Marathon Class 10 First Flight

A Letter to God
Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Dust of Snow the proposal
Fire and Ice glimpses of findia
Two Stories about Flying mijbil the otter
From the Diary of Anne Frank The Trees
A Tiger in the Zoo Fog
How to Tell Wild Animals The Tale of Custard the Dragon
Madam Rides the Bus For Anne Gregory
The Sermon at Benares
The Ball Poem
Amanda
CHAPTER-1
A Letter to God
A LETTER TO GOD
About the author
▪ The author of this chapter is Gregorio López

Fuentes.
A LETTER TO GOD
▪ THE house — sat on the crest

of a low hill (top of hill).
▪ Field of ripe corn.
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A LETTER TO GOD
▪ Throughout the morning ---

see the sky towards the
north-east.
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A LETTER TO GOD
▪ During the meal ------- big drops

of rain began to fall.
A LETTER TO GOD
‘‘These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky,

they are new coins.
The big drops --------- ten cent (Small money like

paisa of India) pieces and the little ones are
fives.’’
A LETTER TO GOD
▪ Suddenly a strong wind began to blow

and along with the rain very large
hailstones (Ice falling with rain) began
to fall.
▪ These truly did resemble (look similar)

new silver coins.
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A LETTER TO GOD
The field was white, as if covered with salt. Not

a leaf remained on the trees. The corn was
totally destroyed.
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A LETTER TO GOD
“A plague (a large group) of locusts (Insect that

eats crop) would have left more than this.
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A LETTER TO GOD
All through the night, Lencho thought only

of his one hope: the help of God, whose
eyes, as he had been instructed, see
everything, even what is deep in one’s
conscience (mind, moral sense). Lencho was
an ox of a man (very strong man), working
like an animal in the fields, but still he knew
how to write.
A LETTER TO GOD
The following Sunday, at daybreak

(morning), he began to write a letter
which he himself would carry to town
and place in the mail (send by post).
It was nothing less than a letter to
God.
A Letter to God
Hundred pesos
A Letter to God
The postmaster — a fat, amiable fellow

—almost immediately (तुरंत) he turned
serious.
So, in order not to shake (डगमगाए) the
writer’s faith in God, the postmaster
came up with an idea: answer the letter.
A Letter to God
Asked for money from his employees, he himself gave

part of his salary, and several (कई) friends of his were
obliged (आभारी) to give something ‘for an act of
charity (परोपकार के कार्य के लिए)’
A Letter to God
Able to send the farmer only

a little more than half.
A Letter to God
Not the slightest (थोड़ा सी भी) surprise (आश्चर्य)

on seeing the money; such was his confidence —
but he became angry (गस्
ु सा) when he counted
(गगना गर्ा) the money.
A Letter to God
It said: “God: Of the money that I asked for,

only seventy pesos reached (पहुंच गए)me.
Send me the rest (अन्र्) , since I need it very
much.
A Letter to God
But don’t send it to me through the mail

because the post office employees are a
bunch of crooks (बदमाशों का झड
ंु ).Lencho.”
A Letter to God
Q1- Where was Lencho’s house situated?

A) bottom of the hill
B) top of a hill
C) top of a plateau
D) in a city
Q2- What was the only thing that the Earth

needed according to Lencho?
A) a shower
B) a snowfall
C) strong winds
D) sunlight
A Letter to God
Q3- Where did Lencho expect the downpour to come

from?
A) north
B) north-east
C) north-west
D) south-east
Q4 – What did Lencho compare the large raindrops

with?
A) silver coins
B) pearls
C) diamonds
D) new coins
A Letter to God
Q5- Which crop was growing on Lencho’s fields?

A) Corn
B) Barley
C) Rice
D) None of the above
Q6- What destroyed Lencho’s fields?

A) heavy rainfall
B) hailstorm
C) landslide
D) flood
A Letter to God
Q7- The field looked as if it were covered in
_______.
A) salt
B) locusts
C) sugar
D) ice
Q8- Lencho compared the quantum of damage

with
A) attack by rats
B) attack by crows
C) plague of locusts
When he finished, he went to the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then
affixed to the envelope with a blow of his fist. The moment the letter fell into the
mailbox the postmaster went to open it. It said: “God: Of the money that I asked for,
only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the rest, since I need it very much. But don’t
send it to me through the mail because the post office employees are a ‘bunch of
crooks’. Lencho.” [CBSE 2016]
(a) What did Lencho do with the stamp?
(b) What did the postmaster do when the letter fell into the mailbox and why?
(c) Find out the word which has the similar meaning as ‘attached’ used in the passage.
(d) Which word in the passage denotes a dishonest person?
Answer:
(a) Lencho licked and affixed the stamp to the envelope with a blow
of his fist.
(b) The postmaster immediately opened the letter to know Lencho’s
feeling for the money he had received.
(c) The word is ‘affixed’.
(d) The word is ‘crook’.
“That’s what they say: no one dies of hunger.” All through the night, Lencho thought only of
his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even
what is deep in one’s conscience. Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the
fields, but still he knew how to write. [CBSE 2014]
(a) What was Lencho’s only hope?
(b) How did Lencho work in the field?
(c) Find the exact word of similar meaning ‘moral sense’ given in the passage.
(d) Explain ‘an or of a man’.
Answer:
(a) Lencho’s only hope was the help of God.
(b) Lencho worked as an ‘ox’ in the field.
(c) The word is ‘conscience’.
(d) It means a man working hard like an ox or animal.
• What was Lencho expecting from the God? What did he receive? Why?
• Q. Explain the qualities of the post office employees?
• Q. How was Lencho’s life affected by the rain?
• Q. What did Lencho compare the raindrops to? Why?
• Q. What did Lencho call the raindrops? How did he value them?
• Q. Why did Lencho become angry when he counted the money?

• Q. Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the
irony in the situation?
• Q. There are two kinds of conflict in the story: between humans and nature,
and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?
A Letter to God
• Why was Lencho angry when he received the letter ? [2014]

• How did the postmaster help Lencho ? [2014]
OR
What did the postmaster do to keep the faith of Lencho ? [2012]
• Where was Lencho’s house situated ? Why did he sit seeing the sky ? [2013]
• What were Lencho’s feelings when the hailstorm stopped ? [2012]
• What did Lencho write in his second letter ? [2010]
CHAPTER-2
NELSON MANDELA: A LONG
WALK TO FREEDOM
Nelson Mandela: A long walk to freedom
❖ Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary.

❖ Mandela and his African National Congress had spent their entire
lives fighting against apartheid.
❖ Finally, democratic elections were held in South Africa in 1994 and
Mandela became the first black president of a new nation.
❖ He served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was
the first black president of South Africa to be elected in a fully
representative democratic election.
❖Long Walk to Freedom is an autobiography written by the
President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. It was first
published in 1994 by Little Brown & Company.
❖The final chapters of the book describe his political rise
and his belief that the struggle against apartheid in South
Africa is still ongoing.
1.First Non-Racial Government: It was the 10th of May, 1994. The day was
bright and clear. The inauguration ceremony of the first non-racial government
was held at the lovely amphitheatre in the Union Buildings in Pretoria. It was
the largest gathering of international leaders on South African soil. Politicians
and dignitaries from more than 140 countries attended the ceremony. First of
all Mr. de Klerk was sworn-in as second Deputy President. Then Thabo Mbeki
was sworn-in as the first Deputy President. Then came Mandela’s turn. He was
sworn-in as the first black President of South Africa.
2. Mandela’s speech: Mandela spoke how for decades South Africa was the seat
of white supremacy. Now the presence of all people confer glory and hope to
newborn liberty. The blacks who were considered as outlaws not so long ago
were hosting the nations of the world on their soil. Their victory over ‘apartheid’
was a common victory for justice, peace and human dignity. Political freedom had
been won. Now they would work hard to liberate all their people from the
bondage of poverty, deprivation and diseases. Never would South Africa again
face the oppression of one by another.
3. impressive Display of jets: Then there was a spectacular display of jets. South
African jets and helicopters roared in perfect formation over them in the sky. It
was also a demonstration of the military’s loyalty to democracy and to the new
government. Then two national anthems were played.
4. The sense of History: Nelson Mandela was overwhelmed with a sense of
history. A few years after the Anglo-Boer war, apartheid was introduced in South
Africa. The society based on racial-discrimination was the harshest and most
inhuman society in the world. Now a new system based on the equality of all men
regardless of their colour and race has replaced the old and cruel system.
5. The policy of Apartheid: Apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in

the people. The decades of exploitation and oppression of the black
produced heroes like Tambo’s, Sislus and others. These black heroes were
men of extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity. The greatest wealth
of South Africa was not in its minerals and diamonds but in men of such
great character.
6. The struggle of Comrades: Nelson Mandela learnt the meaning of courage
from such brave comrades. Courage is the victory over fear. These comrades
were ready to risk and sacrifice their lives for an idea—the idea of freedom and
equality. Even in the darkest prisons their hopes and faith were not broken.
They never allowed the flame of struggle to be extinguished.
7. Twin Responsibilities: Nelson Mandela thought that every man has

twin obligations. He has a duty towards his wife and children and an
obligation to his people and country. In South Africa, it was impossible
for blacks like him to fulfil both those obligations. If any black tried to
live like a free human being, he was punished and isolated. He was
forced to live an isolated life — away from his family. He was forced to
live a life of rebellion and secrecy.
8. Joining the African National Congress: Mandela realised that not only
was he deprived of freedom but his brothers and sisters were also deprived
of freedom. That was why he joined the African National Congress. It was his
desire for the freedom of his people and their self-respect that totally
transformed him from a weak young man to a bold one. A law-abiding
lawyer was forced to become an outlaw. He realised that freedom is
indivisible. He knew the oppressed must be liberated. The oppressed and
the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity. Both of them must be
liberated.
Q1- When was the inauguration day?

A) 10 May
B) 10 March
C) 20 May
D) 20 March
Q2- It was a celebration of South

Africa’s first ______ government.
A) autocratic, racial
B) democratic, non-racial
C) democratic, racial
D) monarch, non-racial
Q3- How many deputy presidents were elected?
A) two
B) three
C) one
D) none
Q4- Why did other countries broke off diplomatic

relations wih South Africa?
A) White rulers
B) Other countries are racial
C) It is a poor country
D) Apartheid policy
Q5- Which party did Mandela join?

A) Indian National Congress
B) African National Congress
C) National African Party
D) he did not join any party
Q6- A man who takes away another man’s freedom is

_____
A) White
B) a prisoner of hatred
C) criminal
D) rude
Q7- Who, according to Mandela is not free?

A) oppressor
B) oprressed
C) both 1 and 2
D) none of the above
Q8- How did Mandela’s hunger for freedom change his life?
A) turned from frightened to bold
B) turned from law-abiding attorney to a criminal
C) turned a life-loving man to live like a monk
C) all of the above
It was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force but a
demonstration of the military’s loyalty to democracy, to a new government
that had been freely and fairly elected. Only moments before, the highest
generals of the South African defence force and police, their chests
bedecked with ribbons and medals from days gone by, saluted me and
pledged their loyalty.
(a) What type of government was chosen in South Africa?
(b) How was it chosen?
(c) What do the military generals do?
(d) How has their attitude changed and why?
(a) A democratic government was chosen in South Africa.

(b) It was chosen through free and fair elections.
(c) The military generals saluted and pledged their loyalty in front of Mr
Mandela.
(d) A few years ago, military generals had arrested Mr Mandela. Their
attitude had changed because the country had got freedom from the racial
dominations.
2. It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with
dignity and self-respect that animated my life that transformed a
frightened young man into a bold one that drove a law-abiding attorney to
become a criminal.
(a) What animated the narrator’s/author’s life?
(b) Who is the law-abiding attorney here?
(c) How did `he’ become a criminal?
(d) When and what transformation took place in Mandela?
(a) The desire for the freedom of his people’s life changed his life.
(b) Nelson Mandela
(c) `He’ became a criminal according to the then prevalent laws because he
was fighting for his people’s freedom.
(d) It was his desire for freedom for all that transformed a frightened young
man into a bold one and a law-abiding attorney into a criminal.
Why does Mandela say that freedom is indivisible? How are the oppressed and the
oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity?
Ans. Nelson Mandela believes that freedom is indivisible. His hunger for his own
freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of his people. He couldn’t live his
life with dignity and self-respect if his own people were bound in chains. The chains on
any one of his people were the chains on all of them. The chains on all of his people were
the chains on him. Mandela realised that the oppressor must be liberated as surely as
the oppressed. A man who takes away another’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred,
prejudice and narrow mindedness. He is not truly free if he is taking away someone
else’s freedom. Surely, he is not free when his freedom is taken away from him. Thus the
oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.
What is the greatest wealth of a country according to Nelson Mandela?
Ans. South Africa is rich in the minerals and gems. But minerals and gems are not the
greatest wealth of a nation. Mandela thinks that the greatest and real wealth of a nation is
its people. They are finer and truer than the purest diamonds.
How does Mandela define courage and from where did he learn the meaning of courage?
Ans. Nelson Mandela learnt the meaning of courage from great patriots and comrades in
the struggle. They risked their lives and stood up to attacks and tortures of the apartheid
regime. He learned that courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. The
brave man is not he who doesn’t feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Which twin obligations does Nelson Mandela mention in the lesson? Why
were he and the rest of blacks able to fulfil those obligations?
Nelson Mandela that every man has twin obligations in life. The first obligation
of a man is to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children. He has another
obligation also. He has an obligation to his people, his community and his
country. Every man is to do his duty according to his situation and strength. But
in South Africa, it was impossible for a man like Mandela or other blacks to fulfil
those obligations. If a man tried to live as a human being, he was punished and
isolated.
Nelson Mandela that every man has twin obligations in life. The first
obligation of a man is to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children. He
has another obligation also. He has an obligation to his people, his
community and his country. Every man is to do his duty according to his
situation and strength. But in South Africa, it was impossible for a man like
Mandela or other blacks to fulfil those obligations. If a man tried to live as a
human being, he was punished and isolated.
CHAPTER-3
DUST OF SNOW
Dust OF Snow
Dust of Snow Introduction

The poem “Dust of Snow” by Robert
Frost is a simple and short poem, yet
with a deeper and larger meaning. The
poet explains how an act as petty as
experiencing snow on one’s body can
brighten one’s day up.
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Dust OF Snow
1.It is a winter’s day.
2.The treetops were covered with masses of snowflakes.
3.The poet was walking under one such snow covered tree.
4.This tree was a hemlock tree, with poisonous qualities.
5.A crow alighted on the hemlock tree suddenly.
6.The sudden movement of the crow, the mass of snowflakes
started falling down the tree.
7.The snowflakes fell down upon the poet who was standing
under the tree.
55
Dust OF Snow
8. The mass of snowflakes was so light and find that it looked like
the dust of white snow.
9. The sudden movement and arrival of the crow and the falling of
the flakes of snow look like just ordinary happenings.
10. But the falling of fine snowflakes on the poet leaves a
tremendous effect on him.
11. Before this, the poet was in a gloomy or despairing mood.
However, this simple beautiful act of nature has a very comforting
effect on him.
12. The fall of snow over him changes his mood and mental state.
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Dust OF Snow
13. It gladdens his heart.
14. Before this incident, that particular day was not going too well for
him.
15. He had decided in his mind that day would go waste.
16. However, the fall of snowflakes on him makes him realise that the
whole day has not been wasted.
17. At least, this part of the day when he is enjoying the snowflakes has
been saved.
18. At least, some part of the day has been pleasant.
19. If he had not experienced such a pleasant experience, he would
have regretted at the wastage of the whole day.
57
Dust OF Snow
Q1- The poet says, “Of a day I had rued”. What is

the meaning of “rued”?
A) ruined
B) held in regret
C) ruled
D) conquered
Q2- What uplifted his mood?

A) falling of snow on his shoulder
B) the crow
C) hemlock tree
D) all of the above
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Dust OF Snow
Q3- What are the two negative creatures that Frost

used as carriers of positivity?
A) snow, dust
B) hemlock tree, snow
C) snow, crow
D) hemlock tree, crow
Q4- The crow and Hemlock tree symbolize ____

A) sorrow
B) happiness
C) celebration
D) death
59
Dust OF Snow
Question 1
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree.
(i) Name the poem and poet.

(ii) Where was the crow?
(iii) What did the crow do?
(iv) What does a “hemlock tree’ represent?
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Dust OF Snow
Answer
(i) These lines have been taken from the poem “Dust of Snow”
composed by Robert Frost.
(ii) The crow was on the hemlock tree.
(iii) The crow shook the tree in such a way that the dust of snow fell on
the poet.
(iv) A hemlock tree is a poisonous tree. It is not considered Favourable
(अनक
ु ू ल). It represents (प्रतितनधित्व करिा है )sorrow.
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Dust OF Snow
Question 2.
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
(i) Who is ‘I’ in these lines

(ii) What changed the mood of the poet?
(iii) What did the poet decide?
(iv) What was the mood of the poet before and after the incident?
62
Dust OF Snow
Answer
i) ‘I’ is the poet himself here.
ii) The poet’s mood changed when the dust of snow from the
hemlock tree fell down on the poet by the crow.
iii) The poet decided to save rest of the day so that there is no
harm or sorrow for him.
iv) The poet was in depressive mood before the incident and
after the incident the poet was in enjoyable mood.
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Dust OF Snow
Question 1.
How did the crow change the poet’s mood?
Answer:
The poet was going somewhere in a snowy morning. He was upset. All the trees
were covered with snow dust. A crow sitting on a hemlock tree shook the tree in
such a way that some dust of snow fell on the poet. This changed his mood and he
became happy and relaxed.
Question 2.
What was the reaction of the poet when the dust of snow fell on him?
Answer:
Normally, people thought both crow and hemlock tree are auspicious. But when the
dust of snow from hemlock tree fell on poet, he took it in other way. He was
depressed and sorrowful but the moment the crow shook the hemlock tree and
dust of snow fell on him, he felt unburdened and relieved.
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Dust OF Snow
Question 3.
How does the poet react to crow and hemlock tree?
Answer:
Crow and hemlock tree are considered inauspicious in the west. They are generally taken /is bad
omen. But the poet did not take them in negative way. They saved his day. His negative outlook
changed to the positive one.
Question 4.
What made the poet change his mood?
Answer:
A crow on the hemlock tree shook down the dust of snow on the poet. The falling dust of snow
on the poet has changed his mood.
65
Dust OF Snow
What is the underlying message for us in our hectic life with reference to
the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’?
Answer:
The underlying message for us in our hectic life with reference to the poem ‘Dust
of Snow’ is that we should enjoy nature utmost and we should have a positive
outlook even towards simple acts because they can lead to the learning of
greater lessons of enjoying life.
66
Dust OF Snow
Has given my heart

A change of mood And saved some part Of a day I had rued.
1. (a) Of what change does the poet mention here?
(b) Whose part of the day has been saved?
(c) What is the rhyme scheme of the passage?
(d) Who is the poet?
67
Dust OF Snow
(a) The poet mentions the change of mood here.

(b) The poet’s part of the day has been saved.
(c) The rhyme scheme of the passage is ab.
(d) Robert Frost is the poet.
68
CHAPTER-4
FIRE AND ICE
Fire and Ice
The poet says that someday this world would get

destroyed. It will be either because of excessive
heat or because of excessive cold. I have
understood that a strong desire can cause lot
disturbance in the life of a person. Such situation
can be called as fire within the person. Therefore, I
feel the world will end because of fire.
70
Fire and Ice
But if the world has to get destroyed twice,

first it will be because of hate that is
prevailing in the society. And the cold
behavior of people towards each other is
also sufficient to destroy the world.
71
Fire and Ice
Q1- Who is the poet of the poem “Fire

and Ice”?
A) Leslie Norris
B) Robert Frost
C) Carolyn Wells
D) Robin Klein
Q2- What does the poet compare fire

with?
A) hatred
B) desire
C) hot
D) both 1 and 3
72
Fire and Ice
Q3- What is the meaning of “perish”?

A) bloom
B) rise
C) die
D) glow
Q4- What would suffice if the world

were to perish twice?
A) ice
B) fire
C) hatred
D) both 1 and 2
73
Fire and Ice
1. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help in

bringing out the contrasting ideas in the poem?
The rhyme scheme of the poem is “aba abc bcb”. The poet has used
rhyming beautifully to bring about contrasting(विषम) ideas in the
poem. He has used the ideas of two groups who believe that the
world would come to an objectionable end either as a result of fire
or ice.
74
Fire and Ice
Side by side he describes these two important components as

features of destructive (ववनाशकारी) human emotions: desire and
hatred. Just like fiery desires and icy hatred can cause damage to an
Fire and
individual which cannot be repaired (मरम्मत), fireIce
and ice can lead
NCERT Question
the world to the boundary, of chaos(गड़बड़़ी) Answer
and thus,
disaster(ववपवि).
75
Fire and Ice
Question 1.
Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire. Fire and Ice
(a) What is the poet’s opinion of the
Extra world inQuestion
Important these lines?
Answer
(b) What is the poet’s opinion about the world?
(c) What is the contradictory opinion of public?
(d) How are ice and fire similar to each other though they have contradictory
traits?
76
Fire and Ice
(a)In the poet’s opinion the world will end in fire.

(b)According to the poet, the world will end in fire.
(c)The contradictory opinion of the public is the debate
whether the world will end in fire or ice.
Fire and Ice
(d)Both ice and fire are similar in the sense that both of them
Extra Important Question Answer
would destroy everything in the world.
77
Fire and Ice
But if it had to perish twice

I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice. Fire and Ice
a) (a) What does ‘it’ referExtra
to inImportant Question Answer
the first line?
b) What do you mean by ‘perish’?
c) What does ice stand for?
d) What would be the cause of destruction?
78
Fire and Ice
(a) ‘It’ refers to the world.

(b) Perish means to die or to be destroyed.
(c) Ice stands for coldness.
(d) Ice or fire would be the cause of destruction.
Fire and Ice
79
Fire and Ice
1. What do you think would be enough to destroy the world? Can Fire and Ice
contribute to it?
Ans. Our desires and hatred would be enough to destroy the world. According
to the poet, `fire’ represents ‘desire’ and
Fire`ice’
and represents
Ice `hatred’. Desires like
fire spread rapidly and engulf one’s whole life. Similarly, ‘hatred’ fills life with
poison.
80
Fire and Ice
2. What is the underlying idea of the poem `Fire and Ice’?

Ans. The poet equates fire with `desire’ and ice with ‘hatred’. Both
of these are growing with enormous speed. If we don’t check them
Fire and Ice
from growing, the world will perish. So we must restrain our desires
and love our fellow-beings.
81
Fire and Ice
3. Which two ideas about how the world will end have been
mentioned in the poem? Which idea does the poet support more?
Ans. The two ideas mentioned are that the world will end in fire or
Fire and Ice
in ice. Though the poet thinks both are great for destruction, yet he
seems to favour the idea of the destruction of the world in a fire a
little more than in ice.
82
Fire and Ice
4. What do people think about the end of the world? Who does the poet side
with and why?
Ans. People are divided over the cause of the end of this world. Some people
think that ‘fire’ symbolised by unbridled
Firepassions,
and Ice desires and fury will destroy
this world. Others believe that ‘ice’ symbolised by cold reasoning, indifference
and hatred will be the cause of destruction. The poet sides with those who
believe that ‘fire’ or unbridled passions and desires will result in the
destruction of the world.
83
Fire and Ice
5. What do the metaphors of ‘ice’ and ‘fire’ convey to the readers? Don’t they
represent the two extremes of human behaviour that can lead to the destruction
and death of this world? What is the message that the poet wants to give to the
readers?
Fire
Ans. The poet has touched the universal and
issue Iceending of this existing world. He
of the
gives a message as well as a warning to human beings. Man is swaying between two
extremes — ‘fire’ and ‘ice’. Sometimes he is torn by his unbridled fire of passions,
desires, lusts, longings and fury. This results in greed, avarice and passionate love. All
such extremes can lead to unavoidable conflicts and disasters. If not controlled, they
can help in bringing an early end of this world.
84
Fire and Ice
The other extreme behaviour of human beings is born out of cold and ‘icy’ reasoning.
When our cold reasoning becomes completely devoid of human warmth, feelings,
love and sympathy, it breeds hatred. Hatred born out of cold indifference, insensitivity
and rigidity are strong enough to cause the end of this world. Humanity can redeem
itself and possibly save or delay the endFire and
of the Iceby giving up such extremes of
world
thinking and behaviour.
85
CHAPTER-5
Two stories about flying
• Young Seagull Afraid to Fly: The young seagull was alone on his
ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already learnt the art of
flying only the day before. He did try. He had taken a little run
forward and tried to flap his wings. But that was all he could do. He
became afraid. He felt that his wings would not support him. So he
bent his head and ran away back to the little hole where he slept at
night. His brothers and his sister had wings far shorter than his own
wings. But he failed to muster up courage and fly. His parents
taunted, scolded and threatened him to leave him starving at the
ledge unless he flew away. But nothing could make him fly.
• Parents Perfecting Brothers and Sister: The seagull helplessly
watched his parents flying with his brothers and sister. They were
Perfecting them in the art of flying. They were teaching them how to
skim the waves and how to dive for fish. The whole family went on
taunting him for his cowardice.
• Maddened by Hunger, He Dived at the Fish: Only his mother was
looking at him. She had picked a piece of fish. She was flying across to
him with it. He leaned out eagerly. The mother was very near to him
with the fish in her beak. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish.
With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards into space. A
terror seized him. His heart stood still. His mother swooped past him.
He answered her with another scream. He saw his two brothers and
sister flying around him.
• First Flight: The seagull completely forgot that he was not able to
fly. He let himself free to dive, soar and curve at will. He was
shrieking shrilly. He saw a green sea beneath him. His parents, his
brothers and sister were beckoning to him calling shrilly. He was
tired and weak with hunger. His feet sank into the green sea and his
belly touched it. He sank no farther. His family were praising him
and their beaks were offering him scraps of fish. He had made his
first flight.
• On his Way to England: The moon was coming in the clear sky. The narrator was
flying his old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England. He contacted Paris
Control for instructions. He was asked to turn twelve degrees west. He thought
that he would be in time for English breakfast.
• Storm Clouds: Paris was 150 kilometres behind him. He saw the clouds in the sky.
They were storm clouds. They looked like black mountains standing in front of him.
He couldn’t avoid by flying up and over them. He didn’t have enough petrol (fuel)
to fly around the north and south. He thought of going back to Paris. But he
wanted to go home for breakfast.
• Instruments Dead: The narrator took the risk. He flew that old Dakota straight into
the storm. Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black. He couldn’t see
anything outside. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. He looked at
the compass. It was dead. The other instruments were suddenly dead too. He tried
the radio to contact Paris control. There was no answer. He didn’t know where he
was. He was in a very hopeless situation.
• Black Plane for Help: He was lost in the storm. Suddenly, he saw another
aeroplane. The black aeroplane was flying next to him. He could see the pilot’s
face. He was glad to see another person. “Follow me”, he said waving his one hand.
The narrator followed him like an obedient child.
• Landed Safely: He followed the black aeroplane for half an hour. Now there was
only enough fuel in the old Dakota’s last tank to fly for five or ten minutes. Then he
started going down. He saw two straight lines of lights before him. It was a runway.
“An airport,” he cried in joy. He turned to look for his friend in the black aeroplane,
but the sky was empty. He wanted to say ‘Thank you” to his rescuer.
• The mystery about the Black Aeroplane: After landing, he went to the control
tower. He asked the lady there where he was. He also asked who the other pilot
was. She looked at him strangely and then laughed. She replied that no other
aeroplane was flying that night. She could only see his aeroplane on the radar. Who
helped the narrator to arrive there safely without a compass or a radio, and
without any more fuel in his tanks? It remained an unsolved mystery.
Q1- Why was he afraid to fly?
A) he was a coward
B) he was afraid his wings will not support him
C) he was afraid that everyone would judge
him
D) both 1 and 2
Q2- What did his parents threaten him with if

he didn’t flew away?
A) to never talk to him
B) to punish him
C) to starve him
D) to abandon him
Q3- The sight of ________ maddened him.
A) his brothers flying
B) his siblings enjoying without him
C) food
D) all of the above
Q4- What urged him to make his first flight?

A) hunger
B) sight of fish
C) courage
D) both 1 and 2
Q5- The pilot was flying from _____ to
_____.
A) England, France
B) England, India
C) France, England
D) France, India
Q6- What was the pilot looking forward to?

A) to reach his destination
B) to meet his family
C) his holiday
D) both 2 and 3
Q7- What was the name of the aeroplane that
the pilot was flying?
A) Airbus
B) Boeing
C) Dakota
D) Minesotta
Q8- The pilot was not able to ___ anything

A) see
B) hear
C) speak
D) all of them
• Question 1.
The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already
flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had
taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings he
became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long
way down miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him; so he bent
his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night.
(a) Why was the young seagull afraid?
(b) What did the young seagull feel about his wings?
(c) Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as ‘the verge’.
(d) Pick out the word from the passage which means ‘a narrow flat piece of rock that
sticks out from a cliff’.
• Question 2.
That was twenty-four hours ago. Since then nobody had come near him. The day before,
all day long, he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sister,
perfecting them in the art of flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive
for fish. He had in fact, seen his elder brother catch his first herring and devour it, standing
on a rock, while his parents circled around raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the
whole family had walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff
taunting him for his cowardice.
(a) The young seagull had been alone for how much time?
(b) Why was the whole family taunting the young seagull?
(c) Find the word which can be replaced by ‘consume’ in the passage?
(d) The word ‘bravery’ is an antonym of ……….
• Question 3.
He stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg hidden under his
wing, he closed one eye, then the other, and pretended to be falling asleep. Still they took no notice of him. He
saw his two brothers and his sister lying on the plateau dozing with their heads sunk into their necks. His father
was preening the feathers on his white back.
Only his mother was looking at him. She was standing on a little high hump on the plateau, her white breast
thrust forward.
Now and again, she tore at a piece of fish that lay at her feet and then scrapped each side of her beak on the
rock.
(a) What did the young seagull do out of his ledge?
(b) What was seagull’s father doing?
(c) Find out the word in the passage which mean the same as ‘to sharpen’.
(d) What does plateau mean?
• Question 1.
The moon was coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear sky above
me. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone high up above the sleeping
countryside. I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England. I was dreaming
of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family. I looked at my watch at one thirty in
the morning.
I should call Paris Control soon. I thought. As I looked down past the nose of the aeroplane, I
saw the lights of a big city in front of me.
(a) How was the weather when the pilot started flying his aeroplane?
(b) Why was the pilot flying his old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England?
(c) Find out the word similar in the meaning to ‘hoping with pleasure’.
(d) Choose from the passage the word which means ‘land outside towns or cities’.
• Question 2.
Paris was about 150 kilometres behind me when I saw the clouds. Storm clouds.
They were huge. They looked like black mountains ‘standing in front of me across
the sky-1 knew I could not fly up and over them, and I did not have enough fuel to
fly around them to the north or south. CBSE 2016
(a) What happened when the pilot was about 150 kilometres away from Paris?
(b) What does the author compare the clouds to?
(c) Find out the word similar in meaning as sufficient.
(d) The word ‘elephantine’ is similar in meaning to the word ………
• Question 3.
“He knows that I am lost”, I thought ‘He’s trying to help me.
He turned his aeroplane slowly to the north, in front of my Dakota, so that it would be easier for me
to follow him. I was very happy to go behind the strange aeroplane like an obedient child.
After half an hour the strange black aeroplane was still there in front of me in the clouds. Now, there
was only enough fuel in the old Dakota’s last tank to fly for five or ten minutes more. I was starting to
feel frightened again. But then he started to go down and I followed through the storm.
(a) Why was the pilot happy to find his aeroplane behind another aeroplane in the black clouds?
(b) Why was the pilot frightened again?
(c) Find the opposite of ‘insufficient’ from the passage.
(d) What does a ‘storm’ mean?
CHAPTER-6
From the diary of Anne Frank
1.Diary Writing—A Strange Experience: Anne Frank thinks that writing a
diary is a strange experience for her. She has never written anything like
this before. She feels that no one else, except her, will be interested in the
musings of a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl. She writes it for herself. She
wants to get all kinds of things off her chest.
2.Paper has more patience than people: Anne feels that paper has more
patience than people. There was a time when she was a little depressed
and sat at home. She doesn’t want anyone else, except her, to read her
‘stiff-backed’ notebook unless she finds a real friend. She keeps the diary
as she doesn’t have a friend.
3. Her Diary—Her Friend ‘Kitty’: Anne writes that outwardly there are about 30
people whom she can call friends. She has a family, loving aunts and a good home.
She has loving parents and a sixteen-year-old sister. But still, she feels all alone. She
can only talk about ordinary things with them. They are not able to come closer. This
is the problem. They can’t confide in each other. Maybe it is her ON, on fault. This is
why she has started the diary. She wants her diary to be her friend. She calls her
diary, her friend ‘Kitty’.
4. Brief Sketch of Family: She calls her father, the most adorable father. He married
at 36 when her mother was 25. Her sister Margot was born in 1926 while she was
born on 12th June 1929. They emigrated to Holland in 1933. She got her education
there. In 1942 her grandma died. Anne started writing her diary on 20th June 1942.
5. Class shaking with fear: The entire class is shaking with fear. The teachers will decide
in the next meeting who will move up and who will be kept back. She realises that at
least there are about a quarter of students who are totally worthless and should be kept
back. But it is difficult to predict the decision of the teachers. She is not much worried
about herself and her girlfriends. She is not very sure about maths. She has good
relations with her teachers. Mr Keesing, the Maths teacher is an old-fashioned teacher.
He doesn’t like her because she talks too much.
6. Essay — A Chatterbox: The Maths teacher gives her some extra work to write an essay
on ‘A Chatterbox’. She writes three pages. She argues in the essay that talking is a
student’s trait. She promises to keep it under control. She feels that she will never be
able to cure herself of the habit. Her mother also talked as much as she does. It is an
inherited trait. Mr Keesing has a good laugh at her arguments in the essay.
He assigns her a second essay on ‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox’ Finally, as punishment for
talking in the class, he gives her another essay on “Quack, Quack, Quack, said Mistress
Chatterbox”. The class gives a roar of laughter. Her friend, Sanne, is good at poetry. She offers
to help her. Anne wants to turn the table on Mr Keesing. She finishes the poem about a
mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings. They are bitten to death by the
father because they quack too much. Mr Keesing understands the poem and its message in
the right way. Since then she has been allowed to talk. She has not been assigned with any
extra homework.
Q1- Why was writing in a diary a strange
experience for Anne?
A) she had never written anything before
B) she didn’t know how to write
C) neither she nor anyone else would be
interested in it later
D) Both A and C
Q2- Who would Anne allow to read her diary?

A) her sister
B) her parents
C) a real friend (if she got one)
D) no one
Q3- Why does Anne want to keep a diary?
A) she has no close friends
B) she loves to write
C) she wants people to read about her later
D) she likes the idea of it
Q4- What did she name her diary?

A) Anne
B) Catty
C) Kitty
D) Kitten
Q5- Why does she give a brief sketch about her
family in the diary?
A) no one would understand it if she dove right in
B) to introduce Kitty to her family
C) she would forget facts about her family
D) she liked talking about her family
Q6- Which subject was she not sure of passing?

A) Maths
B) science
C) english
D) all of the above
Anne Frank
Why did Anne start writing a diary?

Ans. Anne had all the loving parents, a sister and many friends. But
she had no real friend. She needed someone to listen to her musings,
to share her secrets with and to confide in. She could not feel free
with her friends. This prompted her to keep a diary.
124
Anne Frank
‘Paper has more patience than people’. Elucidate.

Ans. According to Anne Frank, people are not always
interested in listening to what you are telling them. They
get bored and lose patience, but it is not so with paper. You
can go on writing whatever you like, and as long as you like.
125
Anne Frank
Why did Anne Frank think that she could confide more in her diary
than in the people?
Ans. Anne got a diary as a gift on her thirteenth birthday. First, she
didn’t like the idea of writing diary at all. But then she felt like writing
because she had to get all kinds of things off her chest. She felt
lonely, bored and depressed, though she had loving parents, a sister
and thirty others. She was a shy and introvert type of a girl. She did
not have a true friend. Even though she had a happy family but
somehow, she could not confide in them.
126
Anne Frank
She wanted someone with whom she could share her secrets. She
found a real friend in her diary ‘Kitty’. Moreover, she realized the
truth lying in the fact that paper has more patience than people. She
did not plan to let anyone else read her diary, unless she ever found a
real friend. So she could confide in more ideas in her diary than in
people because people are not always interested in listening to what
you are telling them. But diary conceals all your secrets.
127
Anne Frank
How did Anne respond to the punishment by Mr. Keesing? What light
does it throw on her nature?
Ans. Mr. Keesing Anne’s, Maths teacher, was always annoyed with
Anne because of her talkative nature. So, he had given her some
extra work to write an essay on “A Chatter Box”. She wrote in her
essay, “Talking is a student’s trait and I would do my best to control it.
But I won’t be able to cure this habit since my mother is also
talkative. So moving from the inherited trait cannot be done“. On
reading her arguments, Mr. Keesing had a good laugh. When the
teacher gave her another essay on ‘An Incorrigible Chatter Box’.
128
Anne Frank
It was a punishment for Anne for talking in the class. Anne gave a
message through the poem to the teacher. The teacher got so
impressed by her little poem that he decided not to punish her. She
made him realize his mistake. It also reflects her fearlessness, critical
thinking, humility and unbiased approach as well as her creativity and
humorous approach to deal with her strict teacher.
129
Anne Frank
Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me.
Not only because I’ve never written anything before, but also
because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be
interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl. Oh well, it
doesn’t matter. I feel like writing, and I have an even greater need to
get all kinds of things off my chest.
Word-Meaning: Strange—unusual, Musings – (here) ideas, Off my
chest – (here) to remove the burden,
Questions:
(a) What is a strange experience for a girl like Anne?
(b) What does she think about her musings?
(c) Were her ideas really not liked by anyone later on?
(d) Who is the narrator?
130
Anne Frank
(a) Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for a girl

like Anne.
(b) She thinks that no one is interested in the musings of a
thirteen-year-old schoolgirl.
(c) No, her ideas were liked by a large number of readers.
(d) Anne Frank is the narrator of this passage.
131
Anne Frank
‘Paper has more patience than people.’ I thought of this saying on one of those days
when I was feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin in my hands,
bored and listless, wondering whether to stay in or go out. I finally stayed where I
was, brooding: Yes, the paper does have more patience, and since I’m not planning to let
anyone else read this stiff-backed notebook grandly referred to as a ‘diary’ unless I should
ever find a real friend, it probably won’t make a bit of difference.
Word-Meaning: Depressed—fallen in spirit, not happy, Listless—without any
power, Brooding—thinking over, Stiff – hard, Grandly—glorifying, Referred to—pointed,
named, Probably – perhaps, Bit—a little,
Questions:
(a) How has paper more patience than people?
(b) What did she do when she was depressed?
(c) Why does she want others not to read what she writes?
(d) Does she have a real friend now?
132
Anne Frank
(a) Paper has more patience because it is devoid of all emotions and
passions which humans suffer from.
(b) She sat at home bored and listless.
(c) She thought that no one would like her ideas and would make a mockery
of them.
(d) No, so far she doesn’t have a real friend.
133
Explain ‘teachers are the most unpredictable
creatures’.
Ans. Anne and her classmates thought that teachers were
the most unpredictable creatures’ as nobody would know
what there was in their minds and what their next step
would be.
Anne Frank
How was Anne getting along with her teachers? Why was Mr Keesing
annoyed with her?
Ans. No doubt, Anne Frank was getting along well with all her nine
teachers— seven men and two women. Mr Keesing was an old-fashioned
man who taught them maths. He was annoyed with her for a long time. The
reason was simple. He didn’t like Anne as she talked so much in the class.
135
Anne Frank
Describe the three essays written by Anne Frank.
Ans. Anne Frank was in the habit of talking in the class. Her Maths teacher, Mr
Keesing was annoyed with her. One day, Mr Keesing gave her extra homework as
a punishment. He asked her to write an essay on the subject, ‘A Chatterbox’. She
gave amusing arguments in her essay. She wrote that it was a trait of a student to
talk. Moreover, she could not cure herself of this habit as her mother also talked
as much as she did. It was an inherited trait. Mr Keesing liked the essay. But Anne
talked again for the class. So he asked her to write another essay on the topic,
‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox.’ Now for two lessons, she did not get any punishment.
But she talked again.
136
Anne Frank
This time, Mr Keesing asked her to write an essay on the topic, ‘Quack,
Quack, Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox.’ Anne wrote this essay in verse
form. She wrote about a mother duck and father swan. They had three
ducklings. But the father killed the ducklings because they quacked too
much. Mr Keesing liked the essay greatly. He read it out to the class. He
read it to other classes also. After that, he stopped punishing Anne.
137
CHAPTER-7
A tiger in the zoo
About the Poet
George Leslie Norris
139
A Tiger in the Zoo
He stalks in his vivid stripes

The few steps of his cage ,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
Stalks Walks
Bright,
Vivid
Fascinating, Clear
Stripes Lines
Velvet Type of soft cloth
Quiet Silent
Rage Anger 140
A Tiger in the Zoo
He should be lurking in shadow,

Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass
Lurking Hiding to attack

Sliding Moving slowly
Source of water like
Water hole
a stream
Plump Fat
141
A Tiger in the Zoo
He should be snarling around houses

At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
Snarling Growling
Baring Showing
Fangs Teeth
Terrorise To frighten
Nails of animal or
Claws
bird
142
A Tiger in the Zoo
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,

His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
Cell A small room

In prison, Arrested,
Behind bars
Restricted
143
A Tiger in the Zoo
He hears the last voice at night,

The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
Vehicle used for

Patrolling cars
taking rounds
Stare Look intently
Brilliant Shining
144
A Tiger in the Zoo
Q1- The poem draws a contrast between _____
and _____ .
A) animals, human beings
B) tiger in a zoo, tiger in a forest
C) tiger in a zoo, humans
D) humans, tiger in forest
Q2- What has been personified in the poem?

A) tiger
B) forest
C) zoo
D) all of the above
145
A Tiger in the Zoo
Q3- Why should he be lurking in shadow?
A) out of fear
B) out of anger
C) to catch the deer
D) both 1 and 2
Q4- By “ignoring visitors”, what is the poet trying

to say?
A) tiger knows his power is restricted
B) there is no use of showing rage
C) he is less terrorising because of the cage
D) all of the above
146
A Tiger in the Zoo
Q5- What describes “tiger in a cell”?
A) Locked in concrete cell
B) snarling around houses
C) shadow, long grass
D) baring his white fangs
Q6- What described “tiger in a jungle”?

A) Locked in concrete cell
B) his strength behind bars
C) ignoring visitors
D) baring his white fangs
147
A Tiger in the Zoo
1.How does the tiger feel in the zoo?
Answer
The poet describes the feelings of the tiger in the zoo. He keeps on moving
from one corner to another. In the following line from the poem, He
Expresses his Silent anger that He is not happy.
“ He stalks in his vivid stripes moving the few steps of his cage”.
IMPORTANT EXTRA QUESTION ANSWER 148

A Tiger in the Zoo
2.How does the tiger walk in the cage?

Answer
In the cage, the tiger walks formal and impressive and furiously (उग्रिापव
ू क
व ).

A Tiger in the Zoo
3.What message do you get from this poem?

Answer
From this poem, we come to know that animals like to live freely in the forest.
The animals do not want to live in the zoo. Their life is not getting any respect
at all.

A Tiger in the Zoo
4.How does the tiger act in the cage?

Answer
The tiger is in the cage. He is powerless and helpless (मजबूर). He has no

freedom. His velvet pads do not make any noise .He is in silent anger roaring
and ignoring the visitors.

5.What would the tiger do in a forest?
Answer
In the forest, the tiger can enjoy complete freedom. He would walk around
freely without any fear. He would terrorize the villagers by growling. He would
show his teeth and claws.

6. What does the poet want to convey through this poem?
Answer
The poet wants to convey that like human beings, animals also like freedom.
They do not want to be caged ; they cannot live a miserable (दख
ु ी) life. If their
habitat (Place or environment where a plant or animal lives and grows
naturally or normally) is destroyed by human beings, these animals cannot
survive.

7. ‘Freedom’ is a life for both humans and animals. Elaborate
Answer
The poet describes the feelings of the tiger in the zoo. He keeps on
moving from one corner to another. “He stalks in his vivid stripes moving
the few steps of his cage”. He is not happy. He expresses his silent anger.

He stalks in his vivid stripes,
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
(a) Why the tiger could walk only a few steps?
(b) How does the tiger move in the cage?
(c) What are the two qualities of the animal
under reference?
(d) Why is he in quiet rage? [CBSE 2014]

Answer:
(a) The tiger could walk only a few steps because he was
locked in a very small cage.
(b) The tiger moves very slowly and quietly in a threatening
way.
(c) The tiger has vivid stripes on his body and soft velvet pads.
(d) He is in quiet rage as he is locked and his freedom has been
curtailed. Thus, he is unable to show his anger

He should be snarling around houses At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
(a) What does the poet try to suggest through these lines?
(b) How does the tiger scare the people? [CBSE 2015]
(c) Why does ‘he’ snarl?
(d) How does ‘he’ show his presence? [CBSE 2011]

Answer:
(a) The poet is trying to suggest that the tiger should be allowed to live in
his natural habitat.
(b) The tiger scares the people by growling at them and showing his teeth
and claws.
(c) ‘He’ snarls to show his anger and helplessness.
(d) ‘He’ shows his presence by baring his white teeth and claws.
A Tiger in the Zoo
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
(a) What does the phrase ‘his strength behind the bar’ suggests?
(b) Why does the tiger ignore the visitors?
(c) What is the tiger doing in the cage?
(d) What does the expression ‘stalking the length of the cage’ imply? [CBSE 2012]

Answer:
(a) It means that he is helpless as he is locked in a cage.
(b) The tiger ignores the visitors because he considers them devoid of
feelings as none of them tries to help him out of the prison.
(c) The tiger is moving slowly and quietly along the length of the cage.
(d) It implies walking to and fro in helplessness.

CHAPTER-8
How to tell wild animals
How to Tell Wild Animals
About the Poet
Carolyn Wells
162
✓ The Asiatic lion is a grand and majestic wild beast.
✓ It is found in the jungles of the eastern countries of Asia.
✓ It is a huge yellowish coloured beast.
✓ It roars terribly loud and its loud roar can terrify you to death.
✓ If you meet such a ferocious and powerful animal, you must be sure that he is
the Asian Lion.
✓ The Bengal Tiger is a noble wild beast.
✓ The tiger has black stripes all over his yellowish hide.
✓ The moment you see him, he will not spare but eat you at once.
✓ When you are strolling forth a forest, you can find a beast.
✓ He is the leopard. 163
✓ His hide is peppered with spots.
✓ There is no escape from him even if you cry in pain.
✓ He will continue pouncing on you and eat you to death.
✓ If you are walking in your yard, you can be face to face with a bear.
✓ The bear hugs you very hard.
✓ His hug is not friendly.
✓ He may press you so hard that his hug may bring your death.
✓ An inexperienced person can’t distinguish beasts of prey.
✓ They will not be able to distinguish a hyena from a crocodile.
✓ Hyenas and crocodiles have very deceptive appearances.
164
✓ Hyenas smile merrily before attacking and killing their victims.

✓ Crocodiles pretend to be weeping before pouncing upon their prey and
killing them.
✓ A true Chameleon is a small animal like a lizard.
✓ He has no ears at all.
✓ Neither has he a single wing.
✓ If you see such a creature on a tree, then you are seeing a chameleon.
165
6
6
Question 1.
If ever you should go by chance To jungles in the east;
And if there should to you advance A large and tawny beast,
If he roars at you as you’re dyin’
You’ll know it is the Asian Lion ….
(a) State features of an Asian Lion.
(b) What happens when the lion roars?
(c) What do you mean by ‘tawny’ ?
(d) What is the physical appearance of the lion is the stanza?
Answer:
(a) An Asian Lion is large and brownish-yellow in colour.

(b) When the lion roars, it is very scary, and it feels like we are going to die.
(c) ‘Tawny’ means brownish-yellow in colour.
(d) The lion in the stanza is large and tawny.
Previous Year Question Answer 167

Question 2.
Or if some time when roaming round, A noble wild beast greets you,
With black stripes on a yellow ground, Just notice if he eats you.
This simple rule may help you learn The Bengal Tiger to discern.
(a) How can you recognise a Tiger?
(b) Why does the poet call him a noble animal?
(c) How is Bengal Tiger different from the other animals?
(d) What does the word ‘ground’ means here?
Answer:

(a) A tiger can be recognised with the black stripes on his yellow hide.
(b) The poet calls a him a noble animal as he is very impressive in size and does
not roar loudly.
(c) Bengal Tiger is different from the other animals as he is quiet and roams
silently.
(d) It means the hide or the background that is the skin of the Tiger.

Question 3.
Though to distinguish beasts of prey A novice might nonplus,
The crocodile you always may
Tell from the Hyena thus:
Hyenas come with merry smiles;
But if they weep they’re Crocodiles.
(a) Between which animals would it be difficult to differentiate?
(b) How does a Hyena differ from a Crocodile?
(c) Quote a saying famous for Crocodile.
(d) Where does a novice may get confused?

Answer:
(a) It would be difficult to differentiate between a Crocodile and a Hyena.
(b) A Hyena laughs as it swallows its victim, while a Crocodile weeps as it
swallows its prey.
(c) “Crocodile tears” is a famous saying for Crocodile.
(d) A novice may get confused in differentiating between a hyena and a
crocodile.

Question 5.
How can you distinguish between a tiger and a leopard?
Answer
A tiger has black stripes on its yellow coat. A leopard on the other hand, does
not have any stripes. It has spots peppered on its body. Moreover, a tiger kills
only when it is hungry, while a leopard can kill for the pleasure of killing by
pouncing continuously on its prey.

Question 6.
How does a leopard behave when he sees someone?
Answer:
As leopard has black spots all over its body. As soon as it sees
someone, it leaps over him at once. It keeps on pouncing continuously
on its victim, attacks him and starts eating him.

CHAPTER-9
Madam rides the bus
• The lesson is about an eight-year old girl named Valli, who did not have friends
to play with and so she would spend her time by looking at the outside affairs
going on the street.
• Her favourite part was to look at the bus that passed by her village every hour. It
gave her endless joy to look at the new set of passengers each time the bus
crossed by.
• Gradually, even she wished to travel by bus. Soon, the wish turned into a desire
and therefore, she made it her mission to fulfill it.
• She started listening to the conversations between her neighbours who
frequently travelled by bus and in the process, would ask a few careful questions
here and there to collect more information.
• Just like this, she knew that the town is six miles away from her village and it
took the bus forty five minutes to travel one side. One-sided fare was thirty
paise making it sixty for a back and forth ride.
• Therefore, she started planning and re-planning so that she could sneak out
during her mother’s afternoon nap and come back without her knowing
anything.
• She needed to save the money which was not easy as she had to resist the
temptation of candy, peppermint and merry-go-round. Finally, she saved enough
money and one fine day, the brave eight year old took the bus during it’s not
very busy hours.
• She refused to take any help from the conductor or fellow passengers. It was an amusing
sight for everyone to see such a small girl all alone acting like an adult.
• The conductor was of the joking sort and thus, referred to Valli as a grown up ‘madam’.
• Short-heighted Valli would stand on her seat to be able to see clearly from the window
while everyone advised her to sit for her own safety. Each time someone would poke their
nose in her business, Valli would get annoyed as she did not consider herself a child.
• She did not want to be friends with an elderly lady who was worried about her because
she thought she was not socially-capable enough.
• She enjoyed seeing what was going on outside and the sight of a running cow in the
middle of a road was abruptly a funny scenario for her.
• Upon reaching the town, she refused to get down the bus because she
was too afraid to do so alone. While returning, she carried extreme
enthusiasm until she saw a cow lying lifeless on the road. It was the same
cow that was so joyous previously.
• Valli got terrified at the fact that how a creature so full of life can instantly
turn into something horrible. She sat down silently for rest of the journey.
• Upon reaching home, she found her mother and aunt talking about the
endless possibilities in the world outside. Valli affirmed to what her mother
was saying leaving both of them astonished.
• She then justified her reaction by mentioning that she was casually
agreeing to what her mother was saying. Her aunt then referred to Valli as
a nose-poking child who acts like a grown-up lady but only Valli knew what
she was referring to because, after all, no one knew about her bus journey
Q1- How did she pick up small details about
the bus journey?
A) listening to conversations of neighbours
B) asking a few discreet questions
C) All of the above
Q2- Why did Valli stand up?

A) She wanted to enjoy the ride
B) she wasn’t able to look outside properly
C) she liked standing
D) she was tired of sitting
Q3- What was the next challenge once she’d
saved enough money?
A) tell her mom about it
B) know about the timings
C) buy a ticket
D) to sneak out of the house
Q4- What made her laugh on her journey?

A) the sight of a running cow
B) the old woman’s earrings
C) the old man
Madam Rides the Bus
Question 1.
But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable as
any of the elaborate games other children played. Watching the street
gave her many new unusual experiences.
(a) Why did Valli kept on standing at the doorway?
(b) How did Valli feel while standing at the doorway?
(c) Find a word from the extract which means ‘not very common’.
(d) How was valli different from children of her age?
Previous Year Question Answer

Madam Rides the Bus
Answer:
(a) Valli kept on standing at the doorway to watch the happenings on
the street outside.
(b) Watching the street gave Valli many new experiences. She felt
joyous standing at the doorway.
(c) ‘Unusual’ from the extract means ‘not very common’.
(d) Valli was different from children of her age as she was not interested
in playing any elaborate games.

Madam Rides the Bus
Question 2.
The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between
her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each
hour, once going to the town and once coming back. The sight of the
bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of
unending joy for Valli.
(a) How many times did the bus pass?
(b) What was the source of unending joy for Valli?
(c) Find a word from the extract which means ‘never ending’.
(d) What was the most fascinating thing for Valli?

Madam Rides the Bus
Answer:
(a) The bus passed through Valli’s street once in an hour.
(b) The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was
a source of unending joy for Valli.
(c) ‘Unending’ from the extract means ‘never ending’.
(d) The most fascinating thing for Valli was watching the bus that travelled
between her village and the nearest town.

Madam Rides the Bus
Question 3.
The town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one
way “which is almost nothing at all,” she heard one well-dressed man
say, but to Valli, who scarcely saw that much money from one month to
the next, it seemed a fortune. The trip to the town took forty-five
minutes.
(a) How much was the fare of the bus?
(b) How long would it take to complete her journey to reach back home?
(c) Find a word from the extract which means ‘luck’.
(d) What has been called ‘fortune’ for Valli?

Madam Rides the Bus
Answer:
(a) The fare of the bus was thirty paise for one side.
(b) It would take one hour thirty minutes for Valli to complete her
journey.
(c) ‘Fortune’ from the extract means ‘luck’.
(d) The bus fare which was thirty paise only a sum considered so small,
has been called ‘fortune’ for Valli.

Madam Rides the Bus
Question .
What was the most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street?
Answer:
The most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street was the bus
that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed
through her street each hour, once going to the town and once
coming back.

Madam Rides the Bus
Question
How did Valli gathered all the information about the bus?
Answer:
Over many days and months Valli listened carefully to conversations
between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus. She also
asked a few discreet questions here and there. This way she gathered all
the information about the bus.

Madam Rides the Bus
Question .
Where was the town located? What was the fare to travel there by bus?
Answer:
The town was located six miles from Valli’s village. The fare to travel to
town by bus was thirty paise for one way.

Madam Rides the Bus
Question .
Why did Valli want to ride on the bus?
Answer:
Valli used to watch the bus on its hourly rounds through her street
everyday. The sight of the bus filled with new passengers every time
gave her unending joy. She was curious and wished to ride it once. So,
she wanted to ride on the bus to enjoy it.
Extra Questions 191

CHAPTER-10
Sermon at benares
❑ The Sermon at Benares throws light upon the early life of Lord
Buddha who was originally born as a prince in the royal family.
❑ On being exposed to the sufferings of the world which he was
earlier shielded from, he left his priesthood and went in search
of salvation thus leaving all the worldly pleasures behind.
❑ Upon attaining spiritual awakening, he gave his first sermon in
the city of Benares hereby making a lady named Kisa Gotami
realize that men are mortal and a wise person should not
grieve at what is bound to happen for it only enhances pain
and suffering.
193
❑ Gautama Buddha was born to a North Indian royal family as a
prince and was named Siddhartha Gautama.
❑ When he was twelve years old, he was sent to a far away place
to study Hindu sacred scriptures and upon returning four years
later, he got married to a princess.
❑ Soon, they both had a son and they continued to live the royal
life for about ten years. The royals were shielded from all the
unpleasant experiences of the world until one day, on his way
to hunt, the Prince met a sick man, an aged man, a funeral
procession and a monk begging for alms.
194
❑ These experiences acted as eye-openers for him and thus, he

left all the royalty behind to seek a higher sense of spiritual
knowledge.
❑ Upon attaining salvation, he began preaching. He gave his first
sermon in the city of Benares. There was a lady named Kisa
Gotami whose son had died. Suffering with unending pain, she
went from house to house looking for medicine to bring her
son back to life.
195
❑ People started thinking that the lady had lost her senses. One
day, she met a man who directed her towards Lord Buddha
who could possibly have a solution for her problem.
❑ Buddha asked her to look for mustard seeds and the seeds
must be procured from a house that had seen no death.
❑ Reinstated with hope, Kisa Gotami once again went on a
search from house to house but to her dismay, she could not
find mustard seeds from a house that would fulfill Buddha’s
condition.
196
❑ Disheartened, she sat at the edge of the road thus realizing

how selfish she had been. She became conscious to the fact
that men were mortal and no one could escape the cycle of
life. This was exactly what Buddha wanted her to understand.
❑ According to Lord Buddha, feelings of grief and sorrow only
increase man’s pain and suffering thus, deteriorating his
health. Therefore, a wise person fully aware about nature’s
functioning must not grieve at something bound to happen
and only then he can be happy and blessed.
197
Q1- What was Gautama Buddha’s early

name?
A) Sidhha
B) Sadhu
C) Siddhartha
D) Sidhanth
Q2- What moved him to seek out

enlightenment?
A) a sick man
B) an aged man
C) a monk begging
D) all of the above
198
Q3- Which seed did Buddha ask Kisa to

bring?
A) Pumpkin seeds
B) Mustard seeds
C) Sunflower seeds
D) Seesame seeds
Q4- What was the condition imposed upon

the source of the seeds?
A) to be borrowed from a man
B) to be borrowed from a woman
C) to be borrowed from a child
199
Q5- What did the flickering lights made her

realise?
A) she is being selfish
B) death is common to all
C) men are mortals
D) all of the above
Q6- What did Buddha tell her about life?

A) It is troubled
B) It is brief
C) combined with pain
D) all of the above
200
The Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares, most
holy of the dipping places on the River Ganges; that sermon has
been preserved and is given here. It reflects the Buddha’s wisdom
about one inscrutable kind of suffering. [CBSE 2014]
(a) Where did Buddha preach his first sermon?
(b) What does the sermon preached by Buddha reflect?
(c) ‘Find the exact word from the extract which means impossible to
understand’.
(d) How Benares is described in the lesson?
201
Answer:
(a) Buddha preached his first sermon at Benares.
(b) It reflects Buddha’s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of
suffering.
(c) ‘Inscrutable’ from the extract means ‘impossible to
understand’.
(d) Benares is described in the lesson as the most holy of the
dipping places on the river Ganges.
202
How did Kisa Gotami realise that life and death is a

process? [CBSE 2016]
Answer:
Kisa Gotami went from house to house but was unable to find one
house where nobody had died. She was tired and hopeless and sat
down at the wayside watching the lights of the city as they flickered
up and were extinguished again. She realised that similar to the city
lights human lives also flicker up for some time and are extinguished
again.
203
According to Kisa Gotami what is the greatestgrief of life? [CBSE 2014]

Answer:
According to Kisa Gotami, the greatest grief in life is the death of one’s
loved ones and one’s inability to stop them from dying. Therefore,
instead of lamenting on it, the wise should not grieve. Weeping will
only increase the pain and disturb the peace of mind of a person
204
Life is full of trials and tribulations. Kisa Gotami also passes through a
period of grief in her life. How does she behave in those
circumstances? [CBSE 2013]
Answer:
After the death of Kisa Gotami’s only child, she became very sad. She
carried her dead child to her neighbours in order to get medicine to
bring him to life. Her neighbours thought that she had gone insane as
she was unable to accept the fact that. It was then that someone
suggested her to meet Gautama Buddha.
205
When she met Gautama Buddha he gave her an exercise to do. She
was asked to collect mustard seeds from a house where no one has
ever died. She went from one house to another but was unable to find
a single house where no one has died.
This way she realised that death is a part of life and anyone who is
born is bound to die one day. Thus, Buddha changed her
understanding of death by this exercise. could come to terms with the
truth.
206
CHAPTER-11
The Ball Poem
Ball Poem
John Berryman
About the Poet 208

Ball Poem
The poet John Berryman through his poem, ‘The ball

poem’ has described the reality of life which everyone
has to face one day. He has touched the topic of how to
stand up against the miseries and sorrows of life.
About the Poem 209

Ball Poem
The boy was playing in a street. He has been

playing happily with a ball. The ball was
bouncing again and again. The boy was happy.
Then suddenly the ball went into a pool of
water. The boy is not able to find the ball. What
will the boy now do?
210
Ball Poem
It was of no use to suggest to buy a new ball. The boy seems to have
emotional attachment with his old ball. He is extremely sad at having
lost it. He is standing motionless in the street looking at the pool of
water. He thinks that all his playful days have gone into the water. I do
not have the courage to disturb him in his thinking. I want him to
understand that in life sometimes one needs to bear loss also.
211
Ball Poem
Cost of the ball is very small and insignificant. But

now he is feeling the responsibility of taking care of
his things. People will say that a new ball can be
bought because the world believes in buying
materials. But the little boy thinks that the new ball
will not be same as his old ball.
212
Ball Poem
The boy has understood that nobody can buy back the same
ball. Money is an external aspect to emotions. He is learning
this truth of his life. This learning can be seen in his eyes
which are full of sorrow. He is trying to understand the
meaning of a loss and how to understand and tolerate a loss.
One day everyone will understand how to bear the loss.
Some people have understood many days before learning
how to tolerate a loss.
213
Q1- Who is the poet of the Ball poem?
A) Leslie Norris
B) John Berryman
C) Carolyn Wells
D) Robert Frost
214
Q2- What is the boy playing with?
A) bat
B) ball
C) car
D) bus
215
Q3- Where does the ball go?
A) drain
B) well
C) house
D) water
216
The Ball Poem
Question 1.
What is the boy now, who has lost his ball, What, what is he to do? I saw it go
Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then Merrily over – there it is in the
water! No use to say – ‘O there are other balls’: [2012]
(a) What has happened to the boy?
(b) Why does the poet say ‘No use to say – ‘O there are other balls’?
(c) Which word means ‘happily’?
(d) Where did the ball go?
217
The Ball Poem
Answer:
(a) The boy was very sad as he had lost his ball.
(b) The poet says so as the loss of the ball is of a major consequence to the
boy.
(c) Merrily means happily.
(d) The ball went to the water.
218
The Ball Poem
Question 2.
An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy As he stands rigid, trembling,
staring down All his young days into the harbour where His ball went. I
would not intrude on him, A dlime, another ball, is worthless.
(a) Where had the boy’s ball gone?
(b) How has the loss affected the boy?
(c) Why was ‘he’ trembling, staring down?
(d) What does the poet mean by ‘first responsibility’?
219
The Ball Poem
Answer:
(a) The boy’s ball went into the dark waters of the harbour.
(b) The boy is very much troubled at the loss of his ball. He stands still,
trembling and staring at his ball.
(c) He was trembling, staring down as he had lost his ball.
(d) By ‘First responsibility’, he, means to look after his things properly.
220
The Ball Poem
Question 3.
……………Now
He senses first responsibility
In a world of possessions. People will take
Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.
And no one buys a ball back. Money is external. [2014]
(a) What does the boy understand?
(b) What does the word ‘balls’ signify?
(c) What is meant by the word ‘possessions’?
(d) What does “In a world of possessions mean?”
221
The Ball Poem
Answer:
(a) The boy learns to grow up and understands his first responsibility.
(b) ‘Balls’ signify the boys’ innocence and happy young days.
(c) ‘Possessions’ means something that is owned or possessed.
(d) It means that everybody loves to possess things or materials in their
names.
222
The Ball Poem
Previous Year Question Answer – Text based Questions
Question 1.
What does John Berryman want to convey through this poem? [2011]
Answer:
Poet, John Berryman wants to convey the importance of loss and responsibility
in life. We all should learn our responsibility and how to cope up with the loss.
223
The Ball Poem
Previous Year Question Answer – Text based Questions
Question 2.
“Money is external”. What does the poet mean by this expression? [2014]
Answer:
The poet makes the boy understand about his responsibility as the loss is
immaterial. Money is external as it cannot buy memories, nor can it replace the
things that we love, the things that really matter.
224
CHAPTER-12
Amanda
Amanda!
About the Poet
Robin Klein
226
Amanda!
The poem describes a girl named Amanda and her mother who is nagging her
for her mistakes. She is first pointed out most probably by her mother for
biting her nails and for not sitting in the right posture. The mother also feels
that Amanda sits in a very lazy manner. To this, Amanda imagines herself as a
mermaid who lives a calm and relaxing life in the beautiful green sea. Further,
she is nagged for not cleaning her room and shoes and also for not doing her
homework. She then imagines herself to be an orphan because she is now fed
up of being watched by her parents continuously. She says that she would
have enjoyed her freedom then, by making the patterns of her bare feet on
the sand and would live a peaceful life.
227
Amanda!
Next, Amanda is scolded for eating too many chocolates as this causes
pimples. She is also scolded for not listening to her mother. So, now Amanda
thinks of being Rapunzel, a character from a fairy tale and wants to live in a
huge tower like her. In the tower she will be alone and will live a peaceful life
and will never allow anyone to come in. Finally, the mother asks her to stop
being moody because she doesn’t want anyone to blame her for harassing her
daughter. At this time the poet has not written any reaction from Amanda’s
side. This constant nagging has made her so sad that she has even stopped to
imagine herself as someone else. She used to do so in order to escape from
the continuous harassment and dominance of her parents.
228
229
230
231
232
Amanda!
Question 1.
Don’t bite your nails, Amanda!
Don’t hunch your shoulders, Amanda!
Stop that slouching and sit up straight,
Amanda!
(a) Amanda is getting instructions for what purpose?
(b) Give a synonym of ‘hunch’.
(c) What does the speaker of above lines instruct Amanda in the first stanza?
(d) What is the literary device used in the third line?
Previous Year Questions 233

Amanda!
Previous Year Questions
Answer:
(a) Amanda is getting instructions as a part of her upbringing. Her
conduct and manners are getting refined for future purposes.
(b) Bend.
(c) Amanda is getting instructed for biting her nails and sitting lazily
with her shoulders bent.
(d) Literary device used in third line is Alliteration. ‘Stop that slouching
and sit up straight’.
234
Amanda!
Question 2.
(There is a languid, emerald sea,
where the sole inhabitant is me
– a mermaid, drifting blissfully.)
(a) Why are these lines given within brackets?
(b) Give the word from the passage which means free flowing act of
going with the motion and force?
(c) What is the role of mermaid here?
(d) Which word in the extract means opposite of ‘sorrowful’?
235
Amanda!
Answer:
(a) These lines are given within brackets because they reveal the inner
thoughts of Amanda. Brackets are used for visual contrast between
what Amanda is saying and what her mother is instructing.
(b) Drifting means free flowing act of going with the motion.
(c) Mermaid is a part of Amanda’s fantasy in her own created world. As
mermaid sails in a sea carelessly and effortlessly, similarly Amanda
longs to do so in a place where she is all by herself.
(d) Blissfully is opposite of sorrowful.
236
Amanda!
Question 3.
Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda!
Remember your acne, Amanda!
Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you,
Amanda!
(a) Why is Amanda not looking at the speaker?
(b) Find the word in the extract which means same as consume?
(c) The speaker is so worried about acne. What does it show?
(d) Which word in the extract means the same as ‘to gaze’?
237
Amanda!
(a) Amanda is lost in her own thoughts and is paying no

attention to instructions being given to her. That is why she is
not looking at the speaker.
(b) Eat means same as consume.
(c) Speaker being worried about acne shows how much
importance is given to physical beauty in a household. Amanda
is prepared for the unforeseen future. Natural experience such
as acne is also taken care of at any cost.
(d) To look means the same as ‘to gaze’.
238
Amanda
PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTION ANSWERS
Question.
How life on a tower would be different from life anywhere else for Amanda?
Answer:
Life on tower for Amanda would be very different from her reality. Just like
Rapunzel, even she desires to live on top of a tower, away from everyday
chaos. Amanda suffers due to the constant nagging from her parents. She
seeks a place full of peace and serenity, where there is no one to disturb her.
Hence, she wishes to live on a tower.
Amanda
Question.
Why does Amanda seem moody most of the times? [CBSE 2016]
Answer:
Amanda seems moody most of the time because she is trying to make an
escape from her sorry reality where she is nagged most of the times. It is
indeed a sorry state for a small child like Amanda to bear. Here the only
defence against such reality is her imagination where she often escapes to.
Hence, it makes her look moody and uninterested.
Amanda
Question.
Why does Amanda wish to be a mermaid, an orphan, or Rapunzel?
Answer:
Amanda wishes to be a mermaid so she could drift alone by blissfully languid,
emerald sea. She yearns to be an orphan so that she is able to roam the sea
and make pattern using her bare feet. Being Rapunzel means she could live
carefree on a high tower. Amanda wishes to be these so that she could avoid
her suffocating reality.
Amanda
Question.
What is the central theme of the poem Amanda?
Answer:
The poem Amanda by Robin Klein highlights the importance of upbringing of a
child. It points out that upbringing doesn’t involve making a child responsible
and fit for the society only. It is important to note that upbringing involves
understanding from both the sides. One cannot just force a child to be civilised
and good mannered. “Love and proper care is required in nurturing of a child.
CHAPTER-13
The Proposal
CHARACTERS
STEPAN STEPANOVITCH CHUBUKOV : a landowner

NATALYA STEPANOVNA : his daughter, twenty-five
years old
IVAN VASSILEVITCH LOMOV : a neighbour of
Chubukov.
MAIN POINTS OF THE CHAPTER
✓The curtain rises with Lomov entering his neighbour Chubukov’s
house fully dressed up in his evening attire. Chubukov is surprised to
see him well-dressed and asks him the occasion.
✓Lomov reveals that he had come to make a request.
✓Chubukov anticipates that he must have come to ask for money
which he doesn’t intend on giving.
✓On being revealed that Lomov had come to ask for Chubulov’s
daughter, Natalya’s hand in marriage, Chubukov gets filled with
excitement and leaves to call Natalya.
✓Lomov is a 35 year- old gentleman who suffers from palpitations,
gets upset very easily and doesn’t sleep well.
✓He thinks it is the best age for him to get married and he
is happy that he has his mind made-up about Natalya.
According to him, Natalya is average-looking and a good
housekeeper.
✓When Natalya arrives, Lomov begins the conversation
about how grateful and glad he is that both their families
are on good terms since the very beginning.
✓While continuing to talk about his land, he somehow
mentions about Oxen Meadows which earlier was a
disputed property but is now his.
MAIN POINTS OF THE CHAPTER
✓Natalya couldn’t believe a word he was saying because she believes that Oxen
Meadows belong to her family. Both of them enter into a heated discussion and act
childishly when Chubukov enters just to get the conversation more heated.
✓They shout and scream while Lomov suffers from extreme pounding of the heart, a
side pull and a numb foot. They throw Lomov out of the house and continue
cursing him.
✓While speaking ill of him, Chubukov unintentionally reveals that he had come with
a marriage proposal for Natalya which surprises Natalya and she immediately
regrets sending him out.
✓She tells her father to bring him back immediately and Chubukov curses himself on
being a father of a grown-up daughter.
✓When Lomov returns, Natalya tries to
deviate to another topic and starts talking
about shooting.
✓Somehow they enter into an argument
involving their dogs. Natalya feels that her
Squeezer is better than Lomov’s Guess.
✓They continue arguing when Chubukov
enters the scene only to make the
situation worse, once again.
✓Everyone gets hyper and Lomov finally falls due to his palpitations.
✓Even then, the cursing continues when suddenly Natalya notices that he is unconscious.
✓They try to get water down his throat but end up getting unsuccessful and declare him
dead.
✓It is only when Lomov moves a little bit, they feed him some water and Chubukov
forcefully hands over Natalya’s hands to him, gives his blessings and asks them to kiss.
✓Lomov, still not fully conscious doesn’t understand what is going on.
✓When he finally comes to his senses, he expresses his excitement and kisses Natalya’s
hands.
✓Natalya, being childish as she is, manipulates him into accepting that Squeezer is better
than Guess but Lomov, being adamant as he is, refuses to accept it. Thus, once again, the
quarrelling continues.
MAIN QUESTIONS
• How does Lomov come to Chubukov’s house? What for does he come? How is he received?[ CBSE 2012]
Answer:
Lomov came to Chubukov’s house in the evening dress with gloves on. He came to propose to his daughter Natalya.
He is received with all the respect by Chubukov.
• What is the point of controversy between Natalya and Lomov? What argument does Lomov put to prove his
point?
The point of controversy between Natalya and Lomov is about the ownership of the Oxen Meadows. Lomov argues
that his aunt’s grandmother had given the free use of the Meadows to the peasants of Natalya’s father’s grandfather
for forty years. In return the peasants were to make bricks for her. But the peasants thought that they were owners of
the land.
MAIN QUESTIONS
Who is the writer of the play “The Proposal”?

A) Robert Frost
B) Anton Chekov
C) Carolyn Wells
D) Robin Klein
MAIN QUESTIONS
What request did Chubukov think Lomov would make?
A) ask for her daughter’s hand in marriage
B) borrow money
C) borrow land
D) all of the above
MAIN QUESTIONS
Why was Lomov wearing his evening dress?

A) to pay New Year Eve’s visit
B) ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage
C) borrow money
D) borrow land
MAIN QUESTIONS
Who does Chubukov call a “lovesick cat”?

A) Lomov
B) himself
C) his maid
D) Natalya
MAIN QUESTIONS
” And it’s impossible for me not to marry”. Why does

he say so?
A) He’s 35 already
B) He suffer from palpitations
C) He has troubled sleep
D) All of the above
MAIN QUESTIONS
Which land were they fighting about?

A) Oxen Meadows
B) Birchwoods
C) Burnt Marsh
D) All of the above
MAIN QUESTIONS
Why was Natalya arguing about the land?

A) she can’t stand unfairness
B) it was worth a lot
C) she was jealous of Lomov
D) All of the above
MAIN QUESTIONS
How did Natalya react when her father told Lomov was
here to propose her?
A) she gets angry
B) she sends her father to get him
C) she’s amazed
D) both 2 and 3
MAIN QUESTIONS
• How can we say that Natalya was continuously successful in maintaining an upper hand during her arguments
with Lomov? (Any one example)
Upper hand –
•She was able to answer every query and present an argument defeating the one presented by Lomov.
Arguments--
•Argument about ownership of Oxen meadows – Natalya argued that it is a matter of principle and not
greed.
•She showed conviction and belief while arguing.
OR
•Argument about dogs – Natalya argued that her dog was cheaper, was of better breed and could run
faster.
•Never lost cool while presenting her arguments.
MAIN QUESTIONS
Why does Chubukov suspect Lomov when he comes to his house? [Board Term-II, 2016, Set 2/1; Board Term-II, 2012
Set EL (62016)]
Answer:
Value Points:
Chubukov suspects that Lomov may be going somewhere as he wears formal dress.
When Lomov explains that he has come seeking help, Chubukov suspects that has come to borrowmoney.
Detailed Answer:
When Lomov comes to Chubukov’s house, Chubukov suspects that Lomov may be going somewhere because he has
come there wearing formal dress. When Lomov explains to him that he has come there seeking his help, then
Chubukov suspects that he has come to borrow money.
MAIN QUESTIONS
Give a character sketch of Lomov.
Answer:
Lomov was a funny man. Physically he was weak but financially he was sound. He was a rich bachelor who wanted to
marry Natalya. He was not really in love with Natalya but wanted to marry her because he thought that she was a
good-housekeeper and beautiful. He said if he desired for an ideal or real love, he would never get married. He felt
that he was 35, now he must lead a quiet and regular life. When he went to propose her, he got diverted. Actually,
Natalya thought that he had come to claim oxen meadows as his own, quarrel took place between them. One more
time they quarrelled over petty issues. Before finally proposing to her, he fainted and after that shouted a lot but
finally succeeded to get acceptance.
MAIN QUESTIONS
What do you learn about Natalya from the play ‘The Proposal’?
Important Points-
Good housekeeper
Decent looks
Daughter of Stepan Chubukov
Well educated
Short-tempered
Greedy
Does not respect Lomov till she comes to know that he wants to marry her
Does not have a sense of right and wrong
MAIN QUESTIONS
• How does Natalya react when she comes to know that Lomov had come to propose? [CBSE 2014]
Answer: When Natalya cames to know that Lomov had come there to propose her she was shocked. She wails,
changes her stance and asks her father to fetch Lomov.
• Based on your understanding of the Play ‘The Proposal’ how do you think good relationships can be maintained?
Why in today’s time we see so many people going away from each other?
Answer: The play ‘The Proposal’ teaches us how anger and arguments can easily ruin a relationship. Thus to maintain a
good relationship, it is important to have a control over your anger. Having arguments over unimportant or small issues
is extremely harmful and a waste of time. If someone commits a mistake, one should be ready to forgive and forget
rather than being angry and arguing with the person endlessly. In today’s time people try to find only the positives in
others and do not easily accept their negatives. Hence is becoming extremely difficult to maintain a good and cordial
relationship with others.
CHAPTER-14
Fog
Fog
Carl August Sandburg
About the Poet 265

Fog
Fog is a very small poem written by Carl Sandburg.

He has described the process of arrival of the fog
into a city and the harbour. He has very beautifully
compared it to a cat.
About the Poem 266

Fog
The poet says that the fog which is generally seen during the winter season is
coming towards the city and the harbour just like a cat. This means that it is
approaching the city in a very silent manner so that no one can notice its
arrival. He has compared its arrival to that of a cat because a cat always enters
a place silently. Next he says that the fog has covered the whole of the city and
harbour and it appears as if it is sitting by folding its legs and looking around
just the way a cat does when it sits on the haunches and looks around. At the
end, he describes the departure of the fog which very silently and
unpredictably, again, similar to the departure of the cat, vanishes.
267
Fog
Previous Year Question Answer –Comprehension Question
Question 1.
The fog comes on little cat feet.
It sits looking over harbour and city on silent haunches
and then moves on.
(a) What does the poet mean by little cat feet?
(b) What do haunches mean?
(c) How is the fog looking over the harbour and the city?
(d) “It sits looking….” what is the poetic device used here?
268
Fog
(a) Little cat feet here represents the silent and careful steps of a cat. The
way fog comes, resembles the steps of a cat.
(b) Haunches mean hips.
(c) The fog looks over the harbour and the city by sitting on its haunches
like a cat.
(d) Metaphor is used here.

Fog
Previous Year Question Answer- Text based Questions
Question 1.
How does the poet compare fog to a living being?
Answer:
The poet compares the fog to a cat. The silent steps of a cat and
the way it sits on its haunches is very similar to the way fog comes
and surrounds the city and looks over it.
270
Fog
Question 2.
What image does the poet give to the fog? What are the similarities
between that image and fog?
Answer:
The poet looks at fog as a living creature (जीवित प्राणी) and compares it
to a cat. The fog moves like a cat on little cat feet and sits on haunches
like a cat.
271
Fog
Question 3.
Difficulties come but they are not to stay forever. They come and go.
Comment referring to the poem ‘Fog’.
Answer:
Difficulties, when faced by people, tend to leave them hopeless and
shattered. It takes a lot of courage to overcome any problem and to solve it.
If we take a clue from the poem and compare difficulties to fog, we find
that just like fog, difficulties also come and go.
One need not be hopeless and lose courage when problems come, one
should rather think of it as fog, meaning that it has not come to stay but
will always leave, like fog.
272
Fog
Extra question answer
Question 2.
How is the fog like a cat?
Answer:
The poet finds the fog like a cat. The fog comes stealthily like a
cat. It sits looking over the harbour and city as a cat does.
Later, it moves on just like a cat to settle somewhere else.
These things prove that the fog’s comparison to a cat is
appropriate.
273
Fog
Question 3.
How does the fog spread over the harbour and the city?
Answer:
The fog-comes to a city stealthily just like a cat. It makes no
noise. It spreads over the harbour and the city and settles over
them for sometimes. There, it rises high and moves away. In this
way the fog arrives over a city, observes it and then leaves it to
move away.
274
Fog
Question 4.
Write the central idea of the poem “Fog”.
Answer:
The poet Carl Sandburg in his poem ‘Fog’ describes fog as a cat.
Fog is treated to be a living creature. Fog comes quietly and
stealthily like a cat. Fog sits looking over the harbour like a cat
does. Then it moves to settle somewhere else. Just as cat doesn’t
settle at one place and in the same way fog keeps on moving and
finally vanishes.
275
CHAPTER-15
For Anne gregory
For Anne Gregory
About the Poet
William Butler Yeats
277
For Anne Gregory
About the Poem
W.B. Yeats has tried to touch a very important topic through his poem.
He says that it is almost impossible to find a person in your life who
loves you truly. By saying truly, he means the one who loves you for
your qualities and not your looks. He says that only God loves us for
what we are from inside.
278
For Anne Gregory
About the Poem
The poem is basically a conversation between the poet, Yeats and a young girl
named Anne Gregory. The poet tells her that if she finds a young boy who
becomes sad because of her rejection, it doesn’t mean that he was a true lover.
He could have been in love with her because of her beautiful yellow hair. This
means that the boy might be in love with her because of her attractive looks.
He says that a true lover will be the one who will love her for her inner qualities
and not her looks. To this, Anne says that she will change her looks by dying her
hair into some other colour. She will become less attractive and then, maybe,
she will find a true love for herself. So, at last, he explains to her that the
previous night, he had heard some religious man saying that only God loves us
for what we are. This means that God never loves us for our looks but for our
inner beauty.
279
For Anne Gregory
Previous Year Question Answer-Comprehension Questions
Question 1.
“Never shall a young man, Thrown into despair By those great honey-
coloured Ramparts at your ear, Love you for yourself alone And not
your yellow hair.”
(a) What does ‘ramparts’ mean?
(b) What is the colour of Anne’s hair?
(c) What does the poet mean by, “love you for yourself alone and not
your yellow hair”?
(d) What does ‘despair’ mean in the stanza?
280
For Anne Gregory
Answer:
(a) Ramparts refers to wall that protects a fort. Here, it has been
used metaphorically to mean the lock of hair around her ear.
(b) Anne’s hair are honey-coloured.
(c) The poet means that young men love Anne for her beautiful looks
and not for her real character.
(d) Despair means hopelessness.
281
For Anne Gregory
Question 2.
“But I can get a hair-dye And set such colour there, Brown, or black, or
carrot, That young men in despair May love me for myself alone And not
my yellow hair.”
(a) Who is the speaker of these lines?
(b) Why does Anne say that she can change her hair colour?
(c) Which word in the stanza means ‘colour’?
(d) What is the rhyming scheme adopted in this stanza?
282
For Anne Gregory
Answer:
(a) The speaker of these lines is Anne Gregory.
(b) Anne says that she can change her hair colour to show
that external beauty is not real and permanent.
(c) The word is Dye.
(d) The rhyming scheme adopted in this stanza is abcbdb.
283
For Anne Gregory
Question 3.
“I heard an old religious man But yesternight declare That he had
found a text to prove That only God, my dear, Could love you for
yourself alone And not your yellow hair.”
(a) Who had found a ‘text’?
(b) What does the text prove?
(c) What does ‘yesternight’ mean?
(d) Find a word from the passage which is an antonym of ‘concial or
hide’.
284
For Anne Gregory
Answer:
(a) An old religious man had found a text.
(b) The text proves that only God is capable of looking beyond
external beauty, into the soul of a person.
(c) Yesternight means last night.
(d) The antonym is ‘declare’
285
For Anne Gregory
Previous Year Question Answer-Text Based
Question 1.
Between whom does the conversation in the poem take place?
Answer:
The poem is a conversation between a speaker, who could be the poet himself,
or Anne’s lover or friend and Anne Gregory herself. The other speaker believes
that young men love Anne for her external beauty but Anne says that external
beauty is not real and young men should love her for herself.
286
For Anne Gregory
Question 2.
What does the poet mean by, “those great honey-coloured ramparts at your
ear”?
Answer:
Ramparts here refer to locks of Anne’s beautiful yellow hair and external
beauty that hides her soul and true nature and lets other people see only
her outer self.
287
For Anne Gregory
Question 3.
Why do young men love Anne for her hair and not for herself alone?
Answer:
Anne Gregory is so beautiful that no man is capable of ignoring her external
beauty and looking inside her real nature. Her attractive external*features stop
men from knowing the real person. This is what that makes the speaker say that
young men love Anne for her hair and not for herself alone.
288
For Anne Gregory
Question 4.
What are Anne’s views on external beauty?
Answer:
Anne does not believe in external beauty and wants to be loved for herself.
She says that her beautiful hair that attract so many men can be changed
and coloured differently. This shows that Anne thinks that external beauty is
not important and ir is changeable.
289
For Anne Gregory
Question 5.
What has, According to the speaker an old religious man found?
Answer:
The speaker says that an old religious man has found a text that proves that only
God is capable of looking at a person’s real self, beyond the external beauty.
290
For Anne Gregory
Question 6.
Why is only God capable of loving Anne for herself?
Answer:
Only God is capable of loving Anne for only herself because humans do not
have the power to look the beauty of soul. Only God is capable of not caring
for the outer beauty, looking the beauty of one’s soul.
291
CHAPTER-16
GLIMPSES OF India
Glimpses of India
❑ The lesson begins with how narrator’s elders often recall the
time when Goa was under the rule of the Portuguese.
❑ They talk how the importance of bakers is still maintained in
their villages even after the Portuguese have left. They are
known as ‘Paders’ in Goa.
❑ The mixers, moulders and their time-tested furnaces continue
to serve the people of Goa with their famous bread loaves. It is
possible that the original ones may not exist, but their
profession is being continued by their sons.
293
Glimpses of India
❑ The thud of their bamboo stick can still be heard in some parts
of the village.
❑ The same jingling thud would wake the narrator and his
friends during their childhood days who would go running to
him without brushing or washing their mouth properly.
❑ It was the maid-servant of the house who collected the loaves
while children sorted out the bread bangles for themselves.
294
Glimpses of India
❑ Bakery products have importance in the culture and traditions

of Goa. Bol or sweet bread is a part of marriage gifts, cakes and
Bolinhas or coconut cookies are eaten at every festival and the
lady of the house prepares sandwiches at her daughter’s
engagement.
❑ Earlier bakers wore a unique frock of knee-length known as
‘kabai’ but during the narrator’s childhood days, they wore a
shirt and trousers of length slightly shorter than the usual
ones.
295
Glimpses of India
❑ They generally collected their bills at the end of every month.

Bakery has continued to be a profitable profession, managing
to keep their families joyous and prosperous.
296
Glimpses of India
II
COORG
➢ The lesson gives us a beautiful insight of the smallest district
of Karnataka and its people. The place has amazing weather
throughout the year with enough rain during the monsoon
season. The people of Coorg are known to be one of the
bravest. Coffee is the main crop grown in this region. A variety
of animals can be found here while the place is surrounded by
beautiful Brahmagiri hills, islands and Tibetan settlements.
297
Glimpses of India
❑ The writer describes the hill station of Coorg located in the

western ghats in the state of Karnataka. It is located midway
between Bengalore and Mangalore. The suitable time to visit
Coorg is from September to March. The place is famous for
coffee plantations and spices. There are abundant rainforests
which cover 30 percent of the area.
298
Glimpses of India
❑ The Coorgi men are brave warriors who are permitted to keep
firearms without a license due to their trustworthiness.
❑ The women of Coorg are pretty. Coorg is also known as Kodavu
and the Kodavus, though they are Hindus by religion but their
customs differ from those of mainstream Hindus.
❑ They marry within their community. Kodavus are said to be of
Greek or Arabic descent.
299
Glimpses of India
❑ Some soldiers of Alexander’s army settled there. Also, as the

ethnic dress of the Kodavus, Kuppia is similar to the Arab
garment Kuffia, it is said that maybe their ancestors were
Arabs or Kurds.
❑ The river Kaveri originates from Coorg. The fish named
Mahaseer is found in the river. Many animals and birds like
kingfisher, langur, squirrels and elephants can be spotted along
the river.
300
Glimpses of India
❑ Tourists relax in the serene atmosphere and also enjoy

adventure sports like river rafting, canoeing, mountain biking,
rock climbing and trekking.
❑ While trekking on the nature trails, animals like Macaques,
Malabar squirrels, langurs and can be spotted on the trees.
❑ The major tourist attractions are Brahmagiri hills, Nisargdhama
island and Bylakuppe Tibetan settlements. Coorg gives visitors
a feel of India’s diverse cultures.
301
Glimpses of India
III
TEA FROM ASSAM
The lesson is about two friends- Pranjol and Rajvir

who are traveling to Pranjol’s hometown Assam for
the summer vacation. Assam is known as the ‘tea
country’. It has the largest concentration of
plantations in the world. During their journey, they
discuss about the various ‘legends’ that are known to
have discovered tea. The story tells us about the
popularity of tea as a beverage.
302
Glimpses of India
❑ The story revolves around the infamous beverage ‘tea’ telling

us more about its history and discovery.
❑ It begins from the scene where two friends, Pranjol and Rajvir
are set to go to Assam, Pranjol’s hometown when a tea vendor
asks them if they would like to have some freshly made tea.
❑ They buy two cups joining almost every other person in their
compartment. From there, the journey begins and Pranjol
starts reading his detective book while Rajvir decides to enjoy
the scenic beauty.
303
Glimpses of India
❑ There were soft green paddy fields followed by tea bushes.

❑ Rajvir is very excited on seeing such large plantations of tea
but Pranjol is unable to match the same level because he was
born and brought up in Assam, famously known as the ‘Tea
country’.
❑ Visiting there for the first time, Rajvir did a lot of study about
how tea was discovered and that it dates back to 2700 B.C.
304
Glimpses of India
❑ According to what he read, it was first consumed in

China and reached Europe in the 16th century, where it
was mostly popular for it’s medicinal properties.
❑ There are numerous stories as to how it was discovered,
one about a Chinese Emperor and the other about a
Buddhist monk.
❑ The former liked the taste of it while the latter, used it
to get rid of sleep.
305
Glimpses of India
❑ As they were having this discussion, they reached their

destination where Pranjol’s parents had come to receive
them and take them to their tea garden. On their way,
they passed a cattle bridge and gave way to a truck filled
with tea leaves which drew their attention to the fact
that it was the second sprouting season. Rajvir, indeed
did a lot of study before coming which impressed
Pranjol’s father and he intended to learn a lot more.
306
7
Marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol, just as
a party or a feast loses its charm without bread. Not enough can be said to show
how important a baker can be for a village. The lady of the house must prepare
sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter’s engagement. Cakes and bolinhas
are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. Thus, the presence of the
baker’s furnace in the village is absolutely essential.
(a) What are compulsorily prepared during Christmas in Goa?
(b) Why is a baker necessary in a village?
(c) Find the word in the extract which means ‘celebration meal’.
(d) What is must to be prepared on a daughter’s engagement by a lady?
(a) During Christmas cakes and bolinhas are compulsorily prepared in
Goa.
(b) A baker is necessary in a village because different kinds of breads
are required by the villagers for daily consumption as well as for special
occasions.
(c) ‘feast’ from the extract means ‘celebration meal’.
(d) The lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the occasion of
her daughter’s engagement.
308
What did the baker do first once he reached a house?
Answer:
The baker would first greet the lady of the house by
saying “Good Morning”. He would then place the
basket on the vertical bamboo and deliver the loaves
to the servant.
309
How do we get to know that the makers of bread still
exist?
Answer:
The narrator states that the eaters of loaves might have
vanished but the makers are still there. He further says
that those age old, time tested furnaces still exist and
the fire in the furnaces had not yet been extinguished.
310
What is the importance of breads for the Goans?
or
Why was the Baker’s furnace essential in a traditional Goan
village? CBSE 2010
Answer:
Different kinds of breads are important during the different
occasions. Bolinhas had to be prepared during Christmas and
other festivals. The mothers used to prepare sandwiches on
the occasion of their daughter’s engagement. So, the baker’s
furnace was essential.
311
What did the bakers wear?
(i) in the Portuguese days?
(ii) when the author was young?
Answer:
(i) The bakers wore a particular dress called ‘Kabai’. It was a
single-piece long frock reaching down to the knees.
(ii) The bakers wore a shirt and trousers which were shorter
than full length ones and longer than half pants
312
Where is Coorg located?
Answer:
Coorg is situated between Mysore and the coastal
town of Mangalore.
313
Which story shows that Coorgis are of Greek
descent?
Answer:
A story narrates that a part of Alexander’s Army
moved south along the coast and settled at
Coorg when their return became impractical.
These people married the locals and became
inhabitants of this place.
314
Why is the climb to the Brahmagiri hills an important
part of a visit to Coorg?
Answer:
The climb to the Brahmgiri hills offers the panoramic
view of the entire misty landscape of Coorg. Besides, it
leads to Nisargadhama and then, to Bylakuppe; the
hidden surprises for the visitors. Thus, it is important to
climb the Brahmagiri hills while visiting Coorg.
315
Write two characteristics of people of Coorg?
Answer:
The people of Coorg are fiercely independent and brave.
Coorgi houses have a tradition of hospitality. The Coorg
regiment is the most decorated one in the Indian Army. They
feel proud sharing the courageous works of their sons and
fathers.
316
1
7
“The people of Coorg are famous for their tradition of hospitality and valour in
the army. Explain with reference to ‘Glimpses of India’.
Answer:
It is quite true that the people of Coorg are famous for their traditions of
hospitality, love, respect and fellow-feeling. People visiting Coorg always feel
at home there and enjoy the panoramic view of the whole landscape of Coorg.
The visitors get pleasure in riding over the elephants and the fresh smell of
coffee plantation. The residents are always eager to tell the tales of bravery
and courage only related to their sons and fathers.
These people show utmost courage and exemplary bravery during
the war period. It is a matter of great concern for all of us that Coorg
Regiment is famous for its bravery. It is one of the most decorated in
the Indian army. General Cariappa was a Coorgi. It is very rewarding
for all of us. Even the government has allowed the Coorgi people to
carry firearms with them. They can move in any part of the country
without a licence.
318
Midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore (now
Mangaluru) sits a piece of heaven that must have drifted from the
kingdom of god. This land of rolling hills is inhabited by a proud race
of martial men, beautiful women and wild creatures.
(i) Where is Coorg located?
(ii) Why is Coorg compared to heaven?
(iii) What does the author mean by ‘drifted from the kingdom of
god’?
(iv) Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as—
‘separated’.
319
Answer:
(i) Coorg is situated between Mysore and the coastal town of
Mangalore in Karnataka.
(ii) Coorg is compared to heaven because of its natural beauty.
(iii) The author means that Coorg had got separated from heaven,
the kingdom of god.
(iv) drifted.
320
Which Chinese story did Rajvir tell about the discovery of
tea?
Answer:
There was a Chinese story about tea. It was said that there
was a Chinese emperor. He always drank boiled water.
Once while boiling the water, some leaves of the burning
twigs fell into the pot. The boiled water gave a delicious
flavour. They were tea-leaves.
321
2
2
Narrate the story of a Buddhists monk behind the discovery of tea?

Answer:
There was a Buddhist monk story about tea. A Buddhist ascetic was busy in his
meditation for God. By chance he fell asleep and his meditation broke. He did
not like it. In a state of anger, he cut his eyelids and threw them on the earth.
There appeared tea plants out of these eyelids. Then these leaves were put in
the hot water. When people drank the hot water, it banished their sleep. In
the beginning it was drunk as a medicine rather than a beverage.
2
3
What are the various legends regarding the origin of tea?

Answer:
There was a Chinese story about tea. It was said that there was a
Chinese emperor. He always drank boiled water. Once while boiling
the water, some leaves of the burning twigs fell into the pot. The
boiled water gave a delicious flavour. They were tea-leaves.
There was a Buddhist monk story about tea. A Buddhist ascetic was
busy in his meditation for God. By chance he fell asleep and his
meditation broke. He did not like it. In a state of anger, he cut his
eyelids and threw them on the earth. There appeared tea plants out
of these eyelids. Then these leaves were put in the hot water. When
people drank the hot water, it banished their sleep. In the beginning
it was drunk as a medicine rather than a beverage.
CHAPTER-17
The tale of custard the dragon
Ogden Nash
The tale of custard the dragon is a ballad. It is a humorous poem about a cowardly dragon named
custard. Custard is a pet of Belinda, a little girl who lives in a little white house with her pets. She had
a black kitten named ink, a grey mouse named blink, a yellow dog mustard and a cowardly dragon
custard. The poet says that all of them are very brave except the dragon. Others were described as
brave and are compared with animals like bear, tiger or lion but the dragon is very timid. He always
demands a safe place for himself. All the other characters make fun of him. But one night they are
surprised by the entry of a pirate in the house. All of them get frightened and start hiding here and
there. But to everyone’s surprise, the dragon not only tackles him but also eats him up. As all of
them are saved by custard, they thank him. But at the end, they realize that they used to make fun of
the dragon because of his being timid. So, all of them suddenly start saying that they are more brave
and could have handled the situation in a much better way. Here the poet has tried to say that
sometimes a timid person is the actual hero in the toughest situations of life.
Q1- Who is the poet of the poem “The tale
of Custard the Dragon”?
A) Carl Sandburg
B) Ogden Nash
C) Carolyn Wells
D) Walt Whitman
Q2- What was the name of the black

kitten?
A) Custard
B) ink
C) blink
D) mustard
Q3- What was the name of the grey
mouse?
A) Custard
B) ink
C) blink
D) mustard
Q4- Who is described as the most timid of

all?
A) kitten
B) mouse
C) dragon
D) dog
Q5- What all does the dragon possess?
A) big sharp teeth
B) spikes on top of him
C) sharp toes
D) All of the above
Q6- Name the poetic device used in the line “mouth like
a fireplace”
A) Oxymoron
B) metaphor
C) Assonance
D) Simile
The Tale of Custard the Dragon
Question 1.
With a little black kitten and a little gray mouse, And a
little yellow dog and a little red wagon, And a realio, trulio,
little pet dragon.
(a) Where did Belinda live?
(b) How many pets did she have?
(c) Which word in the stanza means “carriage”?
(d) Whose young one known as a ‘kitten’?
329
Answer:
(a) Belinda lived in a little white house.
(b) She had four pets, a kitten, a mouse, a dog and a dragon.
(c) The word is ‘Wagon’.
(d) A cat’s young one is known as a kitten.
330
Question 2.
Now the name of the litde black kitten was Ink, And the little gray
mouse, she called her Blink, And the little yellow dog was sharp as
Mustard,
But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard.
(a) What is the colour of Belinda’s dog?
(b) What were the kitten and the mouse called?
(c) Which word is the stanza means “fear easily”?
(d) ‘Blink’ here is the name of a mouse but what actually the word
means?
331
Answer:
(a) Belinda’s dog is yellow as mustard.
(b) The Kitten was called Ink and the mouse was called Blink
by Belinda.
(c) The word is ‘Coward’.
(d) The word ‘blink’ means to shut and open eyes frequendy
in quick succession.
332
Question 3.
Custard the dragon had big sharp teeth, And spikes on top of him
and scales underneath, Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose,
And realio, trulio, daggers on his toes.
(a) What did the dragon look like?
(b) Why is the dragon’s mouth called a chimney?
(c) Which word in the stanza means the same as “a small sword”?
(d) Find from the passage a word which means a structure through
which smoke or steam is carried up away from a fire.
333
Answer:
(a) The Dragon had spikes on top and scale underneath. His
mouth was like a fireplace and nose was like a chimney. He
looked dangerous as his toes looked like daggers.
(b) Dragons can spit fire, therefore Custard’s mouth has been
called a fireplace.
(c) The word is ‘Dagger’.
(d) The word is ‘Chimney’.
334
Question .
Where did Belinda live and with whom?
Answer:
Belinda lived in a little white house with her four pets and a wagon. She
had a black kitten named Ink, a grey mouse named Blink, a yellow dog
named Mustard and a coward dragon named Custard.
335
Question .
What did Custard look like?
Answer:
Custard looked dangerous with spikes on his top and scales
underneath. His mouth was like a fireplace and nose like a chimney.
His toes looked like daggers.
336
CHAPTER-18
The Trees
The Trees
Adrienne Rich (1929-2012) was born in

Baltimore, Maryland, USA. She was a
famous poet, essayist and feminist. She
has published nineteen volumes of
poetry, three collections of essays and
other writings.
About the Author 338

The Trees
NCERT Question Answer
(2) What picture do these words create in your
mind: “… sun bury its feet in shadow…”? What
could the poet mean by the sun’s ‘feet?’
Ans: The sun’s feet are the rays of sun that reach
the earth after falling on the leaves of the trees
and finally, reach the earth’s surface.
339
The Trees
Q2- (1) Where are the trees in the poem? What do
their roots, their leaves, and their twigs do?
Ans: The trees are in the poet’s house. The roots are
working hard to remove themselves from the cracks of
veranda. The leaves are making an effort to reach
towards the glass in order to come out and the twigs
are making attempts to set themselves free and reach
the forest.
340
The Trees
(2) What does the poet compare their branches

to?
Ans: The poet uses the word long cramped for the
branches. She says that the branches are trying
hard to come out of the roof. She then compares
them with newly discharged patients who are
trying to move out in their half consciousness.
341
The Trees
Q3- (1) How does the poet describe the moon: (a) at the
beginning of the third stanza, and (b) at its end? What
causes this change?
Ans: The poet describes the moon as a full moon in the
beginning of the third stanza but at the end of the stanza,
she describes it to be broken into pieces. The change in
the moon is because of the trees.
342
The Trees
The trees that earlier were in the poet’s house have

now reached the forest. Their long branches have
cast a shadow on the full moon and now it appears
to be broken into pieces like a mirror.
343
The Trees
(2) What happens to the house

when the trees move out of it?
Ans: The house becomes silent as
the fragrance of the leaves and
lichens which was like a voice urging
for a change can no longer be
smelt.
344
The Trees
(3) Why do you think the poet does not mention

“the departure of the forest from the house” in
her letters? (Could it be that we are often silent
about important happenings that are so
unexpected that they embarrass us? Think about
this again when you answer the next set of
questions.) ?
345
The Trees
Ans: The poet did not mention the departure of

the forest from her house because it is a part of
human nature to ignore the important matters
of their life. We all know that trees are so
important for our survival on earth. But still
human beings are cutting them for making
profits without even thinking of the aftermath.
346
The Trees
Question 1.
Why do the trees need to move out? Where have they been and why?
Answer:
The trees in the forest have been cut and man has planted trees in his courtyard for his
selfish decorative purposes. It makes the trees feel suffocated and out of place. So they
need to move out into the forest. They have been in the city houses as men have
imprisoned them there.
347
The Trees
Question 2.
What makes the forest empty? What cannot happen in a-treeless forest?
Answer:
Man’s cutting the trees of the forest at an uncontrollable speed has resulted in
the empty forests. In a treeless forest, birds and insects cannot find shelter and
make their homes there. The sun cannot cool its rays in the shadow there.
348
The Trees
Question 3.
Why is the poet writing long letters? Why does she not mention the departure of
the trees?
Answer:
The poet can feel the sorrow of the trees imprisoned in the cities. So, she is writing
long letters or poems voicing the trees’ right to be in their natural habitat i.e., the
forest. She does not mention the departure of the trees in her letters as she is too
embarrassed for imprisoning them ever.
349
The Trees
Question 1.
The trees inside are moving out into the forest, the forest that was empty all these days
where no bird could sit no insect hide no sun bury its feet in shadow the forest that was
empty all these nights will be full of trees by morning.
(i) Name of poem and poet.
(ii) From where do the trees move out into the forest?
(iii) Why has the forest been empty all these days?
(iv) How do you think will the forest be full of trees again?
350
The Trees
Answer:
(i) These lines have been taken from the poem ‘The Trees’ composed by ‘Adrienne Rich’.
(ii) The trees move out into the forest from the human houses.
(iii) The forest has been empty all these days because trees have been cut and transported to
the cities.
(iv) The forest would be again full of trees when men would understand his responsibility
towards the nature.
351
The Trees
Question 2.
All night the roots work
to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor.
The leaves strain towards the glass
small twigs stiff with exertion
long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof
like newly discharged patients
half-dazed, moving
to the clinic doors 352
The Trees
(i) What are the roots trying to do?

(ii) Why are the small twigs stiff?
(iii) What does the poet mean by ‘the clinic doors”?
(iv) Name the poem and poet.
353
The Trees
Answer:
(i) The roots are trying to break the veranda floor.
(ii) The small twigs are stiff as they were straining to break the glass.
(iii) The poetess means that the trees are sick because they are being suffocated and
choked in cramped spaces of the veranda.
They need to be cured and become healthy again and for them the clinic is the open
spaces of the forest.
(iv) The poem “Trees” composed by ‘Adrienne Rich’.
354
The Trees
Question 3.
I sit inside, doors open to the veranda
writing long letters
in which I scarcely mention the departure of the forest from the house.
The night is fresh, the whole moon shines
in a sky still open
the smell of leaves and lichen
still reaches like a voice into the rooms.
355
The Trees
(i) Where is the speaker?
(ii) Why does the poet not mention the departure of the forest?
(iii) How do the leaves and lichen talk to each other?
(iv) Name the poem and poet.
Answer:
(i) The speaker (poetess) is sitting inside her house
(ii) The poetess doesn’t mention the departure of the forest because she is embarrassed.
(iii) The leaves and lichen talk to each other through the smell.
(iv) The poem “Trees” composed by Adrienne Rich.
356
The Trees
Question 4.
My head is full of whispers
which tomorrow will be silent.
Listen. The glass is breaking.
The trees are stumbling forward
into the night. Winds rush to meet them.
The moon is broken like a mirror,
its pieces flash now in the crown
of the tallest oak.
357
The Trees
(i)What are ‘whispers’ that the poetess can hear?

(ii) What does the poet ask us to listen to?
(iii) Which poetic device has been used?
(iv) Name the poem and poet
Answer:
358
The Trees
(i) The whispers that the poetess can hear are the sounds made by the
outgoing trees.
(ii) The poetess asks us to listen to the sounds of the breaking glass.
(iii) The poetic device is ‘Personification’. The trees are personified.
(iv) The poem “Trees” written by ‘Adrienne Rich’
359
CHAPTER-19
Mijbil the Otter
Mijbil the otter
• The story begins with the author travelling to Basra along with his friend. During their
journey, the author expresses his desire to domesticate an otter because after he had lost
his pet dog, life had become lonely for him.
• His friend suggested that he should get one from the Marshes along river Tigris in Iraq.
When they reached the destination, they found that only the friend’s mail had arrived.
• After a few days, the friend left while the narrator was still waiting to receive his mail.
Upon receiving it, he went to his room only to find an otter (brought to him in a sack),
accompanied by two Arabs with a note.
• It was a gift from his friend. He named the otter Mijbil or shortly, Mij. It took some time
for Mij to open up and get acquainted with his surroundings.
361
Mijbil the otter
• He was covered in mud to an extent that it took almost a month of cleaning and washing
to reveal his actual colour. Mij loved playing with water so much so that he even learned
to open the tap on his own.
• He believed that each drop of water should be squished and splashed till the bowl had
been emptied. Everything was going smoothly in Basra, but now it was time to fly back to
London.
• British airlines did not allow animals, so he had to book another flight that allowed Mij
with a condition that he had to be carried in a box.
• The narrator put him in a box an hour before the flight so that Mij could get accustomed
to it and then left for a quick meal.
362
Mijbil the otter
• When he returned, he found that the box was still and Mij had created a mess by
destroying the inner lining. As a result, blood was dripping out of the holes.
• Scared as he was, he hurried. They were far away from the airport and there were only ten
minutes left for the flight to take off.
• He cleaned it all, hurried in a cab and managed to reach just in time. He explained the
series of events to a very kind and generous air hostess who advised him to keep the box
on his lap.
• Gavin developed extreme admiration for the air hostess for she was very kind to him. As
soon as he opened the box, the otter leaped out and disappeared thereby creating a
chaos.
363
Mijbil the otter
• Passengers were frightened. A lady climbed up her chair and in an attempt to get a hold of
Mij, the author got himself covered in curry. The air hostess offered help and brought him
back to Gavin and finally, they reached London.
• Mij was fond of playing with ping-pong balls and marbles. He even developed a game with
the author’s damaged suitcase. It could keep him engrossed for a long period of time.
Narrator took him for walks while taking the lead and played with him.
• People of London, being unfamiliar with otters, had wild guesses about what Mij was.
Some thought it to be a baby seal, squirrel or even a hippo. The most shocking reaction
came when a labourer digging the hole asked the author, “what is that supposed to be?”
364
Mijbil the Otter
Previous Year Question Answer- Comprehension Questions
Question 1.
I made a body-belt for him and took him on a lead to the bathroom,
where for half an hour he went wild with joy in the water, plunging and
rolling in it, shooting up and down the length of the bathtub underwater,
and making enough slosh and splash for a hippo. This, I was to learn, is a
characteristic of otters.
(a) What is a particular characteristic of otter?
(b) What did the otter do inside the bathroom?
(c) Find the exact word from the extract which means ‘moving irregularly
with splash sound’.
(d) Why did the author make a body-belt for the himself?
365
Mijbil the Otter
Answer:
(a) Playing with water is a particular characteristic of
otters.
(b) The otter played with water inside the bathroom.
(c) ‘Slashed’ from the extract means ‘moving irregularly
with splash sound.
(d) The author made a body-belt for himself to take
otter on a lead to the bathroom.
366
Mijbil the Otter
Question 2.
Very soon Mij would follow me without a lead and come to me when I called
his name. He spent most of his time in play. He spent hours shuffling a rubber
ball round the room like a four-footed soccer player using all four feet to
dribble the ball, and he could also throw it, with a powerful flick of the neck,
to a surprising height and distance.
(a) What was the favourite timepass of Mijbil?
(b) What did the otter do when the narrator called his name?
(c) Find the exact word from the extract which means ‘strike’.
(d) What has been referred as a four-footed soccer player
367
Mijbil the Otter
Answer:
(a) The favourite timepass of Mijbil was to shuffle the rubber
ball using all his four legs.
(b) The otter used to follow the narrator when he called his
name.
(c) ‘dribble (टपकाना)’ from the extract means ‘strike’.
(d) The otter has been referred as a four-footed player of
soccer.
368
6
9
Mijbil the Otter
Previous Year Question Answer- Texted based Questions
Question 1.
How was Mij to be transported to England?
Answer:
The British Airline to England would not fly animals. So, Maxwell
booked a flight to Paris on another airline and from there to London.
The airline insisted that Mij should be packed into a box not more than
eighteen inches square. Thus, Mij was transported to England in that
box, which was kept on the floor at his feet.
Mijbil the Otter
Question 2.
What happened when the box was opened?
Answer:
When the box was opened, Mij went out of the box. He
disappeared (गार्ब हो गर्ा) at a high speed down the
aircraft. There were cries all around. A woman stood up
(उठ जाना) on her seat crying, “A rat! A rat!”.
370
Mijbil the Otter
Question 3.
Why did Maxwell get his mail after five days and what did he
do to get it? [2011]
Answer:
Maxwell got his mail after 5 days due to some delay. He cabled
and tried to telephone in order to get his mail.
371
Mijbil the Otter
Extra Question Answer
Question .
What special characteristic of Mijbil did Maxwell learn
after he took it to the bathroom?
Answer:
When Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom, he learnt
that he went wild with joy in water, plunging and
rolling in it and splashed water.
372
Mijbil the Otter
Question .
Why was the otter called Maxwell’s otter?
Answer:
The otter was not a common wild creature. It
belonged to an unknown race of otters that was
later christened by zoologists as Lutrogale
perspicillata Maxwelli; As it came into light as
Maxwell’s pet, it was named as Maxwell’s otter.
373
Mijbil the Otter
Question .
What game did Mijbil invent?
Answer:
Mijbil discovered that if he placed the ball on the high end of the
damaged suitcase, it would run down the length of the suitcase.
He would dash around to the other end to ambush its arrival, hide
from it,. crouching, to spring up and take it by surprise, grab it and
trot off with it to the high end once more.
374

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A Letter to God

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

▪ The author of this chapter is Gregorio López

▪ THE house — sat on the crest

▪ Field of ripe corn.

▪ Throughout the morning ---

▪ During the meal ------- big drops

‘‘These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky,

The big drops --------- ten cent (Small money like

▪ Suddenly a strong wind began to blow

▪ These truly did resemble (look similar)

The field was white, as if covered with salt. Not

“A plague (a large group) of locusts (Insect that

All through the night, Lencho thought only

The following Sunday, at daybreak

The postmaster — a fat, amiable fellow

Asked for money from his employees, he himself gave

Able to send the farmer only

Not the slightest (थोड़ा सी भी) surprise (आश्चर्य)

It said: “God: Of the money that I asked for,

But don’t send it to me through the mail

Q1- Where was Lencho’s house situated?

Q2- What was the only thing that the Earth

Q3- Where did Lencho expect the downpour to come

Q4 – What did Lencho compare the large raindrops

Q5- Which crop was growing on Lencho’s fields?

Q6- What destroyed Lencho’s fields?

Q8- Lencho compared the quantum of damage

• Q. Explain the qualities of the post office employees?

• Q. How was Lencho’s life affected by the rain?

• Q. What did Lencho compare the raindrops to? Why?

• Q. Why did Lencho become angry when he counted the money?

• Why was Lencho angry when he received the letter ? [2014]

❖ Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary.

5. The policy of Apartheid: Apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in

7. Twin Responsibilities: Nelson Mandela thought that every man has

Q1- When was the inauguration day?

Q2- It was a celebration of South

Q4- Why did other countries broke off diplomatic

Q5- Which party did Mandela join?

Q6- A man who takes away another man’s freedom is

Q7- Who, according to Mandela is not free?

(a) A democratic government was chosen in South Africa.

Dust of Snow Introduction

Q1- The poet says, “Of a day I had rued”. What is

Q2- What uplifted his mood?

Q3- What are the two negative creatures that Frost

Q4- The crow and Hemlock tree symbolize ____

(i) Name the poem and poet.

(i) Who is ‘I’ in these lines

Has given my heart

(a) The poet mentions the change of mood here.

The poet says that someday this world would get

But if the world has to get destroyed twice,

Q1- Who is the poet of the poem “Fire

Q2- What does the poet compare fire

Q3- What is the meaning of “perish”?

Q4- What would suffice if the world

1. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help in

Side by side he describes these two important components as

(a)In the poet’s opinion the world will end in fire.

But if it had to perish twice

(a) ‘It’ refers to the world.

2. What is the underlying idea of the poem `Fire and Ice’?