Lesson-3

Dark they were and Golden-eyed

Q.1. Why did Harry want to go back to the Earth? (imp)

Ans: He wanted to go back to the Earth because the Martian climate was strange. It was
changing them all.
Q.2. What climate did they face on the Mars? (imp)
Ans: They faced dangerous climate on Mars; the harsh wind and severe heat.
Q.3 . What was the condition of the Bittering family on hearing the of war on
the Earth? (imp)
Ans: They were confused and astonished at hearing the news of war on the Earth. They
felt themselves stranded on that alien planet forever.
Q.4. What did they want to grow?
Ans: They wanted to grow crops, onions and peach. They also wanted to grow their
number by producing children.
Q.5 What was the condition of their house?
Ans: The condition of their house was very bad. Blazing wind at day and dense fog at
night destroyed it.
Q.6. What was the advice Harry gave to the people? (imp)
Ans: He advised the people to build a new rocket to go back to Earth.
Q.7 How dangerous can a Martian virus be? (imp)
Ans: A Martian virus can be very dangerous. It can totally change them.

Paragraph
For a long time there was only the sound of the wind in the late afternoon. Alone, thought
Bittering. Only a thousand of us here. No way back. No way. No way. Sweat poured out
from his face and his hands and his body; he was drenched in the hotness of his fear. He
wanted to strike Laura, cried, "No, you're lying! The rockets will come back!" Instead, he
stroked Laura's head against him and said, "The rockets will get through someday.
Lesson-4
Thank You Ma’m
Q.1. What was the time when the boy tried to snatch the purse of the woman?
Ans: It was about eleven O’clock at night when the boy tried to snatch the purse of the
woman.
Q.2. What happened to the boy when he tried to snatch the purse? (imp)
Ans: When the boy pulled the purse, its strip was swapped with the sudden jerk. As a
result the boy lost his balance and fell on the side-walk.
Q.3. What was the reaction of the woman?
Ans: She simply turned around, kicked the boy the boy to the right square on his blue
jeans sitter. She bent down and gripped the boy by his collar and gave him a few jerks
until his teeth rattled.
Q.5. What was the conduct of the people when they saw the incident?
Ans: A few of passer by stopped and turned to look. Anyway, they remained as neutral
observers.
Q.6. How did the boy look physically? (imp)
Ans: The boy was a teen ager. He was weak and thin. He was wearing jeans and tennis
shoes. He had frail body and dirty face.
Q.7. What was the condition of the boy when the woman gave him a few
jerks?
Ans: When the lady caught the boy and gave him a few jerks, the sweat popped out on his face
with fear. He tried to get free but could not succeed. He got passive at the end.
Q.8. Why did the woman ask the boy to wash his face? (imp)
Ans: The woman wanted the boy to realize the moral ethics and manners. She wanted
him to look like a nice boy before she advises him. So, she asked him to wash his dirty
face.
Q.9. Why didn’t the boy run from the house of the woman? (imp)
Ans: He did not want to betray her trust. Moreover, he wanted to satisfy her with good
behavior.
Q.10. Why didn’t the woman watch the boy while preparing a dish?
Ans: She wanted to show the boy that she trusted him. So, she hoped that he would not
run.
Q.11. What was the nature of the woman’s job? (imp)
Ans: She worked in a hotel beauty shop. She worked till late at night. She had to deal
with all type of women customers
Paragraph
    When they finished eating, she got up and said. "Now here, take this ten dollars and buy
yourself some blue suede shoes. And next time, do not make the mistake of latching onto my
pocketbook nor anybody else's -- because shoes got by devilish ways will burn your feet. I got to
get my rest now. But from here on in, son, I hope you will behave yourself."
 NIGHT MAIL (W. H. Auden)

This is the Night Mail crossing the Border,

Bringing the cheques and the postal order,
Letters for the rich, letters for the poor,
the shop at the corner, the girl next door.
Pulling up Beattock, a steady climb,
the gradient’s against her, but she’s on time,
Past cotton grass and moorland boulder,
Shovelling white steam over her shoulder.
Snorting noisily, she passes
Silent miles of wind-bent grasses.
Birds turn their heads as she approaches,
Stare from bushes at her blank-faced coaches.
Sheepdogs cannot turn her course;
They slumber on with paws across.
In the farm she passes, no one wakes,
But a jug in a bedroom gently shakes.
REFERENCE: 
These lines have been taken from the poem “Night Mail” by W. H. Auden.
EXPLANATION:

Night Mail” is a simple poem that describes the journey of a night

coach that brings mails containing letters, postal orders for different types of different
people living in different parts of country. It brings letters for common people, postal
order or cheques for business men, and love letter for the waiting next door girl. The
journey is not always the same. Sometimes it has to climb upwards or goes downwards,
sometimes it crosses plains, cotton fields and moorlands boulder, releasing white steam.
It always reaches its destination on time. The birds notice her by turning their heads and
peeping through the bushes. The sheepdogs don’t care to bark or run after her and keep
continuing their sleep with their paws cross. The people sleeping in farms don’t get
disturbed due to her, only a jug in bedroom gently shakes.