ip / ‘, @ Prasaranga i BANGALORE UNIVERSITY Bengaluru - 560 056 PERCEPTIONS-! General Engiish Course Book & Comprehension | Semester — B.Com./B.B.A. and other courses rT — Ee the Faculty of | d M: i mi ey Ley US sagt yannaoeeCONTENTS 1. The Last Leaf -- O. Henry 01 2. All Creatures Great and Small -- Ruskin Bond 28 3. Heart of the Tree -- Henry Bunner 43, 4. Daughter -- Lata Jagtiani 55 5. The Ploughman -- Khalil Gibran 72 6. My Teacher -- Helen Keller 88 7. Bookshop Memories -- George Orwell 122 8. Aconversation witha Reader -— Hilaire Belloc 144 9. Extended Reading _ 158 10. Question Paper Pattern - 164 se ik1. THE LAST LEAF -- O. Henry Brainstorming @ Whatis to be cured — the body or the mind? @ Do you believe in miracles? Share your experiences. TheAuthor = William Sydney Porter (1862 - 1910), an American short story writer, is known by his pen name O. Henry. While in prison, he began writing short stories in order to support his daughter Margaret. His first published story was Whistling Dicks Christmas Stocking (1899). He used the pseudonym Oliver Henry only once and changed his pen name to O. Henry, not wanting his readers to know that he was in prison. He has written nearly 600 short stories which are known for witty plots, Surprise endings, warm characterization of awkward and difficult situations. In alittle district west of Washington Square the streets have run crazy and broken themselves into smail strips called "places." These "places" make strange angles and curves. One street crosses itself a time or two. An artist once discovered a valuable possibility in this street. Suppose a 01collector with a bill for paints, paper and canvas should, in traversing this route, suddenly meet himself coming back, without a cent having been paid on account! So, to quaint old Greenwich Village the art people soon came prowling, hunting for north windows and eighteenth-century gables and Dutch attics and low rents. Then they imported some pewter mugs and a chafing dish or two from Sixth Avenue, and became a "colony." At the top ofa squatty, three-storey brick Sue and Johnsy had their studio. "Johnsy" was familiar for Joanna. One was from Maine; the other from California. They had met at the table dhéte of an Eighth Street "Delmonico's," and found their tastes in art, chicory salad and bishop sleeves so congenial that the joint studio resulted. That was in May. In November a cold, unseen stranger, whom the doctors called Pneumonia, stalked about the colony, touching one here and there with his icy fingers. Over on the east side this tavager strode boldly, smiting his victims by scores, but his feet trod slowly through the maze of the narrow and moss-grown "places." Mr. Pneumonia was not what you would call a chivalric old gentleman. A mite of a little woman with blood thinned by California zephyrs was hardly fair game for the ted-fisted, short-breathed old duffer. But Johnsy he smote; and she lay, scarcely moving, on her painted iron bedstead, looking through the small Dutch window-panes at the blank side of the next brick house. 02 One morning the busy doctor invited Sue into the hallway with a shaggy, grey eyebrow. "She has one chance in - let us say, ten," he said, as he shook down the mercury in his clinical thermometer. " And that chance is for her to want to live. This way people have ae lining-u on the side of the undertaker makes the entire pharmacopoeia look silly. Your little lady has made up her mind that she's not going to get well. Has she anything on her mind?" "She - she wanted to paint the Bay of Naples some day," said Sue. "Paint? - bosh! Has she anything on her mind worth thinking twice - a man for instance?" "A man?" said Sue, with ajew's-harp twang in her voice. "Isa ‘ : ind man worth - but, no, doctor; there is nothing of the kind. "Well, it is the weakness, then," said the doctor. "I will do all that science, so far as it may filter through my efforts, can accomplish. But whenever my patient begins to count the carriages in her funeral procession I subtract 50 per cent from the curative power of medicines. Ifyou will gether toask elle question about the new winter styles in cloak sleeves I will promise you a one-in-five chance for her, instead of one in ten." After the doctor had gone Sue went into the workroom and cried a Japanese napkin to a pulp. Then she swaggered into Johnsy's room with her drawing board, whistling ragtime. 034 ohne lay, scarcely making a ripple under the bedclothes, with her face toward the window. Sue stopped whistling, thinking she was asleep. She arranged her board and began a pen-and-ink drawing to illustrate a magazine story. Young artists must pave their way to Art by drawing pictures for magazine stories that young authors write to pave their way to Literature. As Sue was sketching a pair of elegant horseshow tiding trousers and a monocle of the figure of the hero, an idaho coyhoy, she heard a low sound, several times repeated. She went quickly to the bedside. Jolinsy's eyes were open wide. She was looking out the window and counting - counting backward. "Twelve," she said, and little later "eleven"; and then "ten," and "nine"; and then "eight" and "seven", almost together: : Sue looked solicitously out of the window. What was there to count? There was only a bare, dreary yard to be seen, and the blank side of the brick house twenty feet away. Anita old ivy vine, gnarled and decayed at the roots, climbed half - up the brick wall. The cold breath of autumn had stricken its leaves from the vine until its skeleton branches clung, almost bare, to the crumbling bricks. : "What is it, dear?" asked Sue. "Six," said Johnsy, in almost a whisper. "They're falling faster now. Three days ago there were almost a hundred. It 04 made my head ache to count them. But now 1 aiey TN goes another one. There are only five leftnow,” "Five what, dear? Tell your Sudie." "Leaves. On the ivy vine. When the last one falls I must go, too. I've known that for three days. Didn't the doctor tell you?" "Oh, I never heard of such nonsense," complained Sue, with magnificent scorn. "What have old ivy leaves to do with your getting well? And you used to love that vine so, you naughty girl. Don't be a goosey. Why, the doctor told me this morning that your chances for getting well real soon were - let's see exactly what he said - he said the chances were ten to one! Why, that's almost as good a chance as we have in New York when we ride on the street cars or walk past anew building. Try to take some broth now, and let Sudie go back to her drawing, so she can sell the editor man with it, and buy port wine forher sick child, and pork chops for her greedy self." "You needn't get any more wine," said Johnsy, keeping her eyes fixed out the window. "There goes another. No, I don't want any broth. That leaves just four. I want to see the last one fall before it gets dark. Then I'll go, too." "Johnsy, dear," said Sue, bending over her, "willyou promise me to keep your eyes closed, and not look out the window until Iam done working? I must hand those drawings in by to-morrow. I need the light, or 1 would draw the shade down." 0s"Couldn't you draw in the other room?" asked J lohnsy, coldly. "I'd rather be here by you," said Sue. "Beside, I don't want you to keep looking at those silly ivy leaves." "Tell me as soon as you have finished," said Johnsy, closing her eyes, and lying white and still as fallen statue, "because I want to sec the last one fall. I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of thinking. I want to turn loose my hold on everything, and go sailing down, down, just like one of those poor, tired leaves.” "Try to sleep," said Sue. "I must call Behrman up to be my model for the old hermit miner. I'll not be gone a minute. Don't try to move 'til [come back." Old Behrman was a painter who lived on the ground floor beneath them. He was past sixty and had a Michael Angelo's Moses beard curling down from the head of a Satyr along with the body of an imp. Behrman was a failure in art. Forty years he had wielded the brush without getting near enough to touch the hem of his Mistress's robe. He had been always about to paint a masterpiece, but had never yet begun it. For several years he had painted nothing except now and then a daub in the line of commerce or advertising. He earned a little by serving as a model to those young artists in the colony who could not pay the price of a professional. He drank gin to excess, and still talked of his coming masterpiece. For the rest he was a fierce little old man, who scoffed terribly at softness in any one, and who regarded himself as especial mastiff-in-waiting to protect the two young artists in the studio above. 06 f juniper berries in smelling strongly Sue found Behrman s : his ay lighted den below. In one comer was oe eanvas on an easel that had been waiting there for aa five years to receive the first line of te eee eS him of Johnsy's fancy, and how she feared she wou ” ; ° light and fragile as a leaf herself, float away, when her slig! hold upon the world grew weaker. Vags!" he cried. "Is dere people in de world mit der foolishness to die because leafs dey drop off from a confounded vine? I haf not heard of such a thing. No, I wi not bose as a model for your fool hermit-dunderhead. Vy do you allow dot silly pusiness to come in der brain of her? Ach, dot poor leetle Miss Yohnsy." "She is very ill and weak," said Sue, “and the fever i her mind morbid and full of strange fancies. Very wel - Ge Behrman, if you do not care to pose foe He yon needn't. But think you are a horrid old - old flibbertigibbet. "You are just like a woman!" yelled Behrman. "Who cal 4 will not bose? Go on. I come mit you. For half ant hour : peen trying to say dot Iam ready to bose. Gott! dis a ~~ blace in which one so goot as Miss Yohnsy _ ie = Some day I vill baint a masterpiece, and ve shall all go away. Gott! yes." Johnsy was sleeping when they went upstairs. Sue pulled the shade down to the window-sill, and motioned Behrman into the other room. In there they peered out the window fearfully ie 07 perceptions-1 1st em. B.Com.at the ivy vine. Then they looked at each other fora moment without speaking. A Persistent, cold rain was falling, mingled with snow, Behrman, in his old blue shirt, took his seatas the hermit miner onan upturned kettle for a rock. When Sue awoke from an hour's slee; found Johnsy with dull, wide- green shade. p the next morning she Open eyes staring at the drawn "Pull it up; I want to see," she ordered, ina whisper. Wearily Sue obeyed. But, lo! after the beating rain and fierce gusts of wind that had endured through the livelong night, there yet stood out against the brick wall one ivy leaf. It was the last one on the vine. Still dark green near its stem, with its serrated edges tinted with the yellow of dissolution and decay, it hung bravely from the branch some twenty feet above the ground. -"It is the last one," said Johnsy. "I thought it would surely fall during the night. I heard the wind. It will fall to-day, and I shall die at the same time." "Dear, dear!" said Sue, leaning her worn face down to the pillow, "think of me, if you won't think of yourself. What wouldI do?" But Johnsy did not answer. The lonesomest thing in all the world is a soul when it is making ready to go on its systerious, far journey. The fancy seemed to possess her 08 i to more strongly as one by one the ties that bound her friendship and to earth were loosed. and even through the twilight they could ‘The day wore away, em against the wall. And i ingi its st S lone ivy leaf clinging to 1 ; 4 . on the coming of the night the north wind is —_ > : : loosed, while the rain still beat against the window Fattered down from the low Dutch eaves. k i ded When it was light enough Johnsy, the merciless, comman that the shade be raised. The ivy leaf was still there. r “ ae Johnsy lay fora long time looking atit. And thenshe ae Sue, who was stirring her chicken broth over the gas stove. fi ae "Pye been a bad girl, Sudie,” said Johnsy. es x made that last leaf stay there to show me how pes ee i i bring me a little Fy is a sin to want to die. You may rin ee : asi milk with a little port in it, and - no; bring oe 4 aston first, and then pack some pillows about me, J will sit up and watch you cook." And hour later she said: “Sudie, some day [hope to paint the Bay of Naples. to The doctor came in the afternoon, and Sue had an excuse go into the hallway as he left. Old Behrman, with his red eyes pla: nly streaming, shouted his Pp y > his contempt and derision for such idiotic imaginings. his contempt an 2 03“Even chances," said the doctor, taking Sue's thin, shaking hand in his. "With good hursing you'll win. And now I must see another case I have downstairs. Behrman, his name is - some kind of an artist, I believe. Pneumonia, too. He is an old, weak man, and the attack is acute. There is no hope for him; but he goes to the hospital to-day to be made more comfortable." The next day the doctor said to Sue: "She's out of danger. You won. Nutrition and care now - that'sall." And that afternoon Sue came to the bed where Johnsy lay, contentedly knitting a very blue and very useless woollen shoulder scarf, and put one arm around her, pillows and all. "I have something to tell you, white mouse," she said, "Mr, Behrman died of pneumonia to-day in the hospital. He was ill only two days. The janitor found him the morning of the first day in his room downstairs helpless with pain. His shoes and clothing were wet through and icy cold. They couldn't imagine where he had been on such a dreadful night. And then they found a lantem, still lighted, and a ladder that had been dragged from its place, and some scattered brushes, and a palette with green and yellow colours mixed on it, and - look out the window, dear, at the last ivy leaf on the wall. Didn't you wonder why it never fluttered or moved when the wind blew? Ah, darling, it's Behrman's masterpiece - he painted it there the night that the last leaf fell." 10 Glossary Traversing - Prowling - Gables - Pewter mug - Chafing dish - Chicorysalad- Bishop sleeve Congenial Ravage Mite travel across, tomove back and forth move about restlessly and stealthily the triangular upper part ofa wall at the end of aridged roof a bluish grey metal which is a mixture of tinand lead an apparatus consisting of a metal dish with a lamp or heating appliance beneath it, for cooking food or keeping ithot atthe table a vegetable with white leaves that taste bitter and are eaten raw in salads along full sleeve usually gathered on a wristband and adapted from bishop's robe - agreeable, pleasant to bring heavy destruction on, devastate, damage - (informal) a young child, especially one deserving sympathy because he/she is ill or hungry iChivalric ' polite, honest, fair behaviour especially shown by men towards women Zephyrs ee gentle, mild breeze Pharmacopoeia - a book published usually under the jurisdiction of the govemment and containing a list of drugs Swaggered - a way of walking with a swinging movement that shows you are confident Derision - when someone or something is laughed atand considered stupid or of no value Confounded - confused Morbid - gloomy, diseased, unhealthy mental attitude Persistent - constantly repeated, continuous s a ‘errated - having anotched edge or saw like teeth Janitor > a person employed in an apartment house, office building, school, etc., to clean the public areas, attics and low tent places Short Answer Questions 1. What does "places" refer to? 12 Whom did Mr. Pneumonia infect? Mention the similar tastes of Sue and Johnsy. Why did Sue ask the doctor to come home? The "Little lady" mentioned by the doctor refers to According to the doctor, chances of Johnsy's recovery from pneumonia are little. Why? Sue and Johnsy were artists. True /False What was Johnsy counting? Why? What is special about the houses in Greenwich village? i 10. Whatdid Sue hear while she was painting? 11. What was Behrman's dream? 12. Johnsy and Sue. were surprised to find that inspite of the storm and gusty wind, a) _ thesingieivy leafhad withered b) _ thesingleivy leafhad fallen c) _ thesingleivy leaf still clung to the vine d) _ thesingleivy leaf was destroyed Paragraph Answer Questions 1. Describe Greenwich in your words. 13iy What was bothering Johnsy as she lay on her sick bed? 3. Howis pneumonia personified in the story? 4, Write anote on the doctor's diagnosis. 5, How did Behrman save Johnsy's life? 6. What was Behrman's master piece according to Sue? Why? Essay Answer Questions 1. Comment on the ending of the story. 2. — Justify the title "The Last Leaf” with reference to the theme of sacrifice. Suggested Reading 1. The Doctor's Word—R.K.Narayan 2. ADay's Wait—Erest Hemingway LANGUAGE ACTIVITY VOCABULARY Words often confused Using wrong or inappropriate words is one of the mistakes committed by the learners of English. This happens because of the words with similar pronunciation or spelling. For example, it is common to find the word effect (result) being 14 confused with affect (which means causing a change). A list of such commonly confused words is provided below: iG Accept, Except Accept: Agree, receive —e.g.: I accepted the gifts with gratitude. Except: Apart from —e.g.: When my mom travels she packs everything except the required. Breath, Breathe Breath: Air taken into the lungs and then let out —e.g.: Take adeep breath. Breathe: To inhale and exhale — e.g.: Just calm down and breathe. Elicit, [licit Elicit: To draw forth, evoke — e.g.: The teachers elicited answers from the students. Illicit: Unlawful, illegal — e.g: The mother has discovered illicit drugs in her son's bag. Its, It's Its(Possessive Pronoun): Belonging to — €.g.: The dog eats its food only when itis offered. It's(Contraction): It + is — ¢.g.: It's a very strange incident.Lose, Loose (v) Lose: Unable to find, To fail to win —e.g.: Did you Jose the game again? (adj) Loose: Not tight — e.g.: I cannot wear a loose dress. Dairy, Diary Dairy: milk enterprise—e.g.: My sister does not like the milk supplied by the local dairy. Diary: daily record—e.g.: Some people have a habit of keeping adiary. Dessert, Desert Dessert: Fruit /sweet course at the end of dinner. —e.g.: Ice creams make a good dessert. Desert: barren sandy region— e.g.: The Thar desert is the largest desert in India. Device , Devise (n) Device: Contrivance — e.g.: Most of the devices help people in finishing their tasks easily. (v) Devise: To invent~e.g.: He devises many plans but he does not put them into practice. Fair, fare Fair: Beautiful or white complexioned— e.g.: His girl friend has gota fair complexion. 16 10. Fare: Charge to be paid for a journey. ~ ¢.g.: What is the plane fare from Delhi to Mumbai? Principal, Principle Principal: Chief— e.g.: The Principal is the head of the college. Principle: A fundamental truth, rule — ¢.g.:It is his principle not to interfere in others' affairs. Exercise 1 Find out the meanings for the words given below and use them in your own sentences Rw No CU N Quiet, Quite Aliittle, little Affection, Affectation Vocation, vacation Advice, advise Sore, soar Sallied, Sullied Adopt, Adapt Hoemonynis and Homophones Homonyms - A few words are alike both in their spellings and pronunciation; however they differ in their meanings and are essentially different words.The word “Homonym” comes from the prefix “Homo” which means the same and the suftix “Nym” means name. Eg. Ly sow: 1. afemale pig 2. plantaseed inthe earth 2. pitcher: 1. _ anearthenware 2. one who pitches a ball as in baseball. 3. fair: 1. lightcomplexion 2. amarketplace 3. tobejudicious/impartial Homophones-the words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings. ; Eg. 1. _ ball/bawl: 1. Hethrew a bail at the wicket. 2. Thestreet bawl shocked him. 2. cell/sell: 1. The prison cell looks gloomy. 2. — Sell the cars carefully. 3. peace/piece: 1. They lived in peace in the village. 2. The piece of cake was eaten by the cat. Exercise2 Fillin the blanks with the right word from the brackets 1. The new Jet streaked the clouds. (threw, through) 2. Look out, there is a (whole, hole) B. (they're, their) friend lived over___(their, there) m, . The is very pleasant in Bangalore. (weather, whether) 5. It is universally accepted that the sun is not (stationery, stationary) in the road up ahead. 6. matters should not be discussed in public. (personal, personnel) I understand your difficulty. (quite, quiet) The funeral were performed according to the Hindu customs .(rights, rites), 9. She was the worker in the field.(loan, lone) 10. ‘His was badly hurt in the accident. (heal, heel) Synonyms and Antonyms A Synonym is a word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or a phrase. 19Antonyms are words which have the opposite or nearly Opposite meaning. Most words can have one or more antonyms. Antonyms are also formed when you prefix ‘dis-’, ‘un-', 'in-', im-', ‘ir-' and 'il' to words. Such words become opposite in meaning. 1. strange Synonyms- unusual, peculiar, mysterious, perplexing Antonyms- ordinary, familiar, common, expected, usual discover Synonyms- find, locate, invent, notice, recognize identify, Antonyms- miss, conceal, hide , ignore, neglect, lose traverse Synonyms- travel, journey, wander, cross, roam Antonyms- stay, stop, hold, remain familiar Synonyms- common, routine, acquainted, known Antonyms--unfamiliar, unknown, unacquainted, strange, unusual scarcely Synonyms- barely, seldom, hardly, rarely, infrequently Antonyms- often, sufficiently, adequately, frequently, commonly 20 6. 10. il. accomplish Synonyms-fulfil, succeed, complete, achieve, manage Antonyms-abandon, leave, stop, forfeit, fail swagger Synonyms- strut, parade, stride, boast, brag Antonyms- be modest, fear, cowardice, humbleness illustrate j Synonyms- explain, demonstrate, exhibit, portray, show Antonyms- confuse, complicate, obscure, conceal, cover, hide decay Synonyms- corrode, decompose, deteriorate, extinction, ruin Antonyms- grow, develop, flourish, increase, improve fragile Synonyms- weak, delicate, feeble, frail, brittle Antonyms- tough, strong, firm, durable, unbreakable Scoff Synonyms- belittle, ridicule, mock, tease, despise Antonyms- commend, flatter, honour, respect, compliment.se Morbid 4. The gift was wrapped attractively . t Synonyms- gloomy, nasty, sickly, grim, monstrous \ 5. He discovered a new short cul . ile trekking. a Antonyms- sound, happy, pleased, joyful, cheerful \ while ? Soak 13. endure 6. The father forgave his notorio , son. a Synonyms- tolerate, bear, withstand , sustain, undergo 4 Neha made a mistake while typing. Antonyms- oppose, halt, stop, Tesist, retreat 3 ‘The Municipality d eci ded to 14. contempt : construct a new building. seeabretias Synonyms- disrespect, mockery, hatred, ridicule, ' 9. She endured the pain without disregard complaining. —= Antonyms- care, regard, sympathy, respect, admire 10. The woman wore a prettysaree. 15. wonder i ; the underlined Synonyms-amaze, astonish, surprise, awe, admire Ii. Choose the correct Synonym for the Antonyms-" disinterest disregard, in. Curiosity, word. ‘ noredbal Neils , ‘ 1. Ihate getting up early in the morning. a. like b. dislike Exercises & etioy dA leve I. Replace each underlined word with a synonym 2. We must reduce our travel expenses. from the word box. a. increase b. raise Illustrated, traveled, build, present, gorgeous, c. lower d, amplify found, price, tolerated, fault, pardoned 3. India has often fascinated travelers. an b. bored 1. The Chemistry teacher demonstrated the a einaies hed toughest experiment very well. c. confused d. repulse 2: The boy traversed a tocky terrain, _ w The cost of the book was too high, 22 2310. suit Me teacher for my doubts. a. beg b. scold c. ask d, question | Nirag was keen on learning a new language./ a. uninterested — b. eager | c. reluctant d. lethargic My goal is to become an astronaut. a. thought b. reward c. study d. aim Her friend persuaded her to be more reasonable. a. urged b. suppressed c. determined. d. discouraged ; The answer she gave to her daughter's question was remarkable. a. sound b.cry c. reply d. ask It was past midnight when he finally appeared. a. disappear b. came c, departed d. laughed Oppressed people take to violence. a-encouraged _b. delighted c-suppressed dd. boosted 24 Mit. Replace each underlined word with an antonym from the word box | Unfortunate, quiet, obeyed, often, strange, full, _ | childish, difficult, clumsy, bought | 1 Ce Oi So ok 9. 10. The child cried when it saw a familiar face. The English lesson was very easy. The class was very noisy. Her cup was empty. Eden sold her car last week. Sincere students hardly miss classes. The graceful dancer performed amazingly. Sunaina was foriunate to come to Bangalore. He disobeyed the order. She was very mature for her age. IV. Choose the correct Antonym for the underlined word. 5 The player's shirt was wet . a. soaked b. dry c. moist d. drenched. 25Did you remember to post my letter? a. recall b. recollect c. forget d. reward They refused us into the auditorium without tickets. a. allowed b. forbid c. banned d. blocked Rains were predicted on the day of the match. a. allowed b. delayed . unanticipated d. expected. Neha's bed was very messy. a. wonderful b. dirty c. cold d. clean Nirag sleeps in the morning. a. arises b. talks ¢. snores d. dreams The snake is long. a. poisonous b. tall ¢. short d. venomous Talways do my homework. _a. Never b. regularly c. repeatedly d. consistently. It was a wise decision. 26 -a, sensible b. foolish c.reasonable _ d. intelligent. She has many friends a. plenty »b. few c, numerous d. countless. Great works of O. Henry. Jainco Publishers, Delhi. www.business-standard.com grammar yourdictionary.com www.oxford-royal.co.uk RRREERE 272. ALL S L CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL Brainstorming eo de ® : : few people make peculiar creatures their ‘pets. }0 you know any exotic pet keepers? ® ~~ Many peopl: nay ofthenn: »ple don't like unusual pets as they are afraid ® What are the ; pets? repercussions of having such unusual The Author Ruskin Bond—Born 19" May 1934-i an Indian author of British descen : This shy literary genius could be easil: i } credited for moulding almost three : ee 7 Renerations of Indian students into ; om avid readers. His stories are simple and i lucid, a quality that made hima literary ! Star. The stories speak directly to the : Teader about the charms of the Dehradun hills and the idiosyncrasies i of the North Indian terrain. His first : hovel, Room on the Roof was written at : the age of 17 years and had won him John Llewellyn Rhys prize that i: awarded to British Commonwealth Writers who are under the age of 30. It i Was a semi-autobiographical story of 1 an orphaned Anglo-Indian boy. Ruskin ed the Sahitya Akademi Award foi in India and also was conferred with { ard in 1999 and Padma Bhushan i { Bond has receiv { English Writing } Padmashree Aw. } 2014. Many people have unusual pets because those are far more exciting than the ordinary ones. The grandmother in this story puts her foot down when her husband brings home @ young python. Grandmother was tolerant ofmost birds and animals, but she drew the line at reptiles. She said they made her blood run cold. Even a handsome, sweet tempered chameleon had to be given up. Grandfather should have known that there was little chance of his being allowed to keep the python. It was about four feet long, a young one when Grandfather bought it from a snake charmer for six rupees, impressing the bazaar crowd by slinging it across his shoulders and walking home with it. Grandmother nearly fainted at the sight of the python curled round Grandfather's throat. "You'll be strangled!’ she cried. 'Getrid of itat once!’ "Nonsense,’ said Grandfather. "He's only ayoung fellow. He'll soon get used to us : "Will he indeed?’ said Grandmother. ‘But I have no intention You know quite well that your cousin of getting used to him w. She'll leave us the Mabel is coming to stay with us tomorro minute she knows there's a snake in the house.’ 29"Well, perhaps we ought to show it to her as soon as she arrives,' said Grandfather, who did not look forward to fussy Aunt Mabel's visits any more than did. "You'll dono such thing,' said Grandmother. ‘Well, l can't let it loose in the garden,’ said Grandfather with an innocent expression. ‘It might find its way into the poultry house, and then where would we be?’ "How exasperating you are!' grumbled Grandmother. 'Lock the creature in the bathroom, go back to the bazaar and find the man you bought it from, and get him to come and take it back.’ In my awestruck presence, Grandfather had to take the python into the bathroom where he placed it ina steep-sided tin tub. Then he hurried off to the bazaar to look for the snake charmer, while Grandmother paced anxiously up and down the veranda. When he returned looking crestfallen, we knew he hadn't been able to find the man. "You had better take it away yourself,’ said Grandmother, ina relentless mood. 'Leave itin the jungle across the riverbed.’ ‘All right, but let me give it a feed first,' said Grandfather; and producing a plucked chicken, he took it into the bathroom, followed, in single file, by me, Grandmother, and a curious cook and gardener. Grandfather threw open the door and stepped into the bathroom. 30 ] peeped round his legs, while the others remained well behind. We couldn't see the python anywhere. ‘He's gone,’ announced Grandfather. 'He must have felt hungry.’ hope he isn'ttoo hungry,’ I said. "We left the window open,’ said Grandfather, looking embarrassed. A careful search was made of the house, the kitchen, the garden, the stable and the poultry shed; but the python couldn't be found anywhere. "He'll be well away by now,' said Grandfather reassuringly. I certainly hope so,’ said Grandmother, who was half way between anxiety and relief. ‘Aunt Mabel arrived next day for a three-week visit, and for a couple of days Grandfather and I were a little apprehensive in case the python made a sudden reappearance; but on the third day, when he didn't show up, we felt confident that he had gone for good. ‘And then towards evening we were startled by a scream from the garden. Seconds later, Aunt Mabel came flying up the veranda steps, looking as though she had seen a ghost. "In the guava tree!' she gasped. 'I was reaching for a guava, when I saw it staring atme. The lookin its eyes! As thoughit would devour me....' 31'‘Caim down, my dear,’ tellus what yousaw.’ urged Grandmother, 'calm down and 'A snake!' sobbed Aunt Mabel. 'A great boa-constrictor. It must have been twenty feet long! In the guava tree. Its eyes were terrible. It looked at me in such a queer way. My grandparents looked significantly at each other, and Grandfather said, 'T'll go out and kill it.’ and sheepishly taking hold of an umbrella, sallied out into the garden. But when he reached the guava tree, the python had disappeared. ‘Aunt Mabel must have frightened it away,’ I said. "Hush,' said Grandfather, 'we mustn't speak of your aunt in that way.’ Buthis eyes were alive with laughter. After this incident, the python began to make a series of appearances, often in unexpected places. Aunt Mabel had another fit of hysterics when she saw him admiring her from under a cushion. She packed her bags, and Grandmother made us intensify the hunt. Next morning I saw the python curled up on the dressing table, gazing at his reflection in the mirror. I went for Grandfather, but by the time we ret moved elsewhere. A little later he again. Then he was back on the dres: himself in the mirror. Evid hel with his own reflection f the attention he was receiving from everyor alittle conceited. ned, the python had adbecome ena 32 ‘He's trying to look better for Aunt Mabel,’ I said; a remark that I instantly regretted, because Grandmother overheard it, and brought the flat of her broad hand down on my head. "Well, now we know his weakness,’ said Grandfather. ‘Are you trying to be funny too?' demanded Grandmother looking her most threatening. ‘L only meant he was becoming very vain,' said Grandfather hastily, 'It should be easier to catch him now.' He set about preparing a large cage with a mirror at one-end. In the cage he left a juicy chicken and various other delicacies, and fitted up the opening with a trapdoor. Aunt Mabel had already left by the time we had this trap ready, but we had to go on with the project because we couldn't have the python prowling about the house indefinitely. For a few days nothing happened, and then, as I was leaving for school one morning, I saw the python curled up in he cage. He had eaten everything left out for him, and was relaxing in front of the mirror with something resembling a smile on his face-if you can imagine a python smiling..... I lowered the trapdoor gently, but the python took no notice; he was in raptures over his handsome reflection. Grandfather and the gardener put the cage in the pony trap, and made a journey to the other side of the riverbed. They left the cage in the jungle, with the trapdoor open.‘Hemadeno attempt to get out,’ said Grandfather later. 'And I didn't have the heart to take the mirror away. It's the first time I've seen a snake fallin love.' Glossary Sling : wrap around Exasperating annoying Awestruck amazed, wonderstruck Crestfallen disappointed Relentless determined, unyielding File : aline of people Devour eat very fast Sheepishly ashamedly Sallied out rushed out, set out Hysterics being extremely shocked Enamored with attracted to, fascinated ~ Conceited proud of oneself, vain Short Answer Questions 1. | Whom did the grandfather get the Python from? 2. How did he impress the crowds with the Python? 3. Grandmother was tolerant of but drew the line at pets. 34 4. Who was Mabel and why did the grandfather dislike her? 5. Whydidthe grandfather feel crestfallen? 6 Where was the Python kept and how did it escape? 7. How did Aunt Mabel react to the Python's first appearance? 8 When did Aunt Mabel decide to pack her bags and leave? 9. The Python's weakness as perceived by the grandfather was: a. Umbrella b. Reflection c. Juicychicken Paragraph Answer Questions 1. Explain the chaos created by the arrival of the python in the grandfather's house. 2. Describe Aunt Mabel's reaction to the presence of the Python. 3. How did the grandfather finally succeed in caging the Python? Essay Answer Questions 1. Bring out the humour with reference to Aunt Mabel and the Python in the story. 352. Comment on the distinction in the preferences of the elderly couple towards the exotic pet in the story. 3. The python had fallen in love with his own reflection. Elucidate. Suggested Reading 1. Adventure - Gerald Durrell 2. The Tiger in the House - Ruskin Bond 3. Black Beauty -Anna Sewell LANGUAGE ACTIVITY ARTICLES To understand an utterance or a write up, the knowledge of the usage of the articles in English is quite essential. It is in their usage but not mere learning of their rules that helps you to master the language. You are all well exposed to the meaning and classification of articles-A, AN and THE in the previous stages of English Language Leaming. Now, more emphasis is laid on their USAGE at the Undergraduate Level. Read the following story and underline a, an, the: Once upon a time, in a remote village, an old woman lived with a little white goat. One day, when the woman was minding the goat, she saw a woodcutter with his wife and 36 two children and he was felling the trees. The old woman had an instinct and said, “If you fell the trees like this every day, my goat won't get the leaves and the nuts to eat!”. The woodcutter replied, “IfT don't cut the trees and sell the wood, my faithful wife and lovely children won't get bread”. Then there was a silence between the two. Let us observe and make a list of the Articles used in the above story. Article—a (examples from the above story) Y atime v¥ — aremote village ¥ alittle white goat ¥ — awood cutter ¥ — asilence Here, article a refers to a single moment, one event, one place, one thing and one person that are introduced for the first time or that are not specific. Usage -Article—a @ Used before ular word with a consonant sound - ay! awoman, ahero, a history. e Used before the consonant counds ‘yu’ as — a union, yok, a European. that begins with the rupee coin, a one way i 'wa'- a con: $ road, a one-eyed. 37