pest. I thought him a crack-brained fellow. Once I lost temper on him and
asked him to get away. I asked him very rudely whether Miriams name was registered with the
post office. I remember how politely he asked me to do so. How unfeelingly I retorted Do you
think were going to eat your letter when it comes?
Today my heart is overflowing with love, faith and hope. I received a letter for the old man
yesterday. Today I had a strange experience. I saw that old Ali had come to the post office door
to claim the letter. Perhaps it was a suggestion from my overworked imagination. Lakshmi Das
and the postman confirmed that Ali had died three months ago. To atone for my harshness and
lack of politeness to old Ali I accompanied Lakshmi Das to Alis grave to lay the letter on his
grave.
From now onwards Ill be more sympathetic and full of understanding towards all human beings.
Now each letter contain a warm, beating heart. I no longer think of them in terms of envelopes
and postcards. I see the essential human worth of a letter. I think my interest in humanity and
concern for their sufferings will lessen the gravity of the sin of my earlier indifference and
haughtiness.
Yours
Mikhail Sholokov
Second Option
Louisa Mebbin is an interesting character. She is the paid companion of Mrs Packletide. She is
very cunning. Mrs Packletide takes Louisa with her to the hunting of the tiger. Miss Mebbin
takes care not to do even a little more service than she has been paid for. She is very miserly.
She does not like to waste money on giving tips to bearers in hotels. She has sharp eyes. She
sits on the platform with Mrs Packletide to hunt the tiger. She notices that the tiger is very old.
One thousand rupees is too much for such a weak and old tiger. She also says that they must
not pay for the goat if the tiger misses it. She notices that Mrs Packletides shot has missed the
tiger and killed the goat. A few days later, she blackmails Mrs Packletide. She threatens to
disclose this fact to Loona Bimberton. She demands a big sum for keeping her mouth shut.
With that money she buys a beautiful cottage. She names the cottage Les Fauves which means
the Wild Beasts. Thus she is a very shrewd and stingy person.
F-68
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
PRACTICE PAPER3
SECTIONA (READING)
1. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
swim
rare
meal
laid
time
genial
tastes
bacon
differs
praise
2. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(d)
(c)
(b)
(a)
(b)
3. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
4. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(d)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(a)
SECTIONB (WRITING)
5.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-69
activity I went to village Mandi in Rajasthan for a week. It was my first visit to a remote
village. At first I felt nervous. Then I went to the village school and introduced myself to the
Headmaster. I told him that I was a participant in the Adult Literacy Mission. The Headmaster
praised me for undertaking a long journey and coming to a far-off place for this noble purpose.
The Headmaster then introduced me to the Headman of the village and explained why I had
come there. At first the Headman seemed uninterested. Then I told him about our Literacy
campaigns in the slums of Delhi and the success we had. It seems that he was convinced.
He called a meeting of the villagers and asked them to assemble each evening in the
village Chaupal.
With the help of the local headmaster I arranged a blackboard, some charts and mats. I told
them that I was one of them. My ancestors belonged to a neighbouring village. My father had
got good education and he had a job in Delhi. I asked them about their problems and the
welfare of their children.
My interactions with the villagers opened them up. They shard their problems and worries.
I told them that my stay with them would be brief this time and we had to get the maximum
out of it. I started with writing the name of five of them on the blackboard. Then I asked them
to copy it one the notebooks I had given them. I went to each one of them and helped them
write it.
The next day I had more persons to attend to. I wrote the name of each of them in their
individual note-books. Then I told him that they could take the help of their sons or daughters
and practise at home. They expressed helplessness as their children were illiterate. I consoled
them that they could not learn due to their circumstances, but they should not deprive their
children of the fruit of education. They must send their children to school. Next evening the
Headmaster joined me in my appeal.
After hard labour of five days I succeeded in convincing them of the importance of education.
They promised to educate their children. Well, I think you must have been bored by the details.
So, excuse me.
Yours sincerely
Ankur
7.
F-70
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
SECTIONC (GRAMMAR)
8. (a) 1. who
(e) 2. as
(b) 2. in
(f) 3. for
(c) 4. that
(g) 4. them
(d) 1. is
(h) 3. keeping
(c) or and
(g) his their
(d) in up
(h) when about
SECTIOND (LITERATURE)
13. (A) First option
1. (b) from far off places
2. (c) the nightingales melodious voice
3. (d) by charging admission fee from the audience
Second option
1. (d) Elizabeth Jordan
2. (c) grandfathers bureau
3. (b) convince her husband
13. (B) 1. Coachman Ali spoke these words to Lakshmi Das.
2. They refer to five gold guineas.
3. You (Lakshmi Das) is to deliver Miriams letter to Alis grave.
14. (a) The mirror is a keen observer of life and the things around it. It hangs on a wall and most of
the time it watches the opposite wall carefully. The mirror feels an affinity with the opposite
wall for it has been looking at it for such a long time that the wall has now become a part of
its personality. Then the image of the wall flickers, not because of any shortcomings on the
part of the mirror, but because some faces and darkness come over and over again between
the mirror and the wall and separate them. The mirror functions only when there is light. It
reflects the bright faces of persons as well as bright things. It fails to respond to darkness.
(b) The sonnet that the poet has written for his friend will be a living record of his memory. It
will outlive marble statues and gold plated monuments. Hence the poem will be the best
memorial for his friend.
(c) The boysNicola and Jacopotook the author to a large red-roofed building. It was a hospital.
The boys had gone to visit their sister who was ill and in the hospital.
(d) The postmaster is tortured by doubt and remorse. A single night spent in suspense, anxiously
waiting for the news of his daughter had made him feel sympathy for old Ali. He reproached
himself for not understanding the old mans anxiety. Waiting for a letter from his daughter
he had to spend another night of restless anxiety.
(e) Not getting a doctor to examine the old man and certify that he has actually died is a fatal
mistake on the part of Elizabeth and her husband. She says that there are many cases of
persons who have been restored to life hours after they were thought to be gone.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-71
F-72
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
PRACTICE PAPER4
SECTIONA (READING)
1. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
genius
trees
trice
sixty-two
childhood
lift
climbing
fall
rescued
hell
2. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
3. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(a)
(d)
(c)
(c)
(a)
4. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(c)
(a)
(c)
(d)
(c)
sought after
when he was leaving for England
meat-eating would keep him healthy
he had promised his mother he would not do so
a disease
SECTIONB (WRITING)
5.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-73
CARBON CYCLE
Carbon is an essential element found in all living beings. Plants and animals get this element
from carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere. Plants take carbon dioxide from air and in the
presence of water and sunlight they make their food by the process of photosynthesis. Thus
plants absorb carbon. Plants are consumed by other animals as food. In this way they get
compounds of carbon. Energy is produced by digestion of these carbon compounds. Carnivores
(flesh eating animals) get carbon from flesh of herbivores (animals feeding on grass and plants).
Omnivores like man get carbon from both plants and animals. Carbon cycle shows that all the
animals absorb carbon dioxide during respiration or oxidation and his carbon dioxide is again
related into the air. Carbon dioxide is also liberated during the decay of plants and animals
and burning of fuels. Plankton exhales carbon dioxide and volcanoes also release it. The dead
animals lying in the sea get decomposed and carbon dioxide is produced from these dead animals
as well as from the waste material of land. We also get carbon dioxide from burning of coal,
natural gas and oil.
SECTIONC (GRAMMAR)
8. (a) 2. What are you doing
(c) 4. What kind of books do they have
9. (a) 2. our
(e) 3. on
(c) 4. were
(g) 1. at
(b) 1. up
(f) 3. had
F-74
E N G L
(d) 3. after
(h) 2. from
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
11. (a)
(c)
(e)
(g)
of the worlds
scientists do not
they have not
mostly in the
(b)
(d)
(f)
(h)
SECTIOND (LITERATURE)
13. (A) First option
1. (a) the poem in not only about external beauty but also the inside of a person
2. (c) her real looks/beauty
3. (b) very upset
Second option
1. (b) just before his death
2. (a) hunting
3. (c) became more self-centred
13. (B) 1. Mrs Elizabeth Jordan speaks these lines.
2. The speaker objects to the verse suggested by Henry Slater.
3. The phrase sacred to we sounds incorrect. Moreover it does not refer to their love for
him, his qualities and what a heavy loss they have suffered.
14. (a) The frogs joy was sweet because he was earning a lot of money as fee and acclaim. He was
feeling elated to enjoy the fun at the expense of the nightingale. His joy was bitter because
he was jealous of the nightingales fame. His own singing had never been appreciated.
(b) The terrible fish aptly symbolizes the decaying beauty and lack of charm of a middle-aged
woman. The fish is described as terrible to suggest the ugly hideous face of an old woman.
The poetic device used here is a metaphor.
(c) The narrator gets to know about the responsiblities of the two boys when he goes to the
hospital with them. The boys do not talk of their problems. They carry out their responsibilities
silently. The nurse tells the narrator about the boys and their sister who is ill.
(d) When Loona Bimberton came to know that Mrs Packletide had killed a tiger, she felt very
jealous. For many weeks she did not read those magazines in which Mrs Packletides pictures
were published. She refused to attend the luncheon party hosted by Mrs Packletide.
(e) They change their opinion about the old man. Earlier they called him honourable and
thoughtful, now they feel cheated and deprived of their likely inheritence. Ben calls him
the drunken old beggar. Mrs Jordan thinks he has done it on purpose, just to annoy him.
Mrs Slater considers it swindling.
15. First Option
Friday
5 April 20XX
Today something unexpected happened. I could never ever imagine that people had so much
faith in my good nature that they would entrust their lifes saving into my hands and that too
for a minor favour in return. Well, the ways of human heart are unscrutable. Old Ali it was who
confided in me and handed me five golden guineas. He called on God as witness and asked me
to do a little favour. I was to put Miriams letter on his grave whenever it arrived.
Perhaps the old man had anticipated his death. He asserted that it was his last day but he had
not seen his daughter Miriam or had any letter from her for the last five years.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-75
This reminded me of the barbs that the postmen and clerks used to direct at Ali and have fun.
They would consider him mad and call his name aloud. They enjoyed his reaction as he jumped
up from his seat and came to the door. Perhaps they lacked sympathy and understanding. They
did not realise how their fun would hurt the feelings of an anxious and lonely father. They
considered him mad. Even the postmaster called him a pest and lost temper at him.
The letter for coachman Ali did arrive at last but also he is no more there to receive it. I have the
responsibility of delivering it to him at his grave now and Ill not fail in my duty.
Second Option
The two boysNicola and Jacopo are shabbily dressed. Even the cautious driver of the narrator
shrugged his shoulders to convey his disapproval of their shabby appearance. As we go through
the story, we discover a whole range of noble qualities in the two boys and concur with the
observation that appearances are deceptive.
We come to know that the two boys belonged to a good family. They were quite rich earlier. Then
came the war. They host their father and their house. Their sister fell ill. They joined the
resistance movement against Germans. When the war was over, they returned to their sister
who was suffering from tuberculosis of spine. They got her admitted to hospital. For the last
one year, they had been working hard to make payments for her stay in the hospital. During
these twelve months she had made steady progress.
The boys faced their sudden poverty bravely. They worked hard in every possible manner to
overcome their difficulties. Besides being hard working they were self respecting too. They never
talked about their problems to anyone. They carried out their responsibilities bravely and without
complaining. Thus instead of breaking down under the difficulties, they tried their best to
overcome them. Though shabby in appearance, they have a heart of gold.
F-76
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
PRACTICE PAPER5
SECTIONA (READING)
1. (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
weavers
morning
form
addressed
query
stages time-periods
senility
blue
purple
cover
2. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
it is simple
they receive the pure air of heaven
they cheer the mind and raise the spirit
one can unbend the mind by pleasant conversation
having life
3. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(c)
(b)
(d)
(b)
(a)
on a pleasure trip
there were Durga Puja holidays
a very large procession following a big idol
the devotion and faith of the worshippers of Goddess Durga
great respect and admiration
4. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(c)
(b)
(d)
(c)
(a)
SECTIONB (WRITING)
5.
6. St Francis School
Daman
19 August 20XX
Dear Sister
I have just returned from New Delhi after visiting an International Book Fair. For the first
S O L U T
I O N S
F-77
time in my life I had the opportunity to see books on different subjects and languages catering
to the tastes and requirements of different age-groups and mental attainment. The leading
publishers of the world had displayed their books at this exhibition. The seminars and shows
held in the afternoon highlighted the salient features of the publications to interested parties.
Since we were interested in computers and internet, our vice-principal took us to the illustrated
discourse on information technology. In the evening the theatres at the Pragati Maidan offered
live dance, drama and music shows. Since the exhibition opened only after lunch, we decided to
utilise the mornings in visiting the other places of historical and cultural importance in Delhi.
We began with the Red Fort, moved on to Jama Masjid and Gandhi Smriti and Rajghat. Then
we went to the Zoo at Old Fort and also visited Humayuns tomb. Our next trip was to the
Qutub at Mehrauli. The Railway Museum, Appu Ghar, Dolls House and the imposing structures
of Parliament House and Rashtrapati Bhawan filled us with awe and wonder. The Laser Beam
Show on the lawns near the India Gate illuminated the sky and recaptured the glory of our
achievements in various fields. The sports lovers visited the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium,
Talkatora Gardens, J.L. Nehru Stadium as well as the Buddha Jayanti Park.
In short, the trip was highly entertaining and rewarding. Ill cherish its memory for long times
to come.
Convey my regards to all.
Yours affectionately
Varun
7. Respected teachers and dear friends!
October 1 has been declared as the International Day for Older Persons. Let us observe the day
not as a ritual, but our social obligation towards them. This year also happens to be the
International year of older persons. Ill pose certain questions to this assembly and hope you will
think about them: Are the capitals senior citizens any better off because of the day and the year
devoted to them? Do they feel more secure because of the various schemes launched for them?
Let us consider the statistics. Over the years the population of the older persons is increasing.
The 1991 census revealed that the 60 + population has trebled that of 1951, although there is
only a slight increase of 1.3% in the total population. However, with a 0.9% increase, the rise in
2001 is about 20 millions. The alarming situation is projected for 2016 when the population of
60 + will just double that prevalent in 1991.
These statistics force us to ponder over the problems of the old and aged. These are financial
security, health care, nutrition, shelter, protection of life and property. The government has
provided certain concessions and facilities to older people. For example there are travel related
concessions for journey in Indian Railways, Indian Airlines and State Transport Corporations.
The income tax department allows special rebate to the senior citizens. As a part of the national
social assistance programme old age pension is being provided to more than four million destitute
elderly persons all over the country. The worst problem of the aged is loneliness and boredom.
Since they are unable to undertake physical work and are cut off from children because of the
nuclear families, time hangs heavy on them. They need company and preferably people of their
own age-group. To cater to this requirement 234 old age homes and 398 day care centres are
being supported by the government. Forty mobile medical units are providing help and guidance
in health related problems. Health care is also being provided to the older persons through
Bhavishya Arogya Mediclaim and Rural Group Life Insurance Schemes.
All these schemes appear good on paper. There is a vast gap between what is proposed and
what exists. For example, even now more than 20 per cent persons murdered in the capital are
senior citizens. They are soft targets for criminals because they are trustful as well as dependant
F-78
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E
on hired servants. Let us not neglect these older persons who devoted their prime for our
development. We should spare some time and listen to them. Remember, elderly people are a
reservoir of experience. Let us give them love, care, respect and attention. If we are able to do
so, then I think well observe the International Day for Older Persons in true spirit.
Thanks.
SECTIONC (GRAMMAR)
8. (a) 3. Which way did he
(c) 4. What did you do then
9. (a) 2. have
(e) 1. for
(c) 3. out
(g) 4. were
(b) 2. them
(f) 4. survival
(d) 2. like
(h) 2. in
SECTIOND (LITERATURE)
13. (A) First option
1. (a) crystal-clear
2. (a) it has no preconceived notions
3. (a) reflects exactly what it sees without any bias
Second option
1. (d) her shot had missed the tiger and hit the goat
2. (b) they were anxious to get the money promised to them
3. (c) she was a paid companion and no one would believe her
13. (B) 1. Abel Merryweather speaks these lines. These are addressed to his daughter,
Mrs Elizabeth Jordan.
2. At first Mrs Jordan asked her father if he was keeping quite well. When she did not get
a specific reply, she repeated the question. This led the old man to make a lengthy but
humorous remark.
3. He asserts that he is all right. He can lay a bet that he wont be the first to die in the
family. He points out that it is Henry who does not look quite healthy.
14. (a) She is searching for the beauty and grace she had when she was younger.
(b) Shakespeare asserts that the sonnet he was written for his friend will outlive marble statues
and gold-plated monuments. He will live in the eyes of his lovers till the day of judgement.
(c) The narrator did not want to hurt the feelings of the self-respecting boys. They did not talk
of their problems or responsibilities to the narrator. He thought that the boys would prefer
to keep their secret.
(d) Mrs Packletide and Loona Bimberton felt jealous of each other. After shooting the tiger,
Packletide gave a luncheon party in honour of Loona. Her real motive was to gain publicity
as an adventure-lover. Loona realised this. She declined to attend the party out of jealousy.
S O L U T
I O N S
F-79
(e) The slippers-episode plays an important role in the drama. It brings out the negative qualities
of Amelia Slaterher greediness, acquisitiveness and cunning. Her husband, Henry Slater
is weak and spinelessa hen-pecked husband who submits to every command of his wife.
15. First Option
This morning I was the first to come to the post office at 5 oclock in the morning. I saw that
the postmaster had flung the door wide open. He cried come in, brother Ali and tried to
hand him a letter. I found no one there so I asked him who that person had been and if that
was old Ali. The postmaster took no notice of my searching questions. He was staring with
wide-open eyes at the doorway. He was wondering where Ali could have gone. Then he admitted
that he had been speaking to Ali. I told him that old Ali was dead and asked him to give me
that letter. He did feel convinced. A postman who had just arrived confirmed that Ali had died
three months ago.
The postmaster was bewildered. Miriams letter was still lying near the door. Alis image was
still before his eyes. Then I narrated to him the last interview I had with old Ali. The postmaster
was still unconvinced. He could not doubt the reality of the knock on the door and tears in
Alis. He was perplexedwhether he had really seen Ali or his imagination had deceived him.
Finally, I used my trump card to convince him, I asked him to accompany me to Alis grave
and let me perform my duty and fulfil my promise to deliver his letter to his grave. Perhaps
this argument convinced him that Ali could not have come there.
Second Option
Saki creates humour by depicting the frivolous attitude to life of the ladies of upper class of
society in England during the nineteenth century. Aviation was in its in fancy then. An aeroplane
ride by a lady was indeed a marvel-as it involved great risk. The streak of jealousy in Mrs
Packletide led her to plan a tiger hunt to assert her superiority as a greater adventure lover.
However, all seriousness ends here. She offers money for an opportunity of safe and risk-free
tiger hunt. The greedy villagers grab the offer of one thousand rupees and select an old and
weak tiger for the hunt. It is so weak that it has given up big-game killing. Cheap goats are
thrown to keep it alive. On the might of the tiger hunt, Mrs Packletide sits on the platform with
her paid companion, Mrs Louisa Mebbin. They have guns in hand but they have playing cards
as well as. They play patience to while away the time. The tiger arrives, but he does not
pounce upon the prey. He waits. Mrs Packletide fires a shot. But her shot hits the goat. The
tiger dies of heart failure. Mrs Packletide feels happy that she has killed the tiger. The villagers
connive at the fiction because they are interested in their 1000 rupees. Louisa Mebbin knows
the truth. She blackmails Mrs Packletide and she has to offer her a huge at the vanity of cashrich idle ladies having false sense of honour.
F-80
E N G L
S H
C O M M U N I C A T
I V E