L 1 THE LAST LESSON

By Alphonso Daudet

Understanding the meanings in the context of the lesson

 In great dread of = In immense fear
 In unison = In agreement / harmony
 Counted on = Relied on
 A great bustle = A lot of activity
 Thumbed at the edges = Folded at the corners
 Reproach ourselves with = Criticise / blame our selves

Word- meanings

Drilling = Undergoing military training exercises

Rappings = Striking rapidly on a hard surface
Primer = An elementary book for teaching children
Reproach = Criticise ourselves Cranky = A bad temperred

QI Answer the following questions in 30 to 40 words:

a) Why is the order from Berlin called a thunder clap by Franz ?

Ans: The order from Berlin was called a thunderclap by Franz because it
was a shock for him to know that the study of French language had been
prohibited in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine and only German would
be taught there. It was an unexpected development.

b) How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last lesson /
Ans: Franz became sentimental. He knew very little about French. But
suddenly, he suddenly he developed a strange fascination and love for
this language . Only a while ago , his books seemed a nuisance to him
but now these were his old friends.

c) How does Mr. Hamel prove to be an ideal teacher ?

Ans : Mr. Hamel proved to be an ideal teacher because he worked with
Selfless dedications and rendered his 40 years of meritorious service. He
made people conscious of the importance of their language and national
identity.
Q II Answer the following questions in 100 to 150 words :
a) Franz’s attitude towards the little school as well as Mr. Hamel
changes when he comes to know about the takeover of his village by
the Prussians
Ans : When Franz came to know that his village had been taken over
By the Prussians, suddenly his attitude changed. Feelings of loyalty
were aroused in him . He decided that now that he would pay attention to
his lesson.
Love for his school and language suddenly became important to him. He
felt that he would never miss his school from the very next day which was
the contrast to his attitude to avoid the school earlier.
Even mr. Hamel became a good teacher . Suddenly his lessons became
interesting. Franz developed an interest in learning rules of participles.
Franz was genuinely upset that Mr. Hamel was leaving the village..
He had felt that hardly learnt to read and write.
He was sorry that he had wasted the time. He had enjoyed all the time
outdoors. He had hated his books . He feared Mr. Hamel and his iron
ruler. But suddenly his attitude changed. Mr. Hamel now seemed like a
gentleman..The sudden treat of losing very identity sent shivers down
his spine and he desperately wanted to learn as much as he could.
The subject was no longer difficult and Mr. Hamel was no longer was a
cranky teacher.
b) Our native language is a part of our culture and we are proud of it .
How does the presence of village elders in the classroom and Mr.
Hamel’s last lesson show their love for French ?
Ans : The imposition of German language over the French speaking
population can’t be justified at all. It is the worst kind of colonialism.
Mr. Hamel’s love for French is genuine ,
The shocking order from Berlin arouses patriotic feelings in him.
He loves French as the most beautiful language in the world.
He regrets that the people of Alsace have not paid much heed to the
learning of the great language.
He asks the people to safeguard it among themselves. It is the key to their
unity and freedom.The people of Alsace and particularly the village
elders suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. They
come to attend the last class. Students like Franz are not immune to
patriotic feelings. Franz feels sorry for neglecting the learning of French
He hates the idea of German language being imposed on them.
He remarks sarcastically “ will they make them sing in Germans , even the
pigeons ”
L 2 LOST SPRING
By Anees Jung

Understanding the meanings in the context of the lesson

 Looking for = Searching
 Perpetual state of poverty = Continuous state of being poor
 Slog their day time hours = Work very hard throughout the day
 Dark hutments = Number of dingy huts
 Roof over his head = Shelter Folded at the corners
 Imposed the baggage = Forced the burden on the child

Word- meanings

 Dingy = Dark and gloomy

 Transit homes = Temporary homes
 Squatter = A person who unlawfully occupies an unused land or building
 Desolation = A state of complete destruction.
 Stigma = A mark of disgrace
 Lament = Complaint
 Unkempt = Untidy
 Lineage = Ancestry

Answer the following questions in 30 to 40 words:

a) Why had the rag pickers come to live in Seemapuri ?

Ans: Saheb’s family came from Bangladesh in 1971 to live in Seemapuri,
Delhi. They had come there because their homes and fields were destroyed
by storms. They had nothing to live on.
He was always searching for a coin or Rupee or something valuable in the
garbage dumps . He did this as he had no other work to do. The garbage
dump was a treasure box for Saheb.

b) Describe the irony in Saheb’s name ?

Ans: Saheb’s full name was Saheb-e-Alam . It means “ the Lord of
universe” . But the irony was that the poor boy was not even his own
master. He was a rag picker and a refugee from Bangladesh whose family
 had settled in Seemapuri after their fields were destroyed by storms and
floods. Instead of being a lord, he wandered on the roads along with other
barefooted boys like him.

c) ‘It is a tradition to stay barefoot .......... ’What Is the attitude of rag

pickers of Seemapuri towards wearing shoes ?
Ans : The rag pickers of Seemapuri do not have proper shoes to wear. They
either , have mismatched shoes or have never owned a pair , in their lives.
They stay barefoot. But they explain it as a tradition rather than due to lack
of money.

d) “Survival in Seemapuri means rag picking ”. Comment.

Ans. The statement is absolutely correct. Rag picking was the only
through which the residents there earned their living.
Having no job, home or land , this was their only means to survive.

Q II Answer the following questions in 100 to 150 words :

a) In India we believe in prayers , when ever we are with a problem, we

pray God. A son of a priest at Udipi, while going to school, prayed at
the temple for a pair of shoes. Thirty years later we find his son well
dressed in a school uniform . What has brought about this change –
father’s prayer or father having gone to school or both / Give a
reasonable answer ?
Ans : It was indeed the fact that the father had gone to school and
received an education because of which gave him opportunities to
improve the quality of not only his life but also his family and children.
Prayers alone cannot help us. We have to put in our efforts to make things
better. The father going to school not only for school shoes but must
have also made effort to get himself educated. The result was that he was
able to get for his son whatever he could not have for himself.

b) What does Aneez Jung tell us about life at Mukesh’s home in

Firozabad?
Ans: Mukesh is a boy whose family is engaged in making bangles in
Firozabad. But he aspires to be motor mechanic. Mukesh volunteers to
take the author to his home. He proudly says that it is being rebuilt. The
author along with Mukesh, walks down the stinking lanes which are
blocked up with garbage. They walk past homes that remain sort of out-
houses with walls falling into pieces. The doors are shaky and there are no
windows.
Mukesh stops at one such house and opens the unsteady iron door with
foot and pushes it open. They enter a half-built shack or a rough hut. In
one part of it, the roof is covered with dead grass . It contains a fire wood
stove . A weak young women is cooking evening meal for the whole
family. With eyes filled with smoke , she smiles. She is the wife of
Mukesh’s elder brother. When her father-in-law enters , she gently
withdraws behind the broken wall and brings her veil closer to her face,
Mukesh’s father is a poor bangle maker. Despite long years of hard
labour, first as a tailor then as a bangle maker, he had failed to renovate
the house and send his two sons to school.
He could just teach them the art of making bangles. Looking at Mukesh’s
present conditions, his dreams seem next to impossible.
L 3 Deep water
By William Dogulas

1 Read the given passage and answer the questions

a) It had happened when I was ten or eleven years……… but I subdued
my pride and did it.

i) When did the writer decide to to learn to swim ?

Ans : The writer decided to learn to swim when he was about ten or eleven
years old.

ii) Where did he decide to learn swimming ?

Ans : He decided to learn in a swimming pool at YMCA

iii) His mother warned him against swimming in the Yakima

River because many people had drowned there
iv) The author hated to walk naked to the pool as he had
(a) skinny arms (b) bony chest
(c) skinny legs (d) hairy legs

b) My introduction to the Y.M.C.A swimming pool revived unpleasant

memories and stirred childish fears . But in a little while I gathered
confidence .............Hi , skinny! How ‘d you like to be ducked? ”
i) What got revived in Dogulas ‘ memory at the introduction to the
Y.M.C.A swimming pool ?
Ans : the childhood fear of water got revived in the memory of Douglas.

ii) Who was with Douglas when mis- adventure at the YMCA pool
happened ?
Ans : Douglas was alone at that time .

iii) the boy who threw Douglas into the pool was about
a) twenty years old
b) eighteen years old
c) twenty one years old
 d) fifteen years old

iv) What was the title given to the boy by Douglas?

Ans : Douglas called him a beautiful physical specimen

2 Answer the following questions in 30 to 40 words

a) Why was the Y.M.C.A pool considered safe to learn swimming ?
Ans:Value points :
o YMCA pool was safe, only two or three feet deep at the shallow end, nine
feet deep at the other end, The drop was gradual close to his residence.
.
Detailed answer
Douglas preferred to go to the YMCA pool because it was safe as it was
only two to three feet deep at its shallow end and nine feet deep at the
other end and the drop was gradual . Whereas Yakima river was
treacherous and many cases of drowning had been reported.

b) What deep meaning did his experience at the YMCA swimming pool
have for Douglas ?
Ans : Value points
o Experience of fear and death and its conquest made him live intensely.
o Conquering fear made him realize true value of life and helped him
enjoy every moment of life.
o Learnt all we have to fear is fear itself.
o Made him more confident and determined..
Detailed answer
o After the experience , Douglas started fearing water. As and when he
tried to enter water stark fear would seize him. His legs would
become paralysed and icy terror would grab his heart . He could not
enjoy sports like canoeing , boating and swimming. This experience
of fear and death and its conquest made him live intensely.
o He realized the true value of life and finally learnt that all we have to
“fear is fear itself” Thus he came out of the fearas a confidentand
determined person.

c) Which two incidents in Douglas ‘ early life made him scared of water?
Ans: Value points
 His experience at the beach in California when he was a kid wave knocked
him down and swept over him.
 When he grew older a big boy pushed him and made him scared of
water.
 Ans: When he was a kid, he was knocked down by the waves at the
beach in California and then, at the YMCA pool, he was thrown
inside the pool by a young boy.

Both the incidences frightened him and made him scared of

water.

Q 2 Answer the following questions in about 125-150 words:

a) What misadventure did Douglas experience at the YMCA swimming

pool
Ans : The writer had to face an extremely traumatic experience at the
YMCA pool. He used to go there to learn swimming. The pool was two
feet at its shallow end and nine feet at its deep end. One day a strong boy
picked him up and threw him at the deepest part of the pool. He sank to
the bottom .But he decided to fight back. He thought of going down to
the bottom of the pool and the floor and jump up like a cork. He tried to
jump and come up gradually. But unfortunately, he could not succeed.
Thrice, he tried to jump up but he sank again. As fear had gripped him,
All his efforts went in vain. He was nearly drowned. He tried to breathe
but swallowed water .He lay there in complete peace without any
sensation or fear of death .But someone saved him.

b) Describe the efforts made by Douglas to save himself from drowning

in YMCA swimming pool
Ans Do it yourself

c) What was General’s plan to get rid of the American prisoner? Was it
executed ? What traits of the General’s character are highlighted in
the lesson “The Enemy”
Ans: The General plan to send his private assassins to kill the
American prisoner and to let his body be removed by the professional
killers. He told the doctor to keep the window of the soldier’s room
open so that assassins had no problem in entering his room and it would
look natural also . According to the General, his assassins knew the trick
of internal bleeding and no one would doubt the doctor.
No but it was not executed. Actually the general knew that if he would
 send his assassin to kill the enemy soldier in the doctor’s house then, the
incident would be open and Dr. Sadao might get arrested on the charge of
helping and sheltering an enemy soldier. This would put both the doctor and
the General in a fix because there was no other surgeon who could operate
upon the General except Dr. Sadao. So he didn’t want to put the doctor into
trouble. This shows that he was a self centered man who had neither
compassionate feelings towards the soldier nor any humanitarism feelings
towards the doctor. All he was concerned about himself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eI_zv4CYCM
L5 Indigo
by Louis Fischer

Q1 Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:

a) How did Rajkumar Shukla establish that he was resolute?

Ans: Rajkumar Shukla the Champaran :
Sharecropper requested Gandhiji at Congress Session in Lucknow
To fix a date to visit Champaran where the share croppers were being
subjected to injustice . Till Gandhiji fixed a date to go with him, he
did not leave him rather he accompanied him where ever he went .
Gandhiji was impressed by his tenacity and determination and finally
agreed to go there from Calcutta.

b) Why did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of mere 25 percent ?

Ans: Gandhiji agreed to a settlement of mere 25 percent compensation from
the British because he wanted them to part not only from money but
also from their prestiger.
c) Why did Gandhiji feel that taking the Champaran case to court was
useless?
Ans : Gandhiji went to Champaran to fight the case of the peasant. He
collected all the information there and reached a conclusion that it was
useless taking the Champaran case to the court. He found that
the peasants were getting justice as the case was against the British
landlords. He realised that making the peasant free from the fear of
British landlords was more important than fighting for them in court.

Q2 Answer the following questions in 100-150 words :

a) Why and how did Rajkumar Shukls persuade Gandhiji to visit
Champaran ?
Ans: Rajkumar Shukla was a share cropper from Champaran. He was
illiterate but resolute. He had come to congress session to complain
about the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar. He wanted
for several weeks. Gandhiji to come to Champaran district. He
accompanied Gandhiji wherever he went for several weeks .
ultimately Gandhiji asked him to meet in Calcutta .on an appointed
date and at a fixed spot.

b) Firm determination and resolution, aimed towards the positive track

of life, becomes a turning point. Discuss with reference to indigo ?
Ans: Persistent efforts firm determination and resolution lead a man
to attain the goal of his life. For this perseverance plays an
important role One must never lose the sight of one’s goal and keep
on moving ahead the with courage and resolution. Rajkumar Shukla
, an illiterate peasant, was determined to seek assistance from
Gandhiji in the matter of share cropping. He brought the plight of
The peasant of Champaran to the notice of Gandhiji . Gandhiji had
some other appointments but this did not deter Rajkumar from his
resolution and he followed Gandhiji wherever he went. Impressed
by his determination, Gandhiji fixed an appointment and kept it
also by reaching there on appointed date, He listened to the
grievances of the share croppers and started the Civil Disobedience
Movement. They came out victorious and the landlords gave back
their claims over their estates which reverted back to the farmers.
The firm determination of Rajkumar Shukla was a milestone in
achieving our independence. It was the beginning of birth of courage
and self reliance which , later assisted us to get our freedom.
L. 6 On The Face Of It
By Susan Hill

Q1 Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:

a) Who was Derry? What did he suffer from ?

Derry is a young boy who came to Mr. Lamb’s garden. One side of his
face had been burnt by acid.

b) Why does Derry tell Mr. Lamb that he is afraid of seeing himself in the
mirror in the story ‘ On the face of it” ?
Derry’s face is burnt with acid. Derry says that people are afraid of
him. They look at his face and find it terrible and ugly. So he says he
too is afraid of himself when he sees his face in the mirror.

c) What consolation did people give Derry when they saw his acid burnt
face?
People often asked him to look at those people who were in pain, are
brave ,never cry, never complain and don’t feel sorry for themselves . They
also asked him to think of those who were worse off. He was better off than
those people who were blind, born deaf, or are confined to wheel-chair, or
are crazy and dribble.

d) What changes took place in Derry when he met Mr. Lamb?

When Derry met Mr. Lamb , his perspective towards life and himself
changed. Derry had an acid burnt face due to which [people either used to
pity him or were scared of him. This had made Derry-bitter and he had
withdrawn into his own shell. He started avoiding meeting people talking
to them or being in anyone’s company. He had come to Mr. Lamb’s
garden thinking that it was an isolated place.
But Mr. Lamb made him see a different side of life. He told him what is
out is outside is not important rather we should focus on what is inside. He
made Derry see the beauty of life again. The sound of the rain, blossoming
trees, chirping birds, everything was beautiful around him. Derry realised
that it doesn’t matter how he looked. What matters is how he treats himself
and life. He became positive again.

Q2 Answer the following questions in 100-150 words :

a) What was Derry’s infirmity? How had it made him withdrawn and
defiant?
Derry’s face has been burnt by acid. He suffered from a tremendous sense
 of inferiority complex. He was always conscious of the fact that his face was curd
and ugly. As a result people were afraid of him and nobody would ever kiss him.
It made him withdrawn and defiant in the sense that he stopped
Trusting people . He always thought that if people were looking at him, then
They were passing derogatory remarks about him.

b) How did Mr. Lamb’s meeting with Derry become a turning point in
Derry’s life?
Derry is fourteen tears old boy with a face burnt by acid. Mr. Lamb serves
as an ideal person for Derry. Mr. Lamb has tin leg. But he never allows his
disability to sour the joys of life. Derry on the other hand makes himself
quite pitiable and miserable . His hyper sensitivity is like an open wound.
He can’t stand people staring at him. Even cruel and uncharitable remarks
upsets him . He can’t keep his years shut. Nor does he posses a large and
generous heart like that of Mr. Lamb. Children call him’ Lamey –Lamb”
but he does not mind it. He plays with them and gives them jellies and
toffees Derry has developed a perverted thinking.The worst is that Derry
distrust this world and its people. We find a change in Derry in the end. Mr.
Lamb’s ideas leave their imprint on him. He is free from that complex now.
He doesn’t care about his burnt face and it is no more important to him.
7 EVANS TRIES AN O- LEVEL
by Collin Dexter
Q1 Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:
a) According to the Governor, what kind of person was Evans?
Evans was also known as ‘ Evans the break’ as he had run away thrice
from the jail. He was considered a pleasant sort chap by the prison
authorities..He was good at imitations but was a congenital kleptomaniac.
He wanted to sit for the examination so as to use the opportunity to escape
from the prison.

b) What reasons did Evans give to keep his hat on his head ? What was
the actual reason ?
Evans said that he wanted to keep his hat on because it was lucky for him
It always brought luck to him. But the real reason was that he had cut his
hair to impersonate Macleery and he did not want the jail authourities
to know that.

c) What arrangements were made by the secretary of the Examination

Board and the Governor for the smooth conduct of the examination?
The secretary of the examination board said that he would send all the
forms and other material necessary for conducting the examination. The
examination would be held in the Evans ‘ cell.It was agreed to get one
person from st Mary Mag to invigilate.

Q2 Answer the following questions in 100-150 words :

a) What precautions were taken by the prison authorities for the

smooth conduct of examination ?
Evans the prisoner was famous as “ Evans , The Breaker “. So the prison
officers were quit alert while conducting the ‘O ‘ level exam and took all
the precautions to prevent him from escaping. First of all, it was requested
that the board should conduct the exam in the cell itself and the request
was accepted . Two prison officers Mr. Jackson and Mr. Stephen were
appointed to make all necessary arrangements . They took away his razor
as well as his nail- scissors so that he could not use them for any type of
injuries in the case of Mcleery, the invigilator . The cell was searched for
two hours and every objectionable thing was removed. Heavy security
arrangements were made in the cell. Stephen was given the charge of
staying there all the time to keep an eye on Evan and also to leave
McLerry at the gate when the exam was over.. The Governor was all the
time in touch with the officers. In case of any problem which might arise
hence , it was a fool proof plan on the part of prison officials. Even then
 Evan had the last laugh and escaped from the prison.

b) What purpose did the question paper and the correction slip serve?
How did they help both the criminals and the Governor?

The question paper serves to send a message to Evans. Mcleery draw the
Governor’s attention to the photocopied sheet superimposed over the last
sheet of the question paper. It contains a message for Evans . He had been
asked to follow the plan. The most important point in time, according to
the message is three minutes before the end of the examination.
The Governor is unable to decipher the next line of the German text.
Then, Evans has been asked not to hit McLeery too hard and not to
overdo the Scots accent.
MY MOTHER AT SIXTY SIX
By Kamla Das

Word- meanings
Sprinting = Running
Corpse = Dead body

Q1 Answer the following extract based questions :

a) Read the following lines and answer the questions that follows:
…….. I saw my mother,
beside me ,
doze , open mouthed , her face
ashen like that
of a corpse and realised with
pain…………
a) who is ‘I’ ?
Ans: Poet Kamla Das / poets / narrator / daughter
I here is Kamla das the poetess.

b) What did I realise with pain?

Ans : Realised with pain that mother nearing old age/ mom’s death
Separation from mother
D A she realised with pain that her mother had grown old. She feared thet
Her mother would not live long.

c) Why was realisation painful?

Ans : Value points
 Mother’s approaching death was a hard fact for her to accept.
 Thought of separation from her mother made the poet sad
DA :The realisation was painful because with it came the thought that
She might not live for a very long time.

 d) Identify and name the figure of speech used in these lines.

Ans : Value points
 simile
 ‘ ashen like that of a corpse’
b) Old familiar ache , my childhood’s fear ,
 but all I said was see you soon,
Amma , all I did was smile and smile and smile………

a) What does the phrase , familiar ache mean ?

Ans : pain, fear / pain that mother was growing old / fear of separation .
D A : It means that the sight of her mother revived the poet’s old, childhood
fear / pain of being separated from her old and sick mother due to her
aging and death.

b) What was the poet’s childhood fear ?

Ans : her mother would get old / die / final separation from mother.
DA : Her childhood fear was of being separated from her mother.

c)What do the first two lines tell us about the poet’s feelings for her
mother?
Ans : Loved her / pained at seeing her mother growing old / fear of
losing her mother.
Detailed answer :
The first two lines tells us that she wanted to console hrself with the thought
that her mother would be fine and she would meet her the next time as she
was pained to see the mother growing old.

d) What does the repeated use of the word ‘smile ‘ mean?

Ans: Value points Hides her feelings from her mother / reassures herself
that mother will be fine
Detailed answer:
The repeated use of the word ‘smile’ shows that in spite of her fear , the
poetess tried to keep a cheerful look to hide her feelings from her mother.

Q 2 Answer the following questions in 30 to 40 words:

a) How are the young trees described as ‘ sprinting’ ?

Ans: The young trees running spiritedly in the opposite direction stand in
sharp contrast to the poetess’s aged and pale looking mother. The trees
symbolizes youth and life, where as old mother represents old age and is
moving towards the grave. They symbolize the quick passage of time that
has brought old age to her.

b) Why has the mother been compared to the late winter moon ‘?
 Ans: The mother has been compared to the ‘ late winter moon ‘ because
she has become pale like the moon in the winter. She is dull and lifeless.

c) What is the significance of parting words of the poetess and her smile
in ‘My Mother At the Age Of Sixty-six ‘?
Ans : Value points :
 Optimism
 A hope to see her mother again
 Reassuring her mother
 Hiding her anxiety and fear
 Emotions hidden behind the smile
 True feeling of lose and pain of separation
Detailed answer:
The poetess’s parting words signify hope and a promise of meeting her
mother again . She wants to leave a smiling face behind for her mother, so
as not to let her mother know about her feeling and emotions towards her.

Q 3 Answer the following questions in 100 to 150 words

a) Give the theme of ‘ Kamla Das’ poem ‘My Mother at Sixty-six’
Ans : The mother of the poetess is not very old . She is sixty-six .But due to
her illness or so she looked pale and ash coloured like a dead body.
The poetess is in a hurry to catch her flight. She is deeply conserved about
Her aged mother. She is not sure that she will find

b) What are the main ideas combined in the poem ‘My Mother at Sixty-
six’
Ans : In this poem the poetess specifies how her mother looks at the age of
sixty-six She also spells her pain on seeing her in such a deteriorating
condition. It was the morning of her last Friday at home when she looked at
her mother while driving to the airport. The poetess was not only pained but
shocked to see her sleeping with her mouth open. She became all the more
troubled when she looked pale , shrunken and weathered like a corpse . To
distract herself from this thought of pain and trouble , she looked outside
and saw young trees and children . She realised in them life, vigour and
vitality.
Then at the airport’s security check. The same kind oldness was visible on
her pale body. She compared her to the late winter’s moon and realised that
it was due to old age. The poetess smile at her to see her again and took
 leave of her. The poem exemplified the pain inflicted by old age and
separation

Poetic devices :
Simile
“ .......... face ashen like that of a corpse
……… pale as a late

Personification
“ Young trees sprinting “

Metaphor
“ merry children spilling out”

Irony
The green trees racing ( inanimate) while the mother like a corpse ”

Contrast
“ The world replete with activity contrasted with the near lifeless
mother”

Tautology
“ I looked at her again at her , wan, pale”

Repetition
“Smile and smile and smile ..... ”
L 2 AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CLASSROOM IN A SLUM
Stephen Spender

Q1 Read the given extract and answer the question that follows:
A] Far far from gusty waves these children’s fatless weeds,
Like rootless weeds the hair torn round their pallor,
The tall girl with her weighed-down head.
a) Who are these children?
Ans: These children are from deprived and poor sections of the society.

b) What has possibly weighed –down the tall girl‘s head?

Ans: The tall girl is probably undernourished as well as unconfident.

c) Which is the figure of speech used in the first two lines?

Ans: Simile (like rootless weeds) and Alliteration (far from)

d) What does the word ‘pallor’ mean?

Ans: The word ‘pallor’ means ‘unhealthy pale faces’.

B] At back of the dim class

One un-noted, sweet and young, his eyes live in a dream
Of squirrel’s game, in tree room, other than this,
a) Why was the class dim?
Ans: The class is dim because it is a classroom in slum, which is not well-
lit or maintained properly.

b) What was he doing?

Ans: The young child is different as he is does not seem burdened by the
poverty around him, while the other children. He seem happy and his eyes
are hopeful of a better world.
c) How is the young child different from others?

Ans: The young child is not paying attention in class. Instead, he is looking

out, watching a squirrel play, and wishing he too was out.

 d) What is a tree room?

Ans: A tree room is a small hole in the tree in which the squirrel may live or

play.

 Answer the following questions in 30 – 40 words:

1) How is the atmosphere inside an elementary slum classroom
different from the one outside it?

The children sitting inside the elementary classroom are sick and under-
nourished. The atmosphere and surroundings are pale and morose. The
world outside is filled with beauty and luxuries.

2) How does the poem, ‘An Elementary School: Classroom in a Slum’

portray the children?

The poem portrays the children in a very pathetic manner. They are
undernourished and diseased. The poet compares their unkempt and dull hair
to rootless weeds. One of the girls is sitting with her head weighed down
probably burdened with the miseries of poverty. A boy had inherited his
father’s diseases and another was sitting unnoticed with a yearning to play
outside.

3) To whom does the poet in the poem “An Elementary School

Classroom in a Slum” make an appeal? What is his appeal?

The poet makes an appeal to the governor, inspector and visitors. He appeals
to them to come to the rescue of the slum children, to take them out of the
slum and show them the outside world and save them from their miserable
condition.

 Answer the following questions in 100 – 120 words:

1) What message does Stephen Spender convey through the poem?
The theme of Spender’s poem is to highlight the plight of the slum children.
Their dark homes and neglected schools are like tombs for them. They are
far away from the sunshine of knowledge and a normal civilised life. They
need to be removed from their unhealthy surroundings. The poem reflects
the rage of the poet against the sub-human conditions of millions of slum
children.
L5 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers by Adrienne Rich
Q1 Answer the following extract based questions :

a) Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,

Bright Topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

i) Why are the tigers called ‘Aunt Jennifer’s tigers ?

Ans:They are called Aunt Jennifers tigers because it is she who is
embroidering them and they are a reflection of her suppressed
wishes.

ii) What does the phrase , ‘a world of green’ mean?

Ans : “A world of green” means forest

iii) How are the tigers different from their creator?

Ans: The tigers are different from their creator because they are strong,
free and confident while their creator is weak and fearful.

iv) Why are tigers not afraid of the men beneath the tree ?
Ans: The tigers are not afraid of men beneath the tree because they are
powerful and strong.

b) Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.

They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

i) How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers described ?

Ans : Aunt Jennifer’s tigers have been described as golden yellow in
colour . They are bold and fearless.

ii) Who are they and where are they ?

Ans: “ They refer to the tigers which aunt Jennifer made with
wool. They are in the scenery that aunt Jennifer made with wool.

iii) Why are they not afraid of men ?

Ans. They i.e. tigers are not afraid of men as they are strong and
powerful in their natural habitat, where they dominate.

iv) Why are they described as denizens of a world of green ?

 Ans: They have been described as denizens of a world of green
because they live in dense green forest.

Q2 Answer the following questions in 30-40 words :

a) Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different
from her own character?
Ans: Aunt Jennifers tigers were different from her because she herself
was a timid lady whereas her tigers were symbolic of bravery, courage
and fearlessness . They stand for power , strength and confidence which
she lacks in herself.
Aunt Jennifer created animals , i.e , tigers which were very different from
her own docile character because they represented the fearlessness and
freedom which she was deprived of. They also represent her secret
longing to live a brave and fearless life like them.

b) How does Aunt Jennifer express her bitterness and anger against male
domination ?
Ans :Aunt Jennifer expresses her bitterness through her art by knitting
tigers on the panel which symbolises freedom , strength and chivalry.

c) How do words, ‘ denizens’ and ‘chivalic’ add to our understanding of

Aunt Jennifer’s tigers ?
Ans: Tigers live in forests as free as air. They are known for their
strength and fearlessness. These two words ‘ denizens’ and ‘chivalic’
reveal the true status and attitudes of these wild cats.

Q3 Answer the following questions in 100-140 words :

a) Write the sum and the substance of the poem “ Aunt Jennifer”?
Ans: This poem is based on the points showing bravery and facing the ordeals
like a knight. We should be courageous enough to face our troubles. Aunt Jennifer
has created tigers that are different from her character. They are roaming boldly in
the forest without caring for men They step their with chivalric certainty. The
massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band is hard to bear by Aunt Jennifer. Her
fingers are moving through her wool and she is tormented as well as her mind is
troubled very much. Her hands are terrified and are only ringed with ordeals
which she has mastered. Even then the tigers which have been created in her
panel are stepping proudly and unafraid.

b) What is the role played by the tigers in the poem “Aunt Jennifer?”
Ans:In this poem tigers are symbol of bravery, fearlessness and self confidence.
Aunt Jennifer is a timid woman who could never stand up boldly against her tyrant
husband. She too wished to be as fierce, strong and free as the tigers. The tigers roam
fearlessly in the forest just like knights. Being the inhabitants of the forests, they are
 accustomed to their surroundings. They have no fear of the people sitting under the
tree. Aunt Jennifer expresses her heart-felt resentment through the tigers. The tigers
stand for all that she longs for. It is ironic that she will be living a life in awe of her
husband, fearful all through her life, while the tigers she has embroidered on the
panel,will outlive bluntly ,confidently and intrepidly proclaiming their freedom.

SUPPLEMENTARY
L 1 The Third Level
by Jack Finney

Q 1 Answer the following questions in 30 – 40 words:

A ) Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for
Charley? Why?
Yes, I think the third level was a medium of escape for Charley. He had a
strange day-dream wish to escape from his present worries. He wanted to
escape into the past. He believed that in the old days, life was peaceful.
People in his grandfather’s time lived a carefree life. All those charms were
lost. The present day world is full of worries, wars, tension and haste.
Charley was always lost in his own thoughts. He was unaware of his
surroundings. One day he found himself in the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel
and some other time he came up in an office building. Another day, he
reached the third level.

1) What did the psychiatrist think when Charley told him about the
third level?
There were only two levels at the Grand Central Station. When Charley told
the psychiatrist that he had been to the third level, he believed that Charley
was day-dreaming. He was trying to escape from the worries and tensions of
the present day world.

2) ‘The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress’.
What are the ways in which we attempt to overcome them?
The past has always been alluring. Men always believe that the past was
pleasant, without haste and worries. People lived carefree lives. So, we try to
escape from the present realities to the imaginary past. We do so in different
ways. But it is our imagination that pays the major role. We right or read
charming stories about the past. Sometimes we read stories of love and
adventure. Some people pursue some hobbies like music, stamp collecting,
 painting, reading religious scriptures.
 Answer the following question in 100 – 120 words:
1) Philately helps in keeping the past alive. Discuss other ways in which
this is done. What do you think of human tendency to constantly
move between the past, the present and the future?
 Man has always been interested in the past. He looks back and is
eager to know how life was like in old times. Not only the past of
 mankind, but even the distant past of the earth is alluring. Scientists
spend fortunes and precious years of their lives to look for fossils to
reconstruct the conditions under which those extinct animals lived.
Pyramids are ransacked to learn about pharaohs and their times. We
preserve ancient monuments to keep the past alive. Our history books
tell us about lost civilisations. Coins, pottery, artifacts, statues,
temples and other things tell us about the past. These are preserved
and displayed in museums. Man is seldom satisfied with the present.
So, he looks ‘before and after’.
2) Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story?
 Imagination of people like H. G. Wells ran riot. He believed that it
was possible to travel in time as we can travel in space. He thought
that a machine could be invented that could carry us back into the past
or the future. If we went into the past, we would find the place
different from what it looks like today. Sam, for example, travelled to
Galesburg which was not like as it is today but as it was in 1890s.
Similarly, when Charley reached the third level, everything was as it
was in 1894. The ticket-booth, the men there, people with sideburns,
women dressed in old fashioned garments, the naked flames and even
the currency notes were of 1894. There is indeed an intersection of
time and space.
Reading
I Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. Air pollution is an issue which concerns us all alike. One can willingly choose or reject a food, a drink
or a life comfort, but unfortunately there is little choice for the air we breathe. All, what is there in the air
is inhaled by one and all living in those surroundings.

2. Air pollutant is defined as a substance which is present while normally it is not there or present in an
amount exceeding the normal concentrations. It could either be gaseous or a particulate matter. The
important and harmful polluting gases are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone and oxides of sulphur
and nitrogen. The common particulate pollutants are the dusts of various inorganic or organic origins.
Although we often talk of the outdoor air pollution caused by industrial and vehicular exhausts, the indoor
pollution may prove to be as or a more important cause of health problems.

3. Recognition of air pollution is relatively recent. It is not uncommon to experience a feeling of

‘suffocation’ in a closed environment. It is often ascribed to the lack of oxygen. Fortunately, however, the
composition of air is remarkably constant all over the world. There is about 79 per cent nitrogen and 21
per cent oxygen in the air the other gases forming a very small fraction. It is true that carbon dioxide
exhaled out of lungs may accumulate in a closed and overcrowded place. But such an increase is usually
small and temporary unless the room is really airtight. Exposure to poisonous gases such as carbon
monoxide may occur in a closed room, heated by burning coal inside. This may also prove to be fatal.

4. What is more common in a poorly ventilated home is a vague constellation of symptoms described as
the sick building syndrome. It is characterized by a general feeling of malaise, headache, diiiiness and
irritation of mucous membranes. It may also be accompanied by nausea, itching, aches, pains and
depression. Sick building syndrome is getting commoner in big cities with the small houses, which are
generally over furnished. Some of the important pollutants whose indoor concentrations exceed those of
the outdoors include gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and organic
substances like spores, formaldehydes, hydrocarbon aerosols and allergens. The sources are attributed to a
variety of construction materials, insulations, furnishings, adhesives, cosmetics, house dusts, fungi and
other indoor products.

5. Byproducts of fuel combustion are important in houses with indoor kitchens. It is not only the burning
of dried dung and fuel wood which is responsible, but also kerosene and liquid petroleum gas. Oxides of
both nitrogen and sulphur are released from their combustion.

6. Smoking of tobacco in the closed environment is an important source of indoor pollution. It may not be
high quantitatively, but significantly hazardous for health. It is because of the fact that there are over 3,000
chemical constituents in tobacco smoke, which have been identified. These are harmful for human health.

7. Microorganisms and allergens are of special significance in the causation and spread of diseases. Most
of the infective illnesses may involve more persons of a family living in common indoor environment.
These include viral and bacterial diseases like tuberculosis.

8. Besides infections, allergic and hypersensitivity disorders are spreading fast. Although asthma is the
most common form of respiratory allergic disorders, pneumonias are not uncommon, but more persistent
and serious. These are attributed to exposures to allergens from various fungi, moulds, hay and other
organic materials. Indoor air ventilation systems, coolers, air conditioners, dampness, decay, pet animals,
production or handling of the causative items are responsible for these hypersensitivity diseases.

9. Obviously, the spectrum of pollution is very wide and our options are limited. Indoor pollution may be
handled relatively easily by an individual. Moreover, the good work must start from one’s own house.
(Extracted from The Tribune)

(a)
(i) What is an air pollutant? 1
(ii) In what forms are the air pollutants present? 2
(iii) Why do we feel suffocated in a closed environment? 1
(iv) What is sick building syndrome? How is it increasing? 2
(v) How is indoor smoking very hazardous? 1
(vi) How can one overcome the dangers of indoor air pollution? 2
Answer:
(i) An air pollutant is a substance which is present while normally it is not there in an amount exceeding
the normal , concentrations.
(ii) Air pollutants are present as gaseous or particulate matter. The harmful polluting gases are carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone and oxides of sulphur and nitrogen. The common particulate pollutants
are the dusts of various inorganic or organic origins.
(iii) We often feel suffocated in a closed environment due to the lack of oxygen.
(iv) Sick building syndrome is a vague constellation of symptoms in a poorly ventilated room. Sick
building syndrome is characterized by a general feeling of malaise, headache, diiiiness and irritation of
mucous membranes. It may also be accompanied by nausea, itching, aches, pains and depression. This
syndrome is increasing in big cities which have an increasing number of small houses which are generally
over furnished.
(v) Indoor smoking is very hazardous because over 3,000 chemical consiiiuents are present in tobacco
smoke and these are harmful for human health.

vi) The dangers of indoor pollution can be avoided through well ventilated houses and improving greenery
around houses. Also, it can be avoided by not smoking tobacco inside houses and by not burning coal
inside closed rooms.

(b) Find the words from the above passage which mean the same as the following: 3
(i) giddiness (para 4)
(ii) constant (para 8)
(iii) humidity (para 8)
Answer:
(i) diiiiness
(ii) persistent
(iii) dampness

NOTICE WRITING

Q 1 You are Secretary of the History Club of PUNA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL. Draft a notice in not
more than 50 words informing students of a proposed visit to some important historical sites in your city.
Answer
PUNA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
History Club
As Sports Secretary of G.D.G. Public School,
Notice Pune, draft notice in not more than 50 words for
your
22nd school notice
September, board informing the students about the sale of old sports goods of your
20xx
school. You are Rohini/Rohit. (Delhi 2010) .
Visit Historical Sites
Secretary
Members of the club are hereby informed of a proposed educational visit to a few important
History Club
historical sites in our city which is likely to be scheduled between the 28th and the 30th of
Sep. Interested members are required to pay ? 550 (inclusive of transport and snacks)
during the zero periods to the undersigned by the 25th of September.

Secretary
ADVERTISEMENTS
History Club
INVITATIONS

Q 2 As Sports Secretary of G.D.G. Public School, Pune, draft notice in not more than 50 words for
your school notice board informing the students about the sale of old sportsgoods of our school. You
are Rohini / Rohit

G.D.G. Public School

Pune
Notice

29th July, 20xx

Sale of Old Spoils Goods

Students are hereby informed that our school is organising a sale of its old sports goods like
cricket bats, badminton & lawn teams rackets, footballs, cricket & football gear etc. in the
P.E. Room on 2K1 August, 2Oxx. Those interested in purchasing these can visit the P.E.
Room on the assigned date during their free periods or recess time.

Rohit
Sports Secretary.

ADVERTISEMENTS
Question 1
You are Mansi of 10, Rajaji Nagar,Rajkot. You want a Maths teacher for your son who is a class 10 student. Draft a
suitable advertisement in not more than 50 words stating your requirements.
Answer

Wanted

An experienced male Maths teacher as a private tutor for an Xth standard boy. Candidate
should have at least 10 years experience of teaching Maths in a public school. He should be a
strict disciplinarian to be able to deal with the student on a stern note. Remuneration no
constraint for the right candidate. Apply with complete details to Mansi, 10, Rajaji Nagar,
Rajkot

Question 2

You want to sell your newly built flat. Draft a suitable advertisement in not more than 50 words to be
inserted in the classified columns of ‘The Hindu’ giving all necessary details. You are Nirav, 247, J.P.
Nagar, Banaskantha.

Answer:
New flat for sale

Newly built, ideally located flat for sale on M.G. Road. Two bedrooms with attached
toilets, huge drawing-cum-dining and servant room, spacious and well-lit. Barely 10
minutes drive from the airport. In close vicinity of reputed schools and multi-speciality
hospital. Expected price: ?25 lacs. Contact Nirav, 247, J.P. Nagar, Banaskantha.

Reports
Recently your school held a Seminar on Conservation of Water as a part of World Water Day celebrations. As the
School Pupil Leader of Maryland School, Surat, write a report in 100-125 words for a local daily. Sign as
Pritham/Prisha.
Answer:
Seminar On Water Conservation
By: Prisha
Maryland School,

Gurgaon 16th March, 20xx, Surat: Our school organized a seminar on ‘Water Conservation’ as part of the
World Water Day Celebrations on 13th August, 20xx. The main aim of this seminar was to remind us all
about the need to save the government and the non-governmental organisations in providing help water as
it is a precious source imperative for our survival.

distinguished environmentalists and eminent personalities were our guest speakers and they reiterated the need not
only of conserving water but also spoke at length on how to conserve water by stressing upon the fact that each drop
of water is precious. Dr. Yashraj, an eminent environmentalist, suggested rain-water harvesting as one of the best
ways to conserve water.
Using visual aids to highlight his discourse, he suggested that to ensure availability of water for the future
generations the withdrawal of fresh water from an ecosystem should not exceed its natural replacement
rate. The seminar concluded on the note that water conservation is the most cost-effective,
environmentally sound way to reduce our demand for water and so each one of us must do our bit towards
improving water management to enhance optimum use of water.

Question 2

Your school organized an exhibition-cum-sale of the items prepared under Work Experience Certificate by
your school students. There was an overwhelming response from the public. Prepare a report in 100-125
words for a local daily. You are the Coordinator, S.U.P.W. activities, Udgam School,Ahmedabad

Answer:.

An Exhibition-Cum-Sale
By: ABC, Coordinator, SUPW Activities
Udgam School, Ahmdabad

3rd Aug. 20xx, Ahmedabad Our school organised an exhibition-cum-sale of items prepared under Work
Experience by our students on the 31st of July in the school lawns. It was heartening to see the
overwhelming response our endeavour got from not only the parents but also from the general public who
showed a lot of interest in the items made by the students. A wide array of items such as candles, greeting
cards, jewellery boxes, wooden handicrafts had been prepared by talented students.

The students were really encouraged by the positive feedback they got from everyone present. Our
principal too was personally present there all the time interacting with everyone. He appreciated the
students’ hard work and creativity and announced that the money collected from the sale of items would
be donated to an old-age home in the vicinity of our school. Our principal also decided that such initiatives
would be taken up by our school more frequently to motivate the creative students and to help a noble
cause.

Question 2

Your state government has banned the use of plastic bags. Your are Amarjeet, a reporter of The National
Herald. Write a report in 100-125 words on how the ban is being ignored and what damage the
indiscriminate use of plastic bags in causing to the environment.

Environment Unfriendly Polybags

By: Amarjeet, Staff Reporter
The National Herald

In the year 2002 the government had banned the production and use of plastic bags in our country. But
unfortunately, these are now being widely used again everywhere. Not only are we using a huge number
of polybags daily but we are also discarding them in our drains uncaring about the fact that they will block
the flow of drain water. Polybags are also a threat to our environment. They cause pollution, kill wildlife
and are responsible for using up the natural resources of the earth. They are one of the main factors that
litter the landscape. If burnt, they will infuse the surrounding air with toxic fumes.
ARTICLE S

Question 1

In many parts of our country girls are still discouraged from going to school. Consequently, a sizable
section of the population is deprived of education. Schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, CBSE
scholarship to the single girl child and the Government’s policy of giving free education to girls have
come as a boon to our society. Write an article in 150-200 words on the education of the girl child in the
country.

Answer:

Education Of The Girl

Child In The Country

Education of girls has been a high priority with the Government of India. In the new millennium, India has
consolidated its earlier educational reforms with increased resources and stronger policy commitments for
achieving elementary education, particularly for girls. Reaching out to the girl child is primary to the
efforts to universalise elementary education. ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ or ‘Education For All’ programme
recognizes that ensuring the education of the girl child requires changes not only in the education system
but also in society’s norms and attitudes.

A two-pronged gender strategy has hence been adopted to make the educational system responsive to the
needs of the girls through targeted interventions which serve as a pull-factor to enhance access and
retention of girls in schools on the one hand and generate community demand for girls’ education through
training and mobilisation on the other hand. The CBSE has also come up with the novel scheme of
providing free education from the sixth standard onwards to the single girl child. The need of the times is
that the government should further improve the educational infrastructure and make it more accessible and
meaningful for the girl child.

Question 2

Advertisements have become a big business. They are promoted by celebrities drawn from various fields
like films, sports, etc., leaving their influence on all people specially the young. Write an article in 150-
200 words on ‘The Impact of Advertisements on the younger generation’.

Answer:

Impact Of Advertisements On
The Younger Generation

The advertisement industry has a tremendous impact on the younger generation. As citizens of the modern
world, advertisements have become a part of the daily lives of youngsters and they have got used to being
bombarded with numerous advertisements over the course of their day.
Advertisements have become so common for them that they often do not even realize that they are hearing
or viewing them. So they have a pervasive influence on the youth. In the ever-expanding world of
consumerism and advertising, companies are constantly looking for new ways to sell their products to the
youngsters by making their commercials and campaigns more memorable, to leave an impact on their
minds. The younger generation has become their prime target because they have more spending power

Question 3

The present-day youth are greatly stressed due to cut-throat competition and consumerist culture. Write an
article in 150-200 words on the causes of the stress on the modem generation suggesting suitable
solutions.

Answer

Causes Of Stress On
The Modern Generation

The main cause of stress on the modern generation is the cut-throat competition and consumerist culture
prevalent in our society. This always puts them under pressure of efficiency and productivity. The modern
environment is highly competitive and calls for relentless effort on the part of each youngster. To achieve
the goals they have to devote all their time and capacity, without rest. So they have no time to care even
for their own selves. They have no time for relaxing or to pursue something of their own interest sounds
like a luxury to them. The effects of this stress on the youth also visible in their physical being whereby
they have increased pulses and a lot of tension in their muscles.

With increased professionalism and specialization there seems no practical and suitable solution for this
stress due to the competition. In this age of consumerism, it is not surprising that the youth of today are
also constantly vying to outdo each other in acquiring material things. But now it is high time each one of
us sat back in quiet introspection to contemplate where we are actually heading in this high-speed pace.
Our health and well-being will have to be our primary concern for, as they say, “a healthy mind lies in a
healthy body”. Let us stop living like robots. We are humans and have to behave likewise and not like
machines which are our own creation.
Letter to the editor

Question 1
SAF Public School, Chandigarh is planning to take a group of 40 senior students to Shimla on an
excursion during the summer vacation. Mr. Mohan Das, the teacher-in-charge of ‘Excursions & Field
Trips’, writes a letter to Tours & Travels, Chandigarh asking them to organize the tour. Write this letter
giving details of preference such as dates of journey, transport, accommodation, etc.
Answer:
SAF Public School
Chandigarh
18th April, 20xx
The Manager
jj Tours & Travels
Sector 40-C
Chandigarh
Subject: To organise an excursion to Shimla for 40 students
Sir/Maam,
We are a group of 40 senior students and 5 teachers who are planning a five-day excursion to Shimla
during our summer vacations. We would like your travel company to organise this trip for us. Our
preferred dates for this trip are between the 20th and 30th of May. We would like to travel by the toy train
to Shimla and rely upon your company’s expertise to book decent accommodation for us on a twin-sharing
basis in a hotel on the main Mall Road. The cost of the trip should not exceed? 8,000 per student with
boarding and lodging. I would appreciate a fast response from your end giving us the details and an
itinerary for our trip.
Looking forward to your early response.

Yours sincerely
Mohan Das

Question 2

Read the advertisement given below and write a letter applying for the job. Also give your detailed resume to be
sent along with the letter. You are Praveen Kumar of 95 HAL Colony, Bengaluru. (Delhi 2009)

Situations Vacant

Wanted Post Graduate Teacher in English to teach Senior Secondary Classes in a reputed school in Bengaluru.
Candidates should have a minimum of three years of teaching experience. Apply to Box No. 178, C/o ‘The Deccan
Herald’, Bengaluru 500 015.

Answer:
95, HAL Colony
M.G. Road
Bengaluru
11th june, 20xx
The Advertiser
Box No. 178
C/ o The Deccan Herald
Bengaluru 500 015

Subject: Application for the Post of P.G. Teacher in English

Sir,

This is in response to your advertisement in ‘The Deccan Herald’ dated 9thune, 20xx for the post of PGT in English
for your institution. I wish to apply for the same.

Attached herewith is my brief resume and I would be too happy if I am considered for the above-mentioned post in
your school.

ours sincerely
Praveen Kumar

If my particulars suit your requirement, I will be happy to come for a personal interview as per your schedule.
Praveen Kumar

Question 3

You are Indu, a student of Class XII living at 131, Hans Apartments, Agra. You are interested in pursuing
a course in journalism. Write a letter in response to an advertisement issued by the Asian Institute of
journalism, Delhi in a national daily, seeking information about suitable courses, eligibility, fee structure
and placement opportunities.
Do it yourself

Invitation

Question 1

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

Question 2
The literary club of your school is putting up the play ‘Waiting for Godot’. As secretary of the club,
draft an invitation inviting the famous writer Sudeesh Gupta to be the guest of honour at the
function. Write the invitation in not more than 50 words. You are Govind/ Gauri.
Question 3 Informal Letter
Write a letter to your friend inviting him on the house-warming-ceremony of your newly
constructed house.
Answer:

27, Urban Estate

Sector 15
Karnal
25 July, 20XX
Dear Vineet
I invite you at the house-warming-ceremony of our newly constructed house in Urban Estate. The
‘hawan’ ceremony is at 10 a.m. It will be followed by lunch at 1.00 p.m. Kindly do join us on this
auspicious day. I’ll introduce you to my parents and close relatives.

Yours sincerely
Arun Gulati