12TH, New, English

12th,English.. MB-TELECOM NOWGAM NO.
8491801920 , 9797282756
Lesson No 1. After Twenty Years (O, Henry.)
Q1.How impressive was the policeman? How would you justify your
answer?
Ans. The policeman was very impressive. His impressiveness was
habitual and not for show because there were few spectators to watch his
activities. He was twirling his club with many intricate and artful
movements. He had a strong body and made a fine picture of a guardian
of the piece.
Q2.Why did the man tell the police, it’s all right, officer?
Ans .The man told the policeman such words so that the policeman would
not consider him a thief or a man with evil intentions.
Q3.Were the two friends in regular contact with each other during
the twenty years? Why/why not?
Ans. No, the two friends were not in regular contact with each other
during the twenty years. Though they corresponded with each other for
one or two years but after that they lost each other’s track. It is so because
Bob kept moving in the west to make his fortune and destiny.
Q4.How well did Jimmy’s friend prosper in life? How did you know?
Ans. Jimmy’s friend had made tremendous progress in his life though by
adopting illegal ways. He had a handsome watch with diamond covering
on it and a large scarf pin.
Q5.When a tall man in a long overcoat walked up to Bob, what made
him think that it was Jimmy and not and not anyone else?
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12th,English.. MB-TELECOM NOWGAM NO. 8491801920 , 9797282756
Ans. Bob thought so because he was expecting the arrival of his friend
Jimmy Wells. Besides, the tall man went directly to him and addressed
him as Bob
Q6.Why was bob arrested?

Ans. Bob was arrested because the Chicago police wanted him for
following illegal and unlawful means and practices to earn money while
making his fortune in the west.
Q7.Why did Bob’s hands begin to trouble as he almost finished
reading the note?
Ans. His hands began to tremble as he almost finished reading the note
because he came to know that the policeman he had talked earlier was
none but his old friend Jimmy Wells. He had recognized him as a culprit
and sent the other policeman wearing plain clothes to arrest him.
Q8.Jimmy did not arrest his friend because (tick the correct answer)
o he couldn’t recognize Bob in the dark.
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o he wanted Bob to run.

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o he couldn’t reach the place in time.

o he could not bring himself to arrest his friend.
Ans. Jimmy did not arrest his friend because he could not bring himself to
arrest him.
Q9.Why is the story titled’ After Twenty Years’?
Ans. When Bob and Jimmy were young, they had made an appointment
that they would meet each other at particular place and time in New York
exactly after twenty years. Bob went in the west to make his fortune
where he adopted illegal ways to earn his living. Jimmy preferred to stay
in New York where he joined the police department. For some
other. Their friendship was too deep

and true to be described. Hence, they did not forget the promise made
twenty years ago. They reported at the scheduled place and time exactly
after twenty years ago. They reported at the scheduled place and time
exactly after twenty years. That is why; the story is titled ‘After Twenty
Years.’
Q10.If you were in Jimmy’s shoes, what would have been the best
thing to do from the following points of view?
a) Your career as a policeman
b) Your friendship with Bob.
c) Your own conscience
d) the law.
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Ans.(c)My own conscie

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Extra Question
“Compare and contrast the character of Jimmy Wells and Silky
Bob”?
Ans .Characters play an important role or slightly an unimportant role on
a story. It is their presence that makes the events of a story understandable
to the readers. Here in the story, the characters of Jimmy Wells and silky
Bob are of vital importance. They were two fast and true friends. They
were raised in New York like two real brothers. But their approach to
work out their destiny and make their fortune is altogether different.
After promising that they would meet each other exactly after twenty
years at scheduled time and date in New York. Jimmy did not leave New
York to make his fortune. He stayed there and joined the police
department where he performed his duty sincerely and dedicatedly. He
was satisfied with his lot and did not seek for illegal ways to earn wealth
.He led the life of a responsible citizen and dutiful policeman. He kept his
promise and met his friend at the appointed place on time. He did not
disclose his identity before his friend, for the latter had adopted unlawful
ways while making his fortune in the west. He did not arrest his friend but
sent the other policeman wearing plain clothes to arrest him. He really had
a great respect and regard for his friend.
Bob, on the other hand, was greedy and ambitious. He wanted to earn
more and more wealth through the available means. For the same, he left
New York and knocked the door of the West to make his fortune. There,
he adopted illegal unfair and unlawful ways for piling wealth. He hardly
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bothered about the duties of a responsible citizen. He became a criminal

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in the eyes of law. He, however, was a true and sincere friend. He did not
forget the promise of meeting his friend in New York made twenty years
ago. He travelled thousand miles to meet his friend at the scheduled place.
He was arrested by the Chicago police on account of his illegal ways in
his pursuit for money.
Reference to the Context:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. You are not Jimmy Wells,’ he snapped’ Twenty years is a long time,
but not long enough to change a man’s nose from a Roman to a
Pug.’
(a)Who is the he in these lines?
Ans-He is Bob in these lines.
(b)-What was his reaction when he realized that the man was not
Jimmy, why?
Ans .His reaction was very stern and repulsive .It was so because the tall
man had put him in deception.
(c)How did he recognize the man?

Ans. When the tall man and Bob reached in to the glare of electric lights
of a drug store located at the corner of the street, each of them turned
simultaneously to gaze upon the other’s face. Bob noticed that the tall
man had a pug nose while his friend Jimmy Wells had a Roman nose. In
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this way he recognized the man.

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d) Why was the man there? Who had sent him?

Ans .The man was there to arrest the Bob. Jimmy Wells had sent him
Explanation with Reference to the context:
1. “When about a midway of a certain block the policeman suddenly
slowed his walk. In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man
leaned ,with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. As the policeman walked up
to him the man spoke up quickly”.
Context: These lines have been taken from the lesson “After Twenty
years” written by O’ Henry. Here ,the writer tells us about two true
friends namely Bob and Jimmy living in New York who meet each other
after a gap of twenty years.
Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion, the policeman is
shouldering his duty in one of the streets of New York. He suddenly
slowed his walk when he reached near a certain block. He saw that a man
with an unlighted Cigar in his mouth was standing in the doorway of a
darkened hardware store. The policeman went directly to the man who
spoke up quickly.
2. “There was now a fine, cold drizzle falling ……………………

……………… smoked his cigar and waited.”
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Context:- Same as above.

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Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion, we come across the

weather conditions and the movement of the few foot passengers in the
area where the waiting man (Bob) was eagerly waiting or the arrival of his
friend .The waiting man (Bob) had covered a long distance to keep a word
made twenty years ago.
He suspected that his friend (Jimmy) would fail to keep his promise.
3.“The man from the west unfolded the little piece of paper handed to
him. ………………..by the time he had finished.”
Context:-Same as above.
Explanation:- In the lines here under discussion ,we notice the reaction of
Bob while going through the letter sent to him by his friend Jimmy in the
hands of another policeman wearing plain clothes .He took the letter
usually when began to read it but a sudden feeling of repentance and
fearfulness pervaded over his being after reading it completely.
Lesson (2) Forgetting: (Robert Lynd)

Q1.Why is the writer astonished by the list of articles lost by railway
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travelers?\
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Ans. The writer is astonished at the forget fullness of the travelers and
efficiency of human memory. He finds it hard whether the absent-
mindedness is common or not.
Q.2.What did the list speak the travelers? Why do you think the
London railway station published the list?
Ans. The list of the forgotten things speaks about forgetfulness and
absent- mindedness of the travelers. The London Railway station
published the list so that the rightful owners could come and claim their
goods. And if they failed to come, they could not claim for their lost
goods later on.
Q3.List the objects that most men remember later on?
Ans. Most modern men remember telephone numbers, the addresses of
their friends, the dates of good vintage, appointments for lunch and
dinner, the name of actors and actresses, cricketers, footballers and
murderers. They remember almost everything that they are expected
to remember.
Q4.Why does the writer feel that it should be easy for most people to
remember to take their medicine?
Ans. As a rule, the prescribed medicine is supposed to be taken before,
during or after meals and as such, the meal itself should be a reminder for
taking medicine. For the same, the writer feels that it should be easy for
most people to take their medicine.
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Q5.Does the writer agrees with the theory that many people fail to
remember to take their medicine at the appointed hours because of
their antipathy to pills and position? Give reasons for your answer?
Ans. The writer did not agree with the theory that many people fail to
remember to take their medicine at the appointed hours because of their
antipathy to pills and positions .To support his argument ,he cites his own
example saying that even a lifelong devotee of medicine like his own self
forgets to take medicine on time.
Q6.What kind of people tend to forget things more on trains? How
does the writer explain this behavior on their part?
Ans. The young people especially sports men tend to forget things more
on trains. The writer is of the view that the boys returning from games are
so full of imagination that their heads are either among the stars or their
hearts are in their boats while recalling their feats or errors. They are
inattentive from their outside world.
Q7.Why does the writer consider the absent mindedness in people
such as anglers and poets a virtue?
Ans. The writer considers the absent mindedness in the people such as
anglers and poets as a virtue because their minds are filled with
things/matters more lofty and glorious.
Q8. How are writers and composers different from statesmen?
Ans. On the whole, the great writers and the great composers of music
have been men with exceptional powers of memory. On the other hand,
Statesmen have extra ordinarily bad memories.
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Q9.At time’s writers make a humorous statement to ridicule or

censure. Such a statement is called sarcasm. Give an example of
sarcasm from the above essay.
Ans. The absentminded man is often a man who is making the best of life
and therefore has no time to remember the mediocre is one of the
examples of sarcasm.
Q10.’Most of us, I fear are born with prosaically efficient memories.
‘Is the writer appreciative of the kind of memory most ordinary men
have?
Ans. Yes, the writer is appreciative of the memory most ordinary men
have because if it were not so, the institution of the family could not
survive in any great modern city.
II Reference to the context
Read the following extract from the essay and answer the questions
that follow:
1-“Yet, even if I have the stuff in my pockets, I forget about it as soon as
the hour approaches at which I ought to swallow it”.
(a) What is “the stuff “being referred to?
Ans. The stuff is being referred to care-all medicine.
(b)What are the writer’s feelings towards the stuff in his
pocket?(Tick the correct option.)
antipathy
delight
devotion
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Ans. Delights.
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(c)What are the two terms the writer uses to describe men who do not
forget to swallow the stuff?
Ans. Methodical man and moral giants.
2) “They are abstracted from the world outside them. Memories prevent
them from remembering to do such small prosaic things as take a ball or
the bat with them when they leave the train”.
a)Who are ‘they’ the writer is speaking of ?
Ans. The writer is speaking of the sportsmen.
b)Why are they abstracted from the outside world?
Ans. They are abstracted from the outside world because their minds are
lost in a dreamy world.
c)What is the author’s attitude towards them ?(tick the correct
answer.)
o reproachful
o indulgent
o annoyed
Ans :-The authors attitude towards them is indulgent.
Explanation with reference to the context:-
1 “The commonest form of forgetfulness -----------I put him on his oath
before handing the letter to him.”
Context:- These lines have been taken from the lesson “ Forgetting”
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written by Robert Lynd. Here, the writer dwells upon an interesting

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subject of forgetfulness or absent-mindedness of people. He opines that

degree of forgetfulness varies from people to people depending upon their
age, profession and nature of jobs.
Explanation:- In the lines here under discussion, the writer observes that
the commonest form of forgetfulness is more found in the matter of
posting letters. It is so prevalent that he does not trust a visitor to post an
important letter. He reposes so little trust on the visitor’s memory that he
takes an oath from him before handing the letter to him.
2. “As for leaving articles in trains and in taxis, --------------on its way into
the world of lost”.
Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion, the writer highlights that
he does not often forget articles in taxis and in trains .He can remember
almost anything except books and walking sticks. He can often remember
even books but finds it very hard to keep walking sticks for a long time
.He is accustomed to buy them again and again. While paying visit to his
friend’s house or going on a journey in a train, he loses a walking stick.
3. “Few of us, however, have lost ----------as they recall their exploits or
their errors.”
Context: - Same as above.
Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion, the writer tells us that the
ordinary man does not forget his belongings during travelling. The
ordinary man arrives his destination with all bags and trunks safe. The
sportsmen have worse memories than their serious minded fellows. It is
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so as they are absorbed in their imaginative world recalling their triumphs

or failures while returning from the playing field.
r,I forget about ay and answer the questions that follow:
remember yth medicore .Give an example of sarrc
Lesson 3 Once Upon a time: (Gabriel Okra)

Reference to the text:-
Stanza-1 “……..but now they only laugh with their
teeth……………my shadow”.
a)Why have the eyes of the modern man been compared to a block of
ice ?
Ans. The eyes of the modern man have been compared to a block of
ice because they are without love, warmth and affection.
b) How does one laugh with the teeth?
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Ans. One laughs with one’s teeth when one’s laughter is fake,
fabricated, and deceptive.
c)What is the poetic device used for?
Ans. Transferred epithet is used here
d) People now search for something in the poet’s shadow? This shows
that they are (Tick the correct answer)
o disinterested in the poet even though he is apparently smiling at him.
o interested in the poet’s background.
o greeting the poet without any interest to do so.
(a)Ans. This shows that they are greeting the poet without any interest
to do so.
Stanza- 2. “And I have learned, too………………………………after
being bored.”
a)What has the narrator learnt to do?
Ans. The narrator has learnt to laugh with only his teeth and shake
hands without his heart.
b)What does the poet mean when he says ‘Glad to meet you,?
Ans. When the poet says ‘Glade to meet you’ he actually means
opposite of it.
c)What does the poet mean when he says, ‘it’s been nice talking to
you”?
Ans .By this, the poet means that he felt bored while talking with his
fellows.
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d) Is the poet happy with the change in him?

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Ans. No, the poet is not happy with the change in him.
Stanza-3. “Show me, son………………………..when I like you”.
a) What does the father want the son to teach him?
Ans. The father wants the son to teach him how to laugh with his
heart and eyes.
b)Why does he want his son to teach him?
Ans. He wants his son to teach him these good values because he
wants to be what he used to be when he was like his son.
c) What kind of person was the poet when he was young?
o innocent and affected
o sophisticated and natural
o innocent and natural
Ans. The poet was innocent and natural when he was young.
Q4.How does the poet feel at the change in him and in the society?
Ans. The poet feels critically, regretfully ,analytically and
penetratingly at the change in him and in the society.
1.“Once upon a time ,son ----------search behind
my shadows”.
Context:-These lines have been taken from the poem, “Once Upon a
Time” written by Gabriel Okara. Here, the poet makes a vivid comparison
between the values of the past and the present .The poet is regretful over
the vanishing values like love, affection, sincerity, honesty etc. from the
society.
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Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion, the poet addresses his son
saying regretfully that in the past the people used to laugh with sincerity
and warmth. Their behaviour used to be candid. But now the people do
not have candidness in their laughter and behaviour. They have now
become indifferent and cold in their approach.
2.“Feel at home,’ come again’-------------
----------- For then I find the door shut on
me.”
Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion, the poet presents an
interesting account of the treatment being given to the guest by the host.
Apparently, the host seems to be very sincere and cordial in his treatment
for the guest .But! The inner feelings of the host for the guest are
repulsive and unwelcoming.
3.“So, I have learnt many things ,son,---------------------
-------------- Like a fixed portrait
smile.”
Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion, the poet discloses before
his son that he has been able to make adjustments in the environment
surrounding him. He has learnt to change the expression of his face in
accordance with the demanding situation. He does not allow his inner
feelings to get surfaced upon his face.
Lesson 4 Leh
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(Andrew Harvey)
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Q1.What is the most fascinating thing in Leh?(Para 2)

Ans. The most fascinating thing in Leh is its relaxing atmosphere and its
palace which bears different looks when viewed from different angles
.There is nothing to do but to observe the beauty and the charm existing
there.
Q2.In what state is the palace of Leh now?
Ans. The palace of Leh is now in deteriorating condition. It is empty,
desolate and crumbling.
Q.3.’From a distance it looks like a tent.’
o What does ‘it’ refer to? Why does it look a tent?
Ans.(i)It refers to the suspension bridge.
(ii) It looks like a circus tent because it is so covered with prayer flags of
every
colour.
Q4.Where does the queen and her family live now?
Ans. The queen and her family now live in the smaller palace at Stock at a
distance of ten miles from the palace of Leh.
Q5.Why has the bridge been covered with prayer flags? How does the
writer reacr to this sight?
Ans. The bridge has been covered with prayer flags so that the river
would not get angry. The bridge is located nearly at the middle of the
valley where the wind is very strong. The people of Leh believe that the
prayers can be carried down the wind on the back of the country all over
the country. The writer is so fascinated by the sight that his heart wanted
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to sing.
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Q.6 Where does the writer decide not to enter the Rani,s palace?
Ans. The writer decided not to enter the Rain’s Palace at Stock because
when he reached there he had a full day at his disposal.
Q7.The writer talks about something that moves him the ‘most,.
What is it? Why is he moved by it?
Ans .Though the writer saw the rocks and their dazzling forms but he was
not moved by them. It is the signs of human companionship that moved
him the most. He was moved because he found marks of human love and
prayer even in those barren and desolate places.
Q8.During his trek in the higher regions of the mountain the writer
comes across a number of objects and signs that express the religious
spirit of the people of Leh. What are these?
Ans. During his trek in the higher regions of the mountains, the writer saw
mantra stone, Latos ,shrines, ragged but enduring prayer flags on the
rocks and a deserted shepherd’s hut with letters ‘OM’ written again and
again on one of its walls.
Explanation with the reference to the context:-
1.“Leh does have charm-------------------to become one transparent
eye.”
Context:-These lines have been taken from the lesson. “Leh” written by
Andrew Harvey. Here, the writer presents a solid description of the
fascinating beauty of Leh.
Explanation:- In the lines here under discussion ,the writer feels full
confidence about the fascinating and nebulous beauty of Leh. The visitor
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gets relaxing and solacing atmosphere ,and becomes candid and broad
visioned while observing the surroundings of Leh.
2.“I have come to Stock to see the palace of the Rani of Stock-------------
to be alone with the mountains and the summer streams in the valley.”
Context:- Same as above
Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion the writer says that he
had gone to Stock to visit the palace of the Rani but he did not get in, for
he had a full day at his disposal. He decided to observe the raw beauty of
nature alone in the sweet company of naked mountains and musical
streams of the valley of Leh.
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Lesson 5. The Scarecrow

(Satyajit Ray)
Q1.Who was Mriganko Babu? Why did he go to Duragpur?
Ans:- Mrigonko Babu was a famous and popular writer of Bengal. He
went to Durgapur because he had been invited by a club to attend a
cultural function and get felicitation.
Q2.What happened to him on his way back to Calcutta?
Ans. On his way back to Calcutta, his car ran out of petrol.
Q3.The write says about Migranko Babu, ‘He was not one to believe
in superstitions, and certainly never consulted the almanac before
travelling anywhere.’ What is his tone?(Tick the correct answer)
o Serious
o mocking
o approving
o critical.
Ans. His tone is both critical and serious. He did not believe in
superstitions. But when his car ran out of petrol, he began to think if he
had consulted the almanac that day he would have avoided undertaking
the journey.
Q4.Mriganko tried doing different things to kill time while waiting
for his driver. What did he finally decide to do?
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Ans. After sitting in the sun for sometime, he returned to the car ,began to
read a detective novel but could not concentrate on it. He then started
thinking of a suitable plot for a story being asked by the Bharat Magazine
and wrote down a few points which lured him into sound sleep in the car.
Q5.What attracted Mriganko Babu to the scarecrow?

Ans. The red and black printed shirt that had been placed over the
structure attracted Mriganko Babu to the scarecrow. It was this very shirt
that reminded him of someone.
Q6.What changes did Mriganko Babu notice in the scarecrow?
Ans. Mriganko Babu noticed many changes in the appearance of the
scarecrow. The two arms of it lowered a little. It seemed a little stiff in its
appearance and more like a real person. The bamboo poles seemed two
legs and the black earthen pot seemed much smaller. He even saw it
advancing towards him.
Q7.Who was Abhiram? Why had he lost his job in Mriganko Babu’s
house?
Ans.Abhiram was a servant in the house of Mrigonko Babu. He had
worked there for twenty years. Everybody trusted him. One day Mriganko
Babu’s watch disappeared in the house and Abhiram was suspected to
have stolen the watch but he denied the charge. A local witch doctor was
called who rotated an ordinary wicker tray that pointed at Abhiram when
it stopped. Then there was no doubt about his guilt and so he lost his job
in Mrigonko Babu’s house.
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Q8. ‘Now I have found peace.’ How did Abihiram find peace?
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Ans. Abhiram found peace and relief by telling the truth to Mrigonko
Baby about the disappeared watch.
Q9.Abhiram is nothing but the product of Mriganko Babu’s
imagination.Do you agree with the statement? Why/why not?
Ans. Yes, we agree that Abhiram is nothing but the product of Mrigonko
Babu’s imagination. A scarecrow doesnot come to life and speaks like a
human being. But in the story , we see that the scarecrow comes to life
and speaks in human voice in the person of Abhiram. The story doesnot
seem convincing. Hence, imaginative touch is found not only in the
character of Abhiram but also in other events of the story.
Reference to the context:

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1- He put his note book away ……………..he had never felt so
completely desolate.
a- Who is he in these lines ?
Ans. He stands for Mrigonko Babu in these lines.
b- What was he writing on the note book?
Ans-He was writing some points for a story being asked by the Bharat
Magazine on the notebook.
c- Who caught his attention? Why?
Ans. The scarecrow caught his attention .It caught his attention because it
wore a printed shirt that reminded him of some one.
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2.Because I knew that one day ………what I learnt after death.

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a)What did Abiram want to meet Mriganko Babu?

Ans. He wanted to meet Mriganko Babu because he wanted to tell him the
truth about the stolen watch.
b)What did Abhiram learn after death?
Ans. He learnt after death that we should always tell the truth.
c)How did he been declared a thief?
Ans. When Abhiram denied the charge of stealing the watch ,a local witch
doctor was called who by rotating a wicker tray declared him a thief.
d)What did he accused of stealing?

Ans.He was accused of stealing Mriganko Babu’s watch.
Explanation with the Reference to the context

1. “On the western side ,things were not all that different
…………..but it was quite sunny where Mriganko Babu
standing .”
Context:-These lines have been taken from the lesson “ The Scarecrow”
written by Satyajit Ray .Here ,the writer presents an encounter of
Mriganko Babu with the scarecrow while waiting for his driver ,Sudheer.
Explanation:-The lines here under discussion presents the picture of the
road on the western side .There was a pond about forty feet away from the
road, there were thorny bushes ,two huts quite far away without any trace
of habitation. There was a scarecrow in the middle of the field There were
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clouds in the northern sky but still it was quite warm around.
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Lesson No 6
Punishment in Kindergarten
( Kamala Das)
Discussion-1
Comprehension
Q1.Explain the phrase “The World is a Little more Own”?
Ans. The poet is now grown up. She thinks independently on her own
lines. Her mind has found an adult peace. She is in a position to express
herself freely. These things were a dream to her when she was a small kid.
Q2.Who was the blue –frocked woman? Why does the poet remember
her?
Ans. The blue –frocked woman was Kamala Das’s teacher. The poet
remembers her because she (the teacher )had caused her penetrating pain
when she was her taught.
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Q3.What hurts more physical punishment or harsh words? Why?

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Ans. Harsh words hurt more. They have direct linkage with emotions and
feelings. They pierce through the heart of hearts and their effect is more
lasting.
Q4.Why did the other children laugh at the poet?
Ans. The other children laughed at the poet because the teacher rebuked
her (the poet)sternly in front of them.
Q5.Why do you think the words of the blue –frocked woman are
muffled now?
Ans. The words of the blue –frocked woman are muffled now because
many years have passed since the incident of rebuking.
Q6.How different is the world today to the poet?

Ans. The world today is completely different to the poet She is grown up
now. She is free to think. She has now developed and expressed a world
of her own ideas.
Discussion-4
Reference to the context:-
1. “Today the world is little more my own.
No need to remember to pain
A blue-frocked woman caused….”
(a) Who was the blue –frocked woman?
Ans:-The blue –frocked woman was teacher of Kamala Das.
b)How does she cause the poet pain?
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Ans:-She caused the poet pain by throwing harsh and penetrating

words at her.
c) When was the world a little less her own?
Ans:-When the poet was a school child, the world was a little less her
own.
2. “The words are muffled now, the laughing
Faces only a blur .The years have
-----------------------------------
At beloved halts and moving.”
a)Whose words and laughter are being referred to her?
Ans:-Words of Kamala Das’s teacher and laugher of her schoolmates are
being referred to here.
b)What has caused the change in the words and laughter?
Ans. Passing of time and its healing power have caused the change in the
words and laughter.
c)How has life been to the poet since her school days?
Ans:-Life has been a combination of bitter and sweet experiences to the
poet since her school days.
Explanation with reference to the context
1-“Today the world is a little more my own……….A peculiar child you
are !”
Context:-These lines have been taken from the poem “Punishment in
Kindergarten” written by Kamala Das. Here, the poet presents her bitter
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experience of her childhood in general and the picnic day in particular.

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Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion, the poet says that she
has become independent in her world. Therefore ,there is no need to recall
the pain which her teacher had inflicted upon her by insulting her with
harsh words before other schoolmates.
2. “On the lawn ,in clusters sat my schoolmates sipping
………And smelt the flowers and the pain”
Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion, the poet presents the
reaction of her schoolmates and her inner feelings after she was
rescued by her teacher. The schoolmates laughed at the poet without
realizing her inner pain. The poet hid her face behind the bushes and
experienced the mixture of fragrance and pain.
3. “The words are muffled now, the laughing

…………………………………………………………Sadly on”
Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion, the poet says that many
years have passed since the teacher had rebuked her and the schoolmates
laughed at her. The words of the teacher and the laughing faces of the
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classmates have become now faint. She becomes disappointed while

recalling her past.
Lesson -7 “The Sniper”

Liam O’ Flaherty
Q1. Describe briefly the scene in Dublin as you understand from the
first two paragraphs of the story?
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Ans:-The long day of June had changed into night. The whole city of
Dublin was surrounded by darkness. However ,the dim light of the moon
was shining through thin clouds and pale light was falling over the streets
of the city in such a way as if dawn was about to approach. A fierce gun
battle was going on between the Republicans and the Free Staters over the
division of Ireland. A Republican sniper sitting on a roof top near
O’Connell Bridge was watching the whole scene with serious and
thoughtful eyes.
Q2.Why did the sniper consider it risky to smoke?
Ans:- The Sniper thought it risky to smoke because the flash of the match
might be seen in the darkness by the enemies and he could easily be
spotted.
Q3. ‘….there were enemies watching .He decided to take the risk.’ Do
you think the sniper was careless? Give evidence from the lesson to
support your answer.
Ans:-Yes, we think that the sniper was careless .He was surrounded by his
enemies and as such he should not have taken the death inviting risk. No
sooner did he light the cigarette than a bullet from the opposite side struck
against the parapet of the roof where the sniper had taken position. He had
a narrow escape.
Q4.Paragraphs 5 to 11 have words to indicate how careful and

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cautious the sniper was. Pick out those words.

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Ans:-Continuously ,slowly ,peered over ,dropped immediately ,rolled

over the roof, crawled back etc are the words that indicate how careful
and cautious the sniper was.
Q5- Not important
Q6.The Sniper saw the enemy car right in front of him but was
unable to fire at it. How would you describe the state he was in?
Choose the appropriate word
i) disappointed
ii) angry
iii) helpless
iv) all the above
Ans:-He was in helpless situation .He wanted to fire but he knew that his
bullets would never penetrate the steel that covered the enemy car.
Q7.Why did the sniper kill the man in the armoured car and the old
woman?
Ans:-The sniper killed the man in the armoured car and the old woman
because they were his enemies .The man was about to shoot the sniper
and the old woman was an informer .They might have harmed him if they
had been spared.
Q8.How was the sniper injured? How did he realize that he had been
hit?
Ans:-As soon as the sniper killed the man in the armoured car and the old
woman ,a bullet came from the opposite side which hit the sniper’s right
forearm. He dropped the rifle noisily on the roof. He stooped to pick the
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rifle up but he could not do so. In this way ,he realized that he had been
hit.
Q9.How did he assess the damage to his hand? What was his
diagnosis?
Ans:-With this left hand, the sniper felt his injured right forearm. He saw
that blood was flowing through the sleeve of his coat. He ripped open the
sleeve with his knife. He saw that there was a small hole and the bullet
had lodged in the bone. He diagnosed that the bone must have been
fractured by the bullet.
Q10.The sniper realized that his escape was difficult
because……(complete the sentence appropriately.)
Ans. The sniper realized that his escape was difficult because the enemy
sniper on the opposite roof covered his escape.
Q11.How did the sniper trick the enemy sniper? What was his
diagnosis?
Ans. The sniper took off his cap and placed it over the muzzle of his rifle.
He pushed the rifle slowly upward over the parapet, until the cap was
visible to the enemy. Soon a bullet pierced through the centre of the cap.
The sniper slanted the rifle forward and the cap clipped down in the street.
He caught the rifle in the middle and let it drop to the street then he sank
to the roof as if he had actually been hit.
Seeing the cap and the rifle fall, the enemy sniper thought that he had
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killed his man. He was now looking across without much alertness. The
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sniper lifted his revolver ,took a steady aim and hit his enemy. Yes, his
trick worked.
Q12.How did the sniper feel just before and after killing his
opponent?
Ans. The Republican sniper was happy that he had been able to befool his
enemy .He smiled before shooting him dead. But after killing his
opponent ,he was full of remorse and his lust of war died. He began to
curse the war, curse himself and curse everybody.
Q13.Who was sniper who was killed?

Ans. The sniper who was killed was brother of the Republican sniper had
been killed by his own brother.
Explanation with reference to the context
“On a roof near O’Connell Bridge, a Republican Sniper lay
watching…….
………………………….They were deep and thoughtful, the eyes of a
man who is used to looking at death”
Context:-These lines have been taken from the lesson “The Sniper”.
Here the writer presents the horrors, ugliness and brutality of the war.
The war is the most unpleasant thing which brings about destruction to
humanity, turns smiling faces into dejected ones fertile land into barren
land, brother against brother. It must be avoided at all costs.
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Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion ,the Sniper was taking
position on a rooftop near O’Connell Bridge with his rifle and a pair of
field glasses. He was very young with eyes thirsty for war. His eyes were
accustomed to see death.
Chapter 8. The Letter A

Christy Brown.
Q1.How did Christy’s mother know that her son was physically
impaired?
Ans. Christy was about four months old when his mother noticed that his
head had a habit of falling backwards whenever she tried to feed him. She
tried to correct it but failed. As he got older, she became aware of other
defects. She saw that his hands were always clenched and twine behind
his back. His jaws either used to lock together tightly or suddenly used to
become limp and fall loose. Besides these defects ,he could not sit up
without having a mountain of pillows around him. In this way, his mother
knew that his son was physically impaired (handicapped).
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Q2. “The doctors were so very sure of themselves that mother’s faith
in me seemed almost an impertinence.’
a) What did Christy’s mother think about him?
b) Why is her faith in him being described as impertinence?
Ans.(a)- She thought that Christy was not mentally defective though
his body was crippled.
An:-( b)-Her faith in Christy is described as impertinence because she
thought that her son was physically defective and mentally fit but the
doctors thought that Christy was both physically and mentally
defective.
Q3. In spite of all that the doctors and specialists told her.
Christy’s mother would not agree that he was an imbecile. What
does this reveal about her as a person?
Ans. It shows her firm determination , courage and love. She had deep
rooted love for and indomitable faith in her son.
Q4.What did Christy’s mother hope to achieve by showing him
pictures of animals and flowers?
Ans. After showing Christy pictures of animals and flowers and telling
their names, she had hoped her son would show some signs of
communication and intelligence.
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Q5. What was the advice offered by relatives and friends ?Why
was it lucky for the writer that his parents did not heed the advice?
Ans. The relatives and friends advised Christy’s mother that she should
treat her son kindly and sympathetically but not seriously. She should
not expect the same results from him as she would expect from her
other healthy children. It was lucky for Christy that his parents did not
heed their advice rather began to treat Christy like other children of the
family .He got love ,affection and courage from his parents that played
a way for his mental development.
Q6.Christy’s mother believed he was nor an idiot because (Tick the

correct option)
o He was her son.
o it was her duty as another
o to defend him.
o She loved him and believed in him.
Ans:-Christy’s mother believed that he was not an idiot because she loved
him and believed in him.
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Q7.Christy feels that not many mothers would have treated him the
way his mother did. How would Christy have been treated in another
household?
Ans. Christy’s mother did every possible effort while bringing up her
handicapped son. She stood by him, took up the duty of treating him
herself and then looked after him with great patience and care for such a
long time. If Christy had been born in another household, he might have
been neglected and admitted in mental hospital.
Q8. ‘That was a momentous decision.’ Why does Christy consider the
decision a momentous one?
Ans. When all the consulted doctors told Christy’s mother that her son
was mentally crippled and nothing could be done for him. She would not
agree but decided to take matters into her own hands. She started treating
him on the same plane as the other children of the family. Christy regards
that decision a momentous because it was this very decision that proved a
beacon light for his mental expression.
Q9.Despite being surrounded by a loving family what were Christy’s

feelings as he lay on his back in the kitchen or in the garden?
Ans. Despite being surrounded by a loving family, Christy felt imprisoned
and lonely in a world of his own. He wanted to communicate with others
.He longed to run about and play with his brothers and sisters but was
unable to get out of his natural bondage.
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Q10.While his father was busy brick laying, his mother was ‘patiently
pulling down the wall, brick by brick’. Which wall was the mother
pulling down?
Ans. There were mental as well as physical drawbacks in Christy that had
created a mental wall or huge gap between him and the other children of
the family like that of a brick wall. Her mother was patiently and gently
pulling down the wall that separated him from others.
Q11. “They now spoke of an institution.’
a) Who is they in the above lines?
b) What is the institution they are speaking of ?
c) How did Christy’s mother respond to their suggestion?
Ans. (a) They are friends and relatives of Christy’s parents.
(b) They are speaking of the institution meant for mentally crippled.
( c) She fiercely responded to their decision saying that her son was
not an idiot though his body was shattered but not his mind.
Q12.Christy’s mother .father and siblings saw him forming the letter
‘ A’ as(Tick the correct option)
a) a sign of intelligence.
b) as merely an imitative gesture.
An(a) A sign of intelligence.
Q13.Why was Christy surprised to see himself holding a chalk stick
between his toes?
Ans. Christy was surprised because he had never used his toes before in
that way.
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Q14.Why was everyone tense in the room when they saw Christy
attempting to write?
Ans:-Everyone was tense in the room because Christy was attempting to
write down something on the surface of the slate stuck between his toes.
Q15.What do you think finally helped Christy achieve the
‘Impossible’?
Ans:-His mother’s love, warmth, affection and firm faith in him finally
helped Christy achieve the impossible.
Reference to the context.
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.
1. “Then she turned away from my curious stare and left the room,
crying .The door closed behind her. It all seemed hopeless. It looked as
though there was some justification in my relatives contention that I was
an idiot and beyond help.”
a)Who is being referred to?
Ans. Christy’s mother is being referred.
b)Why was she crying?
Ans. She was crying because when she asked Christy to repeat the names
of animals and lovely flowers that were in the pictures of the story book
or nod his head for ‘yes’ like a good boy but Christy made no sign that he
had understood her.
c. What had the relatives been saying?
Ans. The relatives had been saying that Christy was an idiot and beyond
help.
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d. Why/what did this episode seem so upsetting?

Ans. This episode seemed so upsetting because when Christy could
make no sign that he had understood his mother who had seen him
pictures of animals and flowers from the story book.
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Lesson No-9 “After Apple Picking”

(Robert Frost)
A) ‘I can’t rub …………………and let it fall and break’.
Ans:- The poet saw the strangeness of the world through the pane of
glass.
b) From where had he got this piece of glass?
Ans:- He had got this piece of glass from the drinking trough.
c) How could the glass melt? What does this indicate about the
weather conditions?
Ans:-The glass could melt with the heat of the sun. It indicates about the
hot weather conditions.
d)Does this have a deeper significance for the poet?
Ans:-This has really a deeper significance form the poet. As the glass
melts with the heat of the sun, similarly human life melts with the passing
of time and finally culminates in death.
2) ‘My instep arch………for I have had too much’
a)Why does the poet’s arch ache?
Ans:- The poet’s instep arch aches because it keeps the pressure of a
ladder round.
b)What was he been doing?
Ans:-He has been picking apples.
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c) What is the rumbling sound that the poet hears?

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Ans:-The rumbling sound that the poet hears is the sound of the apples
being dropped in a cellar bin.
d) Why does the poet say he has had “too much”?What is he

referring to?
Ans:-The poet says this because he was now overtired of apple picking.
He is referring to old age and death.
e) Why does the ladder sway? What does it symbolize for the poet ?
Ans:- The ladder sway because the boughs bend. It symbolizes for the
poet that life has to surrender before the power of death.
(f) - Explain the phrase ‘Ladder round’ .
Ans:-The phrase ‘Ladder round’ stands for journey of life from the
eternal world in to the earthly world & back into the eternal world. The
Journey gets culminated on the same point from where it had emerged.
(3)- There were ten thousand ------- As of no worth.
(a)- What is the poet careful to see that his apples don’t fall to the
ground?
Ans:-The poet is careful because whatever fall to the ground whether it

gets spiked or not is surely considered to be of the second grade. In other
words, the poet has realized the importance of good deeds.
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(b)- What is the poet trying to express by using the symbol of an

apple that is spiked or bruised?
Ans:- The poet is trying to express the evil deeds which performs
during ones life span in the earthly world.
( c) – What does he really mean by using the imagery of apples seeing

cherished ? What does one usually cherish ?
Ans:- The poet really means the good deeds that one executes during
once life span in the earthly world. One usually cherishes such things that
pay in the long run
Explanation with reference to the context:
1. “I cannot rub the strangeness from my sight.
It melted, and I let it fall and break.”
Context:- These lines have been taken from the poem, “After Apple –
Picking” written by Robert Frost. Here ,the poet makes an imaginative
flight into the eternal world and stresses for the execution of good deeds
and avoidance of evil deeds while living on the earthy world.
Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion ,the poet says that he was
not able to erase the different and strange experience which he had got
while living on the earthly world. He had spent his life in the world which
is full of troubles and temptations. He wanted to live but the mighty
power of death took him into his lap.
2. “But I was well---------------

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…………………………..What from my dreaming was about to

take”
Context :Same as above
Explanation:-In these lines here under discussion, the poet says that he
was well prepared before the power of death took him into his lap. He
was so ready for death that he could anticipate what was going to happen
after death in his dream.
Questions:
Q1.Write some symbols that are used in the poem, “AFTER APPLE
PICKING”?
Ans:-Apples, tree, barrel, ladder, apple picking, winter sleep, harvest etc
are some symbols that are used in the poem.
Q2.What does the ‘Pane of glass’ refer to? What is the poetic device
used in this description?
Ans:-The ‘Pane of glass’ refers to covering of snow but in deeper sense it
refers to earthly life. Like the ‘ Pane of glass’ life is always melting and
making its journey towards death. The poetic device used here is
Metaphor.
Q3.Why has the word ‘thousand been repeated twice? What is the
poetic device used here ?
Ans:-The word ‘thousand’ has been repeated twice to suggest that there
were countless apples on the tree. The poetic device used here is
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Hyperbole.
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Q4.What does apple picking refer to? Why has the poet given that the
poem this title?
Ans:-Apple picking refers to any human task to be done through hard
work and against odds. The poet has given the poem this title because he
wants to convey the readers the message that whatever work they perform
while living in the earthy world should be performed with hard labour,
sincerity and devotion.
(PAPER.B)Lesson No 10 “The Celebrated Genius”

Dr C.V. Raman.
Q1. Why was the voyage C.V . Raman undertook in 1921 important
in his life?
Ans:-The Voyage was important in his life because when he was crossing
the Mediterranean sea he wondered why it’ s water was such a dark shade
of blue. He started research about this apparently simple question and
finally he got success. It was this very research that won him the Noble
Prize for Physics in 1930.
Q2.Raman was just an average student at school and college .Is this
true or false? Give reason to justify your answer?
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Ans:-Raman was not an average student at school and college .He was
very brilliant, intelligent and efficient. He passed his matriculation at the
age of 11 and he was only 15 years old when he completed his graduation
from the Presidency College Madras(now Chennai).
Q3.Why could Raman not pursue higher studies abroad even though
he was very keen to do so?
Ans:-Though Raman was very keen to pursue higher studies abroad but
he was disqualified by a British doctor on medical reasons. He told
Raman that he would not be able to bear the severity of the English
climate.
Q4.Give an example to show that Raman’s interest in science did not
lessen even when he started working as an accountant general?
Ans:-When Raman completed his masters degree, he took a job in
Calcutta as an assistant accountant general but his interest in science did
not show any sort of decline. He used to spend most of his spare time in
the mornings and evenings in the laboratory of Indian Association for
Cultivation of Science.
Q.5:- Why was there no Indian flag flying when Raman was awarded
Nobel prize? How did this effect him?
Ans:-Noble Prize was awarded to Raman in 1930 for physics and at that
time India was under the British rule. That is why, there was no Indian
flag. When he saw himself under the British flag, he was so moved by
emotions that tears started trickling town his face.
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Q6.Raman was proud to be an Indian? How did this manifest in his

personal life?
Ans:-Raman was really proud to be an Indian. He would wear a closed
coat and a turban till his last breath. He did not give up his traditional
Indian turban in favour of a European hat.
Q7.The world was not slow to recognize the importance of C.V.
Raman’s achievements? What are the other important awards he
won apart from the Noble prize?
Ans:-Apart from the Noble Prize ,many other important prizes were
conferred on him. He won Bharat Ratan in 1954 and the International
Lenin Prize in 1957.He was given Knight hood by the British
Government in 1929.He was also made a fellow of the Royal Society
London in 1924.
Q8. “.I can understand the difficulties that most of few graduates
have to face today”. How was this possible for him?
Ans:-Raman himself had experienced a very tough and hard life. He had
experienced poverty and miseries in his life. His life was not all milk and
roses. Out of his personal experience ,it was possible for him to
understand the difficulties being faced by most of the graduates in India
in those day’s.
Q9. “I admit success in life is always to the intelligent or the strong

.What other qualities according to Raman bring success in life?
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Ans:-Raman was of the opinion that success in life does not always
come to intelligent or the strong. It is to some extent a bit of gamble. To
be successful ,one has to get one’s mind right and know one’s job well.
Q10:-What was Raman’s philosophy of life?
Ans:-Raman’s philosophy of life was very simple. He was of the view
that we should not get disappointed if we do not succeed in our life at the
first attempt . We should not loose our heart rather we should continue
efforts. We should face up life and take it as we find it. We should enjoy
the common things in nature and life. He wanted us to appreciate the
things that we see around ourselves.
Q11.Three or four qualities of nature inspired Raman all his life.
Which are they?
Ans:-Raman loved and appreciated nature. It was nature and her qualities
that had inspired him all his life. Nature’s wonderful gifts, her marvelous,
ingenuity , her resourcefulness and her infinite variety are other qualities
that had inspired him.
Q12.Raman had unusual view about Patriotism .What was it ?
Ans:-Raman had really unusual view about patriotism .According to him,
patriotism means the love of the earth. It is earth that sustains us. It is
earth and the things that grow upon it that make life possible. The love
for the land means the love of the earth which has borne us and which
sustains us. The idea of the love of the earth transcends the idea of
national and international borders. By loving earth, We will be able to
love all.
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Q13. The main purpose of Raman’s address to the graduates was

to…
a) advise them.
b) inspire them.
c) impress them.
Ans:-The main purpose of Raman’s address to the graduates was to
inspire them.
1. “After ten years of government service……………..research of
his life”
Context:-These lines have been taken from the lesson “Dr.C.V. Raman –
The Celebrated Genius”. The lesson depicts Raman’s philosophy of life
and his remarkable achievements.
Explanation:-In these lines here under discussion depict that Raman did
government service for ten years and then resigned. After that he worked
as the Professor of Physics at Calcutta University on lower salary than
when he earned previously. He performed the most important research of
his life at the University laboratory.
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Lesson No 11 “Love Across The Salt Desert”

(KEKI N. DARUWALLA)
Q.1 Why is the lesson has been titled ‘Love across the salt desert’?
Why is the desert called a , “ Salt” desert?
Ans:-The lesson has been titled “Love Across The Salt Desert” because a
lover from India crosses the international border by entering in the
territory of Pakistan to get his bride. While staying at Kaley Shah’s house,
Najab had fallen in deep love with his daughter Fatimah and had
promised her that he would come again and take her away. He fulfilled
his promise and eloped with her. The desert is called a salt desert because
it is very difficult to cross
Q2.Aftab asks Najab “ Have you brought anything”?Dou you think
Aftab was happy when he saw Fatimah?
Ans:-Aftab was very worried about the safe arrival of his son Najab. He
was happy when he saw his son along with Fatimah though he did not
express happiness on his face.
Q3.The story ends with the coming of the rain that swept away three
yeas of drought. Do you think this helps Fatimah in being welcomed
into her new home?
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Ans:-The drought in Kutch had lasted for three successive years and
everything was badly affected. But with the arrival of Fatimah in the
village, the clouds burst and the drought ended. The people heaved a sigh
of relief. This helped a lot to her in being welcomed into her new home.
The people of the village still
consider her arrival auspicious and a symbol of love across the border.
Q4.How does the drought affect the following?

a) Earth:-The earth crakes and it looks as if chunks of it are being
baked in a Kiln.
b) Camel:-The camel alone survives the drought comfortably.
c) Oxen:-The oxen die.
d) Cattle;-The cattle become thin and emaciate.
Q5.Why was Najab’s father worried about Najab’s future?
Ans:-There are two reasons that made Najab’s father worried about
Najab’s future. First, his son had crossed the border without taking Zaman
into confidence. He thought that Zaman might harm his son, for it was
not easy to cross the border with out his support .Second, he feared that he
would grow too shy to charge the money on what he would sell and as
such would spend wastefully every thing whatever his ancestors and he
had acquired during a hundred years.
Q6.Why was a visit to Kala Doongar important for the people of
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Khavda?
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Ans:-Visit to Kala Doongar was important for the people of Khavda

because they would go there for seeking the blessings of the Panchamai
peer who had left his foot prints on the hill over hundreds years ago while
trudging this salt desert and serving the people.
Q7. Was the trade that was carried on across the border legal ?Give
reason for your answer?
Ans:-No, the trade was not legal. The people of Khavda and the adjoining
area would smuggle Indian goods in to Pakistan and vice versa. They
would bribe the officials and deputed troops through agents like that of
Zaman. Had the trade been legal, there would have been no question of
bribery.
Q8.When he heard about his son’s disappearance what was Aftab’s

first suspicion?
Ans:-Aftab suspected that his son might have gone to Pakistan along with
the bundles of tendu leaf which he had brought.
Q.9.What made Aftab suspect that his wife knew about Najab’s
going away?
Ans:- Aftab had thought that his wife would faint on hearing that their son
had disappeared. But his prediction proved wrong because his wife did
not even blink in surprise. His eye fell on her bare arm and he found the
gold bangle missing. All this made him suspect that his wife knew about
Najab’s going away.
Q.10.Zaman was an important person in the village and was called
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the chief because (Tick the right answer)

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a) he was the strongest man in the village

b)his family had ruled the village for years
c)he arranged the smuggling trips across the border and had close contacts
with officials on both the sides.
Ans:- Zaman was an important person in the village and was called the
chief because he arranged the smuggling trips across the border and had
close contacts with officials on both the sides of the border.
Q11.What was Zaman’s reaction to Najab’s absence from the village?
Why?
Ans:- Zaman’s reaction was a great anger and disappointment to Najab’s
absence from the village. He told Najab’s father that his son was not a
innocent and introvert as the world believed and there was no limit to his
annoyance. He was the chief of the smugglers and none of them would
cross the border without his permission. But Najab was the first person
who had not sought his permission and for the same reason he was very
much upset.
Q12.The absence of man and a camel from the village was significant
because(Say whether true or false)
a)It meant that someone had across the border
b) It meant someone had come into the country.
c)It meant the camel would be confiscated by the officials.
Ans:- (a)True b)False C)False
Q13:-Fatimah says ‘just my luck to run into mutes? Who the mutes
52
she refers to? Why does she make this statement?

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Ans:-Fatimah and Najab fell in deep love at the first sight. She had been
under pressure to get engaged to a stammerer namely Mahfuz Ali .She
wanted to elicit a word from Najab but could not, for he was a shy, quite
and pleasant young man so ready with his smiles. So Fatimah found
herself in a dilemma and started thinking that there were mutes in store
for her and the mutes were Mahfuz Ali and Najab.
Q14:-Najab Knew that Fatimah loved him because(Tick the right
answer)
a) she made special dishes for him to eat.
b) she told him that she loved him.
c) she made suggestive gestures.
Ans:- Najab knew that Fatimah loved him because she made suggestive
gestures.
Q15.Was Kaley Shah happy to see Najab? How did Najab win his
trust?
Ans:-No, Kaley Shah was not happy to see Najab. He expressed his
unhappiness saying that he had come unannounced ,dragged the police
behind him and had not brought tendu leaf with him. But Najab was
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very quick to understand the situation. After showing the gold bangle ,he
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told Karley Shah that he had come for cloves and would pay in gold. In
this way, he won his trust.
Q16.Though Fatimah belonged to a different country she did not
hesitate in eloping with a boy from another country. Give two
reasons?
Ans:-True love does not know boundaries ,hurdles, bullets and reasons. It
is madness to put hurdles in the way of true lovers. Though Fatimah
belonged to a different country but she did not hesitate in eloping with a
boy from another country and the reasons are obvious. First ,she did not
want to marry Mahfuz Ali who was a stammerer. Second ,she was in the
true and deep love with Najab.
Q17.Fatimah calls Najab a mute yet he proposes to her. How does he
do that?
Ans:- Najab was known to be a shy and introvert boy. He fell in deep
love with Fatimah at the first sight but could not tell her straight
forwardedly about his love. So she called him a mute. He proposed her
through gestures. He flung his arms around her and promised that he
would come again to take her to his home.
Q18.Why did people of Khavda welcome Fatimah with open arms?
Ans:-The people of Khavda had been in the grip of acute drought for
successive three years and everything was badly hit. But when Fatimah
stepped in the village, the clouds burst and the drought came to an end.
Her coming proved auspicious and brought prosperity to the villagers in
the form of rain. So the people of Khavda village welcomed her with
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open arms and smiling faces.

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Q19.The writer has used a number of colourfull phrases to describe

Fatimah’s beauty .Find the expressions to describe the following:
a) eyes
b) hair
c) laughter
d) eyebrows
e) smell
Ans( a) Her eyes were so bright that they would have lit up the darkness
of the under world.
b) Her hair were as black as the night itself.
c)Her laughter had the timbre of ankle bells.
d) Her eye brows were black wisps of the night.
e) She smelt of cloves and cinnamon.
Q20:-Najab as described in the early part of the story and Najab as
we see in the latter part are different, but similar in some ways
.Compare and contrast Najab’s character before and after journey
across the desert?
Ans:- The story “Love Across the Salt Desert” depicts a love affair of
two true and sincere lovers namely Najab and Fatimah. There are many
characters in the story but Najab has got a pivotal position. In the early
part of story, he is a very shy ,introvert and reserved boy. He was known
to have blushed at the mere mention of a girl. He had dreamy eyes. None
of his friends had ranked him among the braves. Even his father Aftab
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feared that the boy would waste away all what he and his ancestors had
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acquired. He considered him too shy to be able to charge money for what
he would sell. But all these predictions proved wrong in the later part of
the story. Najab turned to be courageous , brave and determined son after
his first meet with Fatimah who ignited a spark of love in him. He
undertook a dangerous journey , crossed the border and met his love. He
did not care for bullets and difficulties. He faced all the hardships, he met
during the trip with a smiling face. He was true ,sincere and faithful in his
love. He had understood what love really means. He felt his love and saw
the image of Fatimah in every object he touched ,imagined and
articulated. In the early part of the story his character is marked by
shyness and diffidence but in the later part of the story his bravery and
confidence is spoken off.
Q21.Zaman,Aftab and Kaley shah were all involved in same trade,
yet they were different in many ways. Compare the three and rate
them from the least villainous to the most villainous giving reasons
for answer?
Ans:- Zaman was a veteran smuggler .He was the chief of the smugglers
in the area where he lived. He would arrange illegal trips for the
smugglers and keep the Rangers happy. He was a very influential person
so for as crossing of the border was concerned. Though Najab crossed the
Rann without his consent but had a close shave.
Aftab was father of Najab. He was also a smuggler .He would smuggle
things from India to Pakistan. He would take tendu leaf and sell them
across the border. He was not hopeful about his son and would say that
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he would waste away everything on account of his shyness. He had

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never expected any act of bravery from his son. He was an affectionate
father. His heart sank with grief on hearing about disappearance of his
son. He prayed that his son might come back safely.
Kaley Shah lived in Sindh. He was a spice seller. He would harbor the
Indian Smugglers and arrange spice like cloves and cinnamon for them.
He thought only interms of business. He got angry when he found Nijab
empty handed. He had links with the local police and the guardians of
law could do nothing against him. There is hardly anything appreciable
about his character.
Zaman is the most villainous character. He would do anything for the
sake of money. It is Aftab who seems to be least villainous .He trembled
and terrified on hearing the news of his son’s disappearance.
Explanation with Reference to the text”
1. “What would he not do for her………………………..
--------------------For her he would cross the salt
desert”
Context:-These lines have been taken from the story , “Love Across the
Salt Desert” written by Keki N Daruwalla. Here ,the writer conyeys a
very important message that true love does know no boundaries ,barriers
and hurdles but it brings nations closer by minimizing the impediments
existing between them.
Explanation:-The lines here under discussion depict that Najab would do
anything for his beloved Fatimah .Fatimah was a paragon of beauty .Her
laughter had the sound of ankle bells , her eyebrows were like wisps of
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the night and her hair was the night itself. To get his object of love ,Najab
was happily ready to face any challenge.
Lesson No ‘12’
(PADMA SACHDEV)
( TRANSLATED BY DR. KARAN .SINGH)
Q1.The sun is compared to a cataract because (Tick the correct
option)
o It is full of sunspots.
o It is not clear and is covered by clouds.
o It is shaped like an eye
Ans:- The sun is compared to cataract because it is not clear and is
covered by clouds.
Q2.Why was the sky thundering ?Who was it angry with?
Ans:-The sky was thundering because it was very rash and angry for its
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loneliness. It was angry with the slow and late appearance of the sun.
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Q3.What does the poet compare the sun to as comes out from behind
the clouds ?Why?
Ans:-The poet compares the sun to a school boy who has reached school
late. The comparison is made because the sun pushes away the clouds
hesitatingly and starts shining slowly in the sky fearing that the sky would
rebuke it for its late appearance.
Q4.Who questions the sun ?Why?
Ans:-The sky or the school master questions the sun. The sky questions
the sun because the later was hidden behind the clouds till afternoon. The
sky asks the sun why it was late in its rising.
Q5.What is the sun’s reply?

Ans:-The sun answered back proudly and boldly saying that there is no
wisdom on part of the sky in being annoyed and displeased at its late
rising. Though there may be scheduled time for everything but there is no
fixed time for the sunrise , for whenever it rises it is sunrise.
Q6. What adjectives would you use to describe the sun:
(a)When it emerges from behind the clouds?
Ans(a)Timorous ,frightened, cowering, fearful and shuddered are some
adjectives that would be used to describe the sun when it emerges from
behind the clouds.
b)When it shines in all its splendor?
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Ans(b) Arrogant ,gorgeous ,magnificent, sparkling, proudy and glorious

are some adjectives that would be used to describe the sun when it is
shining in all its splendor.
Reference to the context
1- “The sun was descending like a ---------------------
------------------------And it was thundering in
anger”
a) What time of the day is being described? How do you know?
Ans:-The time of afternoon is being described. We know it from the
descending of the sun.
b)Which figure of speech is being used here?
Ans: A smile is being used in the lines given.
c)Why is the sky angry?
Ans:-The sky is angry over the late rising of the sun.
d) How does it express its anger?
Ans:-The sky express its anger by thundering.
2- By now the sun was shinning in all its splendor,-----------------
------------------------- Whenever it rises, that is
sunrise.”
a) Explain the significance of the phrase ‘By now’
Ans:-“By now” means that by the time the sky could express further
anger and annoyance over the late rising of the sun ,the sun had already
risen and was scattering its bright light in all directions.
b)How is the sun different from what it was earlier in the poem?
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Ans:-Earlier in the poem ,the sun was gloomy and was covered by the
clouds. But it now pushed away the clouds and is shinning brightly.
c)Who was getting annoyed? And Why?
Ans:-The sky was getting annoyed. It was getting annoyed because the
sun was still hidden behind the clouds.
d)What quality of the sun is reflected in these lines?
Ans:-Pride, arrogance and confidence are some qualities reflected in
these lines.
Explanation with reference to the context:
1. “What is the point of getting annoyed
There is no set time for the sun to rise
Whenever it rises ,that is sunshine”
Context:-These lines have been taken from the poem , “Sunrise” written
by Padama Sachdev. Here ,the poetess apparently describes the anger of
the sky over the late rising of the sun but latently she wants to convey that
there should not be hard and bound rules for broadening the mental
horizon of children.
Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion , the poetess wants to
present a valuable message that there is no fixed time for intellectual
development and spiritual enlightenment of children. There should not
any sort of compulsion and imposition upon children for removing
ignorance. They should not rebuked if they are slow learners and come
late for learning rather they should be appreciated and encouraged.
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Lesson No-13 The Gumdrop Affair

(Ralph E Hayes)
Q1. The writer says, ‘the Gumdrop Affair was not much of a name
for such an important assignment’. Why?
Ans:-The title “The Gumdrop Affair” sounds very funny so for as the
activities of any secret department are concerned. It was this very
assignment that enabled Barnaby to get recognition in the department. So
it was not much of a name for such an important assignment.
Q2.Why had the Department never taken Barnaby seriously?
Ans:-Barnaby was a sociable fellow and did not like violence .He had
never been a cold blooded secret agent. He never thought of killing any
one .That is why, the department had never taken him seriously.
Q3.How was Barnaby different from other agents?
Ans:-Barnaby was different from other secret agents in many respects. He
was not a cold blooded secret agent. He liked and loved people. He did
not have the killer instinct and had never thought of killing any one. He
never carried a loaded gun. On every assignment ,he would spend extra
time learning about the country and the customs of its people which
helped him to get the job done without relying on violence.
Q4.Why didn’t Barnaby carry a loaded gun? How did he make up for
his not being a ‘Cold –blooded Secret agent.?
Ans:-Barnaby did not carry a loaded gun so as to make sure that he would
not kill any body by mistake. He was able to fill this gap by being
dedicated and devoted to his assigned work.
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Q5.Why does Thompson look at Barnaby and ask , “Is this some kind
of a Joke?
Ans:-The physical appearance of Barnaby hardly showed anything of a
secret agent about him. He was bald and fat. He looked like a barber.
That is why, when he introduced himself to Thompson, the latter said
these words.
Q6.Why do you think Thompson told Barnaby that he reminded him
of a barber?
Ans:-Since the department had sent Thompson to test Barnaby’s loyalty
ability and courage so he said these insulting remarks. Besides this, he
wanted to test his patience and tactics.
Q7.Why do you think Barnaby asked Thompson about his life as a
hunter?
Ans:-While conversing with Thompson ,Barnaby grew suspicious about
his real identity. He asked Thompson about his life as a hunter so that he
would be able to know the reality about him and get his doubts cleared.
Q9.Why do you think Thompson made these mistakes ?
Ans:-The department had said Thompson to test Barnaby’s loyalty,
courage and ability. To get the desired result, he made these mistakes.
Q10.Do you think Barnaby would have been killed had his gun been
loaded? Why/why not ?Give evidence?
Ans:-No, Barnaby would not have been killed if his gun had been loaded
.It is clear from the story and the evidence is given below:
‘But you tried to kill me with my own gun’ said Barnaby. ‘No, I aimed
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over your left shoulder’ replied Thompson.

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Q11.After scuffle when the man said ‘I’ m really a department man,
‘did Barnaby believe him? How do you know?
Ans:-No, Barnaby did not believe him. He did not move but stared at
Thompson, for the latter had already played several tricks on the former.
He thought that he was going to play another trick.
Q12.How did the contact man prove that he really belonged to the
same organizations Barnaby?
Ans:-The contact man established his identity by pulling a small card
from his billfold and held it out for Barnaby. Barnaby saw that the card
carried the special serial number that the department used for emergency
identification.
Q13.What was the contact man’s real name? Who had asked him to
meet Barnaby?
Ans:-The contact man’s name was Frank Guthrie .The department had
asked him to meet Barnaby so as to test ability, loyality and courage.
Q14.What was the exercise meant for ?How well did Barnaby pass
the test?
Ans:-The whole exercise was meant for testing Barnaby’s loyalty, ability
and courage towards his duty. He passed the test with flying colours.
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Q15.Barnaby, towards the end of the story says, ‘Do you mean
…’what did he imply by this ?Complete this question.
Ans:-It implied that there was nothing wrong and dangerous about the
whole affair.
Lesson No 14. “THE

COCK FIGHT”
Questions:
(AMIN KAMIL)
Q1.What were Shahmal’s emotions when Ghulam Khan brought the
rooster?
a) anger
b) apprehension
c) excitement
d) worry
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Q1-Give reasons for your answer.

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Ans:- Shahmal’s emotions were that of excitement. Her Joy knew no

bounds when she saw her husband entering the compound with the bird
in his hands. She was so full of joy and excitement that she even forgot to
wash her dirty Pheran and she also felt as if she had found a treasure.
Q2.Why did Shahmal often address the window of the neighboring
house in loud tone?
Ans:-She did so because she wanted her next door neighbor . Jani to
come to the window so that she would be able to taunt her. Besides ,she
wanted that Jani must know that they had bought a cock.
Q3.Why was Jani’s cock welcome at times and unwelcome at other
times to Shahmal’s house?
Ans:- Shahmal had two hens but had no male bird of her own. That is
why ,shy welcomed Jani’s cock at times. But when she left the paddy or
corn to dry in the sun, she did not like these visits fearing that the cock
would eat and scatter the grains.
Q4.What was the actual price of the cock? What price did Ghulam
Khan claim to have paid for it? Why?
Ans:-The actual price of the cock was three rupees. Gulam Khan claimed
that he had four and a half rupee for it. He did so because he wanted to
impress and convince his wife that the cock was not a poor weakling so
that she might not say in her characteristic tone that he had bought a
stinking and worthless cock.
Q5.Complete the following table bringing out the differences
between the two roosters.
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Ans:-
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Shahmal’s rooster Jani’s rooster

1- Shahmal’s rooster was 1.Jani’s rooster was red in colour.
white in colour. 2.His look was not impressive.
2- His look was impressive 3.His limbs were strong.
3- His limbs were not strong.
Q6.Why was Shahmal so upset with her cock’s crowing in the night?
Ans:-Shahmal was upset with her cock’s crowning in the night because
she was a superstitious lady and thought it a sign of ill omen.
Q7.Why did Shahmal ask Ghulam Khan to kill the cock? What was
his reaction?
Ans:- Shahmal asked her husband to kill the cock because it had crowed
at the fall of the night .Her husband did not pay any attention.
Q8.Why did Shahmal not go out the next morning? What were her
feelings for the cock now?(Tick the correct option)
a) joy
b) fear
c) excitement
d) aversion
Ans:-She did not go out the next morning because she feared that Jani
would taunt her.Her feelings for the cock were that of aversion.
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Q9.What was Jani’s reaction to Shahmal anger towards the cock?

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Ans:-Jani’s reaction was very sarcastic and ridiculous.

Q10.Why did Jani praise Shahmal’s cock’s voice? What was
Shahmal’s reaction to the praise?
Ans:-Jani praised Shahmal’s cock’s voice because she thought that her
own cock would be left alone if Shahmal killed the cock. Shahmal got
stunned and began to think that Jani was disgracing her.
Q11.Who was Samad?
Ans:- Samad was a neighbor of Shahmal and lived two or three houses
away. He was a slaughterer and killing the cocks of the neighborhood was
his specialty. Shahmal went to him to ask to kill her cock.
Q12.Why did Jani feel her cock was sure to win?
Ans:-Jani’s cock had strong limbs and his comb was smaller but thicker.
He had trounced all the other cocks of the neighbourhood. That is why,
she was sure about her cock’ s victory.
Q13.When Jani sais to Shahmal, ‘What chance does my weakling of

a cock stand against your four and a half rupee rooster? her tone was
a)apologetic
b)Submissive
c)sympathetic
d)sarcastic
Give reasons for your answer.
Ans:-Since Shahmal had earlier told Jani proudly that the cock’s price
was four and a half rupee, and taunted her by saying that the neighbours
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kept only those stinking and scavenger cocks. Jani had not forgotten these
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piercing words and she paid back in the same coin when she was sure that
her cock would win the fight .So her tone was sarcastic.
Q14.When and why did Jani lose interest in the cock-fight?
Ans:-When Jani saw her cock running away from the fight , she was
deeply shocked and she pretended to lose interest in the cock’s fight.
Q15:-What did Shahmal finally decide about her cock? Why?
Ans:- Shahmal finally decided that she would not kill her cock. She
decided so because her cock had defeated Jani’s cock in the fierce and
bloody fight.
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Lesson 15 (When Autumn Came)

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Faiz Ahmd Faiz Discussion

Comprehension
Q.1:- The autumn season is characterized by few things. What are
they?
Ans:- Ripening of fruits, harvesting, falling of leaves from the trees,

cooling of weather are the distinct features of the autumn season.
Q.2:- Does the poet talks about all those characteristics?
Ans:- The poet does not talk about all those characteristics. He only talks
about the falling of leaves from the trees.
Q.3:- What is the impact of autumn on the trees?
Ans:- The autumn snatches the trees from their leaves & makes them
naked.
Q.4:- What happens to the birds when autumn comes?
Ans:- Birds are exiled from their own nests & deprived of their singing
when autumn comes.
Q.5:- Why does the poet invoke the God of May?
Ans:- The poet invokes the God of may so that the naked trees & exiled
birds will bloom again with their pristine glory
Discussion 3
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Reference to the Context
1) It shook out____________moon of protest.

a) Who is ‘it’? Whose yellow hearts did it shake out?
Ans:- ‘It’ stands for the autumn season. It shook out yellow hearts of
the trees by making their leaves fall on the ground.
b) What happens to the leaves that are scattered on the ground?
Ans:- The leaves that are scattered on the ground get trampled by
people.
c) When will these withered trees bloom again?
Ans:- These withered trees will bloom again in the spring season.
1. Give some trees________ Let one bird sing.

a) What is the gift of green? Who will receive it?
Ans:- The gift of green refers to green leaves. The trees will receive it.
b) What is the poet asking for when he says let one bird sing?
Ans:- The poet is asking for the arrival of the spring so that the trees will
be restored with green leaves and the birds will resume their singing
c) What had happened to the birds in autumn?
Ans:- The birds had been exiled from their nests and singing.
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Lesson no 16 “ The Rule of the Road”

A.G. Gadiner
Q1.The writer describes the old woman in the middle of the road
being of ‘ no small peril to herself’. This means {Tick the correct
option}
o She was in a dangerous frame of mind.
o She was running the risk of being run over by the traffic
o She was about to run over people on the road.
Ans:-She was running the risk of being run over by the traffic.
Q2.The writer says “ Individual liberty leads to social anarchy’. Do
you agree/disagree ?Give reasons for your answer.
Ans:-Yes, I agree with the writer when he says that individual liberty lads
to social anarchy. If every individual does what he wants , other’s liberty
will be endangered. This will definitely lead to confusion, chaos and
disturbance, resulting in social anarchy.
Q3.Why should we not feel offended when stopped by a traffic
policeman?
Ans:-We should not feel offended because a traffic policeman is not a
symbol of tyranny but of liberty. He is there to make our liberty a reality
by allowing smooth movement of traffic on the road.
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Q4.What is the difference in the liberty one has in dressing to please

oneself and in playing the trombone at night?
Ans:-We enjoy individual liberty in dressing ourselves. We can dress
ourselves as we like without interfering with the liberties of others. But
our liberty to blow the trombone at night in the streets disturbs the liberty
of other people to enjoy a sound sleep.
Q5. ‘The truth is that I never read Blue –books for pleasure .I read
them for the very humble purpose of tuening an honest penny out of
them.’
a) What does the writer mean when he says he never reads ‘Blue-
books ‘ for pleasure?
Ans:-By this, he means that he does not read blue books to amuse himself
but he reads them seriously to earn an honest living out of them.
b) What is ‘blue book’? Why does he read them?
Ans:- A blue book is a book which contains official records. The writer
reads them for gathering information about his official work.
c) Explain ‘turning an honest penny out of them?
Ans:-This means that the writer wants to know his job well by collecting
information from blue books.
Q6. ‘As I wrestled with clauses and sections, his voice rose like a
gale.’
a) Who does ‘his’ refer to?
Ans:-“His” refers to the man who disturbed the writer in the railway
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carriage.
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b)What does this description imply?

Ans:-This implied that the man who talked loudly deprived the writer of
his freedom to read the blue book attentively.
c)What were the topics being discussed by the speaker?
Ans:-His family history , deeds of his sons in the war, and his criticism of
the generals and the politicians were the topics.
d)Were they interesting? What was their effect on the writer?
Ans:-No, the topics were not interesting. He was so much disturbed by the
topics that he could not concentrate on the blue book.
e)The writer has used another comparison to convey his feelings about
the speaker’s voice. Quote the line from the lesson .What is such a
comparison called?
Ans:-“It was like a barrel organ groaning out some uninteresting song of
long ago, is another comparison to convey his feelings about the speakers
voice. Such a comparison is called a simile.
Q7. ‘By what right ,my dear son ,do you go along our highway
uttering that hideous curse on all who impede your path?
a) Who is the writer discussing in the line?

b) What is the ‘hideous curse’ referred to in this line?
c) What is this king of behaviour called?
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d) Explain ‘impede your path’.

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Ans(a) The writer is discussing the traveler who spoke loudly in the rail
compartment to another man accompanying him.
Ans(b) It is the loud and pompous talking of the man in the rail
compartment about uninteresting topics.
Ans(c) It is ungentlemanly behaviour.
Ans(d)It means to block your speech.
Q8. ‘It is the little habits of commonplace intercourse that make up the
great sum of life and sweeten or make bitter the journey,’
a) What is the journey being referred to?
b) How can the journey be made sweet?
c) What makes the journey bitter?
d) Explain ‘commonplace intercourse.
Ans(a) The Journey being referred to here is the “journey of life.”
Ans(b)The Journey of life can be made sweet by being polite in our
behaviour and respect other’s feelings ,rights and liberties.
Ans(c) The Journey of life becomes bitter if we do not have enough
consideration for the interests, feelings and rights of others.
Ans(d) It means activities of people in their day to day life which make
up the great sun of life..
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Lesson 17 “ INKLINGS FROM THE DARK”

(Rahman Rahi)
Discussion 2
1. “I espied an eagle ………………………………into the
atmosphere”
(a)Where does the poet see the eagle ?
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Ans:-The poet sees the eagle in the wild shadows of his mind.
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(b)Why does the eagle have blood on its beak?

Ans:-The eagle has blood on its beak because it had killed a dove.
(c ) The blood of the dove has been described as “smoldering”. what
does the poet want to convey by this description?
Ans:-The poet wants to convey that bloodshed will remain continue if
warmongers do not change their attitude.
II. “Rubbing my eyes………………………..O, woe, to you, O woe!”
(a)Why does the poet rub his eye?
Ans:-The poet rubs his eye because he wants to understand the
situation clearly.
(b)How does the poet try to warm himself?
Ans:-By pulling the quilt up to his cold back ,the poet tries to warm
himself.
(c) Is he successful? Give reasons for your answer?
Ans:-No,he is not successful .When he tries to warm himself ,the Kangri
falls down and the cold ashes kiss his feet.
(d)Why does the owl hoot “Woe to you”?
Ans:-The owl hoots so as to convey the poet that he will never have
peace of mind because of his past violent and bloody acts.
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Lesson No 18 “BOX AND COX”

(John Madison Morton)
Comphresion:
Q1.Why does Cox want Mrs Bouncer to change his bolster?
Ans:-Cox wants Mrs Bouncer to change his bolster because he has
habit of using a protuberant bolster.
Q2.Why does Cox suspect is using his stuff? Quote evidence from
the play to support your answer.
Ans:-Cox suspects that Mrs. Bouncer is using his stuff. He says to her
that it is not the cat that is stealing his things but somebody else.
Q3.Why does Cox say ‘this gentleman’s smoke, instead of
emulating the example of all other sorts of smoke, and going up
the chimney ,thinks proper to affect a singularity by taking the
contrary direction?
Ans:-Cox suspects that because he knows that smoke from the attic
cannot come to his room and that Mrs .Bouncer’s explanation is
nakedly wrong.
Q4. How is Mrs Bouncer’s idea of renting out the same room of
two sets of lodgers ‘a capital idea’?
Ans:-It is a capital idea on her part because she was getting double rent
for a single room.
Q5.As soon as Cox leaves the room, Mrs Bouncer gets busy in the
room. What does she do and why?
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Ans:- As soon as Cox leaves the room ,Mrs. Bouncer removes Mr.
Cox’s things from the room so that Mr Box will not raise any sort of
suspicion.
Q6.Who is Box angry with as he enters? Why?

Ans:-Box is angry with the man(Cox) he encounters on the staircase.
He was extremely exhausted after finishing his night duty and wanted
to sleep. It is Mr. Cox’s wrong direction on the staircase that makes
him angry and irritable.
Q7.When Box returns to his room in the morning he is
a) cheerful
b) exhausted
c) energetic
Give reasons for your answer.
Ans:-When Mr Box returns to his room, he is exhausted and it is evident
from the fact that he decides to have a nap before taking breakfast.
Q8.Why does Box feel agitated when he starts cooking his breakfast?
Ans:- Mr. Box feels agitated when starts cooking his breakfast because
his things have been fiddled with and their usual position changed.
Q9.Why does Cox come home early? What has she got for breakfast?
Ans:-Cox comes home early because his employer has allowed him to
enjoy a holiday .He has got a mutton chop for his breakfast.
Q10.Though both Box and Cox start cooking breakfast, neither of
them gets anything to eat. Why?
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Ans:-Out of confusion both Cox and Box throw each others eating things
out of the window and for the same reason they have to remain hungry.
Reference to context:-
1. “Then I ‘ll lend you one………………..now that’s not my case,
Mrs Bouncer”
(a) Who speaks these words?
Ans:-Mr .Cox speaks these words.
(b)What is the ‘one’ that he wishes to lend Mrs. Bouncer?Why?
Ans:-He wishes to lend Mrs Bouncer a dictionary. He wishes so because
she does not know the meaning of the word ‘grumble’.
(c ) What does he mean by saying ‘ that is not my case’?
Ans:-He means to say that his complaint is genuine and he is not
complaining to her without a reason.
(d)What tone do you think does he adopt at this time?
Ans:-His tone is full of wit as well as sarcasm.
2. “I hope …………………….cheroots or Cubas”?
(a)What does Cox mean by the above words?

Ans:-Cox means by the above words that his room is full of tobacco
smoke.
(b)Why does he say them to Mrs Bouncer?
Ans:-Since Mrs Bouncer tells Cox that the smoke might come down the
chimney from the attic above.He became suspicious of her answer so he
80
asks indirectly whether she has not the habit of smoking.

Page
3 “He’s gone at last ! Really I was all in tremble for fear”.

(a)Who says these words?About whom?
Ans:- Mrs Bouncer says these words. She says these words about Cox.
(b)Why is the speaker afraid?
Ans:-The speaker is afraid because Mr. Box was about to come.
(c) Are her fears groundless or justified? Give a reason for your answer.
Ans:-Her fears are groundless. We think so because she has rented a
single room to two innocent persons.
4- “And by the by…………………………….quite so much”.
(a)Who is the speaker? Who is the person being referred to as ‘he’?
Ans:- Mrs Bouncer is the speaker here and Mr. Cox is being referred to
as “he”
(b)Why has ‘he ‘objected to Mr Box’s smoking?
Ans:-He has objected to his (Mr Box’s)smoking because he (Mr. Cox)
finds his room full of smoke.
( c) What advice does Box offer him?

Ans:-Mr Box tells Mrs Bouncer to tell Mr. Cox to shift to some other
place if he (Mr. Cox) does not like the smell of tobacco.
***********The End*************
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12th,English.. MB-TELECOM NOWGAM NO.

Lesson No 1. After Twenty Years (O, Henry.)

Q6.Why was bob arrested?

o he wanted Bob to run.

o he couldn’t reach the place in time.

other. Their friendship was too deep

Ans.(c)My own conscie

bothered about the duties of a responsible citizen. He became a criminal

(c)How did he recognize the man?

this way he recognized the man.

d) Why was the man there? Who had sent him?

2. “There was now a fine, cold drizzle falling ……………………

Context:- Same as above.

Explanation:-In the lines here under discussion, we come across the

Lesson (2) Forgetting: (Robert Lynd)

Q9.At time’s writers make a humorous statement to ridicule or

written by Robert Lynd. Here, the writer dwells upon an interesting

subject of forgetfulness or absent-mindedness of people. He opines that

so as they are absorbed in their imaginative world recalling their triumphs

Lesson 3 Once Upon a time: (Gabriel Okra)

d) Is the poet happy with the change in him?

Q1.What is the most fascinating thing in Leh?(Para 2)

Lesson 5. The Scarecrow

Q5.What attracted Mriganko Babu to the scarecrow?

Reference to the context:

2.Because I knew that one day ………what I learnt after death.

a)What did Abiram want to meet Mriganko Babu?

d)What did he accused of stealing?

Explanation with the Reference to the context

Q3.What hurts more physical punishment or harsh words? Why?

Q6.How different is the world today to the poet?

Ans:-She caused the poet pain by throwing harsh and penetrating

experience of her childhood in general and the picnic day in particular.

3. “The words are muffled now, the laughing

classmates have become now faint. She becomes disappointed while

Lesson -7 “The Sniper”

Q4.Paragraphs 5 to 11 have words to indicate how careful and

cautious the sniper was. Pick out those words.

Ans:-Continuously ,slowly ,peered over ,dropped immediately ,rolled

Q13.Who was sniper who was killed?

Chapter 8. The Letter A

Q6.Christy’s mother believed he was nor an idiot because (Tick the

Q9.Despite being surrounded by a loving family what were Christy’s

d. Why/what did this episode seem so upsetting?

Lesson No-9 “After Apple Picking”

c) What is the rumbling sound that the poet hears?

d) Why does the poet say he has had “too much”?What is he

(f) - Explain the phrase ‘Ladder round’ .

(3)- There were ten thousand ------- As of no worth.

Ans:-The poet is careful because whatever fall to the ground whether it

(b)- What is the poet trying to express by using the symbol of an

( c) – What does he really mean by using the imagery of apples seeing

2. “But I was well---------------

…………………………..What from my dreaming was about to

(PAPER.B)Lesson No 10 “The Celebrated Genius”

Q6.Raman was proud to be an Indian? How did this manifest in his

Q9. “I admit success in life is always to the intelligent or the strong

Q13. The main purpose of Raman’s address to the graduates was

Lesson No 11 “Love Across The Salt Desert”

Q4.How does the drought affect the following?

Ans:-Visit to Kala Doongar was important for the people of Khavda

Q8.When he heard about his son’s disappearance what was Aftab’s

the chief because (Tick the right answer)