Subject: English Class : XI Skill Area: Vocabulary

The Portrait of a Lady – Vocabulary Activities

Exercise 1
Encircle the number of the appropriate choice.
1. She kissed his wrinkled face.
(a) tired (b) lined (c) kind (d) wrapped
2. He had his portrait painted.
(a) picture (b) property (c) achievement (d) frame
3. The smell from the toilets is revolting.
(a) unpleasant (b) pleasing (c) interesting (d) unbelievable
4. Of course it's not true, what an absurd idea!
(a) unbelievable (b) interesting (c) boring (d) not sensible
5. It is easy to lose your way in the criss-cross of streets.
(a) example (b) interweaving (c) design (d) picture
6. The old man hobbled across the road.
(b) cleaned (b) ran (c) limped (d) worked
7. Her hair fell untidily about her shoulders.
(a) disturbingly (b) in a disorderly way (c) plentifully (d) beautifully
8. She spoke in an almost inaudible whisper.
(a) religious (b) too quiet (c) emotional (d) religious
9. Fashion is constantly changing
(a) sometimes (b) rarely (c) nonstop (d) always
10. The clock ticked monotonously on the wall .
(a) emotional (c) uninteresting (c) angry (d) melodious
Exercise 2

Complete the crossword with the help of the clues given below.

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Subject: English Class : XI Skill Area: Vocabulary

Across
3. a person who is believed to have some special spiritual powers
5. a shelf above a fireplace
7. a string of beads
8. a large, open area of land, sea or sky
Down
1. a small line in the skin caused by old age
2. a way of standing or walking with the head and shoulders bent slightly forwards and down
4. a traditional story that teaches a moral lesson
6. a long piece of cloth wound tightly around the head
Exercise 3
Is the meaning of the bold words/phrases the Same or Different ? Cross out the incorrect one.
1. My grandmother carried several stale/fresh chapattis with her for the village dogs.
(Same/Different)
2. She was distressed/unhappy that there was no teaching of God. (Same/Different)
3. To her music had lewd/vulgar associations. (Same/Different)
4. Her silence meant disapproval/dissatisfaction. (Same/Different)
5. The common link of friendship was snapped/restored. (Same/Different)

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Subject: English Class : XI Skill Area: Vocabulary

6. My grandmother accepted her seclusion/isolation (Same/Different) with

resignation/acceptance. (Same/Different)
Exercise 4
Complete the crossword with the help of the clues given below.

Across Down
1. A f…………….. is a ceremony, usually a 2. R……………..ing is the act of speaking
religious one, for burying or cremating (= burning) severely to somebody because they have
a dead person. (7) done something wrong. (5)
4. The bright b……………... of the sun made 3. It was b…………….. at bulletin board
him close his eyes for a few seconds. (5) as all the students gather to check their
5. P…………….. is pale colouring of the face exam result. (6)
especially because of illness or fear. (6) 6. She was still in her m…………….. for
7. He didn't even leave any c…………….. (Pl. her husband. (8)
form) on his plate. (6) 7. The c ……………... was moved to the
9. She can give examples from the funeral ground. (6)
s…………….. (Pl. form) with great ease. (10) 8. A s …………….. is a piece of cloth that
a dead person's body is wrapped in before it
is buried. (6)
Exercise 5
Fill in the blanks choosing a suitable word from the list of words given in brackets.
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Subject: English Class : XI Skill Area: Vocabulary

(frivolous, stiff, dilapidated, upset, sagging, veritable, moist)

1. As the supporters of the two political parties turned violent, the scene was a …………………………..
battle.
2. Her poor health ccontinues to ………………………….. her family members..
3. My palms were ………………………….. with sweat.
4. We object to the ………………………….. comments of the minister.
5. You can not do much about the ………………………….. furniture. Repairing them is a waste of money.
6. The ………………………….. performance of the team can only be improved by changing a few team
members.
7. I feel ………………………….. after the two-hour long match as I had not played recently.
Exercise 6
Encircle the number of the appropriate answer.
1. A parrot was perching on the edge of the branch.
(a) flying (b) sitting (c) pecking (d) singing
2. I cherish the hope that people will reward goodness one day.
(a) treasure (b) promote (c) believe in (d) like
3. They clasped hands.
(a) shook each other’s hands (c) fought hard with hands
(b) held each other’s hands (d) scratched each other’s hands
4. I tried to persuade him but he seemed to have decided not to listen to me anymore.
(a) talk (b) influence (c) change (d) help
5. As nobody protested the decision, the management decided to remove the course from the
next academic year.
(a) objected (b) accepted (c) welcomed (d) supported
6. I have decided to ignore her advice.
(a) not agree with (b) not pay attention to (c) show surprise at (d) not to listen
7. Traditionally the Hindus like their bodies to be cremated, not buried.
(a) drowned (b) transported (c) burned (d) protected
8. I wrapped the CD in paper.
(a) covered (b) decorated (c) parcelled (d) returned
9. Choose the sentence in which the underlined verb has been used appropriately.
(a) The cigar lit in spite of the darkness.
(b) The light of the sun lit the whole area.
(c) The darkness lit the whole room.
(d) In no time the whole campus lit the beautiful lights.

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