blue print of question paper section - a...

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BLUE PRINT OF QUESTION PAPER SECTION - A

READING COMPREHENSION

READING UNSEEN PASSAGES AND NOTE-MAKING [30 Marks]

Two unseen passages with a variety of very short answer/ short answer or MCQ type

questions to test comprehension, interpretation and inference. Vocabulary such as word

formation and inference of meaning will also be tested.

The total length of the two passages will be between 1100-1200 words. The passages will

include two of the following.

(a) Factual Passages e.g., instructions, descriptions, reports.

(b) Descriptive Passages involving opinion, e.g., argumentative, persuasive or

interpretative text.

(c) Literature Passages, e.g., extract from fiction, drama, poetry, essay or biography. A

poem could be of 28-35 lines.

The passage can be literary, factual or discursive to test comprehensions. The length

of one passage should be between 600-700 words.

A third passage of 400-500 words for note making and abstraction.

SECTION – B

WRITING SKILLS (30 Marks)

Short Answer Questions, e.g., advertisements and notices, designing or drafting posters,

writing formal and informal invitations and replies.

Long Answer Questions: Letter based on verbal/visual input.

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Letter types include

Business or official letters (for making enquiries, registering complaints,

asking for and giving information, placing orders and sending replies)

Letters to the editor (giving suggestions or opinion on issues of public interest)

Application for job

Very Long Answer Questions: Two compositions based on visual and/or verbal Input may

be descriptive or argumentative in nature such as an article, a debate or a speech.

SECTION C

LITERATURE TEXTBOOKS AND LONG READING TEXTS

FLAMINGO / VISTAS / THE INVISIBLE MAN

(40 MARKS)

Very Short Answer Questions - Based on an extract from poetry to test the

comprehension and appreciation.

Short Answer Questions - Based on prose/drama/poetry from the texts.

Long Answer Questions - Based on texts to test global comprehension and

extrapolation beyond texts to bring out the key messages and values.

Long Answer Questions - Based on texts to test global comprehension

along with analysis and extrapolation.

Long Answer Questions - Based on theme, plot and incidents from the

prescribed novels. (THE INVISIBLE MAN)

Long Answer Questions - Based on understanding, appreciation, analysis

and interpretation of the character sketch. (THE INVISIBLE MAN)

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QUESTION PAPER DESIGN

English CORE XII (Code No. 301) Time- 3 hours Marks-100 Typology Typology of questions/

learning outcomes MCQ 1 mark

Very Short Answer Question 1 mark

Short Answer Question 3 mark

Short Answer Question 4 mark

Long Answer-1 80-100 words 5 marks

Long Answer-2 120-150 words 6 marks

Very Long Answer 150-200 words 10 marks

Total marks

Over all %

Reading Skills

Conceptual, Understanding Decoding, Analysing, Inferring, Appreciating, Literary conventions and vocabulary, summarising and using appropriate format/s

6 16 1 - 1 - - 30 30

Writing Skills

Reasoning, appropriacy of style and tone, using appropriate format and fluency, inference, analysis, evaluation and creativity

- - - 1 - 1 2 30 30

Literary Textbooks and long reading text/novel

Recalling, reasoning, appreciating literary conventions, inference, analysis, evaluation, Creativity with fluency

- 4 4 - - 4 - 40 40

TOTAL 6*1=6 20*1= 20 5*3=15 1*4=4 1*5=5 5*6=30 2*10= 20 100 100

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CONTENTS

PART-I

SECTION -A [READING UNSEEN PASSAGE AND NOTE-MAKING]

1. Reading Unseen Passage

2. Note-making & Abstraction

SECTION- B [WRITING SKILLS]

3. Short Compositions

Advertisements

Notices

Designing or Drafting Posters

Invitations and Replies

4. Letter Writing

5. Article/Speech/Debate

SECTION -C[LITERATURE TEXTBOOKS AND LONG READING TEXTS]

6. Flamingo (Poetry)

7. Flamingo (Prose)

8. Vistas

9. Long Reading Texts : Novels

The Invisible Man

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SECTION A (30 Marks)

READING Reading Comprehension

Note Making & Abstraction

Reading Comprehension

(Two unseen passages to test comprehension, interpretation and inference) [12+10=22 Marks]

S.NO.

CONTENT

NO.

PAGE NUMBER

1.

Discursive Passage

2

11-16

2.

Factual Passage

5

17-31

3.

Literary Poem

3

32-39

Note Making & Abstraction [5+3=8Marks]

S.NO.

CONTENT

NO.

PAGE NUMBER

1.

Discursive Passage

1

40-46

2.

Factual Passage

5

47-58

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IDEAS TO FOLLOW WHILE SKIMMING

1. Read the title of the passage/poem very carefully, if given. Determine what clues

it gives you about the passage/poem.

2. Watch for keywords like causes, results, effects etc. do not overlook signal

words such as those suggesting controversy (e.g., versus, pros and cons), which

indicate that the author is intending to present both sides of an argument.

3. Concentrate on the main ideas and ignore details.

Most passages requires at least two readings. Before writing the answer, check the

questions again to be sure you have really understood them.

GUIDELINES FOR ATTEMPTING SECTION A

Reading Comprehension is defined as the understanding of a passage or a text. Basically,

Reading Comprehension tests the reader’s ability to comprehend the content as well as style

and theme of the passage.

TYPES OF QUESTIONS

The students are mostly tested on content-based questions which include factual questions

and inferential questions.

Some vocabulary questions are also asked from the passages. These questions include

meanings, synonyms, antonyms etc., of words in the passages.

Three types of passages will be designed to test the reading skills of students. These include

(I) Factual passages,

e.g., instructions, descriptions, reports..

(ii) Discursive passages involving opinion,

e.g., argumentative, interpretative or persuasive text. (iii) Literary passages, e.g., an extract from fiction, drama, poetry, essay or biography.

STEPS TO BE FOLLOWED WHILE ATTEMPTING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

Step 1 Skim once as rapidly as possible to determine the main idea before you look at the

questions. Do not worry about words you do not know at this stage.

Step 2 Underline the words that you do not understand to facilitate a complete

understanding of the passage. This will enable you to solve the vocabulary questions quicker.

Step 3 Look through the words carefully You are advised to maintain the order in which the

questions appear in the test paper. Read intensively the portion relevant to the answer.

Step 4 Concentrate on the vocabulary items and puzzle out from the context the meanings

of those words you do not know.

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GUIDELINES TO ATTEMPT COMPREHENSION PASSAGE

1. First of all read the passage quickly study the questions given at the end of your

passage.

2. Start your second reading of the passage. This reading should be thorough. Underline

key sentences or words related to the given questions.

3. An alternate method could be to go through the questions first, which gives a rough

idea about the content or subject of the passage. It becomes easier to underline the

keywords while going through the passage and will help to reach to the answers faster.

4. While answering the questions, try not to give vague or general answers; be specific;

sometimes students use one general description when four or five points have to be

made. Avoid general answers.

5. Write in short , simple sentences unless required to do otherwise.

6. Do not repeat yourself. This is a waste of time. Avoid using slang. Do not use vague

words when a precise one will do.

7. Make sure that you use your own words as far as possible. This means that you must

summarise and interpret information; never copy whole ‘chunks’ from the passage.

8. When answering factual questions. i.e., questions that involve words like ‘what’, ‘when’,

‘how’ and ‘why’, do not include information not given in the passage. While answering

the ‘why’ question, you may begin your answer with ‘This is because……….’ or a

similar phrase.

9. While answering vocabulary questions, determine the part of speech of the word. Your

answer should have the same part of speech.

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Recognising Literary Forms / Figures of Speech

Name of Figure of Speech

What it Means Example

Alliteration Repeating a constant sound in close proximity to others, or beginning several words with the same vowel sound.

The phrase “buckets of big blue berries” alliterates with the consonant ‘b’.

Cacophony The term in poetry refers to the use of words that combine sharp, harsh, hissing, or unmelodious sound.

“Lick, crack, sick hack. The beggar harried her open back. Crash, bang, clang!! We want no parlay with you and your grisly gang who work your wicked will.”-- Winston Churchill

Euphemism Using a mild or gentle phrase instead of a blunt, embarrassing, or painful one.

Saying “Grandfather has passed away” is a euphemism for “Grandfather has died.”

Metaphor An implied comparison between two unlike things that actually have something important in common.

“She is a fox”. This implies that the lady has the character traits as that of a fox.

Metonymy Using a vaguely suggestive, physical object to embody a more general idea. The term metonymy also applies to the object itself used to suggest that more general idea.

“The pen mightier than the sword” suggests that the power of education and writing is more potent for changing the world than military force.

Onomatopoeia The use of sounds that are similar to the noise they represent for a rhetorical or artistic effect.

For instance, the words like ‘buzz’, ‘click’, ‘rattle’ and ‘grunt’ make sounds akin to the noise they represent and are used both in prose and poetry.

Pun A play on two words similar in spelling or sound but different in meaning.

“A horse is a very stable animal”. (Here the pun is on the word ‘stable’.

Refrain A phrase, verse, or group of verses repeated at intervals throughout a song or poem, especially at the end of each stanza.

“For men may come and men may go, but I go on forever.” (This refrain is repeated after every stanza in Tennyson’s poem “The Brook”)

Repetition Simple repeating of a word, within a sentence or a poetical line, with no particular placement of the words, in order to emphasis. It also has conn notations to listing the effect.

I looked upon the rotting sea, And drew my eyes away; I looked upon the rotting deck, And there the dead men lay. (Rime of the Ancient Mariner)

Rhythm It acts just like the beat does in music rhythm in poetry arises from the need for some words to be pronounced more strongly. They might also be stressed for a

Half a league, Half a league (‘The charge of the Light Brigade’ by Tennyson)

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longer time, which sounds more pleasant to the mind, thus unconsciously creating identifiable patterns. This gives a musical effect to the literary piece.

Rhyme A matching similarity of sounds in two or more words at the end of a line, especially when their accented vowels and all succeeding consonants are identical.

“Once upon a time a frog/croaked away in Bingle Bog” (Vikram Seth’s poem “The Frog and the Nightingale”)

Rhyme scheme The pattern of rhyme. The traditional way to mark these patterns of rhyme is to assign a letter of the alphabet to each rhyming sound at the end of each line.

“The glories of our blood and state -------------- a Are shadows, not substantial things; ------------ b There is no armour against fate; ------------------ a Death lays his icy hand on kings: ------------------ b Sceptre and crown --------------------------------- c Must tumble down, -------------------------------- c And in the dust be equal made ------------------ d With the poor crooked scythe and spade”----- d (Extract from James Shirley’s poem “Of Death”) The rhyme scheme for this stanza is ababccdd.

Simile An analogy or comparison implied by using an adverb such as ‘like’ or ‘as’.

“Friends are like chocolate cake, you can never have too many.”

Synecdoche This involves a part of an object representing a whole, or the whole of an object representing a part.

“Twenty eyes watched our every move.” Here, rather than implying that twenty different eyes are swiveling to follow him as he walks by, the author means that ten people watched the group’s every move.

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PASSAGE 1

DISCURSIVE PASSAGE

FASHION IS A PROFILE PIC

Read the passage carefully: 1. Fashion loves to embrace the new and is always quick to adapt to socio-culture

developments. There is no question that this industry has welcomed the social network. The way we look at fashion has totally changed, thanks to Facebook, Twitter, Blackberry Messenger (BBM) and Instagram. And the way we report fashion has changed too. Fashion shows are streamed live, reviews on blogs are up minutes after a show, and online e-commerce stores make collections available minutes after a fashion show has ended. You can buy an outfit even before the next day's newspaper review is out. Twitter, of course, means that even the fashion reportage a paper carries is outdated. Today every fashion writer needs to learn the art of reviewing a show in 140 characters. Knowing your social media is as important as knowing your fashion. The fashion brands, retailers and magazines are well aware of this- and therefore they are all social media-friendly.

2. And often enough, social media will be more willing to push the envelope than traditional

media. Recently, a leading fashion magazine made a fashion faux pas - the outfit they had

put on their cover had appeared on another fashion magazine a year earlier, and as we all

know repeating in fashion is a big no-no. Interestingly, most of the dailies decided to

overlook the incident. Bloggers were not so forgiving and brought the error into the public

arena. And it started a much-needed debate on the responsibility of fashion media.

3. Even when you look at electronic media, you will notice that unless it is a 'makeover show',

most television channels shy away from showcasing fashion, style and luxury. And again

social media is poised to fill the gap, with several YouTube channels launching this year all

based around style. It seems social media believes that there is a demand for fashion-

based content. However, social media has given anyone and everyone a right to an

opinion.

-Sujata Assoumull Sippy

On the basis of your understanding of the passage answer the following questions with

the help of the given options : 1X4=4]

(a) The way we look at fashion has changed, thanks to

(i) Newspaper (ii) Television (iii) Facebook (iv) None of the above

Ans. Facebook

(b) Fashion Writers need to learn the art of reviewing a show in

(i) 140 words/Characters (ii) 200 words/Characters (iii) 300 words/Characters

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(iv) 150 words/Characters Ans. 140 words/Characters

(c) Traditional media refers to

(i) Magazines (ii) Newspapers (iii) Instagram (iv) Both (i) and (ii) Ans. Both (i) and (ii)

(d) Meaning of 'faux pas' is

(i) A social awkward or tactless act (ii) A selfish act (iii) A loving act (iv) A patriotic act Ans. A social awkward or tactless act

Answer the following questions briefly: [1X6=6]

(e) What has the fashion industry 'welcomed'?

Ans. Fashion industry has 'welcomed' the Social Network. (f) State any one way in which we report fashion today.

Ans. Streamed live / reviews on blogs / YouTube channels etc. (g) 'Bloggers were not so forgiving and brought the error into the public arena.' What error was brought into the public arena by the bloggers?

Ans. Fashion faux pas made by a leading fashion magazine.

(h) What does fashion media shy away from?

Ans. From showcasing fashion style and luxury.

(i) How does an online e-commerce store help the fashion industry?

Ans. Makes fashion collections available minutes after a fashion show has

ended. (j) What has social media given anyone and everyone ?

Ans. A right to an opinion.

(k) Find words from the passage which means the same as : (1X2=2)

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(i) The news as presented by reporters for newspapers, radio or

television.

(ii) A merchant who sells goods at retail

Ans. (i) reportage (para 1)

(ii) retailers (para 1)

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Passage 2

Discursive Passage THE ARNAB CAST OF CHARACTERS

Read the passage carefully:

1. There is a minor celebrity hood that comes with occasionally appearing on Arnab's

show. In the oddest of places, strangers will walk up to me and ask, 'Don't I Know you from

somewhere? ' There was a time when I would seriously consider the possibility, but I've come

to realise that many people are really at home only in front of their TV watching Arnab, and in

that sense I am an old acquaintance.

2. I had little inkling of this fate when I first started appearing on television to defend Open

magazine's decision to publish the Radia tapes After that memorable television encounter

where Barkha Dutt and Manu Joseph replayed the same conversation 20 times over, I was

left to fend for the magazine on other channels. Initially, I agreed to continue appearing on

Arnab's channel because the magazine's publisher insisted this was good publicity; it was

only later that I saw some journalistic sense in doing so.

3. I say this despite harbouring no illusions about the nature of the show. It is a

performance with Arnab as the director and the main character, and an audience swept along

by the drama of what transpires. The form is defined by Arnab, the substance born out of the

audience. This is an audience that comprises the section of middle class which is comfortable

watching news on television in English. It is socially liberal, hence the anger against

gharwapasi or those opposing Valentine's Day, but it is xenophobic in its nationalism, hence

the noise about Pakistan or Greenpeace. If NDTV was the product of the scions of a particular

elite telling the rest of the English- speaking class what to think, Times Now gives voice to

what this class actually thinks, which is why this Prime Time clash was never much of contest.

4. In this theatre, journalists like me have a prescribed role: to endorse Arnab's opinion.

Journalists perceived to be affiliated with a political party can't carry this off with any

conviction. Those who remain are likely to endorse Arnab only when they genuinely agree

with him, forcing the channel to cherry pick. I know I won't be asked to appear on a show

about offloading a Greenpeace activist, because I'd then be at odds with Arnab.

5. What does this role offer those who accept it? The increased visibility lends their work

greater value at a time personal branding is increasingly defining value in journalism. But I

also see it as an opportunity to point out to a largely apathetic country that in 1984, Kamal

Nath was at the head of a mob that burned two Sikhs to death a few 100 metres from

Parliament. Or voice my apprehensions about Narendra Modi to a mass audience at a time

the country seemed besotted with him. This is possible because Arnab's sole interest is his

play, he is not a participant in the games most other anchors play out in Delhi. Interestingly,

the roles come with no strings attached. No one's ever asked me not to be critical of Arnab, as

I have been, or Samir Jain, as I continue to be.

- Hartosh Singh Bal

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the help of the given options : [1X4=4]

(a) Arnab is a person who is a :

i. TV news anchor

ii. Editor of a magazine

iii. Bollywood Hero

iv. None of the above

Ans. TV news anchor

(b) The writer appeared on television to defend the following magazine:

i. Caravan

ii. Open

iii. Outlook

iv. Frontline

Ans. Open Magazine

(c) In Arnab's show, Arnab is the -

i. Director

ii. Villain

iii. Court Jester

iv. Audience

Ans. Director

(d) What did the 'Open' magazine publish ?

i. Watergate tapes

ii. Snoopgate tapes

iii. Radia tapes

iv. Cablegate tapes

Ans. Radia Tapes

Answer the following questions briefly: [1x6=6]

(e) What did the writer realize about the TV watching habit of his countrymen? Ans. People are at home in front of their TV, watching Arnab. (f) Why did the writer continue appearing on Arnab's Channel? Ans. Because the magazines' publishers insisted this was good publicity. (g) Which section of society watches Arnab's show ?

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Ans. Section of middle class which is comfortable watching news on television in English. (h) Who is 'xenophobic' in its nationalism ? Ans. Middle class is 'xenophobic' in its nationalism.

(i) Why do people appear on Arnab's show?

Ans. Increased visibility lend their work greater value.

(j) On which news channel does Arnab appear? Ans. Times Now (k) Find words from the passage which mean the same as: [1x2=2]

(i) An erroneous mental representation.

(ii) A descendant or heir

Ans. (i) illusions (para3)

(ii) scions (para3)

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PASSAGE 1

FACTUAL PASSAGE

A MISGUIDED PATRIOT


1. Subhas Chandra Bose fulfilled a promise to his father that he would sit for the Indian Civil

Service examination in London. He secured the fourth position in 1920 but then went on to

fulfill his own wish. He resigned from the coveted service the following year, saying “only on

the soil of sacrifice and suffering can we raise our national edifice”. Returning to India, he

plunged into the national struggle and by 1923, was secretary of the Bengal State

Congress and President of All India Youth Congress.

2. By 1927, he emerged, along with Jawaharlal Nehru, as leader of the new youth movement,

which came into its own by playing a major role in the anti-Simon Commission agitation

which swept India that year. He was also the chief organizer of the Calcutta session of the

Indian National Congress (INC) in December 1928, which demanded that the goal of the

congress be changed to ‘PurnaSwaraj’ or ‘Complete Independence’.

3. Imprisonment in the Civil Disobedience movement followed by bad health in 1932 took him

to Europe where he observed European politics, particularly Fascism under Mussolini and

Communism in the Soviet Union. He was impressed by both and believed that

authoritarian rule was essential for achieving radical social goals.

4. In fact, it is in this period that political views of Nehru and Bose begin to diverge sharply,

especially on the issue of Fascism and Nazism. Nehru was so vehemently opposed to

Fascism that he refused to meet Mussolini even when the latter sought him out, whereas

Bose not only met Mussolini but was impressed by him. Nehru was sharply critical of the

growing danger to the world from the rise of Hitler. Bose, on the other hand, never

expressed that kind of aversion to Fascism, and was quite willing to seek the support of

Germany and later Japan against Britain. However, he was not happy with the German

attack on Soviet Union in 1941, and that was one reason why he left Germany for Japan.

For Bose, Socialism and Fascism were not polar opposites, as they were for Nehru.

5. In 1938, Bose was unanimously elected, with the full support of Gandhiji, as Congress

president for the Haripura session. But the next year, he decided to stand again, this time

as a representative of militant and radical groups. An election ensued which Bose won by

1,580 to 1,377 votes, but the battle lines were drawn. The challenge he threw by calling

Gandhian leaders rightists who were working for a compromise with the British

government was answered by 12 members of the working committee resigning and asking

Bose to choose his own committee. Nehru did not resign with other members but he was

unhappy with Bose’s casting of aspersions on senior leaders. He tried his best to mediate

and persuade Bose not to resign.

6. The crisis came to a head at Tripuri in March 1939, with Bose refusing to nominate a new

working Committee and ultimately resigning. The clash was of policy and tactics. Bose

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wanted an immediate struggle led by Gandhiji, whereas Gandiji felt the time was not ripe

for struggle.

7. Having burnt his boats with the Congress. Bose went and then to Japan in 1943 to seek

help in the struggle against their common enemy, Britain. He finally went to Singapore to

take charge of the Indian National Army (INA) which had been formed by Mohan Singh in

1941 from Indian prisoners of war captured by the Japanese. The INA was clear that it

would go into action only on the invitation of the INC; it was not set up as a rival Centre of

power. Bose made this more explicit when on July 6, 1944, in a broadcast on Azad Hind

Radio addressed to Gandhiji, he said, “Father of our Nation! In this holy war of India’s

liberation, we ask for your blessing and good wishes”.

- Mridula Mukherjee



(a) Subhas Chandra Bose was secretary of the

(i) Bengal State Congress (ii) All India Youth Congress (iii) Central India Youth Congress (iv) None of the above

Ans. Bengal State Congress

(b) In which year Subhas Chandra Bose was imprisoned in the Civil Disobedience Movement (i) 1928 (ii) 1930 (iii) 1932 (iv) 1934 Ans. 1932

(c) Subhas Chandra Bose was not happy with the

(i) Soviet Union attack on German in 1941 (ii) German attack on Soviet Union in 1941 (iii) Soviet Union attack on Japan in 1941 (iv) Japan attack on Soviet Union in 1941 Ans. German attack on Soviet Union in 1941

(d) Indian National Army (INA) was formed by

(i) Mohan Singh (ii) Subhash Chandra Bose (iii) Jawaharlal Nehru (iv) Mahatma Gandhi Ans. Mohan Singh

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Answer the following question briefly: [1x6=6]

(e) Why did Subhash Chandra Bose resign from the Indian Civil Services?

Ans. Subhash Chandra Bose resigned from Indian Civil Service because he thought

that ‘only on the soil of sacrifice and suffering can we raise our national edifice’.

(f) Who all played a major role in the Anti-Simon Commission agitation?

Ans. Subhash Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru played a major role in the Anti-

Simon Commission agitation.

(g) What was the demand of Indian National Congress in December 1928?

Ans. The Indian National Congress demanded that the goal of the congress be

changed to ‘PurnaSwaraj’ or ‘Complete Independence’.

(h) What were the issues which lead to differences in political views of Nehru

and Bose?

Ans. Nehru and Bose diverged sharply, on the issue of Fascism and Nazism.

(i) When was Subhash Chandra Bose elected as Congress President and with

whose support?

Ans. Subhash Chandra Bose was elected as Congress President in 1938 with the

support of Gandhiji.

(j) What was the address by Bose to Gandhiji on Azad Hind Radio?

Ans. Bose addressed Gandhiji as ‘Father of Nation’ on Azad Hind Radio.

(k) Find words from the passage which means the same as: [1x2=2]

(i) to be in jail (Para 3)

(ii) to elect a leader (Para 5)

Ans. (i) imprisonment

(ii) election

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PASSAGE 2

FACTUAL PASSAGE

A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES


1. For lasting and clear eyesight, eyes need care in the form of preventive measures, a

continuous life-long exercise. Eyes don't just see, they do the talking. This is why of all our

senses the most precious is eyesight. Eyes need care in the form of prevention, and knowing

some preventive methods in eye care can make your eyes look bright and healthy and leave

you with excellent eyesight.

2. How do we keep eyes bright and healthy? Eat good helpings of vegetables, fruits,

omega-3 fatty acids, beta carotenes with vitamins A, C and E, enjoy good sleep and avoid

direct sunlight. Therefore, good habits and good general health care does play a major role in

eye care. Eyes are windows to the human body; while you look out through this window, we,

the eye doctors, can look in to find conditions such as glaucoma, abnormal blood pressures,

diabetes, heart diseases and other health concerns much before you notice its adverse

impact, and help you take preventive measures.

3. It is never too early to begin eye checkups. Throw a torchlight from different directions

and look for fixation in newborns and, if in doubt, take the baby to an eye specialist. By the

time a child is four, it is imperative to have a check up every year to look for squint, signs of

opacity brought in by cataracts and minus or plus powers to decide whether or not glasses

are needed. Ultraviolet- protective sunglasses from childhood can help protect eyes from the

harmful UV rays. Once in the teens, contact lenses can be worn in place of glasses, but never

sleep with them on as they reduce the supply of air and blood to the cornea and can damage

eyes. When in 20s, you can get rid of glasses with lasers, Lasik or permanent contact lenses.

4. An emerging and alarming trend is the Computer Eye Syndrome, which appears to be

catching on in early adult life. We cannot escape the use of computers but, sadly, our eyes

are not designed to cope with these screens. Continuous staring at the monitors reduces

blinking, causes strain to the eyes and can lead to dry eyes as well. Therefore, it is always

better to take a break of 10 minutes every hour and look at distant objects such as the

landscapes or even television.

5. Glaucoma or raised pressure in eyes and diabetic retinopathy are silent killers of

eyesight. Therefore, checking eyes once every six months is essential. If afflicted with

diabetes, diet, exercise and drugs are to be remembered in that order to keep the doctor

away.

6. Around the age of 40, more or less everybody requires reading glasses, a condition

known as presbyopia. But now you can get rid of these glasses as well, with lasers called

INTRACOR and SUPRACOR. One can develop cataract- defined as the loss of transparency

in the natural lens of the eye - at any age, but it usually strikes in old age. It's treated by

replacing the opaque lens with an artificial lens called the intraocular lens. The latest in

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cataract removal techniques is called femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery, which is

blade-free, hands-free and makes the operation precise, safe and accurate.

7. That said, eye care is, inevitably, a continuous exercise through life.

- Dr Kasu Prasad Reddy



a. We keep our eyes bright and healthy by: (i) playing in the sun (ii) wearing spectacles (iii) rubbing our eyes frequently (iv) eating good helping of vegetables and fruits Ans. eating good helping of vegetables and fruits

b. By examining the eyes, the doctors can detect health conditions like : (i) fractures (ii) sinus (iii) glaucoma (iv) transilitis Ans. Glaucoma

c. Eye checkups should begin : (i) at the time of birth (ii) at school (iii) only when a person complaints (iv) when a person is above 50 years of age. Ans. at the time of birth

d. We should not wear contact lenses for long hours, as they might harm the:

(i) Retina (ii) Cornea (iii) Tear Glands (iv) None of the above Ans. Cornea

Answer the following questions briefly: [1x6=6]

(e) State any two ways in which we can keep our eyes bright and healthy.

Ans. a. Eat vegetables and fruits.

b. Omega 3 fatty acids. c. Vitamins A,C, E

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(f) What will prevent eyes from harmful UV Rays?

Ans. UV protection sunglasses. (g) Excessive Computer usage causes which problem ? Ans. Computer Eye Syndrome (h) What is 'presbyopia' ? Ans. Around the age of 40 almost everyone requires reading glasses this condition is known as 'presbyopia'. (i) What are 'INTRACOR' and 'SUPRACOR'?

Ans. Lasers (j) What is 'Cataract'? Ans. 'Cataract' is the loss of transparency in the natural lens of the eye.

(k) Find words from the passage which means the same as : [1x2=2]

a. Grievously affected especially by disease (Para 5)

b. By necessity (Para 7)

Ans. (i) afflicted (ii) inevitably

-23-

PASSAGE 3

FACTUAL PASSAGE

A TOOL FOR WORLD PEACE


1. After a long and arduous struggle to popularise yoga, the world is now waking up to its

wonders. Upon my arrival in New York on the evening of June 20, the Art of Living volunteers

and the officials at the Permanent Mission of India informed me that the weather forecast

predicted heavy rains, even thunderstorms over the next 24 hours. There was concern on

their faces as they continued with preparations for the International Day of Yoga celebrations

at the United Nations headquarters and Times Square. I remained confident that this

momentous day would go well.

2. To the delight of the organising teams, the sun came out just as we arrived at the

venue. The UN Secretary General and his wife, the President of the General Assembly, and

many ambassadors participated in the programme. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon even

said, "We should do this before every negotiation, so that we can work with a calm mind".

3. WHO has warned that depression will become the biggest killer after HIV/AIDS by

2030. Today, an estimated $150 billion is spent on mental illness and depression in the US

alone. While the remission rate through medical treatments is less than 14 percent, a study

has shown that the remission rate will be 64 percent through meditation and yoga. I

suggested to the Secretary General that if countries around the world spend 1 percent of their

defence budget on peace education and peace-building through yoga and meditation, it would

make a significant difference.

4. In terms of the way forward, we cannot have all and sundry teach anything in the name

of yoga. We need to bring quality control and standardisation in teaching. Like cell phones

have enhanced comfort and connectivity, yoga can take you to a whole new level. It can be

used as a powerful tool in conflict resolution and trust building.

5. When we started our efforts to bring this ancient wisdom to the fore, it was not easy.

There was a lot of prejudice against yoga and even meditation. Today, meditation posture has

become synonymous with relaxation and comfort. Earlier, the younger generation in the

western world would often struggle to convince their parents to open up to the benefits of

yoga. Perhaps, this declaration by the UN will make their job easier.

- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar



a. The remission rate for depression through medical treatment is less than (i) 20 percent (ii) 14 percent (iii) 15 percent (iv) 24 percent

-24-

Ans. 14 percent. b. The declaration by the UN will make the job of Art of Living volunteers

(i) tougher (ii) easier (iii) harder (iv) comfortable Ans. easier. c. Where was International Day of Yoga celebrated in USA?

(i) WHO Headquarters (ii) United Nation Headquarters and Times Square (iii) White House (iv) Central Park Ans. United Nation Headquarters and Times Square d. Who arrived in New York on the evening of June 20.

(i) Shankaracharya (ii) Sri Sri Ravi Shanker (iii) General Ban Ki-moon (iv) Naredra Modi Ans. Sri Sri Ravi Shanker.

Answer the following questions briefly. [1X6=6]

(e) What did the weather forecast predict for the city of New York? Ans. The weather forecast predicted heavy rains.

(f) Who all participated in the International Day of Yoga celebration? Ans. UN Secretary General and his wife, the President of the UN General Assembly and

many ambassadors participated in the programme. (g) Who is the founder of 'The Art of Living'? Ans. Sri Sri Ravi Shanker is the founder of 'The Art of Living'. (h) What warning has the WHO issued? Ans. WHO has warned that depression will become the biggest killer after HIV/AIDS by 2030. (i) How can Yoga be used as a powerful tool?

Ans. Yoga can be used as a powerful tool in conflict resolution and trust building. (j) What was the role of the younger generation in the western world to promote Yoga?

-25-

Ans. The younger generation in the western world struggled to convince their parents to open

up to the benefits of yoga. (k) Find words from the passage which mean the same as : [1X2=2]

i) decrease, less severe (para 3) ii) tough, difficult (para 1) Ans. (i) remission

(ii) arduous

-26-

PASSAGE 4

FACTUAL PASSAGE

DELHI'S TRUNK CALLS


1. Twenty-six-year-old Verhaen Khanna is not your garden variety green crusader. He's

on a mission to cure 'tree blindness'- the habit of not looking at trees. "People just walk past

them," he complains, at his New Friends Colony residence office, clad in Batman pyjamas

and bathroom slippers. Khanna, as part of New Delhi Nature Society which he set up last

year, is educating Delhities about trees in a unique way- by teaching them how to climb them.

2. A generation ago, the practice was commonplace but with today's increasingly indoor

living, learning to scale the neem next door sounds like a spot of daredevilry. Anuj Wadhwa, a

26 year old garment exporter learnt to shimmy up trees a few months ago. "Spending time

with nature and climbing trees become a spiritual exercise for me. Once you're in a tree, you

become part of its ecosystem, which includes birds, insects, fruits and flowers, " says

Wadhwa who can spend 40-45 minutes hanging out on tree branches, sometimes with a cup

of green tea in hand.

3. But it's all about barking up the tree right. "It depends on how and where you sit,"

Khanna points out. "You have to find a cosy nook, maybe a Y-or a V-shaped branch. Find a

hook to rest your arm. Or, you can lie down. It can get so comfortable that I have to warn

people from falling off to sleep." A trained commercial pilot, Khanna organizes periodic

campouts around Delhi - Jahanpanah city forest near GK-II, Asola Sanctuary, Lodhi Garden,

Nehru Park, colony parks in New Friends Colony, Maharani Bagh, GK-I etc.- where he not

only teaches members how to climb trees, but also to make a fire, count GPS satellites and

stars.

4. While Khanna provides tents and other equipment on these free jaunts, participants

have to bring their own food. The tree-lover funds his woody ambitions with his day job as

business developer, and as a light painting artist at OLE India- a collaborative of professionals

and free thinkers. He has also uploaded tree-climbing tutorials on YouTube. When climbing a

straight trunk (coconut or palm), ascend using both arms in tandem (like in a hug) instead of

alternating them. But banyan trees, with thick, low lying branches and vines offer a relatively

easy climb.

5. Anyone can join NDNS and it's free. The year-old society has been attracting members

through word of mouth and sight- the image of men and women sitting atop trees in various

city parks. Khanna has organized six outdoor camps in the past year and has taught around

30 people to climb trees. Once up, he briefs participants about the tree and its ecosystem.

Details like what kind of fruit and flower it bears, their benefits, the shape and size of leaves,

kinds of insects, birds and squirrels living on it, any folk tales associated with it are discussed

and shared. Khanna says books, internet and hands-on experience working on farms is the

source of his tree knowledge.

-27-

6. Tarun Mal, an agriculturist who lives in Gurgaon and runs a farm in Alwar, says the first

time he climbed, he was scared of falling. "But once you're inside the canopy, it's a different

world and you don't want to come down," he says. For Masrat Khan, a communication expert,

the experience brings out the child in her.When not scaling trees, NDNS members are busy

doing "guerilla gardening"-planting hardy local tree varieties like neem, babul and jamun

wherever possible and often without permission. Their mission to cure tree blindness

continues.

- Shobhita Dhar



(a) Verhaen Khanna is on a mission to cure (i) Night blindness (ii) Tree blindness (iii) Colour blindness (iv) None of the above Ans: Tree blindness

(b) Spending time with nature and climbing trees has become a

(i) spiritual exercise (ii) physical exercise (iii) aerobic exercise (iv) All the above Ans: spiritual exercise

(c) When climbing a straight trunk use

(i) both arms in tandem (ii) both legs in tandem (iii) both arms and legs in tandem (iv) None of the above Ans: both arms in tandem

(d) When not scaling trees, NDNS members are busy doing

(i) Tree Gardening (ii) Flower Gardening (iii) Guerrilla Gardening (iv) None of the above Ans: Guerrilla Gardening

Answer the following question briefly: [1x6=6]

(e) What do you mean by ‘tree blindness’?

Ans: The habit of people to not look at trees.

-28-

(f) What education is being imparted to Delhiites by Verhaen Khanna?

Ans: Verhaen Khanna is educating Delhiites about climbing trees.

(g) What is Anuj Wadhwa’s opinion about nature and climbing trees? Ans: In Anuj Wadhwa’s opinion, spending time with nature and climbing trees is a spiritual exercise.

(h) What do you become when you are in a tree, according to Wadhwa? Ans: Once you are in a tree you become part of its ecosystem, which includes birds,

insects, fruits and flowers.

(i) Who all can join NDNS and what do they teach? Ans: Anyone can join NDNS. They teach people how to climb trees etc.

(j) What varieties of trees are planted by the NDNS members?? Ans: Hardy local tress like neem, babul, and jamun etc.

(k) Find words from the passage which means the same as: [1x2=2]

i. Biological Environment (Para2, 5) ii. Excursion (Para 4)

Ans:

i. ecosystem ii. jaunt

-29-

PASSAGE 5 FACTUAL PASSAGE

TOWERS OF CONCERN

1. India has over 400,000 telecom towers at present, but the growth in the number of

towers is just 3 percent annually, which compares poorly with the over 12 million subscribers

added by industry every year. Telecom service providers say that a "health scare" among the

public is what prevents additional towers from coming up in large numbers. What is the truth

in this?

2. A Bio-Initiative Report in 2012 pointed towards health hazards due to radiation from

cell towers. The most common of these are sleep disorder, headache, irritability,

concentration problem, memory loss, depression, hearing loss and joint problems. More

severe problems include seizures, paralysis, miscarriage, irreversible infertility and cancer.

Many countries have lower radiation norms, says Girish Kumar, a professor in the electrical

engineering department of IIT-Bombay. For instance, Austria has a radiation limit of 1 milliwatt

per square metre. In countries such as Russia, China, Italy and Poland, the allowed limit is

100 milliwatt per square metre. "If mobile coverage is possible in these countries, then there is

no reason why we cannot have low radiation levels in our country," says Kumar.

3. There was a wave of protests in Mumbai over possible radiation effects of cell phone

towers. The protests grew after film actor Juhi Chawla stepped in to first get towers right

opposite her home in Mumbai's Malabar Hill removed, and subsequently mobilised support

from the public and activists to launch a full-fledged awareness campaign against cell phone

towers. She wanted telecom companies to lower radiation levels on towers near residential

areas, put a cap on the number of antennae, and place towers at a distance from buildings.

Meanwhile, reports on the ill-effects of radiation poured in. For instance, residents of the Sree

Samarth building in Dadar's Parsi colony claimed that they saw six cases of cancer in the

building in a period of just three years, allegedly caused by radiation from telecom towers in

the area.

4. The link between the towers and cancer was not proved in any of the cases, but they

set panic bells ringing in government circles. In 2014, the Department of Telecommunications

undertook a study on radiation levels through its Telecom Enforcement Resource and

Monitoring (TERM) wing in Mumbai. It addressed the public's grievances and reassured them

that operators are indeed adhering to the prescribed norms on radiation. Union Telecom

Minister Ravi Prasad also told INDIA TODAY that there are no conclusive studies to prove

that radiation from these towers is a health hazard.

5. The American Cancer Society, a non-profit organisation, says that radiation levels from

cell phone towers are low since the towers are mounted high above ground level and signals

are transmitted intermittently . Unless someone is exposed directly in front of the antennae,

the radiation impact would be limited, the society says.

- M.G. Arun

-30-



a. The growth in the number of towers in India is (i) 2 percent annually (ii) 3 percent annually (iii) 4 percent annually (iv) 5 percent annually

Ans. 3 percent annually

b. The most common health hazards due to radiation are

(i) sleep disorder, headache (ii) memory loss, depressions (iii) hearing loss, joint problems (iv) All of the above

Ans. All of the above

c. Department of Telecommunications conducted a study on radiation level through its (i) Telecom Monitoring Resource Wing

(ii) Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring (iii) Telecom Radiation Enforcement Wing (iv) Telecom Radiation Vigilance Department

Ans. Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring.

d. Which cancer society says that radiation levels from cell phone are low-

(i) Indian Cancer Society (ii) Russian Cancer Society (iii) American Cancer Society (iv) African Cancer Society

Ans. American Cancer Society

Answer the following questions briefly. [1X6=6]

(e) How many telecom towers are present in India and what is the growth rate annually? Ans. There are 40000 towers at present and the growth rate is 3% annually.

(f) Name any three common and two severe health diseases due to radiation. Ans. The three common health diseases due to radiation are sleep disorder, headache

and memory loss and two severe health diseases due to radiation are paralysis and cancer.

(g) What is the allowed limit of radiation in Austria, Russia, Italy and Poland? Ans. The allowed limit of radiation in Austria is 1 milliwatt per square metre and 100

milliwatt per square metre in Russia, China, Italy and Poland.

-31-

(h) What was the ill-effects of radiation faced by the residents of Dadar's Parsi colony? Ans. The ill-effects of radiation faced by the residents of Dadar's Parsi colony was six

cases of cancer in the building in a period of just three years. (i) Which department of telecommunication undertook a study on radiation?

Ans. Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring (TERM) department of telecommunication undertook a study on radiation. (j) Which film actress protested over radiation effects of cell phone towers? Ans. Juhi Chawla protested over radiation effects of cell phone towers.

(k) Find words from the passage which mean the same as : [1X2=2]

(i) emission (para 2) (ii) complaint (para 4) Ans. (i) radiation (ii) grievance

-32-

LITERARY PASSAGE POEM 1

A LUCKY THING

High

up in a hawthorn tree

a robin perched, where he could see

into a coop of wire and wood.

Inside the coop a farmer stood

Flinging grain upon the ground.

Twelve fat chickens gathered round.

The robin,

singing, cocked his head

and watched the chickens being fed.

He saw it was a lucky thing

To be a chicken: Farmers bring

You golden grain, scoop after scoop,

If you’e a chicken in a coop-

A lovely coop with nesting boxes

Safe from cats and crows and foxes.

The chickens

In the coop could see

The bird. They heard his melody

And clucked it was a lucky thing

To be a robin who could sing

A song upon a hawthorn tree.

They watched him through the woven wire.

They saw him fly up high, and higher.

Twelve fat chickens

Scratched the floor.

The farmer closed

And latched the door.

- Alice Schertle

On the basis of your understanding of the poem answer the following questions with


a. The robin feels …….. the chickens because they are safe from predators and do not have to look for their food.

(i) happy about (ii) sorry for (iii) envious of (iv) None of these

Ans. envious of

b. Which one of the following situations is similar to the situation described in the poem?

(i) An insect hopes to escape being eaten by a frog.

-33-

(ii) A dog wishes to catch the cat living nearby. (iii) A squirrel hopes to gather enough food for winter. (iv) A cow wishes to run free with wild horses.

Ans. A cow wishes to run free with wild horses.

c. Identify the rhyme scheme of line 1-6.

(i) aabbcc

(ii) abcd

(iii) abbcc

(iv) adccd

Ans. aabbcc

d. Whom did the farmer feed?

(i) robin

(ii) crows

(iii) foxes

(iv) chickens

Ans. chickens

Answer the following questions as briefly as possible. [1x6=6]

(e) What does the poet convey through this poem? Ans. The poet conveys the thought that people often wish for things that others have. (f) What is the chickens’ attitude towards the robin? Ans. The chickens feel that the robin was lucky to be free to fly wherever he wanted to and was able to sing a song when he wanted to. (i) Why did the farmer close and latch the door after feeding the chickens? Ans. The farmer closed and latched the door after feeding the chickens so that no predators

could attack the chickens. (ii) From what three predators are the chickens safe? Ans. The chickens are safe from cats, crows and foxes. (i) Which other relationship mentioned in the poem is most similar to the relationship between the coop and the chicken? Ans. The relationship between hawthorn tree and the robin is most similar to the relationship

between the coop and the chickens.

-34-

(j) Identify any one example of alliteration from the poem.

Ans. Scoop after scoop / golden grains / woven wire / high and higher.

(k) Find the words in the given poem which convey the similar meaning to [1x2=2]

(i) enclosure (stanza 1) (ii) throwing (stanza 1)

Ans : (i) coop

(ii) flinging

-35-

LITERARY PASSAGE

POEM 2

LINES WRITTEN IN EARLY SPRING

Read the given poem carefully.

I heard a thousand blended notes,

While in a grove I sat reclined,

In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts

Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link

The human soul through me ran;

And much it grieved my heart to think

What man has made of man.

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,

The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;

And’ tis my faith that every flower

Enjoys the air it breathes;

The birds around me hopped and played,

Their thoughts I cannot measure:-

But the least motion which they made

It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan,

To catch the breezy air;

And I must think, do all I can,

That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,

If such be Nature’s holy plan,

Have I not reason to lament

What man has made of man?

-William Wordsworth



a. What is the mood of the poet in these lines?

(i) amused

(ii) pessimistic

(iii) melancholy

(iv) bewildered

-36-

Ans. melancholy

b. What ‘seemed a thrill of pleasure’?

(i) birds hopping and playing

(ii) the budding twigs

(iii) nature’s holy plan

(iv) nature’s music

Ans. birds hopping and playing

c. Where is the poet sitting?

(i) by the river

(ii) in a grove

(iii) on a boat

(iv) in a forest

Ans. in a grove

d. Who hopped and played around the poet?

(i) children

(ii) birds

(iii) rabbits

(iv) peacocks

Ans. birds

Answer the following questions as briefly as possible. [1x6=6]

e. What was the poet’s mind filled with? Ans. Pleasant thoughts of nature bringing sad thoughts to mind.

f. Why was the poet sad? Ans. The poet was sad because of the destruction man has caused to nature.

g. Identify the rhyme scheme of the poem. Ans. abab

h. What thoughts grieved the poet’s heart? Ans. ‘What man has made of man’.

i. What were the budding twigs doing? Ans. The budding twigs were spreading out their leaves to catch the breeze.

j. Why does the poet have reason to lament?

-37-

Ans. The poet has reason to lament because nature’s holy plan is for all plants and animals to be happy, but man has ruined the environment by exploiting it for his selfish needs.

(k) Which word in the poem means the same as [1x2=2]

(i) windy (stanza 5)

(ii) sprouting leaves (stanza5)

Ans. (i) breezy

(ii) budding

-38-

LITERARY PASSAGE

POEM 3

THE LITTLE BLACK BOY

My mother bore me in the southern wild,

And I am black, but O! my soul is white;

White as an angel is the English child:

But I am black as if bereav'd of light.

My mother taught me underneath a tree

And sitting down before the heat of day,

She took me on her lap and kissed me,

And pointing to the east began to say.

Look on the rising sun: there God does live

And gives his light, and gives his heat away.

And flowers and trees and beasts and men receive

Comfort in morning joy in the noonday

And we are put on earth a little space,

That we may learn to bear the beams of love,

And these black bodies and this sun-burnt face

Is but a cloud, and like a shady grove.

For when our souls have learned the heat to bear

The cloud will vanish we shall hear his voice.

Saying: come out from the grove my love & care,

And round my golden tent like lambs rejoice.

Thus did my mother say and kissed me,

And thus I say to little English boy.

When I from black and he from white cloud free,

And round the tent of God like lambs we joy:

- William Blake



a. The mother and the boy belonged to which area? (i) southern Wild (ii) eastern part (iii) England (iv) northern part

Ans. southern wild

-39-

b. Where are the mother and boy sitting? (i) on a chair (ii) under the tree (iii) near the river (iv) on a bench

Ans. under the tree

c. Identify the figure of speech in line no. 3, ‘White as an angel’.

(i) metaphor (ii) simile

(iii) alliteration (iv) repetition Ans. simile

d. Who is calling out to the black people? (i) sun

(ii) clouds (iii) trees (iv) God Ans. God

Answer the following questions:- [1x6=6]

(e) Why did the black boy call his own soul white? Ans. because white is associated with good things.

(f) Sunlight on earth is received by whom? Ans. flowers/trees/beasts/men.

(g) How did the mother teach her boy? Ans. by taking him on her lap under the tree and by kissing him.

(h) Which figure of speech is used in ‘beams of love’? Explain. Ans. Metaphor as God’s love is compared to the rays of the sun.

(i) Why do the black people have sun-burnt face? Ans. because black people are more loved by God so more sunlight falls on them.

(j) When will the clouds vanish? Ans. The clouds will vanish when the voice of God is heard.

(k) Write down the words from the poem which means the following [1x2=2]

(i) To give birth (stanza 1)

(ii) Small forest (stanza 4)

Ans. (i) bore

(ii) grove

-40-

NOTE MAKING

Tips to prepare Notes:

1. Prepare notes using phrases only, never use complete sentences

2. The topic sentence of each paragraph is the main point and ideas affiliated to it are

Sub points- one or more, depending on the concepts in the paragraph.

3. Each sub-point may or may not have supplementary ideas which become sub-sub-

points.

4. Provide an appropriate title for the notes or the summary or abstract, as given in the

question.

5. Include a minimum of 4-6 distinctly different recognizable short forms i.e. abbreviations

of the words in the notes.

6. Cover all the important points in the notes meaningfully to prepare the

abstract/summary in about 80-100 words.

7. Write the summary or abstract in complete sentences in a paragraph.

INDENTATION OF NOTES

All similar level points should maintain the same distance from the margin.

Left hand margin heading

Write the heading/title in block letters.

Underline the heading/title.

Do not give a one-word title.

For Example, the title of a passage on “Darwinism” could be Need For Universal

Darwinism

A. Main Point

1. Sub-points

1.1 Follow the indented format

1.2 Don’t write complete sentences

1.3 Use abbreviations and symbols where required.

1.4 Notes should not be very long.

1.5 …………………………..

1.5.1 Sub-sub-sub point

1.5.2 Sub-sub-sub-point

2. Sub-point

2.1 Sub-sub point

2.2 Sub-sub point

B. Main point …..

-41-

KINDS OF FORMATS

Different kinds of formats may be used, depending on the theme of the passage.

FORMAT I

Mixed Indent with Examples

A. Reasons

1. can’t rem’ber much inf’ w’out wrtng

2. help mem – exams

3. can consult

B. Characteristics

1. short

2. main pts only

3. note form

(i) no cmplt sent

(ii) divs and sub-divs

(iii) use of abbr and symbols

4. understandable

FORMAT II

Indented Roman Numerals

A. Reasons

i. can’t disc’vr inf’ w’out knwng

ii. help rem’ber- points through notes

iii. can consult

B. Characteristics

I. Short

II. Main pts only

III. Note form

(i) No complt sent

(ii) divs and sub-divs

(iii) use of abbr and symbols

IV. understandable

FORMAT III

Indented Decimals

A. Reasons

1.1 can’t rem’ber much inf’ w’out wrtng

1.2 help mem-exams

1.3 can consult

B. Characteristics

2.1 short

2.2 main pts only

2.3 note form

2.3.1 no cmplt sent

2.3.2 divs and sub-divs

2.3.3 use of abbr and symbols

2.4 understandable

-42-

Abbreviations Words

Abbr abbreviation

avt aviation

fmly family

pnt point

engr engineer

ABBREVIATIONS

Use standard abbreviation and symbols as far as practicable

a. First letters of names must be capitalized.

e.g., USA, Darwin, Mumbai etc.

b. Common abbreviations should be used.

e.g., sc for science, Mr, Mrs, Dr, Govt, etc.

c. Common symbols should be used.

e.g., +ve, -ve, -(approaches), (rising), (falling).

=(equal), = (equivalent), etc.

d. Figures should be used in measurements.

e.g., 100kg, 1000mm, 100ml, 100’, 10” etc.

e. When making your own abbreviations, try to keep the main sounds of the word.

e.g., edn for education, ddvlpt for development

f. Retain the suffix, so that when you are going over the notes later, you may

understand the full form of the abbreviation.

e.g., ednl (educational), progve(progressive).

g. As a general rule, headings should not be abbreviated. You can use

abbreviations in main points, sub-points etc.

h. Ideally, you do not require more than 4-5 words to be abbreviated in a passage

besides the common abbreviations.

Some Common Abbreviations

-43-

HOW TO SUMMARISE A GIVEN PASSAGE

Read (First Read) Read the passage very carefully and critically. Read the passage

straight through. Do not stop to look up anything that gives you trouble at the first reading.

You should get a feel for the author’s tone, style and main idea.

Reread (Second Read) Rereading should be active reading. Underline the topic

sentences and key facts with pencil.

Label the areas that you want to refer to as you write your summary. Also label the areas that

you find irrelevant. Identify areas that you do not understand and try to clarify those points.

One Sentence at a time Now write the main idea of each paragraph in one well-

developed sentence. Make sure that what include in your sentence are key points, not minor

details.

Write a Thesis Statement The key to a well-written summary is the Thesis Statement.

A quality Thesis Statement could either express one main idea or assert your conclusions

about the subject.

Generally, a thesis statement consists of the following parts

a clearly identifiable topic or subject matter, and

a succinct summary of what you have to say about that topic.

Ready to Write You can use Thesis Statement as the introductory sentence of your

summary, while your other sentences can make up the body.

In fact, a good summary should give ideas, facts or points in the order in which they are given

in the original text.

Add some transition words such as then, however, also, moreover etc, that help with the

overall structure and flow of the summary.

The following tips will help you to write a good summary

i) Write in the present tense (preferably in active voice).

ii) Be Concise summary should be within the words limit (about 80 words) and

should be coherent without any errors in logic. Don’t put your opinions, ideas or

interpretations into the summary.

Check for Accuracy Reread your summary and make sure that you have accurately

represented the author’s ideas and key points.

Make sure that your summary does not contain your own comments.

Revise Revise your summary for style, grammar and punctuation. Correct all the errors

in composition and rewrite it if needed.

-44-

PASSAGE 1 DISCURSIVE PASSAGE

1. On a serious level, when was the last time you remember keeping your emotions solely

to yourself, when a disaster struck? Or was averted? Agreed, humans are social beings who

need feedback based on their social interactions. But, in today’s times, where people-men

and women alike-thrive on social approval, it feels like your happiness is on a leash depend

on social media, or society at large. A person could possibly go to any extent to seek

attention. Lying, cheating, manipulating, constantly blabbing or being intentionally silent, are

all a part of the process to be the centre of attention. Everyone want to be liked and be

popular. Attention gives a pleasurable high and does wonderful thing to one’s ego and self-

worth. It is when to seeking exceeds normalcy that the trouble begins. Both too much of

attention and the lack of it are obvious signs of trouble.

2. Also known as Histrionic Personality Disorder, attention-seeking is an attempt to

desperately attract the attention of other people, typically by disruptive or excessively

extrovert behavior. To find an attention-seeker around you, look for someone who says, “I

want to kill myself,” after a mere bad day at work, or simply throws a tantrum for not being

given enough time. Taking on the role of a victim or a damsel-in-distress is a typical trait of an

attention-seeker. Simply put, attention-seekers are the drama queens we come across

frequently in our life. According to clinical psychiatrist, Dr Harish Shetty, from Hiranandani

Hospital, Mumbai, “Attention-seeking is not exactly a disorder. We all want approval in some

way or the other from the people we are around with. It massages our ego and therefore, has

a feel-good factor to it. Seeking approval enhances our identity.” He explains how attention-

seeking, if casual, can be encouraging, “but once out of control, if the persons’ obsession sets

in, the trouble that follows ruins a person’s relationships and eventually their peace of mind.”

3. Attention-seeking generally happens in a large magnitude to people who blame others.

The blaming is a type of coping mechanism the attention-mongers feel is essential to justify

the mistakes they refuse to own up to. Dr. Shetty elaborates, “People who are narcissistic will

seek attention in a larger than life manner like dramatizing even the smallest of things that

happens to them. Also, adults who have been spoilt as children will have a lesser sense of

responsibility towards other as well as themselves, so are more likely to be narcissistic.” This

behavior can be seen in adults who have had an unpleasant past, i.e. they have been

ignored, neglected bullied, or abused in may way before. They gradually start becoming

addicted to it. They think making up for all the years of unfairness they have faced as a child

-45-

is best done by seeking attention. They pre-teen years are extremely significant as they

mould the child he or she is to become when they fully grow up. Frustration, anger, and

disturbing relationships ensue if there is an excess of this behavior. The person can also grow

to be extremely anxious and develop an nervous anxiety. Dr. Shetty adds, “Mostly seen in

kids, this behavior generally tends to die out with age. But as adults, people suffering from a

terminal illness, ones who have faced a huge loss in business, break-ups or divorces, also

portrary such behavior. If not handled with maturity, it worsens. But, when someone faces a

challenge, they think they are incapable of handling, it can amplify uneasiness in them and

they resort to playing the victim all the time. A lot of other causes, however are varied and

highly subjective.”

(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it, using

headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever

necessary – minimum four) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an

appropriate title to it. 5

TITLE : YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE

NOTES 1. Crave Attentn.

1.1 keeping your emotions 1.2 need feedback on social interactn. 1.3 thrive social approval

2. Extent to Seek Attentn.

2.1 lyng. 2.2 cheatng. 2.3 manpul. 2.4 constantly blabbng. or being intentionally silent

3. What exactly is attentn. seeking? 3.1 attempt to desperately attract the attentn. 3.2 person’s obsession sets in 3.3 want approval in some way or the other 3.4 massages our ego, has a feel good factor

4. Once out of control 4.1 ruins a person’s relationship and peace of mind 4.2 person grows anxious

5. Why it happens?

5.1 blame others 5.2 likely to be narcissistic 5.3 had an unpleasant past

-46-

Key to Abbreviation

1. attentn. - attention

2. interactn. - interaction

3. lyng. - lying

4. cheating. - cheating

5. manpul. - manipulating

6. & - and

7. blabbng. - blabbing

(b) Write a summary of the above passage in about 80 words. 3

Everyone wants to be liked and be popular. Attention gives a pleasurable high and does a

wonderful thing to one’s ego and self-worth. It is when the seeking exceeds normally that the

trouble begins. Both too much of attention and the lack of it are obvious signs of trouble. Also

known as Histrionic Personality Disorder, it attracts the attention of other people, typically by

disruptive or excessively extrovert behaviour. But once out of control, if the person’s

obsession sets in, the trouble that follows ruins a person’s relationships and eventually their

peace of mind. This behaviour can be seen in adults who have had led an unpleasant past i.e.

they have been ignored, neglected, bullied or abused in many ways before. If not handled

with maturity, it worsens. Instead of ridiculing the person, they should be sympathized with

and treated with compassion.

-47-

PASSAGE 2

FACTUAL PASSAGE

Read the passage carefully.

1. Pre- colonial history of Bengal is closely linked with the emergence, growth and decline of

Murshidabad. It has governed all the proceedings of the 18th century eastern India and

provided the platform from which the colonial interests had launched themselves and

subsequently became an imperial power in 1857.

2. It is quite obvious that such a socio- political stage has enormous potential to engage any

visitor from far and wide through its myriad cultural landscape. A seat of power of such a

scale attracts lot of wealth, creativity and activity. For example the annual revenue of

Bengal paid to the Mughal Emperor amounts to One Crore Sicca Taka-in early

seventeenth century was an unbelievable amount. In a cunning strategy move,

Murshidkuli Khan shifted the administrative power centre of Bengal to the Bank of

Bhagirathi- the prime life force of North India and almost in the geographic centre of the

province in 1701.

3. One primary policy decision triggered series of subsequent events. Sensing the potential

for enhanced financial opportunity, trading community from 'Nagore' town in the Rajput

State of Jodhpur migrated to Bengal. They settled in the areas of Mahimapur, Jyaganj and

Azimganj and got themselves known as 'Shaherwali Community'. Over the years the

accumulated enormous wealth and became an important factor governing the economy of

Bengal. Mughal Emperor acknowledged their importance and had conferred the title 'Jagat

Seth' (cashier of the world). Jainism spread rapidly with the prosperity of the community in

the localities of Azimganj, Jiyaganj and Katgola. While Murshidabad was being built

according to the Muslim traditions, Hindu philosophies governed the development of the

Jiyaganj, Azimganj.

4. In fact four of the important Jain Tirths in Bengal, three lies at Azimganj- Shree Chintamoni

Parswanath Bhagwan, Jiyaganj- Shree Sambhavnath Bhagwan, Katgola-Shree Adinath

Bhagwan.

5. The large havellis, mansions, palaces, gardens lay neglected and weathered. It draws

today certain amount of History, cultural enthusiast and that too on a day visit. Whereas its

enormous potential for cultural tourism and pilgrimage remained unexplored. Its old trade

links and networks also lay dormant for the want of sponsors.

6. The circuit of Mushidabad-Jiyaganj-Azimganj is just waiting for the right kind of initiative

and public support for its revitalization. Cultural tourism appears to be the right catalyst to

trigger such an initiative.

7. No tourism initiative is sustainable unless it gains the support of its local community.

Community initiatives are best when it rides on the pride for themselves and have a deep

-48-

rooted attachment for the place. Fortunately the Shaherwali Community have a very

strong social network bonded by the common religion of Jainism. They are very proud of

their legacy and command large parcels of land Heritage buildings, artefacts and are quite

committed for its restoration. Being mainly a trader's community they value their assets

and understand the need for its conservation. To them assistance of any kind is important

and they also realises that unless they obtain public support their individual effort is not

sustainable.





TITLE: Bengal- Heritage Unparalleled

NOTES I. Emergence, Growth and Decline of Murshidabad

1. Imperial power proceedings 1.1 govrnd the proceedngs of the 18th century

2. Enormous otential 2.1 through its myriad cultural landscape 2.2 power attracts wealth, creativity and activity

3. Cunning strategical move 3.1.Murshidkuli Khan shifted power to Bank of Bhagirathi.

II. Sensing Potential for enhance

1. Financial & trading opportunities 1.1 attracts tradng community 1.2 Nagore town

III. Spread of Jainism

1. Shaherwali Community 1.1 strong social network 1.2 proud of legacy 1.3 enormous potential for cultural tourism and pilgrimage 1.4 deep rooted and attchmt.

2. Proud of legacy 2.1 heritage buildng. 2.2 artefacts 2.3 quite committed for restoration

3. Need of consvrtn. 3.1 obtain public support 3.2 individual effort not sustainable

-49-

Key to Abbreviation 1. proceedngs - proceedings 2. govrnd - governed 3. enhancemnt - enhancement 4. attachment - attachment 5. restoratn - restoration 6. buildng. - building 7. & - and 8. Consvrtn - conservation

(b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words. 3

Pre-colonial history of Bengal is closely linked with the emergence, growth and decline of Murshidabad. It is quite obvious that such a socio- political stage has enormous potential. In a cunning strategical move Murshidkuli Khan shifted the administrative power centre from Bengal to Bank of Bhagirathi. Over the years they accumulated enormous wealth and became an important factor governing the economy of Bengal. Mughal Emperor acknowledged their importance. Jainism spread rapidly with the prosperity of the community. Its enormous potential for cultural tourism and pilgrimage remained unexplored. Fortunately the Shaherwali Community have a strong social network bonded by the common religion of Jainism. Being mainly a trader's community they value the assets and understand the need for its conservation with public support.

-50-

PASSAGE 3

FACTUAL PASSAGE


1. A vast blanket of pollution stretching across South Asia is cutting down sunlight by 10

percent over India, damaging agriculture, modifying rainfall patterns and putting hundreds of

thousands of people at risk, according to a new study.

2. The startling findings of scientists working with the United Nations Environment

Programme indicate that the spectacular economic growth seen in this part of the world in the

past decade may soon falter as a result of this pollution.

3. Research carried out in India indicates that the haze caused by pollution might be

reducing winter rice harvests by as much as 10 percent, the report said.

4. “Acids in the haze may be falling as acid rain, have the potential to damage crops and

trees. Ash falling on leaves can aggravate the impact of reduced sunlight on earth’s surface.

The pollution that is forming the haze could be leading to several hundreds of thousands of

premature deaths as a result of higher levels of respiratory diseases,” it said. Results from

seven cities in India alone, including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata, estimate that

air pollution was annually responsible for 24,000 premature deaths in the early 1990s. By the

mid-1990s they resulted in an estimated 37,000 premature fatalities.

5. “The haze has cut down sunlight over India by 10 percent (so far)—a huge amount! As

a repercussion, the North West of India is drying up,” Prof. V. Ramanathan said, when asked

specifically about the impact of the haze over India. Stating that sunlight was going down every

year, he said, “We are still in the early stage of understanding of the impact of the haze.”

6. Asked whether the current drought in most parts of India after over a decade of good

monsoon was owing to the haze, he said, “ It was too early to reach a conclusion. If the

drought persists for about four to five years, then we should start suspecting that it may be

because of the haze.”

7. India, China and Indonesia are the worst affected owing to their population density,

economic growth and depleting forest cover. The preliminary results indicate the buildup of

haze, a mass of ash, acid, aerosols and other particles is disrupting weather systems,

including rainfall and wind patterns and triggering droughts in western parts of the Asian

Continent. The concern is that the regional and global impacts of the haze are set to intensify

over the next 30 years as the population of the Asian region rises to an estimated five billion

people.

-51-

Key to Abbreviations

S - South

% - percent

UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme

Eco. - economic

N.W. - North- West

& - and

W - West

- because





Title: Global Impact of Pollution

NOTES

1. Effects of pollution is S.E. Asia

1.1 cutting 10% sunlight over India

1.2 damaging agriculture

1.3 modifying rainfall pattern

1.4 many people at risk

2. Revelations of UNEP

2.1 eco. growth may falter of pollution

2.2 haze van cause premature deaths

2.3 acid rain can damage crops & trees

3. Impact of haze over India

3.1 rise in respiratory diseases

3.2 has cut down sunlight over India by 10%

3.3 N.W. India is drying up

4. Impact on India, China & Indonesia

4.1 worst affected of height density of population

4.2 affecting eco. growth

4.3 depleting forest cover

5. Its results

5.1 weather systems can be disrupted

5.2 wind patterns will be disturbed

5.3 can trigger droughts in W.Asian continent

-52-

(b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words. 3

The harmful effect of pollution can be seen across South Asia. This is most likely to falter the

spectacular economic growth. The presence of acids in the haze can reduce winter harvest by

ten percent. The pollution forming the haze can led to many premature deaths and has also

cut down the sunlight over India by ten percent. The droughts in India could also be because

of the haze . The worst affected countries are India, China and Indonesia because of their

population density , economic growth and depleting forest cover. The main concern is that the

regional and global impacts of haze are said to intensify over the next thirty years due to

increase in population by five billion.

-53-

Passage 4

FACTUAL PASSAGE


1. Despite all the research everyone of us catches cold and most of us catch it frequently.

Our failure to control one of the commonest of all ailments sometimes seems ridiculous.

Medical science regularly practises transplant surgery and has rid whole countries of such

killing diseases as Typhus and the Plague. But the problem of common cold is unusually

difficult and much has yet to be done to solve it.

2. It is known that a cold is caused by one of a number of viral infections that affect the

lining of the nose and the other passages leading to lungs but the confusing variety of viruses

makes study and remedy very difficult. It was shown in 1960 that many typical colds in adults

are caused by one or the other of a family of viruses known as rhinoviruses, yet there still

remain many colds for which no virus has yet been isolated.

3. There is also the difficulty that because they are so much smaller than the bacteria

which cause many other infections, viruses cannot be seen with ordinary microscopes. Nor

can they be cultivated easily in the bacteriologist’s laboratory, since they only grow within the

living cells of animal and plants. An important recent step forward, however, is the

development of the technique of tissue culture, in which bites of animal tissue are enabled to

go on living and to multiply independently of the body. This has greatly aided virus research

and has led to the discovery of a large number of the viruses. Their existence had previously

been not only unknown but even an unsuspected.

4. The fact that we can catch cold repeatedly creates another difficulty. Usually a virus

strikes only once and leaves the victim immune to further attacks. Still we do not gain

immunity from colds. Why? It may possibly be due to the fact that while other viruses get into

the bloods stream where anti-bodies can oppose them, the viruses causing cold attack cells

only on the surface. Or it may be that immunity from one of the many different viruses does

not guarantee protections from all the others. It seems, therefore, that we are likely to have to

suffer colds for some time yet.

a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes on it using




Ans: Title: No Control Over Common Cold

NOTES

1. How to control com. cold

1.1 no cure to control it

1.2 cure avail. for Typhus & Plague

1.3 prob. of com. cold not yet solved

2. Reasons for cold

-54-


1. com. – common

2. & - and

3. avail. – available

4. prob. – problem

5. infec. – infection

6. fmly. - family

7. hv - have

8. bn - been

9. lab. – laboratory

10. - because

11. dev. – development

12. no. - number

13. fm - from

14. imm. - immunity

2.1 it is a viral infec. that affects nose-lining

2.2 caused by fmly. of viruses called Rhinoviruses

2.3 for certain colds no viruses hv yet bn isolated

3. Prob. of identifying viruses

3.1 smaller than bacteria so can’t be seen with ordinary microscopes

3.2 cannot be easily cultivated in bacteriologists lab grow within the living cells of

plants & animals.

4. Div. of tissue culture aided by

4.1 bits of animal tissue go on living

4.2 multiply independently off the body

4.3 has led to discovery of large no. of viruses

4.4 their existence previously unknown and unsuspected

5. No imm. fm. cold

5.1 viruses causing cold attacks only on surface & not blood stream

5.2 cannot be opposed by anti-bodies

5.3 imm. fm. one virus doesn’t guarantee protection fm. all

5.4 you hv to suffer fm. cold for some more time

b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words. 3

Despite having the cure to killing – disease like Typhus and Plague it seems ridiculous that

medical science has not done much yet to solve the problem of common cold . this is because

the study of viruses remains confusing as they cannot be seen with ordinary microscopes.

Now with the development of the technique of tissue culture a large number of viruses have

been discovered whose existence was earlier unknown. We keep catching cold and never

-55-

become immune to it because the viruses causing cold attack only on the surface unlike other

viruses that get into the blood stream and so can be opposed by anti-bodies.

-56-

PASSAGE 5 FACTUAL PASSAGE


1. The monsoon is such a welcome respite from the scorching summer thanks to the

overcast sky, gentle rain and lush greenery all around. Almost all of us love to savour spicy

and crunchy food items such as fritters (pakoras) and chaats like panipuri, sevpuri teamed

with cutting chai as the rainwater lashes against the window pane. However, the season also

brings along a lots of diseases such as dengue, malaria, conjunctivitis, typhoid, viral fever,

pneumonia, gastrointestinal disturbances, diarrhea, food poisoning, cholera, cough and cold

and jaundice due to bacteria in the environment. The challenge lies in going about your daily

routine without falling ill. If you suffer from low immunity, you are at a higher risk of contracting

these diseases. However, the right dietary tips can strengthen you immunity and help you say

hale and hearty.

2. Due to the humid climate, you may not feel too thirsty and consume just one litre of

water every day. But you need to be well hydrated as sweat doesn’t evaporate quickly in

monsoon. Consequently, this prevents the body from releasing heat. So consume a lot of

water as it helps to flush out toxins from the body. Ensure that the water is clean, pure and

safe to drink. Avoid aerated drinks; instead consume warm beverages such as green tea with

holy basil leaves, ginger, pepper and honey as they have anti-bacterial properties. A bowl of

hot vegetable soup is also a good option. The hot beverages increase your body temperature

(which will in turn give you warmth) while the ingredients will boost your immunity.

3. Consume fruits such as cherries, bananas, apples, pomegranates, plums, litchis and

pears as they are packed with anti-oxidants and are rich in vitamin A,E, C and minerals.

Vegetables such as cauliflower, potatoes, cluster beans, lady’s finger, kidney beans pigeon

pea and sprouted grains get spoilt easily due to the humidity. So, they should be avoided. Opt

for cooked or steamed veggies. Avoid salads as they comprise raw vegetables that contain

active bacteria which lead to various infections and affect the body’s immunity. Avoid strong

smelling or extra sweet fruits such as mangoes and jackfruit that attract flies as their excess

intake can cause skin irritation and stomach ache. It’s also important to store vegetables the

right way during the rains. Do not wash the veggies thoroughly before storing, as the moisture

will attract pathogenic fungus. These bacteria can spread to other susceptible food items as

well, making them unhygienic. Instead, pat dry and store separate food items in different

containers. Buy them in limited portions and use them as soon as possible.

-57-

4. Dehydration makes your hair brittle and scanty. So hydrate yourself. Zinc and iron help

to keep your tresses healthy and beautiful. Consume nuts, eggs and walnuts to maintain hair

strength. Walnuts are rich in biotin and vitamin E, which are excellent antioxidants. Proteins

are important for hair strength too. So add curd to your diet, as it is a great source of protein.

Amla juice, organs and other citrus foods are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C keeps your hair

strong as it helps in production of collagen that among other things strengthens the hair

capillaries (ensuring proper nutrient supply to our hair). Also, ensure that you wash your locks

on alternate days and cover them well during the monsoon. Dried apricots, roasted sunflower

seeds and lentils are better foods to consume during monsoon than other iron-rich foods

which are susceptible to microbial attack. Do not forget to eat yummy corn on cob as corn is

also rich in iron and zinc.

5. So, the secret to enjoy the rains, without the fear of affecting your health is to go light

on eating. Have a safe and healthy monsoon.

(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it, using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary – minimum four) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it. 5

TITLE : EAT RIGHT STAY FIT

NOTES

1. Scorchng. summer 1.1 overcast sky, gentle rain and lush greenery. 1.2 brings host of diseases

2. Stay Well-Hydrated 2.1 humid climate - not feel too thirsty 2.2 flush out toxins 2.3 ensure purity of water 2.4 avoid aerated drinks

3. Switch to a Balanced Diet 3.1 consume fruits packed with ant.oxdt. 3.2 rich in Vit. A, E, C and minerals 3.3 avoid following things:

3.3.1 vegetables - get spoilt easily 3.3.2 salads contng. active bacteria 3.3.3 strong. smlg. or extra sweet fruits 3.3.4 washing veggies before storing

4. Maintain your tresses

-58-


1. storng. - storing

2. scorchng. - scorching

3. smlg. - smelling

4. ant.oxdt. - antioxidants

5. vit. - vitamin

6. contng. - containing

7. Zn - zinc

4.1 hydrate yourself 4.2 consume Zn and Iron 4.3 biotin and Vit. E- antioxidants 4.4 eat Protein, Vit C 4.5 wash locks on alternate days

(b) Write a summary of the above passage in about 80 words. 3

The monsoon is such a welcome respite from the scorching summer. Almost all of us love

savour spicy and crunchy food items. However, the season also brings along a host of

diseases such as dengue, malaria, conjunctivitis etc. due to humid climate, one may not feel

too thirsty and consume just one litre of water everyday. So consume a lot of water and it

helps to flush out toxins from the body. Consume fruits which are packed with anti-oxidants

and are rich in vitamin A, E, C and minerals. Do not eat vegetables get spoilt easily due to the

humidity. Avoid strong smelling or extra sweet fruits. Dehydration makes your hair brittle and

scanty. Zinc and iron help to keep your tresses healthy and beautiful. Proteins are important

for hair strength. Vitamin C helps in production of collagen that strengthens the hair

capillaries. Also ensure that you wash your locks on alternate days.

-59-

SECTION B (30 Marks)

WRITING SKILLS One Short Answer Question : Advertisements/Notices/Designing or

Drafting Posters/ Invitation & Replies

4 Marks

One Long Answer Question : Letter Writing 6 Marks

Two Very Long Answer Questions : Article/Debate/Speech

2x10=20 Marks

S.NO.

CONTENT

NO.

PAGE NUMBER

1.

Advertisement

15

60-69

2.

Notice Writing

5

70-73

3.

Poster Designing

5

74-79

4.

Invitation and Replies

6

80-86

5.

Letter Writing

16

87-107

6.

Article

4

108-114

7.

Speech

4

115-120

8.

Debate

4

121-128

-60-

SHORT COMPOSITIONS

(Advertisements/Notices/Designing or Drafting Posters/ Invitation & Replies)

ADVERTISEMENT

The word advertisement means a public notice or an announcement asking for or offering

services, advertising goods for buying or selling (property, household goods, vehicles) etc.

Advertisements are also used for giving information about missing persons, pets, goods and

so on. The written draft of an advertisement is termed as copy. Advertisement is a very

important tool for promotion of sales and services

Advertisements are of two types :

1. Classified Advertisements

2. Commercial or Display Advertisements

Classified Advertisement

You will come across classified advertisements in the columns of newspapers and

magazines. Important features of a Classified Advertisement are:

No blocks, no design and the language used should be factual.

Simple, formal and to the point.

Comprehensive, yet must not leave any important matter.

Never be too lengthy (confine to the word limit).

GUIDELINES FOR DRAFTING CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS

Advertisements should always be drafted in such a way that they attract the readers to

go through them.

Advertisements should always be meaningful and interesting so that they can attract

the attention of the readers.

Advertisements should always be simple and effective language.

Advertisements should always be brief and to the point.

The name of the advertiser and the advertised product should be properly highlighted.

Tip:- To develop expertise in drafting advertisements, students are advised to read

classified advertisement column of leading newspapers.

Marking Scheme:

Format: Suitable heading/classification e.g., Situations Vacant.

Content: Subject matter including contact address, phone number.

Expression: Grammatical accuracy, spelling, suitable style.

There is penalty of marks for exceeding the word limit.

1 Mark

2 Mark

1 Mark

-61-

Important Tips To be followed

Classified Advertisements

Clearly state the category at the top, e.g., 'For Sale', 'To Let', etc.

Give all necessary details in points using commas.

Give contact address, name and telephone number.

Put the matter in a box.

Kinds of Classified Advertisements

1. Situation Vacant

2. Lost and found

3. Sale and Purchase

4. Accommodation Wanted

5. Educational

6. Placement services

7. Matrimonial

8. To Let

9. Tuitions

10. Packers and Movers

11. Kennel

12. Travels and Tours

1. Situation Vacant

Begin with ‘Wanted’ or ‘Required’

Name of the company, post and no. of vacancies

Age and sex of the candidate

Qualification and experience

Other details

Pay scale and perks

Mode of applying

Contact address and phone no.

SITUATION VACANT

Wanted a smart, confident PA/Stenographer for a leading export house. Qualification

graduate, age 25-30 yrs, typing speed 40 w.p.m. Preference to those who can handle

computer. Salary negotiable. Apply with complete Bio-data upto 15-12-2015 to

Secretary, Orient Export House, M. H. Nagar, Chennai – 670001

-62-

2. Matrimonial

Mention groom / bridge groom

Height, age, caste, religion, complexion, educational qualifications

Phone number / Post Box no. and name of newspaper.

Bridegroom Wanted

Alliance invited for Ramgarhia, Sikh Girl 29/165, M. A. English, tall, fair &

beautiful. Caste no bar. Send recent photo & biodata. Ph. 0497 – 2788330. Box

No. 1015 – The Indian Express COCHIN – 650337

3. Lost and Found

Begin with ‘Lost ’ or ‘Found’

Specify item.

Brief physical description.

When / where lost or found.

Reward if any


Lost and Found

Lost a black coloured VIP suitcase model no 555, 38 x 30 contain important

documents related marketing, left in bus no. DL-p 6778 on Delhi to Jaipur route

on 10th August 2015. Kindly contact Purmal Singh Ph No. 9419284539

4. For Sale

For sale/purchase etc

Type of accommodation / vehicle /article / household items.

Brief physical description

Contact address & phone number.

Car for Sale

For sale Maruti 800 DX, 2000, white, sparingly used, scratch less, self driven,

stereo-fitted, beautiful upholstery, excellent condition, no expense, rate

Negotiable. Contact Amit Sharma , 25677900

-63-

5. To Let

Begin with ‘Wanted’ or ‘Available’

Type of accommodation

Brief description

Rent expected

Contact address & phone no.

To Let

Available on rent Anand Vihar Colony First Floor 2/3 bedroom, well furnished

and ventilated, facing Park, car Parking, walking distance from main market.

Reasonable rent. Contact. H. R. Meena 1A /23, Anand Vihar 278810017

6. Missing person/pet animals

Begin with ‘Missing’

Brief physical description;

For person- name, age, height complexion, built, clothes and other identifying features

For pet-name, age, colour of fur and other identifying feature

Since when/ from where missing

Reward


Missing Person

Missing a boy, Santosh Kumar, 15 years, 5’5”, fair slim built wearing black

T-shirt and white pants, since 10th August 2015 from Kota railway station.

Finder will be duly rewarded. Inform Kota police station phone no. 0744-

220010 or A.K. Sharma H.B road Kota phone no. 0744-220007

7. Travels and Tour

Begin with ‘Package Available’ etc

Name of travel agency

Destination and duration

Details of package-food/ boarding/lodging/sightseeing etc

Cost and discount if any.


-64-

Travel and Tours

Attractive package available for Manali and Ooty, 5 nights/4 days, breakfast

and dinner, stay at 5 star hotels, sight-seeing included. Rs 10000 per head.

Special discount for booking till 10th November 2015. Contact Blue Star Travel

and Tours. Chennai. 044-288000555

Display Advertisements:

These are designed for commercial purposes.

Require more space, hence are costly. Must be attractive with visuals, catchy phrases

and slogans

Main features:

Must be attractive with a catchy caption, heading or sub-headings.

Figurative language (alliteration and metaphors especially).

Proportionate spacing of fonts with different sizes.

Usually attractive with catchy slogans, punch lines, witty expressions, pictures or

sketches.

Special offers or discount, if any.

Details of the product or event given in a clear, precise way.

Give name, contact number and address of the advertiser.

Present the matter in a box.

Example:

SALE

Hurry ! Up to 50% discount

Shoes & slippers Rush----------------------today

TATA FOOTWEAR

GLORY Market- JAIPUR

-69-

Unsolved Examples:

Q.1 Samta Public School in Delhi requires cricket and hockey coaches. Draft a suitable

advertisement in not more than 50 words for the 'Situations Vacant' column of the 'Daily

Herald', stating your requirements regarding age, qualification, experience etc. You are the

Principal of the school.

Q.2 You plan to sell your flat. Draft a suitable advertisement in not more than 50 words t be

inserted in the classified columns of a local daily giving all necessary details of the flat. You

are Neeraj/Neeraja, 28, Gopal Nagar, Delhi.

Q.3 You are Dr. Madhu , M.D. You are looking for an independent house in Ghaziabad on

a reasonable rent for your residence-cum-clinic. Draft a suitable advertisement in not more

than 50 words to be published in Hindustan Times, New Delhi. Your telephone no. is

12341234.

Q.4 You plan to sell your motorcycle. Daft a suitable advertisement , in not more than 50

words, to be published in the classified columns of 'The Hindustan Times', Delhi. Mention the

details of the motorcycle. You are Ramesh of 15, Greater Kailash, New Delhi. Your mobile no.

is 2849021624.

Q.5 You want to sell a few (4 items) household items as you are going to abroad. Draft an

advertisement in not more than 50 words to be published in 'Dainik Bhaskar' under classified

columns. You are Dinesh/Divya of Moti Ganj, Balia.

-70-

NOTICE WRITING

A Notice is a written or printed information or news announcement. Notices are either

displayed at prominent places or published in newspapers/magazines. A notice is always brief

and to the point.

Points to be followed while writing Notices-

Adhere to the specified word limit of 50 words.

Write the word ‘NOTICE’ at the top.

Name and place of the school, organization or office issuing the notice should be

mentioned.

Give an appropriate heading.

Write the date of issuing the notice.

Clearly mention the target group (for whom the notice is to be displayed).

Purpose of the notice.

Mention all relevant details (date, venue, time).

Mention whom to contact for extra information.

Signature, name and designation of the person issuing the notice.

Put the notice in a box.

Format of a Notice : A notice is always written in a box.

Word Limit : 50 words

Marks : 4 Marks

Format : Name of the organization/Notice/Heading/Date/Signature with name and

Designation [1 Mark]

Content: For whom (Target group)?What? When? Where? Agenda etc. [2 Marks]

Expression: Coherence, spellings and grammatical accuracy [1 Mark]

NAME OF THE INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION/OFFICE, PLACE

NOTICE

DATE

SUITABLE HEADING

Content : Target group- for whom the notice is. Date, time, venue and all

important details and any extra information needed. (Body of the Notice 50

words)Answer the questions- For whom, what, when, where , when how, by

whom + additional information.

Signature

(Name)

Designation

-71-

Examples:

Q.1 You are Amit/Amita, Head boy/Head girl of your school (Zenith Public School,

Lucknow). Write a notice for your school notice board calling for entries from desirous

students for Britannia Quiz Contest- Preliminary round to be held at your school. (Word

limit- 50 words).

Ans.

Q.2 You are Abhinav/Abha.. You have planned a 2-week course to be arranged to

help the children of your Group Housing Society at Kanpur, acquire the oral

communication skills. Prepare a notice for the society's notice board, stating the

objective of the course, giving necessary details of the course and requesting the

children of the society to join the course.

Ans.

ZENITH PUBLIC SCHOOL, LUCKNOW NOTICE

22 August, 2015 INTER SCHOOL QUIZ CONTEST

An Inter-School Britannia Quiz Contest will be held in Bhartiya Vidya Sadan, Lucknow

on 15th September, 2015. The preliminary round for the quiz will take place at our

school. Entries are invited from the interested students of classes VI to XII. Their

names should be given to Hardik in the Activity Room during the recess. The last date

for receiving entries is 30th Aug, 2015.

Amit

(Head boy)

GULMOHAR HOUSING SOCIETY, KANPUR NOTICE

20 AUG, 2015 COMMUNICATION SKILL DEVELOPMENT COURSE

A 2-week course is to be arranged to provide a rare opportunity for the children aged

between 8-14 years to polish up their oral communication skills. The course starts on

10th Sept,2015 under the able guidance of qualified and experienced instructors.

The fee for the course is Rs 1500 per child and the timings are 3 pm to 6 pm

(Monday to Saturday). The children who are interested may register themselves at

the society office latest by 5th Sept,2015. For further details contact the undersigned.

Abhinav

(The Secretary)

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Q.3 Sarvodaya Education Society, a charitable organisation is coming to your school

to distribute books among the needy students. As Head Boy/Head Girl, Sunrise Public

School, Surat, write a notice in about 50 words asking such students to drop the lists

of books they need in the box kept outside the Principal's office. You are Navtej/Navita.

Ans.

Q.4 Your club is going to organise an inter-class singing competition. Write a notice

in about 50 words inviting names of the students who want to participate in it. Give all

the necessary details. You are Navtej/Navita, Secretary, Music Club, Akash Public

School, Agra.

Ans.

SUNRISE PUBLIC SCHOOL, SURAT NOTICE

19TH AUGUST, 2015 DISTRIBUTION OF BOOKS

Sarvodaya Education Society, a charitable organisation, is arranging to visit our

school on 25th August, 2015 to distribute books among the needy students. This is

to inform such students to drop the lists of books they need with their names written

in the box, kept outside the Principal's office. The books will be handed over to the

concerned students by the class teachers. For any queries contact the undersigned.

Navtej

(Head Boy)

AKASH PUBLIC SCHOOL NOTICE 20 AUGUST 2015

INTER CLASS SINGING COMPETITION

The Music Club of the school is going to organise an Inter- Class singing

competition for the students of class VIII to XII on 20th September 20XX in the

school auditorium. Songs could be folk, classical, light classical, even western.

Those interested may give their names to the class teachers latest by 25th August

20XX. For further details contact the undersigned.

Navtej

Secretary

(Music Club)

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Q.5 You are Sonia/ Sohan of Simon Public School, Meerut. Your school has decided

to organise a cultural programme to raise funds for the victims of floods in Bihar. Draft

a notice, in not more than 50 words, for your school notice board.

Ans.

Unsolved Examples

Q.1 As Librarian, Crescent International School, Gwalior, draft a notice in not more than 50

words asking all the students and teachers to return the library books they have borrowed,

two days before the commencement of the examination.

Q.2 As Sports Secretary of G.D.G Public School, Pune, draft a notice in not more than 50

words for your school notice board informing the students about the sale of old sports goods

of your school. You are Rohini/Rohit.

Q.3 You lost your wrist watch in your school auditorium. Write a notice in not more than 50

words for your school notice board giving a detailed description of the watch. You are

Anirudh/Arundhati of Class XII of Springfields School, Pune.

Q4 You are Saran/Swati, Cultural Secretary of Queen's Senior Secondary School, Patna.

Write a notice in not more than 50 words for your school notice board, giving details of the

cultural programme to be organised by your school. Invite the names of the participants.

Q.5 You are the President of your colony's Residents Welfare Association. There will be no

water supply on Saturday and Sunday in the colony due to repair work. Write a notice for the

colony Notice Board informing the residents about the same, advising them to store water,

giving phone no. of water tankers.

SIMON PUBLIC SCHOOL, MEERUT NOTICE

15 AUGUST, 2015 CULTURAL PROGRAMME

The school is organising a cultural programme to raise funds for the victims of

recent floods in Bihar. The show will be held at 5 p.m. on 20th September 2015 in

the school auditorium. The State Education Minister has concerned to be the Chief

Guest. Entry will be by tickets. Do contribute as well to the cause generously.

Sohan

(Head Boy)

-74-

POSTER DESIGNING

A POSTER is a large notice announcing or advertising something. It generally creates social

awareness about any problem or needs. It also conveys a social message in an eye catching

way.

Format or Layout of a Poster:

i. Visually attractive.

ii. Catchy heading/title.

iii. Use a slogan or short verse.

iv. Use clauses.

v. Make sketches or matchstick figures.

vi. Use persuasive language.

vii. Theme should be clear.

viii. Word limit 50

ix. Tense form generally used is either present tense or future tense.

x. Name of the issuing authority or the organizes is a must.

Marking Scheme: 4 Marks

1. Content - 2 Marks

2. Expression- 2 Marks

-75-

POSTER DESIGNING 1. Your school Shardha Vidyalaya is organizing a cultural evening to collect funds for slum children. The Human Resources Development Minister has consented to be the Chief Guest. Draft a poster to be displayed in different areas of your locality. You are the cultural secretary of your school.

CULTURAL SOCIETY Shardha Vidyalaya, Ajmer

is organizing a

CULTURAL EVENING to collect funds for

SLUM CHILDREN on 11

th March, 6:30 pm

Hon’ble H.R.D. Minister, Sh. K. Ravi

will be the Chief Guest

Attractions : Dance-Drama by school children Songs & Dances by TV stars

Poetic Recitations Magic Shows

Venue : Shardha Vidyalaya’s Auditorium

COME ONE-COME ALL HELP A NOBLE CAUSE

ADULTS : 20/- STUDENTS : 10/-

SECRETARY

-76-

2. Design a poster for promoting good health through ‘Health Mela’.

TRIPUTHI HEALTH CLUB

is arranging a

Health Mela for promoting good health

at

Nehru Stadium from 10th March to 20th March

(9 am to 10 pm)

10-DAYS OF FUN & FROLIC For

Health Conscious people

Special Attractions : Display of new health- machines New Exercisers & Weight Reducers

Latest Health-Wears Ayurvedic Massage

Herbs for Health & Beauty Foods for Health & Taste

Plus

WRESTLING BOUTS Entry by Tickets Adults : 20/-

Students : 5/-

Triputhi Health Club Secretary

-77-

3. Design a poster in not more than 50 words for your school library on the value of

books and good reading habits. You may use slogans.

READING NOURISHES THE MIND Develop a reading habit. Know more about people and places. Enter the world of books.

VISIT YOUR SCHOOL LIBRARY

for books on :

Science Literature Fine Arts Commerce Biographies Sports

Remember ! BOOKS ARE A TREASURE OF KNOWLEDGE

-78-

4. Recent rains have caused havoc in some parts of our country. You are Surya, a member of the social service organization, SEVA MANDIR, Ahmedabad. Draft a poster requesting people to help the rain and flood affected families physically and economically.

SEVA MANDIR Mahatma Gandhi Road, Ahmedabad

calls upon the people to

HELP RAIN & FLOOD AFFLICTED FAMILIES

PHYSICALLY & ECONOMICALLY

DONATE LIBERALLY :

Money

Old clothes

Medicines

Baby foods

Dry milk

COME ONE-COME ALL HELP A NOBLE CAUSE

Surya Member

SEVA MANDIR

-79-

5. Your company is launching a new range of shoes for children next month. Draft an attractive poster which can be displayed on all the market areas of your town to promote its sale. Do not forget to mention the speciality of these shoes.

STAR SHOE COMPANY, AGRA is launching next month, a new range of

SHOES FOR CHILDREN (from one month to 10 years)

LITTLE MASTERS &

JUNIORS Best leather

Comfortable soles &heels

Stylish laces

Latest design/frame Affordable prices

Little Masters : 475/- per pair Juniors : 400/- per pair

AVAILABLE AT ALL LEADING STORES

-80-

INVITATION AND REPLIES

INVITATION: To invite someone for an occasion, we use the written form of INVITATION.

Invitations are generally printed cards through which we invite our guests on some

auspicious occasions like wedding, birthday , wedding anniversary, house warming,

inauguration of a shop/factory, etc.

Invitations are of two types:

Formal

Informal

These can be printed on cards or can be drafted in the form of letters.

Main Characteristics:

An invitation contains complete information. It answers the questions: who, whom, when,

where, what time and for what. The important components of an invitation, therefore, are:

Occasion

Name(s) of the invitee(s)

Name(s) of the host(s)

Date, time and venue

Name(s) of the chief guest or special invitees, in case of an official invitation.

Format of Formal Invitations

In case of formal invitations, each of the following is written in a separate line with fonts of

varying sizes.

Names of the hosts

Name of the invitee (in case of a formal letter of invitation)

Formal phrase of invitation, for example:

a. Request the pleasure your benign presence/company

b. Seek your auspicious presence

c. Solicit your gracious presence on the auspicious occasion

Date, time and venue of the event.

Occasion/reason of the invitation.

Marking Scheme:

Word Limit : 50 Words

Marks : 4 Marks

-81-

Format [1 mark]

Content relevance- Name of the person(s) who is inviting, the invitee, day, date, chief

guest, occasion, etc. [2 Marks]

Expression: Grammatical accuracy, language [1 Mark]

Characteristics of Formal Invitations:

1. Meant for a lot of invitees:

These are written in the third person.

In case a VIP is invited as the chief guest, the name of the VIP must appear

prominently.

Name of the invitee is not to be included. The addressee's address is to be written only

on the envelope.

Simple present tense is to be used.

The date of writing is not to be given.

There is no signature of the host.

The abbreviation RSVP (French: Répondez S’il Vous Plaît) i.e., 'Please reply' is written

below on the left side with name(s), address and phone number of the host(s).

Put the invitation into a box.

Do not exceed 50 words.

2. Meant for an individual (a formal letter of invitation)

Include the name of the invitee.

These are to be written on run-on lines. The sentence is not broken into different

words/phrases.

Other details are similar to mass-scale invitations.

Writing Informal Invitation

Informal

Written in a letter form, in informal format. Such letters are very persuasive in nature.

Written in the first person.

Salutation is 'Dear+name'.

Complimentary close 'Yours sincerely '.

Date of writing the invitation is given.

Sender's address appears on the left hand side.

Various tenses used to suit the sense.

REPLIES: Accepting or Denying

-82-

Formal: Follow a set formula

formula words: 'kind invitation', 'great pleasure', 'regret', etc.

Use third person ('they') instead of first person ('I', 'We')

Address of the writer and the date to be written.

Informal:

Accepting or Denying

Like an ordinary letter

Do not use any formal expressions, but use informal words and expressions.

Use first person ('I', 'We').

-83-

INVITATIONS

A. FORMAL INVITATIONS

1. Draft an invitation on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Tarla of 21 Sector-14, Bhopal, which

they may use to invite their friends and relatives on the birth anniversary of their son

Neeraj at their residence on August 16, 2015.

Answer

Mr. and Mrs. Tarla

request the pleasure of your benign presence on the auspicious occasion of the

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS Of

their son

NEERAJ at their residence

21, Sector-14, Bhopal at 3.30 p.m.

On August 16, 2015

R.S.V.P. Mr. and Mrs. Tarla

2. You are a student of Neelgiri public school, Ooty. The school is holding its annual

function. Write an invitation on behalf of the Principal of your school inviting the important

persons of the town to attend the function to be held on August 17, 2015 at 10.00am.

Answer

The Principal and the staff of

NEELGIRI PUBLIC SCHOOL Ooty

request your benign presence on the auspicious occasion

of

THE ANNUAL FUNCTION of the school

at 10.00 am on August17, 2015

Shri R.K. Shriniwasan, I.A.S. will be the Chief Guest and will give away the prizes to the students.

R.S.V.P. Principal

NEELGIRI PUBLIC SCHOOL Ooty

-84-

INFORMAL INVITATIONS

1. Your parents have completed 50 years of happy married life. Send an informal

invitation to your uncle, residing in Salem, to join you in the Golden- Jubilee

celebration of their marriage at your house.

Answer -

20 L Raja Gardens

Madurai

10 April 2015

Respected Uncle

With God’s grace I am fortunate to see the most momentous day of my life. My parents

have completed 50 years of their happy and prosperous married life. We are going to

celebrate the Golden-Jubilee of their married life on 25th of April, 2015. It will be a simple

ceremony. Only family-members and close friends are invited. Do join us on this auspicious

day.

Yours sincerely

Y.S. Ranganathan

2. Invite your class-fellow and friend on the wedding of your elder brother.

Answer -

16 Civil Lines

New Delhi

20th August 2015

Dear Lim

I invite you on the wedding of my elder brother Ramesh on 25th of August 2015. Please join

us at lunch at 1 p.m. The marriage party will leave for Hotel Ranjeet, New Delhi exactly at 6

p.m. Kindly join us on the auspicious day and oblige.

S. Angami

-85-

RESPOND TO INVITATIONS

1. You are Akshya/ Aakriti. You have been invited to participate in a seminar on

‘Fundamental Rights of Children,’ organized by a Lions Club of your district. Respond

to the invitation by writing a letter to the secretary of the club.

10 Mount Road

Chennai

10th September 2015

Th Secretary

Lions Club

Mount Road

Chennai

Sub : Inability to accept the invitation

Sir

Thanks for inviting me to participate in a seminar on ‘Fundamental Rights of Children’. I

feel honoured and obliged. However, I shall not be able to accept your invitation. Some

unavoidable previous engagements keep me tied down to my place on that day.

Thanking you once again for your kind invitation.

Yours faithfully

Akshya

2. You are Arun/Aruna. You have been invited to attend the wedding of your

friend’s sister during summer vacation. Respond to the invitation accepting the

invitation.

15 Nilkanteshwar Road

Bhubneshwar-7510003

10th March 2015

Dear Anand

I am indeed thankful to you for inviting me to attend the wedding of your elder sister

Saroj. It is an auspicious occasion both for me and your family. I shall come a day before the

wedding day. I shall definitely lend a helping hand in making preparations for the marriage.

Yours sincerely

Arun

-86-

Unsolved Examples :

Q.1. The literacy club of your school is putting up the play 'Waiting for Godot'. As a secretary

of the club, draft an invitation inviting the famous writer Sudeesh Gupta to be the guest of

honour at the function. Write the invitation in not more than 50 words. You are Govind/ Gauri.

Q.2 You friend, Manish Tripathi has invited you to attend his wedding anniversary. You

cannot attend it as you have a family get-together on the same day. Write a polite letter, in not

more than 50 words, expressing your inability to attend the function and wish him all the

happiness on this joyous occasion. You are Mita/Mahendra Juneja of 5, Vasundra Colony,

Patna.

Q.3 As secretary of the literacy club of St Anne's School, Ahmedabad, draft a formal

invitation in not more than 50 words for the inauguration of the club in your school.

Q.4 You have received an invitation to attend the prize giving ceremony on the occasion of

the Regional Social Science Exhibition. Respond to the invitation, informing the secretary of

'The World View' (the organiser of the exhibition), about your inability to attend the

programme.

Q.5 You have opened a restaurant in Uppal Road, Hyderabad. Draft an invitation for the

inauguration of the same, specifying the chief guest and other important details like date, time

and venue. Do not exceed 50 words.

-87-

LETTER WRITING

LETTER

The most common form of a written communication is the letter. Letters should have a format

that goes with the latest conventions.

Types of Letters:

Informal Letters- These are letters written to close associates.

Formal Letters- These are:

a. Business or Official letters (for making enquiries, registering complaints, asking for and

giving information, placing orders and sending replies).

b. Letters to the editor(giving suggestions on an issue).

c. Application for a job.

Points to remember while drafting letters:

Write the letter in full block format (i.e., to the left).

State your reason for writing in the first paragraph and stay on track.

Always include specifics that will help ease the recipient’s task. For instance, if you are

writing to a bank, mention your account number.

If you refer to other correspondence, quote date of the letter(s), reference numbers, file

numbers, order numbers, cheque number with date. Include copies, whenever

possible.

Gently and respectfully direct the recipient’s course of action.

It may be strongly worded, but always be courteous and use polite language and

pleasant tone.

Self-introduction should be avoided.

Informal expressions, greetings or contracted forms of words should not be used.

The language should be simple, straight forward and to the point.

Leave a line/additional space between paragraphs since no indentation is followed.

Open punctuation to be followed (no punctuation marks to be used).

Do not mix up the old format and the new format.

In letters to the Editor: Do not ask the editor to solve the problems.

In job application letters, Curriculum Vitae (CV)/ Bio-data/ Resume should be written. It

should not be included in the body of the letter but after the complimentary close, as an

enclosure.

In the letter to the Editor, use ‘yours truly’ or ‘yours sincerely’, as the complimentary

close.

1. BUSINESS LETTERS

Making enquiries/ asking for information

Replying to enquiries/giving information

Placing orders and sending replies

-88-

Cancelling Orders

Letters registering complaints

2. Official Letters

Registering Complaints

Making Enquiries

Making request/appeal

3. Letters to the Editor

Giving suggestions on issues of public interest.

Expressing views on an issue already raised in an article/ write-up/in a published letter.

4. Letters of Job Application

Application for a job

FORMAT:

Sender's Address :

Devi Enclave Raj Ram Marg Bangalore-21

Date : 24 July 20XX

Address of the Addressee:

The Director//Mr/Mrs Global Enterprises, 8th cross, Victoria Layout, Bangalore

Subject : .................................................................

Salutation: Sir

Content:

Introduction :

Body :

Conclusion :

Signatory:

Yours faithfully: Name :

-89-

Marking Scheme:

Word Limit : 120-150 words

Marks : 6 Marks

Format: Proper Layout- Sender's address, Date, Receiver’s address Subject,

Salutation, Complimentary close. 1 Mark

Content: Relevant ideas to be presented in a coherent way. Use connectors

appropriately, divide into paragraphs. There should be minimum three

paragraphs. 3 Marks

Expression: Grammatical accuracy, spellings 2 Marks

No marks will be given for the format if the content is wrong.

-90-

BUSINESS LETTERS

1. Enquiry -

You are Megh/Maya of class XII of St Peter’s School, Pitampura, Delhi. Write a letter to

the Manager of Book World, RK Puram, New Delhi, inquiring about the availability of a

few books you need for your school library. Write as the secretary of your school

library.

St Peter’s School

Pitampura

New Delhi-110088

17th October, 2015

The Manager

Book World

A-14, Sector1

RK Puram

New Delhi-110045

Subject : Enquiry Regarding Availability of Books

Sir

We are in need of some books for our school library. I wish to inquire if these books are

available at your prestigious store.

We would like to purchase ten copies of each of the following books

1. English Class XII

2. Maths Class XII

3. Physics Class XII

4. History Class XII

5. Economics Class XII

6. Chemistry Class XII

All these books are the prescribed textbooks for CBSE published by NCERT.

Kindly reply as soon as possible at the above address. Also please send the latest catalogue

mentioning new arrivals and discounts extended.

Thanking You

Yours sincerely

Megh Chandra

Secretary, School Library

-91-

2. Complaint -

You are Bhavik/Bhawna of class XII of Tejas International School, Vijay Nagar

Bulandshahar. Write a letter to the Manager of the Sports Store, Meerut, complaining

about the defective stop watches you purchased from their store. Write as the Sports

Secretary of your school.

Tejas International School

Vijay Nagar

Bulandshahar – 121301

15th October, 2015

The Manager

Sports Store

A-27, Abu Lane

Meerut-250001

Subject : Defective Stop Watches Purchased on 13th October, 2015

Sir

I am writing this to express my extreme displeasure at the quality of the watches we

purchased from your store two days ago.

As soon as we reached the school and opened the packet, we realized two of the four

watches purchased were not working. The third one has started giving trouble since

yesterday. The button to stop is quite stiff.

Obviously, we are deeply disappointed at this purchase. Our school’s sports meet is next

week, and these watches were needed urgently.

The watches were not checked thoroughly on the day of purchase, but your salesman had

advised me that they were brand new pieces.

I hope that you will either replace them or repair them satisfactorily.

Yours Sincerely

Bhawna

Sports Secretary

3. Placing an Order -

You are the Sports Secretary of Jagjiwan Memorial School, Patparganj, Delhi. You

need a few items for the Annual Sports Meet to be held in your school. Write a letter to

Vats Sports Company placing orders for the items.

Jagjiwan Memorial School

12/100, Patparganj

Delhi-110092

25th July, 2015

The Proprietor

Vats Sports Company

-92-

23 Hapur Road

Meerut-250002

Subject : Order for Sports Goods

Sir

We are placing an order for the following goods required at the Annual Sports Meet of the

school scheduled for 5th August, 2015.

.

The prices of the items should be the same as in the previous supplied to us.

Kindly arrange to supply the goods by the end of this month.

Also please ensure that the goods send are of the best quality and packed properly to avoid

any transit damage. Payment shall be made soon after receipt of the goods.

Damage goods or goods of inferior quality will not be accepted, nor any payment for the same

will be made.

We seek your cooperation in the regard.

Yours truly

(Shrish Sharma)

Sports Secretary

4. Reply to ‘Placing an Order –

You are the Manager of the Vats Sports Company. Write a reply to the above letter

giving the information regarding delay in supply of some items.

Vats Sports Company

23, Hapur Road

Meerut-250002

Ref No.- SG/258/2015

28th July, 2015

The Sports Secretary

Jagjiwan Memorial School

12/100, Patparganj

S.No. Items Quantity

1. Stop watches 12 pieces

2. Hockey sticks 28 pieces

3. Footballs 12 pieces

4. Cricket bats 10 pieces

5. Cricket balls 6 pieces

-93-

Delhi-110092

Subject : Delay in delivery of some items against your order dated 25th July, 2015

Sir

With reference to your above order, we regret that two of the goods you had ordered, i.e.

football and cricket bats, are presently not in the stock. However, we shall be receiving these

items in a couple of days’ time. This would delay the delivery of the goods by just two days.

All the goods will be delivered to you by 2nd August, 2015. The inconvenience caused is

regretted.

Please be assured about the quality and excellent packing of the goods.

Your truly

Rajat Jain

Manager

-94-

OFFICIAL LETTERS

1. You are Anuj Mittal. Write a letter to the General Manager of BSNL requesting him to

send you the list of phone calls made from your phone.

11, sector 3

Rajendra Nagar

Ghaziabad-211010

10th June, 2015

The General Manager

Ghaziabad Telephone Exchange

BSNL

Ghaziabad-211002

Subject : Request for List of Telephone Calls

Sir

I am a resident of Rajendra Nagar, Ghaziabad. The phone number 0120-2265298 has been

installed in my name at my residence, 11, Sector 3, Rajendra Nagar, Ghaziabad-211010.

I have not been receiving the list of phone calls made along with the bill sent to me every

month. I am enclosing a copy of the last bill. I request you to kindly resume the said service to

me.

I shall be grateful if you make this facility available to me at the earliest.

Yours sincerely

Anuj Mittal

Encl. Copy of the bill (paid) for the last month.

-95-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

1. Recently you travelled from Bengaluru City to Vasco aboard the Vasco Express.

To your dismay, you found that the coach was infested with cockroaches. Write a letter

to the Editor, ‘The Hindu’ drawing the attention of General Manager, Southern Railway,

to the prevailing unhygienic conditions and asking for remedial action. You are

Saroj/Saran, 5/31 Bengaluru Cantt, Bangaluru.

5/31, Bengaluru Cantt,

Bengaluru-560006

1st March, 2015

The Editor

The Hindu

Bengaluru-560001

Subject : Prevailing unhygienic conditions in Southern Railway

Sir

Through the columns of esteemed daily, I wish to draw the attention of the General Manager,

Southern Railway and the concerned authorities towards the prevailing unhygienic conditions

in the trains and on platforms.

Recently when I was travelling from Bengaluru City to Vasco on the Vasco Express, I found

that the coach was infested with cockroaches. Further observations revealed that all the

coaches not only had cockroach infestation but also a rodent problem. Seeing all this was

pretty much disgusting. It was hard to sit while watching the cockroaches and rodents running

here and there. Moreover, the toilets on the train and on the platforms were not clean. Foreign

tourists travelling with us were very disappointed. The unhygienic conditions need to be

checked soon before they become a nuisance. I request you to take a note of the situation

and take some remedial action.

Thanking you

Yours sincerely

Saran

-96-

2. After passing the secondary school examination, a candidate has to make a very

difficult choice from a number of streams available to him for further study at the

senior school level. There is no valid mechanism to assess the suitability of a

candidate for a particular stream. Write a letter to the Editor of a national daily

emphasizing the need of educational counsellors for guidance in this matter in each

school. You are Vinita/Vinay, 48, Agra Fort, Agra.

48, Agra Fort

Agra-282004

9th March, 2015

The Editor

The Times of India

Agra-282001

Subject : Need of Educational Counsellors

Sir

Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I would like to bring to notice the dilemma that

every student is confronted with while appearing for the secondary school examination. After

passing this examination, a student has to make a difficult choice from a number of streams

available to him for further study at the senior school level.

Students appear to be totally helpless and sometimes even end up selecting the wrong choice

of subjects, which they regret later. As there is no valid mechanism to assess the suitability of

a candidate for a particular pressure, without realizing their own capabilities. Hence, I feel that

there is a need of educational counsellors for guidance that can show the students the right

path.

Educational counsellors can help the students to bring out their hidden qualities. So, they

need to be present in every school. Schools can also have career counselling workshops for

the students on a regular basis. Parents and teachers can also play a very important role in

shaping the young minds.

Thanking You

Yours sincerely

Vinita

-97-

3. Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper on reckless driving.

No, 7, ABC Colony,

Ghaziabad-211008

14th March, 2015

The Editor

The Hindustan Times

New Delhi-110001

Subject : Reckless Driving

Sir

It is high time that proper steps are taken to put a stop to the reckless driving of cars in the

narrow streets of our thickly populated city. Only yesterday a poor beggar very narrowly

escaped being hit while crossing the street when a car came dashing along at a speed of

about ninety kilometer an hour. Such reckless driving causes fatal accidents to pedestrians

crossing the roads.

It is true that regulations regarding the speed limit do exist. Bu t unless the police is strict in

enforcing them, what do the drivers care? The police seems to take little or no notice of

offenders. Consequently, car accidents are almost a daily occurrence.

I hope the police, the worst sufferer, will bring pressure to bear upon the police to put a stop to

reckless driving before we have any more deaths due to accidents.

Yours truly

Sunil Singh

-98-

4. You are Nita Sharma, residing at A-406, Vasundhra Apartments, Ghaziabad. You

are disturbed to watch the portrayal of women in TV serials. Write a letter to the Editor,

The Times of India, BSJ Marg, New Delhi, expressing your views on the issue.

A-406, Vasundhra Apartments

Ghaziabad-211007

14th December, 2015

The Editor

The Times of India

BSJ, Marg

New Delhi-110002

Subject : Skewed portrayal of women in TV serials

Sir

I would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards the skewed portrayal of

women in TV serials. Most of the TV channels telecast family soaps which do not show

women in proper light. A woman is either Kaikeyi or Sita.

The serials advocate values which are against basic Indian culture. There is no respect for

values in these serials. The women are being portrayed as a house breaker, conspirator or

vamp. The Indian women, known for her kindness, tolerance and sacrifices, is being

portrayed as just the opposite.

I am of the opinion that the content of TV serials should be regulated and put under

observation. This is the right time to check the trend before the image of the Indian woman is

tarnished.

Yours truly

Nita Sharma

-99-

5. A part of Rajasthan and Delhi recently witnessed violence during a

demonstration by a particular class of society over the issue of reservation. Violence

has become a routine affair in India. You feel that people resort to violence as a last

resort when there basic demands are not addressed. Write a letter to the Editor, The

Times of India, expressing your views on the issue. You are Akanksha, living at 106

Maharani Bagh, New Delhi.

106, Maharani Bagh

New Delhi-110024

20th July, 2015

The Editor

The Times of India

BSJ Marg,

New Delhi-110002

Subject : Violence during demonstrations

Sir

In a democratic country like India, every citizen has a right to express his views on any issue.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental right. Whenever there is any decision by the

government, all the citizens have the right to express their consent for the decision or protest

against it in a peaceful manner. A peaceful demonstration is the best way to communicate the

feelings of the masses to the authorities, but nowadays, peaceful demonstrations turn into

violent ones. People resort to violence and damage public property.

In my opinion, people resort to violence as a last resort, when repeated pleas to address their

problems are not attended to by the authorities. The Gujjar issues, Gorkhaland issue and

Reservation issues are long standing issues, but the government lets them fester till they

implode out of control.

Yours truly

Akanksha

-100-

Wanted Office Assistant cum Administrator, preferably a commerce graduate, with

minimum two years of experience in a concern of repute. Knowledge of computer is a must. Good

communication and command over written and spoken English is desired. Apply within 10 days to

the Manager, Tulip India Ltd, Muzaffarnagar.

JOB APPLICATION

Read the advertisement given below and write a suitable application in response to it.

Sign yourself as Neha/Nitin.

21, Raj Marg

Muzaffarnagar-267020

1st July, 2015

The Manager

Tulip India Ltd

Muzaffarnagar

Subject : Application for the post of Office Assistant cum Administrator

Sir

With reference to your advertisement in ‘The Times of India’ dated 29th June, 20XX for the

post of Office Assistant cum Administrator. I wish to apply for the same. I have the required

qualification and experience for the post. I can join immediately if selected.

My detailed bio-data is enclosed.

Yours sincerely

Neha Mittal

Encl. Bio-data

-101-

BIO-DATA

Name Neha Mittal

Sex Female

Date of Birth 16th March, 1984

Father’s name Mr MK Mittal

Marital status Unmarried

Current address 21, Raj Marg, Muzaffarnagar-267020

Contact number 0561-2345234, 09872342556

Educational qualification B Com

Work experience 5 years

Worked as Accounts Assistant in Goel Enterprise,

Muzaffarnagar.

Salary expected Negotiable

Other skills Well versed in English and Hindi

Knowledge of Ms-Office

References 1. Mr Prashant Juneja, Executive Engineer, UPSEB

2. Mr Sumit Sehgal, General Manager, JPG Products

-102-

LETTER OF COMPLAINT

1. You are Arman/Arpita of 14, MG Road, Pune. You had bought textbook, ‘Vistas’

for class XII from neighbourhood bookstore. After browsing through the book, you

realized that a few pages were missing and the print overlapped on a few pages. Write

a complaint letter in 125-150 words to the Manager, Dawn Books, Lawrence Road,

Chennai, requesting him for a replacement or refund.

14 MG Road

Pune-411005

13th January, 2015

The Manager

Dawn Books

16, Lawrence Road

Chennai-600007

Subject : Defective book replacement

Sir

I have bought a copy of the NCERT Book, ‘Vistas’ prescribed by CBSE for class XII from your

authorized retailer, M/s Indian Schoolbook store, Shivaji Road, Pune-411005 vide cash

receipt no 145/13-14 for 60/-. I regret to inform you that printing has overlapped on some

pages, so it is unreadable. In addition, some pages of the book are totally missing. No doubt,

you must have received complaints about such problems from other customers, as it appears

that one batch of books is having such defects.

When I asked the shopkeeper to replace the book, he asked me to approach you, who are the

authorized distributor for NCERT books in South India.

I want you to replace this defective book, or if not possible, refund me the amount paid.

Thank you

Yours faithfully

Arpita

-103-

2. You had bought an expensive wrist watch last week. Now you realize that it is

not functioning properly. Write a letter in 125-150 words to the Manager, Edison Watch

Works, New Delhi, complaining about it and requesting him to repair or replace it

immediately. You are Gobind/Gopa of 68, Park Street, Kolkata.

68, Park Street

Kolkata-800004

12th August, 2015

The Manager

Edison Watch Works

576/13 Mohammedpur

New Delhi-110066

Subject : Defective watch replacement

Sir

I have bought a HMT Watch ‘Padmini’ sr no AC 14432/P from your authorized retailer, M/s

Indian Watch Store, Park Street, Kolkata-800004 vide cash receipt no /WS 476/13-14 for

560/-. I regret to inform you that the watch does not give the correct time, as it losing about 10

minutes everyday. In addition, the back cover has started showing signs of rust within one

month of use. It is shocking that such defective products are being sold to the unsuspecting

customers who support the government by buying products manufactured by the public

sector.

As it is within the guarantee period, I asked the shopkeeper to replace it, but he asked me to

approach you, who are the authorized distributor for HMT watches.

I want you to replace this defective watch, or if not possible, ask the retailer to arrange for its

satisfactory repair.

Thank you

Yours Faithfully

(Gobind)

-104-

3. You are interested in doing a short-term course in computer graphics during

your holidays. Write a letter to the Director, Easy Computers, enquiring about their

short-term courses and asking for all the necessary details. You are Naresh/Nandini.

79, RK Puram

New Delhi-110045

12th April, 2015

The Director

Easy Computers

South Extension II

New Delhi 110048

Subject : Require Details of Short-term Course in Computer Graphics

Sir

This refers to your advertisement in the Times of India dated 10 th April, 2015 informing about

the short-term computer courses you are conducting.

I am a graduate in Science and plan to take up a job in the line of software. Specifically, I am

interested in the course on computer graphics and similar other courses in this field. Please

send me details of the short-term courses you are conducting particularly those that start

around 1st May 2015.

I will appreciate it if you could forward me more details of the computer graphics course,

including duration, fees, etc.

Thank you

Yours sincerely

Naresh Kumar

-105-

4. You are Neeta/Naveen of 43, Ram Nagar, Meerut, studying at a coaching centre in

Lakshmi Nagar, Delhi. You need accommodation for yourself. Write a letter to the

Manager of Paying Guest Service, 15 Aditya Complex, Lakshmi Nagar, Delhi inquiring

about the details such as the type of accommodation, monthly charges, facilities

provided etc.

43, Ram Nagar

Meerut-250005

16th August, 2015

The Manager

Paying Guest Service

15, Aditya Complex, Lakshmi Nagar

Delhi-110063

Subject : Required Paying Guest Accommodation

Sir

I have joined ABC coaching centre near Lakshmi Nagar area. For this reason I need

accommodation for next one year. My civil services examination is in November, 2015.

I will be needing a separate room with bathroom attached from August 2015 to November

2015.

You are requested to supply the details of the type of accommodation available, facilities

provided and the monthly charges for the room. Also confirm if such a room is available.

Room can be reserved for the mentioned period of time. Confirmation of these details from

your end will enable me to finalise other arrangements.

Yours truly

Naveen

-106-

5. Write a letter to the Station Master, Anand, informing him about the loss of your

suitcase which you realized only on alighting at Anand. You travelled by Navjivan

Express from Chennai to Anand. You are Priya/Prasad of 12, Kasturi Bai Street,

Chennai-20.

12, Kasturi Bai Street

Chennai-500020

20th May, 2015

The Station Master

Anand-388001

Subject : Loss of Suitcase in Train

SirI am a resident of 12, Kasturi Bai street, Chennai-20. On 19th May, 20XX, I travelled from

Chennai to Anand by Navjivan Express. I had three suitcase with me. But when I alighted at

Anand, I realized that one of my suitcase was missing. At that moment, I was helpless. I

became alarmed because in the missing suitcase, all my certificates and other valuables were

kept.

Please treat this letter as letter of complaint and act accordingly. I hope for an immediate

response from your side to find my suitcase.

Yours sincerely

Prasad Rangrajan

Mobile no 097665XXXXX

-107-

Unsolved Examples:

Q.1 You are Prem/Parul of 16, TT Nagar, Bhopal. You would like to apply for the post of

Marketing Manager in a reputed firm in Mumbai. Write a letter to the Public Relations Officer,

Chantac Enterprises, Mumbai, applying for the job. Write the letter in 125-150 words giving

your bio-data.

Q.2 Recently you travelled in a State Transport bus from Chennai to Thiruvallavur, and to

your shock, air-conditioning in the coach was not working properly. The quality of the

maintenance of the bus was also not good. All the way you spent the time in unbearable heat.

Write a letter to the Editor, 'The Hindu', drawing the attention of the General Manager

(Maintenance) of the State Transport for taking action in this matter. You are Hema/Ganesh,

25,Avadi, Chennai.

Q.3 Write a letter to the Municipal Chairman of New Town, North Arcot District about the

dilapidated condition of a public monument requesting him to take urgent steps for the

preservation of this valuable heritage. You are Anarkali/Akbar, 10 Pudupet, New Town.

Q.4 Games and Sports are not giving as much importance in the country as is given to

academics. As a result of this, our achievements in the international arena are not very

spectacular. Write a letter to the Editor of a national daily on the importance of sports and

games and on the need to create awareness about it. You are Sunita/Sameer, 8/35, MG

Road, Bengaluru.

Q.5 People are migrating from rural areas to the cities in search of jobs. Consequently in te

fast expanding cities, children find that their playing fields are shrinking or simply vanishing.

Write a letter to the Sports Minister of your state drawing his attention to this issue. Make

suggestions to cope with this situation. You are Amit/Amita Jain, 15 Mall Road, Delhi.

-108-

Article

An article is an expression of one’s thought on an issue or a subject logically and coherently

written in meaningful paragraphs.

Points To Remember:

Give a title that catches the attention of the reader.

Begin with a striking opening sentence which addresses that readers and gets them

interested in the topic.

Present a strong argument for your ideas supporting it with evidences or elaboration.

Use linking devices (‘however’, ‘therefore’, ‘although’, ‘even though’, ‘in order to’) to

make the composition appear a whole.

Introduce a new point at the beginning of each paragraph that follows to strengthen

your ideas.

Develop your ideas as much as you can to make them interesting and substantial.

Conclude with your strongest point.

Use passive voice, humour, emotive language, rhetorical questions to provide a

specific effect.

Format of an Article

TITLE/HEADING: Eye Catching, illustrating the central themes

BY LINE: Writer's Name under the title towards the right from the centre

INTRODUCTION: A comprehensive introduction touching upon on the plus and

minus of the topic.

Establish the context

Put the topic in perspective

Draw reader's attention. Specify and delimit your topic

Put a rhetoric question or give some startling facts, statistics or

quotation

CONTENT: Spell out the various aspects to the topic-merits, demerits

causes, consequences, effects, advantages, disadvantages

TOPIC WINDING UP: Give your opinion, comments, criticism, recommendations

CONCLUSION: Conclude with a hope, a warning, an appeal or a call for an

action

-109-

Marking Scheme:


Marks : 10 Marks

Format (Title +Writer's name): 1 Mark

Content: (logical organization, relevance). Credit should be given for the

candidate's creativity in presenting his/her own ideas 4 Marks

Expression: 5 Marks. (2 ½ + 2 ½ )

Accuracy, Grammatical, appropriate words & spelling: 2 ½ Marks

+

Fluency, coherence and relevance of ideas and style: 2 ½ Marks

-110-

Sample Examples :

Q.1 Write an article in 150-200 words on how we can make India a carefree and

enjoyable place for women when they can go wherever they like to without any fear of

being stared at, molested or discriminated against. You are Navtej/Navita.

Ans. How to Make India a Carefree Place for Women

-By Navita

A series of much publicised crimes against women has left many people wondering if India is

safe for women. The gang rape of a young woman who later died, aboard a private bus in

Delhi in December 2012 caused mass outrage in India. But the crimes continued taking place

in different cities of India.

India needs to address gender inequalities on many fronts and especially at the most basic

intrinsic level. The attitudes towards women need complete transformation, apart from all the

safety measures that needs to be adopted. Women need to be treated with respect and they

should be allowed to live free from fear, harm or oppression. They, too, have a right to

breathe freely and enjoy life which is possible only in a care-free and safe environment.

We need to create a culture of respect and gender equality which are taught and practised at

home. The law enforcing agencies must make sure that the public transportation is woman-

friendly and is provided with adequate protection system. There have to be zero tolerance for

any nonsense. Women should begin to actively learn to defend themselves by gaining

confidence to stand up to violence. Self-defence courses can train women to deal with

untoward situations. Above all, the general public should be more sensitised towards women

and left India emerge one day as a place- safe, peaceful and enjoyable where women feel

secure and live their life with dignity and self - confidence.

-111-

Q.2 Ragging has raised its ugly head again. A recent incident at a prestigious school

has shown that this evil has not yet come to an end. Write an article in 150-200 words

on 'Ragging, an evil'. You are Navtej/Navita.

Ans. Ragging, an Evil

- By Navita

Ragging in India is a damaging form of interaction of the seniors in the college or school with

the juniors, new comers or first year students.

Initially, the ragging started in British era in English colleges and universities but slowly it

spread and corrupted almost all educational institutions. Original aim was to teach the

students respect for hierarchy thereby enforcing traditions and discipline among them. The

senior prefect was to be treated as a teacher substitute, thus giving him/her the authority to

control and dominate. Soon, the authority started getting misused.

As a result, practice of familiarising beginners with their seniors has now turned into a

powerful tool for ill-treating and punishing poor students if they fail to obey their seniors.

Under the pretext of fun, a poor student is often assaulted, sometimes even stripped and

intimidated by his seniors and this torture obviously leaves an indelible impression on his

mind. The chilling incident continues to haunt him and unknowingly he develops various

psychological disorders. After experiencing the evil of ragging, a student tends to develop a

feeling of revenge for his 'unjustified harassment' and derives pleasure in ragging his juniors

on his turn. So the trend goes on and so does the suffering.

Sometimes the situation turns so bad that it compels the ragged victim to commit suicide. At

times, the ragging that it turns gets so violent fatal. In many colleges ragging has been

banned and is providing effective. Recently, ragging has rightly declared a criminal offence.

Still, ragging is prevalent in colleges in secretive ways. Solution lies in more practical steps

like having an anti-ragging helpline that can take anonymous complaints and act against the

culprits or having awareness programmes conducted a more specific level. This menace, in

any case, has to be contained and stopped.

-112-

Q.3 Joint family system is gradually disintegrating in the country. Many elderly

people get neglected because of the nuclear setup of families. It increases the need of

homes for the aged. Write an article in 150-200 words on the topic entitled “Should

there be Homes for the Aged in India”.

HOMES FOR THE AGED IN INDIA

- By Pradeep

Change is the law of nature. The world has witnessed many unprecedented changes in the

last 100 years. The disintegration of joint family system is one of such painful changes.

Industrialization and urbanization have brought disintegration at a crushing speed. The

breakup of the joint family system has led to so many social and cultural problems. Many

elderly people get neglected because of the nuclear set up of families. The country is not fully

prepared to deal with the problems of the aged people. The need of the hour is to have

adequate ‘Homes’ for the aged in India, Europe and America have been able to address to

the problem of the aged persons. They have ‘Homes’ and exclusive settlements for their

senior citizens. They provide all the necessary comforts and facilities for the aged. Diseases

and the disabilities are the constant companion for the old. Proper medical treatment and

facilities are necessary. Nutritious but light food is the need of the aged persons. Such

‘Homes’ provide all such comforts and facilities. The aged person to have a right to a decent

living. Their old and tied bones need rest and peace. They should not depend on the mercy of

their children. Nor should they be thrown at the charity of the people. Only such ‘Homes’ can

help them to lead a decent and respectable life.

-113-

Child Abuse-a painful fact - children exploited – India a poor country – about 10 million

child labour in India – employed in dangerous trades and industries – exploited - living

and working in inhuman conditions – Effective legislation against Child labour

Q.4 Devika is a student of Holy Child School, New Delhi. She reads a report on the

miserable condition of the Child Labour in India in the Times of India. She is moved

and wants to express her strong feelings against the widespread exploitation of

children in an article. Using the hints given below in the input, help Devika to write a

purposeful article on The child Abuse for the school-magazine.

.

CHILD ABUSE

- By Devika

Childhood is the golden period of man’s life. Children need love and care for their growth and

development. However, child abuse is the tragic irony of Indian social life. About 10 million

children are employed in unhealthy, hazardous and dangerous trades and industries. Bare

footed, lean and thin children have to work for 10 to 15 hours a day. They work in numerous

shops, ‘dhabbas’, brick kilns, small factories and cottage industries. Some risk their lives while

selling newspapers on busy roads.

These child-workers are generally ill-fed and treated like bonded labourers. They are

often underpaid. Thousands of children work in fire- crackers and match-factories in South

India. Many of them get killed in accidents and fires. The carpet industry in Uttar Pradesh

employs lacs of children. Children have to work in chemical factories in most inhuman

conditions.

Poverty is the main reason that compels many poor parents to send their children for

work. India has the largest number of children working in most inhospitable, and inhuman

surroundings. The Child Labour Act should be enforced with all sincerity and strictness.

Exemplary punishment should be given to the defaulters and the defiant employers.

-114-

Unsolved Examples:

Q.1 You saw stray dog beaten to death by a groups of boys. Their act infuriated you and

you scolded them for their cruel act. You decided to write an article on cruelty to animals.

Write the article in 150-200 words. You are Nikhil/Naina.

Q.2 You are Rajendra Kumar, a social worker. You read an article in 'The Hindu' on 'Health

Care for Indian Workers '. Write a speech in 150-200 words on the importance of health care

to be delivered at a public function to create awareness among the workers.

Q.3 Write an article in 150-200 words for your school magazine on the topic, 'Obesity

among School Children'. You are Mohini/Mohit.

Q.4 You are Raman/Ruchika. Write an article in 150-200 words for your school magazine

on the topic, 'Life without Modern Gadgets'.

-115-

SPEECH

Point to be Remembered:

The introduction should not be very lengthy. The main topic should be taken up as

quickly as possible. Use concrete terms and tangible examples. Avoid abstract phrases

which are quite vague. Use simple and familiar language.

The conclusion plays a very important role in the success of a speech. Give your own

conclusion on the topic in a telling manner.

Marking scheme is the same as for the Article.

Write ‘Thank you’ at the end of the speech.

Format:

Marking Scheme:


Marks : 10 Marks

Format (Title +Writer's name): 1 Mark





+


Heading or Title (Optional)

Formal Address

Introduction

Establishing the context and expression

Adverse effects and values

Conclusion

Formal thanks to audience

-116-

Notes

Trees keep environment cool by :

(a) Taking heat of earth and air

(b) Absorbing carbon-dioxide that helps in controlling temperature rise

(c) Bringing rains

(d) Checking direct sunlight

(e) Providing shade.

SPEECH

1. You are the Headboy/Headgirl of your school. You decided to make the school

population aware of the advantages of tree plantation and tell them how trees can serve as

better source of oxygen and fresh air. Prepare a speech you intend to deliver in the

morning assembly the next day and write it in your answer sheet using not more than

150-200 words. Take help of the notes.

Advantages of Tree Plantation

Respected Principal madam, teachers and dear friends

Today I am speaking to you all on a topic which is really very important for all of us and

for the survival of the human race. It is the ‘Importance of Trees’. I am sure that each one of

you is aware how important are trees in our life. For example, they take and absorb the heat

of the earth. Indeed, they have numerous advantages. Precisely speaking, they absorb the

dangerous carbon-dioxide from the atmosphere. They help in controlling the temperature rise.

They bring rains which is ‘life’ for us all. They take the heat off the earth as well as the

atmosphere. They provide us shade. They maintain the ecological balance of the earth and

provide us with life- giving oxygen. Seeing their enormous benefits we should plant as many

trees as possible. The Chipko Movement and Van Mahotsava celebrations highlight the

benefits of the trees.

I feel very sad that we have destroyed much of the flora and fauna for meeting our existential

needs. But we must replenish the depleting forests by planting more and more trees at every

possible inch of the land. Our life depends on trees. We should educate the people about the

benefits of growing more trees. This way we can cleanse our environment from the

environmental pollution. I am of the opinion that we must take a pledge to plant more and

more trees to make the earth a safe place for our lives and also for the coming generations.

-117-

2. You are Jay/Jaya, School Pupil Leader of Shyamala Memorial Hall. Trivandrum.

Write a speech in 150-200 words that you would deliver in the school assembly during

the Vigilance week on how to eradicate corruption from the private and public life.

Eradicating Corruption from both Private and Public Life

Respected Principal madam, teachers and my dear friends

I, Jay/Jaya, am going to speak on how to eradicate poverty from both private and

public life. We are celebrating the ‘Vigilance Week’. Why do we celebrate it? Doesn’t the

occasion urge the countrymen, particularly the youth, to be vigilant and bold? Why should we

be vigilant and against whom? The answer is so simple. The country is gradually sinking in

the mire of corruption. Corruption, violence and nepotism have become the indispensable

ingredients of India’s private and public life. The environment has become polluted. Honesty,

faith and fairness have become outdated and forgotten values. Pragmatism and self-interests

have taken the place of principles and ethics in politics and public life. No one seems above

board. Right from the men in the ranks to the Prime Minister no one exudes confidence and

integrity. The UPA II has been constantly rocked by a series of scams and scandals. The

commonwealth Games scandal tarnished India’s name at home and abroad. Then came the

2G scam where thousands of crores were alleged to have been siphoned off in shady deals.

The COLGATE scam brought even the PMO in the range of suspicion and doubts. The fate of

the opposition-ruled states like Karnataka was not different either. The acts of omissions and

corruptions brought the BJP government down and out of power in Karnataka.

The cancer of corruption is eating away the vitals of our public and private life. Let’s take

pledge to be vigilant. Let’s not tolerate the corrupts and corruption. It is the duty of students

and the youths of today to fight against this cancer. They should take a pledge that they will

never give or receive any bribes in public or private life. Let’s be vigilant! Why should be forget

that many of us have the right of voting. Let’s exercise this power and elect only honest

persons and men of integrity for our legislatures and the parliament. Only a corruption-free

India will be a strong and prosperous India.

-118-

Q.3 You are Suraj/Sandhya of Gargi Senior Secondary School, Delhi. Games and

Sports should be made compulsory in schools. Write a speech for morning assembly

on the Importance of Games and Sports in Personality Development in about 150-200

words.

Importance of Games and Sports in Personality Development

Respected Principal madam, teachers and my dear friends,

I, Sandhya, am going to speak on ‘Importance of Games and Sports in Personality

Development’.

Children living in cities are rarely seen playing outdoors, carried away by other attractions like

the televisions and computer games, they miss the joy of outdoor play. Today I would like to

talk on the importance of games and sports. In small towns, children are still seen playing

hide-n-seek or flying kites but in most of the so called advanced city set-up children playing

out in street parks has become a receding sight.

There were times when children would go out even in the heat of the afternoon to play and

they would not like to return home till late in the evening. Those children were obviously

happier and healthier. Outdoor games are very good means to physical exercise which keeps

one healthy and active. They make us agile and alert. Playing and running around with friends

makes them happy. There is no scope of loneliness and tension in this joyful group activity.

After the day's tiring mental work, an hour or two spent in playing takes off fatigue and

refreshes us all over again. Sports also teach us to cultivate in us positive values like

sportsman spirit, team work and cooperation which eventually help us in dealing with odds of

life.

Playing any sport, be it cricket, hockey , football or tennis or simple "gili-danda" is obviously

an exciting activity on the playfield, where children play, fight, agree and disagree and thus

develop a healthy, tolerant attitude towards life and world around. Outdoor games are often

group activities and they bring about an increase in the number of one's friends which widens

one's social circle. Isn't playing outdoors more joyful and enriching in many ways than sitting

glued to television or on computers and play some dead games?

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Q.4 Power shortage has become a norm even in the metropolitan cities. One way to

face this situation is by preventing the wastage of power. Write a speech in 150-200

words on the importance of power in our daily life and how to save power at school

and at home. Imagine that you are the Principal of your school.

Ans. Dear Students,

Today I am here to speak on a very important subject i.e., power shortage in our country and

how we can save power at school and at home.

Electric energy occupies the top grade in energy hierarchy. It finds innumerable uses in home,

industry, agriculture and even in transport. No one can undermine the importance of

power in our daily life. For our day-to-day smooth living, we need an uninterrupted power

supply. But, despite impressive growth in power generation, power shortage still continues

and hits our every day existence badly. We, at our level, in our small ways should try to save

power. A small change to your lighting, gadgets and proper utilisation of electricity can do a

great deal to conserve the electricity. Replacing all the incandescent light bulbs with efficient

CFL/LED bulbs can help in saving the energy. Heaters, coolers, air-conditioners, water

heaters, washing machines etc., are the gadgets that should be used very discreetly to save

power. At school, you should see to it that all the fans, lights etc., are turned off while leaving

your classrooms and make others also aware of the need not to waste.

Sustaining electricity delivers the double purpose of helping stop the global warming and

saving a lot of money. In our day-to-day life we can use the natural lights whenever possible.

Today's wastage can be tomorrow's shortage. If you do not think of saving the power today, it

can bring dark nights in your life tomorrow. Conservation is important and you can do it if you

try. We all can actually play our part to save power in order to have a better and brighter

tomorrow.

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Unsolved examples:

Q.1 You are Ajay/Anu, Head Boy/Girl of Kendriya Vidyalaya. Yu have seen some

students of junior classes littering the school compound and verandahs with tiffins. It

makes the school look unclean and untidy. Write a speech in 150-200 words to be

delivered in the morning assembly, advising such students to keep the school neat and

clean.

Q.2 You are Rajendra Kumar, a social worker. You read an article in The Hindu on

‘Health Care for Indian Workers’. Write a speech in 150-200 words on the importance of

health care to be delivered at a public function to create awareness among the workers.

Q.3 Media has a strong hold on society. Write a speech in 150-200 words on how media

influences public opinion to be delivered in the school assembly.

Q.4 People in India by and large are very religious. Almost all our school begin their

activities with our morning prayer. Write a speech in 150-200 words to be delivered in

the assembly on ‘The Importance of Morning Prayer in the life of human being’. You are

Ajay/Veena.

Q.5 Hockey is the national game of India. Today it is in name only. Write a speech in

150-200 words asking the students to play hockey. It is inexpensive, more healthy, a

short duration and a team game. You are Ajit/Rupa.

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DEBATE

Format:

Marking Scheme:


Marks : 10 Marks

Format : Formal Address + Formal Thanks 1 Mark





+


Formal Address

Introduction : Against or For the motion

Arguments against or for the motion

Conclusion

Formal thanks

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DEBATE

Q.1 Write a debate in about 150-200 words on the topic ‘Homework should be

Abolished’.

HOMEWORK SHOULD BE ABOLISHED

For the Motion

Respected Chairperson, honourable judges, members of staff and friends

I stand here today to speak for the motion that homework should be abolished. At the

very outset I’d like to raise this question – Is that homework to be done by the parents, the

tutor, or the already overburdened student ?

In my opinion, homework is rarely done at home. It is most often copied in the bus, in between

classes, or these days reproduced over the telephone. I submit, in fact, that homework often

becomes such a burden in my families, the parents decide to do it in the speediest and most

convenient manner. As a result, older children, private tutors, or even parents themselves set

to work completing it. Further, I feel very strongly that homework checks a child’s physical,

emotional and social development. It simply programmes students to become competitive. I

should like to draw your attention to the fact that this monster – homework – becomes a thing

of fear and finally becomes a holiday horror. I fail to understand why my worthy opponent has

chosen to support something that consumes so much of the student’s free time and energy,

both in term-time and holiday-time.

My final argument is that it is of limited value. The type of homework most often set is

dull and mechanical, so as to keep students busy at home as in school. I support the motion

that homework should be abolished.

Against the motion


I stand here today to speak against the motion of the topic that ‘Homework should be Abolished’. My knowledgeable opponent has submitted that homework is not a desirable thing. But may I ask how the teacher is to check and assess the work of the student if not through homework? I strongly oppose the view that homework is done by parents, tutors or other children. On the contrary, if homework is constructive, and stimulating, it becomes such a pleasurable activity. I don’t think that homework checks a child’s growth. Instead, it builds children’s self-confidence, and gives them a sense of achievement. In class, most of the time has to be spent learning from the teacher or working groups. There simply isn’t enough time for the teacher to allow students to work silently and individually. This, I submit, is the great value of homework – that it encourages students to deepen their understanding of topics covered in class, by working quietly and privately on a motivating

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task. I strongly reject the view that homework has to be dull and mechanical. Instead, homework is usually thought-provoking. It is always interesting, if done in the right spirit. Homework is an essential part of education. It is good for us as it is enjoyable. Thank you all.

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Q.2 Write a debate in about 150-200 words on the topic ‘Capital Punishment has No Place in a Civilized Society’.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT HAS NO PLACE IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY For the Motion


I, Anshu, stand before you to speak for the motion on ‘Capital punishment has no place in a civilized society’. I feel that capital punishment is a sign of uncivilized human behaviour. The sole basis of this argument is that when we can’t give life to any one, what right do we have to take it of others? This means even the state has no right to take away the life of a person. Capital punishment actually kills a person by inches before it is given. I personally feel that death sentence comes as a relief. I find these arguments hollow and unfortunate. Life, we must know, is precious and it is once-in-a-life opportunity. It must be preserved at all costs. A death sentence gives no chance of repentance and reformation. Nor does it give any noble message to the people at large. Man is no animal and he has the capacity to be reformed through choosing a right path. Sometimes his anger overpowers him and due to that he commits sinful activities. But when he repents, it is all over by then. I am of the opinion that such a person must be given a chance to improve his lost status through repentance. This never means that his crime should go unpunished. But he should be given a chance to reform. Capital punishment is no remedy. Thank you all. Against the Motion Respected Chairperson, honourable judges, members of staff and friends

I, Anupam, stand before you to speak against the motion on ‘Capital punishment has no place

in a civilized society’. I am of the opinion that if someone has fallen so low in the human scale

that he is no more an animal. He commits crime like animals. Naturally he must be dealt with

those measures that domesticate animals. Secondly, I find that when man has fallen so low,

he can’t leave his animalism at any cost. In this way, he loses all chances of reformation. I

find, honourable judges that he has no right to live in the human society. He simply becomes

a danger to other peace-loving citizens of his society.

My knowledgeable friend has stated that a man who has tasted the blood has the possibility of reforming himself. But I would ask him, can a beast of prey change into a non-preying beast? Never, honourable judges. Such persons should be dealt with the laws of nature or the famous one: ‘eye for an eye’. The most important thing is the presence of ear in the human beings before going criminal. In the middle-east countries crimes are simply non-existent because of this fear. And capital punishment is that instrument of causing fear in the minds of the people. With them we can maintain a crime-free society. Thank you all.

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Q.3 Write a debate in about 150-200 words on the topic ‘ Mall Culture in Cities have a

Positive Aspect for Teenagers’

Mall Culture in Cities - Positive Aspects For the Motion Respected Chairperson, honourable judges, members of staff and friends

I, Zeeshan, stand before you to speak for the motion on the topic ‘Mall Culture in Cities have

a Positive Aspect for Teenagers’. Shopping malls are becoming integral part of cities. Every

corner of a city has at least one shopping mall in it. They are fast emerging as new hallmark

of new development. Teenagers love to visit malls with their friends and family. Air-conditioned atmosphere

provides a big relief from sweltering heat one has to face while shopping in markets in

summers. The neat and clean, safe and secure building helps teenagers to forget the stress

and pressure of schools and colleges enjoy free time in a relaxed way.

Shopping malls help teenagers to shop for anything under the sky under one roof. All

their favourite things like Junk Jewellery, latest DVD, newly released books all are available

there. They can take electronic item of any brand without caring about bargaining as the

articles sold in malls are of quality brands with fixed price tags. Window shopping, the best

way to learn about latest products in market is best done in malls. Teenagers with their peer

are seen window shopping at showrooms of famous brands there.

Shopping malls also provide perfect place to give and enjoy parties McDonalds,

Pizzahuts, KFC and many such eating joints have their outlets in malls. It is becoming a new

trend among teenagers to celebrate birthdays, friendship days and many such occasion in the

company of whole gang of their friends in shopping malls.

Shopping malls with their movie theatres provide another way of enjoying holidays with

friends and family. One can watch latest movie in cool and relaxed atmosphere of such

theatres. Thus shopping malls are emerging as the most favourite place for teenagers to hang around

in the company of their loved ones without worrying about heat or hunger. Against the Motion Respected Chairperson, honourable judges, members of staff and friends

I, Zeenia, stand before you to speak against the motion on the topic ‘Mall Culture in Cities have a Positive Aspect for Teenagers’. Mushrooming of shopping malls in every nook and corner of cities is becoming a nuisance for common people. Teenagers suffer most because of increasing mall culture in cities.

Everything about malls is detestable. Their imposing structure and lucrative exterior

symbolise the superficiality of city life with increasing materialistic outlook of its people. They

seem to be blot on social growth of people. Youngsters, especially teenagers spend their

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valuable and hard earned money of their parents in malls.

Shopping malls are harmful for health of the visitors. The air inside the malls is due to its

being air-conditioned without proper ventilation. The air inside it contains fumes from its

eating joints besides breathed out air of the crowd there.

Shopping malls are heavy on the purse also. Most of the showroom in malls charge

higher prices in comparison to those in open markets as they have to pay higher rents. It

costs many times more to watch movies or buy things here.

Shopping malls encourage western culture among teenagers. They get lured by the

glossy advertisements about the eating joints there and want to give parties in them instead

of at home. They thus, harm teenagers as they get away from Indian values like partying at

home with parents.

To conclude, one can say it emphatically that today's teenagers under the bad influence of

western culture , encouraged by malls, spend their valuable time and hard earned by roaming

around aimlessly and many a times anonymously in malls in the name of window shopping.

They want to show off to their friends their spending powers and western outlook at the cost

of time and money.

Q.4 Write a debate in 150-200 words on the topic ‘Relevance and Desirability of

Coaching Centres’.

RELEVANCE AND DESIRABILITY OF COACHING CENTRES

For the Motion


Today I, Sumit, stand before you to speak for the motion on ‘Relevance and Desirability of

Coaching Centres’. You’ll see that today’s world is simply of neck-break competitions. Against

one seat in a medical or engineering institute there are hundreds of applicants. Herein comes

the coaching centre. If a boy or a girl shows very good score in the competitive examination,

his or her chances for admission are bright. So I don’t think anything is wrong with these

coaching centres. There are many plus points in favour of these centres. The most important

is that only the bright, intelligent and deserving students get admission in prestigious and

professional colleges. If average students get into them without any competitive examination,

then they’ll not be successful at all in life.

You’ll say that these coaching centres charge very heavily as tuition fees. Then most of

them are ‘teaching shops’ and their aim is only to mint money. This can’t be applied onto

every coaching centre. A student can choose which coaching centre is suitable for him or

seeing his or her paying capacity. A light side is that even in life one needs to be conscious of

what’s good or bad for him or her before he or she decides to choose. These centres, indeed,

provide coaching in such a way that even an average student can show good results. If it

were not so, many of them would already have been closed. So I am of the opinion that they

should stay.

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Thank you all.

Against the Motion


Today I, Krit Kumar, stand before you to speak against the motion on ‘Relevance and

Desirability of Coaching Centres’ in today’s society. My knowledgeable friend has laid down

before you some good reasons favouring the desirability of these coaching centres in today’s

world. You’ll see yourself that these centres are multiplying day-by-day. Their growth indirectly

tells the sad story of school and college education. In direct words, I would say that school

and colleges are not functioning as they should. So these coaching centres are there at their

cost. I feel that if these educational institutions function in the right spirit, these coaching

centres don’t need to be there. For that our teaching fraternity is responsible together with the

administration.

Honourable judges, in my opinion, these coaching centres are teaching shops’ only.

These show rosy paths to the unsuspecting students and try to trap them into their net. Then

these start making money from them on one count or the other. These are centres for

‘misguiding’ the students. That’s why, many centres disappear overnight when their realities

are out. My knowledgeable friend has spoken favourably about prestigious coaching centres.

But their fees are so high that many sstudents can’t afford them. What I want is that those

centres which mint money without doing good should be punished. Then school and college

education should be improved.

Thank you all.

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Unsolved Example :

Q.1 In an inter-school debate competition, you have to speak for the motion, 'Safety of

Women Working in Night Shifts is Inadequate.' Draft a debate speech accordingly.

Q.2 The government has banned the use of animals in the laboratories for the purpose

of dissection. Write a debate in 150-200 words either for or against the decision.

Q.3 Some people feel that electronic media (TV news) will bring about the end of print

media (newspapers). What are your views on the issue? Write a debate in 150-200

words either for or against this view.

Q.4 Draft a debate in favour of or against the motion in not more than 120 words on the

topic, “Commercialization of Sports is the urgent need of the hour.”

Q.5 “Boarding schools are better than day schools for the all-round education of a

child” is the topic of the Inter House Debate to be conducted at your school. Draft a

debate expressing your views either for or against the statement.

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SECTION C (40 Marks)

LITERATURE TEXTBOOKS

AND LONG READING TEXT

S.NO.

CONTENT

PAGE NUMBER

1.

Flamingo - Prose

133-149

2.

Flamingo - Poetry

151-165

3.

Vistas

167-184

4.

Novel – The Invisible Man

186-193

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SECTION C

LITERATURE TEXTBOOKS AND LONG READING TEXT - 40 Marks

FLAMINGO / VISTAS / THE INVISIBLE MAN (40 MARKS)

Very Short Answer Questions - Based on an extract from poetry to test the

comprehension and appreciation. 4 Marks

Short Answer Questions - Based on prose/drama/poetry from the texts. 12 Marks

Long Answer Questions - Based on texts to test global comprehension and extrapolation beyond texts to bring out the key messages and values. 6 Marks

Long Answer Questions - Based on texts to test global comprehension

along with analysis and extrapolation. 6 Marks


prescribed novels. 6 Marks (THE INVISIBLE MAN)

Long Answer Questions - Based on understanding, appreciation, analysis and interpretation of the character sketch. 6 Marks

(THE INVISIBLE MAN)

FLAMINGO

PROSE: NAME OF THE LESSON WRITER’S NAME

The Last Lesson (Alphonse Daudet)

Lost Spring (Anees Jung)

Deep Water (William O Douglas)

The Rattrap (Selma Lagerlof)

Indigo (Louis Fischer)

Going Places (A.R Barton) POETRY: NAME OF THE POEM POET’S NAME

My Mother At Sixty-Six (Kamala Das)

An Elementary School (Stephen Spender) Classroom in a Slum

Keeping Quiet (Pablo Neruda)

A Thing Of Beauty (John Keats)

Aunt Jennifer (Adrienne Rich)

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VISTAS

NAME OF THE LESSON WRITER’S NAME

The Tiger King (Kalki)

The Enemy (Pearl S. Buck)

Should Wizard Hit Mommy (John Updike)

On the Face Of It (Susan Hill)

Evans Tries an O- Level (Colin Dexter)

Memories of Childhood (Zitkala- Sa and Bama)

LONG READING TEXT: Novel THE INVISIBLE MAN

- H G Wells


prescribed novels.

Long Answer Questions - Based on understanding, appreciation, analysis

and interpretation of the character sketch.

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FLAMINGO PROSE SECTION

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1. THE LAST LESSON

-ALPHONSE DAUDET

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each:

Q.1 Describe the effect on life at school, produced by the passing of Alsace and

Lorraine into Prussian hands.

The order from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine perturbed

the French greatly. Now they realized how important French was. The humdrum inside and

outside the class was missing. The silence of the graveyard welcomed each one. Students

and village people had a common people feeling of terror and of learning German under

pressure. All were settled to take the last lesson seriously. They realized their blunder of not

taking French seriously before. All sat with grim faces and their dislike for M. Hamel changes

to admiration. Even M. Hamel presented a different facet of his personality. He wished he

could teach the entire French in the Last Lesson. His patriotic fervour when he wrote 'Viva La

France' inspired the French to earn their freedom back.

Q.2 How was M. Hamel a different teacher while giving his last lesson?

The personality traits of M. Hamel underwent transition due to changed environment. The

order from Berlin had paralyzed the senses of all French people. Franz saw a different image

of M. Hamel. He was calm, gentle, highly emotional and patriotic on the last day. On reaching

late to school, Franz was not reprimanded but allowed inside the classroom. His approach to

teaching was serious and professional. He did not even spare himself. For the casual attitude

toward French. Franz and the villagers were no less careless about learning it. He advised all

to guard the French language as it was comparatively superb. He continued to teach till the

bell sounded the end of it. Finally he grew emotional and wrote 'Viva La France' on the

blackboard and in silence instructed all of them to depart.

Q.3 What changes did the narrator find in the school when the order from the Berlin

came?

The order from Berlin shocked the French. It stated that from henceforth only German would

be taught at Alsace and Lorraine. The whole environment was tense. The narrator found that

the sonorous rapping on the table, and other peculiar loud noises were no more. All mute

faces were writing busily disturbing the calm of the place. The villagers had occupied the back

benches to attend M. Hamel's class. He was also attired in a formal outfit. His attitudinal

change found him gentle in reprimanding everyone present. Including himself for being casual

to the most logical language, French. Everyone was engrossed in learning and Hamel made

them realize their mistake.

Q.4 How was the scene in the school in the morning of the last lesson different from

that on other days?

The school scene was utterly different. Silence pervaded everywhere. Even the noisy

classroom breathed quiet ambience. M. Hamel had worn special dress meant for special

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occasions. He taught in a different style that each one seemed to understand. The village

people had also joined them for the last lesson.

Q.5 What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last French lesson?

The environment in the classroom was highly unusual. The presence of the villagers aroused

anxiety. There was an absolute calm for all to feel remorseful of the harm they had done to

their mother tongue- French; the most beautiful language by being careless about it. All were

awestruck by the orders from Berlin and worked quietly.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:

Answer the following questions in 120-150 words:

Q.1 Describe the change in the attitude of Franz towards his language and his teacher.

Initially Franz is reluctant to go to school. He has never been a sincere and devoted student.

He fears that his teacher, M Hamel would scold him because he had not learnt his lesson. He

finds his son teacher strict and austere.

When he reaches school, he is surprised because M Hamel speaks kindly to him. He is still

confused and absorbing the situation, when M Hamel announces that it is to be their last

French lesson. Poor Franz now regrets not mother tongue and now he would never be able to

learn it. His books, which were a nuisance to him, suddenly seem like old friends. The thought

that he would never see M Hamel again makes him forget all about his crankiness. He begins

to feel very sorry for his teacher.

Q.2 Explain "M Hamel was an epitome of patience that day- A true patriot."

M Hamel was very patient that day. He did not remark on Franz's being late. He did not scold

Franz when he could not recite the rules of participles. In fact, he blamed all of them, including

himself, for neglecting the study of their mother tongue, the French language. That he was a

patriot is demonstrated by the fact that he praised the French language for its clarity, logic and

beauty and exhorted his audience to hold fast to it. M Hamel had been teaching for forty years

in the school, so everyone was overwhelmed by emotions at the time of his leaving the

school. But M Hamel maintained utmost dignity and composure. He exhibited strong courage

and patience and listened to every lesson to the last.

Finally, at the end of the lesson, he wrote on the blackboard, 'Vive La Franc e!', meaning 'long

live France', which showed that he was a true patriot.

VALUE BASED QUESTION:

Answer the following question in 120-150 words:

Q.1 "Then he turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk and bearing on it with all

his mighty, he wrote as large as he could 'Vive La France'!"

After reading the lesson you begin to feel that the Indian youth lack the spirit of

patriotism. Write an article in about 120-150 words on the need of a patriotic spirit

amongst the youth in India.

-135-

India is the land of people like Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh, people who devoted their

whole lives in serving their motherland. But in modern India, their thoughts have become a

shadow of their previous self. The word 'patriotism' has faded 'patriotism' has faded away from

the heats of the youth. The youth remains so much immersed in their superficial world that

they have no interest in or intention of reflecting upon the idea of patriotism.

However, if they can channelize their energy into something positive, India will surely become

a super power as there is a lot of potential in the youth of our nation. The youth need to tap

their limitless energy in the service of the nation and make an effort for the better and bright

future of India, our motherland.

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2. LOST SPRING, STORIES OF STOLEN CHILDHOOD

-ANEES JUNG

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:


Q.1 What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where has he come from and

why ?

Ans. Saheb hopes to find gold, some coins, a one-rupee note even when a ten-rupee note or

other valuables from the garbage pile. He hails from Dhaka in Bangladesh and since his

home and fields had been destroyed by the storm, he had to migrate.

Q.2 Garbage to them is gold. Why does the author say so about the rag pickers?

Ans. Garbage was gold for both adults and children. It helped the adults to earn a living while

for children it was 'lucky dip' where they could find coins, notes or valuables to enjoy life.

Q.3 What does the writer mean when he says, 'Saheb is no longer his own master'?

Ans. Saheb was no longer his own master. He was subjected to poverty and had to scrounge

the heaps of garbage to eke out a means of livelihood. His desire to study remained a mere

dream.

Q.4 Is it possible for Mukesh to realize his dream? Justify your answer.

Ans. Mukesh aspired to become a motor mechanic. He wished to think differently and

denounced the philosophy to walk miles together to learn where born only for the profession

of bangle-selling. He was determined to walk miles together to learn the fundamentals to the

trade.

Q.5 What does the title ' Lost Spring ' convey?

Ans. The beauty of the childhood is trampled under the burden of hard life. Saheb and

Mukesh did not experience any spring in their lives due to the responsibilities of their families

to supplement their income. They were derived education and pushed into family professions.

They lost the spring in their lives.



Q.1 Give a brief account of life and activities of the people like Saheb-e-Alam settled in

Seemapuri.

The author's acquaintance with Saheb and other barefoot rag pickers introduced her to

Seemapuri. It is a slum area located on the periphery of Delhi. The residents of Seemapuri

consist of people who left Bangladesh in the 1971 war and are basically refugees. Saheb's

family is among them. The area consists of mud structures, with roofs of tin and tarpaulin. It

does not have facilities of sewage, drainage or running water. About 10000 rag pickers live

here. Their only means of livelihood is rag picking. Thus, for them the rags are as valuable as

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gold, for their survival depends on these. When Anees visits that place, she comes to know

that these rag pickers have lived here for more than thirty years without any identity. They do

not have permits but do have ration cards, thanks to the selfish whims and wishes of the

politicians. With these they can get their name on the voter's lists and also buy grains for

themselves at a subsidised rate.

Q.2 'Lost Spring' explains the grinding poverty and traditions that condemn thousands

of people to a life of abject poverty. Do you agree? Why/ Why not ?

Yes, I do agree that 'Lost Spring' narrates the grinding poverty and traditions that condemn

thousands of people have succumbed.

The story written by Anees Jung revolves around the pitiable condition of poor children who

have been forced to live in the slums and work hard in dirty conditions. The first part tells the

writer's impression about the life of poor rag pickers who have migrated from Bangladesh but

now are settled in the Seemapuri area of Delhi.

The second part narrates the miserable life of the bangle-makers in the town of Firozabad.

The stark reality of these families is that, in spite of back-breaking hard work that they put in,

they cannot have two square meals a day. Besides, false and blind belief in traditions does

not let their children take up other respectable and better paying jobs which will improve their

financial situations.



1. Most of us do not raise our voice against injustice in our society and tend to remain

mute spectators. Anees Jung in her story, 'Lost Spring' vividly highlights the miserable

life of street children and bangle makers of Firozabad. She wants us to act. Which

qualities does she want the children to develop?

Anees Jung wants the children to become free from the vicious cycle of poverty into which

they have fallen due to the middlemen, sahukars and law enforcement officials. She wants

them to be bold enough to raise their voice against their oppressors. She wants them to be

fearless and optimistic so that they can dream of taking up other occupations, just like

Mukesh, who wants to be a motor-mechanic. She wants to become them free from their

traditional occupation so that they can realise their life's ambitions. She sees the spark of

such a quality in Mukesh, who is willing to go to any lengths to become a motor-mechanic.

She wants some people to help them develop these qualities so that they can be free from

injustice and exploitation take up other reapectable and better paying jobs which will improve

their financial condition.

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3. DEEP WATER

-WILLIAM O DOUGLAS



Q.1 How did the drowning experience affect Douglas?

Ans. Douglas had an aversion for water since his drowning incident when he was quiet

young. It did not allow him t touch waters again. He felt he would be revisited by the same

terror and his legs paralyzed due to the traumatic experience.

Q.2 How did the instructor help Douglas to overcome his fear of water?

Ans. Douglas had a hydrophobia due to his experience at YMCA pool. But the instructor

helped him to tide over this fear. Douglas practiced swimming for weeks when a rope was tied

to the belt. The training to exhale under water and to kick water with his feet, also helped him

swim comfortably.

Q.3 What did Douglas learn from his experience of drowning?

Ans. Douglas had an almost fatal encounter in the waters when he was quiet young. It had so

terrorized him that he developed a phobia for it and never tried taking a risk again. But

fortunately, the guidance of his instructor and his self-confidence enabled him to overcome

the fear of water and learnt to conquer the fear of the unknown.

Q.4 How did the incident at the Y.M.C.A. pool affect Douglas?

Ans. Douglas had a horrifying experience in the YMCA pool which continued to haunt him. He

was tossed into a nine feet deep swimming pool by a 'bully' when he had just began to learn

swimming. A sensation of death ran through him. He shouted for help in vain; but life smiled

at him and he was saved.

Q.5 Why was Douglas keen to overcome his fear of water?

Ans. The misadventure at YMCA pool left Douglas a misfit due to his phobia for water. He

was totally unhappy and wished he could get rid of the undesirable fear. Have resolved to

overcome it, he practised the skill at lake went worth and also dived into the warm lake. No

one could bully him now.

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Q.1 How did Douglas develop an aversion to water ?

Ans. William O. Douglas had developed an aversion to water when he was just a boy of three

or four. His father took him to the beach in California. He and his father stood together in the

surf. He was knocked down by the waves. He was buried in water. His breath had gone.

There was terror in his heart at the overpowering force of the waves. He was frightened and

developed a permanent fear for water. This fear revived when he was at the Y.M.C.A

swimming pool. A big boy of eighteen tossed him into the deep end of the pool. He soon

reached the bottom of the nine feet deep pool. But those nine feet were more like ninety. He

was nearly drowned. His hands and legs were paralysed and rigid. His lungs ached and head

pounded. When he came to senses, he found himself lying beside the pool, vomiting.

William O. Douglas decided to get an instructor and learn how to swim. He went to a pool and

practised five days a week. The instructor made him a perfect swimmer. He was not sure that

all his terror had left. So he went to Lake Wentworth and dived off a dock. He had conquered

his fear of water.

Q.2 How did the instructor make Douglas a good swimmer?

Ans. Douglas decided to get an instructor to learn swimming. The instructor started working

with him five days a week, an hour each day. He put a belt around Douglas. A rope was

attached to the belt that went through a pulley.

The instructor held the rope and pulled Douglas back and forth, across the pool, making him

practice. The instructor taught him to put his face under the water exhale, and to raise his

nose inhale. Slowly and steadily Douglas was able to shed his fear of water, which was the

greatest obstacle in his desire to swim. For weeks after this, his instructor made him kick with

his legs.

Initially his legs were not responding, but with time they relaxed and he was able to command

his legs at his will. In this way, piece by piece, his instructor made Douglas a swimmer.

Q.3 How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?

Ans. At the age of three or four, Douglas was engulfed by waves from the sea, which started

his fear of water. Then when he was ten or eleven years old, Douglas was tossed into a nine

feet deep swimming pool by a foolish boy. He had a near drowning experience which further

increased his fear. Determined to get rid of his fear, Douglas engaged an instructor under

whom he practiced five days a week, an hour each day. The instructor tied Douglas with rope

suspended from a pulley to overcome his fear. However every time when the instructor

loosened his grip, Douglas's fear returned. It took him three months to overcome it.

Next, the instructor taught Douglas to exhale under water and inhale by raising his nose. He

was made to, kick at the side of the pool with his legs to build up stamina.

Thus, Douglas spent six months with the instructor i.e. from October to April. Thereafter, he

practiced on his own way by swimming across various lakes, finally overcoming his fear.

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Answer the following question in about 120-150 words:

Desire, determination and diligence lead to success. Explain the value of these

qualities in the light of Douglas' experience in 'Deep Water'.

Ans. The terror of water followed Douglas wherever he went. To get rid of it, he made a

strong determination. He decided to overcome his fear though his 'will'. He engaged an

instructor who perfected him in swimming. the instructor gave him hundreds of exercises and

taught him to exhale and inhale in water.

The practice went on for three months and Douglas was able to counter his terror. Then after

more exercises, the instructor ordered him to dive. He swam across and back lakes. He had

now completely lost his fear of water. His desire, determination and diligence had succeeded

in banishing his fear of water.

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4. THE RATTRAP

-SELMA LAGERLOF



Q.1 Why did the peddler accept Edla's invitation? How did he feel?

Ans. The peddler could not be persuaded by the ironmaster to visit his house as told by the

father. Edla did a good job as she was warm, compassionate and friendly. The peddler

accepted her invitation because of her amiable ways.

Q.2 Did the stranger agree to go to the ironmaster's house? Why or why not?

Ans. On the constant persuasion of the ironmaster the peddler was reluctant, to accompany

him home to stay. He thought of his being discovered of the theft of thirty kroners. But on

being accosted by his daughter, he accepted the invitation because of Edla's warmth and her

understanding nature.

Q.3 How did the peddler react when he saw that the ironmaster had recognised him as

Nils Olaf, an old regimental comrade?

Ans. The peddler had come to the Ramsjo Iron works to warm himself and sleep. On

scrutinizing the face of the peddler, the iron-master misjudged him for an acquaintance. The

peddler hoped for some materialistic gain. A couple of kroners would certainly make him feel

good.

Q.4 How did the peddler betray the confidence reposed in him by the Crofter in 'The

Rattrap'?

Ans. The crofter was a cool man. He entertained his guests to his heart's content, least

bothered about their reactions. He offered porridge, supper and tobacco to the peddler. He

played with him and also displayed his earnings. But his trust was betrayed. The peddler

robbed him of the thirty kroners kept in his pouch. He made his way out of the house, least

bothered of betraying the trust of z generous host. The evil in him had surfaced once again as

he was not help to keep his image clean. He had deserted the crofter in a very cruel way.

Q.5 Why did the peddler think that the world was a rattrap ?

Ans. The peddler believed in the philosophy that the world was a rattrap. People get

ensnared by the temptations it offers. The moment one touches the bait of materialistic joys,

be is instantly trapped and condemned to the dark ways of the work.

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Q.1 How did the peddler feel after robbing the crofter? What course did he adopt and

how did he react to the new situation? What does his reaction reveal?

Ans. The crofter had treated the peddler with hospitality, and had even reposed his trust in

the poor vagabond. Still the peddler robbed him and was quite pleased with his smartness.

However, the fear of getting caught haunted him. So, he avoided the public highway and

turned into the woods. It was a big and confusing forest, and due to approaching darkness,

the peddler lost his way. He got exhausted moving around the same place, and was filled with

despair. He began to feel that the forest was like a big rattrap and the thirty kronor he had

stolen were like a set to tempt him. He felt helpless like a rat who had no way out of the trap in

which they had fallen.

His reaction reveals that he was feeling guilty for having stolen the crofter's money. His heart

was filled with remorse and self-loathing for his act of weakness.

Q.2 The story focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Explain.

Ans. All the characters in the story suffer from loneliness and are dreary souls. First of all, the

tramp appears to lead a sad, monotonous existence, left to his musings. He is always greeted

by sour faces and cold words. The old crofter lives all alone in a cottage by the roadside. He

is only too happy to get someone to talk to and get over his sense of loneliness. That's the

reason why he is so generous and hospitable as a host.

The ironmaster and his daughter, Edla also have no company for Christmas. The ironmaster

takes the tramp home, mistaking him to be his old comrade and he, with his daughter, are

happy to play perfect hosts to his friend. Thus, all of them have a strong desire for bonding

and comradeship. The crofter is happy to be friends with peddler, although only for a night.

Similarly, the ironmaster and his daughter have an opportunity to practice their Christian

virtues of kindness, sympathy and hospitality. It is the bonding with the young girl that

transforms the peddler.



Q.1 There is a saying 'Kindness pays, rudeness never'. In the story, 'The Rattrap' Edla's

attitude towards men and matters is different from her father's attitude. How are the

values of concern and compassion brought out in the story, 'The Rattrap'?

Ans. 'The Rattrap' is a story of a peddler who used to earn his living by selling small rattraps

of wire. Since his business was not profitable, he resorted to petty thievery. Nobody treated

him with kindness or respect. The first act of compassion was shown by the crofter who takes

the poor peddler in. Bu the peddler stole his money and ran away. Later, he was given a

place to stay by the noble ironmaster and his daughter. Though she was suspicious of him,

they promised him Christmas cheer. When his truth was discovered, Edla fought with her

father for the peddler. She not only requested her father to let the peddler stay for Christmas,

but also treated him like a real captain. The peddler was highly touched by this act of concern

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and compassion and before leaving the house, left the money he had stolen. This shows that

goodness is latent in the human heart which can be brought out by love, care and

understanding.

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5. INDIGO

-LOUIS FISCHER



Q.1 How was Gandhiji able to influence the lawyers?

Ans. The lawyers realized their narrow-minded approach and selfish interests when Gandhiji

declared that he was to be imprisoned for the cause of the share croppers. They resolved to

fight for them.

Q.2 How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?

Ans. Gandhiji undertook the battle in Champaran all because of a simple peasant named Raj

Kumar Shukla. Be it the educated i.e. lawyers Prof. J.B. Kriplani and students or the illiterate

peasants; all came together to contribute their mite to support Gandhiji to champion the cause

of the peasants who were mercilessly exploited by the Britishers.

Q.3 How did Shukla succeed in persuading Gandhiji to visit Champaran?

Ans. Raj Kumar Shukla was bent on taking Gandhiji with him to Champaran. He expressed

his blind faith in Gandhiji's, leadership. He also patiently waited for Gandhiji to finish his

assignments and escorted him wherever he went. Gandhi's visit to Champaran thus, became

compulsive.

Q.4 How as Gandhiji able to influence the lawyers at Champaran ?

Ans. The lawyer decided to return to their home town in case Gandhi faced arrest. Their

callous attitude incited Gandhi to question their indifference t the cause of the poor peasants.

It awakened their sense of duty and they were prepared for court arrest.

Q.5 How did Gandhiji help the peasants of Champaran ?

Ans. The peasants of Champaran faced oppression due to the evil designs of the landlords,

Gandhiji helped them and agreed to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers, making them

aware of their rights. They also gained courage and confidence.



Q.1 Why is the Champaran episode considered to be the beginning of the Indian

struggle for Independence ?

Ans. The Champaran episode was one of the major events in the struggle for Independence.

It was in the course of this small but significant movement that Gandhiji decided to urge the

departure of the British from India. A close examination of the problem of the Champaran

peasants opened Gandhiji's eyes to the unjust policies of the British.

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He realised that people had to be made free from fear and only then could they be freed from

foreign oppression. The spontaneous demonstration of the people proved that Gandhiji had

the nation's support in his fight against the Britishers.

The triumph of the civil disobedience at Champaran motivated the launching of the movement

on a large scale during the freedom movement. Gandhiji's winning the case of sharecroppers

proved that British authority could be challenged. Hence, the Champaran episode served as a

stepping stone to Indian struggle for Independence.

Q.2 Why did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers? How did it

influence the peasant-landlord relationship in Champaran ?

Ans. Gandhiji fought the case for the sharecroppers and the evidence that he collected was

so overwhelming that the landlords were asked to repay. When Gandhiji asked for 50%

repayment, the landlords offer to pay only 25% as they wanted to create a deadlock and thus

prolong the dispute. To everybody's surprise, Gandhiji agreed on a refund of 25%.

Gandhiji explained that the amount of refund was not important. What mattered was that the

landlords were obliged to surrender a part of their money and with it, part of their prestige.

The peasants saw that they had rights and defenders. They learned courage. Gradually,

indigo sharecropping disappeared from the area and the land came back to the poor

peasants.

Q.3 The Champaran episode was a turning point in Gandhiji's life. Elucidate.

Ans. The success of the Champaran episode made Gandhiji decide to urge the departure of

the British from India.

Gandhiji concluded that the root cause of the problem was fear, so going to law courts to

solve and the dispute was useless. It brought him face to face with reality and he became

aware of the miserable condition of the poor, illiterate farmers. He also realised the

exploitation that lay beneath the policies of the Britishers.

The spontaneous demonstration by the peasants was the beginning of their liberation from

fear of British. Civil disobedience had triumphed for the first time in modern India. Gandhiji

declared that British could not order him about in his own country. Thus, it was a turning point

in his life, which also served as a source of strength motivation for his future movements.



Q.1 Exploitation is a universal phenomenon. The poor indigo farmers were exploited by

the British landlords to which Gandhiji objected. Even after our independence we find

exploitation of unorganised labour.

What values do we learn from Gandhiji's campaign to counter the present day

problems of exploitation? The weak have always and at all times been the victims of

injustice and exploitation.

Ans. We see two real examples of exploitation in our books. One is of the indigo

sharecroppers at the hands of the British and the other is of the bangle workers of Firozabad.

Numerous such incidents are also reported in the newspapers. Gandhiji taught us a very

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beautiful way to counter the problems of exploitation. The exploited are fear-stricken. The real

relief comes for them when they get free from fear. Next is the path of non-violence and civil

disobedience. Not bowing to the demands of the oppressor can do wonders for the exploited.

Finally, Gandhiji's lesson in self-reliance is the most important to curb the menace of

exploitation. Until one is self-reliant, one cannot fight against injustice.

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6. GOING PLACES

-A.R. BARTON



Q.1 Why was Sophie jealous of Geoff's silence ?

Ans. Geoff, Sophie's elder brother was an apprentice mechanic. When he was silent, he was

away somewhere in those places where she had never been. Since the brother's world was

unknown to her, she craved to share his experiences.

Q.2 Write a character sketch of Jansie.

Ans. Jansie and Sophie were best friends but had contrasting natures. Jansie accepted the

facts of life, was practical and not a dreamer. She wished to be apprized of all the details of

Sophie's adventurous acts for a better understanding.

Q.3 What did Sophie imagine about her meeting with Danny Casey ?

Ans. Sophie was popular for her escapades. She cooked up the story of meeting the football

prodigy, Danny Casey. She imagined their meeting at the Arcade where she asked for his

autograph. But instead of an autograph, he asked her for a date.

Q.4 Describe the character of Sophie's father and the role played by him.

Ans. Sophie was fortunate to be blessed with the gift of hard working father. He cared to

provide all comforts and facilities to the members of the family. He was also a sports

enthusiast who took his family to watch United each Saturday. He was jovial and cheered

Danny to score goals. He was practical and faced life squarely. He also counsels Sophie

about her over-indulgence in day- dreaming and helps her face reality.

Q.5 Jansie is just as old as Sophie but she is very different from her. Bring out the

contrast between the two friends citing relevant instances from the story, 'Going

Places'

Ans. Jansie was a realist who guided Sophie when she was on the wings of her fantasies.

Her practical bent of mind made her stand apart from the dream world of Sophie. Though

Jansie and Sophie were of the same age-group but Jansie helped Sophie to manage her life

sensibly. She made her realize that money was the deciding factor when one dreamt really

big. She advised her to forget aspiring high if she was not determined to fulfil it. She was

indeed a sincere friend who wished her to accept reality and walk for the biscuit factory. On

the other hand, Sophie dreamt of becoming either an actress or a fashion designer. Her

dream meetings with Danny Casey leave her shattered but fortunately, the members of her

family help her to come out of the gloom.



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Q.1 Attempt a character sketch of Sophie as a woman who lives in her dreams.

Ans. Sophie has been portrayed as a central character in the story 'Going Places'. She

represents the girls her age from poor families. As in reality they can't have the things they

want, so they dream about them.

So is the case with Sophie. She always lives in her dreams. She always dreams impossible

things which are far removed from reality. She makes up the story of meeting Danny Casey, a

young charming and upcoming footballer. Nobody believes her but she refuses to accept that

it is her dream. Rather, she starts believing that she has met him. To show that she is telling

the truth, she makes up another story that she has fixed a date with him. He does not show

up her. Her dreams have become an integral part of her life, and she cannot distinguish

between her world of imagination and the real world.

Q.2 Contrast Sophie's real world with her fantasies.

Ans. The story 'Going Places' is a journey into the dream world of the protagonist, a school

girl named Sophie, who drifts from one dream to another. Sophie finds the reality of her life

too harsh to accept. She belongs to a lower middle class family where nobody encourages

her to dream of prospects. Still she dreams of owning the best boutique, becoming a manager

in some store or at other times becoming an actress or a fashion designer.

In reality, the pitiable condition of her life does not let her venture into such joyrides. However,

in her dream world, she visits the Royce's meets Danny Casey, the sports icon and even fixes

up a date with him. It's all in her mind but she considers it true and actually waits for him to

show up at a specified spot and time. The flight of her imagination is such that it flips from one

dream to another, from one place to the other.

Q.3 How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie's father?

Ans. Sophie's father is a typical man belonging to the working class. He is the sole provider of

the family. We first meet him as a coarse, ill-mannered man stuffing shepherd pie into his

mouth, wearing his dirty and sweaty vest. He is a practical person who never leaves the world

of harsh reality. He wants Sophie to step out of her dream world and tells her that her habit of

making up stories is going to land her into trouble someday. He goes to the pub to celebrate

something as frivolous as a football match. Thus, he is quite selfish.

In spite of being the head of an impoverished family with so many mouths to feed, we never

see him indulging in self-pity or cursing his fate. He rather enjoys his life to the fullest by

making a weekly pilgrimage to watch the football match.



Q.1 Day-dreaming and escapism lead a person to create a different world of illusions

that is far removed from the harsh realities of life. How did Sophie, an incurable

dreamer, create such a world and with what results?

Ans. Day-dreaming leads only to escapism. When an ambitious but poor girl Sophie indulges

in day-dreaming and escapism, she deliberately creates a different world for herself. It is a

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world of romance, beauty and riches. What a person can’t achieve in real life, she tries to

achieve in her dreams. She always lives in such a fanciful world and conveniently forgets that

her world is far removed from the harsh realities of life.

Sophie doesn’t find the world and life to her liking. She is born in a poor family. She is torn

between wants and desires. She is young and of romantic disposition. No young hero comes

in her real life. Unfulfilled desires, poverty and limitations lead her to create a different world

for herself. It I s a different world where she can dream of meeting her hero Danny Casey.

She knows that Danny Casey will never care for such an ordinary girl like her. Many girls are

after such a celebrity. She knows that he will never come. But she takes the help of dreams to

reach him.

The helpless poor girl finds some consolation in dreaming big and beautiful things. She

dreams of having the grandest boutique in the town. She dreams of being a beautiful and

famous film actress. All her dreams are beyond her reach and resources. The results were

not very pleasant. Gradually, she allowed herself to be alienated from the world of reality. All

her dreams and disappointment were the creation of her own mind.

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FLAMINGO POETRY SECTION

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1. MY MOTHER AT SIXTY-SIX

- KAMALA DAS

Extract Based Questions

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :

"Driving from my parent's home to Cochin last Friday

morning, I saw my mother, beside me,

doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that

of a corpse and realised with pain that she thought away"

Questions:

(a) Where was the poet coming from ? Where was she going ?

Ans. The poet had gone to her parent's home to visit them. She was now going to Cochin

from where she had to board an aeroplane for her journey back home.

(b) Where was the poet's mother ?

Ans. The poet's mother was sitting beside her in the car. She was travelling with the poet to

Cochin to see her off at the airport.

(c) How does the poet describes her mother ?

Ans. The poet describes her mother as old and pale. As she dozed off beside her, the

mother looked almost like a corpse, for her face was colourless and seemed to have lost the

fervour of life.

(d) Who does 'she' refer to in the last line ? What thoughts had she driven away ?

Ans. 'She' here refers to the poet's mother. Like all elderly people, she also suffered from the

pain of loneliness and wanted her children to be with them. However, she seemed to have

accepted her seclusion with quiet resignation, reconciling herself with the circumstances and

compulsions of life.


"but after the airport's security check,

standing a few yards away,

I looked again at her, wan,

pale as a late winter's moon."

(a) Where was the poet standing?

Ans. The poet was at the Cochin airport waiting to board the plane after the security check.

(b) Who does 'her' refer to here? How did she look like?

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Ans. 'Her' here refers to the poet's mother. She was an aged lady and hence looked pale and

colourless.

(c) Why does the narrator 'look at her again'?

Ans. The narrator looked at her mother once again for the last time before she left to

reassure herself about the well being of her mother. She had tried to drive away the pain she

had felt on seeing her weak and aged mother. One last time she looked at her to wish her

goodbye.

(d) Explain: " wan, pale as a late winter's moon."

Ans. In this simile, the poet compares the mother's pale and withered face with the winter's

moon. The moon seems to lose its brightness in the winter season as it is veiled behind fog

and mist. The mother's face also seemed to have lost its radiance which was now misted by

age. Winter symbolises death and the waning moon symbolises decay.


“but soon put that thought away,

and looked out at young trees sprinting,

the merry children spilling out of their homes”

(a) Who looked at the young trees?

Ans. The poetess Kamala Das looked at the young trees.

(b) Which thought did she put away?

Ans. The thought that she put away from her mind was that of her ageing mother's decaying

condition and the thought that this could probably be their last meeting.

(c) What do young people sprinting trees signify?

Ans. The young sprinting trees signify the energy of the youth and continuity of life in contrast

to her thoughts related to her old-aged mother.

(d) Identify the figure of speech used in line no. 4.

Ans. Personification



Q.1 How does the poet's mother look like? What kind of images has the poet used to

signify her ageing and decay ?

Ans. The poet's mother is at sixty-six. She is sitting beside her. The mother is dozing as old

people usually do during the journey. She keeps her mouth open. This is also a sign of old

age. Her face looks pale and faded like ash. Actually, she is an image of decay and death.

Her 'ashen' face looks like that of corpse.

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Q.2 Why does the poet feel her old familiar ache and what is her childhood fear?

Ans. The sight of her mother's corpse-like face arouses ' that old familiar ache' in her heart.

Her childhood fear returns. The fear is that with ageing comes decay and death. Ageing and

decay are inevitable. No one avoid them. Perhaps she herself may have to face all these

things. This idea is quite painful and fearful to her.

Q.3 Describe the contrast of the scene inside the car with the activities going on

outside. Describe the use of images that poet employs to strike that contrast.

Ans. Inside the car sits an old mother beside the poet. She is sixty-six and ageing. Her

'ashen' face is pale and lifeless like a corpse. The world outside provides a stark contrast. The

'young' trees seem to be running past or sprinting. The children are making merry. The 'ashen'

and 'corpse-like' is contrasted with the 'young' trees 'sprinting' outside and the merry children

coming out of their houses.

Q.4 What were the poet's feeling at the airport? How did she hide them?

Ans. The poet experienced two opposite and contrasting feelings at the airport. The ashen

and the pale face of her mother brought an image of decay and death. But she immediately

hid her feelings. She composed herself and tried to look normal. She smiled continuously to

assure her mother that they would meet again soon.

Q.5 Describe the poetic devices used by Kamala Das in 'My Mother At Sixty-Six'.

Ans. Kamala Das ' My Mother At Sixty-Six’ is rich in imaginary. The use of simile is very

effective. Her face has been described as 'ashen'. The ashen face is 'like that of a corpse'.

Again the 'wan, pale' face of a mother is compared to ‘a late winter's moon'. The poem excels

in contrasts.

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2. An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum

-Stephen Spender



"Far far from gusty waves these children's faces.

Like rootless weeds, the hair torn round their pallor:

The tall girl with her weighed-down head. The paper-

seeming boy, with rat's eyes. The stunted, unlucky heir

Of twisted bones, reciting a father's gnarled disease,

His lesson, from his desk. At back of the dim class

One unnoted, sweet and young. His eyes live in a dream,

Of squirrel's game, in tree room, other than this."

Questions

(a) What do 'gusty waves' mean?

Ans. Gusty waves signify the vibrance and the bounties of nature which are far removed from

the reach of the children of the slum.

(b) What are the children like in the slum ?

Ans. The children hail from poor families. They are malnourished and look sickly.

(c) Explain 'reciting a father's gnarled disease'.

Ans. The lessons recited by the child are but mute tragic story of the abnormalities of the body. They continue to play havoc in their lives too (inherited disease).

(d) How do a child's eyes live in a dream ?

Ans. The child has a living dream in his eyes. It seems to be alive in his eyes despite the

dismal life of the slum.


" Unless, governor, inspector, visitor

This map becomes their window and these windows

That shut upon their lives like catacombs,

Break O break open till they break the town

And show the children to green fields, and make their world

Run azure on gold sands, and let their tongues

Run naked into books the white and green leaves upon

History their whose language is the sun. "

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Questions

(a) How can 'this map' become 'their window'?

Ans. This map of the world is shaped and owned by the rich. It must also be thrown open to

the poor and unfortunate children of slums. Only then will it become 'their window'. They will

be able to peep inside it.

(b) What have shut upon their lives like catacomb ?

Ans. Their dirty surroundings have blocked their progress and growth. They have been shut

inside them like the underground graves

(c) Explain : '... till they break the town'.

Ans. Till they come out of the dirty surroundings and slums of the town into the open.

(d) What will happen if the children come out of the bonds that bind them?

Ans. Then their world will be extended to the golden sands and azure waves and to the green

fields.


“Open-handed map

Awarding the world its world. And yet, for these,

Children, these windows, not this map, their world,

Where all their future's painted with a fog.

narrow street sealed in with a lead sky

Far from rivers, capes, and stars of words”.

(a) What does the poet mean by 'a lead sky'?

Ans. 'A lead sky' suggests a grey and dull sky which means that there is no hope for the slum

children. They have a bleak future.

(b) What does the poet say about the children's future?

Ans. The children's future is bleak and dark. They nurture hopes for a better future but

achieving these hopes is merely a dream for them.

(c) What kind of world do we see on the map?

Ans. The map of the world is symbolic of hopes and aspirations and a mere look at this world

motivates the children to explore this world, which is full of the bounties bestowed by God.

(d) Who are these children? What is their world like?

Ans. These are school children living in dingy and dirty slums. Their world is foggy, narrow

and polluted. It is far from the open sky, clean rivers and capes.


“On their slag heap, these children

Wear skins peeped through by bones and spectacles of steel

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With mended glass, like bottle bits on stones

All of their time and space are foggy slum.

So blot their maps with slums as big as doom”.

(a) Which two images are used to describe these slums?

Ans. The images used to describe these slums are: 'slag heap', 'bottle bits on stones' and

'slums as big as doom'.

(b) What sort of life do these children lead?

Ans. These children lead a life worse than death. The dirt and garbage of the slum is their

world so their lives are pathetic, full of misery and poverty.

(c) Which figure of speech is used in the last line ?

Ans. A simile has been used in the last line where slums are compared to a living hell.

(d) What blot ‘their’ maps?

Ans. These living hells are the dirty slums. They are blots on the map of the civilised world. It

is the world of the rich and great.



Q.1 What is the message that Stephen Spender wants to give through the poem 'An

Elementary School Classroom in a Slum'?

Ans. In 'An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum', Stephen deals with the theme of social

injustice and inequalities. There are two different worlds. Art, culture and literature have no

relevance to slum children. They live in dark, narrow, cramped holes and lanes. Unless the

gap between the two world is abridged, there can't be any real progress or development.

Q.2 What should governors, teachers, inspectors and other important and powerful

persons do to improve the lot of children living in slums?

Ans. Two world exists simultaneously. They are quite opposite and incompatible to each

other. The gap between them must be abridged. Governors, teachers and powerful persons

can play an important role in it. They can help in removing social injustice and class

inequalities. All good things of life, the sea, the sun, and the fields should be within the reach

of slum- children.

Q.3 What does the poet wish for the children of the slums?

Ans. The world of slum children is of want, miseries, dirt and hunger. Stephen Spender wants

social justice and equality for them. The gap between the world of the rich and the mighty,

and the hellish and the foggy world of slums must be abridged. Their lives can be changed if

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social injustice and inequalities be removed. All good things of life must be within the reach of

slum children.

Q.4 Why does Spender call Shakespeare ‘wicked’ and the map a ‘bad example’?

Ans. Spender calls Shakespeare 'wicked' because Shakespeare holds no interest and serves

no purpose to the slum children. The map of the world drawn and bartered by the mighty and

the rich has no relevance to them. They are not part of it.

Q.5 Crushed under poverty, disease and miseries do the little school children of slums

have any dreams or hopes? What are they?

Ans. The children living in slums have to live in most miserable and sub-human conditions.

The burden of poverty and disease crushes their bodies. They still have dreams. Their future

is foggy and uncertain. They have kept their hopes alive. They dream of open seas and green

fields. They dream of the games that a squirrel plays on the trees.

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3. KEEPING QUIET

-Pablo Neruda



"What I want should not be

confused

with total inactivity.

Life is what it is about;

I want no truck with death.

If we were not so single-minded

about keeping our lives moving,

and for once could do nothing,

perhaps a huge silence

might interrupt this sadness

of never understanding ourselves

and of threatening ourselves with

death."

Questions:.

(a) What does the poet not want himself to be?

Ans. The poet doesn't want himself to be confused with advocating total inactivity.

(b) Explain: 'I want no truck with death'.

Ans. Total inactivity brings death. The poet has no association with death. Hence, he is not

advocating for death.

(c) What were we not focussing on?

Ans. It would have been better if we had not been focussing all the time on keeping our lives

moving. We should have given ourselves rest sometime.

(d) When can a huge silence do us good?

Ans. When we were threatening ourselves with death, a silence can do us a lot of good.

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"Perhaps the Earth can teach us

as when everything seems dead

and later proves to be alive.

Now I'll count up to twelve

and you keep quiet and I will go."

Questions:

(a) What can earth teach us?

Ans. The earth can teach a lesson to mankind how to live on it.

(b) What lives alive when everything seems dead?

Ans. Only the earth lives alive when everything else appears to be dead.

(c) What does the poet ask us while he counts upto twelve?

Ans. The poet asks us to keep quiet while he is counting upto twelve.

(d) Name the poem and the poet of these lines.

Ans. The name of the poem is 'Keeping Quiet' and the poet is Pablo Neruda.



Q.1 Why does Pablo Neruda urge us to keep still ?

Ans. Pablo Neruda considers that indecent haste and activities lead humanity to wars,

violence and death. He urges us to keep still to enjoy a few moments of peace, rest and

tranquillity. Sometimes keeping still gives us the much needed respite.

Q.2 How can suspension of activities help ?

Ans. Man's indecent haste has already caused a lot of problems. His activities have given

birth only chaos, war, violence and miseries. Suspension of human activities can help in

restoring the environment and health of this world. Suspension of undue haste and rush can

help in bringing peace and tranquillity in the troubled world.

Q.3 How will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us ?

Ans. Man keeps his never relenting activities throughout the twelve hours of the day. This

results in fresh turmoil and tensions. Violence, war and other mischiefs of man are the results

of his undue and indecent haste and hurry. Keeping still can help him to buy time for a

positive approach and thinking. It can help in bringing this uneasy and turbulent world to

peace and harmony.

Q.4 How can there be life under apparent stillness ? How does the poet prove it ?

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Ans. Neruda doesn't equate stillness with total inactivity. Under this apparent stillness there is

life. We can learn it from the earth. When everything seems dead, the earth remains still alive.

It is never dead. The life on the earth goes on as usual under the apparent stillness.

Q.5 How is 'stillness' not equal to total inactivity? Why does Neruda say : 'I want no

truck with death' ?

Ans. The Earth can teach us an important lesson. The earth is never dead. When everything

seems to be dead, it remains still alive. 'Stillness' shouldn't be confused with total 'total

inactivity'. Life goes on as usual. The poet doesn't advocate for total inactivity has no

association with death.

Q.6 Which sadness is Pablo Neruda worried about in his poem?

Ans. The sadness that Pablo Neruda is worried about in his poem is the sadness of isolation

that has made modern man its victim. This sadness has made man self-centred and uncaring

to the needs of his fellowmen. He has sacrificed the needs of his emotional self in favour of

materialism.

Q.7 Do you think the poet, Pablo Neruda advocates total inactivity and death?

Why/Why not?

Ans. No, the poet Pablo Neruda does not advocate total inactivity and death. He wants to

give mankind an opportunity of quiet introspection to know and realize how he has been

harming himself and others. He makes it clear that stillness should be confused with inactivity.

Stillness means halting of harmful human activities. He also wants mankind to understand

that life is sprouting out of seemingly dead surroundings.

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4. A THING OF BEAUTY

-John Keats



“A thing of beauty is a joy forever

Its loveliness increases, it will never

Pass into nothingness; but will keep

A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and heath, and quiet breathing. "

Questions:

(a) "A thing of beauty is joy forever." Explain.

Ans. A thing of beauty is constant and everlasting source of joy and pleasure. Time can't fade

its beauty as its loveliness increases with passage of time.

(b) Why does not a beautiful thing pass into nothingness?

Ans. A thing of beauty never passes into nothingness as its beauty is constant and eternal.

(c) What does the poet mean by "A bower quiet for us"?

Ans. As a pleasant place in the shade under trees provides peace and pleasure , a thing of

beauty also does the same . It is like a 'quiet' bower.

(d) Name the poem and the poet.

Ans. The name of the poem is ‘A Think of Beauty’ and the poet is John Keats.


“Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing

A flowery band to bind us to the earth,

Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,

Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,

Some shape of beauty moves away the pall

From our dark spirits."

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Questions :

(a) What are we doing every day?

Ans. We are weaving a flowery wreath every day to bind us to the beauties of this earth.

(b) Describe bad and evil things that we possess in us.

Ans. We suffer from disappointments, lack of noble qualities and unhealthy and evil ways.

(c) 'In spite of all'. Explain.

Ans. It means in spite of all these evil things mentioned above.

(d) What removes the pall from our dark spirits?

Ans. Some beautiful shape or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from our hearts

or spirits.



Q.1 How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

Ans. John Keats, a great Romantic poet, considers that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. It is

a constant source of happiness and pleasure. Its loveliness increases every moment. A thing

of beauty is never devalued. It never passes into nothingness.

Q.2 How do we bind us to the earth every morning?

Ans. Like all the Romantic poets, Keats stresses the unbreakable bond of man with nature

and the earth. The beauties of the earth fascinate man. Every object of nature is a source of

beauty and happiness. Every day we are weaving a wreath through these beautiful things.

This flowery band binds us with the earth.

Q.3 Why does Keats associate 'grandeur' with 'the mighty dead'?

Ans. The 'mighty dead ' were people of great power, authority and grandeur. They were

wealthy, brave and awesome people. They are dead in their grave but their grandeur and

glory survives. It is believed that they will be handsomely rewarded on the dooms day.

Q.4 How is the pall of despondence moved away from our dark spirits?

Ans. Man makes his life miserable by his own nature and actions. He faces miseries and

pains. Amid these miseries and sufferings, a thing of beauty provides the only hope to

humanity. A thing of beauty works wonders. It is a joy forever. It removes the pall of

despondence ad sadness from our 'dark spirits'.

Q.5 What is the message that John Keats wants to give through 'A thing of Beauty'?

Ans. The very first line of the poem conveys the message of the poet. John Keats was a

worshipper of beauty. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Beauty never fades. Nor is it

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devalued. It never passes into nothingness. A thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness

and sorrows and gives us joy and pleasure.

Q.6 Mention any two things which, according to Keats, give us pain and suffering.

Ans. According to Keats man suffers from pain and suffering due to the inhuman dearth of

noble natures on earth and due to the inhuman and hostile attitude that makes our days sad

and darkness our ways with distress and wretchedness.

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5. AUNT JENNIFER'S TIGERS

-Adrienne Rich



"Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a screen

Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.

They do not fear the men beneath the tree;

They pace in sleek chivalric certainty."

Questions:

(a) How are Aunt Jennifer's tigers described?

Ans. Aunt Jennifer's tigers are dynamic, sleek, and full of strength and chivalric grace.

(b) Why are they described as denizens of a world of green?

Ans. The tigers are the animals that live in forests. They live in the world of green surrounded

by green trees and thick green vegetation.

(c) Why are they not afraid of the men?

Ans. They are not afraid of the men because they are not real. Even otherwise ferocious and

strong tigers are never afraid of men.

(d) Name the poem and the poet.

Ans. The of the poem is ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ and the poet is ‘Adrienne Rich’.


"When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie

Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.

The tigers in the panel that she made

Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid. "

Questions:

(a) Why are Aunt Jennifer's hands terrified?

Ans. Aunt Jennifer's hands are 'terrified' as they still bear the cruel burdens of not so happy

wedded life.

(b) What are the ordeals that Aunt Jennifer faced in her life?

Ans. Aunt Jennifer didn't seem to have led a pleasant married life. The hard and bitter

experiences of her married life lie heavy on her.

(c) How are the tigers different from her?

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Ans. Aunt Jennifer's tigers provide a striking contrast. The old lady is weak and can't even

move her terrified 'fingers'. On the other hand, her tigers symbolise strength, power and

speed.

(d) What will happen to her tigers after her death?

Ans. The tigers will continue running unafraid in 'sleek' chivalry.



Q.1 Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer?

Ans. Aunt Jennifer weaves and creates tigers in the panel. Her tigers symbolise strength,

speed and splendour. They pace with confidence and certainty. They provide a striking

contrast to the frail old lady who created them.

Q.2 How does the poet describe Aunt Jennifer's tigers?

Ans. The poet describe Aunt Jennifer's tigers as 'bright topaz denizens' of the forest. They

are fearless. They pace in 'sleek' chivalry. The symbolise pace, power and strength. They

provide a sharp contrast to the weak and old lady who created them.

Q.3 What is the weight that lies heavy on her hand and how is it associated with her

husband?

Ans. Aunt Jennifer can't move even her fingers freely in the wool. Actually, she has some

bitter experiences of her past married life. The memories of her married life with her husband

have been quite unpleasant. The weight of the wedding band sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's

hand. She finds it difficult even to pull the ivory needle easily with her weak fingers.

Q.4 What kind of ordeals is Aunt Jennifer surrounded by?

Ans. Aunt Jennifer is haunted and surrounded by the ordeals of her married life. The old

memories of her married life don't give her any solace or happiness. On the other hand, her

'terrified hands' only 'ringed' with ordeals that were given by her unhappy married life. The

unbearable and 'massive weight of Uncle's wedding band' made her fingers tremble and

shake.

Q.5 What will happen to Aunt Jennifer's tigers when she is dead?

Ans. The tigers Aunt Jennifer has created will not die when she is dead. They will survive her.

They will go on prancing, proud and afraid. Aunt Jennifer will die but her creations will survive.

Art always survives death.

Q.6 Describe the contrast between Aunt Jennifer and her creation, the tigers.

Ans. Aunt Jennifer is totally victimised and suffers from oppression by her male counterpart.

So she creates an alternate world of freedom in her art. The tigers she creates go on prancing

menacingly, exhibiting their pride and fearlessness of any social or gender conflicts.

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VISTAS

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1. THE TIGER KING

-KALKI



Q.1 Why did the Maharaja ban tiger hunting in the state?

Ans. After the Maharaja was crowned the king, the astrologer's prediction gradually reached

his ears, and he set out on a tiger hunt. When he killed his first tiger, the astrologer informed

him that he would have to kill a hundred tigers to escape the prophecy. So, that he could get

the required number of tigers to kill and reach the mark.

Q.2 Why was the Maharaja so anxious to kill the hundredth tiger?

Ans. The astrologer had foretold that the Maharaja should be wary of the hundredth tiger. The

Maharaja killed ninety-nine tigers but he could not even trace the hundredth one. Killing the

last tiger would mean that he proved the prophecy wrong and saved his life. That is why he

was so anxious to kill the hundredth tiger.

Q.3 When did the Tiger King stand in danger of losing his kingdom?

Ans. Tiger hunting was banned in Pratibandapuram. A high-ranking British officer visited

Pratibandapuram with a wish to hunt tigers. The Maharaja refused this permission. He feared

that if he relented, other British officers would turn up with similar requests. He stood in

danger of losing his kingdom because he refused the request of the British officer.

Q.4 How did the Tiger King meet his end? What is ironical about his fate?

Ans. The tiger King bought a wooden toy tiger for his son's birthday. It was crafted by an

unskilled carpenter. Tiny silvers of wood stood out all over it like quills. One of the silvers

pierced the Maharaja's hand. The infection soon spread all over his arm and he could not

survive. The irony about his fate is that the king killed many tigers, sometimes even with his

bare hands, but a harmless toy tiger proved to be the reason of his death. His death was thus

destined and the irony lay in his failure to survive the ominous prediction.

Q.5 How did the tiger king acquire his name?

Ans. The Tiger King acquired the name due to his ferocious attitude that he adopted at the

age of twenty when he was crowned the king. He continued to kill till he was successful in

achieving his mission of killing a hundred tigers. He was a terror to the tigers and killed ninety-

nine of them till destiny finally kills him.

Q.6 What did the British officer's secretary tell the Maharaja? Why did the Maharaja

refuse permission?

Ans. When the British officer was denied permission for hunting a tiger his secretary sent a

message to the Maharaja that the Maharaja himself could kill the tiger and then allow his

officer to get photographed holding the gun over the dead tiger. But the Maharaja did not

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agree to his request because he felt doing so would mean other officers would come with

similar demands.



Q.1 Describe the effects made by the Tiger King to achieve its target of killing a

hundred tigers?

Ans. The Tiger King spent a significant time and made numerous effect to fulfil his target of

killing a hundred tiger. He stayed in the forest for many days. He fired many of his officers for

not getting him tigers to kill.

The Tiger King even married a girl from another kingdom which had a large tiger population

when the tiger population become extinct in his own kingdom. The Tiger King also banned

tiger hunting in his state, and did not permit a high-ranking British officer who visited

Pratibandapuram to shot tigers. The King feared that other British officers would turn up for

similar expeditions. Later, he realised the danger to his throne and had to spend a sum of

three lakh rupees to impress the British officer's wife and discourage him from killing tigers. All

these efforts were made to fulfil his target of killing a hundred tigers.

Q.2 The astrologer's prediction about the death of the Tiger King came to be true. Do

you agree with this statement?

Ans. The astrologer has predicted that no harm would come to the Tiger King till he killed

ninety-nine tigers. He had to be worried of the hundredth tiger. This statement of the

astrologer forced the king to go on a killing spree. Tiger killing was banned in the state and

the king even married in a bid to kill the hundredth tiger. However, in spite of all his efforts to

avert the danger, the Tiger King was killed by the hundredth tiger, which was a crude wooden

toy bought for the prince. The wooden tiger killed the king merely by a sliver of wood that

pierced his right hand. The wound developed an infection and soon it spread all over the arm.

The best surgeons failed to save the King and thus the astrologer's prediction about the death

of the Tiger King proved the correct.



Q.1 The story ‘The Tiger King’ has a powerful massage on preservation of mother earth

and its wild life. The story highlights the wanton nature of those in power. They have a

very callous attitude towards nature. They plunder the natural resources and today the

earth is in a very perilous condition. Based on your reading of the story write a

paragraph on the topic: ‘Importance of Preserving Nature’.

Importance of Preserving Nature

Never in the history of mankind has the earth suffered so much. Most of its resources have

been vandalized and today she is in a critical condition. We need to remember that if the earth

falls we too will vanish. What is important for today is a new awareness about ecology i.e., a

realisation that the earth is not our inherited property but we have borrowed it from our future

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generation. Conservation of wildlife is therefore, very necessary. Inspite of the gloominess

that prevails everywhere regarding the health of the earth we can be happy on account of the

fact that the young generation is more environmentally conscious. There is a growing

awareness of the necessity of conservation and preservation of wildlife. It is encouraging to

see that grass root environment consciousness is also on the increase, and more and more

people stepping in towards contributing to the conservation of wildlife

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2. THE ENEMY

-Pearl S. Buck



Q.1 What forced Dr Sadao to be impatient and irritable with his patient?

Ans. The wounded man urgently needed an operation or he would die. Hana was with Sadao

when he started operating on the prisoner. Hana, who had never seen an operation in her life,

started vomiting. Sadao wanted to help her in her distress but he couldn't leave his patient.

This made him impatient and irritable.

Q.2 What made a cool surgeon like Sadao speak sharply to his wife and what was her

reaction?

Ans. Hana had never seen an operation. When Sadao started operating, blood began to flow.

Hana choked at this moment. Sadao sharply told her not to faint because if he stopped, the

wounded man would surely have died. Hana clapped her hands to her mouth and ran out.

Sadao heard her vomiting.

Q.3 Why Hana had to wash the wounded man herself?

Ans. The wounded soldier was very dirty. He needed to be washed before any kind of

treatment could be started. Hana asked her maid Yumi to wash him. Yumi said that she had

never washed a white man and she wouldn't wash a dirty one like the soldier. Seeing her

fierce resistance, Hana backed out and washed the soldier herself.

Q.4 How did Dr Sadao ensure that the American sailor left his house but he himself

remained safe and secure?

Ans. Dr Sadao first waited for the General's assassins to kill the American. But they never

arrived. Sadao, then, himself arranged for a boat and helped Tom to escape. He later told the

General that the prisoner had escaped. The General realised that it was a sheer carelessness

on his part to have forgotten about the matter. If the whole thing was disclosed, he might be

charged with negligence of duty. It was clear that the secret would be kept. Thus, Dr Sadao

ensured that the American left his house but he himself remained safe and secure.

Q.5 How did the writer indicate that Dr Sadao’s father was a very traditional and

conventional man?

Ans. The writer has very clearly indicated that Dr Sadao's father was a very traditional and

conventional man. Sadao didn't marry Hana until he knew she was Japanese because his

father wouldn't have approved of her otherwise. The old man never let any foreign object even

enter his room.

Q.6 What was the old gardener's reaction when Dr. Sadao gave shelter to the enemy

soldier?

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Ans. Like all the servants the gardener did not like Sadao's efforts to save a wounded

American soldier. He felt it was unpatriotic to give shelter to a prisoner of war and it was also

risky not to hand over the soldier to the army or the police. He could not tolerate the fact that

his master should save a white man from a hostile country.

Q.7 Why did the messenger come to Dr. Sadao? What did Hana think about him?

Ans. The uniformed messenger comes to Dr. Sadao to inform him that the old General was in

pain again. Hana felt relieved to hear that the messenger had come only to inform Dr. Sadao

about the General's ill-health. She had earlier feared that the servants had informed the police

who had sent the man in the uniform to their house.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS :


Q.1 What impression do you form about Dr Sadao as a man and as a surgeon on your

reading the chapter 'The Enemy'?

Ans. Dr Sadao is not only a superb surgeon but he is a superb human being as well. As we

go through the chapter, we see different shades f his character. Dr Sadao was a famous

surgeon and scientist. He was about to perfect a discovery which would render wounds

entirely clean. The General trusted him so much with his life that he was not sent with the

troops. Dr Sadao respected his father very much. It was his father's wish that he became a

surgeon and Sadao fulfilled it. They married Hana according to his father's wishes. Dr Sadao

is a man full of compassion. He saved the dying enemy. A man who stuck to his decision, he

didn't allow the servants to pressurise him. He did everything he could do to save the

American. He was also a patriot. He told the General about Tom without any fear.

Throughout the story he kept calling the American his enemy.

Q.2 Describe the difficulties faced by Dr Sadao when he decided to help the enemy

soldier.

Ans. Dr Sadao was drawn by the sheer feelings of humanity and compassion towards Tom.

Just because Dr Sadao harboured an enemy, he had to face innumerable problems. The servants left the house in defiance and he was under perpetual threat of being branded a traitor. He told the General about how the American prisoner of war was washed ashore and the circumstances under which he was granted refuge in the Sadao's household. The General understood his situation and assured him of sending assassins to eliminate the American. However, when no assassins came for three nights, Sadao decided that he could not 'go through another night'. He decided to save the American sailor's life a second time.

VALUE BASED QUESTION :

Answer the following question in 120-150 words each:

1. Do you think Dr Sadao's final decision was the best possible one in the

circumstances? Why/Why not? Explain with reference to the story, 'The Enemy'.

Ans. When Dr Sadao came across the prisoner of war, the first thing he did was to save his

life. As a doctor, he fulfilled the moral obligation of saving a human life. Next, he proved himself to his country by informing the General about the enemy. When the General assured

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Dr Sadao of sending the private assassins to eliminate the American sailor, Dr Sadao felt restless and perhaps guilty of betraying the same person whose life he had saved. After spending three sleepless nights, he finally deliberated on a flawless plan to let Tom, the American prisoner of war, escape. By letting him escape, Dr Sadao proves that even if two countries are at war, the religion of humanity does not alter. Its basic tenet is saving a human life, which Dr Sadao does with aplomb. In a way, Dr Sadao echoes the author, Pearl S Buck's views against war and hatred that it generates between man and man. Through Dr Sadao, the author conveys the message of universal brotherhood, peace and amity. It is indeed the best solution to the problem.

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3. SHOULD WIZARD HIT MOMMY

-JOHN UPDIKE



Q.1 Why did Roger Skunk go to see the old owl?

Ans. Roger Skunk smelt very bad. Everybody teased him by calling him 'Stinky Stunk.' He

had no friends. Nobody wanted to play with him or even go near him. In order to solve this

'problem', Roger went to see the old owl. The owl was very wise and experienced and Roger

believed that he would certainly come up with some solution.

Q.2 Why does Jo insist that her father should tell her the story with a different ending?

Ans. Jo, being a child, failed to accept the harsh realities of life. According to her, Roger

Skunk was happy with the smell of roses. She didn't want him to smell bad.

She was used to stories that ended happily. That was why she insisted that her father should

tell the story in which the wizard hit Mommy Skunk back and did not change Roger's smell

back.

Q.3 What did Jo want the wizard to do when Mommy Skunk approached him?

Ans. After the wizard gave Roger the smell of roses, he was very happy. His entire life

changed, for he got many friends to play with. But mother Skunk thought otherwise. She hit

wizard on the head and made Roger get back his foul smell. This made Jo very angry. She

wanted that the wizard should hit Mommy Skunk back.

Q.4 How did the wizard help Roger Skunk?

Ans. Roger Skunk went to the wizard to get rid of his awful smell. The wizard asked him what

he wanted to smell like, and Roger replied that he wanted to smell like roses. The wizard then

chanted a spell and changed his smell to that of roses. Roger Skunk was very happy, as now

everybody liked to play with him.

Q.5 What part of the story did Jack himself enjoy the most and why?

Ans. Jack enjoyed the part of the story most when he had to speak in the wizard's voice, as it

was one of Jack's own favourite effects. He did it by scrunching up his face and somehow

whining through his eyes. He felt being an old man suited him. Besides, he also enjoyed

telling the story when Jo listened carefully, without interrupting him with questions.

Q.6 How did the Roger Skunk pay the wizard?

Ans. The wizard demands seven pennies as fee to make Roger Skunk smell like roses.

Skunk has only four pennies. The wizard tells him how and where to find the rest of the three

pennies. Roger follows the wizards instructions and finds the three pennies in the magic well

and pays the wizard the full amount.

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Q.1 Why did Jo disapprove of Jack's ending of the story of Roger Skunk? How did she

want it to end?

Ans. Roger Skunk went to the wizard to get rid of the problem of his awful smell. The wizard

gave him a new smell of roses. For Roger it was a moment of happiness, but Mother Skunk

was not happy with Roger's new smell. She took Roger back to the wizard, hit him on his

head and ordered him to give Roger back his original smell. The wizard compiled and gave

Roger his same bad smell back. This made Roger lonely and disappointed again. This was

the ending of the story of Roger Skunk. Jo was shocked with Mother Skunk's behaviour. She

felt that Roger was better off with his new smell because he was very happy. He made new

friends and society accepted him. She wanted the story to end happily, and therefore

disapproved of Jack's ending of the story. In Jo's ending, when Mother Skunk hits the wizard,

the wizard should hit her back and should not take away Roger's smell of roses.

Q.2 Why is an adult's perspective on life different from that of a child's?

Ans. It is obvious to find a marked difference between in an adult's perspective on life and

that of a child's because on earth, a child is considered as a form of a God as his/her heart is

very pure and innocent. It doesn't know what is wrong or what is right. There is no bad

intention in child's mind behind doing any deed. it is just because its perspective on life, its

actions and reactions, are natural and not guided by any past experiences. A child speaks

from the heart what seems to be ethically and morally correct. In the case of an adult, its

perspective is based on what it has learnt over the years, the expectations of society and

similar other experiences. It also knows the worth of originality so it thinks according to the

situation and takes a good decision on the basis of right and wrong.

Q.3 What is your stance regarding the two endings to the Roger Skunk story?

Ans. It is interesting to contrast the two endings of the Roger Skunk story. Jack's ending of

the story is quite mature and practical. It points out the harsh realities that one has to go

through in life. The world is based on individual differences; every species of animals has its

distinct features, which must be respected and accepted in totality. Moreover, parents know

what is best for their children, and their decisions should be respected and obeyed. Jo wanted

the story to end happily. She wanted Roger Skunk's problems solved and expected that he

would live happily, playing with his new friends. This ending too is justified when we look at it

from a child's point of view. As a child, Jo was unable to understand the worth of one's

originality and individuality. Besides, it is difficult for children to understand or explain unhappy

endings.



Q.1 What is the moral issue that the story raises?

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Ans. The moral issue that the story raises is whether parents are the best judge of what is

good for their child or not. A sharp contrast is displayed in the story about the child's viewpoint

and an adult's perspective of life. In the story, the child Jo felt that the happiness of being able

to make friends is more than anything else and so she wanted the story to end with Roger

Skunk smelling of roses. On the other hand, her father ended the story by saying that the

mother was right in getting Roger's smell back to its original state, implying to his daughter

that parents know what is best for their children. He also advocates that children should

respect their parents' opinions and obey them unquestioningly. Jack also narrated that all

other animals finally accepted Roger, as he was emphasising the importance of a person's

originality and individuality.

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4. ON THE FACE OF IT

-SUSAN HILL

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS :


Q.1 How does Mr Lamb keep himself busy when it is a bit cool?

Ans. When it's a bit cooler, Mr Lamb gets a ladder and a stick to pull down the crab apples.

He calls them magic-fruit and likes to make jelly out of them.

Q.2 What qualities of Mr Lamb attracted Derry to him?

Ans. Mr Lamb is a very positive person. He doesn't let his physical disability destroy the

happiness in his life. He is not afraid of Derry's face, unlike others. The quality that attracted

Derry most to Mr Lamb was his tremendous patience as he listened to him. He talked to him

about things which mattered; things nobody else had ever said to him.

Q.3 What did Derry's mother think of Mr Lamb?

Ans. Derry's mother is quite skeptical of Mr Lamb. She considers him to be eccentric. She

claims that she has heard many things about Mr Lamb and some have also warned her

against him. That is why she doesn't want Derry to meet Mr Lamb.

Q.4 How does Mr Lamb try to remove the baseless fears of Derry?

Ans. Mr Lamb appears to have understood Derry's psyche completely. Derry says that people

are afraid of his face. Mr Lamb replies that there are other things in the world to be noticed.

He asks Derry how can one distinguish a flower from a weed when both are plants. They are

all life. He also tells Derry that he has to take the risk by coming out of his shell. Everybody

has problems in his life, but it is our attitude that matters.

Q.5 If you were to give a different ending to the story, 'On the Face of it' how would you

end it?

Ans. The ending of the story, 'On the Face of it' is very sad as Mr Lamb is probably dead.

Such a beautiful story should not have such a tragic ending. In the end, Derry should have

returned just in time to save Mr Lamb from falling by holding the ladder or, perhaps, the old

man regained consciousness with Derry's efforts. Such positive endings would have given a

message of hope.

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Q.1 What benefits did Derry reap from his association with Mr Lamb?

Ans. Though Derry's association with Mr Lamb is brief, yet the boy benefits greatly from the

old man's company. Derry had lost all zest for life due to his burnt face. After meeting Mr

Lamb, Derry is filled with a new enthusiasm for life. He undergoes a major transformation and

develops into a confident youth from the meek young boy that he earlier was. Mr Lamb's

words have a profound effect on him an inspire him to see the brighter side of life. He is

encouraged to choose happiness in life rather than accept his isolation. He is no more

bothered about his impairment, and wants to live his life to the fullest. His entire attitude

towards life has changed drastically.

Q.2 Derry and Mr Lamb both are victims of physical impairment, but their attitudes

towards life are completely different. Explain?

Ans. The conversation between Derry and Mr Lamb reveals their different attitudes towards

life. Derry is a fourteen year old boy, half of whose face is disfigured, as it got burnt by acid.

The half-face has left him miserable. He feels unwanted. He thinks that people think he is ugly

like the devil and they are afraid of him. He gets infuriated when people sympathise with him.

All these bad experiences have made him cynical, and he has developed a pessimistic

attitude toward life. On the other hand, Mr Lamb is a complete contrast to Derry. He doesn't

let his physical disability destroy his life. He is an optimist. He finds beauty and peace in

everything. When children tease him by calling him Lamey-Lamb, he is not offended. He feels

that such a name suits him. He is full of hope and positivity.

Q.3 How did Mr. Lamb try to give courage and confidence to Derry?

Ans. Derry suffers from an acute sense of self-hatred and rejection because of his burnt face.

He feels he is very ugly and so no one will love him. Mr. Lamb too has heard Derry only

complain and bemoan about himself. He feels very sad to see a fourteen year old boy giving

up on life just because of his physical disability. Mr. Lamb at first startles Derry with his

strange talk. He tells Derry his is interested in everything created by God. His encouraging

words have a magical effect on Derry. Mr. Lamb's conversation that everyone and everything

is essentially the same, the notion of beauty is relative and his concept of the world and

friendship baffle but appeal to Derry and he is fascinated by the old man. Slowly he sheds his

complex about his ugliness and rediscovers the joys of life.

Q.4 The lesson 'On The Face Of It', is an apt depiction of the loneliness and sense of

alienation experienced by people on account of a disability. Explain.

Ans. The lesson 'On The Face of It' aptly depicts the loneliness and sense of alienation

experienced by Derry and Mr Lamb on account of disability. The actual pain and

inconvenience caused by the disabilities is often much less than the sense of alienation felt by

the disabled person. Derry suffered from severe negative complexes because of his burnt

face. He became a pessimistic loner who indulged in self pity and was always suspicious of

the intention of others. His anger and frustration made him withdrawn and an introvert. Mr.

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Lamb, on the other hand, was inwardly a loner who craved for company and acceptance.

Though outwardly he was always jovial, outgoing and optimistic, he was an extremely

sensitive person. Derry and Mr. Lamb's physical disabilities caused pain and suffering not

only to their body but also to their mind and soul.



Q.1 Both Derry and Lamb are physically impaired and lonely. It is the responsibility

of the society to understand and support people with infirmities so that they do not

suffer from a sense of alienation. As a responsible citizen, write in about 120-150 words

what you would do to bring about a change in the lives of such people.

Ans. People with some physical disabilities or impairment are often pitied and ridiculed by

others. This makes them develop a sense of inferiority. They form a shell around themselves

and begin to lead a life seclusion. As a responsible citizen, it is our duty to treat such people

with love and affection, and not make them a subject of our pity or ridicule. We should try to

understand their infirmity and empathise with them. We must give them due respect, and thus

motivate them to feel at par with others in society, so that they do not suffer from a sense of

isolation and are able to live a normal life. We must make them aware of the innumerable

opportunities available to them and bring a ray of hope in their lives.

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5. EVANS TRIES AN O-LEVEL

-COLIN DEXTER



Q.1 What were the contents of the small suitcase that McLeery carried?

Ans. The small brown suitcase that McLeery carried contained the items he needed for the

examination. It had a sealed paper envelope, a yellow invigilation form, a special

'authentication' card from the Examinations Board, a paper knife, a Bible and the current copy

of The Church Times. It also contained a small semi-inflated rubber ring for sitting on by

McLeery.

Q.2 How did the Governor react to the two phone calls he received in quick

succession?

Ans. The first phone call came from the Examinations Board. The Governor immediately

checked on it and found the line busy. He thought that it was stupid of him to check the same

line. The second call came from the Magistrates' court. The Governor again thought that it

was hoax. But he told himself not to be silly.

Q.3 Why did Evans not take off his hat when Jackson ordered him to do so?

Ans. Evans knew that the duplicate McLeery, who was invigilating during the O-level German

examination, had short hair. So, he crops his hair to pass off as McLeery later. The 'bobble

hat' was an important part of the plan to conceal Evans cropped hair.

Q.4 What clues did the answer sheet of Evans provide to the Governor?

Ans. The Governor had no clues about the whereabouts of Evans till he got his hands on the

answer sheet. The index number 313 and the centre number 271 on the answer sheet gave

the Governor a reference number - 313/271 on the Ordnance Survey Map of Oxfordshire. The

reference number helped him to trace Evans at the Golden Lion of Chipping Norton.

Q.5 How does McLeery explain the presence of a small semi-inflated rubber ring? What

did it actually contain ?

Ans. McLeery tells Jackson that he is suffering from haemorrhoids (piles) and the ring helps

him when he has to sit for a long time. In reality, the ring contained pig blood, which Evans,

impersonating as the injured McLeery, would splatter on his head an escape from the prison.

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Q.1 Give a character sketch of the Governor of Oxford Prison based on your

understanding of the story, 'Evans Tries an O-level'.

Ans. The Governor of the HM Prison, Oxford appears to be a considerate and kind-hearted

fellow at the start as he arranges for an O-level language exam for a prisoner notorious for his

ability to escape from the prison. However, he is quite skeptical of Evans and makes every

arrangement to make sure that Evans doesn't escape. He is also rather proud and self

conscious. from his prison. The Governor has presence of mind which is clear from the fact

that he cross-examines every call that was made to the prison that day. He is intelligent

enough to realise that he has been duped but could not judge the extent of the deception. He

gets a little over-confident when he tells himself that Evans had no chance of escaping. He is

short tempered and gets infuriated with his officers when Evans runs away. At last, he proves

to be just another good-for-a-giggle gullible Governor when Evans tricks him again and makes

a final escape. His over confidence and self-praise let him down.

Q.2 How was the injured McLeery able to befool the prison officers?

Ans. The 'injured' McLeery was, in fact, Evans himself, and he acted very well. He made

blood, that was supplied to him by his invigilator friend, pour down from his head. With a

'feeble' hand he got his handkerchief and held it to his bleeding head, to give the impression

that he was actually injured and bleeding. In that process, he was able to hide his face from

the eyes of the prison officers. He pretended to be in so much pain that he could hardly utter a

coherent word. In this way, he concealed his voice and was able to dodge the officers. The

moment he heard the suggestion of bringing in an ambulance, he interrupted and asked them

to call the police. He offered them his help in tracing Evans. This was the part of his plan in

which all the officers got trapped. He became successful in making them believe that the

seriously injured McLeery was really trying to help them.

Q.3 What purpose did the question paper and the correction slip serve? How did

they both the criminals and the Governor?

Ans. The purpose of the photocopied sheet that was superimposed on the question paper

and the correction slip was to supply the details of the escape plan to Evans without uttering a

single word. It was a well-thought out meticulous plan. It was also a meant to make the

authorities believe that the wounded man was McLeery himself. And at that moment, it

worked as was thought and the authorities got trapped. The correction slip helped the

Governor also in locating the place where Evans was hiding. The six-digit number of the

correction slip i.e. the index number and the centre number 313/271 helped the Governor. He

put these numbers together and with the help of the Ordnance Survey Map of Oxfordshire, he

reached the hotel where Evans had decided to hide for the day.

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Q.4 What precautions were taken by the prison authorities to ensure that the

German exam was conducted smoothly and also under strict security?

Ans. To ensure that the German was conducted smoothly and also under strict security

Evans' razor and nail scissors were removed from the cell. The Reverend Stuart McLeery

who was the invigilator was frisked on arrival. Police officer Stephens was deputed on duty

inside the cell. All the prison officials were also put on high alert. There were two locked doors

between Evan's cell and the yard. A microphone was installed in the cell as a precautionary

measure through which the warden could listen to their talk by switching on the receiver. The

senior prison officer, Jackson and officer Stephens had worked round the clock and made full-

proof arrangements and taken all the necessary precautions to ensure that the exam was

conducted smoothly.



Q.1 While we condemn the crime, we are sympathetic to the criminal. Is this the reason

why prison staff often develop a soft corner for those in the custody ?

Ans. Yes, it is a fact that although we hate crime, we have a soft corner for the criminal. This

is the case with the Evans also. Although the Governor is conversant with his past record and

escapades, he does not want to deprive Evans of an opportunity to learn. Similarly, the author

describes the relationship between Evans and Jackson as that of 'warm enemies' . Jackson is

kind- hearted and that's the reason why he allows Evans to wear his hat during the exam,

when the latter says that it is his good luck charm. Evans' tender heart and his affectionate

side is seen and appreciated by the staff. He is an active participant in Christmas plays, is

good at imitating people and is known to be violent. Even the Governor does not like to

believe that Evans is planning to escape once again. From Evans' example, it is seen that

even the prison authorities do not like to treat prisoners harshly. With time, even they develop

a liking to and a rapport with them.

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6.MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD

-ZITKALA-SA AND BAMA



Q.1 Why was Zitkala-Sa in tears on the first day in the land of apples?

Ans. Zitkala-Sa was already feeling uncomfortable in her new dress when she entered the

dining hall. A small bell was tapped. Thinking that they had to be seated, Zitkala pulled out a

chair and sat on it. But t her surprise everybody kept standing. She was getting up when the

second bell rang and all were seated. Finally, she could not use the knife and fork for eating

and she started crying because of her embarrassment.

Q.2 Why was Zitkala-Sa terrified when Judewin told her that her hair would be cut

short?

Ans. Zitkala-Sa was terrified by the thought of having her hair cut because in her community

shingled hair was worn by unskilled warriors who were captured by the enemy and their hair

was cut. Thus, it was a sign of cowardice. She decided that she would not go down without a

fight.

Q.3 Which words of her brother made a deep impression on Bama?

Ans. Annan told Bama that only education could help them earn some respect in society.

These words had a very deep impact on her. She studied very hard, almost like crazy. As

Annan had urged, she stood first in her class. Now, everybody wanted to be her friend.

Q.4 What made Zitkala lose her spirit?

Ans. Zitkala was hiding under the bed in order to avoid her hair being cut short. But she was

found, dragged out from the hiding position, carried downstairs and tied to a chair. She was

kicking and shouting all the while. At last, she felt the cold blade of scissors against her neck

gnaw off one of her thick braids. This cutting of her hair made her lose her spirit.

Q.5 Why did the landlord's man ask Bama's brother on which street he lived? What was

the significance?

Ans. Annan was returning home from the library in the neighbouring village, when the

landlord's man asked him his name. Then he wanted to know where Annan lived. He asked

this to ascertain Annan's caste, because all the lower caste people lived in one area of the

town.

Q.6 What did Zitkala-Sa feel when her long hair was cut?

Ans. Zitkala-Sa felt rather anguished and indignant when her long hair was cut. She lost her

spirit and felt as helpless as a puppet. She got the feeling of being an animal driven by a

herder and desperately looked for some comfort. With her hair being shingled like a coward's,

she moaned in anguish. She also felt she had lost her distinct cultural recognition and identity.

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Q.1 What are the similarities in the lives of Bama and Zitkala-Sa though they belong to

different cultures?

Ans. The struggle for identity and the oppression faced by the marginalised communities is

the common thread between the lives of Bama and Zitkala-Sa. Zitkala-Sa was taken from her

mother. An alien culture was forced on her. She got embarrassed and craved for her mother.

She yearned for freedom. Bama also faced the same kind of embarrassment. She belonged

to a low caste community and she learned that they were stripped of all honour and dignity.

Another common thing between them was the way both reacted to their situations. They

refused to bow down to exploitation and oppression. They decided to fight the social

discrimination that their communities had to face.

Q.2 Describe the experience Bama had on her way back home which made her feel

sad?

Ans. The narrator was steel a little girl. She belonged to a ‘low’ cast but never had any bitter

experience related to ‘untouchability’. One day an old man of her street attracted her

attention. He was carrying a small packet of food by its string without touching it. The elder

went straight to the landlord, bowed low and extended the packet towards him.. she wanted to

shriek with laughter. The way such a big man was carrying a small packet looked very funny.

Bama told this story in all its comic detail to her elder brother. But her brother was not

amused. The landlord was from an upper caste. He didn’t want that man to touch the packet

of food. If he did, it would be polluted. That was why the man had to carry the packet by its

string. When she heard this her laughter vanished. She felt terribly sad she felt so much

provoked and angry that she herself wanted to touch those vadais straightaway. These

people too were human beings and deserved human dignity and respect.



Q.1 Both the units of ‘Memories Of Childhood’ present autobiographical episodes from

the lives of two women from ‘marginalised communities’. Describe the main issues

raised as well as the common features highlighted in them.

The lesson ‘Memories of Childhood’ presents autobiographical episodes from the lives of two

women. They highlight the plight of ‘the marginalised communities’. The people of these

communities never receive honour and dignity due to them. In ‘The Cutting of My Long Hair’

Bonnin describes how an Indian girl suffered extreme indignities. She tried to maintain her

identity and her distinct culture. She liked to wear, long and thick hair. But the ‘paleface

woman’ and others dragged her out. They tied her fast in a chair and gnawed off her long

hair. In ‘We Too are Human Beings’ Bama, a Tamil Dalit writer, presents the struggle of a girl

of a low caste. The people of low castes are never respected and honoured. They have to

carry a food packet by its string without touching it. The girl in ‘We Too Are Human Beings’

struggles, and stands first in the class. She attains equality, and honour.

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The most common feature of both these episodes is the struggle and fight against racial and

social discrimination. They don’t take oppression, exploitation and injustice meekly.

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NOVEL

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THE INVISIBLE MAN

-H.G. Wells

Q.1 Write in about 100 words the character sketch of:

1. Mrs. Hall: Mrs. Hall Is the wife of Mr. Hall and the owner of the Coach and Horses Inn. A

very friendly, down-to-earth woman who enjoys socializing with her guests, Mrs. Hall is

continually frustrated by the mysterious Invisible Man's refusal to talk with her, and his

repeated temper tantrums. The Halls are a typical family. Mr. Hall drinks and Mrs. Hall nags

him about drinking. Mr. Hall isn't so quick and Mrs. Hall takes out her frustrations on Millie, the

serving girl. Mrs. Hall, although not a major character, is revealed as rather devious in a

harmless sort of way. She really wants to know what the strange man's disfigurement is; she

assumes he has been in a horrible accident, and the motherly side of her wants to know how

to express sympathy. She is a very good innkeeper under the circumstances.

2. Mr. Teddy Henfrey:

A clock repairman who happens to visit the inn for a cup of tea. Mrs. Hall takes advantage of

him to try to find out about her strange guest. She wants Teddy Henfrey to fix a clock in the

stranger's room. Teddy deliberately takes as long as he can with the clock, taking it apart and

re-assembling it for no reason. He tries unsuccessfully to engage the stranger in

conversation. The stranger catches him wasting time, though and tells him to finish up and get

out. Because the stranger will not talk, Teddy convinces himself that the man is someone of a

"suspicious" nature. He begins the rumours about the man being wanted by the police and

merely wrapping himself up to conceal his identity. Teddy Henfrey is a character typical of

the other people of the town. He wants to know the man's story, and when he is rebuffed for

his persistence, he begins to imagine all sorts of things. His imagination soon becomes fact to

him, and he spreads his knowledge to anyone who will care to listen.

3. Dr. Cuss: Dr. Cuss is a doctor living in the town of Iping. Intrigued by tales of a bandaged

stranger staying at the Coach and Hoses Inn, Dr. Cuss goes to see him under the pretense of

asking for a donation to the nurse's fund. The strange man, Griffin, scares Cuss away by

pinching his nose with his invisible hand. Cuss went immediately to see Rev. Bunting, who not

surprisingly did not believe the doctor's wild story. Later, after Griffin had been

exposed as The Invisible Man, Dr. Cuss and Rev. Bunting got hold of his notebooks, but

these were stolen back from them by the invisible Griffin, who took both men's clothes.

Although the unlucky Rev. Bunting had all his clothing stolen by Griffin, Dr. Cuss only lost his

trousers.

4. Rev. Bunting : The Rev. Bunting is the vicar in the town of Iping. Dr. Cuss want to see him

following his first encounter with Griffin. Bunting laughed at Cuss' claims of an invisible hand

pinching his nose, but the next night his home was burgled by the Invisible Man himself.

Later, Bunting and Cuss tried to read Griffin's notes but were stopped by the Invisible Man,

who stole their clothes. Although Cuss escaped missing only his trousers, Bunting had his

entire wardrobe purloined.

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5. Mr. Sandy Wadgers: Mr. Sandy Wadgers was the village blacksmith, who is also supposed to be an exorcist. He was the one whom people thought, the one who could deal with the ghosts and spirits. Mr & Mrs. Hall sent Millie across the street through the golden five o'clock sunshine to rouse up Mr. Sandy Wadgers, the blacksmith. He was a knowing man, and very resourceful person. He took quite a grave view of the case. "I am surprised if that is not witchcraft" was the view of Mr. Sandy Wadgers. "Do you want horseshoes for the ghosts." He came round greatly concerned. They wanted him to lead the way upstairs to the room, but he didn't seem to be in any hurry. Wadgers is joined by Huxter, and together they ponder the likelihood of witchcraft and contemplate the propriety of breaking through the door in order to examine the situation more closely. However, before they can carry out any such action, the door opens and the stranger emerges, wrapped and bundled as usual. He enters the parlour and slam the door against them. When Mr. Hall raps on the door and demands an explanation, the stranger tells him to "go to the devil "and "shut the door after you." Wadgers delays "breaking" into the room, using the excuse of propriety when the real and very human reason is fear and apprehension. While they may talk of spirits and witchcraft in their leisure, it is clear that they have no real experience with such things.

6. Griffin : The story of the Invisible Man, is the story of a protagonist Griffin, who had been a

brilliant young chemist and researcher. Unfortunately, he began his road to 'decline' in college

when he became extremely obsessed with his experiments, that he kept his work in a

clandestine manner lest someone else claimed credit for that. His passion for pure scientific

investigation accelerated to such an extent that when he required money for further research,

he stole it from his father. And later, in a fit of anger and frustration, he even murdered him.

The barberous crime thus committed made rest of his crimes pale in comparison. He turns

himself from scientist to fanatic when he starts focusing all his attention merely on the concept

of invisibility and never ever thinks of the repercussions that may follow. He may not have had

any intention initially trying the potion on himself, but the interference of his landlord and

prying neighbour lady instigate him to experiment on himself. Once he becomes invisible, his

life becomes miserable. At the close of the novel poetic justice is done, Griffin is seized,

assaulted and killed by a mob. The invisible Man's naked, battered body gradually becomes

visible as he dies.

7. Thomas Marvel: Thomas Marvel is a tramp unwittingly recruited as a scapegoat to assist

the Invisible Man as his partner in the deeds causing panic. He is short, fat and a loner. He is

the area tramp. Thomas Marvel carries the Invisible Man's scientific notebooks and stolen

money. Eventually Marvel grows afraid of his unseen partner and flees to Port Burdock. He

also confiscates both the notebooks and the money with him where he seeks police

protection. Seeing through his intentions and misgivings, the Invisible Man gets infuriated and

vows to avenge Marvel, but he becomes preoccupied with hiding from the law and retaliating

against Dr. Kemp, and in the process Marvel is spared. Marvel feels blessed with the stolen

money and the notes of the Invisible Man. He opens his own Inn and names it 'The Invisible

Man' and prospers too. The novel ends with him secretly 'marvelling' at Griffin's notes. He is

indeed the man of the world who behaves as an opportunist to take advantage of his

circumstances to thrive in life.

8. George Hall: George Hall, the husband of Mrs. Hall, is a simple innocent folk, assisting his

wife in the Inn. Couch and Horses Inn. He is the first person in Iping to suspect the mysterious

Griffin. When a dog bites Griffin and tears his glove and nips his trousers, it was George Hall

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who follows him to see if he was alright but he was taken aback when he saw a handless arm,

waving towards him, slam the door in his face and locked.

9. Mr. Huxter: Huxter, the shop owner, sees this guy Marvel waiting outside a window of the

Coach and Horses inn holding a bag. Marvel walks into inn and nervously enters the parlour.

Mr. Hall shouts that this is a private room, causing Marvel to rush out in panic. He then enters

the bar and steadies himself with a drink. Marvel walks outside and stands near the parlour

window, appearing to smoke a pipe. However, his hands are shaking, and Mr. Huxter's

suspicious are aroused. Marvel suddenly goes into the yard, and Mr. Huxter is certain he is up

to something unlawful. He rushes out and finds that Marvel has taken a bundle tied in a blue

tablecloth and three books. So Huxter runs after the guy, yelling "Thief!" But, before he can

catch the man, something (the Invisible Man) trips Huxter and knocks him out.

10. The Old Mariner (Sailor): When Marvel had been sitting for the best part of an hour, an

elderly mariner, carrying a newspaper, came out of the inn and sat down beside him. The

mariner in Port Stowe has one job here, which is t tell us that the Invisible Man story is in all

newspapers. Later the mariner hears another fantastic story- that of money floating along a

wall in butterfly fashion. The story is true, however. The sailor thinks the story in the

newspapers is believable because it comes equipped with names and details.

11. Doctor Kemp: Doctor Kemp is a scientist living in the town of Port Burdock. He is an old

friend of Griffin, who comes to his house to hide after Griffin's transformation into the "Invisible

Man." Kemp has a hard time accepting the fact that his friend, who he had not seen for years,

suddenly appears uninvited and invisible, but eventually he overcomes his shock and sits

down and talks with Griffin. Narrative-wise, Kemp then allows Griffin to relate the story of how

he began his experiments, and all that happened to him between his arrival on his old friend's

doorstep and then. Kemp, realizing that Griffin is insane with power, is quick to summon

Colonel Adye of the Port Burdock police. Adye fails to apprehend Griffin, who escapes and

brands Kemp a traitor, vowing to kill him. Kemp's attitude is representative of the average

established, self-confident, and self-sufficient individual. He sees a man in trouble, but his

reaction is contemptuous instead of concern. He has heard warning cries about an Invisible

Man, but clearly doesn't believe any of it. He is a man who keeps himself apart from the

concerns of the general public, is buried in his work, interested only in what award it will

ultimately bring him.

LONG ANSWERS TYPE QUESTIONS:


Q.1 What kind of scientist was Griffin? Did he use his scientific discovery in the right

direction or misused it? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. The narrator uses the Invisible Man to experiment with the depth to which a person can

sink when there are no social restrictions to suppress his behaviour. When Griffin's father

commits suicide, he excuses it away by saying that the man was a "sentimental fool." When

he takes the portion himself, he endures such pain that he "understands" why the cat howled

so much in the process of becoming invisible. Nevertheless he has no compassion for the cat,

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for his father or for any of the people he takes advantage of in the course of trying to survive

invisibility.

The plot of the story is very straightforward. It begins in third person as the narrator introduces

the Invisible Man midway through his experiences. Once the man is revealed, Griffin himself

takes over and tells how he began his experiments ad what happened to him after he had

taken the potion. At the end, the point of view once again changes to that of an objective

narration.

As Griffin tells his story, one can see that his behaviour becomes increasingly reprehensible.

In a very logical way, people first in Iping, and then in surrounding towns, become aware of

the strange being in their midst. The people are curious, frightened and then determined in

their attempts to bring him down and to find out who and what he really is.

This isn't a book about using a superpower to fight evil. But power is definitely a big piece of

the puzzle in the Invisible Man. And not just superpower (i.e. invisibility). The Invisible Man

touches on how knowledge- in this case, science- is power and how this power can corrupt.

Science takes on a lot of different roles in The Invisible Man. First, it's what scientists do to

work out problems they have. For instance, we hear from the Invisible Man about how he

developed his invisibility formula through trial and error. Second, science means a community

of scientists and their particular traditions; like when you discover something awesome (say,

an invisibility formula), you're supposed to tell people about it.

Q.2 How did Griffin, the Invisible Man died? Describe the scene after his death.

Ans. Kemp continues running towards Burdock. The road is long and empty, and no one in

the nearby houses will help him. Griffin chases Kemp through the town. People begin to join

in the chase. When Kemp realizes that people are chasing Griffin, he stops running, which

allows the Invisible Man to catch him. Still, when Kemp arrives in Burdock, he finds a couple

of workmen (navvies) on the road. When he yells about the Invisible Man, everyone nearby

tries to find and hit the Invisible Man. When the Invisible Man able to grab Kemp, the navvies

knock the Invisible Man down. There was a big fight between the crowd and the Invisible Man.

Even though people cannot see him, they are able to grab hold of the Invisible Man and keep

him down. The effort is not needed for long as Griffin has been fatally injured and seems to

have lost a lot of blood. As the town people watch, the effect of invisibility is gradually

reversed, and soon, Griffin, now dead, is visible. In death, his invisible albino body gradually

materialises again. His body is carried into the Jolly Cricketers.

When Griffin dies and becomes visible, his albino condition is also revealed. It is interesting

that the people are not horrified or even surprised. Nor is there any speculation about how this

bizarre incident could have happened. The people watch as his broken, battered body slowly

becomes visible from his extremities to the centre of his being. It is only when his white face

and hair and staring garnet eyes are revealed that someone calls for them to "cover that face"

before the children in the town can see it.

Q.3 Who was Mr. Heelas? Why did he refuse Doctor Kemp to enter into his house?

When did he start believing in the existing of the Invisible man?

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Ans. Mr. Heelas was a neighbour of Doctor Kemp. He didn't believe in the Invisible man but

his wife did believe in the Invisible man. He insisted upon walking about his garden just as if

nothing was the matter, and he went to sleep in the afternoon. He slept through the smashing

of the windows, and then woke up suddenly with a curious persuasion of something wrong.

He looked across at Kemp's house, rubbed his eyes and looked again. he said he was

damned, but still the strange thing was visible. The house looked as though it had been

deserted for weeks- after a violent riot. Every window was broken, and every window, save

those of the belvedere study, was blinded by the internal shutters. When he saw that the

shutters of the Kemp's drawing-room window were flung open violently, and the housemaid in

her outdoor hat and garments, appeared struggling in a frantic manner to throw up the sash.

He saw the house maid and Doctor Kemp helping her out of the window Then Mr. Heelas saw

Doctor Kemp jump from the window and running along the garden and towards Mr. Heelas

house. Then he realised that there is an Invisible Man who is running after Doctor Kemp. He

ordered his cook and servants to lock all the doors and shut all the windows as the Invisible

Man running after him and might enter his house along with Doctor Kemp.

Q.4 How did Doctor Kemp escape from the terror of the Invisible Man, when Griffin

came to his house to kill him?

Ans. After Griffin leaves, the next afternoon, Kemp receives a letter from Griffin, written in

apocalyptic language, which announces 'day one of year one of the new epoch'. In the worst

letter ever, Griffin tells Kemp that he is taking charge: "Port Burdock is no longer under the

Queen, tell your Colonel of Police, and the rest of them; it is under me- the Terror! This is day

one of year one of the new epoch- the Epoch of the Invisible Man. I am Invisible Man, the

First ". The letter also says that Griffin will kill Kemp that day. What's even better is that Griffin

sent that letter without a stamp, so Kemp had to pay for it upon delivery. Kemp has his

housekeeper lock up all the windows and gets his revolver ready. He writes a note for Col.

Adye, saying that Kemp will act as bait to catch Griffin and that Griffin will be caught because

he will have gone to fair. A knock at the door turns out to be Adye with news that Kemp's

housekeeper- who was carrying message (notes) for the police- had been attacked and the

notes taken from her. Then Griffin does what he does best: he breaks some windows. But

there's no way for him to get into Kemp's house because they've anticipated his arrival. This is

the siege of Kemp's house. Griffin makes his presence known by smashing windows in

Kemp's house. During the battle that follows, Col. Adye is shot. Griffin gets inside the house

and tries to tell the police to "stand away" as he is only after Kemp. He swings an axe at them,

but one of them manages to strike him with an iron poker. By this time Kemp has followed his

housekeeper through a window and is nowhere to be found.

Q.5 The narrator sympathises with Griffin at the beginning of the chapter "The

Wicksteed Murder". Do you think this sympathy is totally justified? Give your own

opinion.

Ans. The narrator presents evidence to suggest that, after leaving Kemp's house, Griffin

proceeded to Hintondean, where he murdered Lord Burdock's steward, Mr Wicksteed. After

this he seems to have gone on to the download where, the campaign to track him down was

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now in full swing. The Invisible Man lies low. The narrator constructs a tale about Griffin's

whereabouts and actions using his imagination and a few available facts.

After Griffin runs out of Kemp's house, the narrator loses track of him for a day: "No one

knows where he went nor what he did". But no one else is going to be in nice to Griffin:

everyone else seems to be out hunting him with guns and dogs. To make things worse, Kemp

spreads the news that people need to keep the Invisible Man from eating or sleeping. The

narrator is careful to emphasize that these are his conjectures- no one can exactly know how

the events occurred, or how Griffin came to possess a weapon. The narrator further theorizes

that Griffin's agitated state of mind and general lack of empathy make him immune to the

crime he has committed. The narrator attempts to provoke the reader's sympathy by

emphasizing the series of disappointments that Griffin has suffered to harden him, the worst

blow being Doctor Kemp's treachery.

Q.6 Write in brief about the murder of Mr. Wicksteed. How was Griffin involved in the

murder?

Ans. The entire countryside around the Burdock has been mobilized. By 2:00 in the

afternoon, men set out with guns, clubs and dogs, and the police warn the village people to

lock their doors and stay inside. Griffin manages to evade his pursuers for a 24-hour period

except for one encounter with a middle-aged man (Mr. Wicksteed) who had apparently

concerned him. Griffin kills the man by beating him with an iron rod. The narrator constructs a

tale about Griffin's whereabouts and actions using his imagination and a few available facts.

In his words, the irate Griffin hurts a child on his way out of Kemp's house and hides in the

thickets of Hintondean to scheme again. From mid-noon to two-thirty, he possibly stays there,

trying to come to terms with Kemp's betrayal and cursing his luck. Then he sets out, armed

with an iron rod for some purpose that cannot be guessed. a harmless man by the name of

Wicksteed witnesses the rod moving on its own, ignorant of Griffin's reputation. He follows he

rod is violently murdered by Griffin in a gravel pit. Since no one was there but Griffin we'll

never know what happened, only that Wicksteed was beaten to death with an iron rod. The

narrator is careful to emphases that these are his conjectures - no one can exactly know how

the events occurred, or how Griffin came to possess a weapon.

Q.7 To save himself from the cold and the snowstorm of London, where did Griffin go?

How did he spend the night there and what happened next morning? Write in detail.

Ans. With a January snowstorm blowing in London, Griffin needed to find a place to stay. He

went to a giant department store named Omniums. With the intention of clothing himself so

that he might reclaim his notebooks and cheque book. He had gone into the Omniums, a

large apartment type store where one could buy everything from groceries to clothing. Griffin

waited until the place closed, then he started searching around for things he could use. He

stole some food and clothes. Over by toys, he saw some fake noses, wigs and other costume

stuff that could help him pretend to be normal. He made his way to an area of bedsteads and

mattresses, hoping that once the store is closed for the night, he would be able to sleep on

the mattresses and steal some clothes with which to mask his condition.

In the night he procured a complete set of clothes for himself, helped himself to food in a

refreshment department, and then slept in the bedding department. He failed to awaken

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before the morning crew had entered, however, and was unable to escape as long as they

could see him. The workers chased him around the store (they could see him because he has

wearing clothes); but once again, Griffin took off his clothes to become invisible. He was only

able to escape by discarding his clothing and assuming invisibility once more. Since he

couldn't steal clothes, Griffin had to leave the store with nothing on (naked).

Q.8 How did Griffin discover the drawbacks of being invisible? How did he avoid a unit

of a marching Salvation Army Brand?

Ans. Griffin continues to explain his experiences with invisibility. Griffin recounts his

adventures immediately after escaping from his lodgings. These were not the 'wonderful

things' he had fantasised about, but a series of calamities and accidents experienced as ,

naked and invisible, he attempted o negotiate the busy streets of Central London. He soon

discovered that being invisible had as many drawbacks as advantages. People ran into him

and stepped on him. He had to be continually on guard as to the movements and position of

others in order to avoid accidental contact. To make matters worse, although people could not

see him, dogs could detect him with their keen sense of smell. As he had to remain naked, he

was soon uncomfortable. Also, he could not eat, as food was visible until it was fully

assimilated into his system. At one point, he had run up the steps of a house in order to avoid

a unit of a marching Salvation Army band. He tried to get out of the way, but he had stepped

in some mud and left muddy footprints. While he waited, two youngsters spotted he prints of

his bare feet in the mud. Soon a crowd of people had gathered to look at the "ghost prints".

Q.9 Why did Griffin decide to experiment to become Invisible on himself? How did he

manage to protect and secure his theory of invisibility? Write in detail.

Ans. Back at the boarding house, Griffin continued his experiments. He made some wool

invisible and then he made a neighbourhood cat invisible. Later the next day he had an

altercation with the landlord who brought reports of Griffin tormenting a cat in the night. The

landlord wanted to know what Griffin was doing in the room and what all the paraphernalia

was for. The two argued and Griffin shoved the landlord out of the room.

This event and his near-bankruptcy precipitated Griffin's decision to make himself invisible.

Griffin knew he would have to act quickly, so he made arrangements to have his belongings

stored. Realizing that this would lead to trouble, Griffin decided to disappear. He sent his

books off by mail to some place where he could pick them up later. Then he started the

process of turning himself invisible, which really hurt. He managed to protect and secure his

theory of invisibility by sending his books and destroyed his equipment and set his room on

fire.

Q.10 Why did Griffin switch from medicine to physics? Why did he not want to publish

and disclose his research theory to his professor? Give reason?

Ans. Over breakfast, Griffin begins to tell Kemp at length how he became invisible. He had

been a medical student, but had dropped medicine and taken up physics. Griffin was a

medical student at the same time as Kemp, but Griffin switched to physics because he was

interested in light. We also learn that, after leaving London seven years previously, he earned

a living and had access to experimental resources as a demonstrator in a college in

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Chesilstowe. He came up with a loose theory for how to make objects invisible, but needed to

figure out a method to actually do it.

He discovered a formula of pigments that lowers the refractive index of a substance, allowing

light to pass through it rather than being reflected or refracted. After experimenting with

pigments for three years, he came upon the secret whereby animal tissue could be rendered

transparent. He was continuously trying to hide his work from another professor. He thought

that his professor Mr. Oliver might take the credit for Griffin's published theory.

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