INDEX

Ch-wise Q's & Answers

Writing

Ch. 2 Poster

Hornbill Prose

Ch. 2 We’re Not Afraid to Die... If We Can All Be Together

Hornbill Poetry

Ch. 1 A Photograph

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 2 Poster

A poster is an essential medium to make an appeal or announcement, issue a

notice, aware the people on any issue of public welfare. A poster should be visually
attractive and should be prepared targeting a particular type of audience. Posters
may be all text or graphics.

Marking Scheme
Structure
Purpose of Creating Posters
A poster is a medium of advertising used for the promotion of an idea, product,
or an event by means of visual representation. They play a temporary purpose
that of creating awareness and that makes them quite ‘short-dated’. Posters
are used during public awareness drives, or events organised in public interest
or employed for political announcements or propaganda.
Posters have the distinct advantage of being inexpensive in comparison to
other mass media which serve the same purpose. One of the striking features
of posters is that they mostly combine both graphical as well as textual
elements.
There are no hard and fast rules regarding poster writing/designing. The
reason is that they are a more creative form. However, there are certain
guidelines and pointers which a student should bear in mind when attempting
a question on Poster Drafting/Designing in the CBSE Examination.
Marking Scheme
As per the latest CBSE pattern, 1 questions will be asked on poster drafting for
3 marks (with internal choice). The marks breakdown as per the latest CBSE
syllabus is as follow:
Layout (1 mark)
• The layout should be visually attractive.
• The title should be catchy and attractive.
• Use of slogans and jingles enhance its effect.
• A simple drawing gives it the desired focus.
• An intelligent use of various fonts of different sizes and shapes will keep the
poster interesting.
Content (1 mark)
• It is the overall theme or subject of the poster.
• Gives the various details associated with the theme.
• Necessary details such as time, date and venue (for an event) become part
of it.
• It also has name(s) of issuing authority/organisation, etc.
Expression (1 mark)
• It signifies the usage of phrases, slogans and persuasive language.
• Originality in terms of content and design.

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• Overall organisation and intelligent placement of the matter.
• Observe the word limit (usually 50).
• The overall quality of writing is judged to decide if the final 1 mark should
be given or not.
• Grammatical accuracy and correct spellings are necessary to score full
marks.

Structure
Fold and carry Unfold and use Layout

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Purpose of Creating Posters

A poster may be created to serve one or more of the following purposes:

• To announce an event such as an exhibition, seminar, workshop, fair, cultural
fest, fete, etc.
• To impact public opinion in favour or against an issue, a political party, an
action, a habit, a social norm, etc.
• To promote a product or service with an intent to sell.

Example:
The poster shown below highlights the importance of water in current
times and in the times to come. It also suggests ways to conserve it as a
resource. The reference to it as Blue Gold is a good way of emphasising its
importance as well as its preciousness.

Poster 3
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SA VE
In the future, wars will be fought over
water -
THE BLUE GOLD precious
for life
Prevent this war by following few simple steps:
 Use H 2O carefully  Sav for your futur
 Maintain H 2 O Outlets  Prevent and repair Leakages
 Harvest Rain H 2 O  Recycle H2O
 Preserve it in tanks and ponds  Reuse H 2O

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•
•

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 QUESTIONS
1. Publicly we proclaim that dowry is an evil. Privately we want our
sons to fetch good dowries. Right from our school days, we should be
taught that demanding and even giving dowry is not only illegal but
immoral too. Draw a poster in about 50 words highlighting dowry as
a curse. You are Vikram/Sonia.

Ans.

Dowry is a punishable offence

Don't sell your daughters for dowry
Marriage is not a deal

les
S h ack
e ry
e a k tfhDow
Br o
By - Sonia

2. Design a poster encouraging the youth to join the defence services.

(50 words)

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6 English Core Class XI
 2 ‘‘We’re Not Afraid
to Die... if We Can
All Be Together’’
—Gordon Cook and Alan East

This story is about a person and his family, who decided to overtake a journey
around the world as was taken by Captain James Cook about 200 years ago.
The narrator tells us how they had to face great hardships and he was about to
be drowned in the ocean. However, the voyagers did not lose courage and in the
end, they reached a tiny island Amsterdam. This story depicts the courage of the
voyagers, who with their sheer willpower were able to survive.

Significant Morals
 Characters in Brief
Narrator– He was a brave person and a loving father who loved his children
very much. Like a true captain he was able to save his ship from the gigantic
waves. The narrator loved adventure, therefore he undertook around the
world journey.
The children– (Jonathan – six years old, and Sue – seven years old). Both the
children were very courageous like adults. Sue got badly injured, even then
she faced the situation very bravely. Jonathan loved his family very much. He
was not afraid to die ….. and said “We aren't afraid of dying, if we can all be
together.’

Chapter in Detail
The Narrator Plans a Voyage Around the World
In July 1976, the narrator with his wife Mary and two children Jonathan aged
6 and Suzanne aged 7, planed a voyage around the world just like the famous
Captain James Cook. They had been preparing for this voyage for the last
16 years. They had built a boat ‘Wavewalker’ which was 23 meters long and
weighed 30 tons. They had spent months fitting the big boat. They tested in
the roughest weather.
They started their journey from Plymouth, England and sailed from Africa to
Cape Town which was quite a pleasant journey. Before heading east, they
hired two crewmen, American Larry Vigil and Swiss Herb Seigler to help them
in the World’s roughest sea, the southern Indian Ocean.
They began encountering strong gales and alarming waves during the second
day. The size of the waves was up to 15 metres. By December 25, they all
managed to reach 35,000 kilometres east of Cape Town. Though the weather
was extremely bad, they had a wonderful holiday and celebrated Christmas
together. But the weather worsened.
Character's Mood
 Excited; jubiliant
Example 1. Extract Based:
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
In July 1976, my wife Mary, son Jonathan, 6, daughter Suzanne, 7, and I set
sail from Plymouth, England, to duplicate the round-the-world voyage made
200 years earlier by Captain James Cook. For the longest time, Mary and I
— a 37-year-old businessman — had dreamt of sailing in the wake of the
famous explorer, and for the past 16 years we had spent all our leisure time
honing our seafaring skills in British waters.

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(A) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The phrase ‘honing our seafaring skills’ suggests ...................... .
(B) What was the tone of the narrator in the given extract ?
(C) How can you tell that the narrator was determined to explore the
British waters ?
(D)Select the word that will NOT complete the sentence appropriately.
For the longest time, the businessman and his wife dreamt of sailing in
the wake of the ................ explorer.
(a) notorious (b) eminent
(c) prominent (d) famed
(E) How can you say that the narrator was a family-oriented man?
Ans.(A) The phrase 'honing our seafaring skills' suggests enhancing, perfecting
and sharpening their seafaring skills.
(B)The narrator‘s tone in the given extract was happy and excited. He had
spent 16 years of his life in sharpening his skills needed for exploring
the sea, and now the time had come to finally use those skills.
(C)The narrator was determined to explore the British waters as he had
been using his leisure time since last 16 years to perfect his seafaring
skills, also he had waited for 16 years to start this voyage.
(D) (a) notorious
Explanation: The word ‘famous’ is used for one who has done some
heroic or good deed, while the word notorious has a negative meaning.
It means one who is known for his bad deeds. The other options are
synonyms of famous. Hence, (a) is correct.
(E)The narrator was a family-oriented man, this can be seen as he took
his whole family on the voyage even his seven-years old daughter and
six-years-old son. He was the type of person who believed in doing
everything with his family.
A Disaster Faced
On January 2, the big waves hit them. They were sailing with a small storm
jib and were still going at the speed of eight knots per hours. They could
see giant waves rolling towards them. They tried to slow down the ship by
dropping the storm jib.
The voyagers faced first disaster at around 6 p.m. The sky became dark and
there was ominous silence everywhere. A big wave that appeared like a cloud
enclosed the ship. It was such a big wave that the narrator had never seen
before.

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The narrator was flown overboard by a big wave. His head was smashed into
the wheel. It appeared to him that his end was near. His ship Wavewalker was
almost overturned.
Character's Mood
 Distressed; anxious

•
•
•

Dictionary
Words Meanings Synonyms Antonyms
Honing Making perfect Polishing Dulling
Leg (here) one part of something (here) Part Whole
Reasoned Well thought out Coherent Incoherent
Gigantic Very big Huge Small,
miniature

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 OBJECTIVE Type Questions
[ 1 mark ]

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Our only hope was to reach these pinpricks in the vast ocean. Which
quote best describes this sentence?
(a) To find the needle in a Haystack.
(b) Hoping against hope.
(c) Good things come to those who wait.
(d) Burn your boats/bridges.
Ans.(a) To find the needle in a Haystack.
Explanation: The ocean was very vast. The voyagers were looking for
any of the two tiny islands in it. It was no less than ‘to find the needle in
a haystack.'
Extract Based Questions
2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
December 25 found us 3,500 kilometres east of Cape Town. Despite
atrocious weather, we had a wonderful holiday complete with a
Christmas tree. New Year’s Day saw no improvement in the weather,
but we reasoned that it had to change soon. And it did change – for the
worse.
(A) What does the statement, ”Despite atrocious weather, we had a
wonderful holiday complete with a Christmas tree," tell us about
the narrator and his family ?
(B) Fill in the blank with an appropriate answer.
In the given extract, ..................... trait of the narrator and his family
is shown.
(C 
Which of the headlines best suggests the central idea of the
extract?
(a) Good things come to those who wait
(b) Optimism helps to endure the direst stress
(c) Burn your boats
(d) To find a needle in the haystack
Ans.(A) The statement tells us that the narrator had a very loving family. To
them, togetherness mattered the most. They could enjoy the festival
of Christmas despite the atrocious weather showed their optimistic
attitude, towards the situation. They were able to find happiness even
in a distressing situation.

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 (B)optimistic
Explanation: The given extract shows the optimistic attitude of the
narrator and his family. It can be seen as they had a wonderful holiday
despite the atrocious weather and that they reasoned the weather
will change for the better.
(C)(b) Optimism helps to endure the direst stress
Explanation: The optimistic attitude of the narrator and his family
helped them to enjoy their festival and had a wonderful holiday with a
Christmas tree despite the atrocious weather. Hence, (b) is correct.

SHORT ANSWER Type Questions (SA)

[ 2 marks ]
Answer the following questions in about 40 - 50 words:
3. There is a difference between the reaction of the adults and the
children when faced with danger. Explain.
Ans. The adults were stressed when the weather suddenly changed. They
took enough precautions to protect the ship. However, the children
suffered silently and patiently. The narrator’s daughter Sue did not
bother him of her head injury and Jonathan also acted courageously as
he said he was not afraid to die unless and until everyone was together.
4. Examine that the people on the crew took every step possible to face
the rough weather.
Ans. To face the rough weather, they tried to slow the boat down by dropping
the storm jib and lashing a heavy mooring rope in a loop across the
stern. Then they tied together everything and went through the life-raft
drill. They attached lifelines, put on waterproof clothes and life jackets.

LONG ANSWER Type Questions (LA)

[ 5 marks ]
Answer the following questions in about 120 - 150 words:
5. The narrator and his wife waited to accomplish their dream. Explain.
Ans. The narrator and his wife Mary had always dreamt of sailing just like
the famous explorer Captain James Cook who had done the round-the-
world voyage 200 years ago. For sixteen years they spent all their leisure
time improving their seafaring skills in the British waters. Their boat,
Wavewalker was a 23 meter, 30 ton wooden-hulled beauty. It had been

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 professionally built and they spent months fitting it out and testing it in
the roughest weather they could find. Finally, in July 1976, the narrator,
his wife Mary, son Jonathan aged 6, and his daughter Suzanne aged
7, set sail from Plymouth, England to duplicate the round-the-world
voyage.
6. Critically examine the fact that inspite of the risks involved, people
undertake adventurous expeditions. [Delhi Gov. QB 2022]
Ans. Man is adventurous by nature. The greater the risk, the more the thrill.
The thrill of exploring unknown lands, discovering wealth and beauty
lying hidden in far off lands inspires brave hearts to stake their life of rest
and repose. Perhaps they value one crowded hour of glory more than
a long uneventful life of sloth and inactivity. It is true that sometimes
adventures are quite risky and prove fatal. The failures of some people do
not daunt (discourage) the real lovers of adventure. They draw lessons
from the shortcomings and errors of others and make fresh attempts
with greater zeal. Part of the charm of an adventurous expedition lies
in adapting oneself to the circumstances and overcoming the odds.
The success of an adventurous expedition brings name, fame and
wealth. History books are replete with accounts of famous explorers like
Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Captain Cook and Captain Scott.

We're Not Afraid to Die... if We Can All Be Together 7

 1
POETRY
A Photograph
–Shirley Toulson

'A Photograph' by Shirley Toulson is a tribute to her mother. The poem describes
three different scenes at different stages in the passage of time. In the first stage,
the photograph shows the poet’s mother as a 12 year old girl with her two girl
cousins standing at the beach and enjoying her holiday. The second stage is of
twenty or thirty years later where the mother would laugh at the way she and
her cousins were dressed for the Beach holiday. In the third and the last stage, the
poet remembers her dead mother and feels sad and lonely.

About the Poet

Poem in Detail
Poetic Devices
Significant Morals
Dictionary
 About the Poet
Shirley Toulson was born in 1924 in England. She had a huge passion for
writing and was greatly inspired by her writer father. She was the author of
several books and focused on the topic of walking routes used by farmers
moving livestock from Wales to England. Shirley Toulson’s ‘A Photograph’ is a
tribute written in memory of her dead mother, who she missed dearly.

Poem in Detail
Stanza 1
The cardboard shows me how it was
When the two girl cousins went paddling,
Each one holding one of my mother’s hands,
And she the big girl — some twelve years or so.
Interpretation
The poet recalls the memories of her mother by looking at a photograph of
her being twelve years and enjoying her holiday on a beach with her cousins.
The two younger cousins were holding the hands of their elder cousin (the
poet's mother) and walking in shallow water with bare feet. The photograph
was very old, but the poet has kept it very carefully as the sweet memories
of her mother’s childhood are reminded by it. The photograph also indicates the
enjoyable childhood of the poet's mother.
Poet's Mood

 Nostalgic
Example 1. Extract Based:
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
The cardboard shows me how it was
When the two girl cousins went paddling,
Each one holding one of my mother’s hands,
And she the big girl — some twelve years or so.
(A) Fill in the blanks with an appropriate answer.
In the given extract, 'The cardboard' refers to _____________.
(B) ‘It’ refers to:
(a) the poet’s childhood.
(b) the poet’s mother’s childhood.

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 (c) the beach holiday.
(d) the relationship between the poet and her mother.
(C) What is the rhyme scheme of the given lives?
(a) abca
(b) abab
(c) abcb
(d) no rhyme scheme.
(D) Other than the poet's mother, who else is mentioned in the poem?
(E) State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE.
In the given extract, the poet is referring to her mother's elder cousin
as the 'big girl'.
Ans.(A) the photograph
(B) (b) the poet's mother's childhood
Explanation: ‘It’ refers to the poet’s mother’s childhood.
(C) (d) no rhyme scheme.
Explanation: There's no rhyme scheme followed in the stanza.
(D) Apart from the poet's mother, the two other girls, Betty and Dolly are
mentioned in the poem. They are the cousins of the poet's mother.
(E) False
E
 xplanation: The big girl in the photograph was the poet's mother.
She was around twelve years old when the photograph was taken
and was the eldest of the three.

•
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•

A Photograph 3
 Dictionary
Words Meanings Synonyms Antonyms
Paddling walking strolling running
Wry disappointed disgusted mild
Transient short-term; temporary ephemeral permanent

•
•
•

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 OBJECTIVE Type Questions
[ 1 mark ]

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The feeling evident in the poem is one of:
(a) regret (b) nostalgia
(c) joy (d) loss
Ans.(d) loss
Explanation: The poet's mother died years ago, but she still misses her
and remembers her. Through this poem, she talks about her mother's
childhood and her laugh, which she misses. She also says that the silence
has silenced her. The poem talks about the loss of the poet's mother.
Hence, (d) is correct.
Extract Based Questions
2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Some twenty-thirty – years later
She’d laugh at the snapshot. “See Betty
And Dolly,” she’d say, “and look how they
Dressed us for the beach.” The sea holiday
Was her past, mine is her laughter. Both wry
With the laboured ease of loss.
(A) What does the poet indicate with “Mine is her laughter”?
(a) That the poet is missing her mother.
(b) That the poet’s mother is dead.
(c) That the poet’s mother had stopped laughing.
(d) Both (a) and (b)
(B) Fill in the blanks with an appropriate answer.
 he phrase 'laboured ease of loss' generates a feeling of .....................
T
.
(C) In the given extract, what emotion was the poet's mother feeling
about the photograph?
Ans.(A) (d) Both (a) and (b)
Explanation: Here, the poet indicate that she misses her mother's
laughter as she cannot hear it anymore because she is dead. Hence,
(d) is correct.

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 (B) Pain
Explanation: The given phrase generates a feeling of pain. The phrase
‘laboured ease of loss’ tells us about the acceptance of loss and living
with it. The poet and her mother feel the pain, but they accept it and
live with it. The poet's mother accepted her lost youth, and the poet
accepted the loss of her mother.
(C) The poet's mother laughed while recalling a moment of her past
captured in the photograph. She looks back at her childhood days with
nostalgia and recalls her innocent joys. Looking at the picture years
later brings back fond memories. She laughs at the way they were
dressed up for the beach holiday.

SHORT ANSWER Type Questions (SA)

[ 2 marks ]
Answer the following questions in about 40 - 50 words:
3. What is the meaning of the line "Both wry with the laboured ease of
loss" ? [Delhi Gov. QB 2022]
Ans. The line ‘‘Both wry with the laboured ease of loss’’ tells us about the poet
and her mother and how they have been disappointed with the loss but
they have accepted it. The poet's mother was disappointed that she was
not able to live her childhood again, and the poet's disappointment is
that she won't be able to hear her mother's laugh again. But despite the
disappointments, they both accepted their situation.

LONG ANSWER Type Questions (LA)

[ 5 marks ]
Answer the following questions in about 120 -150 words:
4. Justify the title of Shirley Toulson’s poem ‘ A Photograph’.
[Delhi Gov. SQP 2022]
Ans. In Toulson's poem "A Photograph", she describes the emotions felt as
remembering the story behind the image and what it means to her
now.
For the poet, the photograph brings out feelings of loss given that her
mother has passed away. The poet remembers her mother looking at
the image and laughing as she recalled the moment in time.
The title of the poem represents something very different for the poet
than it did for her mother. The image evokes sadness over the loss of her

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 mother, while it evoked thoughts of happiness for her mother.
Materialistically, the poet can find sadness in the fact that those depicted
in the image have changed while the scenery in the photo has been
allowed to stay the same. Here, the poet senses a feeling of the memory
being unfair given the ocean has been allowed to exist, without change,
over the years while her mother has changed dramatically and is now
gone.
Therefore, the title of the poem creates different meaning for both the
poet and the poet's mother.
Another justification behind the title lies in the fact that a photograph
captures something seen by many and can, therefore, evoke many
different feelings for those depicted and those looking at the image.

A Photograph 7