UNIT 4

The Attic
WHILE READING QUESTIONS:
a. When did Aditya leave the local school?

Aditya left the local school after he had passed the matriculation examination.

b. Why did Aditya think that the school would not be recognisable?

Aditya was going to visit the school after twenty nine years. The school may have
undergone many changes in these years. So he thought that the school would not be
recognizable.

c. Who were Aditya’s ancestors?

• Aditya’s ancestors were zamindars.

d. How was the landscape through which they travelled?

The landscape was spotted with paddy fields on either side of the road.

e. What did Aditya visit?

Aditya visited his old school. Later he visited Nagen uncle’s tea shop, his old house,
jeweller’s shop and the house of Jogesh Kabiraj.

f. Where was Nagen uncle’s shop?

Nagen uncle’s shop was next to a grocery shop and opposite to Lord Shiva’s temple.

g. Besides tea, what did Nagen uncle have in his shop?

Besides tea, Nagen uncle had biscuits and savouries in his shop.

h. What did Nagen uncle tell about Sanyal?

Nagen uncle told that Sanyal could not hear and see well and he had no money to buv
spectacles.

i. In what way was Mr. Sanyal’s behaviour strange?

Mr. Sanyal suddenly stood up, stretched himself and raised his lean right arm. With eyes
dilated, he began to recite the poem ‘Panraksha’ ('Keeping of a Promise’) by Tagore. In this
way, his behaviour was strange.

j. What did Nagen uncle tell about Sanyal’s past life?

Nagen uncle told that Sanyal led a cursed life. He had sold his lands for 'm daughter’s
marriage and lost his wife and only soft the year before.

k. How did Sanyal show that he had a sense of self-respect?

Sanyal showed his sense of self-respect by paying money for his tea and biscuits in the tea
shop.
l ) Why was the attic 4a favourite place’ for the children?

The attic was a favourite place for the children because they seem to be in a world or their
own.

m) What did Aditya do on reaching the attic?

On reaching the attic, Aditya pushed his hand inside the ventilator and searched for
something (the medal).

l. What did the jeweller say about the article?

The jeweller said that the article was an antique.

o) Was Sanyal happy about his visitors?

No. Sanyal was not happy about his visitors.

p) Why did Sanyal recite the poem in the tea shop earlier?

Sanyal recited the poem so that Aditya could remember and recognize him and feel his
mistake.

q) What was engraved on the medal?

The words ‘Sriman Sasanka Sanyal - Special Prize for Recitation -1948’ was clear?
engraved on the medal.

A. Answer the following questions in two or three sentences.

1. Write a few lines about the owner of the shop.

The owner of the tea shop was over sixty. He was rustic in appearance with
white neatly combed hair and clean look. He was wearing a dhoti and a blue
striped shirt under a green shawl.

2.What was the daily routine of Sanyal?

Sanyal went to the tea shop and had tea and biscuits there. He never failed to
pay for them. This was the daily routine of Sanyal.

3. Why was there a sudden change in Aditya’s expression?

When Sanyal recited the poem, Aditya could recognise that the man was
Sanyal whom he had deceived a long time ago. He felt his mistake. So there
was a sudden change in his expression.

4. Why did Aditya decide to visit his ancestral home?

Initially, Aditya decided to visit his ancestral home trying to revive his old
childhood memories. After seeing Sanyal, he decided to go there to get the
medal he once stole from Sanyal.

5. What was the condition of the attic?

The wall of the attic had crumbled down. In the whole house, the attic had been
the worst hit by wind and weather. The floor was strewn with twigs, straw and
pigeon droppings.

6. When did Aditya heave a sigh of relief? Why?

When Aditya had got the medal in the attic, he heaved a sigh of relief. Twenty
nine years ago, Aditya had stolen it from Sanyal and kept it in the attic. Now
he felt guilty and wanted to return it to Sanyal. It was safe till then.

7. Why did Aditya and his friend go to the jeweller?

Aditya and his friend went to the jeweller to find out the weight of Sanyal’s
medal. They wanted to know the value so that Aditya could pay Sanyal the
money for the medal.

8. What did Aditya offer Sanyal?

Aditya offered Sanyal a sum of one hundred and fifty rupees.

9. “Your grievances are absolutely justified.” Who says this to whom?

Why?

Aditya says to Sanyal, “Your grievances are absolutely justified.” Aditya felt
guilty of stealing Sanyal’s medal. So he justified Sanyal’s anger and
grievance.

VOCABULARY
C. Complete the following table with two more compound words.

Noun + Noun : kitchen garden, school bus, table spoon

❖ Noun + Verb : mouthwash, sunset, pen stand

❖ Verb + Noun : watchman, playground, call taxi

❖ Preposition + Noun : overcoat, underworld, upstream

❖ Gerund + Noun : bleaching powder, walking stick, dining hall

❖ Noun + Gerund : housekeeping, birdwatching, babysitting

❖ Adjective+ Preposition + Noun : good for nothing, lack of food, free of cost

❖ Noun + Preposition + Noun : mother-in-law, line-by-line, day-to-day

D. Combine the words in column A with those in column B to form

compound words as many as you can.

rainfall

snowball / snowfall

starlight

drawback

plaything / playback

lottery ticket

underworld

manhole

sidewalk/ backside

footnote

E. Form compound words from the boxes given below and fill in the blanks
in the sentences that follow with the appropriate compound words.

1. Siva visited the hair stylist to have a clean haircut.

2. Tharani had given the sarees for dry cleaning.

3. The green house is a natural process that warms the earth’s surface.

4. Never wait for an alarm clock to wake you up.

5. The children were late to school as there was a traffic jam near the toll
plaza.

6. The government expects every individual to promptly pay the income tax.
7. People usually wear sun glasses during summer.

8. The patients were asked to sit in the waiting room until the doctor arrived.

9. With teamwork we are able to multiply our output.

10. The room was looking bright with the colourful wallpaper.

F (i) Form new words by adding appropriate prefix/suffix:

1. accurate inaccurate, accuracy

2. understand misunderstand, understanding

3. practice practical, impractical, malpractice

4. technology technologist, technological
5. fashion fashionable, fashionate

6. different indifferent, difference , differentiate

7. child childish , childhood , childlike

8. national nationally , nationality , international

9. origin originally, originality , originate

10. enjoy enjoyment, enjoyable

(ii) Frame sentences of your own using any five newly formed words.
1. Raja misunderstood me for a lawyer.

2. Stephen is a well-known computer technologist.

3. We never forget our childhood days.

4. Wipro is an international company.

5. Reading books is an enjoyable hobby.

G Fill in the blanks by adding appropriate prefix/suffix to the words given

in brackets.
1. He was sleeping comfortably in his couch. (comfort)

2. Kavya rides a bicycle to school. (cycle)

3. There was only a handful of people in the theatre.(hand)

4. It is illegal to cut sandalwood trees.(legai)

5. The arrival of the President has been expected for the last half an
hour.(arrive)

6. The man behaved abnormally in front of the crowd. (normal)

7. Swathy had no intention of visiting the doctor. (intend)

8. The bacteria are so small that you need a microscope to see them. (scope)

GRAMMAR

A. Complete the sentences given below choosing the right connectors given
in brackets.
1. Call me in case you need money. (so that, in order that, in case)

2. I forgot that I had to meet the Principal. (whether, that, if)

3. Though he is ninety years old, he is in the pink of health. (when,

since, though)

4. It is raining. Take an umbrella or else you will get drenched. (or else,
and, but)
5. They faced many hardships nevertheless they are always cheerful.
(although, nevertheless, otherwise)
B. Fill in the blanks with the connector that goes with the underlined words.
1. Both the minister and the officers visited the affected areas.

2. Jaya teaches not only English but also Science.

3. Either Raghu or Bala will have to buy vegetables from the market.

4. No sooner did I enter the house than it started drizzling.

C. Combine the pairs of sentences using appropriate connectors.

1. We came late. We did not miss the train.

-Though we came late, we did not miss the train.

2. They checked the packet twice. Then they sealed it.

They checked the packet twice and then they sealed it.

3. Sita saw a snake. At once she ran away.

As soon as Sita saw a snake, she ran away, (or)

Sita saw a snake and at once she ran away.

4. Robert completed the project. He submitted it to the teacher.

Robert completed the project and submitted it to the teacher.

5. Yusuf was running high temperature. He could not take part in the
competition.

As Yusuf was running high temperature, he could not take part in the competition,

(or) Yusuf was running high temperature and so he could not take part in the competition.
D. Tick the correct linker.
1. Though he was honest, he was punished.

though,but
2. Walk carefully otherwise you will fall down.

unless, otherwise

3. My mother called me while I was playing football.

or, while

4. My salary is low nevertheless I find the work interesting.

Nevertheless, similarly
5. The passengers rushed to board the bus as soon as it arrived.

as soon as,as long as

E. Supply suitable linkers.

1. “When I was alive and had a human heart, ” answered the statue, “I did not
know what tears were, for I lived in the palace where sorrow was not allowed
to enter. My courtiers called me the Happy Prince and Happy Indeed I was. So I
lived and so I died.

2. Many writers make incorrect sentences when they try to put sentences
together. They may make grammatical errors and leave out important
punctuation marks. Making such mistakes is quite common while preparing the
first draft . So he must carefully edit his final draft.

3. In most large cities and towns of our country, there are special schools for
girls. Moreover / And also, there are many co-educational
schools where girls and boys study together. Most parents allow their daughters
to attend these schools, but there are some parents who are against such schools
for girls after the age of 14 or 15.
F. Rearrange the words in the correct order to make meaningful sentences.

1. as / I / healthy / are / you / am / as

Iam as healthy as you are.

2. your / today / put on / new / since / is / birthday /dress / the

Since today is your birthday, put on the new dress.

3. allergic / dogs / Rani / though / is / to / of / six / she / them / has

Though Rani is allergic to dogs, she has six of them.

4. speaks / Ruben / besides / German / languages / two

Ruben speaks two languages besides German.

5. loan/apply/you/if/for/you/a/get/will/immediately/it/

If you apply for a loan, you will get it immediately.

G. Write the noun forms of the following words.

1. beautiful 2. breathe 3. enter 4. know 5. deafen 6. zealous 7. familiar 8. accept

9. dangerous
Word : Noun forms

1. beautiful : beauty

2. breathe : breath

3. enter : entry

4. know : knowledge

5. deafen : deaf

6. zealous : zeal
7. familiar : familiarity

8. accept : acceptance

9. dangerous : danger

H. Complete the following sentences using the noun form of the words given
in brackets

1. The boy had to give a proper explanation for being late. (explain)

2. They could make prediction about the future.(predict)

3. At one point in life, he had no choice but to trust his friend. (choose)
4. The monuments are to be preserved because of their historical significance.
(significant)

5. It is very difficult to work with so many distractions.(distract)

I. Rewrite the sentences nominalising the underlined words. The first one
has been done for you.
Ex: Students work diligently to score well in exams.

Students work with diligence to score well in exams.

1. We succeeded in our attempt.
We got success in our attempt.

2. Nalini leads a happy life.

Nalini has happiness in her life.

3. She failed and it disappointed her.

Her failure gave her disappointment.

4. India became an independent country in the year 1947.

India got independence in the year 1947.

5. The child resembles her father.

The child has a resemblance to her father.

J. Combine the pairs of sentences given below into a single sentence using
the noun form of the highlighted words.

1. He is an honest person. Everyone likes him.

Answer: Everyone likes him for his honesty.

2. Sathya gave an explanation. The police wanted her to prove it.

Answer: Though Sathya gave an explanation, the police wanted the proof.

3. He speaks well. It attracts all.

Answer: His speech is an attraction to all.

4. Suresh is always punctual and regular. It has earned him a good job.

Answer: Punctuality and regularity of Suresh have earned him a good job.

5. The policeman arrived quickly. It made us happy.

Answer: The quick arrival of the policeman made us happy.

K. Complete the sentences in the paragraph using the appropriate form of

words given in brackets.
1. My sister wanted to go to Mumbai last week. She made a decision (decide) to
buy a ticket at once. As reservation (reserve) could be done online, she
gave preference (prefer) to book a ticket that way. First, she
collected information (inform) about the arrival (arrive)
and departure (depart) of trains and airplanes.

2. A few days later, Androcles was captured by his master. He had to suffer all
kinds of punishment (punish). At last, he was thrown to a lion which was in
great hunger (hungry).It had been kept in an enclosure (enclose) and had not
been fed for several days. His friends stood there with tearfull (tear) eyes as the
lion rushed towards him. The lion stopped near him and stood for a
while looking (look) at him. Then it lay down by his side like a pet
dog. Obviously (obvious), the lion recognized Androcles and the help (help) he
had given it.

L. Identify the phrases in the following sentences and classify them as

Adjective, Adverb or Noun phrases.
1. The girl in blue saree is my sister. - Adjective phrase

2. Kohli hopes to win the trophy. - Noun phrase

3. The train halts at every junction. - Adverb phrase

4. I have never seen such a picture. - Noun phrases

5. She worked in an enthusiastic manner. - Adverb phrases

M. Identify the clauses and classify them accordingly.

1. Ram bought a pen that doesn’t write well. - Adjective clause

2. Come back as soon as possible. - Adverb phrase

3. Most of her friends whom she had invited attended her wedding. - Noun
clause
4. My brother visits my father whenever he comes to Chennai. - Adverb
clause
5. Call me in case there is an emergency. - Adverb clause
6. Until the sun sets, the old woman cannot step out of her house. - Adverb
clause
7. She knows where I go. - Noun clause

8. You can go wherever you want. - Adverb clause

COMPOSITION

NOTICE WRITING

You are the Secretary of Park Circus Residents Welfare Association. Write
a notice to inform the residents of your colony of a Meditation program
under the guidance of Dr. P. Ranjit with a view to understanding the self
better. The program is exclusively for the residents It will be conducted on
the second Saturday of the following month from 7.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. at
the children’s park nearby .
NOTICE

Park Circus Residents Welfare Association

Meditation Program

17 November 2019

This is to inform all residents of our colony that there will be a meditation program under the
guidance of Dr. P. Ranjit for understanding the self better. The program will be conducted on
the second Saturday of the following month from 7.00 a.m to 9.00 a.m at the nearby children’s
park.

Kumar

Secretary

ARTICLE WRITING

Write an article for the follow

i. You are Jansi/Avinash of Class X studying in GHSS, Chengalpet. You

believe that physical activities improve our health and reduce the risk of
sickness. It has got immediate and long term benefits. Write an article in not
more than 150-200 words for your school magazine stressing the importance
of physical activities in a students day to day life.

A Sound Mind in a Sound Body

- By Jansi/Avin?xsh

Class X
The proverb A Sound Mind in a Sound Body insists on both healthy body and stable mind. A
person’s health is a combination of physical, mental and social well being. A healthy body is
essential for a healthy mind. First and foremost, everyone should be health¬conscious. Good
health is ensured by a balanced, diet and good exercise. Balanced diet supports our body
avoiding excessive fats, minerals, salts, etc. Physical activity or exercise enhances our health
and provides us happiness. T'he second asset of a well composed person is mental health.
Cognitive functions are ensured by the stability of one’s mind. Yoga is invariably advisable to
be a mentally balanced person. It enhances and reinforces concentration and attention at a task
in hand..

Both physically and mentally stable persons possess a positive attitude towards life. They
become socially responsible, individually productive and globally connected. They are
constructive, creative, optimistic, and innovative throughout their life. The world is in need of
such people. To sum up, physically strong people possess mental health and are sociable.
Hence, all people must be health conscious and avoid all sorts of diseases that are the fruits of
idleness and sluggishness.

The Ant and the Cricket

A. Based on your understanding of the poem, read the following lines and
answer the questions given below.
1. A silly young cricket accustomed to sing
Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring.
a) What was the routine of the cricket?

The cricket enjoyed singing in the warm weather of the spring and summer. This was the
routine of the cricket.

b) Name the seasons mentioned here.

Spring and Summer are the seasons mentioned here.

2. Began to complain when he found that, at home,

His cupboard was empty, and winter was come.
a) Who does he refer to?

‘He’ refers to the cricket.

b) Why was his cupboard empty?

Because the cricket did not save any food or grains for the winter.

3. Not a crumb to be found

On the snow-covered ground;

a) What couldn’t he find on the ground?

He couldn’t find any trace of food or grains on the ground.

b) Why was the ground covered with snow?

It was winter season.

4. At last by starvation and famine made bold,

All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold,

a) What made the cricket bold?

Starvation and famine made the cricket bold.

b) Why did the cricket drip and tremble?

Because the weather was wet and cold.

5. Away he set off to a miserly ant,

To keep if, to keep him alive, he would grant

Him shelter from rain,

And a mouthful of grain.

a) Whom did the cricket want to meet? Why?

The cricket wanted to meet a miserly ant to borrow food or grains from it.

b) What would keep him alive?

Grains and shelter from the ant would keep him alive.

6. But we ants never borrow;

we ants never lend.

a) Why do you think ants neither borrow nor lend?

Ants work hard and always plan for the future and so ants neither borrow nor lend.

b) Who says these lines to whom?

The ant says these lines to the cricket.

7. ‘‘ Not I!
My heart was so light
That I sang day and night,

For all nature looked gay.”

a) Who does ‘I’ refer to?

I refers to the cricket.

b) What was the nature of the cricket? How do you know?

The nature of the cricket was to enjoy dancing and singing. We know this from its reply to
the ant’s questions.

8. Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket,

And out of the door turned the poor little cricket,

a) The ant refused to help the cricket. Why?

Because the ant could not tolerate the laziness of the cricket.

b) Explain the second line.

The ant stopped talking and closed its small gate hurriedly.

9. He wished only to borrow;

He’d repay it tomorrow;

a) Pick out the rhyming words in the above lines.

Rhyming words: borrow - tomorrow

b) Give more examples of rhyming words from the poem.

sing - spring,

see - tree,

rain - grain,

friend - lend,

home - come,

found - ground

bold - cold,

ant - grant
borrow - tomorrow- sorrow

light - night,

gay - say

10. My heart was so light

that I sang day and night,

For all nature looked gay.

“You sang , Sir , you say”?

a) Mention the rhyme scheme employed in the above lines.

Rhyme scheme: aabb

B. Based on your understanding of the poem, complete the summary using

the phrases given below .

In this narrative poem, the poet brings out the idea that is essential for every
creature. He conveys this message to the readers through a story of an ant and a
cricket. The ant spends all its summer saving for the future. The cricket sings
and dances happily in the summer. He doesn’t save anything for the winter.
When winter comes, he is worried that his kitchen cupboard is empty. So, he
seeks the help of the ant to have some grains and a warm place to stay. The
cricket was even prepared to repay it in the future. The ant made it clear that
ants never borrow or lend. He also enquired the cricket if it had saved anything
when the weather was fine. The cricket answered that it had sung day and night
enjoying the pleasant nature. The ant threw the cricket out and stated in a stern
voice it should dance in the winter season too. In his concluding lines, the poet
affirms that this is not just a fable but it is true and applicable to human
beings also.

(the pleasant nature, human beings, doesn’t save, warm place, kitchen cupboard,
just a fable, saving for future, some grains, never borrow or lend, an ant and a
cricket, sings and dances)
 THE AGED MOTHER
Narrate the circumstances that led to the abandoning of the aged in Shining.
Lesson : The Aged Mother
Author : Matsuo Basho
Theme : Unbounded love of mother
Characters : The aged mother, her son and the cruel governor of the country
Outline : Praises - aged people - ‘The old are wise’ - is proved - proclamation of the cruel
decree - painful journey up the mountain - care and concern of the mother -
withdrawal of the cruel decree
‘The aged mother’ is a story which appreciates the importance of aged people. The proverb
‘The old are wise’ is proved in this story.
Proclamation of the cruel decree:
The country Shining was ruled by a governor. He was a despotic ruler. Though he is a warrior,
he was very cruel. Once, he declared that all the aged people must be put to death. The
circumstances were not favourable for the aged people, since the governor was a despotic ruler.
Painful journey up the mountain:
A young man lifted his mother to his back and trudged up the mountain. Moreover, the road
was long and steep. It was narrow. He lost his way at times. But he went climbing blindly
upward until he reached the bare summit
Care and concern of the mother:
So she picked up twigs from the bushes and dropped them along the narrow path as markers.
Thus using her intelligence, she ensured her son’s safe return. But he did not want to leave her
lovable mother. So they returned and he hid her at his home.
Withdrawal of the cruel decree:
Later the governor ordered the people to present him a rope of ashes. The unselfish mother
suggested her son to make a rope by burning a twisted straw on a windless night. Seeing the
rope of ashes, the governor praised him. Knowing the wisdom of the old mother, he abolished
the order to kill the aged people of his country.Hence, everyone should love and respect the
aged people. They are the treasure of a country.
Moral: “Old is Gold”

D. Identify the character/speaker.

1. He gave orders for the aged to be put to death. - The despotic leader/the
Governor
2. He considered the order to be the kindest mode of death. - The farmer

3. She quietly dropped some twigs on the way. - The Aged mother

4. Let not thine eyes be blinded. - The Aged mother to his son
5. Together we will follow the path , together we will die. - The son/ the
Farmer

6. I will think. I will think.- The Aged mother to his son

7. The truth must be told. - The son/ the Farmer

8. He listened and meditated in silence. - The despotic leader/the Governor

9. Shining needs more than the strength of the youth. - The despotic
leader/the Governor

10. With the crown of snow there cometh wisdom. - The despotic leader/the
Governor

E. Choose the appropriate answer and fill in the blanks.

1. Shining was governed by a cruel leader.

a) strict
b)kind

c) cruel

d)diplomatic.

2. The unwhitened rice was the principal food for the poor.

a) wheat

b) brown rice

c) unwhitened rice
d) millet.

3. The road was crossed and re-crossed by many path made by the hunters and
woodcutters.
a) hunters and woodcutters

b) robbers and thieves

c) vendors and tradesmen

d) wildlife photographers and trekkers

4. Gathering fallen pine he made a soft cushion and tenderly lifted his old mother
onto it.
a) dry leaves

b) fallen pine

c) broken twigs

d) flowers

5. The governor demanded that his subjects should present him with a rope of
ashes.

a) basket of fruits
b) rope of ashes

c) flesh of animals
d) bag of silverwares