Listen to our podcasts on following platforms. Refer to worksheet below: This is a part of ASL activity in syllabus by CBSE. Listen our Podcasts HERE Worksheet 1 Podcast Name: Valley of Kashmir 1. On the basis of your listening, complete the following statements : (a) Jhelum is called the lifeline of Kashmir valley because___ (b) Two general features of Mughal gardens are (i) -------- (ii) ---------- (c) Who is reported to have said that Kashmir is a paradise on earth? (d) Why was the Dal lake chosen by the Mughals for gardening ? 2. Answer the following questions. (a) What is the chief attraction of Srinagar ? (b) What is a ''Shikara''? Worksheet 2 Podcast Name: How can Teens change the World? 1.1 On the basis of your listening of podcast on how teens can change the world , complete the statements that follow (a) As a teenager you can _____ (b) Donate your old things but don't_____ (c) You can save energy by_____ (d) A suggestion can get right attention by____ 1.2 Answer the following questions in brief. (a) How can we reduce vehicle pollution? (b) Who is a motivational speaker? Worksheet 3 Podcast Name: How to Make Best Use of Time? (1.1) On the basis of your listening of the podcast how to value time, complete the statements that follow. (a) We need to be conscious of time because ___. (b) The example of not using time wisely is ___. (c) We have to understand that time __. (1.2) Answer the following questions in brief. (a) How is time the most important thing for human beings? (b) How can we utilize time for a better future? Answer Key of Listening Worksheets 1-3 Transcript of the Podcast 'Valley of Kashmir'' Transcript of the Podcast 'How Teens can change the world'' Transcript of the Podcast 'How to Make Best Use of Time?''

Practise from the following topics and boost your ASL Score. Q1. Online teaching learning has become a new normal following covid-19 pandemic. Discuss with your partner some merits and demerits of online education. Q2. Electronic waste is a matter of concern both for human health and for the environment. Discuss with your partner the factors that gave rise to this problem and how we can minimize its effect on humans and the environment. Q3. Humans need to depend on alternative sources of energy in order to minimize dependence on non-renewable sources of energy. Discuss with your friends the reasons why we should switch to alternative sources of energy. Then discuss different types of alternative sources of energy and how to harness them. Q4. Global warming is an increasing cause of concern. Discuss with your friends the factors that gave rise to global warming and suggest some measures that can minimize the effect of global warming. Q5. Social media has its own share of enlightening people and help them stay updated. Discuss how the advent of social media has proved to be a warehouse of information and publicity. Q6. Effective communication skills are one of the most important skills of the 21st century. Discuss with your partner why students should strive for acquiring good communication skills. Suggest some measures for improving communication skills. Q7. Gadgets like cell phones, tabs and laptops have become essential tools for education nowadays. Discuss with your partner how students can maintain a balance between physical books and onscreen studies. What kind of precautions should students adopt so that their eye health can be maintained. Q8. Students nowadays have stopped playing outdoor games to a great extent. Instead they are playing on screen games. Discuss with your partner some of the health benefits of outdoor games and the reasons why children should avoid playing on screen games. 9. Students should be encouraged to join armed forces after their +2 courses. Discuss with your partner why students should be motivated to take up careers in the armed forces. Also discuss subject combinations in +2 so as to join NDA after +2. Q10. Obesity has become very common among teenagers nowadays. What according to you are the factors that lead to such a health issue. Also discuss some ways in which this problem of obesity can be managed? Q 11. Values among students have eroded a lot. Students should inculcate values from childhood onwards. Discuss with your friends the factors that are responsible for this deficit in the value system among students. Also discuss how home, school and neighbourhood can help teach values to students. Q12. You found a book from the school library lying on one of the tables of your classroom at the end of the day. You gave it to the class monitor hand it over to the class teacher. However, he has misplaced it and is unable to return it. Discuss with your partner (a) what you and the monitor will need to do and (b) how you will resolve the situation. Q13. You visit a place of historical importance with your friends and come across people who scribble their names and messages on the walls of the monuments. Although you don’t take it up with them, you are upset by the incident. Discuss with your partner (a) How you can create awareness regarding such things (b) What role students can play to check such actions. Q14. Your friend has not done as well as she expected to do in her exams. She is upset and now blames the teacher for her performance. Discuss with your partner what would you do (a) To help her get over her disappointment and to move forward and (b) To help her think about ways to improve her grades in future, and not blame others. Q15. Your friend has weak eyesight. He is unable to see the writing on the board but refuses to wear his glasses. As a result, he is not able to do well in his class assignments. Discuss with your partner (a) How you would encourage him to wear glasses and (b) What you would say to convince him. Q16. Your school does not have a playground and many students wish that there was one. They play close to the road and this has caused many problems in the past. Discuss with your partner (a) What alternative arrangements could be made. (b) How you could convince your school authorities to resolve the issue. Q17. Your friend has health problems but doesn’t share or explain this to his/teachers or classmates. He/she is often absent from school and is not able to perform well in exams. Discuss with your partner (a) How you could help you friend (b) What steps could be taken to deal with outside school. Q18. Some of your friends order more food than they can eat when they go out to eat at a restaurant. Often , the food is wasted. Discuss with your partner a) What you can do to persuade them not to waste food and b) What solutions can be offered? Q19. Every year you and your classmates discard notebooks and textbooks that are unused or in good condition. You plan to collect and donate these so that can be reused. Discuss with your partner a) How would you like to implement your idea and b) What challenges are you likely to face? Q20. . Your friend has recently been gifted a mobile phone. He spends all his time playing games on it, ignoring his studies and his friends. This is affecting your relationship. Discuss with your partner (a) How you could tell your friend what you feel and (b) What you could do to resolve the problem. Q21. On the way to school for an exam, you see an injured kitten. It is badly hurt and needs medical attention, but you don’t want to be late for your exam. People around it do not seem to want to help the animal . Discuss with your partner. (a) What you will do (b) How you will handle the consequences. Q22. At school, someone damaged the electricity switch board resulting in prolonged hours of humidity and heat in class. The head teacher says if the person does not own up, the whole class will be punished. Both of you know who it was. Discuss and decide what action you would take. Q23. One of your classmates has developed the habit of eating too much junk food. This is causing problems as she is becoming very overweight and unhealthy . Discuss how to help her break this habit. Q24. You find that a friend of yours copies your assignments, activities and project ideas and submits them to the teacher as his/her own contribution, therefore, getting better marks than you. With your partner, discuss this problem and what you should do in this situation. Q25. . The canteen Manager has complained to your Class Teacher about the indisciplined behaviour of some of your classmates. They refuse to stand in a queue and bully the juniors. Your class teacher has asked you, as class Monitors, to think of suitable measures to solve the problem. Discuss the issue and suggest ways to improve the behaviour. Q26. . A student of your school recently met with a bad accident while riding a motorbike. Many students of your school who are actually minors ride two wheelers without wearing a helmet. With your partner, discuss this problem and what you can do to encourage them to follow road safety rules. Q27. Your friend is very shy and does not take part in extracurricular activities/sports at school. His parents are worried that he does not mix with others, but studies all the time. With your partner discuss (a) What might be the reason for this and (b) What you can say or do to encourage your friend to interact with others. Q28. Your friend lives with his grandparents who are unwell. He reaches school late because he needs to help them in the morning. He is frequently penalized by the teacher. Discuss with your partner. Q29. Your friend has a hearing disability. She is teased by her classmates and is hurt and annoyed by their behaviour. You feel that the matter has to be addressed before it becomes serious and affects her deeply. Q30. Your friend is good at English, History and Geography. However, his parents feel he should continue to pursue Science and become a doctor even though he is not very good at Science. Discuss with your partner. (a) What your friend can do to convince his parents, and (b) What career options he could pursue. Q31. One of your neighbours plays loud music every night. This disturbs you and the other neighbours since children are not able to study and old people are not able to sleep. (a) How you can convince the person to not disturb others, (b) What effect can such noise pollution have on the community? Q32. There are some small houses near your school. Every morning you see the people living there walk a long distance to fetch water. You would like to help them in some way. Discuss with your partner (a) How you would like to go about this, and (b) Who you could approach to resolve the issue. Q33. Your elder sister learnt pottery as a hobby in college, but is now keen to start her own pottery studio/shop and earn her living. Your parents feel that she should continue to study and choose a safe career. Discuss with your partner. (a) What you could do to help your sister and (b) What steps you would suggest to help resolve the issue. Q34. Every morning your friend is late getting ready. So the school bus waits for several minutes for him. Since the driver keeps the engine running , fuel is wasted, everyone is annoyed with your friend because they are kept waiting. Discuss with your partner (a) How you would explain to your friend the resultant problems and (b) What steps you would suggest to help resolve the issue. Q35. During summer when there is scarcity of water, you notice that your immediate neighbours use water liberally to wash their vehicle and their front yard. Discuss with your partner (a) What advice you would give to them and (b) What steps you would suggest to help resolve the issue. Q36. Gadgets like cell phones, tabs and laptops have become essential tools for education nowadays. Discuss with your partner how students can maintain a balance between physical books and onscreen studies. What kind of precautions should students adopt so that their eye health can be maintained. Q37. Students nowadays have stopped playing outdoor games to a great extent. Instead they are playing on screen games. Discuss with your partner some of the health benefits of outdoor games and the reasons why children should avoid playing on screen games. Q38. Students should be encouraged to join armed forces after their +2 courses. Discuss with your partner why students should be motivated to take up careers in the armed forces. Also discuss subject combinations in +2 so as to join NDA after +2. Q39. Obesity has become very common among teenagers nowadays. What according to you are the factors that lead to such a health issue. Also discuss some ways in which this problem of obesity can be managed? Q40. Values among students have eroded a lot. Students should inculcate values from childhood onwards. Discuss with your friends the factors that are responsible for this deficit in the value system among students. Also discuss how home, school and neighbourhood can help teach values to students. Recommended Reading: Assessment of Speaking Skill

Click Here to watch the concept video of this lesson. There are four types of sentences They are Declarative Sentence Interrogative Sentence Imperative Sentence Exclamatory sentence. First let us learn what a declarative sentence is all about and how many types of declarative sentences are there. Declarative Sentence: Sentences that declare or announce something are called declarative sentences. For example, I like ice-cream/I do not play chess. 1. Declarative sentences are of two types. Affirmative Sentences Negative Sentences. Affirmative Sentence: Affirmative sentences are those sentences which express positive meaning. For example, I love to eat sweets. Negative sentences: Negative Sentences are those sentences, which express negative meaning. For example, I do not love sweets. 2. Interrogative sentences: Interrogative Sentences are those sentences which ask something. For example, Do you play cricket? What is your name? Interrogative sentences are of two types. Wh-Question Yes/No Question. Wh-Questions. Questions that are asked with WH-words like what , when, where , whom , who , whose , which, how etc are called Wh-Questions. For example, Where is the ball? /When do you play? Yes/No Question: Questions that are asked with the help of helping verbs and the answers of which are either YES or NO, are called YES-NO type of questions. Examples of YES-NO types of questions are Have you taken food? Do you play cricket? Helping Verbs are those verbs which help the action verbs to make tense, mode etc. Examples of helping verbs are am, is are, was, were, have, has, had, do , does, did, done, shall, should, will, would etc… 3. Imperative sentences: Imperative Sentences are those sentences that requests, orders or advises for something. For Example, Please sing a song. ( Expressing request) Shut the door. ( Expressing order or command) He should not waste his time. ( expressing advice) Now let us move on to the exclamatory type of sentences. 4. Exclamatory sentences: Exclamatory sentences are those sentences that express joy, sorrow, surprise , anger and other types of strong feelings. For example, Hurrah! We one the match. (It shows joy) Oh! We lost the match. ( It expresses sorrow) What a great idea it is! ( It shows surprise)

Contents Table •Simple Past •Past Continuous •Past perfect •Past Perfect Continuous •Structure & Uses with Examples. Structure of Simple Past 1.Sub+V2+ obj/Complement Ex: I went to the market. 2. Negative Structure Sub+ did not+V1+ Obj/Complement Ex: I did not go to the market 3. Interrogative Structure Did+Sub+V1+obj/Complement Ex: Did you go to the market. Uses 1. To express an action completed in the recent past. Ex: I visited the zoo last year. 2. To express a habitual or regular action in the past. She got up at five every day. Pt. Nehrau paid a visit to Manali every year. 3. To tell stories Once there lived a lion in the forest Past Continuous Tense Affirmative Structure Sub+was/were+ V1 + ing + obj/Complement Ex: I was reading a book. 2. Negative Structure Sub+was not /were not + V1 + ing + obj/Complement Ex: I was not reading a book. 3. Interrogative Structure Sub+was/were+V1+ing+obj/Complement Ex: Were you reading a book? Uses 1. To express an action that was happening at some time in past. Ex: They were washing their clothes. 2. To express an action that was going on at a given time in past. Ex: I was reading a book when he called me. Structure of Past Perfect Sub+ had + V3 +obj/complement Ex: I had met him long back USE Used to denote an action which had been completed before another action started. Ex: I had taken my breakfast before I went to the school. Illustration: 1st Action: I had taken my breakfast.(Past Perfect) 2nd Action: I went to School.(Simple Past) PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE STRUCTURE OF AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCE Sub+ had been + V1 + ing + obj/Complement Ex: I was reading a book in the morning. USES: 1. It is used to indicate an action which was going on in the past. e.g. I was watching a movie last night. 2. It is also used to indicate that an action was going on for sometime before another started. Ex: I had been living in Pune for two years before I came to live in Nagpur.

Important Lessons for Board Examination 2023 . Click the Lesson below to directly read the Lesson. Contents: The Trees Fog The Book that Saved the Earth A Question of Trust How to Tell wild Anilmals The Tale of Custard the Dragon The Proposal Nelson Mandela The Making of a Scientist Mijbil the Otter The Trees Q1.What are the three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest? Ans: The three things that connot hapen in a treeless forest are (a) birds canot sit on trees (b) insects cannot hide and (c) the sun cannot bury its feet in shoadow. Q2. What are the cramped boughs compared to and why? Am. The cramped boughs are compared to patients who have been newly discharged from the hospital. The patients had been confined to their beds in the hospital and their limbs are cramped. Similarly, the boughs too were restricted by the roof of the house from growing and spreading out, and so are cramped. Q3. What do the whispers in the poet's head mean? Am The 'whispers in the poet's head mean intimations of change. The author had known that change was coming, that people would let go of all things that restricted them and confined them to an unnatural state. They would sooner or later seek their freedom. Q4. The glass is breaking- what does this symbolize? Ans: The glass symbolizes barriers that confine us. They are often invisible, and so we do not even realize what we are trapped under. But now such barriers are breaking, and people, women especially, are stepping out and seeking their true potential. Long Questions Q1. In what way does the poem The Trees remind us of evils like deforestation and excessive urbanisation and of the conflict between man and nature? Ans: Adrienne Rich, in her poem 'The Trees', creates a vivid impage of an empty forest where, without trees, birds cannot perch, squirrels cannot hide and the sun cannot 'bury its feed in shadow', for there is nothing to cast a shadow. All the trees are confined to a house or a greenhouse, where they are grown away from their natural surroundings. The trees long to break free and move out into the forest, where they belong. The poem can be understood as a grim reminder of evils such as deforestation and urbanisation. Human beings, with their insatiable greed for more land, cut down acres upon acres of forests to build cities. Plants are given a small space in human habitats where they are no longer in a symbiotic relationship with nature. Animals, insects and other creatures that rely on plants and trees lose their habitat, which further interferes with the ecosystem and the food chain. 'The Trees', therefore, displays the conflict between man and nature. Q2. Adrienne Rich is known to use trees as a metaphor for human beings. Discuss the poem "The Trees' in light of this statement. In the poem "The Trees, the poet uses trees as a metaphor for human beings, and being a feminist writer, women in particular. She describes a strange scenario where trees are uprooting themselves from the floor of the house, leaves are straining towards the glass windows and branches are shuffling under the roof to move out into the forest. The occurrence is not literal. It is symbolic of human beings breaking free of their confines to reach out to a state of existence that is natural and unenforced. The house symbolizes the fetters that bind us, while the forest is the unencumbered boundless space. The exodus of trees from the house to the forest signifies human beings, and women especially, breaking free of age-old shackles and seeking a union with absolute nature. Q3. What common element do the poems 'A Tiger in the Zoo' and 'The Trees' share? Explain. The common element in 'A Tiger in the Zoo' and 'The Trees' is the encaging of nature. In the former, we see the contrast between who is pacing with frustration inside his cage in a zoo, and who ought to be in the jungle, hunting for his prey, terrorising human beings and sleeping under the stars. He is, however, in captivity; he a spectacle for visitors and his strength is waning due to confinement and lack of activity apart from pacing the length of his cage. The trees in the latter poem by Adrienne Rich also go through a similar ordeal for their twigs turn stiff after exerting themselves against the glass of the greenhouse. The branches are cramped and have no freedom, no space to spread out in all their glory in their natural surroundings. The trees, like the tiger, ought to be in the forest. Human beings are the common enemy here, who carry on with their hubris that they can contain nature, without considering the catastrophic consequences of their actions. Glossary: ( Hubris: (in literature) the fact of somebody being too proud. A character with this pride usually dies because he/she ignores warnings. (साहित्‍य में) पात्र की हेकड़ी, अक्‍खड़पन, हेकड़ीबाज़ या अक्‍खड़ पात्र जो चेतावनियों की उपेक्षा करने के कारण प्रायः मारा जाता है) Fog Q1. What does the poet compare the fog with and why? The poet says that the fog comes only for a while and then it goes away. By comparing the fog with the cat, the poet says that like a cat, the fog sits on its haunches or hips for a while and looks over the city and its harbour. Cats cannot sit and relax in one place as they always stay alert and are ready to punce on a prey squuatting on their haunches. Similarly, the fog does not settle down anywhere and only hovers over the city before moving on. Q2. Why does the poet introduce the image of a harbour in the poem? Ans: The image of a 'harbour' suggests a departure. The image of the fog looking ove the harbour draws a panoramic image of a city covered in fog. The fog gazes over the harbour in anticipation of the departure as the day brightens. Q3. Which literary device is used in the line ' The fog comes on little cat feet'. Ans: The literary device used here is metaphor. The fog here is compared to a cat. A cat always walks silently. Similarly, the fog creeps over the city slowly and silently. The poet uses the cat as a metaphor to describe the fog. Q4. Why does the poet say that the fog sits on silent haunches looking over harbour and city? Ans: Just a s a cat sits on its haunches and silently observes its surroundings, the fog lingers in the air silently and does not announce its presence loudly and then gradually disappears. The poet has personified the fog in this poem. Long Question: Q1. How does the poet use imagery in the poem 'Fog'? Ans: In the poem the poet Carl Sandburg uses imagery to draw an analogy between fog and a cat. He compares fog to a cat by saying that it arrives as silently as s cat on its 'litlle cat feet', thus personifying it. He introdues the image of a cat sitting on its haunches while overlooking a harbour and the city to give the reader an idea of how the fog silently fills the air and exists over the landscape of the city. It moves on as noiselessly as it arrives, just like a cat goes away on its own after sitting silently and observing its surroundings. The Book That Saved the Earth Q1. Why were books important for the people of the twentieth century? Ans. The twentieth was also called the Era of the Book. In that century, there were books about everything, from anteaters to Zulus. Books taught people the how, when, where, and why of things. They illustrated information, educated the people, and even decorated their houses. But the most significant thing a book ever did was to save the Earth from the Martian invasion of 2040. Q2. How does Think-Tank regard himself? What does it tell you about him? Ans. Think-Tank regards himself as the most fantastically intellectually gifted being in the universe. He admires himself in the mirror and thinks himself, with his big head like a balloon, to be very handsome. Think-Tank is a narcissist. He thinks highly of himself and belittles others. Even when he is corrected by Noodle, he appropriates the information and relays it as if it were his own. Q3. What is Think-Tank's opinion about Earth and the Earthlings? Ans. Think-Tank's opinion of Earth and Earthlings is derogatory. He calls Earth 'a ridiculous little planet' and 'primitive ball of mud, and Earthlings, with their tiny heads, quite ugly. Q4. Why do you think Think-Tank mistakes the books for sandwiches? Ans. Think-Tank mistakes the books for sandwiches for just as sandwiches have two slices of bread and some filling in between, so do books have two covers and pages in between them. Q5. What is the 'code' in the 'communication sandwiches? What does Think-Tank ask the space people to do to be able to decipher the 'code'? Ans. The code in the 'communication sandwiches refers to the printed text in the books. To decipher the code, Think-Tank asks the space people to take the vitamins that the Martian chemical department had given them to increase their intelligence. Q6. What guesses are made by Think-Tank about the books found on earth? Ans. Think-Tank first guesses that the books are sandwiches. Then he thinks that they are communication sandwiches, to be listened to. When Noodle suggests that the Earthlings did not listen to the sandwiches; they opened them and watched them, Think-Tank says they are eye communication sandwiches. He says that the letters are codes, and demands them to be decoded. He misinterprets the nursery rhymes, thinking that Earthlings were more intelligent than Maritans and calls back the imminent invasion of Earth. Long Questions: Q1. A misunderstanding of cultural differences can cause confusion and conflict. Based on your reading of the play, how can such conflicts be avoided to maintain peace and harmony? Ans: The play analyses how misunderstanding of cultural differences between different races or groups can cause confusion and conflict. In the play, language becomes a code to be deciphered, but the deciphering happens with - and within - the limited scope of one group's vocabulary. For example, for Think-Tank, everything is about asserting his power and superiority, which he is able to do only by attacking and invading. Thus, his vocabulary and understanding of life is restricted to violence and militaristic manoeuvres. He therefore panics at what he believes is Earth's ability to destroy him and Mars. However, as we see in the end, achieving peace and amity is not impossible. It requires patience, an open mind and a willingness. to learn which, in the case of this play, result in libraries on Mars. The play teaches us that by consistently trying to educate ourselves about other cultures - without prejudice or preconceived notions, without imposing a meaning on something based on our own limited perspective - we can overcome confusion and conflict, and eliminate misunderstanding to achieve peace and harmony. Q2. In Martian history, which ruler would be remembered as great-Think-Tank or Noodle? Give reasons. Ans. In Martian history. Noodle would without a doubt be remembered as a great ruler. While Think-Tank is 'great and mighty, Noodle is 'wise and wonderful. This sums up the kind of rule that the two gave to the people of Mars. Think-Tank is power hungry. He demands total submission from his people, and wants to expand his control in the universe by bringing other plants under his rule. He has a high opinion of himself - he brooks no contradiction for he can make no mistake. Noodle, on the other hand, is wise and pragmatic. He does not follow a policy of conquest as he is not hungry for power and control. Rather, he focuses on collaboration. Under his rule, Earth resumes contact with Mars, and the two planets have friendly relations. Mars benefits from this - Martians now know the difference between sandwiches and books. They also know how to read and have a library of their own in their capital city of Marsopolis. Q3. How did Think-Tank decide to confirm his theory that the books were sandwiches? How did his team react? Think-Tank declared that the books were sandwiches because Earthlings were always eating sandwiches. The front and back covers of the books seemed like slices of bread to him, while the pages looked like some sort of filling. To confirm his theory, he ordered Captain Omega to eat it. Afraid of what an unknown object on an unknown planet would taste like, the team followed the orders unwillingly. Omega said that Lieutenant Iota had not had her breakfast and should therefore be the one to eat it. Iota deflected the command by saying that she could not be so impolite as to eat before her Sergeant. Oop, the lowest in the chain of command, thus reluctantly had to obey the orders and take a bite of the book. Q4. Compare and contrast the characters of Noodle and Think-Tank. The characters of Think-Tank and his apprentice Noodle are polar opposites. Think-Tank is a power-hungry leader obsessed with titles and honours. He expects his subordinates to be servile and does not like to be contradicted or doubted. We see this when he forces Noodle to go over his salutation again after Noodle misses a part. For Think- Tank, no work is urgent enough until the formalities of bowing and salutations are properly completed. He is also an inefficient and unimaginative leader who cannot come up with one original thought or idea. Noodle, on the other hand, is intelligent and sensible. Although afraid of Think-Tank', he courageously expresses his thoughts about what the books and the library on Earth might be. His ideas are stolen by Think-Tank, who exposes his ungratefulness by not giving Noodle due credit. Think-Tank is also a coward as he, despite being the leader, flees to Alpha Centauri instead of facing Earthlings because of which the wise and wonderful Noodle replaces him as the ruler of Mars and her two moons. Q5. Based on what you have read in the story "The Book that Saved the Earth', write a note on Mars and the Martian people. Ans. Mars is the neighbouring planet of Earth. However, there is a lot of difference between the two planets. Mars has advanced greatly, but perhaps not in the way an Earthling would understand. The Martians have achieved a lot in science and technology. They travel through space, explore other planets and want to conquer them. They are militarily strong, and are ruled by a despotic king. The ruler, regarded as the most intellectually gifted person in the universe, expects complete allegiance from all Martians. The Martians have balloon heads which they consider a mark of intellect the bigger the head, the more intelligent the person is. But they also appear to be automatons. They do as they are directed with little ability to think and judge for themselves. They take vitamins to increase their intelligence. Only Noodle appears to be an exception. A Question of Trust Q1. What are the subtle ways in which the lady manages to deceive Horace Danby into thinking she is the lady of the house? Why doesn't Horace suspect that something is wrong? Ans. The lady pretends that she has come down from the upper storey of the house, and says that she could hear Horace's sneezing from there. She walks to the fireplace and straightens the ornaments there. She speaks to Sherry, the dog. in a familiar manner. She says that she has returned just in time, but had not expected to encounter a burglar in her house. She picks up a silver box from the table and takes a cigarette from it. She says that she has forgotten the number code of the safe, implying that she knew it but has been careless. These are the subtle ways which the lady manages to deceive Horace Danby into thinking she is the lady of the house. Q2. "Horace Danby was good and respectable - but not completely honest". Why do you think this description is apt for Horace? Why can't he be categorised as a typical thief? Ans. This description is apt for Horace because despite being a good locksmith and earning enough to keep two assistants, he has a secret. He is a thief who steals from rich households in order to buy rare and expensive books. He cannot be categorised as a typical thief because he has a successful business and lives comfortably. He steals to indulge in an expensive fetish. He has been to jail only once and robs safes only once a year. He does not do it regularly as a common thief would do. Q3. Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong and why? Ans. Despite the fact that Horace Danby was a meticulous planner, he faltered because he was duped by the lady in the red dress who was an expert thief herself. He had planned to enter the house when it would be empty, so he was not very careful when he sneezed inside the house. He had not counted on any one being present there. When the lady in the red dress pretended to be the lady of the house, he assumed that she was speaking the truth. He believed her completely. so much so that he begged her to let him go because he thought she would call the police. His naiveté made him falter. Q4. Why did Horace Danby think that people who own valuable things are foolish? Ans: The owners of the house at Shotover Grange had been rather careless to let an article come out in a magazine that described their house in detail. The article gave a plan of all the rooms of the house and showed a picture of the drawing room. The article even mentioned that the painting on the wall of the drawing room hid a safe. Q5. Why did the police arrest Horace? Why was this unusual? The police arrested Horace for the robbery at Shotover Grange. This was unusual because it was uncharacteristic of Horace to be careless; even more so was the fact that he had been allegedly asked by the mistress of the house to break open the safe in question. When Horace tried to tell this to the police they did not believe him because the real mistress of the house was not the one he had 'helped'. Q6. Why do you think Horace did not realise that he was being deceived? Horace successfully robbed safes for years to facilitate the expansion of his book collection. However, he was deceived at Shotover Grange by a mysterious woman. It may be that Horace fell victim to overconfidence, distraction due to hay fever, as well as being intimidated by the woman's confident behaviour. Long Questions: Q1. What do you understand by 'honour among thieves'? Can there really be honour among thieves? Comment in the light of the story. The expression 'honour among thieves' refers to the concept that thieves do not encroach upon or compromise one another's activities by respecting professional boundaries. It also refers to the general belief that criminal individuals have a moral code of their own. It is amusing to consider that according to the expression essentially dishonourable people themselves have a code of honour. It is also difficult to concede that while they are willing to steal and harm others, they will not do so with their own kind. This double standard, along with the fact that they choose to participate in illegal activities, makes it difficult to think of thieves as honourable people. The story itself proves the opposite of the idea of 'honour among thieves'. Not only did the mysterious lady take away what Horace had come to steal, she ensured that she got him in trouble for it too, proving that it is irrational to expect honourable behaviour from dishonest people. Q2. How did the mysterious lady outwit Horace Danby? The lady in red used her presence of mind and observation of human nature to outwit Horace. She took advantage of his hay fever attack and took him by surprise. Her confident manner and subtle behaviour -petting the family dog and referring to it by name, adjusting the ornaments over the fireplace and taking a cigarette out of a silver case -convinced Horace that she was the lady of the house. Her amused behaviour gave Horace hope and made him eager to impress her. He removed his gloves as a gesture of respect. She utilised Horace's fear of imprisonment and cooked up a story to convince him to open the safe for her. The fingerprints left behind due to his carelessness caused him to be implicated for the robbery despite not possessing the jewels. Instead, the woman got the jewels and escaped unscathed without doing any work. Q3. Appearances can be deceptive. Discuss this statement with reference to the characters of Horace Danby and the lady. Ans. Appearances can be deceptive, and this saying is amply proved by both Horace Danby and the lady. Horace is regarded as a good and respectable citizen, for that is what he appears to be. He is fifty years old, a bachelor, and has a respectable business that allows him to live in comfort. But what people do not know is that he has a dangerous addiction - collecting rare, expensive books - for which he breaks the law and robs houses. The lady is a young and pretty woman. She has the grace and carriage of a lady, and Horace has no difficulty in believing that she is the mistress of the house. But she is not she is a thief just like him, and has come to Shotover Grange with the same intentions. She acts like the lady of the house, arranging ornaments on the fireplace, petting the dog and taking a cigarette from the cigarette box - all actions meant to show familiarity with the house. But by the end of the story we know her to be a trespasser and thief. Q4. Horace Danby was punished for a crime he did not commit. Do you feel sorry for him? Why? Why not? Ans. Horace Danby is punished for a crime he did not commit, but there were several other similar crimes committed by him for which he should have been punished, but he was not. So far, Horace had been caught only once. He has robbed several homes if one is to go by one robbery a year. After all, Horace is fifty years old. and must have started young. So, though he is arrested for a crime he did not do, we do not feel sorry for him. Had the young lady not outsmarted him, Horace would have robbed the safe at Shotover Grange and made off with the jewellery quite easily. In any case, the theft would have been accomplished, and Horace would have regarded it as another feather in his cap, either for his success at breaking the safe and stealing, or for the success at having escaped even after being caught red-handed. How to Tell wild Anilmals Q1. What is the difference between an Asian lion and a Bengal tiger? The Asian lion is a large animal with a yellowish-brown hide. It roar after killing its prey. The Bengal tiger on the other hand has yellow fur with black stripes. It preys on human beings. Q2.. How do we differentiate between a leopard and a tiger? A tiger has yellow fur with black stripes whereas a leopard is covered with spots. The tiger will eat us while the leopard will leap on us and attack again and again. Q3. Expain the use of humour in the poem. Ans. The poem 'How to Tell Wild Animals' is a humorous poem because it suggests funny ways to identify animals. In fact, they are funnily dangerous ways. For example, a way to tell an Asian lion is to see if it roars while you are dying, or to notice if a yellow animal with black stripes eats you to know that it is a Bengal tiger. The humour in the poem also draws from its language which has been used creatively for comic effect. For example, when talking about the leopard, the author misspells 'leapt' as 'lept' and 'leap' as 'lep'. She does this to create a rhyme with the first part of the word 'leopard' which is pronounced as 'le-pard'. The poet also draws on familiar expressions in English such as 'bear hug, 'crocodile tears' and 'laugh like a hyena' to suggest ways to identify the animals. When she talks of the 'true chameleon, she probably draws on the idioms 'changing colour like a chameleon' and 'showing one's true colours. Q4. Compare the tigers in 'A Tiger in the Zoo' and 'How to Tell Wild Animals". In 'A Tiger in the Zoo' the tiger is trapped, unable to fulfil its natural role in the wild. It is living a constrained life in the grim confines of a zoo. Leslie Norris contrasts the man-made surroundings with the idyllic one, of the jungles. The poem highlights the reduced circumstances of animals in zoos and emphasises their need to be conserved in natural territories. 'How to Tell Wild Animals', on the other hand, depicts the tiger as the 'noble, wild beast'. It shows the animals in their natural habitats. They are wild and free as they should be. Carolyn Wells celebrates the untamed and unconstrained quality of the animals as suggested by the use of the word 'wild' in the title. While 'A Tiger in the Zoo' poem depicts the artifical habitat of the teiger, the second poem depicts the tigers in their natural habitat. Q4. What is the central idea of the poem? The central idea the poem is to introduce wild animals in a humorous way through their basic characteristics. Although the traits of animals like hyenas, crocodiles and chameleons can be compared to human behaviour, the poem as such does not have any intended message. The poet uses popular ideas about wild animals in describing their natural behaviour. By presenting unrealistic scenarios of danger with identifying features of the animals, she adds humour to the poem. It also portrays the humorous use of language through wordplay, poetic devices and misplacement of words. The Tale of Custard the Dragon Q1. Why did Custard cry for a nice safe cage? Why is the dragon called “cowardly dragon”? Ans: Custard felt secured inside a protected cage as he was timid in nature. Dragon is timid in nature. He felt scared every time and wanted to cage himself to feel secured all the time. Therefore, he is referred to as ''cowardly dragon''. Q2. Writers use words to give us a picture or image without actually saying what they mean. Can you trace some images used in the poem? Ans: The following are the instances of images used in the poem: the dragon's mouth like a fireplace. the dragon's nose like a chimney Belinda being as brave as a barrel full of bears. Custard going at the pirate like a robin at a worm. Custard lashing his tail like chains in a dungeon. Q3. Why do you think Custard's attack on the pirate is significant? Ans: Throughout the poem Custard was mocked by everyone for being cowardly. However, when the need arose, he alone jumped up to help Belinda without any thought for his own safety. Thus he proved that he was not a coward at all. Q4. Don't judge a book by its cover. Explain this proverb in the context of 'The Tale of Cuistard the Dragon. Ans: Those who make tall claims do not perform when needed, whereas supposedly meek people show their true mettle in times of crisis. Belinda's pets are a perfect example of this. Mustard the dog believed he was as brave as a tiger in a rage. Tigers are ferocious enough and when they are in a rage, all steer clear of them. Ink and Blink claimed to be so fierce that they could chase lions down the stairs. Even Belinda herself was believed to be as brave as a barrel full of bears. Only Custard said that he yearned for a nice safe cage, away from all scary objects. However, when the pirate attacked, Belinda paled and shouted for help. All her 'brave' pets fled in terror while the cowardly Custard charged at the pirate and gobbled him up. Hence, they proved that none of them was true to their portrayal. Q5. Courage and confidence have nothing to do with appearance. Compare and contrast Valli and Custard to evaluate this statement. It is believed that bigger creatures are more courageous and confident than smaller ones. People relate courage with size and strength. However, Valli and Custard prove that these qualities have nothing to do with age or appearance. Custard is a fire-breathing dragon with sharp teeth, spikes and scales, daggers on toes and a powerful tail. Yet he is perceived to be scared of everything and wants the safety of a cage. When the situation demanded the Custard fought tooth and nail ( मुकाबला करना) with the dragon and killed him. His brave encounter with the custard proved that a book should not be judged by its cover. On the other hand, eight-year-old Valli fulfils her desire to go on a bus ride all by herself by showing courage and confidence beyond her years. She meticulously plans her journey, resolutely saves money for the bus fare and embarks on a journey which could have been frightening for a child of her age. She overcomes her fear with confidence and fulfils her wish to go to the nearby town in a bus. Thus in both the characters Custard and Valli proved that courage and commitment have nothing to do with appearance. The Proposal Q1. Why did Lomov choose to marry Natalya Stepanovna? Natalya Stepanovna was Lomov's neighbour & Chubukov's daughter. She was twenty-five years old. Lomov felt that Stepanovna was an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, and well-educated. He also probably thought that marriage would help him to expand their mutual busines prospects. Q2. What does 'Oxen Meadows' refer to? Why did Lomov and Natalya quarrel over it? 'Oxen Meadows' refers to a piece of land that was situated between Chubukov's birchwoods and the Burnt Marsh. Lomov claimed that it belonged to him and was only leased to the Chubukovs many years ago. Natalya insisted that Lomov was lying and that the Meadows belonged to her and her father. This led to a quarrel between the two. Q3. Good neighbours don't behave like that, Stepan Stepanovitch! You're not a neighbour, you're a grabber! Why did Lomov say this? When Lomov and Natalya argued about who owned Oxen Meadows, Chubukov sided with his daughter. In spite of Lomov's requests and a statement that he had the documents to prove his ownership, Chubukov did not change his mind. He insisted on being spoken to respectfully on account of his old age. Thus, Lomov called him a landgrabber in agitation. Q4. In what way did Lomov and the Chubukovs insult each other? Lomov and the Chubukovs insulted each other at the slightest provocation. Natalya called Lomov a rascal and a monster. Chubukov called him a villain, a scarecrow, a wizen-faced frump, a blind hen, stuffed sausage, a malicious, double-faced intriguer, a pettifogger, pup and fool. Lomov called Chubukov an old-rat and a Jesuit. Q5. Was Natalya eager for Lomov to propose? Explain with reasons. Or Why did Natalya change her attitude after learning about Lomov’s proposal? As a twenty-five year old woman in nineteenth century Russia, Natalya was aware that she was already too old to get married. She was apprehensive ( चिंतित, आशंकित) that she might not find another suitor. She went into a frenzy (उन्‍माद, पागलपन) when she found out that Lomov had intended to propose her. She asked her father to call him and changed her attitude towards Lomov. Long Questions: 1. Lomov and Natalya’s marriage would be a marriage of convenience. Do you agree? Explain. Ans: Lomov requested Chubukov for his Natalya’s hand in marriage. He consiered his age as a reason to get married. He saide that he was already thirty-five and it might be too late for him if he did not marry Natalya. He had a heart condition and irregular sleeping patterns, and he believed that only marriage could help regulate his life. Lomov's reason to marry Natalya was that he considered her to be an excellent house-keeper, She was also well-educated and not bad-looking. On hearing his intention to marry Natalya, Chubukov told him that she would certainly accept because she was in love with him. Her interactions with Lomov, however, contradicted this. She argued with him about a piece of land, but when she found out that he had come to propose, she quickly changed her opinion and agreed that the land was his. She was twenty-five, and her fear of remaining unmarried seemed to be at the core of her acceptance. Therefore, it seemed like their marriage is a marriage of convenience. Q2. Do you think all of us should know how to manage our anger? What happens when emotions are governed by materialsitic ambition? Answer with reference to the story. Check out the Detailed Answer. You need to be a Premium User. Q3. What, according to you, is the turning point when Natalya accepts Lomov’s claims of owning the Oxen meadows? When Chubukov informs Natalya that Lomov has come to propose to her, she lapses into hysterics & sends her father to fetch him back. Lomov comes in complaining about his heart & other ailments. Natalya wastes no time in apologising. She agrees with Lomov that the Meadows are his, and tries to get him around to propose to her. But again they fight over the superiority of their respective dogs. Lomov’s nerves fail & he collapses. Thankfully, however, it is only a faint & Lomov soon recovers. Natalya tells him that the Oxen Meadows are really his because she wants him to propose to her. Marriage with Lomov was a far more attractive proposition than the ownership of the Meadows. Thus Chuvukov’s information to Natalya about Lomov’s visit as well as Lomov’s sudden faint , in my opinion, is the turning point when Natalya accepts Lomov’s claim of owning Oxen Meadows. Q3. The pride in property, even the superiority of dogs, take priority over love and marriage. The characters lack patience, stop listening to each other, and then contradict each other. Do you think these quarrels will promise a happy life? What qualities would you consider for a well-matched couple? Justify your answer with reference to Lomov, Natalya & Chubukov. Check out the Detailed Solution. Need to be a Premium Student Nelson Mandela Q1. At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions ‘ an extraordinary human disaster’. What is an extraordinary human disaster ? What is ‘glorious human achievement’ he speaks of at the end? Ans: By ‘an extraordinary human disaster’ Mandela means the exploitation of the Black people by the Whites for decades together leading to untold suffering and multitude of deaths. ‘Glorious human achievement’ refers to the abolishment of the evil practice of apartheid and the birth of democracy where there will be no discrimination of any sort henceforth. Q2. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for? Mandela thanks the international leaders for their indispensable presence in his investiture ceremony as the first Black President of South Africa. He thanked all distinguished international guests for having come to take possession with the people of their country of what is, after all, a common victory for justice, for peace, forhuman dignity. Q3. What "twin obligations" does Mandela mention? Ans: "Twin obligations" refers to obligations to one’s family, to his parents, to his wife and children as well as his obligation to his people, his community and his country. Q4. How does Mandela contrast these “transitory freedoms” with “the basic and honourable freedoms”? Ans: "Transitory freedoms" refers to the freedom that we enjoy during our childhood. This is very much transitory in nature as when we grow up, such types of freedom take a back seat. But when we grow up, "the basic and honourable freedom" is what we crave for because it is a kind of freedom that is required for every one of us as adults in a civil society. Q5. What does Mandela mean by “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”? Ans: The statement “depths of oppression” create “heights of character” means that the more hardships you face in life, the more mental endurance you develop. Mandela illustrates the concept very aptly when he said that the decades of oppression and brutality inflicted on the Blacks had produced the likes of Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, the Chief Luthulis, the Yusuf Dadoos, the Bram Fischers, the Robert Sobukwes of our time. Q6. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience? Ans: Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience. Mandela realized that the chains on anyone of his people were the chains on all of them. Similarly, the chains on all of his people were the chains on him. According to him, one is not truly free if he is taking away someone else’s freedom, just as he is not free when his freedom is taken away from him. Therefore, both the oppressor and the oppressed need to be liberated to ensure freedom in the right sense. Q7. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life? Ans: As a young man Mandela saw that it was not just his freedom that was curtailed, but the freedom of everyone in his Black community. Therefore, he joined the African National Congress, and then the hunger for his own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of his people. It was this desire for the freedom of his people to live their lives with dignity and self respect that animated his life and he began to work tirelessly for the emancipation of his community from the tyranny of the Whites. The Making of a Scientist 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. 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’. Q4. 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. The Sermon At Benares Q1. 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. Q2. 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. Q3. 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. Q4. 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. Q5. 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. Q6.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. Mijbil the Otter Q1. Mijbil is an active animal who shows many emotions. Explain with instances from the text. Mijbil is shown having human qualities throughout the story. Mijbil’s intelligence is clear from his attempts to turn on and off the tap in the bathtub. It can even dribble the ball and juggle the objects without even dropping them. He understands the narrator’s love for him and follows him everywhere. Mijbil spent most of his time in playing with a rubber ball with its feet. He dribbled and threw it. He was a fun-loving animal. He played with a plastic ball too. He had invented his own game. Mijbil, the otter, was a fun-loving intelligent animal. He loved water. On the first day, he went wild with joy in the water. Next day, Mijbil escaped from the bedroom and entered the bathroom. He struggled with the tap till it had a full flow of water. Q2. How can you say that Mijbil loved to be in water which was its natural habitat? Explain with reference to the story. The following instances prove that Mijbil loved to be in water. The narrator made a body-belt for him and took him on a lead to the bathroom, where for half an hour he went wild with joy in the water, plunging and rolling in it, shooting up and down the length of the bathtub underwater, and making enough slosh and splash. Next day, Mijbil escaped from the bedroom and entered the bathroom. He struggled with the tap till it had a full flow of water. In less than a minute after he entered the bathroom, he had turned the tap far enough to produce a trickle of water. Soon Mijbil would turn on the water taps himself to fill the bathtub and had a rollicking time in the bathroom. The narrator provides freedom to the otter to do what he likes the most—playing and rolling about in water in the bathtub like a playful and naughty child. Mijbil was allowed to spend most of his time in play without caring for the room being dirty. Thus we can see that Mijbil loved being flanked by water all around. He loved to play with water whenever the opportunity presented itself. Q3. From your reading of the story 'Mijbil-the Otter' describe how the writer portrays the otter and its relationship with humans. Ans: The narrator has revealed some interesting facts regarding his pet, Mijbil the otter. The main purpose behind this is to arouse feelings of empathy and concern for pets as well as wild animals. The narrator Maxwell and Mijbil share a unique relationship. Narrator’s considerate behaviour helped him in winning the trust of the otter, an otherwise wild animal. He provides freedom to the otter to do what he likes the most—playing and rolling about in water in the bathtub like a playful and naughty child. Mijbil was allowed to spend most of his time in play without caring for the room being dirty. It shows the narrator’s concern and empathy for the creature. He has compassion and empathy for him. He takes every care for his safety. He understands his needs and fulfils them. Lessons are being updated. Pls check back for the latest update.

Lesson Architecture: Theme summary Stanza-Wise Explanation NCERT Solution Short Questions Theme: The central idea of 'For Anne Gregory' is the difference between Human and Divine love. Human love is circumscribed by what can be seen, while Divine love goes deeper than that. A person's outward beauty has nothing to do with God's love. The poem dictates to a great extent the love that humans feel for one another. Summary: The poem 'For Anne Gregory' describes human love and compares it with Divine love. Human love is influenced by external factors, such as a person's physical beauty. God, on the other hand, loves us for who we are and not how we look. The poet says to Anne Gregory that young men who despair for her love do not love her for herself - they love her for the beauty of her golden locks ( hair). Nor shall these young men ever love her for anything but her outward beauty. To this Anne says that she will colour her hair in a less appealing hue so that men love her for herself. But the poet is of the opinion that only God is capable of giving such love. Such love is not possible among humans. Stanza-Wise Explanation Stanza 1 “Never shall a young man, Thrown into despair By those great honey-coloured Ramparts at your ear, Love you for yourself alone And not your yellow hair.” Glossary: 1. Thrown into despair : Plunged into a situation without hope (निराशा में डूब गया) 2. honey-coloured : Golden Hair 3. Ramparts at your ear: The poet compares Anne's hair to the walls of a fort to convey the idea that her beauty is impenetrable. Her golden hair is long and thick like the ramparts (walls) of a fort guarding her beautiful face. Stanza 2: “But I can get a hair-dye And set such colour there, Brown, or black, or carrot, That young men in despair May love me for myself alone And not my yellow hair.” Glossary Carrot: red Paraphrase: Anne Gregory means to say that if she were to dye her hair black, brown or red- less attractive colours-men would be less interested for her physical beauty and would come to appreciate and love her for who she really is. Stanza 3: “I heard an old religious man But yesternight declare That he had found a text to prove That only God, my dear, Could love you for yourself alone And not your yellow hair.” Glossary: Yesternight: Old English for 'last night' Paraphrase: The religious man told the poet that he had found a book to prove that only god loves a person unconditionally for who s/he reallly is. The poet is trying to counter Anne Gregory's claim that men will become attracted to Anne for her inner beauty if she dyes her hair to less attractive colours like brown, carrot-red or black. The poet tells her that only god can love her for her inner beauty, and not any young men who would always love her for her physical appearance which is represented by her golden hair. Rhyme Scheme: abcbdb Literary Device: NCERT Solution Thinking about the Poem 1. What does the young man mean by "great honey-coloured/Ramparts at your ear?" Why does he say that young men are "thrown into despair" by them? Ans. The "great honey-coloured/Ramparts at your ear" is Anne's honey blond hair .Young men are thrown into despair because they become captivated by its beauty.They fall in love with Anne and yearn to get her love. 2. What colour is the young woman's hair? What does she say she can change it to?Why would she want to do so? Ans. Her hair is golden yellow. She says she can change it to brown or black or carrot red. She would want to do so because she wishes to be loved for herself and not for her blond hair. Short Questions 1.How did Anne Gregory plan to test if men truly loved her inner beauty? Ans: On being told by the poet that the young men loved her for her golden hair, Anne replied that she would get her hair dyed in less attractive colours like black, brown or orange so that men do not fall for her outer appearance and love her for her inner beauty. 2. How did the poet react when Anne Gregory suggested dying her hair? Ans The poet told Anne Gregory that only god could love her without judging her for her outward appearnace. He was certain that whoever she met would love her for her outer beauty. Dying her hair a different shade would not force young men focus on her inner beauty. 3.What message does the poem 'For Anne Gregory' convey? Ans: The poem conveys the message that inner beauty is far more important than physical beauty. The love of human being depends on factors that are external to a person's true nature. For example, young men may fall in love with the physical beauty of women. But God's love sees no such things. It only sees the beauty and steadfastness of the human soul. 4. How does the poet describe Anne Gregory's hair? Ans: The poet describes Anne's hair as honey-coloured. They are long and thick like the ramparts of a fort guarding her beautiful face. They make young men fall in love with her and drive them to despair. 5. Do you think Anne Gregory's golden hair is a boon or a curse for her? Elaborate. Ans: Anne Gregory's golden hair seems to be a curse for her. Young men are obsessed with her golden hair so much so that they are not able to see her inner beauty. Her outward appearance prevents the young men from seeing her internal beauty.

Competency-Based English Integrated Grammar Topics Covered: Reported Speech Editing Errors S-V Agreement Gap Filling Passive voice Modals Tenses Q1.Choose the correct option as a suitable reply on behalf of Miss Grundy. (Topic: Reported Speech) (a) Miss Grundy angrily replied that it was covered with stains from a whole evening's worth of snacks. (b) Miss Grundy angrily replied that it is covered with stains from a whole evening's worth of snacks. (c) Miss Grundy angrily replied that Mohit's assignment page was covered with stains of snacks which he had in the previous evening. (d) Miss Grundy meant to say that she was angry as Mohit's assignment page was stained with snacks. Q2. Read the conversation between Tom & George & Complete the sentence by framing Tom's question in reported speech. (Topic: Reported Speech) Tom : Have you finished your lesson George ? George : No father, I haven't finished yet Tom : Why, my son? George : Because it is very difficult. Every time I learn it, I forget it. When Tom asked his son, George if he had finished his lesson, George replied in the negative. Tom then asked his son ___________________ Q3. Select the correct option to fill in the blanks for the given line from a health magazine. (Topic: Modals) Overweight, obesity and their impacts in different dimensions of health ____ be considered as one of the most important public health priority. There is a need for comprehensive strategies for prevention and control of this epidemic. (a) should (b) must (c) might (d) can Q4. Select the option that identifies the errors and supplies the correction for the following line from a news report. (Topic: Preposition) Attention is our state of grace, distraction the original sin. Get rid in the distractions, and attention will naturally return. Q5. Complete the given narrative by filling in the blank with the correct option. ( Topic: Tense) As newspapers recede further from mass circulation and breaking news, they ______ a new openness to narrative and literary styles. (a) have developed (b) had developed (c) were developed (d) were developed Q6. Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket for the given portion of a letter. Subject: Request for Granting Casual Leave Dear Sir, This is to bring to your notice that I _______(ask) for your approval in granting me a casual leave for a day. Q7. Report the dialogue between Reeta & her mother by completing the sentence. Reeta : Mom, we're going for a picnic tomorrow. Mother : Where are you going? In response to the statement of Reeta that she was going for a picnic the next day, her mother asked her __________. Q8. Identify the error in the given sentence from a school magazine report and supply the correction. (Topic: Tense) Despite limited empirical evidence, there are growing concern that junk food availability in schools has contributed to the childhood obesity epidemic. Recommended Reading: Tenses & their Uses Q9. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the slogan by the Ministry for Child welfare. (Topic: Modals) You ___ force your child to hold a pencil, not to wash utensil. (a) can (b) may (c) must (d) shall Q10. Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between Parul & her mother. Parul : Mama, tell me where is Papa now? Mother: Your Papa has gone to his friend’s house. On being asked by Parul about where her papa was, her mother replied that ____ (a) he has gone to his friend's house. (b) he had gone to his friend's house. (c) he was gone to his friend's house. (d) he have gone to his friend's house. Q11. Combine the phrases given below to form a passive sentence in the present continuous tense. (Topic: Passive Voice) investigate/for fraud/this organisation/the government Q12. The sentence given below is divided into five parts. If converted to passive voice, which of these options can be used to begin the converted sentence? (i) The teacher (ii) has given (iii) Sunil (iv) a wonderful reward (iv) for his excellent performance in English. (1)Only (i) (2) only (iii) (3) either (i) or (iii) 4. both (ii) and (iii) Recommended Reading: Study Passive Voice here Q13. Rewrite the given sentence to indicate that the action described will occur in the future and continue for an expected length of time. (Topic: Tense) Wilson was reading the document very carefully this time yesterday. Q14. Fill in the blanks to complete the sentences given below. (Topic: Subject-Verb Agreement) The police (a)_____ prepared a list of suspects for the robbery case. Each of the suspects (b) ___ not allowed to leave the town until further notice. Recommended Reading: Study Subject-Verb Agreement Here Q15. Which of the following sentences does not use passive voice: My peer assured me that he'd have my parcel delivered by evening. Alex finished her shopping for the farewell party on Monday. The place will be decorated in time before the guests arrive. The town was flocked by visitor from far and wide. Q16. Which sentence shows that Edward is able to finish a painting in two days? Edward can finish a painting in two days. Edward may finish a painting in two days Edward has to finish a painting in two days. Edward ought to finish a painting in two days. Q17. Choose the option that completes the sentence below correctly. I just hear the journalist report that several highways in Uttarakhand _____ blocked due to landslides are incessant rain batters the hill state. had been have been were being will have been Recommended Reading: Tenses & their Uses Q18. Rewrite the conversation below and choose the option that best presents the designer words to Rachel. Ross: Hey, Rachel! What did the interior designer say about the new design? Rchel: The designer informed me that he would have the design ready by the following week. The designer said, 'I will have the design ready by next week.' The designer said, 'I would have the design ready by next week.' The designer said, 'I would have had the design ready by the following week.' The designer said, ' I will be having the design ready by the following week.' Q19. Report the father's response to his daughter's question in direct speech. Daughter : Will you allow me to go for trekking with my classmates ? Father affectionately replied in the negative because they were going to Singapore for a family holiday. Ans: Q20. Rewrite these sentences using the tense that is appropriate for the given context. I did the exercise hundreds of times before. If he had shown some patience, I answered his question. Ans: 1.(c) Miss Grundy angrily replied that Mohit's assignment page was covered with stains of snacks which he had in the previous evening. 2. Why he had not finished his lesson yet. 3. (b) must 4. (b) in___ of 5. (a) have developed 6. am asking 7. where she was going. 8. are___ is 9. (c) must 10. (b) he had gone to his friend's house. 11.This organisation is being investigated for fraud by the government. 12. (2) only (iii) Explainer: Sunil has been given a wonderful gift for his excellent performance in English ( Passive Voice starts with the object of the Active voice. Sunil, being the object of the active voice, passive voice will start from him. 13. Wilson will be reading the document very carefully this time tomorrow. Explainer: Future continuous tense is used to show an action that continues for some time in future. 14. (a) have (b) is 15. (2) Alex finished her shopping for the farewell party on Monday. 16. (1) Edward can finish a painting in two days. 17. (2) have been 18. (1) The designer said, 'I will have the design ready by next week.' 19. Father replied, 'No, dear. We are going to Singapore for a family holiday.' 20. (1) I have done the exercise hundreds of times before. (2) If he had shown some patience, I would have answered his question. Explainer: (1) We usually use present perfect tense for the time adverbial 'before'. (2) If we use 'had + V3' in the first part of the sentence, the second part should be written with 'should have/could have/would have + V3' e.g. If he had called me yesterday, I would have gone to his house. Recommended Reading: competency-based Grammar Worksheet We're updating grammar questions on a weekly basis. Keep visiting our Grammar Worksheet Page HERE

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