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Please Subscribe to my Channel by clicking here. (page 36) NCERT Solution Q1. Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others? Do you think a human baby also finds it as a challenge to take his first steps? Ans: The young seagull doubted that his wings could not be able to support him. He became scared to fly as the vast expanse of sea below with a limitless stretch of water frightened him to take his first plunge. Yes, I think all birds must be hesitating before taking their first flight. Yes, just like young birds human beings also hesitate while taking their first step. Q2. ‘The sight of food maddened him’. What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly? Ans: On not being able to gather courage to fly, the young seagull’s family left him alone. As a result, he was starving since he could not fly to get his own food. When he saw his mother coming near him with fish, he got excited and dived straight at the fish forgetting for a moment that he was afraid to fly. Thus his hunger propelled by the sight of food that his mother has brought compelled him to take his fist flight. Q3. ‘They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.’ Why did the seagull’s father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly? Ans: Unlike his younger siblings, the poor seagull could not gather enough courage to take his fist flight. Thus, his parents threatened him and also made fun of him for being a coward. They even threatened him to let him starve to death if hid did not fly. They did all this because they wanted him to fly. Extra Question Q1. When did the seagull get over his fear of the water? Ans : The seagull thought the sea was like a land. When he landed on the sea, his feet sank into it. He was seized with fear. He was too tired to rise again. His belly touched the water and he sank no further. Now, he was floating on the sea. He had got over his fear of the water. Q2. How did the seagull express his excitement when he saw his mother bringing food for him? Ans : The seagull was very hungry. When he saw his mother bringing food for him, he was greatly excited. He expressed his excitement by uttering a joyful scream. He leaned out eagerly. He tapped the rock with his feet. He tried to get nearer to her as she flew across. Q3. How did the young seagull’s parents teach him the art of flying? Ans : Birds have a natural instinct to fly. However, some birds, like the young seagull in the story are afraid to fly. His mother had picked up a piece of the fish and was flying across to him with it. She halted with the piece of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak. Then maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream he fell outwards and downwards into space. The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards. His mother swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered her with another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming. He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around him curveting and banking and soaring and diving. Thus the entire family was busy perfecting him the art of flying. Q4. Describe how the young seagull made his first flight? Ans: The young seagull was too scared to fly. He remained on his ledge all throughout the day. HIs parents scolded him and threatened to starve him out. But the moment he came to the edge and look at the expanse of the sea beneath the high cliff, he would feel scared and run back to the safety of the hole where he slept. He saw his mother tearing pieces of fish on the opposite cliff. He pleaded for food. Then to his joy she flew towards him with a piece of fish in her beak. But just as she neared him, she stopped and dangled the food in front of him. Maddened with hunger the young seagull dived for the fish and fell off the ledge with a loud scream. Thus the young seagull made his first flight. Q5. What did the young seagull experience after his first flight? Ans: When the young seagull jumped off the ledge, he was seized by a monstrous terror and his heart stood still. for a while he could not hear anything. But the next moment, he had spread out his wings, and instead of falling headlong he was soaring downwards and outwards. He felt a little dizzy , but was no longer afraid.

Lesson Architecture Story-At-A- Glance NCERT Questions Extra Questions From the Diary of Anne Frank BEFORE YOU READ Anneliese Marie ‘Anne’ Frank (12 June 1929 – February/March 1945) was a German – born Jewish girl who wrote while in hiding with her family and four friends in Amsterdam during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. Her family had moved to Amsterdam after the Nazis gained power in Germany but were trapped when the Nazi occupation extended into the Netherlands. As persecutions against the Jewish population increased, the family went into hiding in July 1942 in hidden rooms in her father Otto Frank’s office building. After two years in hiding, the group was betrayed and transported to the concentration camp system where Anne died of typhus in Bergen-Belsen within days of her sister, Margot Frank. Her father, Otto, the only survivor of the group, returned to Amsterdam after the war ended, to find that her diary had been saved. Convinced that it was a unique record, he took action to have it published in English under the name The Diary of a Young Girl. The diary was given to Anne Frank for her thirteenth birthday and chronicles the events of her life from 12 June 1942 until its final entry of 1 August 1944. It was eventually translated from its original Dutch into many languages and became one of the world’s most widely read books. There have also been several films, television and theatrical productions, and even an opera, based on the diary. Described as the work of a mature and insightful mind, the diary provides an intimate examination of daily life under Nazi occupation. Anne Frank has become one of the most renowned and discussed of the Holocaust victims. Anne Frank’s First Entry in the Diary Anne Frank a thirteen year old girl was gifted a diary by her father. So she decided to write in her diary which she considered to be her best friend in loneliness and named it ‘Kitty’. She began writing in June 1942. In her first entry she expressed her desire to confide everything to the diary as she hadn’t been able to do so to anyone else. Initially she was not interested to write anything on her diary as she thought that at a later date in future nobody would be interested to read the musings of a 13-yr-old girl. She had many things to write about as she had no real friend with whom she could share all her private things. She felt that paper had more patience than people. As she had no friend, therefore, she started writing her own diary. Her Childhood and Family Annie says that she had loving parents and a sixteen-year-old sister, and there are about thirty people she could call friends. She had a family, loving aunts and a good home. In spite of being flanked by many people around in her family, she could not confide herself to them. Therefore, she planned to start writing her own diary. Annie decided to give a name to her diary-it is ‘Kitty’’. As she thought people might read her diary in future, so she started the diary by giving introduction of her family. She called her father the most adorable father. Her father married her mother when he was at the age of 36 and she was 25. She and her sister Margot were both born in Frankfurt. As soon as Anne turned 4, her father moved to Holland followed by her mother in September while both the sisters stayed with their grandmother in Aachen. Margot was also sent to Holland in December followed by Anne in February who was brought as a birthday present for Margot. Anne’s School Annie started right away at the Montessori nursery school. She stayed there until she was six in the first form. In the sixth form my teacher was Mrs Kuperus, the headmistress. At the end of the year we were both in tears as we said a heart-breaking farewell. In the summer of 1941 Grandma fell ill and had to have an operation, so my birthday passed with little celebration. Her Grandmother’s Death Grandma died in January 1942. Annie had profound love for her grandmother whom she missed very often. Her birthday celebration in 1942 was intended to make up for the previous year’s celebration which could not be held due to sickness of her grandmother. Grandma’s candle was lit along with the rest. Annie informed us that her family was doing well and that brings her to the present date of 20 June 1942 the date of dedication of her diary. Her view About Teachers She mentions in her first diary how her entire class is nervous about their results. The result will be decided by a meeting of teachers in which they will decide which students will move to next form and which of them will be kept back. According to Anne, about a quarter of class should not be allowed to pass because they hardly respond or take part in any of the activities. She refers to them as “dummies”. But her prediction might not be correct as teacher’s decision will be final. The only thing subject that she was unsure about was mathematics. But all they could do was wait for the results and not lose their hope. Annie informs us that she got along pretty well with all her teachers. There are nine of them, seven men and two women. Punishment by Mr Keesing & Annie’s Response Mr Keesing, the old fogey who taught her maths, was annoyed with her for ages because she talked so much. After several warnings, he assigned her extra homework- an essay on the subject, ‘A Chatterbox’. A chatterbox. Annie wrote the three pages Mr Keesing had assigned her and was satisfied. She argued that talking is a student’s trait and that she would do her best to keep it under control, but that she would never be able to cure herself of the habit since her mother talked as much as she did if not more, and that there’s not much she could do about inherited traits. Mr Keesing had a good laugh when she handed in the homework. He assigned her another homework- ‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox’. She handed it in, and Mr Keesing had nothing to complain about for two whole lessons. On the third class Mr. Keesing handed her yet another assignment as punishment on the topic ‘Quack, Quack, Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox’. Her friend, Sanne, being good at poetry, offered to help her write the essay from beginning to end in verse. Annie thought to herself that Mr Keesing was trying to play a joke on her with this ridiculous subject, but through the poem she would make sure the joke was on him. It was a beautiful poem which was about a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings who were bitten to death by the father because they quacked too much. Mr. Keesing’s Appreciation of Annies’s Homework Mr Keesing fortunately took the joke the right way. He read the poem to the class, adding his own comments, and to several other classes as well. Annie was allowed to talk and had not been assigned any extra homework. On the contrary, Mr Keesing’s always making jokes these days. On the contrary, Mr Keesing was always making jokes in the class very often. NCERT Solution Oral Comprehension Check ( Page 51) 1. What makes writing in a diary a strange experience for Anne Frank? Ans: Annie was writing her diary for the first time. She thought neither she nor anyone else in future would be interested to read the musings of a thirteen-year-old school child. Therefore, it appeared to be a strange experience for Anne Frank. 2. Why does Anne want to keep a diary? Ans: Annie wants to keep a diary so as to confide all her feelings, which were bottled up inside her. As paper had more patience than friends, therefore, she wanted to empty all her suppressed feelings in writing down a diary. She had no friend whom she could confide to all her secrets. 3. Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in people? Ans: According to Annie, paper has more patience than people. Therefore, she thought that only in writing on her diary she could express her feelings. In the event of finding a real friend, she would read all her feelings from her diary in future. Oral Comprehension Check ( Page 51) 1. Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life? Ans: Annie thought that if people found interest in reading her diary in future, then it is necessary to mention her family background so that they have fair knowledge about whom they would read the diary. So she provided a brief sketch of her life. 2. What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother? Ans: Annie had profound love for her grandmother whom she missed very often. Her birthday celebration in 1942 was intended to make up for the previous year’s celebration which could not be held due to sickness of her grandmother. Grandma’s candle was lit along with the rest. So from Annie’s description of her grandmother, we can understand that fact that Annie loved her grandmother very much. Oral Comprehension Check (Page 54) 1. Why was Mr Keesing annoyed with Anne? What did he ask her to do? Ans: Mr. Keesing was annoyed with Annie as she was very talkative in the class. He asked her to write an assignment on chatterbox. 2. How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essay? Ans: Annie argued that talking is a student’s trait and that she would do her best to keep it under control. She expressed her doubt that she would never be able to cure herself of the habit since her mother talked as much as she did if not more. She expressed her inability that there’s not much she could do about inherited traits. 3. Do you think Mr Keesing was a strict teacher? Ans: I don’t think Mr. Keesing was a strict teacher. He ignored Annie’s chattering inside the class for many days. In spite of repeated warnings when Annie did not stop talking, he gave her extra work. Therefore, he can’t be termed as a very strict teacher. 4. What made Mr Keesing allow Anne to talk in class? Ans: On the third class Mr. Keesing handed her yet another assignment as punishment on the topic ‘Quack, Quack, Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox’.Her friend, Sanne, being good at poetry, offered to help her write the essay from beginning to end in verse. It was a beautiful poem which was about a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings who were bitten to death by the father because they quacked too much. Mr. Keesing read the poem to the class and to several other classes as well. Thereafter, Annie was allowed to talk in class. Thinking about the Text ( Page 54) 1. Was Anne right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old girl? Ans: Anne was not right in thinking that her diary would not be read by the people. It is due to the publication of her diary by her father that she could become a household name later on. 2. There are some examples of diary or journal entries in the ‘Before You Read’ section. Compare these with what Anne writes in her diary. What language was the diary originally written in? In what way is Anne’s diary different? Ans: Anne’s diary was originally written in Dutch. The other diary entries are either about a particular day or incident. Anne’s diary is different as it is in the form of an informal letter, which she addressed to her diary, Kitty as if she was speaking to a friend. 3. Why does Anne need to give a brief sketch about her family? Does she treat ‘Kitty’ as an insider or an outsider? Annie gives a brief sketch about her family so that if family information is provided while writing her diary the readers would come to know in detail about her and would take interest in reading contents of her diary. She treats Kitty as an insider. We can understand this as she imagines her to be her intimate friend. 4. How does Anne feel about her father, her grandmother, Mrs Kuperus and Mr Keesing? What do these tell you about her? Ans: Anne thinks that her father is the most adorable father in the world. She loves her grandmother as well and misses her badly during her birthday. She is fond Mrs. Kuperus as well. When Anne left her school to return to Germany, both of them became emotional and shed tears for each other. Mr. Keesing is her Maths teacher. Although he gave her punishment in the form of assignment, she regards her teacher. 5. What does Anne write in her first essay? Ans: Annie argued that talking is a student’s trait and that she would do her best to keep it under control. She expressed her doubt that she would never be able to cure herself of the habit since her mother talked as much as she did if not more. She expressed her inability that there’s not much she could do about inherited traits. 6. Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Is Mr Keesing unpredictable? How? Ans: Mr Keesing is unpredictable . He became irritated with Annies for talking in the class and gave her three assignments as punishment. But towards the end, when Annie submits her third essay, he found it interesting and read it out to other students in the class. 7. What do these statements tell you about Anne Frank as a person? (i) We don’t seem to be able to get any closer, and that’s the problem. Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t confide in each other. Ans: Anne found it extremely difficult to make a close friend whom she could confide her secrets. She is also self-critical about her inability to make friendship. (ii) I don’t want to jot down the facts in this diary the way most people would, but I want the diary to be my friend. She wants to be very informal in her dealing with the diary. It is just a medium of sharing her pent-up emotions, nothing more than that according to Anne. It is a substitute for a friend for her. (iii) Margot went to Holland in December, and I followed in February, when I was plunked down on the table as a birthday present for Margot. Anne seemed to have exhibited a lot of humour in this sentence with the use of the phrase ‘ plunked down’. (iv) If you ask me, there are so many dummies that about a quarter of the class should be kept back, but teachers are the most unpredictable creatures on earth. Ans: Anne means to say that in spite of the presence of many dummies, teachers are sensitive enough to consider them as it is a matter of their future. So as far as possible, they would try to promote them. (v) Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces between the words, but the trick was to come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking. Here Anne means to say that she wanted to prove to Mr. Keesing, her Maths Teacher, the necessity of talking in the class with her logical essay. Extra Questions: Q1. What prompted Anne to maintain a diary? When Anne’s grandmother passed away, Anne felt quite lonely. She started writing a diary to share pent-up feelings in a diary, which she named ‘Kitty’. Q2. Why did Anne think that she was alone? Give reasons. Ans : Anne felt very lonely though she had loving parents and many other friends because she could not share her feelings with any one of them. Q3. How do you know that Anne was close to her grandmother? Ans : After the death of her grandmother, Anne missed her a lot and often thought of her. She even lit a candle as a tribute to her deceased grandmother on her birthday. Thus we come to know she was close to her grandmother. Q4. (i) Where did Anne stay before going to Holland? (ii) Why was she in tears when she left the Montessori School? Ans : (i) Anne stayed at Aachen where her grandmother stayed. (ii) When she parted with her loving teacher, Mrs Kuperus, she became emotional and shed tears. Both used to love each other. Therefore, Anne could not hold herself while parting from her teacher. Q5. Do you think Keesing was justified in punishing Anne? Would you support such a punishment in your class? Why/Why not? Ans : Mr Keesing was a very strict teacher who could not tolerate Anne’s talkativeness and would punish her. He even did not try to find out why the girl was always talking in his class. He was not justified in punishing her because he should have tried to make his teaching more impressive and interesting. Anne was weak in Mathematics; naturally, she was not interested in learning in his class. First, he insulted her and asked her to write an essay on a chatterbox. As a teacher he should have been careful enough not to insult a young girl in front of the class. He further punished her to write another essay. The children are loving young ones who should not be punished at all but treated affectionately. No, I will not support any kind of punishment. A teacher should not use punishment to control the class. He/she should understand the level of students and modify his/her method of teaching. Q6. Anne was very much attached to her grandmother. What should be our attitude towards our elders? What do you learn from Anne? Ans : Anne Frank was a thirteen year old girl. She was born at Frankfurt in Germany. She lived there until she was four. Her parents emigrated to Holland and she was sent to stay with her grandmother. Anne was very close to her grandmother. She found her a lovely lady. She loved her most. After her death, Anne missed her very much. She remarks, “No one knows how often I think of her and still love her.” It shows that Anne was very much attached to her grandmother. We should be respectful and sympathetic towards our elders. We get love and wishes from our elders if we treat them respectfully. It is our duty to take a good care of our elders. We learn from Anne that if we love our elders we get love in return.

Pre-Board I Reading Section i. Humanity’s evolution from primitive stage to the present has been extensive and varied. ii. The needs of man during the hunting and fishing stage were basic and they were adequately met by Nature. iii, The pastoral stage was marked by some amount of economic activity which was more than the previous stage. iv. Class System began to develop when agriculture started v. The consequences of the Feudal system marked economic changes which also marked the beginning of the labour problem in the world. vi. …… After an hour long inquiry of the suspected men the truth emerged that he was innocent. 2. i. The zone meant for the protection of the environment is called buffer zone. ii. The most important reason behind the massively reduced forest area is the alarming rise in human population. iii. The encroachment into the homes of wildlife by humans has compounded the human-animal conflict. iv. Over 1,000 tigers have been killed in the country by poachers and over 650 on road in the last five years. v. One had to visit a national park or sanctuary to sight the beautiful Nilgai in the past but now a days one may go round to any agricultural field and may find plenty of animals like the Nilgai roaming in the grounds freely. vi. According to the data provided the numbers of deaths due to humananimal conflict have increased alarmingly this situation is worrying because we need to safeguard human lives and livelihoods. Literature Qno. 6 How important is peace of mind according to Gautam Buddha? How can it be achieved? According to Buddha, grief and sorrow increase pain, peace of mind can be achieved if one understands the functioning of nature and not grieve at something which is bound to happen. Why does the poet like Animals? The poet desires to live among animals as they are calm and self sufficient. They do not whine and weep about their conditions. They express love towards human beings What does the line ‘never let down my bright hair’ tell us about Amanda? Amanda will not let her hair down because she wants to be all by herself. If she lets her hair down, anyone can climb up . She does not want this to happen What impresses you most about Custard the Dragon? Custard the Dragon never boasted about any of his qualities. He was laughed at and mocked but remained patient. He was the bravest of all and faced the pirate with courage . He swallowed him up. According to Chubukov, what happened as a result of the dispute over the meadows? Who did he think the meadows belonged to? Chubukov thinks that a golden opportunity of the marriage has been lost. He feels upset due to the dispute .He thought that the land belonged to him. What efforts did Matilda and her husband make to find the lost necklace? They looked in the folds of her dress, in the folds of her cloak. Looked in her pockets Searched the whole route Went to the police and newspaper man Went to various cab companies Which places did the narrator and the hack driver drive around to find Lutkins? They went to all the places where Lutkins could be found They went to Fritz’s shop Gustaff’s shop Gray’s shop The pool room Lutkins mother’s farmhouse Q7. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 120 words each. Q7. (i) Both Valli and Rajvir are passionate about travelling to different places. Why do they like travelling? How are their travel plans similar to each other? Rajvir loved to travel and so did Valli. They both enjoyed looking at the scenery outside and were marvelled to see new things as they went ahead in their journey. They felt engrossed in natures beauty enjoyed the greenery. Travelling to places is rejuvenating . It breaks monotony of life and amuses. It also increases our knowledge of the outside world Both Valli and Rajvir are full of curiosity. They like to learn from their surroundings. (ii) Bholi is “a harmless dumb cow “ people feel so but her teacher does not agree and plays a big role in giving her life a turning point. Develop a conversation between the two, based on your understanding of the story ' Bholi'. Ans: Teacher – Bholi please feel comfortable in my class. You are dressed in neat clothes and look so bright. Bholi – Maa’m I feel nervous all the time Teacher – You ………. You look so neat and disciplined Bholi. You have the urge to learn . I appreciate your spirit to learn . Come on , Don’t be hesitant. Bholi – But maam the ooooother childrrr…en make fun Teacher – Do not take it to heart , be friendly to them and do well in your studies, they will be fine in a few days. Concentrate on your books . If you perform well in your studies , they will be eager to talk to you and make friends with you . Bholi – Yes maam . I will try . ( many answers possible as per the creativity of the student) (iii) 'Madam rides a bus” is a memorable and unforgettable journey of a little girl with comic details and element of humour. Discuss Ans: Several sights and sounds contribute to the comic element in the story Madam rides a bus Honking of the car horn the speed of the bus and the thrill in the air The frightened cow running on the road . Valli clapping, laughing and enjoying standing on the seat The conductor calling her madam All these evoke humour in the story Pre-board II Reading Section i. Power foods should be prepared properly using season-fresh foods and identifying one’s choice of flavour among power foods. ii. Though she was the newest writer, the hardworking woman’s diligent efforts could not be matched by any of her coworkers. iii. Onion and garlic help in the absorption of iron and zinc from the chickpeas. iv. Yoghurt is full of proteins that help preserve muscle mass and bananas are packed with carbohydrates that help in refuelling energy and preventing muscle soreness. v. Combining green tea with lemon juice helps the body to absorb catechins more easily. vi. Power foods can be included in our daily diet to increase muscle development. Q2. i. Ice formation continues for 3-4 months. ii. Due to creation of artificial glaciers, farmers have been able to manage two crops instead of one. iii. Ladakh is a cold desert as it has a low average annual rainfall rate of 50 mm situated at an altitude of 3,000-3,500 metres above sea level. iv. The increasing effects of climate change, rainfall and snowfall patterns had resulted in severe shortage and drought situations. v. June and July. vi. It is diverted to a shaded area of the hill, facing north so that the winter sun is blocked by a ridge or a mountain range and ice formation can take place. Note: Pleasel write your answers from reading section in the exam like the answers given above-short and concise. Q6 Answer ANY SIX questions in 30-40 words each. (1 mark for content) (1 mark for expression) i. It is not complaining but accepting a situation, that is the key to happiness. Justify in context of the poem ‘Animals’. Man should learn a lesson from animals who are innocent, self contained, satisfied, peaceful and happy. ii. What made Kisa Gotami compare a man’s life with the lights of the city? She found man’s life similar to the lights of the city as both flickered, illuminated the world for some time and then got extinguished. It made her aware of the truth of life. iii. Comment on the poetic aspect of the poem ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ . Light-hearted story, written in ballad style. written in four lined stanza format with the rhyming scheme of aabb poem offers many similes the words are simple iv. Why does Amanda imagine to be a mermaid, an orphan and Rapunzel? Amanda yearns for freedom and her right to be free She wishes to go away from all the nagging into an imaginary world v. ‘It was all over for her’. What does ‘It’ refers to here with reference to the story ‘The Necklace’. How had it all ended for her? ’It’ refers to Matilda’s success,fame,being rich and the fulfillment of her dreams It all ended for her with the end of the ball party as she would not get another chance to show that they were rich. vi. Would you call ‘The Proposal’ a comical play? Give two instances from it to support your answer. Yes, it’s a cominal play. Lomov’s unstable physical condition makes him appear comical Their fighting over petty issues, Natalya’s hysteria and desperation to get married. vii. The lawyer had education, but lacked experience of life. Comment in context of the story ‘The Hack Driver’ The lawyer was taken for a ride by a simple villager, Oliver Lutkins because he lacked experience He learnt the lesson of life the hard way despite being an educated lawyer Q7. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 120 words each. Mark Distribution: Content : 2 Marks & Expression 2 Marks (i) Valli succeeded in her plan of taking a bus-ride with proper planning and sacrifice. On the other hand, Bholi, a physically challenged girl, developed the courage and confidence to challenge the evil system of dowry. Bring out the similarities and contrast in both the characters. Ans: Valli was bold, brave and self-respecting. Bholi developed the courage and confidence to challenge the evil system of dowry. Valli and Bholi both innocent, highly sensitive. Valli, jut 8 years old, behaved like a ‘madam’ whereas Bholi had low self esteem as a child. Valli was a smart girl who planned the bus journey whereas Bholi was like a ‘dumb cow’ because of her head injury. (ii) Parents play a crucial role in the upbringing of their children. Justify how Ebright’s mother played a pivotal role in enabling him to become a successful scientist. Ebright’s mother always encouraged and supported him. She was his first teacher. She was his only childhood friend and companion She took him on trips, bought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras etc. that helped him in his research on butterflies She gifted him Dr Urquhart’s book, “The Travels of Monarch X”. It opened the world of science to the young collector (iii) ‘During our childhood in Goa, the baker used to be our friend, companion and guide’. What does this statement tell you about the character of the narrator? Which character traits of the narrator would you like to be developed in yourself? Narrator has a special place in his heart for the baker. He remembers all the details very vividly. He was friendly with the baker as all children ran to meet the baker on hearing the jingling thud of his bamboo. Narrator is very expressive about his affection for the baker. Narrator’s friendly traits are worth developing. Reference: Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi

Lesson Architecture Theme Lesson-At-A-Glance NCERT Solution Theme: The lesson narrates the story of a precocious girl by the name of Valli, an eight years old. She nurses a secret desire to take a bus ride fro her village to the town. The lesson narrates the childhood dreams and fantasies and the realization of such dreams with commitment and patience. Lesson -At-A-Glance Valli wishes to ride the bus that goes from her village to the town. She sees every day the bus that travels between her village and the nearest town. She looks wistfully at the people who got on and off the bus. People inspire her the hop and wish to take a ride herself one day. Valli's secret wish started spreading wings till she decides one day that she wold attempt a ride on the bus. She saves every penny resisting the temptations to buy peppermints and toys, the ride on the merry-go-round and the village fair. One afternoon when her mother is asleep, Valli slips ot of the house, boards the bus and starts relishing her first ever bus ride. The conductor is taken aback to find her travel alone and is amused by her haughty manners. She resents being called a child and reminds everyone on the bus that she has paid full fare like anyone else. On the way to town, Valli is delighted to see a young cow running right in the middle of the road in front of the bus. The honking frightens the cow and he gallop[ed even faster. On the way back to the village, Valli becomes sad by the sight of the same cow who lies dead by roadside. On her return home, she finds her mother awake and is involved in chatting with her aunt. Her mother is not able to guess that she have been outside home all the while. NCERT Textbook Questions Oral Comprehension Check ( Page 119) 1. What was valli's favourite pastime? Valli's favourite pastime was to stand in the front doorway of her house and watch what was happening in the street outside. 2. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire? Ans A source of unending joy for Valli was watching the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town and back each hour. Her strongest desire was to ride the bus which was filled each time with full of passengers going to the town and returning back to the village. 3. What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details? Ans: Valli collected the following details about the bus journey: Valli found out that the fare was thirty paise one way. The trip to the twn took forty -five minutes. On reaching town, she could return home on the same bus if she could pay another thirty paise. She found out these details by listening carefully to conversations of her neighbours and people who regularly travelled in the bus. 4. What do you think Valli was planning to do? Ans: Valli was planning to take a ride on the bus to the town and back to her village one day. Oral comprehension Check ( Page 122) 1. Why does the conductor call Valli 'madam'? Ans Valli talks like a matured adult person. She refuses to take help from the conductor while climbing the steps of the bus. She behaves as if she was capable of taking care of herself. 2. Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now? Ans: Valli stands up on the seat because the lower half of the window was covered with a canvas blind. She can see the canal on one side of the road and beyond it the palm trees, grassland, distant mountains and the blue sky. On the other side of the road, she can see a deep ditch beyond which were acres and acres of green fields. 3. What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child? Ans Valli is annoyed at being called a child and replies that she can take care of herself. She further says that she has paid her thirty paise like an adult passenger. 4. Why didn't Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman? Ans: The elderly woman appeared to be very shabby. She had very big holes in her ear lobes, and ugle earrings in them. she could smell the betel nut the woman was chewing and the betel juice was about to spill over her lips at any moment. Oral Comprehension Check ( page 125) 1. How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her? Ans: Valli had thriftily saved a total of sixty paise. She had saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, and the like. It wasn't easy for her. She had to curb a strong desire to spend the money at the fair and ride the merry-go-round. 2. What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh? Ans: Valli saw a young cow running very fast right in the middle of the road. It had its tail high up as it ran. The more the driver blew the horn the more, the cow grew frightened and ran faster in front of the bus. It grew frightened and ran faster in front of the bus. Thus Valli laughed by seeing this frantic act of the cow. 3. Why didn't she get off the bus at the bus station? Ans: Valli did not get off the bus at the bus station because she wanted to return to her village by the same bus. She was not left with adequate money to explore the town. She just had the bus fare to return to her village. 4. Why didn't Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her? Ans: Valli did not want to go to the stall and have a drink because she was left with just the money to buy a ticket for the journey back home. It tells us that Valli is a disciplined and alert girl She refused to have the drink even when the conductor offered it as a treat. She was having the self-respect and did not take any undue favour from any one unnecessarily. Thinking About the Text: (Page 127) 1. What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this. Ans: Valli's deepest desire was to take a bus ride to the town. The words & phrases that tell us about this fact are the following: 'most fascinating thing'. 'a source of unending joy for valli' 'wish became stronger and stronger until it was an overwhelming desire'. 2. How did Valli plan her bus ride? What did she find out about the bus, and how did she save up the fare? Ans: Valli planned her bus ride in the following manner : She listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus. She asked a few discreet questions here and there. She found out details about the bus like : The bus fare to the nearest town was thirty paise one way. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. On reaching town she could return to her village in the same bus by paying another thirty paise. Thus she planned to catch the one-o'clock afternoon bus, reach the town at one forty-five and be back home by about two forty-five. Valli saved up the fare in the following manner : She saved by collecting whatever stray coins came her way. She resisted every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, and so on. She resolutely stifled a strong desire at the village fair to ride the merry-go-round. Thus she ended up saving a total of sixty paise for a to-and-fro trip to the town. 3. What kind of a person is Valli? To answer this question, pick out the following sentences from the text and fill in the blanks. The words you fill in are the clues to your answer. (i) “Stop the bus! Stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised ________ (Commandingly) (ii) “Yes, I ________go to town,” said Valli, still standing outside the bus. (simply have) (iii) “There’s nobody here _________ ,” she said haughtily. “I’ve paid my thirty paise like everyone else.” (who's a child) (iv) “Never mind,” she said, “I can ______________. You don’t have to help me. ”I’m not a child, I tell you,” she said, ________ ( get on by myself , irritably ) (v) “You needn’t bother about me. ___________________ ,” Valli said, turning her face toward the window and staring out. ( I can take care of myself) (vi) Then she turned to the conductor and said, “Well, sir, I hope _____________.” (to see you again) 4. Why does the conductor refer to Valli as ‘madam’? Ans: Valli talks like a matured adult person. She refuses to take help from the conductor while climbing the steps of the bus. She behaves as if she was capable of taking care of herself. 5. Find the lines in the text which tell you that Valli was enjoying her ride on the bus. Valli devoured everything with her eyes. Oh, it was all so wonderful ! Suddenly Valli clapped her hands with glee. Somehow this was very funny to Valli. She laughed and laughed until there were tears in her eyes. Struck dumb with wonder, Valli gaped at everything.. Valli wasn't bored in the slightest and greeted everything with the same excitement she'd felt the first time. 6. Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back? Valli refuses to to look out of the window on her way back due to the following reasons: She had seen the young cow lying dead on the road. On her way to town, she was taken back to have seen a young cow running right in the middle of the road. On her way back the cow was hit by a vehicle. The sight of the dead cow moved her so much so that she refused to outside. 7. What does Valli mean when she says, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge.” On reaching home Valli overhears a conversation between her auntie and her mother about things happening without our knowledge. She then agrees to what they say as the same thing has also happened with her. Her mother was blissfully unaware of Valli's to and fro bus ride to Town. 8. The author describes the things that Valli sees from an eight-year-old’s point of view. Can you find evidence from the text for this statement? The following are the text sentences to support the statement. The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. She wanted to ride on that bus even if just once. Valli devoured everything with her eyes. She stood up on the seat and peered over the blind. Valli found the woman absolutely repulsive... who could be sociable with such a person? How difficult it had been, particularly that day at the village fair.... Suddenly Valli clapped her hands with glee. Important Questions for Board Exam, Term II <<<<<<<<<< End>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Theme: The story highlights the condemnation of evil practice of dowry in the society. The story also focusses on the need of women empowerment through education. The story portrays the arduous journey of a girl disfigured with pock-marks and how she fights out to become an iconoclast in the society. Lesson-At-A-Glance : Bholi is a touching story of Sulekha, a little girl who suffers a head injury in her childhood and suffers from developmental problems. The seventh child of Ramlal, a prosperous revenue official, Sulekha is called Bholi because she does not seem to be intelligent. She suffered an attack of chicken pox which leaves her scarred with pick marks. She spoke very little as she was teased because she used to stammer a lot. Bholi's parents were worried as all her brothers and sisters were healthy and good-looking except her. A primary school came up in the village when Bholi was seven years old. Based on the suggestion of Bholi's mother Bholi was sent to school as she had little chance of getting married. Bholi is frightened when she her father, Ramlal, tried to take her to the school. When Bholi was given clean clothes she feels that going to school might be a good idea. At school her teacher was a kind soul who immediately took care of Boli. She assured Bholi that she would be able to speak like everyone else, and that people would not laugh at her, but listen to her with respect. Many years later Bholi's parents arranged her marriage to Bishamber, a middle-aged grocer with grown-up children. On the day of the wedding when the groom saw saw Bholi's pock-marked face, he demanded money from Ramlal, her father. Bholi asked her father to cancel this marriage as she would not mary such a greedy and contemptible man. The guests at the wedding were surprised at such a bold decision by Bholi. But Bholi remained steadfast in her decision. When her father Ramlal expressed his worry at the turn of events, Bholi assured him that she could be around her parents to take care of them in case she did not get married. She further told him that she could teach at the school from where she had studied. Her teacher who was standing in one corner looked with a sense of pride for Bholi and endorsed her decision. NCERT Solution: Read and Find out ( Page 54) Why is Bholi's father worried about her? Ans: An attack of small pox leaves Bholi scarred with pock marks. She stammers and other children make fun of her. As a result, Bholi withdraws and speaks very little. Therefore, her parents were very worried about her. For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school? During the opening ceremony of the primary school for girls in the village, the Tehsildar asked Ramlal to send his daughters to school so as to set an example for others in the village. But Ramlal's wife thinks that none of her daughters would get married if they were sent to school. she suggested her husband to send Bholi to school as she has little chance of getting married owing to her disfigured pock-marked face. Read and Find Out ( Page 55) Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school? On the first day of her school her teacher gives her a picture book and informs her that she will soon be able to speak like everyone else. She will be more learned than all the villagers and then everyone will respect her. These encouraging words from her teacher inspired Bholi on her first day. Does she find her teacher different from the people at home? Ans: At home Bholi feels isolated as no one takes care of her. However, at school her teacher is kind and caring. Instead of scolding Bholi for stammering, her teacher encourages Bholi to pronounce her name. She gives her a picture book and says she will soon learn to speak fluently and become a role model for the whole village. Thus bholi finds her teacher different from the people at home. Read and Find Out ( Page 58) Why do Bholi's parents accept Bishamber's marriage proposal? Ans: Bholi's parents think that Bholi will be fortunate enough to get such a wealthy bridegroom. He is from another village and does not ask for any dowry. Therefore, they accept Bishamber's marriage proposal. Why does the marriage not take place? On seeing the pock marks on Bholi's face, her prospective husband demands a dowry of five thousand rupees. In spite of repeated requests the groom did not agree and threatens to cancel the marriage. Therefore, Bholi gets angry and says that she will not marry such a mean, greedy and a coward like Bishamber. Think about it: 1. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home? As a run-up to preparation of going to school, Bholi's hair was oiled and she was bahed. She was also given a clean dress which had shrunk after many washings and which actually belonged to Champa. Thus Bholi felt that she was going to a better place than her home. 2. How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life? When Bholi joined the school, she stammered and could barely speak and was frightened. Her transformation into an educated and well-spoken woman was possible due to the sincere commitment of her teacher. Her teacher contributed in the following ways: a) The teacher encouraged Bholi to speak softly and assured her that she would speak like everyone else in future. b) She convinced Bholi to come to school everyday. c) She gave Bholi a book. She furher encouraged her that she would be able to read the book in no time and then she would be given bigger books. d) She also encouraged Bholi that one day she would be ore learned than any other person in the village. She further said that people would no longer laugh at her, but listen to her with respect. After many years of her schooling at her wedding, Bholi refused to marry a greedy man and stood up against an extortionist bridegroom who demanded dowry form her father because of her disfigured pock-marked face . Thus Bholi's teacher exemplifies the role that teachers can play in one's life and in the context of Bholi played a transformational role. Bholi's confidence, independence and values are the outcome of her teacher's commitment and selfless devotion. 3. Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell us about her? In order to avoid being a burden on her parents for a lifetime, Bholi probably agreed to an unequal match. She was having a pock-marked face and therefore she had apprehensions like her parents that no man would marry her. This is probably the reason why Bholi did not say no to an unequal match. Her values and self-respect that she imbibed from her teacher made her reject the man who demanded dowry to the tune of five thousand rupees due to her pock-marked face. This tells us about her she was having self-respect and courage to bring about a sea change in the society. This was possible because of the way her teacher inculcated values in her and confidence to fight out any injustice. 4. Bholi’s real name is Sulekha. We are told this right at the beginning. But only in the last but one paragraph of the story is Bholi called Sulekha again. Why do you think she is called Sulekha at that point in the story? Bholi is called Sulekha again as she has turned out to be an educated girl owing to the relentless effort of her teacher. She has grown up to be a woman who is able to judge right from wrong and take independent decisions. She has stood up against her prospetive husband when he demanded a sum of five thousand rupees owing to her disfigured face. Thus she has shown her values and outright protest at the injustice and tried to bring about a transformation in the society. Extra Questions for Practice. What happened to Bholi when she was ten months old? Why did Bholi begin to cry when her teacher asked her name? Who was Bishamber? why did Bholi's parents accept his marriage proposal? Why did Bholi refuse to marry Bishamber? Describe the interaction between Bholi and her teacher on her first day at school? 5-mark Questions for Practice How did Bholi's teacher bring about a transformation in the personality of Bholi. Explain with instances from the text. How did Bholi oppose her marriage with Bishamber? Describe the circumstances that led to the cancellation of the marriage. Bholi's teacher looked on with the deep satisfaction of an artist contemplating the completion of her masterpiece. What 'masterpiece' had she created? Why did her masterpiece give her immense satisfaction? Explain with instances from the text. 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Lesson Architecture Theme Stanza-wise Explanation NCERT Solution Extra Questions Theme: The poem is in the form of a ballad that tells the story of a cowardly dragon. The poem also showcases the heroic and chivalric act of bravery by a seemingly coward Dragon. The poem teaches us the lesson that we should not consider anyone insignificant and small. Even a seemingly insignificant person/animal can be of great help when occasion rises. People who are unassuming and make no proud proclamations, prove their worth when the occasion demands. Stanza-wise Explanation Stanza 1 Belinda lived in a little white house, With a little black kitten and a little grey mouse, And a little yellow dog and a little red wagon, And a realio, trulio, little pet dragon. Vocabulary: Belinda: Belinda is a lady who lives in a little white house with her four pets. Wagon: a carriage for carrying goods. realio: here it means 'really' trulio: here it means 'truly' dragon: a large aggressive animal with wings and a long tail Paraphrase: There was a little girl by the name Belinda who used to live in a little white house with her four pets-namely Ink( a black kitten) , Blink ( a grey mouse) Mustard ( a yellow dog) and Custard ( a little dragon). Stanza 2 Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink, And the little grey mouse, she called him Blink, And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard, But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard. Vocabulary: Mustard: a yellow coloured flower. Coward: a fearful person/animal Paraphrase: In this paragraph we are introduced to the names of Belinda's pets. Ink was a little black kitten, Blink was a little grey mouse, Mustard was a little yellow dog who was as sharp as Mustard and the little pet dragon was very scared and fearful and was called Custard by Belinda. Stanza 3 Custard the dragon had big sharp teeth, And spikes on top of him and scales underneath, Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose, And realio, trulio daggers on his toes. Vocabulary: spikes: thin and sharp Scales: thin plates of hard material that cover the skin of many fish and reptiles. fireplace: an open space for a fire in the wall of a room Paraphrase: Custard the dragon is covered in scales with spikes on top and has enormous sharp teeth. He is capable of breathing out fire from his mouth like a fireplace and his nose is like a chimney through which the smoke comes out. His toes are so sharp like a dagger. Stanza 4 Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears, And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs, Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage, But Custard cried for a nice safe cage. Vocabulary: barrel full of bears: Belinda' bravery is equal to a cluster of bears. tiger in a rage: When a tiger becomes angry. safe cage: Safe cage refers to dragon's desire to take shelter inside a protected cage. Paraphrase: Belinda's bravery is presumed to be as good as a cluster of bears. Ink and Blink were also bold enough to chase lions down the stairs. The dog also appeared to be as brave as an angry tiger. But ironically, the big-sized dragon was very timid and always wanted a safe heaven in the form of a protected cage. Stanza 5 Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful, Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him Percival, They all sat laughing in the little red wagon At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon. Vocabulary: tickled: to touch on a sensitive part of the body intended to make someone laugh. Percival: Sir Percival was one of King Arthur's most loyal knights. Paraphrase: Belinda used to tickle him in order to cause him discomfort and make him feel uneasy. Ink , Blink and Mustard were rude to the dragon and called him Percival as he was very soft and honest. They made fun of cowardly dragon by sitting in the little red wagon. Stanza 6 Belinda giggled till she shook the house, And Blink said Weeck! which is giggling for a mouse, Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age, When Custard cried for a nice safe cage. Vocabulary: shook the house: Belinda's laughter echoed her house. Weeck : sound made by the mouse. nice safe cage : Custard used to demand protection for himself in the form of a safe cage. Paraphrase: Belinda used to laugh so loudly that her laughter echoed the whole house. Blink-the mouse- made a weeck sound-which is equivalent to giggling. Ink and Mustard made fun of Custard and asked his age whenever Custard demanded a safe cage in which he could lock himself up and be safe. Stanza 7 Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound, And Mustard growled, and they all looked around. Meowch! cried Ink, and ooh! cried Belinda, For there was a pirate, climbing in the winda. Vocabulary: Pirate: a robber who attacks ships to steal. Winda: Here it means 'window'. Paraphrase: While Ink and Mustard were busy in making fun of Custard, they heard a nasty sound outside. Mustard barked at him and Ink meowed and Belinda cried ooh because they all became very scared of the pirate who was seen to be climbing on the window. Stanza 8 Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right, And he held in his teeth a cutlass bright, His beard was black, one leg was wood; It was clear that the pirate meant no good. Vocabulary: cutlass bright: a bright sword one leg was wood : the pirate was handicapped. Paraphrase: He was carrying a pistol in his left and right hand and a bright sword in his teeth. His beard was black and on of his legs was made of wood. His approach indicated that he meant no good to Belinda and her pets. Stanza 9 Belinda paled, and she cried Help! Help! But Mustard fled with a terrified yelp, Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household, And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed. Vocabulary: terrified yelp: give a sudden short cry trickled down: here run. household: at the end of the house. mouseholed: the hole where the mouse lives. Paraphrase: Belinda became pale with fear and cried for help. Mustard ran away with terrifying yelping sound. Ink left towards the end of the house. And Blink-the little mouse- in a planned manner went inside the mouse hole. Stanza 10 But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine, Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon, With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm, He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm. Vocabulary: snorting like an engine: Custard started making loud sound like an engine. irons in a dungeon : chains of the prisoners make sound when they strike one another in underground prison. clatter and a clank : types of sound produced by metals when they strike one another. jangling squirm : Sound of objects when they fall on one another. Paraphrase: Snorting like a full-throated engine and lashing his tail like chains in a dungeon, Custard attacks the pirate like a robin ( a type of bird) does at a worm. Stanza 11 The pirate gaped at Belinda’s dragon, And gulped some grog from his pocket flagon, He fired two bullets, but they didn’t hit, And Custard gobbled him, every bit. Vocabulary: gulped some grog: the pirate swallowed some drink . pocket flagon : the pirate swallowed drink from the container inside his pocket. gobbled : swallowed. Paraphrase: The pirate was staring at Custard and swallowed hastily some drinks from the container kept in his pocket. He then fired two shot at Custard. But the bullets missed their mark and Custard ate up the pirate bit by bit. Stanza 12 Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him, No one mourned for his pirate victim. Ink and Blink in glee did gyrate Around the dragon that ate the pirate. Vocabulary: embraced: hugged mourned: feel sad for the death of the pirate. glee: happiness gyrate: dance. Paraphrase: After the death of the Pirate, Belinda hugged Custard, Mustard licked him. On the other hand, no one felt sad for the death of the victim Custard. Out of happiness Ink and blink started dancing around the dragon that ate up the pirate. Stanza 13 But presently up spoke little dog Mustard, I’d have been twice as brave if I hadn’t been flustered. And up spoke Ink and up spoke Blink, We’d have been three times as brave, we think, And Custard said, I quite agree That everybody is braver than me. Vocabulary: flustered : to become nervous/confused. up spoke : spoke up Paraphrase: Their gratitude gave way to self-promotion. Mustard said that he would have been twice as brave had he not been flustered by the sudden appearance of the pirate. Ink and Blink said that they would in fact have been three times as brave. Custard showed his calm and maturity by saying that he knew that everybody was braver than him. Stanza 14 Belinda still lives in her little white house, With her little black kitten and her little grey mouse, And her little yellow dog and her little red wagon, And her realio, trulio little pet dragon. Paraphrase: There was a little girl by the name Belinda who used to live in a little white house with her four pets-namely Ink( a black kitten) , Blink ( a grey mouse) Mustard ( a yellow dog) and Custard ( a little dragon). Stanza 15 Belinda is as brave as a barrel full of bears, And Ink and Blink chase lions down the stairs, Mustard is as brave as a tiger in a rage, But Custard keeps crying for a nice safe cage. Vocabulary: barrel full of bears: Belinda' bravery is equal to a cluster of bears. tiger in a rage: When a tiger becomes angry. safe cage: Safe cage refers to dragon's desire to take shelter inside a protected cage. Paraphrase: Belinda's bravery is presumed to be as good as a cluster of bears. Ink and Blink were also bold enough to chase lions down the stairs. The dog also appeared to be as brave as an angry tiger. But ironically, the big-sized dragon was very timid and always wanted a safe heaven in the form of a protected cage. Thinking About the Poem ( page 132) 1. Who are the characters in this poem? List them with their pet names. Ans: The characters in this poem are Belinda, a little black kitten, a little grey mouse, a little yellow dog and a little pet dragon. a little black kitten is called Ink. a little grey mouse refers to Blink. a little yellow dog is Mustard a little pet dragon is called Custard. 2. 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''. 3. “Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful...” Why? Ans: Belinda tickled him unmercifully because Custard was neither protesting at others when they were making fun of him nor did he try to retaliate those who laughed at him. 4. The poet has employed many poetic devices in the poem. For example: “Clashed his tail like iron in a dungeon” — the poetic device here is a simile. Can you, with your partner, list some more such poetic devices used in the poem? Ans: Some poetic devices being used by the poet are the following: Simile: the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard... Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage. Metaphor: Chimney for a nose daggers on his toes Repetition: Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound.... With a little black kitten and a little grey mouse, And a little yellow dog...... Refrain: 'And her realio, trulio little pet dragon' has been repeated several times in the poem. Alliteration: Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears “b” sound is repeated. Transferred Epithet: Terrified yelp. Onomatopoeia: And Blink said Weeck! And Mustard growled. Mustard with a terrified yelp With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm. 5. Read stanza three again to know how the poet describes the appearance of the dragon. Ans: The dragon has big sharp teeth with spikes on top of him and scales underneath. His mouth was like a fireplace and his nose was like a chimney. His toes were as sharp as daggers. 6. Can you find out the rhyme scheme of two or three stanzas of the poem? Ans: The rhyme scheme is aabb, ccdd, eeff. 7. 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. 8. Do you find The Tale of Custard the Dragon to be a serious or a light-hearted poem? Give reasons to support your answer. Ans: The poem is a light-hearted poem as the poet has given an account of animals in a funny and comical manner. The dragon who is supposed to be fierce and terrifying has been projected to be timid . The exaggeration that has been used in the description of Belinda, her pets and the pirate give us the indication of this poem being light-hearted. An animal as fearful as a dragon has been described to be looking for a safe cage whereas the mouse, the cat and the dog are portrayed as braver than the custard. So the plot lends a humorous effect to the whole architecture of the poem. 9. This poem, in ballad form, tells a story. Have you come across any such modern song or lyric that tells a story? If you know one, tell it to the class. Collect such songs as a project. Note: Students can do a research on the topic and write down their viewpoints. Recommended Reading Important Questions for Board Exam, Term II <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< End>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Lesson Architecture Theme Lesson-At-A-Glance NCERT Solution Theme: The lesson highlights that we should be happy with what we have and not aspire for something that is beyond our reach. We should keep our expectations and wants in alignment with our financial limit. In case we fail to restrict our wants within our means, we come to grief and repentance. We should learn to come to terms with grief consequent upon our actions. Lesson-At-A-Glance The story is about Matilda Loisel, a young & pretty woman who was born in a poor family and married to a poor clerk. She was very unhappy as she felt that she was meant for finer things of life. She could neither extend invitation to others for dinners nor could afford herself lavish gowns and jewels. One day her husband came with an invitation to a party at the minister's residence. Instead of being happy, Matilda threw the invitation card on the table as she was not having elegant dress as well as jewellery. Her husband gave up his saved money which he kept aside for buying a gun and bought a suitable dress for her. As the day of the ball approached Matilda was still sad as she had not ornament to wear. Her husband's suggestion to wear fresh flowers did not please her. He then suggested her to borrow a suitable ornament from her rich friend, Madame Forestier. Madame Forestier generously offers her jewels and asked Matilda to choose the she liked. Matilda chose a superb diamond necklace. She became extremely happy to get such a posh necklace. Matilda being the prettiest of all the ladies, men started noticing her and wanted to be introduced to her. Matilda danced and enjoyed till four o' clock in the morning. On their return from the party, Monsieur Loisel puts around her the modest wrap she had brought. But the shabby wrap clashed with the finery of the gown and Matilda did not wait for her husband to call the cab, but left hurriedly so that no one could see it. At home when Matilda stood in front of the mirror to have one finally looked herself in her finery, she was shocked to realize that the necklace was missing. Loisel enquires at the cab offices and puts an advertisement in the papers, but received no lead. He instructed Matilda to write to Madame Forestier that the clasp of the necklace had broken and that they would have it repaired. In a shop they found a diamond necklace which seemed exactly like the one they had lost. They borrowed money from usurers and lenders to pay for the necklace and spent the next ten years of their life in terrible hardship to repay the loans they had taken. Matilda washed clothes, brought water adn went to the grocer's and the butcher's like a common woman haggling to the last penny. Her husband, on the other hand, worked evenings and nights to bring in some extra money. The life of hardships took its toll on Matilda. She looked old and haggard. One day while walking in the Champs-Elysees, Matilda saw her friend Madame Forestier walking with a child, still looking pretty and young. When Madame Forestier heard the story of Matilda , she was shocked beyond all measure to hear that Matilda worked all these crucial years to pay for her imitation necklace. She informed Matilda that her necklace was false and did not cost her more than five hundred francs. NCERT Textbook Questions: Read and Find Out ( Page 39) 1.What kind of a person is Mme Loisel-Why is she always unhappy? Ans: Mme Loisel is a pretty young lady who is born in to a family of clerks and is married to a poor clerk. She always dreams of living a life of luxury with fine food on the table, and fine clothes and expensive jewellery. She is very unhappy as she feels that she is meant for finer things of life. 2. What kind of a person is her husband? Ans Monseiur Loisel is a poor clerk who is hardworking and economical in nature. He loves his wife and sacrifices his saved money so that she could buy herself a dress for the dinner. Read and Find Out ( Page 41) What fresh problem now disturbs Mme Loisel? She has no jewellery to wear for the dinner. She would look poor and deprived among the gathering of rich people. So she feels disturbed to think of this fact. How is the problem solved? Ans: The problem is solved by her husband who suggests that she borrows jewels from her rich friend, Mme Forestier. Read and Find Out ( Page 44) What do M. and Mme Loisel do next? Ans: M Loisel toes to the police and to the cab offices, puts an advertisement in the newspapers with an offer of a reward. He returns home with no trace of the necklace. He suggests to her wife that she should write to Mme Forestier that she has broken the clasp of the necklace and that she will have it repaired. How do they replace the necklace? In a shop of the Palais-Royal, they find a chaplet of diamonds, which seem to them exactly like the one they had lost. It is worth forty thousand francs, but they manage to buy it for thirty-six-thousand. Loisel had eighteen thousand francs and the rest he borrowed from usurers and moneylenders at high interest so that he could buy a replacement necklace to Mme Forestier. Think About It The course of the Loisel's life changed due to the necklace. Comment. Ans: Mrs & Mr. Loisel took ten years to repay eighteen thousands francs that they borrowed from moneylenders. They worked very hard and lived a beggar's life in order to repay the loan. They did the following things to get rid of a staggering loan. They sent away the maid, changed their lodgings, rented some rooms in an attic. She learned the odious work of a kitchen. She washed the dishes. She washed the soiled linen, their clothes and dishcloths, which she hung on the line to dry. She took down the refuse to the street each morning and brought up the water. she went to the grocer’s, the butcher’s and the fruiterer’s, with her basket on her arm, shopping, haggling to the last sou of her miserable money. The husband worked evenings, putting the books of some merchants in order. He often did copying at five sous a page. 2. What was the cause of Matilda's ruin? How could she have avoided it? Ans: The cause for her ruin was her ambitious desire to borrow a necklace from Mme Forestier. If she could manage with the flowers that her husband suggested her to wear in place of jewellery, she could have avoided having met such a miserable life. All their hard work for ten years was a waste as the necklace they borrowed was a imitation necklace and not a diamond one as both thought it to be. If Matilda could learn to live her life within her means, she would not aspire to borrow a necklace and fall into a trap of worldly possessions. Moreover, when she returned the necklace to Mme Forestier, she could tell the truth to Mme Forestier about the lost necklace. In that way she could have surely avoided being in such a great trouble for ten long years. 3. What would have happened to Matilda if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost her necklace? Ans: In my opinion, her friend would have informed her that the necklace was an imitation of a diamond necklace, which cost her only five hundred francs. Matilda could have immediately returned the diamond necklace or sold it to the same shop and got the money back. This disclosure by her friend would have helped Matilda and her husband to avoid ten long years of miserable lifestyle. Recommended Reading Important Questions for Board Exam, Term II

Lesson Architecture Theme Lesson-At-A-Glance NCERT Solution Extra Questions Theme: 'Coorg' situated midway between Mysore and Mangalore, is referred to as India's coffee country. The author calls the place ' piece of heaven' . The lesson describes the weather, natural beauty, animal and plant life of Coorg. The people are described as beautiful , hospitable and having a rich martial history. Lesson-At-A-glance Coorg or Kodagu, is the smallest district of Karnataka. It is home to evergreen forests and spice and coffee plantations. It rains heavily during the monsoons, but the months from September to March are ideal. The weather is perfect and the air is fragrant with the smell of refreshing coffee. The poeple of Coorg are a proud and brave race. It is said that they are of Arabic or Greek descent, and their customs and traditions are distinct from the mainstream population. Coorg homes have a rich tradition of hospitality, and one gets to hear tales of valour of fathers and sons if one visits them. The Coorgi regiment is one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian Army. The first Chief of the Indian Army, General Cariappa was a coorgi. The people of Coorg are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a licence. Coorg has amazing wildlife, and the terrain makes it a great place for outdoor and adventure activities. The rolling hills and the swiftly flowing river offer the perfect area for adventure sports-river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking. Coorg also has numerous walking trails which are a favourite with trekkers. The Brahmagiri Hills give a panoramic view of the misty landscape of Coorg. Surrounded by the Kaveri and accessible by a rope bridge is the sixty-four acre island of Nisargadhama. Bylakuppe, which has a large Tibetan settlement, is situated nearby. Visitors searching for the heart and soul of India may find it right here in Coorg. NCERT Solution Thinking about the Text ( Page 92) 1. Where is Coorg? Ans: Coorg is midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. 2. What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent? As one story goes , a part of Alexander's army moved south along the coast and settled there when return became impractical. They married the locals and their culture is apparent in the martial tradition, marriage and religious rites, which are distinct from the Hindu mainstream. The theory of Arab origin can be derived frm the long, black coat with an embroidered waist-belt worn by the Kodavus and resembles the kufia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds. 3. What are some of the things you now know about (i) the people of Coorg? They are possibly of Greek or Arabic descent. (ii) the main crop of Coorg? Coffee and spices (iii) the sports it offers to tourists? It offers tourists river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing, mountain biking and numerous walking trails for treks. (iv) the animals you are likely to see in Coorg? The animlas you are likely to see in Coorg are birds, bees and butterflies; Macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs, slender loris and wild elephants. (v) its distance from Bangalore, and how to get there? Its distance from Bangalore is 260 kms. Extra Questions: 1. Where is Coorg located? Why is Coorg called the land of the rolling hills? Ans : Coorg is the smallest district of Karnataka. It is situated midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. It is a land of rolling hills and picturesque landscape. Coorg is a coffee country famous for its hills, rain forests and spices. It is surrounded by hills and covered with rain forests. Because of numerous hills, the city is also called the land of rolling hills. Q2. What is Kodagu? Why is it famous? Ans : Kodagu is another name of Coorg, the smallest district of Karnataka. It is famous for its coffee gardens, spices and rainforests. It is also famous for its brave people and culture. Q3. What is the origin of the people of Coorg? Ans : According to one story, the people of Coorg are the descent of Greek. The army of Alexander settled here and expanded their families by marrying the locals. According to other belief, the people of Coorg are the descent of the Arabs as their dress resembles the Kuffia worn by the Arabs. Q4. What is Kuppia? How does it make the Kodavus close to the Arabs? Ans : ‘Kuppia’ is a long, black coat with embroidered waist belt worn by the people of Coorg. It is very similar to Kuffia worn by the Arabs. Q5. What are the two contradictory traits of the character of the Kodavus? Ans : The people of Coorg are peace-loving people. They are known for their hospitality and tradition. However, they are also known for their bravery. They are the only people in India who are permitted to carry firearms without a licence. Q6. Why are the Kodavus permitted to carry firearms without a licence? Ans: Kodavus, the people of Coorg, are known for their loyalty and bravery. The Coorg regiment is one of the most celebrated regiments in the Indian Army. The people of Coorg are the only one in India who are allowed to carry firearms without licence. Recommended Reading Important Questions for Board Exam https://www.englishwithadifference.com/term-ii-class-x-literature

THEME This lesson is about Ustaad Bismillah Khan. He was a well-known shehnai player in India. His Uncle, Ali Baux, inspired him to learn the lesson in Shehnai. He played the shehnai on the day India got independence i.e 15th August 1947. This lesson highlights his road to success and his philosophy of life. Story At A Glance EMPEROR Aurangzeb banned the playing of a musical instrument called pungi in the royal residence for it had a shrill unpleasant sound. A barber of a family of professional musicians, who had access to the royal palace, decided to improve the tonal quality of the pungi. He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem and made seven holes on the body of the pipe. He played the instrument before royalty and everyone was impressed. The instrument was later named as the ‘shehnai. Shehnai is considered to be auspicious. For this reason it is still played in temples and is an indispensable component of any North Indian wedding. The credit for bringing this instrument onto the classical stage goes to Ustaad Bismillah Khan. As a five-year old, Bismillah Khan played gilli danda near a pond in the ancient estate of Dumraon in Bihar. He would visit the nearby Bihariji temple to sing the Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’, at the end of which he would earn a big laddu weighing 1.25 kg, a prize given by the local Maharaja. This little boy has grown up to earn the highest civilian award in India — the Bharat Ratna. Born on 21 March 1916, Bismillah belongs to a well-known family of musicians from Bihar. His grandfather, Rasool Bux Khan, was the shehnai-nawaz of the Bhojpur king’s court. His father, Paigambar Bux, and other paternal ancestors were also great shehnai players. Bismillah started accompanying his uncle, Ali Bux, to the Vishnu temple of Benaras where Ali Bux would play the shehnai and Bismillah would sit listenting for hours together. Slowly, he started getting lessons in playing the instrument and would sit practicing throughout the day. Utsad Bismillah Khan would visit the temple of Balaji, temple of Managala Maiya and on the bank of river Ganga he would practice playing the shehnai. The flowing waters of the Ganga inspired him to invent ragas that were earlier thought to be beyond the range of the shehnai. With the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938 came Bismillah’s big break. He soon became an often-heard shehnai player on radio. When India gained independence on 15 August 1947, Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to greet the nation with his shehnai. The Raag that was played by Ustaad Bismillah Khan on the occasion of the Independence of India was Raag Kafi. He played it from the Red Fort. Bismillah Khan has given many memorable performances both in India and abroad. His first trip abroad was to Afghanistan where King Zahir Shah was so taken in by the maestro that he gifted him priceless Persian carpets and other souvenirs. Film director Vijay Bhatt was so impressed after hearing Bismillah play at a festival that he named a film after the instrument called Gunj Uthi Shehnai. The film was a hit, and one of Bismillah Khan’s compositions, “Dil ka khilona hai toot gaya ...,” turned out to be a nationwide chartbuster! Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to be invited to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Centre Hall in the United States of America. He also took part in the World Exposition in Montreal, in the Cannes Art Festival and in the Osaka Trade Fair. Film director Vijay Bhatt was so impressed after hearing Bismillah play at a festival that he named a film after the instrument called Gunj Uthi Shehnai. The film was a hit, and one of Bismillah Khan’s compositions, “Dil ka khilona hai toot gaya ...,” turned out to be a nationwide chartbuster! Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to be invited to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Centre Hall in the United States of America. He also took part in the World Exposition in Montreal, in the Cannes Art Festival and in the Osaka Trade Fair. National awards like the Padmashri, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan were conferred on him. In 2001, Ustaad Bismillah Khan was awarded India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. With the coveted award resting on his chest and his eyes glinting with rare happiness he said, “All I would like to say is: Teach your children music, this is Hindustan’s richest tradition; even the West is now coming to learn our music.’’ A student of his once wanted him to head a shehnai school in the U.S.A., and the student promised to recreate the atmosphere of Banaras by replicating the temples there. But Khan saab asked him if he would be able to transport River Ganga as well. Ustaad Bismillah Khan’s life is a perfect example of the rich, cultural heritage of India, one that effortlessly accepts that a devout Muslim like him can very naturally play the shehnai every morning at the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Ustaad Bismillah Khan passed away on 21 August 2006 at the age of ninety after a prolonged illness. He was given a state funeral and the Government of India declared one day of national mourning. Recapitulation EMPEROR Aurangzeb banned the playing of a musical instrument called pungi in the royal residence for it had a shrill unpleasant sound. Later on a barber modified it and the instrument was later named as ‘shehnai. Shehnai is considered to be auspicious. For this reason it is still played in temples and is an indispensable component of any North Indian wedding. The credit for bringing this instrument onto the classical stage goes to Ustaad Bismillah Khan.

Subscribe to my Channel by Clicking Here THEME Evelyn is a famous multi- percussionist. She plays a variety of percussion instruments like xylophone, drums etc. The story of Evelyn Glennie is a inspirational story. It inspires us to overcome our physical disabilities and fulfil our dreams just like Evelyn did. Although the Almighty God snatched her hearing power, He gifted her the sense of feeling. That is why she was able to express music so beautifully. This lesson teaches us in spite of all handicaps, we can realize our dream with single-minded devotion and tenacity. STORY AT A GLANCE The story begins with the scene at the railway platform. Evelyn was waiting for the train to go to London to learn music as she has takne admission in the Royal Academy of Music. Evelyn being a girl of Scotland is very nervous to go to a big place like London. However, she is excited as well because she will learn music from the Royal Academy of Music in London. Evelyn faced a much bigger challenge that was her inability to hear. Therefore, she felt nervous at the Royal Academy of Music. Evelyn Glennie’s loss of hearing had been gradual. Her mother, Isabel Glennie, identified her deafness when she was eight-year-old waiting to play the piano. Her name was called, but she did not move. When Evelyn was eleven years old her marks has started deteriorating. The Headmistress requested her parents to take Evelyn to the doctor. It was then discovered that her hearing was severely impaired as a result of gradual nerve damage. Her parents were advised They were advised that she should be fitted with hearing aids and sent to a school for the deaf. But Evelyn was determined to lead a normal life and pursue her interest in music. When Evelyn saw a girl playing the Xylophone, she wanted to play it too. Most of the teachers discouraged her but percussionist Ron Forbes spotted her potential. He took two large drums tuned each drum to different notes. He then instructed her not to listen through her ears, but feel the music some other way. As Ron had tuned both the drums to different notes, Evelyn could hear higher notes of the drum from the upper part of her waist and the lower notes from the lower part of her waist. Forbes repeated the exercise, and soon Evelyn discovered that she could sense certain notes in different parts of her body. Slowly Evelyn started sensing the different sounds through the different parts of her body. She toured the United Kingdom with a youth orchestra and by the time she was sixteen, she had decided to make music her life. She auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music and scored one of the highest marks in the history of the academy. She gradually moved from group orchestra to solo performances. At the end of her three-year course , she had captured most of the top awards. If anyone complements Evelyn, she shares her success recipe that if we work hard and we have an aim, a goal then we will certainly achieve it. She gained expertise in almost one thousand musical instruments and she is acclaimed to be the most popular multi percussionist of the world. She has a very busy Schedule. She has programmes and concerts all over the world. The writer Deborah Cowley took Evelyn’s interview which lasted for two hours. Evelyn says that those men having long, bushy beards give her trouble. When they speak, she cannot see their lip movement which is covered with the bushy beards. Evelyn says that she not only sees the lip movement of the person’s face, but the entire expression of the face of the speaker to be able to understand what he is saying. After becoming deaf Evelyn also learned two new languages-French and basic Japanese. As for Music Evelyn explains that she identifies music as it creates sensation in her skin, in her cheekbones and even in her hair. So every part of Evelyn’s body responds to music. When she plays the xylophone, she can sense the sound passing up the stick into her fingertips. By leaning against the drums, she can feel the resonances flowing into her body. Whenever Evelyn performs, she performs on a wooden platform and she removes her shoes so that she can feel the vibrations of the musical instruments pass through the floor, into her feet and up her legs. In 1991 she was presented with the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Soloist of the Year Award. Evelyn does charity also. She gives free concerts in hospitals and prisons. She also takes classes for young musicians. For those children who want to learn music. Evelyn Glennie has already accomplished more than most people twice her age. Evelyn’s story is an inspiration to physically disabled people. They feel that they can also achieve their dreams. Evelyn’s performance is a delight for her audience. She is loved all over the globe. RECAPITULATION Her mother, Isabel Glennie, identified her deafness when she was eight-year-old waiting to play the piano. Her name was called, but she did not move. She took admission in Royal Academy of Music in London to learn music. The Headmistress requested her parents to take Evelyn to the doctor. It was then discovered that her hearing was severely impaired as a result of gradual nerve damage. Most of the teachers discouraged her but percussionist Ron Forbes spotted her potential. She auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music and scored one of the highest marks in the history of the academy. If anyone complements Evelyn, she shares her success recipe that if we work hard and we have an aim, a goal then we will certainly achieve it. She gained expertise in almost one thousand musical instruments and she is acclaimed to be the most popular multi percussionist of the world. In 1991 she was presented with the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Soloist of the Year Award. Evelyn’s story is an inspiration to physically disabled people. They feel that they can also achieve their dreams. Evelyn’s performance is a delight for her audience. She is loved all over the globe.

Subscribe to my Channel by Clicking Here NCERT Solution I Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each. 1. How old are Margie and Tommy? Ans: Margie is eleven and Tommy is thirteen years old 2. What did Margie write in her diary? Ans: Margie stated in her diary that on 17th May , 2157 Tommy found a real book. 3. Had Margie ever seen a book before? Ans: No, Margie had never seen a book before. 4. What things about the book did she find strange? Ans: The book was having yellow and wrinkled pages. The words of the book did not move unlike on computer screen where the words move. 5. What do you think a telebook is? A telebook is a book that is displayed on the computer screen. In other words, telebook refers to modern day e-books. 6. Where was Margie’s school? Did she have any classmates? Margie’s school was located in her own residence only. No, she did not have any classmate. 7. What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn? Ans: Margie learnt Geography and Mathematics whereas Tommy learnt History and Mathematics. II. Answer the following with reference to the story. 1. ‘‘I wouldn’t throw it away.’’ (i) Who says these words? Ans: Margie says these words. (ii) What does ‘it’ refer to? Ans: It refers to the real book that Tommy found in the attic (iii) What is it being compared with by the speaker? The speaker compares it with a telebook. 2. ‘‘Sure they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher. It was a man.’’ (i) Who does ‘they’ refer to? Ans: ‘They’ refer to the people of the old times. (ii) What does ‘regular’ mean here? Ans: Regular’ means something what is always available. Here a ‘mechanical teacher’ is referred to . (iii) What is it contrasted with? Ans: It is contrasted with a mechanical teacher. III. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words). 1. What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have? Ans: Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers. These mechanical teachers had a slot in which the students had to put their homework and test papers. They had to write their answers in a punch code and the mechanical teacher calculated the marks immediately. 2. Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector? Ans: Margie had been given many tests in geography by the mechanical teacher, but there was no improvement in her performance. It only kept getting worse. It is for this reason that Margie’s mother sent for the County Inspector to find out why this was happening. 3. What did he do? Ans: The county inspector slowed the mechanical teacher up to an average ten year level. 4.Why was Margie doing badly in geography? What did the County Inspector do to help her? Ans: Margie was doing badly in geography as her mechanical teacher was geared too advanced for her grade. The County Inspector slowed down the geography sector of the mechanical teacher to an average ten-year level. He also told Mrs. Jones that Margie's overall progress pattern was satisfactory. 4. What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher? Ans: Tommy’s teacher was taken away for nearly a month because the history sector had blanked out completely. 6. Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why? Margie had regular study schedule . Her mother believed that learning at regular hours helped little girls learn better. Her mechanical teacher was also regular except on Saturday and Sunday. 7.How does Tommy describe the old kind of school? Ans: Tommy says that the old schools had a special building for kids to study. They had fun together and learned lessons together in a classroom. 8. How does he describe the old kind of teachers? Ans: He describes that the old teachers were men who went to a special building where they taught and gave homework to students. IV. Answer each of these questions in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words). 1. What are the main features of the mechanical teachers and the schoolrooms that Margie and Tommy have in the story? Ans: Margie and Tommy were taught by mechanical teachers. They had large black screens on which contents in every lesson were displayed and questions were assigned. They had a particular slot in which students kept their homework and test papers. They had to write their answers in a punch code and the mechanical teacher calculated the marks immediately. Their schools were in their homes itself. They learned geography, history and arithmetic. They had regular days and hours for school. Margie's school was right next to her bedroom. The mechanical teacher was on screen at the same time every day except Saturdays and Sundays because her mother said that little girls learned better when they learned at regular hours. 2. Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun? Margie hated school because a mechanical teacher used to teach her every day at a fixed time. Recently, her mother was not happy with the performance in Geography tests and sent for the County Inspector. The County Inspector managed to assemble all the parts of the mechanical teacher and set it right. The part that she hated the most was inserting the homework and test papers in the slot on the mechanical teacher. She did not like the fact that she had to write her answers in a punch code. She thought that the old kind of school must have been fun as she imagined all the kids from the entire neighbourhood came together and had fun together in school premises. She imagined that they would sit together in the classroom and go home together at the end of the day. They would learn the same thing and help one another with the homework. The teachers were also human beings. Thus she came to the conclusion that the old kind of school must have been fun.

A debate is the formal discussion or argument on a particular matter delivered in favour of or against a subject in a disciplined strong, convincing and refuting manner nature of the debate is argumentative. Tips to Remember Choose whether you want to write for or against the motion. Always try to select the side you want to support and have more information on that. Support your argument with strong statements. Give facts in support of your view. Clear agreement or disagreement must be expressed. Value points should be developed into paragraph. You can use polite sarcasm. 8. Begin with "Honourable Chairperson, Judges, teacher, and my dear friends, I stand before you to express my views for / against the motion "TOPIC". Use powerful expressions like: - I'd like to argue ……………. - In my opinion ……………… - I fail to understand …………………. - My I ask? …………………… - I disagree with my opponent …………….. - Refer to your opponent's view/views ……………… Adopt argumentative style. Conclusion - Suggestions and steps for improvement. Marking Scheme : Format- 1 Mark Content-2 Marks Expression-2 Marks SAMPLE DEBATE Q. You are Sheeya/Shyam or Modern Public School, Jaipur. In the modern world, it is often said that "ONLINE SMART CLASSES ARE THE FUTRE OF EDUCATION STYLE". Write a debate either for or against the motion in 150-200 words. Topic: Online Smart Classes Are the Future of Education Style. FOR THE MOTION. Honourable Judges, Respected teachers and dear friends. 1 stand before you to express my views on the topic 'online…………..' and today, I Sheeya of XI class will speak for the motion. If you are so old minded and think that computer will distract children from studies, 1 am really sorry because let me remind you that young generation has gone a long way with computers. When most parents think of learning from computers, socializing websites like facebook appear before their eyes. It is the biggest cyber tragedy there are definitely a large number of sites beyond fist facebook. Unemay, Khan academy, Byju's teaching app, the list of online teaching platforms is endless and ever growing. There are millions of students and teachers who use their websites and apps for their exam preparation. They are mostly free and it is what makes one turn away from traditional paper guides Google has already replaced the word Guru to become the greatest knowledge provide. E learning is also essential because we cut trees to make papers and books. So this is a bitter solution. Rather than living the life of a consumer let’s be contribution Let’s by E-books. Instead of collecting books, let’s convert our phones and computers into virtual libraries and learn. Thank you. Against the motion Honourable Judges, Respected teachers and my dear friends. My topic for the day is "online classes are the future of education sytel' and I choose to speak against the motion. Online learning or e-learning fefers to learning conducted via electronic media, typically on the internet. There is no face-to-face interaction between the teacher and the student. It decreases the scope of adjusting and modifying the language according to the demand of the audience. There is lack of proper guidance and self assessment mechanism. It would also reduce employment among teachers since it involves only brain work and not physical work, they tend to get lethargic. It also leads to lack of discipline. There is no proper schedule. Excellent interactions are involved in physical learning. People tend to make friends who support them and montors who guide them. Thus, no matter how fast technological why of learning should not be displaced. I hope all of you will agree with my views. Thank you and have a nice day. PRACTICE EXERCISES Q1. You are Shivam/Shivani of XI class. Write a debate either for or against the motion "Homes for the aged is a necessity in India". Q2. "Brain dreain is not a bone for a developing country like India'. Write a debate in 150-200 words either for or against the motion. You are Kirit/Krati of XI class. Q3. You are Ashish/Ashna of DAV Public School, Rohtak. You have observed that tuition centres are musbrooming at a high rate these days. Write a debate in favour or against the topic 'Tution or coaching centre are a necessity for students'. Q4. 'Students should be allowed to take mobile phones to school'. Write a debate in 150-200 words either for or against the motion. You are Ambika/Druv of XI class. You can Study Poster writing here Credits: DIRECTORATE OF EDUCATION Govt. of NCT, Delhi