Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Answers
a. parts of Europe
b. figureheads
c. sea
d. wind birds
e. crazy old lady
Answers
a. iii
b. iv
c. i
3. Short Questions
a. How can the author say that Miss Lupine Lady was not always little and old?
Just because people started knowing Miss Rumphius only when she was old, it
does not mean that she was always that age. Moreover, it is the process of
nature
that one is not born old. One is a child first and then grows to become a young
person and then mature with age. The author was also sure about Miss Lupine
Lady because she was her great-aunt.
d. When did Miss Rumphius decide that it was time to settle down?
Miss Rumphius travelled to a number of beautiful places in her lifetime. When
she was in the desert, she hurt her back while climbing down from a camel back.
She then realized that she had already travelled a lot and seen many places, and
had got old. After this contemplation she decided to settle down.
4. Reference to Context Questions
a. „I don‟t believe my eyes!‟ she cried when she got to the top.
b. Seeing her, some people called her „That Crazy Old Lady‟.
i. Why did some people call her ‘That Crazy Old Lady’?
People called her That Crazy Old Lady because despite her pain, she single
handedly planted lupine flowers all over the countryside and in the cities
without much help from anyone else. People failed to realize her dedicated
service to the society, the passion for which she had developed from her
childhood.
ii. What did the crazy old woman achieve?
Miss Rumphius was able to grow beautiful lupines all over the countryside and
in all possible places in the city, and the place looked splendid because of
this.
She was able to achieve a sense of satisfaction and meaning to her existence
when she fulfilled the promise given to her grandfather of making the world
more beautiful.
iii. Why do you think she was crazy? How important is it to be crazy to
achieve one’s aim?
Miss Rumphius was crazy because she was passionate about what she felt. It is
important to be crazy to go beyond the restrictions of one‟s thoughts. There
are
several examples of great men who out of their crazy passion achieved what
average people couldn‟t. Craziness in a way is a sign of passion and
stretching
oneself beyond one‟s limits, and even Miss Rumphius was able to attain her
dream only because of her obsession towards what she wanted, which many
people considered madness. Miss Rumphius didn‟t let any limitations, like her
health or what people said about her dissuade her. She didn‟t get weighed down
by any boundaries. She remained focused because of her commitment and she
exemplified the fact that one can excel only when there is lot of enthusiasm
for
one‟s passion.
c. „That is all very well, Alice,‟ her grandfather would say, „but there is a third
thing
you must do.‟
i. Why did Alice’s grandfather say, ‘That is all very well’?
When her grandfather told her stories of faraway lands, Alice would tell him
that one day she would visit them. Grandfather would then acknowledge this
and ask her to do one more thing.
ii. What are the two things Alice wanted to do?
The two things Alice wanted to do were to travel to beautiful faraway places
and live besides the sea.
iii. What is the third thing her grandfather wanted Alice to do?
Her grandfather used to tell stories of faraway beautiful places to Alice.
This
got her interested in seeing those places and living by the sea. However, her
grandfather wanted her to do something that would make the world more
beautiful to live in.
a. What do you think was the reason for Miss Rumphius to forget her back
pain?
When a person is engrossed in a work he or she loves to do, then all problems of
daily life fade away. One is totally focused only on one thing which they are
doing, other problems and tensions of life relegate to the back of the mind.
Same
thing happened with Miss Rumphius. She enjoyed her work of planting lupine
seeds and seeing them grow into full bloom so much that she even forgot about
her physical pain. Her joy and happiness overcame the pain and thus she stopped
thinking about it whenever she did her favourite work.
b. How did Miss Rumphius get the idea of sowing lupine flowers and not any
other flower or fruit plant?
One day while going over a hill, Miss Rumphius noticed a patch where the lupine
flowers were in full bloom. She was overjoyed with the thought of how they
could have survived without any care in the wild, without manure and water, in
contrast to the nourishment required by fruit or vegetable plants. She came to
the
conclusion that the seeds from her garden must have been carried away by wind
and birds helped in pollination too. This gave an idea to Miss Rumphius that if
she could scatter the seeds of this flower everywhere in the wild, in the
jungle, in
the alleys, the headlands, the city lanes, or wherever she could find open
space,
she would be able to fulfil her objective of making the world more beautiful.
This
resulted in growing of lupine flowers all over the places.
c. Do you think that what Miss Rumphius did actually made the world more
beautiful? Justify your answer.
Yes, I think what Miss Rumphius did made the world a little more beautiful. If
one travels to the countryside and sees no trees or plants, then the barren land
makes one depressed. Similarly, if lanes are empty and gardens are devoid of
vegetation or flowers, the place looks equally deserted. On the other hand, if
the
countryside is full of greenery and the fields are covered with different
coloured
wild flowers, the effect of nature is meditative, and it creates a very calming
and
soothing experience for any one. Miss Rumphius filled the desolate country side,
dark lanes and empty spaces with colour. Seeing such beauty people felt
exhilarated. Her efforts made people happy. There can be nothing more pleasing
than nature and Miss Rumphius through her relentless effort made nature look
even more beautiful. She created a reason for people to feel happier in the
midst
of the enchanting nature. Her efforts not only enhanced the beauty of the
countryside but also brought smiles on the people‟s faces and peace in their
hearts. So according to me, she did make the world beautiful and a better place
to
live in.
d. Why do you think Alice’s grandfather asked Alice to do something to make
the world beautiful?
Alice‟s grandfather was an old person who had seen and experienced life for a
very long time. It is mentioned in the story that he had come to America on a
large sailing ship. This means he must have come young and in search for a
living
and must have seen difficult times during his young life while travelling. The
fact
that he came in a large sailing ship shows that he came from far. The situation
reflects the hard times he may have faced. It could be that people‟s good deeds
left a lasting impression on him and helped him reflect upon the important
actions
of life. He must have also made a resolve to do a good deed, and after achieving
his dream of doing one meaningful thing in life, he must have felt the peace and
happiness of a selfless deed which he probably wanted his granddaughter to also
experience.
It is also quite possible that Alice‟s grandfather may have learnt the same from
his
parents and grandparents and wanted his granddaughter to follow the family
tradition. It may also be possible that he must have learnt the same from
someone
he knew and realized the importance of adopting it. He may have begun a
tradition of his own which he wanted his family to follow. He may have also seen
the same spark in his granddaughter which he wanted to ignite and hence, left
her
with the responsibility.
Grandparents often transfer their learning, belief, experiences and culture to
their
children and even in this story, Alice‟s grandfather did the same. He must have
believed that his granddaughter needed to do one thing valuable in this world
and
make this world a little more beautiful so that there is more happiness in this
world because of her. He must have wanted her to also contribute to the world we
live in and make it a better place.
Through his teaching, he taught her selflessness. He taught her to look beyond
self and give back to the world what she gets from it. He transferred his belief
through an action that he asked his granddaughter to accomplish. Instead of
teaching the true meaning of life through words, grandfather taught his
granddaughter to transfer her learning to reality. He taught her selfless
service that
gives happiness to others. He fortified her morally, culturally and spiritually
through the teaching he imparted to her. Her grandfather taught the very essence
of happiness to his granddaughter.
Poem: In the Bazaars of Hyderabad
2. General Questions
a. How do the list of things that the goldsmiths make relate to the
social and artistic living of the people of India?
By elaborating on the list of things that goldsmiths make, the poet is
largely reflecting on the richness and grandeur of India. The luxury has
been explicitly described as the goldsmiths sell wristlets and anklets and
rings, bells for the feet of blue pigeons, girdles of gold for the dancers
and scabbards of gold for the king. This makes us notice the grandeur of
the Indian people who wear jewellery of gold. The extent of luxury is
presented by the poet when bells are shown to be made for the feet of
pigeons. The bells are as frail as the wing of a dragonfly, which points
out the craftsmanship of the goldsmiths. Thus the list of things
mentioned represents the richness of the people and it also reflects on
their artistic richness.
c. Why do you think the poet has given importance to musicians and
magicians in the market place?
The poet has given importance to the musicians to create an auditory
imagery. Music adds to the flavour and rhythm of the place, and the
magicians add to the mystic charm and excitement of the market. The
poet through the musician and the magician is elucidating that the
marketplace in India is not only a place for buying and selling but it is
also a meeting place for people with diverse interests. People from
different backgrounds, with divergent interests gather there for different
purposes, and the gathering has a cultural and colourful rhythmic charm
of its own. Multifarious bustling activities of life like buying, selling,
craft, music and magic, all can be seen at one place - at the bustling
bazaar of Hyderabad.
Answers:
a. twenty
b. worker
c. chemical
d. Sweet syrup
e. army
d. What did the ant do when it got stuck in the hanging jar?
i. Waited for the jar to be kept down on the ground
ii. Jumped from the top of the jar to the ground
iii. Found the string and came down by it
Answers:
a. ii
b. iii
c. i
d. iii
3. Short Questions
b. What happened when the ant decided to move out from the jar?
The ant with its stomach full decided to move out of the jar but when
it tried, it realized that there was no shelf below the jar. It then
scurried here and there and found the string which was attached to
the jar to move out of it.
c. How can you say that Benjamin Franklin was sure that the ants
had communicated about the jar?
Benjamin Franklin was sure that the ant had communicated the
presence of the molasses to the other ants because that single ant was
the only one left in the jar when its position was shifted, yet the other
ants came there after some time.
a. She zigged and zagged the jar and eventually found the string.
b. Do you think the one ant left inside the jar was by mistake or
design?
Mr Franklin was curious to know how ants communicate. Then one
day he saw an army of ants on a table where an open jar of molasses
was kept. He got an idea that if he leaves one ant inside the jar and
changes its position and then sees if the ant which is trapped inside
the jar is able to go out and tell other ants the new location of the jar,
then he would know whether they are able to communicate. So, Mr
Franklin left one ant in the jar intentionally so that he could do his
experiment and discover the world of ants. He then hung the jar with
this ant inside with a string on the ceiling and waited to see what the
lonesome ant would do. He hypothesized that when this ant goes out
and if other ants again come back to the jar for the molasses, then it
would be proved that the ant which was stuck inside the jar after
moving out, must have somehow communicated the changed
location of the jar to the other ants.
d. What all qualities can we learn from ants and use it in our daily
life?
There are many things we can learn from the life of an ant and follow
in our life. First, ants are not discouraged or intimidated by the size
of their workload. Similarly, we should also not get scared by the
amount of work we have to do. Like the saying goes, If there is a will
there is a way. Second thing which we can learn from the ants is that
we should value team work. If we work as a team then we can
overcome any task no matter how big it is. Third thing which we can
emulate is that we should get organized in our working. If we work
haphazardly then we will lose our resources and time. We should be
organized. Fourthly, we are aware that ants save food for future so
that they don‟t have to go hungry when food is not available during
difficult times. Similarly, we should also plan and save our things for
future requirements. And lastly, ants never let it go. They never leave
any job half done. We should also in our daily lives finish the job
which we have started and not leave it half way. These are many
things we can learn from the ants.
Chapter 3: Suvira
Answers
a. awful
b. springs
c. Suvira
d. nervous
e. old
Answers
a. ii
b. iii
c. ii
d. iii
e. iii
3. Short Questions
a. How can you say that the narrator had realized the problems
of her father?
The narrator‟s father had to resign from his job and was looking
for a change in his career. She was fully aware that the family was
passing through difficult times, emotionally and financially. The
narrator wanted to do well in spite of all odds so that her family
could at least be relaxed about her. She knew that her parents had
got her admitted to an expensive school in Delhi, so she worked
hard to ensure that her parents need not worry about her.
One more example which can be seen in the story is when the
narrator wishes to own a new pair of shoes for running, but tells
herself that she could do without it so as not to put additional
burden on her parents, who had in any case sacrificed a lot for
her. Moreover she felt that her old pair of shoes had won her
many races in the past, and this time they would also help her in
winning.
b. Do you think by the end of the race the narrator was accepted
by the school?
Yes, by the end of the race, the narrator was accepted by the
school. Initially, when she was going to participate in the 800
meter race, no one was fully aware of her. She was just like one
another student taking part in the race, more so it was her second
day at school. When the race started, everyone was chanting in
favour of her main competitor, Suvira Mathur. But when she
jointly won the race, some of the students were curious to know
her name, and her competitor also welcomed her with open arms,
and congratulated her. This shows that neither the school nor the
school‟s favourite were hostile to her. They welcomed her as the
new emerging star of the track and field event.
d. What all would you have done apart from sports to gain
acceptance in your new school?
If I had to join a new school in midsession there are a number of
things I would do to win the acceptance of my teachers and
students. I would take part in debate competitions. I may or may
not win but I would certainly gain the attention of my teachers. I
would also take part in drama or plays. During the acting
sessions, I would showcase my talent to the entire school. This
would give me an opportunity to make friends from different
classes and sections, and the team members of the play would
become my friends any way. More importantly in my own class, I
would introduce myself and let everybody know of my interests
and hobbies. If there happens to be a class project or class
assembly I would volunteer to take some work or part in it. I
would also share my lunch box with friends as this is one of the
best ways to friendship. Apart from the variety of activities that I
would volunteer for, I would also keep a humble demeanor as
more than success, the behaviour of a student towards teachers
and peers make a lot of difference in creating the impression. I
would also crack a lot of jokes and help people with their studies.
I would remain quiet and modest and give regard to everyone. I
know that all of us like to be valued and respected and a student
who knows the value of respecting others is often loved and
respected themselves.
a. When does the poet reflect doubt about the tree’s aspirations?
Quote the line that shows the doubt. What is he doubtful
about and why?
The eighth line, But can he fly? reflects doubt. The tree wishes to
fly in the sky. He wishes to pierce the grey clouds and soar away
into the sky but the poet is doubtful about the aspirations of the
tree. He is doubtful whether the tree can fly. He is doubtful
because he knows that trees don‟t fly.
Answers
a. iii
b. iii
c. ii
d. i
e. i
3. Short Questions
e. What all items did Uncle Podger invariably lose in the morning
before going for work?
Uncle Podger would invariably lose one or the other things like his
umbrella or the bag or the newspaper or his hat. If he found one thing
then he would lose the other while looking for the first thing.
b. ……….. it was everybody else‟s fault in the house but his own.
b. How do you think Aunt Maria handled the situation every day?
Aunt Maria was a very patient lady. Every day she helped Uncle
Podger find his lost items. She would try to ask him to remember
where he had kept the lost item so that it could be found easily. Even
though Uncle Podger would fume and get angry and shout at all his
family members, she would tell her children to search for the lost
item. Inspite of Uncle‟s anger, she would never forget to make
children wish him good bye. Now that is a different story that the
intended effect was always the opposite of what was desired. Uncle
Podger would invariably get more confused and get late and lose one
or more item in the house.
c. Why did Uncle Podger say that he believed that the children
mixed up things on purpose?
Uncle Podger was a careless and forgetful man. He had a tendency to
forget where he had kept his things. When he would start getting late,
he would blame every one. To add to his problem, every day before
he left for his office all the children would stand in the hall to be
kissed by him. He would find some kids missing or they would stand
once again in the line after getting kissed and this would delay him
further. Since he had the habit of putting the blame on others and
never on himself, therefore he always got angry with the children for
mixing up things on purpose and delaying him to reach the railway
station.
a. This extract has been taken from the novel …………… written
by ………………… whose pen name was ………………………
b. Mrs Tulliver and Maggie were waiting for …………….. with
fluttering hearts.
c. ………………………. is an impulsive and intelligent girl who
dotes on her brother Tom.
Answers:
c. Maggie couldn‟t bear to see Tom so angry with her and asked for
his forgiveness because ………………………….
i. she was extremely scared of her elder brother.
ii. her brother had come home after a long time.
iii. her need of love triumphed over her pride.
Answers:
a. iv.
b. ii.
c. iii.
3. Short Answers
a. With whom did Maggie and Tom share a bond like they did
with each other and why?
Maggie and Tom were the children of Mr and Mrs Tulliver in the
novel, The Mill on the Floss. They lived on the bank of the river
Floss, which was close to the wood. Both of them shared a bond
with nature, which was as strong as their own bond. They were
very attached to each other as a brother and sister.
c. What had Tom got for Maggie and with what aim had he got
that particular thing?
Tom has bought two fish lines, one for himself and one for
Maggie. He intended to go out fishing with her the next day by
the Round Pool. In fact his aim was to do some fishing with his
little sister during the summer holidays.
4. Reference to Context
a. Maggie‟s heart begins to flutter with fear. She dare not tell Tom
the sad truth…
5. Long Questions
Poem: If
1. Reference to Context
i. What contrasting advice has the poet given to his son in the
stanza above? Elaborate what the poet means.
In the first two lines the poet asks his son to dream and have an
aspiration but immediately after that he reminds him to not let his
dream control his life. Similarly in the second line, the poet asks
his son to think before he acts and be contemplative but he also
cautions him to be prudent enough to not let his thoughts control
his life. In both these lines the poet reflects contrast no doubt but
at the same time he also harps on the importance of being
moderate in life. The poet in these two lines advises his son to
remain judicious and sensible and not allow extremism engulf his
life. He explains that it is very important to have dreams but it is
also equally important to not let one‟s aspirations become so big
that they start controlling one‟s lives.
ii. What does this stanza term as impostors?
According to the poet, triumph and disaster are impostors because
they are deceptive in nature as they give a sense of permanency to
the individual but in reality they are simply part and parcel of life
that comes and goes. Triumph can make the victor feel superior
and disaster can lead to depression and loss of self-trust and
confidence. However, both triumph and disaster are misleading as
they may seem to never end but in reality they do end, thus
neither successful times last forever nor do bad times become
permanent. The poet calls them impostors as they have a disguise
of permanence which makes a person feel buoyant or
discouraged.
If we look at it in another way, many times achievements seem to
be a triumph when it really isn‟t. If one has attained success
through the wrong ways then achievement is not success, rather it
is failure, and if one has put in all his efforts in the right way
and
has not fallen prey to immoral deeds, then the effort in itself is a
success. So, achievements which seem to be victorious may not
be a triumph, and disaster which seems to be a failure may
actually be the true triumph of inner strength and character.
iii. How should the two impostors be treated and why?
The two impostors should be treated in the same way because
nothing is permanent. One should not allow outside
circumstances and situations in life to define our behaviour,
whether in the time of success or failure. It is important for an
individual to build a strong virtuous character that does not sway
to circumstances.
b. Read the lines/ couplets given below and bring out the virtuous
character being talked about in each line.
Line 1: If you can keep your head when all about you
Line 2: Are losing theirs and blaming it on you: balance, emotional stability
and mental resilience
Line 3: If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
Line 4: But make allowance for their doubting too: self-trust and self
confidence
Line 5: If you can wait and not be tired by waiting: patience and
perseverance
Line 6: Or, being lied about, don‟t deal in lies: honesty/ truthfulness
Line 7: Or, being hated, don‟t give way to hating: love and respect for all
Line 8: And yet don‟t look too good, nor talk too wise: humility and
modesty
Line 9: If you can dream – and not make dreams your master: focused,
aspiring but moderate
Line 10: If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim: reflective and
reasonable
Line 11: If you can meet with triumph and disaster
Line 12: And treat those two impostors just the same: consistency in
behaviour and character
Line 13: If you can bear to hear the truth you‟ve spoken
Line 14: Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools: mental resilience and
self-faith
Line 15: Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
Line 16: And stoop and build ‟em up with worn-out tools: courage,
determination, physical and a never-to-give-up-attitude.
Line 17: If you can make one heap of all your winnings
Line 18: And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss: fearless, risk taking,
ability to achieve bigger goals by taking challenges
Line 19: And lose, and start again at your beginnings
Line 20: And never breathe a word about your loss: diligence, persistence
and humility
Line 21: If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew: inner strength
and never-to-give-up-attitude
Line 22: To serve your turn long after they are gone,
Line 23: And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Line 24: Except the will which says to them: „Hold on!‟: fortitude,
persistence and mental resilience
Line 25: If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue: social and
virtuous
Line 26: Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch: be able to
communicate with anyone regardless of their status and compassion
Line 27: If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
Line 28: If all men count with you, but none too much: self-dependent and
self-reliant
Line 29: If you can fill the unforgiving minute
Line 30: With sixty seconds‟ worth of distance run: value of time and
unrelenting effort
Line 31: Yours is the Earth and everything that‟s in it: true success and
happiness
Line 32: And – which is more – you‟ll be a Man, my son: perfect manhood
Chapter 6: Achilles
Answers:
2. Short Answers
3. Reference to Context
a. He had a fox–like face…………
i. Whose face was fox like?
The Rose- Beetle Man had a fox like face with large eyes.
ii. How was he dressed?
The Rose-Beetle Man wore a fantastic dress. On his head was
a hat with a wide floppy brim. His shirt was worn, and round
his neck dangled a cravat of startling blue satin. The pockets of
his coat bulged, the contents almost spilling out. His patched
trousers drooped over a pair of leather shoes with upturned
toes.
iii. What was he carrying?
The Rose-Beetle Man was carrying bamboo cages, full of
pigeons and young chickens and several mysterious sacks on
his back.
iv. How and why did he get his name?
He got his name from the almond sized rose-beetles tied to
lengths of cotton threads, which he held in his hand.
b. Roger always had his fair share of the fruit but seemed to
think……………..
i. Who was Roger and what did he seem to think?
Roger was narrator‟s pet dog. He seemed to think that it
was a waste to give all the delicacies to a tortoise.
ii. What did Roger do with the reptile and why?
Roger would lick Achilles vigorously to get the grape
juice that had dribbled down his mouth.
iii. How did the reptile react?
Achilles reacted by retreating into his shell with an
indignant wheeze and refused to come out until Roger
had been removed from the place.
Answers:
a. Buddhists
b. bus, car, Mount Everest
c. Edmund Hillary
2. Short Questions
Poem: Against Idleness and Mischief and How Doth the Little Crocodile
Answers:
a. autobiographical
b. refugee, Orissa
2. Short Questions
a. What was the name of the place where Subroto Bagchi’s father
was posted? What kind of a place was it?
The narrator‟s father was posted in Koraput, Orissa. He had been
posted there as the District Employment Officer. Koraput was an
underdeveloped place like a small village without electricity, no
primary school nearby, and no water flowed out of a tap. The place
seemed to be without the basic necessities many of us take for
granted nowadays.
b. How did the mother cook and what was the daily routine that the
family followed in Go Kiss the World, and with what aim?
The mother always cooked on a chulha for the family – an earthen
fireplace that she would build at every new place of posting of her
husband. The family would sit huddled around her. The morning
routine started with tea. As the brew was served, the narrator‟s father
would ask all the children to read the editorial page of The
Statesman‟s muffosil edition - delivered one day late. The ritual was
followed daily even though the children did not understand what they
read. Basically it was meant to let them know that the world was
larger than Koraput, and also to improve their English as they were
studying in Oriya medium.
c. What did the children look for in the advertisements and what
did their father say to that? Did he comply with their wishes and
why?
The children were quite enamoured by the advertisements in the
newspapers. They looked at advertisements of transistor radios of
Philips, Murphy or Bush as they did not have one. They would ask
their father to buy one but he would always say that he did not need
one as he already had five radios referring to his five sons. His reply
did not gladden them but the father wanted to teach them a lesson
that it was not important to measure one‟s personal success and the
sense of well-being through material possessions.
d. What did the narrator of Go Kiss the World see for the first time
in Bhubaneshwar?
When the narrator‟s eldest brother got a job as teacher in
Bhubaneshwar, his mother moved in to take care of him. The
narrator had to move in too and that was the first time in life he saw
electricity in homes and water flowing out of a tap.
2. Short Questions
b. How did Binya know that her cows had not gone far? What does
this reveal about her?
Binya knew that the cows hadn‟t gone far because she could hear the
cow-bells tinkling. This shows that she helped at home in taking the
cows out for grazing. It also reveals that she was a responsible girl
and alert in every situation.
c. Why did the woman exchange her blue umbrella with the
leopard’s claw?
The woman exchanged her blue umbrella with the leopard‟s claw
because she liked it a lot as it was unique and different for her.
Moreover, when she was told that the leopard‟s claw was not
available in the markets, she impulsively gave her umbrella to Binya
to get the pendant from her.
I. Where did the teacher want to go to? Apart from the statement given
above, identify lines from the poem that indicate where the teacher
wanted to go to.
The teacher wanted to sail across a warm blue sea to different places he had
talked about in his class. The description of the sea shows that the teacher
wanted to go to tropical islands where the weather is warm. The teacher
wanted to go to places that he often taught in his geography lesson, and
while he taught them, he also visualized them in his mind. He wanted to go
to the lands where the green leaves of the orange trees burned and where it
was never drab or cold. This description also reflects that the teacher
longed to visit the warm tropical islands.
II. What do you think must have created this desire - the desire to leave
and sail across a warm blue sea?
The teacher was passionate about his subject and understood it well.
Geography is a subject that can be visualized and experienced. His mastery
of the subject must have surely created a desire to not let his knowledge
remain restricted to the books but instead he developed the need to get
involved with it. It is said that a picture is more important than a thousand
words. The teacher must have surely wanted to see the picture that he often
saw in his own mind only through the words that he spoke or read. The
repeated instructions and its visualization in the class must have created
this
desire - the desire to leave and sail across a warm blue sea.
III. What do you think is the irony in the poem and the lines above?
The irony in the poem and the lines above is that a very proficient teacher
of geography had modest desires to visit the warm lands and the warm
transparent blue sea. Through his words, the teacher transferred his
students
into the world he was teaching about, but in reality, the teacher never
visited any of the places he longed to visit. The irony is that the
teacher‟s
desires were very different from his actual reality. While he dreamt of
places that were enchanting and warm, he lived in a place which was cold
and grey. The house that he lived in was narrow and grey but in his
imagination he visualized sweet- scented jasmine clinging to the walls of a
house. He wished to visit places where green leaves burned on orange trees
but he himself lived in a cold and drab place. The irony continued till the
teacher died with unfulfilled desires while his student travelled to the
places
he had talked about in his classes.
A. What does the poet mean by saying that the maps were redrawn
on the classroom wall? What is the poet implying by the two lines
above?
The poet‟s teacher got ill and died in midterm. The death of such an
admirable teacher did not affect the regular day to day life. The
school appointed another geography teacher and their geography
classes continued with the new teacher. By these two lines, the poet
is showing how life moves on. No matter how dear a person may be,
no matter how important a person may be, life doesn‟t cease for
anyone.
B. The poet in the second line above says that the teacher’s name
was forgotten and with time his name faded away. Do you think
his name actually faded away? Give reasons for your answer.
No, neither did the poet‟s name fade away, nor did his lessons. They
became immortal in the memory of his students. His name may have
got lost from the daily life of the school, but it got imprinted in the
mind of the poet as a sweet memory that still exists with him. His
lessons were so inspiring that he taught the poet to love the places
that they studied as much as he loved the places himself. His lessons
had the poet develop the same appreciation for the beauty of the
world.
C. What lesson did the teacher teach the poet?
The teacher taught the poet to explore the world and experience its
beauty. He made him enjoy the meditative beauty of nature across
the lands and the sea. He broadened the poet‟s horizon beyond
books.
b) Imagine you are the poet who has gone to the land your
teacher wanted to visit. Write a letter to your classmate
describing the beauty of the place that your geography
teacher had often talked about in Sefton Park School.
61Happy Lane
Smithdown Road
Liverpool
Merseyside-L3OBS,UK
England
United Kingdom
October 5, 2015
Dear Johnson
How are you? We are all fine here and life is giving me more
than I ever wanted.
Do you remember our geography teacher in class 7 at Sefton?
Remember, how he often talked about the tropical islands and
his yearning to travel to the warm seas where the green leaves
burned on orange trees. I never forgot any lesson taught by the
teacher. Recently I went to one such island and after
experiencing its beauty, I know why our teacher longed to be
here.
Last week I experienced the greatest joy of my life - I went
exploring a tropical island in Philippines, and I can never
forget the holiday, especially one unforgettable day. It was six
in the morning and the sun was still cool. The sun rays made
the warm ocean glitter. On one side was the panoramic
horizon that connected the sky to the sea, while on the other
was a line of palm trees at the edge of the land. The sun, the
sea, the sky, the beach and the trees unified in contrasting
colours of yellow, transparent blue, sky blue, white, golden
and green, made nature look like a palette of an artist. As I
moved from the beach into the inland, the trees huddled into
exuberant verdure which led me to a beautiful waterfall where
the water broke into misty showers of soft silk, and flowed
into a narrow stream. The tender ripple of leaping water of the
stream then collected into a radiant blue-green pond ahead.
What was more astonishing were the burning green leaves that
our teacher often talked about. October as you know is the
beginning of fall season and the green leaves were changing
into red, yellow and orange as if they were burning in the
warmth of the cool breeze of autumn. And as visualized by our
teacher, many green trees seemed orange. Though I saw the
shades of yellow, red and orange, yet the predominant colour
was green. I could hear the sweet sound of chirping birds
hidden somewhere in the leaves. I stayed there mesmerized by
the bright contrast and thinking of the irony of our teacher‟s
life. I don‟t know how long I stayed there but memories of our
teacher and our school days kept revisiting me.
After a long stroll, I walked back to a pathway of green grass
where I witnessed the colours of radiance of butterflies that sat
on blooming white wild flowers that peeped through the
shades of green grass, bushes and canopies of trees.
I would say my experience was meditative, and the spiritual
nurturing happened due to the sensuous treat provided by our
teacher and his geography lesson. Had he not been there, I
would not have known of these places or even if I would have
known these places, I would have probably ignored them. But
today I am enjoying the devout gleam of nature because of his
learning. Though satisfied from inside, I still feel sad for our
teacher who could only know these places through books and
maps.
How I wish, he was there to fulfil his humble want. How I
wish he had seen what I saw today.
Yours lovingly
Brian
Answers
a. Margot
b. two
c. Vaan Daans
d. bookshelf
e. Jews
2) Short Questions
b. What all items of Anne did her father bring to the hiding
before they shifted totally?
Anne‟s father had known that they will be going into hiding
for a long time and it will be difficult to bring all the items at
one go. So he had brought Anne‟s few items like her entire
postcard collection and film star collection beforehand.
b. Do you think Anne had accepted the way of life when she was in
hiding? Give instances from the story to support your answer.
Anne had accepted the fact that she had to stay in hiding for some time, at
least till the war ended. She was of the opinion that if one had to live in a
challenging situation, then it would do no good cribbing about it; instead she
believed that one should make good use of whatever resources one had at
their disposal. In the story, she says that, “I don‟t think I‟ll ever feel at
home
in this house, but that doesn‟t mean I hate it.” She also says that, “It is more
like being on holiday in some strange pension (meaning a small house or
hotel).” She made her room livelier by posting her entire collection of cards
and film star posters. She also got a lamp mounted above her bed so that she
could light it up in case she felt scared. Thus we understand that Anne and
her family had accepted their new way of life.
Answers:
a) cricket
b) sports goods
c) car
d) tennis
Answers:
a) ii.
b) ii.
c) iii.
d) ii.
e) i.
3. Short Questions
a. Which time period do you think the story, The MCC has
been set in? Support your answer with instances from the
story.
There are many instances in the story which suggest that the
story has been set before India gained independence from the
British rule. One of the instances is a mention of J.B. Hobbs
by one of the three friends. J.B. Hobbs was an English
cricketer who was born in 1882 and died in 1963, and must
have played cricket at the age of twenty to thirty years. That
means around 1900 to 1910. Generally small boys idolize
those players whom they see playing. There is another mention
of an English fast bowler, Mr Tate, who lived from 1895 to
1956, he must have also played cricket during the years 1920
to 1930s, which suggests that the setting of the story is in pre-
independence era. Another evidence for the above hypothesis
is that the currency is being referred to as annas. This currency
was used before independence. Finally the most clinching
evidence which confirms that the story was set before
independence is that the post office is being referred to as His
Majesty‟s Post Office. His Majesty was referred only when
British were ruling India.
c. Why did the thought that the firm Messrs Binns was trying
to make fun of them come to the mind of the three friends?
Rajam and his friends had written a letter to the firm Messrs
Binns which supplied cricket playing equipment. However,
when they received a reply, there were certain words of
English language which they were unable to comprehend like
obliged, remit and 25 percent. They pondered over them and
discussed that as they had not mentioned these words
anywhere in their letter then why did the firm reply in such a
manner, which was beyond their understanding and had no
relation with their letter. Since the three friends could not see
their inability to understand the letter, they thought that the
firm was making fun of them. Ultimately they decided that
such a big and reputed firm could not make fun of them hence,
that letter must have been delivered to them by mistake.
I. What, according to the poet, is the horse thinking and why? What tone
does the word queer create?
According to the poet, the horse must be wondering as to why his master has
chosen to stop in a strange place where there is no sign of civilization.
The
horse must be thinking that they have stopped at the wrong spot between the
woods and the frozen lake, as for him the right spot would be a barn or a
place where there is shelter for rest. The weather was also unsuitable for
leisure like this.
II. How is the horse’s idea different from the speaker’s? What do the two
contrasting ideas reflect?
The horse seems to be impatient to continue the journey because of which he
also harnesses his bells to show his discomfort and warn the speaker. The
horse signifies the importance of security, safety, comfort and shelter.
Symbolically, the horse represents the disciplined yet constrained part of a
society. It also acts as a mediator to remind the speaker of his
responsibilities
and to prevent him from indulging into personal pleasures of nature for the
sake of self. On the other hand, contrary to the wishes of the horse, the
speaker signifies the importance of pausing and reflecting upon life and
nature in a busy world of duties. He understands the importance of
contemplation and the desire to be one with nature.
III. What does the speaker mean by the darkest evening of the year?
By the darkest evening of the year, the speaker is indicating the time and
date of the journey, probably December 22. This line also suggests how
lonely the woods would be on a cold wintry night in England.
a. What is Rialto?
i. An area in Belmont known for its markets.
ii. An area in Venice known for its markets.
iii. An area in England known for its markets.
Answers:
a) ii.
b) i.
c) i.
2. Short Questions
Bassanio wanted monetary help from Antonio because he had been living very
extravagantly and had nearly used up all the wealth that his father had left him by
spending lavishly on good clothes and other luxuries. Also, Bassanio had fallen in
love with a beautiful rich woman named Portia. He wanted to win her hand and
thought he could do so by giving her rich gifts. For that he needed money, so he
wanted his friend Antonio to lend him some in order to win over his love.
Antonio did not have any money at that time and was waiting for his ships to
bring in their cargo. Since Bassanio needed money, he decided to borrow from
Shylock, a professional moneylender. He borrowed three thousand ducats from
the moneylender and signed a bond to pay back the money and even pay a
penalty, if he was not able to refund within the stipulated period.
Class 7 (Answers)
C. Grammar
1. Underline the ones that do not belong to the group.
a. abstract nouns – kindness, mother, honesty, justice, youth
b. concrete nouns – rice, chair, childhood, court, bank
c. collective nouns – constellation, crowd, herd, school, person
d. uncountable nouns – vehicle, sugar, water, coffee, hair
2. Fill in the blanks with suitable articles. Insert a cross (×) where not
necessary.
a, the, The, the, ×, the, a, a
D. Coursebook comprehension
1. Complete the following statements.
a. Alice wanted to visit faraway places because she often sat on her
grandfather’s knees to listen to his stories of distant locations.
b. Grandfather had asked Alice to do something that would make the
world more beautiful.
c. Miss Rumphius was almost perfectly happy because she had done all
the things she wanted to do except one.
A. Unseen comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. i.
b. iii.
c. i.
d. iv.
e. ii.
6 August 2015
Dear Kavita
It’s been a long time since I have heard from you. I hope everything is fine
at home and school.
I wanted to share something with you. Yesterday I went to the city zoo to
have a look at the wild animals whom I had seen only in television and
books. Before entering I had been full of excitement which faded away soon
when I saw a beautiful peacock inside a cage. Having no room to spread her
wings, it could barely move. As the road went ahead, I saw some spotted
deer, almost lifeless. I expected them to jump around but was shocked to see
their condition. The worst thing was, perhaps, to see the king of jungle
behind bars. He has been forced to leave his kingdom, the jungle, and live a
prisoner’s life. The monkeys are supposed to jump from a tree to another.
Here they were made to jump from a bar to another in their little cage. Even
I felt bad for the slimiest snakes which were put into glass boxes.
It was very sad to realize how we, humans have snatched away the freedom
of these creatures for our holiday’s sake. We have disturbed their lives and
Yours affectionately
Roshel
C. Grammar
1. State whether the underlined words are Gerunds or Participles.
a. Participle
b. Gerund
c. Participle
d. Gerund
D. Coursebook comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. iv.
b. ii.
c. iv.
Unit 3: Suvira
A. Unseen comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. iii.
b. iii.
c. i.
d. ii.
C. Grammar
1. Complete the following table using the correct forms of tenses.
Tenses and Positive Negative Question
time
Simple present Robbie eats an Robbie does not Does Robbie eat
egg every day. eat an egg every an egg every
day. day?
Present perfect She has studied She has not Has she studied
hard this time. studied hard this hard this time?
time.
Simple past She gave this to She did not give Did she give
you. this to you. this to you?
Future She will meet She will not Will she meet
(simple) us tomorrow. meet us us tomorrow?
tomorrow.
2. Use the verbs given to frame sentences in the future perfect tense.
a. finish - I will have finished my work by next week.
b. save - By this time next year, I will have saved enough money to go
for a trip abroad.
c. cook - My mom will have cooked dinner by then.
d. graduate - They will have graduated from college by next month.
D. Coursebook comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. iv.
b. i.
c. iii.
d. ii.
A. Unseen comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. ii.
b. iii.
c. ii.
d. ii.
A. Unseen comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. ii.
b. iii.
c. i.
C. Grammar
1. Fill in the blank with each other, one another or each other’s.
a. each other
b. each other’s
c. each other’s
d. one another
e. each other’s
f. each other
g. one another
h. one another
Unit 6: Achilles
A. Unseen comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. ii.
b. iii.
c. iii.
d. i.
C. Grammar
1. Fill in the blanks with suitable interrogative adverbs.
a. Where
b. Why
c. What
d. How
D. Coursebook comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. ii.
b. iii.
c. ii.
d. iii.
A. Unseen comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. iii.
b. i.
c. iii.
d. ii.
D. Coursebook comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. iii.
b. ii.
c. iii.
d. i.
A. Unseen comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. iii.
b. ii.
c. iii.
d. i.
C. Grammar
1. Combine the two sentences as directed. You can modify them.
a. The meal was delicious but expensive.
b. Though I went to talk to him, I didn’t speak a word.
c. Although I am tall, I don’t play basketball.
d. My sister is fair whereas I am dark.
e. I practised every day, nevertheless, I couldn’t play well.
2. Fill in the blanks with suitable conjunctions from the box that
express opposition.
a. rather than
b. Despite the fact
D. Coursebook comprehesnsion
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. ii.
C. Grammar
1. Complete the table by changing direct speeches into indirect and vice
versa. Also mention the tense forms used in different speeches. One is
done for you.
A. Unseen comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. ii.
b. ii.
c. i.
d. iii.
C. Grammar
1. Complete the table by changing the voice and writing the tense form
in the blanks.
Tense Active voice Passive voice
Past perfect She had repaired the The toy had been
toy. repaired by her.
D. Coursebook comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. iii.
b. i.
c. iii.
d. ii.
e. ii.
f. iii.
b. The activities of all the members were very regulated and carried out
in secrecy. They used to cook their food and the required items were
brought by their helpers. They used to lie low during the day without
making much noise. The windows were covered with black cloth
which they had sewn so that people wouldn’t be able to see them
during the day and light wouldn’t go outside at night. They used to
read books and listen to the radio for news. They also did a bit of
work to improve their living conditions like making a bookshelf or
pasting the wall with cards to make it look cheerful. This is how they
passed their time in the hiding place.
A. Unseen comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. iii.
b. ii.
c. ii.
2. State whether the following sentences are True or False. Give reasons
for your answer.
a. False - Only one out of the two men was resilient and kept asking for
different things.
b. True - God had answered his prayers by fulfilling all the wishes of his
friend.
3. Answer in detail.
The first friend was selfish and self-centered. He demanded all the things
from God for himself and never thought of his friend. Even when he was
leaving the island he was leaving his friend behind. He said to God that
as only his prayers were answered and not his friend’s, so he should get
the benefit. This shows he had very less compassion for others.
Mr A. Rajan
The Sales Manager,
P.K. Pulishers
Gurgaon
Dear Sir
I am writing this letter to place an order for few books for our school library.
We got your recommendation from the Principal of LPM School, Delhi.
Please find attached a list of books we would like to order. I request you to
send the total price of the order to the undersigned.
We would also like a catalogue for standard one to twelve so that bulk
orders could be placed. It would be best if you could deliver the lot by 12
October 2016. The payment would be made through a cheque after we
receive the books. No money in advance will be given. If the transaction
happens smoothly, we would like to continue our relationship on a long-term
basis.
Looking forward to hear from you.
Yours faithfully
Sulekha Chandra
(Librarian)
C. Grammar
1. State whether the words in bold are Phrases or Clauses.
a. phrase
b. clause
c. phrase
d. clause
D. Coursebook comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. iii.
b. ii.
c. i.
d. ii.
A. Unseen comprehension
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. i.
b. ii.
c. i.
d. i.
C. Grammar
1. Identify the type of the sentences.
a. Declarative negative sentence
b. Interrogative sentence
c. Rhetorical question
d. Exclamatory sentence
e. Imperative sentence
f. Declarative affirmative sentence
Class 7
Maximum Marks: 40
B. Writing 8 marks
Write a biographical sketch of your favourite singer/sports person or a
character from a book. Keep the following details in your mind.
• Date and place of birth of the person
• Family details
• Educational background
• Personal characteristics and achievements
• Anecdotes about the person
• Significant events
• Year of death if relevant
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C. Grammar 12 marks
1. Underline the ones that do not belong to the group. (4)
a. abstract nouns – kindness, mother, honesty, justice, youth
b. concrete nouns – rice, chair, childhood, court, bank
c. collective nouns – constellation, crowd, herd, school, person
d. uncountable nouns – vehicle, sugar, water, coffee, hair
2. Fill in the blanks with suitable articles. Insert a cross (×) where not
necessary.
(8)
Years ago in Scotland, the Clark family had ...................... dream.
Both
husband and wife worked and saved, making plans for their nine children
and themselves to travel to .......................... United States. It had
taken
years, but they had finally saved enough money, and had gotten passports
and reservations for the whole family on a new liner.
The entire household was filled with anticipation and excitement about
their new journey. However, seven days before their departure, the
youngest son was bitten by a dog. ..............................doctor sewed
up
.......................... boy but hung a yellow sheet on the Clarks' front
door.
Class 7
Maximum Marks: 40
In a beautiful field of flowers there was a hive of one thousand bees. When
spring was almost over, the old Queen of the swarm realized that her
descendent, the young Queen bee was ready to accept responsibility for the
hive. So now was the moment to handover the authority to the successor.
After teaching the traditions and social behaviour of the group, the old bee
left the hive. Then the young Queen asked some of the workers to
accompany her to find a new home for the swarm.
There was a little bee called Nala who saw it as an opportunity of
adventures. She knew that the group was leaving to build a new hive far
from there. Nala, like the others, had received the necessary instructions on
how to respect the Queen. One of the rules attracted her attention; it was
about a big colourful flower with lots of pollen where it was forbidden to
land. She asked the older bees why it was prohibited only to get different
answers. Some said it was a tradition. Some were of the opinion that once a
bee had died after touching the flower, etc. Next morning they started their
journey. After flying a long way the swarm landed on a beautiful field of
c. Nala was
i. a little bee.
ii. an old bee.
iii. the Queen bee.
iv. a large bee.
B. Writing 8 marks
You went to a zoo and were shocked to see the conditions of animals
behind cages. Write a letter to your friend explaining your concerns.
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2. Choose suitable gerunds from the box to fill in the blanks. (4)
Writing Smoking Shouting Drawing
Class 7
Unit 3: Suvira
Maximum Marks: 40
Saina Nehwal
Saina Nehwal, an Indian badminton player, was born on 17 March 1990 in
Hisar district, Haryana. She got her athlete genes from her parents, Dr Harvir
Singh and Usha Rani. Both of them were former state badminton champions.
Saina’s father encouraged her to play. Saina started her sports career at a
tender age of 8 under the careful eyes of her coach Nani Prasad. She adopted
a tough training schedule from the beginning. She was trained further under
S.M. Arif, a Dronacharya Award winning badminton coach. After that she
joined Pullela Gopichand’s Academy of Badminton and there she developed
her game under the supervision of Gopichand himself. Presently she is
B. Writing 8 marks
Write a passage on who or what inspires you the most.
………………………………………………………………………………
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C. Grammar 12 marks
1. Complete the following table using the correct forms of tenses. (8)
Tenses and Positive Negative Question
time
Simple present Robbie eats an Robbie does not
egg every day. eat an egg every
day.
c. “But today I promised myself that I would fly.” What does fly here
refer to?
i. Pass with flying colours in her exam
ii. Jump over hurdles easily
iii. Run the race like she was flying
iv. None
Class 7
Maximum Marks: 40
b. When everything was fine, the family kept grumbling because they
i. lived on Complaining Street.
ii. had been grumbling all their lives.
iii. had nothing to grumble about.
C. Grammar
12 marks
1. Provide a verb in agreement with its subject in the following
sentences.
a. No one ................................. with me.
b. My brother and I ................................................ going to
the market.
c. She ................................................ a very cute pup.
d. Everyone ................................. invited to the party.
e. They ................................................... to the orphanage
every Sunday.
f. Nothing ....................................... certain yet.
g. Everyone in this class ............................................. very
politely.
D. Coursebook comprehension
10 marks
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. Who used to cheer the people who got late?
i. The running crowd themselves
ii. People who had nothing else to do
iii. The children at home
iv. None
Class 7
Maximum Marks: 40
A small girl, black bangs thick across her forehead, is bending over her little
brother. The baby boy is trying to learn how to make things from clay, and
she patiently models it for him again and again, slowly and carefully.
“Here is the church, and here is the steeple. Come on, put your fingers
together. Like this.” Each time he tries to imitate her motion, and stops short.
The elder sister encourages him cheerfully, “Try it again, Ben. One more time.
You can do it!” Finally it seems that he has not been able to make the steeple
appear at the same time as the church. His tongue lolls out in concentration
and she hates the way he looks. She uses her finger to push his tongue gently
back into his mouth, but it comes out again within seconds. He sits there, being
b. The boy is not able to make the steeple of the church because he
i. is very naughty and wants to tease the girl.
ii. lacks concentration and focus to do the work.
iii. lacks control over his hand muscles.
B. Writing
8 marks
Write a debate on Schools should allow laptops in classrooms.
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D. Coursebook comprehension 10
marks
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. How much did the rabbits cost Tom?
i. Two crowns
ii. Half crown per rabbit
iii. Two and a half crown in total
iv. None
Class 7
Unit 6: Achilles
Maximum Marks: 40
B. Writing 8 marks
Write a review of a movie that you have recently seen in 200-250 words.
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C. Grammar 12 marks
1. Fill in the blanks with suitable interrogative adverbs.
(4)
a. .................................... is the glass kept?
b. ...................................... did she not talk to me?
c. ............................ is the capacity of the water tank?
d. .............................. costly is this table?
Class 7
Maximum Marks: 40
Antarctica
Long before anyone ever set eyes on Antarctica, many were sure it was
there. At first belief in a Terra Australis Incognita or Unknown Southern
Land took hold among the ancient Greeks. Great believers in symmetry, the
Greeks were convinced that the great land mass in the Northern Hemisphere
would have to be balanced by an equally huge field in the Southern
Hemisphere. Confirmation of the southern continent was long in coming;
Terra Australis remained unknown for centuries. Captain Cook set out on a
massive search for it in 1772 which continued for three years. After being
driven back north repeatedly by pack ice, Cook concluded that if there was a
Southern Continent, it wasn’t worth getting to. However Cook unwittingly
sowed the seeds of future exploration by his detailed reports of ample seal
c. What spurred the race among people to explore the Antarctica in late
1800s?
i. Dwindling population of seal and whale in the Northern
Hemisphere
ii. Exploring of minerals
iii. Etching the name of being first to reach the South Pole
B. Writing 8 marks
Imagine you went for an adventure sport that you really enjoyed. Write
a detailed experience about it. Describe the place, the sport and your
emotions to create an interesting anecdote.
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C. Grammar 12 marks
1. Fill in the blanks with the combination of adjectives and prepositions
given in the box. (7)
anxious about committed to addicted to concerned about
Class 7
Maximum Marks: 40
An Act of Kindness
One day a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way
through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He
decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his
nerve when a beautiful young woman opened the door. Instead of food he
asked for a glass of water.
Realizing the child’s condition, the lady brought him a large glass of milk.
He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?”
“You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never to
accept pay for a kindness.”
He said, “Then I thank you from my heart.” As Howard Kelly left that
house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in himself and others
became more intense. He was ready to give up and quit.
Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were
baffled. They finally sent her to the big city where they called in specialists
b. Why did the lady say to the boy that he owed her nothing for the
milk?
i. She took pity on his poor condition.
ii. She did not want to charge him for the kindness shown by her,
as taught by her mother.
iii. She didn’t know the exact amount to be charged.
B. Writing 8 marks
Write a composition on All That Glitters Is Not Gold.
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2. Fill in the blanks with suitable conjunctions from the box that
express opposition. (2)
in spite of rather than despite the fact
Class 7
Maximum Marks: 40
Generations Teach Us
Once upon a time there was a frail old man with whom lived his son,
daughter-in-law and four-year-old grandson. Age was taking a toll on all his
senses. His hands kept trembling. His vision was almost lost, and he was not
able to walk properly. All the family members ate together at the table. But
the old man couldn’t hold control of things. Peas rolled off his spoon onto
the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. “We must do
something about father,” said the son. “I’ve had enough of all these.” So the
husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There the aged man had his
meals alone. He was no more allowed to have suppers with the rest of the
b. The old man was served his food in a wooden dish because he used to
i. dirty the plates and the table.
ii. make lot of noise while eating in plates of glass.
iii. do both the above.
B. Writing 8 marks
Write a vivid description of your dear one’s house and your emotions
related to it.
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C. Grammar 12 marks
1. Complete the table by changing direct speeches into indirect and vice
versa. Also mention the tense forms used in different speeches. One is
done for you. (8)
He said, “We
are going for a
picnic,
tomorrow.”
Ravi said, “I
have been
working very
hard all these
years.”
c. They said to me, “We will bring grandmother from the hospital.”
They told me that ……………………………………………………...
from the hospital.
D. Coursebook comprehesnsion
1. Put a tick () against the correct answer.
a. Which of the following was not Binya’s cow’s name?
i. Neelu
ii. Gori
iii. Kalu
iv. None
Class 7
Maximum Marks: 40
B. Writing 8 marks
Imagine one day you woke up fifteen minutes late and everything went
topsy-turvy after that. Write a diary entry describing your experience.
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I gave the
encyclopaedia to him.
b. The family of Anne Frank chose Annexe for their stay because it
i. was the ideal place to hide as it was not in the main building.
ii. offered more room for the family to hide.
iii. offered a very good view of the surroundings.
c. Anne Frank was anxious while listening to the radio because she
i. was distressed to hear the news of war.
ii. missed her old carefree life.
iii. was afraid that someone might hear them.
Class 7
Maximum Marks: 40
b. After how many days did the first man’s wife appear?
i. Two
ii. Seven
iii. Ten
B. Writing 8 marks
Suppose you are the librarian in a school. Write a letter to Mr A.
Rajan, Sales Manager of P.K. Publishers to order some books for the
library.
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C. Grammar 12 marks
1. State whether the words in bold are Phrases or Clauses. (4)
a. I ran as fast as possible.
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b. The goal which made us win was actually a foul.
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c. The girl with the red cape is the principal’s daughter.
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d. If you go home now, you’ll get to meet her.
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b. How did Razam have the knowledge about the Junior Willard Bat?
i. He had read it in the catalogue.
ii. He was a member of school cricket team at Bishop Waller’s.
iii. He was just showing off his knowledge.
d. How can you be sure that the characters in this story lived before
independence of India from British?
i. Cricket player names which have been mentioned are not from
current Indian cricket team.
ii. His Majesty’s post office had recognized their team.
iii. The writer of this story was born in 1906 so he may have
written it before independence.
Class 7
Maximum Marks: 40
- William Shakespeare
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C. Grammar
12 marks
1. Identify the type of the sentences.
(6)
a. I’m not talking to you.
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b. Who told you that?
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c. Who can tell me to study?
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d. What a brilliant idea!
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e. Just keep quiet.
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f. That’s a lovely place.
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© Oxford University Press
2. Transform the sentences as directed. (6)
a. Who can be so foolish? (Change into a statement. Begin with No One
…)
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b. He is intelligent. (Change into a decorative negative sentence.)
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c. What a thoughtful action! (Change into a declarative affirmative
sentence. Begin with That …)
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d. Akbar was a just ruler. (Change into an interrogative sentence.)
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e. What’s in a name? (Change into a statement. Begin with There …)
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f. Monuments cannot be compared to buildings. (Change into question.)
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c. Even the Duke was powerless to refuse Shylock his pound of flesh
because
i. changing the law would harm the trade in Venice.
ii. he had limited say in the law of Venice.
iii. he was neither the lawyer nor the judge in the court.
Set in Hyderabad, the poem gives the reader a panoramic view of a traditional
Indian bazaar crowded with merchants, vendors, peddlers, goldsmiths, fruit and
flower sellers, musicians, magicians and goldsmiths. The poem is rich in imagery
and description, evoking the sights, fragrances and sounds of a bazaar.
Line by Line
The speaker asks what the merchants sell. The articles they have for sale are
plentiful and beautifully displayed. There are turbans in colours deep red and
silver, loose, wide sleeved garments made of purple cloth, interwoven with silver
and gold threads, mirrors that have panels made of dark yellow tree resin and
daggers with handles made from the green jade stone.
The speaker then asks what the vendors weigh, and sees that they weigh saffron,
lentil and rice. She asks the women what they are grinding, and learns that it is
sandalwood, henna and a range of spices. She asks what the peddlers are calling
out, and then hears them selling chessman and dice carved out of ivory.
Next the speaker asks what the goldsmiths make. She learns that they make
bracelets, anklets and rings, as well as bells, as light and delicate as the wings
of a
dragonfly for the feet of blue pigeons (carrier pigeons that had tiny bells
attached
to their feet to ward off birds of prey and also to identify themselves to their
owners). The goldsmiths also make belts of gold for dancers and gold covers for
the swords of kings.
The speaker asks what the fruit-men sell and then lists that they are selling
citrus
fruits, pomegranates and plums. She wonders what the musicians play. She sees
them playing the sitar, a sarangi and a drum. She asks what the magicians chant
and writes that they chant spells for all the ages in time yet to come.
Finally the speaker asks what the flower girls weave with blue and red bunches of
decorative threads. She wonders if the flowers will be woven into crowns to be
worn by a bridegroom or strings of flowers that will decorate his bed, or whether
the newly collected blossoms will be woven into a sheet at a funeral to lend
perfume to the final sleep of life.
Elements of Poetry
Good to Know
1. When the poem was first published in 1913, a reviewer in the New York
Times described it as an Oriental gem.
2. Here is a poem Sarojini Naidu wrote on weaving, another popular Indian
craft. The theme and style of the poem is similar to that of In the Bazaars of
Hyderabad:
The palm tree stands tall in the night. The poet imagines that the palm tree, with
its
long trunk, looks as though it is standing on one leg, taller than the other trees,
gazing at the sky. He imagines that the tree wants to pierce the grey clouds and
fly
into the sky.
In the second verse, the speaker says that as leaves begin to grow and spread
around the top or head of the tree, the palm tree begins to believe that its wish
is
coming true. According to the speaker, the palm tree imagines the long leaves with
fronds to be wings which will allow him to move about freely, away from home,
breaking all ties, all relationships and responsibilities that hold him down.
All day long, the branches of the tree shake and move in the breeze. The speaker
imagines that the tree is sighing and quivering as it thinks, in its own mind, that
it
is flying high, touching the stars, and racing far across the sky.
But as soon as the wind stops, the leaves of the palm are silent and still. Now the
speaker imagines that the palm tree returns to reality. He imagines that the tree
thinks about its love for Earth, its mother, who gave birth to him. And then in
this
stillness comes a realization and the tree once again feels a love for the Earth.
Elements of Poetry
1. Theme: In our restless moments we often look outward and yearn for things
we cannot have. But if we are still and reflect on the gifts that life has
given
us, we will find fulfilment.
2. Style: Reflective
3. Mood: Pensive, thoughtful
4. Purpose: To realize that we all have yearnings and yet we must honour our
roots.
5. Poetic Devices:
Good to Know
1. Humans have used palm trees from the dawn of civilization. The palm was a
symbol of triumph and victory in Roman times and in Middle Eastern
cultures, the palm symbolizes hospitality and rest. Christians mark Palm
Sunday, the day of Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem and in the Jewish
faith, the palm signifies abundance and peace.
Poem 3: If
The poem is addressed to John, Kipling’s son, and is inspired by Leander Starr
Jameson, a political leader, an adventurer and a good friend of Kipling’s. This is
perhaps Kipling’s most popular and beloved poem. In this poem, the poet, who is
the speaker, is counseling his son on how to be the ideal person by listing a
number
of challenges that he may face in life, and the essential virtues and
characteristics
that one must have to meet those challenges.
In the opening stanza the speaker says that if his son can stay calm and collected
even when everyone around him is angry and laying the blame on him; if he can
trust himself even though everyone else doubts him, but allow some room for their
point of view; if he can learn to wait without getting tired of waiting; if he does
not
indulge in telling lies even if others lie about him; if he does not give way to
hating
others even if he is being hated; and in doing this, if he doesn’t try and look as
though he is better than others or talk as though he is wiser than others; then he
will be an ideal person.
In the next stanza the speaker tells his son that if he can dream, but not let his
dreams rule him, and if he can think, but not make those thoughts his goal; if he
can meet with success and failure, both of which are deceivers, and treat them both
in the same way (not get too pleased with success and too disheartened with failure
as they are short-lived judgments of other people); if he can bear the pain of
dishonest people twisting his words around to trap the foolish people who believe
the lies; and if all that he has devoted his life to is destroyed, still he is able
to bend
and again make the effort (with the same methods or tools he has used over and
over again) to rebuild; then he will be an ideal person.
In the third stanza the speaker tells his son that if when the need arises he can
take
necessary risks, losing all that he has amassed or collected as easily as one takes
a
chance in a game (pitch-and toss) and if he loses, then if he can start over again
without going around complaining about his loss; if he can force his body and
spirit to continue to serve him much after they seem to have given up, and hold on
when there is nothing left in him except his own will power which tells his body
and spirit to hold on; if he can keep his own virtue and not be influenced by
company or what the rest of the crowd is doing; if he can associate with important
people and yet be humble enough to be courteous to all; if neither friends nor
enemies are able to hurt him; if the opinions of people matter to him but not so
much that it affects his life; if he can spend every minute (which will never come
back) with something worthwhile and meaningful; then the earth and everything in
it will be his, and more than anything, he will know he has become an ideal person.
Elements of Poetry
1. Theme: The virtues that the poet lists in this poem are time-tested values of
patience, fortitude and courtesy that gain increasing importance in our fast-
paced world.
2. Style: The poem illustrates a number of life’s challenges and suggests how
the listener might meet them. The poem is didactic.
3. Mood and tone: Serious but inspirational and motivational.
4. Rhyme scheme: a(b)a(b)cdcd
5. Purpose: To give a set of guidelines on how to live and act with integrity
and responsibility.
6. Poetic Devices:
Good to Know
Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book
Poem 3: If
The poem is addressed to John, Kipling’s son, and is inspired by Leander Starr
Jameson, a political leader, an adventurer and a good friend of Kipling’s. This is
perhaps Kipling’s most popular and beloved poem. In this poem, the poet, who is
the speaker, is counseling his son on how to be the ideal person by listing a
number
of challenges that he may face in life, and the essential virtues and
characteristics
that one must have to meet those challenges.
In the opening stanza the speaker says that if his son can stay calm and collected
even when everyone around him is angry and laying the blame on him; if he can
trust himself even though everyone else doubts him, but allow some room for their
point of view; if he can learn to wait without getting tired of waiting; if he does
not
indulge in telling lies even if others lie about him; if he does not give way to
hating
others even if he is being hated; and in doing this, if he doesn’t try and look as
though he is better than others or talk as though he is wiser than others; then he
will be an ideal person.
In the next stanza the speaker tells his son that if he can dream, but not let his
dreams rule him, and if he can think, but not make those thoughts his goal; if he
can meet with success and failure, both of which are deceivers, and treat them both
in the same way (not get too pleased with success and too disheartened with failure
as they are short-lived judgments of other people); if he can bear the pain of
dishonest people twisting his words around to trap the foolish people who believe
the lies; and if all that he has devoted his life to is destroyed, still he is able
to bend
and again make the effort (with the same methods or tools he has used over and
over again) to rebuild; then he will be an ideal person.
In the third stanza the speaker tells his son that if when the need arises he can
take
necessary risks, losing all that he has amassed or collected as easily as one takes
a
chance in a game (pitch-and toss) and if he loses, then if he can start over again
without going around complaining about his loss; if he can force his body and
spirit to continue to serve him much after they seem to have given up, and hold on
when there is nothing left in him except his own will power which tells his body
and spirit to hold on; if he can keep his own virtue and not be influenced by
company or what the rest of the crowd is doing; if he can associate with important
people and yet be humble enough to be courteous to all; if neither friends nor
enemies are able to hurt him; if the opinions of people matter to him but not so
much that it affects his life; if he can spend every minute (which will never come
back) with something worthwhile and meaningful; then the earth and everything in
it will be his, and more than anything, he will know he has become an ideal person.
Elements of Poetry
1. Theme: The virtues that the poet lists in this poem are time-tested values of
patience, fortitude and courtesy that gain increasing importance in our fast-
paced world.
2. Style: The poem illustrates a number of life’s challenges and suggests how
the listener might meet them. The poem is didactic.
3. Mood and tone: Serious but inspirational and motivational.
4. Rhyme scheme: a(b)a(b)cdcd
5. Purpose: To give a set of guidelines on how to live and act with integrity
and responsibility.
6. Poetic Devices:
Good to Know
Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book
Poem 4: Against Idleness and Mischief, How Doth the Little Crocodile
This moralistic poem is part of a collection called the Divine Songs Attempted in
Easy Language for the Use of Children by Isaac Watts. It was first published in
1715.
In this poem, the poet describes how the little busy honey bee uses each hour of
every bright day and gathers honey all day long from every flower that opens. She
builds the cells of her hive with great skill and neatly spreads wax over it. She
works hard to store it with plenty of the sweet honey she makes.
Elements of Poetry
This poem is a parody of Against Idleness and Mischief, and first found in the
book, Alice in Wonderland. Alice is trying to recite the poem Against Idleness
and Mischief, but because she is dizzy, she recites it all wrong.
The little crocodile uses his shining tail and constantly pours water from the
river
Nile on all of his golden scales. He seems to give a very broad, cheerful smile,
showing all of his teeth to smile; he spreads his claws out very neatly and
welcomes little fish from the river into his gently smiling jaws.
Elements of Poetry
1. Style: A humorous parody. There is a wide contrast between the busy bee
building its hive and diligently storing sweet honey and the sly crocodile
pretending to smile and opening its jaws to trap fish, and this gives rise to
the humour.
2. Rhyme scheme: abcb
3. Purpose: To entertain
Good to Know
The speaker is a person who travels and has an appreciation for travel. When he
was a student, he had a teacher whose dream it was to sail to places he saw on the
maps. He shared this dream with his students. The teacher could not afford to
travel and he died rather suddenly without ever going to the places he had dreamt
of. He is soon forgotten at the school but the speaker later travels to the places
and
thinks of his teacher who inspired his love for travel.
The poem begins with the speaker saying that his teacher told his class of students
that one day he would leave the school and his work behind and sail across the
warm blue sea to distant places he had seen on maps. That is what he longed to do
all his life.
Even though his teacher lived in a narrow grey house, probably in a place that was
dull and cold, he imagined buildings with sweet scented jasmine hanging tightly
around the walls and orchards with green leaves shinning on orange trees.
The teacher talked about the places he wished to visit where it was never dull or
cold and the speaker never quite understood why his teacher did not leave his job
and all the responsibilities at the school that held him back. He failed to
understand
why his teacher did not travel to all the places he described.
Halfway through the speaker’s final term, the teacher fell ill and never returned
to
teach at the school. The speaker said that the teacher did not manage to travel to
places on the maps that he had always imagined, with the green leaves on orange
trees – implying that the teacher passed away without having fulfilled his dreams.
Soon the maps on the classroom walls were changed, and everyone forgot about
the teacher, but a lesson the teacher didn’t know he even taught remained with the
speaker and it is with him to this day – that is the love for travel.
The speaker traveled to those distant places on the map, where the green leaves
burn, where the ocean is as clear as glass and blue, to the places his teacher made
him fall in love with but which he never himself knew of.
Elements of Poetry
Good to Know:
1. "I feel that poetry permits us to wake up our memory and association and
view familiar things in a different way. If I was to define poetry, I would
say,
'One of the many things a poem can do / Is remind us what we forgot we
knew'" - Brian Patten
2. Here is a link to another poem by Brian Patten – it’s about words.
https://books.google.co.in/books?id=_zyy0A5Mc2UC&pg=PT133&source=
gbs_toc_r&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false
© Oxford University Press
New Mulberry English Course
The speaker stops by some woods on a snowy evening, takes in the beautiful, quiet
picture of the woods and wishes he could stay longer but realizes that he must
leave to complete the responsibilities and obligations he has before the day ends.
The speaker has stopped by someone’s woods on a cold, snowy winter evening.
He thinks he knows who the woods belong to. The owner has a house in the village
and he probably will not see the speaker stopping by in his woods to see them fill
up with snow.
The speaker’s horse finds it strange that they have stopped in the middle of a
forest
near a frozen lake with no farmhouse close by, on the darkest evening of the year.
The horse shakes the bells that are on the leather strip around his harness, as if
to
ask his master whether they have stopped there by mistake. At this point, the only
other sound in the forest is that of the wind and snowflakes.
The speaker then reflects that the woods are lovely, dark and deep, but he has
obligations and responsibilities to fulfill, and much to do before he can rest.
Elements of Poetry
1. Theme: The conflict between a pull towards the things we would like to do
on one hand and the responsibilities and obligations that we must fulfill
which often do not give us time to do what we would like to.
2. Style: It is a reflective poem, a metaphor for the journey of life. Simple at
the surface level, like the woods it describes, the poem is both lovely in
its
composition and deep with its underlying meaning.
3. Mood and tone: Readers are divided in opinion over the mood and tone.
While some believe that it is a serene poem with a calm acceptance of the
journey of life, others think the poem is pessimistic and depressing.
4. Purpose: To engage the reader in a reflection of life, longing and
responsibilities
5. Poetic Devices:
Repetition: The poet repeats the last line And miles to go before I
sleep twice. This is to lay emphasis on the obligations and
responsibilities that bear down upon us. If we imagine these lines
spoken, we can almost hear the speaker sigh as he says them.
Alliteration: sound’s the sweep
Personification: My little horse must think it queer; He gives his
harness bells a shake to ask if there is some mistake…
Symbolism: The phrase promises to keep perhaps symbolizes
responsibilities and obligations while sleep signifies rest.
Rhyme scheme: The poem is divided into four stanzas. In the first
three verses, the first, second and the fourth lines rhyme. The rhyme
of the third line carries over to the next verse giving the poem the
following rhyming pattern: aaba bbcb ccdc dddd.
Imagery:
o Visual – woods fill up with snow; woods are lovely, dark and
deep
o Auditory – gives his harness bells a shake; easy wind and
downy flake
o Tactile – downy flake
Good to Know