I Puc - Notes 2023 - Edited Final Sept 23-1

An Approach
To
REFLECTIONS & ARTICULATION
I PUC – ENGLISH
Study Material
Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala

Yadavagiri Mysuru -570020
Compiled and Prepared by: Arun K Kuthnikar
Compiled & Prepared by: Arun K Kuthnikar, Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala, Mysuru. 1
CONTENTS
Reflections
Sl.No Page No.
1 The Gentlemen of the Jungle Jomo Kenyatta 3
2 The School Boy William Blake 9
3 Around a Medicinal Creeper Poornachandra Tejaswi 12
4 Oru Manushyan Vaikom Muhammad Basheer 18
5 Money Madness D H Lawrence 24
6 Babar Ali Samarpita Mukherjee Sharma 27
7 If I Was a Tree Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy 33
8 Watchman of the Lake R K Narayan 36
9 The Farmer’s Wife Volga (P Lalita Kumari) 44
10 Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass 47
11 An Old Woman Arun Kolatkar 50
12 The Gentlemen of Verona A J Cronin 52
13 Do Not Ask 0f Me, My Love Faiz Ahmad Faiz 61
Articulation
1 Articles and Prepositions 65
2 Suitable form of the Verbs 68
3 Subject – Verb Agreement 71
4 Question Tags 73
5 Correction of Segments 75
6 Framing questions (Wh questions and using‘Do’) 78
7 Homophones 85
8 Rearrange the Segments 87
9 Right Form of the Word 89
10 Punctuation 92
11 Reference Skills 94
9 Activities: (Dialogue Writing) 97
10 Letter Writing: (FORMAL) 100
11 Passage Writing 102
12 Language Functions 103
13 Model Question Paper 105
14 Question Paper - Scheme 110
1. The Gentlemen of the Jungle
- Jomo Kenyatta
I. Answer the following questions by choosing the right option.

1. Once upon a time an elephant made a friendship with _______.
a) a lion b) an alligator
c) a rhinoceros d) a man
2. The elephant went to his friend, who had a little hut at ______.
a) the edge of a lake b) the edge of the forest
c) the edge of a village d) the edge of a river
3. The Elephant asked, “Will you please let me _______inside your hut?”
a) put my trunk b) put my tusks
c) put my body d) put my legs
4. The Elephant wanted to put its trunk inside the man’s hut to keep it out
_______.
a) of that torrential rain b) of that terrible wind
c) of that heavy snowfall d) of that extreme heat
5. The elephant thanked his friend, saying that it shall return_____.

a) man’s generosity b) man’s kindness
c) lion’s help d) alligator’s friendship
6. As soon as the elephant put his trunk inside the hut, slowly he pushed his
head inside, and ______.
a) flung the man out in the snowfall b) had lunch with the man
c) embraced the man for his kindness d) flung the man out in the rain
7. The Elephant said that it cannot afford to remain in the rain while it was
protecting its delicate skin from ______.
a) other animals b) the hailstorm
c) the sun d) the man
8. The lion roared, “I am the King of the Jungle! How dare anyone ________
my kingdom?”
a) fight in b) kill the man
c) have fun d) disturb the peace of
9.” The lion, wanted to have ________ in its kingdom.
a) “dance and fun” b) “calm and serenity”
c) “peace and tranquility” d) “love and friendship”
10. The lion commanded its ministers to appoint _____ to go thoroughly into
the matter.
a) a CBI Enquiry b) a judge
c) an Imperial Commissioner d) a Commission of Enquiry
11. The man innocently waited for his opportunity, in the belief that_____.
a) the elephant would be punished b) he would leave the forest
c) the hut would be returned to him d) he would be given a new hut
12. The chairman of the Commission of Enquiry was ___________.

a) Mr. Buffalo b) Mr. Rhinoceros
c) Mr. Fox d) Mr. Leopard
13. ______ was appointed as Secretary to the Commission.

a) Mr. Buffalo b) Mr. Rhinoceros
c) Mr. Fox d) Mr. Leopard
14. No one from man’s side was well enough educated to understand the
______.
a) complexity of the kingdom b) image of the forest
c) intricacy of jungle law d) intricacy of the animals
15. The members of the Commission were all men of repute for their
_______.
a) impartiality in justice b) sound values
c) cruelty d) perfect knowledge
16. The members of the Commission were all men of repute for their
impartiality in justice, and as they were gentlemen chosen ______.
a) by the lion b) by God
c) by animals d) by man
17. The elephant said that the man invited it to save his hut from being
blown away by ______.
a) heavy wind b) heavy rainfall
c) a thunderstorm d) a hurricane
18. The judgment given by the Commission pointed out that the elephant
________.
a) will vacate the hut b) will occupy the hut
c) will find a new site d) will apologize to man
19. No sooner had he built another hut than ______charged in and ordered
the man to quit.
a) Mr. Leopard b) Mr. Hyena
c) Mr. Buffalo d) Mr. Rhinoceros
20. The animals began disputing about their rights of penetration, and from
disputing they came to fighting, and while they were all embroiled
together the man _______.
a) set the hut on fire b) danced with joy
c) left the place d) found a new site
21. The man went home saying: “______is costly, but it’s worth the
expense,” and lived happily ever after.
a) justice b) peace
c) happiness d) war
22. According to the elephant, the man can afford to remain in the rain
because ________.
a) the skin of the man is harder than his
b) the skin of the elephant is delicate
c) the skin of the elephant is harder than that of the man
d) the skin of the man is softer than that of elephant
23. According to the elephant, the man had invited him into the hut _____.
a) to save his skin
b) to give shelter to his trunk
c) to save the hut from the hurricane
d) to fill the empty space in the hut
ANSWERS:
1. d) a man
2. b) the edge of the forest
3. a) put my trunk
4. a) of that torrential rain
5. b) man’s kindness
6. d) flung the man out in the rain
7. b) the hailstorm
8. d) disturb the peace of
9. c) “peace and tranquility”
10.d) a Commission of Enquiry
11.c) the hut would be returned to him
12.c) Mr. Fox
13.d) Mr. Leopard
14.c) intricacy of jungle law
15.a) impartiality in justice
16.b) by God
17.d) a hurricane
18.b) will occupy the hut
19.d) Mr. Rhinoceros
20.a) set the hut on fire
21.b) peace
22. a) the skin of the man is harder than his
23. c) to save the hut from the hurricane
II. Answer the following in a paragraph in about 80 - 100 words:

1. How did the elephant sneak into the man’s hut? Why was the Commission
of Enquiry appointed by the king of the jungle?
Ans: The elephant was allowed to put his trunk inside the man’s hut. Then, he
slowly pushed his head inside and finally flung the man out in the rain and lay
down comfortably inside his friend’s hut.
No sooner did the man oblige the elephant’s favour than he thanked his
friend saying that his friend (man) had done him a good deed and one day he
would return his kindness.
The man was unhappy and complained to the Commission of Enquiry
regarding the loss of his hut. The lion, the king of jungle appointed a
commission of enquiry to have “peace and tranquility” in his kingdom. He told
the man that his friend, the elephant was one of his honourable ministers and
both of them would be given plenty of opportunity to state the case. The man
was very pleased by those sweet words of the lion. The man waited for his
opportunity innocently in the belief that the hut would be returned to him
naturally.
2. How did the lion decide to solve the problem?
Ans: The man started to grumble because the elephant had occupied his hut. All
other animals from the nearby forest stood around listening to the heated
argument between the man and his friend, the elephant. The lion was the
king of the Jungle and told that he commanded his ministers to appoint a
Commission of Enquiry as he wanted peace and tranquility in his kingdom.
The lion also told the man not to grumble anymore and his hut was not lost to
him. He should wait till the sitting of his imperial commission and its findings
and the man innocently waited for his opportunity in the belief of getting
back the hut.
3. How did the elephant justify its act of occupying the hut? Why did the
animals decide not to have anyone from the man’s side on the commission
of enquiry?
Ans: The elephant justified its act of occupying the hut by saying that the man had
invited him into the hut to save the hut from the hurricane. As the hurricane
had gained access owing to the unoccupied space in the hut, the elephant
occupied the hut in the interest of the man considering it as a duty of anyone
performed with equal readiness.
The animals decided not to have anyone from the man’s side on the
commission of enquiry because no one from his side was well enough
educated to understand the intricacy of jungle law. Further, the members of
the commission were all men of repute for their impartiality in justice. They
were gentlemen chosen by God to look after the intercept of race loss
adequately endowed with teeth and claws.
4. Do you think the verdict by the commisison of enquiry was on the expected
lines? Why?
Ans: Yes, the verdict by the commission of Enquiry was on the expected lines. The
elephant was one of the honourable ministers in the Lion’s cabinet. The lion
commanded the elephant to appoint the commission of Enquiry where the
elders of the jungle were to sit in that commission. The Rt. Hon. Fax was the
Chairman. Mr. Leopard was to act as he secretary and Mr. Rhinoceros, Mr.
Buffalo, Mr. Alligator were to act as members of the commission. But no one
from man’s side was well enough educated to understand the intricacy of
jungle law. Moreover, the members of the commission were all men of
repute for their impartiality in justice. They were gentlemen chosen by god to
look after the interest of race less adequately endowed with teeth and claws.
The Gentlemen of the Jungle: Jomo Kenyatta
Once an elephant made friendship with a man. During a thunderstorm, the

elephant requested the man to lend some space for his trunk in his hut. The
man considered his request and allowed him to put his trunk inside.
But the unsympathetic elephant pushed the man out and occupied the
whole hut for itself. When the man complained, the king of jungle ordered a
commission to look into the matter. He promised the man that he would get
a chance to state his opinion. He promised 'Peace and Tranquility' in his
kingdom. Mr. Elephant was allowed to be a part of the Commission. No
opportunity was provided to the man to state his case. The Commission gave
its verdict that Mr. Elephant would continue to occupy the hut. The man
could build a new hut wherever he wished.
The man built a new house for himself. No sooner had he built a new house
than Mr. Rhinocerous occupied the man pushing him out. A Commission was
once again formed. The Commission gave the verdict in favour of the
Rhinocerous. This continued till Mr. Alligator, Mr. Leopard and many others
snatched the hut from the man.
The man lost his patience. He decided to build a new large hut at a distance.
As soon as he built the hut, the animals began disputing and started to fight
for the rights of the hut. The man seized the opportunity and set the hut on
fire and killed all the animals. Thus, he lived happily ever after.
***
2. The School Boy
- William Blake
I. Answer the following in a word, a phrase or a sentence:

1. The poet loves to rise _______.
a) in a winter morning b) on a Monday morning
c) in sighing and dismay d) in a summer morn
2. The poet loves to rise in a summer morn ________.

a) when there is a holiday b) in sighing and dismay
c) under a cruel eye outworn d) when the birds sing on every tree
3. The distant huntsman_______ his horn.

a) plays b) winds
c) finds d) drives
4. The distant huntsman winds his horn, and ______sings with him.
a) the bird b) the skylark
c) the teacher d) the child
5. Going to school on a summer morn ________.

a) is a pleasant experience b) makes the birds sing on every tree
c) drives all joy away d) is like sitting in a cage
6. The little ones spend the day _______.

a) in sighing and dismay b) watching the birds sing on every tree
c) in joy d) watching the distant huntsman wind his horn
7. ‘Under a cruel eye outworn’ refers to _______.

a) a skylark b) the distant huntsman
c) the parents d) authoritarian ways of teaching
8. ‘sweet company’ refers to _____.

a) skylark
b) huntsman’s horn
c) bird’s song
d) all the above three
9. According to Blake, the bird that is born for joy cannot _______.
a) sit in learning’s bower b) sit in a cage and sing
c) sit in sighing and dismay. d) drive all his joy away
10. The phrase which does not refer to formal schooling from the following is
______.
a) buds are nipped b) fruits are gathered
c) plants are stripped d) blossoms are blown away
11. How shall the summer arise in joy,

Or the summer’s fruits appear? Blake questions ______.
a) the society b) the teachers
c) his parents d) himself
12. “Nor in my book can I take delight,

Nor sit in learning’s bower,” The phrase learning’s bower suggests _____.
a) restlessness of the boy b) authoritarian ways of teaching
c) metaphor for school d) feeling of fear and discouragement
ANSWERS:
1. d) in a summer morn
2. d) when the birds sing on every tree
3. b) winds
4. b) the skylark
5. c) drives all joy away
6. a) in sighing and dismay
7. d) authoritarian ways of teaching
8. d) all the above three
9. b) sit in a cage and sing
10. b) fruits are gathered
11. c) his parents
12. c) metaphor for school
1. Describe the boy’s experience in the school.

Ans: In a summer morn, the school boy loves to rise and listen to songs of the
birds, the blow of huntsman’s horn and the song of the skylark. But going to
school on a summer morn drives his joy away.
School drives all joy away under authoritarian ways of teaching. Little
children spend the day in sighing and dismay. Formal schooling is not natural
and spontaneous for a child. The boy at times sits with no strength or
firmness losing his youthful enthusiasm. He is restless and finds no delight in
his book nor in the school. It destroys the joyful innocence of youth. Formal
education makes a child to droop his tender wing and forget his youthful
spring. It is impossible to endure the drudgery of the class room. The boy
does not want to sit in a cage and sing.
III. Answer the following in about 200 words:
1. Formal schooling not only takes away the joy of childhood but also hinders
the child’s growth forever. Explain.
Ans: In this poem ‘The School Boy’ the poet talks about a child that wakes up in the
morning and is deprived of his happiness. The child has to go to school on a
summer morn. But the school drives his joy away. So, the child wants to
listen to distant huntsmen blowing horn and to the birds’ song who sing
along with him instead of going to the school. He then complains at the
constraints of formal education and classroom where pupils suffer under the
cruel oversight of their teacher. The children spend the day in sighing and
dismay losing youthful enthusiasm. The school going children are
restlessness and find no delight in their books. They do not want to sit in
school as it destroys the joyful innocence of youth. It becomes impossible for
the children to tolerate or endure the drudgery of the class-room. School is
considered as a cage where the children cannot enjoy the natural pleasures
of life. The phrases – buds are nipped, blossoms are blown away, the tender
plants are stripped show how the formal education curbs a learner’s
potential. Besides, formal schooling makes a child to droop his tender wing
and forget his youthful spring. The oppressive nature of education indicated
by ‘the cruel eye’ prevents the child realizing his in born tendency to learn
with joy and thus hinders the child’s growth forever.
2. Do you think the poet is arguing against education? Discuss.

Ans: The poem “The School Boy” describes about the school boy’s attitude being
trapped inside a school rather than being allowed to move freely along the
country side on a fine summer day. Poet William Blake suggests that the
educational system of his day destroyed the joyful innocence of youth. Blake
himself was largely self-educated and did not endure the drudgery of the
classroom as a child. The poet feels, that formal schooling hinders the
imagination of a child. The child is deprived of spontaneous and natural
learning amidst nature. Again, the poet wishes his readers to see the
difference between the freedom of imagination offered by close contact with
nature and the repression of the soul caused by unreasonable demands of a
so-called education.
***
3. Around a Medicinal Creeper

- Poornachandra Tejaswi
1. Around a Medicinal Creeper is the story of ________.
a) Mara and Sannappa b) an unusual medicinal creeper
c) a blind belief d) extracting medicines from plants
2. ________ has to be protected from the sun by putting up a shade over it.
a) A bamboo frame b) A medicinal creeper
c) A coffee seed bed d) A tendril
3. A coffee seed bed has to be protected from ______ by putting up a

shade over it.
a) the sun b) some creepers
c) a bamboo frame d) tendrils
4. When they were erecting a bamboo frame, they sent ______ to get some
creepers from the forest.
a) Mara b) Sanna
c) Masti d) Byra
5. Who scolded, “Hey, why did you pluck this, you fool?”
a) Mara b) Sanna
c) Masti d) Byra
6. “The thief,” Mara said, “now it will be lying here.” “The thief,” refers to -
________.
a) a bamboo frame b) a medicinal creeper
c) a coffee seed bed d) a tendril
7. According to Mara, the medicinal creeper had been cursed by ______.

a) a teacher b) a monk
c) a sage d) Poornachandra Tejaswi
8. According to Mara, the curse of the medicinal creeper is that when someone
needs this plant, they _______.
a) will find it only in a forest b) will have to pray to forest god
c) shall not find it d) will find it everywhere
9. This creeper has small leaves resembling betel leaves and bears fruits like
________.
a) mangoes b) grapes
c) bananas d) guavas
10. This Medicinal plant comes up and flowers very quickly, puts forth
flowers and fruits and dies. It comes up again only in the next _______.
a) summer season b) winter season
c) rainy season d) autumn
11. Mara praised the creeper to the skies saying that every inch of it was
medicinal, but did not tell ______.
a) that it cured boils b) that it cured piles
c) what exactly it cured d) that it cured dengue
12. With his hands thrust through the bamboo cane when he was cutting the
shoot, Mara accidentally _______
a) cut the medicinal creeper b) cut a bunch of grapes
c) killed a rabbit d) cut his hand
13. Mara held his wounded hand carefully so that it would not shake too
much and went to the white man at ______for proper dressing and
treatment.
a) Hulihindalu b) Halebid
c) Huliyaru d) Hulindupet
14. The sharp sickle had apparently cut ______ and it started bleeding
copiously in spurts.
a) a vein b) a bone
c) an artery d) a nerve
15. The white man became angry with Mara because _______.
a) there was heavy bleeding b) the wound could have cut his hand
c) there was no sign of any wound d) the wound was covered with a leaf
16. The Englishman took the leaf that had been kept on the wound and told
Mara to show him the plant from which he had plucked that leaf, he would
give him ______.
a) one hundred rupees b) his entire plantation
c) his house d) his medical degree
17. Once Mara had laid a trap in the forest to catch _______.
a) a barking deer b) rabbits
c) pigs d) snakes
18. Long ago, Mara and a friend of his laid a trap and caught _______.
a) a barking deer b) rabbits
c) pigs d) snakes
19. _______ said, “I believe if you squeeze the juice of these leaves, milk
becomes hard.”
a) Mara b) Sanna
c) Masti d) Appanna
20. Chandru is _________.

a) an environmentalist b) a plant pathologist
c) a white doctor d) a teacher
21. The author and Chandru decided to conduct the experiment and
brought ________
a) a litre of milk b) a litre of curd
c) half a litre of milk d) half a litre of curd
22. The author and Chandru decided to conduct the experiment and
brought a litre of milk. After some time, it had become ________!
a) hard and slippery b) soft and solid
c) firm and rubbery d) soft and rubbery
23. Tejaswi’s erstwhile farmhand Krishna was suffering from _______.

a) hernia b) herpis
c) piles d) appendicitis
24. Tejaswi’s erstwhile farmhand Krishna was working as _______

a) a rickshaw driver b) a taxi driver
c) a truck driver d) an engine driver
25. The doctors in the hospital advised Krishna ________.
a) not to drive rickshaw b) stay at home
c) surgery d) to go to a Malayali sadhu
26. Krishna knew _________.

a) a Tamilian sadhu b) Mara’s family
c) how to drive a truck d) a Malayali sadhu
27. When Krishna had started developing boils all over his body the godman
had given Krishna the bark of some tree, which he was supposed to crush
and mix with ______ eggs and eat.
a) hen’s b) duck’s
c) pigeon’s d) parrot’s
28. The full course of treatment for treatment of boils was ______.
a) five days b) fifteen days
c) eight days d) ten days
29. When Krishna suffered from piles, he had to search for this plant, dig out
the tuberous root, mix it with milk and drink the medicine for _______.
a) five days b) fifteen days
c) eight days d) ten days
30. One of the problems is that these native doctors believe that if they told
others about their medicines, the medicines would _______.
a) lose their potency b) lose their value
c) gain their value d) lose its effect
Answers:
1. b) an unusual medicinal creeper
2. c) A coffee seed bed
3. a) the sun
4. b) Sanna
5. a) Mara
6. b) a medicinal creeper
7. c) a sage
8. c) shall not find it
9. b) grapes
10.c) rainy season
11.c) what exactly it cured
12.d) cut his hand
13.a) Hulihindalu
14.c) an artery
15.c) there was no sign of any wound
16. b) his entire plantation
17. b) rabbits
18. a) a barking deer
19. d) Appanna
20. b) a plant pathologist
21. a) a litre of milk
22. c) firm and rubbery
23. c) piles
24. a) a rickshaw driver
25. c) surgery
26. d) a Malayali sadhu
27. b) duck’s
28. d) ten days
29. a) five days
30. a) their potency

1. Why had Mara lost his teeth on the right side?
Ans: Once Mara went to the forest to catch the rabbits. He laid a trap. He didn’t
want someone to take away his catch. Hence, he was there early in the
morning. But the trap was empty and no rabbit had walked into it. He
wanted to get fresh before trekking back home. He broke a small stick from a
nearby plant and brushed his teeth three or four times. Before he could try
another stick, he wanted to rinse his mouth. He felt sour and rinsed his
mouth. Surprise! the teeth touched by that stick had all fallen. Thus, he lost
his teeth on the right side.
2. How long did it take the narrator to learn the facts about the medicinal
creeper? What does it signify?
Ans: The narrator had an opportunity to wander in the forests with Masti, Byra,
Appanna, Mara and others. He learnt a few things about the plants and herbs
from them. He learnt about some plants and herbs and their unique
properties. It took the narrator almost twenty years to learn the facts about
the medicinal creeper. One has to go beyond many stories about the
medicinal creepers and learn some facts about them as they are unusual. The
native doctors believed that if they told others about their medicines, the
medicines would lose their potency. He learnt that the people who were
aware of the belief in the native doctors have made India’s native medicinal
systems to the verge of extinction.
3. How was Krishna cured of his illness?

Ans: Krishna was pretty healthy earlier but then he was pale and breathless. He
had stopped working in the estate and started driving a rickshaw. The change
of job caused illness. He started passing blood with his stools; he was
suffering from piles. As he could not manage expensive surgical treatment
Krishna went to a Malayali sadhu. He told Krishna to get the root of some
tree or plant and grind it and should drink it with milk. To his astonishment,
Krishna was completely cured in five days. Earlier also the same god man had
treated Krishna when he started developing boils all over his body. The god
man had given Krishna the bark of some tree and asked him to crush it, mix it
with duck’s eggs and eat for ten days. Surprise; he never got a boil again!

1. Do you think the author is suggesting that Indian herbal medicine is better /
safer than allopathic medicine? Support your view.
Ans: Yes, the author is suggesting that Indian herbal medicine is better / safer than
allopathic medicine. The narrator wandered in the forest with Masti, Byra,
Appanna, Mara and others. He learnt or collected information or knowledge
slowly and patiently and perhaps indirectly about many things. He gleaned
many things. He had learnt about some plants and herbs and their unique
properties. His doctor friends became annoyed when he started discussion
about these plants and herbs and called him ignoramus and even squabbled
with him. When Mara cut his hand accidentally, someone brought a leaf from
one of the plants and pressed it against the wound and bandaged it. The
wound was healed up. Krishna, a farm hand was cured of boils and piles just
with the help of herbal plant, egg and milk. One of the problems is about the
native doctors. They believe that if they told others about their medicines,
the medicines would lose their potency. Because of this belief, India’s native
medicinal systems are on the verge of extinction. Hidden knowledge about
medicinal creepers has made the modern man to lose the knowledge of
traditional medicine. If the forests, medicinal plants and herbs are conserved,
Ayurveda will make a comeback in a successful way. “Our natural resources
are vital resources”.
***
4. Oru Manushyan
- Vaikom Muhammad Basheer

1. Vaikom Muhammad Basheer points out, “You find yourself caught in a
dangerous situation. _____ rescues you.”
a) A total stranger b) A true friend
c) A neighbour d) An enemy
2. According to Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, the world has _______.

a) more good than evil b) enemies than friends
c) more friends than enemies d) more evil than good
3. Vaikom Muhammad Basheer lived in quite a big city in the valley of a

mountain, ___________ from home.
a) some two thousand two hundred miles
b) some thousand five hundred miles
c) some thousand two hundred miles
d) some five hundred miles
4. The inhabitants of the place where Vaikom lived had never been known
for _________.
a) the quality of compassion b) their creativity
c) their generosity d) the quality of mercy
5. By tradition, the people in the valley were professional _______.

a) teachers b) carpenters
c) soldiers d) scientists
6. ______ was highly valued by the people in the valley.

a) Self-respect b) Tradition
c) Money d) Culture
7. For money, the people in the valley would do anything, even commit ____.
a) robbery b) murder
c) pick-pocketing d) atrocities
8. Vaikom carried on a profession there; teaching English to some _____.

a) children b) teachers
c) house wives d) migrant labourers
9. Vaikom carried on a profession there; teaching English to some migrant
labourers from nine-thirty till _____.
a) eleven thirty in the night b) eleven in the morning
c) eleven thirty in the morning d) eleven in the night
10. Learning to _______ in English was considered great education there.

a) write an address b) write a letter
c) write an application d) write a poem
11. They were paid anything between ________for writing an address.

a) one rupee and four annas b) one anna and two annas
c) one rupee and two annas d) one anna and four annas
12. In those days, Vaikom Basheer would sleep all day and wake up at _____.
a) four thirty in the evening b) five thirty in the evening
c) four in the evening d) five in the evening
13. One day, Vaikom Basheer got up at 4 pm, finished his daily chores
and stepped out _______.
a) for a walk in the park b) to teach the migrant labourers
c) for his tea and a meal d) to meet his friend
14. Vaikom Basheer was dressed ______ when he stepped out for his tea and
a meal.
a) in a suit b) in casual wear
c) in a kurta d) in pyjamas
15. Vaikom Basheer had a wallet _______.

a) in his shirt pocket b) in his kurta pocket
c) in his coat pocket d) in his pants pocket
16. Vaikom Basheer had ________ in it – his life’s savings at the time when
he entered the restaurant.
a) four rupees b) fourteen rupees
c) fourteen annas d) fourteen hundred rupees
17. Vaikom Basheer ate a full meal consisting of chapatis and meat curry. The
bill amount was ______.
a) four rupees b) fourteen rupees
c) fourteen annas d) eleven annas
18.The narrator began sweating profusely and almost digested in an instant
all that I had eaten! The reason was: ________.
a) he fell sick b) he did not like the food
c) his wallet was not there d) he had good digestion
19. The owner gave a loud guffaw startling everyone around and cried, ‘This
trick won’t work here! Put the money down and go or else _______.’
a) he would call the police b) he would make him wash dishes
c) he would beat him black and blue d) he would gouge his eyes out
20. The narrator did not see even one kind face. They had the look of ______.
a) hungry lions b) hungry leopards
c) hungry jackals d) hungry wolves
21. The idea of the restaurant keeper seemed to be to strip him, gouge out
his eyes and ________.
a) make him work b) send him out naked
c) have fun at his cost d) make him blind
22. A fair-complexioned man, six foot tall, with a red turban and white
trousers came forward and paid the restaurant keeper ______.
a) eleven annas b) fourteen rupees
c) fourteen annas d) fourteen hundred rupees
23. The name that was given to the fair-complexioned man, six foot tall, with
red turban and white trousers by the person was ______.
a) Gratitude b) Mercy
c) Kind d) Sympathy
24. The fair-complexioned man, six foot tall, with a red turban and the
person who received help walked on until they reached ________.
a) a lake b) the railway station
c) a deserted bridge d) his house
25. The man took out from his various pockets about _______.
a) five wallets b) seven wallets
c) six wallets d) eight wallets
Answers:
1. a) A total stranger
2. d) more evil than good
3. b) some thousand five hundred miles
4. d) the quality of mercy
5. c) soldiers
6. c) Money
7. b) murder
8. d) migrant labourers
9. d) eleven in the night
10.a) write an address
11.d) one anna and four annas
12.c) four in the evening
13.c) for his tea and a meal
14.a) in a suit
15.c) in his coat pocket
16.b) fourteen rupees
17.d) eleven annas
18.c) his wallet was not there
19.d) he would gouge his eyes out
20.d) hungry wolves
21.b) send him out naked
22.a) eleven annas
23.b) mercy
24.c) a deserted bridge
25.a) five wallets
1. Describe the people and the place where the incident take place?
Ans: The narrator had reached quite a big city in the valley of a mountain. It was
some thousand five hundred miles from home. The people there seemed to
have no mercy. They were cruel. Murder, robbery, pick-pocketing were daily
occurrences. By tradition the people were professional soldiers. Some of
them went to distant places and lent out money on interest. Many others
served as watchmen in banks mills and large commercial establishments in
big cities. Learning to write an address in English was considered great
education here. Money was highly valued by them. They’d so anything for
money, even commit murder!
2. What was the routine of the narrator in the city?
Ans: The narrator had reached quite a big city in the valley of a mountain. It was
some thousand five hundred miles from home. The narrator stayed in a very
small, dingy room on a dirty street. He taught English to some migrant
labourers from nine thirty till eleven in the night. He taught them to write
addresses in English and the skill of writing addresses to people to see if he
could save some money. He would sleep all day and wake up at four in the
evening. This was to save the expense of drinking his morning tea or eating
the noon meal.
3. Give an account of the embarrassing experience of the narrator at the

restaurant.
Ans: One day, it was four in the evening. The narrator was dressed in a suit for his
tea and a meal outside. He had fourteen rupees in the wallet in his coat
packet. He entered a crowded, busy restaurant. He ate a full meal consisting
of chapatis and meat curry and drank tea also. The bill was eleven annas. No
sooner did he put his hand in his coat pocket to pay the bill than he began
sweating. The wallet was not there and he was in an embarrassing state. He
told the owner that someone had picked his pocket and taken away the
wallet. But the owner did not believe the narrator and told him that such a
trick would not work. He threatened the narrator telling him that he would
gouge his eyes out if he did not pay the money. The narrator looked at the
people around him and saw not even one kind face. They had the look of
hungry wolves. The restaurant owner asked the narrator to take of his shirt,
shoes, trousers. The narrator thought that the idea of the restaurant owner
seemed to strip him, gauge out his eyes and send him out naked. The narrator
told that he had nothing on underneath and everybody laughed at him. This
was the embarrassing experience of the narrator at the restaurant.
4. Do you think the restaurant keeper was over reacting when the narrator
could not pay the bill? If so, what accounts for his behaviour?
Ans: Yes, I think the restaurant owner was over reacting when the narrator could
not pay the bill. It accounts for his inhuman attitude when he uttered about
gouging the eyes out and making the narrator naked. He told the narrator
that saying someone had picked the pocket and he was unable to pay for
what he had eaten would not work. He demanded him to put the money
down and go or else he would gouge his eyes out. The keeper was very rude
in his behaviour. Besides the people in the restaurant had the look of hungry
wolves and no one was kind. Money was highly valued by them and others.
Hence, he was over reacting.
5. A stranger saved the day for the narrator. How?

Ans: The narrator was in an embarrassing state at the restaurant. He could not pay
the bill of eleven annas. Someone had picked his pocket and had taken the
wallet containing his savings of fourteen rupees. The owner asked him to take
of his shirt, shoes, and trousers. The narrator began to undo one by one the
buttons of his trousers thinking that everything would end to the satisfaction
of all. Then he heard the voice of a fair complexioned man, six feet tall with
red turban and white trousers. He sported a handle-bar moustache and had
blue eyes. He paid the restaurant owner the amount of eleven annas and
asked the narrator to put on his clothes. The narrator felt happy and
expressed his gratitude and told ‘Mercy’ must be his name. The stranger took
the narrator to a deserted bridge and handed him his wallet. Money in the
wallet was intact. They bid good bye to each other. The stranger who pick-
pocketed the narrator’s wallet saved the day for him.
1. Does the story talk about transformation in a person? Discuss.

Ans: Yes, the story ‘Oru Manushyan’ talks about transformation in a person. The
person was a pick pocketer and had picked the wallet from the narrator’s
pocket. Without this knowledge, the narrator entered the restaurant and ate
a full meal and drank tea also. The bill was eleven annas. But he had fourteen
rupees in his wallet. It was his life’s savings earned by teaching English to
some migrant labourers. The restaurant owner was cruel. He threatened the
narrator telling him not to play any trick and try to get exemption from
paying the bill. He also told him if he didn’t pay the bill, he’d gouge his eyes
out and send him out naked. All fifty people in the restaurant were with the
owner to get the satisfaction of making the narrator naked. He was almost
ready to become naked as he began to undo one by one the buttons of his
trousers. There came the man who picked the wallet from the narrator’s
pocket and paid the restaurant owner the bill of eleven annas and avoided
the humiliation to the narrator. He took the narrator near a deserted bridge.
He put the condition to the narrator telling him that if anyone asked him
whether he had seen the thief, he must say that he had not seen anyone.
Then the thief took out five wallets and asked the narrator to trace out his
wallet. When the narrator took his wallet, the thief asked him to open it. His
money was there intact. The narrator got his wallet and left the place. Had
the thief not been prompt or honest or if he was not ‘merciful’ as guessed by
the narrator, then the narrator had to be in an embarrassing situation. All is
well that ends well. Thus, the story talks about transformation in the thief as
he intervened and paid the restaurant bill and saved the narrator from
humiliation.
***
5. Money Madness
- D H Lawrence
1. Money is our madness, our ________.

a) vast collective madness b) vast collective stupidity
c) vast collective achievement d) vast collective celebration
2. The individual carries his own grain of _______around with him.

a) sanity b) insanity
c) sensitivity d) insensitivity
3. D H Lawrence doubts if any man living hands out ______ without a Pang.
a) a dollar b) a ten-pound note
c) a pound note d) a ten dollar
4. D H Lawrence doubts feels there is going to be a real tremor, if a person

hands out a ________.
a) a dollar b) a ten-pound note
c) a pound note d) a ten dollar
5. Money makes us _______.

a) frail b) trail
c) wail d) quail
6. If a person has no money, they will give him _______ so he does not die.
a) a little food b) a little bread
c) little money d) little sympathy
7. If a person has no money, they will give him a little bread so he does not
die, but they will make him ______ with it.
a) feel embarrassed b) feel good
c) drink wine d) eat dirt
8. We must regain our sanity about money before we start _____ one another
about it.
a) disliking b) loving
c) hating d) killing
Answers:
1. a) vast collective madness
2. b) insanity
3. c) a pound note
4. b) a ten-pound note
5. d) quail
6. b) a little bread
7. d) eat dirt
8. d) killing
1. How does money trigger fear in an individual?

Ans: Money triggers fears in an individual. It is the collective money madness that
makes an individual afraid. Money is a madness shared by everyone in the
world. People become friends only if an individual has money, otherwise
nobody cares. The people do not give a pound note with happiness and they
feel tremors within while giving a ten-pound note. If an individual has no
money the people will give him bread to keep him alive and he shall have to
eat dirt with it and face insults.
Society often judges a man by his riches. If an individual has money, another
individual makes friendship with him. But if he doesn’t have money, no one
cares about him. If an individual has no money, the people will give him
bread which will keep him alive. But he shall have to eat dirt (insults) with it.
That means other individuals shout at him asking why he can’t work, etc. It is
madness to place such importance on money. People do not like to share
their money. The larger the amount the more painful it becomes to give it
away.
1. Collective madness about money affects the individuals also. How does the
poem bring this out?
Ans: According to Lawrence, preoccupying to a disturbing extent over money is
insane. Man shrinks back in fear before the god of wealth. Often, society
judges a man by his riches. If he is poor, then society says. ‘Let him eat dirt,
and go cold’. The poet emphasizes that the world has become preoccupied
with money and wealth. Money is a madness shared by everyone in the
world. If the whole world is mad, then every single person carries the
madness around him. The people do not give the pound note with happiness
and if a person thinks to give a ten-pound note he feels tremors within him.
Money makes man afraid. It has got us down to act humbly to obtain favour in
front of it. It is not money we are afraid of but it is the collective money
madness that makes us afraid. If people have money, they tend to make
friendship with them. If an individual does not have money no one cares
about him. If one has no money the people will give him bread. It will keep
him alive but he shall have to eat it with dirt. That means the bread will make
him to live for a day at least but along with it they ridicule him for not earning
enough. This brings him fear within the individual and that fear can turn out
to be a disturbed state of mind.
So, one should save money to avoid insults. But Lawrence strongly feels,
bread, shelter and fire should be free for every person anywhere in the
world. We should gain our sanity before we start killing each other for
money.
2. How does man carry his own grain of insanity with him? Explain.
Ans: Money is numbers and numbers never end. If it takes money to be happy,
one's search for happiness never ends opines D H Lawrence in his poem
'Money Madness'.
The poet says that money is our madness and man carries his own grain of
insanity with him. He doubts if any man hands out a pound note without any
pain and real tremors. If any man hands out a ten-pound note, he would
tremble and crawl before it in strange terror. Money today is such a powerful
force that it controls man totally. It is a good servant, but a bad master. The
poet feels sad that a person's true worth is determined by the amount of
money he possesses. If a man has no money, he is made to eat dirt and
treated like dirt by the society.
The poet appeals man that all of us should have rights and enjoy basic
privileges in the society. He claims that food, shelter and fire should be
provided free to every individual. It is time that we regain our sanity about
money before we start killing each other for the sake of money.
***
6. BABAR ALI
World’s Youngest Headmaster making remarkable changes in India
Samarpita Mukherjee Sharma

1. Babar Ali must be the youngest _______ in the world.
a) student b) teacher
c) headmaster d) scientist
2. Babar Ali became the youngest headmaster in the world at the age of ___.
a) nine b) twenty-one
c) sixteen d) fourteen
3. Babar Ali is the story of a young man from Murshidabad in _______.

a) West Bengal b) Uttar Pradesh
c) Assam d) Arunachal Pradesh
4. Babar Ali takes an auto rickshaw first and later walks five kilometres to the
“Cossimbazar Raj Govinda Sundari Vidyapeeth” where he is a class _____
student.
a) XI b) XII
c) IX d) X
5. Babar Ali takes an auto rickshaw first and later walks ______ to the
“Cossimbazar Raj Govinda Sundari Vidyapeeth” where he is a class XII
student.
a) five kilometres b) four kilometres
c) six kilometres d) three kilometres
6. Babar is the headmaster of a school of _____ students.

a) 950 b) 1200
c) 1100 d) 800
7. In a tiny, dank room behind a desk, sits Babar even _______ knows by name,
and you should too!
a) the Prime Minister of India b) the Queen of Monaco
c) the Queen of England d) the President of India
8. Babar lives in Bhapta neighbourhood of ______ village in West Bengal’s

Murshidabad.
a) Gaganpur b) Gangapur
c) Ganeshpur d) Gurjaripur
9. Babar’s father Nasiruddin is a _______.

a) teacher b) scientist
c) jute seller d) wheat seller
10. _______ said, “Education is man’s true religion”.

a) Babar Ali b) Tulu Rani Hazra
c) Debarita d) Nasiruddin
11. Babar’s little afternoon venture is now registered and recognized by the ___.
a) Uttar Pradesh State Government b) West Bengal State Government
c) Jharkhand State Government d) Assam State Government
12. The children arrive in time for _______ opening bell.

a) Nasiruddin’s b) Babar’s
c) Debarita’s b) Tulu Mashi’s
13. Tulu Rani Hazra is an illiterate fishmonger by morning and a _____ by

afternoon.
a) a crusading educationalist b) a teacher
c) a politician d) a socialist
14. Tulu Rani Hazra has recruited _____ till now to Babar’s school.
a) 120 b) 80
c) 100 d) 90
15. The teaching staff of nine in Babar’s school is made up of ________

volunteers.
a) college students b) police officers
c) senior citizens d) high school student
16. The most educated among Babar’s teachers, Debarita, goes to college in____.
a) Shantipur b) Medinipur
c) Behrampur d) Jangipur
17. On any given day there are close to ______ physically present in Babar’s
front yard.
a) 100 students b) 400 students
c) 300 students d) 350 students
18. Tulu Rani Hazra is ________.

a) a soldier b) an illiterate educationalist
c) a literate educationalist d) a fishmonger
19. Babar Ali gets the children to listen by ________.

a) using the rod b) sparing the rod.
c) making friends with them d) taking advantage of age gap
Answers:
1. c) headmaster
2. c) sixteen
3. a) West Bengal
4. b) XII
5. a) five kilometres
6. d) 800
7. c) the Queen of England
8. b) Gangapur
9. c) jute seller
10. d) Nasiruddin
11. b) West Bengal State Government
12. b) Tulu Mashi’s
13. a) a crusading educationalist
14. b) 80
15. b) high school student
16. c) Behrampur
17. b) 400 students
18. d) a fishmonger
19. b) sparing the rod
1. How is Babar Ali’s routine described by the writer?

Ans: Babar wakes up every morning at 7 and starts his day by doing some
household chores. Then, he takes an auto rickshaw first and afterwards walks
five kilometers to the “Cossimbazar Raj Govinda Sundari Vidyapeeth” where
he is a student of class XII. He is an ideal student. After his school hours, Babar
makes his way to an afternoon school where he is the headmaster of a school
of 800 students. This average boy from a small village actually helps to make
this world a better place. He gives lessons just the way he has heard them
from his teachers. He nurtures and unearths the potential of young minds in
his village.
2. Give a picture of Babar Ali’s school.

Ans: Babar Ali is the headmaster of a school of 800 students. The school is a
dilapidated concrete structure in half torn posters. Inside, in a tiny dark room
behind a desk, sits Babar Ali. Behind the office is a gate that opens to Babar’s
home. This is where rows or poor, underprivileged kids sit under the open,
blue sky and learn what most children in the modern world pay hundreds of
dollars for, for free. Babar Ali gives the children their basic right for education.
Children walk miles to learn, free of cost, the basics and fundamentals of life.
3. Why do you think Babar Ali took the initiative to start his own school?
Ans: Babar Ali went to school and got formal education unlike most children in
Murshidabad. He felt the situation unfair and his will to do something good
enabled him to find a way to achieve his goal of teaching poor students of his
village. His father Nasiruddin Sheikh, a jute seller believed that education is
man’s true religion. He initially supported his son’s venture with his own
income. Babar founded a school in his parents’ backyard in Murshidabad. He
had begun teaching when he was nine mostly as a game with himself as
teacher. His friends had never seen the inside of a school, so they enjoyed
playing students. Babar Ali’s school is tuition free that means it is affordable
for the poor in this economically deprived area. The school helped to
increase literacy rates in the area. In 2002, the game got institutionalized
with a strength of eight students learning arithmetic and enjoying it.
4. What started as a game resulted in a much sought-after school for the
unprivileged.” Explain.
Ans: Babar Ali is an Indian student and teacher from Murshidabad in West Bengal.
He is known to the world as the ‘Youngest head master’. He became
headmaster at the age of 16. He is still a student himself enrolled at the
government run Raj Govinda Sundari Vidyapeeth at Behrampur in West
Bengal studying XII class. He in turn teaches students from 4 pm in a school he
founded in his parent’s back yard in Murshidabad. He had begun teaching at
the age of nine mostly as a game playing school with himself as teacher. His
friends had never seen the inside of a school. So they enjoyed playing
students learning arithmetic. It was in 2002, the game got institutionalized
with the strength of eight students. In October 2009, the school continued to
be run as an outdoor school and had a total of ten subjects. The students are
mostly taught by Babar and Debarita Bhattacharya. The teaching staff of nine
teachers including Babar Ali are students at school or college who volunteer
to teach at the school. There are 800 children in the school starting from four
or five years of age. Babar’s school at Murshidabad is tuition free and he
makes it affordable for the people below par in this economically deprived
area. In fact, the school has been recognized to have helped increase literacy
rates in the area. In Murshidabad there is only school run by Babar and no
other government or private school. It is a school for the unprivileged.
1. According to Nasiruddin ‘Education is man’s true religion’. How does Babar

Ali’s school prove this?
Ans: Babar Ali’s school proves Nasiruddin’s belief ‘education is man’s true religion’.
Babar Ali actually started his school ‘Ananda Siksha Niketan” at the mere age
of nine, which grew out of a game. They used to play school – school with
Babar as teacher. He happens to be a fortunate soul in his village because he
went to school and got formal education. His friends had never seen the
inside of a school. So, they enjoyed playing students and learning arithmetic.
The game got institutionalized with the strength of eight. He runs classes in a
school he founded in his family’s back yard for poor children of his village.
There is no building or establishment for his school. He teaches his students
under the sky where some sit in the mud, others on rickety benches
surrounded by the family chickens’ scratches nearby. Still, the group of
children studies hard in every corner of the yard. Gradually words spread and
the number grew. Now there are 800 in total with ten volunteer teachers
including Babar Ali. He is the youngest head master in the world as he is only
16. He teaches in his school just the way he has heard lessons from his
teachers of Cossimbazar Raj Govinda Sundari Vidyapeeth where he is XII
Standard student. He took the initiative to fulfil the basic right of children i.e.,
education. He took the help of other quarters to provide free tuition besides
supplying uniforms, books, mid-day meals free. His school has been registered
and recognized by the West Bengal State Government. The students of his
school are eligible to be transferred to other local high school. There are some
pure, good, kind souls in Babar Ali’s school who volunteered to perform their
duties of teaching the students and guiding the parents.
2. The increasing strength of Babar Ali’s school reflects the transformation in our
society’s attitude towards education. Substantiate.
Ans: First Babar Ali’s school grew out of a game. The game got institutionalized
with the strength of eight. There has been no government or private schools
in his village. The children were deprived of their basic right that is education
because of poverty of their elders. The school Babar founded in the backyard
of his house for poor children made them to study hard in every corner of the
yard. After nine years down the line, the school has 60 regular attendees and
over 220 students on roll – all and 800 in total with 10 volunteer teachers
teaching grades 1 through 8. Class I and II have over 200 students, Class VIII
has just 20. They study 10 subjects and are mostly taught by Babar and
Debarita Bhattacharya. Text books are supplied free of cost for Class I to V. On
any given day there are close to 400 students physically present in Babar’s
front yard. Babar has helped out hundreds of children to get enlightened; he
has also inspired millions of youth. Babar Ali decided to do something about a
situation he felt was unfair and hence he started his school at the mere age of
nine. His table is a testament to the difference that one person can make his
or her world and transform society’s attitude towards education.
3. How is Babar Ali an inspiration for all of us?

Ans: Babar Ali is one of the most fortunate souls in his village to have got formal
education. Babar Ali was the son of Nasiruddin Sheikh, a jute seller by
profession. He was a school drop-out and understood the significance of
education. He believed that education is man's true religion and sent his son
Babar Ali to Cossimbazar Raj Govinda Vidyapeeth. Babar Ali started his school
"Anand Shiksha Niketan" at the mere age of nine. The school that started out
of a mere game now has strength of 800 deprived students.
Even though children were provided free education by the Government,
they were unable to pay for the uniforms, books and thus dropped out of
school. Babar's school turned out to be a silver lining for such children. The
school got institutionalized with a strength of eight students. It now has over
220 students on roll-call and 800 students in total. Food for students initially
came from his father's farm and help began to come from other quarters.
Babar's own teachers, monks at the local Ramakrishna Mission, sympathetic
IAS officers and local cops helped Babar in his venture. The school is now
recognized by the Government of West Bengal and aid now comes from the
government stock.
Thus, Babar Ali's effort shows how one man could change the world. He is
an inspiration for all of us to come out of our cocoons and help make this
place a better place to live in.
***
7. If I was a Tree
- Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy
1. If Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy was a tree, the bird wouldn’t ask him

before it built its nest ________.
a) what profession he had b) why it allowed the bird
c) what caste he was d) when he would come back
2. When _______ embraced the poet, his shadow wouldn’t feel defiled.
a) skylight b) moonlight
c) daylight d) sunlight
3. The poet’s friendship with the cool breeze and the leaves would be ______.
a) sour b) bitter
c) sweet d) delicious
4. Raindrops wouldn’t turn back taking me for ______.

a) a pig-eater b) a dog-eater
c) an unwanted person d) an outcast
5. When I branch out further from my roots, Mother Earth wouldn’t flee shouting
for ______.
a) shelter b) mercy
c) a bath d) compassion
6. The sacred cow would scrape her body on _______.

a) his roots b) his body
c) his bark d) its leaves
7. The ______ sheltering inside her would touch him.

a) three hundred thousand gods b) thirty hundred thousand gods
c) three thousand gods d) three thousand five hundred gods
8. I might be made pure, or becoming the bier for a sinless body be borne on the
_______ of four good men.
a) head b) shoulders
c) body d) weight
9. The speaker wants to be a tree because ________.

a) trees are not treated as objects of defilement
b) no other creature in nature has the concept of defilement
c) trees are more humane than humans
d) he gets special attention from them
10. The ______ is hacked into pieces of dry wood to burn in the holy fire.
a) mother Earth b) tree
c) sacred cow d) shadow
Answers:
1. c) what caste he was
2. d) sunlight
3. c) sweet
4. b) a dog-eater
5. c) a bath
6. c) his bark
7. a) three hundred thousand gods
8. b) shoulders
9. c) trees are more humane than humans
10. b) tree
1. The poem is a satire on social discrimination. Discuss.
Ans: The poem ‘If I was a tree’ is a satirical poem. The caste system is the concept
of defilement. The very existence of it is the basic problem in our society. The
concept of purification is to imbibe with the ideal of being like that of just as a
human being. If the speaker was a tree, the bird wouldn’t ask him what caste
he is before it builds its nest. His shadow wouldn’t feel dirty when there was
sunlight on him. Instead, his friendship with the cool breeze and the leaves
would be sweet. Raindrops wouldn’t return taking him for a filthy person.
Mother earth wouldn’t run away for purity or to become pure when he
sprouts from his roots. The three hundred thousand gods sheltering inside the
sacred cow would touch him when she itched. The speaker, if he was a tree,
might be made pure when he was hacked into pieces of dry wood and put to
burn in the holy fire. Or he might be made pure by becoming the bier for a
sinless body carried on the shoulders of four good men. The poem is a satire
criticizing man on social discrimination and it ridicules him using the
instruments like irony, sarcasm, invectives, wit and humour.
1. Why is Poet Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy is embarrassed of the practice of

casteism and racial discrimination in the society?
Ans: Poet Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy expresses his frustration about the way the
so-called upper caste people treat the others in the society. He is
embarrassed of the practice of casteism and racial discrimination in the
society.
He feels it is better to be a tree as mother Nature doesn't discriminate in
the name of caste. A bird doesn't ask for permission to build its nest in a tree.
It wouldn't ask the tree what caste it belonged to. When sunlight embraces
him, its shadow would not feel defiled. Its friendship with the cool breeze
and leaves would be sweet. Raindrops would not turn back taking it for a
dog-eater.
The poet feels that Mother Earth would not flee shouting for a bath, when
the tree branches its roots further. The sacred cow would scrape her body on
its bark wherever it itched. The three hundred thousand Gods sheltering
inside her would touch and bless it. When it is hacked into pieces of dry
wood after its death, it is burnt in holy fire and is made pure. It would also
be blessed when it becomes a bier for a sinless body and would be carried by
four good men. He thus expresses that the life of a tree is better than that of
an untouchable in the society. The poet shows as to how Mother Nature
does not discriminate and how a fellow human being discriminates in the
name of caste and colour.
***
8. Watchman of the Lake: R K Narayan
-R K Narayan
1. _______ was getting the road ready before the arrival of the king
a) Mara b) Bhima
c) The village headman d) Veda
2. _______, according to the workers was disturbing their work.

a) Mara b) Bhima
3. The village headman was in a hurry to complete the construction of the

road because _____
a) it was about to rain
b) the king’s minister would come for an inspection
c) the king was likely to pass that way
d) he wanted to impress the people
4. The village headman considered Mara as _______.

a) an educationist b) an orator
c) a great scholar d) a lunatic
5. The village headman was angry with Mara because______________.

a) he wanted to marry his daughter
b) he disturbed the good work
c) he was a friend of Bhima
d) he did not respect him
6. The job of capturing Mara was assigned to _____.

a) Ganga b) Bhima
7. Bhima helped Mara to escape from _______.
a) the temple b) the palace
c) the prison d) the cellar
8. The village headman asked Mara to keep away from the road workers because
______.
a) he was disturbing them by talking about his dream
b) he was destroying the road
c) he was snatching away the implements of the workers
d) he was dancing in front of them
9. The headman did not want the king to know about _____.
a) their village had fools such as Mara
b) Mara was an intelligent man
c) Mara’s stupid ideas
d) Mara being his son-in-law
10. ________ threatened to lock up Mara if he did not go out of sight for two
days.
a) The king b) Bhima
c) The village headman d) The village people
11. According to Bhima, his mother gave him ______ to make him strong.
a) dry fruits b) ayurvedic tonic
c) iron decoction d) gold biscuit
12. Mara managed to draw the attention of the king ______.

a) by dancing in front of him
b) by accusing that he was wrongfully confined
c) by jumping from a tree
d) by narrating his personality
13. ______ had come in Mara’s dream to talk about the tank.
a) His mother b) King’s mother
c) Goddess Veda d) Bhima
14. The command of the Goddess was ______.

a) to build a palace for her b) to build a tank for her
c) to make Mara the watchman d) to kill Mara
15. According to Mara, the water of Veda has flown ______.
a) since the day Hanuman took the Sanjeevini
b) after the command of the Goddess for a tank
c) after it was discovered by Mara
d) after the king decided to build a tank
16. Hanuman found ‘Sanjeevini’ _______.

a) in the tank b) in the temple
c) in king’s palace d) on the crest of the mountain
17. After the king heard Mara’s dream, he commanded _______.

a) the village headman to imprison Mara
b) Mara to accompany him to the capital the next day
c) Mara to build the tank
d) Mara to find Sanjeevini
18. As the watchman of the lake, Mara did not allow _______.
a) anybody to touch water b) the village headman to take water
c) fishing in the lake d) water to other villages
19. The suggestion Mara gave the king to save the kingdom _______.
a) was to imprison Veda
b) was to make it impossible for him to return home
c) was to allow fishing in the lake
d) was to allow water to other villages
20. Mara’s son was _______.

a) Krishna b) Bhima
c) Ganga d) Appanna
21. Mara rushed to the king because he wanted to save _______.

a) his own life b) the king
c) the lake d) the king’s life
22. Mara was trembling at the king’s palace because ______.

a) he was afraid of the king b) he was drenched in the rain
c) he was worried about the lake d) he was worried about king’s life
23. According to Mara, the command of the Goddess about the creatures of
the lake was__________.
a) one can catch fish occasionally
b) only gulls should be caught
c) nothing that flies, swims or walks should ever be killed
d) only the tiger could quench its thirst
24. According to Mara, ______ comes down the mountain to slake its thirst in
the dead of the night.
a) a gull b) a tiger
c) a leopard d) a duck
25. The Goddess considered river Veda as her________.

a) daughter b) own plaything
c) life-blood d) her property
26. ______ was the mood of the Goddess when she appeared in Mara’s
dream for the first time.
a) Protective, motherly, and divine.
b) Fierce, unkind and threatening.
c) Disagreeing, demanding and commanding.
d) Angry, haughty and fierce
ANSWERS:
1. c) The village headman
2. a) Mara
3. c) the king was likely to pass that way
4. d) a lunatic
5. b) He disturbed the good work
6. b) Bhima
7. d) the cellar
8. a) he was disturbing them by talking about his dream
9. a) their village had fools such as Mara
10. c) The village headman
11. c) iron decoction
12. c) by jumping from a tree
13. c) Goddess Veda
14. b) to build a tank for her
15. a) since the day Hanuman took the Sanjeevini
16. d) on the crest of the mountain
17. b) Mara to accompany him to the capital the next day
18. c) fishing in the lake
19. b) was to make it impossible for him to return home
20. c) Ganga
21. c) the lake
22. c) he was worried about the lake
23. c) nothing that flies, swims or walks should ever be killed
24. b) a tiger
25. b) own plaything
26. a. Protective, motherly, and divine.
1. What was the significance of Mara’s dream?

Ans: Mara saw the Goddess in a vision and he had never seen her before. She
stood before him, (her long hair flying in the wind. There were stars in her
coronet, a ruby as big as the eyes of that elephant sparkled on her forehead
for a red mark. Her garment was of gold woven with lightning). He knew it
was the mother. He fell at her feet and she said that the river Veda which they
saw at the foot of the hill and from which they drink water, was her own play
thing. She carried in her bosom the nectar which revives gods and nourishes
mortals. But when the summer bakes soil, she’d keep Veda sheltered in the
cool glades of the mountain; then they die of drought. They’d get water again
as soon as summer ended. You take what you want and allow the precious
stream to dissipate and perish in the foul marshes for off. It was her
command to tell the king to build a tank and not to let Veda leave the village
and give her a home.’
Significance: Water must be conserved, preserved and utilized properly.
Water is precious and it should not be wasted. Instead, the purpose of it
must be to grow crops and feed animals so that they do not die of drought.
Preservation avoids destruction and provides protection and proper
utilization.
2. What instructions did Mara give his son about the lake and the creatures?
What light do these instructions throw on Mara’s character?
Ans: Mara gave his son the following instructions about the lake and the creatures.
He told his son that he’d be the guard there when he (Mara) was gone. He
should warn the people who would go there for fishing and must avoid killers
whether they go with arrow for the gulls which skim over the water or with
the rod for the fish. The place was sacred and it belonged to the Goddess. Her
command was ‘Nothing that flies or swims or walks in those parts should ever
be killed. Even the tiger that would come down from the mountain at dead of
night to slake its thirst at that distant corner had to go untouched. It was the
command of the Goddess and the king which should be followed. These
instructions of Mara throw light on his concern, devotion, sacrifice, dedication
and duty consciousness towards the village he lived.
3. Bring out the significance of the sacred spot that Mara describes to the king.
Ans: Mara told the king that the land was a sacred spot. Once the great Hanuman
stood there on the day Laxmana had been wounded in the battle field at
Lanka and lay in a deadly faint. Guided by omens Hanuman came there and
went up the mountain and found Sanjeevini on its crest. He flew to Lanka with
it and at its breath Yama’s messengers fled and Laxmana rose to his feet with
a new life. Mara also told the king that there arose a stream called Veda
where Sanjeevini grew whose water happened to be the very life-blood of
people of surrounding villages. Mara brought to the notice of the king that
Veda took her birth in the fleeting mists of the mountain top and flew through
flowers and forests and then would reach the village.
4. How did Mara react to the Goddess when she appeared before him:
(a) the first time (b) the second time?
Ans: The Goddess appeared before Mara for the first time. He reacted as if he was
her polite devotee. A look at her made him to know that it was the Mother.
He fell at her feet. He had the grace of gods upon him. The goddess ordered
Mara to go and tell the king that he should build a tank for Veda whose water
would be the life blood of people. When the Goddess appeared for the
second time and stood before him, he fell down and prayed. He requested
her to save him and asked her what was going to happen. The mother
Goddess told him that she was going to kick away the miserable stones. Mara
humbly told that it was put up at her command. But the Mother said that
Veda was her plaything and it was her wish to destroy it. But Mara pleaded
with her and pointed out to her the vastness of the lake and the whole of it
has been kept back by a bank. The objection of the Goddess was why they
made much of it. He told her that there would be a heavy damage if the bank
was removed. He fell on the wet ground, prostrated before her and begged to
grant him run to the capital and inform the king and return. He requested her
‘Till then stay your hand’. When she’d see him there again, she might carry
out the devastation. The Goddess granted his request and told him that she’d
wait until he had told the king and returned. But Mara decided not to return
to the Goddess and save the tank; that was his sacrifice.
1. Was the head man justified in calling Mara a lunatic? Give reasons.
Ans: ‘……………and I am Mara the mad.’ This is how Mara convinces the king about
the dream he had on the Goddess and her order. Even the headman asked
one of the workmen, ‘Ah! Mara, what about him? Is that lunatic anywhere
here?’ The head man was of the opinion that Mara was going to the work
spot to disturb the men at work. But Mara told him that he was not disturbing
them and he was there on his own work. Then the headman told him to talk
of his work and said, ‘Fool! You are a lunatic, know it?’ He forced him to
disappear from the spot and keep out of their view the next two days, when
the king passed that way and back. He did not want the king to know that
their village had such fools as Mara. But Mara repeatedly told the headman
that the Goddess of the river had come to him in the dream and said, ‘The
king is coming this way. Tell him about the tank. He will listen’. But the
headman asked Bhima one of the workmen to throw Mara in a cellar till the
king passed and returned the way. But the man had the soul of a baby and
allowed Mara to go. So, he slipped out unseen and climbed the tree till the
king arrived at the Royal passage. Of course, the king gave a patient listening
to Mara and his dream. He told him that he had the grace of gods, his words
were weighty and he would build a tank for Veda. So, the headman was not
justified in calling Mara a lunatic.
2. Nature is both protective and destructive. How does the play bring out this
idea?
Ans: Exactly. Nature is both protective and destructive. The play ‘Watchman of the
Lake’ brings out this idea through the words of Mara. In his dream, the
Goddess told Mara that the river Veda which one could see her at the foot of
the hill and from which people drink water was her very own plaything. The
nectar in its bosom revives gods and nourishes mortals till summer. That
means the river Veda nourishes the cornfields of thousands of king’s subjects.
But in summer the Goddess would keep her pet Veda sheltered in the cool
glades of the mountain and then people die of drought. So, the Goddess
demanded Mara to tell the king to build a tank and not to let Veda to leave
that village and to give her a home a lake. The main intention is the protection
of source as well as the people and the creatures. When the village people
began to mis utilise the tank for their self-progress the Goddess asked ‘Why
do you make much of it?’ This attitude of people made her to become angry
and decided to destroy the tank. It was the sacrifice of the life of Mara which
made the Goddess not to carry out the devastation. This is how the play
brings out the idea Nature is both protective and destructive.
3. How differently did Mara treat the fisherman and the visitor?
Ans: Mara treated the fisherman and the visitor differently. He was very rude to
the fisherman because he had rod and hook in his hand and fish in the
basket. He was very angry against the fisherman and was ready to push him
into the lake. He warned him not to go near the lake for fishing and
instructed his son to be the guard there and recklessly deal with the killers. It
was the command of both the Goddess and the king that ‘nothing that flies
or swims or walks in these parts should ever be killed and even the ferocious
tiger has to go untouched. Mara told the fisherman that he was the master of
that place as he gave the river Veda a home to stay. He told him that the
river should not be polluted by man or beast.
Then Mara saw a visitor and addressed him ‘brother’. He also invited the
visitor to have some food prepared by him and his son. The visitor told Mara
that he went there to ask a favour for him and asked if he would give them
some water to the crops and cattle. Suddenly Mara told him that the water
was there for all the kings subjects to take. He told him that he would go with
him and guide to lay the channels to supply the water.
***
09. The Farmer’s Wife
-Volga (P Lalita Kumari)

1. The farmer’s wife remains a poor sinner before ______.
a) her husband b) the landlords
c) her children d) his creditors
2. Unable to bend his head or stretch out his hand, the farmer ______.
a) left the village b) treated his wife badly
c) committed suicide d) killed the landlord
3. The farmer’s wife is not used to _______.

a) being stretched b) keeping her head bent
c) being sold d) taking care of her children
4. The farmer found release with _______.

a) nectar b) his crop
c) the land lord d) poison
5. The crop that had failed and led to the death of the farmer was ______.
a) jute b) cotton
c) wheat d) jowar
6. The farmer’s wife is confronted after the farmer’s death by ______.

a) her in-laws b) the creditors
c) her children d) his family
7. The farmer committed suicide ______.

a) by jumping into a well b) by drinking poison
c) by eating poison d) by hanging
8. The phrase 'the harvest of my womb' refers to _______.

a) the cotton crop b) her husband
c) the creditors d) her children
9. The farmer’s wife wants to teach her children ______.

a) how to commit suicide b) the importance of education
c) agricultural skills d) embracing life not death
10. The farmer left behind ________ children.
a) two b) four
c) three d) six
11. The phrase ‘a bent head’ refers to ______.

a) her physical deformity
b) submissive nature of women in general
c) aggressive nature of women in general
d) breaking his wife’s head
12. The poem ends with _____.

a) an assertion
b) a deep sense of failure and despondency
c) a will to survive against all odds
d) the death of her spirit
13. The farmer’s wife in the poem is ______.

a) worried about her future
b) lamenting the death of her husband
c) angry that her husband has left her
d) all of the above
ANSWERS:
1. d) his creditors
2. c) committed suicide
3. c) being sold
4. d) poison
5. b) cotton
6. b) the creditors
7. b) by drinking poison
8. d) her children
9. d) embracing life not death
10. b) four
11. b) submissive nature of women in general
12. c) a will to survive against all odds
13. d. all of the above.
II. Answer the following in about 200 words:
1. How does poet Volga bring the suffering of women through 'The Farmer's
Wife'?
Ans: Poet Volga tries to bring the suffering of women to the forefront which has
been on the back burner. The title of the poem shows that The Farmer’s Wife
has no identity of her own. She happens to be a shadow of her husband.
The poet highlights the plight and difficulties faced by the farming
community. The focus is on the resilience of the woman. She could take the
beatings from her drunken husband. But she is unable to cope with the
sudden demise of her husband. She is helpless and alone in this dangerous
world. She is left alone to cater to the needs of her hapless children. The poet
is glorifying the inner strength of the woman.
The only solace was that she had a man in her life and that made her
approach life in a positive manner. The misery is, he isn’t not man enough. It
also highlights the fact that a woman is mentally much stronger than that of
a man. He betrays the family that is so much dependent on him. He turns out
to be a coward and a traitor. She is shattered. To the farmer, external things
like the crop failure, the debt and the insult that he faced mattered the most.
The fate of his wife and his little children did not mean much to him. But to
his wife, the survival in the world along with her kids is of paramount
importance. The death of her husband makes her die every moment in her
life. She has no choice but to live for her children.
She has the grit and determination in the face of mounting odds. She
embraces life with dignity.
***
10: Frederick Douglass
- Frederick Douglass
1. Frederick Douglass was born in-______, near Hillsborough, and about twelve
miles from Easton, in Talbot County, Maryland.
a) New York b) Washington D C
c) Tuckahoe d) Massachusetts
2. The slaves had no accurate knowledge of their _______.

a) dreams b) rights
c) age d) masters
3. According to Frederick Douglass, sometime during 1835, he was about ______

old.
a) seventeen years b) sixteen years
c) fourteen years d) eighteen years
4. Frederick Douglass’ mother was named _________.

a) Auld b) Hester
c) Betsey Bailey d) Harriet Bailey
5. According to Frederick Douglass, ________ children could tell their ages

accurately.
a) black b) white
c) Mulatto d) Plummer’s
6. The overseer of Captain Anthony was _______.

a) Isaac b) Plummer
c) Anna Murray d) Stewart
7. Frederick Douglass’s mother walked about ______ to meet him.

a) ten kilometres b) twelve miles
c) twelve kilometres d) ten miles
8. Captain Anthony possessed as many as _______.

a) twenty slaves b) forty slaves
c) thirty slaves d) fifty slaves
9. Frederick Douglass’ mother died when he was about _____ old.
a) seven years b) eight years
c) six years d) nine years
10. According to Frederick Douglass “It was a most terrible spectacle.”

a) Plummer being chased by slaves
b) Plummer whipping his aunt Hester
c) Plummer sanctioning a day’s off
d) Plummer whipping him
ANSWERS:
1. c) Tuckahoe
2. c) age
3. a) seventeen years
4. d) Harriet Bailey
5. b) white
6. b) Plummer
7. b) twelve miles
8. c) thirty slaves
9. a) seven years
10. b) Plummer whipping his aunt Hester
I. Answer the following in a paragraph in about 80 - 100 words:
1. Why wasn’t Douglass affected much by his mother’s death?

Ans: Harriet Bailey was Douglass’ mother. She was the daughter of Isaac and
Betsey Bailey. Douglass was separated from his mother soon after his birth
before he knew her as his mother. This was a common practice among slave
owners. Douglass assumed that the custom was intended to break the
natural bond of affection between mother and child. He recalled that he only
had seen his mother on the rare occasions when she could walk twelve miles
after dark to lie next to him at night. Harriet died when Douglass was about
seven.
He was told about her death after wards and he was hardly affected by the
news. He said, “I received the tidings of (my mother’s) death with much the
same emotions I should have probably, felt at the death of a stranger."
2. How does the passage comment on the dreadful experience of slavery?
Ans: The passage is an autobiographical narration of the life of Frederick Douglass,
an American slave.
It unravels the brutal faced slave holders and presents the wretched life of
slaves. The passage comments on the inhuman treatment meted out to
humans in the name of colour - black and white. It comments on the slave
trading which made life unlivable for millions of people. Slaves faced many
hardships. A slave was not allowed to ask about his own birthday. There was
a common practice among the slaves that they separated the child from its
mother soon after it was born. Douglass rarely saw his mother on rare
occasions when she could walk twelve miles after dark to lie next to him at
night. Slave holders impregnate female slaves and made his white wife to
suspect that they were mulatto children. The slave holder's wife often felt
pleased to see the way they were whipped and finally sold to human flesh
mongers. Young Douglass had seen his master Captain Anthony strip Hester
to the waist, tie her and whip her until her blood dripped on the floor. It was
a terrible and dreadful experience of slavery that the slaves suffered from.
Frederick Douglass:
General Summary:
The main theme of Douglass’s Narrative is that slavery dehumanizes men
mentally as well as physically. To make this point, Douglass carefully
documents the psychological violence of slaveholding.
Douglass was born in Talbot County, Maryland, in or around 1818.
Douglass’s mother is Harriet Bailey, daughter of Isaac and Betsey Bailey. She
was hired by Mr Stewart. Douglass is separated from his mother soon after
birth—a common practice among slave owners. Douglass assumes that this
custom is intended to break the natural bond of affection between mother
and child. He recalls that he only saw his mother on the rare occasions when
she could walk twelve miles after dark to lie next to him at night. Harriet dies
when Douglass is about seven. He is not allowed to be present during her
illness, at her death, or burial. He is told about it afterward and is hardly
affected by the news.
Douglass knows only that his father is a white man, though many people
say that his master is his father. Douglass’s first master is Captain Anthony.
The captain’s overseer, Mr. Plummer, is a drunk and a cruel man who carries
a whip and cudgel with him and often uses them on slaves. The Captain
himself is cruel as well. Douglass recalls the Captain frequently whipping
Douglass’s Aunt Hester. Douglass recalls feeling like both a witness to and a
participant in the abuse the first time he ever saw it. He remembers this
moment as his introduction into the hellish world of slavery. Douglass
cannot, even now, describe what he felt while watching Aunt Hester’s
whipping.
The Captain brings Hester home, strips her to the waist, ties her, and whips
her until her blood drips on the floor. Young Douglass is so terrified by the
scene that he hides in a closet, hoping he will not be whipped next. Part of
the pain for Douglass was not simply watching the whipping, but being
unable to stop it.
He was optimistic that he would one day become free and have his own
identity in the society. He thanks God for giving him the necessary strength
to overcome the dark period of his life.
***
11. An Old Woman

-Arun Kolatkar
I. Answer the following in a word, a phrase or a sentence each:
1. In the poem ‘An Old Woman’, ‘You’ refers to______________.

a) the old woman b) any pilgrim whom the old woman meets
c) Khandoba d) Arun Kolatkar
2. The old woman is __________.

a) a beggar woman
b) a person with self-respect
c) a guide appointed by the government
d) a pilgrim
3. the old woman demands ______ for her service.

a) five rupees b) fifty paise
c) fifty rupees d) two paise
4. ‘You want to end the farce.’ Here, “farce” stands for ______.
a) a play that was enacted there b) the speaker
c) the old woman pestering the speaker d) the woman’s knowledge
5. The shrine mentioned in the poem is ______.

a) Khandoba’s shrine b) the horseshoe shrine
c) Banai’s shrine d) Jejuri’s shrine
6. The old woman’s eyes are compared to ______.
a) horse’s shoes b) the temple town
c) bullet holes d) tiger’s trail
7. ‘you are reduced to so much small change in her hand.’

Here, the speaker is suggesting that ______.
a) one is reduced to an insignificant position
b) one feels that one is being cheated
c) one feels a change in one’s personality
d) she is famous
ANSWERS:
1. b) any pilgrim whom the old woman meets
2. b) a person with self-respect
3. b) fifty paise
4. c) the old woman pestering the speaker
5. b) the horseshoe shrine.
6. c) bullet holes
7. a) one is reduced to an insignificant position
1. How is the plight of the old woman depicted in the poem?

Ans: 'An Old Woman' is a pen picture of a beggar woman, who is old and wanders
all alone. Having lost the promises of her past, she is reduced to her present
state. The poem deals with the survival instincts of this woman dwelling in
the hills which are of tourist interest. It has a very seemingly trivial situation.
A simple exchange of few words with an old beggar woman leads to a
growing vision of a tourist with regards to poverty and its grip on the
mankind. The poem narrates a common experience. At every tourist place,
we meet a self-appointed tourist guide like the old woman in the poem. They
need money and at times force us to hand over some money to them. At
times, they even promise to give us some service in return of the money we
give them.
The poem begins with a commonplace experience, but ends in a revelation.
The old woman is not an ordinary woman. She is the representative of the
degradation of humanity. She grabs hold of the sleeve of the narrator and
pesters him to hand over a fifty paise coin.
In return, she intends taking him to the horseshoe shrine. She won’t let him
go and sticks to him like a burr. She has bullet holes for her eyes. When the
narrator looks at her, he is shocked by her pitiable condition. It appears as if
she is going to fall apart.
The poet understands the pitiable condition of the women who are a part
of our society. He feels that he is reduced to so much small change in her
hands. Even when everything falls apart around her, she still remains. She
does not lose her strength and determination to live. She still fights for
existence. She fights for a living and for that 50 paise coin.
2. How does the speaker’s attitude undergo a change in ‘An Old Woman’?
Ans: Jejuri is a temple town in Maharashtra. There is a holy place and a horseshoe
shrine. An old woman insists the speaker to go with her to the nearby shrine.
The speaker is not interested and wants to dismiss her because she is an old
woman and she clings and won’t let go. The man turns about to end their
association and to put the old woman in her place and demands her to leave.
But she looks at him and explains that there is little else left for her to do in
the hills where she abides. That is her means of livelihood and asks, “How can
she live?” The shock the man receives, starts looking at the sky and what
stops him is the sense that her eyes are like bullet – holes. The shocking thing
is his enlightened perception of this woman and her condition to this old land.
He notices the cracks around the eyes of the old woman and the cracks seem
to spread to the landscape around her, to the hills, the temple and even the
sky. But as he watches, he sees that even though the sky may fall and shutter
around her, she is untouched. She is a part of the land, and is as immovable as
it is. The man realises that he has been reduced to nothing more than his
money for he does not have that kind of connection to his land or his
heritage. But the old woman stands strong and unbreakable.
***
12. Two Gentlemen of Verona
- A.J. Cronin
I. Answer the following in a word, a phrase or a sentence each:
1. The author met the two boys ________.
a) on the outskirts of Padua b) on the outskirts of Verona.
c) in Padua d) in Verona
2. The author bought ______ from the two boys.
a) wild strawberries b) fresh apples
c) mangoes d) dried grapes
3. _______ is/are reputed to have lived in Verona.

a) Julius Caesar b) Shylock
c) Mara d) Romeo and Juliet
4. The boys were doing business ______ in the public square.

a) of selling cigarettes b) of polishing shoes
c) of selling wild strawberries d) by attracting customers
5. Nicola was _________ old.

a) thirteen years b) twelve years
c) ten years d) fourteen years
6. The boys were waiting for the last bus from Padua to sell ______.
a) wild strawberries b) their papers
c) cigarettes d) tickets to the Opera
7. The narrator thought that the boys must be saving up to _______.

a) emigrate to Germany b) emigrate to France
c) emigrate to Italy d) emigrate to America
8. The narrator observed that the two boys spent _______

a) very little money on their food and clothing
b) more money on their food and clothing
c) little time to earn money
d) their time doing nothing
9. Every Sunday, the boys made a visit to the country, _______.

a) to Poleta b) to the Alps
c) to Padua d) to Venice
10. Poleta was ______ from Venice.

a) 35 kilometres b) 30 kilometres
c) 40 kilometres d) 25 kilometres
11. Nicola and Jacopo used to visit Poleta every Sunday to go to ______.
a) a hospital b) the opera
c) the tomb of Juliet d) a villa
12. Their father, a widower, was a well-known ______
a) musician in Venice b) dancer at La Scala
c) fruit seller d) singer at La Scala
13. _______ established headquarters in Verona and for three dreadful years
ruled the city with ruthless severity.
a) The French b) The German Elite Guard
c) The Republicans d) The Secret State Police
14. The boys were used to _______ to the forces of liberation and, more
dangerous still, to ferret out information on the movements of the
German troops.
a) carry weapons b) sell fruits
c) polish shoes d) carry messages
15. Their beloved sister was found suffering from_______, contracted during
the miseries of the war.
a) an ulcer in her stomach b) a liver disease
c) tuberculosis of the spine d) cancer
16. The narrator was very much impressed by the boys’ personalities
because______.
a) they were great actors
b) despite their age, they behaved like true gentlemen
c) they were not successful
d) they ferreted messages about German troops
17. In spite of working hard and earning money, the two boys still looked
poor because_________.
a) they were saving money to go to America
b) they had other plans
c) wanted to save money for medical expenses
d) they were scared of getting robbed
18. Nicola was not pleased when Jacopo asked the narrator to drive them to
Poleta as he _______.
a) did not want a stranger to become involved with their plans
b) preferred going to Poleta by train so that he could enjoy the scenery
c) did not want to ask anyone for favours
d) did not want to take help from someone he did not know well
19. The narrator did not follow the boys because _______.
a) he was not invited to join them
b) he was not interested in knowing what the boys were up to
c) he wanted to respect their privacy
d) he was in a hurry to get back to Venice
20. _______ had made the two boys and their sister homeless.
a) Their poverty b) Their unemployment
c) The war d) Lack of courage
21. The villa at Poleta had been changed into _______.

a) a parlour b) a hospital
c) a theatre d) a bank
22. The author did not speak to the boys on their return journey because he
thought _______.
a) the boys would prefer to keep their secret
b) the boys were ashamed of their sister’s condition.
c) they wouldn’t tell him the truth
d) they were worthless
23. The boys work so hard as ______.

a) they were greedy for money
b) they wanted to go to America
c) they wanted to save money for sister’s treatment
d) they wanted to take care of their father
24. The boys are evasive in disclosing their plan to the narrator in the story
because _____.
a) they thought he could never understand their plight
b) they did not want to share their problem with a stranger
c) they did not want to gain anybody’s sympathy
d) they did not trust anybody
ANSWERS:
1. b) on the outskirts of Verona.
2. a) wild strawberries
3. d) Romeo and Juliet
4. b) of polishing shoes
5. a) thirteen years
6. b) their papers
7. d) emigrate to America
8. a) very little money on their food and clothing
9. a) to Poleta
10. b) 30 kilometres
11. a) a hospital
12. d) singer at La Scala
13. b) The German Elite Guard
14. d) carry messages
15. c) tuberculosis of the spine
16. b. despite their age, they behaved like true gentlemen
17. c) wanted to save money for medical expenses
18. (c) did not want to ask anyone for favours
19. c) he wanted to respect their privacy
20. c) The war
21. b) a hospital
22. a) the boys would prefer to keep their secret
23. c) they wanted to save money for sister’s treatment
24. c) they did not want to gain anybody’s sympathy
1. What does the narrator learn from Lucia’s nurse?

Ans: The narrator learns from Lucia’s nurse that the two boys Nicola and Jacopo
are the sons of a well-known singer and widower. Lucia is their only sister.
Their father had been killed in the early part of the war and a bomb had
destroyed their home and these children were left on the streets. They had a
cultured life but due to war they were left alone on road. Lucia was a good
singer but now she suffered from tuberculosis of the spine. The boys worked
hard day and night for the treatment of their sister. Their selfless action,
nobility and devotion touched the heart of the narrator and showed a greater
hope for mankind.
2. What do you understand about the boy’s character from their action and
behaviour?
Ans: One can understand the following things about the boys’ character from their
action and behaviour. The two boys polish boots, sell newspapers. But their
magnanimity of heart and the nobleness of purpose made them ‘gentlemen’.
The hard life chosen by the two young boys could pay for the treatment of
their sister afflicted with tuberculosis. The boys exhibit sincerity and devotion
to the cause and the maturity they display in their actions gives a new hope
for humanity. The boys were simple. They were aged 13 and 12. There was
sense of responsibility though they were very young. They did anything and
were willing to do any job. Their devotion to their work and their dedication
to their sister show humanity and real love and affection. Also, they were
patriotic and proud about their native land. More than everything they did
not want sympathy. They were gentlemen seeking for work and service.
II. Answer the following in about 200 words:

1. Do you think the ending comes to you as a surprise? Why?
Ans: The narrator’s trip was coming to an end. Before leaving he asked the boys if
he could do something for them. Nicola, the elder one refused but the
younger one requested the narrator to drive them next day to Poleta, 30 km
away from Verona. The narrator had already given day off to his driver. As a
last gesture of good will, he volunteered to drive the two boys himself.
The following afternoon, they all left to a tiny village, near a hill. The
narrator was surprised to halt beside a large red-roofed villa. Before he could
question, the boys leapt out and asked the narrator to pick them up from the
same place after an hour. The narrator couldn’t restrain his curiosity. He
went in and was greeted by a nurse, who ushered him inside. Through a glass
partition, the narrator saw that the two boys were seated beside a hospital
bed, with a girl of about 20 years, who appeared to be their sister. The
narrator refused the offer to be ushered inside as he did not wish to intrude
upon reunion of a happy family. On being asked, the nurse told the narrator
that the children’s father had been killed in war and a bomb had destroyed
their house and rendered them homeless. The children kept themselves alive
by building a kind of shelter with rubble of their house. For many years the
Germans ruled the city and the children had to undergo lot of suffering. Their
sister Lucia who wanted to be a singer could not bear the cold and starvation.
She contracted tuberculosis of the spine. The boys brought Lucia there and
every week they brought enough money for her treatment. Despite scarcity
of work after war, the brothers never faltered in their payment. Now Lucia
was showing signs of improvement and the day was not far off when she
would be able to walk and sing.
The narrator was rejoined by the boys and they drove back to the city. The
boys remain tight-lipped and the narrator also decided to remain quiet
because he respected their privacy and secret. The narrator left, filled with
admiration at the courage and relentless efforts of the two young boys who
remained determined despite the setbacks of the war.
2. Appearances are deceptive’. How does the story bring out this idea?
Ans: A J Cronin has very well carved the idea of “selfless help” and explained the
importance of dedication towards relationships in the story. It revolves
around the two boys named Nicola and Jacopo who do numerous things to
earn money only to pay for their sister’s treatment who suffers from
tuberculosis of the spine. The story begins with the narrator driving down the
foothills of the Alps. Here is when he first encounters the two brothers selling
wild strawberries. Even after the driver forbade the narrator to buy the wild
fruits, he bought the biggest basket and drove towards the town. This scene
emphasizes on the first step of growing intimacy between the narrator and
the two boys. Next day, the boys were found shining shoes in the public
square. This amazed the narrator. Here is when they revealed the fact that
they did numerous kinds of things to earn money. Here the narrator is shown
to develop a soft corner for them in his heart. He finds the boys to be
innocent, serious, pleasant and earnest.
The boys are very useful to the narrator. They are very willing to satisfy all
that the narrator required. They were also found selling newspapers by the
narrator one stormy night. One day, when the narrator asked if he could help
them in any way, they said they would be very grateful if they got a lift to the
nearby village Poleta. Although it didn’t come in the narrator’s way he took
them there. The boys got down in a building and asked the author to wait in
a nearby cafe ‘while they would be back within an hour. Eagerness led the
narrator to follow the boys up to a place which was actually a hospital. On
peeping through a room led by a nurse, he realized that the boys were
talking to a girl who resembled them. He didn’t feel like introducing and thus
asked the nurse about them. She told him a heart rendering story, about
their father being killed in a war and their home being destroyed by a bomb
and their sister suffering from tuberculosis, the brothers lived in a shelter and
literally starved only so that they could pay for their sister's treatment.
Keeping all those secrets and helping their sister showed that the war had
not shaken their spirit. They were noble, gentle and great human beings in
their own special yet subtle way. This story distinctly talks about how true
the amplification says ‘All that glitters is not gold’ in turn explaining the fact
that ‘appearances are deceptive’.
3. ‘War may destroy one’s home but not one’s heart’. Discuss the statement
with reference to the story of the two boys.
Ans: Nicolo and Jacopo were the children of a well-known singer and a widower.
They had one sister Lucia. Their father was killed in a war and a bomb
destroyed their house. The children were left to the streets. They starved
horribly. They started to live in a shelter built by themselves. The boys did
different jobs to keep their life going. The visitor made friendship with them
as they had observed the willingness of the two boys to work anything and do
any job. One midnight, the two boys were seen selling newspapers in a
deserted square. Their main motto was to earn money. The narrator was
requested to take them to the country Poleta. The narrator drove them to the
country and the two boys left him in front of a building and requested him to
wait for an hour. But he followed them out of curiosity. He discovered that
the two boys went to meet a girl who was in the hospital. She resembled
them. He came to know from the nurse that the girl Lucia was their sister and
she was there in the hospital for the treatment of tuberculosis in the spine.
She was improving to the extent of walking and singing. The two boys went
there every week to pay the bill. They earned money by doing hard work and
they literally starved and saved money for their sister’s treatment. War may
destroy one’s home but not one’s heart is true, in case of ‘The Two
Gentlemen of Verona’.
4. Do you think the story is a telling comment on the true character of a

gentleman? Elaborate.
Ans: The two gentlemen of Verona were two poor boys. They were truly
gentlemen. They never gave up the spirit of living and never asked for help
and also never accepted the pity of the narrator and others around them.
They had their self-respect in them. They helped the two visitors in every
possible way which we often see the gentlemen doing. While going to Poleta,
they didn’t tell the visitor about their plans. They didn’t want to expose it as
the gentlemen do. They were very helpful to others. They also loved their
sister who was admitted in a hospital. They were very poor but they visited
the hospital every weekend and paid the medical charges from the money
which they earned through various works they did. They were truly the two
gentlemen. Despite scarcity of work after war, the brothers never faltered in
their payment. Now, Lucia, their sister was showing signs of improvement
after getting treatment to tuberculosis in the spine. The day was not far off
when she would be able to walk and sing. The courage and relentless efforts
of the two boys to live together appears to be a telling comment by the
narrator on the true character of a gentleman. Even the narrator did not wish
to intrude upon a happy family reunion in the hospital. He picked them up to
Poleta and dropped at Verona. He was filled with admiration at the courage
and relentless efforts of the two young boys.
Two Gentlemen of Verona: A J Cronin

Summary:
A.J. Cronin has very well carved the idea of 'selfless help ' and explained the
importance of dedication towards relationships in the story Two Gentlemen
of Verona. The story revolves around the two boys named Nicola and Jacopo
who do numerous things to earn money only to pay for their sister’s
treatment who suffers from tuberculosis of the spine.
The story begins with the narrator driving down the foothills of the Alps.
Here is when he first encounters the two brothers selling wild strawberries.
Even after the driver forbade the narrator to buy the wild fruits, he bought
the biggest basket and drove towards the town. This scene emphasises on
the first step of growing intimacy between the narrator and the two boys.
Next day, the boys were found shining shoes in the public square. This
amazed the narrator. Here is when they revealed the fact that they did
numerous kinds of things to earn money.
The boys were very willing to satisfy all that the narrator required. They
were also found selling newspapers by the narrator one stormy night. One
day, when the narrator asked if he could help them in any way, they said
they would be very grateful if they got a lift to the nearby village Poleta.
Although it didn't come in the narrator’s way, he took them there. The boys
got down in a building and asked the author to wait in a nearby café while
they would be back within an hour.
Eagerness led the narrator to follow the boys up to a place which was
actually a hospital. On peeping through a room led by a nurse, he realised
that the boys were talking to a girl who resembled them. He did not feel like
intruding and thus asked the nurse the details about the boys. This is when
the nurse told him their heart-rending story about their father being killed in
a war and home being destroyed in a war and their sister suffering from
tuberculosis. The brothers lived in a shelter and literally starved only so that
they could pay for their sister’s treatment. They kept a secret to themselves
by helping their sister and showed that war had not shaken their spirit. They
were noble and gentle and great human beings in their own special yet
subtle way. This story distinctly talks about how true the amplification says:
“All that glitters is not gold,” in turn explaining the fact that appearances are
deceptive.
***
13. Do not ask of Me, My Love
- Faiz Ahmad Faiz
1. Answer the following in a word, a phrase or a sentence each:
1. The speaker of the poem tells his beloved not to ask ______.
a) him to become a politician b) for worldly pleasures
c) him to come home d) the love he once had for her
2. The speaker’s life was bright when ______.

a) he was a bachelor b) was young and blooming
c) he married his beloved d) he became a politician
3. _______ was much more than any other pain.

a) Her miseries b) Her beauty
c) Her sorrows d) Her attitude
4. The poet’s beloved’s beauty gave the _______ everlasting youth.
a) Winter b) Summer
c) Spring d) Autumn
5. While his beloved was with him, he thought, ________ .

a) of his happiness b) he was in misery
c) the world was his d) he remembered his responsibilities
6. The poet realized that there are other sorrows in the world than love,
and other _____ too.
a) miseries b) comforts
c) pains d) pleasures
7. The speaker says “Do not ask of Me, My Love, that love I once had for you”
because___
a) his beloved is not as beautiful as she was.
b) there are other sorrows around him demanding his attention.
c) he has found a more beautiful lady love.
d) he thought she was strange
8. In the poem, when the speaker says “you are beautiful still, my love, but I
am helpless too” suggests that ______.
a) he has to address the miseries of human beings
b) he is in love with another beautiful lady
c) he is trying to flatter her
d) he has lost interest in her
9. The speaker thought that the world was with him when _______.
a) she went to her mother’s house b) she was with him
c) she allowed to live in peace d) she became a politician
10. ‘That’s the way I imagined it to be’ suggests:

a) the speaker’s concept of love
b) the speaker’s realization of realities
c) the speaker’s view of love was just a wishful thinking
d) the speaker’s attitude
ANSWERS:
1. d) the love he once had for her
2. b) was young and blooming
3. c) Her sorrows
4. c) Spring
5. c) the world was his
6. d) pleasures
7. b) there are other sorrows around him demanding his attention
8. a) he has to address the miseries of human beings
9. b) she was with him
10. b) the speaker’s realization of realities
1. At the end of the poem we feel ‘the speaker does not love his beloved less,
but the suffering humanity more’. Do you agree?
Ans: Of course, the speaker asks his beloved not to ask him his love that once he
had for her. There was a time when all else was useless except their blooming,
brightening youth hood and her beauty that gave the spring everlasting
youth. The speaker thought that the world was his when she was with him.
Now he knew that it was an illusion and he imagined in that way as there are
other sorrows in the world than love and other pleasures. Of course, her
sorrow was much more, than any pain. But he repeatedly asks her not to ask
of his love once he had for her. He had now his responsibilities that he has
toward the society and had started giving more attention to the world of
sorrows and apparel vision of others woven in silk, satin and brocade. They
were the dark and brutal curses of the past centuries wherein he imagined
about the bodies bathed in blood, smeared with dust who were sold in
markets like commodities. Also, there were people suffering from many
diseases with pus dripping from their ill feeling sores. Of course, his beloved is
beautiful still and he is helpless because there are other sorrows in the world
than love. So, he asks her not to ask him of his love that once he had for her.
In the poem, the speaker loves the suffering humanity more than his love to
his beloved. The speaker draws the attention towards the harsh realities of
life than the beauty of his beloved.
2. How does the poet highlight that life is to be fortified by many friendships?
Ans: The poet exchanges the personal love he shares with his beloved. At the
outset, the poet highlights that life is to be fortified by many friendships.
When the poet’s life was at its embryonic stage, his beloved’s beauty was
infatuating, captivating and bewitching. He felt that his beloved’s beauty
gave spring everlasting youth. Her eyes were everything to him. Her beauty
was the world to the poet. His attachment to a particular person or rather his
beloved is no more. He explains why he can no longer cocoon himself inside
romantic love. He is rather an enlightened individual who has become more
responsible towards the problems of the society. He notices the pain and
suffering of the people around him. His heart yearns to embrace the people
at large. It prepares him to come out of his selfishness.
His heart melts when he comes across a section of the society suffering
with bodies bathed in blood and smeared with dust. He openly acknowledges
that he she is still beautiful. But, now, he cannot remain as the same person
who passionately clings to his beloved.
He repeats and urges from his beloved,
“Do not ask of me, my love,
That love I once had for you!”
The poet here transcends the superficial and sensuous beauty. What
evolves within him is the compassionate love towards humanity.
***
Articulation:
Grammar and Composition
1. Articles:
There are two kinds of Articles.
1. Definite Article and
2. Indefinite Article
'The' is the Definite Article.
'a' and 'an’, are the Indefinite Articles.
Indefinite Articles
1. 'A' or 'an' is used before a singular noun mentioned for the first time.
A book, a school, an elephant, an umbrella
a university, an hour, a European, an honest student, a useful book
Note: In case of ‘an’, it is the vowel sound and not the vowel that should
decide. So, we may say: an MLA; not a MLA, a one rupee note; not an one
rupee note.
Articles are not used:
(i) When you refer to nouns in general. E.g.: I like milk but I don’t like fish.
(ii) Before names of languages. E.g.: Kannada is our mother tongue.
(iii) Before abstract nouns used in a general sense. E.g.: We will have freedom or
death.
(iv) Before uncountable nouns. E.g.: Gold is a precious metal.
I. Fill in the blanks with a, an or the:
1. He is ___________ youngest son in the family.

the
2. Anu is looking for _________ job.
a
3. Could you close ___________ door, please?
the
4. Anil is __________ optician.
an
5. Dr. Shankar is ________dentist.
a
6. My friend is _________ M.L.A
an
7. Raju is in _______class.
a
8. Have you ever visited _________ Andaman Islands?
the
9. Please bring ______ kilogram of apples.
a.
10.Babar Ali started his school at ...... mere age of nine.
the
II. Choose the correct option.

1. Do you enjoy listening to _________?
(a) music (b) the music
(a) music
2. My brother speaks _____________
(a) the French (b) French
(b) French
3. I spent my childhood in ____________
(a) Bangalore (b) the Bangalore
(a) Bangalore
4. We are skiing in __________
(a) Alps (b) the Alps
(b) the Alps
5. The sun rises in ___________
(a) the east (b) east
ARTICLES AND PREPOSITIONS
I. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions given in

brackets.
1. Once upon a time an elephant made friendship ___________ a man. One day
___________ heavy thunderstorm broke out; the elephant went to his friend
who had a little hut _________ the edge of _____ forest.
(a, the, with, on, an, at)
2. “My dear good friend, your skin is harder than mine, there is not enough room
_____ both of us, you can afford _________remain in ________ rain while I am
protecting my delicate skin from _______ hailstorm.”
(a, for, by, the, to, in)
3. “My Lord, there is no disturbance of the peace _______ your kingdom. I have
only been having ______ little discussion ________ my friend here as to _____
possession of this little hut.”
(an, with, the, a, in, for)
4. ______ seeing the personnel, ______ man protested and asked if it was not
necessary to include _____ this Commission ______ member from his side.
(in, a, on, an, the)
5. “Gentlemen of ______ jungle, there is no need ______ me to waste your

valuable time_______ relating _______ story which I am sure you all know.”
(in, a, with, of, for, the)
6. “My good man, please confine yourself _______ relevant issues. We have
already heard the circumstances_____ various unbiased sources; all we wish
you to tell us is whether _____ undeveloped space in your hut was
occupied______ anyone else before Mr. Elephant assumed his position?”
(a, from ,by, to, an, the)
7. _____ our opinion this dispute has arisen through _____ regrettable
misunderstanding due to______ backwardness _____ your ideas.
(from, of, in, a, the, an)
8. Early one morning, when_____ huts already occupied _____ the jungle lords
were all beginning to decay and fall to pieces, he went out and built _____
bigger and better hut a little distance away _____ the jungle.
(an, by, a, the, in, from)
9. _______ coffee seed bed has to be protected from _______ sun _______
putting up a shade ________ it.
(the, of, a, an, over, by)
10.This creeper has small leaves resembling betel leaves and bears fruits _____ a
bunch like grapes. Immediately after _____rains, this plant comes up and
flowers very quickly, puts forth flowers and fruits and dies in ____ very short
time. As it is not seen for most of the year it is tied ____ a tree.
(on, in, the, to, a, an)
11.Mara decided to brush his teeth and wash his face ______ trekking back home.
When he broke ______ small stick from a nearby plant to brush a third or
fourth time, he felt a sour taste in _______ mouth. He thought that there was
something wrong ____ the stick and threw it.
(a, with, in, the, for, before)
12. ____ Mara’s house they got ready to cook. They prepared _____ masala
____spices, put the water to boil and opened the packet to take out the meat.
Instead of the meat there was _____ live wild buck.
(a, in, the, an, to, with)
13.It was quite_____ big city in the valley of a mountain, some thousand five
hundred miles ______ home, _____ inhabitants of which had never been
known_____ the quality of mercy.
(the, a, for, from, by, to)
14.The narrator stayed in the city in ____ small dingy room. By tradition _______
people there were professional soldiers. Some ____ them went to distant
places and lent out money ___________ interest.
(of, in, the, to, on, an, a)
15.Babar Ali must be the youngest headmaster in the world. The story of this
young man_____ Murshidabad in West Bengal is _______ remarkable tale
____the desire to learn amid ______ direst poverty.
(in, from, of, a, the, on)
16.Babar lives __________ his three siblings and his parents ___________ a
thatched house which is ___________ size of _________ average city kitchen.
(the, a, an, in, with, for)
17.Clad in widow’s whites, stick ____________ hand, Tulu Rani Hazra is

__________ illiterate fishmonger by morning and ____________ crusading
educationalist ___________ afternoon.
(an, the in, by, on, a)
18.Babar Ali’s tale is a testament to ___________ difference that one person can
make _________ his/her world. In this case it was ___________ mere child who
decided to do something ___________ a situation he felt was unfair.
(about, the, by, a, an, in)
19.On the Eastern base _________ Baba Budan Hills, in Karnataka state, there
is_____ obscure little place now called Sakkerepatna, which ____________ one
time, a thousand or more years ago was ___________ capital of a king called
Rukmangada.
(at, an, a, the, of, in)
20.Verona is ______ lovely city, rich __________ history, with quiet medieval
streets and splendid buildings ________ an exquisite pale honey colour. Romeo
and Juliet are reputed to have lived there. Bombed in ____________ recent
war, it has lost its bridges, but not its gaiety or charm.
(the, a, in, of, from)
II. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions given in
brackets.
ANSWERS
1. with, a, at, the
2. for, to, the, a
3. in, a, with, the
4. on, the, in, a
5. the, for, in, the
6. to, of, an, by
7. in, a, the, of
8. the, in, a, from
9. a, the, by, over
10.in, the, a, to
11.before, a, the, in
12.in, the, with, a
13.a, from, the, for
14.a, the, of, on
15.from, a, of, the
16.with, in, the, of
17.in, an, a, by
18.the, in, a, about
19.of, an, at, the
20.a, in, of, the
Suitable Forms of the Verbs
I. Fill in the blanks with the suitable form of the verbs given in brackets:
1. As soon as the elephant put his trunk inside the hut, slowly he ......... (push) his
head inside, and finally ....... (fling) the man out in the rain, and then ..... (lie)
down comfortably inside his friend's hut.
2. Once upon a time an elephant made a friendship with a man. One day a heavy
thunderstorm ....... (break out), the elephant ..... (go) went to his friend, who
had a little hut at the edge of the forest, and said to him: "My dear good man,
will you please let me ...... (put) my trunk inside your hut to keep it out of this
torrential rain?"
3. After hearing the Rt. Hon. Mr. Elephant's conclusive evidence, the Commission
called Mr. Hyena and other elders of the jungle, who all ......(support) that Mr.
Elephant ....... (has said). They then ....... (call) the man, who began to give his
own account of the dispute.
4. Early one morning, when the huts already ......... (occupy) by the jungle lords
...... (was) all beginning to decay and fall to pieces, he went out and ...... (build)
a bigger and better hut a little distance away.
5. I plucked some leaves from the creeper and ...... (take) them to my friend
Chandru who ....(be) a plant pathologist. I ...... (tell) him what I had heard about
this plant.
Note: ‘Be’ is the helping verb here. In other words, it is also known as auxiliary
verb.
6. He took some money from me and ..... (go) to the hospital. The doctors there
........ (advise) him surgery. Krishna ...... (be) scared.
7. The other day my erstwhile farmhand Krishna came to me. He ..... (be)
perfectly healthy the last time I ....... (have+see) him but now he ..... (be+stand)
before me pale and breathless.
8. It was quite a big city in the valley of a mountain, some thousand five hundred
miles away from home; the inhabitants of which ...... (have) never been known
for the quality of mercy. They (be) a cruel people. Murder, robbery, pick-
pocketing, these ..... (be) daily occurrences.
9. Everyone turned in the direction of the voice. Blue eyes ..... (be) quite common
at this place. He .... (come) forward and asked the restaurant keeper, 'How
much ..... (do) you say it was?'
10.Even though children are provided free education, sending children to school
.... (be) not entirely free of cost. Although the children .....(be) taught for free
they still ....... (have) to pay for uniforms, books etc.
Forms of Verbs: Answers:

I. Fill in the blanks with the suitable form of the verbs given in brackets:
1. As soon as the elephant put his trunk inside the hut, slowly he pushed his head
inside, and finally flung the man out in the rain, and then lay down comfortably
inside his friend's hut.
2. Once upon a time an elephant made a friendship with a man. One day a heavy
thunderstorm broke out, the elephant went to his friend, who had a little hut at
the edge of the forest, and said to him: "My dear good man, will you please let
me put my trunk inside your hut to keep it out of this torrential rain?"
3. After hearing the Rt. Hon. Mr. Elephant's conclusive evidence, the Commission
called Mr. Hyena and other elders of the jungle, who all supported what Mr.
Elephant had said. They then called the man, who began to give his own
account of the dispute.
4. Early one morning, when the huts already occupied by the jungle lords were all
beginning to decay and fall to pieces, he went out and built a bigger and better
hut a little distance away.
5. I plucked some leaves from the creeper and took them to my friend Chandru
who is a plant pathologist. I told him what I had heard about this plant.
Note: Be is the helping verb here. In other words, it is also known as auxiliary
verb.
6. He took some money from me and went to the hospital. The doctors there
advised him surgery. Krishna was scared.
7. The other day my erstwhile farmhand Krishna came to me. He was perfectly
healthy the last time I had seen him but now he was standing before me pale
and breathless.
8. It was quite a big city in the valley of a mountain, some thousand five hundred
miles away from home; the inhabitants of which had never been known for the
quality of mercy. They were a cruel people. Murder, robbery, pick-pocketing,
these were daily occurrences.
9. Everyone turned in the direction of the voice. Blue eyes were quite common at
this place. He came forward and asked the restaurant keeper, 'How much did
you say it was?'
10.Even though children are provided free education, sending children to school is
not entirely free of cost. Although the children are taught for free, they still
have to pay for uniforms, books etc.
Subject – Verb Agreement

Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject:
1. A man has (have/has) a little hut at the edge of the forest. An elephant makes
(makes/make) friendship with him. One day during heavy rain, the elephant
requests (request/requests) him to allow to put his trunk inside the hut.
2. The commission of enquiry ____________(give/gives) judgement in favour of

Mr. Elephant. Then the man____________(builds/build) a new hut. But, Mr.
Rhinoceros____________(occupy/occupies) the new hut and drives the man
away.
3. The man____________(goes/go) on building new huts one by one. Every time

he____________(lose/loses) his hut to one or the other animals. Finally,
he____________(gathers/gather) all the animals in the bigger hut and burns
them to ashes.
4. Mara said, ``the medicinal creeper____________(have/has) been cursed by a

sage. The curse____________(are/is) that when somebody needs it, they shall
not find it. So, when you____________(finds/find) it, you must tie it to a nearby
tree’’.
5. The medicinal creeper____________(has/have) small leaves resembling betel

leaves. It____________(bear/bears) fruits in a bunch like grapes. The
plant____________(comes/come) up only in the rainy season.
6. Now, the forest____________(is/are) disappearing and the people

who____________(know/knows) about the medicinal creeper are leaving us
one by one. One must realize that if one____________(disappears/disappear),
the other becomes useless.
7. The native doctors____________(believes/believe) that if they tell others about

their medicines, the medicines will____________(lose/loses) their potency. As
a result, India`s native medicinal systems____________(are/is) on the verge of
extinction.
8. The narrator____________(stay/stays) in a small, dingy room in the big city.

Some migrant labourers____________ (are/is) also staying there.
He____________(teach/teaches) English to them to earn money.
9. The narrator said, ``I____________(sleeps/sleep) all day and wake up in the

evening. This____________(is/are) to save the expense of eating the noon
meal. So far, I____________(has/have) saved fourteen rupees’’.
10.The narrator____________(get/gets) ready to go to the restaurant.

He____________(puts/put) his wallet in the coat pocket.
He____________(have/has) fourteen rupees in his wallet.
Answers:
1. A man has (have/has) a little hut at the edge of the forest. An elephant makes
(makes/make) friendship with him. One day during heavy rain, the elephant
requests (request/requests) him to allow to put his trunk inside the hut.
2. The commission of enquiry gives (give/gives) judgement in favour of Mr.

Elephant. Then the man builds (builds/build) a new hut. But, Mr. Rhinoceros
occupies (occupy/occupies) the new hut and drives the man away.
3. The man goes (goes/go) on building new huts one by one. Every time, he loses
(lose/loses) his hut to one or the other animals. Finally, he gathers
(gathers/gather) all the animals in the bigger hut and burns them to ashes.
4. Mara said, ``the medicinal creeper has (have/has) been cursed by a sage. The
curse is (are/is) that when somebody needs it, they shall not find it. So, when
you find (finds/find) it, you must tie it to a nearby tree’’.
5. The medicinal creeper has (has/have) small leaves resembling betel leaves. It
bears (bear/bears) fruits in a bunch like grapes. The plant comes (comes/come)
up only in the rainy season.
6. Now, the forest is (is/are) disappearing and the people who know
(know/knows) about the medicinal creeper are leaving us one by one. One
must realize that if one disappears (disappears/disappear), the other becomes
useless.
7. The native doctors believe (believes/believe) that if they tell others about their
medicines, the medicines will lose (lose/loses) their potency. As a result, India`s
native medicinal systems are (are/is) on the verge of extinction.
8. The narrator stays (stay/stays) in a small, dingy room in the big city. Some
migrant labourers are (are/is) also staying there. He teaches (teach/teaches)
English to them to earn money.
9. The narrator said, ``I sleep (sleeps/sleep) all day and wake up in the evening.
This is (is/are) to save the expense of eating the noon meal. So far, I have
(has/have) saved fourteen rupees’’.
10.The narrator gets (get/gets) ready to go to the restaurant. He puts (puts/put)

his wallet in the coat pocket. He has (have/has) fourteen rupees in his wallet.
Question Tags:
Question tags are short questions at the end of statements.
They are mainly used in speech when we want to:
• confirm that something is true or not, or

• to encourage a reply from the person we are speaking to.
Question tags are formed with the auxiliary or modal verb from the statement
and the appropriate subject.
A positive statement is followed by a negative question tag.
• Babar is from Murshidabad, isn't he?

• Mara can speak English, can't he?
• Mara's medicinal creeper was back in the news, wasn't it?
A negative statement is followed by a positive question tag.
• The Elephant wasn't allowed, was it?

• He shouldn't commit mistakes like that, should he?
• Krishna did not come, did he?
When the verb in the main sentence is in the present simple we form the
question tag with do / does.
• If the subject is in III person singular (he, she, it) we use ‘does’.
• They prepare the masala with spices, don't they?
• Mara decides to brush his teeth, doesn't he?
If the verb is in the past simple we use ‘did’.
• Mara did not have any teeth on the right side of his mouth, did he?
• Krishna knew a Malayali sadhu, didn't he?
When the statement contains a word with a negative meaning, the question tag
needs to be positive
• He hardly ever plays, does he?

• They rarely speak in English, do they?
Examples:
1. I plucked some leaves from the creeper, didn't I?

2. He took some money from me, didn't he?
3. Nothing happened for a couple of minutes, did it?
4. He did not know, did he?
5. He does not know, does he?
6. I was sure that he was searching for the same creeper, wasn't I?
7. You have no definite plans, have you?
8. You find yourself caught in a dangerous situation, don't you?
9. We realize this only after we get hurt, don't we?
10. I have nothing on underneath, have I?
11. You must understand that I was dressed in a suit, mustn't you?
12. My hands refused to move, didn't they?
13. They had the look of hungry wolves, hadn't they?
14. He would gouge my eyes out, wouldn't he?
15. I had nothing to say, had I?
16. There was no one, was there?
17. My money was there intact, wasn't it?
18. Text books are free from class I to V, aren't they?
19. Blue eyes were quite common at this place, weren't they?
20. It is hard to get the children to listen, isn't it?
21. It is not very often that we come across someone like Babar, is it?
22. We salute you for dreaming and making your dreams come true, don't we?
23. We should greatly like to go to the States, shouldn't we?
24. I am protecting my delicate skin from the hailstorm, aren't I?
25. There was nothing to fear, was there?
26. I command my ministers to appoint a Commission of Enquiry, don't I?
27. They all began disputing, didn't they?
28. It seems, Mara had gone to the forest, doesn't it?
29. I am now narrating an experience which I had, aren't I?
Note: The tag for 'am' is not amn't I? but it is aren't I?
30. I am not a student, am I?
Note: The tag for 'am not' is not are I? but it is am I?
Correction of Segments
Correct the following sentences and rewrite them:
1. Babar Ali must be the young headmaster in the world.
Babar Ali must be the youngest headmaster in the world.
2. Mara did not had any teeth on the right side of his mouth.
Mara did not have any teeth on the right side of his mouth.
3. Mara had went to the forest.
Mara had gone to the forest.
4. A Royal Commission were appointed to look into the matter.
A Royal Commission was appointed to look into the matter.
5. Have he seen it happen?
Have you seen it happen?
6. Mara walk to the forest.
Mara walks to the forest.
7. All the children was learning English.
All the children were learning English.
8. The School Boy did not wanted to go to school.
The School Boy did not want to go to school.
9. What did you learnt today?
What did you learn today?
10.Did he asked you to took off your shirt?
Did he ask you to take off your shirt?
11.Learning the English isn’t easy.
Learning English isn’t easy.
12.Give me an another book.
Give me another book. OR Give me a book.
13.We do not sell things at credit.
We do not sell things on credit.
14.Babar does whatever his father was done.
Babar does whatever his father does.
15.Apples are sold in the dozen.
Apples are sold by the dozen.
16.I prefer coffee than tea.
I prefer coffee to tea.
17.Chandru brought a new pair of spectacle.
Chandru brought a new pair of spectacles.
18.He found the coin as he cleans the floor.
He found the coin as he cleaned the floor.
19.Babar Ali live by his three siblings.
Babar Ali lives with his three siblings.
20.Babar school have 800 student.
Babar's school has 800 students.
21.The both friends were there.
Both his friends were there.
22.He is good in English.
He is good at English.
23.He is superior than me in learning.
He is superior to me in learning.
24.We should read Bhagavad Gita.
We should read the Bhagavad Gita.
25.My some books were lost.
Some of my books were lost.
26.No sooner I had started than it began to rain.
No sooner had I started, than it began to rain.
OR
No sooner did I start, than it began to rain.
27.Why you tied the creeper to that tree?
Why did you tie the creeper to that tree?
28.This creeper have small leaves.
This creeper has small leaves.
29.Neither it is good nor it is bad.
Neither is it good nor is it bad.
30.This is an useful book.
This is a useful book.
31.Bread and butter are my usual breakfast.
Bread and butter is my usual breakfast.
32.Ganga is our sacred river.
The Ganga is our sacred river.
33.He have no taste of music.
He has no taste for music.
34.I have visited Agra last year.
I visited Agra last year.
35.One of my friend live in Bengaluru.
One of my friends lives in Bengaluru.
36.I saw a man who is thirsty.
I saw a man who was thirsty.
37.The train left before we arrived.
The train had left before we arrived.
38.My hairs are black.
My hair is black.
39.He was hung for murder.
He was hanged for murder.
40.Sun rise by 6 a.m. these days.
The Sun rises by 6 a.m. these days.
41.I can play violin.
I can play the violin.
42.He is an university student.
He is a university student.
43.Politics are a dirty game.
Politics is a dirty game.
44.Babar Ali must be a young headmaster in the world.
Babar Ali must be the youngest headmaster in the world.
45.The shops in the city open 9 O’clock.
The shops in the city open at 9 O’clock.
46.He lives at Mumbai.
He lives in Mumbai.
47.He cut an apple by a knife.
He cut an apple with a knife.
48.It has been raining since three hours.
It has been raining for three hours.
49.Distribute the mangoes between all the students.
Distribute the mangoes among all the students.
Framing Questions
Change into a question beginning with the right form of 'do'
1. The Commission sat to take the evidence.
Note: The verb 'sat' used here is in the past tense. So, use the past tense of the
verb 'do'. It becomes 'did'.
Did the Commission sit to take the evidence?
Do not use the second verb 'sit' in past tense once again as you have already
used the verb 'do' in past tense'. Using past tense two times in a sentence is not
accepted in English.
2. The elephant thanks his friend.
Note: The subject 'the elephant' is in third person singular. so, 's' or 'es' is
added to the verb. Add 's' to the verb 'do' and make a question. It becomes
'does'
Does the elephant thank his friend?
You have already added 'es' to the verb 'do'. So, do not add 's' once again to the
verb 'thank'.
3. They occupy the man's hut.
Note: The verb 'occupy' used here is in the present tense. So, use the present
tense of the verb 'do'.
Do they occupy the man's hut?
4. The Commission declared that they had heard sufficient evidence from both
sides.
Did the Commission declare that they had heard sufficient evidence from both
sides?
5. They send Sanna to get some creepers from the forest.
Do they send Sanna to get some creepers from the forest?
6. He brought a whole bundle.
Did he bring a whole bundle?
7. You don't know about this creeper.
Don't you know about this creeper?
8. Mara showed him all the blood on his clothes.
Did Mara show him all the blood on his clothes?
9. Krishna knew a Malayali sadhu.
Did Krishna know a Malayali sadhu?
10.He took some money from me and went to the hospital.
Did he take some money from me and go to the hospital?
11.Everyone laughed.
Did everyone laugh?
12.He enters a crowded restaurant.
Does he enter a crowded restaurant?
13.The bill came to eleven rupees.
Did the bill come to eleven rupees?
14.They walk on until they reach a deserted bridge.
Do they walk on until they reach a deserted bridge?
15. Babar Ali actually started his school at the mere age of nine.
Did Babar Ali actually start his school at the mere age of nine?
16. He sprang off like a buck and ran up the hill.
Did he spring off like a buck and run up the hill?
17. The water flows on all the months of the year.
Does the water flow on all the months of the year?
18. I speak the truth.
Do I speak the truth?
19. They walked in while you were watching the sky.
Did they walk in while you were watching the sky?
20. Nicola answered seriously.
Did Nicola answer seriously?
21.They smile uncomfortably.
Did they smile uncomfortably?
Frame a ‘Wh’question so as to get the underlined word/words as answer.

Note:
Wh-questions begin with, what, when, where, who, whom, which, whose,
why and how.
We use them to ask for information.
The answer cannot be yes or no:
A) THE RULE
interrogative pronoun/adverb + auxiliary + subject + verb + ...
interrogative
auxiliary subject verb +
pronoun/adverb
Why did Douglass go to New York?
Exception: when WHO is the subject of the sentence:
interrogative
auxiliary subject verb +
pronoun/adverb
Who went to New York?
B) THE MAIN INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS / ADVERBS
INTERROGATIVE
PRONOUNS / SENTENCE QUESTION
ADVERBS
Mara has broken

WHO Who has broken the pot?
the pot.
Mara made a
What did Mara make with a
WHAT friendship with a
man?
man.
I want the hut Which hut do you want?

WHICH
built by the man.
Douglass went to When did Douglass go to

WHEN
New York in 1841. New York?
Douglass felt sad

WHY because of his Why did Douglass feel sad?
mother's death.
The old woman
wanted 50 paise to What did the old woman
WHAT... FOR
take him to the want 50 paise for?
shrine
HOW + adjective
Douglass went to How did Douglass go to New

HOW
New York by train York?
He was 1500 miles

How far away was he from
HOW FAR away from his
his home?
home.
The narrator's
How long did the narrator's
HOW LONG agony lasted for 1
agony last?
hour.
HOW MUCH + I want two bottles

How much milk do you want?
singular of milk.
I plucked some
HOW MANY + How many leaves did I pluck
leaves from the
plural from the creeper?
creeper.
Krishna went to a
How often did Krishna go to a
HOW OFTEN Malayali
Malayali sadhu?
sadhu twice a week.
Douglass' mother
How old was Douglass'
HOW OLD was 27 when she
mother when she died.?
died.
Framing Questions using ‘Wh’ words.
Frame ‘Wh’ questions so as to get underlined word/s as answer:
Who sat to take the evidence?

Why did the Commission sit?
3. Mr. Elephant has fulfilled his sacred duty of protecting your interests.
What has Mr. Elephant fulfilled?
4. Mr. Elephant has fulfilled his sacred duty of protecting your interests.
Who has fulfilled his sacred duty of protecting your interests.
5. A Royal Commission was appointed to look into the matter.

What was appointed to look into the matter?
6. A Royal Commission was appointed to look into the matter.

Why was a Royal Commission was appointed?
7. A coffee seed bed has to be protected from the sun by putting up a shade over
it.
What has to be protected from the sun by putting up a shade over it?
8. We sent Sanna to get some creepers from the forest.

Why did they send Sanna to the forest?

Who did they send to the forest?

Where did they send Sanna get some creepers from?
11.Sanna brought a whole bundle.

Who brought a whole bundle?
12.Sanna brought a whole bundle.

What did Sanna bring?
13. The creeper comes up again only in the next rainy season.
What comes up again only in the next rainy season?
14. The creeper comes up again only in the next rainy season.
When does the creeper come up again?
15. Mara had gone to the forest to bring some bamboo shoots home.
Who had gone to the forest to bring some bamboo shoots home?
Why had Mara gone to the forest?
17. Krishna bid goodbye to his job as a rickshaw driver.

Krishna bid goodbye to his job as a rickshaw driver.
18. Krishna bid goodbye to his job as a rickshaw driver.

What did Krishna bid goodbye to?
19. The Malayali godman shared his knowledge with Krishna

Who did the Malayali godman share his knowledge with?
20. The Malayali godman shared his knowledge with Krishna

Who shared his knowledge with Krishna?
MORE EXAMPLES:
1. An elephant made friendship with a man.
Who made friendship with a man?
2. The lion wanted to have ‘peace and tranquility’ in his kingdom.

What did the lion want to have in his kingdom?
Why had Mara gone to the forest?
4. Mara’s medicinal creeper was back in the news.

What was back in the news?
5. Krishna was looking for this medicinal creeper.

What was Krishna looking for?
6. The narrator entered a crowded restaurant.
Where did the narrator enter?
7. The bill came to eleven rupees.

How much did the bill come to?
8. Babar Ali actually started his school at the mere age of nine.
When did Babar Ali actually start his school?
9. Babar lives with his three siblings and his parents in a thatched house.
Where does Babar live with his three siblings and his parents?
10. Frederick Douglass was born in Tuckahoe?

Who was born in Tuckahoe?
11. Lucia will be pleased to see you.

Who will be pleased to see you?
12.She hobbles along the street.

Where does she hobble along?
13. Mara was trembling at the king’s palace.

Where was Mara trembling?
14. Babar Ali gets the children to listen by taking advantage of age gap.
How does Babar Ali get the children to listen by?
15.Babar Ali is from Murshidabad.

Where is Babar Ali from?
16. Mara did not have any teeth on the right side of his mouth.
What did Mara not have on the right side of his mouth?
17. When Sannappa showed the plant, Mara became very active.
Who became very active when Sannappa showed the plant?
18.The elephant sneaked into the man’s hut.

Where did the elephant sneaked into?
19. The lion decided to solve the problem.
What did the lion decide to solve?
20. The Commission of Enquiry was appointed by the king of the jungle.
What was appointed by the king of the jungle?
21. By tradition the people were professional soldiers.

What were the people by tradition?
22. He entered a crowded restaurant.

Where did he enter?
HOMOPHONES
Fill in the blank with appropriate word given in brackets.

Homophones are words with similar sound but different spelling and meaning.
Example: 1. cite, sight, site 2. bored, board
3. steel, steal 4. hair, hare,
5. weather, whether 6. some, sum 7. right, write
1. The narrator could not ....... (bear/bare) the humiliation.

The narrator could not bear the humiliation
2. My ...... (dear/deer) good elephant, my hut is very small.

My dear good elephant, my hut is very small.
3. How dare anyone disturb the ........ (piece/peace) of my kingdom.

How dare anyone disturb the peace of my kingdom
4. There is no need for me to ...... (waist/waste) your valuable time.

There is no need for me to waste your valuable time.
5. He was in a dilemma (whether/weather) to fight for his hut or not.

He was in a dilemma whether to fight for his hut or not.
6. Tie it to a nearby plant so that it will be ..... (lying/lieing) there.

Tie it to a nearby plant so that it will be lying there.
7. I asked him whether he .... (new/knew) its uses.
I asked him whether he knew its uses.
8. I plucked ...... (some/sum) medicinal leaves from the creeper.

I plucked some medicinal leaves from the creeper.
9. He was standing before .... (pail/pale) and breathless.

He was standing before pale and breathless.
10.There was ..... (lakh/lack) of work for Krishna owing to his disease.
There was lack of work for Krishna owing to his disease.
11. ………..(there/their) is nothing that treads on the earth that cannot be trapped.
There is nothing that treads on the earth that cannot be trapped.
12. …….. (Piece/peace) is costly, but it’s worth the expense.

Peace is costly, but it’s worth the expense.
13. Mara showed him all the blood on his clothes and body and cringed before him
saying that he was not ……..(lieing/lying).
Mara showed him all the blood on his clothes and body and cringed before him
saying that he was not lying.
14.Instead of the …….. (meat/meet), there was a live wild buck!

Instead of the meat, there was a live wild buck!
15.I saw Appanna ……. (tying/tieing) it to a nearby tree.

I saw Appanna tying it to a nearby tree.
16.I asked him ………. (weather/whether) he knew its uses.

I asked him whether he knew its uses.
17.The doctors there …… (adviced/ advised) him surgery.

The doctors there advised him surgery.
18.His story also …….. (bares/bears) evidence to the fact that if you have a will
then there surely is a way.
His story also bears evidence to the fact that if you have a will then there surely
is a way.
19.He can swing an elephant by its …… (tale/tail).
He can swing an elephant by its tail.
20.Cattle are dying of …… (draught/drought).

Cattle are dying of drought.
21.A shortened army tunic gathered in …….(lose/loose) folds about his skinny
frame.
A shortened army tunic gathered in loose folds about his skinny frame.
22.He gave me his …… (quiet/quite), independent glance.

He gave me his quiet, independent glance.
23.She …….. (dyed/died) when I was about seven years old.

She died when I was about seven years old.
24.We should ……. (grately/greatly) like to go to the States.

We should greatly like to go to the States.
Rearrange the Segments – Word Order

Rearrange the segments to form a meaningful sentence:
1. thanked / the / his / elephant / friend/

The elephant thanked his friend.
2. to take / Commission / evidence / the / the / sat

The Commission sat to take the evidence.
3. the / delicate / skin / of / the / is / elephant

The skin of the elephant is delicate.
4. milk / ground / root / it / Krishna / and / this / with / drank

Krishna ground this root and drank it with milk.
5. crowded / restaurant / I / entered / a /

I entered a crowded restaurant.
6. saved / the / narrator / a / the day /for / stranger
A stranger saved the day for the narrator.
7. fishmonger / a / is / Tulu Rani Hazra

Tulu Rani Hazra is a fishmonger.
8. don't / fool/ I / a / am / I / feel

I don't feel I am a fool.
9. Harriet Bailey / mother / named /my / was

My mother was named Harriet Bailey.
10.with / faces / they / us / friendly / greeted

They greeted us with friendly faces.
11.Story / creeper /this / the / is / medicinal /of / unusual / an

This is the story of an unusual medicinal creeper.
12.sage / been / it / by / cursed / a / has

It has been cursed by a sage.
13.was / my / father / white man / a

My father was a white man.
14.Name / Anthony / my / master’s / was / my

My first master’s name was Anthony.
15.Paise / wants / she / coin / a / fifty

She wants a fifty paise coin.
16.Compared / the / bullet holes / are / to / eyes / old woman’s

The old woman’s eyes are compared to bullet holes.
17.Two / brought / I / here / just / small boys

I just brought two small boys here.
18.Pleased / you / Lucia / will / to / be / see

Lucia will be pleased to see you.
19.Prefer / secret / keep / the boys / to / would / their
The boys would prefer to keep their secret.
20.Decorated / entered / room / a / we / richly

We entered a richly decorated room.
ACTIVITY:
WORD ORDER
1. your trunk in/please put/gently
Ans: Please put your trunk in gently.
ACTIVITY:
2. peace and tranquillity/wanted to have/the lion/ in his kingdom
3. a good deed/ and one day /I shall return /you have done me/your kindness
4. with the findings /I am sure / you will be pleased / of the commission of Enquiry
5. regarded it as my duty /I have always /of my friends / to protect the interest.
6. to save his hut / he invited me / by the hurricane /from being blown away.
7. fool people / you can / but not for ever/for a time
8. right side of his mouth / Mara did not have /any teeth / on the
9. ignorantly took the leaves / Mara’s wife / into the fire /and threw them
10. was completely cured / Krishna / in five days
11. was considered / learning to write / great education there /an address in
English
12. a fair complexioned man /six foot tall / with a red turban / there stood / and
white trousers
13. great deed / done a / you have
14. gave a loud guffaw / startling everyone around /the owner
15. to get a proper education /is the first member / Babar Ali / in his family
16. believes that / education is / Nasiruddin Sheikh / a man’s true religion
17. his own school / Babar Ali / of starting / took the initiative
18. the expense / but is worth / peace is costly
19. as a rikshaw driver / to his job / bid goodbye / Krishna
20. about human beings / I have / some vague notions
21. a full meal / I ate / chapattis and meat curry / consisting of
22. under the / teaches his students / Babar Ali / open sky
23. gives lessons / just the way / from his teachers / he has heard / Babar Ali
24. at the / started his school / Babar Ali / mere age of nine
25. of nine / the teaching staff / high school volunteers / is made up of
26. is a testament / that one person / in his or her world / Babar Ali’s tale / to the
difference / can make
27. that we want to see / that we be the change / isn’t it high time / in this world?
28. and ran up the hill / like a buck / he sprang off
29. Harriet Bailey / my mother / was named
30. of my age / no accurate knowledge / I have
31. ever seeing my mother / I do not / by the light of the day / recollect of
32. hardened by / a cruel man / of slave holding / a long life / he was
33. before I go? / I can do / is there anything / for you
34. you picked fruit / I thought / for a living
35. was steady / Nicola’s smile / and engaging
36. happy family party / I could not / upon this / I felt / bear to intrude
37. in vexation / Nicola / at his younger brother / was glaring
38. was their / to work/ what struck one most / unremitting willingness
39. to keep away / have I not / from here / told you /?
40. before me / the Goddess / stood
41. promised to / back there / she has / wait till / she sees me
42. is my plaything / the Goddess of the lake / I am / and that river Veda
43. darker complexion / than either my / my mother / was of a / grandmother or
grandfather
44. to have ever met / I do not remember / a slave / of his birthday / who could
tell
45. greeted us / with friendly faces / they
46. must be saving / to America / to emigrate / you
47. every hope / that she will / there is / walk and sing again
48. the people / I looked at / around me
49. of my hut / and shut the door / my son in/ I called
50. have I said / to offend you / what / so much sir?
Complete the sentence with the right form of the word given in brackets.
1. After .......... (enjoy) a delicious meal at the expense of the Rt. Hon. Mr.
Elephant, they reached their verdict.
After enjoying a delicious meal at the expense of the Rt. Hon. Mr. Elephant,
they reached their verdict.
2. A ........ (decide) was taken by man that he must adopt an effective method of
protection.
A decision was taken by man that he must adopt an effective method of
protection.
3. I taught them the skill of ……… (write) addresses to people.

I taught them the skill of writing addresses to people.
4. They all began ........ (dispute) about their rights of penetration.
They all began disputing about their rights of penetration.
5. The man stopped building when there was some ........ (disturb).
The man stopped building when there was some disturbance.
6. There was enough ......... (accommodate) for all animals in the forest.
There was enough accommodation for all animals in the forest.
7. The man accepted the ....... (suggest) of building a new hut.

The man accepted the suggestion of building a new hut.
8. The ........ (judge) was given in the favour of the elephant.

The judgement was given in the favour of the elephant.
9. The lion was too partial in his ......... (judging).

The lion was too partial in his judgement.
10.The elephant justified its act of ........ (occupy) the hut.
The elephant justified its act of occupying the hut.
11.There was an ...... (argue) over the occupation of the hut.

There was an argument over the occupation of the hut.
12.The teacher taught me the correct ......... (pronounce) of the word.

The teacher taught me the correct pronunciation of the word.
13.The Englishman promised to give his entire ______ (plant).

The Englishman promised to give his entire plantation.
14.If they are bitten by ......... (poison) snakes they immediately chew this leaf and
thus cure themselves.
If they are bitten by poisonous snakes, they immediately chew this leaf and
thus cure themselves.
15.He told me an ........ (interest) story.

He told me an interesting story.
16.He was aged and perhaps they had ...... (fell) of naturally.
He was aged and perhaps they had fallen of naturally.
17. His stories were ....... (marvelled) even when they were not true.
His stories were marvellous even when they were not true.
18.Mara decided to brush his teeth and wash his face before ...... (trek) back
home.
Mara decided to brush his teeth and wash his face before trekking back home.
19.Mara's wife ....... (ignorant) took the leaves and threw them into the fire.
Mara's wife ignorantly took the leaves and threw them into the fire.
20.He was ...... (perfect) healthy the last time I had seen him.
He was perfectly healthy the last time I had seen him.
PUNCTUATION
Principle steps Other marks in common use

• Full stop or period (.) (1) Dash (----)
Comma (,) (2)Parenthesis( ) Round brackets
Semicolon (;) (3) Interval commas or quotation
marks ‘ ’ single
• Colon (:) (4) Hyphen (-) forward ….
• Note of interrogation (?) (5) Slash (/) (\)
• Note of exclamation (!) (6) underline __
• Apostrophe (’) (7) square brackets [ ]
• Underline (___) (8) Ellipsis mark …
Punctuat Name When to use Example

ion mark
1. . Full stop or 1. To mark the end of a 1. I like English.
period declaration or informative
sentence.
2. , Comma 2. To mark observation and (i). Mr. A.B.
initials. Sainath
(ii) M.P., M.L.A
3. ; Semicolon 3. It marks a longer pause Mara was a

than a 'comma'. As the brave, large-
symbol itself signifies, hearted man;
semicolon represents a and we all
combination of the Full honoured him.
Stop and the Comma.
4. : Colon 4. While semicolon The subjects I
represents a pause longer like: English,
than the comma, colon History,
represents an even longer Journalism and
pause. Physics.
5 ? Note of 5. To ask questions What are you

Interrogation learning?
6. ! Exclamation a sudden cry or remark What a fine

expressing surprise, strong student he is!
emotion, or pain.
POSSESSION:
THE HORSE'S
It has two functions. It MOUTH
7. ' Apostrophe marks the possessive case (SINGULAR)
and it indicates THE HORSES'
contractions or the MOUTH
omissions of letters in (PLURAL)
spelling certain words. CONTRACTIONS
:
I don't, I can't,
it's, I won't
Ellipsis (plural) are series of Why do always
full stops (usually three or poke... the
8. ... Ellipsis four) and sometimes they matter?
are referred to as What ... you
OMISSION MARKS. It is are?
used to suggest that
something is missing or
omitted or withheld from a
text, within or at the end of
a sentence.
It is a sign shorter than the Son-in-law,
9. _ dash in length. pale-faced,
Hyphen It is used to form love-lorn,
compound words. passer-by
REFERENCE SKILLS
Read the following advertisement and answer the questions:
Questions:
SAHARA ART AND CRAFT

Shopping Festival – 2023
Exhibition and Sale
Date: 13th October to 12th November 2023
Time: 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Place: Mallappa Kalyana Mantapa,
Devasandra Main Road, Bengaluru.
saharaartsandcrafts@gmail.com
1. When does the shopping festival start in Bangalore?
2. What is the timing of the exhibition and sale?
3. On which website can one contact Sahara art and craft?
4. Where does the shopping festival of Sahara art and craft take place?
Ans: 1. From 13th October to 12th November 2023

2. 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM
3. saharaartsandcrafts@gmail.com
4. Mallappa Kalyana Mantapa, Bengaluru
Read the following advertisement and answer the questions given below:
Questions:
TAAPASI PROJECTS
RERA Approval Received
No.: PR/KN?170823/00142
BDA Approved - TAAPASI – SUMMER BAY
Luxury Plots, In the Heart of North Bangalore
Sites available at ` Rs.3500/ per square foot
4 kms from Vidyaranyapuram
1. Which project of Taapasi is approved by BDA?

2. What is the cost of the sites per square foot?
3. How far are the sites from Vidyaranyapuram?
4. What is the website to contact TAAPASI PROJECTS?
Read the following advertisement and answer the questions set on it in one
complete sentence:
Questions:
Tourism Australia from MakeMyTrip
The Great Australian Airfare is Back
a) Indigo - starts from 29,900/-
b) Air Asia - starts from 30,600/-
c) Malaysia Airlines – starts from 45,500/-
d) Air India – starts from 50,000/-
Exclusive MakeMyTrip Offer
Get cash back of Rs.5000/- on a flight to Australia
on
Standard Chartered Bank Cards
Offers End on: 21st November 2017
Travel Validity up to November 2018
1. Which is the cheapest flight to Australia?
2. What is the cash back offered on Standard Chartered Bank cards?
3. What is the fare in Air India flight to Australia?
4. The Great Australian Airfare is valid till________ (fill in the blank).
Read the following advertisement and answer the questions set on it :
Questions:
NOKIA 5
Flipkart - Launching Nokia 5
3 GB RAM with pure AndroidTM
Nougat
@ Rs.13,499/-
No cost EMI from Rs.1500/- per Commented [AS1]:
month
1. Name the agency that launches Nokia 5?

2. What is the cost of Nokia 5?
3. What is the EMI for Nokia 5?
4. Nokia has ______ RAM with pure Android Nougat.
Read the following advertisement and answer the questions:

Questions:
1. What is the website of Air Asia?
2. When are the bookings to Bangkok closed?
3. Where does the flight to Bangkok leave from?
4. What is the maximum discount available for the flight?
Air Asia
www.airasia.com
up to 50 % off
Fly from Jaipur to Bangkok
Bookings till 5th November
2022
Travel till 21st November
2023
Dialogue Writing:
Complete the dialogue:
Neha : Hi Meera
Meera : _______
Neha : I’ m fine. How are you?
Meera : ___________
Neha : Hey, You are carrying too many bags. Shall I carry one for you?
Meera : ________
Neha : You’re welcome! Which way should we go?
Meera : __________
Ans : Neha : Hi Meera.

Meera : Hi Neha, how are you?
Neha : I’m fine. How are you?
Meera : I’ m also fine.
Neha : Hey, you are carrying too many bags. Shall I carry one for you?
Meera : Oh, by all means. Thank you.
Neha : You’re welcome! Which way should we go?
Meera : Hospital Road / School Street
1. Introducing
Meena and Rita are on their way home. They meet Meena’s friend Wilson.
Meena greets him and introduces him to Rita. (Develop a conversation)
Meena: Hello Wilson?
Wilson: Hello, haven’t seen you for a long time.
Meena: Yes, I was out of station and came yesterday. Rita, meets friend
Wilson. He’s the college union secretary.
Wilson: Hi, nice to meet you.
Rita: Hi there, pleasure is mine.
Some common expressions for greeting.
Formal Informal
• Good morning, how are you? • Hello, haven’t seen you for a long
time.
• Good afternoon. • Hi, there.
• Good evening. • Hi everybody.
• Hi
Activity 1:
Complete the following dialogue between Madan and Mohan. Mohan has
recently moved in as Madan’s neighbour.
Madan: Good morning Mr. Mohan. How are you?
Mohan: Fine. Thank you. How are you Mr Madan?
Madan: I’ m fine. Thank you. We’re happy to have you as our neighbor. Do
come home sometime.
Mohan: Sure. I will try to come.
Madan: Bye.
Activity 2:
Work in pairs: Imagine a situation where your father meets your Principal.
Write a dialogue between them about your academic progress, where the
Principal appreciates your work.
My Father: Good morning, sir.
Principal: Oh, good morning. What is the matter?
My father: Sir. I’m so glad to have met you. How is my daughter in her
academic progress?
Principal: You need not worry about her. She works hard and studies sincerely
securing above average marks. God’s blessing is on her.
Activity 3:
Rearrange the pieces of dialogue in the boxes in meaningful order.
Deepa: Hello Geetha. You look so fresh and lovely. What’s the matter?
Deepa: O.K. bye

Geetha: I must be leaving now. See you later Bye.
Geetha: Hi Deepa, I am practicing yoga. It makes you feel light and fresh.
Deepa: Wonderful Geetha
Ans:
Deepa: Hello Geetha. You look so fresh and lovely. What’s the matter?
Geetha: Hi Deepa, I am practicing Yoga. It makes one feel light and fresh.
Deepa: Wonderful Geetha.
Geetha: I must be leaving now. See you later. Bye
Deepa: O.K. bye.
Activity 4:
Two friends meet and discuss their achievements in the annual sports meet.
Create a dialogue between them.
Kantesh and Anjana are two friends
Kantesh: Hello Anjana. How are you?
Anjana: Hello Kantesh. I am fine. Thank you. I went to Mysore to participate
In the annual sports meet. I won first place in 1500 mts running race.
Kantesh: Congratulations! I went to Dharwar to participate in the Annual
sports meet.
I won first place in cross country race.
Anjana: Oh good. Congratulations!
Activity 5:
Given below is a conversation in jumbled form under three columns.
Rearrange the dialogues to make a meaningful conversation and rewrite it in
the space provided below.
(Lalitha and has friend Leela come home. Lalitha’s father is about to leave for
work).
Lalitha Father Leela
See you daddy. I am fine Leela. I’m fine uncle.

Leela, this is my Lalitha often talks Thank you.
father. about you. I am glad. How are you?
Daddy, meet my I could meet you. See you uncle
friend Leela. I am on my way to
Are you in a hurry office.
daddy? See you later. See you,
Lalitha.
Hello Leela, how are
you?
Lalitha: Leela, this is my father.
Daddy, meet my friend Leela.
Father: Hello Leela, how are you?
Leela: I’m fine uncle. Thank you. How are you?
Father: I’ m fine Leela. Lalitha often talks about you. I’m glad I could
meet you.
Lalitha: Are you in a hurry daddy?
Father: I am on my way to office. See you later.
Leela: See you uncle.
Father: See you, Lalitha.
Lalitha: See you daddy.
Activity 6:
Ganesh has gone to Kolkata for the first time to attend a conference. He
asks a stranger how to reach Shanthi Durga College from the railway station.
Write a dialogue between Ganesh and the stranger.
Ans:
Ganesh: Excuse me, Can I ask for a favour?
Stranger: Yes, what is it?
Ganesh: I have come here to attend a conference.
Could you tell me where Shanthi Durga College is?
Stranger: It’s just half a Kilometre from here. Go straight and take a right turn
after the circle. It’s just there.
LETTER WRITING: FORMAL
1. Imagine you are Rajesh/Sujatha staying at 25, II Main, Paramahamsa Road,
Yadavagiri, Mysuru 570020.
Write a letter to the Postmaster intimating change of postal address.
Rajesh
325, ‘Krishna’, III Main,
Ramakrishna Nagar
Mysuru 570022
2nd June 2023
The Postmaster
Yadavagiri Post Office
Mysuru 570020
Dear Sir,
Sub: Change of postal address – redirecting of mail.
I wish to bring to your kind notice that we have changed our residence from
Yadavagiri to Ramakrishna Nagar. Letters of intimation regarding my change of
address have been sent to my friends and relatives. In the meanwhile, letters
addressed in my name may kindly be redirected to my new address mentioned
below.
Our Previous Address: Our New Address:
Rajesh Rajesh
No. 16, IV Cross, Viveka Road, 325, ‘Krishna’, III Main,
Yadavagiri, Ramakrishna Nagar
Mysuru 570020 Mysuru 570022
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Rajesh
(RAJESH)
The Postmaster
Yadavagiri Post
Office, Mysuru
570020
2. Imagine that you are studying I PUC at the Government Junior College,
Malleshwaram 13th Cross, Bengaluru. Write a letter to the Principal
requesting you to grant three days leave in order to attend your sister’s
wedding. (Write XXX for name and YYY for address)
XXX
YYY
YYY
2nd June 2023
The Principal
Government Junior College,
Malleshwaram 13th Cross,
Bengaluru.
Dear Sir,
Sub: Leave Note
I am happy to inform you that my sister’s wedding has been fixed and will be
celebrated on 4th June 2023 at Mysuru.
Regarding this matter, I request you to be kind enough to permit me attend my
sister’s wedding by granting leave for three days from 3rd to 5th June 2023. I assure
you that I shall sincerely cover and learn the concepts taught during the period of
my absence from my teachers and friends.
Thank you.
Yours obediently,
xxx
(XXX)
Passage Writing:
I. Read the following passage and answer the questions set on it. 10x1=10
Years ago, in a small fishing village in Holland, a young boy taught the world about
the rewards of unselfish service. Because the entire village revolved around fishing
industry, a voluntary rescue team was needed in cases of emergency.
One night the winds raged, the clouds burst and a gale storm capsized a fishing
boat at sea. The crew sent out the SOS. The captain of the rescue rowboat
sounded the alarm and the villagers assembled in the town square overlooking the
bay. While the team launched their rowboat and fought their way through the wild
waves, the villagers waited on the beach, holding lanterns to light the way back.
An hour later, the rescue boat reappeared and falling exhausted on the sand, the
volunteers reported that they had to leave one man behind as even one more man
would have capsized the rescue boat and all would have been lost.
The captain called for another volunteer team to go after the lone survivor.
Sixteen-year-old Hans stepped forward. His mother grabbed his hand pleading,
“Please don’t go. Your father died in a shipwreck ten years ago and your older
brother Paul has been lost at sea for three weeks.
Hans, you are all I have.”
Hans replied, “Mother, I Have to go. What if everyone said, ‘I can’t go, let someone
do it’?
Mother, this time I have to do my duty. When the call for service comes, we all
need to take our turn and do our part.” Hans kissed his mother, joined the team
and disappeared into the night. Another hour passed and finally the rescue boat
came back with Hans standing up in the bow.
The captain called out, “Did you find the lost man?” Barely able to contain himself,
Hans excitedly yelled back. “Yes, we found him. Tell my mother it’s my older
brother Paul.”
Answer the following in a word, a phrase or a sentence each.
a. What occupation was the entire village dependent on?
b. When was a voluntary rescue team needed?
c. Why did the villagers hold the lanterns?
d. How old was Hans?
e. Add prefix to the word ‘appear’ to form its antonym.
f. Whom did Hans join?
g. How long did the rescue boat take to bring back the lone survivor?
h. The word ‘lone’ in the passage means
a) far. b) only. c) older.
i. Name the lost man rescued by Hans and his team.
j. Hans couldn’t contain his _____________ (excite).
(Fill in the blank with the appropriate form of the word in brackets.)
LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS
Match the expressions under column A to its corresponding language functions
under column B
I. A B
Expressions Functions
1. Take a right turn. i. making a request
2. Hi, how are you? ii. expressing gratitude
3. It is very kind of you. iii. complimenting
4. You look great. iv. greeting
5. Could you please carry this bag. v. giving direction
ANS:
1. v. giving direction
2. iv. greeting
3. ii. expressing gratitude
4. iii. Complimenting
5. i. making a request
ACTIVITY:2
II. A B
1. Well done, we are proud of you. i. seeking permission.
2. That is a pity. ii. introducing.
3. Can I have it? iii. congratulating.
4. Meet my friend, Kavitha. iv. apologizing.
5. I am sorry. v. expressing sympathy.
ACTIVITY:3
III. A B
1. See you later, bye. i. asking for information
2. Sorry, I couldn’t follow it. ii. leave taking.
3. Want a hand? iii. complaining.
4. At what time does the train arrive? iv. request for repetition.
5. I am sorry to say this. v. offering help.
ACTIVITY:4
IV. A B
1. I am sorry, that is not possible. i. leave taking.
2. Indeed, you are right. ii. asking for information.
3. See you again, bye. iii. greeting.
4. How was your trip? iv. refusing permission.
5. Hi, how do you do? v. agreeing.
ACTIVITY:5
V. A B
1. I am not sure. i. greeting.
2. I regret to bring to your notice… ii. seeking permission.
3. Can I take your pen? iii.expressing preference.
4. Hello, good morning. iv.disagreeing.
5. I would rather have … v.complaining.
MODEL QUESTION PAPER:
1. The Elephant asked, “Will you please let me _______inside your hut.”
a) put my trunk b) put my tusks
c) put my body d) put my legs
2. The little ones according to Blake spend the day _______.

a) in sighing and dismay b) watching the birds sing on every tree
c) in joy d) watching the distant huntsman wind his horn
3. A coffee seed bed has to be protected from ______ by putting up a

shade over it.
a) the sun b) some creepers
c) a bamboo frame d) tendrils
4. The inhabitants of the place where Vaikom lived had never been known
for _________.
a) the quality of compassion b) their creativity
c) their generosity d) the quality of mercy
5. Money is our madness, our ________.

a) vast collective madness b) vast collective stupidity
c) vast collective achievement d) vast collective celebration
6. Babar Ali became the youngest headmaster in the world at the age of ___.
a) nine b) twenty-one
c) sixteen d) fourteen
7. Raindrops wouldn’t turn back taking me for ______.

a) a pig-eater b) a dog-eater
c) an unwanted person d) an outcast
8. The village headman considered Mara as _______.

a) an educationist b) an orator
c) a great scholar d) a lunatic
9. The phrase 'the harvest of my womb in 'The Farmer’s Wife’ refers to _______.
a) the cotton crop b) her husband
c) the creditors d) her children
10. According to Frederick Douglass, sometime during 1835, he was
about ______ old.
a) seventeen years b) sixteen years
c) fourteen years d) eighteen years
11. In the poem ‘An Old Woman’, ‘You’ refers to______________.

a) the old woman b) any pilgrim whom the old woman meets
c) Khandoba d) Arun Kolatkar
12. In ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ the villa at Poleta had been changed into _____.
a) a parlour b) a hospital
c) a theatre d) a bank
II. Answer any eight of the following in a paragraph of 80-100words each: 8x4=32
13. How did the elephant cheat the man and occupy his hut?
14. Write briefly the speaker’s experience in the school, in “The School Boy”.
15. What story did Mara narrate about losing the teeth on the right side of his
mouth?
16. How did a stranger save the day for the narrator in “Oru Manushyan”?
17. How did “Anand Shiksha Nikethan” come into existence?
18. How does the poem ‘If I was a Tree’ express the pain and plight of a particular
community?
19. What instructions did Mara give his son, Ganga, about the duties of the
watchman of the lake?
20. How does the poem ‘The Farmer’s Wife’ bring out the misery of the farmer’s
wife?
21. Narrate the experience of the speaker in ‘An Old Woman’.
22. What did the narrator learn about Lucia from the nurse in ‘Two Gentlemen of
Verona’?
III. Answer the following in about 200 words: 1X6=6

23. How does the fear of money affect the individual as well as the multitudes of a
money mad society in “Money Madness”?
OR
“The story of Nicola and Jacopo in ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ redefines the
qualities of a gentleman.” Substantiate.
OR
The details given by Frederick Douglass about the life of slaves depict the painful
and harsh experiences of the slaves. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.
IV. Read the following passage and answer the questions set on it. 10x1=10
It began on the fateful December day that Rosa Parks left her job at the fair
Department store in Montgomery, Alabama. The square on that day was
festooned with red and green Christmas lights and there was a big banner over
one of the stores, saying “Peace on Earth, Good will to Men”. Rosa Parks paid no
attention to the lights or the banner. She had been working since early morning
and she was very tired. There was a little pain across her neck and shoulders and
her feet ached. It was Thursday, December 1, 1955. The Black Revolution was
about to begin. In Montgomery as in most southern cities, most of the bus
passengers were black. Despite this fact, the first four seats on all buses were
reserved for white people and could not be used, under any circumstance by
blacks. Behind these four seats was a middle section of two or three seats that “if
the front section filled up and one white person came to sit in the middle section,
all blacks in the middle section had to get up and stand in the back.”
There was no need for Rosa Parks to rehearse all this. She was not looking for
trouble. What she wanted was a comfortable seat. Anybody with a keen eye would
have seen that this was not the day, nor the hour to give this mild-mannered
woman a hard time. As she approached the first bus, she noticed that it was
crowded and she let it go by for she wanted a seat; she wanted to be comfortable.
Later when she got into the second bus the Negro section was full and she sank
into a seat in the middle section. At the next stop, several whites got in and one of
them was left standing. The driver looked in the rear mirror and told the Blacks in
the middle row to get up and give place to the white man. At this the others in the
section vacated their seats. Mrs. Parks remained seated. The driver this time asked
her a little louder to get up. She acted as if she had not heard him at all.
He stopped the bus, got off and called the police. Two policemen came and asked
her if she had understood the driver’s request. She said “yes’. ‘Why didn’t you get
up? One officer asked. “I didn’t think I should have to” she replied and there came
from deep inside her the terrible and unanswerable question, “Why do you push
us around?” There was no answer in the police manual or in any book to that
question and the officer mumbled “I don’t know, but the law is the law and you
are under arrest.”
24. Where was Rosa parks employed?
25. Where was the banner "Peace on Earth, Good will to Men”?
26. Why did Rosa Parks not pay attention either to the lights or to the banner that
day?
27. Why did Rosa Parks not get into the first bus?
28. Why did Rosa have to take a seat in the middle section?
29. How did the driver know that the Blacks were seated in the middle row?
30. Who did not obey the driver's order?
31. Every human being likes to lead a________ life. (comfortable/comforts).
32. Add an appropriate prefix to the word ‘comfortable’ to get its antonym.
33. Which question of Mrs. Parks could the police not answer?
V. A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions given in

brackets. 4x1=4
34. Mara had gone …… the forest to bring some bamboo shoots home. ……… his
hands thrust through the bamboo cane when he was cutting …… shoot, he
accidentally cut his hand. The sharp sickle had apparently cut _______artery.
(with, the, to, an, a)
B. Fill in the blanks with the suitable form of the verbs given in brackets. 4x1=4
35. Mara …… (do) not have any teeth on the right side of his mouth. He …. (has) to
chew everything on the left side. He …. (be) aged and perhaps they ……. (have+fall)
off naturally.
C. Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject: 3x1=3
36. “I ……. (have/has) told you the reason twenty times. The king ……. (passes /
passed) this way and I don’t want him to know that our village ……. (has / had)
such fools as you,” said the village head-man.
D. Correct the following sentences and rewrite them. 2x1=2
37. This is an useful book.
38. Bread and butter are my usual breakfast.
E. Rewrite as directed: 6x1=6

39. Sanna plucked …… (some/sum) medicinal leaves from the creeper.
(Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word given in brackets)
40. I did not ask Mara for any …… (explain) because this was the height of his
inventive genius.
(Complete the sentence with the right form of the word given in brackets)
41.could have /asked for /an/you/ audience.
(Rearrange the segments to form a meaningful sentence)
42. I have no influence over him, ………?
(Add a suitable question tag)
43. He stays in a very small, dingy room on a dirty street.
(Change into a question beginning with the right form of ‘do’)
44. Babar Ali has brought a significant change in the field of education.
(Frame a question so as to get the underlined words as answer)
VI. A. 45. Refer to the following list of events and answer the questions set on it.
4x1=4
College Day Celebrations
i) How long does the inauguration go on?
ii) When does the Exhibition end?
iii) What time does the valedictory function begin?
iv) When does the cultural programme start?
Event Time
Inauguration 09.00 am to 10.00am
Exhibition 10.00 am to 1.00pm
Lunch break 1 pm to 3 pm
Valedictory Function 3 pm to 5 pm
Cultural Programme 5.30 pm to 08.30 pm
B. 46. Write a letter to Sri Dayanand, Commissioner, Mysuru City Police, Mysuru,
thanking him for visiting your college as the Chief Guest for the ‘Athletic Meet’. 5
Your letter should contain the following points:
• His call to the youth of today to be law abiding citizens.
• His inspirational words about the duties of the citizens.
• His motivational words to join the police force.
VII. A. 47. Match the expression under column A to its corresponding language
functions under column B. 5x1=5
A B
a) Please, give me your notes. Complimenting.
b) Meet my friend Rajesh. Rejecting.
c) You have done a good job. Sympathizing.
d) I will not accept the offer Introducing.
e) What a loss! Requesting.
B. 48) complete the dialogue: 4x1=4

(Ram meets a stranger at the railway station)
Ram: Excuse me. Would you please do me a favour?
Stranger: Certainly, _______________.
Ram: How far is Mysuru Palace from here?
Stranger: _______________. Anyway, I am also going
there.___________________?
Ram: Yes, Sure _________________.
C. 49) Dialogue Writing: 3x1=3
Krishna has secured a good percentage in his PUC exams. He shares his happiness
with his father. Write a dialogue between the father and t
Scheme for Model Question Paper
Answers
I 12x1=12
1. a) put my trunk
2. a) in sighing and dismay
3. a) the sun
4. a) vast collective madness
5. a) nine
6. b) a dog-eater
7. b. Trees are not treated as objects of defilement
8. d) a lunatic
9. d) her children
10. a) seventeen years
11. b) any pilgrim whom the old woman meets
12. b) a hospital
II 13. One day an elephant wanted protection - torrential rain – friendship with
man – requested the man to allow him to put his trunk inside the hut. The
man agreed – pushed trunk - finally flung the man out. 4
14. The boy loves to rise in summer morning – likes company of skylark huntsman
- songs of birds - natural joy suppressed – authoritative school – uninterested
books - cruel eye out worn – drives the joy away. 4
15. Mara told the narrator – story of losing teeth on right side – Mara kept a trap
– catch rabbits – saw trap empty next morning – trekking back – saw a stream –
decided to brush his teeth – sour taste – rinse his mouth – put water into mouth –
spat out – teeth touched by the stick – tumbled out.
16. Narrator went out one day – crowded restaurant – bill came eleven annas –
put hand in pocket – shocked to see wallet missing – owner demanded to pay the
bill – embarrassing situation – no face to help him – owner told to take off his
shirt, trousers – narrator told nothing underneath – owner did not agree – then a
voice of a stranger came to help him – stranger paid the bill.
17. Babar Ali was a fortunate – father sent him to school – Babar Ali noticed –
some children deprived from basic right for education – Babar wanted to help
them. - school started – playing school-school game. 4
18. The speaker wants to be a tree – more convenient than being a human- tree
never ask caste – nature, rain drops, sun rays, mother earth never makes
discrimination. Treat everyone equally – cow scrapes her body- 300,000 Gods
touch – become pure by burning in the holy fire - become bier for sinless body –
brings to light the meaningless practice of defilement and purification. 4
19. Mara worried about lake – tells Ganga to look after the lake – not to allow
anybody to catch fish or other creatures – protect the sanctity of the lake –
follow Goddess command – nothing should be killed which flies or swims or
walks - not to allow anybody to pollute water – take care of lake. 4
20. Farmer’s wife laments the death of her husband - complains – angry
because her husband left her with four children – worried about future –
born with bent head – endured lot of sufferings, kicks from husband decides
to teach children to face life - survive against all odds. 4
21. An Old Woman a self-appointed guide in Jejuri - she tags along – she is
persistent – the narrator irritated by her persistence– decides to end the farce –
turns towards her gets shocked – her eyes – bullet holes – wrinkled skin- the
narrator feels ashamed – reduced to small change. 4
22. The two boys are orphans – their sister suffering from tuberculosis of the
spine- A bomb destroyed their family- Then boys do all types of work – collect
money – pay the medical bill of their sister’s treatment – every Sunday visit - nurse
talks about the recovery of Lucia – Narrator knows hard working and scarifying
attitude of boys. 4
III 23. Money is a madness - shared by everyone – no one gives a pound note or 10
pound note without a tremor – collective money madness makes us afraid – If one
has money, many makes friendship - if no money, no one cares – have to eat dirt –
bread – fire - shelter should be free – should regain sanity before killing each other
– should be free from clutches of money.
OR
Two Gentlemen of Verona is a heart touching story of two boys - do all types of
jobs to treat sister - great sacrifice. Two boys are orphans – only a sister suffering
from tuberculosis of the spine- A bomb destroyed house – unusual devotion
towards their work. – Paid the bills of their sister – show an uncommon love,
sacrifice, emotion, nobility - Though poor maintain dignity – unselfish, noble
character – signifies Two Gentleman.
OR
Slaves are ill-treated – not supposed to know birth dates- the slave holders – often
use their female slaves – Law ensures these mixed-race children become slaves
like their mothers- These mixed-race slaves suffer a lot than other slaves. – slave
holder’s wife insults such mixed-race slaves – she tortures and take care - that they
are sold off - slaves are often whipped – a horror of slavery. 6
IV 24. Fair Department store in Montgomery, Alabama. 1

25. On One of the stores. 1
26. She has been working since morning /and she was very tired/Pain in her 1
neck and shoulders/feet ached.
27. It was crowded/she wanted a seat. 1
28. Negro section was full. 1
29. Driver came to know that when he looked in the rear mirror. 1
30. Mrs. Parks 1
31. comfortable 1
32. uncomfortable 1
33. “Why do you push us around?” 1
V. A 34. to, with, the, an 1X4=4

B 35. did, had, was, had fallen 1X4=4
C 36. have, passes, has 1X3=3
D 37. This is a useful book. 1
38. Bread and butter is my usual breakfast. 1
E 39. Sanna plucked some medicinal leaves from the creeper. 1
40. I did not ask Mara for any explanation because this was the height of his
inventive genius. 1
41. You could have asked for an audience. 1
42. I have no influence over him, do I? 1
43. Does he stay in a very small, dingy room on a dirty street? 1
44. In which field has Babar Ali brought a significant change? 1
VI. A 45 I) One hour
II) At 1:00 pm
III) At 3:00 pm
IV) At 5:30 pm 1X4=4
46 Format 2 marks
Content 3 marks
(No marks to be awarded for mere format.) 5
VII. A
47 a) Please, give me your notes. Requesting
b) Meet my friend, Rajesh. Introducing
c) You have done a good job. Complimenting
d) I will not accept the offer. Rejecting
e) What a loss! Sympathizing 1X5=5
B 48 Ram: Excuse me. Will you please do me a favour? 1X4=4

Stranger: Certainly, what can I do for you?
Ram: How far is Mysore Palace from here?
Stranger: It is 3 kilometers from here. Anyway, I am also going there. Would
you like to come with me?
Ram: Yes, Sure Thank you very much.
(Any suitable dialogue can be accepted.)
C 49 Father: Hey Krishna, did you get your results?

Krishna: I got 96% and I stand first in our college.
Father: Is it so! Well done! I am proud of you, my boy.
Krishna: Thank you papa. Shall I go to meet my friends?
Father: OK, but come back soon.
Krishna: OK papa, bye. 3
______

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An Approach

Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala

Compiled and Prepared by: Arun K Kuthnikar

I. Answer the following questions by choosing the right option.

5. The elephant thanked his friend, saying that it shall return_____.

12. The chairman of the Commission of Enquiry was ___________.

13. ______ was appointed as Secretary to the Commission.

II. Answer the following in a paragraph in about 80 - 100 words:

Once an elephant made friendship with a man. During a thunderstorm, the

I. Answer the following in a word, a phrase or a sentence:

2. The poet loves to rise in a summer morn ________.

3. The distant huntsman_______ his horn.

5. Going to school on a summer morn ________.

6. The little ones spend the day _______.

7. ‘Under a cruel eye outworn’ refers to _______.

8. ‘sweet company’ refers to _____.

11. How shall the summer arise in joy,

12. “Nor in my book can I take delight,

II. Answer the following in a paragraph in about 80 - 100 words:

1. Describe the boy’s experience in the school.

III. Answer the following in about 200 words:

2. Do you think the poet is arguing against education? Discuss.

3. Around a Medicinal Creeper

3. A coffee seed bed has to be protected from ______ by putting up a

7. According to Mara, the medicinal creeper had been cursed by ______.

20. Chandru is _________.

23. Tejaswi’s erstwhile farmhand Krishna was suffering from _______.

24. Tejaswi’s erstwhile farmhand Krishna was working as _______

26. Krishna knew _________.

II. Answer the following in a paragraph in about 80 - 100 words:

3. How was Krishna cured of his illness?

III. Answer the following in about 200 words:

I. Answer the following questions by choosing the right option.

2. According to Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, the world has _______.

3. Vaikom Muhammad Basheer lived in quite a big city in the valley of a

5. By tradition, the people in the valley were professional _______.

6. ______ was highly valued by the people in the valley.

8. Vaikom carried on a profession there; teaching English to some _____.

10. Learning to _______ in English was considered great education there.

11. They were paid anything between ________for writing an address.

15. Vaikom Basheer had a wallet _______.

II. Answer the following in a paragraph in about 80 - 100 words:

3. Give an account of the embarrassing experience of the narrator at the

5. A stranger saved the day for the narrator. How?

III. Answer the following in about 200 words:

1. Does the story talk about transformation in a person? Discuss.

I. Answer the following questions by choosing the right option.

1. Money is our madness, our ________.

2. The individual carries his own grain of _______around with him.

4. D H Lawrence doubts feels there is going to be a real tremor, if a person

5. Money makes us _______.

II. Answer the following in a paragraph in about 80 - 100 words:

1. How does money trigger fear in an individual?

I. Answer the following questions by choosing the right option.

3. Babar Ali is the story of a young man from Murshidabad in _______.

6. Babar is the headmaster of a school of _____ students.

8. Babar lives in Bhapta neighbourhood of ______ village in West Bengal’s

9. Babar’s father Nasiruddin is a _______.

10. _______ said, “Education is man’s true religion”.