ENGLISH- CLASS X
MAY WORKSHEET
RTC
Read the following extracts and answer the questions.
1. ‘And did you cut down on the sweet things as I told you?’
(a) What sweet things are being referred to in the extract?
(b) Why does the speaker enquire if the sweet things have been cut down?
(c) What is the meaning of the phrase ‘cut down’?
(d) What is the opposite of ‘sweet’?
2. As I moved off, Mrs Pumphrey, with a despairing cry, threw an armful of the little coats
through the window. I looked in the mirror before I turned the corner of the drive everybody
was in tears.
(a) Where was the speaker going and with whom?
(b) Why was everybody in tears?
(c) Find the word in the extract which is an antonym of the word ‘cheerful’.
(d) What is the opposite of ‘before’?
3. “Poor old lad”, I said.“You haven’t a kick in you but I think I know a cure for you”.
(a) Why does the speaker say “poor old lad”?
(b) What cure did the speaker know?
(c) What is the meaning of ‘a kick ’in the extract?
(d) Write a synonym of ‘cure’.
4. No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or
his religion. People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love,
for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Even in the grimmest times
in prison, When my comrades and I were pushed to our limits, I would see a glimmer of
humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second, but it was enough to reassure me and
keep me going. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.
(a) Why is it easy to learn to love ?
(b) What was the opinion of Mandela about the man’s goodness ?
(c) Trace a word from the passage that means “severe”.
(d) What is' a flame' in the passage.
5.“We have at last, achieved our political emancipation”. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our
people from the- continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other
discrimination.
(a) Who is the speaker ?
(b) What pledge does he take ?
(c) Which word is the noun form of ’emancipate’ ?
(d) What has the speaker achieved?
Short answer questions (30-40words)
(a) What made James Herriot expect a call from MrsPumphrey?
(b) What ‘extra’ did MrsPumphrey start to give Tricki and why?
(c) How can you say that it was hard for Mrs Pumphrey to part with her loving pet?
(d) Why is 10th May, 1994 important for South Africa ?
(e) What is the dream of Nelson Mandela for the future of South Africa ?
(f) Why did Nelson Mandela said, “The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of
their humanity.”
(g) How did Nelson Mandela describe the scene of the inauguration ?
Long answer questions:-
1. Describe Mandela as an icon of the anti-apartheid struggle.
2. What ideas did we get about freedom, the oppressor and the
oppressed from this excerpt? How did Nelson Mandela get hunger
for freedom?
3. Herriot enjoyed the lavish (costly) meal during Tricki’s stay but still, he felt compelled
(forced to do something) to inform Mrs. Pumphrey about the recovery of Tricki. Why did he not
keep Tricki for a longer time? Did he feel concerned for Mrs. Pumphrey? Was it not in his
attitude to break the trust of others. Discuss the values he possessed.
