5.

To hit the nail on the head - to say something that is

V. Communication Street exactly right
6. To call a spade a spade - to be very frank and outspoken
Listen Carefully
First listen to these idioms carefully. They are numbered 1 to Speak Correctly
6. Then listen to their meanings which are numbered (a) to The correct answers are:
(f). Match the idioms with their meanings by matching the What is the time by your watch?
correct numbers. Try to use the idioms in sentences of your
Our classroom is on the second floor.
own.
The price of this bag is higher than that of yours.
1. (a); 2. (b); 3. (c); 4. (d); 5. (e); 6. (f)
I prefer coffee to tea.
1. Once in a blue moon - something that happens very
rarely His sons-in-law have come home.
2. To beat about the bush - to say something in an indirect I cannot cope with this pressure.
and roundabout way Please repeat what you said.
3. To be in hot water - to be in trouble or difficulty He tells a lot of lies.
4. To eat your words - to take back what you have said

The Night the

12 Ghost Got In
(Someone has trod upon the flower beds.)
Word Alley despondent - sad, without much hope; dejected
(Don’t look so despondent.)
hullabaloo - a lot of loud noise, especially made by people
beagle - a breed of dogs (small, with short legs and long ears)
who are annoyed or excited about something; commotion;
(Is your dog a beagle?)
uproar
(The teacher punished the boys for the hullabaloo in the ceased – stopped
class.) (The sound of the whispers soon ceased.)

misunderstandings - situations in which we often do not whammed - threw something with great force
clearly understand what is happening (He whammed the ball over the fence.)
(They stopped talking to each other because of many engraver - a person whose job is to cut words or designs on
misunderstandings.) wood, stone or metal
advent - the coming of an important event or person (He is an engraver by profession.)
(The newspapers announced the advent of the President of frothing - producing a lot of saliva
the USA.) (He was so angry that he was frothing at the mouth.)

patrolman - a male police officer who walks or drives around had enormously taken her fancy - had interested or appealed
an area to make sure that there is no trouble or crime to her
(The patrolman in our area is always alert.) (That dress had enormously taken her fancy.)

attic - a room or space just below the roof of a house; loft in a jiffy - in an instant or moment
(All the junk is in the attic.) (I will be there in a jiffy.)

trod upon - put your foot down while you are stepping or haven’t a stitch on - not wearing any clothes
walking (Don’t you realize that you haven’t a stitch on?)

The Night the Ghost Got In 27 © Firefly Books

crisscrossed - made a pattern on something with many (The crowd beat a retreat when the cops pointed their guns
straight lines that cross each other at them.)
(The lines crisscrossed each other intricately.) couldn’t put their finger on it - not able to identify what was
bounded - ran with long steps the reason why something had happened
(I bounded down the stairs to greet her.) (The cops knew something was wrong but couldn’t put their
tight as a tick - stuck very tightly like a tick swollen with blood finger on it.)
and sticking to someone’s skin
(The pages are stuck together as tight as a tick.) Answers to Coursebook Section
tromping - walking with heavy or noisy steps
(I can hear the sounds of someone tromping upstairs.) I. Question Zone
yanked - pulled something very hard, quickly and suddenly
(He yanked at the rope to pull the boat in.) A. Think quick
emerged – came from; became visible 1. the attic 2. brother 3. an engraver
(The singer emerged on stage through the smoke.) 4. burglars 5. deserters 6. reporter
ransack - make a place untidy, causing damage, because you
B. Write short answers
are looking for something
(If you leave the house empty for a long time, burglars will 1. The narrator heard the sounds of feet downstairs and
ransack it.) thought there were burglars in the house.

zither - a musical instrument with a lot of metal strings 2. When they went downstairs, the brothers heard the
stretched over a flat wooden box that you play with your sound of steps like a man running and starting up the
fingers stairs towards them, heavily, two at a time.
(I have no idea what a zither looks like.) 3. When they heard the narrator’s mother shout, the
pool - a game for two people played with sixteen balls on a Bodwells thought that that she meant there were
table in which players use cues or long sticks to try to hit the burglars in their house.
balls into pockets at the edge of the table 4. The policemen entered the house by breaking the big
(Do you know how to play pool?) heavy front door with its thick glass.
paw - a person’s hand 5. When he saw the cops, Grandfather jumped out of bed
(He gently put his paw into mine.) and shouted at them. The he grabbed one of their guns
phase - a stage in a process of change or development and shot at a cop.
(The little boy is going through a phase where he thinks he is 6. When he saw the narrator, the reporter stared at him for
Superman.) a long time and asked what was going on.
desert - leave the armed forces without permission
C. Think and answer
(Those who desert the army are punished.)
1. The narrator’s mother threw a shoe into the neighbours’
jumped to the conclusion - decided too quickly that
house to catch their attention and tell them that there
something was true when they did not know all the facts
were burglars in the house.
(He jumped to the conclusion that I was keeping a secret
2. The narrator did not want to let the cops go into the
from him.)
attic because his grandfather was sleeping there and
sprawling - causing someone to fall in a violent and
seeing the men in uniform would have made him think
uncontrolled way
that they were General Meade’s men retreating from the
(He went sprawling on the driveway while trying to run away.)
enemy or even deserting the army.
beat a retreat - go away or back quickly, especially to avoid
3. ‘Joe and the other cop looked at me a long time.’ The
something unpleasant
narrator says this because he has just told them that

© Firefly Books 28 Teacher's Compass for Englishville – 8

 their pet guinea pig used to sleep on the zither. The cops as the Sun.
could not believe that an animal would sleep there. As clear as crystal: The water in the pool is as clear as crystal.
4. Students must write the answer on their own. As constant as the stars: As a friend, he was as constant as
5. The cops did not want to leave the house because it had the stars.
been a disappointing night for them and they wanted to As distant as the horizon: He thinks his dream is as distant as
catch someone for what had happened. the horizon.
6. Students must write the answer on their own. As graceful as a fawn: The young ballet dancer is as graceful
as a fawn.
D. Reference to the context
As hollow as a drum: The tree trunk was as hollow as a drum.
1. ‘They began about quarter past one in the morning …’
As innocent as a lamb: He pretends to be as innocent as a
a. The speaker is the narrator.
lamb.
b. The speaker is referring to the sound of footsteps
As boundless as the ocean: His energy seems to be as
downstairs when he uses the word ‘they’.
boundless as the ocean.
c. The speaker was in the bathroom at this time.
d. His mother was asleep in one room upstairs. His B. Word Game
brother Herman was asleep in another and his 1. trowel 2. charm 3. pastime
grandfather was in the attic. 4. panel 5. needle 6. everlasting
e. The speaker says that there was something
downstairs when he refers to ‘they’. He first thought III. Grammar Grove
there were burglars in the house.
f. After this the speaker woke up his brother Herman.
A.
Then they both went to the head of the back
1. A policeman spoke to them in a hoarse voice. M
staircase and listened together.
2. The reporter stood outside the door. P
2. ‘I’ll stay with mother … She’s all excited.’
3. Grandfather hit the policeman with great force. M
a. The speaker is Herman.
4. He was as fresh as a daisy the next day. T
b. At this time the speaker is in their home.
5. Grandfather took the gun to shoot at the cops. R
c. The narrator and his mother are there with the
6. The match will be played the day after tomorrow. T
speaker.
7. The winner will be decided on the field. P
d. The speaker’s mother is excited because she thinks
that there are burglars in the house. 8. The match was delayed because of the rain. R

e. She flung open a window of her bedroom which B.

faced the bedroom windows of the house of a 1. Grandfather was very cheerful the next morning.
neighbour, picked up a shoe and threw it through a 2. A balanced diet is important for good health.
pane of glass across the narrow space that separated
3. She had been practising the song for a week.
the two houses.
4. He always speaks in a polite manner.
f. After she did this, the neighbour shouted angrily
5. The boys ran to the bus stop.
and shook his fist at her.
6. I will leave for school in a few minutes.

II. Vocabulary Corner A. Underline the adverb clauses in these sentences. Mention
whether they are adverb clauses of manner, place, time
A. Word Test or reason. Write M for manner, P for place, T for time and
As brilliant as the Sun: The diamond on the ring is as brilliant R for reason.

The Night the Ghost Got In 29 © Firefly Books

1. Mother threw the shoe because she could not go down. 6. I could not go to school today because of the bad
R weather.
2. Grandfather spoke to the cops as if they were deserters. C. Make five sentences of your own with suitable ‘if-clauses’.
M
I will be able to finish the work if I am given a little more time.
3. I will go out when the rain stops. T
If you can stay a little while longer, we can finish the work.
4. I am not sure where she lives. P
I will lend you my geometry box if you return it by tomorrow.
5. We went home after the match ended. T
They will win the match if the last two batsmen can score ten
6. I thought there were ghosts wherever I looked. P
runs off three balls.
7. Hockey goalkeepers wear masks and helmets so that
they do not get hurt. R She will be happy if you visit her soon.

8. He spoke to her like she was a child. M

B. Complete these sentences with suitable adverb clauses.
IV. Writing Avenue
1. Roy was in Indianapolis when the incident happened.
Students must complete the writing exercises on their own.
2. Mother would not have thrown the shoe if they had
responded to her call for help.
3. The narrator heard the sounds when he came out of his V. Communication Street
room.
Listen Carefully
4. She scrubbed the floor till it was sparkling.
apparition, banshee, phantom, shade, spectre, spirit, spook,
5. My brother studied at Oxford University before he went
vision, wraith
to the USA.

13 The Touch of the

Master’s Hand
(The auctioneer will start proceedings soon.)
Word Alley scarcely - hardly; almost not
(I can scarcely believe the story.)
anonymously - by somebody who does not want their name
bidden – offered
to be known or made public
(The antique vase was bidden by the auctioneer)
(The money was donated to the charity anonymously.)
bidding - the act of offering prices especially at an auction
convention - a large meeting of the members of an organization
(The bidding started at ten thousand rupees.)
or belonging to a similar profession
(The surgeons’ convention will be held in Bengaluru this year.) bow - a long thin piece of wood with thin string stretched
along it, used for playing musical instruments such as the violin
battered - bruised and broken down
(One has to learn to hold the bow and the violin properly in
(My uncle loves his battered old car.)
order to play properly.)
scarred - wounded and marked
melody - a tune
(His leg was badly scarred after the accident.)
(I have heard this melody before.)
auctioneer - a person whose job is to direct an auction and
caroling – singing
sell the goods to the highest bidder (person who offers the
(We went out caroling on Christmas Eve.)
highest price)

© Firefly Books 30 Teacher's Compass for Englishville – 8

ceased – stopped C. Think and answer
(The rain ceased as quickly as it had started.) 1. The auctioneer thought that the old violin was not worth
life out of tune - life that is troubled and not pleasant wasting time over because it was battered and scarred
(He regrets that his life is out of tune.) and did not seem to be of any use.
auctioned - sold to the highest bidder in a public sale 2. What does the poem tell you about the ‘grey-haired
(All the old furniture was auctioned off.) man’?
battered and scarred with sin - a life that is spoilt and marked 3. The auctioneer’s voice became ‘quiet and low’ after the
by wrongdoing music stopped because the beautiful music had moved
(Unscrupulous people are battered and scarred with sin.) him and made him realize that he too had recognized
thoughtless crowd - inconsiderate people; a group of people the worth of the violin.
who do not care 4. The price changed after the elderly man had picked up
(Don’t waste your time on thoughtless crowd.) the violin and played it beautifully. People had been
mess - a lot of deceived by the appearance of the violin and had no idea
(There is a mess of soup in the pan.) of its true worth.

pottage - a thick soup 5. Just as the old broken and battered violin been ignored,
(Would you like a taste of the pottage?) so also a man’s life can also be of little value if he has
sinned and wasted the golden opportunities given to
wrought - caused something to happen
him.
(The change in him was wrought by his father.)
6. Students must answer this question on their own.

Answers to Coursebook Section D. Reference to the context

‘A mess of pottage … hand.’
I. Question Zone 1. The ‘mess of pottage’ that the poet is referring to is
something that is attractive and of very little value that
A. Think quick
we often take in exchange for something more valuable.
1. waste. 2. forward 3. string.
2. ‘He’ refers to any person.
4. worth 5. cheap 6. foolish
3. When she says ‘he travels on’, the poet means that
B. Write short answers a person carries on with his life not realizing that he
has given away something of great value in return for
1. The poet has described the violin as being battered and
something that has little value.
scarred. It was also very old.
4. Here travelling means carrying on living one’s life. He
2. The price the auctioneer first decided on for the violin
travels from one stage of life to another.
was one dollar.
5. By ‘almost gone’ the poet means that people who have
3. After he picked up the bow, the old man played a sweet
sinned and wasted their lives are like the old battered
melody on the violin.
violin which no one considers worthwhile.
4. After the old man played it, the price of the violin
6. The appearance of the Master in his life marks a turning
increased to three thousand dollars.
point in the traveller’s journey.
5. The poet has described the people in the crowd as
7. The ‘Master’ referred to here is God. It is only He who
‘thoughtless’.
can change the life of a sinner completely and make it
6. After the melody was played, some people cheered and
valuable.
some cried.

The Touch of the Master’s Hand 31 © Firefly Books

 Quieten: The police appealed for peace but even that did not
II. Vocabulary Corner quieten the protesters.
Succeed: You will succeed if you try hard enough.
A. Word Test
Rich and famous: The rich and famous frequent places like
these.
III. Writing Avenue
Sweet and sour: The gravy is sweet and sour.
Students must complete this writing exercise on their own.
Soft and smooth: The dress material is soft and smooth. tuned in: We tuned in to Radio Mirchi at 7 pm yesterday.
Far and wide: His fame as a musician spread far and wide. tune up: The musicians began to tune up their instruments
High and mighty: No one likes her high and mighty attitude. before the concert started.
worth your while: It will be worth your while to come for the
B. Word Game rehearsal.
Purify: One tablet will purify a litre of water. for what it’s worth: For what it’s worth, the poem you have
Sweeten: You must not sweeten the milk any more. written is really good.
Lower: This drug is used to lower blood pressure. worth the wait: We stood in the queue for two hours to buy
tickets for the concert, but it was worth the wait.
Beautify: The local authorities decided to beautify the park.
worth its/his weight in gold: A good teacher is worth his
weight in gold.

14 The Bishop’s
Candlesticks
(There was a nation-wide alert for the escaped convict.)
Word Alley stealthily - quietly and secretly
(I tried to creep stealthily out of the room so that my brother
Monseigneur - a title or form of address used of or to a French-
wouldn’t see me.)
speaking prince, cardinal, archbishop, or bishop
evidently – obviously
estate - a large area of land, usually in the country, that is
(The cat has evidently been at the milk because it has spilled
owned by one person or family
on the floor.)
(He had a huge estate but no one to leave it to.)
desires it - wants it very much
comforter - a type of thick cover for a bed; quilt (I try to be on my best behaviour as my mother desires it.)
(My new comforter is warm and cosy.)
lashed - hit someone with great force
ridiculous - very silly or unreasonable; absurd (A severe storm lashed the coast yesterday.)
(Your behaviour today was ridiculous.)
vermin - insects that live on the bodies of animals and
grief - problems or sadness sometimes humans
(There are many people who face more grief in life than we (The garbage dumps are full of vermin.)
do.)
valued - considered that something is very important
convict - a person who has been found guilty of a crime and (I valued my grandmother’s company over anything else.)
sent to prison

© Firefly Books 32 Teacher's Compass for Englishville – 8

scoundrel - a man who treats other people badly 2. The Bishop sold the silver salt cellars but was unwilling to
(People thought he was a scoundrel and avoided him.) sell the candlesticks because his mother had asked him
slinking - moving somewhere very quietly and slowly, to keep them in remembrance of her.
especially because you are ashamed or do not want to be seen 3. The door and window of the Bishop’s house was unbarred
(No one saw the thief slinking away in the night.) and unlocked so that anyone could come in.
on suspicion - a feeling that somebody has done something 4. ‘They took away my name, they took away my soul.’
wrong, illegal or dishonest, even though there is no proof When he said this line, the convict was feeling angry and
(He was arrested by the police on suspicion.) bitter that his life had been wasted in prison and now he
had nothing left.
Answers to Coursebook Section 5. The Bishop claimed that the convict was his friend to
save him from the police. He knew that no one would
suspect or harm the convict if he said that the convict
I. Question Zone was his friend.
6. Students must answer the question on their own.
A. Think quick
1. mantelpiece. 2. supper 3. admired D. Reference to the context
4. patience 5. honour 6. suspicion. 1. ‘You never think of the suffering you cause to me.’
a. The speaker is Persome.
B. Write short answers
b. She is speaking to her brother, the Bishop.
1. Persome started crying because she was sad and angry
c. The Bishop sold Perosme’s silver salt cellars along
that her brother had sold off her silver salt cellars.
with many other things in their home that she held
2. Two instances from the play that tell us that the Bishop
dear. This is the suffering that he caused.
was a kind man are: he gave his comforter to Marie, the
d. He says that he remembers her crying and asks
maid, because it was cold, and he told his sister to give
whether he had caused her to do so.
the convict some food as he was hungry. (The students
may mention any two instances.) e. Students must answer the question on their own.

3. The candlesticks were made of silver. His mother had 2. ‘I was a man once. I’m a beast now and they made me
asked him to keep them as her remembrance. what I am.’
4. Before he went to prison the convict had lived with his a. The speaker is the convict.
wife in a little cottage. He was caught stealing to buy b. He is speaking to the Bishop.
food for his wife when she was ill and he had no money. c. At this time they are in the Bishop’s house.
5. When he sees the candlesticks, the convict weighs them d. The speaker says this line because he wants the
in his hands and waits till the Bishop has left the room. Bishop to know how life in prison changed him.
He then picks them up, tucks them in his coat and leaves.
e. Two things that, according to the speaker, made
6. When Persome told him that the candlesticks were him a beast are: he was chained up like a wild animal
missing, the Bishop was sad at first and then felt that and he was covered in vermin and fed on filth.
he deserved it as it was punishment for him for valuing
f. Students must answer the question on their own.
them too much.

C. Think and answer II. Vocabulary Corner

1. Persome thought that her brother’s behaviour was
ridiculous because he always gave things away and soon A. Word Test
they would have nothing left. Admiration: I looked at my brother in admiration when he
cleared the difficult entrance exam.

The Bishop’s Candlesticks 33 © Firefly Books

Warmth: The warmth of the room was welcome after the chill B. Write whether the ‘ing’ words in these sentences are
outside. participles or gerunds.
Hopelessness: The hopelessness on her face was heart- 1. The Bishop could not bear the suffering of others.
breaking. (gerund)
Remembrance: The monument is a remembrance of those 2. Selling the silver salt cellars, the Bishop got some money
killed during the war. to help the old lady. (participle)
Evidence: The police found enough evidence to connect him 3. Singing is her favourite pastime. (gerund)
to the crime. 4. Cherishing his candlesticks, the Bishop said he would
Hesitation: Without any hesitation he accepted that he was never sell them. (participle)
wrong. 5. Travelling has always been my dream. (gerund)
Amazement: We stared in amazement at the way the 6. Staring at the Bishop, his eyes welled up with tears.
gymnasts performed. (participle)
Disturbance: The police had to be called to put an end to the
disturbance in the locality. IV. Writing Avenue
Sarcasm: Her sarcasm hurt me very much.
Students must complete these writing exercises on their own.
B. Word Game
1. tuna 2. board 3. pan
V. Communication Street
4. pun 5. rave 6. maze
Listen Carefully
III. Grammar Grove Listen to these words. Write down the words from the lesson
that are opposite in meaning to these words.
A. Underline the present participles in these sentences. Hardworking – lazy
1. entering 2. Sitting 3. Paying Noisily – stealthily
4. arguing 5. Calling 6. Cutting Tame – wild
Exits – enters
B. Underline the past participles in these sentences.
Caught – escaped
1. Woken 2. Excused 3. Sentenced
Impatience – patience
4. Chained 5. Puzzled 6. Robbed
Inadequately – sufficiently
A. Underline the gerunds in these sentences. Reward - punishment
1. Winning 2. racing 3. racing
4. Drawing 5. believing. 6. shouting

© Firefly Books 34 Teacher's Compass for Englishville – 8

 15 Daffodils
bliss – joy
Word Alley (Swimming on a hot day is bliss.)
solitude - loneliness; privacy
rustic - typical of the country (village) or of country people
(I returned to the solitude of my room.)
(The furniture in her house has a rustic look to it.)
vales – valleys Answers to Coursebook Section
(The vales of Scotland are beautiful.)
Milky Way - a band of light across the night sky made up of a
huge number of stars that form a large part of the galaxy that I. Question Zone
includes our sun and its planets
(I chose the Milky Way as the topic for my project.) A. Think quick
margin - edge or border 1. The poet was wandering like a cloud over valleys and
(I made notes along the margin of the page.) hills.

bay - a part of the sea, or of a large lake, partly surrounded by 2. He saw the daffodils beside the lake and beneath the
a wide curve of the land trees.
(The view across the bay is magnificent.) 3. When he saw them, he just felt very glad to be there.
tossing - moving from side to side or up and down 4. He could not help but be very happy and gay.
(The cornfields are tossing in the wind.) 5. At that time he did not think how much the sight had
sprightly – lively meant to him.
(The old man is quite sprightly even though he is in his 6. The memory of the daffodils stayed in his mind long after
nineties.) he had left that place.
glee - a feeling of happiness
(He rubbed his hands in glee when he thought of all the
B. Write short answers
money he would make.) 1. The cloud wanders over valleys and hills.
jocund - merry; cheerful 2. The poet compares himself to the clouds as he too is
(My brother’s circle of friends makes for very jocund company.) wandering here and there amidst nature. He does not
have a particular place to go to.
couch - a long comfortable seat for two or more people to sit
on 3. The poet sees many golden daffodils alongside the lake.
(The new couch is very comfortable.) 4. The golden daffodils seemed to stretch in a never-ending
vacant - showing no sign that the person is thinking of line by the lakeside. They were fluttering in the breeze.
anything They made the scene beautiful.
(My mind is vacant at the moment.) 5. When he is reclining on his couch, the poet sometimes
pensive - deep in thought thinks of nothing at all in particular. Sometimes he thinks
(She looks pensive and I don’t want to disturb her.) of serious matters that make him pensive.
inward - inner; spiritual
C. Think and answer
(Her calm expression masked her inward panic.)
1. The poet says that the waves moved and danced in the

Daffodils 35 © Firefly Books

 breeze as did the daffodils but the latter seemed to be The sailboat sailed down the silver stream to the sea.
dancing more happily and energetically than the waves. The perky penguin perched on the edge of the ice.
2. The ‘show’ refers to the sight of the daffodils dancing in Let the leaf live on the plant.
the breeze beside the lake.
(Students must make up their own alliterations.)
3. The poet felt very happy in the midst of what he has
seen. B. Word Game
4. The ‘wealth’ referred to in the poem is the happiness 1. Coach: Our new coach is very strict.
that the poet has derived from the wonderful sight of 2. Flesh: The flesh of the dead animals is rotting.
the daffodils. The memory of this lingers in his mind and 3. Bales: The farmer stacked his bales of hay in the barn.
brings him peace and joy whenever he is in a bad mood.
4. Lovely: She looks lovely in a sari.
5. The ‘bliss of solitude’ means the joy of being by oneself
5. Chance: You will get a chance to do better next time.
and spending time alone. We may be surrounded by
6. Flee: People began to flee from their homes when the
people most of the time but sometimes we should find
floods came.
time just for ourselves to reflect on our own thoughts
and actions.
III. Writing Avenue
D. Reference to the context
‘And then my heart with pleasure fills, Students must complete the writing exercise on their own.
And dances with the daffodils.’
1. Just before these lines the poet says that when he is by IV. Communication Street
himself the sight of the daffodils flashes across his mind.
Listen Carefully
2. He is now in a thoughtful or pensive mood.
Listen to this short poem by Robert Louis Stevenson called
3. Various problems in his life may have caused him to feel
‘The Moon’. Then answer the questions.
this way.
Answers
4. The students must answer this question on their own.
1. The poet compares the moon to the clock in the hall.
5. These lines tell us that the theme of the poem is the
beauty of nature and how it can lift our mood when we 2. The moon shines on streets and fields and birds asleep in
are sad. Beautiful memories can bring joy at times like the trees. (the students may mention any two things)
these. 3. The poet mentions the cat, the mouse and the dog in the
poem.
II. Vocabulary Corner 4. All the things that belong to the day fall asleep to be out
of the way of the moon at night.
A. Word Test 5. The flowers and children close their eyes.
The red roses are rollicking in the breeze. 6. They open their eyes again when the sun rises in the
The delicious dessert delighted us. morning.
The bull kicked the big bouncing black ball.

© Firefly Books 36 Teacher's Compass for Englishville – 8

 16 The Sneeze
(He has been living as a civilian ever since he left the army.)
Word Alley splattered - to scatter or fall as if in drops
(Someone has splattered my new skirt with dirty water.)
farcical - silly and not worth taking seriously
Excellency - a title used when talking to or about somebody
(The trial of the convicted politician was farcical.)
who has a very important official position
tragic - making you feel very sad
(His Excellency, the Ambassador of Australia, is the Chief
(The story had a tragic ending.)
Guest at the Republic Day celebrations.)
influenced - had an effect on the way that somebody did
intend - plan; mean
something, especially by giving them an example to follow
(I intend to buy a birthday present for my grandfather.)
(Public opinion influenced the government’s decision.)
law of nature - something that happens regularly and is
no less - used to suggest that something is surprising or
expected to happen
impressive
(Only the fittest will survive is the law of nature.)
(She is being given the award by the President, no less.)
reassured - less frightened or worried; mind is put at ease
opera - a dramatic work, like a play, set to music for singers
(The Police Commissioner reassured the public of their safety.)
and musicians
petitioners - those who make a formal request to somebody
(Luciano Pavarotti was a legendary Italian opera singer.)
in authority
stalls - the most expensive seats, usually nearest to the stage
(The petitioners have to be in court for the hearing.)
in a theatre
pale - having skin that has less colour than usual because of
(The front row of the stalls was occupied by many dignitaries.)
illness or a strong emotion
gazing - looking steadily at somebody/something for a long
(She became pale when she heard the bad news.)
time
intentional - done deliberately
(Gazing at the stars is his favourite pastime.)
(It was clear that their actions were intentional.)
opera glass - small binoculars that people use in a theatre to
irritated - annoyed or angry
see the actors or singers on the stage
(I was irritated at the constant disturbance.)
(May I borrow your opera glass?)
inexcusable - too bad to accept or forgive
puckered up - formed or to make something form small folds
(It is inexcusable to be rude to our elders.)
or lines
(The little boy puckered up his mouth to scream.) menacingly - in a way that seems likely to cause you harm or
danger; threateningly
breathing was arrested - stopped breathing properly
(The gangsters approached them menacingly.)
(At the climax of the thriller the viewers’ breathing was
arrested.) reeled - moved in a very unsteady way
(From the way he reeled while walking it was clear that he was
executives - those who have important jobs as managers of
unwell.)
companies or organizations
(All the executives are attending the board meeting.) depressed - very sad and without hope
(She has been depressed for a while now and needs help.)
civilian - a person who is not a member of the armed forces
or the police

The Sneeze 37 © Firefly Books

 was a government clerk, no less!’ The significance of
Answers to Coursebook Section the phrase ‘no less’ in this sentence is that Cherdyakov
feels a sense of importance that he is in service of the
government. This is the kind of job that most people
I. Question Zone
look for as it makes them feel that they have a secure job.
A. Think quick 2. Cherdyakov no longer felt good when he looked at the
1. One evening Ivan Iliych Cherdyakov was at the opera stage because he felt he had offended an important
person like the general.
watching a performance.
3. He continued to feel restless and uncomfortable even
2. After he sneezed he looked around to see if anyone had
after he apologized because he could not forget the
been disturbed.
incident and thought that the general remembered what
3. Though he continued to look at the stage, he was feeling
had happened even though he said he did not.
worried and uneasy.
4. Students must answer this question on their own.
4. Cherdyakov thought he saw a man in front wiping his
5. His wife was worried at first because she thought that the
head and neck.
general would punish him in some way. Later, however,
5. When his wife heard what had happened, she was not she felt reassured when she heard that the general was in
very worried at first. a different department.
6. In almost a whisper the general told Cherdyakov tgo stop 6. The story ends tragically for Cherdyakov. His dejection
bothering him. was not justified. People like him are always worried that
(Students may use any other words to complete the sentences.) they may lose their position for some reason or the other.
They feel insecure and lack confidence in themselves.
B. Write short answers Sometimes the worry reaches such a level that they make
1. Cherdyakov felt very pleased with himself because he themselves ill just by wondering what may happen. Their
thought he had become someone important enough to fears may be unfounded but they find it hard to believe
be watching an opera seated in the stalls. that.
2. Just before he sneezed, Cherdyakov’s face puckered up,
D. Reference to the context
his eyes disappeared and his breathing stopped for a
1. ‘He gazed and gazed and felt so pleased with himself.’
moment.
a. ‘He’ is Cherdyakov, the government clerk.
3. After the first sneeze he looked around to see if anyone
had been disturbed by it. Then he bent forward and b. ‘He’ is now at the opera.
whispered an apology in the ears of the general whom he c. ‘He’ is gazing at the performance on stage.
had splattered. d. ‘He’ is feeling pleased with himself because he
4. When Cherdyakov apologized repeatedly, the general thinks he has become important enough to sit in
told him to be quiet and said he had forgotten about it. the stalls watching an opera.

5. When he went to Brizzhalov’s office, Cherdyakov e. Just after this he sneezes suddenly.
apologized again for his sneeze. 2. ‘I did apologise, but he acted strangely.’
6. The general was irritated with Cherdyakov who sneezed a. The speaker is Cherdyakov.
on him again while apologizing. He told Cherdyakov to b. He is speaking to his wife.
get out of his sight. Cherdyakov was so sad and depressed c. In these lines the speaker is referring tom General
that he went home, lay down on the sofa and died. Brizzhalov.

C. Think and answer d. The speaker apologized because he thought it

was unacceptable for him to have sneezed on the
1. The story begins with the line – ‘Ivan Iliych Cherdyakov
general’s head.

© Firefly Books 38 Teacher's Compass for Englishville – 8

 e. The speaker thinks that the person being spoken C. Change these sentences from passive to active voice.
about ‘acted strangely’ because the latter had told 1. Cherdyakov told his wife about the incident.
him to forget about the incident and not worry.
2. The people of the locality did the decorations for Ganesh
Chaturthi.
II. Vocabulary Corner 3. The Head Girl escorted the Head Mistress to the stage.
4. We swept the garden clean.
A. Word Test
5. People wear new clothes during festivals.
1. general 2. unacceptable 3. nervous
6. I was baking a special cake for my mother’s birthday.
4. recollect 5. accidentally 6. reception
A. Change these sentences from direct to indirect speech.
B. Word Game
1. The general told Cherdyakov that he had forgotten about
1. soap opera 2. face value 3. shoulder bone it.
4. stage fright 5. head office 6. general election 2. Chedyakov’s wife told him that she was worried about
him.
III. Grammar Grove 3. The commentator said that Pandya had hit the ball really
hard.
A. Underline the verbs in these sentences and say whether 4. He told Rohan to meet him at one o’clock in front of the
they are in active or passive voice. Write AV for active school gate.
voice and PV for passive voice. 5. I told my friend that I was new to that city.
1. Cherdyakov reassured his wife. AV 6. The coach instructed the players to follow him.
2. Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize for Literature
B. Change these sentences from indirect to direct speech.
in 1913. AV
1. Cherdyakov said, “I am sorry for what I have done.”
3. Many rhinos in the safari park were killed by poachers.
2. “What do you think you are doing?” the general asked
PV
Cherdyakov angrily.
4. The government has built new houses for the poor. AV
3. “I am worried about the general will do,” said Chedyakov.
5. The animals are being fed by the zoo-keepers. PV
4. “The flight has arrived,” announced the public address
6. The leopard was captured by the forest rangers. PV
system.
B. Change these sentences from active to passive voice. 5. “It is hotter on Mercury than on Earth.” the teacher
1. The collected short stories by Anton Chekov were being explained to the class.
read by me. 6. “The railway bridge has collapsed,” announced the
2. I was bitten by the dog on the ankle. newscaster.
3. Their guests were warmly welcomed by the hosts.
4. A new car was recently bought by them. IV. Writing Avenue
5. All the expenses for the trip were paid by my parents.
6. The door has been locked by somebody. Students must complete the writing exercise on their own.

The Sneeze 39 © Firefly Books

 17 Poirot, the Genius
move - cause somebody to have strong feelings, especially of
Word Alley sympathy or of being sad
(The ending of the story will move everyone.)
grey cells - the cells that make up the grey matter of the brain
scornfully - showing that someone is stupid or not good
and spinal cord; intelligence, brain power
enough
(Hercule Poirot was proud of his grey cells.)
(He laughed scornfully at their suggestion.)
deduction - process of using information that you have
burgle - enter illegally and steal
in order to understand a particular situation or to find the
(Someone tried to burgle my neighbour’s house last night.)
answer to a problem
crude - not very refined
(His powers of deduction are amazing.)
(His manners are rather crude.)
sulk - be in a bad mood
aroused - awakened
(Don’t sulk just because you haven’t got your own way.)
(I was aroused from a deep sleep by the sudden noise.)
heavily veiled - wearing a thick covering over the head and
sash - either of a pair of windows, one above the other, that
face
are opened and closed by sliding them up and down inside
(We don’t know who she is as she is heavily veiled.)
the frame
lace - a fine open fabric of cotton or silk
(The window sash is broken and needs to be fixed.)
(The pattern on the lace is beautiful.)
fictitious - invented by somebody (not true)
ushered in - shown in
(All the places and characters in the novel are fictitious.)
(The host ushered in his guests.)
recommended - to tell somebody that something is good or
in the dark - not knowing about something; in a state of
useful, or that somebody would be suitable for a particular job
ignorance
(My aunt recommended that film to us.)
(We were kept in the dark about what had happened.)
burglar-proof - designed to be secure and to protect against
interpreted - decided that something has a particular
any attempted burglary
meaning and to understand it in this way
(The new alarm system has made the house burglar-proof.)
(How do you think the lyrics of the song can be interpreted?)
imbecile - a person who has a very low level of intelligence
milady - My lady
(You mustn’t call anyone an imbecile.)
(May I say something, milady?)
ideal - perfect; most suitable
authority - permission to do something
(The beach side is the ideal location for the restaurant.)
(Who has given you the authority to open the locker?)
minute - very detailed, careful and thorough (pronounced:
desperate - feeling or showing that you have little hope and
‘my-newt)
are ready to do anything without worrying about danger to
(There are minute amounts of chemicals in the water.)
yourself or others
cavity - a hole or empty space inside something solid
(We were desperate to win as we hadn’t won the competition
(There is a huge cavity in the tree trunk.)
in a long time.)
souvenir - something that you keep to remind yourself of
pleas - serious emotional request
something or someone
(Our pleas for a rematch fell on deaf ears.)
(I bought a souvenir from the nearby store.)

© Firefly Books 40 Teacher's Compass for Englishville – 8

retain - keep something C. Think and answer
(The house will retain much of its original charm in spite of 1. Poirot sounds impatient at the beginning of the story
the renovation.) because he had had no interesting cases of late. There was
nabbed - caught or arrested no case that could test his intelligence and remarkable
(The gang was nabbed before they could get away.) powers of deduction.
nippy - able to move quickly and easily 2. The lady had veiled her face because she did not want
(He is old but nippy.) anyone to know who she was. It could also be that she
had something to hide.
admiration - a feeling of respect for and approval of
somebody/something 3. Lavington was a blackmailer. The veiled lady had said
(You can’t help but feel admiration for his genius.) that he was a horrible man. When he came to see Poirot,
it seemed that she had been right. He was a bully.
double-crossed - betrayed by doing something opposite to
what was earlier agreed upon 4. Poirot and Hastings had been searching for the little
(The gang leader double-crossed the other members and Chinese puzzle box in Lavington’s house. They searched
everywhere but could not find it. Then Poirot thought of
kept the loot for himself.)
the kitchen. He called himself an ‘imbecile’ because he
bogus - fake; pretending to be real or true
had not thought of it sooner. It was the one place where
(The painting on display in the art gallery is bogus.)
people would think that nothing could be hidden as the
servants would be present there.
Answers to Coursebook Section 5. The woman and her partner, who posed as Mr Lavington
were professional thieves and cheats. They had robbed a
jewellery store on Bond Street. Lavington was trying to
I. Question Zone double-cross the other gang members. They knew that
the jewels and the fake letter were hidden inside the
A. Think quick
puzzle box. Lavington had kept the box hidden inside his
1. mysteriously 2. confess 3. suspicious house somewhere. The gang members searched for it but
4. fictitious. 5. cavity 6. souvenir failed to find it. They had no way of knowing where the
jewels were. Then they thought of using Poirot to find
B. Write short answers the jewels. Gertie went to him posing as Lady Millicent
1. Poirot’s profession is that of a detective. and asking him to recover an old letter for her for which
2. Poirot was dissatisfied and restless because he had not she was now being blackmailed.
had an interesting case for some time. 6. Students must answer the question on their own.
3. The young lady had covered her face with a veil but she
D. Reference to the context
was extremely pretty and had blue eyes. Her clothes were
1. ‘I have heard such wonderful things of you that I come
simple but expensive. She looked as if she belonged to
with a last hope to beg you to do the impossible.’
the upper classes of society.
a. The speaker is the veiled lady. She introduces herself
4. The lady had come to see Poirot to ask him to recover a
as Lady Millicent Castle Vaughan.
letter that she had written when she was sixteen. A man
called Lavington was now asking for a lot of money in b. She is speaking to Hercule Poirot.
return for the letter. c. Captain Hastings, Poirot’s friend, is there at that
time.
5. Poirot’s suit was dirty and ‘ruined’ because he had
searched for and found the puzzle box in Lavington’s d. The speaker is there to ask for Poirot’s help.
coal-bin. e. The ‘impossible’ task that the speaker is referring
6. Poirot found four large glittering stones and two big to is the recovery of certain foolish letters that she
milky white pearls inside the Chinese box. had written to a man called Lavington. She was

Poirot, the Genius 41 © Firefly Books

 now engaged to be married and Lavington was 4. is hesitating 5. is laughing 6. is inserting
blackmailing her.
B. Complete the sentences with the past continuous tense
f. Students must answer the question on their own. of the verbs in the brackets.
2. ‘Well, Gertie, my dear,” said Japp. “The game’s up this time, 1. was looking 2. was waiting 3. was mounting
I think. Fancy seeing you again so soon! We’ve got your pal, 4. was searching 5. was bending 6. was hiding
too…”
C. Fill in the blanks with the future continuous tense of the
a. Japp is a police inspector from Scotland Yard.
verbs in brackets.
b. Gertie is the veiled lady who had come to ask Poirot
1. will be helping 2. will be recovering
for his help. She was actually a thief.
3. will be breaking 4. will be expecting
c. They are in Poirot’s home.
5. will be keeping 6. will be arresting
d. It means that this time there was no escape from
A. Rewrite these sentences using the present perfect tense
the law for her.
form of the underlined verbs.
e. The ‘pal’ who is being referred to is the man who
1. Lady Millicent has come to see Poirot.
was posing as Lavington.
2. Poirot friend has ushered her in.
f. The ‘pal’ had probably killed the real Lavington
and double-crossed Gertie and taken all the stolen 3. Poirot has heard what she had to say.
jewels. 4. Poirot has accepted the case.
g. Gertie had impersonated (pretended to be) Lady 5. Poirot has sawed through the catch of the window.
Millicent Castle Vaughan who was well-known in 6. I have advised her to confess to our Class Teacher.
society. Gertie resembled her a little and that would
B. Rewrite these sentences using the past perfect tense
be enough for her to meet Poirot and ask for help.
form of the underlined verbs.
1. Lady Millicent had told Poirot about her problem.
II. Vocabulary Corner
2. She had wanted him to speak to Lavington.
A. Word Test 3. He had assured her that he would do his best.
1. cells 2. sum 3. suit 4. She had reached out to take the box.
4. study 5. safe 6. sash 5. Poirot had discovered something else at the bottom of
the box.
B. Word Game 6. He had requested Japp to be present.
Across
• red herring • alibi • hunch
IV. Writing Avenue
• motive • sleuth • suspects
Down Students must complete this writing exercise on their own.
• Witness • Clues • Detective
• Victim • Whodunit • Forensics V. Communication Street

Listen Carefully
III. Grammar Grove
Here is a list of some facts about Hercule Poirot, Agatha
Christie’s famous fictional creation.
A. Fill in the blanks with the present continuous form of the
1. Hercule Poirot first appeared in chapter two of Agatha
verbs in brackets.
Christie’s first published novel, The Mysterious Affair at
1. is sulking 2. is covering 3. is ushering

© Firefly Books 42 Teacher's Compass for Englishville – 8

 Styles, which was completed in 1916 but not published 6. He is the only fictional character to have received an
until 1920. obituary on the front of The New York Times in 1975,
2. The first description of Poirot tells us that he was hardly following the publication of Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case.
more than five feet four inches tall. His head was exactly Answers
the shape of an egg. He takes great pride in his appearance
1. Poirot first appeared in an Agatha Christie novel in 1920.
from his perfectly-groomed black moustache to his
2. He was five feet four inches tall. His head was egg-shaped.
patent leather shoes.
He had a perfectly-groomed black moustache.
3. He insists on neatness and even his books are arranged in
3. We know that he likes neatness because even his books
height order.
are arranged in height order.
4. Poirot is very particular about the beverages he drinks.
4. His favourite drink is cocoa.
His preferred hot beverage is cocoa.
5. Poirot appears in 33 novels and 1 play.
5. Poirot stars in 33 novels and 59 short stories and 1 original
play by Agatha Christie. 6. He is the only fictional character to have received an
obituary on the front of The New York Times in 1975,
after the publication of Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case.

18 The Missing Whiskers

(He rolled his eyes around when his brother refused to stop
Word Alley talking.)
sputtered - spoke with difficulty because one is shocked or
babu - a person who works in an office
angry
(In the past, a man who worked in an office was called a (She sputtered out what she had to say as she was so angry.)
babu.)
cluster round - gather around
free from care - having no worries or troubles (There is no need to cluster round the teacher’s table.)
(The exams were over and we were free from care.) stricken - seriously affected by an unpleasant feeling or by a
indulging in - allowing yourself to do something you like difficult situation
(My sister is indulging in her favourite pastime – reading.) (She looked stricken when she heard what had happened.)
post-meridian nap - short sleep in the afternoon pondered - thought about something carefully for a period
(My grandfather likes a post-meridian nap.) of time
(She pondered over his words.)
seemed to snap - seemed unable to control his feelings
because of a difficult situation bring him to his senses - return to normal after being out of
(He seemed to snap when he heard the children shout.) control or irrational
(They did what they could to bring him to his senses.)
muffled - not heard clearly
amanuensis - an assistant whose job is to write down or type
(There was a muffled sound outside the door.)
what another person says or to copy what another person has
rolled his eyes - moved his eyes around in a circle because written
someone has said or done something stupid or strange (He used to work as an amanuensis before he got this job.)

The Missing Whiskers 43 © Firefly Books

whiskers - hair growing on a man’s face especially on the sides predict - to say that something will happen in the future
of his face (No one can predict the future.)
(He is very proud of his luxuriant whiskers.) mercilessly - in a way that shows no sympathy and is not kind
pacified - to calm someone who is angry or upset (The boss scolded them mercilessly.)
(We pacified the old man who became upset at the rowdy
behaviour of some of the boys.) Answers to Coursebook Section
disgrace – shame
(The way they lost the match without even trying was a
disgrace.) I. Question Zone
dunderheads - silly or stupid people
A. Think quick
(People do not like being called dunderheads.)
1. a gentle 2. taking a nap 3. sick
outrageous - offensive and unacceptable
(Your suggestion is outrageous.) 4. red and swollen 5. incompetent 6. memorandum.

shaggy - having long untidy hair B. Write short answers

(That dog has shaggy hair.)
1. The main character in the poem is the boss.
random – in a way that is strange and does not make sense
2. Three adjectives that the poet has used to describe him
(She picked up some random items from the fair.)
are gentle, relaxed, stricken.
memorandum - an official note from one person to another
3. During his nap he suddenly woke up, rolled his eyes
in the same organization
around and shouted for help.
(The memorandum from the boss was sent to all the
4. After he woke up he said that his moustache had been
employees.)
stolen.
herewith - with this letter, book or document
5. The employees suggested that they should either call the
(I enclose herewith a copy of the document.)
police or the vet.
quoted - repeated the exact word
6. At the end of the poem, the boss composed a
(She quoted lines from the play without hesitation.)
memorandum saying that the employees deserved to
appendages - things that are added or attached to something
be punished for not believing that moustaches can be
larger or more important
stolen.
(The two committees are only appendages of the council and
have no power of their own.) C. Think and answer
crass - very stupid and showing no sympathy or understanding 1. The boss suddenly snapped while he was taking a nap
(I thought his comments were rather crass.) because he had probably had a bad dream that upset
incompetence - the lack of skill or ability to do your job or a him very much.
task as it should be done 2. The employees reacted in different ways. The employees
(This kind of incompetence cannot be tolerated.) had always thought that the boss was gentle and mild-
mannered man. They were taken aback when they saw
establishment - an organization
the change in him when he thought his moustache
(They have set up a huge establishment.)
had been stolen. They became afraid of his temper and
cheek - talk or behaviour that people think is annoying, rude unpredictable behaviour and they were not sure how to
or not showing enough respect deal with him.
(I am amazed at your cheek in speaking to your teacher like 3. After he was shown a mirror, the boss started screaming
that.) and saying that he could not have such whiskers that
lend themselves to - are suitable for a particular purpose made him look like a butcher. He was very angry and
(These stories do not lend themselves to dramatization.) decided to reduce their wages.

© Firefly Books 44 Teacher's Compass for Englishville – 8

4. Students must answer this question on their own.
5. A moustache is the most important thing to a person II. Vocabulary Corner
who has one. It is very precious to him. He cannot
A. Word Test
imagine losing it. It seems to be his master and not the
other way around. Memoranda: The lawyer sent long memoranda describing the
meetings.
6. Students must answer this question on their own.
Cacti: Most cacti live in habitats that are dry.
D. Reference to the context Moose: Moose are solitary animals and do not form herds.
‘They heard him and they all began Oases: In a desert palm oases are a gift for travellers.
To cluster round the stricken man …’ Curricula: Curricula should be constantly updated in keeping
1. ‘They’ refers to the other employees in the office. with the times.
Bacteria: Bacteria exist in large numbers in air, water, soil and
2. The person being referred to as ‘him’ is the Boss.
in living and dead creatures and plants.
3. They heard him shouting for help and saying that he was
Spacecraft: Two unmanned American spacecraft have
sick. returned safely to Earth.
4. When they heard this, they gathered around him and
wondered what they could do to bring him to his senses. B. Word Game
5. The person being referred to as ‘him’ has been called a 1. lyricist 2. blogger 3. columnist
‘stricken man’ because he was throwing his arms about 4. biographer 5. correspondent 6. lexicographer
and behaving strangely.
6. After this ‘they’ thought about what the safest plan III. Writing Avenue
would be. They wondered whether they should call the
police or the vet. Students must complete this writing exercise on their own.

19 The Merchant of
Venice
(Do you know the meaning of the expression ‘a friend in need
Word Alley is a friend indeed’?)
stands by - helps somebody or is friends with them even in
nobleman - a man from a family of high social rank
difficult situations
(He was a wealthy nobleman who lived in Naples.)
(She always stands by her friends.)
spendthrift - a person who spends too much money or who
woo - seek the hand or love of someone; court
wastes money
(The young man set out to woo the girl he loved.)
(Don’t be such a spendthrift.)
heiress - a female heir, especially one who has received or will
turns to - goes to someone for help or advice
receive a large amount of money
(He usually turns to his father for advice.)
(She is the heiress of the richest man in India.)
bail him out - rescue him from a difficult situation
merchandise - goods that are bought or sold
(He knew his friend would bail him out of a difficult situation.)
(The Japanese company is now selling its merchandise in
a friend in need is a friend indeed - a friend who gives you India.)
help when you need it is a true friend

The Merchant of Venice 45 © Firefly Books

guarantor - a person who agrees to be responsible for handmaid - a female servant
somebody or for something (She treated her handmaid very well.)
(My father became the guarantor when my older brother eloped - ran away with somebody in order to marry secretly
took a loan from the bank.) (The girl next door eloped last night with her college friend.)
moneylender - a person whose business is lending money, substantial - large in amount or value; considerable
usually at a very high rate of interest (She earns a substantial salary.)
(A moneylender will often charge a high rate of interest for a
tie the knot - get married
loan.)
(The young couple decided to tie the knot.)
hampers - prevents somebody from easily doing or achieving
legal advice - professional advice provided by a lawyer
something
(The petitioners sought legal advice before proceeding.)
(Heavy rainfall hampers relief work in flood-affected areas.)
climax - the most exciting part of a story, play or film that
endanger - put somebody in a situation in which they could
usually happens near the end
be harmed
(The climax of the film was nail-biting.)
(No one should endanger the lives of so many people.)
refers the case to - sends somebody to another person for
convinces - persuades someone to do something
help or advice about the case
(She always convinces her sister to do the right thing.)
(The local police usually refers the case to their headquarters.)
accompanied - go somewhere with somebody
recommendation - a formal letter or statement that
(I accompanied my mother to the supermarket.)
somebody would be suitable for a particular job
jovial - very cheerful and friendly (It is the committee’s recommendation that the school
(Everyone likes him for his jovial nature.) should be given more funds for development.)
tactless - saying or doing things that are likely to annoy or learned - having a lot of knowledge because you have studied
upset other people and read a lot; knowledgeable
(That was a rather tactless thing to say.) (He is a very learned man.)
exercise self-control - be able to restrain or control one’s blest – blessed
thoughts, words and feelings (The priest blest the children.)
(You must learn to exercise self-control.)
blesseth – blesses
specifies - states something clearly (God blesseth those who stay away from sin.)
(The notice clearly specifies the date for vacating the premises.)
will have none of it - refuse to accept a particular thing
will – a legal document left by persons in which they mention (I am trying to get my mother’s permission but she will have
what should be done with their property, money and none of it.)
possessions after they die
compensation - something, especially money, that somebody
(According to the terms of the will, his grandson will be the
gives you because they have hurt you, or damaged something
sole heir of his money and property.)
that you own, or caused you to have suffered a loss
suitors - men wooing a woman (The passengers were given compensation after the train
(None of the suitors impressed her.) accident.)
arrogant - behaving in a proud, unpleasant way; imagining lands and goods - property and possessions
oneself to be superior to others (His lands and goods were seized by the government.)
(People avoid him because of his arrogant behaviour.)
forfeited - surrendered as a penalty
perfect match - someone who is most suitable for someone (He forfeited the match because of his behaviour on court.)
else
If the scale do turn, But in the estimation of a hair, Thou
(The two players playing doubles are a perfect match.)
diest and all thy goods are confiscate - if the (weighing)
unattractive - not attractive or pleasant to look at scale changes by even so much as a hair, you die, and all your
(That bush is overgrown and looks unattractive.) property will be confiscated

© Firefly Books 46 Teacher's Compass for Englishville – 8

dejected - unhappy and disappointed C. Think and answer
(She was dejected as her friends were away on vacation.) 1. Shylock’s ‘generous gesture’ was agreeing to lend the
principle - an amount of money that you lend to somebody money to Bassanio. Antonio was surprised at it because
or invest to earn interest Shylock had agreed to lend the money without interest.
(The principle amount is quite a lot.) 2. The Prince of Morocco chose the gold casket because he
content – satisfied thought only such a valuable casket could? the picture of
(I am content to stay at home during the holidays.) as beautiful a lady Portia. The Prince of Aragon chose the
a token of appreciation - something that you do for someone silver casket because on it were written the words ‘Who
or give them as a way of showing your gratitude chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves’ and he
(I gave my sister a bracelet as a token of appreciation.) believed that he was the perfect match for such a special
reveal - make something known to somebody lady.
(The writer will reveal the name of the murderer at the end of 3. Bassanio chose the lead casket because it was too simple
the story.) and he was willing to take the chance that it would be
the right casket.
Answers to Coursebook Section 4. Portia tells Shylock that it is good to show mercy. She
says that mercy is twice blessed as it blesses both the
giver and the taker.
I. Question Zone 5. In the courtroom, Portia at first requests Shylock to
show mercy. He refuses to do so as he wants a pound of
A. Think quick flesh from Antonio as mentioned in the bond. Antonio
1. Bassanio 2. Antonio 3. Bassanio prepares his bare skin for Shylock’s knife. Then Portia
4. Shylock 5. Gratiano 6. Prince of Aragon warns Shylock to be careful that he does not shed a single
drop of Antonio’s blood since that is not mentioned in
B. Write short answers the contract. He can only have the pound of flesh but
1. Antonio was a wealthy merchant of Venice. He was not a drop of blood. She tells him that if he sheds even a
well-known and respected. Bassanio was a Venetian drop of Antonio’s blood, his property would be forfeited
nobleman. He was a spendthrift who was always seems under Venetian laws. Shylock is defeated and agrees to
to be in need of money. accept the money from Bassanio. Portia does not allow
2. Antonio was not cash-rich at that time because his ships this. He would have to forfeit his property, half to the
were out at sea. government and half to Antonio, leaving his life at the
3. Antonio spoke openly against Shylock and how he mercy of the Duke. The Duke spares Shylock’s life. .
conducted his business and his life. 6. Portia was disguised as Balthazar, the lawyer, and had
4. Shylock is upset and angry with Antonio because of this saved Antonio’s life. Bassanio gave her the ring as a token
treatment. of his appreciation. Nerissa, disguised as the lawyer’s
clerk, also succeeded in getting the ring that she had
5. Portia’s father specified in his will that each of her suitors
given her husband Gratiano.
would have to choose correctly from one of three caskets
placed in front of them. One casket is made of gold, the D. Reference to the context
second of silver and the third of lead. Whoever picked
1. ‘I will take a pound of Antonio’s flesh closest to his heart.’
the right casket – the one that contained Portia’s portrait
a. The speaker is Shylock, the money lender.
– would win the lady’s hand.
b. He is speaking to Bassanio.
6. After Bassanio left for Venice, Portia sends her servant,
Balthazar, to get legal advice from her cousin, Bellario, c. Antonio is a rich merchant of Venice and Bassanio’s
who is a lawyer, at Padua. friend.

The Merchant of Venice 47 © Firefly Books

 d. The speaker and Antonio share a relationship of 4. It is necessary to weigh your options carefully before
mutual dislike and distrust. you take a decision.
e. The speaker says this line because he thinks he 5. He has always won in the past but this time his opponent
might get an opportunity to take revenge against turned the tables on him.
Antonio later. 6. We had a close shave when our jeep narrowly escaped
f. Students must answer this question on their own. being forced off the road.
2. ‘(She) warns Shylock to be careful that he does not shed a
single drop of Antonio’s blood since that is not mentioned III. Grammar Grove
in the contract.’
a. The person being referred to as ‘she’ is Portia. A. Complete the table correctly.
b. Shylock is a Jewish money lender. Positive Comparative Superlative
c. The ‘contract’ that is mentioned in this line is the patient More patient Most patient
one signed by Antonio with Shylock. It stated that if lovely Lovelier loveliest
Antonio could not repay the loan, Shylock had the angry Angrier angriest
right to take a pound of flesh from the part of his prosperous More prosperous Most prosperous
body that is closest to the heart. frightened More frightened Most frightened
d. Shylock feels dejected and defeated when he hears merciful More merciful Most merciful
these words. B. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the adjectives
e. Shylock would now have to forfeit his property, half in brackets.
to the government and half to Antonio, leaving his 1. Portia was more intelligent than Shylock. (intelligent)
life at the mercy of the Duke.
2. Shylock was upset with Antonio. (upset)
3. The Prince of Aragon felt that the second casket was the
II. Vocabulary Corner best of the three. (good)

A. Word Test 4. Bassanio was more worried about his friend than he
admitted. (worried)
1. unforgiving – generous, unusual, mean, deceitful
5. White water rafting was the most exciting adventure
2. hampers – helps, obstructs, destroys, dissolves
sport he had ever tried in his life. (exciting)
3. legal – honest, advisable, correct, lawful
6. This global pandemic is the deadliest one we have ever
4. crestfallen – angry, dejected, injured, hesitant
experienced. (deadly)
5. well-read – learned, author, cunning, intelligent
C. Fill in the blanks with the correct degree of comparison
6. arrogant – impatient, aggressive, indecent, conceited
of the adverbs in brackets.
B. Word Game 1. Unfortunately, 2. less
1. (d); 2. (f); 3. (b); 4, (a); 5. (c); 6. (e) 3. arrogantly 4. more easily
1. You must not nurse a grudge for so many years. 5. earlier 6. most beautifully
2. It does not matter what you say, your words will fall on
deaf ears. IV. Writing Avenue
3. The close finish of the race put us all at the edge of our
seats. Students must complete these writing exercises on their own.

© Firefly Books 48 Teacher's Compass for Englishville – 8

(The school garden was a riot of colours in spring.) agile climbers was heart-breaking. All they want is a little
phenomenon - an event in nature, especially one that is not space to stretch out and relax.
fully understood 2. The walrus are going to be the new ambassadors to fight
(An amazing phenomenon that can be seen in high altitude climate change because of their struggle for survival in
regions is the Northern Lights.) such conditions. The Arctic is warming twice as fast as
the rest of the world because of human activity.
unparalleled - unequalled; used to emphasize that something
3. The humpback whales have made a ‘remarkable
is bigger, better or worse than anything else similar to it
comeback’. International laws have been passed to
(Her sprint record in athletics is unparalleled.)
protect them from being hunted. The humpback whale
biodiversity - the existence of a large number of different kinds populations around Antarctica are now thriving.
of animals and plants which make a balanced environment
4. The irresponsible clearing of forests for farming was
(The mining project will affect the biodiversity of the region.) responsible for the Amazon fires. Many of these fires
tracts - areas of land, especially large ones; stretches were lit by humans who used fire to clear the land quickly.
(Vast tracts of forests have been cleared for farming.) Soon the fires went out of control.
5. Students must answer this question on their own.
Answers to Coursebook Section 6. This lesson tells us that the Super Six are very much
concerned about the environment. They believe that it
is up to them as members of the next generation to do
I. Question Zone
their part for the planet. They can choose be a part of its
destruction or rebuilding.
A. Think quick
1. Vir 2. Leah 3. Suman
D. Reference to the context
1. ‘It just goes to show that when given space and time to
4. Leah 5. Suman 6. Uzma
recover, nature always bounces back.’
B. Write short answers a. Leah is the speaker.
1. The first place that the Super Six visited was Northern b. She is speaking to Vir.
Russia. c. They are flying over Antarctica at this time.
2. The melting Arctic ice caused by human activity has d. The speaker says this line because she is happy to
made life difficult for polar bears. see the thriving humpback whale population as it is
a positive story that is different from the condition
3. One positive story that the Super Six talk about is the
of the other animals.
comeback of the humpback whales in Antarctica.
e. The students must answer this question on their
4. The colourful coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef in
own.
Australia suddenly change colour and become white.
This is coral bleaching. It is caused when the ecosystem is f. After this the speaker says she always wanted to see
affected by warming waters that are becoming common the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
due to global warming. 2. ‘A very unfortunate event but we can surely do our bit to
5. The Amazon Rain Forest is home to around 30% of the help …’
world’s known species. It also has about 390 billion trees.
a. Suman is the speaker.
6. Vir says that a small step in the right direction is to
b. At this time the speaker is back home and is
reduce, reuse and recycle.
collecting trash and putting it in to separate
C. Think and answer recycling bins.
1. According to Uzma, the sight of the walrus climbing c. The ‘unfortunate event’ that the speaker is referring
the steep cliffs because of lack of space and then many to is the fires in the Amazon Rain Forest.
of them falling to their deaths as they are not the most

Super Six See the Changing World 53 © Firefly Books

 d. Irresponsible human action has caused this
‘unfortunate event’. III. Grammar Grove
e. The speaker is referring to all human beings when
he uses the word ‘we’. A. Choose the correct verb from the ones in brackets to fill
f. Students must answer this question on their own. in the blanks.
1. were 2. bounces 3. is
II. Vocabulary Corner 4. was 5. are 6. have

B. Fill in the blanks with verbs that agree with the subject.
A. Word Test
1. has 2. are 3. are
1. safe and sound 2. trial and error
4. have 5. were 6. has
3. short and sweet 4. pros and cons
5. odds and ends 6. ups and downs
IV. Writing Avenue
B. Word Game
1. Epic 2. Feature 3. Chronicle Students must complete this writing exercise on their own.
4. Memoir 5. Column 6. Script

22 If
disaster - a great or sudden misfortune; catastrophe
Word Alley (If the dam bursts, it will be a disaster.)
impostors - those who pretend to be what they are not
keep your head - remain calm in a difficult situation
(Could no one tell that they were impostors?)
(When you are in trouble, try to keep your head.)
knaves - dishonest, unprincipled people; rogues (pronounced
make allowance for - the ability to understand the thoughts
‘rogs’)
and feelings of others, even if that means understanding that
(The world nowadays is filled with knaves.)
people will not always agree with you or like you
stoop – bend
(That child is a first generation learner and we have to make
(No one can stoop so low as to steal from a poor man.)
an allowance for him.)
virtue – good qualities or habits; behaviour that shows high
give way - stop resisting somebody or something; to agree to
moral standards
do something that you do not want to do
(He led a life of virtue right till the very end.)
(She decided to give way when she couldn’t argue any longer.)
common touch - the ability of a powerful or famous person
make dreams your master - let yourself be ruled by your
to talk to and understand ordinary people
dreams
(Having the common touch is what makes a person a great
(It is foolish to make dreams your master.)
leader.)
triumph - victory, success
foes – enemies
(Don’t let your triumph stop you from continuing your hard
(He is kind to his foes as well.)
work.)

© Firefly Books 54 Teacher's Compass for Englishville – 8

all men count with you - you consider every human being 4. If things that matter most to someone are destroyed or
worthy of consideration and respect one faces failure, one should rise again and fight back.
(I respect you when I see that all men count with you.) Being depressed and dejected after a failure is not the
unforgiving - not giving a second chance to anyone right thing to do. If there is a problem, one should look
(Don’t be so unforgiving as he has made an honest mistake.) for a solution and fix it.
5. Students must answer the question on their own.
Answers to Coursebook Section
D. Reference to the context
‘If you can fill the unforgiving minute
I. Question Zone
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
A. Think Quick
And which is more, you’ll be a Man, my son!’
1. Yes 2. No 3. No
1. The speaker is the poet.
4. Yes 5. Yes 6. No
2. He is speaking to the readers.
B. Write short answers 3. The speaker means that Time waits for no one. In a
1. Two qualities mentioned in the poem that the poet minute that consists of sixty seconds every person should
considers are the mark of a ‘Man’ are: keeping your head try to live his life to the fullest and not waste any time in
when in trouble and making every moment of your life unimportant matters.
count. (The students can mention any two qualities.) 4. If the person he is speaking to does what is mentioned in
2. The poet says that we should ignore those who spread the first two lines, he will be able to achieve anything he
lies about us. We should neither tell nor believe in lies. aspires to.
3. People think that those who ‘talk too wise’ are too over- 5. These lines tell us that the theme of the poem is that we
confident. They may try to avoid such people because of should all lead a life that is meaningful. We should make
their superior attitude. every second count. Our time should be spent in useful
4. The poet has described people who twist the truth as activity. We should move through life with a purpose. If
‘knaves’ or dishonest human beings. we do this, we can achieve anything.

5. The poet means that a person needs to be able to interact

with any kind of person, high or low, without losing his II. Vocabulary Corner
own personality and the ability to act in the correct way.
A. Word Test
C. Think and answer Blaming – praising
1. The poet has referred to ‘Triumph’ and ‘Disaster’ as Virtue – vice
‘impostors’ they can both deceive us. Triumph can make Doubting – trusting
us over-confident. If we get carried away with it, it will
Triumph – failure
lead to our downfall. If we work hard after a disaster, it
Common – rare
will lead us to success.
Stoop – rise
2. The line ‘If you can think and not make thoughts your
aim …’ means that we should not get so caught up in our Broken – mended
thoughts that we make thinking our goal only. We then
B. Word Game
make no attempt to achieve that goal.
1. trust yourself - b) self-confident
3. Someone who is taken in by lies is weak and foolish and
2. wait and not be tired - d) patient
unable to distinguish between the truth and falsehood.

If 55 © Firefly Books
3. look too good … talk too wise - e) proud and make allowance for: We can make some allowance for
overconfident her as she joined the class later.
4. not make dreams your master - c) be practical give way to: The mountains will soon give way to the
5. all men count on you - a) dependable plains.
meet with: The President will meet with his senior aides
III. Writing Avenue tomorrow.
keep your virtue: It will be good if you can keep your
• Make sentences of your own with these phrases: virtue amidst the all around corruption.
keep your head: You must try to keep your head in a • Students must complete this writing exercise on their
difficult situation. own.

© Firefly Books 56 Teacher's Compass for Englishville – 8