Class 12 Half Yearly Suggestion TBSE Pdf Download ENGLISH HALF YEARLY SUGGESTION CLASS:- 12 2024-25
HALF YEARLY SUGGESTION 2024-25
SUBJECT:- ENGLISH
CLASS:- 12
SECTION-A Reading
Total Marks-10+12=22
SECTION-B Writing
Total Marks- 4+4+5+5=18
SECTION-C Text Book :Topics
| Prose (Flamingo) | Poetry(Flamingo) | Supplementary Reader(Vistas) |
| * The Rattrap * Last Spring *Deep Water | * My Mother at Sixty-six * Keeping Quiet | * The Tiger King * On the Face of it |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV_zctbUSKs
SECTION-B (WRITING)
(20 MARKS)
ADVERTISEMENT (4MARKS)
1.You are Pijus/ Payel, Krishna Nagar, Agartala, Tripura (w) want to sell your Flat. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words, giving necessary details, to be published in the classified columns of ‘The Tripura Times’, Agartala.***
Answer:
FLAT FOR SALE
Available for sale a newly constructed 2 bedroom, one kitchen with attach bathroom flat at Krishna Nagar, Agartala in 700 sq.well ventilated, extensive woodwork, prime location, Verandah, near chandra Matarstand, besides main road. Price according to current rates. Contact Mr.Somen Saha chandrapur, Tripura (w) Contact-9233154589
2.You have a Three bed – room, ground floor flat in a posh (best) locality. You want to sell it off as you are going abroad. Write an advertisement in not more than 50 words.
Ans:
Flat Ready For Sale
2 bed-roomed 1400 sq. ft well-furnished flat, in Jaya Apartment with all facilities like lift, security and parking is ready for sale. The owner is planning to settle in abroad shortly. No brokers allowed. Location: opp Agartala Railway Station Price: 17 lakh (negotiable) Contact No: 9436128902
3. You are Riya / Rajan. Draft a classified advertisement in not more than 50 words for the purchase of a second-hand car giving all the necessary details of your requirement.
Ans.
FOR PURCHASE
Wanted a second hand Hyundai Car 2018 or 2022 model in good running condition. Low consumption of fuel. Complete Documents, Tax paid. Mat colour. Price may be negotiable. Interested parties to contact Ranjan, Krishna Nagar, Agartala. Tripura (w). M.No – 8790657890.
4.You are the Principal of ABC High school, agarta. You are in need of Post Graduate Teachers (PGTs) for your school for the subjects PHYSICS and CHEMESTRY. Draft a suitable advertisement.***
Answer:
SITUATION VACANT
ABC High school Wanted PGT Teacher in Physics and Chemestry, Agartala. Candidates must have fluency over English.B.Ed is preferable. Interview on 26/11/2022. Interested candidates may apply with rel-evant certificates and CV on or before 22/10/2024 at www.abcschoolagartala.com. Salary is negotiable. Contact:6009562345
5. You have lost a library book issued in your name while returning home by an auto. Write an advertisement for the ‘Lost and Found’ column of a local daily, giving particulars of the book.
Ans.
LOST and FOUND
Lost a chemistry book was written by Dr. Bose of Delhi University while travelling in a Auto form Ranirbazar to Agartala on Monday at about 1 p.m. The book is in a green wrapper and has an unknown initial in English on the cover. It has an envelope in between the pages. The book is issued form Agartala Central Library. If anybody finds the wallet, please contact Nabin Sharma at 9999336789.
6. You are Mipura/Mipur. You have found some important documents in a file cover in a local train from Dharmanagar to Agartala . Write a suitable advertisement for the ‘Lost and found’ column of a national daily in about 50 words. Specify details needed to return them to the rightful owner.
Answer
Lost and found’
Found some important documents in a file cover in a local train from Dharmanagar to Agartala on Saturday between 12.05 p.m. to 4 p.m. There is a name inscribed on the file in black letters on the backside. It is a light black coloured file cover. Owner may please contact:Mipura/Mipur Surya Chowmuni, Agartala Contact on. 9865940537
NOTICE WRITING
(4MARKS)
1.As the Cultural Secretary of your school, draft a notice informing all the students about the forthcoming Inter-School drama/quiz/ debate/Drama competition. You are Bijoy/Bijoya.
Sukanta Academy
NOTICE
Inter-School Debate Competition
Ref. No.: F/10/24
Date: 18th june, 2024
The English Literary Association is organizing the Annual Inter-School DebateOratorical and Elocution Contest on 22 June, 2024 at 11am in the school auditoriumThe student-leader of each house should give the name of the contestants latest by June , 2024. Each house can form a team of two students. The topic will be decided by the respected judges present during the contest.
Countersigned by The Principal with stamp and date
Sd/
Bijoy Biswas
Secretary of English Literary Association
2.The Science club of ABC School is going to organize a “Tree Plantation Drive’ on the World Environment Day around your school and in the neighbourhood. Write a notice in not more than 50 words inviting students to volunteer for the event. Give all the relevant details. You arc Purba/Paras, Secretary of the Club.
ABC School
[NOTICE]
Ref No….10/2024
Date: 25.10.24
All the students are hereby notified that the science club is going to organize a Tree Plantation Drive on the world Environment Day i.e. 5 June around our school and neighbourhood. The programme will begin at 9 am. Every kind of materials will be provided from school. Active participation of every student to volunteer in this sacred social service is solicited.
Countersigned by the Headmaster
Purba Adhikari
Secretary of Science club ABC School
3. As the Secretary of the N.S.S unit of your school, draft a notice informing all the students of Class XII about a Voluntary Blood Donation Camp to be organized in your school. You are Raka/Mitra.
ABC School
N.S.S Unit
Notice
Blood Donation Camp
No. S/10/2024
29st Sep, 2024
N.S.S Unit of Our School is organising a blood donation camp in the Community Centre on 1st October, 2024, from 10 AM to 4 PM. All arrangements will be adequately made along with drinks and refreshments for all donors. The camp is being conducted under the expert guidance of the doctors and nurses of the Red Cross Society. All the students of Class XII hereby requested to ensure an overwhelming response to this camp by coming forward for this noble task.
Counter signed by HM
Mitra Sen
Secretary, NSS Unit, ABC School
4. Your are the Health Secretary of the Students’ Council of ‘ABC’ School, Agartala. The Council has decided to start a weeklong cleanliness programme around the school area in august. Draft a notice in about 50 words asking the class XII students to enroll for the programme.
ABC School
Agartala, Tripura
Notice
A Week-long Cleanliness Programme
No. S/08/2024
29st june, 2024
All the students of our school are hereby notified that we are going a weeklong cleanliness programme to clean the school premises in ‘Clean India Programme’ introduced by our Prime Minister. So, we have decided that we, the students of different classes, will continue the cleanliness programme on alternate weeks. In the first turn, the programme will start with the XII. So, all the students of class XII are requested to be present on 03july Sep 2024 in our school premises.
Countersigned by HM
Sd/
Jayanta Dey (Secretary)
The Students’ Council of ‘ABC’ School
Job application / Resume or Bio Data (Mark 5)
1. ABC Public School, Tripura, urgently requires a post-graduate teacher to teach political science for which they have placed an advertisement in The Tripura Times. You are Sanjay/Sunanda Saha from 1, Ramnagor,Tripura. Draft a letter including a CV, applying for the advertised post.(120 – 150 words)
Answer:
1, Ramnagor
Agartala,Tripura
01 sep, 2024
The Principal
ABC Public School
Agartala,Tripura
Subject- Application for the post of a post-graduate teacher
Sir/Madam
In response to your advertisement in The Tripura Times, dated 28 Aug 25, 2024for the post of a political science teacher in your renowned school, I wish to offer my candidature. I am enclosing a copy of my bio-data for your perusal and kind consideration.I am available for the interview on any day of your convenience. If given a chance to serve you, I assure you that I shall work with utmost sincerity and dedication up to your satisfaction.
Thank you
Yours faithfully
Sanjay/Sunanda Saha
Encl.: Bio-data
BIO- DATA
NAME- Sanjay/Sunanda Saha
FATHER’s NAME- Mithun Saha
DATE OF BIRTH- 10 June,1994
ADDRESS- 1, Ramnagor,Agartala,Tripura
PHONE-98100XXXXX
E-MAIL- sanjaysaha9@gmail.com
MARITAL STATUS- single
AGE- 28 years
NATIONALITY- Indian
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS-
i. B.A. in Political Science
ii. M.A. Political Science
iii. B. Ed
HOBBIES- Reading and Watching Movies
STRENGTHS- Good communication skills, computer literate, proficient in English, Hindi and German
NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REFERENCES-
i) Mr. Vijay Roy, Principal
D.A.V. School, khowai.,Tripura
ii) Mr. Satish Ohri
Head of Commerce Department
Ghuwahati University, Assam
2.You are Priyam/Parul of 16, TT Nagar, Bhopal. You would like to apply for the post of Marketing Manager in a reputed firm in Mumbai. Write a letter to the Public Relations Officer, Chantac Enterprises, Mumbai, applying for the job. Write the letter in 125-150 words giving your biodata.
Answer:
16, TT Nagar
Bhopal
April 26, 2024
Public Relations Officer
Chantac Enterprises
Mumbai
Sir
Sub: Application for the post of Marketing Manager
In response to your advertisement published in The Hindustan Times dated April 23, 2024, I wish to offer my services as one of the candidates.I fulfil the conditions laid down in your advertisement. I have completed my MBA in Marketing Management from Poona University with 90% marks. I have also got one year working experience in XYZ Enterprises, Mumbai. Enclosed herewith the biodata, photographs, certificates and testimonials for your reference. Hoping for a favourable response.
Yours
Priyam
BIO – DATA
Name: Priyam Kumar
Father’s Name : Mr. K Kumar
Date of Birth : 30.10.1992
Addres: 16, T.T. Nagar, Bhopal
Marital Status : Unmarried
Educational Qualifications : MBA in Marketing Management, Symbiosis Institute, Pune
Working Experience : Manager at XYZ Enterprises, Mumbai, 20 January, 2013 to 30 January, 2014)
Skills : Excellent communication skills, Diploma in computer with Java, C++.
References 1. A.K Puri Director, T.K. Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai
2. R. Kumar
3.You are Anand/Arti of 14, Model Town, Delhi. You have seen an advertisement in The Hindu for the post of Chief Chef in a 5-Star Hotel. Apply for the job with complete biodata. Write in 125-150 words.
Answer:
14, Model Town
Delhi
May 25, 20XX
The Managing Director
The Radisson Hotel
Gurgaon
Sir
Sub: Application for the post of Chief Chef
This is with reference to the advertisement published in the esteemed daily. The Hindu on May 20, 20XX. I am Anand. I have completed my MBA in hotel management from Delhi University. I intend to apply for the post of chief chef in your esteemed organisation. Please find enclosed my biodata for the said purpose. I am hard working, honest and punctual. I assure you that I shall work with full devotion and sincerity.In anticipation of an early response.
Yours truly
Anand
BIO – DATA
Name : Anand Kumar
Father’s Name: Kapil Kumar
Date of Birth : 22 January, 1990
Contact No : 9350298679
Marital Status : Unmarried
Educational Qualifications• Master of Business Administration, A.K. College, Delhi (2013)-95% Marks.
• Graduation in Hotel Management, Satyawati College, (2011) -94% Marks
Working Experience : Trainee at the Taj Hotel, New Delhi. (May 2013-Dec. 2013)
Languages Known : Hindi and English
References 1. A.K. Poddar Professor, Head of Dept. ABC College, Delhi
REPORT WRITING (5 MARKS)
1.Drug abuse is a self-destructive indulgence that can ruin one’s physical and psychological well-being. Write an article in 150-200 words on ‘Drug Abuse among Youths’. You are Kian /Kiara Chowdhury.
Drug Abuse among Youths
-Kian Chowdhury
Drug abuse among youths is a global problem. Billions of youths across the world are seriously engaged in drug abuse. The rate of drug abuse among youths has been increasing rapidly. Some most common abused drugs by youths are: alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis, and cocaine. There are numerous causes of drug abuse. As per the several survey reports,peer pressure is the first reason for the addiction of drugs among the youths as they like association and making fun or enjoying something together. So, they also like to taste
everything for enjoyment and experience. Soon, they become addicted unknowingly. Youths who are used to drug abuse suffer numerous side effects like psychological, physical and social consequences. Among them psychological disorders is very dangerous.There are several factors that influence youths to engage in drug abuse. The leaders of the nation must find out the causes and chalk out effective measures to control this global menace. Parents and guardians must be aware of such habits and addictions. They must not neglect their children, take proper care of them, and give proper moral education.
1. You visited ABC school, Amarpur. You were impressed to see students participating in various co-curricular activities of the school such as debate, music and theatre work shops. Write a report on it in 120 – 150 words for your school magazine. You are Sayan/ Sree.
Answer:
Co-Curricular Activities Workshops
by Sree
Amarpur, April 4th, 20xx: A creative Co-curricular Activitive workshops was organised for ABC school, Amarpur, for the students of class VIII to XII on 23rd Dec 2022 by scholastic Tripura pvt. Ltd. The resource person was Dipen Sen, a reputed educator, writer, debator and dramatist. It was an enriching session for the students where they learned different skills to develop their creative writing.
The workshops were divided in 4 sessions, Session I was dealt with debate. Here the process to debate was described clearly on a particular topic. Session 2 was on the plot of music. Session 3 included narrative design and voice. Session 4 was based on character and dialogue for theatre
The students had a marvellous time attending the worships. They wrote stories, poetry, oneact play, debate, articles and so on. The workshops came to an end when the Headmistress scholastic Tripura pvt. Ltd. and Dr. Dipen Sen.
2.Write an article on the good and bad sides of online learning in 150-200 words.You are Anay/ Anaya Roy.
Good and Bad sides of Online Learning
Or,
Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Learning
-Anaya Roy
After the destructive outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, education system was Became Weak. During time, new normal education, that is, online education came very popular across the world. Educational institutions found online education suitable for continuing education. At online learning platform teachers find an efficient way to deliver lessons to students as it has a number of tools such as PDFs, videos, podcasts. Online education allows students to attend classes from any location and online lectures can be recorded, archived, and shared for futurereference. Online education is far more affordable as compared to physical learning.
On the other hand, online education has many disadvantages. Computer, smartphone, and consistent internet connection is a must. It is a great challenge to many students. The poor can hardly afford these gadgets. So, their children remain uneducated. In online learning system students can be easily distracted by social media. Therefore, it is not possible for the teachers to keep their online classes emphatic(সতেজ), attractive, and interactive. In physical learning, students get a golden opportunity to discuss and learn any topic of learning with their classmates. Moreover, online learning causes health hazards because students spend sitting without sufficient physical movement for hours while taking online classes.
3. As a newspaper reporter, writer a report of a train accident, the site which you visited. Your report should not exceed 150 words.
Answer.
Train Accident: 10 Killed, 200 Injuried
By XYZ, staff Reporter
Dharmanagar, 26 February 20xx: Yesterday I was going to visit a site near Dharmanagar where a ghasly train accidented had occurred. It happend around 5 a.m. It was known that the rail line was built recently and so the earth under the rainline became soft. For this reason the earth was replaced from the railline and the train was at high speed and so the line did not keep balance. All on a sudden the train was derailed and at once five compartments were overturned. The name of the cursed train was The Tripureswari Express which fell into a deep hole. The bodies of ill fated passengers were mauled, mangled, and disfigured.
The railway protection force, civil police and many young men were engaged in rescueing the injured passengers from the bodies. About ten persons had died on the spot and about 50 passengers were sent to Dharmanagar Government Hospital. Others who had received minor injuries were given medical assistance on the spot. The Railway Minister expressed shock and sympathy with the unfortunate victims and announced 5 lakh rupeers for each deceased passengers and 50 thousand for each injuried person.
4. Due to heavy rainfall the river near your town started overflowing its banks. As a result your town was flooded. It led to a great loss of life and property. Many NGOs came forward to help the people with food, shelter and medicines. Write a report in 150-200 words for the local newspaper on the tragedy and rescue efforts. You are Ragahav/Ritika
Ans:
NGO’s Saved Many Lives after a Devastating Flood
-by Ritika
Udaipur,20Dec, 2022: 55 killed and many people’s were injured after a devastating flood overflowed the city, Udaipur. Due to incessant, heavy downpour the river started to cross the danger level and flooded down the whole city. As a consequence, numerous people suffered from a great loss of life and propery. People were in panic and at a fix. Many were seen to take refuge in the rooftops of households devoid of medicine, food and even drinkable water. After some days, many NGOs working in coordination with the disaster management team rushed to our city. First, they started to evacuate them from the miserable condition. Second, they provided them with every kind of basic amenities i.e. food, drinkable water and medicine, etc. Next, they began their rescue operation. After relentless efforts, many lives had been saved. Their seven days of extensive yet systematic hardwork restored normalcy in the city.
5. You are Akash/ Anita of XYZ school. On the third day of NSS Special Camp you have organized a Voluntary Blood Donation Camp at the school premises. Write a report on this for your school magazine.
Voluntary Blood Donation Camp Held at XYZ School
By Akash
A voluntary Blood Donation Camp was organized on the third day of NSS special camp in the premises of XYZ School. The camp was organized by the students of the school with the help of a medical team consisting of 5 best doctors and 12 medical students. The camp started at 9 o’clock in the morning. The BDO of the block was present as the chief guest. There were also some panchayat members and teachers of our school present. The chief guest delivered a speech on the importance of donating blood. Then the headmaster as well as the head of the doctors delivered their speeches on its importance. The BDO started this programme by donating his blood first. After that, people from the neighbouring areas especially the young people participated in the programme by donating blood. I also donated my blood at 11 o’clock in the morning. The medical team conducted the entire process of blood donation. The camp ended at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. The camp was a grand success.
6. You are Nilash/ Apama of ABC School. On Teacher’s Day your school has organized a grand celebration to honour the teachers of your school. Write a report on the celebration to be published in the school magazine.
ABC School
Celebrated Teacher’s Day
By Nilash
Agartala, Sept. 5: Teacher’s Day celebration was organized with great honour in ABC School yesterday. Like earlier years, the school premises were beautifully decorated with ribbons and balloons by the students. The classes were on but unlike other days, they were taken by the senior students only. A competition was arranged and the teachers judged three best students playing the role of teachers. After the tiffin recess, there was a cultural programme of song, dance and recitation. The headmaster of the school, Mr. P B Sen, delivered speeches on the importance of the day. Mr A S Biswas, the president of the school, spoke on the history of the school and how they have been celebrating this day over the years. There was an arrangement of refreshment at the end of the show. The day passed off amid great fun and excitement.
7. Your school ABC, Agartala, has celebrated “World Environment Day” on 5 June, 2021, in a memorable way. Write a report on this for your school magazine. You are Paban/Dipika.
Celebration of World Environment Day in ABC School
By Dipika
Agartala, 5 June: World Environment Day was celebrated with great pomp and splendour in ABC School this year too. The celebration started at 10 o’clock in the morning. The school compound was decorated with colourful papers and balloons. Students of all classes attended the programme. It started with the headmaster’s planting of a sapling in the garden of the school. He gave a speech on the importance of tree plantation and the role of trees in the maintenance of ecological balance of nature. Mr A K Bose, the chief guest and the local councillor, graced the chair of the President. He addressed the assembled students with an inspiring speech. There was a short cultural programme by the school students. The show ended with a dance drama where the students put on costumes symbolising different agents of nature and earth.
8. Tripura carries an untapped potential for future prospects in tourism. Write an article on how to promote tourism in Tripura. You are Kanika/ Kanak Barman.***
How to Promote Tourism in Tripura
-Kanika Barman
Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. It plays a crucial role in the economic development of a country. Tripura is an Indian state with adventurous and attractive tourist spots. The historical monuments and buildings, flora and fauna, historical temples and mythological instances add to the grandeur of the state. It is a princely state of India and
has population in plains despite being a hilly territory. Agartala, its capital city, blessed with beautiful lakes, rivers and forests. The Ujjayanta Palace, Neermahal, Kunjaban, Malancha Niwas, Pilak, Tripura Government Museum are historically and culturally significant. These palaces are worth visiting. The temples of Tripura like Tripura Sundari, Unakoti Fourteen Goddess, Bhuvaneswari, Vishnu, Nager Dol, Hari and Gopinath temples add to the religious and spiritual happiness and mental of the tourists. Apart from these, the Jampui hill, Sepahijala, Rowa, Trishna Wildlife Sanctuaries and some Eco Parks are also spots fascinating spots for the tourists. The lakes of Tripura are also Kamala Sagar, Dumboor, and Rudrasagar lakes attract tourists from across the world. Hog badgers, spectacle monkey, capped monkey, pig-tailed macaque, slow loris, barking deer, clouded leopard, hillock gibbon, and leopard cat are some exceptional found in the forests of Tripura.
Class 12 Half Yearly Suggestion TBSE Pdf Download
Class 12 Half Yearly Suggestion TBSE Pdf Download
SECTION-C (LITERATURE)
(40 MARKS)
Prose (Flamingo)
LOST SPRING
Extract Based Questions : Value 6×1 = 6 Marks
1. “Saheb left his home long ago. Set amidst the green fields of Dhaka, his home is not even a distant memory. There were many storms that swept away their fields and homes, his mother tells him.” That’s why they left, looking for gold in the big city where he now lives.
(i) Where from the extract have taken?
Ans. The above extract has been taken from “Lost Spring: Stories of Stolen Childhood” by Anees Jung.
(ii) Who is the speaker here?
Ans. Here the speaker is the author Anees Jung.
(iii) Who are they’?
Ans. Saheb and his family are mentioned as ‘they’.
(iv) From where did they come?
Ans. They were hailed from Dhaka, Bangladesh.
(v) What do they do now?
Ans. Saheb was a poor rag picker. But later he got employed at a tea stall to earn money.
(vi) What has been swept away by storms?
Ans. Many storms swept away the fields and homes of Saheb in Dhaka.
2.They have lived here for more than thirty years without an identity, without permits but with ration cards that get their names on voter’s lists and enable them to buy grain. Food is more important for survival than an identity. “If at the end of the day we can feed our families and go to bed without an aching stomach, we would rather live here than in the fields that gave us no grain,” say a group of women in tattered saris when I ask them why they left their beautiful land of green fields and rivers. Wherever they find food, they pitch their tents that become transit homes.
(i) Who are referred to as ‘they’?
Ans. The rag pickers are referred here as ‘they’.
(ii) Which place is indicated in the given extract?
Ans. Seemapuri is indicated in the given extract.
(iii) For how long they are living in India?
Ans. The are living in India for more than thirty years.
(iv) Which document is required to buy grain?
Ans. The ration card is required to buy grain.
(v) What is important for survival? Why?
Ans. Food is more important for survival than an identity as for living a life, a person needs food continuously. Identity or any other thing is secondary, more important is food.
(vi) Who said, “If at the end gave us no grain”?
Ans. A group of women in tattered saris said the aforesaid statement when the narrator asked them about their migration from Dhaka.
(vii) What did the writer ask to a group of women ?
Ans. The writer asked to group of women why they left their beautiful land of green fields and rivers.
(viii) What are ‘transit homes’?
Ans. “Transit Homes’ are the homes which are not permanently constructed or settled, they are movable and mostly made with light materials as cloth, bamboos or dried grass.
3. “Why aren’t you wearing chappals?” I ask one. “My mother did not bring them down from the shelf,” he answers simply. “Even if she did he will throw them off,” adds another who is wearing shoes that do not match. When I comment on it, he shuffles his feet and says nothing. “I want shoes,” says a third boy who has never owned a pair all his life. Travelling across the country I have seen children walking barefoot, in cities, on village roads. It is not lack of money but a tradition to stay barefoot, is one explanation. I wonder if this is only an excuse to explain away a perpetual state of poverty.
Questions:
(i) Who is not wearing chappals?
Ans: One of the rag-picker boys is not wearing chappals.
(ii) What is the another one wearing?
Ans: The another boy is wearing shoes which do not match.
(iii) Why does the third boy want shoes?
Ans: The third boy wants shoes because he has never owned a pair of them all his life.
(iv) What did the narrator see while travelling across the country?
Ans: While travelling across the country, the narrator saw children walking barefoot, in cities and on village roads.
(v) Find the word from the passage which means to be of the same size, shape or color .
Ans: match.
(vi) Find the word from the passage which is opposite to ‘limited’.
Ans: perpetual.
4. “I want to drive a car” Mukesh insists on being his own master. “I will be a motor mechanic he announces. “Do you know anything about cars?” I ask. “I will learn to drive a car,” he answers, looking straight into my eyes. His dream looms like a mirage amidst the dust of streets that fill his town Firozabad, famous for its bangles.
Every other family in Firozabad is engaged in making bangles. It is the centre of India’s glassblowing industry where families have spent generations working around furnaces, welding glass, making bangles for all the women in the land it seems.
Questions:
(i) What does Mukesh look forward to become?
Ans: Mukesh wants to become his own master
(ii)Where does Mukesh live? What is it famous for?
Ans: Mukesh lives in Firozabad; it is famous for its bangles.
(iii)What is the occupation of every other family in Firozabad?
Ans: Every other family is engaged in the occupation of making bangles.
(iv) Where have the families spent their generations?
Ans: Families have spent generations working around furnaces, welding glass, and making banglesvfor women.
(v) Find the word from the passage which means ‘says emphatically’.
Ans: insists
(vi) Find the word from the passage which is opposite to ‘breaking’.
Ans: welding.
Deep Water Extract Based questions
It had happened when I was ten or eleven years old. I had decided to learn to swim. There was a pool at the Y.M.C.A. in Yakima that offered exactly the opportunity. The Yakima River was treacherous. Mother continually warned against it, and kept fresh in my mind the details of each drowning in the river. But the Y.M.C.A. pool was safe.
1.Question: Why did the narrator choose the.Y.M.C.A. pool to learn swimming insteadof the Yakima River?
Answer: The narrator chose the Y.M.C.A. pool because it was safe.
2.What does the word ‘treacherous’ mean?
(a)Safe
(b) Dangerous
(c) Punitive
(d)None of the above
Answer: (b) Dangerous
3.Question: The information in the extract suggests that the narrator’s mother was _____ about the Yakima River.
Answer: cautious/ wary/ concerned/ apprehensive/ fearful/ vigilant/ anxious/ careful.
4.Question: Why did the narrator’s mother keep reminding him about drowning?
Answer: To instill fear and ensure his safety near water.
5.who is ‘I’ in the above lines?
(a)William Douglas
(b)President Roosevelt
(c)The instructor
(d)Writer’s mother
Answer: (a)William Douglas
6.How was YMCA pool safer?
(a)For it had instructor
(b)For it had life guards
(c)For it had shallow water to learn swimming.
(d)All of the above
Answer: (d)All of the above
Extract 2
I went to the pool when no one else was there. The place was quiet. The water was still, and the tiled bottom was as white and clean as a bathtub. I was timid about going in alone, so I sat on the side of the pool to wait for others. I had not been there long when in came a big bruiser of a boy, probably eighteen years old. He had thick hair on his chest. He was a beautiful physical specimen, with legs and arms that showed rippling muscles. He yelled, “Hi, Skinny! How’d you like to be ducked?” With that he picked me up and tossed me into the deep end.
1. Who threw the narrator into the pool?
(a)Big bruiser
(b)Big lad
(c)Big chap
(d)All of the above
Answer :(d)All of the above
2. What does the word ‘timid’ mean?
(a) bold
(b) Coward
(c)Lazy
(d)Agile
Answer: (b) coward
3. Who has been called ‘skinny’ in the above extract?
(a) the instructor
(b)William Douglas
(c)Writer’s mother
(d)Big bruiser
Answer: (b)William Douglas
4. What is the name of the chapter?
(a)Lost Spring
(b)Deep Water
(c)The Rattrap
(d)Keeping quite
Answer: (b)Deep Water
5.How old was the big bruiser boy?
Answer: Probably 18 years old was the big bruiser boy.
6.What is the name of the pool?
Answer: YMCA is the name of the pool.
Extract 3
My introduction to YMCA swimming pool revived unpleasant memories and childish fears. But after a little while, I gathered confidence. I paddled with my new water wings, watching the other boys and trying to learn by aping. Them. I did this two or three times on different days and was just beginning to feel at ease in the water when the misadventure happened.
1.Question. How did he try to learn to swim?
Answer: He tried to learn by aping other boys.
2.Question. What was the ‘misadventure’ the author is referring to?
Answer: The incident of being tossed by a boy into the deeper end of the pool.
3.Question. Why did he choose the YMCA pool?
Answer: He chose the YMCA pool for safety reasons.
4.Question. Which unpleasant memories were revived?
Answer: His unpleasant visit to the beach of California where he was knocked down by the waves and was almost buried in water. The overpowering force of the waves had terrorized him.
5.Question. What state was the author going through? Answer: He was going through the unconscious state of mind?
6.Question. Which word in the above lines mean same as ‘sleepy’?
Answer: Drowsy.
My Mother At Sixty Six 6×1=6
“Driving from my parent’s
home to Cochin last Friday
morning, I saw my mother,
beside me,
doze, open mouthed, her face
Ashen like that
of a corpse and realized with
pain
that she was as old as she
looked.”
Questions:
(i) What is the name of the poem and the poet?
Ans-The name of the poem is “My Mother at Sixty-Six” and the poet is Kamala Das.
(ii)Where was the poet driving to? Who was sitting beside her?
Ans- The poet was driving from her parents’ home to the Cochin airport. Her mother was sitting beside her.
(iii)What has the mother’s face been compared to ?
Ans- The mother’s face has been compared to a corpse(dead body).
(iv)”Realized with pain”- What did the poet realize ?
Ans- The poet realized with pain that her mother had aged already and that she might lose her.
(v) Find words from the passage which mean: i) sleep lightly ii) Dead body
Ans-(i) Doze (ii) Corpse
(vi)Which poetic device has been used in her face ashen like that of a corpse?
Ans- The poetic device used here is simile.
(vii) Why does the poet compare her mother to a corpse?
Ans- The poet compares her mother to a corpse because her mother has lost her shine and strength of youth.
I looked again at her, wan, pale
as a late winter’s moon and felt that old familiar ache, my childhood fear,
but all I said was see you soon, Amma,
all I did was smile and smile and smile..
Questions:
(a) Mention the name of the poem where the lines are taken?
Ans- The above lines are taken from the poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six” written by Kamala Das.
(b)Who is ‘l’ in the above extract?
Ans- In the above extract ‘I’ stands for poetess Kamala Das.
(c)What was the poet’s childhood fear?
Ans- The poet’s childhood fear was that she would lose her mother just as all young children usually are.
(d)Which poetic device has been used in the last line of the above stanza?
Ans- Repetition has been used in the last line.
(e)How did the poet feel when she looked at her mother again?
Ans- The poet felt worried as thinks that her mother might die soon.
(f) How does late winter’s moon look like?
Ans- A late winter’s moon looks hazy with a dim luster.
……but soon put that thought away and looked out at young trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes,.
Questions:
1.”……but soon put that thought away” – What ‘thought’ is the poet referring to?
Ans- The poetess became fearful because she thought that her mother would not live long. So she put away her thought.
2. What did she do then?
Ans- She then tried to divert her thought by looking out of the car’s window.
3.What did she notice in the world outside the car’s window?
Ans- When she noticed out of the car that young trees sprinting past her car and young children spilling out of their homes to play.
4. Find words from the passage which mean, (i) running fast (ii) happy (iii) moving out
Ans- (i) Sprinting (ii) merry (iii) spilling out
5.What did the poet realize? How did she feel?
Ans- The poet realized that her mother was getting old and was nearing her death. She felt afraid of losing her mother.
6.What are the merry children symbolic of?
Ans- The merry children are symbolic of the exuberance of youth.
7.What does ‘Sprinting Tress” signify?
Ans- “Sprinting Tress” signifies childhood and youth.
Keeping Quiet
Extract based Questions: 6×1=6
1. “Now we will count to twelve
And we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the Earth
Let’s not speak in any language,
Let’s stop for one second,
And not move our arms so much.”
i. Where do these lines occur?
𝙰𝚗𝚜-These lines occur 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚎𝚖 “𝙺𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚎𝚝”
ii. How long does the poet want us to keep quiet?
𝙰𝚗𝚜-The poet wants to stay still till he will count up to 𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚎.
iii. Why does the poet want us to keep still?
𝙰𝚗𝚜-The poet wants us to keep quiet and give up endless activity to be able to introspect.
iv. Why does the poet suggest not to move 𝚘𝚞𝚛 arms so much’ ?
𝙰𝚗𝚜-Here the poet means that we should cease all activities. Man has used his arms to kill and destroy the other. So we should not let arms move to harm others.
v. Write the poetic devices used in this extract.
𝙰𝚗𝚜- Enjambment
Antithesis: It is the juxtaposition of opposing or contrasting ideas. e.g. “count to twelve and we will all keep still”. Here counting and keeping still are contrasting activities and are put together.
2. “It would be an exotic moment
Without rush, without engines,
We would all be together
In a sudden strangeness.”
i. Where have these lines been taken from?
Ans-These lines have been taken from the poem “Keeping Quiet”
ii. Which moment would be exotic, according to the poet?
Ans-The poet refers to the moment of stillness and quietness as an exotic moment because it will initiate peace and brotherhood.
iii. What does the poet mean by ‘sudden strangeness’?
Ans-Sudden strangeness means man is running for happiness but ironically he finds unrest and dissatisfaction.
iv. When would we all be together?
Ans-without rush, without engines, we would all be together.
3. “Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚜
and the man gathering salt
Would look at his hurt hands.”
i. When would the fishermen cease harming the whales?
Ans-In the exotic moment of silence and introspection, the fishermen would cease harming the whales
ii. Why does the salt gatherer’s hands hurt?
Ans-The salt gatherers’ hands hurt because the harsh and coarse feel of salt causes discomfort and pain to their hands.
iii. What do these activities mentioned in these lines signify?
Ans- we should not be violent and we should keep ourselves away from all kinds of violence which include self-torturing.
iv. How can the quiet moments initiate non- violence?
Ans-Halting all destructive activities like waging wars which harm people besides damaging the environment.
4. “Those who prepare green wars,
Wars with gas, wars with fire,
Victory with no survivors,
Would put on clean clothes
And walk about with their brothers
In the shade, doing nothing.
i. What are the types of war mentioned in the extract?
Ans- The different kinds of wars mentioned by the poet in the extract are Green wars, Wars with gas and Wars with fire.
ii. Who would put on clean clothes?
Ans- The warmongers would put on clean clothes
iii. What does the phrase ‘victory with no survivors’ mean?
The literal meaning of “Victory with no survivors” is, someone wins(a war), but there are no survivors(except the winner).Hence, there is no one to celebrate the victory.
iv. What does the poet mean by “clean clothes”?
Ans-Clean clothes symbolizes humans without any stain of destruction, hate, greed and materialistic desires. It refers to human beings with love, fraternity, unity and mutual understanding.
v. What would the warmongers do?
Ans- Warmongers should put on clean clothes and walk in shadow holding their hands of brother and sisters.
5. “What I want should not be
Confused with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.
i. What does the poet want?
Ans-The poet wants all the humans to sit in silence for some time.
ii. What is meant by ‘total inactivity?
Ans-Total inactivity should not be confused with dead. It means that people should stop their destruction and stop hurting anyone.
iii. What is the difference between ‘keeping quiet’ and ‘total inactivity”?
Ans-The poet makes us clear not to confuse keeping quiet with total inactivity. Total inactivity means death but the poet has no association with death. keeping quiet means stopping one’s activity for a short moment.
iv. What does the poet mean by the line, “Life is what it is about”?
Ans-the poet means to grow, to work and to be active, and it cannot be stopped ever.
6. “Perhaps the Earth can teach us
As when everything seems dead
And later proves to be alive.
Now I’ll count up to twelve
And you keep quiet and I will go.
i. What can the Earth teach us?
Ans: The earth can teach us that she can sustain life when everything else appears to be dead.
ii. When does everything seem dead?
Ans-Everythings seem to be dead during the winter season.
iii. When does it prove to be alive again?
Ans- In later (spring season), it proves to be alive.
iv. Whom do the pronouns ‘I’ and ‘you’ refer to in these lines?
Ans-“I” refer to the poet himself and “We” in the above lines refers to mankind.
V. Why does the poet specifically mention the number twelve here?
Ans- The number ‘twelve’ signifies the twelve divisions in the clock (measure of time).
Answer the following question within 40-50 words each question value: 2
Prose (Flamingo)
LOST SPRING
1. What irony lies in the name of Saheb?
Ans. Saheb’s full name was Saheb-e-alam, means Lord of the Universe. This implies that he should be living a luxurious life. The irony in Saheb’s name was he was a poor ragpicker and lived in a slum and was suffers from such utter poverty.Though his name meant that he was the lord of the universe, in reality he did not have money to even meet the most basic needs.
2. Why did the narrator feel embarrassed?
Ans. The narrator had jokingly made a promise to Saheb that when she would build a school, she would want Saheb to attend it. After some days Saheb came running to her and said to her, “Is your school ready?” The Writer had to feel embarrassed at this because she had made a promise that was not meant.
3. Why were the ragpickers barefooted?
Ans. The rag-pickers of Seemapuri have different attitudes towards wearing shoes. One boy does not feel like wearing shoes. Another boy who has never owned a pair of shoes. all his life wants them. But the author feels it its not lack of money but a tradition to stay barefoot for these poor people.
4. What profession did Saheb take up later? Was he happy/satisfied with that?
Ans.Saheb took up a job at a tea-stall. Saheb was not happy working at the tea-stall because he had lost his freedom.The steel canister he carried was heavier than the plastic bag he used to carry on his shoulders. He was no longer his own master.So he lost his ‘carefree look’.
5. How is Mukesh different from other bangle-makers?
Ans. Mukesh is quite different from other bangle makers of Firozabad because he has the courage to take initiative and break from the traditional family occupation. He has strong will power also. He insists on being his own master by becoming a motor mechanic.
6. Why is the city of Firozabad famous?
Ans.The city of Firozabad in U. P. is famous for its glass bangles. Every family in this city is engaged in making bangles. It is the centre of India’s glass-blowing industry where families have spent generations working around furnaces, welding glass, making bangles for all the women in the land.
7. Mention any two problems faced by the bangle sellers.
Or,
What are the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry?
Ans. The bangle makers had to work in the glass furnaces with high temperatures, in dingy cells without air and light. They are exposed to various health hazards like losing their eyesight as they work in abysmal conditions in dark and dingy cells. They were also caught in a web of poverty, burdened by the stigma of caste in which they were born and also caught in a vicious circle of sahukars, middlemen and policeman
8.In what sense is garbage gold to the rag pickers?
Ans: Garbage is gold to the rag picking children. It is just not a means of their survival. It is something more than that. The garbage is something wrapped in wonder to the children. They always hope for getting some valuable things from it.
9.Who was Mukesh? What was his ambition?
Ans.Mukesh was a young boy of Firozabad. He belonged to a family of bangle maker.
Mukesh’s family like other poor families in Firozabad work in bangle-making from generations to generations. They considered it to be their destiny. But unlike them Mukesh had nurtured a dream in his mind. He wanted to be a motor mechanic. Even he wanted to drive a car in future.
.
10 .What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?
Ans. Saheb looks for rags in the garbage but he actually is looking for ‘gold’, if his luck favors him. Saheb lives at Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi. Saheb has come from Dhaka as a refugee like the other dwellers of the slum of Seemapuri.
11. Who was Saheb? What has made him a rag picker?
Ans. Saheb was a poor rag picker of Seemapuri who had migrated from Dhaka. Their poverty and pitiable conditions of life forced him to become a rag picker.
DEEP WATER
1. When did William Douglas choose Y.M.C.A pool and why?
Ans. The writer joined the YMCA pool when he was ten or eleven years old. The narrator William Douglas join the YMCA pool as he wanted to learn swimming.
2. Why did Douglas’s mother recommend that he should learn swimming at the YMCA pool ?
Ans. Douglas’s mother warned him against the river once and again as the river was treacherous and many people drowned in it. So he decided to learn at the YMCA swimming pool because it was safe.
3. How does Douglas get rescued when he is thrown into the pool?
Or,
When Douglas realized that he was sinking, how did he plan to save himself ?
Ans. When Douglas realized that he was sinking he planned to come out of water in his own way. He planned that as soon as his feet touched the bottom tiles of the swimming pool he would give a big jump and come to the surface. Then floating and swimming he would come to the edge of the pool.
4. Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
Ans. William Douglas had a bitter experience in the swimming pool of YMCA. He became afraid of water from then. This fear of water ruined his life. He tried to avoid water whenever he could. So he was deprived of fishing, canoeing, boating and swimming for years. It led him to frustration. So he determined to get over his fear of water.
5.What factors led Douglas to decide in favor of the Y.M.C. A pool?
Ans. The Yakima river was too dangerous while the YMCA pool on the other hand was only two or three feet deep at the shallow end and even at the deep end, the drop was gradual. Therefore Douglas decided to join the Y.M.C. A pool.
6. Describe the writer’s childhood experience when he was three or four years old.
Ans. Douglas developed an aversion to water in his early childhood. When he was three or four years old, his father took him to a beach in California. The waves knocked him down and swept over him. He was buried in water. He was frightened and this was the moment his fear of water took root inside his mind.
7.When Douglas realized that he was sinking, how did he plan to save himself ?
Ans. When Douglas realized that he was sinking he planned to come out of water in his own way. He thought that as soon as his feet touched the bottom tiles of the swimming pool he would give a big jump and come to the surface.
8.How did the instructor help Douglas to overcome his fear of water?
Ans. Douglas had hydrophobia due to his experience at YMCA pool. But the instructor helped him to tide over this fear. He first made Douglas shed his initial fear of water by making him cross a pool suspended by a rope attached to a pulley. Then he taught him to breathe while swimming, and finally he taught him the leg movements and other strokes. Thus he helped Douglas to overcome his fear of water and to swim comfortably.
9.What did Douglas do to overcome his fear of water ? Did he get any success?
Ans. Douglas had a deep rooted fear of water from his childhood days. It was so panicky that he could not enjoy the joy of canoeing, boating, swimming and fishing. To enjoy those he determined to overcome his fear of water.
So, he took the help of an instructor who made him a good swimmer. Having performed a lot of stern practice Douglas became a good swimmer and succeeded his mission.
THE RATTRAP
1.Why did the peddler think that the word was a rattrap ?
Ans: The peddler thought that the whole word was a big rattrap, as its sole purpose was to set baits for people. The joys and riches offered by the world were nothing but temporary baits and the one that fell prey to these was captured by the rattrap. This ultimately led to miseries.
2.Do you think the crofter was a good host? What idea about the crofter do you form from this story?
Ans. The crofter was an exemplary host because he did not refuse shelter to the peddler when he asked for shelter at night and instead of putting up a sour face, he was quite happy to have him. He not only put him up for the night, but also offered him food and played cards with him.
3. How much money did the crofter make by selling milk? Why did he show the amount to the peddler?
Ans.While talking with the peddler about his means of income, the crofter had told the peddler that by supplying his cow’s milk to the creamery, he had received thirty kronor in payment. The peddler seemed to doubt it. So, in order to assure his guest of the truth, he showed the thirty kronor to the peddler.
4.Was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler? Why?
Ans.Edla was happy to see that gift left by the peddler because she found small rattrap, and in it lay three wrinkled ten Kroner notes. The peddler has praised her for reforming him in a letter. She was very happy as she was able to reform the peddler.
5. What game did the crofter play with the peddler? Who is a crofter? What was the name of the cow? What is a Kronor?
Ans.The loney crofter played cards game with the peddler.
The crofter was an old and lonely man. He was very kind and generous.
‘Bossy’ is the name of the cow of the crofter.
Kronor is the plural form of Krona which is the basic monetary unit of Sweden
6.Who was the owner of Ramsjo iron mill? Why did the ironmaster visit the mill at night?
Ans. The owner of the Ramsjo iron mills was an ambitious and prominent ironmaster. He was very particular about the quantity of iron he produced. As he wanted to bring out the best iron in the market so, he came to the iron mills at night for inspection.
7.What were the contents of the package left by the peddler as Christmas gift for Edla?
Ans. The package left by the peddler as a Christmas gift for Edla Willmansson comprised a small rattrap with three wrinkled ten kronor notes in it, which the peddler had robbed from the crofter. It also contained a brief letter explaining Edla’s kindness and hospitality.
8.What did the peddler write in the letter addressed to Edla?
Ans.The content of the letter written by the peddler to Edla was that he was reformed by the considerate treatment given by Edla. Even after knowing that the peddler is not the captain, she treated him like a captain. He also returned the money to her which was stolen from the crofter and asked to return it back. He did not want her to be ashamed at Christmas by a thief.
Poetry (Flamingo)
MY MOTHER AT SIXTY-SIX
1. .Why was the face of the poet’s mother looking like that of a corpse?
Ans: The face of the poet’s mother had lost all its glow and colour of youth due to ageing. It looked pale, faded and nearly lifeless. That is why it was looking like a corpse’s face.
2. What did the poet notice about her mother?
Or
How did Kamala Das’s mother look during the drive to Cochin?
Ans: The poet looked at her mother and saw that her mother was dozing with her mouth open.. She noticed that her mother was looking pale and lifeless like a dead body.
3. What kind of pain and ache that the poet feels?
Ans: When the poet sees the pale face of her mother, her familiar childhood fear returns. Ageing is a natural process. The poet’s mother is old and will die soon. This thought makes the poet feel miserable.
4.Why has the mother been compared to the ‘late winter’s moon’?
Ans: The poet’s mother is sixty-six years old. She has lost her shine and strength of youth. Similarly, the late winter’s moon looks hazy and dull. It too lacks shine and strength.The comparison is quite natural and approprite.
5. Why are the young stars described as springing?
Ans.The youngster are described as springing because they are full of vitality. The children are cheerfully coming out from their houses. Here they are a contrast to her pale and ageing mother beside her in the car.
6.What was Kamala Das’s childhood fear? or
What was the poet’s childhood fear or
What were Kamala Das, fears as a child?
Ans: Kamala Das childhood fear was that she would lose her mother to the cruel hands of death and thus would be separated from her forever. She attempts to hide her fear through her elongated and superficial smile.
7.Who wrote the poem “My Mother at Sixty Six” ? What is the pen-name of the poet? Which day is mentioned in the poem?
Ans: The poem “My Mother at Sixty Six” is written by Kamala Das. Her pen name is Madhavikutty. The day is Friday as mentioned in the poem.
8.Where was the poet driving to? Who was sitting beside her?
Ans: The poet was driving from her parent’s home to the Cochin airport. Her mother was sitting beside her.
KEEPING QUIET
1.What does the number ‘twelve’ represent in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’?
Ans.The poet asks mankind to count upto twelve as it will calm down the mind and induce introspection. Here, the number, ‘twelve’ represents the number of hours in a day and the number of months in a year. It also represents some moments in which we will shun all our activities.
2.Why does the poet ask mankind not to speak in any language?
Ans. The poet wants us not to speak in any language to introspect and know what we are about-know the meaning of our existence. He wants everybody to know his spirit and have spiritual contact with others for sometimes for which no language is required.
3. Describe the exotic moment that would be sudden and strange.
Ans: The exotic moment the author talks about is when everyone keeps quiet and still. Unnecessary rush and hurry have troubled and tensed all of us. The noise of machines creates disturbance when everything is at rest, it will be an exotic moment. It will give us unusual feeling and all will enjoy sudden strangeness.
4. What will counting upto twelve word keeping still help us achieve?
Ans: Counting up to twelve keeping still will help us achieve understand ourselves and a sense of togetherness. Then we will not stay busy in the material activities of life. Our silence and stillness keep us at peace and give an opportunity for a moment to introspect.
5. What picture of modern life is painted by Neruda in his poem ‘Keeping Quiet?
Ans: Pablo Neruda’s poem ‘Keeping Quiet presents the picture of crisis suffered by modern men & women. It is a life of mad race. We have no time to pause and ponder over the result of our actions. Inner peace, fellow feeling, amity and empathy are distant dreams to us. This is a life without calm and rest, but full of stress.
6.What can we learn from the Earth?
Ans: Nature teaches us a lot of things. We must learn that all things are bound together and depend on each other for their survival. We should introspect ourselves by remaining calm and composed. So it teaches us to be quiet and still.There is no need for greed. Nature always remains alive.
7.Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death in the poem, ‘Keepin Quiet’ Give reasons.
Ans: No, the poet especially says that keeping quiet should not be confused with total inactivity. He wants no association with death. Stillness means halting of harmful human activities. He wants to keep quiet as this will prepare mankind for introspection and regeneration.
8.How will keeping quiet’ protect our environment?
Ans: When we keep quiet and refrain from activity, we will not indulge in chemical and nuclear wars that cause total destruction by releasing toxic gases in the environment. These will destroy all greenery and life on earth making it a dead planet.
9.What are green wars?
Ans:Green wars are wars against environment.which results in destruction of the environment. Warmongers use bombs, shells and firearms that emit poisonous gases and pollute the environment
Supplementary Reader(Vistas)
The Tiger King
- Who is the Tiger king? Why does he get that name?
Ans: Tiger King is the king of Pratibandapuram. He gets that name because an astrologer predicted that his death would come from a tiger. He had killed ninety-nine tigers.But the hundredth tiger, a wooden tiger, caused his death.
2. What did the chief astrologer tell to be the cause of the Maharaja’s death? Or,
What did the astrologer predict when the tiger king was born?
Ans: The chief astrologer had foretold that the prince was born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull and the Tiger are born enemies. Therefore, the tiger would be the only cause of his death. The astrologer told the Maharaja that he might kill 99 tigers but he must be very cautious with the hundredth tiger.
4. Did the Tiger King shoot the hundredth tiger? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans:The Tiger King actually did not shoot the hundredth tiger. The tiger being a weak one, fainted from the shock of a bullet whizzing past him and the ignorant king celebrated his achievement. Later, when the hunters took a closer look at the tiger, it woke up as if from a deep slumber.
5. Did the Tiger King celebrate his victory over the killing of the hundredth tiger?
Ans:When the Maharaja thought that he had killed the hundredth tiger, his joy knew no bounds. The elated king returned to his capital and ordered his staff to bring the dead tiger in a grand procession. The tiger was buried and a tomb was erected over it.
6. Why did the Maharaja decide to get married?
Or What is the reason lor the Tiger King’s sudden decision to marry?
Ans: In order to defeat the astrologer’s prophecy, the Maharaja had to kill a hundred tigers. He had already killed seventy tigers and the tiger population in his state neared extinction. For this reason, he wished to marry a girl in the royal family of a state with a rich tiger population, where he would kill the rest of the tigers.
7. Why did the Maharaja double the land tax?
Ans: The Maharaja had successfully killed ninety-nine tigers but struggled hard to find the hundredth tiger. Once, there came a news of a tiger being spotted at a hillside village but it turned out to be untrue. This infuriated the Maharaja, who ordered the dewan to double the land tax in order to punish the villagers for the false news.
8.How did the Dewan manage to arrange the hundredth tiger for the Maharaja?
Ans:The Dewan had brought a tiger from the People’s Park in Madras and kept it hidden in his house. When the Maharaja threatened him with dire consequences, he understood that the only way to save himself was to ‘plant’ a tiger for the kill. So, he and his aged wife dragged the tiger to the forest where the king was hunting. The king took aim and the beast soon collapsed.
9.How was the royal infant brought up?
Ans:The royal infant drank the milk of an English cow, was brought up by an English nanny, tutored English by an Englishman, saw nothing but English films. His life was exactly like the other crown princes of the other Indian states.
10.What present did the king brought for his son on his third birthday? How much did he pay for it?
Ans:The king brought a wooden tiger on the third birth-day of his son. The shopkeeper quoted its price to be three hundred rupees. But the king did not pay him anything and took the tiger with him saying that it would be the offering to the crown prince from the shopkeeper
11.How did the hundredth tiger take its revenge upon the Tiger King?
Ans: The Tiger King bought a wooden toy tiger as a perfect gift for his son’s third birthday. One day when he was playing with that wooden tiger, one of the silvers pierced the Maharaja’s right hand. Its infection spread all over the arm. Three surgeons performed an operation but couldn’t save the King. This is how the hundredth tiger took its revenge upon the king.
12. Why did the Maharaja double the land tax?
Ans:Once there came a news of a tiger being spotted af a hillside village but it turned out to be untrue. This infuriated the Maharaja, and hence he doubled the land tax in order to punish the villagers for the false news.
13.When and why did the Maharaja decide to get married?
Ans: In order to defeat the astrologer’s prediction, the Maharaja had to kill a hundred tigers. He had already killed seventy tigers and the tiger population in his state neared extinction. For this reason, he decided to marry a girl of a state with a rich tiger population.
14.When was the Tiger King in danger of losing his throne?
or Why do you think was the Maharaja in danger of losing his throne?
or When did the Tiger King stand in danger of losing his kingdom?
Ans:Once a high-ranking British officer who was very fond of hunting tigers visited Pratibandapuram. The Maharaja refused to give him permission to hunt tigers because he himself wanted to kill them. So, the Maharaja stood in danger of losing his kingdom.
On The Face of It
1. Why does Mr Lamb leave his gate always open ? Or,
Why does Mr Lamb leave the gate of his house always open ?
Ans:Mr. Lamb always kept his gate open because he always wanted people to come to his house and spend their time in his garden. Mr Lamb resided alone in a big house and that is why he wanted a companion. He left the gates open so that visitors do not turn away watching the gates closed.
2.How does Mr Lamb keep himself busy when it is a bit cool?
Ans:Mr.Lamb was a very amiable and friendly person.When it’s a bit cool,he keeps himself busy by pulling down the ripe crab apples of his garden with the help of the ladder and a stick. He makes jelly with those apples.
3.”It ate my face up. It ate me up”. – Who said these words ? Why?
Ans: ‘It ate my face up. It ate me up’. These words are uttered by Derry. He said these words because his face was eaten by acid. He had one side of his face disfigured with acid and didn’t like it.
4.What kind of garden does Mr Lamb have? Why does he like it?
Ans:Lamb have a garden of apple. He like his garden because he love the nature. He spend time to pick the red apple and make jelly by that he get his earning. His house was inside the garden so he usually read books by looking at the garden side.
5. How does Mr Lamb react when Derry enters his garden?
Ans:Mr. Lamb sees Derry entering the garden by climbing over a wall. Mr. Lamb immediately questions his arrival. Derry replies that he has entered thinking it a lonely place. He has no desire to steal but Mr. Lamb tries to comfort him. He asks him not to afraid of any thing. His gate is always open for all. He requests him in collecting the crab apples.
6.How does Mr Lamb try to remove the baseless fears of Derry ?
Ans:Derry’s conversation with Mr. Lamb has a great effect on Derry. He realizes that he should not confine himself. Rather he should come out in the world. He should see the world, face it and emerge as a winner. Now he wants to live, he wants to forget about his ugly face, and makes his own wishes and his priorities. His life is more important than the views of other people about his face and life.
7.Why did Mr Lamb help Derry ?
Ans:Mr. Lamb himself was handicapped. He knew the difficulties faced by people like him. But he was very optimistic and wanted to motivate and inspire others. He wanted Derry to look at the things from a different perspective.His nature of generosity, love and altruism that compelled him to help Derry.
8. Why does Derry’s mother not want him to go back to visit Mr Lamb?
Ans:Derry’s mother claimed to have heard many things about Mr. Lamb. So she did not allow her son to go there. She had been told and warned by the people. She told that so many stories were prevalent about Mr. Lamb. He was not a man to be believed.
9. Who are Mr Lamb and Derry ?
Ans:Mr Lamb is an old man with a tin leg.He lived in a big house with a beautiful garden.
Derry is a fourteen years old boy.One side of his face had been burnt by acid.
10. What consolation did people give Derry when they saw his acid burnt face?Or How do people react to Derry’s face ?
Ans:People are much scared of Derry’s burnt face. They pass uncharitable remarks.Some call that Derry has got a terrible ugly face which can be loved by his mother alone.People stare his ugly face and he has developed negative views about life.
11. Why does Derry tell Mr Lamb that he is afraid of seeing himself in the mirror in the play “On the Face of it”.
Ans:Derry is a boy of fourteen years of age. He got a burnt and cut on his face due to fall of acid. His face has turned scarred and disfigured. He feels low. He is even scared of looking himself in the mirror. He has got a strong hatred for himself.
12.What qualities of Mr Lamb attracted Derry towards him ?
Ans:Mr. Lamb is very social. He keeps the gate open for everybody. Mr. Lamb has a tin leg, children tease him by calling “Lamey-Lamb”. But he does not mind it. Derry is surprised to see a man who has a problem and suffers from no complex. Mr. Lamb motivates Derry to move forward in life.
13. What does Derry’s mother think about Mr Lamb?
Ans: Derry’s mother did not have any good opinion about Mr Lamb. She considered him to be a worthless man. She thought that Mr Lamb’s talk was all nonsense. She did not want Derry to go there.
14. What does Mr Lamb want to say by the example of bees?
Ans:Mr.Lamb tells Derry to shut out his ears towards those who speak mercilessly about him. Rather he should listen to sweet things like the buzzing of the bees. He should make him too strong to listen to only desirable things.
5 Marks Questions
1. Describe the life and surroundings of the children living in Seemapuri.
Ans. Seemapuri is a slum on the outskirts of Delhi, mostly populated by illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Their main profession is ragpicking. More than 10,000 rag-pickers live here in strucutres of mud, with roofs of tin and tarpaulin. They are devoid of sewage, drainage or running water. Children grow up in these small structures and help their parents in their survival. Rag-picking is the only way for survival in Seemapuri. They live here without identity and have no basic amenities, but still they are happy because they get rations, which means food, more important than an identity. People here live in utter poverty. They remain barefoot and garbage to them is gold. Their poverty doesn’t allow them to live a hygienic and healthy life. Health, education, sports etc. are not even in their dreams. They cannot even think of a good life and keep engaged in ragpicking or some type of menial jobs. Even small children work as ragpickers in the midst of danger of a number of diseases.
2.Describe the efforts made by the Tiger King to achieve his target of killing a hundred tigers.
Ans.The Tiger King made numerous efforts to fulfil his target of killing a hundred tigers. He stayed in the forest for many days. He fired many of his officers for not getting him tigers. He had to spend a ransom of three lakh rupees to impress the British official and discourage him from killing the tigers. He even went to the extent of marrying to kill the population of tigers in the neighbouring state to meet his target. In a way he did all he could to achieve his goal of killing a hundred tigers.
3.Sketch the character of The Tiger King.
Ans.The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram was a brave, resolute, determined, courageous and a firm ruler of his state. When he was born, the astrologers had predicted his death with a tiger. But the baby had something miraculous quality in him. He was only of ten days, he challenged the prediction of the astrologers and asked them the manner of the death. They told that he was destined to be killed by a tiger some day. The Crown Prince was brought up in English environment. He grew up a tall, sturdy, brave and strong man. He become the king of his state at the age of twenty. He was determined to fulfil his pledge. Being a man of firm determination and self-respect, he denied permission to the British officer to hunt a tiger. He had to pay a high price to retain his throne. In between ten years, he killed seventy tigers and his forests became extinct. Then he married a princess whose father had large forest cover full of tigers. There he killed twenty-nine tigers but the hundredth one fainted due to the shock of the bullet. His hunters came there and killed it. Thus he fulfilled his vow. In between he did not adhere to the welfare of his subjects. Thus it can be said that he was a brave, courageous king that lacked worldly wisdom.
OR
4.Compare and contrast the characters of Mr Lamb and Derry as revealed in the story “On The Face of It”.
Ans. In both the characters one can find a lot of affinity between them. They are dejected, disappointed, secluded and lead a tensed life. Derry’s face is eaten up by acid so he suffers from a sense of inferiority complex and negativeness towards life. People are scared of him and he tries to alienate from the mainstream of life. He is defiant and withdrawn. He does not trust people and thinks that no one will ever love him except his mother. He can’t face the stare of the people.
On the other hand Mr. Lamb does not allow his disability to come in his way. He develops positive attitude and accepts it as it comes. Though children tease him by calling ‘LameyLamb’, yet he does not mind. He keeps his door always open. People visit him and he gives toffees to the children. He has friends every where. He has one tin leg but he enjoys life. He sits in the sun to read books. He grows weeds, plants, flowers and fruits. He loves everybody and everything. Derry is deeply influenced by the positive attitude of Mr. Lamb.
5.Justify the title of the play “On the Face of it”.
Ans. The title of the story ‘On the Face of It’ seems to be very appropriate. The title “On the face of it” justifies the theme of the chapter. An individual may be quite different from what we think of him or what he or she may apparently appear to be at first glance. There is the imperative need for us to view others by removing our glasses of prejudice, hatred, hearsay and dislike. “On the Face of it” is an informal expression used to say that something seems to be good, true etc. but this opinion may need to be changed when you know more about it. In this lesson we see with acid-burned face, Derry had to face discrimination, because of which he had turned pessimistic. He had started hating being around people and had concluded that everyone hated him too because of his face. On the other hand Mr. Lamb appears to be mysterious, lonely, lame old fellow who lives in a neighbourhood house with a huge garden, but in reality he is very kind, generous, loving and altruistic. He is a person who looks at things with a “half full” perspective. He teaches Derry to not to look at his burned face as a disability and try to overcome it jst as Mr Lamb had dealt with his tin leg. There is nothing wrong with Mr. Lamb and Derry.
What is wrong is the way people in their lives and around them view and treat them. As the play progresses the characters’ views about each other and our impression of them changes for the better. The play deals with the acceptance of the fact that things are not always as they appear, i.e. physical handicap has nothing to do with the mental strength and positive attitude to life. Thus, Susan Hill has quite appropriately entitled her play “On the Face of it.
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Anish Das
Very good suggestion