6 ENGLISH NOTES 2021-2022

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ENGLISH POETRY

Poem : 09 Goodbye Party For Miss Pushpa T. S.

1. Answer the following questions.

a. Who do you think is making the speech?

Ans. Miss Pushpa's friend, who refers to her as dear sister is making the speech.

b. Is Miss Pushpa a popular person? How do we know?

Ans. Yes, Miss Pushpa is a popular person. We know this as the speaker tells us that she is sweet and always willing to work and help out people.

c. What does the speaker remember about Surat?

Ans. While talking about Miss Pushpa, the speaker remembered that he had stayed along with his family in Surat once. He had stayed with an old friend of his uncle, whose wife was a good cook.

d. What aspects of Miss Pushpa's personality and behaviour does the speaker like?

Ans. The speaker likes Miss Pushpa's friendliness, sweetness, and her willingness to take on any task that she is asked to do.

e. Which expression in the poem is neither English nor Indian English?

Ans. The expression in the poem which is neither English nor Indian English is bon voyage (French).

f. Why do you think the poem consists of short, broken lines? What effect does this have on reading it aloud?

Ans. The poem's broken lines emphasize the broken English of the speaker. It runs very naturally like a speech given by common Indian people who are eager to speak English but are quite happily oblivious of its rules and regulations.

g. Do you think the speaker's comments and thoughts about Miss Pushpa are in any particular order? How would you have made the speech about Miss Pushpa?

Ans. No, I do not think the speaker's comments and thoughts about Miss Pushpa are in any particular order. He/She begins by giving the reason for the meeting. Then he/she aptly describes Miss Pushpa's sweetness. But that sweetness wanders off to Surat, Miss Pushpa's native place, to an uncle's friend, to his wife who used to cook well. The speaker comes back to Pushpa but then again his/her expressions about Miss Pushpa's popularity with men and ladies, the distinctly out of place French bon voyage amidst the broken English leaves one in no doubt about the speaker's lack of finesse. I would have made the speech in an orderly way, without mentioning about the uncle's friend in Surat and certainly in simple, but good English.

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ENGLISH PROSE

CHAPTER - 8 IN A TUNNEL

1. Answer the following questions.
a) Why are the carriage windows pulled up when the train goes through a tunnel? 
b) What kinds of things do you see in a tunnel (when you are on foot) ?
Ans - When you are on foot in a tunnel, one can see slimy, oozy trickles of water dripping down the walls. The bricks are a dull, sticky, sickly green. The light from outside shines in for quite a long way before it becomes considerably dark.

 
c) How many children are there in the tunnel?
Ans - There are three children in the tunnel.

d) Which child is the most frightened?
Ans - Phyllis is the most frightened.

e) Peter asks the others : ' and what's that '? What is the 'that' he refers to ?
Ans - That was a low humming sound on the railway line, signifying that a train was approaching the tunnel.

f) What are the wires over which Phyllis stumbles? 
Ans - The wires over which Phyllis stumbles on the way to the manhole are those which connect the points or signals to the control.

g) How does the author describe the train 'hurtling by' ?
Ans - According to the author, the train hurtled by, with a rush, a roar and a rattle, and a long dazzling flash of lighted carriage windows, a small of smoke and a blast of hot air. All the while, there was the constant clanging, jangling and echoing noise in the vaulted roof of the tunnel.

h) Why does Phyllis compare the train to a dragon? In what ways was it similar to a dragon? Do you think this is a good comparison?
Ans - Phyllis compares the train to a dragon because it roars and puffs out smoke and fire like a dragon does. Also, the approaching train's lights look like eyes glowing in the dark, belonging to a fearsome creature like the dragon. It is a good comparison. 

i) The train described here is a steam train. These days it is more usual to find electric and diesel trains on railway lines. Are these better? How? Are these less romantic to travel on? 
Ans - Electrical trains run faster and are cheaper to operate. They emit no sound, and are weatherproof, without the dirt and heat of steam engines. Stream engines require large quantities of coal and water. To a certain extent, the modern trains, with so many amenities, do seem less romantic to travel on, when compared to the old- world charm of the steam trains.

Ans - The carriage windows are pulled up when the train goes through a tunnel to prevent the smoke from the engine to come into the carriage.

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ENGLISH POETRY

POEM - 7 THE WAY THROUGH THE WOODS

1. Answer the following questions.

a) What is hidden in the woods?

Ans - A road is hidden in the woods.

b) How is it hidden?

Ans - It is hidden under trees and heath.

c) Why do the animals 'fear not men in the woods'?

Ans - The animals 'fear not men in the woods' because they see very few of them.

d) What mysterious sounds might you hear in the woods?

Ans - One might hear the beat of a horse's feet and the swish of a skirt in the woods.

e) Does the poem have a rhyme scheme? 

Ans - Yes , it does, a b c b d e f e

f) How is the word 'anemones' pronounced?

Ans - un-ne-muh-ney

2. Answer the following with reference to context.

a) Weather and rain have undone it again,

i) what does the 'it' refer to ?

Ans -'It' refers to the road in the woods.

ii)  What happened to 'it' years ago?

Ans - It had been hidden under trees and shruberry years ago.

iii) What has happened to 'it' since then, and how has 'it' changed?

Ans - 'It' has been lost since then as no road exists in the current times and it has been hidden leading one to believe that no such road existed.

b) As though they perfectly knew 

    The old lost road through the woods…. 

i) Who knew this?

And - They who to be using the erstwhile road know about its existence.

ii) What did 'they' do on the road? 

Ans - They seemed to use the hidden road as one might hear the beat of a horse's feet and the swish of a skirt in the woods.

iii) Are the road, the sounds and the people are real or imaginary? Why?

Ans - The roads, sounds, and people seem to be imaginary and seem to depict an erstwhile era as only the poet seems to be aware of their existence.

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ENGLISH PROSE

CHAPTER - 7 ACROSS THREE MILLENNIA

1. Answer the following questions.

a)Who was Philip?

Ans - Philip was a young lady in ancient Egypt in search of work so that his mother and sisters do not have to starve.

b) What kind of machine was Lalda in control of?

Ans - Lalda was  in control of a spaceship CMF-  22 which had the most powerful and reliable computer known in the universe.

c) What made Lalda feel safe and confident?

Ans - The lines  of green lights across the top of the instrument panel assured Lalda that the ship was on the right path and everything was fine.

d) When did she begin to feel that something was wrong? 

Ans - There are six screens for the six scanners round the spaceship. But surprisingly the fifth scanner showed  the glow of the sun getting increasingly stronger and even the spaceship's surrounding temperature had increased from the first time she had checked it. That meant the ship was moving towards the sun absolutely opposite to the course it was supposed to take.

e)  Did Philip find the sums easy?

Ans - Philips slowly arranged the beads as per the digits in units, tens and Hundreds place and managed to do the addition and the subtraction even though there were not sufficient beads in the rows. He was very tense while doing the sums, so one can say that he did not find the sums very easy .

3. Answer the following questions with reference to context.

a)The two men were talking earnestly as they walked and once or twice Cimon stopped and consulted a scroll he was carrying.

i) Who was Cimon and what was his job?

Ans - Cimon was an architect who was working on the plans of building a temple.

ii) Who was the other man and what was his job?

Ans - The other person was the foreman who was overseeing the construction of the building.

iii) What was on the scroll?

Ans - The building plans for the temple were on the scroll.

iv) Where were the men going?

Ans- The men were walking towards the building site.

v) What were the men talking about?

Ans- The men were discussing the temple which they were building for Apollo. They went on to talk about a man in Athens who had said that the sun is a mass of flaming material and that the Moon's light is the reflection of the sun, words that are proven facts today.

b) OK, Briel would have been horrified, but she wasn't here, was she?

i) Who is speaking and to whom?

Ans - Lalda is speaking to herself.

ii) Who was Breil? Why was she not there?

Ans - Breil Was Lalda's trainer. She had died 28 days earlier.

iii)  What would Breil have been horrified about?

Ans - Breil would have been horrified about the fact that Lalda was thinking of not doing the customary check.

iv) What did the speaker do after this statement was made?

Ans - After this statement was made, Lalda got off the bank and turned on the scanner screens one by one. She took a reading of the ship's surrounding temperature and then returned to her bunk to try and sleep.

c) It was almost the first thing she had learnt in flight training.

i) who is the 'she' mentioned in the statement?

Ans - In the statement, she refers to Lalda.

ii) What had she learnt in Flight Training?

Ans - She had learnt that loose liquids were are absolutely prohibited in the control room, during Flight Training.

iii) Why do you think 'it' was an important thing to remember?

Ans - 'It' was an important thing to remember because any liquid that might get spilled onto the electrical computer equipment would damage it, leading to crisis situation.

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ENGLISH POETRY

Poem:6  In the Bazaars of Hyderabad
Comprehension
1. Answer the following questions.
a. What is brocade?
Ans. Brocade is a fabric with a woven raised pattern. An Indian cloth made of gold and silver threads woven together.
b. What is the difference between amber and jade?
Ans. Amber is a yellow translucent fossil. Jade is a hard green, blue or white stone.
c. What is henna?
Ans. Henna is a plant, whose shoots and leaves are powdered and used as a dye for the skin and hair.
d. Why should bells be made for blue pigeons?
Ans. Bells are made for blue pigeons to alert their owners of their whereabouts and their homecoming after their flying trips.
e. What are girdles and scabbards?
Ans. Girdles are belts or cords to tie around the waist. Scabbards are the sheaths for daggers.
f. How many colours are mentioned in the poem?
Ans. Eight colours are mentioned in the poem. Crimson, silver, purple, saffron, blue, azure, red and white.
g. What kind of instrument is a sarangi? What is a cithar?
Ans. A sarangi is a stringed Indian instrument played with a bow. A cithar or sitar is another stringed Indian instrument played by hand.
h. What does 'aeons' mean?
Ans. Aeons means countless ages, eternity.
i. What is a chaplet?
Ans. A chaplet is a wreath of flowers, beads, gold or gems worn round the head.
j. What was it that attracted the poet to write this poem?
Ans. The colourful and rich stalls of Hyderabad were so varied and fulfilling that the poet was enthused to write this poem.
k. Do you think the poet brings out the hustle and bustle of an ancient local bazaar? How might you improve on this, thinking about a modern bazaar?
Ans. The poet does bring out the hustle and bustle of an ancient local bazaar brilliantly, but she leaves out dresses, a major part of modern bazaars. Also, she does not talk about other visitors to the marketplace which would have made her poem complete.

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ENGLISH PROSE

Ch: 6 The White Mouse Circus

Comprehension (Pages: 72 and 73)

1. Answer the following questions.

a. What reason did the grandmother give for going to Bournemouth?

Ans. The grandmother decided to go to Bournemouth in order to obey her doctor's orders.

b. How does the boy describe the hotel?

Ans. 'It was an enormous white building on the seafront and it looked to me like a pretty boring place to spend a summer holiday in' he describes the hotel as, 'The ground floor of the hotel was a maze of public rooms, all of them named in gold letters on the doors.'

c. Why had the grandmother given the boy a pair of white mice?

Ans. The grandmother had given the boy a pair of white mice as a consolation because Bournemouth was a boring place.

d. What was the first trick the boy taught the mice?

Ans. The first trick the boy taught the white mice was to creep up the sleeve of his jacket and come out by his neck.

e. Why did the hotel manager get angry with the boy and his grandmother?

Ans. The hotel manager was angry with the boy and his grandmother for suggesting that the hotel was full of rats.

f. What made the boy confident that he had found a good place to train his mice?

Ans. The boy was confident that he had found a good place to train his mice because the ballroom was large and empty. The room had been used for a meeting of the members of the RSPCC, and even if these members were to come into the room while he was there, they would be good, kind people.

g. In what ways was the grandmother a clever and thoughtful lady?

Ans. The grandmother outwitted the hotel manager by suggesting that there were rats in the hotel and it might be closed down if this fact was reported to the Public Health Authorities.

h. In your own words describe how mice may be trained to walk a tight-rope.

Ans. Stretch a string tight between your two hands, keeping it short. Put the mouse on your right hand and a little piece of a cake on your left hand. The mouse can see and smell the cake, and only has to take two steps along the string. Each time the mouse successfully crosses the string, allow it to nibble a piece of the cake, and lengthen the string. In this way a mouse can be taught to walk a tight-rope.

i. What difficulties might you come up against, if you were training mice?

Ans. First, handling mice can be a bit tricky as they are small and quick, but once they are tamed they can be picked up and handled. Second, their bite can be dangerous and may cause a disease.

2. What do you think is meant by the following? You may discuss each sentence in the live online class. Try to find other ways of expressing the same ideas.

a. 'It's tommyrot.'

Ans. The grandmother to the boy when he asks her if it is true that a place like Bournemouth keeps people healthy.

Meaning: It's nonsense!

b. They were terrific fun. (Look up the word 'terrific' in a dictionary.)

Ans. The boy says this about the mice his grandmother has given him.

Meaning: They are lots of fun. 

Terrific means of a great amount, or intensity.

c. The manager was a bristly man. (What does the word 'bristly' mean?)

Ans. The boy says this about the manager.

Meaning: Bristly here means a) with thick set hair (bristles), and b) with a temper, ready for a fight.
d. 'Rats!' cried Mr Stringer, going mauve in the face.
Ans. Mr Stringer, the manager, says this to the grandmother when she tells him there are rats in his hotel.
Meaning: Going mauve in the face - getting very angry
e. 'May I suggest a compromise, madam?'
Ans. The manager says this when the grandmother asks him whether or not they are going to be allowed to keep the white mice in the hotel.
Meaning: The manager is afraid that if the grandmother carries out her threat, there may be more trouble to deal with, so he suggests a simpler solution which will suit both parties.
f. The ground floor of the hotel was a maze of public rooms.
Ans. The boy says this when describing the hotel and his discovery of all the different rooms on the ground floor.
Meaning: There were so many rooms, and so many corridors, that the ground floor of the hotel appeared like a maze (a place in which one can easily get lost) to the little boy.

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ENGLISH PROSE

Ch: 5. THE TOY-BOX

Comprehension (Pages: 64 and 65)

1. Answer the following questions.
a. What sounds did the children hear after entering the grounds in their car?
Ans. The children heard the birds twittering, bees buzzing, and the crunching of gravel under the car wheels after entering the grounds.
b. How do we know that the children liked the week in their old house before they moved out?
Ans. We know that the children liked the week in their old house before they moved out because it is described as a magical playground in which they had fun living with boxes everywhere.
c. In what way was Matilda's first impression of the new house different from Tom's?
Ans. Matilda's first impression of the new house was different from Tom's in that she described it as beautiful, went straight in, and started unpacking. Tom, on the other hand, says it looks scary.
d. When and where did Tom first hear a cry? What was his reaction?
Ans. Tom heard a cry on the first day when he was alone in the playroom. His reaction was to think it was a cat or his imagination.
e. What did Tom see out of the window? How did this contrast with the inside?
Ans. Tom saw the garden outside the window. Everything in it looked bright and warm, and green and fresh. The house, in contrast, is described as dark and cold, with echoing rooms and strange sounds.
f. What did Tom's mother tell Tom to give him the courage to return to the playroom to check that there were no strange sounds there?
Ans. Tom's mother told him not to be a scary-cat and said that the sounds must have come from outside.
g. How did Tom's constant screaming affect his parents and Matilda?
Ans. Tom's constant screaming made his parents come running to check on him.
h. What did Tom's father take with him to investigate the coal bunker and why?
Ans. Tom's father took a 3-iron, a golf club with him when he went to look in the coal bunker. He took it as a form of defence against the intruder the family had heard through the vent.
i. Where did all the rubbish at the side of the house come from?
Ans. The rubbish at the side of the house had been dumped there when the house was being renovated.
j. Why do you think the phrase 'suitable accommodation' is placed within inverted commas?
Ans. I think the phrase 'suitable accommodation' is placed within inverted commas because to indicate that the words are not one the writer would normally use or that the writer thinks there is something dubious about the words.
k. Tom describes the house in his own way. What is his view about the house? Does this view change? When and why?
Ans. Tom describes the house in his own way. His views of the house is that it is a cold, scary, rambling mansion that is towering and spooky, with echoing rooms. His view changes when the mystery of the moaning toy-box has been solved and the family have settled in. He says that, 'the spooky house became a warm and comforting home.'
 l. The woman, her husband and daughter were obviously taken care of in the end. What is your view about how and why they got there in the first place?
Ans. They got there by chance while searching for shelter as they had nowhere to live.

2. Choose the best answer.
a. Tom did not like the house because
i. a family lived next door to the playroom.
ii. it was spacious and cold.
iii. it was a towering and rambling mansion.
iv. it was cold, damp and spooky.
Ans. iv. it was cold, damp and spooky.
b. Tom's parents were annoyed with Tom because
i. he found the house spooky.
ii. he screamed.
iii. they thought he had made up a story to get their attention.
iv. he heard sounds.
Ans. iii. they thought he had made up a story to get their attention.
3. Answer the following with reference to context.
a.'And, just in case, I'm taking a golf club.'
i. Who said these words?
Ans. Tom's father said these words.
ii. Why does the speaker say ' just in case'? In case of what?
Ans. He takes it as a precaution. He is worried about who he might find in his coal bunker.
iii. What club does he take and what does he do with it?
Ans. He takes a 3-iron and he swings it in the air as they walk along.
b. Father entered the room at a gallop.
i. Why did father enter the room in this fashion?
Ans. He is responding to his son's scream.
ii. What did he find in the room at this time?
Ans. He found Tom, Matilda and their mother/his wife.
iii. What did he do in the room and immediately after this?
Ans. He starts speaking in the room but stops when he sees his wife indicating with one finger on her lips for him to be quiet. They all go into the living room where Tom's mother explains what they had heard. Then Tom's father goes to the playroom to investigate.

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ENGLISH POETRY

Poem: 5 TRESPASS

Comprehension (Pages: 77 and 78)
1. Answer the following questions.
a. Find four words in the first four lines that indicate that the walker is worried.
Ans. Four words in the first four lines that indicate that the walker is worried: dreaded, cautious, wary, feared.

b. What is the walker worried about?
Ans. He is walking across a meadow swath which is privately owned so he is worried that the owner will come and reprimand him.

c. Why does the walker keep on going even though he is worried?
Ans. The walker keeps on going even though he is worried because everything around him 'appeared so beautiful'.

d. The walker meets people as he walks. What does he think they are thinking about him?
Ans. The walker thinks that the people he meets as he walks are thinking disapproving thoughts about him because he has trespassed.

e. What does the walker wish for?
Ans. The walker wishes that he could have such a place for himself.

f. The poet has used the same word to start six of the fourteen lines in the poem. What is the word? What impact does it have?
Ans. The poet has used the word 'and' to start six of the fourteen lines in the poem. The impact is that it creates the sense of an ongoing journey, his walk, and the sense of connected thoughts that walking often produces.

g. How many sentences are in the poem? Is there a different mood or feeling in the last two sentences?
Ans. There are two sentences in the poem. The first sentence contains the longer section. It contains the connective 'and' numerous times and creates a sense of his ongoing walk. The pace is faster in the second sentence because it is shorter. It contains negatives, 'cannot', 'never' and 'naught', which convey a sense of loss or negativity. Perhaps this reflects the end of his walk and less freedom for him.

h. What does the walker decide in the final lines of the poem?
Ans. In the final lines of the poem, the walker decides that he cannot walk on another person's land because he has not got the freedom to do so.

Understanding the Poetry
4. Do you like this poem? Explain why you like or dislike it.
* Pupils will explain why they like or dislike the poem.
5. Answer these questions with reference to context.
i. Where had the walker been before he reached the road?
Ans. He was walking on private land, meadow.
ii. What happened on the road and what did the walker think?
Ans. He passes strangers and thinks that they know he has been trespassing.
iii. Why might a walker want to leave the road to walk elsewhere?
Ans. I think to explore, to see different sights.

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ENGLISH POETRY

Poem: 4 The Echoing Green

Comprehension (Page: 57)

1. Answer the following questions.

a. What time of day is it at the beginning of the poem?

Ans. At the beginning of the poem, the Sun is rising so it is early in the morning.

b. Which words from the first stanza create a cheerful mood?

Ans. Words from the first stanza which create a cheerful mood are : happy, merry, welcome, sing, and cheerful.

c. In the second stanza, what are the older people doing? And what does it make them remember?

Ans. In the second stanza, the older people are laughing at the children playing.

It makes them remember when they used to play happily on the green when they were young.

d. In the final stanza, what time of day is it?

Ans. In the final stanza, the Sun is going down so it is the evening.

e. In the final stanza, what happens to the children?

Ans. In the final stanza, the children are tired and ready for rest so they sit with their mothers instead of playing.

f. In the final stanza, the poet creates an interesting image by comparing the mother and her children to a type of animal. What animals are they compared to? What are they doing? What is the effect of using this comparison?

Ans. In the final stanza, the poet compares the mother and her children to birds in a nest.

The children sit with their mothers.

The effect of the comparison is that we can picture the children with their mothers, getting comfort and warmth and feeling safe.

g. Make a list of the animals mentioned in the poem.

Ans. Birds are mentioned in the poem; the skylark and thrush are named.

h. Make a list of sounds mentioned in the poem. Which stanza doesn't have any sounds mentioned in it?

Ans. A list of sounds mentioned in the poem: bells ringing, bird-songs, laughter, voices of the old folks, the echoing green.

No sounds are mentioned in the final stanza.

i. What do you notice about the last line of each stanza? Say how they are similar and how they are different.

Ans. The last line of each stanza is almost the same. 

In stanzas one and two, the same words are used: ' On the Echoing Green'. But, in the second stanza, this is a line of speech rather than a description. In the third stanza, the word echoing is replaced with the word darkening.

j. How does the difference in the last lines affect the mood of the end of the poem?

Ans. The difference in the last lines creates a quiet, calm mood. It can be read in other ways, for example, it signifies the end of life or an era.

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ENGLISH PROSE 

Ch. 4 : The Great Train Journey

1. Answer the following questions. (page: 52)

a. How do we know that Suraj likes trains?

Ans. We know that Suraj likes trains because he spends time watching them, waving to them, and wondering about the people on the trains. We learn, in the fifth paragraph, that he is fascinated by all trains.

b. What time of year is it?

Ans. It is summertime; the story takes place during the summer holidays.

c. How do we know that Suraj is bored?

Ans. We know that Suraj is bored because he has been wandering about all day, alone, and still does not know what to do with himself.

d. What sort of things make Suraj curious and how does he react to what makes him curious?

Ans. Suraj is made curious by things that are bolted or nailed down, or in some way concealed from him, such as parcels, locked rooms, carriage doors, and crates. He reacts by trying to see what is inside the crates.

e. Why does Suraj think that the trees are walking?

Ans. Suraj thinks that the trees are walking because he had not noticed that the train had started moving.

f. Who else is in the carriage?

Ans. A man, who describes himself as a hippy, is also in the carriage.

g. Where does Suraj say that he would like to go?

Ans. Suraj says that he would like to go everywhere, to England, China, Africa and Greenland. He wants to go all over the world.

h. What warning does the man give Suraj?

Ans. The man warns Suraj to keep out of sight if he doesn't want to be caught.

i. When Suraj thinks about his parents for the first time, what does he imagine that they will think?

Ans. When Suraj thinks about his parents for the first time, he imagines that they will think that he had run away, or been kidnapped, or been involved in an accident.

j. What presents does Suraj imagine that he will bring back for his friend?

Ans.Suraj imagines that he will bring back an African lion or a transistor-radio for his friend.

k. When Suraj thinks about his parents' reaction to his disappearance, he feels a few different emotions. What shows us that he is excited at first? How does he feel later on?

Ans. When Suraj thinks about his parents' reaction to his disappearance, he feels a few different emotions. At first, he imagines that he will become famous for being the boy who disappeared; this shows that he finds the idea exciting. Later on, he feels sorry for them because he realized that they will miss him.

l. Why do you think the man was on the train?

Ans. The man was on the train because it was comfortable, safe or cosy, or perhaps he was trying to get a free ride somewhere.

m. How does Suraj feel after the conversation about getting to China?

Ans. Suraj does not react immediately to the conversation about going to China. Perhaps he is thinking about the skills he does not have. After a while, he thinks that he is not sure if he really wants to go to strange, new, faraway places.

n. Why doesn't the man tell Suraj that the train takes a circular route?

Ans. The man doesn't tell Suraj that the train takes a circular route because he can see how excited Suraj is about going on a journey and he knows Suraj will be safe, he allows him to enjoy his adventure.

2. Look at these words. (page: 53)

starve, consume, devour, snack, gobble, feast, munch, chew, nibble

a. Which one is the odd one out? Why?

Ans. Starve is the odd word out. The other words are ways of eating, whereas starve means to suffer or die from hunger.

b. Can you think of any more words or phrases for eating? Write them in your exercise book.

Ans. ingest, chomp, guzzle, nosh

c. Pick three of the words above and use each one in a sentence.

Ans. i. consume - Their chief food is grass and seeds, but they also consume roots.

ii. devour - I once saw a hungry man devour a large pizza in sixty seconds.

iii. chew - Chew your food up thoroughly before you swallow it.

 R/12                                                           

ENGLISH POETRY

Poem: 3 The Poem

Comprehension (Page : 43)

1. Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. What is needed for the twig to become healthy and strong?

Ans. The twig should be planted, watered, and set where the Sun will be above it, to become healthy and strong.

b. In what ways will the twig develop if it is cared for?

Ans. If cared for, the twig will develop into a tall bush with many flowers and sparkling leaves.

c. What is a closet and what might be found there?

Ans. A closet is a large cabinet or area, like a cupboard, for storage; in it there may be odds and ends such as a mousetrap and blunted tools.

d. Is the closet mentioned in the poem used much? How do we know?

Ans. The closet is not used much; there are mousetraps in it (a mousetrap is not used very often), and the tools are blunt (again, showing that they are seldom used).

e. Will the twig grow in a closet?

Ans. The twig will not grow in a closet, because it is too dark and there is little fresh air inside.

f. What is the twig compared to in the second stanza?

Ans. The twig is compared to an old, twisted nail.

g. Do you think the poet has a message (or messages) for the reader?

Ans. Yes, to look after and encourage something, even if it is small and appears useless. (The poet is also telling us to nurture and look after young living things - children, for example - and by doing so they will blossom into wonderful beings. If children are neglected and uncared for, they will not reach their full potential).

2. Find where these expressions are used in the poem. Read the lines a number of times and try to understand the meaning of the following. Explain the meaning in your own words.

a. it is only a little twig

Ans. It is nothing more; it appears insignificant.

b. and set it where the sun will

Ans. And plant it (place it) where the sun will…

c. thrust hither and thither

Ans. grow (sprout) all over the place

d. recover themselves

Ans. regain their upright posture

e. clash one upon another

Ans. brush against, collide with each other

 R/11                                                          

ENGLISH PROSE

Ch: 3 A Polar Explorer
1. Answer the following questions:- (page: 39)

a. What did Amundsen's mother want him to be? Did he follow her wishes?

Ans. Amundsen's mother wanted him to be a doctor. He followed her wishes until she died.

b. What gave Amundsen the inspiration to be an explorer? How did he prepare for this as a child and as an adult?

Ans. Amundsen was inspired by famous British explorers. As a child he read about explorers, slept with his windows open and joined many sports to be fit. As an adult, he worked as a ship's crew member to learn useful skills.

c. What key skills did Amundsen learn about survival? Look at the paragraphs four and six.

Ans. Amundsen was well prepared by learning useful survival skills. He knew how to survive before setting off on his own expedition. He picked up important survival skills, such as using dogs to travel by sledge. He stocked up on furs to wear.

d. What made it difficult to pass through the Northwest Passage? What helped Amundsen achieve it?

Ans. It was difficult because of very cold weather, shallow seas and sea-ice. Amundsen's small boat Gjoa helped him to pass through the Northwest Passage.

e. When did Amundsen get to the North Pole?

Ans. In 1926, Amundsen got to the North Pole.

f. What did Amundsen's companion mistake the Eskimo people for? Why?

Ans. Amundsen's companion mistook the Eskimo people for caribou because they were very far away from the ship.

g. How did Amundsen 'talk' to the Eskimos?

Ans. Expressions of the face, nods and shakes of the head, gestures and tones of the voice were used by Amundsen to 'talk' to the Eskimos.

h. How did Amundsen die?

Ans. In June 1928, aged fifty-five, Amundsen was travelling in a plane on a rescue mission when it disappeared. Amundsen and the rest of the crew were never seen again.

i. Why is it colder at the South Pole?

Ans. The South Pole is colder because there is no sunlight from March to September. The sun stays on the horizon from September to March.

j. Amundsen said, 'Victory awaits him who has everything in order.' Explain what he meant.

Ans. He meant that success came from proper preparation and having the appropriate equipment.

2. Copy the sentences that are true. Correct the sentences that are wrong and write those out, too. (page: 39)

a. Scurvy is caused by lack of Vitamin C.

b. Getting to the North Pole was easy.

c. Amundsen was the first person to be able to claim that he had been to both the Poles.

d. It is always dark at the South Pole.

e. The North Pole is not on land.

f. No animals live near the North Pole.

Ans:

a. Scurvy is caused by lack of Vitamin C.

b. Getting to the North Pole was a challenge.

c. Amundsen was the first person to be able to claim that he had been to both the Poles.

d. It is not always dark at the South Pole. The sun stays on the horizon from September to March.

e. The North Pole is not on land.

f. Some animals like seals, polar bears and Arctic foxes live near the North Pole.

3. Answer these questions with reference to context. (page: 39)

a. Some other 'two-legged caribous' joined the first, until five figures were outlined against the sky.

i. What were the two-legged caribous?

i. The two-legged caribous were Eskimos.

ii. How many people were on Amundsen's side?

ii. Three people, Amundsen and his two companions.

b. Their leader, seeing this pacific move, imitated it by turning to his followers and uttering a command.

i. What is meant by the phrase 'pacific move'?

i.'Pacific move' means peaceful move.

ii. How did the Eskimos respond?

ii. The Eskimos also responded in the same peaceful way by putting down their bows and arrows on the ground.

4. Look at the two fact files about the Poles. Write four sentences in which you compare the Poles. (page: 39)

Ans:

a. The North Pole is more inhabited than the South Pole.

b. The North Pole has less ice cover than the South Pole.

c. The North Pole has more plants and animals than the South Pole.

d. The North Pole is melting faster than the South Pole.

 R/08                                                                  

ENGLISH PROSE

Ch: 2 Home, Sweet Home!

1. Answer the following questions. (page: 28 and 29)

a. What were the children doing in the house?

Ans. The children were playing their musical instruments in the house.

b. What were Monica and Janko doing at this time?

Ans. At this time, Janko had been trying to read the newspaper and Monica had been in the small kitchen.

c. What effect did the children's music have on Janko?

Ans. The children's music had given Janko a headache and made him irritable.

d. In what ways did Monica show that she was on the side of the children?

Ans. Monica showed that she was on the side of the children by winking at them and by making a joke.

e. What made the children giggle?

Ans. Monica's description of Janko's snoring made the children giggle.

f. How had Wise Eva helped Janko before?

Ans. Wise Eva had helped Janko before by giving him advice about how to keep the birds out of his vegetable patch.

g. What did Eva look like? Give a full description of her.

Ans. Eva was a small woman like Janko's wife, but much older. Her white hair, parted in the middle and flowing over her shoulders, made her look a little like a witch.

h. Did Janko tell Eva a lie about his wife? What was it?

Ans. Yes, Janko told Eva a lie that his wife snores at night.

i. How did Janko feel after the animals were removed from the house?

Ans. Janko felt good after the animals were removed from the house. He began to appreciate his family.

j. What statements and clues are there to indicate that the house was indeed small?

Ans. The statements and clues that indicate that the house was indeed small are

a) Monica was small, but the kitchen too was small - not much larger than a cupboard.

b) 'We have to learn to share the space we have,' said Monica.

k. What was Janko's real problem and how did Eva sort it out? How do you think she solved his first problem?

Ans. Janko's real problem was that he thought his house was small and noisy. He needed some space and some peace. Eva sorted it out by giving him advice to shift all his animals from the barn to his house. Later when the animals were removed from the house, Janko realised his mistake.

I think she solved his first problem by suggesting him to build a scarecrow in his vegetable patch.

l. Which statement made by Monica sums up what we have to do when space is limited? How would you have managed in the same situation as the family?

Ans. 'We have to learn to share the space we have.'

This statement sums up what we have to do when space is limited.

I would have fixed schedules for work and play.

In a family, we should learn to work together and play together. I would have a fixed time for reading the newspaper and at that time, I would ask the children to study. In the same way there would be a fixed time for children to play and at that time I could also enjoy with them.

2. Answer the following with reference to context. (pages: 28 & 29)

a.'Anywhere, but in my ear!'

(i) Who said these words?

Ans. Janko said these words.

(ii) What question is the speaker answering?

Ans. Where else are they to play?

(iii) What noise is the speaker accused of making and when? 

Ans. Janko is accused of snoring at night.

b. 'Your expressions tells me there is something on your mind…'

(i) Who is the speaker and to whom are the words addressed?

Ans. Eva is the speaker and the words are addressed to Janko.

(ii) What kind of expression did the person have?

Ans. Janko had a gloomy and tensed expression.

(iii) What was on the person's mind?

Ans. Janko was thinking about the lack of space and the noisy condition of his house.

 R/07                                                               

ENGLISH POETRY

Poem: 2 The Old Brown Horse
(Comprehension)

1. Answer the following questions. (page: 32)

a. What do we learn from the horse's appearance and behaviour?

Ans. We learn that the horse was weary, old, shaggy, not very well cared for, and a bit sad, but the horse responded to human touch.

b. When does the horse feel that life is not so bad?

Ans. The horse felt that life was not so bad when a passer-by stroked its mane and shaggy coat.

c. What does the poet ask the reader to do?

Ans. Stop for a word or two and touch him softly.

d. Why is the horse no longer used for riding? Give at least two reasons.

Ans. The horse was old; time had passed and had brought new methods of transport such as the motor car.

e. Who might have been responsible for neglecting the horse? Why was it neglected?

Ans. The master might have been responsible for neglecting the horse.

It was neglected because he was busy driving his motor car.

f. What would you have done to make the horse's last years comfortable?

Ans. I would have gone to him everyday. I would have stood by him for sometime and stroked his neck and head. Such small gestures are enough to make an old horse happy and grateful.

2. Mark these statements true (T) or false (F). (page: 32)

a. The old horse is pleased with life. F

b. The old horse likes having visitors. T

c. People who drive past are interested in the horse. F

d. The horse does not like being touched. F

3. Answer the following with reference to context. (page: 32)

'Oh, thank you, friend, for the kindly thought

For a horse who has had his day.'

The underlined phrase means that he

a. has become tired of his life.

b. has lived through another day.

c. has now grown old.

Ans. c. has now grown old.

 R/04                                                          

ENGLISH PROSE

Ch: 1 Nicobobinus

1. Answer the following questions. (page: 20)

(a) What do we learn about Nicobobinus in the first paragraph?

Ans. We learn that Nicobobinus is an extraordinary child who stuck his tongue out at the Prime Minister. We also learn that he lives in Venice and that he could do anything.

(b) Who was Rosie?

Ans. Rosie is Nicobobinus's best friend.

(c) Why don't people pay attention to what Rosie says?

Ans. People don't pay attention to what Rosie says because she is always having wild ideas.

(d) What two things does Rosie suggest that she and Nicobobinus should do?

Ans. Rosie suggests that she and Nicobobinus should pull up every weed on his doorstep and discover the Land of Dragons.

(e) When do the children go on their adventure and what do they take with them?

Ans. The children go on their adventure the next morning, when it is just starting to get brighter. They take buns and lemonade with them.

(f) Whom do they meet on their journey? Say what happens at each of the two encounters?

Ans. They meet the Nightwatchman and a dog on their journey.

The Nightwatchman tries to stop them from going on their adventure. Rosie trips over the dog and it barks at them until it notices the buns and starts to eat them.

(g) How does Nicobobinus escape from the Man in the garden?

Ans. Nicobobinus escapes from the Man in the orchard by doubling himself up and going backwards as fast as he could, instead of trying to run away, so the Man's legs are knocked from under him, and he lands in a pile of leaves. Then Nicobobinus hides in a shed.

(h) How does Nicobobinus get out of the well?

Ans. He squirms through a long, narrow passage made of stone.

(i) Why do you think Rosie said, ' It's one of the best ideas you've ever had.' What does it say about Rosie?

Ans. Rosie says this because she wants to convince Nicobobinus to go with her to discover the Land of Dragons. It says that Rosie is a clever girl.

(j) What are the thoughts Nicobobinus has as he is falling down the well? For each one, explain what you think he is feeling?

Ans. Several thoughts flashed through his mind at the same time. 

The first was something along the lines of : 'Bother!' (only a bit ruder). Here he is feeling irritated and impatient.

The second thought involved dangling Rosie over a snake pit, while numerous fierce dragons flew at her chanting 'How could you do it to him? Poor Nicobobinus!' Here his thought is rather unkind for Rosie.

The third thought was about a deep, unused well with slimy, slippery sides that he could never climb, and ice water at the bottom. Here he is feeling afraid of the unseen situation.

2. Write out the lines of speech below. Put the name of the speaker after each one. 
(page: 20)

(a) 'Ah ha! I've got you now!' - The Man

(b) 'Let's pull up every single weed on your doorstep.' - Rosie

(c) 'It's one of the best ideas you've ever had!' -  Rosie

(d) 'Ow!' -  Nicobobinus

(e) 'Open this door at once, d'you hear?' -  The Man

(f) 'You'll think of something!' - Rosie

 R/03                                                          

ENGLISH POETRY

Poem: 1 Mother to Son

Answer the following questions. (page: 12)

1. Who is speaking in the poem and to whom are the words addressed?

Ans. A mother is speaking in the poem and her words are addressed to her son.

2. What does the speaker compare her life with?

Ans. The speaker compares her life to a flight of worn down, dimly-lit stairs.

3. What does the speaker encounter on the stairs?

Ans. The speaker encounters tacks, splinters, holes, torn boards and patches of darkness on the stairs.

4. Even though there have been obstacles in the way, what has the speaker done to continue her journey?

Ans. She has kept climbing up.

5. Which three pieces of advice does the speaker give the boy?

Ans. Don't turn back, don't sit down and don't fall, are the three pieces of advice the speaker gives to the listener in the poem.

6. Which sentences are repeated in the poem?

Ans. The line, 'Life for me ain't been no crystal stair' is repeated. The speaker also repeats the message that she hasn't given up, with the similar lines, 'I'se been a-climbin' on' and 'I'se still climbin'.

7. Which line is the shortest? Why do you think the poet made this line so short?

Ans. The one-word line, 'Bare.' is shortest. The poet has made this line so short to state the fact that her life has been hard, empty and without comforts, which the word on its own makes it clear.

8. What is the mother's experience of life? What does she compare her life with?

Ans. Life for the mother has been very difficult but she has not given up. 

She compares her life to a flight of worn down, dimly-lit stairs.

9. Why do you think she is telling her son about her life in this way?

Ans. Perhaps, she wishes to share her experience and encourage him to never give up.

10. Thinking about the words and phrases used in the poem (the imagery), what points in the woman's real life would these represent? For example, tacks and splinters might represent hardships of a particular kind. Which hardships? Go through the poem finding other images and write what these may represent in real life.

Ans. The tacks and splinters might represent hardships and painful moments. If you step on a tack or get a splinter on your hand or foot, it hurts, so perhaps these represent moments of physical or emotional pain.

Some examples like 'boards torn-up' could represent opportunities that have been removed from her due to the lack of financial resources.

'No carpet on the floor' could represent lack of comfort and wealth.

'The lack of light' could represent times when she has felt sad, uncertain or hopeless.