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English All Important Ques

The document consists of extract-based questions and answers related to three literary works: 'Letter to God,' 'Nelson Mandela,' and 'His First Flight.' It explores themes such as faith, hope, and the struggle for freedom, highlighting characters' emotions and actions in response to their circumstances. The questions encourage critical thinking about the characters' motivations and the societal issues they face.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
11 views279 pages

English All Important Ques

The document consists of extract-based questions and answers related to three literary works: 'Letter to God,' 'Nelson Mandela,' and 'His First Flight.' It explores themes such as faith, hope, and the struggle for freedom, highlighting characters' emotions and actions in response to their circumstances. The questions encourage critical thinking about the characters' motivations and the societal issues they face.

Uploaded by

f7664834
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LETTER TO GOD

Extract-Based Questions.
1. The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of
feeling the rain on his body, and when he returned he exclaimed,
―These aren‘t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The
big drops are ten-cent pieces and the little ones are five‘s.
Questions:
a. Who is the person described here?
Ans: Lencho, the farmer is described here.
b. Why did he go out in the rain?
Ans: He went out in the rain to feel the happiness of rain on his
body.
c. Why were the raindrops like new coins for Lencho?
Ans: Lencho thought that the raindrops would help him get a good
harvest and thus he can earn money. So the raindrops were like new
coins for Lencho.
d. How did raindrops bring disaster to his crops?
Ans: The raindrops soon turned into a hailstorm destroyed his crops
and ruined his hopes.
2. With a satisfied expression, he regarded the field of ripe
corn with its flowers, draped in a curtain of rain. But
suddenly a strong wind began to blow and along with the rain
very large hailstones began to fall. These truly did resemble
new silver coins. The boys exposing themselves to rain, ran
out to collect the frozen pearls. exposing themselves to rain,
ran out to collect the frozen pearls. Questions:
a) Why was Lencho satisfied? Ans: He was satisfied because his
fields got good rains. b) What does he compare the raindrops
to? Ans: He compared them to coins. c) What do the frozen
pearls‘ refer to? Ans: The frozen pearls refer to hail stones. d)
Trace the word in the passage that means covered with. Ans.
draped

Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)


1. What are the raindrops compared to and why?
Answer: Lencho observed the raindrops, likening them to freshly
minted coins. This analogy stemmed from the crucial need for rain
in his crops. As the rain fell in drops, Lencho perceived it as a
form of currency. To him, a bountiful crop equated to financial
prosperity, transforming the crops into a monetary
representation. Hence, he drew a comparison between the rain-
soaked fields and valuable coins.
2. All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one
hope. What was it? How did he think of it?
Answer: Lencho couldn't sleep all night. Hailstones wrecked his
crops, causing a lot of damage.
His only hope was in God. He believed that God saw everything and
trusted that things would get better. This hope helped him face
the loss of his crops. Lencho thought that even though his crops
were ruined, no one would go hungry. He believed in staying
positive, even when everything seemed lost.
3. What did Lencho do to face the sadness caused by the
destruction of the crop?
Answer: Lencho encountered a serious problem that could lead to
his family starving. In this crisis, he turned to his faith in God,
believing in a higher power that sees all. Worried that his family
might not survive, he felt desperate for help against hunger. To
seek assistance, he resolved to write a letter to God, appealing for
help to save and uplift his family from the sorrow they faced.
4. How did the postman and the postmaster react to
Lencho's letter to God?
Answer: The postman was taken aback by the unusual sight of
Lencho's letter addressed to God. Such a thing had never crossed
his path before; no one had ever sent a letter to God. Intrigued, he
decided to read Lencho's letter and found it amusing. Amused by
the content, he shared the letter with the postmaster. The
postmaster, too, was surprised by Lencho's unwavering faith in God,
finding himself inspired and wishing he could cultivate a similar faith
in his own life.
5. How did Lencho react when he counted the money? What
did he do thereafter?
Answer: Lencho never expected that God would send him
insufficient money, and frustration took hold when he tallied the
amount. Angrily, he approached the window, requesting paper and
ink. With furrowed brows, he penned another letter to God,
expressing his discontent and filing a complaint against the officials.
6. What did Lencho write in his second letter to God?
Answer: Furious, Lencho resolved to compose another letter to
God. In this second letter, he detailed the shortfall in the
money he received. Despite requesting a hundred pesos, he
received only seventy pesos. Lencho urged God to send the
remaining amount but insisted it not be sent through the mail,
citing his distrust for the post office employees whom he
regarded as dishonest.

7. Were the post office employees really the crooks?


Answer: The post office employees were far from being dishonest;
in fact, they were genuinely kind individuals who diligently collected
the money for Lencho. They were compassionate and supportive,
with no intention of undermining Lencho's faith in God. Despite their
good intentions, Lencho, with his simple and naive mindset, labeled
them as crooks. This characterization stemmed from his unwavering
and unquestioning faith in God, rather than any actual wrongdoing on
the part of the postal workers.

8. What did the postmaster need to answer the letter?


How did he collect it?
Answer: The postmaster, a benevolent man, marveled at Lencho's
unwavering faith in God. Rather than disrupting it, he admired it
and wished he possessed a similar faith. Curious about Lencho's
letter, he opened it and decided to respond. However, realizing
that goodwill alone wouldn't suffice, the postmaster felt
compelled to fulfill Lencho's request for money. Seeking
assistance from his employees and contributing a portion of his
salary, he endeavored to collect the hundred pesos Lencho sought.
Unfortunately, he could only gather seventy pesos, which he
promptly sent to Lencho.
9. "But don't send it to me through the mail, because the post-
office employees are a bunch of crooks". Why did Lencho say so?
What is your impression of the post- office employees?
Answer: In his lack of awareness, Lencho made these remarks,
unaware that human kindness could rival that of God. Initially
turning to God in his appeal for financial help, Lencho received
money that fell short of his request. Convinced that God, being
neither poor nor miserly, couldn't be the source of the
shortfall, Lencho suspected the post office employees of taking
the money, dubbing them a "bunch of crooks." In my
perspective, the post office employees were genuinely
benevolent. Their intention was solely to assist Lencho, and they
were even willing to attribute the credit to God. Despite their
good deeds, they found themselves subjected to undeserved
criticism and abuse.
10. How do you think the postmaster felt when he received
Lencho's second letter? What do you think he did? Answer:
Surprised by Lencho's response, the postmaster could have found it
amusing. Rather than being offended, he might have been pleased with
Lencho's strong faith in God. Appreciating Lencho's simplicity, the
postmaster, a kind-hearted person, could have joyfully sought
contributions from friends to fulfill the thirty- peso shortfall,
expressing his wish for a faith like Lencho's.
NELSON MANDELA

Extract-Based Questions.
1. Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land
will again experience the oppression of one by another. The sun shall
never set on so glorious a human achievement‘
Q/A:
a) Who is the speaker?
Answere: The speaker is Nelson Mandela
b) Which is the beautiful land the speaker refers to here?
Answere: The beautiful land in South Africa
c) What is the glorious human achievement‘ that the speaker
talks about in the extract?
Answer: The freedom that people of South Africa have
attained freedom after the fight against apartheid‘/the first
democratic non-racial government.
2. ‘It is from these comrades in the struggle that I learned the
meaning of courage. Time and again, I have seen men and women
risk and give their lives for an idea. I have seen men stand up to
attacks and torture without breaking, showing a strength and
resilience that defies the imagination. I learned that courage
was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.‘
Q/A:
i) Who learned the meaning of courage? Answer: Nelson Mandela
ii) What has he seen again and again? Answer: He has seen men
and women risk and give their life for the idea of freedom, again
and again iii) What has he noticed (seen) about the people?
Answer: He has seen men stand up to attacks and torture showing
strength and resilience.

Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)


1. What did Nelson Mandela remember on the day of the
inaugural ceremony? (2020)
Answer: On the inaugural day, Nelson Mandela felt the weight of
history as he reflected on the birth of apartheid, its impact on his
people, and the prolonged struggle for freedom against racial
discrimination. He recalled the sacrifices of past freedom fighters
and the eventual triumph that replaced the oppressive system with
one recognizing the rights and freedom of all, regardless of skin
color.
2. Nelson Mandela speaks of ‘Twin Obligations’. Elucidate.
[Board SQP 2020]
Answer: According to Nelson Mandela, every man has two
obligations—one is towards his family and the other is towards his
people and his country. But in the reign of apartheid, if one tried to
fulfill his duty towards his people, he was ripped off from his family
and home.
3. Freedom is inconsequential if it is behind bars of
prejudice and narrow mindedness. How would you explain this
statement? Support your answer with suitable examples from
the real world. [CBSE-QB, 2021]
Answer: Nelson Mandela believed that freedom is indivisible. His
hunger for his freedom became the greater hunger for the people. He
couldn’t live his life with dignity and self-respect if his people were
bound in chains. The chains on any one of his people were the chains on
all of them. Mandela realized that the oppressor must be liberated as
surely as the oppressed. A man who takes away another’s freedom is a
prisoner of hatred prejudice and narrow-mindedness. He is not truly
free if he is taking away someone else freedom. Surely, he is not free
when his freedom is taken away from him. A person’s freedom is of no
use if he doesn’t expand the horizons of his thoughts and think like a
narrow-minded person. A person’s freedom is insignificant if he takes
the freedom of another man, thus, the oppressed and the oppressor
alike are robbed of their humanity. 4. Why was Nelson Mandela
overwhelmed with a sense of history?
How did he succeed in ending the apartheid regime in South
Africa? [Delhi Board Set- II 2020]
Answer: Mandela was overwhelmed with a sense of history because in the
first decade of the twentieth century a, few years after the bitter Anglo-
Bear War which was even before his own birth, the white- skinned people
of South Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of
racial domination against the dark-skinned people of their own land. But
now in the last decade of the twentieth century, and his own eighth decade
as a man, that system had been overturned forever and replaced by the
one that recognised the rights and freedoms of all people, regardless of
the colour of their skin.
This marked the victory of democracy. Nelson Mandela set the
ideals of liberating people from the bondage of poverty,
deprivation, and suffering. He had also set the ideal for a
society where there would be no discrimination based on the
gender or racial origin of the person.
5. Why was the apartheid regime in South Africa one of the
harshest and most inhuman systems in the
world?
Answer: The apartheid regime was based on the racial
discrimination and exploitation of blacks in South Africa. The basic
fundamental rights were only for the whites and the blacks were
deprived of these freedoms. Oppression, torture, and exploitation
of the blacks were common features of the apartheid regime.

6. “Depths of oppression” create “heights of character.” How


does Mandela illustrate this? Can you draw similarities between
the freedom struggles of Africa and India?
Answer: “Depths of oppression” certainly creates “heights of
character”. Mr. Mandela described that how the decades of brutality
and oppression of the white people made African patriots like Oliver
Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Luthuli, Dadoo and many more out of ordinary
people. They all were the men of courage, wisdom and large
heartedness. They suffered a lot for the freedom of the nation and
the equal rights of the black people. In our country too, there were
many extraordinary patriots like Mahatma Gandhi, Chandra Shekhar
Azad, Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru and many more who struggled a lot for
the freedom of our country and her people but remained courageous
while facing utmost cruelty at the hands of British.

7. Which ‘extraordinary human disaster’ did Mr. Mandela


spoke about at the beginning of his speech?
Answer:The ‘extraordinary human disaster’ Mr. Mandela mentioned at the
beginning of his speech, he was referring to apartheid. It was a system
prevalent in South Africa, which segregated people based on their race.
8. How has the attitude of the military generals towards
Mr. Mandela changed?
Answer: There is a change in the attitude of the military generals
towards Mr. Mandela. They saluted him and pledged their loyalty.
This change in their attitude is significant because during
apartheid the same military generals would have arrested him
instead of saluting him.
9. What does Mr. Mandela say about the oppressor?
Answer: About the oppressor, Mr. Mandela says that an
oppressor who takes away the freedom of someone else, is not
free either. An oppressor is a prisoner of hatred. Such a person
is a captive of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. Mr. Mandela
feels that the oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of
their humanity.
10. Give a character-sketch of Nelson Mandela highlighting his
struggle against the apartheid regime for the human rights of
his people.
Answer: Nelson Mandela was the hero of all black heroes who waged
a relentless fight against apartheid and the racial regime in South
Africa. He suffered untold suffering and torture in prison but led the
country to install the first democratically elected government in
South Africa. Nelson Mandela was not born with a hunger to be free.
Later on, he realized that his boyhood freedom was an illusion. He
also realized his concept of freedom in his youth was also ‘transitory’
and was limited to his freedom. Only when he joined the African
National Congress, did his freedom become the greater hunger for
the freedom of his people. Only then, a frightened young lawyer
transformed into a bold ‘criminal’. A family-loving husband was forced
to lead a life of a monk in secrecy. He was grateful for acknowledging
the unimaginable sacrifices of thousands of black heroes for the
freedom of their people. Modestly, he realized that freedom is
indivisible. He realized that he could not lead a free and honorable
life if his people were in chains. He had a wider vision of humanity.
HIS FIRST FLIGHT

Extract-Based Questions.
1. He stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge, and standing on one
leg with the other leg hidden under his wing; he closed one eye, then the
other, and pretended to be falling asleep. Still, they took no notice of
him.‘
Q/A:
a. What did the young seagull do?
Ans: The young seagull wanted to catch the attention of the
others. So he pretended to fall asleep on the brink of the ledge
b. What was the seagull afraid of?
Ans: The seagull was afraid to fly.
c. Why did he close his eyes one at a time?
Ans: He was pretending to fall asleep.
d. What could his brothers and sister do that he was not able
to?
Ans: They could fly but he was not able to.
2. His father and mother had come around him calling him
shrilly, upbraiding him, and threatening to let him starve on the
ledge unless he flew away. But for the life of him, he could not
move. Q/A:
a) How did his parents try to make him fly?
Ans: First, they invited him encouragingly. Then scolded and
threatened to leave him alone to starve unless he flew away
b) What was the effect of their efforts? Ans: All their efforts
failed but he did not fly. c) What does the passage convey about
the young seagull? Ans: He was a coward. d) How was the young
seagull threatened by his parents initially when he did not fly?
Ans. First his parents encouraged him to fly but later on, they
even threatened to let him starve if he did not fly.

Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)


1. How did the young seagull’s family celebrate his
first flight?
Answer: The young seagull was afraid to fly. Even the
encouragement and coaxing didn’t work. But when the seagull had
his first flight, he as well as his family was happy, relieved and
proud of him to have completed his first flight.
2. Flying is a natural act in birds. Then why was the young
seagull ‘exhausted by the strange exercise’?
Answer: The seagull didn’t dare to fly. Hence, he used to make
excuses for not flying. He felt certain that his wings were too
weak to support him. He had no courage to flap his wings and
failed to muster up the courage to take the plunge.
3. What was the young seagull’s experience during his first
flight?
Answer: Falling from the ledge, the seagull was terrified, but soon
he started soaring and then flying. He forgot that he didn’t always
know how to fly. His fear soon turned into confidence, and then into
amusement. As he was landing, he was again afraid, but, soon became
at ease. It was a memorable first flight.
4. How did the young seagull’s parents treat him initially
when he did not fly?
Answer: First, his parents encouraged him, coaxed him then scolded
and taunted him for his cowardice. They even threatened to let him
starve if he did not fly. But the young seagull could not muster up
the courage to fly.
5. Did the seagull think the sea was like land? Pick out the
words that suggest this.
Answer: Yes, the seagull thought that the sea was like land. He
called it the green (looting. When he had learned how to fly, he
flew for some time. Then he came down and stood on the sea
surface thinking it to be like land. But his legs sank into the sea.
‘Dropped his legs to stand on’, ‘sank into’, and ‘screamed with
fright’ are the words that suggest this.

6. Do you sympathise with the seagull? Give reasons.

Answer: Yes, we sympathize with the seagull. He is a very young


bird. He has not yet learned how to fly. His parents want he
should fly. They encourage him. But he is afraid of falling. His
parents starve him for twenty-four hours. In the end, however,
the seagull learns how to fly.

7. Why didn’t the young seagull take the plunge? What


stopped him from doing so?
Answer: The young seagull was the only one in the family who
couldn’t fly in the air. His brothers and sister had far shorter
wings than his wings but they had already learned the art of
flying. He felt certain that his wings would never support him.
So he was hesitant and afraid of flapping his wings and go deep
in the air.
8. Did upbraiding and threatening of his parents help him
in flying?
Answer: The parents of the young seagull did try to teach his
young one the art of flying. He wouldn’t simply move from his
ledge. They would fly around him encouraging and challenging
him to follow them. When he wouldn’t budge, his parents would
fly around calling him shrilly. They would upbraid and threaten
to let him starve unless he flew away.
9. How were his two brothers and sister different from the
young seagull?
Answer: His two brothers and his sister had far shorter wings than
he had. But still, they had flown away only the day before. He would
watch his parents perfecting them in the art of flying. They were
taught how to skim the waves and dive for the fish. The young
seagull had seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour
it.
10. How did the young seagull overcome his fear and soared
gradually towards the sea during his first flight?
Answer: The young seagull had taken the final plunge. Maddened by
hunger, he dived at the fish which his mother was carrying in her
beak. With a scream, he fell outwards and downwards. He was seized
with fear and his heart stood still. But the fear lasted only for a
minute. He overcame it. The next moment he felt his wings spread
outwards. Now he was soaring downwards over the blue sea.
BLACK AEROPLANE

Extract-Based Questions.
1. I knew I could not fly up and over them, and I didn‘t have enough fuel
to fly around them to the north or south. ―I ought to go back to Paris
thought, but I wanted to get home
Q/A:
a. What does ‗them‘ in the first sentence refer to? Ans:
Them‘ means the big black clouds
b. Why could he not fly over on either side of storm clouds?
Ans: There was not enough fuel left in the Dakota – -airplane for
him to fly around the clouds
c. Why did he not go back to Paris? Ans: He wanted to get home
and enjoy breakfast with his family d. Which country was the pilot
of the plane flying towards? Ans: The Pilot was flying towards
England.
2. He turned his aero plane slowly to the north, in front of my
Dakota, so that it would be easier for me to follow him. I was
very happy to go behind the strange aero plane like an obedient
child.
Q/A:
a)Where was the pilot at this time? Ans: The pilot was
inside the black storm cloud.
b) Who does he ‘ refer to in the first sentence?
Ans: The pilot of the Black airplane.
c) Why did he of the black aero plane bring his plane in front
of the Dakota airplane?
Ans: The pilot tried to guide the author out of the storm clouds
by asking him to follow him.
d) Why did the pilot of the Dakota follow him like an obedient
child?
Ans. He was lost and all his instruments had stopped working. He
wanted to find a way out of the storm/ He wanted to get out of
the storm safely.

Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)


1. “I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? Why
does the pilot of the old Dakota take it?
Answer: The risk is that of going through the storm in the
narrator’s old Dakota airplane. He flew through as he did not
have fuel to fly around them, and couldn’t fly over them. Also, he
wanted to get home for a big English breakfast.
2. Describe the black clouds from the point of view of the
pilot.
Answer: The writer was going from France to England. He was flying
his Dakota airplane. When he had gone 150 kilometers from France,
he saw storm clouds. They were huge. They looked like black
mountains standing in front of him across the sky.
3. How did the black aeroplane rescue the first pilot?
Answer: The pilot of the black airplane waved his hand. He gestured
for the first pilot to follow him. The writer followed him. He followed
the black plane for half an hour. Suddenly, his plane was out of the
clouds. He could see the lights of the airport and landed his airplane.
In this way, the black airplane rescued the first pilot
4. Was the pilot of the Dakota able to meet the pilot of the
black?
Answer: No, he was not able to meet the pilot of the black airplane.
When he was going to land his plane, he looked behind him. But the
black plane was not there. The sky was empty. The woman at the
control center told him that no other planes were flying on that
stormy night.
5. Why didn’t he return to Paris when he saw the storm
clouds?
Answer: Paris was 150 kilometers behind him when he saw the storm
clouds. They were huge. They looked like black mountains standing in
front of him. He could not fly up and over them as he didn’t have
enough fuel. He thought of going back to Paris but changed his idea.
He decided to go to England to be in time for breakfast.

6. The narrator had two options before risking himself


entering the storm clouds? Why didn’t he choose them?
Answer: Definitely, the narrator had two options before him if he
didn’t want to take the risk of entering the storm cloud. He could
turn back and go to Paris which was about 150 kilometres behind
him. Another option was to fly up and over the dark clouds. But he
didn’t choose any of the options. He wanted to be in England to
have his breakfast in time. He couldn’t fly around the clouds to the
north or south as he didn’t have enough fuel to fly.

7. What did he do when he was inside the clouds?


Answer: The narrator took the risk of entering the black storm
clouds. Inside them, everything was suddenly black. Nothing
could be seen outside. The old plane jumped and twisted in the
air. He couldn’t believe his eyes when his compass was dead. His
other instruments didn’t work and were dead too. He tried to
contact Paris control on the raids but received no answer.
8. Who rescued the narrator when he was hopelessly lost
in the storm clouds?
Answer: There seemed no hope for the narrator. He was
hopelessly lost in the storm clouds. His compass and other
instruments were dead. Even Paris control didn’t respond. In such a
hopeless situation, the narrator saw another airplane flying next to
him. It had no light on its winds but he could see the pilot’s face.
The pilot came to his help. When he said “Follow me,” the narrator
followed him like an obedient child.
9. Why did the narrator want to meet the woman in the control
tower? Did he get any information about the mysterious
disappearance of the black aeroplane and its pilot?
Answer: The narrator didn’t know how the pilot and the black
airplane disappeared into space. He wanted some definite information
from the woman in the control room about them. She told him that on
that stormy night, no plane was in the sky except his old Dakota. So,
the narrator didn’t know anything about the mysterious man who
helped him to arrive safely without a compass or a radio.

10. Describe the flight of the Dakota airplane until it landed


safely at the airport.
Answer: The writer of this story is a pilot. One night he was flying his
old Dakota aeroplane over France. It was a starry night. He was going to
England. He hoped to spend his holiday with his family. It was an easy
journey and he was in a joyful mood. He looked at his watch. It was one-
thirty in the morning. Through his wireless, he contacted Paris Control.
They told him to turn twelve degrees west. He did as he was advised to
do. He was 150 kilometers from Paris. Suddenly the writer saw huge
black clouds before him. It was not possible to fly up and over the
clouds. He did not have much fuel with him. So it was not possible to fly
around the big mountains of clouds to the right or left. He decided to
take the risk and flew his airplane straight into the clouds.
ANNE FRANK
Extract-Based Questions.
1. Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not
only because I have never written anything before, but also because it seems
to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the musing
of a thirteen year old school girl. Oh well, it doesn't matter. I feel like
writing and I have an even greater need to get all kind of things off my
chest. Paper has more patience than people.' I thought of this saying on one
of those days when I was feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home
with my chin in my hands, bored and listless, wondering whether to stay in or
go out. (a)Whom does 'I' refer to in the given passage? (b)'Paper has more
patience than people' - Why did Anne Frank say that? (c)Find a word in the
passage that means 'deep thought'. (d)Which word in the passage is a
synonym of lethargic? Answers:(a)’I refers to Anne Frank in the given passage.
(b)Anne Frank said that 'Paper has more patience than people' because one can
rely on the paper to confide his/her secrets and it listens carefully and silently.
(c)The word is 'musing'. (d)The word is 'listless'. 2.Let me put it more clearly,
since no one will believe that a thirteen-year-old girl is completely alone in
the world. And I'm not. I have loving parents and a sixteen-year-old sister,
and there are about thirty people I can call friends. I have a family, loving
aunts and a good home. No, on the surface I seem to have everything, except
my one true friend. All I think about when I'm with friends is having a good
time. I can't bring myself to talk about anything but ordinary everyday
things. We don't seem to be able to get any closer, and that's the problem.
Maybe it's my fault that we don't confide in each other. In any case, that's
just how things are, and unfortunately they're not liable to change. This is
why I've started the diary. (a)Why was Anne Frank disturbed even when she
had loving parents, relatives and friends? (b)Why did Anne decide to write a
diary? (c)Find the word that means the same as 'unluckily' (d)To confide in
somebody is to Answers: (a) Anne Frank was disturbed even after being
surrounded by so many people because she didn't have any true friend. (b)Anne
decided to write a diary because she could not confide in anyone and felt lonely.
(c)The word is unfortunately. (d) It means to tell somebody your secrets or
personal information.
Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)

1.How does Anne feel about her father, grandmother, Mrs.


Kuperus and Mr. Keesing?
Answer: Her father was the most adorable, she loved him very
much. She also loved her grandmother and often thought of her
with reverence after her death. She was deeply attached to her
teacher, Mrs. Kuperus, and was in tears when she left her. Anne
did not have a good impression of Mr. Keesing, her maths teacher
and often called him ‘old fogey’.
2.How do you know that Anne was close to her grandmother?

Answer: Anne lived with her grandmother for some months when
her parents went to Holland. She loved her deeply. When her
grandmother died, Anne felt sad. She often thought about her.
So she was close to her grandmother.
3. Why did a thirteen-year-old girl start writing a diary?
Did her suffocation lead her to it?
Answer: It should not be forgotten that Anne was living in hiding.
She couldn’t have normal dealings with the people outside. She
could talk about ‘ordinary things’ with her family and friends. She
couldn’t talk about highly personal and intimate issues with them.
She didn’t have any real friends. She felt utterly lonely and
depressed. Writing in a diary could get all kinds of things off her
chest.
4. Give a brief life-sketch of Anne Frank.
Answer: Anne was born on 12 June 1929. She lived in Frankfurt until she was
four. Her father emigrated to Holland in 1933. Her mother went with him to
Holland in September. Anne and her elder sister, Margot, were sent to
Aachen to stay with their grandmother. Margot, went to Holland in
December and Anne followed in February. She started right away at the
Montessori nursery school. She stayed there until she was six, where she
started in the first form. His grandmother died in January 1942, when she
was thirteen.
5. Why does Anne say: “Paper has more patience than people”?
Answer: Anne doesn’t seem to have much faith in the people around her.
She was living in hiding and couldn’t trust people so easily. Moreover,
people do react. Sometimes people react rather negative, unpleasant,
vulgar and violent manners. Paper is an impersonal and non- reactive
object. Whatever you write on it, it receives it without giving any such
reactions.
6. Anne Frank had a great attachment with her grandmother.
Justify your answer.
Answer: There is no doubt that Anne Frank had a great attachment with
her grandmother. When her parents migrated to Holland, she along with
her elder sister Virago were sent to live with her grandmother in Aachen.
The grandmother died in January 1942. She thought of her quite often and
still loved her.
7. Why did Anne Frank says that teachers are the most
unpredictable creatures on earth?
Answer: Anne Frank felt that nothing could be predicted about the mood of
the teachers. They were the most ‘unpredictable creatures on earth’. It
depended on their choice who would go up in the next class. Only they could
decide who would be kept back. Half the class was making bets.

8. How was Anne getting along with her teachers? Why was
Mr. Keesing annoyed with her?
Answer: No doubt, Anne Frank was getting along well with all her nine
teachers— seven men and two women. Mr. Keesing was an old-fashioned
man who taught them math. He was annoyed with her for a long time. The
reason was simple. He didn’t like Anne as she talked so much in class. 9.
How do you assess Anne’s character? You can choose appropriate
words from the following box and write a paragraph. Responsible;
caring and loving; humorous; talkative; sensible; patient; mature for
her age; lonely; accurate in her judgement; childish; intelligent?

Answer: Anne was a girl of thirteen years. She was very intelligent.
She had a sharp brain. She was different from the other girls of her
age.
She could think clearly and deeply. She had deep thoughts and
ideas that she wanted to share with someone. But she found
that her friends were not able to understand her completely.
Their mental level is not equal to that of Anne. They could talk
to Anne about the ordinary everyday matter only. She had
loving parents, an elder sister, and loving aunts also. But she
could not share her deep thoughts with anyone. So she decided
to make her diary to her friend. She wrote down her inner
thoughts and feelings in a diary. Anne had an argumentative
mind. She argued in her first essay that parental trans arc
inherited by children. She had a good sense of humor. Her
Maths teacher. Mr Keesing tried to play a joke on her. But she
wrote the essay in verse in such a way that the Joke was
turned on him.
10. What does Anne say about her parents, elder sister and her
stay in the Montessori School?
Answer: Anne calls her father very adorable. When her
parents were married, her father was thirty-six and her
mother was twenty-five. Margot was Anne’s elder sister. She
was born in Frankfurt in 1926. Three years later, Anne was
born. She lived in Frankfurt until she was four. Her father
migrated to Holland in 1933. Her mother, Edith Hollander
Frank, went with him. Anne and her sister Margot were sent to
Aachen to stay with their grandmother. Margot went to Holland
in December and Anne went three months later. Anne started
studying at the Montessori School. She stayed there until she
was six at which time she was in the first form. When was in
the sixth form, her teacher was Mrs Kuperus. the
headmistress. Both loved each other. When she left school,
both Anne and her teacher were in tears.
A BAKER FROM GOA

Extract-Based Questions.
1. We kids would be pushed aside with a mild rebuke and the loaves
would be delivered to the servant. But we would not give up. We would
somehow climb a bench or parapet and peep into the basket. I can still
recall the typical fragrance of those loaves. Loaves for the elders and
bangles for the children.
Q/A:
a. Who are we ‘ in the extract?
Ans: We in the extract refers to the narrator and his friends.
b. Why could he not fly over on either side of storm clouds?
Ans: The kids were pushed aside so that the bread could be
delivered to the servants
c) Which word/phrase in the extract means the same as an
expression of disapproval/a scolding‘?
Ans: The word ‗rebuke‘ from the extract means an expression
of disapproval/a scolding‘.
d) What was there in the basket?
Ans. There were some loaves for the elders and some bangles
for the children.

Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)


1. What did the baker mean to the narrator during
his childhood? How many times did he pay a visit?
Answer: The baker or pader was an important person in the
author’s life. He was treated like a friend. He used to come
twice a day, once in the morning to sell bread and then while
returning after emptying his basket. The author used to run
to meet him to take the bread-bangles. He chatted and
gossiped with him.

2. What did the bakers wear —


(i) in the Portuguese days? (ii) When the author was young?
Answer: Kabai wants a particular dress — a single-piece long frock
reaching down the knees which the bakers used to wear in the old
days. Later it was replaced by a shirt and trousers which were
longer than the shorts and shorter than the full length.
3. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?
Answer: In Goa, the elders are nostalgic about the good Old
Portuguese days as well as the Portuguese and their famous loaves of
bread.

4. What marks of the Portuguese way of life can still be


seen in Goa?
Answer: Goa was once occupied by the Portuguese. They were
famous for preparing the loaves of bread. They left Goa long ago.
But the traditional work of the bakers can still be seen in Goa. The
furnaces in which the bread was baked still exist there.
5. What does the author recall about the visit of the baker
to his village?
Answer: The author recalls that a baker used to visit the village
twice a day. He used to be the author’s friend and guide. He used
to carry a bamboo stick. The sound of this stick is used to wake
up the author and others from sleep.

6. How was the village baker very important for special


occasions in the village?
Answer: The village baker was especially important for festive
occasions. The villagers were much fond of the sweet bread known
as ‘bol’. Marriage gifts were meaningless without these
sweetbreads. Sandwiches, cakes, and Bolin have been a must for
Christmas as well as other festivals. These were made with the
bread.
7. When did the baker collect his bills? What showed
that the bakers were prosperous?
Answer: The baker usually collects his bills at the end of the
month. In the household, the baker’s monthly accounts used to
be recorded on some wall in pencil. Baking was a profitable
business in those days. Their families never starved. Their
plump bodies showed that they were prosperous.
8. How can you say that the makers of the famous Goan
loaves are still there?
Answer: Many of those eaters of loaves might have died but their
makers still exist. The mixers, molders, and those who bake the
loaves are still there in Goa.
The fire in the furnace has not yet been extinguished and the
thud and jingle of the baker’s bamboo can still be heard in the
morning in some places. These bakers, known as padres, exist in
Goa even today. The family profession is still carried on.
9. Why was the baker, the friend, companion and guide of the
children? Answer: For children, the very sight of the baker was
quite exciting. He was their friend, companion, and guide. The
jingling thud of his bamboo put them in rapture. They ran to meet
and greet him. It was not so much for the love of the loaf What
they longed for were the bread-bangles. Sometimes they liked the
sweet bread of special make. 10. What importance did the
baker’s furnace have in the village in Goa?

Answer: The loaves of bread had become an important and integral


part of the lives of the people in Goa. Marriages were meaningless
without the sweet bread or the bol. No party or feast was possible
without bread. The lady of the house would prepare sandwiches for
the engagement ceremony of her daughter. Cakes and sweetbreads
were a must for Christmas and other festivals. The presence of the
baker’s furnace was essential in the village.
COORG
Extract-Based Questions.
1. Midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore sits a
piece of heaven that must have drifted from the kingdom of God. This
land of rolling hills is inhabited by a proud race of martial men, beautiful
women, and wild creatures. Coorg, or Kodagu, the smallest district of
Karnataka, is home to evergreen rainforests, spices, and coffee
plantations.
Q/A:
a. Which kind of animals are we likely to see at Coorg?
Ans: We are likely to see wild animals in Coorg
b. What is Coorg known for?
Ans: Coorg is known for its evergreen rainforests, spices, and
coffee plantations.
(c) Which word in the extract means the same as having to do
with war‘?
Ans: Martial‘ from the extract means having to do with war‘.
(d) Where is Coorg situated?
Ans: Coorg is situated between the midway of Mysore and the
coastal town of Mangalore.
2. The fiercely independent people of Coorg are possibly of Greek or Arabic
descent. As one story goes, a part of Alexander‘s army moved south along
the coast and settled here when return became impractical. These people
married among the locals and their culture is apparent in the martial
traditions, marriage, and religious rites, which are distinct from the Hindu
mainstream.
Q/A:
(a) Which descent do the people of Coorg belong to?
Ans : The people of Coorg belong to Greek or Arabic descent
(b) Where can we find the culture of Coorg most apparently?
Ans: The Coorg people‘s culture is most apparent in their martial
traditions, religious rites, and marriages.
(c) Which word in the extract means an act that is part of a
religious ceremony?
Ans: Rites‘ from the extract means an act that is part of a religious
ceremony‘.
Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)
1. Why are the people of Coorg known as
descendants of the Arabs?
Answer: The theory of the people of Coorg as descendants of
the Arabs draws support from the long, black coat with an
embroidered waist-belt worn by the Kodavus known as kuppia.
It resembles the kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.
2. What does the writer say about Coorg?
Answer: The writer says that Coorg is the smallest district of
Karnataka. It is known as Kodagu also. Coorg lies between the
coastal towns of Mangalore and Mysore. It is a very beautiful
place. The writer says that it must have come from the kingdom
of God.
3. What is Coorg famous for? What is the best season to
visit Coorg?

Answer: Coorg is famous for its coffee plantations, evergreen


rainforests, and spices Thirty percent of its area is covered with
evergreen rainforests The best season to visit this place is from
September to March. The air is full of coffee flavor.
4. Describe the people and culture of Coorg.
Answer: Coorg is inhabited by a proud race of martial men,
beautiful women, and wild creatures. Coorgi homes have a tradition
of hospitality. There are many tales of valor related to the people
of Coorg. The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated in the
Indian Army. General Cariappa, the first Chief of the Indian Army,
was a Coorgi. Kodavas are the only people in India permitted to
carry firearms without a license.
5. How has the tradition of courage and bravery been
recognised in modern India? Give examples from the text.
Answer: The people of Coorg are known for I being fiercely
independent, brave and courageous. There are numerous tales of
valor connected with the people of Coorg. The Coorg Regiment is one
of the most decorated regiments in the Indian Army. The first
Chief of the Indian Army, General Cariappa, was a Coorgi. The
Coorgis are the only people in India who are permitted to carry
firearms without a license.

6. Describe the physical and geographical features of


Coorg.
Answer: Coorg is a piece of heaven that must have drifted from
the Kingdom of God. This is a land of rolling hills inhabited by a
proud race of martial men, beautiful women, coffee and wild
elephants. Coorg or Kodagu is the smallest district of Karnataka.
It is home to evergreen forests, spices and coffee plantation.
This beautiful region of rolling hills, rainforests and mist lies
between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. Rainforests
dominate the physical feature of Coorg. They cover more than
thirty percent of this district. It rains heavily during the
monsoons. The most ideal season for tourists starts in
September and ends in March. The river Kaveri obtains its water
from the hills and rainforests of Coorg. The region abounds in
wild elephants and langurs besides a lot of birds, bees and
butterflies. The Brahmagiri hills provide a panoramic view of the
entire misty landscape of Coorg. The sixty-four-acre island of
Nisargadhama is a little paradise for the tourists.

7. Where and how can we have a panoramic view of the


misty landscape of Coorg?
Answer: The tourists are advised not to miss a climb to the
Brahmagiri hills. The climb to the Brahmagiri hills gives you a
panoramic view of the entire misty landscape of Coorg. Then you
can walk across the rope bridge. It will lead you to the sixty-four-
acre island of Nisargadhama.
8. How do the most laidback individuals become the life of
high-energy adventures in Coorg?
Answer: Coorg offers many outdoor high-energy adventures. Even the
most laidback individuals become converts to a life of high-energy
adventures. They enjoy river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock
climbing, and mountain biking. Numerous walking trails in Coorg are a
favorite with trekkers
9. Why does the author call Coorg apiece of heaven’ that must
have drifted from the kingdom of God?
Answer: Coorg, hailed as 'a piece of heaven,' boasts breathtaking
landscapes with rolling hills and lush rainforests covering over thirty
percent of its expanse. The air is infused with the aroma of fresh
coffee from sprawling estates adorned with colonial bungalows. The
river Kaveri originates from Coorg's hills and rainforests, providing a
habitat for diverse flora and fauna. Kingfishers dive into its waters,
seeking Mahseer, while playful elephants find joy in being bathed in the
Kaveri by their mahouts. The climb to Brahmagiri hills offers a misty
panoramic view of Coorg, enhancing its allure. Nisargadhama, a sixty-
four-acre island, stands as a tourist paradise. Temples and Buddhist
monks, draped in vibrant robes, represent the heart and soul of India in
this enchanting region.

10. Describe the largest Buddhist settlement in Coorg.


Answer: Below the rolling hills lie the largest Tibetan settlement in
India in Coorg. The Buddhist temple at Bylakuppe is famous for its
grandeur and beauty. The monks in their red, ochre, and yellow robes
represent the heart and soul of India, right here in Coorg.
TEA FROM ASSAM
Extract-Based Questions.
1. We have an Indian legend too. Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic,
cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditations. Ten tea plants
grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of these plants when put in hot water
and drunk banished sleep. Tea was first drunk in China, Rajvir added, as far
back as 2700 BC! Words such as tea, chai‘, and chini‘ are from Chinese. Tea
came to Europe only in the sixteenth century and was drunk more as
medicine than as a beverage.
Q/A:
a. Who was Bodhidharma?
Ans: Bodhidharma was an ancient Buddhist ascetic.
b. How is medicine different from a beverage?
Ans: Medicine is used for treating diseases whereas beverage is used for
general drinking purpose.
(c) Find the word in the extract which means the same as a drink‘.
Ans: Beverage‘ from the extract means a drink‘.
(d) When and where was tea first drunk?
Ans: Tea was first drunk in China as far back as 2700 BC.
2. Do you know that over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk every day
throughout the world? Rajvir said. Whew! exclaimed Pranjol. Tea really is very
popular. The train pulled out of the station. Pranjol buried his nose in his
detective book again. Rajvir too was an ardent fan of detective stories, but at
the moment he was keener on looking at the beautiful scenery.
Q/A:
(a) How do we know that tea is very popular?
Ans : We know that tea is very popular because eighty crore cups of
tea are drunk every day throughout the world.
(b) Rajvir was a great fan of reading detective stories. Why didn‘t
he like to read at that? moment?
Ans: Rajvir didn‘t like to read a detective story at that moment
because he was more interested in looking at the beautiful scenery
that passed by as the train moved
(c) Which word in the extract means an act that is part of a religious
ceremony?
Ans: Rites‘ from the extract means an act that is part of a religious ceremony‘.
Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)

1. How does Rajvir describe the tea garden at Dhekiajuli?


Answer: On both sides of the gravel road were acres and acres
of neatly pruned tea bushes. It was the second sprouting period.
Women wearing plastic aprons were plucking new tea leaves and
putting them in the bamboo baskets.
2. Describe the scenery that Rajvir saw as soon as the train
pulled out of the station.

Answer: When the train moved ahead, there were huge fields full
of green plantations. Rajvir had never seen so much greenery. He
called it a ‘magnificent view’. The bushes were spread like a sea
against the backdrop of densely wooded hills.
3. How can you say that tea was first drunk in China?
Answer: There is an ancient legend about the discovery of tea. A
Chinese emperor had the habit of drinking boiling water. One day
a twig from the fire fell into the pot in which water was being
boiled. It gave a delicious flavor to the water. It is said that
those were tea leaves and that was the first tea. It is thus
thought that tea was first taken in China.

4. What information was given by Pranjol’s father to Rajvir


about Assam Tea Estate?
Answer: He was the manager of a tea garden in upper Assam. He
showed Pranjol and Rajvir the acres of tea bushes, all neatly
pruned to the same height. Groups of women pluckers with bamboo
baskets were plucking the newly sprouted leaves.
5. What is the Indian legend about the discovery of tea?
Answer: According to an Indian legend, Bodhidharma, an ancient
Buddhist monk, fell asleep during meditation. So he cut off his
eyelids. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of
these plants when put in hot water and drank banished sleep.
6. Why was Rajvir so much excitement?
Answer: Rajvir had never seen so much greenery before. He was
looking at the beautiful scenery. The soft green paddy fields gave
way to tea bushes. Against the backdrop of densely wooded hills,
a sea of tea bushes stretched as far as the eyes could see. The
orderly rows of bushes were pruned to the same height. Rajvir
was excited to see the magnificent view.
7. Describe the Chinese legend regarding the discovery of
tea leaves.

Answer: There is a Chinese legend regarding the discovery of tea


leaves. One Chinese emperor always boiled water before drinking
it. One day a few leaves of the burning twigs under the pot fell
into the water. The result was wonderful. The water gave a
delicious flavor. Those leaves that gave the water a delicious
flavor were tea leaves.
8. Why did Pranjol’s father say in surprise that Rajvir
had done his homework before coming there?
Answer: A tractor was pulling a trailer-load of tea leaves at the
Dhekiabari Tea Estate. Rajvir asked Pranjol’s father if that was the
second flush or sprouting period. Rajvir said that the second sprouting
period lasts from May to July and yields the best tea. Such detailed
information about tea leaves surprised Pranjol’s father. He told Rajvir
that he seemed to have done his homework before coming here.
9. What landscape did Rajvir notice while sitting in the train?
Answer: Rajvir was fascinated by the scenic beauty of the place. There
were vast green tea gardens on both sides of the road. The tall trees at
the back of the gardens in the forest on the rolling hills looked beautiful.
The women plucking tea leaves looked like dolls. On the way, he saw
people drinking tea. He also saw an ugly building with smoke coming out of
its chimneys. Rajvir was received by Mrs. and Mr. Barua and was taken
towards Dhekiabari Tea Estate. On both sides of the gravel road were
acres and acres of neatly pruned tea bushes.
It was the second sprouting period. Women were wearing plastic aprons
and plucking new tea leaves and putting them in the bamboo baskets on
their backs.
10. It seems that Rajvir had done a lot of homework regarding
tea and its history. Do you support Pranjol’s father’s statement
that he gave about Rajvir’s knowledge in this regard?

Answer: Indeed, Rajvir had never visited a tea estate ever before in
his life. His visit to Dhekiabari Tea Estate was at the invitation of his
classmate Pranjol whose father managed the estate. But Rajvir
seemed to have done a lot of homework and reading about tea and tea
plantations before coming to Assam. He told Pranjol that tea is one of
the most popular beverages in the world. More than eighty crores of
cups of tea are drunk every day throughout the world. When he saw
an ugly building with smoke billowing out of its tall buildings, he at
once cried “Hey, a tea garden!”. He had been reading as much about
tea as he could. He narrated different legends regarding the
discovery of tea leaves. It was Rajvir who narrated the legends
describing how tea leaves were discovered in India and China. Rajvir
impressed and surprised Pranjol’s father with his deep knowledge of
tea leaves. When he saw a tractor pulling a trailer load of tea leaves
he recognized that it was the second flush or sprouting period. He
also knew that it continues from May and to July and yields the best
tea.
MIJBIL THE OTTER

Extract-Based Questions.
1
Cabled to England, and when, three days later, nothing had
happened, I tried to telephone. The call had to be booked twenty-
four hours in advance. On the first day, the line was out of order
on the second the exchange was closed for a religious holiday. On
the third day, there was another breakdown. My friend left and
arranged to meet him in a week. Five days later, my mail arrived.

1. What did the author cable to England?


Ans. The author cabled to England to get information about his mail.
2. What happened after three days?
Ans. The author did not receive any mail after three days.
3. When did the author receive the mail?
Ans. Five days later the author received the mail.
2 Cabled to England, and when, three days later, nothing had happened, I
tried to telephone. The call had to be booked twenty-four hours in
advance. On the first day, the line was out of order on the second the
exchange was closed for a religious holiday. On the third day, there was
another breakdown. My friend left and arranged to meet him in a week.
Five days later, my mail arrived.
Q/A
1. Write the name of the creature that came out from the sack.
Ans. The creature that came out of the sack was an otter.
2. What was there on its tips?
Ans. There was a small chocolate brown mole.
3. How did the creature/otter look?
Ans. The creature looked like a small medievally conceived dragon.

Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)

1.How was Mij to be transported to England?


Answer: The British Airline to England would not fly animals. So, Maxwell
booked a flight to Paris on another airline and from there to London. The
airline insisted that Mij should be packed into a box not more than
eighteen inches square. Thus, Mij was transported to England in that
box, which was kept on the floor at his feet.
2. What, according to the writer, is the real play’ of the otter?
[CBSE 2015]
Answer: The real play of an otter is lying on his back and juggling with
small objects between his paws. Mijbil would roll two or more marbles
up and down on his wide, fat belly. He never dropped one to the floor.
3. What happened when Maxwell decided to transport Mijbil to
England by air?
Answer: When Maxwell decided to transport Mijbil to England, Mijbil
was kept into a box. He tore off the box and wounded himself. Then
Mijbil disappeared down the aircraft, terrorizing the other
passengers. After that, he settled on Maxwell’s knee and gave no
further inconvenience to others.
4. What happened when the box was opened?
Answer: The air hostess suggested to the author that he could keep the
pet on his knee. The author opened the box. Mij was out of the box in a
flash. He disappeared at high speed down the aircraft. There was chaos
all around in the plane.
5. In the name of rules and regulations, basic values are ignored
but people like the air hostess in ‘Mijbil the Otter’ are a ray of
hope. What virtues do we find in the airhostess?
Answer: The air hostess was somewhat friendly, and she allowed the
narrator to place the otter on his lap. She could relate and empathize with
the situation faced by the narrator. This shows that apart from being
professional, she was a caring lady. She not only wanted to do her job but
was also responsible as she helped the narrator in finding the otter back.
She did all that she could do for Maxwell and the otter. She was hard
working and was ready to help as she did not say ‘no’ to help the narrator.
6. The narrator called the airhostess the queen of her kind. This
shows how caring and supportive she was. Do you find such people
these days? Are people having a change in their values? Answer: In
today’s world, it is getting difficult to find people who show their care and
support. Rather than helping others, they start giving excuses and quote
rules and regulations. Earlier, people used to think about the situation
faced by others and help them in all possible ways. This is changing
because of the change in the values of the people. People give priority to
their safety and security. They care for themselves first and then think
about others. 7.Why do you think the otter was not friendly at first
with the narrator? Can you relate this to the human nature as well?
[CBSE 2016]

Answer: At first, the otter was not very friendly with the narrator as he
had seen him for the first time. He was brought to a new place and new
surroundings. He neither knew the narrator nor the place which made him
stay away from the narrator.
But, as soon as he started becoming comfortable with the surroundings, he
became friendly and came close to the narrator. This is very similar to the
human nature. Even, human beings first take time to understand others and
then only become friendly with them. Unless they are comfortable in being
with somebody, they try to stay away from that person.

8. Why does he go to Basra? How long does he wait there, and


why?

Answer: He goes the Basra to the Consulate General to collect and answer
his mail from Europe. His mail did not arrive in time. He cabled to England,
and when, three days later, nothing had happened, he tried to telephone.
The call had to be booked twenty-four hours in advance. On the first day,
the line was out of order; on the second day, the exchange was closed for a
religious holiday. On the third day there was another breakdown. His mail
arrived five days later. He had to wait for five days.

9. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What


did it do two days after that?
Answer: When Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom he went wild with joy
in the water, plunging and rolling in it, shooting up and down the length of
the bathtub underwater, and making enough slosh and splash for a hippo.
Two days later, Mijbil escaped from the bedroom and entered the
bathroom. He struggled with the chromium tap till it had a full flow.
10. Why does Maxwell say the airhostess was “the very queen of
her kind”?
Answer: The author told the air hostess about the incident that took
place half an hour before at home and took her into his confidence.
The air hostess was a considerate lady. She cooperated with the
author and suggested he keep his pet on his knee. This made the
author call her “the very queen of her kind”.
MADAM RIDES THE BUS

Extract-Based Questions.
1. There was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was
eight years old and very curious about things. Her favorite pastime was
standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in
the street outside. There were no playmates of her age on her street and
this was about all she had to do. But for Valli, standing at the front door was
every bit as enjoyable as any of the elaborate games other children played:
Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences.

1. What was the short name of the girl?


Ans. Valli was the short name of the girl.
2. What were Valli's favorite pastimes?
Ans. Vall's favorite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house.
3. Why did she spend her time all alone?
Ans. She spent her time all alone because she had no playmates of her age in
her street.
4. Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as uncommon.
Ans. unusual

2. The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that traveled between her
village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour, once going
to the town and once coming back. The sight of the bus filled each time with a
new set of passengers, was a source of unending joy for Valli. Day after day she
watched the bus, and gradually a tiny wish crept into her head and grew there
she wanted to ride on that bus, even if just once.
This wish became stronger and stronger until it was an overwhelming desire. Valli
would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus when it stopped at
the street corner. Their faces would kindle in her longings, dreams, and hopes. If
one of her friends happened to ride the bus and tried to describe the sights of
the town to her. Valli would be too jealous to listen and would shout, in English
"Proud! Proud!"
1. What did Valli watch daily?
Ans. Valli watched the bus that traveled between her village and the nearest town.
2. What was her overwhelming desire?
Ans. Valli's overwhelming desire was to ride the bus.
3. What was Valli's source of joy?
Ans. The sight of the bus filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source
of unending joy for Valll.
4. Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as longingly.
Ans. wistfully

Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)


1.Why does the conductor refer to Valli as ‘madam’?
Answer: The conductor was worldly-wise and a man of jovial nature. He
judges the little girl’s innocent behavior. Being fun to love and also not to
make the girl unhappy, he calls Valla as ‘Madam’, though she was a girl of
eight years only.
2. Why did Valli listen to the conversations? What did she get from
them?
Answer: Valli was anxious to know more and more about the bus journey. She
had nourished a strong desire to enjoy a bus ride from her village to the
nearest town. She listened to the neighbors and people who regularly used the
bus. She was collecting the necessary details from them to plan out her bus
journey. Such details could help her in her mission.
3. How did Valli calculate and plan the bus journey?
Answer: Valli had gathered all the necessary details about the bus journey
from those who regularly used the bus. The town was six miles from her
village. The one-way fare was thirty paise. The trip to the town took forty-
five minutes. If she took the one o’clock bus, she could reach the town at
one forty-five. She calculated that she could be back home by about two
forty-five.
4. How did Valli board the bus? Why did she say, ‘I can get
on by myself’
Answer: When Valli sighted the bus she shouted ‘Stop the bus!
Stop the bus!’ She raised her tiny hand ‘commandingly’. The bus
slowed down and finally stopped. She told the conductor that
she wanted to go to the town and she tried to hand over the
money. The conductor, seeing that she was just a child,
stretched out his hand to help her up. Valli replied that she
could get on by herself and didn’t need any help.

5. How did Valli react when the conductor called her “a very
grown-up madam?”
Answer: The bus conductor teased Valli by calling her ‘a very grown-up
madam’. Valli reacted sharply saying that she was not a madam. She
reminded him that he had not yet given her ticket. The conductor
mimicked her tone and said, ‘I’ll remember.’ Everyone laughed and
gradually Valli too joined in the laughter.
6. How careful and painstaking elaborate plans did Valli have to
make for her first journey and how did she save money for it?

Answer: Valli had to make careful and painstaking plans for her first
bus journey. Saving sixty paise for both ways fare was not an easy
job. She saved thriftily every stray coin that came her way. She had
to give up the temptation of buying peppermints, toys, and balloons
and stifle her desire to ride on the merry-go-round.
7. Why did Valli laugh until there were tears in her eyes?
Answer: Valli saw a young cow running very fast in the middle of the
road. It was right in front of the bus. The bus slowed down to a
crawl. The driver sounded the horn loudly again and again. But the
more he honked, the more frightened the animal became and galloped
right in front of the bus. Valli laughed until there were tears in her
eyes.
8. ” Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself.” “You don’t
have to help me,” said Valla to the conductor. She shows
extraordinary courage in making the bus journey all alone. Taking
inspiration from Valla’s character, write how the ability and
courage to take risks are essential to fulfilling one’s dream.

Answer: Valla is an eight-year-old village girl. She is fascinated by the


bus that comes to the village every hour. She develops a desire and
longing, turning into a firm determination to ride the bus. She
meticulously plans for it and saves money for the bus journey. Then she
boards the bus without anyone’s help. She travels all alone, confidently
and independently, and returns home successfully. Her self-dependence
and self-respecting nature help her to nurture her goal. She enjoys her
journey. Similarly, to achieve goals in life, we need to have such values
in us. One should be confident and self-dependent. Proper planning and
strong determination will lead to success. Enthusiasm and excitement
to achieve the goal are also needed to nurture our goals in life.
9. How did Valla save up money for her first journey? Was it
easy for her? Justify.

Answer: Valla’s sole purpose was to enjoy the bus ride. She neither
had the money nor much information about the ride. But her desire
made her collect every minute detail about it. She gathered that
she required sixty paise to buy tickets for the up-and-down journey.
She collected every stray penny. She resisted the temptation to buy
peppermint, toys, and even a joy ride at the merry-go-round. Thus
she saved 60 paise to buy tickets for the bus ride. No, it was not
easy for a young child of eight years. This act of hers reflects that
she has the qualities of self-restraint, discipline, determination, and
maturity rare for her age.

10. ‘What was Valli’s obsession? How did she prepare and save money
for her first bus journey? Or How did Valli plan for her first bus
journey?
Answer: The most fascinating sight for Valli was seeing the bus that
traveled from her village to the nearest town. A tiny wish crept into
her head. She wanted to ride on that bus, at least for once. This wish
became stronger until it was an overwhelming desire. She listened to
the conversations of her neighbors and people. They regularly used
the bus. She found out after questioning them that both ways' fare
was sixty paise. It took forty-five minutes to reach the town. It was
six miles from her village. After gathering all the necessary details,
Valli started saving money thriftily. She saved every coin that came
her way. It was not an easy job for a girl of eight years. She had to
resist the temptation of buying peppermints, toys, balloons, and
having a ride on the merry-go-round. When the money problem was
solved, another problem was solved quite easily. She planned her
journey from one to four o’clock when her mother took a nap in the
afternoon. All such elaborate planning led Valli to have an enjoyable
and smooth first bus journey.
THE SERMON AT BENARUS
Extract-Based Questions.
1. The Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares,
the most holy of the dipping places on the River Ganges; that
sermon has been preserved and is given here. It reflects the
Buddha‘s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering.
Q/A:
a. Name the holiest of the dipping places on the River Ganges
where the Buddha preached his first sermon
Ans: Benares.
b. What does Buddha‘s first sermon reflect?
Ans: Buddha‘s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering.
(c) What did Gautama do after getting on light emend?
Ans: After getting enlightenment, he began to teach and share his new
understandings with the common people.
(d) How was he known then?
Ans: As he started preaching, he was known as Buddha, meaning, the
awakened or the enlightened one
2. Kisa Gotami became weary and hopeless and sat down at the wayside
watching the lights of the city, as they flickered up and were
extinguished again. At last, the darkness of the night reigned
everywhere.
Q/A:
(a) Why do you think Kisa Gotami became weary and hopeless
Ans : It was because she could not find a house where no one had died.
(b) How many sons did Kisa Gotami have?
Ans: Only one.
(c) What did she notice while sitting at the wayside?
Ans: She noticed the flickering lights of the city.
(d) What message did she get from the flickering and extinguishing
lights of the city?
Ans: Their lives flicker up and are extinguished.
Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)

1. Kisa compared human life to an inanimate object. What


is it and why does she do so?
Answer: Kisa compared human life with the lights of the city
which flicker up and extinguished again and the darkness of the
night spreads everywhere. Similarly, the human takes birth,
flickers up, and then extinguishes the life of the remains. She
compared so because the darkness of sadness spreads in use she
was in great grief of the death of his
2. Where and when did Siddhartha became the Buddha?
Answer: At the age of 25, Siddhartha confronted a sick man then
an age-sight moved funeral procession, and finally a monk. Palace
and wandered for seven years to shed seedlings team the tree The
Bodenheim Tree’ until enlightenment came. He renames Finally so
much that he even allied with Heat Swath, a teen admiral

3. Which people are referred to as “wise” by the Buddha in


his sermons?
Answer: Buddha preached in his sermons that everything that is
born will come to an end. Death is inevitable: both young and adult
or fools and wise are subject to death. But the people who do not
grieve, knowing the terms of the world are called wise people.
Wise people neither weep nor grieve.

4. How did the Buddha teach Kisa Gotami the truth of life?
Answer: Buddha changed Kisa’s thinking with the help of a
simple act—asking her to procure a handful of mustard seeds
from a house where none had died. She could not understand
it. But, gradually she understood that death is inevitable.
5. Describe the life of Gautama Buddha before enlightenment.
Answer: Buddha was earlier a prince and lived in luxury. When he
encountered suffering and grief, it made him sad. He renounced
everything and went in search of riddance from suffering. He
wandered for seven years. Then, one day, he sat under a fig tree
and vowed not to leave until he was enlightened.
6. What sights moved Siddhartha Gautama to seek the path
of enlightenment?
Answer: While going hunting Gautam saw a sick man, an old man, a
funeral procession, and a monk begging. This encounter with the
sufferings and grief moved him and he left to seek the path of
enlightenment.
7. Kisa Gotami was selfish and grief-stricken. Justify.
Answer: Kisa Gotami lost her only son. In her grief, she carried her
dead child everywhere and asked people to cure him. As instructed
by Buddha she went door to door to get a handful of mustard seeds
with the condition that there should not be any loss of a child.
Husband, parent, or friend. In her grief, she forgot that everyone
had to suffer such type of loss in his or her family Death is common
to all. But in her grief, she became selfish and tried to fulfill the
impossible condition.
8. What were the sights that moved and shocked Gautama?
Answer: Prince Gautama had been deliberately shielded from all the
sufferings of the world. One day he chanced upon a sick man, then an aged
man, and then a funeral procession. Finally, he saw a monk begging for alms.
These sights moved him. He went out into the world to seek the solution to
all these sufferings. He wanted to seek enlightenment.
9.The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and
combined with pain. With this statement of the Buddha find out the
moral value that Kisa Gotami learnt after the house and was unable
to get wanted the mustard seeds. table: grief death of her child.
Kisa Gotami lost her only son. In her neighbors, asking them to
provide medicine for her son. A man suggested her to Buddha.
Buddha asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds but she should
get it to the house where no one had lost any near and dear ones. But
she could not get any such Of Kisa Gotami went from door to door
requesting mustard seeds. People pitied her Do is troubled. Only then
did Buddha make her understand that the life of mortals in this
world and grief combined with pain. Now Kisa understood the reality
too realized the fate of men that their lives flick the reality of
death. Her underskirts that death is common to all of us. Now she l’
up and extinguish again.
10. Why did Kisa Gotami understand the message given by the
Buddha only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change
her understanding?

Answer: Kisa Gotami had lost her only son and in grief, she carried
her dead son to all her neighbors to get him cured and restored to
life. Finally, she went to the Buddha asking him for the medicine to
cure her boy. The Buddha felt that she needed to be enlightened
about the truth of life — that death and sorrow are inescapable. He
could see that grief had blinded her, and it would be difficult for
her to accept the truth. So the Buddha told her to procure mustard
seeds from a house where none had died. Kisa Gotami went from
door to door. Then she realized that there was no house where no
one had died and that death is common to all. She came back to the
Buddha where He sermonized her that life in this world is troubled
and filled with sorrows. He gave her examples of ripe fruits and
earthen vessels whose ‘lives’ are short. This way he made her
realize that death is unavoidable and none —even the near and dear
ones — can save anyone from death.
PROPOSAL
Extract-Based Questions.
A. " It's cold... I'm trembling all over, just as if I'd got an examination before
me. The great thing is, I must have my mind made up. If I give myself time to
think, to hesitate, to talk a lot, to look for an ideal or real love, then I'll never
get married. Brr... It's cold! Natalya Stepanovna is an excellent housekeeper,
not bad-looking, well-educated. What more do I want? But I'm getting a noise in
my ears from excitement. [Drinks]And it's impossible for me not to marry. In
the first place, I'm already 35 - a critical age, so to speak. In the second place,
I ought to lead a quiet and regular life. I suffer from palpitations, I'm
excitable and always getting upset; at this very moment my lips are trembling,
and there's a twitch in my right eyebrow. But the very worst of all is the way I
sleep. I no sooner get into bed and begin to go off, when suddenly something in
my left side gives a pull, and I can feel it in my shoulder and head... I jump up
like a lunatic, walk about a bit, and lie down again, but as soon as I begin to get
off to sleep there's another pull! And this may happen twenty times..

Q1. Who is saying, "I'm trembling all over as if I had got an


examination before me"?
Ans. Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov
Q2. What is the great thing that the speaker is talking about?
Ans. The speaker is talking about real love and marriage.
Q3. What state of Lomov's mind does the passage reflect?
Ans. His mind reflects that way he would never get married because it is
difficult to get an idea of real love.
Q4. Why did Lomov not want to wait for real love?
Ans. This was because he was anxious to get married.

B. "Lomov; He Is old, but / wouldn't take five squeezers for nim. way, now
can you? Guess is a dog, as for Squeezer; well it's too funny to argue.
Anybody you like has a dog as good as Squeezer... You may find them under
almost every bush. Twenty-five rubles would be a handsome price to pay
for
Q1. Who does 'he' refer to, "He is old"?
Ans. He refers to 'Guess' the dog.
Q2. Whom does Squeezer belong to?
Ans. Squeezer belongs to Chubukovs.
Q3. Who is the speaker of these lines?
Ans. Lomov
Q4. What would be a handsome price to pay for Squeezer?
Ans. It would be twenty-five roubles.
Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)
1. Lomov was a quarrelsome person. Justify.
Answer: Lomov was a quarrelsome person. He came to Chubukov’s
house to propose Natalya. But he started arguing about the
meadows and insisted that those meadows belonged to him. Later
he kept on proving that his dog Squeezer is better than ‘Guess’ –
the dog of Chubukov. He did not care for his health or his
proposal but kept on fighting for one or the other reason. It
proves that he was a quarrelsome person.
2. There is a certain way in which the characters speak in
the play “The Proposal”. What does it tell us about the
Russian men?
Answer:
As the story belongs to the Russian character. So
through the characters' dialogue, we learn a lot about Russian men.
According to the story the Russians are very particular about their
dress and have particular dresses for special occasions. Secondly,
they are hypocrites. They show off to be sweet but the very next
moment, they start fighting. They pretend to be good neighbors
but within their hearts, they have so many grudges. They love
having dogs as pets and consider their pet better than the others.
All of them are stubborn, short-tempered, quarrelsome and rigid.
3. What did Natalya say about Guess?
Answer: Natalya said that Squeezer was superior to Guess —
Lomov’s dog. Lomov said that his dog Guess was better than
Squeezer. Natalya believed that Guess had become old and ought
to be shot. She also claimed that Squeezer was a hundred times
better than a Guess.

4. Why does the proposal remain unmade during Lomov’s first


visit?
Answer: The proposal remains unmade during Lomov’s fast visit
because Lomov is very nervous and excitable. He beat about the
bush. When Natalya comes Lomov begins to quarrel with her about
a piece of land. He gets very excited and leaves the room, cursing
and threatening the old man and his daughter, Natalya. He forgets
all about the proposal.
5. Who are Lomov and Chubukov and how are they related to
each other?
Answer: Lomov and Chubukov are landlords. They are neighbours too.
According to Lomov, he has been coming to Chubukov for help. Chubukov
has helped him even earlier. There seems to be a dispute over the
ownership of Oxen Meadows. Each one claims that the land belongs to him.
Lomov is interested in marrying Chubukov’s daughters, Natalya and
considers her a suitable match for her.
6. How does Chubukov join the quarrel between Natalya and
Lomov?
Answer: Chubukov comes in and finds Natalya and Lomov
quarreling. When he finds that they are `unveiling the ownership of
the Oxen Meadows. he also becomes angry. Instead of calming them
down. he also starts quarreling. He claims to be the owner of the
Meadows. He insults not only Lomov but also his ancestors.
7. What is the cause of the second quarrel between
Natalya and Lomov?
Answer: Lomov starts praising the qualities of the dog Guess. But
Natalya says that her dog sq which she purchased for 85 roubles is
much better than Lomov’s dog Guess. Both of them praise the
qualities of their dogs. Now they start quarrelling on this topic.
They again start shouting at each other.
8. Why does Lomov come to Chubukov? How does Chubukov
react to his visit?
Answer: Lomov, a landlord, pays a visit to Chubukov. The purpose of his
visit is quite clear. He has come with a proposal of marriage. He is
interested in marrying Natalya who he considers a good housekeeper
and not bad looking. Chubukov misunderstands the purpose of Lomov’s
visit. He thinks that he has come to borrow money from him. However,
when he comes to know that he has come with a marriage proposal, he is
overjoyed and excited.
9. The proposal was forgotten amidst argumentation. Which right
approach should have been followed by both parties?
Answer: Lomov came to Chubukovs to propose Natalya. Both are neighbors
and at the right age to marry. But instead of forwarding the proposal both
of them started fighting over truffles. Firstly they fought over a small
piece of land called oxen meadows both of them claimed that the land
belonged to them and not the other one. Somehow the argument came to
an end and they started fighting over dogs and claimed each of their dog
was better than the other ones. The proposal was forgotten amidst all
these arguments. The situation might have been different if both parties
had followed the right approach. Oxen meadows would belong to both of
them if they got married. Similarly, dogs are a very petty thing to argue
about while marriage is going to take place. There should not be any ego
between them. They should be polite and patient to each other. They
should not be rigid and stubborn. Their priority should be their marriage
and not meadows or dogs. Only the proposal could be carried on.

10. Describe how Chubukov got Natalya married with Lomov.


Answer: Chubukov was thinking that Lomov had come to borrow money from
him but when he told him that he had come to propose to his daughter he
was overjoyed and even shed a tear. He kissed and embraced Lomov. He told
Lomov that he was hoping it for a long time. He also told Lomov that he loved
him as his own son. In fact, Chubukov, secretly wished Lomov to marry his
dither as he knew that Lomov was a rich and prosperous farmer and his only
daughter could lead a comfortable life with him. No wonder, he was
overjoyed to know that Lomov was there to propose to his daughter.
DUST OF SNOW
Extract-Based Questions.
1.The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued
(a) Where was the crow? was the crow?
Ans: The crow was on a hemlock tree.
(b) What did it shake on the poet?
Ans: It shook the dust of snow on the poet.
(c) What does the word, ‘rued’ mean?
Ans: The word ‘rued’ means held in regret.
(d) What is the poet’s state of mind?
Ans: The poet was in a sad, depressive, and hopeless mood at that time.

2.The way a crow


Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

(a) Where did the crow sit?


Ans: The crow sat on a branch of a hemlock tree.
(b) We can say that the poet was …….
Ans: …….. in a sad mood.
(c) How did the crow change the poet’s mood?
Ans: The crow changed the poet’s mood by shaking down the dust of snow from
a hemlock tree.
(d) What fell off from a humlock tree?
Ans: Dust of snow fell from a hemlock tree.
Top 10 PYQs
1. How does the poet react to the crow and hemlock tree?
Answer: In the Western belief system, crows and hemlock trees
are often considered symbols of bad luck or inauspicious omens.
However, the poet did not perceive them negatively. Instead,
these elements became unexpected saviors, turning his initially
negative outlook into a positive one.
2. What was the reaction of the poet when the dust of
snow fell on him?
Answer: Traditionally, crows and hemlock trees are regarded
as inauspicious, but the poet saw them differently. In a
moment of despair, as the crow shook the hemlock tree and its
dust of snow gently touched him, the poet's mood shifted.
From a state of depression and sorrow, he suddenly felt a
sense of relief and lightness.
3. What do the ‘Hemlock’ tree and ‘Crow’ represent? What
does the dust of snow metaphorically stand for?
Answer: On a snowy morning, the poet traveled with a heavy
heart. The landscape was cloaked in snow dust, and his spirits
mirrored the gloom. A crow perched on a hemlock tree altered
the scene by shaking it, causing a gentle snowfall on the poet.
This simple act transformed his mood, turning his sadness into
happiness and bringing a sense of relaxation.
4. he poet was sad and depressed. But one comical
incident lifts his spirits. He is full of joy and happiness
again. Based on your reading of the poem, write a
paragraph on the topic – Happiness is relative.
Answer: Nobody is happy all the time. Happiness comes and goes
in our lives. It depends on where we are and the people we're
with.
Sometimes, we feel really happy or really sad. Our happiness
often comes from specific moments in our lives. Little things, like
what our friends do, can make us happy or sad. It's important to
remember that after a sad time, there's usually a happy time
waiting. Just like every cloud has a silver lining, every sad moment
is followed by a period of joy and happiness.
5. No matter how ordinary or unimportant an incident maybe,
it’s the reaction or the response that matters. Taking
inspiration from the poet’s reaction write how inherent values
can be picked up and learned. Mention any two lessons for
students like you that could be useful. (Dust of Snow) Answer:
The way we react is really important. Learning positive
values from nature is valuable. Nature is like a wise teacher, and
even small things in nature can teach us important lessons. Take a
tiny snowflake, for example—it has its own meaning. It's essential
not to judge things by how they look. Even creatures like crows and
trees like hemlocks, which are often considered bad signs, can bring
joy and uplift a poet's mood. Everything in nature has a purpose.
Nature is incredibly beautiful, and it's crucial to live in the present
with a cheerful attitude. As students, we can learn useful qualities
from nature that can help us in our lives.
6. What is the underlying message for us in our hectic
life with reference to the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’?
Answer: The poem "Dust of Snow" carries a meaningful lesson for our
busy lives. It encourages us to appreciate nature to the fullest and
adopt a positive outlook, especially towards simple actions. These
seemingly small moments can unfold valuable lessons and contribute to
the greater learning of how to enjoy life.
7. How did the crow change the poet’s mood?
Answer: On a snowy morning, as the poet journeyed, a sense of sadness
weighed on him. The trees wore a blanket of snow, casting a serene
atmosphere. Perched on a hemlock tree, a crow gave it a shake, causing
a gentle snowfall on the poet. In this unexpected moment, his mood
shifted, and a feeling of happiness and relaxation washed over him.
8. As a crow you feel highly insulted by the incorrect
perception humans have about your species. Imagine yourself
to be a crow and write your opinion about this prejudice.
Appeal for breaking stereotypes. [CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Answer: Humans often associate the word 'crow' with 'bad omens' and
'inauspiciousness,' a perception that seems illogical and disheartening.
It's disheartening to see this stereotype applied to our species without
any valid evidence. This bias stems from the color black, deeming us
'ominous,' while doves, being 'white,' are seen as 'good omens.' This
unfair prejudice deeply affects me emotionally. I aspire to challenge
this stereotype, just as my friend did by changing someone's mood and
bringing happiness. I hope that one day, people will realize their
judgmental views about us are entirely wrong.

9. What is the underlying message for us in our hectic lives


concerning the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’? [CBSE 2016-17]
Answer: The underlying message for us with reference to the poem
‘Dust of Snow’ is that we should always be optimistic towards life. In
the grave hours of depression, the smallest act of nature can lead to
a drastic positive change.
10. A simple moment proves to be very significant and saves the rest
of the day of the poet from being wasted. Explain based on the poem
‘Dust of Snow’. [CBSE 2018] Answer: In his poem, Robert Frost
emphasizes the profound significance of simple and ordinary incidents in
our lives. He suggests that the value of things isn't inherently good or
bad; rather, it's our perspective that shapes it. The best things in life are
often free, and while life presents challenges, the key lies in solving them
instead of dwelling in regret. Even seemingly unimportant events can alter
the meaning of life. The poet highlights this through the crow's simple
action, shaking off the dust of snow, which imparts a valuable lesson. The
realization dawns on the poet that he spent his day regretting instead of
engaging in meaningful activities. This insight prompts him to understand
how to navigate through difficult times and work towards a better life.
FIRE AND ICE
Extract-Based Questions:
"Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire."
1. According to the extract, what are the two contrasting opinions about
how the world will end?
Answer: The two contrasting opinions are that the world will end either in
fire or in ice.
2. How does the speaker express their personal preference regarding the
end of the world?
Answer: The speaker holds with those who favor fire, suggesting a
preference for a fiery end.
3. In what way might the speaker's experience with desire influence their
preference for fire?
Answer: The speaker's mention of having tasted desire may imply a
connection between passion and the choice for a fiery end, suggesting a
more intense and passionate conclusion.

"But if it had to perish twice,


I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice."
1. What does the speaker suggest about the potential destruction of the
world?
Answer: The speaker suggests that ice, associated with hate, would suffice
for destruction.
2. How does the speaker connect hate with the idea of using ice for
destruction?
Answer: The speaker implies that their understanding of hate is sufficient
to recognize ice as a powerful force for destruction.
3. What does the use of the word "suffice" convey about the speaker's
perspective on the destructive potential of ice? the potential of ice?
Answer: The use of "suffice" indicates that the speaker believes ice would
be effective and satisfactory for causing destruction.
Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)
1. According to the poet, what do ‘ice’ and ‘fire’ symbolise? [CBSE QB,
2020-21]
Answer: According to the poet ‘ice’ symbolizes hatred, coldness, and
rigidity, and these human cold emotions and lack of love are
destructive enough to remove the warmth of fire and destroy the
world. Fire symbolises unlimited wishes and desires of human beings
like violent feelings of anger, cruelty, brutality, etc., that might end
the world. 2. What is the message of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?
[CBSE QB,
2020-21]
Answer: The poem ‘Fire and Ice’ is short but encompasses the
entire humanity in its targeted message. The metaphor of ‘Fire and
Ice’ is used very effectively to solidly convey a clear message to the
readers. The poem acts like a moral mirror for readers to assess
their standing in the world.
‘Fire’ stands for our uncontrolled passions which are disastrous for
human beings. Similarly, cold reasoning devoid of human love will
bring insensitivity. Both the aspect of human thinking and resulting
behaviour embedded with desire and hatred will lead to the end of
this world and it may also happen more than once.
3. The tone of the speaker contrasts with the seriousness of
the subject matter. Justify. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Answer: ‘Fire and Ice’ is a symbolic poem by Robert Frost with a message to
reveal the gravity of the violent and cold human emotions. These emotions, if
not controlled, may lead to destruction of the world. The poet wants to aware
the humanity that everything will end one day as a result a human misdeed. His
aim is aphorism-brevity for Frost truth remains ambiguous as how specific the
world is going to end. That’s why the tone contrasts with the seriousness of
the subject matter with people favouring both ‘fire’ and ‘ice’.
4. Evaluate the line- Some say the world will end in fire/Some
say in ice- in the context of volcanic eruptions, forest fires,
meteor collisions, melting ice caps, etc. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Answer: In the poem ‘Fire and Ice’ the poet considers the age-old
question of whether the world will end in fire or ice. The threat of global
warming may lead to severe volcanic eruptions and forest fires that may
end the world OR there might be a meteor collision, the melting of ice
caps or glaciers, etc, that may also end the world. So, either option is
enough to achieve its purpose sufficiently in a storm of volcanic eruptions,
forest fires, or melting ice caps.
5. Fire and Ice projects a pessimistic outlook. Comment. [CBSE
QB, 2020-21] Answer: According to me, ‘Fire and Ice’ projects a
realistic outlook rather than a pessimistic one. The poet brings
forth the view that the world will soon end. It can be either by fire
or ice. He mentions that he has tasted everything in life after
World War I. So, it would soon end either with greed or
indifference.
6. What do ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ stand for and what is the general
opinion regarding the world? [Board Term-I, 2016-17]
Answer: Fire stands for fury, desire, lust, anger, avarice, cruelty and
greed. Ice is symbolic of hatred, coldness, rigidity, insensitivity, and
intolerance. The general opinion regarding the world is that the world
will end in fire and some say ice. Both the two reasons contrast each
other and one equally opposite to each other. People who favor fire
believe that it will be the heat and passion that will end the world. On
the other hand, some people think that it will be the ice that will
freeze the world.
7. To say that for destruction, ice is also great for the poet,
what does ice stand for? How is it sufficient to bring
destruction? [CBSE 2014]
Answer: Ice stands for the cold feelings of the humans such as
indifference, hatred, greed, jealousy, apathy, lack of love, cold-
heartedness, etc. Although the poet states that he believes fire would
bring an end to the world, he also states that if the world has to end
twice, then ice or the cold feelings of people are also great to end the
world.
8. How will the world end? Support your answer with a
scientific explanation. [CBSE 2014]
Answer: According to some people, the world will end in fire. The core of
the earth will get extremely heated up due to the increasing global
warming. It may lead to severe natural calamities like volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes, uncontrollable forest fires, and tsunamis that may end the
world. However, some people believe that the world may end in ice. As a
result of the melting ice caps or glaciers, there would rise an ice age that
would freeze all the living things on the earth to death. All the ice and
snow from the mountains will melt down to the plains one day and thus, will
shrink the world.
9. How can Frost’s poem ‘Fire and Ice’ be read as an extended
metaphor?
Answer: Frost’s poem ‘Fire and Ice’ is certainly an extended
metaphor. The metaphor of ‘Fire and Ice’ is used very effectively to
solidly convey a clear message to the readers. The poem acts like a
moral mirror for readers to assess their standing in the world. Fire
metamorphically represents and refers to violent human emotions like
anger, cruelty, brutality, etc., while the term ice refers to cold
human feelings such as hatred, jealousy, indifference, etc., that
might destroy the world. The poet has used both fire and ice as
great metaphors to imply that both of the destructive forces are
powerful enough to bring doom to the world. These metaphors convey
that violent and cruel human emotions are a threat to the world.

10. Explain the symbols used in the poem ‘Fire and Ice’ by Frost.
Answer: In Frost's poem, 'fire' symbolizes human desires and
materialistic greed, leading to conflict and destruction. Conversely, 'ice'
represents cold emotions like hatred, resulting in similar destructive
consequences. Frost's juxtaposition of these elements suggests that both
unchecked desire and indifference can bring about conflict, offering a
concise reflection on the dual destructive forces within human nature.
A TIGER IN THE ZOO
Extract-Based Questions.
1 . He stalks in his vivid stripes,
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
(i) What has been personified in the given lines?
(a) Tiger (b) Leopard (c) Lion (d) Hyena
(ii) Where is the tiger at present?
(a) In the forest (b) In a circus (c) In a cage (d) In a room
(iii) Mention any one quality of the animal under reference
(a) Quiet (b) Desperate (c) Vivid stripes on his body (d) Roaring
(iv) Which word in the stanza may also mean graphic or picturesque
(a) Strips (b) Velvet (c) Quiet (d) Vivid
(v) Why is the tiger in 'quite a rage'?
(a) Movement restricted (b) Freedom curtailed (c) Not fed properly (d) Both (a)
and (b)
Ans. (i) (a) Tiger (ii) (a) In the forest (iii) (c) Vivid stripes of his body (iv) (d)
Vivid (v) (d) Both (a) and (b)

2. He should be lurking in the shadow,


Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
(i) According to the extract, the poet wishes for the tiger to be 'sliding' through the
foliage as this would
(a) assist in keeping the prey unsuspecting of the predator's sound
(b) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator before it rushes in.(c) help the predator
pounce on the prey comfortably without getting tired.
(d) support the predator's vision as it eyes its prey.
(ii) Which fact DOES NOT connect with the significance of the water hole for the tiger?
(a) Many tigers chase prey into the water and hold the victim's head underwater until it drowns
(b) Prey feed in the water on water-bles and often wander into the middle of the water hole,
where they are vulnerable and easy for the tiger to kill.
(c) Prey that has quenched its thirst ensures consumption of hydrated meat for the tiger.
(d) Chasing the panicked prey from shallow to deep water where the tiger grabs it.
(iii) Pick the option that DOES NOT use 'lurking'
correctly to fill in the blank.
(a) The thug was ........... in the alley late evening, for unsuspecting passers-by.
(b) The hyena was .......... in its den after a good meal.
(c) The detective cautioned her team about the ..... dangers likely to impact the
Case.

Ans. (i) (a) assists in keeping the prey unsuspecting of the


predator's sound. (ii) (c) Prey that has quenched its thirst
ensures the consumption of hydrated meat for the tiger.
(iii) (b) The hyena was .....in its den after a good meal
Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)
1. Is it safe to allow tigers to live in their natural habitat these
days?
Answer: Although it is ideal for tigers to live in the wild, today, it
will mean certain death for them. Fast-diminishing jungles and the
danger posed by poachers have pushed tigers to the brink of
extinction, making their natural home unsafe.
2. The tiger in the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ has some obvious
limitations, describe them in contrast to its natural habitat.
Answer: The tiger in the zoo was confined to a small space. He
was angry that he couldn’t be free to move, hunt, and do what he
pleased forced to be a showpiece; and the cage’s bars obstructed
his view of the starry night. This was all unlike his natural habitat
where he hunted fiercely and slept fitfully.
3. Why do you think the tiger was stalking in the cage? What
does it show?

Answer: I think the tiger was feeling restless and uneasy in that
small cage. He seems to be frustrated and helpless as he cannot
come out of the cage in the open and enjoy his freedom. He did not
want to be a mere showpiece and a source of entertainment for
human beings.

4. What difference do you find in the mood of a tiger


when he is in a zoo and when he is in a forest?
Answer: In the zoo, in his small cage and devoid of freedom, the
tiger feels unhappy rather frustrated, restless, and angry. In the
forest, he enjoys moving majestically wherever he wants and
terrorizes the villagers by displaying his sharp teeth and claws. He
is happy in the forest, enjoying his liberty and surroundings, but
not in the zoo.
5. How does the tiger terrorize the villagers? Does he have any
intention of killing them?

Answer: Sometimes, the tiger roams around freely and comes


near the edge of the jungle. He comes very near to the houses
of the villagers which are situated on the outskirts of the
jungle. Roaming there, he opens out his white sharp teeth and
paws to terrorize the villagers. He has no intention of killing
them as he never attacks until he is provoked to do so.
6. How does the tiger feel locked in the concrete cell of
the zoo? Why does he ignore the visitors
Answer: The tiger is an animal of the wild. He is’ a denizen of the
forest. Being locked in a concrete cell of the zoo, he feels quite
helpless. His immense strength is of no use to him as he is put
behind bars. He only stalks the length of his cage. He ignores the
visitors who came to see him after buying their tickets. He doesn’t
want to present himself as an object of entertaining others.
7.Freedom can’t be bargained at any cost. What message
does Leslie Norris give to the readers in ‘A Tiger in the
Zoo’?
Answer: Not only humans but animals too cherish freedom. Freedom
can’t be bargained. In this case, a tiger may be well-fed and
protected. However, the curtailment of his freedom keeps him in a
‘quiet rage’. He resents being behind the bars. He is a different animal
when he is in his natural habitat, the jungle. He roams around the
water hole and ambushes his favorite plump deer.
8. Animals, big and small, is being used by humans for their
selfish ends? What is your opinion regarding the exploitation
of animals? Mention some examples that you can see as a
possible solution to this problem.
Answer: Animals, big and small are indeed being used by humans for their
selfish ends. We use them for our benefit. Animals are killed, poached,
and captured for commercial benefits. Humans have encroached on their
space and sheltered them in zoos which is truly inhuman. In the poem, the
poet has shown the plight of a tiger. He is captured and confined in a small
cage. He is frustrated, angry, and restless. It longs for freedom.
Confinement brings bondage and bondage is cruel. Every day we see many
animals suffering due to humans. Monkeys are captured and made to dance
on roads, Elephants are chained and forced to lift heavy loads. Many
animals are sheltered in zoos for the entertainment of human beings. They
are kept in poor conditions. They are treated inhumanely. We should learn
to respect nature and its inhabitants. After all, these animals share the
earth with us.
9. Some animals are becoming extinct; the tiger is one such
animal. What do you think could be the reason? Should this
decrease in number be stopped? Why?
Answer: Tigers face a dire threat from poaching and habitat loss
caused by human activities. Hunted for commercial gains like fur and
traditional medicines, their habitats are also disappearing due to
agricultural expansion. This not only reduces prey availability but
also endangers the intricate forest ecosystem. Urgent protection
measures are crucial to save these iconic creatures and maintain the
balance of our ecosystems.

10. Give contrasting pictures of the tiger in his natural habitat


and the locked cage of the zoo. How does he feel and behave
differently in both places?
Answer: The jungle is the natural home of the mighty tiger, where it
roams freely, expertly hunting prey like plump deer at water holes.
Occasionally, it ventures near villages, displaying its power but rarely
attacking unless provoked. Yet, the same majestic creature is reduced
to a pathetic existence in a zoo, confined behind bars, becoming a
mere spectacle for visitors. The tiger's quiet rage is evident as it
paces its cage, staring at the vast night sky, a poignant reminder of
its lost freedom.
HOW TO TELL WILD ANIMAL
EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS

1.If ever you should go by chance To jungles in the east; And if


there should to you advance A large and tawny beast, If he roars
at you as you’re dyin’ You’ll know it is the Asian Lion …. (a) State
features of an Asian Lion. (b) What happens when the lion roars?
(c) What do you mean by ‘tawny’ ? (d) What is the physical
appearance of the lion is the stanza?
Answer: (a) An Asian Lion is large and brownish-yellow in colour.
(b) When the lion roars, it is very scary and it feels like we are
going to die. (c) ‘Tawny’ means brownish-yellow in colour. (d)
The lion in the stanza is large and tawny.

2. Or if some time when roaming round, A noble wild beast greets you,
With black stripes on a yellow ground, Just notice if he eats you.
This simple rule may help you learn The Bengal Tiger to discern.
(a) How can you recognise a Tiger?
(b) Why does the poet call him a noble animal? [CBSE 2015]
(c) How is Bengal Tiger different from the other animals?
(d) What does the word ‘ground’ means here?
Answer:
(a) A tiger can be recognised with the black stripes on his
yellow hide.
(b) The poet calls a him a noble animal as he is very impressive
in size and does not roar loudly.
(c) Bengal Tiger is different from the other animals as he is
quiet and roams silendy.
(d) It means the hide or the background that is the skin of
the Tiger.
Top 10 PYQs
1. Elaborate on the poet's warning about encountering a large and
tawny beast in the jungles of the East. What significance does the roar
of this beast carry, and why is it considered a crucial identifier?

Answer: The poet cautions about encountering a large and tawny


beast in the jungles of the East, emphasizing that if this creature
roars at you in a manner that could induce fear leading to one's
demise, it is unmistakably the Asiatic Lion. The significance lies in
the distinctive roar, serving as a crucial identifier to differentiate
this formidable beast from other creatures in the wild.
2. Delve into the poet's portrayal of the Bengal Tiger and the
suggested outcome of an encounter. What symbolic features
distinguish this noble wild beast, and how does the poet communicate
the potential danger?
Answer: The poet vividly portrays the Bengal Tiger as a noble wild
beast with black stripes on a yellow background. The suggested
outcome of encountering this majestic creature is ominous, as the
poem implies that if the Bengal Tiger happens to eat you, it might
not end well for the observer. The symbolic features of black
stripes on a yellow coat serve as distinguishing marks, adding a layer
of danger to the portrayal of this wild predator.
3. Explore the poet's description of a Leopard and the
cautionary advice provided regarding its behavior. How does
the Leopard's hide and actions contribute to its identification,
and what is the poet's message about the potential dangers?
Answer: The poem details the Leopard with a hide adorned with spots,
and the cautionary advice revolves around its behavior. If a Leopard
leaps on you, the poet warns that roaring with pain won't be effective, as
the Leopard will persistently continue to leap. The distinctive hide and
aggressive actions of the Leopard contribute to its identification, and
the poet conveys a message about the potential dangers associated with
encountering this wild feline.
4. Explain the scenario painted by the poet concerning a creature that
hugs you very hard in your yard. What emotions does the hug convey,
and how does the poet suggest confirming the identity of this creature?
What further action does the poet predict from this creature?

Answer: The poet describes a scenario where a creature in your yard hugs
you very hard, and the emotions conveyed through this embrace are
intense. The poet suggests that if there are doubts about the creature's
identity, it will provide just one more tight caress, underscoring the
powerful and potentially dangerous nature of the encounter. The hug
becomes a distinctive feature, and the poet predicts another caress if
uncertainties persist.
5. Examine the poet's comparison between Hyenas and Crocodiles,
focusing on their behaviors and how one can distinguish between the
two. What role do smiles and weeping play in this differentiation, and
what underlying message does the poet convey about their natures?
Answer: The poet draws a comparison between Hyenas and Crocodiles,
emphasizing their behaviors as key differentiators. Hyenas, characterized
by merry smiles, stand in stark contrast to Crocodiles, which weep. The
smiles and weeping become symbolic representations of their natures,
providing a distinctive feature to tell them apart. The underlying message
suggests that even though their appearances might be misleading, their
behaviors serve as reliable indicators of their true identities.

6. Investigate the poet's description of the true Chameleon, examining


its physical characteristics and unique traits. How does the Chameleon
adapt to its surroundings, and what role does the absence of
something on a tree play in recognizing this creature?
Answer: The poet describes the true Chameleon as a small lizard devoid of
ears and wings. The Chameleon's unique trait lies in its ability to change
color to match its surroundings. The absence of something on a tree
becomes a significant clue, indicating the presence of a Chameleon. The
poet underscores the adaptive nature of the Chameleon, using its color-
changing ability as a distinct feature for recognition in the wild.
7. Dig into the poet's portrayal of Hyenas and the significance attributed to
their merry smiles. How does this characteristic contribute to the recognition
of Hyenas, and what commentary does the poet offer about their demeanor?

Answer: The poet portrays Hyenas with merry smiles, assigning significance
to this characteristic as a recognizable feature. The merry smiles become a
key element in distinguishing Hyenas from other creatures. The poet's
commentary suggests that these smiles are not merely expressions but
indicative of the Hyenas' nature, providing valuable information for those
navigating the complexities of the wild.
8.'Many animals can be identified according to the poets' suggestion.
Name the animals. Which ones would you like to identify? Are there
any lessons for us from this poem?
Answer: The poet humorously warns against identifying dangerous animals,
like the Bengal Tiger and leopard, by risking one's life. Instead, recognizing a
tiger's black stripes and a leopard's peppered spots from a safe distance is
advised. However, embracing the bear, metaphorically depicted as a "bear
hug," is considered a less perilous pursuit. The poet uses wit to caution
readers against getting too close to these creatures.
9. How does the poet differentiate Crocodiles and Hyenas based
on their behaviors, particularly with merry smiles and weeping?
Answer: The poet uses merry smiles for Hyenas and weeping for Crocodiles
as symbolic markers. The broader message is that recognizing these
creatures requires understanding their behaviors, not just their
appearances.
10. How does the poet describe the true Chameleon, emphasizing its
physical attributes and adaptive capabilities?
Answer: The poet portrays the true Chameleon as a small creature without
ears and wings. Its distinct feature is its color-changing ability, aiding in
adaptation to surroundings. The absence of something on a tree is a key
indicator of a Chameleon. Overall, these unique traits contribute to easy
recognition in various natural environments.
THE BALL POEM

Extract-Based Questions:
What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,, what is he to do? I saw it go
merrily bouncing, down the street, and then merrily over – there it is in
the water! No use to say – O there are other balls.
1. What has happened to the boy?

Answer: The boy was very sad as he had lost his ball.

2. Why does the poet say No use to say – O there are other balls?

Answer: The poet says so as the loss of the ball is of a major consequence to
the boy.
3. Which word means happily‘?
Which word means ‗happily‘?

Answer: Merrily means happily.


Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)
1. 1. If you were the poet, which toy would you use, instead of a ball.
Give a reason for your response.
Answer: Toys have a very special place in the lives of children. If I
were a poet, I would use a doll instead of a ball. The reason for using
a doll would be that a child keeps the doll with extreme care and
love as a baby. A doll appears soft and harmless and Children
connect by befriending their dolls. The loss of ball would express
the pain and difficulty in accepting the bitter truth more efficiently
2. Do you think the ‘I’ in the poem is the poet or an observer?
Give a reason for your choice of response. Answer: The ‘I’ in the
poem, is the poet as in a few lines the poet says that he doesn’t want
to intrude on the inconsolable boy. Instead, he wants to leave the
boy alone to develop a new sense of responsibility.
3. Suggest a suitable by-line for ‘The Ball Poem” with a reason
for your choice. [CBSE OD, 2020]

Answer: The by-line can be ‘Loss growing up and Transformation, This is


something of a coming of age that is seen through the lens of loss and suffering.
The child comes to understand the world better when he understands that he is
never going to get his lost ball back. It is gone for good and there is nothing
anyone can do about it. The child undergoes a transformation.
4. Recount your reaction to the loss of a favourite object as a
very young child. Would you have behaved the same way now?
Explain with reason.
Answer: In my early childhood, there was a poignant incident when I lost my
cherished piggy bank, a delightful giraffe-shaped treasure from my father's
overseas travels. The emotional toll was immense, and I spent hours in tears.
Reflecting on that moment today, I recognize that my reaction was a genuine
response to my first encounter with the pain of losing something beloved.
Now, as I've matured, my perspective has evolved. I wouldn't respond with
the same intensity to a similar loss. Growing up has brought an understanding
that experiencing loss is an inherent and inevitable aspect of life. It's a
realization that has tempered my reactions and allowed me to navigate the
ebb and flow of life with a more composed outlook.
5. What feelings do you think, might be experienced, at the loss
of a mobile phone, for a youngster today? Explain how these
would be different from those felt by the boy in the poem.
[CBSE OD, 2020]
Answer: The feelings of a youngster on the loss of his mobile phone
today would be very different from those felt by the boy in the poem.
The boy in the poem was a little kid. It was his first experience of
losing a thing beloved to him. However, a youngster today might not
react in such a sad way as kids today are not so attached with their
possessions. They have become more materialistic with time.

6. How is the lost ball, the metaphor of the lost childhood of the
boy? Why doesn't the poet want to 'intrude on' the boy by
offering him money to buy another ball?
Answer: As the boy's beloved ball bounces away and slips into the
harbor, the seemingly trivial event unfolds into a poignant metaphor
for the loss of sweet childhood innocence. The boy's deep emotional
connection with the ball reflects the irreplaceable nature of moments
that slip away. The symbolism is clear — just as a new ball cannot bring
back the lost one, no amount of worldly wealth can reclaim the purity
of a lost childhood. The poet, avoiding moralizing, invites the boy to
introspect and internalize the profound nature of his loss, encouraging
him to move forward in life, acknowledging and embracing the
inevitable changes.
7. Imagine you are the boy’s elder sibling. He tells you about the
loss of the ball on reaching home. How would you assure him? You
may begin your reply like this:
I don’t think you should take this to heart. You see…
Answer: I don’t think you should take this to heart. You see there will be
several moments when a person will have to suffer the bitter loss of their
beloved possessions. That’s a part and parcel of life. Losses are inevitable.
People do lose materials and even relations. But that doesn’t bring life to
standstill, right? People move on. I want you to be brave enough to accept
the reality and get over it
8. How did the boy react after his ball fell into the water of
the harbour?
Answer: The ball took a quick dip in the water, catching the boy off guard
and leaving him feeling unexpectedly upset. He stood there, not able to
move, and stared at the spot where the ball disappeared. It seemed as if
he was lost in thoughts about his childhood, a time that had slipped away
forever, much like his lost ball. The waves gently brushing the shore served
as a backdrop to the moment, emphasizing the sense of irreversibility in
both the lost ball and the fleeting days of youth.
9. Why does the poet say: ‘No use to say ‘O there are other
balls’?

Answer: At first glance, losing the ball might appear commonplace,


something not worth getting worked up about. After all, boys
often misplace such items, and they can easily be replaced since
they're not too expensive. However, the boy's reaction suggests a
deeper emotional impact. It's not just about the cost of the ball;
it's about the irreplaceable sentimental value attached to it.
Likewise, the boy's inconsolability hints at the profound loss of
something priceless – his childhood. Money can't bring back the
specific ball he cherished, and wealth can't restore the innocence
and joy of his lost childhood. 10. What is the message that
John Berryman gives to the readers in ‘The Ball poem’?
Answer: In ‘The Ball Poem’ John Berryman gives a very positive
message. Gain and loss, getting and losing are the essentials in the
cycle of life. One should learn epistemology or the knowledge and
nature of the loss. Our childhood with all its attachments and sweet
memories has gone forever never to come back again. We should not
weep over the losses that we have suffered. Let us learn to live and
move ahead in life forgetting all inconsolable losses.
AMANDA
Extract-Based Questions.
1.Don’t bite your nails, Amanda!
Don’t hunch your shoulders, Amanda!
Stop that slouching and sit up straight,
Amanda!
a) Amanda is getting instructions for what purpose?
Ans: Amanda is getting instructions as a part of her upbringing. Her
conduct and manners are being refined for future purposes.
(b) Give a synonym for ‘hunch’.
Ans: Bend.
(c) What does the speaker of the above lines instruct Amanda in
the first stanza?
Ans: Amanda is getting instructed to bite her nails and sit lazily with
her shoulders bent.
(d) What is the literary device used in the third line?
Ans: The Literary device used in the third line is Alliteration. ‘Stop
that slouching and sit up straight’.

2. There is a languid, emerald sea, where the sole inhabitant is me


– a mermaid, drifting blissfully.)

(a) Why are these lines given within brackets? Ans: These lines are
given within brackets because they reveal the inner thoughts of
Amanda. Brackets are used for visual contrast between what Amanda
is saying and what her mother is instructing. (b) Give the word from
the passage that means free free-flowing act of going with the
motion and force. Ans: Drifting means the free-flowing act of going
with the motion. (c) What is the role of the mermaid here? Ans:
The Mermaid is a part of Amanda’s fantasy in her own created world.
As a mermaid sails in a sea carelessly and effortlessly, similarly
Amanda longs to do so in a place where she is all by herself. (d) Which
word in the extract means the opposite of ‘sorrowful’? Ans:
Blissfully is the opposite of a sorrowful
Top 10 PYQs
1. Is the purpose of someone constantly giving instructions to
Amanda being fulfilled? Explain.
Answer: No, Amanda sulks and becomes moody when her mother
gives her too many instructions. She does not listen to her mother
and doesn’t care to follow them but she can’t dare to ignore them
either so, she sulks. Parents in their endeavour to make their
children well-behaved, give them too many instructions.
2. Amanda imagines herself to be Rapunzel, yet would not
like to do what she did. Identify and state the reasons for
her decision.
Answer: On a snowy morning, the poet traveled with a heavy
heart. The landscape was cloaked in snow dust, and his spirits
mirrored the gloom. A crow perched on a hemlock tree altered the
scene by shaking it, causing a gentle snowfall on the poet. This
simple act transformed his mood, turning his sadness into
happiness and bringing a sense of relaxation.
3. What message does the poet want to give through the
poem — ‘Amanda’?
Answer: The poet wants to convey that parents in their endeavor
to make their children well-behaved, mannerly having good habits,
give them too many instructions or nag (always finding fault) them.
They should adopt positive measures, acceptable to children.
Otherwise, they will stop listening to them and indulge in
daydreaming as Amanda did.
4. How does Amanda behave when the poem starts? What
does the speaker ask her not to do?
Answer: When the poem beings, we find that Amanda is biting her
nails. She is hunching her shoulders.
She is sitting in a slouching posture. That is why the speaker asks
her to behave normally. He asks her not to bite her nails and hunch
her shoulders. She should sit up straight.
5. What does the speaker tell Amanda in the end? What is the
speaker afraid of?
Answer: The speaker thinks that Amanda is sulking and moody. He
thinks that Amanda is always moody. He asks her not to sulk because
he is afraid that people will think that he is nagging Amanda.
6. Do you think that Amanda doesn’t like to be controlled and
instructed not to do one thing or the other? Give a reasoned
answer.
Answer: Amanda loves her freedom. She doesn’t want it to be curtailed.
She wants to lead her kind of life. If she is asked what to do and what
not, she feels that her freedom is curtailed. She doesn’t bother to
answer her mother when she goes on instructing her what to do and what
not.

7. List the things that Amanda’s mother doesn’t want her to do.
Answer: Her mother doesn’t want her to hunch her shoulders and
bend her body down. She stops her from eating chocolates as it would
not be good for her pimpled face. She wants her to stop sulking as
others would think that she is being nagged by her mother.
8. Why does Amanda’s mother ask her to stop sulking?
Answer: Amanda’s mother thinks that she is moody as her mood is always
shifting. If she puts on an unhappy appearance, others will blame her
mother. They will think that she is being constantly nagged by her
mother.
9. What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid?
Answer: Amanda is a little girl. She is a symbol of every child who is
instructed by her parents to do or not to do this or that. If she were a
mermaid she would blissfully drift in the sea.
10. What is the fear of the speaker that is explained in the last stanza?
Answer:
In the last stanza, the speaker advises Amanda not to remain
moody and sulking. The reason behind this is that she does not want to
expose it before others. Otherwise, people will think that she was teased
by the speaker. It was her fear.
THE TREES

EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS


1.I sit inside, doors open to the veranda writing long letters in which I
scarcely mention the departure of the forest from the house.
(a) Find the word from the passage which means ‘hardly’.
(b) What is she doing?
(c) Where are the trees in the poem?
(d) What do you mean by veranda?

Answer:
(a) The word is scarcely.
(b) She was writing long letters.
(c) The trees are inside the house in the poem.
(d) Veranda means a platform with an open front built on the
ground floor of a home.

2. My head is full of whispers which tomorrow will be silent. Listen.


The glass is breaking. The trees are stumbling fofward into the night.
Winds rush to meet them. The moon is broken like a mirror, its pieces
flash now in the crown of the tallest oak. [CBSE 2016] (a) Why would
the whispers be silent tomorrow? (b) Why are the trees stumbling?
(c) Which word in the stanza means the same as ‘Quiet’?
(d) Which poetic device has been used in the sixth line of the stanza?

Answer:
(a) The whispers will be silent because the trees will move
outside to the forest.
(b) The trees are stumbling because they hurry to move
outside after breaking the glass.
(c) The word is ‘Silent’.
(d) Simile has been used using ‘like’ for comparison.

Top 10 PYQs
1. i) Find three things in the first stanza, that cannot happen in a
treeless forest.
(ii) What picture do these words create in your mind: ―… sun bury
its feet in shadow..? What could the poet mean by the sun‘s feet?‘

Answer: (i) The three things mentioned in the first stanza that
cannot happen in a treeless forest are: a. Birds sitting on the
tree branches. b. The hiding of insects in the branches of trees
c. The sun’s its feet in the shadow of the trees in the forest. (ii)
The sun‘s feet are the rays of the sun that reach the earth
after falling on the leaves of the trees and finally, reach the
earth‘s surface.
2. Why do you think the poet does not mention the forest's departure
from the house in her letters? (Could it be that we are often silent
about important happenings that are so unexpected that they
embarrass us? Think about this again when you answer the next set of
questions.)?
Answer: The poet did not mention the departure of the forest
from her house because it is a part of human nature to ignore
the important matters of their life. We all know that trees are
so important for our survival on earth. But still, human beings
are cutting them to make profits without even thinking of the
aftermath.
3. Does the poem present a conflict between man and nature?
Compare it with A Tiger in the Zoo. Is the poet suggesting that
plants and trees, used for interior decoration‘ in cities while
forests are cut down, are ‘imprisoned‘ and need to break out‘?
Answer: Yes, the poem presents a conflict between man and nature.
Man is causing deforestation by cutting down trees for his own use.
On the other hand, he decorates his house with the trees. We are
damaging our environment without even thinking about the end
results. By clearing up the forests, we are endangering ourselves. So
is with the animals too. We are ruining their natural habitat and
killing them for our fun or food but on the other hand, we are
keeping them in the cages on the pretext of safeguarding them by
making sanctuaries and zoos. So, it is true that we are in a direct
conflict with nature and making the other living beings prisoners, be
it the trees or animals
4. On the other hand, Adrienne Rich has been known to use
trees as a metaphor for human beings; this is a recurrent image
in her poetry. What new meanings emerge from the poem if you
take its trees to be symbolic of this particular meaning?

Answer: If trees are to be taken as a symbol for human beings,


then the poem will define the efforts of humans to free themselves
from the clutches of the desire to achieve everything. All the
human beings are under a constant pressure of being at the top in
every field
If trees are to be taken as a symbol for human beings, then the poem
will define the efforts of humans to free themselves from the
clutches of the desire to achieve everything. All the human beings are
under a constant pressure of being at the top in every field
5. What is the central theme that runs through the poem?
Answer: The central theme of the poem revolves around the dynamic
relationship between nature, human presence, and the cyclical processes of
life. The poet intricately captures the movement of trees from the
confines of a house into an initially barren forest, highlighting the
interconnectedness of the natural world.

6. Can you elaborate on the poet's depiction of the forest during


the nighttime?
Answer: Certainly. During the nighttime, the poet portrays the forest as a
desolate space, lacking the usual vibrant life one associates with nature.
Birds are absent from their branches, insects refrain from hiding, and the
sun fails to cast its shadows on the forest floor. This nocturnal emptiness
sets the stage for the transformative journey the trees embark on,
promising to fill the forest with life by the break of dawn.
7. How does the poet characterize the process of the trees leaving
the house?
Answer: The departure of the trees is depicted as a laborious and deliberate
process. Throughout the night, the roots of the trees work persistently to
disentangle themselves from the cracks in the veranda floor. The leaves
strain toward the glass, small twigs become stiff with exertion, and long-
cramped boughs shuffle under the roof, akin to newly discharged patients
navigating the doors of a clinic. This vivid imagery illustrates the arduousness
of the trees' journey from confinement to freedom.
8. What symbolic significance does the breaking glass hold in
the poem?

Answer: The breaking glass serves as a pivotal moment in the poem, symbolizing
the urgency and determination of the trees to break free. As the glass shatters,
the trees hurry to move outside, colliding and getting stuck in their haste. This
breaking point marks a transition, a moment of liberation for the trees, and
signifies the transformative power of nature in asserting its presence.
9. How does the poet employ the moon as a metaphor in the
poem?
Answer: The moon serves as a powerful metaphor in the poem, particularly
when the trees move into the forest. Described as broken like a mirror, the
moon symbolizes a profound transformation in the landscape. This metaphor
suggests that the arrival of the trees in the forest alters the established
order, much like the fragments of a broken mirror refracting light,
creating a new and evolving perspective on the natural world.
10. What is the significance of the poet's choice to focus on the sense
of smell and its connection to the departure of the forest from the
house?
Answer: The poet, in emphasizing the smell of leaves and lichen, introduces
a sensory dimension to the poem. This olfactory imagery not only engages
the reader's senses but also symbolizes a lingering presence. The scent
acts as a voice that reaches into the rooms, suggesting a connection
between the departing forest and the memories or traces it leaves behind.
It adds a layer of emotional depth, prompting contemplation on the lasting
impact of nature's departure from the domestic space.
FOG
Extract-Based Questions:
"The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and
city on silent haunches and then moves on."
1. What is the fog compared to in the extract?
Answer: The fog is compared to little cat feet.
2. How does the fog observe the surroundings in the extract?
Answer: The fog sits on silent haunches and looks over the harbor
and city.
3. What does the phrase "silent haunches" imply about the
nature of the fog?
Answer: The phrase suggests that the fog creeps with a certain
stealth or grace.
4. What might the movement of the fog signify in the context of
the extract?
Answer: The movement of the fog could suggest a transient and
ephemeral nature, as it comes and goes, observing the
surroundings briefly.
2. The fog comes on the little cat's feet. It sits looking over the
harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on.
(a) What does the poet mean by little cat feet?
Answer: Litde cat feet here represent a cat's silent and careful
steps. The way fog comes resembles the steps of a cat.
(b) What do haunches mean?
Answer: Haunches mean hips.
(c) How is the fog looking over the harbor and the city?
Answer: The fog looks over the harbour and the city, sitting on its
haunches like a cat.
(d) “It sits looking….” what is the poetic device used here?
Answer: A metaphor is used here.
Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)
1. 1. Stealth is an important aspect of fog. State any two instances
from the poem “Fog” that suggest the same.
Answer: The poem draws a parallel between the silent movements of
a cat and the quiet progression of fog. Both the cat and the fog share
a discreet nature in their actions— the cat moves noiselessly, and
similarly, the fog sits silently, resembling the cat as it envelops the
city. The poet underscores the resemblance in the hushed and
unobtrusive manner in which both the cat and the fog carry out their
respective activities.
2. Highlight any two characteristics of fog from its description
in the poem and justify your choice of characteristics briefly.
Answer: The fog quietly sneaks into the city without making any
noise. It covers everything in a short time, like a cozy blanket. Then,
just as suddenly, it disappears without a sound, leaving everything
clear again.
3. Is the fog portrayed as a resident of the city or as an
outsider? Support your answer with two such references from
the poem “Fog”.
Answer: The poem depicts "Fog" as an unpredictable visitor, arriving
unexpectedly in the city. It hovers for a while, much like an outsider exploring
a new place, and then suddenly departs, as if moving on to another destination.
4. Comment, in detail, on the significance of the closing phrase of
the poem- “moves on”.

Answer: The fog arrives quietly and stays over the city for a
short while, just like a cat that silently sits. Like a sneaky cat,
the fog then moves away and disappears without anyone
noticing, much like the cat not staying in one place for long.
The poet wants us to know that the fog is temporary, like
something passing by, not here to stay. It moves to other
places, just like the cat goes away to explore different spots.
5. In the poem “Fog”, the poet features the fog as animated.
If you had to write a similar poem for one other natural
phenomenon, which animal would you use to convey the
characteristics of that particular phenomena? Justify, in detail,
your choice of animal corresponding to it by bringing out
similarities.
Answer: The poem ‘Fog’ describes the advancement of fog toward
the city and harbor. He says the fog comes like a cat comes on its
little feet. This means the fog advances toward the city very slowly
and calmly just like a cat. It unpredictably enters our home.
Similarly, the zig-zag movement of the flowing river can be
compared to the zig-zag movement of a snake. Just like the river
water never flows in a straight manner in the same way the snake
can never walk straight. Its movement is graceful and beautiful.
Many poets have described the wavy motion of the snake with that
of the wavy water.
6. The poet beautifully compares the fog to a cat. Choose any
two animals from ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’ that do not have
qualities that can be drawn out to be compared with a fog.
Answer: Yes, I totally agree with the poet’s comparison of fog to a cat. The
poet compared the sneaky, and silent movements of a cat to the movement of
the fog. The way a cat walks into a place with its padded paws without making
any noise and sits there on its “haunches” silently, fog too enters the city
silently and stays there for a short time. Fog moves out of the city in the
same quiet manner as the cat that moves silently without anybody noticing
her absence. Any other image or animal would not have done justice to the
poem as the movements of a cat perfectly define that of fog. ‘How Tell Wild
Animals’ that do not have qualities that can be drawn out to be compared with
a fog are the Asian Lion and the Bear. Both of these animals have a huge and
terrible built. Their presence can never be unnoticed. One can notice them
from a far distance Moreover, the loud roar of the Asian Lion and the black
colour the Bear can easily attract everyone’s attention.
7. Difficulties come but they are not to stay forever. They come
and go. Comment referring to the poem "Fog'.
Answer: None can deny the fact that after every nightfall, there is
sunshine. In other words, sorrows follow happiness. Life has many ups and
downs. We must all accept that problems as a part of life. We should
strengthen ourselves so much that we can face them and stand up to solve
these problems. We should not get carried away. We should learn that time
and tide wait for none. Fog is also symbolic of darkness but it comes
quietly like a cat and goes away. It symbolizes that if we are not disturbed
by difficulties then life will itself move to the lighter side and things will
be easy to confront. We should always remember that we must face all the
problems boldly.
8. How is the fog like a cat?
Answer: The poet draws a captivating comparison between the fog and a cat,
finding striking similarities in their behavior. The poet observes that the fog
arrives with a sense of stealth, akin to the quiet movements of a cat. As the
fog settles, it takes on a posture reminiscent of a cat, sitting and silently
observing the harbor and city. This resemblance becomes more apparent as
the fog, like a cat, eventually moves on to find a new location, highlighting the
appropriateness of likening the fog to the furtive and transient nature of a
cat's presence. The poet's keen observations emphasize the parallel between
these two seemingly disparate entities, weaving a vivid tapestry of imagery
that enhances our understanding of the fog's character.
9. Nature has many wonders that people take for granted and never pay
attention to. How is the poem ‘Fog’ different from this perspective?
Answer: The poet delights in nature, particularly in the uniqueness of
fog. He not only writes about it but also discovers its resemblance to a
cat, showcasing a deep connection to the natural world. This observation
serves as a motivation for others to appreciate and find intriguing
connections in the seemingly ordinary aspects of nature, encouraging a
closer bond with the environment.
10. Why does the poet use the phrase “silent haunches”? Substantiate your
answer with reference to the poem “Fog”.
Answer: The poet employs "silent haunches" to depict the stealthy presence
of fog as it sits over the city and harbor. This phrase mirrors the quiet
posture of a cat on its bent knees. Much like a cat goes unnoticed, the fog
hovers silently over the city without attracting attention.
THE TALE OF CUSTARD OF DRAGON
EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS

1. Now the name of the litte black kitten was Ink, And the little gray
mouse, she called her Blink, And the little yellow dog was sharp as
Mustard,
But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard.
(a) What is the colour of Belinda’s dog?
(b) What were the kitten and the mouse called?
(c) Which word is the stanza means “fear easily”?
(d) ‘Blink’ here is the name of a mouse but what actually the word
means?
Answer:
a) Belinda’s dog is yellow as mustard.
(b) The Kitten was called Ink and the mouse was called Blink
by Belinda.
(c) The word is ‘Coward’.
(d) The word ‘blink’ means to shut and open eyes frequency in
quick succession.

2.Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful, Ink, Blink and
Mustard, they rudely called him Percival, They all sat laughing in the
little red wagon At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon. (a) Why did
everyone laugh? (b) What did the other three pet call the dragon? (c)
What does realio, trulio mean? (d) Give the synonym of ‘un merciful
Answer: (a) Everyone laughed at the Dragon because Belinda
tickled him unmerciful. (b) The other three pet, Ink, Blink and
Mustard rudely called Custard Percival. (c) Realio, trulio actually
mean really and truly. The words have been changed by the poet
so as to give rhythm to the poem. (d) The synonym of‘ un merciful’
is ‘merciless’.
Top 10 PYQs
1. Why do you think Custard, the dragon was called a coward? How was
Custard able to save all his housemates from the pirate? What values
should Belinda have possessed, so that Custard too could have been
among her favourites?
Answer: The dragon appeared to be a coward as he always cried
for a safe cage, so he was called a cowardly dragon. Later, when
the pirate entered the house with pistols in his left and right
hand, everyone was scared and ran away and disappeared, except
Custard who faced him boldly and attacked him, hit him hard with
his forceful tail, and gobbled every bit of him. Belinda should have
been nice to him. She should have made him feel comfortable and
safe in the house, instead of laughing and making fun of him with
other pets. Belinda should have been protective towards him.

2. Describe the fight between the dragon and the pirate.


Answer: The dragon had big sharp teeth, and spikes on top of him and
scales underneath, but everyone laughed at him as he always cried for a
safe cage, whereas everyone boasted about their bravery. But when the
pirate entered, all were scared and ran away, except Custard who faced
him boldly, attacked him, hit him hard with his forceful tail and gobbled
every bit of him. All of them later felt obliged to Custard for saving
their lives.
3. How did they say their admiration for the dragon after the
death of the pirate?
Answer: They became very happy. Belinda embraced him. Mustard
licked him. Ink and Blink jumped round surrounding him. They expressed
their joy in this way. No one mourned for the pirate.
4. What did they say about their bravery after the pirate’s death?
Answer: Mustard, reflecting on the pirate incident, expressed a yearning
for greater bravery, lamenting that nervousness held him back. In contrast,
Ink and Blink boldly claimed they were three times as brave as him.
Surprisingly, Custard concurred, acknowledging their courage surpassed his
own.
This insightful exchange revealed not just the diverse perceptions of
courage among the little companions but also Custard's humility in
acknowledging the bravery of his friends despite his initial portrayal as a
cowardly dragon.
5. How is ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ a ballad?
Answer: This poem seamlessly weaves the elements of a traditional ballad—
adventure, bravery, and romance—with a witty parody, creating a harmonious
blend of storytelling and humor. Through its rhythmic and rhyming structure,
the poem embraces the musicality inherent in ballads, delivering a delightful
cadence. The narrative unfolds around Belinda and her pets, introducing
unexpected humor in Custard, the initially timid dragon who surprises with an
act of bravery. Mustard's humorous regret and playful banter between Ink
and Blink further elevate the parody. This unique fusion of classic ballad
themes and comedic innovation transforms the poem into a captivating and
entertaining literary experience.
6. How did Custard prove to be brave when the pirate came?
Answer: In a sudden burst of surprising bravery, Custard, the dragon,
propelled himself into action with a powerful leap, emitting snorts reminiscent
of a roaring engine. His tail wielded like a formidable weapon, struck the
pirate with a resounding force, echoing sounds of clatter, clank, and jangle.
Each strike seemed orchestrated, creating a symphony of metallic noises that
reverberated through the air. How Custard attacked the pirate was
reminiscent of a robin diving after a worm, showcasing an unexpected agility
and fierceness. This dramatic sequence not only underscored Custard's
newfound courage but also painted a vivid, almost cinematic image of the
fearless confrontation between the dragon and pirate.
7. How did the pirate react when the dragon attacked him?

Answer: The pirate, taken aback by the dragon's boldness, gazed at


Custard with his mouth agape in sheer disbelief. Seeking solace, he reached
into his pocket and quenched his nerves with a swig of liquor from a flagon.
Determined to reclaim control, the pirate unsheathed his pistol and fired
two bullets in rapid succession, but to his dismay, they missed their mark,
evading the dragon's swift movements.
8. Everyone believed that the Custard was a coward, but when an
opportunity came he showed exemplary courage. Based on y our reading of
the poem, write a paragraph on the topic: 'Courage is a Mind, not of
Muscle'.
Answer: Mark Twain once said that 'Courage is resistance to fear, mastery
of fear-not absence of fear'. Courage is not merely a show of power but the
ability to overcome fear and not allow it to paralyze our minds. Most of us
tend to generalize and call people who shy away from a physical show of power
as being cowards. But the truth lies in the fact that those who indulge in
physical aggression are the ones who are the most insecure. David was barely
one-fourth of Goliath, the giant. Yet David succeeded, in killing him. He had
used his presence of mind and stood successfully over an entire army. Thus,
we must remember that courage is a matter of mind, not muscle.
9. Do you find The Tale of Custard the Dragon to be a serious or
a light-hearted poem? Give reasons to support your answer

Answer: "The Tale of Custard the Dragon" is a whimsical and almost parodic
poem featuring Belinda's amusingly rhyming pets. Belinda likened to a barrel
of bears, owns a kitten and mouse capable of chasing lions. The little yellow
dog exhibits tiger-like bravery, contrasting with the cowardly dragon,
subject to constant teasing. Surprisingly, when a pirate threatens, Custard
jumps into action, swallowing the intruder whole. Despite Custard's heroism,
the pets revert to claiming they could be braver. Ultimately, the poem
humorously circles back to the dragon's perceived cowardice, providing a
lighthearted twist to the narrative.
10. Why do you think Custard, the dragon was called a coward? How
was Custard able to save all his housemates from the pirate? What
values should Belinda have possessed, so that Custard too could have
been among her favourites?
Answer: Initially labeled a coward, Custard bravely faces a pirate while others
flee. Defeating the intruder with forceful determination, Custard reveals
hidden courage. Belinda, instead of mocking, should have offered comfort,
highlighting the importance of understanding and support in unexpected
situations.
FOR ANNE GREGORY
Extract-Based Questions.

1.Never shall a young man, Thrown into despair By those great honey-
coloured Ramparts at your ear, Love you for yourself alone And not
your yellow hair.” (a) What does ‘ramparts’ mean? (b) What is the
colour of Anne’s hair? (c) What does the poet mean by, “love you for
yourself alone and not your yellow hair”? (d) What does ‘despair’ mean
in the stanza? Answer: (a) Ramparts refers to wall that protects a
fort. Here, it has been used metaphorically to mean the lock of hair
around her ear. (b) Anne’s hair are honey-coloured. (c) The poet means
that young men love Anne for her beautiful looks and not for her real
character. (d) Despair means hopelessness. 2.“I heard an old religious
man But yesternight declare That he had found a text to prove That
only God, my dear, Could love you for yourself alone And not your
yellow hair.” (a) Who had found a ‘text’? (b) What does the text
prove? (c) What does ‘yesternight’ mean? (d) Find a word from the
passage which is an antonym of ‘conceal or hide’. Answer: (a) An old
religious man had found a text. (b) The text proves that only God is
capable of looking beyond external beauty, into the soul of a person.
(c) Yesternight means last night. (d) The antonym is ‘declare’
Top 10 PYQs
1. How does the speaker feel in the first part of the poem, and
what worries them about how others might see them?
Answer: The speaker is engulfed in a sense of deep sadness and
despair in the initial part of the poem. Their primary concern
revolves around the fear that others might only appreciate their
outward appearance, particularly their striking yellow hair, without
truly understanding or valuing their inner self. This fear reflects a
common human apprehension about being superficially judged
based on physical attributes rather than genuine qualities.
2. What does the speaker suggest doing in the second part
to make sure people love them for who they are?
Answer: In the second part of the poem, the speaker
contemplates using hair dye to alter the color of their
hairwhether brown, black, or carrot. The intention behind this
proposed change is to shift the focus away from their visually
appealing yellow hair and encourage people to love them for their
true essence, emphasizing the desire for authentic connections
beyond superficial attractions.
3. Who is the old religious man in the poem, and what does
he say about love?
Answer: The old religious man is a character mentioned in the
poem, and he articulates a perspective on love rooted in
spirituality. According to him, only God possesses the capability to
love someone for who they truly are, untethered from superficial
attributes such as the color of one's hair. This adds a layer of
moral and divine complexity to the theme of love explored in the
poem.
4. What does the term "honey-colored ramparts" mean, and
why is it important in the poem?
Answer:
"Honey-colored ramparts" is a metaphorical expression referring to
the speaker's visually appealing yellow hair. This imagery is vital in
the poem as it symbolizes an attractive physical trait that may act as
a barrier, preventing others from seeing beyond the surface and
appreciating the speaker's true self. It underscores the challenge of
being objectified or superficially perceived based on external
characteristics.
5. Why does the speaker want to change their hair color, and
what does it say about what they want in a relationship?
Answer: The speaker contemplates changing their hair color as a means
of challenging societal expectations and fostering genuine connections.
The desire to be loved for who they are, as opposed to being defined by
their yellow hair, reflects a longing for relationships founded on
authenticity and deeper emotional connections. It highlights the
speaker's quest for meaningful bonds that transcend superficial
judgments.
6. What does the old religious man's idea about God's love add
to the story?
Answer: The old religious man's assertion introduces a spiritual dimension
to the poem, suggesting that divine love, represented by God, is the only
form of love devoid of superficial considerations. This concept adds depth
to the speaker's yearning for genuine love, emphasizing the rarity and
purity of love that transcends physical attributes, aligning with a higher
moral or spiritual understanding of genuine affection.
7. Why does the speaker mention "yesternight declare," and what
does it mean?
Answer: The mention of "yesternight declare" implies that the old religious
man shared his insights recently. This temporal aspect underscores the
freshness and immediacy of the speaker's contemplation of love. The recent
declaration holds significance as it catalyzes the speaker's introspection,
prompting them to reconsider their approach to relationships in light of this
newfound perspective.

8. How does the poem talk about how society thinks about
looks, and why is this important?
Answer: The poem subtly addresses societal norms regarding physical
appearance and beauty standards. The speaker's contemplation of changing
their hair color reflects the societal pressure to conform to predefined
notions of attractiveness. This is important because it resonates with real-
life struggles where individuals may feel compelled to meet external
expectations, impacting their self-esteem and influencing how they navigate
relationships.
9. Why is the speaker thinking about changing their appearance,
and how might this relate to what many people feel in real life?
Answer: The speaker contemplates changing their appearance as a response
to societal expectations and a desire for acceptance. This reflects a
common experience where individuals, in an attempt to conform to societal
norms, may consider altering their looks to fit in or be perceived more
favorably. The relatability of this theme mirrors the societal pressure many
people feel to meet external standards, often at the expense of embracing
their authentic selves.
10. What is the main message of the poem about love and acceptance?
Answer: At its core, the poem conveys a poignant message about the
universal longing for authentic love and acceptance. It emphasizes the
speaker's quest to be loved for their true self, transcending superficial
attributes. The exploration of societal expectations, spiritual dimensions,
and personal struggles resonates with the broader human experience, urging
readers to reflect on the importance of genuine connections and the
challenges of navigating societal pressures in the pursuit of authentic love
and self-acceptance.
A TRIUMPH OF SURGERY

Extract-Based Questions.
1. Mrs. Pumphrey, anxious about Tricki's recovery, called daily for
updates. Assured of Tricki's safety, she began delivering two
dozen eggs to boost his strength. As recovery progressed, bottles
of wine arrived, believed to enrich Tricki's blood. The household
then embraced a ceremonial lunch with glasses of wine, realizing
the unexpected turn of events in Tricki's unconventional recovery.
Q/A:
1. How did Mrs. Pumphrey react to Tricki's recovery, and what
actions did she take? Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey, relieved by Tricki's
convalescence, brought around two dozen fresh eggs to boost his
strength and later sent bottles of wine to enrich his blood. 2. What did
the word 'convalescing' do to Mrs. Pumphrey, and how did it
influence her actions? Answer: The word 'convalescing' reassured Mrs.
Pumphrey, prompting her to bring more eggs, believing they would aid
Tricki's recovery. 3. How did the arrival of bottles of wine impact the
household, and what was the intended purpose behind selling them
for Tricki? them for Tricki? Answer: The arrival of wine turned lunch
into a ceremonial occasion, as Mrs. Pumphrey believed it would enrich
Tricki's blood, though the veterinary partners ended up consuming it. 2.
“At the surgery, the household dogs surged around me. Tricki looked
down at the noisy pack with dull eyes and, when put down, lay motionless
on the carpet. The other dogs, after sniffing around him for a few
seconds, decided he was an uninteresting object and ignored him.I made
up a bed for him in a warm loose box next to the one where the other
dogs slept. For two days I kept an eye on him, giving him no food but
plenty of water. At the end of the second day, he started to show some
interest in his surroundings, and on the third he began to whimper when
he heard the dogs in the yard.”
Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)
1. What makes you know that Mrs. Pumphrey was a rich
lady?
Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey was a wealthy lady as she had many
servants and maids and also had a pet. She used to feed her pet
with a lot of dishes, sweets, and snacks. Moreover, she had a
separate room and wardrobe for her pet. All these things show that
she was a rich lady.
2. Why were the household dogs not interested in Tricki
initially?
Answer: Tricki was a newcomer in the house. Moreover, Tricki was
very lethargic to play with them He was not comfortable there.
But after a few days, Tricki started enjoying them. He discovered
the joys of being bowled over, tramped on, and squashed every few
minutes. He became an accepted member of the gang.
3. Why was Dr. Herriot confident that Tricki will be in
hospital soon?
Answer: Tricki was tottering (moving in an unsteady way) slowly in
the house. He was not eating anything, not even his favorite dishes
and besides, he had bouts of vomiting. Dr. Herriot was sure that if
his food was not cut down and more exercise was not given to him,
he would be really ill soon.
4. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey treats Tricki in a special way?
Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey was an extremely rich lady but was
foolishly indulgent in pampering her dog, Tricki. She served him
with cream cakes, chocolates, and cod liver oil. She did so
because she treated Tricki like her son.
5. The household dogs at the surgery rejected Tricki as
“uninteresting objects.” Why?
Answer: At the surgery the household dogs surrounded Tricki. He
looked at them with dull eyes. The other dogs sniffed him but he
did not give any response. So they found him as an uninteresting
object and rejected him.
6. How did the gang of the household dogs accept Tricki as
their member?
Answer: After two or three days Tricki mixed up with the
household dogs. He had a lot of fun and exercise there. He ran
about with the dogs. He enjoyed being bowled over, tramped on,
and squashed. Thus they accepted him as their member.
7. What special diet did Mrs. Pumphrey give to build Tricki
up?
Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey found that Tricki had become listless. He
seemed to have no energy. She thought he must be suffering from
malnutrition. She decided to give a little special diet between
meals to build him up. She gave him some malt, cod liver oil, and a
bowl of Horlicks at night. She couldn’t refuse cakes and chocolates
to Tricki even after being advised to cut down on the sweet things.
8. What was the only fault of Tricki as diagnosed by Dr.
Herriot?
Answer: Dr. Herriot knew that overindulgence and pampering of Tricki’s
mistress, Mrs. Pumphrey created problems for him. The only fault of
Tricki was his greed for food. He had never known to refuse food.
Overfeeding and not giving him proper exercise made him hugely fat and
dull.
9. What excuses did Mrs. Pumphrey give for not following Dr.
Herriot’s advice? What was the effect of ignorance?
Answer: Dr. Herriot knew that the only fault of Tricki was his greed for
food. Mrs. Pumphrey was an indulgent mistress and pampered Tricki with
malt, cod-liver oil and bowls of Horlicks. Dr. Herriot had advised her to
cut down on sweets and give him some exercise. Tricki was to be kept on a
very strict diet. Mrs. Pumphrey told the doctor that it was very difficult.
The result of ignoring the doctor’s advice was disastrous. Tricki lost his
appetite and lay motionless on the carpet. He vomited again and again.

10. “He had never been known to refuse food; he would tackle a
meal at any hour of the day or night.” Herriot believed that
Tricki’s problem was his greed. Did he lack tolerance? What
values would you like Tricky to imbibe? Elucidate.
Answer: Dr. Herriot was not entirely wrong in believing that Tricki’s
problem was greed. Tricki was indeed greedy, but Mrs. Pumphrey only
made matters worse by stuffing him with rich food. Herriot did not lack
intolerance; he was just stating the obvious. Tricki’s ill health made him
concerned, and he observed a veterinary doctor. Tricki, on the other hand,
needed to exercise control over his eating habits. It would have been good
if he did not greedily gobble up everything that was placed in front of him.
Mrs. Pumphrey herself reveals that Tricki loved cream cakes and
chocolates very much. Thus, Tricki ought to have been less gluttonous
(excessively greedy) and luxury-loving, and behaved more like a dog!
THE THIEF STORY
Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)

1.Why did Hari Singh decide to come back to Anil?


Answer: Hari Singh decided to come back to Anil because he felt
that when Anil came to know about the theft, he would feel sad,
not for the loss of money but for the loss of trust. He did not
want to lose his trust.
2. Why was it difficult for Hari Singh to rob Anil?
Answer: It was difficult to rob Anil because he was the most
trusting person Hari Singh had ever met. According to Hari Singh,
it’s easy to rob a greedy man because he can afford to be robbed but
it’s difficult to rob a careless man because he doesn’t even notice
that he’s been robbed and that takes all the pleasure out of the
work.
3. What are the different reactions of the people when
they are robbed?
Answer: According to Had Singh, different people react differently
upon being robbed. The greedy man displays fear, the rich man shows
anger, and the poor man shows acceptance. However, a trusting man
like Anil would be sad due to the loss of trust.
4. Why did the thief smile without any effort towards the end of
the story

Answer: The thief was under tension that his master would be angry
with him for stealing the money. But Anil did not express any anger.
He said that he would pay him regularly and would remain to continue
teaching him full sentences. This made him tension free and he
smiled without any effort.
5. Why did Hari Singh think of doing some real work?
Answer: By ‘real work’ Hari Singh means stealing. He wants to steal Anil’s
money because he has not stolen anything for a long time. Secondly, Anil is a
careless mail. If Hari Singh did not steal his money, he would waste it on
useless things.
6. How and when did Hari Singh meet Anil?
Answer: Hari Singh met Anil during a wrestling match. He found Anil easy
going, kind and simple enough to suit his purpose. Anil’s trusting nature could
help him with stealing. Therefore, he offered himself to work for Anil. Anil
had no regular income and couldn’t afford to pay him. But still Had Singh
exploited Anil’s generosity and he forced Anil to keep him in his house.
7. Why was it so difficult for Had Singh to rob a trusting and
unsuspecting person like Anil?

Answer: The fifteen-year-old thief, Hari Singh was an experienced


and fairly successful hand. It was easy to rob a greedy man because he
could afford to be robbed. But it was very difficult to rob a careless
and unsuspecting man like Anil. The unsuspecting Anil didn’t even notice
that he had been robbed. That could take all the pleasure out of the
work of theft.

8. How did Hari Singh steal the money that Anil got from
selling his book to a publisher?
Answer: Had Singh saw with his own eyes how Anil tucked the bundle of
money under the mattress of his bed. When Anil was asleep, Had Singh
crept up to the bed. He slid his hand under the mattress and drew the
money out of the bundle without making a sound. Anil sighed in his sleep and
turned on his side, towards him. Hari Singh got startled and quickly came
out of the room.
9. Anil plays a major role in the transformation of Hari Singh.
Comment on the statement by highlighting the values possessed by
Anil which touched Hari’s heart and made him return to his honest
ways of earning his livelihood. Write in about 100-120 words.

Answer: Anil was a struggling writer who befriended Had Singh. Hari
Singh was an experienced, 15-year-old thief. He found Anil an easy
target to steal. Anil offered him to stay with him and to teach how to
read and write. Gradually, Anil develops trust in Hari Singh. But Hari
Singh was waiting for the right opportunity to do what he was best at.
After stealing money, he tried to go away forever but some inner
voice stopped him from doing so. He returned to Anil because he
wanted to live a life of respect. Anil did not show that he knew
the incident and accepted Hari with open hands. Thus, a well-
intentioned person, Anil changed Had Singh and brought him on
the right path. The story shows that trust and spirit to forgive
someone can bring big changes in someone’s life.
10. Hari Singh didn’t confess that he robbed Anil. Did he lack the
courage to do so or he really wanted to maintain his relationship
with Anil at any cost? Explain the values Had needed to imbibe in
about 100-120 words.
Answer: Hari Singh was a teenager, of 15. He was good at stealing.
He chose Anil to be his next target as he was a struggling author
and a simple person. Had Singh started living with Anil who in turn,
started teaching him how to read and write? Hari Singh, one day
got the opportunity to steal Anil’s money. He left with the money to
go away forever but his inner “ice stopped him. He returned and
kept the money in place. The next morning he started with his
routine work and didn’t say anything about the incident to Anil. He
was a teenager and lacked the courage to face Anil with his truth.
He did not want to lose Anil’s trust. He wanted to maintain the
relationship with Anil, wanted to get an education, and become a
respected man. So, he hid the incident from Anil.
THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR

Extract-Based Questions.
Q1: And then there was his accent. Though he spoke French and German
passably, he had never altogether lost the American accent he had
brought to Paris from Boston twenty years ago.
(a) Who is 'he' in the above extract?
Ans: 'He' in the above extract is Ausable, a secret agent.
(b) Where is he at present?
Ans: At present, he is about to enter his room on the sixth floor of a French
hotel.
(c)Find the word from the extract that means the opposite of 'fluently'
Ans: The word is 'passably.
(d)What is the present tense of 'speak'?
Ans: Speak' is its present tense.
Q2: "You are disillusioned", Ausable told him. "But take cheer, my young
friend. Presently you will see a paper, a quite important paper for which
several men and women have risked their lives, come to me. Some day
soon that paper may well affect the course of history. In that thought is
drama, is there not?" [CBSE2015}
(a) Who is 'my young friend' in the above extract?
Ans: 'My young friend' in the above extract is Fowler, a young romantic writer.
(b) What is the 'important paper' referred to here?
Ans: The 'important paper' referred to here is a report regarding some
new missiles.
(c) Find a word from the passage that means the same as 'disappointed'
Ans: The word is 'disillusioned':

Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)


1. How did Max go out of Ausable’s room to save himself
from the police?
Answer: Max was very nervous to find the police at the door. He
went out of the window saying that he would wait in the balcony. He
warned Ausable to send them away or he would shoot him. Max did
not confirm the balcony and stepped out of the window and died.
2. How did Ausable kill Max without using a weapon?
Answer: Ausable was an intelligent spy. When he found Max
waiting for him in his room, he made a story of a balcony under his
window. He convinced Max about the balcony. Thus, when someone
knocked at the door, Max fearing it to be the police, jumped out of
the window and died.
3. How did Ausable kill Max without using a weapon?
Answer: Ausable was an intelligent spy. When he found Max
waiting for him in his room, he made a story of a balcony under his
window. He convinced Max about the balcony. Thus, when someone
knocked at the door, Max fearing it to be the police, jumped out
of the window and died.
4. Why was Ausable confident that Max would never return?
Answer: Believing Ausable’s story about the balcony to be
true, Max stepped out, however, had concocted a very
convincing story, and knew that what awaited hit was a drop
from the sixth floor. Hence, he was confident that Max would
never return.
5. Did Max really deserve to get a chance to accomplish a
risky task?
Answer: I do not believe that Max deserved a chance to
accomplish a risky task, as his err very smart, gun. A spy without
these nor very intelligent. He did not even look threatening to
Fowler except seeing apparent qualities will most likely be a failure.
6. How did Ausable befool Max about the balcony?
Answer: Ausable was a very intelligent spy agent. When he found
Max waiting for him in his room, he immediately thought of the
plan. He told Max that there is a balcony from where people enter
his room and Max must have also entered from there. Max was
convinced about the story and hence when someone knocked at the
door, he ran towards the balcony to hide and died.
7. What was the real story of the balcony below the
window of Ausable’s room?
Answer: Ausable had an instant and fertile mind. He could cook up
all kinds of stories that fit in different situations. Actually, there
was no balcony below the window of his room. Ausable cooked up a
story that the balcony below his room had become a big nuisance.
It was the second time that someone had got into his room through
it. Actually, he wanted to confuse Max and make him jump out of
the window to get rid of him.
8. What position did Max take before he jumped out of the
window?
Answer: Max kept his body twisted. In this way, he could keep his gun
pointed at Ausable and Fowler. He grasped the frame with his free
hand to support himself. He swung his other leg up and over the
windowsill. The moment he heard the knocking getting louder at the
door, he positioned himself to jump out of the window.
9. Ausable was a successful secret agent. What qualities can be
attributed to him? Give some examples.
Answer: Ausable was very fat. He appeared to be a slow and sluggish
person. But inside that fat body, he had a very sharp brain.
It was throwing his presence of mind, intelligence and cleverness that
he got rid of Max easily. When Max heard a knock at the poor Ausable
told in a hat was the police whom he had called for the extra protection
of the papers.
Max wanted him to send them off quickly until he waited on the balcony.
Ausable had ordered a drink and it was the waiter with the drink
knocking at the Able used the false story to mislead Max. the poor
fellow was neither police law jumped through the nor the below, not one
on the balcony but on the ground from the sixth Max lost his life and
with him died that he was his mission a clever secret agent. Way
Ausable got rid of Max. They may assemble got rid of max proves that
he was clever secret agent.

10. Write a character sketch of the secret Agent Ausable.


Answer: Ausable was a secret agent. He was a fat and sloppy fellow. In
his appearance, he did not seem to be a romantic figure. He came to Paris
from Boston twenty years ago. He could speak French and German
passably. He had not lost the American accent. Ausable was a very
intelligent person. He had a great presence of mind. He did not lose heart
in a difficult situation when he faced a man with a pistol in his hand. He
remained cool. He cocked up a story about the balcony. He made Max
nervous by telling him about the police. He got Max killed without any
fighting or shooting. Fowler who was disappointed to meet him at the
beginning of the story was very much impressed with his intelligence and
presence of mind at the end of the story.
A QUESTION OF TRUST
Extract-Based Questions.
Q1. So he robbed a safe every year. Each year he planned carefully just
what he would do, stole enough to last for twelve months, and secretly
bought the books he loved through an agent.
(a) Who is 'he' in the above extract?
Ans: 'He' in the above extract is Horace Danby.
(b) Why did 'he' rob only one safe every year?
Ans: He robbed only one safe every year because he robbed just
enough to satisfy his hobby of buying and collecting rare and
expensive books. Otherwise, he was just an honest lock-maker.
(c) Find the word from the extract that means the opposite of
'openly:
Ans: The word is 'secretly.

Q2. A small dog was lying in the kitchen. It stirred, made a noise, and
moved its tail in a friendly way (CBSE 2014)
(a) What is the dog's name mentioned in the above extract?
Ans: The name of the dog mentioned in the above extract is Sherry.
(b) In which house is the kitchen referred to?
Ans: The kitchen referred to is located in Shotover Grange.
(c) Find a word from the passage that means the same as 'cordial'.
Ans: The word is 'friendly

Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)


1.Though Horace planned everything meticulously, why did he
fail?
Answer: Though Horace planned everything meticulously; he failed
to lead because of the smart lady. She posed herself to be the
owner of the house and convinced him to open the shelf as she did
“not the password of the shelf. Horace got trapped in her plot.
2. Who is the real culprit in this story, the lady or Horace?
How did he/she manage to rob the safe without leaving a
single fingerprint?
Answer: In this story, the real culprit is the young lady. She
managed to trick Horace into breaking the safe for her. She did not
even touch the safe herself. She managed to get all the jewels. She
had to do no physical exercise for this. In this way, she managed to
rob the safe without leaving a single fingerprint.

3. Why is Horace Danby described as good and respectable


but not completely honest?
Answer: Horace Danby was a good person. He made locks. He was
very successful in his business. He had engaged two helpers in his
business. But he was not completely honest because he robbed a
safe every year.
4. Describe how Horace Danby planned his work?
Answer: Horace Danby studied the house at Shotover Grange for two
weeks. He studied its rooms, its electric wiring, its paths, and its
garden. He was sure that the family was in London. The two servants
had gone to the movies and they would not come back before four
hours. He came out from behind the garden wall and entered the
house.
5. Did Horace get the jewels from the Grange safe? If not,
why did the police arrest him?

Answer: No, Horace did not get the jewels from the Grange safe. But
he broke open the safe for the wife of the owner of the house without
gloves. But in reality, that lady was a burglar. Thus, there were
Horace’s fingerprints all over the room. So, the police arrested him for
stealing the jewels from the Grange safe.
6. Whose voice was it that advised Horace about the special
treatment of his hay fever?
Answer: When Horace was about to open the safe, he heard a female
voice. She asked if he suffered from a cold or hay fever. He was
sneezing again and again. She said that he could cure the hay fever with
special treatment. He must find out what plant gave him that disease.
She also advised Horace to see a doctor.
7. When and why did the woman in red say, “Society must
be protected from men like you”? Doesn’t it sound ironical?
Answer: Horace assured the woman in red that he would not hurt
her. She must forget she ever met him. It made her angry. She
couldn’t let him go, otherwise, he would rob someone else. Society
must be protected from people like him. It sounds ironic because she
herself was a thief and had come for the same purpose for which
Horace was there in the house.
8. Do you think that the young woman in red proved far
smarter than Horace Danby? Give reasons.
Answer: Definitely, the young woman in red proved far smarter than
Horace Danby. She played her part of being the lady of the house
with complete perfection. She was an example of self-confidence.
She didn’t show any hesitation. She spoke and acted with an air of
complete confidence and authority. Poor Horace became a puppet who
couldn’t take himself out of her spell. She threatened to call the
police and made him open the safe, while Horace was later caught and
arrested. She decamped with the jewels.
9. Who is the real culprit in the story, the young lady in red or
Horace Danby? Comment.

Answer: The law of any land works on evidence. Horace Danby opened
the safe without wearing his gloves. He didn’t think it necessary to
wear them as he thought he was working for ‘the lady of the house’. So
the police matched his fingerprints and he was arrested. The lady in
the red was the real culprit. She made Horace open the safe for her.
She was also a thief and decamped with the jewels. But in the eyes of
the law, Horace was the real culprit because the evidence was against
him.
10. Why did Horace Danby prefer books to collect paintings?
Answer: Horace Danby loved rare books passionately. To fuel
his hobby, he resorted to robbing a safe annually. When faced
with a choice between collecting books and paintings, he opted
for books due to limited space in his small house.
FOOTPRINT WITHOUR FEET
Extract-Based Questions.
Q1. As they gazed, a remarkable sight met their eyes. A fresh footmark
appeared from nowhere. Further footprints followed one after another,
descending the steps and progressing down the street.
(a) Who are 'they' in the above extract?
Ans: 'They' in the above extract are two boys on a street in London.
(b)Who is making these footprints?
Ans: The scientist Griffin, who has become invisible, is making these footprints.
(c) Find the word from the extract that means the same as 'continuing'.
Ans: The word is 'progressing'.
(d) What is the opposite of 'remarkable'?
Ans: Its opposite is 'ordinary:

Q2: The air was bitterly cold and he could not do without clothes.
Instead of walking about the streets he decided to slip into a big London
store for warmth.
(a) Who is 'he' in the above extract?
Ans: 'He' in the above extract is Griffin, the invisible scientist.
(b)Why was the air bitterly cold?
Ans: The air was bitterly cold because the season was mid-winter.
(c) Find a word from the extract that means the same as 'quietly enter'
Ans: The word is 'slip'.
(d) What is the opposite of 'warmth?
Ans: Its opposite is 'chill'

Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)


1.What did the Halls see in the scientist’s room? [CBSE 2013]
Answer: As the door of the room was open and nobody appeared
to be inside, the Halls entered the scientist’s room. They saw
that the bedclothes were cold, showing that the scientist must
have been up for some time; and stranger still, the clothes and
bandages that he always wore were lying about the room.
2. How did the visible man become invisible? What did he do
then? [CBSE 2014]
Answer: The invisible man got angry with Mrs Hall for asking an
explanation for the mysterious happenings
and threw off all he was wearing on his head so that he became a
man without a head. Soon the constable Jaffers arrived to arrest
him, but the invisible man threw off all his clothes to become
invisible and, in the ensuing scuffle, knocked Jaffers unconscious
and escaped.
3. Griffin was not a true scientist as he misused his
scientific discovery. Illustrate this point by giving two
incidents from the story.
Answer: A true scientist is a law-abiding person. A scientist is also
called a ‘natural philosopher’. Griffin was not a true scientist as he
did not use his discovery of how to make himself invisible for good
uses. He lost control of himself and behaved like a criminal. First,
he set fire to his landlord’s house and ran away. Then he stole food
without paying for it in a London store. Besides, he robbed the
owner of a theatrical company and stole money from a clergyman’s
desk.
4. Describe the landlord’s and his wife’s experience with the
strange scientist. [CBSE 2016]
Answer: Both Mrs Hall and her husband were surprised to find the
scientist’s room door open because normally it was always locked. So
they peeped in but found nobody there. The clothes and bandages that
he always wore were lying about the room. Suddenly Mrs Hall heard a
sniff close to her ear and the hat on the bedpost leapt up and dashed
itself into her face. Then the bedroom chair sprang into the air and
pushed them both out of the room and then appeared to slam and lock
the door after them. Mrs Hall became hysterical and almost fell down
the stairs. She thought that her furniture was haunted. They decided
to confront the scientist next time when they met him.

5. What impression do you form of Griffin after reading the


lesson, “Footprint,without Feet”?
Answer: Griffin was a brilliant scientist, as he discovered a drug due to
which his body became transparent as a sheet of glass after swallowing it.
This made him invisible. But he was a lawless person. Because of his
misdeeds, he became a homeless wanderer without clothes and money. He
was an introvert with a desire for solitude. He was always seeking
adventure, and being fond of mysterious things. However, he was
unscrupulous, as he robbed various people to finance his work, he got
angry very quickly, which caused him to become a fugitive.
6. If, somehow you discovered how to become invisible, how would
you use that opportunity? [CBSE 2015]
Answer: If I discovered how to become invisible, I would use this
opportunity to punish all those people who cause trouble to others for
their selfish motives. I would catch them and hand them over to the
police without letting them know that I was behind them. I will also help
law-enforcing agencies when they conduct raids on criminal hideouts, as I
will be able to move in the open without fear of being seen. This will help
the people of the country to become more law-abiding citizens.
7. ‘Brilliant scientist though he was, Griffin was a lawless person.
Does this statement approve the apprehension that science in
wrong hands is Devil’s Pandora Box?
Answer: Griffin was a brilliant scientist. He had discovered a rare drug
that could make a human body invisible. This made Griffin an arrogant
lawless person. He broke the law more them once but never for a good
reason. He could dedicate his discovery to his country but he didn’t do
that. His lawlessness made the law helpless. All his actions prove that
science in devil’s hand is disastrous.
8. “Scientific discoveries have made life easier but insecure.”
Explain with reference to the story ‘Footprints without Feet’
written by H.G. Wells.
Answer: There is no doubt that scientific discoveries have made life
easier. Take any sphere of human activity, electricity,
telecommunications, electronics, computers, etc, these have changed
man’s life.
We can interact and walk on the moon. A trip to Mars is next
on our agenda. We can fly like birds. Supersonic planes fly at
more than the speed of sound. Wonderful drugs can overcome
deadly diseases. Surgery can replace defective limbs. Despite
all these discoveries, human life is becoming insecure.
Weapons of mass destruction are a constant danger. The fear
of chemical, or biological warfare looms large. Diseases like
AIDS and SARS can destroy the human race.
9. “A lawless scientist is a curse to the society.” Discuss.
Answer: It is true, that a lawless scientist is a curse to society. A
true scientist uses his discoveries for the good of the society and
welfare of the people. It helps the nations to progress. A lawless
scientist increases the misery and suffering of society. In this
story, we find how Griffin misuses his discovery. He causes pain and
suffering to others. He causes destruction. Suppose nuclear
weapons fall in the hands of a lawless scientist, he can cause
widespread destruction. He may ruin the achievements of other
scientists. That’s why the leaders of the world are worried about
chemical weapons falling into the hands of lawless heads of
governments or terrorists. If this happens, all the scientists of the
world will be doomed.

10. How did the invisible man first become visible?


Answer: Griffin was completely invisible until he happened to step in
some mud, which caused him to leave footprints as he walked. Two
boys noticed these footprints and followed him as long as the prints
were visible. Griffin, after getting rid of them, went into a big London
store to put on some warm clothes. After the store was shut, he got
himself dressed in an overcoat and a wide-brimmed hat. He also put
on a pair of shoes. This made him visible to the people who came to
work at the store the next day.
THE MAKING OF SCIENTIST
Extract-Based Questions.
Q1: So he did, and did he ever! Beginning in kindergarten, Ebright
collected butterflies with same determination that has marked all
his activities.
(a) What does 'he did' in the extract refer to?
Ans: 'He did' refers to Richard's habit of collecting various things.
(b) What else did he collect other than butterflies?
Ans: He collected fossils, coins, and rocks other than butterflies.
(c) Find a word from the extract which means 'resoluteness'
Ans: Determination' is a word from the extract which means 'resoluteness!
(d) What is the opposite of 'Beginning'?
Ans: Its opposite is 'Ending'.
Q2: He would catch a female monarch, take her eggs, and raise
them in his basement through their life cycle
(a) Who is 'he' in this extract?
Ans: 'Richard Ebright is 'he' in this extract.
(b) Why does he raise butterflies?
Ans: He raised butterflies to study their migration pattern.
(c) Find a synonym for the word 'rear" from the extract given above.
Ans: 'Raise' is the synonym of'rear' from the extract.
(d) What part of speech is 'them'?
Ans: It is a pronoun

Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)

1.Why did Richard lose interest in tagging butterflies?


Answer: Richard raised thousands of butterflies, tagged them and
released them to study their migration. But soon, he lost interest
because only two of his tagged butterflies were returned to him
and they had travelled only seventy-five miles.
2. Discuss the role of Ebright’s mother in making him a
scientist. [CBSE 2011]
Answer: Richard’s mother played a huge role in making him a
great scientist. She would take him on trips to encourage learning.
He was a single child. After his father died, his mother made him
the focus of her life. She would buy him all kinds of microscopes,
telescopes and other equipment. After dinner, she gave him
problems to solve. This helped Richard to learn a lot. She was his
only companion for a long time. It was his mother who got him the
book ‘The Travels of Monarch X’. This book opened the world of
science for Richard. She also wrote to Dr Urquhart to guide her
son. The scientist helped Richard and guided him. Thus, his mother
shaped him into an extraordinary scientist.
3. Ebright’s study of monarch pupas had a far reaching
impact. Elaborate.
Answer: For a long time the scientific community had regarded the
bright spots on a monarch pupa as purely ornamental. But Dr
Urquhart did not believe it. Nor did Richard. He started his
experiments on the monarch pupa. He built a device with the help of
a friend. This led to the discovery of a hormone. Richard proved
that the hormone was necessary for the growth of the butterfly.
This discovery got him many honors. Also, it led to another
important study. He began working on how cells read their DNA.
DNA is the carrier of heredity and is called the blueprint of life.
His theory could find answers to many cancers and diseases.
4. Richard Ebright displayed a well-rounded personality. Do you
agree? Elucidate in the context of the given text. [CBSE 2016]
Answer: Richard’s genius was obvious by the time he was in second grade. He
managed to collect all twenty-five. species of butterflies around his hometown
and classify them. He also loved to collect coins, fossils, and rocks. Science was
not his only passion. He was an active member of his school’s oratory club and
Model United Nations club and was an effective debater and a public speaker. He
loved photography as well. He was an enthusiastic canoeist and an all-around
outdoors person. Learning was easy for him. So he found it simple to devote time
and energy to many other interests. He became a champion in whatever he did.
He believed in the spirit of competition to win. But, he did not wish to defeat
others just to win. He wanted to win to do his best. Thus, he displayed a well-
tounded personality.
5. Dr Urquhart contributed significantly to Ebright’s growth as
a scientist. Explain.
Answer: Richard had become bored with collecting butterflies. His mother
got him a book on the migration of butterflies. Richard came in contact
with Dr Urquhart through the book. Dr Urquhart directed him to study the
migration pattern of butterflies. When he did not win any prize in the
science fair in seventh grade, he again wrote to Dr Urquhart to guide him.
The scientist gave him many suggestions for new experiments. Richard
performed these experiments throughout his high school and won many
prizes. Later, he worked on why bright spots are found on a monarch pupa,
motivated by Dr Urquhart. It led to the discovery of a new hormone. The
discovery of this new hormone further led to an important theory. The
theory was about how cells read their DNA. In this way Dr Urquhart
proved to be his true mentor.

6. What are the values required to become a successful scientist


like Richard Ebright? Elaborate with reference to the lesson ‘The
Making of a Scientist’.
Answer: Curiosity to know more and motivation to find reasons for the
existence of anything or any phenomena are necessary for becoming a
successful scientist. The urge to know more develops the scientific aptitude in
a person. At a very young age, Ebright became competitive by participating in
various county fairs. He never lost hope and kept on trying to do better. In
addition to curiosity and motivation, Ebright displayed the qualities of hard
work, sincerity, determination, and patience. He also accepted failure and
success in the right spirit. Thus, he became a successful scientist.

7. Although Richard did not win anything at the science fair it


was a stepping stone for his success. Concerning the story ‘The
Making of a Scientist’ of the above statement, give your
comments on whether competitions are for winning sake or to
give your best at work.
Answer: It is true, no one can deny the fact that every person wants
to be a winner. Each has a basic wish to reach ‘ at the top. For that
many competitions are organised at various levels. But still, we must
accept that all cannot be winners. Participation is more important than
winning. The participant should work hard to reach their level best.
Failures should not make us disheartened and best way to
overcome failure is to learn through our mistakes. We cannot
deny that experimentation and learning are stepping stones to
our success. So we should try to give our best.
8. Why did viceroy butterflies copy monarchs?
Answer: Viceroy butterflies copied monarchs
because
monarchs do not taste good to birds. Viceroy butterflies on the
other hand taste good to birds. So, the more they look similar
to monarchs, the less likely they are to become a bird’s prey.
Thus they protect themselves.
9. Why did Richard Ebright give up tagging butterflies?
Answer: Richard Ebright lost interest in tagging butterflies
as it was tedious and there was not much feedback. He could
recapture only two butterflies in all the time he did it and
they were not more than seventy-five miles away from where
he lived..

10. How did Richard Ebright’s mother help him to become a


scientist?
Answer: Ebright’s mother was his only companion. She used to
encourage the child to learn whatever he wanted to learn. She
took him on trips and brought him telescopes, microscopes,
cameras, mounting materials, and other such equipment.
THE NECKLACE

Extract-Based Questions.
1. "she learned the odious work of a kitchen. She washed the dishes.
She washed the soiled linen, their clothes and dishcloths, which she
hung on the line to dry; she took down the refuse to the street each
morning and brought up the water, stopping at each landing to catch
her breath. And, clothed like a woman of the people, she went to the
grocer's, the butcher's and the fruiterer's, with her basket on her
arm, shopping, haggling to the last sou of her miserable money.
The husband worked evenings, putting the books of some merchants in
order, and nights he often did copying at five sous a page. And this
life lasted for ten years. At the end of ten years, they had restored
all. Mme Loisel seemed old now. She had become a strong, hard
woman, the crude woman of the poor household. Her hair badly
dressed, her skirts awry, her hands red, she spoke in a loud tone, and
washed the floors with large pails of water."
A) Who seemed old now?.
Ans. Matilda seemed old now.
B) What had made her 'crude'?!
Ans. Ten long years of poverty, and a constant struggle and strife for
survival had made her 'crude'.
C) Which word in the given extract is an antonym to 'pleasant'?
Ans. 'Odious' is the antonym of 'pleasant' in the extract.
2. "He threw around her shoulders those modest wraps they had
carried whose poverty clashed with the elegance of the ball costume.
She wished to hurry away in order not to be noticed by the other
women who were wrapping themselves in rich furs.
Loisel detained her, "Wait," said he. "I am going to call a cab." But
she would not listen and descended the steps rapidly. When they were
in the street, they found no carriage; and they began to seek for
one, hailing the coachmen whom they saw at a distance. They
walked along toward the river, hopeless and shivering. Finally they
found one of those old carriages that one sees in Paris after
nightfall." A) What precedes these fines? Ans. These lines follow
Matilda's success at the ball where she was idolized. Her beauty
and elegance was praised by everyone. B) 'She' wished to hurry
away. Why? Ans. She, 'Matilda' did not wish to shatter the illusion
of her grandeur that she had so successfully managed to convey to
others by putting on such a shabby wrap. So, she wished to hurry
away to escape the notice of the rich women. C) Which word in the
given extract is a synonym of 'not expensive'? Ans. 'Modest' is the
synonym of 'not expensive' from the extract.

Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)

1.What, do you think, were the feelings of Madame Forester


when she came to know that Matilda returned her a diamond
necklace in place of an artificial one? Answer: Matilda borrowed
a necklace from Madame Forestier to wear at a party. She lost it
somewhere and in that place returned a diamond necklace to her.
She was unaware of the fact that it was an artificial one. Madame
Forester was shocked to know the whole story. Madame Forestier
thought that situation could have been avoided if Matilda had dared
to accept the truth and share it with Madame Forester.

2. How would you feel if you were in Matilda’s place and had
lost somebody’s such a valuable possession?
Answer: Matilda borrowed a necklace from Madame Forestier to
wear in a ball. She lost it the same night. She was too upset at
the incident and tried to find it everywhere in the fold of the
dress, the cloak, the pockets, and. Even Mr Loisel went to search
for it at midnight. They even could not sleep all night. They want
the police and even to the cab office and put an advertisement in
the newspaper offering a reward. If I had been in Matilda’s place,
I would have done all the above-said efforts for such a valuable
possession.

3. What changes occurred in Mime Loisel after 10 years?


Answer: Madame Loisel now knows the horrible life of necessity.
She sent away from her maid and learned the odious work of a
kitchen She washed the dishes and the clothes on her own, She
took down wastes to the street and brought up the water
stopping at each landing to breathe. They changed their lodging
and rented some rooms in the attic. She seemed old now and
became strong and hard women. Her hair badly dressed her skirts
awry, her hands red and spoke in a loud voice.

4. Why did Madame Loisel leave the ball in a hurry? What


does it show about her character?

Answer: Madame Loisel left the ball in a hurry because her husband threw
the modest wraps around her shoulders, whose poverty clashed with the
elegance of the ball costume. She did not want to be noticed by the other
women who were wrapping themselves in rich furs. It shows the hypocrisy
and showoff life of Mine Loisel. It shows her dissatisfaction, anger and
frustration with life.
5. How did M. Loisel and Madame Loisel manage to buy a
diamond necklace to return it to Madame Forester? What were
the consequences?
Answer: Mr Loisel and Madame Loisel spent all their savings i.e. eighteen
thousand francs, which his father had saved for him. The rest of the
money they borrowed from usurers with ruinous promises. They had to
arrange 36,000 francs for the new diamond necklace. All this ruined their
life. Mme Loisel had to do all odd jobs to save money. They had to change
these lodgings Mr Loisel had to work till late at night after office hours,
putting the books of some merchant or to copy pages at five soups a page
to earn extra money.

6. What efforts did Matilda and her husband make to look for
the lost necklace?
Answer: They looked into the folds of Matilda’s dress, in the folds
of her cloak, and in her pockets. Her husband searched the whole
route by which they had come home. He returned at seven o’clock.
He informed the police. He went to the newspaper’s office to
announce a reward. But the lost necklace was not found.

7. why did Matilda think that she was born in a family of


petty clerks by some error of destiny?

Answer: Matilda was a beautiful young lady with high dreams and
aspirations. She had no dowry, no hopes, no fame, and no wealth.
She lost all hopes of marrying a man either rich or distinguished.
She believed that she was born into a family of clerks only by
some error of destiny. So, she allowed herself to marry a petty
clerk in the office of the Board of Education.
8. How did Mr Loisel meet the demand for a suitable
costume for his wife for going to the ball?
Answer: Matilda refused to go to the ball without having a suitable
costume for the occasion. Her husband asked her to wear the dress that
she wore while going to the theatre. When Matilda reacted strongly, he
asked how much a suitable costume would cost. She replied that it would
cost 400 francs. Mr Loisel turned pale. He had saved 400 francs to buy a
gun for him to shoot larks. But he bowed down and agreed to give 400
francs to have a pretty dress.

9. Matilda realized that one little act of negligence can lead to


total ruin. How would you prefer to be guided to move on in life?
Answer: Matilda lost the necklace that she borrowed from Mme Forester.
She had to buy a new necklace for thirty-six thousand francs which ruined
all her savings. She had changed her lodgings and did all jobs like washing,
cleaning, and shopping grocery while her husband had to do extra work of
copying after his office time. She lost all her beauty. Now she realized
that one little act of negligence can lead to total ruin. We will prefer to
move on in life according to the situation. If we have committed any
mistake we have to pay for it. And we should pay for it bravely. There is no
harm in doing household jobs or in earning extra money after office time.
If we can live in a big house’ we should learn to live in a small one too with
the demand of time.

10. Loisel wished to keep his wife in good humor. Which values of
Matilda impress him?
Answer: Loisel really loved his beautiful wife Matilda. Even though they didn't
have much money, he did everything he could to make her happy. When they got
an invitation to a fancy ball, he used all his savings to buy her a new dress and
replace a lost diamond necklace. Loisel even worked extra hours after his
regular job to afford these things because he cared so much about his wife's
happiness.
BHOLI

Extract-Based Questions.
1 Her name was Sulekha, but since her childhood everyone had been calling her
Bholi, the simpleton. She was the fourth daughter of Numberdar Ramlal. When
she was ten months old, she had fallen off the cot on her head and perhaps it
had damaged some part of her brain. That was why she remained a backward
child and came to be known as Bholi, the simpleton. At birth, the child was very
fair and pretty.But when she was two years old, she had an attack of small-pox.
Only the eyes were saved, but the entire body was permanently disfigured by
deep black pockmarks. Little Sulekha could not speak till she was five, and
when at last she learnt to speak, she stammered. The other children often
made fun of her and mimicked her. The other children often made fun of her
and mimicked her. As a result, she talked very little."
A) What did Sulekha later on come to be known as?
Ans. Sulekha later on came to be known as Bholi.
B) Why did children make fun of her?
Ans. Children made fun of her because she stammered while speaking.
C) What does the word 'mimicked' mean?
Ans. The word 'mimicked' means to copy the speech of others.

2 "What's your name, little one?" "Bh-Bho-Bho-." She could stammer no


further than that. Then she began to cry and tears flowed from her eyes in a
helpless flood. She kept her head down as she sat in her corner, not daring to
look up at the girls, who, she knew, were still laughing at her. When the school
bell rang, all the girls scurried out of the classroom, but Bholi dared not leave
her corner. Her head still lowered, she kept on sobbing. "Bholi." The teacher's
voice was so soft and soothing! in all her life she had never been called like
that. It touched her heart. "Get up," said the teacher. It was not a command,
but just a friendly suggestion. Bholl got up. "Now tell me your name."
A) Who is 'she'?
Ans. 'She' is Sulekha, also known as Bholi.
B) Why were the girls laughing at her?
Ans. The girls were laughing at her because she had stammered while speaking
her name when asked by the teacher.
c) What does the word 'daring' mean in the context of the extract?
Ans. The word 'daring' means lack of courage to do something.

Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)


1.Why did Bishamber’s marriage with Bholi not take place?
[CBSE 2013]
Answer: Bholi rejected Bishamber's marriage proposal as he
demanded a dowry of 5000 rupees. Bholi believed in love over
material demands, refusing to support the outdated dowry
tradition. Her father, sharing her values, declined the demand,
stating his daughter's worth couldn't be measured by money.
Bishamber insisted on the dowry, but Bholi stood firm. News of her
refusal spread, making her a symbol of resistance against the
harmful practice. Bholi's decision not only spared her from a
problematic marriage but also inspired others in the village to
question and challenge age-old traditions, promoting healthier
relationships based on love and respect.
2. Did Bholi enjoy her first day in school? What made her
happy on this very day?
Answer: It was a mixed day for Bholi. She was happy to see
the girls of her age. She was fascinated with the colorful
pictures on the walls of the classrooms. But when the
teacher asked her name she could not answer properly and
the other girls laughed at her. She cried. But her teacher’s
soft words made her happy on this very day.
3. How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in
changing the course of her life?
Answer: Bholi’s teacher played an important role in changing the course
of her life. She was polite and friendly which touched her heart. She
encouraged her every time and was affectionate towards her. The
teacher transformed her into a confident person who could read, write
and speak clearly. This gave her the required confidence. Moreover,
teacher’s appreciation and encouragement helped her overcome her own
morale.
4. ‘Dowry is negation of the girl’s dignity’. Discuss with
reference to the story ‘Bholi’.
Answer: A girl is an individual in her own right. Equal opportunities
in life can help her become independent and strong. She is not a
burdensome object to be given away with money as compensation.
Thus dowry negates the girl’s dignity and self-respect. The story
‘Bholi’ dramatically shows this. Bholi is thought to be ugly and dumb
by her parents. So, they are willing to pay a dowry to an old man
with a limp. So that he marries her. Bholi, on the other hand,
refuses to marry that man. She is educated; assertive and capable
of taking care of herself. She dedicates her life to the service of
her parents and teaching at school. parents. So, they are willing to
pay a dowry to an old man with a limp. So that he marries her. Bholi,
on the other hand, refuses to marry that man. She is educated;
assertive and capable of taking care of herself. She dedicates her
life to the service of her parents and teaching at school. 5. Why
was Ramlal worried about Bholi and not about his other
children?

Answer: All other children of Ramlal were healthy and good looking. Bholi
was the only girl who was neither intelligent nor good looking. She was a
simpleton, she stammered also. Ramlal was extremely worried about her
future.
6. Did Bholi enjoy her first day in school? What made her
happy on this very day?
Answer: It was a mixed day for Bholi. She was happy to see the girls of her
age. She was fascinated with the colourful pictures on the wall of the
classrooms. But when the teacher asked her name she could not answer
properly and other girls laughed at her. She cried. But her teacher’s soft
words made her happy on this very day.

7. The chapter ‘Bholi’ highlights the discrimination against


the girl child. Analyse.
Answer: Nature does not discriminate, but society does. From time
immemorial the world has discriminated against the girl child. The chapter,
‘Bholi’ throws up many such instances. Randal’s sons go to school and college.
His daughters are not educated but married off. Her mother does not think it
necessary to take Bholi’s consent for her marriage. The groom is old and lame.
Still, he demands dowry. Her father is ready to pay him also. It is the girl
herself who raises her voice against this marriage. She is criticized and
humiliated for standing up for her dignity. But she is firm and decides the
course of her life.
8. Bholi is a child different from others. This difference
makes her an object of neglect and laughter. Elaborate.
Answer: Society does not tolerate differences very easily. Bholi is not like
others. She is slow for her age. She stammers when she speaks. Smallpox
leaves her all covered with pock-marks. As a result, she has to suffer a lot.
Her parents do not even bathe her. She is ignored and neglected. They take
her only as a burden. People laugh at her. Children imitate her when she
speaks. So, she remains silent most of the time. She has no confidence or
self-esteem. Society must realize that it must accept those who are ”
different. They must be treated with the same love and respect as others.
complete

9. “Bholi’s whole personality underwent a


transformation towards the end of the story”. Explain.
Answer: Bholi’s real name was Sulekha but she was called Bholi, the
simpleton as she was a backward child. She started speaking only when she
turned five but she stammered when she spoke and as a result she was
always mimicked or made fun of by the other children. Therefore, Bholi
talked very little.
Bholi did not know what exactly a school was and what happened there, in
the class when her teacher asked her name, she stammered and began to
cry. She kept her head down throughout the class. The teacher was very
encouraging and friendly to her and this made her gain confidence to
speak. She started seeing a ray of hope for a new life. After years of
gaining education and with the help of her teacher, Bholi turned into a
confident girl. She no longer stammered and could speak properly. She
even had the courage to refuse marrying the lame old man because he was
greedy and asked money from her father to marry her. On seeing her
father worried about her marriage, she said that he need not worry as
she would teach in the same school where she learnt so much and would
take care of him and her mother in their old age.

10. ‘Love and encouragement make the impossible possible. Explain


this statement on the basis of the story ‘Bholi’.
Bholi was sent to school as her mother thought her to be a burden.
She was neglected by her parents as she was not beautiful and
lacked intelligence. The teacher in the school asked her to tell her
name. She stammered and began to cry. The teacher showed her
affection and encouraged her in a friendly manner to put aside her
fear. Bholi somehow told her name. Bholi was surprised. The teacher
asked her to come to school regularly. The love and encouragement
shown by the teacher brought out drastic changes in Bholi’s
personality. Within a few years, she became so confident that she
refused to marry a greedy man.
THE BOOK THAT SAVED THE EARTH
Extract-Based Questions.
1.lota: I can't figure it out, Captain. (holding up a book) I‘ve counted two
thousand of these peculiar items. This place must be some sort of storage
barn.
A) What could lota not figure out? Ans. lota could not figure out what the books
were because he had never seen a book before. B) Where was lota? Ans. lota
was at Centerville Public Library on Earth. C) Find the antonym of the word
'ordinary' in the extract. Ans. The antonym of ordinary is peculiar. D) What
part of speech is 'peculiar' as used in the extract? Ans. It is an adjective.
2. NOODLE: Where shall we go, sir? THINK-TANK: A hundred million miles
away from Mars. Order the invasion fleet to evacuate the entire planet of
Mars. We are heading for Alpha Centauri, a hundred million miles away.
(Omega, lota, and Oop run off right as Noodle helps Think-Tank off left
and the curtain closes. Spotlight shines on Historian down right.) Historian:
(chuckling) And that's how one dusty old book of nursery rhymes saved the
world from a Martian invasion. As you all know, in the twenty-fifth
century, five hundred years after all this happened, we Earthlings resumed
contact with Mars, and we even became very friendly with the Martians. By
that time, Great and Mighty Think-Tank had been replaced by a very
clever Martian - the wise and wonderful Noodle! Oh, yes, we taught the
Martians the difference between sandwiches and books. We taught them
how to read, too, and we established a model library in their capital city of
Marsopolis. But as you might expect, there is still one book that the
Martians can never bring themselves to read. You've guessed it - Mother
Goose! (She bows and exits right.)
A) What was the name of the book? Ans. 'Mother Goose' was the name of the
book. B) Why did the Historian chuckle? Ans. The historian chuckled at the idea
that the misinterpretation of a book saved the Earth. C) Which word in the
extract is a synonym of 'Conquer'? Ans. 'Invasion' from the extract is the
synonym of' conquer'. D) What part of speech is 'And' as used in the extract?
Ans. 'And' is a conjunction
Top 10 PYQs (MOST EXPECTED)

1.How did a book change Think-Tank’s opinion about the


Earthlings? [CBSE 2014]
Answer: This book is misunderstood by the Martians. The Martians
thought that earthlings were planning to invade Mars. So, they
canceled their invasion of Earth and went back. Think-Tank
misunderstands the book. Phrases like ‘shell’, ‘silver’, and ‘garden’
gave him a false idea that earthlings grew silver and weapons. He
starts thinking that earthlings are very advanced technologically.
2.What was Noodle’s version to describe the so-called
‘sandwich’?
Answer: Noodle hesitantly told Think-Tank that he had
‘insignificant’ information about those ‘sandwiches’. He informed him
that he had seen surveyor films of those sandwiches. He had
noticed that the Earthlings did not eat them. They used them as
some sort of communication devices.
3. What saved the Earth? How?

Answer: One dusty old book of nursery rhymes saved the earth from
a Martian invasion. The Martian could not decipher the meaning of
nursery rhymes. Their misinterpretation made the situation comical.
They began to believe that the Earthlings had advance technology
and were planning to invade the Mars. They called off their mission
and even left the Mars isolated to escape to a far-off planet.
4. How did the book change Think-Tank’s opinion about the
Earthlings?
Answer: Think-Tank used to believe that the Martian was a superior race
to the Earthlings. But after cracking the so-called code of an old nursery
rhyme book, he changed his view about the Earthlings. He now thought
that the Earthlings has reached a high level of civilization and planning to
invade the Mars. It made him call off his mission.
5. Noodle hails Think-Tank as the most powerful and intelligent
creature in the whole universe. Do you agree? Write your
opinion of Think-Tank citing instances from the given text.

Answer: Noodle is a trainee under Think-Tank. He bows before him and


hails his ruler as the most powerful and intelligent creature in the
universe. However, Think-Tank is not intelligent. He misinterprets the
nursery rhymes completely. ‘Silver’, ‘shells’, and ‘garden’ for him mean
that the earthlings are growing metals on farms. He thinks books to be
sandwiches and wants the crew to eat them. When he is read the nursery
rhyme which says, ‘Humpty-Dumpty had a great fall’ he is terrified and
plans his escape from Mars Thus, Think-Tank is nothing more than a
show-off and a pompous fool.

6. Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’?
Answer: The twentieth century was often called the ‘Era of the book’. In
those days, there were books about everything, from anteaters to Zulus.
Books taught people how to, when to, where to, and why to. They
illustrated, educated, punctuated, and even decorated.
7. Where did Captain Omega reach with her team?
Answer: Captain Omega landed on the earth with her team. They found
themselves in the Centerville Public Library amidst thousands of books.
They thought they were in some sort of storage bam.

8. Compare and contrast the characters of Noodle and


Think-Tank. [CBSE 2012]
Answer: Noodle and Think-Tank have contrasting characters. Think- Tank
likes to be called the ‘Great and the Mighty’. He orders and commands. He
is the ruler of Mars but has no intelligence. He thinks books are
sandwiches. He is wrong about everything. He demands that the crew
obey him. He likes to pass on other’s ideas as his own. He is a coward who
simply boasts about his power.
9. The play, The Book That Saved the Earth’ conveys the message
that misunderstanding of cultural differences between various races
can cause confusion and conflict. Based on your reading of the play,
write how such confusion and conflicts can be checked so that
peace and harmony is maintained. [CBSE 2015]
Answer: The confusion in the mind of Think-Tank occurred due to
the literal interpretation of the nursery rhymes in the book
Mother Goose. To ensure that conflicts are checked so that peace
and harmony are maintained, cultural differences should be sorted
out by initially sending mature and wise people from one culture to
the other to establish contact before deciding to wage war. Think-
Tank had sent an initial probe, but the crew members of the probe
were not sufficiently intelligent or mature to understand Earth’s
culture. That is why they interpreted the nursery rhymes and
caused misunderstanding in the mind of Think-Tank.

10. Rushing to a conclusion without going into details may lead to


chaos and failure. Elaborate this concerning the Martian invasion in
the chapter ‘The Book That Saved the Earth’.
Answer: The Martians were very proud of themselves. Great
and mighty Think-Thank regarded as the ruler of Mars was
always caught in self-praise. He had a quick mind and wished
to attack the earth in a great hurry. Martians misinterpreted
the signals received from Earthling's book of nursery rhymes
and fled away. If they had planned the things decisively
things would have been different. In any kind of situation,
rash decisions would never give results. It is only through
knowledge, perseverance.
1. Did the letter reach God? Why did he postmaster send a reply go Lencho?
ANS- the letter was not delivered to the God because he didn't want to jeopardize him great faith in God. The
mailman responded to Lencho. As a result, the postal delivered the 70 pesos to the Lencho. The postmaster and post
office staff gathered 70 from his own earnings and sent it to Lencho.
2. What does Mandela refer as an extraordinary human disaster ?
Ans:- Nelson Mandela reffered to it as an extraordinary human disaster because it was the practice of South
Apartheid. During the apartheid government, people were separated based on their skin colour. Black people lacked
adequate constitutional rights.
3. Why did Ebright lose interest in tagging butterflies?
Ans:- Ebright used to brand butterflies wings and then release them. In reality thousands of monarch butterflies lived
in the basement of his house . He began to lose interest in it because it was a monotonous job with little feedback.
4. Why did Bholi not marry Bishamber ?
Ans:- Bholi was devoted to her parents and for their sake respect and pleasure she agreed to marry Bishamber. When
Bishamber wanted 5,000 rupees as dowry and insulted her father, she refused to marry him in order to safeguard
Ramlal's dignity.
5. What excited Rajvir? Why did Pranjol not share his excitement ?
Ans :- The beautiful secenery and wide range of green tea gardens excited Rajvir. Pranjol did not share his
excitement since he was bom and brought up in Assam, a place familiar to him.
6. What was Horace Danby’ shobby? How did he manage to fulfill it ?

Ans:- Horace Danby was fond of collecting rare and expensive books. He managed to fulfill it by breaking open a safe
each year.
7. Why did Matilda (Mme Loisel)leave the ball in a hurry ? What does it show about her character?
Ans:- Since no one noticed her shabby shawl, Matilda (Mme Loisel) left the ball in a hurry. Her character depicts her
false pride and vanity in material things.

8. What lesson on death and suffering did the Buddha teach Gotami in the chapter, ‘The Sermon at Banaras’?
Ans:- In his sermon at Banaras, Buddha taught Gotami that the life of mortals is brief, troubled and combined with
pain. Death is common for all, it cannot be avoided. He compared human life to ripe fruits that eventually decay or as
earthen vessels that will break someday. Neither a father nor his kinsmen can save anyone. Weeping or grieving
cannot bring back the dead to life nor bring peace of mind but only cause pain and suffering to the grieving body. One
should accept death without lamentation, complaint and overcome sorrow and grief thus, bringing peace of mind,
which is a blessing.

9. What do we learn about the financial condition of the bakers of Goa?


Ans:- The bakers of Goa led a prosperous life. Baking was a profitable profession in the old days as bakers never
starved. The families and servants of these bakers always looked happy and prosperous. Their plum physique is an
open testimony of their prosperity.
12. School education turned Bholi from a dumb cow into a bold girl. How did she save her father from
a huge expense and become his support in his old age?
Ans:- Bholi, despite her name, slowly gained her confidence through her teacher. With the help of her teacher, she got
a good education. She understood how society works and was brave enough to stand up against the evns present in
society. She saved her father from huge expenses and became his support in his old age by refusing to marry
Bishamber who was an old, lame man. She refused to pay the dowry of five thousand. She stood up with courage and
acted boldly despite knowing that she may not get married. Bholi decided to serve her parents in their old age and
serve in the same school in which she studied.
10.In the poem ‘Trees’, where are the trees? What are their roots, twigs, etc trying to do?
Ans:- In the poem ‘Trees’, the trees are inside the house. The roots work to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor. When the tree grows, it’s leaves strain towards the glass. The small twigs and boughs try to
move to the doors while growing.
11.Which book did Ebright’s mother get for him? How did it change his life?
Ans:- Ebright’s mother got him a children’s book titled ‘The Travels of Monarch X’. The
book described how Monarch butterflies migrate to Central America. This opened the
world of science to yound and enthused collector, Ebright.
23. Don’t you worry, Pita ji! In your old age I will serve you and mother”. Through this statement the narrator wants to
highlight the moral values Bholi was imbued with. Based on the reading of the lesson, what made Bholi aware of her
rights and how did she use them ?
Ans:- Bholi as a child was mostly ignored or made fun of. Her peers made fun of their looks while her parents gave up
on her finding a good home to marry. In the end, they found a greedy old widowed man for her to marry. Bholi despite
the treatment meted out by her parents displayed utmost respect and concern for them. She showed love and
affection towards her parents and rarely disobeyed their words. This attitude is noticed when despite knowing the
attitude of her to-be husband she willingly agrees to get married to him for the sake of her parents. Bholi while being
submissive was also a determined and confident girl who gained her self-respect through her education. Her teacher
during the course of Bholi’s education. Her teacher during the course of Bholi’s education made her aware of these
rights. She wasn’t ready to demean nerself but stood up confidently against the proposal of the greedy man and told
her parents that she would take care of them.
13. Once we decide to achieve something, so many difficulties come in our way. With focused attention we can make
that achievement. How did Valli succeed in fulfilling her desire of riding a bus?

Ans:- Eight-year-old Valli’s desire was to take a ride on the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest
town. Her desire was so strong that it made herd-overcome her fears prompting her to plan her trip meticulously. She
collected all the details of the journey and saved every coin that came her way. She maintained her self-respect so
much that she does not even get tempted to go for shopping. After taking all the precautions to ensure that she has a
safe journey, she fulfilled her dream of riding in a bus. Despite her young age, she returned back home safely. Valli
taught us that once we decide to achieve something, many difficulties may come our » way but with courage and
confidence, we can accomplish the task.
14. How did Horace get entry into the house?
Ans:- Horace had be friended the pet dog and he knew where the keys were hung.

15. How did the young seagull’s parents teach him the art of flying?
Ans:- The parents of the young seagull were very wise. On seeing that their child was quite weak and scared and is
afraid to fly, they, at once, decided to be strict with him. They warned him that they would not feed him anymore as he
was a grown up seagull. He would starve to death if he did not fly. They tempted him by showing flesh and eating it in
front of him but they did not offer it to him. Hunger proved the young seagull to fly and ultimately, he made efforts and
was successful.
18. What made the boys follow the footprints?
Ans :- The boys saw freshly made footprints on the mud but there was no one to be seen leaving those footprints.
This thing intrigued the boys and hence, they decided to follow those footprints without feet which were actually left
by Griffin.
16. Describe how Horace Danby planhis work?
Ans:- Horace Danby was an intelligent and clever thief. He robbed a safe every year which would suffice him for
twelve months. He planned his robbery very carefully. He studied the complete situation of the house at Shoover
Grange for two weeks. In the meantime, he had studied the situation of rooms, electric wires,: path and its garden. He
had studied the detailed plan of the drawing room. He also knew about the keys as he had seen where the
housekeeper hang the keys every time. He befriended the pet dog to escape him while robbery. Thus, he made all the
security arrangements by ensuring that there was no problem in breaking in there.

19. Why did the postmaster reply to Lencho’s letter?

Ans:- The letter did not reach God. The postmaster was a kind, generous, helpful, and God-fearing man. The
postmaster did not want to shake Lencho's faith in God, and thus, replied to Lencho's letter by sending him money
under the name of God.
20.Why did Lencho write a letter to God?
Ans :- Lencho's crops were destroyed by the hailstorm. He wrote a letter to God asking for a hundred pesos. He
needed the money to sow his field again and survive till the new crops came.
21. What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped ?

Ans:- When the rain began, Lencho was very happy. But, when hailstones destroyed his crops completely he became
very unhappy. After the hail stopped, Lencho thought that God is the only hope to save his family. So he wrote a letter
to God.
24. Why did Matilda not want ot see her rich friends ?
Ans:- Matilda was not satisfied with what her life had to offer and was ashamed of her status. As she was humiliated
by her lower-middle-class existence, she, generally, avoided meeting her rich friends like Mme Forestier, a wealthy
lady, whom she knew from her days at the convent school.

25.What is the twist at the end of the story the necklace?


Ans:- Matilda had borrowed a diamond necklace, she lost it. In order to replace it, they had to borrow money, use all
the savings. They bought it for thirty-six thousand Francs and it took them ten years to repay the money. Matilda had
to live a horrible life of necessity to help save all that they could. One Sunday, while walking at the Champs-Elysees,
Matilda met Jeanne. As they had paid back the debt now, Matilda disclosed the fact that she had lost Jeanne’s
necklace and replaced it with a new one which led them to such misery. It was then that Jeanne tells Matilda that her
necklace was not worth more than five hundred Francs, it was of false diamonds.
26.What were the three mistakes that Matilda committed?

Ans:- Always unhappy, Borrowed the necklace and lost it, Did not disclose the loss to the friend.

22. How did Valli react when she saw the dead cow by the roadside ?

Ans:- Valli was extremely excited about her bus journey. She had carefully planned and saved for this journey. On her
return journey, when she saw the dead cow on the roadside she became sad. She lost her enthusiasm to see the dead
cow. She became pensive and had negative views towards life.
28.Mandela says that his country’s greatest wealth is its people and not the purest diamonds. Justify his statement.

Ans:- The strength of a country lies in it’s people. The great patriots of South Africa were Mandela’s comrades in the
struggle for freedom. They fought for an idea, went to prison, were pushed to their limits but did not give in. Such
great men achieved freedom which cannot be achieved by possessing the purest of diamonds. Thus, these men are
more precious than diamonds.
29.Why is 10th May, 1994 important for South Africa?
Ans:- 10th May 1994 is important for South Africa because it marks the end of Apartheid. The first democratic
elected government, headed by Nelson Mandela was formed on this day.

30. What was Bholi’s teacher’s role in changing the course of her life?
Ans:- Bholi's teacher played an important role in changing the course of her life. She was polite and friendly which
touched her heart. She encouraged Bholi every time and was affectionate towards her. She asked Bholi to put aside
her fear of not being able to speak properly. She transformed Bholi into a confident girl who could read, write and
speak properly which is what eventually led to her having self-respect and dignity.

31. What could Amanda do if she were a mermaid?

Ans:- If Amanda were a mermaid, she would drift slowly on a languid emerald sea. She would be the sole inhabitant
of the relaxed green sea and would move slowly in it.
35.Why did Buddha choose Benaras to preach his first sermon?
Ans:- Most holy place, on banks of sacred river Ganges Many people come to get rid of sorrows and sufferings, to
repent for their sins. Buddha wanted to lessen their sorrows and sufferings and so, he chose Benaras.
32. How did Griffin attack Mrs. Hall?
Ans:- On seeing that Griffin's room was open, they peeped round the door, saw nobody, and decided to investigate.
They saw the clothes and bandages that he always wore were lying about the room. All of a sudden Mrs Hall heard a
sniff close to her ear. A moment later the hat on the bedpost leapt up and dashed itself into her face. Springing into
the air, the bedroom chair charged straight at her, legs foremost. As she and her husband turned away in terror, the
extraordinary chair pushed them both out of the room and then appeared to slam and lock the door after them.

33.Who are the characters in the poem? What are their pet names?
Ans:- The characters in this poem are Belinda, a little black kitten named Ink, a little grey mouse named Blink, a
yellow dog named Mustard, a pet dragon named Mustard and a pirate.

34. Why does Chubukov suspect the arrival of Lomov?


Ans:- As Lomov asks Chubukov for his daughter, Natalya's hand in marriage, he delightfully accepts. He was
expecting the arrival of Lomov because he knew of his daughter's interest in him.
34.Comment on the teacher-student relationship shared between Anne and Mr. Keesing. Ans:- Mr Keesing was a
strict and innovative teacher. He had a good sense of humour also. To make Anne realize her indiscipline, he asked
her to write essays on chatterboxes. He appreciated Anne’s arguments and poetry given in defense of her being a
talkative person.

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