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Theme: The poet believes that it is unfair to destroy a tree. The way a tree is cut by humans for personal & commercial reasons causes damage to nature. A tree reaches its full size after several years of absorbing sunlight, air, water and nutrition from the earth. It does not die easily. A simple jab of the knife will not kill a tree because only the bark is wounded which heals after some time. In order to kill a tree, its root has to be pulled out entirely from the earth. The exposed root then chokes and dries in the sun, leading to the death of the tree. The poet comes across as an ardent nature lover in the poem. He calls the felling of a tree 'killing. His graphic description of the process of killing a tree underscores the heinous nature of the act. Words like 'consuming, bleeding. 'choking, and 'pain' drive home the notion of the tree as a vital living being. The tree is man's friend and killing trees is bad for the environment. Poem At a Glance In this poem, by detailing the process involved in killing a tree, the poet makes the point that trees must not be felled. The poet says that it takes a long time to kill a tree: a simple jab of the knife will not do it. A tree grows slowly from the earth, feeding upon its crust, absorbing years of sunlight, air and water and growing strong in the process. So merely hacking and chopping its branches will not kill a tree. The bleeding bark will heal over time and new green twigs and miniature boughs will come out again which in time will grow to their former size. To kill a tree, one has to strike at its roots, because it is the root that anchors a tree to the earth. The root has to be roped, tied and pulled out from the earth. Once this is done, the strength of the tree will lie exposed. A tree's strength lies in its root, which is also its most sensitive part - it is wet and white from inside having been hidden for years inside the earth. Once the root is exposed, it begins to choke and harden in the sun and the air. It slowly twists and withers away, and with this the process of killing the tree is complete. NCERT Solution Thinking about the Poem 1.Can a "simple jab of the knife" kill a tree? Why not? Ans. A simple jab of the knife cannot kill a tree. A tree grows over many years, taking nourishment from the earth, sunlight, air and water, and becoming stronger in the process. Its roots are deep within the earth. If a part of a tree is cut, it grows back. So it is very difficult for a simple jab of the knife to kill a tree. 2. How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity. Ans. The tree has grown to its full size over years absorbing sunlight, air and water. The words suggestive of its life and activity are: 3. What is the meaning of "bleeding bark"? What makes it bleed? Ans: 'Bleeding bark' refers to the sap that flows down the bark of a tree which has been cut with the axe. 4. The poet says "No" in the beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by this? Ans. The poet means to say that one cannot kill a tree by merely chopping or hacking it. Just cutting a branch will not kill the tree because it will grow again. 5. What is the meaning of "anchoring earth" and "earth cave"? Ans: 'Anchoring earth' refers to the earth which holds the roots of a tree firmly. 'Earth cave' refers to the earth's interior. The poet says so because the roots, which are the most sensitive part of the tree, stay hidden securely in a cave-like pit in the earth. 6. What does he mean by "the strength of the tree exposed"? Ans. The strength of the tree is exposed when its roots are exposed to the sun and air. The strength of a tree lies in its roots which remain under the earth. When one pulls out the roots, they scorch and choke in the sun. This weakens the tree and accelerates the process of its death. 7. What finally kills the tree? Ans. When the root of the tree is pulled out and exposed, the tree dies. The white, wet and sensitive root dries up in the sunlight and air. There is browning, hardening and twisting of the root, leading to the death of the tree. Extra Questions from 'On Killing a Tree' Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each. 1. How long does it take for a tree to be fully grown? Ans. It takes several years for a tree to be fully grown. It needs to feed on the earth's crust and absorb sunlight, air and water for years to grow fully.. 2. Is the poet in favour of killing trees? Ans. No, the poet is not in favour of killing trees. This is evident from the way he describes the cutting of a tree. He calls it 'killing as if the tree were a human being. He personifies the tree so as to evoke sympathy in the minds of the readers about the insensitive process of cutting the trees for personal & commercial reasons. Answer the following questions in 100-150 words each. 1. What does the tree need to reach its full size? Ans. The tree needs to feed on the earth's crust for nutrition. It requires several years of sunlight, air and water to grow and reach its full size. The tree is a gigantic life with complex body functions that work together to make it grow. It takes time for the tree to grow slowly, feeding on the earth and absorbing sunlight, air and water for years. The poem stresses the tree's tenacity. It may grow slowly but it surely grows. Hacking and chopping may make it bleed, but tiny shoots soon appear which grow into large branches if left unchecked. 2. What do you think are the views of the poet of 'On Killing a Tree"? Or How does the poet personify the tree in the poem? Explain with examples from the poem. Ans. The poet believes that it is wrong to kill a tree. A tree reaches its full size after several years of absorbing sunlight, air, water and nutrition from the earth. It does not die easily. In order to kill it, one has to make a lot of effort. A simple jab of the knife will not do because only the bark is wounded which heals after some time. In order to kill a tree, its root has to be pulled out entirely from the earth. The exposed root then chokes and dries in the sun, leading to the death of the tree. The poet comes across as an ardent nature lover in the poem. He calls the felling of a tree 'killing. His graphic description of the process of killing a tree underscores the heinous nature of the act. Words like 'consuming, 'bleeding, 'choking, and 'pain' drive home the notion of the tree as a vital living being. The tree is man's friend and killing trees is bad for the environment. Recommended Reading: A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal.

Key points- Highlights of the Lesson with NCERT Solution Mijbil is an otter from Basra that the narrator adopted to keep him company. Since he lived in Camusfearna, which is surrounded by water on all sides, there would be no problem keeping an otter. In 1956 the author was in southern Iraq. After learning about his wish to keep an otter, his friend gifted him one. The otter was from the marshes of the Tigris River, where otters were found in plenty. When the author took the otter out of the sack, his life entered a phase of otter fixation! The otter belonged to a race previously unknown to science, and was later named as Maxwell's otter. Mijbil is adaptable and an intelligent creature who is quick to understand things. He masters the art of turning the tap to fill the bathtub with water and play in it. Like all otters, Mijbil gets immense pleasure from water. He enjoys being in bathtub, jumping and splashing around in water, swimming up and down the length of the tub. Mijbil would not wait for the author to take him to the bathroom and run the taps for him. He would go there himself, experiment with the taps till the water ran and had a fun time in water. He is a skilled juggler who can dribble a ball on all fours. He can even roll marbles up and down his belly without dropping them. Mijbil spent most of his day playing. His favourite game was lying on his back and juggling marbles between his paws. Like only otters can, he juggled flawlessly, without dropping any marble on the floor. Taking Mijbil to England was a challenge. The airline insisted that Mijbil be packed into a box not more than eighteen inches square. To make Mijbil used to the box, the author put Mijbil in it an hour before they started and went to have his meal. But putting Mijbil inside the box had horrific consequences. Mijbil must have struggled inside the cramped box for blood had trickled from its airholes and Mijbil lay completely exhausted in it. On board the flight, when the author confided in the airhostess about Mijbil's condition, the airhostess kindly suggested that the author keep his pet on his lap. The author felt immensely grateful, but was totally unprepared for what happened next. On being let out of the box, Mijbil ran amok in the aircraft. There was pandemonium all around, till at last the airhostess requested the author to take his seat, saying that she would find Mijbil for him. The author and Mijbil lived in London for a month. When the author took Mijbil out for walks, he was surprised by the guesses the average Londoner made about the kind of animal Mijbil was. Some asked if he was a squirrel, baby seal or walrus; others thought he was a beaver, bear cub or leopard. The wildest guess perhaps was that Mijbil was a brontosaur. Recommended Reading: Competency Based Questions What is Personification? In Personification an idea, thing or animal is given human qualities. In the story, Mijbil goes wild with joy, chitters with irritation, 'dribbles a ball, invents a game and develops 'compulsive habits as children do. Personification makes a description come alive. It makes it more vivid and life-like. NCERT Solution to be uploaded soon. Keep visiting the site.

Solve the following topics from the worksheet given below to Enhance your Score in English Grammar. Gap Filling Editing Errors Reported Speech Q1. Complete the passage by choosing the correct answers from the options given. The king was happy (a) __________ have the toy bird. He wanted it to (b) __________ with the real nightingale (c) __________ that was not possible. The toy bird could (d) __________ only one tune. The king now kept the new bird always (e) __________ his side and heard her song twenty times a day. The artificial bird was tired. It sang (f) __________ the king ordered it to do so. (a) (i) of (ii) at (iii) to (iv) for (b) (i) to sang (ii) sing (iii) singing (iv) to sing (c) (i) but (ii) and (iii) so (iv) hence (d) (i) can sing (ii) sing (iii) sang (iv) only sing (e) (i) at (ii) to (iii) by (iv) for (f) (i) whenever (ii) whatever (iii) whichever (iv) whoever Q2. Fill in the blanks choosing the most appropriate words phrases from the given options. Lord Krishna and Arjuna (a) __________ themselves as brahmans and went to Karna. “O kind Raja Karna”, they said. “ we (b) __________ about your charity. We (c) __________ poor brahmans and we (d) __________ to holy places. We (e) __________ some bhiksha. We hope that you (f) __________ us away empty handed”. (A) (i) dressing (ii) dressed (ii) had dressed (iv) dresses (b) (i) had heard (ii) has heard (iii) heard (iv) have heard (c) (i) were (ii) are (ii) had been (iv) is (d) (i) will go (ii) go (iii) are going (iv) have gone (e) (i) want (ii) wanted (iii) wants (iv) had wanted (f) (i) would send (ii) would not send (iii) will not sent (iv) will send Q3. Read the dialogue given below and complete the paragraph that follows. Patient : doctor, I keep seeing dinosaurs with orange spots. Doctor : Have you seen an eye doctor ? Patient : No, I just saw dinosaurs with orange spots. The patient told the doctor (a) __________ dinosaurs with orange spots. The doctor asked him (b) __________ The patient replied that he had not and added (c) __________. Q4 & Q5 ( Editing Errors & Reordering of sentences) Note: Password-protected Answer Key to this worksheet is available below. You need to text me on Chat box on my website. I shall text you the password to open the answer key. Recommended Reading: Competency-Based Grammar Worksheet

Topics Covered Gap Filling Dialogue Completion Editing Errors Reported Speech Jumbled Words Q1. A doctor had the habit of talking to the trees (a) __________ the roadside as he took his walks in the evening. He would bend (b) __________ kiss the trees lovingly and whisper kind words to (c) __________ This was (d) __________ odd but beautiful sight. It was indeed (e) __________ noble act in this wicked world. One day he was very upset (f) __________ see one of his trees cut down. This nature lover was so upset that he collapsed on the spot surprising the passers by. (a) (i) in (ii) above (iii) beside (iv) by (b) (i) at (ii) to (iii) in (iv) on (c) (i) them (ii) it (iii) him (iv) that (d) (i) a (ii) an (iii) but (iv) the (e) (i) the (ii) an (iii) a (iv) some (f) (i) at (ii) to (iii) on (iv) in Q2. Complete the following dialog by choosing the correct options : Neha : Did you visit the book fair in Camel Street ? Sapna : No. Did you ? Neha : Yes , (a) __________ Sapna : Are there (b) __________ Neha : There are books for all age groups. Sapna : Any idea (c) __________ ? Neha : I‟m not sure. But I guess it will go on for a month. Sapna : Then I must visit it soon. (a) (i) I will (ii) I did (iii) I (iv) Will I (b) (i) any books for grown up people (ii) no any books for grown up people (iii) few books for grown up people (iv) much books for grown up people (c) (i) how long will the fair go on (ii) how long would the fair go on (iii) how long the fair will go on (iv) how long the fair goes on. Q3. Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences. (a) the/there/numberless/are/sky/stars/in (b) we can't/do glow/stars/the day/during/but/see them (c) too bright/is because/far/this/of the sun/the light/is Q4. Q5. Q6. The following paragraph has not been edited. One word has been omitted in each line. Write the omitted word along with the word that comes before and the word that comes after in your answer sheet. Q7. Q8. Q9. Q10. Recommended Reading: Competency-Based Grammar Worksheet

Topics Covered Gap Filling Editing Errors Jumbled Words & Phrases Reported Speech. Q1. Q2. Q3. Q4. Answer Key is available for download below: Recommended Reading: Competency-Based Grammar Worksheet

Topics Covered Jumbled Words & Phrases Reported Speech Dialogue Completion Q1. Look at the words and phrases given below. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences. The first one has been done as an example. Write your answers in the answer sheet and number them correctly. Q2. Read the conversation given below and then complete the paragraph that follows : Q3. Read the given dialogue and complete it by choosing the correct options from the ones given below : Answer Key is available for download below: Recommended Reading: Competency-Based Grammar Worksheet

Topics Covered Gap Filling Exercise Editing Errors Jumbled Words/Phrases Dialogue Completion Reported Speech. Read the paragraph given below and fill in the blanks with the help of options that follow : Q2. Complete the dialogues given below with the help of options that follow : Q3. Q4. Q5. You can download the answer key from below Recommended Reading: Competency-Based Grammar Worksheet

Corruption: dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power. On a nice warm afternoon, I was checking Instagram. I was looking at posts with funny facts- “Horses sleep standing up, Dolphins sleep with one-eye open”, and then came another post- “In 2021 the Corruption Perceptions Index ranked India in 85th place out of 180 most corrupt nations”. “Corrupt officials in India may be making the country poorer by more than Rs. 90, 000 crores every year”. That’s a lot of money! Some reports said that officials are literally taking out people’s money that they pay as taxes. It is now clear that most of the corruption happens around money. That got me worried. After some reflection, I came with two main ideas that I believed could significantly help reduce corruption: That got me worried. After some reflection, I came with two main ideas that I believed could significantly help reduce corruption: 1. Taking Records Online. A lot of corruption actually happens because of poor archives of records. When certain government officials introduce new projects, sometimes the funding part of the project is not publicly available. This leads to bad management. Government officials may even keep some of the money with themselves- making the 1 quality of the project way poorer than what was revealed earlier to the public. Technology reduces corruption by automating bureaucratic processes. —bussinessworld.in Thanks to the internet- with the help of new technologies, keeping records and making them public has never been easier. Governments have to make sure that none of their work goes undocumented and foreign to the citizens of the country. Imagine if every work ever done by the government is maintained and available publicly- healthcare, finance, infrastructure. This will help definitely reduce corruption, increase accountability and most importantly- increase trust. Taking Records Online- keeping track of where the money goes and how it’s being used. 2. A New Way of Maintaining Transactions: Say Hello to Blockchain: No matter how hard you try, there is always some way which leads to things getting messy. As I mentioned earlier, most of the corruption revolves around money. And if we really want to make India a Corruption Free, Developed Nation- There has to be a way in which fund alteration becomes impossible. Say Hello To Blockchain. Blockchain is a system of recording information in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack, or cheat the system. It’s a digital ledger of transactions in a peer-to-peer network. The way I interpret this is by imagining a large blockchain network in which the government shares transactions and records 2 from initiation to deployment. Every citizen has access to the network, and everyone can individually verify them by mining if they want to. This will empower citizens and truly make our democracy by the people, for the people, and of the people. The Bottom Line Corruption can destroy a country as great as ours. It’s time we all come together and work hand in hand to make sure our government becomes more clean, honest and definitely way above the 85th place out of the most corrupt nations. I strongly believe, We Can. This article was written by Monojoy Dey. You can find more of his work on medium.

Listen to our podcasts here Significance of Mother's Day Listening Worksheet 4 Based on your listening of the above podcast, answer the following questions. (a) The most dear and hearty relation of all is the relationship of _ (i) father and son (ii) husband and wife (iii) mother and child (iv) friendship and love (b) This relationship carries_ (i) worries (ii) suffering (iii) love for money (iv) deep emotions and feelings (c) This relation is devoid of__ (i) ego and fear (ii) love and affection (iii) anger and hard feelings (iv) (i) and (iii) (d) Today's generation__ (i) is very busy in their lives (ii) easily finds time for their mother (iii) remembers the things she has done for them (iv) shows respect and care for mother (e) You can express your love towards your mother by__ (i) writing poems and quotes (ii) showing respect (iii) hugging her (iv) all of the above

Study the following questions curated for Board Exam. The Sermon at Benares Short Questions & Answers Q1. Where did Gautama Buddha preach his first Sermon? What was it all about? ANS: Gautama Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares, most holy of the dipping places on the River Ganges. It was about the ways to overcome our sorrows. It reflects Buddha’s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering. Q2. Why was Kisa sad? What advice was given to her? ANS: Kisa Gotami had lost her only son. In her grief, she carried her dead child door to door asking if anyone had the medicine that could bring her son back to life. As she did not find any medicine for her son, she became sad. She was advised by a man to go to Buddha. Q3. What did Buddha ask her to bring? Could she get it? Why/Why not? ANS: Buddha asked Gotami to bring mustard seeds from a house where no one has lost a child, husband, parent or friend. She was unable to get such a house as there was not a single house where some beloved one had not died. As man is mortal in nature, so Gotami could not bring what Buddha asked her to bring. Q4. How did ‘Bodhi Tree’ get its name? ANS: After seven years of wandering Gautama sat under a peepal tree. He attained knowledge under that tree and got enlightened. He renamed the tree as ‘Bodhi tree’ which means the tree of wisdom. Q5. What were the greatest sorrows that pained Buddha? ANS: Poverty, illness and death were the greatest sorrows that pained Buddha. He saw a poor man begging, an old man and a funeral procession that changed his course of life. These sights moved him so much that he went out into the world to seek enlightenment about the sorrows and hardships that he had witnessed. Q6. According to Gautama Buddha, how can a person get a peace of mind? Ans: A person can get peace of mind only if he draws out the arrows of lamentation, complaint and grief. Grieving and lamentation only increases the pain of loss. Those who overcome all sorrows become free from sorrows, and be blessed. Q7. When did Kisa Gotami understand the significance of Buddha's teaching? Ans: Buddha changed her understanding when he told her to collect mustard seeds from only those families that had never experienced a loss of a dear one. She then realized that she had been selfish in her grief. She came to know that death is common to all; yet in this valley of desolation there is a path that leads him to immortality who has surrendered all selfishness. Thus she understood the significance of the Buddha's teaching. Q8. What did Kisa Gotami realize as she saw the city lights flicker up and die? Ans: Kisa gotami saw the lights of the city flicker up and were extinguished and the darkness of the night prevailed everywhere. She then realized that the fate of humans is similar to the lights- we are born only to die. Death is common to all and she had been selfish not to realize it in her grief. Q9. How did Buddha explain the mortality of man in his preaching? How does a human obtain peace of mind. Ans: Death and suffering according to Buddha are inescapable in life. As one is born, so one must suffer in his lifetime and die. The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and combined with pain. A human being who is born can by no means avoid death. As ripe fruits are early in danger of falling, so mortals when born are always in danger of death. As all earthen vessels made by the potter end in being broken, so is the life of mortals. Both young and adult, both those who are fools and those who are wise, all fall into the power of death; all are subject to death. How to obtain peace of mind? A person can get peace of mind only if he draws out the arrows of lamentation, complaint and grief. Grieving and lamentation only increases the pain of loss. The only way out of human suffering therefore is to stop complaining and grieving. Those who overcome all sorrows become free from sorrows, and be blessed. Q10. The sight of a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession and a monk made Siddhartha leave his home and go out in search of enlightenment. What lesson about life do you learn from this episode? ANS: Siddhartha lived a life full of luxuries till the age of twenty-five. Once when he went outside to hunt, he saw a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession and finally, a monk begging for alms. The sight moved Siddhartha so much that he left the home and went in search of enlightenment. The incident revealed a great truth — life is short. Beauty, riches, comforts all are transitory and vanish one day. If we all understand this fact and work towards making our life valuable for others, there would be no fight, grudges and pain. When somebody does something wrong, he/she forgets that one day we are going to be punished for our wrong deeds. In our trouble, we should have faith in God to struggle in life and wait for good times to come. Q11.What is the truth of life, according to Buddha? How should a wise man behave in times of trouble or misfortune? Ans: According to Buddha, all men are mortal. One who is born, is sure to die. All things in nature die and are reborn—be it animals, plants or objects. Some people start behaving like a madman whenever a problem arises in their life. They lose their sense of reasoning and become depressed. But this is not a solution to come out of your grief. A sensible person understands the realities of life and remains balanced in all the situations. The lesson here is that whenever we come across a problem, we should try to find out its solution. Instead of blaming our fate or others, we must think deep for the reason of that problem. By being calm, resolute and contented, most of the problems can be solved. Q12. A timely help and sympathy is a great help for those who are in grief. Gautama Buddha helped Kisa Gotami by his kind words and guidance in overcoming her grief. It is a big relief for the grieving person if support and care are extended to them. How important are the values of kindness and sympathy in a peaceful and joyful life? ANS: Most people in our society are unhappy and grieved because the values of kindness and sympathy have eroded. People suffer because of their ignorance or their lack of knowledge about the reality of life. They do not accept the things as they are. Overambition and unnecessary craving for the things make them ultimately suffer. They are not satisfied with what they have. They desire for the things they don’t deserve for and suffer. People are not kind to one another. There is lack of sympathy for one another. This all leads to sufferings. Kisa Gotami suffers because of her selfish desire and craving for her son. Gautama Buddha relieves her from her pain by his guidance and kindness. All human beings are victims of such desires and they suffer but the timely guidance and kindness may help them. Timely help and sympathy is a great help for those who are in grief. Gautama Buddha helped Kisa Gotami by his words love and guidance in overcoming her grief. It is a big relief for the grieving person if support and care are extended to them in time. Recommended Reading 1. The Sermon At Benares-NCERT Solution The Proposal- Anton Chekov Q1.Who is Lomov? Why does he visit Chubukov? Ans: Lomov is a thirty-five year old wealthy young man looking for a wife. He visits Chubukov to seek the hand of his wealthy daughter-Natalya. Q2. What makes Chubukov misunderstand the purpose of Lomov’s visit? Ans: Chubukov misunderstands that Lomov had come to borrow money and trouble him with a request for help. He comes to this conclusion as Lomov announces that he has come with a request. So Chubukov immediately suspects that it must be a request for a loan. Q3. Why does Natalya quarrel with Lomov? What is the result? Ans: Lomov fought with Natalya for a piece of land. Both of them wanted to have a claim for the same piece of land, i.e., Oxen Meadows. The second time they fought for their dogs to establish the superiority of one over the other. Lomov and Natalya are not able to decide whose dog is superior as Natalya is proud of her dog, Squeezer who is young and belongs to a pedigree, whereas Lomov considers it to be uppershot and boasts of his pet ‘Guess’ who he thinks is a first rate dog. But Natalya considers ‘Guess’ to be old and as ugly as a worn out cab horse. Q4. How did Chubukov react when he heard Lomov's marriage proposal? What did he say? Ans: Chubukov was overjoyed to hear the proposal. He said that he had been hoping for it for a long time and that it had been his ardent desire. He added that he had always loved Lomov as if her were his own son. He prayed to God to give Lomov His help and love, and admitted to being overjoyed to hear such a good news. Q5. The Proposal is a satire on love and marriage. Discuss. Ans: The story depicts the norm among wealthy families in nineteenth-century Russia to see ties with other wealthy families through marriages. Such marriage proposals were sought after because they made good economic sense. Love and romance is not a priority in such marriages of convenience. Chubukov is ecstatic that Lomov has come to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage. They are both wealthy landowners, and a union would only double their wealth. Moreover, his daughter is past the marriageable age and the proposal would take the burden of finding a match for her off his shoulders. Lomov too is guided by his practical considerations. He knows that if he tries to look for real love, he might not get married. He is at a critical ageand keeps poor helath. When Lomov proposes the topic of marriage to Natalya, he begins by talking about his land instead of any admiration or love he might have for Natalya. On the other hand, Natalya fights with Lomov over a a piece of land and does not talk anything about her personal likes and dislikes. Yet on learning that Lomov had come to propose to her , she wants him back at any cost. Thus the play is a satire on love and marriage as it shows a reality of married life in Russian society- the differences and strife between a husband and a wife. Q6. Do you think the one-act play ' The Proposal' is a farce. Give reasons in support of your answer. Ans: The one-act play is humorous and funny in the way the characters behave and display their exaggerated character traits. The characters make it ridiculous and farcical. Lomov, a welathy landowner, comes to visit Chubukov witha proposal of marriage of for his dauthter. Chubukov responds in an overwhelming manner at the prospect of the marriage wiping a tear melodramatically from his eyes. Lomov, on the other hand, is a hypochondriac and is always excitable or upset. Together with the belligerent Natalya , the three exhibit ludicrous character traits-quarrelling and arguing over petty matters and not showing control over their speech or action. Lomov was forcefully married to Natalya by Chubukov. But no sooner do Natalya kiss and make up, they start arguing again over their dogs. Ridiculously enough Chubukov raises a toast to their 'family bliss'. Thus the play is a perfect example of a comical farce. The Making of a Scientist Short Questions & Answers Q1.“Without the support and motivation of his mother, Richard Ebright would not have been a successful scientist.” Do you agree? Elaborate. Ans : It is true that without the support and motivation of his mother, Richard Ebright would not have been a successful scientist. It was his mother who recognised his driving curiosity and bright mind. She always encouraged his interest in learning. She organised trips for him , bought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, mounting materials and other equipments to help hie learn. Q2. Why did Richard Ebright give up tagging of butterflies? Ans : Ebright lost interest in tagging butterflies because it was tedious and there was not much feedback. He could capture only two butterflies. Q3. “But there was one thing I could do – collect things.” What collection did Ebright make? When did he start making the collection? Ans : Ebright did not have friends when he was in Pennsylvania. He had no one to play with. He started collecting things from his surroundings. He used to collect rocks, fossils, coins and butterflies. He started making a collection in his childhood. Q4. How did Richard Ebright excite the world of science at the age of twenty-two? Ans : At the age of twenty-two, Richard Ebright excited the scientific world with a new theory on how cells work. Richard Ebright and his roommate explained the theory in an article published in the ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Science’. Q5. What was the project of Ebright in the eighth grade? What was the result? Ans : For his eighth grade project, Ebright found the cause of a viral disease that kills all monarch caterpillars every few years. He tried to prove this fact but could not get any results. However, his efforts were appreciated and he won a prize. Q6. When and how did Ebright get the idea of his new theory about cell life? Ans : During the junior year, Ebright got the idea for his new theory about cell life. He was looking at X-ray photos of the chemical structure of a hormone. Seeing the photos, he believed that the photos gave him the answer to the puzzle—how the cells can read the blueprint of its DNA. Recommended Reading: 1. The Making Of A Scientist- NCERT Solution Long Questions & Answers Q7. “Where there is a will, there is a way.” Ebright had a will to become a scientist but did not have enough resources. How does will and curiosity help us in becoming a successful person in our life? Elaborate with reference to Ebright. Ans : “Where there is a will, there is a way.” Ebright had an indomitable will and insatiable desire to become a scientist. His only problem was not having enough resources at his disposal. His will and curiosity was fueled by his mother till his school education. she took him on trips, bought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, mounting materials and other equipments to help him learn. He worked hard on various projects and models and won many prizes. As a high school junior, he continued his advanced experiments on the monarch pupa. His hard work was rewarded and he won a prize. This gave him another chance to work in a well equipped advanced Army Laboratory during the summer. In his senior year, he again got an opportunity to work at the army laboratory. Thus, he was able to conduct many experiments. His commitment to work and curiosity overcame all the constraints of resources and helped him in becoming a successful scientist. Q8. “Failure is a step towards success.” How did a failure in the first competition help Ebright in becoming a successful scientist? What do you learn from this? Ans : Richard Ebright had scientific temperament right from his childhood. He always spent his time in observation of his surroundings. He was an intelligent boy having interest in collection of fossils, rocks and other things. His mother recognized his curious mind and indomitable spirit. He worked hard and exhibited a project on frog tissue in a county science fair. He did not win anything. He realized that the winners should try to do real experiments and not just display exhibits. A simple and neat display of facts does not win a prize. He failed to win a prize but this failure was a stepping stone towards success at a later stage. He was not demotivated. It was an eye-opener for him. We should learn from it that we should never give up and move on. After that failure, Ebright worked on real experiment and became a successful scientist. Bholi Q1.God created this world but teachers create human beings. How did Bholi’s teacher succeed in changing the course of her life? Ans: The teacher gives desired encouragement, inspires her with love. She changes her into a bold and confident girl. She protests at her marriage and refuses to get married with an aged, greedy, coward and mindless person. It transforms her life. Q2. Why did Bholi’s parents think her ‘a dumb cow’? Ans : Bholi’s real name was Sulekha. She was a simple girl. Everyone called her Bholi, the simpleton. She was a slow learner. She was not a good looking girl. She stammered also. Q3. What was Bholi’s experience at school on the first day? Did she enjoy it? Give a suitable answer. Ans : On her first day in the school, Bholi felt alone and fearful in the new surroundings. She was happy to see many girls of her age. The coloured pictures made her happy on this very day. The soft and soothing voice of her teacher calling her ‘Bholi’ touched her heart. Q4. Why did Bishamber refuse to marry Bholi? Ans : Bholi was a simpleton. She was not a good looking girl. She had pock-marks on her body and face. When Bishamber was about to garland Bholi, the silken veil from her face was slipped back. When Bishamber saw the pock-marks on her face, he refused to marry her. Q5. Why did the Tehsildar come to Ramlal’s village ? What did he ask Ramlal to do? Ans : He came to Ramlal’s village to inaugurate the newly opened primary school. The Tehsildar told Ramlal that he was the revenue officer and the representative of the government, therefore, he should be the first one to send his daughters to school. Q6. Why was Bholi reluctant to go to school with her father? Ans : Bholi did not know what a school was like. She remembered how their old cow had been turned out of the house and sold. Therefore, she was frightened and was reluctant to go to school with her father. Q7. “Dowry is a negation of a girl’s dignity.” Prove this statement in the light of the story ‘Bholi’. How can this evil be eradicated from our society? Ans : Dowry is a curse on our society. It has become a monster now. Dowry, no doubt, is a negation of a girl’s dignity. Bishamber refused to accept Bholi because of her looks. The moment he saw her face full of pock-marks, he refused to marry her. He did not care for her dignity. But he was ready to marry that ugly girl if her father would give him five thousand rupees as dowry. He was ready to compromise with her looks in exchange of money. It was a sheer negation of Bholi’s dignity. When Bishamber raised the garland to place it round Bholi's neck, Bholi struck out her hand like a streak of lightning and flung the garland into the fire. She got up and threw away her veil. In a loud and clear voice and without even the slightest stammer, she asked her father to take back his money as she was not going to marry Bishamber. For the sake of her father's dignity, she was willing to marry the lame old man. But now that her own dignity was hurt, she refused to marry Bishamber outrightly. How to Eradicate Dowry? The social evil like dowry can be eradicated from the society with the help of spread of education in the far flung places of our country. Girl child should be given access to education. Education of girls is the most powerful weapon against this evil. Awareness message can also be broadcast on radio, television and social media can also help create awareness among women to fight against such a social evils. Q8. On the basis of your understanding of the story, describe the role of the teacher played in Bholi’s life. What are the values reflected from her character? Ans : Bholi was a slow child from the beginning. Due to smallpox, her face had pock-marks which made her look different from other students. Her speech was not clear and she used to stammer. That is why, she was slower than other children. However, she was sent to school where her teacher changed her life. When her teacher asked Bholi her name, she stammered and then began to cry. When school was over, the kind teacher asked Bholi to say her name again. When Bholi began to stammer, the teacher encouraged her till she was able to say it. The teacher patted her affectionately and told her that she would soon be able to speak like everyone else. She gave Bholi a book of alphabets, and promised to give her even bigger books if she read them. The teacher assured Bholi that in time she would be more learned than anyone else in the village. She would be able to speak without the slightest stammer, and people would listen to her with respect. Such words of encouragement and the conviction that she would be able to achieve all this gave Bholi a new hope and the dream of a new life. Bholi’s teacher played a significant role in her life. She gave her encouragement and confidence to learn. She became an educated and a bold girl. Due to Bholi’s teacher, she was able to take charge of her life. It was love, compassion and sympathy in the teacher that transformed the life of Bholi. Every teacher must have these values to bring a change in society. Recommended Reading 1.Bholi-NCERT Solution Madam Rides a Bus Q1.What did Valli wish? How did this desire creep in her mind? Ans : Valli wished to have a ride on the bus to the nearest town. She used to listen to the passengers’ conversation carefully. She heard about the city and many more things through them. A tiny wish crept into her mind and became a desire. Q2. What information did Valli collect about the bus journey? Ans : Valli collected some details of the journey. The city was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way. The trip takes forty five minutes one way. Q3. How did the conductor treat Valli? How did Valli feel when the conductor called her ‘My Fine Madam’? Ans : When Valli got into the bus, the conductor treated her as a child. He asked her who was coming in the bus. Valli replied him that it was she alone. She bought the ticket and the conductor called her ‘Madam’ jokingly. The conductor was a jolly fellow. Valli did not like him treating her as a child. Her temperament made the conductor call her ‘Madam’. Valli was overcome with shyness. Q4. Why did Valli not get down from the bus in the town? Ans : Valli did not get off the bus at the bus station because she had to come back to her village by the same bus. When the conductor asked her to get down, she refused to do so. She was afraid of moving alone. Moreover, she did not have money to buy things from there. Q5. Why did Valli keep on watching the street? What was the most fascinating scene for Valli in the street? Ans : Valli did not have any playmate of her age. She had a pastime of watching outside in the street. She used to watch the new passengers boarding the bus every day. The arrival of the bus was the most fascinating scene in the street for Valli. She watched the passengers boarding the bus and to listen to their conversation. The sight of the bus was a source of unending joy for Valli. Q6. Valli dared to travel alone in the bus and behaved haughtily with everyone who showed care and concern for her. Why do you think she was behaving in such a way? Was it proper on her part to go to the city without the knowledge of her mother? What advice would you give such children? Ans : As Valli was travelling alone in a bus for the first time, it was natural on her part to behave like this. Initially she seemed haughty but later on she joined other people, though maintaining a distance. In fact, Valli was a very confident and mature girl. She saved her pocket money and planned carefully for the journey. She knew that the world outside was strange to her so she was being extra cautious. I appreciate her sense of responsibility but it was also not proper on her part to go out alone without telling her parents. Children must disclose to their parents whatever they do. Our elders have more experience of the world and knowledge and under their guidance, we should grow up holistically. Q7. Valli’s journey to the town is also her induction into the mystery of life and death. Such real experiences of life make us mature. Do you agree? Elaborate. Ans : It is true that Valli’s journey to the town is also her induction into the mystery of life and death. While on her way to the town, Valli saw a cow running very fast in the middle of the road, right in front of the bus. Valli was very happy. She kept on laughing until her eyes were filled up with tears. She saw life in the image of a cow. This is what life gives us, happiness and enjoyment. On her way back home, she saw a dead cow lying on the road. It was killed in a road accident. Valli recognised it. It was the same cow which filled her life with happiness and joy a short while ago. She was upset and realised how death can change the things. Something that was lovable and charming a while ago had lost all the charms. Yes, such real-life experiences make one mature. It’s a great lesson of life. Q8. Curiosity is the mother of learning. If one has an urge to know more about anything, one learns many things. Valli also has an urge to know more and more about things and her surroundings which makes her an intelligent, confident and mature girl. What traits of her character make her so? What do you learn from her character? Ans : Valli also has an urge to know more and more about things and her surroundings. The people and surroundings are a good book to learn. Valli in the lesson, ‘Madam Rides the Bus’ learns a lot from others. She is a small inquisitive girl of eight years. She always enjoys standing in the front door of the house to watch various activities going in the house. She is very confident. She has a deep urge to travel by bus so she listened carefully to the conversation of the neighbours. She has a lot of questions and does not hesitate in asking them. She sometimes asks discreet questions to get details about the journey. While on her journey to the town she becomes friendly with the conductor who gives her a lot of information. Her curious nature makes her intelligent and confident. As a student, I learn from her that we should have an urge to know more. We should be curious and passionate about learning new things. It makes one confident and intelligent. The Necklace Q1. What is the role of Mme Forestier in the story ‘The Necklace’? Ans : Mme Forestier is a rich lady. She is a good friend of Matilda. She agrees to lend her necklace to Matilda to be worn at a party. Her role in the story is very important. Had she not lent her necklace to Matilda, she (Matilda) would not have learnt her lesson in life. Q2. What changes came in the lifestyle of Matilda after she had lost the necklace? Ans : After the loss of the necklace, Matilda had to sacrifice all her comforts and even all her needs to get money to buy a new necklace and give it to her friend. On account of overwork, stress and lack of care, she became a physical wreck. Happiness of one night changed her life style for the whole life. Q3. Why did Matilda not like to visit her friend Mme. Forestier? Ans : Whenever Matilda visited her rich friend, she always felt frustrated and inferior. Her richness and luxuries made Matilda feel more dissatisfied. Forestier's display of clothes and jewels fascinated her. Q4. What was the cause of Matilda’s ruin? How could she have avoided it? Ans : The cause of Matilda’s ruin was her constant discontentment with her circumstances. It was her sense of frustration which made her and her husband borrow the necklace for the party which was subsequently lost. She could have avoided it by firstly, not borrowing the necklace and secondly by telling the truth to Mrs. Forestier. Q5. What is the twist at the end of the tale in the story ‘The Necklace’? Ans: The Loisels bought a necklace for thirty-six thousand francs and gave it in place of Mme Forestier’s imitation necklace. They underwent a life of misery, suffering and denial to earn the money to repay the debt of the necklace. She must have been utterly shocked after realising the real worth of the necklace. Q6. What did Matilda do to replace the necklace? Or How did Matilda manage to buy another necklace? Ans : Mr. Loisel had eighteen thousand francs. He borrowed another eighteen thousand francs from different money lenders. He bought a chaplet of diamonds exactly like Mme Forestier’s necklace. Thus Matilda replaced Forestier’s necklace without telling her the real hardship that they underwent in buying a real necklace. Q7. Mme Forestier feels guilty for not telling her friend that the necklace was fake. She wishes to be empathetic to Mrs. Loisel for the ten years of suffering faced by the Loisels. If Mme Forestier returns the necklace to Matilda what value would it reflect? What would you have done if you were in her place? Ans : Mme Forestier was upset with what happened once she met Matilda. Mme Forestier feels guilty of not telling her friend that the necklace was not real. Matilda had to repay a diamond necklace at the cost of ten years of hardships and sacrifices. Mme Forestier is a sensitive and empathetic lady. She helped Matilda by giving her the necklace. It was nightmare for Forestier to think that her friend would undergo such a hardship for that fake necklace. On knowing the truth and reality of ten years of hardships, she must have been upset. So as a gesture of goodwill and empathy, Mme Forestier returned the necklace to Matilda. She was a lady full of compassion, sympathy and kindness. It reflects the values inherent in Mme Forestier. If I had been in her place, I would have done the same. Q8. Contentment in one’s life is very important to lead a peaceful life. We should be happy with what we have and should not crave for what we don’t have. Matilda suffered in her life because she was not contented in her life. What do you learn from her mistake in life? Or Matilda suffered because she was not content with what life has given to her. Do you agree we should be content with what life gives us. Ans : It is true that contentment in one’s life is very important to lead a peaceful life. We should be happy with what we have and should not crave for what we don’t have. Matilda suffered in her life because she was not content in her life. She was a pretty beautiful lady and married to a simple clerk. He was rich in values but monetarily moderate. Matilda was not content with his job and salary. She wanted to lead a luxurious life which he could not afford. Once she got an opportunity to attend a high profile party ,she did not have a elegant dress and jewels. She borrowed a necklace from her friend. She lost it in the party and had to suffer for a long period of time just to pay for it. Her overambition and craze for luxury ruined her life. We should be pragmatic in our life and should not aspire for what we can not achieve. Matilda became a failure as she could not come to terms with the grim reality of her life. One must be satisfied with what one has is the lesson that I learn from her life. Recommended Reading 1.Animals- Poem Explanation & NCERT Solution 2. Amanda- Poem Explanation & NCERT Solution 3. The Tale of Custard Dragon_ Poem Explanation & NCERT Solution 4. Glimpses of India- Summary & NCERT Solution Recommended Sample Papers Pre-Board I & II Answer Key Dear Students, Before you study these important questions, pls go through the textbook lessons in detail. Then study these questions. Good Luck. You can text me via chat box if you have any doubt. Deleted from the syllabus for Academic Session 2022-23. Don't study the following Lesson. The Hack Driver Q1. How does Lutkins befool the lawyer? Ans : Oliver Lutkins was the hack driver. He impressed the narrator by his simplicity and pleasant appearance. He introduced himself as Bill. The hack driver made a complete fool of the narrator by taking him to all the places where he could find Lutkins but every time missed him by a fraction of minutes. He had a good understanding with his town folks who helped him in befooling the lawyer. Q2. What attitude did the lawyer have for country life? How did his experience at New Mullion change it? Ans : The lawyer hated city life as he found city people cunning and at times very aggressive. He assumed country life to be sweet and simple but his visit to New Mullion completely changed his attitude. He was disappointed with sights at the countryside and above all, he was duped by Lutkins who changed his assumption that country life was simpler than the city life. Q3. Why was he happy to go to New Mullion? Why did he go there? Ans : He was happy to go to New Mullion, because it was forty miles away and he didn’t have to go to dirty and muddy streets and corners of the city to trace his victims. He had to serve summons on a man called Oliver Lutkins. Q4. Lutkins appeared humble but he was not. Appearances can be deceptive. Do you think in real life we come across such people frequently? Does it indicate fall in human values? Ans : When the lawyer came to the city, he was happy to meet the hack driver. In fact, the hack driver himself was Oliver Lutkins. He impressed the lawyer with his simplicity and nature. He befooled the lawyer by taking him in search of Lutkins. He pretended to be honest and helpful but he just befooled the lawyer. Yes, in real life we come across such people whose appearances are deceptive. They present themselves as caring, friendly and cooperative. Initially, they show their care and concern but when they get an opportunity, they show their true colours and dupe us. There is no compassion in them. Yes, it indicates that there is an erosion in human values. There is a lack of commitment, honesty and empathy among human beings. Human beings seem to have lost the fellow feelings and tendency to help one another. Q5. Do you think the lawyer was gullible? How could he have avoided being taken for a ride? Ans: The lawyer was gullible. He could have avoided being taken for a ride by not taking Bill at his face value. He should have stopped when he realised that Bill was charging him too much to take him around town. He should have insisted on taking the lead to talk to the people instead of allowing Bill to do so while he lingered outside. Q6. Which places did the narrator and the hack driver drive around to find Lutkins ? ( Pre-Board I, 2022) Ans: They went to all the places where Lutkins could be found. They went to the following places to find Lutkins. Fritz’s shop Gustaff’s shop Gray’s shop The pool room Lutkins mother’s farmhouse Recommended Reading The Hack Driver-NCERT Solution

'The Road Not Taken' & 'Wind' Note: Answer the Questions as instructed in every question. Q1.And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden back Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted it if I should ever come back (a) Which road does the poet choose ? (b) Why was the poet doubtful about the first road? (c) What does the expression ''both‟ refer to ? (d) Find a word from the extract that means „to beat or press with feet‟. (e) Find a word from the extract that means “crushed”. Q2. Then took the other, just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same. (a) Why did the Poet take the other road? (b) What did the poet discover while travelling on the other road? (c) What do the given lines suggest about the speaker? Q3. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence; Two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference. (a) How did the poet make his choice about the roads? (b) Why did the poet take the road which was less travelled by ? (c) Why was the poet in dilemma ? (d) What had made a lot of difference in the poet's life? (e) What does the term ''road‟ stand for? Q4. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveller, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth. (i) Where did the roads diverge ? (ii) Where did the one road lead to ? (iii) What does “yellow wood‟ stand for ? Q5. The wind blows out weak fires He makes strong fire roar and flourish His friendship is good We praise him everyday (a) How does the wind affect the weak fires ? (b) What is the effect of the wind on strong fire ? (c) Trace a word from the extract that means “prosper”. Q6. He won't do what you call him So, come, let's build strong homes Let's joint the door firmly Practice to firm the body Make the heart steadfast (i) What does “he” stands for ? (ii) What should we do to save our homes ? (iii) Mention any two things we should do to make friends with the wind. (iv) What is the effect of wind on fire ? (v) Trace a word from the extract that means „firm and unwavering‟. Q7. Wind, come softly Don't break the shutters of the windows. Don't scatter the papers Don't throw down the books on the shelf There, look what you did – you threw them all down. You tore the pages of the books. You brought rain again. You're very clever at poking fun at weaklings. (i) Write about any two destructive activities of the wind. (ii) How can we make friends with the wind ? (iii) Find the word from the extract which is an antonym of ''foolish‟. Q8. Make the heart steadfast Do this, the wind will be friends with us. The wind blows out weak fires. He makes strong fires roar and flourish. His friendship is good. We praise him everyday. (i) How can we make wind our friend? (ii) What advice does the poet give in the above lines? (iii) Trace the word from the extract that means “be successful”. Q9. Don’t throw down the books on the shelf There, look what you did – you threw them all down You tore the pages of the books You brought rain again (i) Who is `you’ in the above lines? (ii) Why is the poet disappointed? (iii) Name the poem and the poet? Q10. The wind god winnows and crushes them all, He won’t do what you tell him So, come, let’s build strong homes. Let’s join the doors firmly. (a) How does the wind god come? (b) What does the phrase `winnows and crushes them all’? (c) Why does the poet want to join the doors firmly? To be Continued. Keep visiting the site. Answer key will be available soon.

The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each of the lines. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet as given below. Remember to underline the word you have supplied. Q1. Q2. Q3. Q4. Q5. Q6. Q7. Q8. Q9. Q10. Answer Key